The Sound and the Furey

This ‘sound and Furey’ to paraphrase Shakespeare ‘certainly signifies something’ in fact Mr Furey signifies quite a bit indeed. Last week I was privileged to speak to the wonderful musician and Irish legend, Mr Finbar Furey, just prior to embarking on his present tour of Australia. Finbar told me that although he hasn’t a Tasmania date this time he has fond memories of his visits here and the performances with his brothers at Wrest Point Entertainment Centre. The Tasmanian scenery reminds him very much of the west of Ireland with the people just as friendly and he adds with a smile in his voice the’ grog’ is alright too!

Finbar is like his namesake saint who travelled the Irish sea similarly Finbar has travelled beyond the Irish sea to bring his music to the world.

Finbar is a Renaissance man, a musician, actor, writer, and inventor. when his bamboo flute broke Finbar was instrumental (pardon the pun) in helping design (with flute maker Bernard Overton) a new modern, metal version and a precursor to the low whistle used by folk and rock bands all over the world today. Initially called the Furey/Overton flute they were later known as the Overton flute when Bernard made a full time career out of designing them.

As with the flute Finbar is always experimenting with new musical styles,presently, Finbar is experimenting with Appalachian music, a mixture of Cajun blue grass and with some Celtic thrown in. The idea of an immigrant music appeals to Finbar reminding us that the Irish are among the greatest immigrants in the world.

Some of Finbar’s fascination and respect for other cultures is mirrored in how widely his music is embraced and this is brought out when we chat about one of his most loved songs ‘The Lonesome Boatman’. Finbar says that one of the most beautiful arrangements of the song was a very spiritual one by American Indians.

Finbar’s featured in the world of acting, notably when he performed in ‘Gangs of New York’, he tells me he told director Martin Scorcese, who he describes as ‘a gorgeous man’. He tells me he told Martin that only two men in the world could sing the song in the movie, one had passed away and he was the other and Martin Scorcese told Finbar that he was a ‘dead ringer’ for Tommy Lee Jones and observing him I would tend to agree.

Writing a book is something that Finbar is also venturing into with his autobiography scheduled for release just after next Christmas. It is called “Is it that time already?”. Perhaps it’s not entirely that time to write a book about his career just yet.

With all his accomplishments in music Finbar says that family comes first and music second. That said, he also believes the words of his fathers, ‘to not keep talent in a box’ or ‘in a corner’ but share it with others, and this has spanned into the next generation with Finbar’s son Martin, also a musician and part of the band ‘The High Kings’ that regularly tours the US. Finbar’s many fans hope he’ll continue holding on in those words of advice from his Dad and keep entertaining us with his Renaissance talents.

Finbar ‘s Australian Tour Dates March / April 2013 can be viewed at the following link

http://www.finbarfurey.com.au/
Paula Xiberras