DERMOT BYRNE , STEVE COONEY, DEZI DONNELLY
Mon 15th Feb
Altan accordion wizard Dermot Byrne teams up with two great traditional music players. Steve Cooney on guitar and fiddle player Dezi Donnelly to undertake a short tour in mid February. A rapturously received concert given by this trio at this years Frankie Kennedy Winter School in Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal led to this series of concerts. Donegal borne Byrne is widely regarded as one of the greatest accordion players to emerge in recent years. A vital component of the internationally succesful Altan Dermot Byrne enjoys the occasional foray away from Irelands top traditional band. Steve Cooney is a master guitar player who has developed a uniquely percussive style of accompaniment much admired by his fellow musicians. Dezi Donnelly is from Manchester in England and is greatly respected as fiddle stylist. He has played widely with that other great Manchester based player Michael McGoldrick.
GOLDRUSH
Wed 17th Feb
After the success of their sell-out performance in Temple Bar Music Centre on saturday 30th, Goldrush are playing in Whelans on february 17th. Already in 1999, the band have found a new dynamic management team, they completed their Falling Down EP and also made their television debut. As a follow-up to the Whelan's gig, the band will be performing with the Heineken rollercoaster tour in March.
Sat 20th Feb
The Prayer Boat made their long-awaited American tribute last year at SXSW in Austin, Texas. The reaction was incredible and since then the band have been finalising recording contracts, working with Philadelphia producer King Britt and Mercury Music Prize nominees 4Hero and finishing the album Polichinelle. The album scheduled for an April 30th release and will be preceded by the single Slowdown. This may be the last chance to catch the band in such an intimate venue. Something special is being lined-up for the album launch involvng a full orchestra, so stay tuned.
JULIET TURNER
Wed 24th Feb
Born in Dromore near Omagh, twenty five years ago, Juliet grew up in a typical Northern Ireland rural area. Now based in Dublin, Juliet's first album, Let's hear it for the Pizza, was released in 1996 to great critical acclaim. It is still selling in sizeable amounts. Juliet last year played Glastonbury Festival. She has played support slots for Tracy Chapman, Ron Sexsmith, Arlo Guthrie, Luka Bloom and Kinky Friedman. Her heartfelt rendition of Broken Things at the Omagh Memorial Service brought world wide reaction when it was broadcast on television. Juliet recorded the song using only voice and guitar for inclusion on Across the Bridge of Hope album on White Records. Other artists on the album include U2, Van Morrison, Ash, Paul Brady, Sinead O'Connor.
FAOLAIN Featuring PAUL KELLY and SEAN WHELAN
Tuesday, 23rd Feb
Paul and Sean both have great reputations in Irish music. Both of them have played with numerous bands and musicians over the years. Paul was a member of The Sackville String Band, Rusty Old Halo, The Fleadh Cowboys and Sharon Shannon band and has played with many legends. Sean has played with Mary Coughlan, Maire Breatnach and Sonny Condell amongst others. They have both just released albums, Pauls is called A Mandolin Album' and it brings together dynamic and challenging Irish tunes with music from Scandinavia and South America as well as Pauls origInal compositions. Sean has released 'End Of Autumn' which is inspired by rural landscapes and images. Sean's guitar playing is accompanied by Emer Mayock, Brian Fleming and others on the album.
THE WALLS
Saturday, 27th Feb.
The Wall brothers are back. In the few years since the demise of The Stunning some of the other members have managed to stay relatively in the limelight, but the brothers seemed to have relocated to outer space. Not so in fact. Following a brief change of scene in the film world - Steve did some acting and Joe directed the prize- winning short 'The Birth Of Frank Pop' - the boys got back together to begin writing and recording what will be their debut album as 'The Walls'. After a spell in London, where they kidnapped hip-hop wizard Carl Harms, they recruited a new drummer Rory Doyle and played some low key warm up gigs around the Country. The response to the new material has been so good that the audiences haven't asked for any Stunning songs. Which is just as well as they refuse to play any. The new music is a melting pot of influences from Jams Brown to James Band themes, hip-hop and country guitars. Guinness have snapped up one of the bands songs for use in a radio ad in the US. Catch them, now before it goes ballistic - The Walls are closing in!.
CHARLIE PARKER TRIBUTE
Sunday, 21st February
Charlie Parker's music forms a huge bulk of what is now a standard repertoire for all jazz artists, and compositions like Donna Lee and Omithology will be the vehicle for an intriguing quartet featuring Julian Arguelles (saxophone), Rick Peckham (guitar), Tom Rainey (drums) and bassist Ronan Guilfoyle. Arguelles is one of the most individual players on the UK scene, and has been a regular visitor to Ireland over the years. Tom Rainey, who appeared here with Andy Laster's Hydra, is widely known for his trio work with pianist Kenny Werner, and is a key figure in Manhattan's scene. Guitarist Rick Peckham works regularly with saxophonist George Garzone and also teaches at Berkeley College of Music in Boston, with local bassist Ronan Guilfoyle completing the line up.
THE MARY JANES
Friday, 26th February
The Mary Janes are a band on a mission. Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, the members consist of three Irish and one Australian. SHAM - their latest album, has just been released. Inspiration for this project was drawn from the bands recent experiences working with War Child Organization in Bosnia. The recording of SHAM took place in both Schotland and Ireland. Drawing on the band diverse musical and cultural backgrounds, The Mary Janes music is challenging, fresh and moving. The bands live catalogue ranges from the College Music Jamboree, NYC, the Glastonbury Festival, Neretva Square, Mostar Bosnia and virtually every venue in Ireland.
DING DONG DENNY O REILLY
Thurs. 25th February
Ding Dong Denny O Reilly was conceived amidst the sound of bombs and gunfire, during The Battle Of The River Plate, which was in the Savoy at the time.That was forty odd years ago (and we mean Odd) and who would have guessed that a woman with almost ninety percent alcohol in her blood, a dose of rickets and scurvy, would give birth to any child let alone this legend. He had a rough childhood. Possessor of a moustache and beer belly at age nine, Ding Dong first discovered music in reform school aged eleven. He has played in many musical outfits since: The Nazi Showband, popular folk group Wild Mountain Badger, New Kids In The Block (Irelands first Boy Band to be formed in a prison) and his most (in)famous of all: The Hairy Bowsies. Never realising that drinking every minute of every day was likely to slow his progress, Ding Dong hasn't achieved the following he deserves . But all that will change with the release of his new CD.
GERRY O'BEIRNE
Mon 22nd Feb
Irish songwriter, guitarist and singer Gerry O'Beirne was born in Ennis, Co. Clare. A self-taught master of the 6 and 12-string guitar and renowned songwriter, Gerry O'Beirne has found the purest expression of himself in the music that appears on his solo CD; Half Moon Bay. The collection contains songs that span a decade of this prolific songwriter's career. Several songs have been covered by artists on the Celtic music scene. Maura O'Connell recorded the tittle track on her album Stories as well as Shades of Gloria and Western Highway. Mary Black recorded The Holy Ground and was so enamoured with the song, she named her CD after it. Gerry O'Beirne has toured around the globe with several bands and artists including Patrick Street, The Sharon Shannon Band, The Waterboys, Martin Hayes, Cathie Ryan and Andy Irvine. He has performed at the White House, opened for the Grateful Dead and played electric guitar for Marianne Faithfull. As a producer Gerry produced a number of albums for other artists including Promenade for Kevin Burke and Michael O'Dhomhnaill, Irish Times by Patrick Street and two cd's for Andy M. Stewart.
