Arts and Parts

2011-04-14T08:14:00.000-07:00

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2009-10-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

As Seen in Rathmullan on Sunday ....

2009-09-12T18:04:00.000-07:00

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2008-12-11T03:25:00.001-08:00

A recent press release concerning a proposed tour by what has been described as ‘The Specials’, failed to clarify the actual line up of the band. Not surprisingly therefore, many people are under the impression it is the original Specials. As was common knowledge at the time of their success, Jerry Dammers was the founder, main songwriter and driving force of The Specials. He recruited every member individually, and the musical and style direction was guided by him. He designed the 2 Tone logo and formed the 2 Tone record label.

Jerry has a duty to inform anybody who may be interested, of the true situation, which is that he was not invited to take part in this proposed tour, or even told about it. He also has to say that claims that “the door is still open” to him, fail to mention that Jerry has been driven out every time he has attempted to get involved over the last year. He also wonders why this appears in the newspaper when former bandmates have his phone number. “The prodigal sons came home, kicked me out, and have left the door open, great” says Jerry. These claims also contradict lawyers’ letters stating that former members have resolved to go ahead without him, and that Jerry is not to speak to any of them. Attempts to imply that any proposed tour has Jerry’s “blessing”, at this stage, are also highly misleading. These seem to be part of a wider attempt to rewrite the whole history of the band, in order to try and justify what is currently going on .

Jerry does not wish to go into too much detail at this point, except to say that for over 25 years he had dreamed that his former band mates might come back one day, and was deeply shocked to find that when they did, for some of them, it was apparently to kick him out. Jerry had already started recording with a couple of them and the results were good. However, Roddy Radiation started a campaign of verbal abuse against Jerry on the internet under the assumed name of Jett Rink, and progress was halted. Millionaire Simon Jordan has confirmed in The Sun (Dec 8th) that he helped put this latest proposed band together. Jordan first teamed up with Terry Hall and his manager then Lynval Golding. (Hall and Golding both played at Jordan’s 40th birthday party.) It has to be remembered that previously Terry Hall had for years attempted to distance himself from The Specials (and it’s politics) and even once described the band as an “embarrassment “ to him.

A meeting was called to which Jerry was not invited. Jerry turned up anyway and played the music he had started recording, and suggested starting serious rehearsals, but was subjected to a severe dressing down from people who had barely spoken to him in 25 years. Apart from the recording, Jerry wanted to try and aim for a proper reunion and thirtieth anniversary celebration, including the best part of both Specials albums, The Ghost Town E.P., and a small amount of new material, in proper concerts, in venues worthy of the band’s status and legacy. Jerry said he thought this would involve a fair amount of rehearsal (for himself as much as everyone else obviously), but some former members did not seem to think this was necessary, and it certainly did not feel like Jerry was going to get any thanks if he tried to make any musical suggestions. Jerry has heard that former members currently “want to play mainly the first album”, he doesn’t know if this is true, but it is definitely easier to sing and play .

Shortly after this meeting Lynval Golding told Jerry on the phone that his services would not be required, “like Bill Wyman in The Stones” said Lynval. Jerry persevered for over a year, but every conceivable obstacle was put in the way of him either attending or organising reasonable rehearsals. Secret rehearsals were held without him, and his own attempts were sabotaged. For about six months Terry would not even attend any rehearsal unless Jerry agreed in advance, to a tour organised by Terry’s manager. Lynval and Horace were also managed by Terry’s manager by this time. Jerry was expected apparently to agree to other absurd proposals from Terry’s manager including for example rerecording the entire first two Specials albums all over again. Roddy Radiation’s claim on the internet that Jerry wanted to do “slowed down jazz versions of Specials songs” is a complete lie.

Jerry sees this whole thing as a takeover, rather than a proper reunion, representing primarily Terry Hall and his manager’s (not to mention Simon Jordan’s) ideas of what ‘The Specials’ should be and do. Press claims that this proposed band is now “led by Terry Hall” seem to back this up. Jerry does not believe it represents what the real Specials stood for, politically, or in terms of creativity, imagination or forwardness of ideas, and he does not think the proposed venues would really be appropriate to a band of the status of the real Specials. He thinks the real test will come if or when another album is ever made. At the moment this is not the proud reunion and thirtieth anniversary celebration Jerry had hoped for.

Although a lot of the responsibility lies with Terry’s manager (who now apparently manages the whole project), these are grown men too, and they are more than responsible for the actions of their manager. Neville Staples is the only former member who demonstrated real commitment to Jerry’s involvement.

2008-11-18T07:08:00.000-08:00

2008-10-31T14:30:00.000-07:00

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2008-07-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

Aiken Promotions presents...

Jerry Dammers

Live at Vicar St -Friday 12h Sept '08

Tickets on sale Fri 25th July at 9am

Jerry Dammers' Spatial A.K.A. Orchestra present :

"Cosmic Engineers - a tribute to the mystic music mavericks".

Founder and keyboard player of seventies ska band The Specials, Jerry Dammers visits Dublin with his new orchestra for the first time, for an evening of retro future jazz, with a little reggae, library music and even ska thrown in. Prepare to be entertained by visitors from dark worlds as Dammers and a selection of the U.K.s foremost jazz musicians pay tribute to the music of Sun Ra, Alice Coltrane, Coxsone Dodd and others, even including the odd Dammers' classic, in a manner credible to jazz, funk, breakbeat, and rock fans alike.

2008-07-17T04:44:00.000-07:00

2008-07-07T03:54:00.001-07:00

An Grianan Theatre, Wed 15 July.

2008-07-07T03:50:00.000-07:00

An Grianan Theatre Wed 16th July.Tickets only 15 Euros. All Ages Show.

2008-06-30T07:17:00.000-07:00

2008-06-24T04:01:00.000-07:00

What you think? opinions please....

2008-06-19T06:51:00.000-07:00

Darklight 08 is nearly upon us ... warning this contains nothing but seriously bad language.

2008-06-19T02:17:00.001-07:00

No Must Mean No

And so in the aftermath' (yes they are really using this term) of the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty the politicians are trying to convince us of two things. One is that we niaevly did the wrong thing, but it wasn't our fault, we had our poor heads filled with 'lies' by the nasty no campaign, and secondly that it is a disaster of hurricane proportions that has sent the EU into a tailspin and will come crashing down if we don't have another vote and ratify it. It's an insulting and patronising view. We are the only people that have been given the vote on this, in all other countries it is to be decided by professional politicians. Now to suggest, as many have that what is good for professional politicians must be good for the ordinary person is not always correct, just ask those suffering in Zimbabwae under the 'elected' Robert Mugabe. This is not the end of Europe, what it means is it stays the way it is now. The way the politicians decided it must be only a few years ago when bringing in the Nice Treaty, which was so important we had to vote on it twice until we got the vote 'right'. Sound familiar? Never mind that the people of Europe where given the opportunity have rejected this: in France and the Netherlands, when they were given the chance when it was framed as the European Constitution, and now in Ireland. French politicians have suggested the rest of Europe go on ahead without Ireland, ignoring the legal reality that it only becomes law if ALL 27 ratify it, and others have suggested we vote again and again until we give them the answer the politicians want. Which suggests none of them give a damn about Democracy. Why don't they just do what Mugabe is suggesting and put armed police in the voting centres to watch you vote? That would clean it up quickly enough. If they care about Democracy the Lisbon Treaty will be scrapped, but then maybe they don't care about it? Maybe that is the European development that convinced so many to vote no in the first place, the worrying drift away from what the people want and what the politicians and bureaucrats decide we should have. If they bring it to a second referendum anyone who cares about Democracy must vote no. No must mean no for Democracy's sake.

Punx Picnic June 28 & 29

The inaugural (first) Punx Picnic is on this weekend out at Churchill, by the Rock. It's going to be a well organised musical weekend for up to 800 happy revellers. And a nicer bunch of people than the regular Rebellious Jukebox goers you would be hard pushed to meet. There's over 70 acts including punk rock, rock n roll, blues, garage, ska, reggae, acoustic, folk, polka and many more genres of music. Pick up your ticket at Universal Records in the Market Square. Letterkenny.

the Abbey and The Seafarer
Following on from all the publicity about the Seafarer winning a Tony Award (like an Oscar for Stage Actors) tickets have been flying out but fret not, ring now and get some of the remaining ones, call us on 074 91 20777 at An Grianan Box Office. It opens next Tuesday and runs until, and including, Saturday night. Author Conor McPherson will be on Shaun Doherty's radio show on Friday around about mid day so tune into Highland on 103.3fm, he's a very entertaining bloke (and Conor is too!).

Free is Always a Good Price....
While numbers coming through the door on a Friday night in the Central have been great, we're basically doing double what we were up in the Fubar at this time last year, we face that age old problem of lots of people waiting until the pubs close their bars to come up to us. This makes it much harder to have a great night 'cos obviously its easier to get the party moving if you have people for longer so we have come up with a cunning plan. And fair play to Mickey Blaney and to Pat for going along with it. From this Friday on its going to be free in before 1a.m. Yes this Friday and every subsequent Friday its free in to The Central before 1a.m. Can't say fairer than that. This Friday Marty is away at a Police Concert (or some such thing) and so Dano of Shindig fame, and of Dj Dano and B Koz, and Super Eight Kids, etc. is joining me for the craic. Should be good fun. Get in about half 12 and lets make a really good night of it. Anyone for Bryn Christopher then? No? MGMT? Surely Duffy? Ah you're a tough crowd! ;-)

Nasty & The Fantastics
Nasty and His Fantastics, all decked out in Superman underwear I believe, will be playing in Mary's (O'Shaughnessy's as it says above the door) also this Friday night, tunes from 10.30.

A Message From Jade
'yo, since you're always looking for stuff for your column why don't you mention how the amazing single 'Red Apple' by Cuckoo Savante featuring Mary Coughlan is currently on sale in Universal Records for 5 tiny euro, and all proceeds go to very worthy charities. The band are currently putting the finishing touches to their debut album and have a number of gigs lined-up in such reputable venues as The Boogaloo Bar in Highgate, London and Camden's Dublin Castle, not to mention slots at Electric Picnic and the Mantua Festival (with a lot more gigs in the pipeline). there ya go ;-) Jade.' So eeerrr who's Jade?

Earagail Arts Festival Highlights Number 2

Bell X1 have been the big highlight of the past few years on the Irish Music Scene, playing to huge crowds all over the country. Bell X1 stalwart Dave Geraghty released his own album Kill Your Darlings in September 2007. In conjunction with the release he completed a sell out Irish tour, and headlined the 2FM 2moro 2our last November. We are delighted to have him play An Grianan in the company of John Shelly & The Creatures on Wednesday 16 July. Tickets on sale now form 074 91 20777, www.angrianan.com.

2008-06-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

Dano is joining me to spin a few choons this Friday in the Central (Marty away again) and it's now free before 1pm. Cool like. See you all there.

2008-06-16T06:50:00.001-07:00

What the cool kids are groovin' to

2008-06-16T06:49:00.001-07:00

Here Come The Abbey!

The Seafarer is taking the world by storm and An Grianan are one of only three venues outside of the Abbey to be receiving it, a huge coup for Donegal. It's a big play wth loads of laughs and plenty of sobering thoughts, although not too many sober characters! It's powerful, funny and unsettling tale that proves once again that Conor McPherson is a born storyteller. The Seafarer has received four nominations in this year's Tony Awards including Best Play. It's Christmas Eve and Sharky has returned to Dublin to look after his irascible, ageing brother who's recently gone blind. Old drinking buddies Ivan and Nicky are holed up at the house too, hoping to play some cards. With the arrival of a stranger from the distant past, the stakes are raised ever higher. In fact, Sharky may be playing for his very soul… Highly recommended for everyone, it's on at An Grianan from next Tuesday 24th for five nights.

Regional Cultural Centre Summer Camps

The Regional Cultural Centre is pleased to offer a variety of weeklong workshops for young people aged 5 – 16 years. Art Safari and Film Buffs will take place at the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny from Monday 11th August – Friday 15th. This programme includes a Field Trip to the Glebe Gallery in Churchill. For further information please contact: Sally Murphy / Ruth McCullough on 074 91 29186. The Regional Cultural Centre also welcomes any feedback or suggestions for further courses.
Art Safari is an explorative journey through the wonderful world of art! This week-long creative workshop programme will have a wide range of fun and active art classes to engage all levels of ability in making and creating art. Sessions will include printmaking, 3d sculpture, painting, digital photography and much more. Group 1 will be led by artist / facilitator Roxane Keeney (ages 5-8) Group 2, led by artist / facilitator Mhairi Sutherland (ages 9-12).
Film Buffs, this week-long workshop for young people with artist / facilitator Tracy Cullen will guide budding filmmakers through all aspects of the movie process from storyboarding, cinematography, script development, lighting, sound, directing techniques, production and editing. Each participant will be given a specific theme and will have one week to make their own short film! Ages 13-16. Prior booking is essential as places are limited.
Children and their parents are invited to come to the Regional Cultural Centre for a drop-in Family Art Camp on Saturday 16th August, from 1 – 4pm to explore the magical world of Op Art through the work of Victor Vasarely. This exciting afternoon session offers families the opportunity to get together and be creative. Prepare to get paint on your hands! Admission Free. All adults must be accompanied by a child.

An Grianan Summer Camps

An Grianan has three Summer Camps this year: The Performing Arts Summer School, Mon 21 to Sat 26 July, suitable for ages 8 to 20. After the adventures of Red in 2006 and Finn McCool in 2007, this year's Performing Arts Summer School goes through the looking glass with Alice in Wonderland. Throughout the week participants will take part in a variety of workshops covering singing, acting, choreography and stagecraft. Running the school are a group of seasoned musical theatre professionals including actors, choreographers and technicians. The school culminates in a showcase performance where participants will perform alongside professional performers. A perfect introduction to the world of theatre for beginners and a great way for more experienced students to build on their knowledge.
Mon 28 July to Sat 2 August, Choral Academy with Jim Maley, suitable for ages 10 to 18. If singing's your thing then this is the workshop for you! As with all our summer schools the emphasis is on live performance and the week culminates in a concert in which the participants will sing together as a choir, complete with musical accompaniment from Jim Maley and guests. Every year we get the same feedback – the standard achieved in just one short week is nothing short of brilliant!
Mon 4 to Fri 8 August, Ballet Ireland Summer School, suitable for ages 6+. Dance alongside professional ballet dancers with Ireland's national ballet company! Suitable for boys and girls alike, each will be schooled to work to the best of their own abilities, and it may surprise you how much you can do under this expert guidance. During the week’s workshops, exploration into all the component parts of ballet is made: music, mime, painting and drama, as well as that of dance. Your friends and family will have the chance to see you in a wonderful end of week ballet performance alongside dancer/tutor Stephen Brennan and other members of Ballet Ireland. Book or get more information on 074 91 20777.

Earagail Arts Festival

The programme for the 20th Earagail Arts Festival is out now and very good it is too. Despite being reduced by a few days it has 20 or so more shows than last year! Get your hands on a brochure which should be everywhere around you at the moment, or you can definitely get one in An Grianan or The Balor. Loads of highlights but the stand out one is Sensazione, which will be the centrpeice of Letterkenny Town Park. Once through the gateway the audience are transported to a world of fairground folk with fantastic tales and extraordinary requests devised and improvised by the internationally renowned Laika performers. The audience are free to roam the fairground following the performers from location to location and enjoying the array of custom fairground rides all made from recycled materials by the ingenious Time Machine makers. In the true spirit of the new age of renewable power all the energy to operate the rides comes form the patrons of the funfair….even the lights.
A globascope, a ferris wheel, a merry-go-round, or a visit to the fairground fortune teller, are all on offer, the funfair, the carnival theatre and circus all rolled into one fantastic spectacle that is Sensazione Laika is an international theatre company based in Antwerp that creates ‘theatre for the senses’. Its productions appeal abound with tasty stories, new recipes and unknown worlds. Artists in different disciplines join forces to deliver the company’s hallmark: lucid, expressive, and accessible theatre. Time Circus Collective is a travelling company from Antwerp who specialise in building innovative theatre machines. Book now on 074 91 20777.

2008-06-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

lilliput love

Loving Laura buchanan's site, good luck with the end of year grades and all that ....

2008-06-12T07:41:00.000-07:00

Claire told me to get back to blogging so here I am!

Ah yes folks I'm back from my trip to the sun. One week in Mallorca is officially over, and I'm back to the cloudy overcast skies of Donegal. I'm told the sun scorched everyone while I was away but they would say that ... A few things occurred to me on holiday: only a parent finds it funny when their four year old screams in a stage whisper 'we are all going to die' as the plane gets ready for take off. We are all being clothed by the same companies. Time was you could tell the different nationalities apart by how they dressed, now they all look the same except the English who appear obsessed with all the other nationalities knowing they are English, the number of them wearing Union Jacks t shirts and England football jerseys is outrageous considering they failed to qualify for Euro 2008! We are all getting bigger, and particularly the Scandinavians seem to be the ones who are getting biggest quickest. The Euro is a good thing, no more commission or rip off charges. I wasn't made for the sun but I like it. Mosquito bites are really irritating. And it's good to be home.

The Seafarer

It's time to see a brilliant play and the play is the Seafarer which opens on Tuesday week, 24th June. The opening night is now booked up but there's plenty of tickets for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday so don't miss this one! It's the Abbey putting it on, small t, in joke there. Sorry bout that. Made me smile though. Give the Box Office a ring on 07499120777 or go to www.angrianan.com.

The Central

Contrary to popular advertising the Joe Dolan tribute Act is on this Saturday night in the Central, with Marty swinging the tunes thereafter. On Friday night I'll be back in the d.j. box alongside Mr Clampett (Marty again..) so it'll be great. Come and say hi. I know it's rally weekend but you will be safe with us.

Des Bishop

Des is back in the theatre this Tuesday night and as I type this there are a couple of single seats left, ring now and catch them.

Earagail Arts Festival

The 20th Earagail Arts Festival (how time flies...), is on from 10th to the 20th July with a fun filled and entertainment packed programme. And indeed the programmes are out now. Check it all out on eaf.ie or pick on up in a shop near you, or indeed in the theatre. I'll be giving you my highlights over the next few weeks....

The New Balor

The new Balor has a cracking series of events to kick off their new venue, and it ties in nicely with the Earagail festival, so if you get the Earagail brochure you will see what's going on their too. Course they have their own brochure out now too.

Summer Camps

We have a Performing Arts Summer School here at An Grianan, a Choral Academy and a Drama Camp, over the summer months. These are all week long and you can get more info on 074 91 20777, or again online at www.angrianan.com

The Harps

The League of Ireland has a 2 week break now which is just as well 'cos the lads look tired. Hopefully Minno will be back soon, we've missed him. Its a tough season but remember: In Higgsy We Trust.

2008-04-18T05:55:00.001-07:00

2008-04-18T05:53:00.000-07:00

1 million Tiny Plays About dj’ing..... number 2.

Two girls approach the d.j box as everyone else is walking away after the last song. They have probably had a few drinks...
Go’on play ....
Can’t, I’m sorry it’s over.
Ah just one more tune ...
I adopt a jocular manner.
I was thinking that we should change the National Anthem to ‘One More Tune’ ‘cos it’s always the last thing I hear ...
Girl Number One attempts a disaproving look. I ignore it and give her the false broad smile. This throws her, she looks to her friend for support who pipes up...
Have you got MGMT?
Yes I played it earlier.
Go’on play it now.
I can’t the lights are on, the music has stopped and it’s time to go. The Gardai are very strict these days. And if I play tunes twice the other tunes get jealous, (I'm getting into my stride now, they have no chance interrupting me). I mean think of all the tunes that don’t get played at all and then to play one twice! Sure there’d be murder in the car on the way home, they’d be fighting their way out of the box.
She looks at me as if I’m a mentalist.
Ah go’on.
I can’t.
You can.
It’s over, if you want a song you should request it early on and we can try and get it in.
But I wasn’t here when you played it.
Well maybe you should come earlier and then you’d get your one more song, lots more songs, I’ve been here for over two hours....
They consult, I pack things away but they aren’t finished. The other friend comes back flashing big doe eyes,
Are you going to play it then?
No.
Well I’m not coming back again you know.
Ok.
What?
Ok. I put out my hand over the partition. She puts out hers, looking a little confused, I shake her hand, smiling.
It was good to meet you this once anyway, take care of yourself.
Oh charming, that’s bloody charming that is, oh you’re very funny.
She takes her friend by the arm,
Come on we’re off....

Fast forward to the next Friday ....
Hi remember me?
MGMT is it?
YES! you remembered
How could I forget? ... I’ve already played it .....

Get Thee Hence to the Ballet ...
This Sunday, An Grianan, two shows, 3pm and 8pm, there’s tickets left so no excuses, I’m taking my Megan to it to (ahem) celebrate her Holy Communion. Based on Charles Perrault’s fairy story, the ballet is about a beautiful Princess bound by a wicked fairy’s spell to sleep for a hundred years. She can only be woken by the kiss of a handsome prince. The ballet is full of wonderful characters including the Lilac Fairy, the Rose Adagio, the Bluebird as well as a cast of fairy-tale characters who gather for the sparkling final wedding celebration, under the direction of Stanislav Tchassov, former Principal dancer of The Bolshoi Ballet. I love a good ballet, me.

It’s Conal Time!

And on this Friday and Saturday nights in An Grianan is Conal Gallen, supreme gag teller of the old school. Sure everything is back to the old school these days. C’mere Murphy walks into a bar .... Show at 8pm, Tickets available on the door.

Finn Harps

I’m presuming last week’s performance was just so RTE would have enough comedy clips to play for rest of the season on the excellent Monday Night Soccer programme and hope they are back to normal this week away against Cork. ‘Mon the lads. May I suggest Higgsy gets the defence introduced to each other through speed dating? Aaron this is Malcolm, Malcolm this is Aaron. Pleased to meet you, and what do you do? Oh your a right back, funny I’m a centre half! What a small world, eh?

Regional Culture

The RCC in Letterkenny have Liam O’ Flynn and Paddy Glackin this Friday night. Master uillean piper Liam O'Flynn, the current TG4 ‘Traditional Musician of the Year’, and leading fiddle player Paddy Glackin are two of the greatest living Irish traditional musicians (it says here, my in laws would beg to differ about Paddy Glackin and his rewriting and retuning of Donegal fiddle history but we’ll gloss over that bit). O'Flynn’s career includes Planxty, the National Symphony Orchestra and ‘The Poet and the Piper’ with the Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney. Glackin’s recordings include his eponymous debut album and duet albums with uilleann piper Paddy Keenan, keyboard experimentalist Jolyn Jackson and Donal Lunny, who just performed in the Balor. Tickets on door.

Theresa’s in a play...

My mate, and occasional surfin’ buddy, Theresa is in a play. In the Balor.This group, comprised entirely of HSE employees, produce and perform a play every year with the proceeds going to a number of worthy causes including St. Mary's National School, the Patient Comfort Funds of St. Joseph's Hospital and the Sean O Hare Unit. This year's play is a Sam Cree crowd pleaser – Separate Beds. There's tipsy housekeepers, eccentric vicars, pretend wives and a very lazy painter. You know exactly what you're getting with a Sam Cree show - lots of belly laughs, double entendre and innuendo combining into one damn good night out. It’s from Sun Apr 20 to Wed Apr 23. Tickets are €10 and available from The Balor Box Office on 074 91 31840.

Central Life

Friday night it’s my good self and Marty dj’ing in the Central, going well it is. I’m going to rush off at the end ‘cos Megan is making her Holy Communion on Saturday and I need to look vaguely fresh, well as fresh as I can which isn't much I'll grant you, still make an effort, big day, Deirdre made the dress, lovely it is. Family back to the house, that sort of thing, you know it. This Saturday night for the Central get your glam gear on ‘cos it’s Abba! Well as near as.. anyway the Abba Tribute starts at 10.30 and Marty d.js from 12.30 Sure where else would you be? Voulez Vous, AHA!

2008-04-08T06:01:00.000-07:00

2008-04-04T05:44:00.001-07:00

2008-04-04T03:23:00.000-07:00

What time does the last train go?

When I was about 15 an American tourist asked a group of us young ones hanging around bored, which is the essential pastime of young ones, what time the last train went to Derry. 1953 was the witty, and correct, answer. Which begs the question how can we expect to become a city without a train station? It is a basic transport need, and indeed requirement for any forward thinking urban area. At the moment Letterkenny is choc a block with car traffic at peak times. The Neil T Blaney Road was apparently designed as a relief road but has added to the pressure by being the site for high traffic out of town retail units there. How will the Letterkenny roads, already jammed, cope with even more of a population? Sligo, a comparable size, has a train line to Dublin, an airport, and a fine town bus service. We dont even have a decent road to Lifford, the first step on our journey to Dublin.....! If Letterkenny really wants to move forward good access and transportation is essential. Maybe now that we no longer have a Dublin Taoiseach the rest of the country will get a lash at the billions of Euros earmarked for rail services in what is now a fine 21st Century capital city. Unfortunately we're still behind where we were mid 20th Century .....

Ocean Colour will be Seen...

The Grill has now reopened and thanks to the huge publicity is being talked about like never before! It's an ill wind and all that. And it is timely because I think this Sunday night could be the best gig they have had on yet as Ocean Colour Scene, who are known for their great live gigs, come to town. They have had two big albums in Moseley Shoals and Marchin' Together and first came to my attention when I realised that two of them were members of Paul Weller's regular backing band. Many of their influences are the same as Weller's, most notably the Small Faces I'd say (feel free to argue with me in person). They've also been close to Oasis, indeed they were a support act at the legendary Knebworth gig and have performed and toured with Oasis over the years. Still it's on their own merits they should be taken and the acoustic set up of this gig will suit classics such as The Day We Took The Train perfectly. Only 20 Euros in. Bargain. I'll be dragging myself away from Sunday evening telly for this one!

What's it all about, Beckett?

Samuel Beckett is one of those names that often gets bandied about by people who want to show their intellectual superiority so I never expected to like his stuff but as I work in the theatre I thought I better give it a go and was shocked to find out that it's really funny cracking entertainment, not quite sure what the story was about but I laughed all the way through. Now I couldn't tell you about the big themes that people go on about on T.V. when talking about him but I do know that there's now way he was po faced as he loves a giggle, and indeed toilet humour, they never tell you that on The View! There's a Beckett play on in An Grianan next Tuesday. 'First Love' focuses on a first love affair, and the primary loves that influenced Beckett's life and writing - his dead father, his delight in language, and his profound need for isolation. The 39 year old narrator looks back to when he was 25 and talks about the eviction from his childhood home, his life as a vagrant in Dublin and his meeting with his first love. It's performed by Conor Lovett who has made a fine career out of Backett's works. Why not come along and try it, don't worry too much about understanding everything, and if you feel like laughing do. It's what Beckett would have wanted.

Extra Show for Des Bishop

Told you it was flying. With the Sunday show sold out we've added an extra show for Des on Monday 29th April. Having spent the past twelve months of intense study and immersion in Connemara’s Gaeltact in an effort to speak as Gaeilge Des Bishop is back on the road again. Drawing from his experiences, the star of the RTE show ‘In the Name of the Fada’, comes to An Grianan with his live stand up show ‘Tongues’. ‘Tongues’ deals with Des’s most formidable challenge yet, taking the ultimate step towards Irishness. Already attracting rave reviews, ‘Tongues’ also explores the religious side of Des’s identity, from his early days as an overly theatrical altar boy to his experience with people who have the power to speak in tongues. Call the Box Office now on 074 91 20777.

Happy Birthday Rebellious Jukebox!

Next Friday 11th April, The Red Room, Sister Sarah’s, Letterkenny, wear your party hats for The Dangerfields, a three piece rock n roll band originally from Belfast, formed in 2000. Apparently their debut album Born To Rock swaggers like the Stones, swings like the Ramones and kicks the door in like Motorhead. Dublin band Moutpiece play garage rock, and have many of the best Dublin punk musicians of the last 20 years in the line up, in particular Conzo erstwhile leader of the God like Female Hercules, Tommy Trousers (who was one of the 48 guests at my wedding 10 years ago) and Derek Moulds and of course the ironically named 'safe' Gary. If you see only one band this year ..... and the line up will be completed by Elroy and another Letterkenny band who are spending too much time trying to come up with a name. Doors 9pm. Admission a meager €6. Presents optional.

Julie Fowlis

Also on Friday 11th April is a must see gig in a very different vein, she won loads of awards and had people make many ridiculous claims about her voice but the reality is that this Hebridean singer is fabulous. Go see her. You can thank me later. She's in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny. Doors from 8pm. All my brother in laws are going (there's four) and if they are impressed anyone will be!

Oh Super Higgsy he used to be a mucker but he's alright now...

Bit of a setback against Bohs last week and another away game this Friday against Bray, hopefully a point or three there. Next home game is against St Pats on 11 April. Why is everything on that night? I'm going to be soooo busy.

Central

The Central is becoming a home from home now after six months of Friday nights. I'm starting to feel settled, maybe it's because of the good people coming in and asking for good songs, that'll be it. This Friday Marty and I will be wowing the masses again with our incredible taste in music. God we are good. (Feel free to gently disagree in person). This Saturday night Marty follows the Garth Brooks Tribute Act, if anyone can he can but I know I wouldn't know how!

Universal Books on the move

Universal Books has moved, lock stock and barrel to beside Bakersville on the Church Lane. Now stocking even more new, old, rare and hard to get books at fantastically small prices (and don't forget to haggle!). I love shops like this and now it's closer to me. Happy days. Tell David I sent you.

2008-04-04T03:22:00.001-07:00

2008-04-03T03:51:00.000-07:00

2008-04-03T03:39:00.000-07:00

2008-03-12T07:43:00.000-07:00

2008-02-26T06:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.scouttufankjian.com/

Scout Tufankjian is a photographer who has been following Barack Obama's campaign for the last 14 months, see these amazing photos, and others on http://www.scouttufankjian.com/ go on click on through, it's worth it.

2008-02-26T03:22:00.001-08:00

Fair play to Glen, wonder if we'll ever get you to play this in An Grianan:

2008-02-21T07:49:00.000-08:00

The Best Argument for early Euthanasia I have ever seen. ....

2008-02-21T06:44:00.000-08:00

Call for Freelance Facilitators
Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny

The Regional Cultural Centre, a fabulous new multidisciplinary arts facility developed by Donegal County Council, opened adjacent to An Grianán Theatre Letterkenny in July 2007. Described by the Irish Times as a ‘cultural beacon’ this incredible building presents a programme of exhibitions, concerts, film, digital media, education and outreach. The Regional Cultural Centre incorporates: A first floor art gallery; an auditorium with 150 retractable seats and full cinema facilities; three multi-purpose workshops; two dedicated digital media suites; two small music rehearsal rooms and two Foyer galleries.

Education and outreach is interwoven into all aspects of the overall programme and the Centre will present an extensive education and outreach programme for all age groups in 2008. The two state of the art digital media suites will run a programme of creative digital media workshops catering to all ages and levels of experience, in areas such as animation, music, photography, video, web-design & interactivity. We are currently seeking artists, animators, designers, filmmakers and musicians to deliver a wide range of exciting arts and digital media workshops for our 2008/2009 programme. We are also seeking facilitators for a range of projects in the coming year for artist led workshops, community and outreach projects in the following areas

Arts and Crafts
Creative Writing
Drawing / Painting
Animation & Claymation
Digital Photography
Film & Digital Video Production
Music Production and Digital Audio
Graphic & Web Design & Interactivity

To apply send a current CV with availability, references and support documentation where applicable. For further information contact:
Ruth McCullough, Digital Media Manager / Sally Murphy, Education and Outreach Manager
Regional Cultural Centre, Cove Hill, Port Road, Letterkenny
Tel: 0749129186 / E-mail: rcc@donegalcoco.ie

2008-01-14T08:42:00.000-08:00

Shindiggity!

2008-01-09T07:06:00.001-08:00

Darklight Wants You!

Ireland’s premier festival for digital filmmakers, animators and artists wants YOU!

Well, we want your work, anyhow.

The 2008 Darklight Festival will take place from Thursday 26th – Sunday 29th June. Mark your calendars.

Darklight explores the convergence of art, film, and technology and focuses on work that challenges concepts, visual aesthetic, narrative, access, methods of production, and dialogue, through contemporary film-making techniques. We support and encourage work that pushes technological boundaries and displays creative excellence. Our mission is to nurture new talent and to create bold new possibilities for the imagination.

Which is where you come in.

As ever, Darklight have an open submission screening policy. We want to see your work. Eligible for entry are feature films, documentaries, animations, experimental video works, music videos, commercial work, motion graphics, game sequences, live-action shorts and student productions. There are no restrictions on genre, length or number of submitted works.

Darklight actively encourages the submission of contemporary works that demonstrate and explore the creative potential of digital technologies. The entries must use some sort of digital process in their production.

The official Call For Entries (complete with with on-line registering process) will be made on the Darklight website within the next seven days... So do stay tuned. And Happy New Year : )

2007-12-21T08:07:00.000-08:00

2007-12-19T03:14:00.000-08:00

Daithi D.J.ing over Xmas:

Friday 21st & 28th Central (wth Marty Clampett) Boxing Day Central (with PK).

Sunday 23nd Mistletoe and Whine (with Derek), The wine Bar, Ramelton.

Sunday 30th Suited & Booted S.C. Do The Central.

2007-12-10T08:16:00.000-08:00

Here's one I wrote over the weekend.....

Rosie, I owe you one.

I never thought it would happen with me and a girl from Sixmiletown, out on the windy beachfront that night I ain’t forgotten. That summer with no passion, she dealt out the rations, I said you are a farmer, perhaps she said I maybe....(apologies to Difford and Tilbrook)

We drove out towards Culmore, she pulled over. I told her that was it, it was all over, there was no-one else (lies) and that it had just reached a natural conclusion. She cried. The only emotions I’d ever seen her express were through anger and sulking so this was quite a turn.
But I was going to ask you home for Easter to meet my family.
The concept of meeting the family that turned out someone this emotionally stunted was not at all enticing and quickened my resolve.
I thought it was going so well.
How? I asked, stunned.
It’s the best relationship I’ve ever been in.
It may well have been but... well let’s recap. I met her ten days after my girlfriend of three and a half years had dumped me for another fella. I was still crying. She asked me to slow dance and then didn’t want to kiss me. Said she wouldn’t come home with me but did and shagged me, then moved into the other bed in my room for the rest of the night. During the year’s courtship she had slept with two of my friends (no loss, gobshites anyway) and I slept with her best friend. Granted she didn’t know of this rebetrayal and I had only done it for revenge purposes but still.
You said you loved me.
True I had but...
The most I was ever in love with Maggie was when she wasn’t there. She was in America for the summer and in those three long months I fell in love with her, Absence indeed does make the heart grow fonder, that and the fact that I was apparently the most unattractive man in the whole of Donegal. Misery is not attractive and I was certainly miserable. So I wrote jolly letters and longed for her return. It was a disaster.
This is the first time I’ve ever thought I had a future with someone...
I knew we didn’t when I asked her to get me a Simpsons T Shirt and she asked what kind of band they were. Really, even in 1990 that was out of whack. Our long planned reunion became a night of no passion and during the following week she slept with the two (ex) friends. The fact that it didn’t bother me should have been a sign that I didn’t care much about her, or me, but hey all lust is blind. And sure skin up there man, it’ll be fine.
How have things changed, why don’t you want me now?
There were three things that drew me to her: one I was seriously on the rebound after my girlfriend of three and a half years had just left me for another man. Two, I was taking a lot of drugs which numb the critical faculties while enhancing other areas. Three, nice breasts. It’s recently come to my attention that all through my life I have lived with the unconscious belief that nice breasts equals nice person. You would think i would have worked out how erroneous this was earlier but like I say it was unconscious so how could I? Anyway, she was offering sex,, I was taking it. She was emotionally stunted, I was emotionally stunted, at least temporarily. How could it go wrong? How could it have gone right?
And yet I had led her to believe there was a future with us. I’d transferred over all the feelings and intimacies from my previous relationship to this one. And I’d been determined, for a while at least, to make this one work. What I’d overlooked is that she was a very unhappy person well on her way to having a serious alcohol problem. Nice breasts you see. They cloud everything.
What had changed? I met someone else, someone who didn’t want me to share their misery, somone who wanted a laugh, a bit of fun, someone who rescued me. Life is serious which is why we should laugh. I’d forgotten that, Jenny reminded me. It all ended in tears, happily Maggie’s not mine, and a disastrous intervention attempt by her when she landed in Portrush to win me back- I bolted leaving her sitting up all night with my flatmate Rosie while I stayed with Jenny. Rosie fed her whiskey and tissues and told her what a terrible person I was and why she would be better off without me. When I came back the next afternoon she was gone and Rosie was fit to kill me, I talked her down with whiskey and cannabis. Don’t think I ever did enough to repay that debt. Rosie if you are out there, I still owe you one.

2007-12-06T03:37:00.000-08:00

Family Show
Sat 15 Dec at 2.30pm & 5pm , Sat 22 at 2.30pm
Lil' Red Riding Hood
Tickets: €15/€10, Family of Four €42

2007-11-01T05:31:00.000-07:00

Free Daithi mix

2007-10-25T09:10:00.001-07:00

this song just popped up on my itunes. reminds me of a happy time ;-)

2007-10-25T08:12:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick short story I wrote earlier in the year. Praise is welcome, criticism is not. Constructive or Otherwise.

START

Jesus you fucking prick do you get the point here? He wants the glasses, they are going to pay for them, it’s nothing to do with you. Jesus.

Daithi, maybe you’d like to take a few minutes and calm down? Outside.

I looked around the table, 12 or 13 stony faces stared back at me. White coats, white uniforms, some suits and then me, 22 years old and wearing jeans. Okay I’ve always had problems with authority and in particular Doctors. I mean how the hell are they supposed to become normal human beings? They study each evening from the time they go home from school to the day they leave secondary schools just to get the 9 A1s they need to get to college and then in college they have to study all the hours God sends and then in the hospitals they make them work 90 hours a week until they graduate. and people say their bedside manner has deteriorated! Mother of Gods they have the emotional development of an 11 year old so what do you expect?

I held my breath in my mouth. Fuming. Wanting to lash out. Desperately getting control of myself, focusing on a point against the wall. I stood up and slowly put one foot in front of each other until I reached the door. I didn’t look back at all.

I stood outside,heart pounding in my chest, breath shallow. All around me people went on with their busy work. Fuck I’m in trouble now. The door opened, it was Irene, the head Social Worker. She pulled out a packet of fags and nodded outside. We walked and nothing was said. My heart beat faster, I could feel bile rising in the back of my mouth.

Listen you are right, but the way you are going about it is going to get everyone’s backs up, I’m going to be called in to see the Head Consultant now. I’ll smooth it but in the meantime I want you to apologise and while it’s nice to see you getting so passionate you need to calm down and channel it better.
Now go sort out those glasses.

The relief flooded over me, I almost tripped over I ran so fast back to the office. I picked up the phone and rang the Body Positive number
hi Sean? Daithi here from James’ Hospital? yeh let’s go with the raybans, can we get them today, not sure if he’s going to last many more days... cool, I’ll meet you in town.

I’ve never been shopping for Raybans with a gay fella before, its quite a buzz, and of course I was paranoid that all the shop assistants would think we were a couple, and of course they did! but it was a laugh and over a few hours and many shops Sean told me about how he became HIV positive and how he hooked up with the support agency he now worked for, and lurid tales of Catholic bishops in massage parlours and saunas. Of hte priest who collapsed in a notorious ‘gym’ and another priest gave him the last rites before legging it! We did lunch, drank coffee and made friends and discussed Daniel O’ Donnell’s sexual orientation. I laughed so hard latte exited my nose.

Heading back on the bus and staring into the Dublin drizzle I couldn't help feeling that maybe I’d pitched myself in too deep here, I was only a student after all, 22 years old and working in the GUM clinic of St James Hospital. Sadly this has nothing to do with mouths and everything to do with Genito- Urinary Medicine. The clap clinic, ladies and gentlemen. And really I wasn’t handling it oh so well. My head was being blown apart by what I was hearing from people about their lives, their sexual behaviour and the impending death of some of my clients, add to that my pathological fear of hospitals and my complete and utter phobia of hypodermic needles and really my natural arrogance and over confidence had pitched me in the shit again. At least Irene was on my side maybe I’d get out of this with a decent mark after all, maybe one day I would really graduate. Maybe. An maybe I was way way out of my depth, but today wasn’t about me, today I had something important to do, a dying wish to fulfill.

Colin was sitting up in bed, he looked so pale, the karposa’s syndrome covered most of his face with a glaring red rash so he had one fragile hand placed protectively in fornt of his proud face. Vane to the last, fair play to him. His long black hair still shone and his eyes lit up.
Good news?
Good news.
The Scooter?
Not the Scooter.
The Sunglasses?
I grinned as I revealed the raybans from behind my back, he screamed in delight, and threw his arms around me, I could feel his bones beneath his silk pyjamas, I could feel his heart pounding. He felt so fragile, so weak, it reminded me of other people I had known who had died, of my cousin Wendy who died when we were ten, who wasted away with cancer and how we used to push her around in a kiddies buggy near the end. She didn’t take any shit though. Right up until the end she took no shit. He let me go and swung his legs over the side of the bed, I took his forearn and led him onto the floor, stopping only to put on his slippers. He took the glasses reverently and slid them on. A perfect fit.
How do I look?
a million dollars Col, a million dollars.
The whole ward had stopped and were looking.He spoke clear and loud.
Well how do i look?
A big nurse was smiling.
You look great ya eejit.
I could hear people murmuring in agreement.
A mirror, a mirror, get me a mirror.
He hadn’t looked in a mirror for quite some time now.
Oh I look fabulous, thank you, thank you, thank you.
I hugged him again and said I’d see him later. I never did. When I came back on Monday he was dead. As per his last will they buried him in his raybans.

END

and another

START

Goodbye to Jenni

Good man Daithi, fancy some breakfast?
I looked up groggily from the couch. The T.V. was blaring daytime telly, the kitchen door was open and a fella was smiling at me. I guessed he was the one who had asked the question.
Yeh, cheers thanks. Cup of tea would be great, and a bit of toast.
How about a big dirty fry? It was said in a deep southern accent.
oh jesus no. cheers, thanks. god no, dont think my stomach could take it. anyway I’m a veggie.
Ah sure I know that! Just testing. Sure I know all you vegetarians yearn for a bit of bacon. You can you know I wont tell anyone.
Jesus if if I was going to I couldn't stomach it today. What did we get up to anyway?
You mean you dont remember? Ah you’re a good one! Oh there’s some craic ahead when Jennie finds that out. Hoo hoo you are the mutts nuts boy, that you are!
I looked around me at the dishevelled sitting room, table filled with tobacco, cigarette papers, mugs of half drunk tea, empty cans of beer. It looked like quite a night alright.
I tried to get my cold brain started, I remembered smoking with Rosie and Tom in the flat in Portrush, then Fyfe and Harry calling round. Harry saying something about Pete driving to Ballymena to see Charlie to score. I remember getting in the car.. then.. blank. Maybe we had crashed in Ballymena or at some friend of Harry’s.
I thought I’d start off easy I mean the guy obviously knew me so no point freaking him out.
What time of day is it?
About three, you’ve been sleeping away happy since about 9, the others crashed upstairs. I’ll give them a shout in a while and sure we can see what we are going to do with the rest of the day, and tonight.
Great, any idea what day is it then?
What day is it? Jesus you are the boy! oh that’s a good one! its tuesday, no thursday, no saturday, what day is it?! oh you’re funny man.
Right not getting any info there, oh remote control! Press the teletext, no teletext. Fuck.
Oh well, I pulled the cigarette papers towards me, and took out three. I put two to my lips and gently licked the end of them. I stuck them together and turned them flat on the table. I took the other skin, licked it along its length and stuck it to the back of the others, smoothed it down with my fingers.
I looked up, the tea arrived in a strong fist. The fella smiled behind it.
Start as you mean to go on boy, start as you mean to go on.
I nodded and slurped my tea, it hit an empty well of a stomach and the realisation bit that I hadn’t eaten anything for days. Panic tried to rise. I held the mug tightly until I calmed a bit.
I concentrated on rolling the joint, adding the tobacco, crumbling the hash in a fierce meditative manner. I added the roach, sat back and sparked it up. I inhaled deeply, right down into my tantien and felt the calm wave fill my body, out from my centre to my extremities.
Jaysus you’re loving that! Dont be moving in to it boy. Make sure it gets over here.
Time enough yourself boy, the first of the day cant be rushed.
True true, your wise enough Daithi lad. So you dont really remember anything of last night? He had a wry smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
No fuck all. And dont you be making up stories either. Jaysus you know I might have to be thinking of heading home soon...
Home? home? I thought you’d moved in here! He laughed. Jenni wont be happy to hear of you moving back up to the cold north. Anyway sure its not a journey to be starting this late in the day sure it’d be a good 8 hours or so on the bus. how would you get there anyway?
Guess the bus? maybe through Dublin? my heart started to pound in my chest.
Aye Dublin would be sensible. Have you folks you could stop off with?
Oh aye, relief flooded in again, oh aye good mates in Phibsboro.
A girl? he looked intently at me now.
No God no, just mates, the lads. They all play in bands dont know if you’ve heard of any? In Motion, Pet Lamb, The Jubilee Allstars, Dogday?
Ah sure Pet Lamb are great sure they play down here all the time! Oh man they rock! which one do you know?
Dave, the drummer.
Oh jaysus he’s brilliant! Fair play lad. Think I’ve heard of the Jubilee Allstars too, any good?
Great, kind of lo- fi you know?
He nodded. blankly, then stood up.
Right time to wake the posse, you sure you dont remember anything?
If you keep that slagging up I’m fucking off, right?
Fair enough boy, fair enough. He laughed again. A nice laugh in fairness.
So here was the rub, I was bolloxed in the deep south somewhere, no idea where, no idea when and no idea who with, and it looked like I had hooked up with a girl and God above only knew what she looked like but I was about to find out....
A clatter of footsteps on the stairs and one, two, three, four fellas half fell, half ran down the stairs, all in Doc Martens boots, a horrible thought crossed my brain, Jesus no, I couldn't have .. no Jennie couldn't be .. a fella could she?
Your out of luck boy, the beautiful Jennie has already taken herself off to the leisure centre for a swim. Must be keeping herself fit for you like.
Now I had four grinning faces to contend with.
You already smoking boy jesus youre an animal, or so Jennie told us.
Much laughter.
Any breakfast going? the lad at the back spoke.
Get it your fucking self.
Jesus Sean no need to be like that.
Good one name, Sean the fella I’d had breakfast with. I locked it away in my brain.
I fancy a walk lads, get some air in these lungs, anyone up for a stroll.
Jesus no its freezing out there Daithi.
Well sure maybe i’ll walk to the shop, anyone need anything?
We could do with more fags, and skins, and milk at least.
Grand sure I’ll be back in ten. I better take a joint 4 the road.
Good man, good man, one of the other fellas was laughing, no change in you then Daithi boy!
I sat rolled two joints, handed one to Sean.
Here Sean spark that up, see ye in a bit.
Good man Daithi.
I lit my joint, pulled my coat from under a chair and wrapped myself up. I grabbed my hat from under a foot and stuck it on my head.
I opened the door.
I walked down the drive.
Now to find out where I was. An estate, concrete jungle, kids playing on bikes, throwing eggs at each other. Classy. Hey kid. Ignored. Hey kid. The kid stops his bike, lofts his arm with the egg in it. Looks at me, sizes me up, holds fire.
What’s this place called?
He fires the egg. It misses by about an inch. He laughs and rides off.
I stand there for a minute and watch the playing cards attached to his wheel spokes go round clacking. It’s like they are repeating, what a fucking idiot over and over again. I agree.
I head towards what looks like the exit. fortunately after a few hundred yards I see the main road. There’s a bus stop. Cool. I check my pockets. No money. Ah fuck.
There’s a woman at the bus stop.
Excuse me could you tell me the road to Dublin.
Your on it son, she gives me a gentle smile. Go that way.
I look up the long road and see a sign Dublin 96 miles.
Cheers, thanks.
I cross the road, and hold out my thumb and watch cars whizz by in a hazy drug stupor.
After a time a car stopped. I run to catch it and hop in the driver seat.
Thanks very much, are you heading to Dublin?
I am son.
Ah great.
Where you from?
Donegal, Letterkenny.
You’re a long way from home lad, what brought you to Waterford?
Waterford? I wish I knew. I really wish i knew.

END

2007-10-24T05:20:00.001-07:00

2007-10-24T04:54:00.002-07:00

The Last Hour of me at the Fubar is now available as a download click here :

Fubar's Last Hour
it's 70mb.

2007-10-24T04:54:00.001-07:00

Celtronic & Void present Factory Sounds
Saturday November 3rd @ Void, Patrick St, Derry

Gallery One (House/Techno):
Deep Fried Funk DJ's
Paul Brown

Gallery Two (Dub/Reggae/Ska):
Daithi (Cheeba - Letterkenny)
Mark Kenny
Dave McRave
Paul Shaka

Gallery Three (Electronica/Experimental)
Stephen McCauley (Electric Mainline)
Hago (Global Virus)
Vincent O'Callaghan

Doors: 9pm - Late Adm: £5/6
Full Bar Facilities Available

Celtronic and Void join forces to present 'Factory Sounds', an audio-visual spectacular celebrating the cave raves of the 80's/90's. on Saturday November 3rd.

The event marks the closing of Matt Stokes' exhibition 'Now is Early' , which is currently at Void until the 2nd November . 'Now is Early' pays homage to the first rave era, in particular a series of cave raves which took place in the Lake District on the cusp of the 1990s. The exhibition includes glass cases full of rave paraphenalia - flyers, membership cards, cassette tapes, newspaper cuttings plus an exact replica of the sound system used in the Lake District caves.

The event on November 3rd will use all three galleries in Void. Gallery one will feature house and techno with Deep Fried Funk DJ's and Paul Brown. Gallery Two will focus on reggae, dub and ska with Daithi (Cheeba, Letterkenny), Mark Kenny, Dave McRave and Paul Shaka while the third Gallery space will feature a soundtrack of electronica and experimental tracks provided by Stephen McCauley (BBC Electric Mainline), Hago (Global Virus), and Vincent O'Callaghan.

The venue will be transformed throughout with an installation by local artist Ciaran O'Dochartaigh (The Blue Room) and projected visuals by F12.

Void is located at Patrick Street, Derry in the basement of the Old City Factory building. Doors via back entrance to Void. Doors: 9pm - late. Adm: £5/6. Full bar facilities available. Early arrival is advised as numbers are very limited.

2007-10-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

2007-10-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

The Ulster Orchestra

As mentioned in Thursday’s paper the Ulster Orchestra are coming to An Grianan for the first time and with a very fine programme. Their soloist is Emma Johnson. Acclaimed by The Times as ‘Britain's favourite clarinettist’ she began to study the clarinet at the age of nine. In 1984 she won the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition televised throughout Europe and in 1991 was a winner of the Young Concert Artist Auditions in New York. Emma has given master classes all over the world and was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in 1996. Emma Johnson has appeared with many leading orchestras including London Symphony, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, Hallé, Tokyo Philharmonic, Salzburg Camerata and Netherlands Philharmonic in repertoire which includes over forty different concertos. She has sold well over a quarter of a million discs worldwide. Here she will perform the beautiful Mozart's Clarinet Concerto. It’s on Monday 22nd October. To book call 074 91 20777.

Letterkenny Film Club
The Film Club has relocated to the Regional Cultural Centre, that shiny building at the rear of An Grianan, and next up is Days of Glory, a French/ Moroccan, Algerian and Belgian production which took the Best Actor award at Cannes 2006. The blurb goes: With strong visual and even stronger emotions, Rachid Bouchareb’s ‘Day’s of Glory’ makes a powerful war film about a particularly unique subject. World War II historians tend to ignore the contributions and sacrifices made in the liberation of France by North African or ‘indigenous’ soldiers of the French army. It’s at 8pm call 0749129186 for more info.

Damien McGinley exhibition at An Grianan

A roaring success already with over half the pictures sold, Damien McGinley's latest exhibition sees a maturing of style and vision. Where last year’s outing seemed often hesitant and choppy, here a clear mode of execution links all the works. And it works well. Clearly there are strong influences form graphic novels and record and book artwork but whereas last year he aped his heroes here it is clearly only an influence and the work McGinley’s own. Well worth a visit it’s easy to see why so many people have decided to purchase, if he can make these strides in a year it will be interesting to see where he is in five years time. Probably beyond the reach of the pockets of us mere mortals!

Exhibition at the Cristeph

The Cristeph Gallery, on the Port Road just below the theatre, has an exhibition by five women artists opening on 19th October. It features work by Delores Dunleavey, Maria Noonan McDermott, Brigid Birney, Mary Ronayne and Lisa Bond. It will run until 3rd November.

Ross Fine Art, Ramelton

Ross Fine Art is a gallery in the heritage town of Ramelton, County Donegal, which specialises in Irish art and also carries selected artists from abroad. It is owned by the painter Janet Ross who has lived locally for many years. Ross Fine Art also promotes the art of Donegal, and carries a selection of work by widely-known local artists, including Derek Hill, Jacinta Feeney, Trudie Mooney, Wolfram Stumpf and Johnny Boyle. The current exhibition takes up two of the four rooms in the gallery in Mallbridge House (beside Whoriskey’s) , and there's a lot of contrast in the approach taken by the four featured artists.
Fiona McGee's paintings are real charmers and distinctive in both their subject matter and colouring. She rejoices in scenes of brightly-coloured fields, with their grasses and bog cotton and hilly backdrops. Ten of George Putttman’s paintings feature scenes in the Ramelton area, including the famous quay, and there are other charmers from Buncrana and Rathmullan. Gail Warner-Pryce is an artist from Cornwall and most of the paintings on show for the exhibition feature coastal scenes, particularly beaches. Piet Sluis is well-known as a graphic designer and a children's book illustrator and this is reflected in the beautifully-coloured and detailed paintings on show. There’s also a classy new website at www.rossfineart.ie or you can call them on 0749152554.

New Releases from SoulJazz Records

One of the best night’s we had in Letterkenny over the past year was when the fabulous Soul Jazz Records sound System hit town. And as their name would suggest they also have a records label named, funnily enough, Soul Jazz Records. They recently sent me three of their new releases to listen to: Jamaica Funk, The Soul Jazz Singles collection, and Brazil 70. First up is Soul Jazz Records singles, all their single releases over the last two years for the first time on triple CD. It’s quite a broad range with Dancehall, Reggae, Italo-Disco, Baile Funk, Dubstep, German Rock, Post-Punk, Deep Techno and House all featuring. As a flavour of the new releases Soul Jazz do its a good introduction to a label that many thought was only into rereleases. Brazil 70 is the follow up to the superb “Tropicalia: A Revolution in Sound” and takes up exactly where the first volume took off mixing up styles and featuring killer Brazilian tunes all influenced by American and British underground rock music from the early 70s. It follows Brazilian music in the aftermath of Tropicalia as the country’s dictatorship entered its most oppressive phase. Musicians and artists such as Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Tom Ze, Rita Lee (Os Mutantes lead-singer) and Gal Costa entered a new phase mixing rock, funk, samba and soul alongside a wealth of like-minded new artists such as Novos Baianos, Raul Seixas, Nelson Angelo and Joyce (who played at last year’s Errigal Arts Festival) and more. It’s great, shimmy like you’ve won the world cup!
Jamaica Funk, given my own musical preferences was always going to be my favourite of these three. It is a stellar selection of rare Reggae Funk and Soul 45s. Mostly released in Jamaica in the early 1970s, these 45’s feature versions of songs by Betty Wright, Al Green, The Stylistics, Bill Withers, The JBs and more as well as original cuts. Cracking. To buy any of these go to www.souljazzrecords.co.uk or your local music shop!

2007-10-11T07:15:00.001-07:00

An Grianan theatre’s current season is on sale and sales are good, well why wouldn’t they be? Sure it’s only the best season ever, but don’t take my word for it look at these gems coming up:

Ulster Orchestra
The Ulster Orchestra arrive on Monday 22 October .Niklas Willén is the conductorand Emma Johnson, clarinet, is the soloist. Programme:Dag Wirén: Serenade. Mozart: Clarinet Concerto. Stravinsky: Dumbarton Oaks. Haydn: Symphony No. 85, La Reine. Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto with its autumnal tone, easy-going melodies and bubbly finale was his last completed work before his death at the age of 35 – it remains one of his most popular. Who better to play it than Emma Johnson? a former BBC Young Musician of the Year, and now an internationally renowned virtuoso.

Sean Hughes

Sean Hughes is on Thursday 25 October at 8pm. As seen in Coronation Street! At the age of 24, Sean became the youngest comedian ever to win the prestigious Perrier Comedy Award. Now aged 41, but “spiritually 11”, he has enjoyed almost 2 decades at the top of the comedy tree. The Sean Hughes National Tour is a long overdue return to the comedy circuit by one of the best stand-ups of his generation. He has retained his distinctly dark,explosive style, his quick-fire banter with the audience and “his piercing eye for the expectation-flipping one liner” (Evening Standard). More topical than tomorrow’s news, his twisted gaze can fall upon anything and everything, from dog death to his love of teenage indie pop. No two nights with Sean are ever the same - each one, an original and authenticated masterpiece, never to be seen again…After so long away from his natural habitat Sean is returning to his first love…stand up comedy.

Druid Theatre Company
Druid Theatre Company, Ireland’s leading theatre Company return to An Grianan this time with the funny ‘My Brilliant Divorce’ on Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 November at 8pm. Druid's third production of Geraldine Aron's hilarious but poignant story sees Deirdre O' Kane take over the role previously played by Glenne Headley and Dawn French. Angela has been recently deserted by her accountant husband for a younger model and finds herself adrift in a sea of weird encounters, sneaky solicitors, phone-in counsellors, and a bad case of hypochondria! Should she fight to keep her husband? Or should she sign the final papers and move on? Come see why it was such a hit in London's West End... The Letterkenny performances kindly sponsored by La Maison, Canal Road, Letterkenny.

Rough Magic
Another first for us as the wonderful Rough Magic bring us Improbable Frequency on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 November at 8pm. By Arthur Riordan and Bell Helicopter and Directed by the superb Lynne Parker.
It’s the Winner of three Irish Times Theatre Awards including Best Production and Best Director, Improbable Frequency is a joyous surreal satire that lifts the lid on Ireland’s beloved neutrality and cuts to the heart of the tempestuous affair with its nearest neighbour – England!
It’s 1941. Europe is at war and espionage is the front line. As the rest of the world gets on with the small matter of the Second World War, Dublin’s lights burn flagrantly and Europe’s intellectual elite has come to play. But suspicious messages on a radio-request show have drawn the attention of M15 and a diffident young code-breaker is dispatched to Dublin to determine which side neutral Ireland is really on.

To book, get a brochure, or ask any questions call the Box Office on 074 9120777 or go online at www.angrianan.com

Warhol Exhibition

The Model in Sligo have been doing wonderful things for a few years now and this latest talking point is a Warhol exhibition. Now I’m a big big Warhol fan, well everyone in Marketing should be because he basically wrote the rule book! This major exhibition marks the work of Andy Warhol and those involved in his expansive studio, the Factory. It presents the Factory as a centre of experimental art production and will bring some of the most important work emerging from the studio during that time to Ireland including film, painting, photography, sculpture, music and books. During this period Warhol expanded his practice into a collaboration with the seminal band the Velvet Underground and the exhibition will include films and music resulting from this collaboration. As a reflection of the multi-disciplinary nature of the Factory it will also include key screen-prints from the period including the Electric Chair and Photo Booth series, the ‘disposable’ Silver Cloud sculptures, and a large collection of iconic photographs documenting the Factory taken by Billy Name, Stephen Shore and Nat Finkelstein.
Many of these works have not been seen in Ireland before and this exhibition presents a rare opportunity to address the creative legacy of Warhol and those artists working with him during this extraordinarily productive period of the Factory’s history. The exhibition will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue with essays by Jan Winkelmann and Francis McKee. There will be associated seasons of talks, film and music to coincide with The Eternal Now. Call the Model on 071- 9141405 or surf to www.modelart.ie

Damien Dempsey at the Balor

Damien Dempsey returns to the Balor for the third year running. It says in the press release: One of Irelands most talented songwriters and compelling live performers, Damiens brand of hard urban folk is a natural fit with the Balors surroundings. It's a rare treat to see a natural performer who regularly sells out 1,000 seater venues in such an intimate setting as the Balor. Damiens annual Balor gigs are always an experience - this year especially so as it will be his last performance in the old 'Ritz Cinema' Balor before the theatre moves to new premises in early '08.For Bookings and more information contact the Balor on 074 91 31840. Me I’m no fan of Dempsey’s ‘Christy Moore if he came from Dublin’ style sing a longs but I know a lot of people do like him.

Regional Cultural Centre Exhibition
Irish Art 1947-1974, The Great Southern, 2nd October - 21 December 2007. Donegal is privileged to host this significant National collection of Irish Art 1947-1974. It features many of Ireland’s leading 2oth Century artists including: George Campbell, Anne Madden, Patrick Collins, Norah McGuinness, Nano Reid, and Patrick Scott. The collection was originally assembled when Great Southern Hotels were in public ownership, as is one of the best known and widely admired modern art collections in Ireland. It is loaned to us by the Crawford Gallery in Cork. The exhibition will be accompanied by a comprehensive education programme aimed at both Secondary and Primary students.

Film Club at the Regional Cultural Centre
The autumn film programme begins on Thursday 4th October at 8pm with ‘Moliere’, a lavish costume drama that imagines what happened when the French playwright mysteriously disappeared in 1644. ‘Romance, creativity, subterfuge and repartee are among the pleasures to be had in this consistently diverting, bittersweet costumer’ (Variety). And it’s film night, every Thursday at 8pm until 6 December, with a jam packed programme of the most acclaimed new international films, right here in Letterkenny. Call them on 074 91 29186.

Contact: get me on chiba at eircom dot net. or see me djing in the Central each and every Friday night. Musically this week its all about the Jamaican Funk.

2007-09-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

Just to let everyone now that the tickets for the Hot Chip dj gig are flying. But I will be holding back 250 for the door because so many people are travelling back for it and I want them all to be able ot get in. Cheers. Daithi. oh and doors are 10pm.

2007-08-30T04:10:00.000-07:00

The Last Days of Daithi's Disco...

After 9 years I'm leaving the Orchard, coinciding with it being sold, here's our closing party, tickets now on sale from Universal Records in the square priced 12 Euros. The door price will be 15 Euros.

Hot Chip are huge at the moment so it seems a fitting way to end nine years of djing in the Orchard, it kind of brings it round to where we started. After the Downtown closed there was very little happening in the town and myself and Mick Canney spent a long time looking at possible venues and talking to venue owners. The one place that impressed us was the Cell at the Orchard. It was only a pub at the time but the Dunnion brothers, Packie and Brendan, were up for us trying to turn it into a nightspot and I must say over the nine years I’ve been there the boys have been fabulous to work with. Its very rare in this game you would get the mutual respect, co-operation and support that i’ve had from them which is why I’ve felt that same loyalty to them. But with them calling it a day and moving on I feel it is time for me to as well. I don’t know who the new owners are and what they will want to do but I think its time me, and the people who come dancing to me, moved off and tried something else. There are a few more possible venues now in town than there were then so the options are open, let’s face it if you can bring 300 people on a Friday night you aren’t going to be stuck! But its important for me that it’s a venue that understands what we do and what the crowd are about. I’ve heard of other venues where girls regularly get gropped on their way to the bar, well that’s not for us! Our crowd is laid back, cool and respectful, there are never any fights and if I see anyone getting out of hand I will go and have words. On any given night I will know 90% of them personally so its easy for me. I don’t see them as punters or customers they re my people! Maybe that seems hippyish but I really view it as a family, we are the people who love music, really love and are knowledgeable about music, all genres, and because of that we have a bond. Course we like having a good time too! I always see my d.j. sets as one big party, let’s face it if there’s no fun what’s the point?
For the first three years Mick and I ran Cheeba, basically a dance club, but before all the other venues did dance. And we concentrated on the quality end of it. We had Phil Kieran, Johnny Moy, Lewis from the Orb, San Deep from The End, jon Carter, and of course the famous David Holmes gig! What a night that was, and to think he is in Hollywood doing soundtracks now. I bumped into him in Belfast about a year ago and he was raving about what a wonderful time he had had that night in Letterkenny. Back them I used to do the 'chill out' room, playing everything from Ella Fitzgerald to early FatBoy Slim to Ennio Morricone western soundtracks! Its an ethos I've kept with me although now of ocurse I do need to get people dancing but I will play anything as long as it fits into my idea of 'good' music. To me there's only two types of music: good and bad. It doesn't matter to me how popular or unpopular a track is its just a matter of how it fits and how much I like it. At the moment some people can't understand why I will play Justin Timberlake and not Mika, well I don't like Mika (didn't like Queen in the first place anyway!) and that's reason enough for me to not play it. I'm not a jukebox, I'm the selector, my only role is to choose the records, as I always say I don't take requests but I will listen to suggestions: sometimes what people ask you for throws things in a whole unexpected direction with is great! When Cheeba had run its course and the cell became the Fubar Packie asked me to stay on as one of the residents and I spent a few years in the back room until this year when I moved out into the front room. A couple of years ago I moved to doing both Friday and Saturdays, and now its Friday which is the biggest night, which I do along with Marty Clampett, maybe its because its two for the price of one or maybe its because it’s free in! We like to see what we do as alternative, with a small a, we are different not so much in the tunes we play although there is that, but in attitude and I think that's what people respond to. We now have a huge crowd of regulars which is great. The Hot Chip gig was actually supposed to be the start of a monthly club in conjunction with Derry’s Deep Fried Funk, who are really good mates of mine, but instead its going to be the end of things at the Orchard. I’m not sad though, more looking forward to what’s around the corner, it’s exciting!

2007-08-14T07:51:00.000-07:00

2007-08-09T03:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts busy busy time with the Arts Fest and all. Next up its Hot Chip in the Orchard on Fri 14 Sept.

Here's the details:

Daithi & Deep Fried Funk Present:

Hot Chip Dj Kicks

Fri 14 Sept

Club Ensanity, The Orchard, High Road, Letterkenny

Hot Chip (dj Set)
Deep Fried Funk Djs
Dj Dano

Tunes from 10pm until late.

Advance tickets 12 euros/ Pay at the Door 15 Euros

Tickets available from Universal records in the Market Square in Letterkenny