Ireland Concerts
Mundy and Me
Yep, that’s me playing mandolin onstage with Mundy.
The Sarah Ryan benefit concert was a resounding success - the proceeds were enough that our favourite 6-year-old will be heading to the U.S. of A for the treatment that may someday allow her to walk.
Awesome. Fair play to Charlie McGettigan, Fiach, Mundy and especially to Emer (who put the whole thing together). Knowing that there are people who will go out of their way to make a difference in a little girl’s life is an awesome feeling. Well done to everyone who participated and everyone who bought tickets to the show.
Man, I was so nervous in the days leading up to the show. I was such a basket case that Wifey actually kicked me out of the house the evening before.
Date: September 4th, 2007 |
No Comments
Fund-raiser for the Athlone School of Music
As anyone who was in the Palace Friday night can tell you - there is a whole lot of music to be had here in Athlone town.
With very few places to play, the GLUT of folks in attendance at the Athlone School of Music fundraiser event practically screams for a proper venue here in town. The Palace Bar is one of the few places full rock outfits can play, but the sound and capacity of the venue still leaves a lot to be desired. For the night there were two stages - one on each floor - and you could hardly move through the crowd.
Date: August 5th, 2007 |
2 comments
5 Finger Discount at the Stables in Mullingar
So, last night the bean and I in our capacity as Five Finger Discount packed up the wagon and headed out to The Stables in Mullingar to play an evening of music.
It was a bit of a thrown-together affair and the bean and I were debating on the trip up whether we should split the evening between our original material or just jam a few cover tunes. As it turned out, we did a bit of both.
Date: July 27th, 2007 |
No Comments
Kerbside in the Castle
This past Saturday I think I had one of the most exhilarating musical experiences of my life.
Just look at the schoolmaster and I and all the RAWK in the picture to your left there - awesome. Cheers to local photographer David Walsh for a great shot.
To put it mildly, our gig in Athlone Castle this weekend went very, very well. Wifey had cautioned me that she’d be getting dolled up for the concert, so I realised my usual high-class and fashionably elite t-shirt and jeans combination mightn’t suit. Yes, I sadly lack any sense of personal style. This being the case I consulted the mighty fashion oracle that is ciachicken. It was with a mischievous grin and great relish that she doled out her advice.
And so it was that I found myself, guitar in hand, clad in rented black tux and dickie bow backstage. My contribution to said look was to forego any footwear, prompting the MC to comment,
Date: July 16th, 2007 |
2 comments
Kerbside at The Passion Lounge
There’s a great thing happening down in Tullamore once a month called The Passion Lounge Sessions.
With a professional lighting, audio and video set-up, this intimate acoustic performance space attracts original Irish performers from all over the country. Kerbside (that is to say, yours truly and the wifey) were invited to play last Friday’s show in the good company of Bill Coleman and Jimi Cullen. It was good to see the lads and share the stage with our old friends and, as usual, getting to see them perform was a privilege.
Date: June 6th, 2007 |
No Comments
Mundy plays charity concert in Athlone
A good friend of mine gave me a shout yesterday to ask if I would mention a charity concert she’s arranging for Sarah Ryan, a handicapped girl from Birr she works with.
It all started with a phone call to Mundy, whom those of you not familiar with the Irish music scene will remember from the profile I did on him some months ago, to see if he might be willing to help out. It turns out - how’s this for coincidence - that Mundy actually knows the little girl’s mom quite well (he is, after all, FROM Birr) and agreed immediately to play!
How awesome is that?
So, here’s the skinny:
Date: August 15th, 2007 |
No Comments
Kerbside at the Passion Lounge
You may recall that last month we (Kerbside, that is) played a show in Tullamore at a monthly event called The Passion Lounge Sessions. Well, true to their word, the lads down in Offaly have edited the video of the evening and selected one of our performances to make available on mySpace videos. While I don’t think it was the best number of the night (aren’t we always our own worst critic?), I was surprised it didn’t come off too bad:
Kerbside at The Passion Lounge Sessions
Date: July 29th, 2007 |
No Comments
The Fabulous Bonker Boys
One of my initial firsthand impressions of Ireland and her music scene was attending some Fabulous Bonker Boys shows.
The Fabulous Bonker Boys are a collection of frighteningly talented, hard-playing, hard-drinking Irish musicians covering a range of Celtic music with rock ‘n roll sensibilities. Not the sort of band you want to meet in a dark alley, the Bonker Boys are fronted by the powerful, bullhorn-voiced Jock whose head is overflowing with everything from traditional ballads to Thin Lizzy.
Date: July 19th, 2007 |
No Comments
Filmore East rocks Athlone Castle
They might not have been the band listed on the tickets. They might not have been able to start playing as early as advertised, but last night Filmore East, a Moate-based blues/rock band took to the just-erected stage in Athlone Castle and became the first rock band in Athlone history to play in the castle.
I know it’s a bit dark, but look at that photo there to the left - the lit stage, the lights shining on the river Shannon below - what an awesome venue for a concert.
Date: July 14th, 2007 |
No Comments
