MIKE ARRIGAN, the Galway drummer, music teacher, and mentor, who died last year, will be remembered and celebrated with a major show at the Town Hall Theatre in January.
The Musical Life of Mike Arrigan, on Thursday January 26 at 8pm, tells the story of Mike's musical life from the 1970s to the 2000s, and pays tribute to his talent, teachings, and contribution to the Galway music scene.
The show, narrated by Paraic Breathnach, will open with a spectacular drumming display involving four drum kits. There will be a glamrock scene and an Apache scene. The Galway Contemporary School of Music will perform 'Dance with the Devil'; the original Macnas Drummers will perform, along with The Elastic Band, The Buzz, The FUZE, Wherestheone, Freebird, Oddity, and others.
Mike was born in 1958 and grew up in Renmore Park. His first drum kit was made of cardboard boxes, timber, and basins. He went to America for a time and studied under Gary Chaffee, a world renowned music theory teacher. Returning to Galway, Mike and his wife Jackie founded The Galway Contemporary School of Music. Mike also co-founded the Macnas Drummers. He entered the Irish charts on two occasions, with The FUZE (who supported U2 in the early 1980s - check video of the band below ) and with The Contemporary School of Music.
Tickets are €20 via the Town Hall (091 - 569777, www.tht.ie ) with all proceeds going to the Galway Branch of the Irish Guide Dogs. See also A Tribute to Mike on Facebook.
