The Blizzards live in Castlebar

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

The Blizzards need no introduction. The band's profile has soared since the release of their platinum selling debut album, A Public Display of Affection. Songs such as ‘Trouble’, ‘Fantasy’, and ‘Miss Fantasia Preaches’ became instant chart hits. They capped off a fantastic 2007 with two sold out shows at Dublin's Ambassador Theatre. Last year they also played, for the first time, on the main stage at Oxegen, a performance which earned them the title of Best Live Act at this year’s Meteor Awards in February.

The lead single from The Domino Effect, the hit single ‘Trust Me I'm A Doctor’, was a Blizzards’ trademark blend of punk, ska, and pop which kicked off another epidemic of Blizzards’ fever. For production duties, the band enlisted the services once again of uber producer Michael Beinhorn (Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Marilyn Manson). Together they have teased the group's strengths — humour, harmonies, and passion — and brought them to the foreground where they are impossible to ignore. This promises to be one energetic show of non stop entertainment, The Blizzards will play the Royal Theatre on Saturday April 18. Tickets are available from €28 on www.ticketmaster.ie as well as from The Royal Box Office on 0818 300 000. For further information check www.theroyal.ie or www.ticketmaster.ie

Duck Baker leads the line-up at the Linenhall

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

Duck Baker, one of the most highly regarded finger style guitarists of his generation, performs at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Monday April 20 at 8pm. Born Richard R Baker IV in Richmond, Virginia, ‘Duck’ is unique among jazz guitarists in that his repertoire spans the entire history of music from ragtime through swing to modern masters like Thelonious Monk and Herbie Nichols and into free improvisation. His devotion to American music, also encompasses more traditional forms like blues, gospel, Appalachian music, and its Scots-Irish ancestry. Duck’s extensive discography reflects the diversity and quality of his musical talent, as do collaborations with the likes of bluesmen Charlie Musselwhite and Jerry Ricks, bluegrass’s Tim O'Brien and Dan Crary, traditionalists Ali Anderson and Brian MacNeil, new music icon John Zorn, rock legend JJ Cale, Irish fiddler Kieran Fahy, and guitarists Jamie Findlay, Woody Mann, and Ken Emerson. A chance to see a true original in the flesh. Don’t miss it. Duck Baker performs at the Linenhall Arts Centre on Monday April 20 at 8pm. Booking is advised.

Ray LaMontagne to play the Royal Theatre

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

One of the most distinctive voices in music, lauded singer/songwriter and Brit Award nominee, Ray LaMontagne released his much-anticipated third album, Gossip In The Grain, last October to great praise, and with hit songs like “You are the Best Thing” it is easy to see why.

New play from St Patrick’s drama group

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

After the recent resounding success of THEM in both Westport and London, St Patrick’s Drama Group are back with a new production. This time they stage The Telephone Exchange by Niamh Gleeson in the Wyatt Hotel, Westport, from Wednesday April 15 to Saturday April 18.

The Telephone Exchange tells the story of four women working in a suburban Dublin telephone exchange in the early 1960s. It follows the lives and loves of four telephone operators and could be set in any telephone exchange in the country. It is both comic and tragic as it focuses on the different lives and loves of four Irish women. It is an irreverent, joyful, look at women’s lives in the 1960s. Stylistically the play is brilliant and well worth catching. The cast of four bring a wealth of talent to the stage. In keeping with the group’s tradition of encouraging new actors the cast includes an addition to the group. Taking part are Bernie Byrne, Marian Dyar, Mairéad Ryan, and newcomer Edel O’Malley. Each actor takes on a number of parts to great effect. Listening in on some of the various phone calls leads to hilarious results.

Sarah McQuaid at Ballina Arts Centre

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

Ballina Arts Centre is delighted to announce a concert featuring acclaimed singer/guitarist Sarah McQuaid on Thursday April 16 at 8pm. Tickets are €12 / €10 (concession) and can be purchased from Ballina Arts Centre or by ringing 096 73593.

Come on up for the rising this Easter at Finbar Hoban PresentsCome on up for the rising this Easter

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

The Easter Rising Show on Saturday April 11 at Bar Ritz on April 11 promises to bring the best live entertainment to Castlebar over the bank holiday weekend as Finbar Hoban Presents… Dirty Epics along with support from Ballyhaunis group The Zen Yetis and local Castlebar group Alien Orphan.

The Royal Theatre to transform into Fossett’s circus

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

The Royal Theatre once again will transform its venue, this time to play host to the first indoor Fossett’s circus. For the first time in 121 years Fossett’s will abandon the Big Top and entertain their audience in the comfortable setting of the Royal Theatre Castlebar.

A week long show of indoor entertainment and fun will take place in the Royal Theatre from Tuesday April 14 to Friday April 19. There will be three shows per day at 12 noon, 3.30pm, and 7.30pm. There is also a chance for you to become involved as they are looking for someone to become a ringmaster for the day.

Sarah McQuaid at Ballina Arts Centre

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

Ballina Arts Centre is delighted to announce a concert featuring acclaimed singer/guitarist Sarah McQuaid on Thursday April 16 at 8pm. Tickets are €12 / €10 (concession) and can be purchased from Ballina Arts Centre or by ringing 096 73593.

Westport House’s Pirate Adventure Park Competition

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

For those looking for the perfect value for money family day out, look no further than Westport House and its recently rebranded Pirate Adventure Park — ‘a treasure trove of family fun’. Built on the ruins of a former castle of legendary pirate queen Grace O’Malley and still owned by her direct descendants, this magnificent house and fun-packed Pirate Adventure Park has something to appeal to everyone, young or old.

And with great value family season tickets available from as little as €100 for one adults and two children or €200 for two adults and four children – that’s less than €1 a day – you can have unlimited fun and enchantment for less despite the recession! If you buy a normal family ticket you can also redeem the cost of it off a season ticket.

Oh What a Lovely War!

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

Described as “a work of genius”, Bruiser Theatre Company brings its dazzling production of Oh What A Lovely War! to the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Monday April 6 at 8pm.

Five Women, five stories, one common thread, a hilarious and intimate look at motherhood

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

The smash-hit, sell out, comedy for anyone who ever had a mother, starring Adéle King, Mum's the Word, portrays a passionate illustration of the joys and agonies of parenting. If you're a mother or father or even loosely related to one, this hysterically funny and poignant collection of issues will touch you in some way. Originally produced in Canada, the award-winning theatrical phenomenon was written by six mothers and has received critical acclaim and attracted sell-out audiences throughout Australia and Canada and across Europe, as well as resounding success at the 2001 Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. It deals in shocking detail with all the important elements of childrearing with which those who are already parents will immediately identify, including every parent’s daily immersion in “bathwater, food, spit, snot, blood, vomit, urine, and faeces”. This is a brutally honest, wickedly funny, and exceptionally touching play about parenting — and we've all put someone through it. The show starts at 8.30pm. Tickets are available from €25 on www.ticketmaster.ie as well as from The Royal box office on 0818 300 000. For further information check The Royal Theatre and Event Centre website on: www.theroyal.ie or www.ticketmaster.ie.

Gary Robinson exhibition

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

Opening tonight Friday April 3 is In-between Lines and Circles, an exhibition of recent landscape paintings by Longford-based artist Gary Robinson. In Gary’s own words, “These new paintings are an attempt to simplify our already overflowing visual memory. I would like to involve the viewer in looking at landscapes, streetscapes, and inscapes through portals and openings that can easily go unnoticed.”

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