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Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
TV Review: An Ghig Mhór sees John Spillane offer The Donnys some tough love
There is a bit of a niggle in the first episode of An Ghig Mhór (RTÉ One and RTÉ Player). The idea is an experienced success story on the Irish music scene mentors a young artist or band, as they prepare for their first big gig. The opening episode has Cork's John Spillane keeping an eye on Kilkenny band The Donnys. The Donnys: "To show the band their '70s rock vibe would appeal to people who grew up listening to Led Zeppelin, Spillane (or more likely the show producers) decided they should visit, wait for it, a group of Irish soldiers who served overseas with the U.N." It works because they don't exactly get on. This isn't a Cork and Kilkenny clash. It's a generation thing. Spillane has been in the music business for 43 years. The keyboard in The Donnys is too young to drive himself to rehearsals. There is a bit of a class tension as well. The Donnys seem a bit posh, they don't really have an accent. No one would accuse John Spillane of lacking an accent. So when they tell him they have put up five posters for their debut gig in a Kilkenny night-club, he calls them lazy and says it should be 50. Next thing you know Spillane is handing out flyers to middle-aged men in Kilkenny with the band watching on muttering that most of their fanbase is young and online. It's all starting to sour between mentor and Donnys. John Spillane, onstage at the Lord Mayor's Civic, Culture Community & Voluntary, and Culture Awards Ceremony 2025: a different world from Ireland's indie and rock venues. Picture: Larry Cummins ROCK 'N' ROLL ADVISORY To show the band their '70s rock vibe would appeal to people who grew up listening to Led Zeppelin, Spillane (or more likely the show producers) decided they should visit, wait for it, a group of Irish soldiers who served overseas with the U.N. The Donnys: "They are probably going to make it with or without advice from John Spillane." This was the only misstep in the show – it felt like the veterans were hanging around from another documentary, possibly about Irish people who served overseas with the U.N., and RTÉ decided to get a bit more value out of them. In fairness, time spent with some peacekeepers seemed to break some of the ice between Spillane and the band, and it was all systems go in the run up to the big gig. The Donnys were unreal when it came to showtime, lashing into the rock god cliches, with topless lead-singers and guitar solos in front of some admiring girls. Spillane (who gives great telly) is well impressed, saying he didn't expect them to be this good. In fairness, it wasn't really their first big gig, a quick Google shows they have played support slots with The Undertones and The Stunning. They are probably going to make it with or without advice from John Spillane. But this show is well worth it for Spillane's no-filter take on life, along with a reminder you don't really want rock and roll stars taking advice from their elders.
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Festival puts positivity back into Peterborough
Music, culture and diversity have been celebrated this weekend as a festival "puts positivity" back into a city, according to the director of an arts organisation. The free two-day event, Peterborough Celebrates, drew large crowds to Ferry Meadows on Saturday with this year's theme in support of Campbell, director of the arts group Metal, said: "Sometimes Peterborough gets a bad reputation but what this festival is about celebrating Peterborough."Visitors have been able to enjoy performances ranging from hip hop to circus to traditional Asian dance acts. "Peterborough festival is phenomenal for what it does for community engagement – it's a fun time, make sure you come down," said Shaun Patterson of local organisation Culture Community."It's really diverse, with varied acts – and it showcases homegrown talents."There's a really good crowd: people of all ages, from babies to people in their 80s. I would say Peterborough is being represented in its best format today. "There is something for everyone," said host and BBC presenter Amir Suleman. Mr Patterson said it had been "amazing seeing kids engage in the arts and watch their creativity come out" as people made masks and other arts and Community, which runs black history sessions in the city, was one of many local organisations taking Patterson said the organisation was looking ahead to a similar event in August."It is the first time in over 40 years that we will have had a carnival in Peterborough. It means so much to the community - the Caribbean community here is longstanding."A lot of it ties in with my parents' and grandparents' age, so I'm looking forward to having that for my children and future generations to come," he said. Ms Campbell said the group had been "looking to uncover positive stories about Peterborough, hidden stories" during the festival."People can draw or write them on a postcard and add them to the installation, to celebrate these amazing stories." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
