Latest news with #JohnSpillane
Irish Examiner
11 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.
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
RTE to host talent show which pairs up local musicians with well-known artists
RTE are set to air a new talent show that will pair up-and-coming musicians with known Irish artists, helping them organise and perform their first gig, in their hometown. An Ghig Mhór will air from Monday 9 June, 8pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. In each episode, a renowned Irish musician mentors an up-and-coming band and helps them to organise their first big gig in their hometown. From the sitting room to the stage, the series follows the bands as they attempt to find a venue, sell tickets and deliver the performance of a lifetime. An Ghig Mhór provides a platform to new emerging Irish bands and shines a light on the hard work, creativity and dedication that goes into putting on your own gig. From Donegal to Kilkenny, the series showcases a different town and band each week. Folk singer John Spillane will share his expertise with The Donny's, a five-piece rock band from Kilkenny. Singer-songwriter Eve Belle from Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal will work with fellow Gaoth Dobhair singer Hannah Mc Fadden, and her band Hannah B. Kíla's Rónán Ó Snodaigh will mentor band Leevy from the Múscraí Gaeltacht in Cork, who perform a unique blend of folk-rock and punk with traditional Irish undertones. Krea, a former member of Wyvern Lingo will guide all-female punk rockers The Hex from Lexlip, Kildare. Hip-hop duo Tebi Rex will mentor Conamara rock band Na hEasógaí. The band fuse their own sean nós Conamara style with rock and contemporary influences. Finally, singer and guitarist Síomha will advise Coolboy, a four-piece rock band from Laois. Each band has their own unique sound and performs in English and Irish. Every band wants to headline Slane, or sell-out Croke Park, but the first step on that ladder is performing your first big gig in your hometown. An Ghig Mhór offers a platform to the next generation of Irish musical talent, with their mentors, family, friends and their home communities encouraging them every step of the way.
Irish Examiner
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
John Spillane among community heroes honoured at Lord Mayor's awards ceremony
Folk legend John Spillane has been honoured for his remarkable contribution to Cork's cultural life, and migrant support group Nasc has been honoured for its tireless integration work, as the city recognised its civic leaders. Lord Mayor Dan Boyle presented Mr Spillane with the 2025 culture award as he hosted the Lord Mayor's Community and Voluntary awards ceremony in City Hall on Wednesday to recognise the contribution of various individuals or organisations to the life of the city. Among the winners of the six civic awards were Sanctuary Runners founder Graham Clifford for his work promoting solidarity and inclusion through sport. Musician Jimmy Crowley was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the musical landscape of Cork, as a collector and performer of the city's cultural heritage. Joanna Dukkipati was honoured for her commitment to supporting and empowering migrant communities through encouraging cultural expression, while Nora O'Donovan was presented with an award for her advocacy and efforts in championing the rights of older people in Cork. Siobhán O'Dowd was recognised of her long-term contributions to community development, inclusion, lifelong learning and LGBT+ activism in Cork, while environmentalist Maria Young was honoured for her dedication to environmental sustainability and her encouragement to all to work with and interact with nature. Mr Boyle said the civic awards are an opportunity for him to pick just six from the many hundreds he could have chosen, not for any one event or occasion but for a lifetime of dedication and service in the common good. 'And for every six I could have chosen, there could have been 600 others,' he said. We have all been touched or had our lives enriched by the work of one or more of tonight's community award winners and this is the location and occasion to acknowledge and recognise that. He paid special tribute to John Spillane's contribution to the city and to the world of music and culture, for his lifelong contribution to the popularising of the Irish language and the mythology, music and storytelling of Ireland. 'John Spillane is a man at the height of his creativity, energy and enthusiasm,' he said. 'This then is not so much a lifetime achievement award as a 'watch this space' award. 'John has given us so much and has so much left to give and it is only fitting then that we recognise this in a special way this evening.' Mr Boyle presented his 2025 community and voluntary awards to groups in various categories, including: The Mexican Community Cork, in the arts, culture recreation and heritage category, The Save Our Bride Otters campaign group in the climate action, active travel and sustainable development category, The Clogheen Kerry Pike Community Association in the community development and lifelong learning category, Mayfield Men's Shed in the recreation, sport, health and wellbeing category, Cycling for All Cork in the social inclusion, advocacy and integration category, The Hut Youth Project in the social services, charities and environment category. However, he named Nasc as the overall winner of the community and voluntary awards. Council chief executive Valerie O'Sullivan said while the council is an important presence in the community, it is not the sole means for making improvements in the community. 'Your presence tonight is a very important recognition of the fact you, the community, are the activists on the ground that plot and plan how to improve your area,' she said. Read More Cork sports retailer is running to a new location of its own
