Latest news with #TheWaterboys
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Picture This to open Live at the Marquee Cork's 20th run
Picture This will kick off Live at the Marquee Cork 2025, which marks the 20th anniversary of the summer music festival. The rock band will open the festival when they take to the stage on Wednesday, 25 June. The Coronas, Christy Moore, The Waterboys, Olly Murs, Kingfishr, Amble, The Mary Wallopers and Cian Ducrot are among the musical acts also set to perform this year. Comedians Dara Ó Briain, Tommy Tiernan and Michael McIntyre and former footballer Roy Keane in conversation with Roddy Doyle are also on this year's billing. The first artist to ever play Live at the Marquee was the legendary Brian Wilson at the festival's inception in 2005, in which the Marquee hosted 12 shows. Since then, over 1,750,000 people have attended gigs at the annual festival. This year, Live at the Marquee Cork will host a record-breaking 28 shows.
Extra.ie
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Gavin James to perform at Live at the Breakwater concert series this August
Tickets will be available below. Gavin James will perform at Live at the Breakwater on August 2 in Wexford. Pre-sale begins on May 22 at 9 a.m., with general sales kicking off on May 23 at 10 a.m. Under 14s can enter for free when accompanied by an adult. The venue's concert series will take place between July 31 and August 9. Other headline acts include Amble, The Waterboys, Moncrieff and Jax Jones. 'We're absolutely thrilled to announce Gavin James as the final addition to this summer's Live at The Breakwater lineup said Brian Byrne of Wexford-based promoter Lantern. 'Set against the iconic waterfront of Wexford town, this year marks the second edition of the series, and with two additional dates, it is bigger and better than ever. The skyline view from Wexford looking over is something we're incredibly proud of, and we can't wait to share it with audiences again this July and August.' James has sold over 250,000 tickets worldwide, performing across Europe, Australia and the UK. His new single, Cherry Cola, will be released later in June, preceding the release of his upcoming album. 'I'm delighted to be returning with my band to Wexford to play the big top at Breakwater!' he said. Tickets will be available here.
RTÉ News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Gavin James to play summer gig in Wexford as part of Live at the Breakwater series
Gavin James is set to play a gig in Wexford this summer as part of the Live at the Breakwater concert series. The Irish singer-songwriter will take to the stage under Live at the Breakwater's big top tent in Ferrybank on Saturday, 2 August. Tickets go on sale on Friday, 23 May at 10am. This will be James' biggest Wexford concert to date. James said of the gig: "I'm delighted to be returning with my band to Wexford to play the big top at Breakwater!" Fresh from playing sold-out shows on his UK, European and Australian tours, James is set to release his new single Cherry Cola this June, ahead of a new album of original material. The Dublin-born musician has gone from busking and performing in pubs to selling more than 250,000 tickets worldwide. Live at the Breakwater is an all-ages show, and under 14s, who must be accompanied by an adult, go free to the concert. James is the final headline act to be announced for Live at the Breakwater, Wexford's flagship summer concert series, which takes place from 31 July - 9 August. As well as James, the line-up includes Amble, The Waterboys, Moncrieff and Jax Jones, with special guests New Era and Chasing Abbey.
Irish Post
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
Sharon Shannon to top the bill at Páirc 2025
INDEPENDENT Birmingham Irish festival Páirc Summers Series will be celebrating Irish music and culture along with Midlands heritage this summer. The event runs from August 23 to 24 at the King's Heath Irish Centre grounds on 205 Wheelers Lane, King's Heath, Birmingham. The two-day outdoor festival will see bands from across Ireland and Britain perform. Headliners include The Sharon Shannon Big Band, The Saw Doctors and Nathan Carter, supported by some of the top names in traditional and Irish folk music. Sharon Shannon will perform at the Páirc Summer Series Sharon Shannon: the accordion virtuoso who took Irish music worldwide SHARON SHANNON, from the village of Ruan, County Clare, is one of Ireland's most innovative musicians. Best known for her dazzling mastery of the button accordion and melodeon, Shannon has carved a singular path through the music world, blending the traditional with unexpected musical byways, and bringing Irish music to global audiences in fresh, dynamic ways. Shannon was steeped in music from a young age. Growing up in a musical family, she took up the accordion at just eight years old. By the age of 14, she was already touring the United States as a member of the group Disirt Tola. She honed her skills with tuition from respected musicians such as Karen Tweed on accordion and Frank Custy on fiddle, and as a teenager she co-founded the band Arcady, marking her first steps into the professional music scene. By the end of the 1980s she was missing with a huge range of musicians including Adam Clayton of U2 and Mike Scott of The Waterboys. That connection led to an 18-month stint with The Waterboys, during which she toured internationally and contributed significantly to their acclaimed Room to Roam album. It was during this period that Shannon's distinctive style began to flourish. Her departure from The Waterboys marked the beginning of her solo career. In 1991, she released her self-titled debut album, Sharon Shannon , which — and it's a well-documented claim —remains the best-selling traditional Irish music album ever in Ireland. Shannon's reputation soared further the following year with her contribution to A Woman's Heart , the landmark 1992 compilation that brought together six of Ireland's leading female artists. Selling over 750,000 copies, it became the best-selling album in Irish chart history at the time and remains a defining moment in the Irish cultural landscape. Sharon's Shannon mastery of the button accordion — not the easiest instrument to play — has made put her among the greats of Irish music. But it is probably her ability to move effortlessly between genres that has set her apart. She has never confined herself to the strict borders of traditional Irish music. Reggae, Cajun, Portuguese, French-Canadian, Americana, and country have all found their way into her work. Her 1994 album Out the Gap , produced by the legendary reggae artist Dennis Bovell, was a bold example of a fusion of styles. Of course, trying to incorporate too many styles of music into one act can sometimes dilute the singularity of a traditional. 'Doing a bit of everything' can sometimes be the death knell for an artist. Not so with Sharon Shannon. Her collaborations read like a who's who of international music. She has worked with Bono, Sinéad O'Connor, Jackson Browne, Steve Earle, Willie Nelson, Shane MacGowan, and many others. A standout moment came in 2000 with the release of The Diamond Mountain Sessions , widely regarded as one of her finest records. It featured the original version of The Galway Girl , co-written and performed with American singer-songwriter Steve Earle. Though already popular, the song exploded onto the charts again in 2008 when a live version recorded with Irish singer Mundy became an instant number one hit and an enduring anthem across Ireland. In recognition of her contribution to Irish music, Shannon received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Meteor Ireland Music Awards. Her performances have reached an audience far beyond the typical folk circles, including playing for President Bill Clinton at the White House and for Irish presidents Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese. Sharon Shannon formed the Big Band to expand her live shows beyond smaller ensembles, blending traditional Irish music with jazz, reggae, blues, country, and classical influences. The flexible lineup typically includes fiddle, guitars, brass, percussion, keyboards, and backing vocals, with frequent guest appearances from Irish stars like Damien Dempsey, Mundy, Mary Coughlan, and Imelda May. The Big Band is known for its high-energy, festival-friendly performances that turn beloved tunes into rich, layered arrangements. Audiences across Ireland and Europe have embraced the project's celebratory spirit and innovative take on Shannon's roots. Saturday acts: The Saw Doctors The Undertones Fin Furey Pogue Traders Father Teds Sunday acts: Sharon Shannon Big Band Nathan Carter The High Kings Tumbling Paddies Young Wolfe Tones Lampa Páirc Summer Series 2025, runs from August 23 to 24, 2025. For tickets click here. See More: Birmingham, Irish, Páirc Summer Series 2025
Glasgow Times
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Tunnock's teacakes honoured in new song by Glasgow musician
Award-nominated musician Kenneth I MacKenzie has supported huge artists like The Waterboys during his time in a Glasgow pipe band and even wrote a song about Oor Willie. Now, the award-nominated trad music fanatic has released a song dedicated to Scotland's best-known biscuits and cakes - Tunnock's. The song, Tunnock's The Legend, was inspired by 'everyone having cupboards full of the stuff' and a chance meeting with Boyd Tunnock, the idea then "snowballed" from there. READ NEXT: Tunnock's boss shares vintage vehicle passion before Glasgow open day Speaking about the song's inspiration, Kenneth, 63, said, "I had the idea years ago and never did much with it. "I met Mr Tunnock a few years ago at a business-type lunch, and I bounced the song off him. "He thought it sounded like a great idea, and it just 'snowballed' from there. "He's quite a character, actually." The man who invented the Tunnock's Teacake Boyd Tunnock with his Tunnock Teacakes (Image: PA) Kenneth explained he was then prompted to finish the song by Tunnock's decision to sponsor Celtic Music Radio's broadcasts from Glasgow's Celtic Connections. He "tried to write a verse for every product" in the song and used it as a theme throughout. However, the Glasgow Times always asks the difficult questions, and we got Kenneth to pick his favourite. He said: "I just discovered it last night... I've just decided the Caramel Log is my favourite. "It really is something else, you know." READ MORE: RAF ban on flying with Tunnock's Teacake could be lifted 60 years on Kenneth's career has seen him play all around the world, and he's graced the Barrowland Ballroom to support The Waterboys as part of The City of Glasgow Pipe Band. Speaking about that time, Kenneth said: "What an experience that was! Oh, it was great fun." The song was produced by musical arranger and musician Will Marshall, who arranged Kenneth's last album. Will is also the musical director for the pantomime season at the Eden Court Theatre and has started writing film scores. Sir Boyd Tunnock with Martin Walker and a vintage bus (Image: Jane Barrie) Kenneth has been involved in Scottish traditional music since the age of 14, and often frequents Glasgow's trad music hub, the Park Bar. Kenneth, who stays in Scotstoun, said: "I'm in the Park quite often on Thursdays for the session. "I've got a lot of connections up north and up in the West Coast. Ardnamurchan is like a second home, and I write and sing about it a lot. "That's where the passion for traditional music comes from." He's no stranger to honouring Scottish icons with his music, having put together a tune about Oor Willie - Scotland's Oldest Wee Boy - which was produced by Stuart 'Woody' Wood from the Bay City Rollers. READ MORE: 'Legend': Michelle McManus beams as she celebrates birthday Kenneth also keeps a secret with the song, he explained: "I've brought in a well-known Scottish singer, but no one has revealed their name yet. "So, it's top secret adds to the mystique of the whole thing. "They're very well known in the Scottish folk scene and said 'I'm going to do it, but don't tell anybody it's me'." Producer, Will Marshall (left) and Kenneth Mackenzie (right) (Image: Supplied) Tunnock's director, Fergus Loudon, said: "Without exception, we all thought Kenny's song was very catchy. "We don't have any use for it at the moment, but we'll certainly keep it on file for any future marketing initiatives we are running." The song was first aired by Andy Hood on Celtic Music Radio at the start of Celtic Connections this year and has been played many times since. It's now available on Spotify here.
