DOUBLE BILL WITH JEFF & VIDA IN KILWORTH

Local promoter, John Nyhan is keenly looking forward to the return visit of Jeff & Vida to The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth on Monday night next, August 31 by virtue of the fact that in a few short weeks time, he will be joining them back in the U.S. while on a visit there.

John has lined up a double act for Monday night which will include the music of Monorail made up of Dave Murphy (himself a great supporter of bluegrass in Kilworth) on pedal steel, guitar and vocals and Seamus Hennessy on guitar and vocals. The lads will open the programme and a great night’s music is in store.

Jeff and Vida have made their way up the ladder of the Nashville music scenes with their rootsy, acoustic sound that reflects their passion for everything ranging from country to bluegrass.

Jeff and Vida entertain audiences with their great picking and beautiful harmonies and have attracted attention at various venues including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the legendary Ryman Auditorium (home of the Grand Ol’ Opry).

They are spending their year touring heavily and will drop in to Kilworth’s Village Arts Centre on this coming Monday night, Augsut 31 (please note date - not Tuesday as mentioned elsewhere). Tickets from John 087-7921771 or any Arts Centre outlet 025-32227.

COLIN MURPHY LIVE AT THE EVERYMAN

Stand up comedian and star of RTE’s The Panel, Colin Murphy is set to record his first ever DVD of his live stand up show, ‘Happy in Menace’ this September at the Everyman Palace Theatre.

An internationally renowned performer on the comedy circuit, Colin Murphy has been performing sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Festival since 1999. Colin has headlined shows in New York, Boston, Singapore, Hong Kong, Brussels – and two ‘Just for Laughs’ comedy festivals in Montreal.

With a huge broadcast media profile, Colin hosted the RTE entertainment shows, The Blizzard of Odd, Xitfile and XitPoll, and the 12 part comedy music series for BBC N.I., ‘Elvis has Left the Building’. Colin recently returned as star panelist on the eighth series of the acclaimed RTE series The Panel and is also working on BBCNI’s The Blame Game.

In 2007, Colin was seen fronting the moving documentary series The Children’s Storybook for RTE, following the story of two girls with AIDS in Uganda.

He has featured in a number of programmes including the BBC series People Like Us; his own solo comedy specials’ Comic Asides; The Stand Up Show for the BBC, @last TV for RTE; Don’t Shoot the Messenger for the Paramount Channel, and The Return of the Empire for BBC NI.

Colin has also filmed 2 headlining slots for the C5 series All New Comedy Store. Colin Murphy ‘Happy In Menace’ is at the Everyman Palace Theatre on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 September at 8pm. Tickets are €15. Booking 021-4501673 or www.everymanpalace.com.

AUSTRALIAN SONGSTRESS CHLOE HALL - A MUST SEE!

“I could celebrate… I could jump up and down… but the best I could do is to say, go and hear her, buy her CD’s and fall under the magic of Chloe Hall.”

So says John Warner, Trad & Now Magazine, Australia of Chloe Hall - an engaging, intriguing and charismatic performer, but it’s the simple, undeniable quality of her songs that leave the listener with such an overwhelming emotion.

Tragedy is met with grace, loneliness is met with a wry humour – the sun never entirely leaves Chloe’s moody autumnal sky. The Chloe Hall Trio is booked for a date in Kilworth at The Village Arts Centre as part of her European tour. The date is Monday, September 7 and it is a gig you should really try to make.

From her early days as a teenage-troubadour on Australia’s folk-circuit, through years of touring both in Australia and, more recently, North America, Chloe has blossomed into an exciting international artist.

“Nothing prepared me for (Chloe’s) stellar live performance. Hall has a free range voice, full of expression and her unique song stylings are truly little gems. She’s also a gifted songwriter. I listened to every word of her original lyrics which are playfully witty, wonderfully wise or painfully true.”

Teresa Mallam, Prince George Free Press, Canada Her new album ‘Outside’, due for release in 2009, reveals the fulfillment of Chloe’s development into the serious recording artist she has always been threatening to become. See her in Kilworth on Monday 7 at 8.15pm.

Ticket prices have been kept at rock bottom, just €15 to help get you hooked on this super new talent. Booking at The Avondhu office Fermoy 025-32227.

MOVING HEARTS PLAY THE OPERA HOUSE

The news that one of Ireland’s most influential bands, Moving Hearts, have planned an Irish Tour for this Autumn will delight their fan base and those with an interest in traditional music.

This ground-breaking band, who have inspired many well known traditional musicians to follow in their footsteps, are famous for their thrilling live performances since coming on the scene the early 1980s. Performing with Moving Hearts will be special guests Iarla O Lionaird (formerly of Afro Celts), and the infamous Mairtin O’Connor on accordion and they come to Cork Opera House on Sunday, September 6.

The Avondhu gives you a chance to win The recently reunited line-up includes renowned producer and composer Donal Lunny on bouzouki (of Planxty and Bothy Band fame), the legendary Davy Spillane (formerly with Bryan Adams) on uilleann pipes, Eoghan O’Neill (who has performed with Chris Rea) on bass, Keith Donald (formerly with Louis Stewart and Gerry Mulligan) on saxophone, Noel Eccles (who performs with The RTE National Symphony Orchestra and formerly with, Riverdance and Sting) on percussion, Liam Bradley (who tours with Van Morrison and Boyzone) on drums, Anto Drennan (formerly with The Corrs and Genesis) on guitar and Graham Henderson (who performs regularly with Sinead O’Connor and Paul Brady) on keyboards.

Moving Hearts will be performing from ‘The Storm’ album and other recordings for which they are well known and hugely respected for. According to Noel Eccles, “when we last played it was as an instrumental band and we always felt we hadn’t finished exploring the possibilities of our unique line-up. Bringing Iarla and Mairtin in on this tour will give an even wider dimension to our music and be exciting for their fans also.”

Tickets: €31, €36 (booking fee may apply). Booking online at www.corkoperahouse.ie or 021-4270022.

THE DEGANI ENSEMBLE WITH CARA O’SULLIVAN

The Village Arts Centre is delighted to present a concert featuring The Degani Ensemble and the acclaimed Irish soproano, Cara O’Sullivan. This has only been possible because of the kind support of Music Network and The Arts Council of Ireland.

The Village Arts Centre also wishes to acknowledge the ongoing support of Cork County Council and The Avondhu. The Degani Ensemble was first formed in the mid 1980s by a group of young musicians keen to explore a wide variety of chamber music for wind and strings.

Having diversified into larger scale chamber music in the 1990s, the group was re-formed 4 years ago by founder members Ruby Ashley (oboe), Alan Smale (violin) and David James (cello). Elaine Clarke (violin) and John Lynch (viola) were subsequently added, bringing a wealth of chamber music experience to the chosen repertoire.

Cork-born Cara O’Sullivan has an impeccable operatic pedigree and has risen to prominence as one of Ireland’s leading sopranos. She is an instinctive performer with a remarkably full voice, exciting and dramatic, yet always performs with great sensitivity.

Cara’s concert career and operatic engagements have taken her all over the world. Spanning an impressive and wide-ranging repertoire, she has been referred to as ‘the Irish superstar of her generation’ by the Irish Times.

The programme will include music by Mozart, Schubert and Vaughan Williams. Her return to Kilworth, this time with the Degani Ensemble on Saturday, September 26 is eagerly looked forward to. Do you have your ticket? Enquiries 025-32227.