Wexford Grooves Weekend
June 14 – 17, 2007 |
Bands on the Grooves
Trail The weekend kicks off Thursday night (June 14) at the Talbot Hotel
with the hard working and very popular rock act Menace. If you are too lazy to walk to the
south end J90 are in action at the Centenary Stores. Wexford Arts Centre is getting into the grooves with a few top notch
gigs and a late night festival “Chill” club. Sounds like the place to down a
cold Carlsberg in the wee hours! The Talbot Hotel hosts the Festival Record/CD Saturday and Sunday
(10am-6pm). For details of the Opera Festival’s final weekend of operas, concerts,
recitals, etc head to www.wexfordopera.com. And here they
are … bands on the Carlsberg
Grooves Trail Print off a programme: http://www.wexlive.com/grooves/images/bandtable.pdf Starting Thursday …
Menace Coming from the same neck of the woods as Big Generator and Blue Moose
is this fantastic new rock band. They have the honour of kicking off the
weekend at the Talbot Hotel on Thursday, June 14. Thurs, June 14, Talbot Hotel (bar) J90Long standing crowd pleasers not just in Wexford but all over the
country. Prepare to be rocked! Thurs, June 14, Centenary Stores And one legend that
you simply cannot miss …
Paul Brady
Paul
Brady, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, is one of Ireland’s most
enduringly popular artists. He has forged a reputation as a passionate and
exciting performer and attracts a dedicated following worldwide. Paul Brady
continues to push out the boundaries of Irish contemporary music. Sat, June 16 (9pm), White’s Hotel Tickets 30 Euro from Wexford Arts Centre. Tel 053 9123764. Finally onto the meat and potatoes of the Grooves Trail … Agustin Maruri (flamenco/classical guitarist)
Award winning acclaimed master of the acoustic guitar Agustin Maruri
will be enchanting his audience with the unmistakable sound of the Classical
Guitar. he will be performing a variety of works with music from Celtic
Ireland as well as the eclectic sounds of France, Brazil and Spain mixing
classical, tradition, Tango and Flamenco. Sat, June 16 (1pm),
Wexford Arts Centre.
Tickets
10 Euro
Zrazy plus special guest Carolina
Herrera (Colombia) "Zrazy’s delicate sultriness may now be the blossom of
cool jazz in the 1950s Loose and limber, sensual, from the breathy opening of
Angel Walking to the Waitsian Deitrich chilled improvisations of Bossa Nova." "Instinct tells me that Zrazy would be better ensconsed in
Manhattan than in Dublin … could alter forever the notion of mood music." (Irish Times) Colombian doctor Carolina Herrera makes a welcome return visit
to Wexford to seduce us with her warm sultry vocals. Her concerts are nothing
short of a whistle-stop tour across South America. The journey is
breath-taking! http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/womad2004/carolina_herrera.shtml Sat, June 16 (7pm), Wexford Arts Centre Tickets 15/13 Euro Big Generator
One of the top touring rock bands in the country. http://www.thebiggenerator.com Fri, June 15
(9.30pm), Riverbank House Hotel. Adm 8 Euro. Niall Toner Band
Niall Toner did time with various string bands
and country-rock bands including Hank Halfhead & The Rambling Turkeys
before setting up the NTB. With Niall himself on mandolin and vocals, backed
by double bassist Dick Gladney and acoustic guitarist/vocalist Clem O'Brien,
the band delivers a healthy mix of traditional bluegrass sound, country and
blues. Listen Live
to Niall every Tuesday night at 9pm on RTE Radio 1 Sat, June 16, Woodenworks Bar
(formerly Chaz Bar) Sun, June 17 (8pm), Maggie May’s Los Langeros
Cork-based cow-punk band Los Langeros deliver a punkabilly ska-tinged
medley of scream-along choruses and distorted 12-string melodies guaranteed
to work any crowd into a screaming slobbering mess. Their line-up represents
their musical diversity with a pan-European fusion of Irish, Scottish,
Italian and English musicians. A screeching electric mandolin flanked by two
guitar-wielding madmen with jews-harp, harmonica, tambourine and outrageous
catchy vocals all backed up by a ferocious pounding rhythm section lashing
out some of the most intense country music ever. They are currently promoting
their new 'Killing Frogs Ep'. http://www.myspace.com/loslangeros Fri,
June 15, Wren’s Nest Sat, June 16 (5pm) South51 Sat, June 16 (10pm) Thomas Moore Moonshine Old-timey
dance music from the southern Appalachian region of America ranging in style
from sensitive waltzes to nervy breakdowns. Wild and edgy, backbeat and
funky, bluesy and ballady. It's roots music, the spud and the bog carrot,
butter fried and salted. Behind it all are Irish and Scots ballads that travelled the high
seas, pushed inland from the American coast past the Appalachians and were
preserved until recent years in the backwoods hollows and hills of the
American South. The personnel The group is led by Johnny Moynihan, singer, songster, instrumental
innovator and itinerant minstrel. He has been part of Sweeney's Men, Planxty,
DeDanann, the Fleadh Cowboys. Instruments: accordion, mandola, mandolin, fiddle and more. Lena Ullman of the Higglers Jug Band shares vocals and plays
five-string banjo Frank Hall of the Monks, Easy Street Stringband, Rhythm In Shoes also
shares vocals and plays fiddle and guitar. www.myspace.com/kinvaramoonshine Fri, June 15, Bugler Doyle’s Sat, June 16 (3pm) Wren’s Nest Johnny Fean (Horslips), Steve Travers (Miami Showband) with guest
Blendi Krasniqi on drums and percussion Johnny was guitarist/vocalist with the legendary Horslips, while bass guitarist Steve
is best known for his time with The Miami Showband. Together they deliver a
Celtic Rock and Blues experience which includes some classic material from
their earlier careers. Fri, June 15, La Speranza The Roaring Forties The huge sound of The Roaring 40s is reawakening
the music of swing and jive and giving it a modern twist. They are consistently
one of the most popular bands at Cork Jazz Festival. One minute you are
listening to Nat King Cole, the next to classic Rolling Stones. This one really is going to get the
weekend off to a flying start. Fri, June 15, South 51 Bar Noel Shine and Mary Greene
The Grooves weekend would
not be the same without them! Virtuosity, harmony, originality and a genuine
love of what they do. Mary is one of the top female vocalists on the
country's folk scene. Noel's guitar playing is peerless. Sat, June 16, Bugler Doyle's
Sun, June 17 (12.30pm), End of Weekend “Grooves”
Jam, White’s Hotel (with Carolina Herrera) The Mongrels One of The Crown’s most popular acts make a welcome return. Fri, June 15, The Crown Bar Jezzebelle Jezzebelle is the result of amalgamating a Rock
n' Roll Quintessence, Boot Wearing Country Sass, Seductive Melody and the
Telling Tales and True Stories of growing up in the Wind and Rain of Dublin,
Ireland. Web: www.jezzebellemusic.com MySpace: www.myspace.com/jezzebellemusic Fri, June 15, Maggie May’s Swingin' Blue Cats Get ready for some strong rhythm & blues,
swing and rock ‘n’ roll delivered by this fun-lovin’ quintet. They play the music of Big Joe
Turner, Louis Jordan, Louis Prima, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Stevie Ray
Vaughan, Brian Setzer. www.swinginbluecats.com Fri, June 15,
Thomas Moore Tavern Hollywood Slim and The Fat Cats Fronting this band is the enigmatic Hollywood
Slim whose distinctive soul drenched vocals and razor sharp harmonica playing
are awesomely complimented by the dynamic multi-layered performances of
guitar maestro Junior Hynes. Drawing mainly from west coast blues in the
style of Hollywood Fats, James Harmon and a flavour of Chicago thrown in for
good measure, the band is spectacularly augmented by the always swinging Papa
Hynes on drums and the mercurial Reverend Priestley on dog-house bass. www.hollywoodslimandthefatcats.com Fri, June 15 Sinatra’s Tandy
Good-time funk ‘n’
reggae band. Fri, June 15, The Sky & The
Ground Pub Seven Blind Mice Dynamic young 7-piece Wexford band playing the
music of Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Canned Heat, Rolling Stones, Blues
Brothers and on. Get ready to get down! Fri, June 15 (10.30pm), Chocolate Bar Sat, June 16 (7pm), South51 Bar Two Time Polka
Red-hot and
steamin’, straight from the Louisiana swaps (via Cork delta) come Two Time
Polka. “Irish cajun bluegrass rockabilly neo-folk” said No Depression
magazine. It shouldn’t work but it does. No one comes close for sheer
entertainment. Always a huge favourite in Wexford. Sat, June 16,
La Speranza Sun June 17
(5pm), Centenary Stores (outside) Messiah J & The Expert
Messiah J & The Expert are an mc/producer tag
team from Ireland. Influenced by the early nineties golden era of Hip Hop,
they saw in each other a similar understanding and ethic and went about
writing songs. They release their new album 'Now This I Have To Hear' in the
UK in June 2007 on Inaudible Records!! http://www.myspace.com/messiahjandtheexpert Sat, June 16,
Shooter’s Bar (with TASC) TASC
Also on the
bill with Messiah J are TASC or to give them their full name Tortured
Artists Social club. Dirty, predatory rock may be your first
impression of TASC, but if you dig a little deeper the boys of TASC are every
girls dream - bad boys with a soul. The band is
Ryan Margolin (Guitar/vocals), Johnny O’Brien (vocals/bass) and Stephen
Whelan on drums. Sat, June 16,
Shooter’s Bar (with Messiah J) Jamtarts Very versatile and popular rock act covering everything from The Cure
to The Cramps. Sat, June 16, Chocolate Bar Australian Nirvana KURT COBAIN left us ten years ago but his
legendary rock vibe still lives today through 'TEEN SPIRIT', Australia and
the World's Number One Tribute to NIRVANA. “Every drum fill and bass line,
every blast of feedback and every flick of Stuart's bleached hair, is
faithful to the original, even better than the real thing!" says Kerrang
of the band. This is probably the closest you will get to seeing Nirvana live! Sat, June 16, Exile (White’s Hotel) Some Like It Hot Wexford’s very own big band are back with the music of Benny Goodman,
The Dorseys, Glenn Miller and other much-loved big bands from the last
century. Also songs by Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and
other great crooners of that era. Sat, June 16 (9.30pm), Riverbank House Hotel. 5 Euro. B & The Honeyboys
Blues, funk, R’n’B outfit fronted by the delectable Miss “B” and
featuring the tasty guitar of Kieran McEvoy and the drumming of Shane Atlas. Sat, June 16 (8pm), The Sky & The Ground Pub
Sun, June 17, La Speranza
Riff Raff Energetic new blues rock four piece with a liking for the music of
Rory Gallagher, Buddy Guy and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Sat, June 16 (10pm), The Sky & The Ground Pub
Hipple Street
Four piece band
writing and performing melodic tunes, featuring upfront grooves, infectious
instrumental hooks with a strong emphasis on vocal harmony. They hit the 20s
in the Irish charts with Inspector Rita. Sun, June 17
(6.30pm), Dakota Bar
Dylan Bible Band
Popular return for the Waterford-based funk/jazz/blues merchants led
by the charismatic Dylan Bible. His annual festival appearance at The Sky
& The Ground always draws a big audience. Entertainment guaranteed! Sun, June 17, The Sky & The Ground Pub Butterfly Band Very classy Waterford outfit who merge trad with
ska, funk, rock and blues. Understated in their approach but always
brilliant. Sun, June 17, Crown Bar Innuendo Hot reggae/ska outfit who have been making waves in the past year. Fri, June 15, The Sailing Cot Sun, June 17 Shooter’s Bar Brian Meakin Band Brian Meakin is a phenomenal blues guitarist.
Quiet and unassuming he may be, yet this guy is happiest at the raunchier end
of the blues. Think Stevie Ray Vaughan and Rory Gallagher. His stunning
guitar work is complimented by rock solid bass and drums. Jaw-droppingly
good! Sun, June 17 (7pm), Westgate Tavern Festival “Chill” Club at Wexford Arts Centre
Late night live music,
djs, cult movies. Full bar. Sat, June 16 (11pm – late),
Wexford Arts Centre, Cornmarket. 10 Euro / 5 Euro with opera ticket
Louise Morrissey Band And for something completely different … round
off the weekend with dancing to one of the Ireland’s most respected country
divas. Sun, June 17 (9.30pm), White’s Hotel. 15 Euro. Kent Duchaine If you want to stretch your weekend into Monday you really should head
to Colfer’s, Carrig on Bannow to see this Gramy nominated and award winning
delta blues guitarist. Mon, June 18 (9pm), Colfer’s, Carrig on Bannow. 10 Euro. Back to Wexford
Grooves homepage. If you have
any comments or you want to become a friend go to: http://myspace.com/wexfordgroovesweekend |