Liverpool Irish Festival 2012 11-21 October

This October see’s the 10th edition of the Liverpool Irish Festival. In ten years the Festival has grown and grown and is now considered to be one of the UK’s top Irish festivals, featuring some of the best contemporary and traditional acts from over the water yet never losing sight of the fact that it’s roots are amongst that huge slice of Liverpool’s population that can trace it’s ancestry back to the ‘old country’.

This year the Festival will run from the 11th to the 21st of October and It’s even more jam packed than ever before. As always music will be at the heart of the Festival with the third year of the splendid Irish Sea Sessions at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (Oct. 19th, see www.liverpoolphil.com for more details and booking), and there will be more music at The Capstone, Rodewald Suite, Sefton Park Palm House and Eric’s. Literature lovers are particularly well catered for this year with a whole day devoted to James Joyce – his stories, humour and songs -  and a lecture marking the centenary of the death of Bram Stoker, Dublin-born author of Dracula. The first weekend will see theFestival down at Albert Dock, and for the first time, L1. The last Sunday will feature a family day at Sefton Park Palm House with a Children’s Concert and Ceili, whilst there will be a  programme of Irish Shorts and Features running throughout the Festival at FACT.

Simon Glinn Executive Director Liverpool Philharmonic Hall & Events said 'The Irish Sea Sessions returns for a third year with a welcome return for Lizzie Nunnery, familiar faces including Damien Dempsey, Dave Munnelly, Meabh O'Hare, Terry Clarke-Coyne and MD Bernard O'Neill. New faces include Pauline Scanlon, who is otherwise one half of the vocal duo Lumiere, and Frank Kilkelly, who literally wrote the book on accompanying Irish tunes on guitar! The Irish Sea Sessions will be in Liverpool on 19 October, and Belfast Waterfront Hall on 20th. The CD recorded live at the 2011 event and is out now.' 

Liverpool Irish Festival 2012 music will involve venues including Liverpool Philharmonic and the Rodewald Suite, Epstein and Capstone Theatres and Sefton Park Palm House. The opening concert on 11th October will feature Dervish at The Epstein.

Keep an eye on the Festival website – www.liverpoolirishfestival.com - for more events, dates and ticket details as they happen.

Article posted by Musicmafia

Liverpool Irish Festival launch to the public Albert Dock Sat 15 & Sun 16 Oct

 

 

Comings and Goings: Liverpool Irish Festival at The Albert Dock
Saturday 15th October until Sunday 16th October, 11:00am -  Free Entry 

This year’s ninth Liverpool-Irish Festival, is shaping up to be the most exciting yet, with a programme of music, film, drama, heritage, literature and lectures to suit everybody from 14-30 October 2011.
Liverpool Irish Festival teams up with Liverpool’s historic Albert Dock to present a weekend of entertainment and discovery. Musicians and dancers from the city’s Irish community will present a rolling programme of traditional and contemporary arts, strolling players will fill the dock with sound whilst actors draw out the history of the half a million Irish immigrants that passed through Liverpool in the 19th century, some to stay some to go on to other countries across the seas.

It’s all absolutely free, so come on down to The Dock and take a look, and whilst you are here why not try the special Irish menu available in many of the great cafes and restaurants!

Liverpool Irish Festival Albert Dock

Event Schedule: 

All day (11am to 5pm) 

Musicians strolling along the Colonnades and in and out of the bars and restaurants. 

Every hour on the hour at the Zebu and around the Albert Dock (11am to 5pm). 

Comings and Goings - a series of dramatic scenes illustrating the wave of migration from Ireland to Liverpool which began with the potato famine of 1845-62 and continued with departures to America, South Africa and Australia throughout the 19th century. A company of actors will recreate the atmosphere of Liverpool's waterfront during this period of 'Comings and Goings'. 

Albert Dock restaurants and bars will feature Irish food on their menus. 

The Beatles Story will have a display showing the Irish antecedents of the Fab Four (…well, three actually!) 

Vinea will be holding Whisky Tasting on Sunday at 3pm 

What's Cooking? will have a special marquee to host music and dance 

Special thanks to the Merseyside branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann based at St Michael's Irish Centre, The Bolger Cunningham School of Irish Dance, The George Ferguson Dancers, and the actors from Hope Street Ltd, directed by Paula Simms - 'Hope Street Limited continues to animate public spaces with exciting new work.'

Disclaimer: Timings may be subject to change and weather conditions. 

For full details of the Liverpool Irish Festival visit www.liverpoolirishfestival.co.uk.

Various venues across the Albert Dock

Liverpool Irish Festival - 14th-30th October 2011 - Full listing

This year’s ninth Liverpool-Irish Festival, is shaping up to be the most exciting yet, with a programme of music, film, drama, heritage, literature and lectures to suit everybody.

Highlights include a weekend of free activities down on the Albert Dock in the heart of historic Liverpool, the second Irish Sea Sessions at the Philharmonic Hall, a week of early evening Irish film at FACT, Beckett at The Unity and the redoubtable Damien Dempsey and his band with their mates Amsterdam at the O2 Academy.

There’s also a Sunday afternoon - evening of music at the Sefton Park Palmhouse courtesy of Comhaltas Ceoloitri Eireann and folk supergroup KAN. Talking James Larkin at the Institute of Irish Studies at Liverpool University, a  ‘Raiding Party’ of non-Irish bands, this year featuring Braebach (Scotland) and Calan (Wales) and a celebration of the ‘Discovering the Liverpool Irish ‘ project.

Festival Manager, Jake Roney says “ This is the ninth Liverpool Irish Festival and we feel that we are taking a big step forward this year with new partners such as The Albert Dock and innovative programming like The Speech Project and Liverpool firsts like the internationally renowned Gare St Lazarre Players with two Beckett plays at The Unity.  We are spreading our wings with The Irish Sea Sessions following their Liverpool Philharmonic premier with shows in Belfast and Derry/Londonderry. Whilst with the Discovering the Liverpool Irish Celebration Day once more we will celebrate our city and its the significance in its development of Irish traditions, music, literature, theatre and art. We must thank our partners old and new and especially Liverpool City Council for supporting the Festival and helping us make it happen.”

Of course all the regular events that have proved so popular over the years – the Heritage Walks, Pub Music Sessions, Ceili’s etc, will all be there again – bigger and better than ever.

Festival highlights include:

Liverpool Irish Festival at The Albert Dock Saturday 15th October until Sunday 16th October, 11:00am -  Free Entry

Liverpool Irish Festival teams up with Liverpool’s historic Albert Dock to present a weekend of entertainment and discovery. Musicians and dancers from the city’s Irish community will present a rolling programme of traditional and contemporary arts, strolling players will fill the dock with sound whilst actors draw out the history of the half a million Irish immigrants that passed through Liverpool in the 19th century, some to stay some to go on to other countries across the seas. It’s all absolutely free, so come on down to The Dock and take a look, and whilst you are here why not try the special Irish menu available in many of the great cafes and restaurants.



Damien Dempsey Band +Amsterdam at the O2 Academy Saturday 15 October, Doors 7.00pm, Tickets £16.00 Advance  0844 477 2000 /www.02academyliverpool.co.uk

Following on from last year’s sold out 'gig of the year' for the Liverpool Irish Festival, Damien Dempsey and Amsterdam will be re-creating that unbelievable atmosphere once again at Liverpool’s 02 Academy on Saturday 15th October 2011. Both acts are known for having a fervent live following, so except a night of soul, passion and audience participation. This is one show not to be missed!

'Last year was a beautiful night by the Mersey, the Scousers sang all night and this year will be even better!' Says Damien Dempsey.
'Amsterdam and Damien Dempsey is a dream come true for us, it’s gonna be the gig of the year...again! Says  Amsterdam front man Ian Prowse.

Merseyside legends Amsterdam are currently a tour de force seven piece musical carnival whose ability to wow a crowd is second to none. Damien Dempsey is currently the toast of all Irish music. Spoken of as the natural heir to the crown previously warn by Luke Kelly, Christy Moore and Shane MacGowan, Sineád O'Connor insists Damo is the best yet.  

Damien O’Kane at Sefton Park Palm House Sunday 16th October, Doors 7.30pm, Tickets £12.50 - www.liverpoolphil.com

Damien O’Kane is earning a growing reputation for being a creative and exciting musician and singer. His banjo playing in particular has led him to being regarded as one of the finest Irish players on the scene today and he is winning accolades as a singer, focusing on songs from his native Northern Ireland.

He is probably best known for his work with Shona Kipling and Flook but has recently been a full-time member of Kate Rusby’s band. Damien’s musical career has earned him credit as a creative and exciting player and singer and as an excellent teacher of folk and traditional music. His banjo playing has been widely praised and his work with Shona Kipling, accordion player extraordinaire, earned them both a Folk Award nomination in 2007 and their gigs expanded all over the world from Spain to Canada.

The John McSherry Trio at The Rodewald Suite, Philharmonic Hall Tuesday 18th October, Doors 9.45pm, Tickets £11 - www.liverpoolphil.com

Described by Irish Music Magazine as ‘a true master’ McSherry is hailed as one of the finest exponents of the art of uilleann piping in the world. He has taken piping and whistle playing to new heights with his unique style. Winner of two All Ireland Championships and the prestigious Oireachtas Piping Competition, he has been a member of several outstanding bands – Tamalin, Lunasa and Coolfin. He is a composer, producer, arranger and established studio session musician of world class renown, recording and performing with everybody from Clannad and Donal Lunny to Nancy Griffiths and The Corrs.



Two plays by Beckett – ‘First Love’ and ‘the End’ at the Unity Theatre

First Love  - Tuesday  18th October, Doors 8pm,  Tickets £12/10

The End  - Wednesday 19th October, Doors 8pm, Tickets £12/10

Tickets £20/16 (conc.) for both performances when bought together (limited availability)

Box Office tel. 0844 873 2888

Liverpool Irish Festival and Unity Theatre present Gare St Lazare Players in Samuel Beckett’s First Love and The End. Directed by Judy Hegarty Lovett. Performed by Conor Lovett.

Gare St Lazare Players Ireland are internationally recognised as among the foremost interpreters of Samuel Beckett’s works. Performer Conor Lovett is considered to be the greatest Beckett performer of our times. As with any actor who has an affinity for a particular writer, the result is wonderfully entertaining and entirely accessible work.

In First Love a man recounts an episode early in his adult life where, having been expelled from the family home, he meets a young woman on a bench. His attempts to rid himself of his infatuation with her lead him to move in with her. A perfect blend of tragedy and comedy, First Love is almost the perfect short story.

The End is a short story by Samuel Beckett begun in english and finished in french. In it a man recounts an episode late in his life when, having been expelled from an institution of care, he finds his own way in the world. He meets a variety of characters and situations before finally lying down to let life ebb away. It is one of Beckett’s most complete, most compelling and most beautiful works and is a Gare St Lazare favourite.

“It is, as ever, a towering achievement of acting and directing.” – Sunday Independent

A Radical Legacy: The Larkins of Liverpool Rendall Building, University of Liverpool Wednesday 19th October, Doors 6pm - Free Entry

A Festival Panel on James Larkin, Liverpool Irish Radical, organised by the Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool. This event will also launch the Institute’s ‘Decade of Commemorations’ series.

Speakers;

Dr Enda Leaney, Dublin City Public Libraries
Dr Lauren Arrington, The Institute of Irish Studies
Dr John Gray, formerly Linen Hall Library, Belfast, author of ‘City in Revolt: James Larkin and the Belfast Dock Strike of 1907’



The Speech Project at The Capstone building, Cornerstone Campus, Hope University Thursday 20 October, Doors 730pm,Tickets £15 - www.liverpoolphil.com

Liverpool Irish Festival and The Capstone Theatre present this World Premiere performance of an innovative new composition, The Speech Project.

Four years in the making, The Speech Project is ground-breaking collection of new musical works by Gerry Diver inspired by and incorporating recordings of the spoken word of seminal Irish folk musicians including Christy Moore, Paddy Moloney of The Chieftans, Joe Cooley, Danny Meehan and more.

Gerry Diver, a musician, composer and producer, born into an Irish family in Manchester and relocated to Ireland in his teens. Former member of Irish world music group Sin é and Shane McGowan’s The Popes, as well as guest musician with among others Van Morrison and uber rock producer Youth, Gerry has more recently begun to focus more of production and composing, working out of his studio in South London.

In 2007 he produced the Mojo Folk Album of the Year and BBC Folk Award nominated album Wild And Undaunted by Lisa Knapp, but had already begun work on The Speech Project, travelling to Ireland to make face-to-face recordings with Paddy Moloney and Christy Moore and to trawl the archives and back catalogues for spoken word recordings of older musicians, including Kerry accordionist Joe Cooley (1924-1973).

Taking this all back to his Tooting studio he extracted key phrases from the recordings, and taking the rhythm, pitch and phrasing as inspiration, he began to compose a series of works that are uniquely Irish, ground-breaking in concept and stunningly beautiful. Between production work for artists including Alasdair Roberts, Sam Lee and ex-Beautiful South’s Paul Heaton, Gerry completed the collection of works which he has called The Speech Project.

The show will feature musicians including Gerry Diver, with special guest Lisa Knapp, plus specially commissioned accompanying videos for selected works, all interacting live with the spoken word recordings of the Irish musicians used in the Speech Project recordings.

The Irish Sea Sessions at the Philharmonic Hall 21 October, 730pm, Tickets £17.50, £18.50, £21, £26 - www.liverpoolphil.com

 With the atmosphere and attitude of a session, but in a concert hall, The Irish Sea Sessions return to build on the success of last year’s event – one reviewer gave it 15 out of 10!

 Part super-group, part colossal session and part festival, all in a single gig, the Irish Sea Sessions was voted Best Folk/Roots Event of the Year by Liverpool Daily Post readers in 2010.

This year’s line up includes top contemporary music stars and some of the finest traditional musicians from three cities, Liverpool, Belfast and Derry/Londonderry. Artists already confirmed include Damien Dempsey, Alan Burke, Graham Dunne, Niamh Parsons, Gino Lupari, musical director Bernard O’Neill, Ian Prowse, Terry Clarke-Coyne, Dave Munnelly, piper John McSherry, fiddler Méabh O’Hare, singer Jennifer John and banjo-player Stevie Dunne. Join musicians from traditional and contemporary backgrounds and from both sides of the Irish Sea as they explore the shared music and special bond between Liverpool and Ireland.

Discovering the Liverpool Irish – Celebration Day

Saturday 22nd  October, 10am, The Bluecoat - Free Entry

Admission is free but to guarantee your place please register  at www.liverpoolirishheritage.co.uk (registration coming soon).

Discovering the Liverpool Irish is a year-long set of projects supported by The Heritage Lottery with further assistance from The Irish Government’s Emigrant Support Programme. With the participation of hundreds of members of the Liverpool Irish community the projects discover hidden histories, make Liverpool’s heritage real, teach traditional skills and follow families down the ages and across the seas. The Celebration Day is a chance for all the people involved in Discovering the Liverpool Irish to show to their families and friends and the Liverpool public just what they have discovered and the skills they have learnt. Our projects are:

Heritage Walks – Developing new guided walks and new guides!

The Irish and other immigrant groups – Liverpool is ‘the world in one city’, how did they get on? Could they live together?

Preserving and developing traditional skills – Taking Ceili into local schools, setting up a Liverpool Set Dancing Society, training new Storytellers.

Follow your Fancy – groups and individuals follow their own special interests supported by the Discovering the Liverpool Irish team. So far projects include: providing resource packs on Irish heritage for local schools, family histories, Irish elders remember their pasts, archiving the story of Irish music in Liverpool and the place of the Irish language in Liverpool lives – and we are still open to suggestions!

Our Celebration Day will be informative but above all it will be fun : come down and find out how local people have looked into their shared history and culture and how You can do the same – there will be talks, films, drama, storytelling, discussion, music and dance all waiting for You to join in!

The Raiding Party -  Breabach and Calan at St Georges Hall Music Room Sunday 23rd October, 7.30pm, Tickets  £17.50  www.liverpoolphil.com

Two notable bands, Braebach from Scotland and Calan from Wales are out to prove that great music is not the sole preserve of the Irish music scene!

The Raiding Party sees some of the world’s best Celtic artists make a foray into the Liverpool Irish Festival. Bringing you the best musical experiences from around the globe, this insurgency links the Festival of the rich Celtic communities that exist across the whole of Western Europe, and way beyond.

For the first ever Raiding Party we start relatively close to home: this is a unique opportunity to catch the standard bearers of Scottish and Welsh music in one compelling concert. Breabach have accomplished much in their short career including two highly acclaimed albums and nominations as best band in both the Scottish Traditional Music Awards and Radio 2 Folk Awards. Calan have taken Welsh traditional music and performed the musical equivalent of CPR! They have represented the hopes of a nation with life-affirming performances at Festival Interceltique Lorient and WOMEX.



Irish film at FACT - Monday 24th – Friday 28th October

Cork Film Festival Presents … Monday 24th – Tuesday 25th October,  630pm, Tickets £6 - Box Office  0871 902 5737

Cork Film Festival is proud to present, two programmes representing some of the best, most creative short films made in Ireland.

Irish filmmakers have, in recent years, found success on the world stage; with several nominations in the short film category at the Academy Awards. This success, particularly welcome in otherwise difficult times, has seen an upsurge in filmmaking activity. Each year Cork Film Festival presents 50 new Irish short films in competition, from almost 250 submitted entries.

The films screened at Liverpool Irish Festival are chosen to represent the wide variety of films being made in Ireland today, including documentaries, fiction, experimental, narrative and animation. While some of the films have tasted international success ; we also include some surprises, some oddities, and films that those of you curious about Ireland may find of particular interest.

On both evenings, filmmakers will be present to introduce their films.

Irish Film – The Informer/ The Judas Kiss – Betrayal in Ireland Wednesday 26th October, 630pm, Tickets £6 - Box Office  0871 902 5737

The Judas Kiss – Betrayal in Ireland

A short film series presented and introduced by Dr Gerry Smyth, Reader in Cultural History at Liverpool John Moores University.

The Informer (John Ford, 1935; US. 12a. 91 mins)

John Ford’s The Informer (1935) is based on the controversial novel published by Liam O’Flaherty in 1925. Set in the aftermath of the political upheavals in Ireland in the early twentieth century, it tells the story of a disaffected member of the IRA who betrays one of his former comrades for a bounty of £20. The film won four Academy Awards, including the first Ford’s four gongs for Best Director.

Irish Film – Ulysses/ The Judas Kiss – Betrayal in Ireland Thursday 27th October, 6pm, Tickets £6 - Box Office  0871 902 5737

The Judas Kiss – Betrayal in Ireland

A short film series presented and introduced by Dr Gerry Smyth, Reader in Cultural History at Liverpool John Moores University.

Ulysses (Joseph Strick, UK /USA 1967. 15 cert. 132 mins)

Independent American film-maker Joseph Strick attempted what many people consider to be the impossible with this adaptation of James Joyce’s infamous novel Ulysses, first published in 1922.

Set in Dublin over the course of a single day (June 16th 1904), Ulysses tells the interlocking stories of three principal characters: the young teacher and would-be writer Stephen Dedalus, the middle-aged advertising canvasser Leopold Bloom, and the latter’s wife Molly. Betrayal – personal and political – stalks them throughout the day; and yet Joyce’s vision of modern life remains essentially comic and optimistic.

Irish Film – Pavee Lackeen/ The Judas Kiss – Betrayal in Ireland Friday 28th October, 630pm, Tickets £6 - Box Office  0871 902 5737

The Judas Kiss – Betrayal in Ireland

A short film series presented and introduced by Dr Gerry Smyth, Reader in Cultural History at Liverpool John Moores University

Pavee Lackeen – The Traveller Girl (Perry Ogden, Ire 2005; 15 cert. 88 mins)

Pavee Lackeen tells the story of ten-year-old Winnie, a traveller girl living with her family in a caravan near the Dublin docks. The film is shot in a deliberately documentary style, using video footage, real locations and non-actors. Beaten and betrayed, Winnie becomes a defiant symbol of those denied access to the Irish economic miracle.

KAN at Sefton Park Palm House Sunday 30th October, Doors 8pm, Tickets £10 - www.liverpoolphil.com

The Festival ends with Brian Finnegan and Aiden O’Rourke’s superb band.  Brian Finnegan (flutes and whistles) and Aidan O’Rourke (violin), front men with two of the most revered bands ever to have thrilled the folk scene, BBC Award winning Flook and Lau, join forces with Ian Stephenson on guitar and Jim Goodwin on drums to create an enthralling and beautiful new sound. Brian and Aidan are an irresistible partnership, both men with a style that is fiercely unique; Brian’s grounded in the Irish tradition, Aidan’s in both the Irish and Scottish, both highly accomplished improvisers and celebrated composers with a brace of solo CDs each, and neither afraid to take risks and explore new sonic frontiers – so be prepared for an evening of musical fireworks in the glorious setting of The Palm House.

 “Terrifically tight… intensely lyrical… heavyweight rhythmic attack” – The Scotsman

 Liverpool Irish Festival Events October 14th – 30th October

 DATE TIME EVENT VENUE GENRE

Fri 14 6.30pm Barbaric Genius FACT   Film

Fri 14 9pm Traditional Music Sessions Peter Kavanagh’s Music

Sat 15 11am Comings and Goings Albert Dock Event

Sat 15 2pm Irish Heritage Walking Tours Scotland Road Heritage

Sat 15 7pm Damien Dempsey + Amsterdam O2 Academy 2 Music

Sun 16 11am Comings and Goings Albert Dock Event

Sun 16 2pm Irish Heritage Walking Tours Scotland Road Heritage

Sun 16 7.30pm Damien O’Kane Sefton Park Palm House Music

Mon 17 9pm Traditional Music Sessions The Edinburgh Music

Tues 18 8pm Beckett: First Love Unity Theatre Theatre

Tues 18 10pm John McSherry Trio Rodewald Suite Music

Wed 19 6pm A Radical Legacy: The Rendall Building Talk

Wed 19 8pm Beckett: The End Unity Theatre Theatre

Thurs 20 7.30pm The Speech Project Capstone Theatre Music

Fri 21 7.30 pm The Irish Sea Sessions 2011 Philharmonic Hall Music

Sat 22 10am Discovering the Liverpool Irish The Bluecoat Heritage

Sat 22 2pm Irish Heritage Walking Tour North City Centre Heritage

Sat 22 7.30pm The Fifth Province St Michael’s Irish Centre Literature

Sun 23 2pm Irish Heritage Walking Tour South City Centre Heritage

Sun 23 3pm Traditional Irish Dinner St Michael’s Irish Centre Event

Sun 23 7.30pm The Raiding Party St George’s Hall Music

Mon 24 6.30pm Cork Film Festival FACT Film

Mon 24 9pm Traditional Music Sessions The Edinburgh Music

Tues 25 6.30pm Cork Film Festival FACT Film

Wed 26 6.30pm The Informer FACT Film

Wed 26 8pm Mellowtone LEAF, Bold St Music

Wed 26 8.30pm St Michaels Supper Ceili St Michaels Irish Centre Dance

Thurs 27 6pm Ulysses FACT Film

Thurs 27 7.30pm The Woody Guthrie Folk Club Ship & Mitre Music

Thurs 27 8pm Festival Club Upstairs at Flanagans Apple Event

Fri 28 6.30pm Pavee Lackeen FACT Film

Fri 28 8pm Liverpool Acoustic Live! The View Two Gallery Music

Fri 28 9pm Traditional Music Sessions St Michael’s Irish Centre Music

Sat 29 10am Sean Osaolain, The Bell, University of Liverpool

a study of Irish identity Continuing Education Talk

Sat 29 2 pm Irish Heritage Walking Tours Scotland Road Heritage

Sat 29 8pm The Brother The Fly in the Loaf Theatre

Sat 29 10pm Traditional Music Sessions Peter Kavanagh’s Music

Sun 30 2pm Irish Heritage Coach Tour St Michael’s Irish Centre Theatre

Sun 30 2.30pm Young Peoples Concert Sefton Park Palm House Music

Sun 30 4pm Family Ceili Sefton Park Palm House Dance

Sun 30 8pm KAN Sefton Park Palm House Music

Liverpool Irish Festival presents Damien Dempsey and Amsterdam

Following on from last year’s sold out 'gig of the year' for the Liverpool Irish Festival, Damien Dempsey and Amsterdam will be re-creating that unbelievable atmosphere once again at Liverpool’s 02 Academy on Saturday 15^th October 2011. Both acts are known for having a fervent live following, so except a night of soul, passion and audience participation. This is one show not to be missed!

'Last year was a beautiful night by the Mersey, the Scousers sang all night and this year will be even better!' Says Damien Dempsey.

'Amsterdam and Damien Dempsey is a dream come true for us, it’s gonna be the gig of the year...again! Says Amsterdam front man Ian Prowse.

Damien Dempsey is currently the toast of all Irish music. Spoken of as the natural heir to the crown previously warn by Luke Kelly, Christy Moore and Shane MacGowan, Sineád O'Connor insists Damo is the best yet.   

Such is the power of the big man’s music, Damo has found himself lauded by true musical giants Bob Dylan, Bono and even Morrissey. The Wonderstuff’s Miles Hunt regularly claims Damo to being the greatest living songwriter we have ever had. Having won six Meteor awards and release five studio albums, Damien Dempsey is the authentic voice of modern Irish music, his live performances are filled with passion and he has the ability to unify with the power of music.   

Merseyside legends Amsterdam are currently a tour de force seven piece musical carnival whose ability to wow a crowd is second to none. The band have performed with Elvis Costello on EMI Records, wooed crowds at Glastonbury to the Echo Arena. Their second long player Arm in Arm was voted 14th best ever album out of Liverpool by the local press, no mean feat when you consider the Beatles released ten!

Their most famous song to date Does this train stop on Merseyside?   (Their previous single The Journey, hit number 32 in the UK charts) was John Peels’ second favourite song, John would regularly be too emotional to speak on the radio after playing it.

The song itself got a further lease of life as one of the centrepieces of Irish legend Christy Moore’s latest album which spent five weeks at the top spot in his home country.

Amsterdam are band leader Ian Prowse's second successful band after forming Pele in the 1990's who released 3 albums on Polydor/M&G and had hits all over Europe.  

Having a fan club of such luminaries as Bob Harris, Mick Jones and Christy Moore, Amsterdam's real forte is the live arena. Don't miss this unique opportunity to see both bands perform full sets on the same night, from the same stage.

O₂ Academy2 Liverpool

Saturday 15^th October 2011

Doors 7.00pm - Tickets £16.00 Advance 

0844 477 2000

www.02academyliverpool.co.uk

www.liverpoolrishfestival.com

www.damiendempsey.com

www.amsterdam-music.com