Ardhowen's Gallery Bar is a real haven for top blues performers with many excellent and memorable concerts having been staged there. This Friday November 24th at 9.00pm is yet a further opportunity to enjoy another hugely talented blues artist when Ed Deane and his blues band perform. His credits are too long to list, suffice to say he has played with all the top bluesmen. From the time he replaced Gary Moore in 'Skid Row' up to the present he has recorded and toured with the likes of Ron Kavanagh, Chris Farlowe, Paul Jones from Manfred Mann, Dana Gillespie, Shane McGowan, Mick Jagger, Van Morrison and Frankie Millar. This truly important blues musician has now returned from America to live and work in Ireland and the blues scene here is so much the better for it. As well as touring extensively he has played on the soundtrack of a number of films including 'Stormy Sunday' which featured Tommy Lee Jones, Sting and Melanie Griffiths and which both he and the great BB King were the only featured guitarists. He also worked on the soundtracks of the Nicholas Cage film 'Leaving Las Vegas' and on 'Serendipity' which starred John Cusack. Don't miss this chance to see this all round blues performer in action with his excellent band.

Louisiana Cajun Evening

This Saturday an evening of authentic Louisiana swamp music is the fayre at Ardhowen's Gallery Bar when the 'Bearcat Cajun Playboys' take the stage. The Bearcats were formed by Chris Hall in the summer of 1991 with a group of musicians who between them had spent more time than anyone else in this country immersing themselves in the music of Southwest Louisiana. It came as no surprise that they rapidly established themselves as one of the few bands outside Louisiana who can capture the unmistakable but elusive sound of Cajun music. "Y'all got a good rhythm" as Cajun musician D L Menard said when they supported him on one of their early gigs. They have played with many other Louisiana musicians including Steve Riley, Eddie Le Jeune, John Delafose, Beau Jocque and Tasso who all commented on their authentic sound and their understanding of that elusive Cajun spirit. At the end of 1996, they even toured for two weeks in the UK with Steve Riley as a special guest band member and have since then also worked with US artists Courtney Granger, Balfa Toujours and Willis Prudhomme. Chris Hall is well known as one of the leading authorities on Cajun music in the UK and some indication of his reputation is that he was recently heard on CD and seen on TV performing with Sir Paul McCartney and has also recently recorded with Bill Wyman and Kate Bush.

Other Events

With Enniskillen Light Operatic's ten performances of the Broadway musical 'Hello Dolly' already sold out, as indeed is the Ballet Ireland production of 'A Christmas Carol', the focus moves to other exciting shows in the Theatre's seasonal fayre such as Brian Kennedy's two concerts on the 12th and 13th December and the 'Viennese Strauss Gala' on 14th December.

This picturesque presentation of romantic nostalgia recreates the nostalgia and romance of the Viennese festive season and introduces the audience to a by-gone age of glamorous soirée's and Strauss waltzes and comprises highlights from some of the great operettas of Strauss, Kalman and Lehar: including 'Die Fledermaus', 'The Merry Widow' and many more. The show which received rave reviews and delighted audiences all over the country is performed by soloists from the major British Opera companies; including Opera North, English National Opera and D'oyly Carte.

This wonderful production is cleverly staged and choreographed. Matthew Freeman conductor and arranger with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra leads the European Orchestral Ensemble in this magnificently sung performance which gives the audience an authentic feel of a festive Viennese evening, and appeals to the romantic as much as the music aficionado and has already proved very popular all over the country. "Step out with Strauss" at Ardhowen on the 14th December. "Don't get stressed, get straussed"

International singing star Brian Kennedy needs no introduction and is currently one of the hottest properties in show business. Performing live has always been at the core of Brian's success and to date he has performed with many of the world's great stars such as Van Morrison, Tina Turner, The Corrs and many others and starred on the Broadway production of 'Riverdance'. A truly remarkable performer, Brian Kennedy is sure to provide a wonderful concert for his many local fans and its great to see him back on the Ardhowen stage.

SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT