Next Wednesday 24th September, Ardhowen Theatre has a real treat for Country and Western fans, when one of America's most talented country music stars takes to the stage.
Brent Mason is regarded as one of the worlds greatest musical talents and has owned Country Music for over a decade with at least seven out of ten of the songs in the top ten at any given time - not annually - being played on by him since the early nineties.
For many years he has won the annual Music City All-stars Award for being the musician with the most songs they have played on being in the radio top ten hits for the entire year. Over and over he wins this award. This is in addition to his CMA awards and Academy of Country Music Awards from 1993 - 2002, and 2005.
Though he would never admit it, Brent is named in writing as the most recorded guitar player alive. Realistically, you probably are listening to Brent most of the time you hear country radio. On average, 8 out 10 songs on modern country radio have Brent on guitar. Even Alan Jackson himself said on a TV special that aired several years ago, "Brent Mason - whew...- that boy - well, he's not human". Even though he has plenty of reason to be boastful, the ever-humble Nashville guitarist once said, "I have never pursued fame, I just wanted to be known as a musician's musician, singer and songwriter".
Growing up in a musical family, Mason is a self-taught musician – playing the guitar at the age of five. While growing up he listened to a variety of guitars. His influences included Jerry Reed, Merle Haggard, George Benson, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and James Taylor. Thus his music became as versatile as his idols.
Mason emerged as one of the most in demand session players in Music City. In addition to the A-List of stars he has worked with, Mason's playing can be heard on such movies as "Look Who's Talking", "The Grifters", "Honeymoon in Vegas", "Home Alone 2", "Pure Country", "Eight Seconds", and the recent "Horse Whisperer".
Mason has also written numerous instrumental pieces that can be heard on a variety of TV and radio programs. "Friends" is very happy to be playing Mason in the background of its shows. Also "Late Night w/ David Letterman", "Ricki Lake Show", "The Price is Right", "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous", "Touched by an Angel", and the big halftime commercial for "NFL".
The two rival truck companies Ford and Chevy have Mason playing on both Joe Diffie's "Pickup Man" and Alan Jackson's about his favourite Ford Truck.
All this talent and hard work have not gone unnoticed. The CMA (Country Music Association) named him "Musician of the Year" for two consecutive years in 1997 and 1998. He had been nominated since 1993 before finally winning in 1997. The ACM (Academy of Country Music) named him "Guitarist of the Year" starting in 1993 now through 1998. A six year win after being nominated in 1991 and 1992. Mason has made Music Row Magazines "Top 10 Album All Star Guitarist" for the past five years. And then received a Nammie award in Nashville for 1995 "Guitarist of the Year."
LYRIC THEATRE ON TOUR
It's a while since the Lyric Theatre went out on tour and it's great to see them back. While their Theatre is having its multi-million pound refurbishment taking place in Belfast, the company is concentrating on touring around the regional theatres.
This current production which comes as part of Enniskillen's Arts Festival runs for two performances, on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th September at 8.00pm. Written by Abbie Spallen and directed by Andrew Flynn, Pump Girl is a turbo-charged race through diesel fumes and Country Music of the borderlands of South Armagh. The Pumpgirl, rebel racer Hammy and his wife Sinead are all on a course for a dramatic collision, but will they survive the impact?
The play, written by Newry playwright Abbie Spallen, is set in a petrol station just north of the border, located on the wrong side of the fluctuating exchange rate. The business is on its last legs: battered, faded signs grace the stage – desperate attempts at enticing customers with cheap two –litre bottles of cola. Pumpgirl is one of the people who work in the petrol station.
There's one in every town and they call her the Pumpgirl. She works in the garage, changes the oil and thinks she's one of the lads. She's sweet on "No-Helmet" Hammy, but he loves no-one but himself. He's out all night with his racing boys, whilst wife Sinead's off on a joyride of her own.
Pumpgirl was originally produced by the Bush Theatre, London and received its premiere at the Edinburgh Festival in 2006. It was produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York in 2007 to rave reviews. This is the Irish premiere production of the play.
"Abbie Spallen comes out all guns blazing, with writing so sparky and intricately observed, it seems as if it might spontaneously combust" **** The Guardian
"A fiercely observed, unflinching play, emphasising the staggering force of good storytelling" NY Times
"Samantha Heaney as Pumpgirl is a revelation" "sharp, funny and dark great contemporary Irish writing from a talented writer" Radio Ulster/ Arts Extra
"Pumpgirl tugs at your heartstrings, tickles your funny bone and most of all shocks you to the core"
Margaret Canning/ Irish News
"Pumpgirl creates a dark, hypnotic tension from the cleverly constructed interlocking monologues, punctured by tiny bombshells of truth, unobtrusively dropped into the thought processes like little nuclear explosions...the internal combustion between the three is almost unwatchable" Jane Coyle/ The Irish Times
Contains strong language and sexual content – not suitable for under 16's.
Abbie Spallen is an award winning writer/director for theatre and screen. Her first play 'Abeyance' was produced by Druid Theatre Company as a Druid 'Debut' and directed by Kirsten Sheridan. 'Pumpgirl' was first produced by The Bush Theatre in 2006 opening at the Edinburgh festival in the Traverse Theatre and then transferring to London. It had it's American premiere in the Manhatten theatre club in New York in 2007. Abbie is currently adapting Pumpgirl for a feature film with Holywood Productions and Northern Ireland Screen. Abbie's first screenplay 'Seven Drunken Knights' won the 2007 BBC Tony Doyle Award for screenwriting. Her new play 'Shaving the Pickle' will open in September 2008 in New York for Origin Theatre Company. She is currently under commission to write new plays for the Bush, (London), Fishamble (Dublin), and Tinderbox (Belfast).
