This Friday's country music show entitled 'A Different Kind Of Country' features Malachi Cush, Brendan Quinn, Brian Coll and the young and emerging country music talent James Quinn and his band. Together with James 'Cloudy' Henry on keyboards and Noel McKeary on bass, the band was formed in 2004 and since that time have toured Ireland, Great Britain and many parts on Europe to great acclaim. James Quinn has picked up a host of individual awards including Best Newcomer at the prestigious Irish World Gala Awards in London while the band received the 'Band Of The Year' award at the UK's premier country music club in Scotland for the last two years. James has just finished recording his third album, which is currently just released and doing really well. The performance at Ardhowen starts at 8.00pm.
This Saturday 9th June at 8.00pm the popular Clubsound are back after a gap of three or four years with a new fun music show with the usual banter and craic that we've all come to know and love. Together with new musical routines, George Jones and the boys will also bring you some of the musical sketches etc that are always requested including 'Shankill Airways', 'The Ballymore Grousebeaters', 'Andy McFadden' and many many more. The current line up of the band includes the legend of the airwaves, George Jones, Barry Woods, one time Eurovision song contest finalist, ex Freshmen drummer Davy McKnight, Alan McCartney and comparative newcomer Jimmy Black. A great night of music and craic is guaranteed.
Described as the World's most authentic tribute to the legendary Led Zeppelin and direct from London, comes the excellent 'Stairway to Zeppelin' for one performance on Thursday 14th June at 8.00pm. Performed by four absolutely amazing musicians with over 20 albums recorded on all the major record labels and numerous U.S., British and European tours to their credit, it's a concert to savour.
Now in their 9th year and acknowledged by their peers as the World's number one Led Zeppelin experience, the band combine all the aspects of the Led Zeppelin experience, the rock classics, the keyboard oriented material and the acoustic/mandolin interludes, all performed with authentic period instruments, amps, drums, and costumes to create the true atmosphere and unique sound of the legendary Led Zeppelin itself.
On Friday 15th June at 8.00pm, Eurovision Song Contest Winner Charlie McGettigan joins The Song Sisters on the Ardhowen Stage for an evening of great music ranging from pop, through to classical. Cavan's all female sensational singing group 'The Song Sisters' bring a depth of quality and beautiful harmonies both to the songs many of us know and love but also to their own original material. The girls perform songs by many well-known artists including Kiki Dee and Stevie Wonder as well as some classical Irish ballads together with a host of other popular works. Now together for over two decades, they had considerable success and in particular with Brian Kennedy on his recent Irish tour.
Charlie McGettigan is one of Ireland's most popular singer songwriters, writing songs for among others Maura O'Connell and Eleanor Stanley, such as 'I don't Know How You Do It' and 'Feet of a Dancer'. His songs have also been recorded by De Dannan, Mary and Frances Black, Daniel O'Donnell, Hal Ketchum and many others. Charlie tours regularly to Europe and the U.S.A. and will always be remembered for winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 with 'Rock 'n' Roll Kids'.
Comedy is always something that audiences yearn for whether it's a stand up comedy or a stage comedy. On Saturday 16th June at 8.00pm audiences have the chance to see a very funny show as the comedy hit of the Edinburgh Festival 'The Trap' comes to town. Already seen by many, both at the Edinburgh Festival, on tour and on the Harry Enfield television show it's a laugh a minute tour de force, earning such accolades as 'Deliciously subversive sheer comedy genius' and 'Trust me it's amazing! I don't know why nobody thought of doing comedy like this before'. So if you really like a laugh, make this show a must see. It will really have you rolling in the aisles.
Booking very steadily at the moment is City Theatre Dublin's outstanding comedy production of J.B. Keane's 'The Matchmaker', which comes to the Ardhowen Theatre for three nights only from Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd June at 8.00pm. Starring Mick Lally, well known as 'Miley' in Glenroe and the excellent Anne Charleston who is known to audiences all over the World as 'Madge' (Kylie Minogue's mum) in Neighbours, it's another hilarious helping of side splitting fun.
Returning to stages all over Ireland after great success on Broadway, it's a production that has audiences firmly in its grip with the wonderful characters and language of John B. Keane.
The play follows the efforts of Dicky Mick Dicky O'Connor to make matches for the lonely and lovelorn from all parts of the Country in an evening of mischievous wit that will have your sides sore. 'The Matchmaker' is a classic that entertains superbly and one that you should definitely not miss.
