REDD, Jo Pollock (Garrity), from Fintona, is certainly causing a storm across the sea with her songwriting
talents and vocals.
She has recently performed at the official launch of the city's 12th annual two-week celebration in Manchester City Hall. The event was hosted by the Lord Mayor of Manchester and in the audience there was a nice surprise for Redd – none other than Irish singer Brian Kennedy.
Brian said some pleasing words after Redd's performance of her haunting song Forever in my Mind. "Music is not just one thing anymore. . . it is everything. From Van to U2, The Corrs and to our very own Redd here."
It was only last year that Redd had the chance to perform in front of Michael Flately at the annual Irish awards.
Redd also performed a set of her music as she welcomed the Irish parade into Manchester city centre last Sunday, where 100,000 people lined the streets. It is the biggest known annual parade in Britain. As the parade approached she was joined on stage by the Lord Mayor of Manchester once again as she sang Ireland's famous rugby anthem, Ireland's Call.
On St Patrick's Day, Redd is headlining in Manchester's Trafford Centre. She joins Martin Toal, the Manchester tenor with whom she has performed alongside at rugby and football match entertainment. She is also joined by her school choir who recently backed her in a recording of the well known ballad, You Raise Me Up.
It's been a busy time with radio Interviews and performances and it's hard to imagine how the primary school teacher manages to fit it all in. Her new husband, Richard, is also a successful classically trained tenor and deputy head teacher.
Redd and her band have headlined at venues such as the Hard Rock Café, Liverpool's Cavern Club (where bands such as The Beatles were noticed), Night and Day, Blackpool, Southport Pleasure Beach and even the West Midlands Airport. She also sang live at the Great Britain v Australia rugby match last November in front of thousands and performed live on Sky Sports and has been pre-match entertainment in football matches such as West Ham, Doncaster and Liverpool.
Redd is in the process of releasing three songs from her much anticipated CD, produced by Ronnie Stone (Mansun, David Gray, U2, The Christians). It will soon be available to but in the shops and downloaded from I-tunes.
Check out www.myspace.com/reddrocksalways for more details, photographs and to listen to some of Redd's songs.
