Over 10,000 loyal fans and friends cheered Snow Patrol back home to Belfast for their sell out concert at the Odyssey Arena. The five piece alternative rockers conquered the all important American and German recording charts while their album 'Eyes Open' was the top Irish and UK selling album of 2006.
Lead singer Gary Lightbody formed a group know as Polarbear while attending Dundee University in Scotland back in 1994 during his student days. Legal problems forced a name change to Snow Patrol and a recording deal with Polydor Records won them a top three spot in the British charts with their debut album 'Final Straw', while a single 'Run' from the album made the top five. A support spot on U2's 'Vertigo Tour' and a guest appearance on 'Live 8' won Snow Patrol chart popularity on both sides of the Atlantic. The single 'Chasing Cars' and the all important follow up album 'Eyes Open' hit the coveted number one spot in Ireland, New Zealand and the UK enjoying the title 'Best Selling Album of 2006'.
The album achieved chart popularity in America, Australia, Canada and Germany also. Their triumphant home coming concert after a non-stop worldwide touring schedule over the past two years with Gary informing his fans: 'You've no idea what we had to go through to play here, I'm talking of the twelve years it took us to play here. This is our finest moment, bar none.'
SHOWBAND NOSTALGIA REVIVED
Ireland's favourite showband idols of the 60's era join forces at the Derry's Millennium Forum this Saturday for the show 'Do You Come Here Often?' Hosted by George Jones and backed by the Galaxy Showband, the exciting line-up includes Dickie Rock with the Miami reformed, Paddy Cole of the Capital, Sean Fegan and Sonny Knowles of the Pacific, Sands vocalist Tony Kenny, Dolka Dots crooner Frankie McBride, Geraldine Brannigan, Noel Brady of the Indians and from the Breakaways Robin Averill and our first Eurovision winner Dana. A trip down memory lane as the hit makers of yesteryear sing their golden oldies live on stage.
RMG Char, have issued a 19-track CD entitled 'The Showband Years'. Featuring golden oldies from legendary names such as Maisie McDaniel and The Ramblers, Pat Lynch and The Airchords, Gregory and The Cadets, Joe Dolan and The Drifters, Kelly and The Nevada and many more idols from golden showband era.
CHARTWATCH – IRISH ALBUMS.
The Love Album...............Westlife
U218 Singles..........................U2
Grub Gift 7.......Mario Rosenstock
HIS GRACE ON DVD
Hailed as our ambassador of comedy Brendan Grace has a new DVD on the market 'Live at Royal Theatre' in Castlebar. Over the past three decades the multi-talented Brendan has appeared at venues from the Carnegie Hall in New York to the Sydney Festival Hall, sharing the spotlight with luminaries such as Tom Jones, Gloria Gaynor, Kris Kristoferson as well as touring Europe with the late Frank Sinatra. Over the past 37 years he has told jokes, stories and sang songs on numerous RTE television shows, including 'Father Ted' and enjoyed chart popularly with his best selling recordings and DVD's. 'Live at the Royal Theatre' is non-stop laughter and features his famed 'Bottler'.
NEWSROUND
U2 vocalist Bono was awarded an honourary knighthood by the Queen for his service to the music industry and his humanitarian work. U2 earned $377 million from their Vertigo tour.
Country hopeful John McNicholl will escort a travelling party of his loyal fans and friends to Tennessee in the spring. John will be singing at Dolly Parton's theme park 'Dollywood'.
