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Blackstairs Blues Buddies
The Enniscorthy Blackstairs Blues Festival is calling all friends, patrons of the Blackstairs Blues Festival, and all Blues lovers to join their Blackstairs Blues Buddies (BBB) Group. The BBB Group was officially launched at a special event held during last month’s Blackstairs Blues Festival. If you join you will enjoy loads of membership benefits such as exclusive Meet and Greet with the bands, BBB badge, free gifts, reduction at various B&Bs (details to be confirmed on membership), invites to launch night, free draw, etc. All this can be yours for a donation of your choice (min €10 per person) payable to Blackstairs Blues Festival. You can log onto the Festival website (www.blackstairsblues.com) and download and complete the membership form and send it, along with your donation, to: Richie Cotter, 3 Coischoille, Tincurry, Enniscorthy. On receipt of your membership form and donation, you will be set up as a registered user on the site. So log onto the site today, help one of our great festivals and enjoy the many benefits of membership.
L-R: Blues Buddies organiser, Richie Cotter, Bashia, and Eamonn Doyle (Blackstairs Blues committee member).
Pic: © Joseph Doyle
Vox Pop on Blackstairs Blues
DONAL CULLEN GOT A FEW OPINIONS:
Anton Treacy: “I think it’s good for the town, good for business and above all good for tourism… it gives everyone a bit of a buzz.”
Ibar Carty: “The quality of bands is great this year, the lads had a ball and the crowds enjoyed themselves. I can’t pick out any particular act, they were all good and thanks to them all for turning up!”
Eamonn Doyle: “There was a great spirit about the Blues Fest this year… people want to let their hair down and relax and the Blues is just ideal for that, everybody came out.” Eamonn Lillis: “The crowds are well balanced, the music is good, it’s great for the town, long may it last.” The audience… Donal: “Are you having a good time?” Audience: One big “Ya”!
The Lion Still Roars
Jamie Murphy had the pleasure of interviewing Aslan at their gig last month in Enniscorthy’s Castle Venue.
1986 in Ireland. Phil Lynott, one of the single greatest artists we ever gave the world dies of pneumonia. 36,000 people emigrate, Jack Charlton arrives in Ireland to manage our national team building up national hope and pride and two giant pandas, Ming Ming and Ping Ping arrive in Dublin Zoo. There is also a stirring of a different kind in inner city Dublin. Aslan release their demo single, This Is. It garners national airplay and pretty soon it becomes 2fm’s longest running playlisted single. The band went on to tour the UK and by the end of the year they became Hot Press’s most promising new band and are signed to EMI. Two
years later, they record their debut album, Feel No Shame, which rocketed straight to number one in the Irish charts, occupying the top spot for weeks. However, the band fell apart before the recording of their second album and singer Christy Dignam left the band. They tried to recruit a new singer, but as drummer Alan stated: “It was like U2 trying to go on without Bono.” The band subsequently split up in 1988. They reformed in 1993, landed a record deal with BMG and released a single that would catapult them to super stardom, Crazy World. They went on to record four more albums, the most recent of which being Nudie Books and Frenchies (I know right, I
actually know the name and have listened to the album, look at me being prepared, heaven forbid). This new album is quite good and evokes memories of inner city Dublin, which is quite a feat, seeing as I was two when the band formed and I lived in Enniscorthy. The band recently played to a packed house in the Castle Venue, Enniscorthy – a venue with great potential. Lovely spot. The boys, well Christy and guitarist Billy, gave a funny, honest interview before the show. They talked about life, love and basically getting by. Christy summed it up best: “It’s like this, as long as you can pay your rent, your leccy, your food bill and have 20 John Player Blue, you really have everything you need.” The support act, The Mike Scala Band, played a tight thirty-minute set to an appreciative local crowd. And there was even some genuine interaction. These guys are on the web (www.mikescala.com) and are doing some more gigs in Ireland. Check them out. Led by Mike Scala, they delivered a funky, soulful set of original songs. Quite enjoyable.
9
The Man from Woodstock by Donal Cullen Enniscorthy hosted its annual Blues shindig last month and for those of you who weren’t there to witness this pleasant event you missed out, but the good news is that next year you can catch it again. This year we had a cross section of artists from various parts of Ireland, UK and USA. I met with one guy who got my attention, Mr. Ben Prevo, from upstate New York, a real fine upstanding gent armed with his passion for Blues and Rock. I asked him some questions: Donal: Welcome Mr Prevo to Enniscorthy, what do you think of us? Ben: You’re nice people, I’ve played here before a few times. Donal: You’re living in Dublin, what’s the difference between Dublin audiences and down here? Ben: I get some good people in Dublin because I play a lot there, hopefully the crowds will turn out down here because I don’t play here very often but if they listen to the stuff – they’re good and will have a good time. Donal: You are from New York, tell me what brought you to Ireland?
Ben Prevo
Ben: I met some people in London, formed a friendship, moved to Dublin, joined a band, also met a woman and settled down playing music and I’m still here. Donal: Is Blues your only thing? Ben: No really, I play other stuff too. Donal: What is Blues?
Blues is the juice, the rest is the fruit. Donal: Who are you influenced by? Ben: Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, John Mayall, all those greats, some I met too. Donal: Tell me about your friendship with Levon Helm and Rick Danko? Ben: Well I lived in the same town as they did. I played with Levon a few times, he was really nice. Levon was a home boy, kind of quiet, whereas Rick was outgoing and liked to be out there. They’re both dead now, a big loss to us all. Donal: Who else do you like? Ben: Eric Clapton, Lizzy, and I also like Rory Gallagher – he was a good guy, he never f****** sold out on the Blues, he remained true to the end. Donal: Ben Prevo is described as one of the best guitar players of his generation and has a connection with bands like Weather Report, Jefferson Airplane, The Band, Eric Clapton, BB King, John Lee Hooker, the list goes on. I can surely say I was in fine company with Mr Ben Prevo and ten years from now Ben Prevo will still be belting it out to anyone who likes good music.
Winner of our Aslan tickets competition last month was: Sheelagh O’Brien, from the Moyne, Enniscorthy.
Aslan made a triumphant entrance and delivered a passionate, albeit short set which mixed new and old material. The new material held up pretty strongly but the biggest reactions were reserved for the hits most of all Crazy World. Overall, it was a very pleasant evening and you got two great bands for €15. Ya couldn’t bate that with a stick. w w w. m i k e s c a l a . c o m . www.aslan.ie. www.facebook.com/pages/CastleNightclub-Enniscorthy/172558 166124770. Castle Venue News: The next gig in the Castle Venue is hometown girl done good, Wallis Bird. She is supported by Mr. Clive Barnes. I had the pleasure of seeing Wallis in Wexford Arts Centre the last time she was over. And she made more noise than an army… And that was acoustic. This time she has a full band!!! I’m giddy with excitement. Get your tickets early and let the Midget Funk Railroad run you over!!!! Tickets are available at: White’s For Music, Enniscorthy, the Castle Venue, Enniscorthy, Malloca’s Fine Foods, Enniscorthy. Check out: www.wallisbird.com.
Michael Jackson Thriller Night
Rosaleen Casey, well known as the manager in Pettitts SuperValu, Enniscorthy, and her colleague Paul Robinson have organised a fancy dress "Michael Jackson Thriller Night" on Saturday 27th O c t o b e r i n T h e B a i l e y, Enniscorthy, to raise awareness of people and their families
FANCY DRESS NIGHT IN AID OF
who are affected by Alzheimer’s. Tickets €10. Spot prizes and raffle tickets on the night. This is a great opportunity to have fun while also raising money for the Alzheimer Society. For more information check out either Rosaleen or Paul’s Facebook pages.
THE ALZHEIMER SOCIETY OF IRELAND ON SATURDAY 27TH OCTOBER IN THE BAILEY 9PM ADMISSION € 10