Elly O Keeffe

Elly O Keeffe to appear in Kiltha Trad Fest in Castlemartyr

I was speaking this week to Cork singer song writer Elly O Keeffe who was taking a few days break before appearance on Friday the 3rd in Castlemartyr for the Kilta Trad Fest Festival organised by our very own Pat Short from Shorts bar. She will be playing before the American band "The O's" and is looking forward to it. On the night she will be joined on stage by friends and fellow musicians, Noel Barrett on bass guitar, Eoin O Regan on guitar and Cellist Aisling Fitzpatrick, Elly said that she was at the festival last year and she had great craic there was so much fun and the music was amazing so this year when Pat Short asked me to perform at it I didn’t hesitate.

Hank Wedel & Roy Buckley

This week I was joined in the studio by local legend, singer songwriter Hank Wedel. Hank took time out of his busy schedule to sit down and have a chat with me about his music, his songs, and of course his new single. As we sat down to start our conversation, the door opened and Cork born singer, songwriter, Roy Buckley, complete with guitar, joined us. I made a mess of the diary and the two lads arrived on the same day. What was even funnier, the lads had spent the previous evening gigging in Cork together and neither mentioned that they were coming to Youghal to talk to me. Once things settled down we started talking, I asked Hank what brought him to Ireland.

Colette O Donovan

This week I had the chance to speak with Colette O Donovan from Cobh, who has just finished recording some songs on CD. I asked Colette why she got involved in music and where it all started. She told me she had been singing since she was a child, she always loved opera but in school they were not taught opera so her background was not that type of background, a few years ago she decided to do voice lessons and get herself trained by Frank Buckley in Cork. She spent 3 years under Frank’s guidance at the Cork school of Music where she joined Opera Cork. She spent some time involved with Opera Cork performing at various functions in and around Cork. Then because of family and work  commitments she gave it a break and last year when she had time to herself she decided to get back into singing again.

Song Collector Sessions

The Song Collector Sessions with Corks own Roy Buckley has a new home in Cork. This month sees the first of the Song Collector Sessions shows in one of Corks preimer live venues The Pavilion! The Song Collector Sessions is a monthly event that gets up close and personal with Ireland’s established, leading and promising artists.Hosted by Roy Buckley The Song Collector Sessions allows the audienece to to get an insight into the minds and the music of some of this county’s greatest songwriters and indeed, song collectors. The Song Collector Sessions will feature different guests each month and each show is unique. So far guests have included Mike Hanrahan, Hank Wedel, Ricky Lynch,  Andy Dunne, among others.

Gene Stuart

Gene Stuart - A welcome return to Co Waterford.

Country singer Gene Stuart hit the Irish music scene over thirty five years ago. In his first band Gene sang the country songs with ‘The Dynamic Sounds’ a talented local pop group. Because of the lack of work in Ireland Gene traveled to England and spent some time on the construction Sites in Birmingham. He stayed for awhile but returned home where he found work with Ken Kennedy’s band from Monaghan, He then moved onto the Mc Geogh brother’s band before securing his big break.

Leo Mullane

This week I had the pleasure of chatting with 17year old Leo Mullane from Youghal about his new EP and upcoming gig where he will be a guest with Declan O Rourke at the end of the month. I started off by asking him the usual question. Where did it all start for him?.  He told me he got an electric guitar and practice amp for Christmas when he was 9yrs old and from that moment on he never looked back. Countless hours spent practicing in his room lead him to join the Youth Café in Youghal where he was able to meet with other young musicians. 

John Hogan

Sometimes known as 'Ireland's Prince of Country Music', John Hogan celebrates his 25th year of success within Ireland's music scene this year, as well as an ambassador to Ireland and Irish Country Music around the world. John Hogan is one of very few singers that can claim to have had a hit record before ever performing at a gig. Although music was a big part of his life growing up, he secured a good job with Board-Na-Mona. However he often took his guitar to work and entertained his workmates with his singing. He was eventually persuaded to record a single, and chose his mother's favourite song, 'Brown Eyes'. Radio West presenter Don Allen gave the song great airplay, and the single took off from there. It soon went up to the top-ten charts.

Local Music News Bobby Lee

This week I spoke with local musician, Bobby Lee about the current activities in our local area. Bobby, who is very involved in running music classes for the younger people in our town at the Youth Cafe Hot Spot in Youghal among other things had a lot to try and get through in the short time we had on air.

The hot spot music group is a voluntary run club for 12 to 18 years and is based in Youghal. It has been in existence for the past 2 years. Every Thursday, the young and inspired can gather there to develop their musical skills through song writing, learning an instrument, jamming out in the hot spot music room kitted out by ‘IRMA’ (the Irish recorded music association) whom last year provided a bank of instruments for use by the club, or they can hang out in the youth cafe, nothing too serious but a whole lotta fun and freedom to learn. The club is facilitated by national youth organization Forage who provide a safe and warm environment for the group to happen

Nathan Carter

Nathan Carter is the brightest young singing star to hit Ireland for many years.  Nathan was born in the City of Liverpool. At the age of four he found his love for music and was given a piano accordion, which he quickly mastered.  At seven, Nathan started to enter Fleadh Ceoil Competitions in Accordion and Singing.  At 15, he won the All Ireland Title for Traditional Singing.   Nathan was determined to seek a career in the Music Industry, and at the tender age of 16 years, decided to leave school and follow his dream.