Flower

Local film makers Ger Thompson and Eileen McCarthy get to show their new film “Flower” on Friday September 14th at the prestigious Dun Laoghaire underground cinema film festival.

Ger Thompson and Eileen Mc Carthy met while attending a three year theatre studies course at Inchicore College Dublin. They worked on various productions together and individually, writing, acting and directing. They went to Australia for a year where Ger proposed and wedding plans, secure jobs, house and babies were on the menu. They moved to Co. Waterford where they managed to build a home, have 2 children and create a very happy home life. In October 2009 Ger was made redundant as a site foreman. With no prospect of work and depression setting in, his wife Eileen took him aside while out walking in the woods and asked him what he would love to do in an ideal world. His response, “I’d love to make a film”. She said “Ok, let’s do it.”

Ken Cotter

This week I also had the chance to chat with Ken Cotter, singer & songwriter based in Cork. Ken is noted for his strong voice, captivating melodies and astute lyrical composition. His live performances are steered by a confident guitar and a well-honed stage craft. Ken started playing guitar at the age of 12, and over the next few years found himself penning songs in the style of his heroes, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Bragg. But it was in the songs of Jimmy MacCarthy, Paul Brady, Luka Bloom and many other Irish Singer Songwriters, that Ken began to feel most at home. These great Irish performers helped him shape his sound and acquire the confidence to sing in his own voice about his own experiences. As a teen Ken was also listening to The Jam, The Who, U2, Big Country, Echo And The Bunnymen, as well as Irish homegrown rockers, Something Happens, Light A Big Fire and Cactus World News. Radiohead became a big influence. However, gradually Ken began to discover his own style.

Darragh Lee

Darragh Lee from Youghal Co Cork was my guest this week, Darragh who was involved in the recent Sacred Roots all ages Busking Competition which took place on Saturday August 11th in conjunction with the Tag Rugby Festivities in Youghal Co Cork, where  14 acts took part and despite the rain showers, braved the elements and played some wonderful music for everyone. Bands, Magicians, rappers and singer songwriters partook in the event that boasted a €1500 euro prize fund thank to the Vintners of Youghal. There were four categories Overall winners were Colin Turner & Georgia Theresa from Co. Wexford, Best under 16 winner went to the very talented Daniel Ryan from Youghal, Best Group went to the dance gurus Synergy from Youghal and Co Waterford and Best Individual Performance went to Darragh Lee.

Des Collins

This week we spoke to local Cork singer songwriter Des Collins. Des was born and raised in Douglas, Cork, Ireland. He first took up the guitar as a teenager and played in various bands around Cork city during the 1960's & 1970's. Then in 1977 he gave up music to concentrate on business.Des is married with 5 sons and 14 grandchildren, the most recent grandchild Lucy only coming into this world last week, and after a lifetime in business working hard, Des decided to return to his roots in music in 2009. It was only then, he began writing songs for the first time.

Brendan Shine

Music was in Brendan’s family from an early age. His father, the late Paddy Shine, had his own Country Band, with whom Brendan made his musical debut, playing twice a week, at an open air dance called the Maypole in Summerhill. Whilst still at secondary school, it became clear that Brendan had a unique singing voice, and was a very talented musician, and it was only a matter of time before he was to become one of the biggest stars Ireland has ever produced.

Brendan joined “Kieran Kelly’s Ceili Band” along with school friend, Johnny Dawson, (who, to this day, is still playing drums with Brendan, in the “Brendan Shine Band”). He stayed with the ceili band for six years. By day, Brendan ran a successful market garden farm, and had a tremendous name as a carrot producer. Brendan later made his own traditional song, “Carrots”. By night, the van became his first tour bus. He then formed his own band, which included Johnny and Brendan’s younger brother, the late Owen Shine on keyboards. Playing pubs and clubs around his hometown of Althlone most nights of the week, it was time then to move on from the farming job to concentrate on his musical career.

Art Supple

Art Supple didn’t grow up with the ambition to be a professional singer. He was quite content to work on his father’s farm in the East Cork village of Gortroe, Art started life singing in the local village hall with a local talent group called The Barony Aces and as he grew a little older he started singing with a semi professional group led by local musician Pat Irwin. He might have continued to do this for a few more years but a new professional band called The Victors were starting. Acting on a tip from a local ballroom owner the Victors manager Terry Louge decided to ask Art to join as lead vocalist. Art & the Victors first hit single was a number called “Showbands on Parade” and it was the biggest selling single on the Irish Decca label Rex in 1965. It was a also year which saw Art voted in the top 10 Showband Singers of the Year, top ten personalities of the year and The Victors were listed as one of the top ten Favourite recording show bands in The New Spotlight Music Magazine.

The Great Katie Taylor in song

The Great Katie Taylor - Gold London Olympics 2012

Its not an interview so relax . I was watching the fight at home yesterday and when it was over I put pen to paper sat down with the guitar and recorded it onto my Tascam DR7 hand held recorder so the quality is not the best . Anyway its just my way of acknowledging a great moment in Irish history, Sport and Times. A fantastic person, a fantastic achievement. The great Katie Taylor, I didnt get into the studio just recorded it in the kitchen , Hey when the mood strikes ....what can I say.. Well done Katie

Arkadia

Arkadia , not your typical band.

This week was a busy week, but in the middle of it all I had the chance to chat with the members of the local group Arkadia who took a break out of recording their new promo, behind the scenes documentary DVD with Blue Shed Productions in Claycastle Recording studios to come into the studio and talk to me.  Arkadia are a powerhouse group who play in local venues in East Cork and at many corporate, wedding and dance functions and festivals around the country on a regular basis.

Linda Welby

Linda Welby a native of Loughrea in Co Galway, Linda, is many things, singer, songwriter, radio presenter but first and foremost a mother of eight children. Her first album 'A Story to Tell' as the title suggested was a collection of self penned songs which she sang herself, Due to the success of the first album she went on to record her second 'The Best of Times' a collection of contemporary songs and music again, written and composed by herself. On meeting Linda she is very quite, almost shy, very unassuming, and very much un aware of her gift in writing songs. When you hear Linda sing there is no pretence, she sings with a natural voice, her native Galway accent strong. She has no airs or graces and sings from the heart. One of the reasons why she has become so popular over the last few years and one of the reasons why she has travelled to so many countries singing her own songs in her own style.

The Wall St Thieves 3

Well I had the lads back in studio today, after their last visit its been mad with the amount of calls from listeners asking "when are they coming back on" to keep everyone happy we got them back into studio again.  The Wall Street Thieves are a four piece rock group. The band was started by Che Horgan and Eric Doherty in 2008.  There has been a couple of changes in the bands line up since then, having had Colin Morgan drumming to be replaced by Dereck O Shea who was later replaced by James Zinkant who is currently with the band. The lead guitarist, Eric Doherty, has been replaced by Dave O Callaghan. The line up is completed by the solid Shane Norberg on Bass who is also doubling on harmony vocals. Ranging in age from early to mid twenties, the members invoke an era when songwriters had something to say and music had substance. 

The Hard Ground

Speaking to Marlene Enright, singer with the Hard Ground, this week we discussed their debut studio album, Broken Conversations, which was released on Friday the 13th of July, we talked about the band and how things are progressing in recent times. She said that “Thank fully the national stations have play listed some of their songs and all the local stations are playing their songs as well. She went onto say that part of the reason for this was their video Pawn which was filmed and edited by Maurice Supple from Blue Shed Productions, got a fantastic response on Youtube from many of the people involved in those stations.

Jimmy Crowley Stephen Leeson

Irish Folk at its Best with Jimmy Crowley & Stephen Leeson. Music lovers are in for a real special magical treat on Friday 3rd of August when two very different but fantastic Irish Folk Singer/Songwriters; Jimmy Crowley and Stephen Leeson come together in a production of “Irish Folk at its Best” for one night only, at The Mall Arts Centre, Youghal, Co. Cork. Before the gig on the night Shane Supple had the pleasure of interviewing these amazing people.

Daniel Ryan

This week I was joined in studio by 15 year old Daniel Ryan from Youghal, Daniel who was a runner up in the recent busking competition in Youghal and a current finalist in The Perks Talent Competition is a young musician who loves to play his 2 row button accordion.

What makes Daniel special is the fact that he writes a lot of his own songs in a traditional style with a fusion of new ideas and styles. He played one song for me in studio which I have to admit left me breathless. The song called Determination was a fast self composed song, what was extraordinary about it was the speed with which he played it. It was musically, one of the most complicated pieces I have heard in a long time and he breezed through it, his fingers flying from note to note, calm collected and concentrating on his music I could just sit in awe as I watched him play.

The Buachaills

This week I had the pleasure of spending some time in the company of The Buachaills which comprises of Eoin Murphy, Aaron Dolan, Paudie O'Brien and Rob Carlile. The fifth member Eamonn Mulholland, in Canada on holiday, is due back any day now according to the lads. I asked the lads where it all started and how did they form the band. Paudie the elder statesman of the group replied that himself, and Eoin have been playing ballads together since 1992 when they were both members of the Castlelyons pipe band.

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. 

Jimmy Crowley’s Cork Folk Club:

Jimmy Crowley & John Spillane

Oh what a night. The launch of Jimmy Crowley's Cork Folk Club was absolutely amazing, you couldn't have asked for a more perfect night. Now where would you find two extraordinary artists such as Jimmy Crowley and John Spillane raising the roof to the Boys of Fairhill?. Well the answer is quite simple “only in Cork Boi” live at the Windsor Inn Lv Bar. For music enthusiasts it was great to see two of Cork’s greatest songwriters engrossed in the gig, and sing along to classic favourites like the Boys of Fairhill, Salonika, Oro se do bheatha bhaile, Dunnes Stores Girl, Cherrytree and many more favorite songs.

Mick Flavin

Mick Flavin

Irish country singer Mick Flavin has been a favourite at the dance halls singing Irish & Country songs for over 20 years, celebrated his incredible journey from Drumlish to Nashville via Wembley Stadium with the release of a double CD As Good As I Once Was. Recognised by his pure, deep voice and for his reputation as being a 'big, friendly giant', Mick has accumulated a large fan base throughout the years.