Waterford Today | Waterford's free weekly newspaper

The Butterfly Band emerged on the Waterford live music scene in 1995 out of the ashes of another much loved local band, The Madrigal. As a 5 piece they toured the many Irish bars throughout Europe, visiting everywhere from Innsbruck to Rekjavik. At the beginning of the new millennium the lads turned professional and were in great demand at music festivals at home and abroad. The band then expanded to a 7 piece in 2003 and with the quality of musicians involved and the variety of instruments played, their live show has become a thing of legend, covering all bases from mod to rock and psychedelia to trad music. 16 years after first getting together, the lads are still gigging, writing and performing. Don't miss The Butterfly Band as they continue their monthly residency at The Forum Lounge's BoHo Club

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Not To Be Missed

Southeastern Youth Theatre Group Waterford are busy putting the finishing touches to their production of the smash hit musical LES MISERABLES which will be staged at the Theatre Royal Waterford from Monday 18th to Saturday 23rd April.

With a hugely talented cast and production team assembled from Waterford and the South East Area LES MISERABLES is a Musical that you wont want to miss and early booking is highly advisable. LES MISERABLES didn't become the worlds longest running musical for nothing with such songs as BRING HIM HOME, ONE DAY MORE, ON MY OWN, DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING, I DREAMED A DREAM, CASTLE ON A CLOUD, MASTER OF THE HOUSE, STARS, EMPTY CHAIRS AT EMPTY TABLES and many many more LES MISERABLES is packed full of memorable classic songs from start to finish all been accompanied

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Friday Night House Music In Escape's Roof Top Bar

Just Groove is a weekly Friday night House club that has been held in the rooftop bar in Escape since May 2010.

Residents Enda House, Chris Fitz, Cailin Power & Ian Dalton are regularly joined by some of the best House talent Waterford and Ireland has to offer.

This Friday, April 1st is no different with Cork DJ Kixx making his Waterford debut, fresh from having returned from his tour of South Africa last month.

Kixx plays a great mixture of House music taking in everything from deep to more techy styles, and always with bucket loads of funk. Make sure to call in for what promises to be a great night of music and dancing.

Doors @ 11pm with FREE ADMISSION & lots of drink specials at the bar.

More info @ http://www.facebook.com/justgroove

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What Really Happened to Larry Griffin?

Christmas Day 1929 turned out to be the last ever working day of Stradbally postman Larry Griffin. He never returned home and the only trace of him that could be found was an abandoned bicycle on a country road. The story of the missing postman as it became known, made the headlines nationally and overseas, when ten prominent local people were arrested and charged with his murder. The defendants included such pillars of the community as two local Civic Guards, the schoolteacher, the local publican, his wife and two of their children.

For eighty years the doors of Stradbally and the Garda files on the case remained firmly shut against anyone trying to investigate the story. Numerous successful libel actions taken by the former defendants further discouraged media interest. However all those involved have now passed

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The Coronas are back at the Forum Waterford next Wednesday, 6th April for what's bound to be another brilliant sell-out show. Tickets priced €15 are on sale now at Next Door Forum Waterford and 051 871111.

What a year 2010 was for Ireland's favourite new band, The Coronas. In February they beat U2 and Snow Patrol to win the award for "Best Irish Album" at the Meteor Awards, and that album Tony Was An Ex-Con continued to sell by the bucket load all year.

In July the lads played an amazing main stage set at Oxegen, then ended the year with a run of 3 sold out nights at Dublin's legendary Olympia and the best gig of 2010 at The Forum. Now they are back to play a full show for W.I.T.S.U featuring all the big hits like Grace, Don't Wait!, San

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Theatre Royal Waterford

Pink Floyd fans are in for a treat on Wednesday 6th April when the Theatre Royal plays host to one of the UK's top tribute bands, UK Pink Floyd Experience.

This 9-piece replicates the line up of the full live Pink Floyd touring band of the late 80's and 90's. With state-of-the-art sound and a spectacular light show, the aim is to perfect the atmosphere of the great Pink Floyd at a live show! The two-hour show includes all the well-known songs. The set covers the eras from Dark Side of The Moon through to Division Bell, so fans of all ages will find something from their era!

The 9 band members are all seasoned musicians and include a choreographed and costumed three girl backing vocal section.

Lead vocalist and guitarist Paul Andrews fronts the band and has a voice that

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WIT Youth Orchestra is holding their Annual Spring Concert in College Street Chapel on Wednesday 6th April at 7:30pm. Now including adults, (consequently due a name change) it is open to all, in the city and surrounding counties, whether they attend the WIT for individual lessons or not. Besides participating in local concerts, the orchestra has performed in The National Concert Hall in Dublin, and also in Wales and Germany. It is very active in encouraging young musicians to play to a high standard and has built up an instrument bank and awarded scholarships from time to time to facilitate this.

Many of the orchestra's players have become members of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and a number have just returned from Abu Dhabi where they performed as part of St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

The orchestra will play music by Verdi,

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Unusual Suspects are making their debut at Murphy's on the Quay this Saturday 2nd April at 10 pm.

Get there early for the chaos and carnage that will unfold. The Unusual Suspects are a dynamic exciting Rock Soul, Blues and chart topping Waterford band.

Established in late 2009 they've had a jam packed year in 2010 playing in some of Ireland's most high profile venues and also sharing the stage with some top names.

With top of the range equipment, striking stage presence and energetic shows, they leave crowds screaming for more. Their ability to cater for any occasion has seen The Unusual Suspects build up an enviable following of supporters and their constant interaction with these loyal friends has seen their popularity and profile blossom.

2011 promises to be just as busy with gigs already secured at Ireland Bike Fest where we will

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David Hennessy Junior Stage School would like to announce that Artistic Director of Spraoi, Mr Dermot Quinn will hold 3 Artistic Workshops at their studio at the Lacken Road Park on Saturday April 2nd.

Dermot has been working as a full time professional artist and theatrical designer for over 20 years, including 13 years with Spraoi. He has vast experience and his work includes teaching children, adults and people with disabilities.

The cost of this workshop is a recession busting €6 per person, with all materials supplied and you can bring home whatever you make!

Booking is essential; contact David on 086-202-9799 to reserve your place!

Workshop 1, age group 4-6yrs. 10.00am-11.00am

Crazy Creature pencil/pen holder, a delightful 3 dimensional wall based art work that would suit any child's room.

Workshop 2, age group 7-12 yrs. 11.15 am - 12.15pm

Little fishy. A translucent window hanging that

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Bursary Applications Sought Now

Waterford is lucky to have a bursary scheme which supports artists in a very flexible manner as both the Ted and Mary O'Regan Arts Bursary and the Waterford Variety Theatre Club annual award are all centred around what the artist needs to develop to their next stage.

All sorts of artists have availed of the scheme and all have remarked upon how different to find a scheme that aims to fill a gap where funding is badly needed.

The T and M Bursary is limited to an annual amount of €5K and the Variety award to €2K but any such awards in these hard times are very welcome. The Variety award comes from their annual show which is coming up in the Theatre Royal very soon (31st March to 2nd April) and sees the top local variety talent of

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From London Fashion Week to Garter Lane and on to The Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh is the direction for the woven contemporary basket work of Joe Hogan.

The contemporary fine art object, that his baskets truly are, link into the heritage of the tradition while giving it a contemporary twist, especially so in the link into the world of millinery.

Bare Branches Blue Black Sky is the title of his current exhibition of non-functional baskets at Garter Lane. The show gets its title from Hogan's new book which also launched at Garter Lane. The guest speaker at the launch on Saturday the 19th of March was Brian McGee, Head of Market Development with the Crafts Council of Ireland.

Mr McGee spoke about Joe Hogan's work, his craftsmanship and how his work was encountered in Collect at the Saatchi Gallery. He also spoke about

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'Hard hitting and hysterically funny in a uniquely Irish way'

The New York Times

The Ranting Rebels Theatre Group present Conor McPherson's Tony Award winning play this Thursday - Saturday (March 31st - April 2nd) in Garter Lane Theatre, Waterford. The play is directed by Peter McKenzie Brown and stars Gerry Kane, Hugo O'Donovan, Fergus Cooper, Brian Coady and Dean Sullivan. Tickets are selling well so if it is your intention to see this wonderful play then buy early. Tickets available from The Garter Lane Box Office (051)855038 or http://www.garterlane.ie

The 'New York Times' also stated "The Seafarer turns out to be a thinking person's alternative to 'It's a Wonderful Life" as a flagon for Christmas cheer' and "It's a dark and enthralling Christmas Fable of despair and Redemption".

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Theatre Royal, Waterford on March 29th

Mention two words; 'Dear Frankie' to anyone aged forty or over in this country and something predictable happens. They start to sing the signature tune to Frankie Byrne's iconic radio show, The Women's Page.

For over twenty years, Frankie ruled supreme on the airwaves on matters amorous.

In an era without internet, without dedicated self-help book sections in the bookshop, where the librarian knew your mother so you couldn't borrow that book, information was pretty hard to come by. Luckily, there was Frankie Byrne.

'Dear Frankie' is the new production from Five Lamps Theatre Company and celebrates the eclectic life and times of Frankie Byrne, Ireland's first radio agony aunt.

The various and authentic problems written to her and heard throughout the play offer a fascinating insight into the hang-ups, concerns and sorrows of Ireland in the 60's and

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Yes, it's "Show Time" for Waterford's Theatre Royal Variety Performance. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week the Theatre Royal will rock with this year's feast of variety entertainment. This show is packed to the rafters with great talent and energy that will have you on the edge of your seat starting opening with 42nd Street and the powerful voices of Ursula Hoeck and Julie Power (a new exciting talent) with Patricia Murphy's tap dancers supporting a vibrant sequence. The powerful gospel sound of the David Hennessy school brings us into the world of the Lion King. We then visit New York for a continental Céile and the rhythmic sound of river dance.

Comedy will bring us eight new pieces of high class zany antics of what is the finest bunch of comic actors in Ireland today. There are brilliant

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Have you had any involvement in music in Waterford over the past thirty years? If so, you will be familiar with the name Eric Sweeney. He enjoys international status as a composer and remains dedicated to music locally, as organist, choirmaster and musical director at Christ Church Cathedral.

He began his musical career at Trinity College Dublin where he completed a BA in Music. From here he travelled to England, Belgium and Italy to complete further studies before returning home to Ireland. For his work as a composer Eric is a member of Aosdána, the affiliation to honour artists whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the arts in Ireland. In 2000, Sweeney was responsible for the first Waterford New Music Week which is now in its eleventh year. His vision of the festival was to celebrate Irish contemporary music

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