John Jorgenson, one of the most unique and respected guitarists in the world, makes a very welcome return to Forum Waterford on Saturday, 5th September. This very special full-scale electric performance will feature cuts from Jorgenson's long and highly distinguished career to include: The Desert Rose Band, The Helecasters, superb solo material plus, a sprinkling of gypsy jazz thrown in for good measure.

Guitarist Magazine famously referred to John Jorgenson as: "The Greatest Guitar Player on the Planet." Elton John describes him as: "brilliant!!" while legendary Byrd, Chris Hillman hails Jorgenson as: "The best musician I have ever worked with".

Awards include: A Grammy Award in February 2009, A.C.M. Guitar Player of the Year ( 3 consecutive years) and, he has claimed the title of: Nashville's Guitar Player of the Year a record breaking seven times. John Jorgenson has long been known as the true American ...
Read More »

Award-winning producer/director Gary Power, holds his Annual Musical Theatre Summer Camp at the De Braam Studios, Tycor from Monday August 24th to Saturday 29th, beginning at 10.00 am and running until 5.00 pm.

If you are aged between 7 to 16 you are welcome along to this fun packed week. Here you will learn all there is to know about musical theatre in an entertaining and happy environment.

Highlights will include excerpts from classics like High School Musical, Annie, 42nd Street and Little Shop of Horrors (which Gary Power will be directing for De La Salle College in November) and many more.

Students from De La Salle, the Ursuline or the Mercy, who intend to audition for this show in November should view this a a great chance to learn about the show and avail of the opportunity to work with Gary.

The Summer Camp, now in its 5th year, is hugely popular and allows youth to wind d...
Read More »

The Waterford Healing Arts Trust's Healing Sounds music programme presented a live performance by Hollering Pine in Waterford Regional Hospital recently for the benefit of patients, staff, and visitors.

Kate Glavey and Eoin Dalton met up in March 2008 and started singing country songs together - songs about liars, cheaters, horse thieves, the Lord Jesus, murdering housewives, rare mountain flowers and lovesick losers.

In late 2008 Tommy Keating joined the group, adding an authentically raw, unpolished fiddle sound to the mix. They have played a range of venues around Waterford including the Candlelight Sessions in Phil Grimes, the Tuesday Night Folk Club in Downes', and Saturday night sessions in La Fontana restaurant. A personal highlight for the group was a support slot before Andy Irvine's gig in the Imagine Festival in November 2008.

Healing Sounds aims to provide an enjoyable diversion...
Read More »

Clive Barnes new album The Ghost Country is released September 2009. It's the sound of a musician at the top of his game as a vocalist, guitarist and songwriter. On The Ghost Country Clive sounds truly unique, having forged his own voice through years of touring the US and Europe and sharing stages with the likes of Eric Bibb, Taj Mahal, Jeff Beck, Dr. John, Solomon Burke, Peter Green, Seasick Steve, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Alison Krauss, David Crosby and many more.

Clive is regarded as one of the finest guitarists around today but not only that, his lyrical and song-writing abilities are striking on this collection of songs. From the roaring banjo fueled opening track Shotgun Grin to the big sky foreboding of the title track right through to the lyrical Closer Borderlines, the album is populated with stories of characters running and returning, longing and dreaming, down on their luck and finally finding some peace...
Read More »

For too long now, Waterford has been playing second fiddle to the orchestras of nightlife that other cities enjoy. For too long, Waterford people have been crying out for change, crying out for something different, crying out for variety. Thankfully, there's a brand new entertainment complex in town.

Escape Night Club, Revolution and Revolution Basement Bar combine three styles, three separate venues, and three brand new options for your new night out in Waterford. Escape Night Club is open seven nights a week, each night different to the next, with something to suit all musical tastes. smoking areas and a special chill out room ensure that whatever you're into, or whatever mood you're in, you'll be in the right place. Revolution Basement Bar is a stylish bar, for stylish people. Perfect for private functions and parties, The Basement Bar will offer an alternative to every other bar you've ever been in. Live musi...
Read More »

The Laughter Lounge downstairs at Forum Waterford is back this Saturday night with another blistering programme of comedy bursting at the seams with plenty of comedy, craic and drink to keep you partying into the small hours. Music for the late bar VIVA will be supplied by resident Dj Paul who will keep you on the floor with a mix of commercial chart and the best from the 90's.

Eric Lalor was walking through Ballymun shopping centre when he saw a poster looking for any wannabe stand-up comedians who fancied doing comedy workshops. He went along to an audition, did a documentary called Joy in the Hood with Des Bishop and now does stand-up comedy all over the country! Eric has also started an extremely successful comedy night in the Axis in Ballymun. In 2007 Eric was invited to appear at the Just for Laughs Montreal showcase to a sold out crowd in Vicar St., Dublin. He also performed at the Edinburgh Fringe as part of t...
Read More »

Music lovers are getting ready for one of the most popular events at Christ Church Cathedral - the annual summer visit of the Cologne New Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. Making its welcome fifth return to Waterford, they will perform a concert at 8pm on Friday the 28th of August. The orchestra has been enchanting audiences for more than 30 years with its electrifying music, and its style of interpretation is characterised by spirit, vivacity and faithful rendition.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience one of Germany's finest ensembles, performing a diverse and mouth watering programme of music including Vivaldi's tremendously popular Four Seasons and Eine Kleine Nachtmusic by Mozart.

Christ Church Cathedral, Friday 28th of August at 8pm.
Tickets €18 adults / €16 seniors & unwaged / €12 students & children, available from the cathedral gift shop, or by ringing 051 858 95...
Read More »

Dust Off Your Lens And Get Snapping

DETAILS OF NATIONAL HERITAGE WEEK PHOTO COMPETITION ANNOUNCED

Are you the next David Bailey? Whether you are 7 or 87, the National Heritage Week Photo Competition is your chance to dust off your lens and get snapping.

Use your imagination to capture the connections between people, the environment and heritage during National Heritage Week and share these experiences by uploading your images to www.pix.ie/go/heritageweek between 22nd August and 13th September 2009.

Up to five photos can be submitted into each of the three categories; Natural Heritage, Built Heritage and Cultural Heritage. Photos in each category will be judged on originality, creativity and a demonstrated understanding of the theme of National Heritage Week, "Be part of it, it's part of you".

Speaking about the competition, Head of Communications & Ed...
Read More »

Moving Hearts And Special Guests Set To Return For Irish Tour

The news that one of Ireland's most influential bands, Moving Hearts, have planned an Irish Tour for this autumn will delight their fan base and those with an interest in traditional music.

This ground-breaking band, who have inspired many well known traditional musicians to follow in their footsteps, are famous for their thrilling live performances since coming on the scene the early 1980s.

This August and September, they will perform in The Wexford Opera House on Saturday 29th August; Cork Opera House on Sunday 6th September; University Concert Hall Limerick on Saturday 12th September and The National Concert Hall on Sunday 13th September.

Performing with Moving Hearts will be special guests Iarla Ó Lionáird (formerly of Afro Celts), and the infamous Máirtín O'Connor on accordion.

The rec...
Read More »

Gary Power Productions have been very lucky to secure the services of local actor/singer Ray Collins to join the cast of "Cuckoo's Nest".

Ray (above) will play the part of Aide Williams, a male nurse in the Psychiatric Ward, who actually has his own personal problems and tends to take this out on the daily lives of the patients.

This is ordinarily a relatively small part but Gary has developed the part and making it a more complex character.

Ray is son of the late veteran variety performer Ritchie Collins and began his theatre career at a very young age he has appeared in many musicals. Recently he appeared in Back to the 80's at Garter Lane Theatre, and now joins the very experienced cast of Cuckoo's Nest which opens for its much anticipated re-run from September 14th - 19th at Garter Lane Theatre.

This play which completely sold out during its last run this year has been descri...
Read More »

Lunfardia Hear the Tangos, Chacareras & Milongas from South America

Elaine Clark: violin
Dermot Dunne: accordion
Ariel Hernandez: guitar/ vocals
Malachy Robinson: bass
Lucas Gonzalez: percussion, guitar

You are invited on a voyage to the New World with Lunfardia, whose freewheeling repertoire embraces simmering Tangos and Milongas from Buenos Aires, rough-hewn Chacareras from the Argentinean pampas, breezy Bolivian Huaynos and grooving Joropos from Venezuela. That so much musical ground is covered with casual artistry and engaging authenticity speaks volumes for the musicians in Lunfardia, the heart of which is the charismatic and enduring partnership of Buenos Aires native, guitarist and singer Ariel Hernandez, and Ireland's leading classical accordionist Dermot Dunne. Elaine Clark's bright singing violin takes flight here, while Malachy Robinson, her bass p...
Read More »

Once again the stage curtains have been raised in Waterford's Garter Lane Arts Centre and kicking off the brand new autumn theatre season is local production company PushPull Productions with their Garter Lane debut Production 'An Audience with', fresh from their success with the public graffiti mural 'Asphalt Rainbow' in Jenkins Lane and their last theatre production 'Propaghanda' in the Granary Theatre, the company returns with a fantastic night of five short comedy plays and make their Garter Lane debut in what promises to be a night of fun and hysterics.

Written and directed by PushPull's very own inhouse writers Dean Sullivan and Jamie Flynn and featuring the Garter Lane debut of playwright Alan Cliff, this promises to be a night nobody should miss.

So get ready for a night of laughter and come along to Garter Lane Arts Centre on the 29th of August at 8pm sharp to see 'An Audience with' by PushPull Prod...
Read More »

BLAA style

Waterford Youth Arts are currently in preparations for their new drama production 'The Playboy of The' Sunny' South East', written and directed by Bisi Adigun. Bisi has specifically devised the show for WYA and the 24 member teenage cast. The show is WYA's annual summer theatre production, which allows young people to work fulltime with a professional director on a professional production.

The Playboy of the 'Sunny' South East is a parody of the original playboy by J.M Synge set in modern day Waterford. Bisi, a talented Nigerian writer / director, has managed to put a complete spin on the original 'Playboy' by Synge, injecting it with much 'blaa' humour yet still staying true to its roots.In 2007 Bisi also tackled The Playboy when he collaborated with Roddy Doyle to write a very successful version for the Abbey Theatre.

The play will run full t...
Read More »

Revolution Comedy moves to plush new surroundings in ESCAPE Nite Club on Saturday August 22nd and will feature a bumper card of four top class comedic talents.

ERIC SHANTZ
Eric Shantz arrived in Europe last year after a decade of performing in the US on shows like, Jimmy Kimmel Live, MTV's Wild N' Out, and Spike TV's Scream Awards as well as performing on all the main stages of Las Vegas. Since arriving on these shores he's established himself as a regular at the Laughter Lounge in Dublin, and when in London you can find him at The Comedy Store or Jongleurs Comedy Clubs.

KEVIN GOLDSMITH
A lot of you will recognise Kevin from Des Bishop's Joy in Da Hood. Kevin is beating the recession the old fashioned way by wooing audiences in comedy clubs all over Ireland, while still working in his day job as a scaffolder. It's impossible not to love every minute of a...
Read More »

Over the past 3 months local dancers have been working with choreographer Libby Seward and dancer Jess Rowell of Animated State Dance Company to create an engaging new dance work. Inspired by music, imagination, memories, relationships and individuality, "Living Our Dreams" will be performed as part of "ECHOES" a 60-minute dance event combining the work of five groups from Donegal, Kerry, Waterford, Dublin and Kildare. As the group says "It's all about not holding back.....Go For It!"

On this occasion Animated State is working in partnership with the National Down Syndrome Association, the Local Down Syndrome Association, Fluxusdance and Counterbalance Integrated Dance Company. The performance will play a significant part in the ceremonies surrounding the International Downs Syndrome Conference at the Helix Theatre, D.C.U. in Dublin on Thursday 20th August.

Libby reflects "As dance artists we feel privil...
Read More »

Waterford Youth Arts are getting ready for the new term where over 300 young people enrol to take part in weekly workshops in drama, dance, film, creative writing and visual art. All of these workshops are run by trained professionals but they only work well when we have an adult volunteer working alongside the arts worker. If you are interested what would be required is a commitment for one workshop (approx. 2 hours) for a ten-week period. In return we will offer you some training in the particular artform and also in the past many volunteers have used their new skills within their own life or within their workplace e.g. teachers in a school setting or youthworkers in the youth project. In the photo you can see a group of women who assisted WYA in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2007 but most of them have been volunteers with the Dance programme over the last couple of years.

If you would like further information abou...
Read More »

Keep an eye out this August for the weird and wonderful strolling down your road. Yes you can believe your eyes! Introducing Justice Thumbs, a charity organization consisting of two teams of three over-excited hitch-hikers. Inappropriately attired in fancy dress costumes they will embark on a national adventure that will see all proceeds go to Down Syndrome Ireland. The cross country capers will set off on their travels from 24th August and will return 2nd September in a bid to raise awareness for such a great cause.

Taking in no less than sixteen towns and cities en route, both teams will host a fundraising event at their respective locations. Entertainment is a guarantee and each event includes a "Big Band Theory" wherein the local band will perform on a voluntary basis to help the hitch hikers draw out a crowd. They will also identify "Ireland's Most Flamboyant Porker" - rules of which are being kept under wraps unti...
Read More »

More Wedding Bells A new selection of Annie Brophy's Wedding Photographs, 1920s-1970s

Annie Brophy was a photographer of great skill and vision who lived and worked in Waterford city for much of the 20th century. She did not photograph the rich and famous, she photographed the real people of her place, the city that was her home and the surrounding counties. Her photographs always capture a moment in time, allowing us all the pleasure of experiencing that moment and those people.

Pictured above Des Hodge, 70 Johnstown, & Lucy Rea, 1 Saint Carthage's Avenue, Waterford Married Ballybricken Church 4th March 1972

The exhibition will run from Friday 21st August until Saturday 26th September 2009 in Christ Church Cathedral, Cathedral Square, Waterford.

Opening hours are Monday-Friday, 10.00-18.00; Saturday, 10.00-16.00

Admission is FREE

@ Ruby's Room 2 Friday 21st Aug

Yes, you heard right, this Friday 21st August there is a Battle Royal of DJs as Waterford's Original Dj Duo, the Tasty Boys, Johnny & Owie make the trip down to Ruby's Room 2 to take on Daz & Martin Roche.

Johnny & Owie have recently returned to the scene and their Tasty Edits night is proving to be a great success.

Daz & Martin have been DJing back to back for about 6 years now, but both have been djing out since the late 90s so they are no strangers to the Waterford Dance scene.

All four djs will be delving deep into their music collections to pull out those killer tracks that will give them the upper hand and the people benefiting will be the ones on the dancefloor.

Percussion on the night will be provided by Marc Merriman from Torann.

Doors 11pm and once again adm is only €5, Also, co...
Read More »

Ilya K bow out from the music scene at Electric Avenue this Friday 21st August, after 5 years of being Waterford's most unique and exciting live act. They headline the first night of the Electric Pic 'n' Mix Festival in the Live Room, with support from good friends Gorbachov and new kids on the block, Fun With Fireworks.

There's more rain forecast for the weekend but who cares, as Electric Pic 'n' Mix provides 4 rooms of quality festival entertainment indoors.

l In the Loft on Friday it's a rare outing by Necksnapper, as the lads play a live headline techno set with support from DJs Alan Harris and Joe Gould.

l In the Mezz, Muc and Zee from the Untz crew play some super cool jungle and dubstep, while out on the Terrace the Ibiza Collective play Balearic beats at the "Shut The F**K Up And Dance" Silent Disco, which is the most fun you will have in a beer garden this year. All this top notch fes...
Read More »