Born in Waterford City, Stephanie Louise Furlong is a local emerging artist currently based in the rogue gallery and Studios.

This body of work pays tribute to the beauty and fascination of nature. By exploring this, it hopes to remind the audience of the peace that can be found in its embrace. I am continually drawn to the natural world and all the wonders it holds. Through colour and shape this collection invites appreciation and contemplation from the viewer. It is a chance to slow down and reconnect with the earth; From the delicate honeybee at work, to the vast never-ending expanse of a seascape.

Friday March 1st @8pm

Medieval & Spanish blues

Guitar & Songs

Ready for a unique and talented take on a wide range of musical traditions? Claude Bourbon is known throughout Europe and America for amazing guitar performances that take blues, Spanish, Middle Eastern, and Russian stylings into uncharted territories. Each year Bourbon plays more than 100 shows around the world.

Born in France in the early 60’s, Claude Bourbon grew up in Switzerland, where he was classically trained for many years. This finger picking guitarist has performed and studied all over the world; He has played countless venues, including Glastonbury Festival, Isle of Wight Festival, Colne Great British & Blues Festival, Rock O’Z Arene, Avenches, Switzerland, among others. He has shared the stage in Europe and the USA with countless musicians, Calvin Russel, Charlie Morgan (Elton John, Gary Moore), Jan Akkerman (Focus), Steve Grossman (Miles Davis), Herbie Armstrong ( Van Morisson), Jose barrense Dias and many more.

Now based in the UK, some of this guitarists’ influences allow us a fascinating insight into this remarkable musician; Paco De Lucia: Deep Purple’s Richie Blackmore; Joaquin Rodrigo; JJ Cale; JS Bach….

One reviewer even noted that although “Claude’s roots were in blues, that is like saying Leonardo da Vinci was a painter”.  Intrigued ?

Experience an evening of exploration in the unique ambiance of the Thumb !

Claude’s official website : www.claudebourbon.org

“… not a same ole same ole gig…”

“ Claude Bourbon is a unique figure today… his playing is almost indescribable“ – The Hook, Charlottesville, USA

“Never heard anyone get that much beautiful sound out of a J-45”, Bob, Tucson, AZ

“A breathtaking acoustic fusion of blues, jazz, folk, classical and Spanish guitar from a stunning guitar virtuoso…”Altadena News, USA”

Legendary folk singer Jim Page visits the Coastguard Centre  on Feb 8th.

This is what Christy Moore had to say of the man who wrote “Hiroshima Nagasaki Russian Roulette” and “Landlord”, both recorded by Moving Hearts,
“Every now and again I encounter a singer who gives me a glimmer of hope. Jim Page carries the light.”

Jim Page was born in California in 1949 and grew up into the 1960’s in the San Francisco Bay Area. The music and artistic experimentation of those days left a lasting impression on him. The politics and social awareness was a part of everything that was going on and it has stayed that way in Jim’s music ever since. Jim got his start in the bars and coffee houses of the lower Bay Area in 1966.

On New Years day of 1970 he headed to New York City by thumb, arriving one frozen day in January with a broken fleece lined jacked and 34 cents in his pocket. He soon borrowed a guitar and started hitting the clubs of Greenwich Village, sometimes playing as many as three in the same night. But the scene had gone and the Village a shadow of it’s former self.

A year later he headed to Seattle.
The last folk club in Seattle closed soon after he arrived and Jim took the whole town to be his stage. Wherever there were people he would play: the streets, the college campus, the bus station, the bars, and at the city council meetings. One day he walked into the TV
station and said “I’ve got a song you should put on the news,” and they did. Including the
streets, the campus, the cocktail bars, and the rock and roll clubs Jim would play from 11am
in the morning to 2am the next morning, with time out for traveling across town, often
playing 5 clubs a night.

In 1974, after being threatened with arrest, Jim took on the Seattle city government and legalized street performing. It was a landmark case and Seattle is nowa famous city for buskers of all styles.
In 1975 Jim recorded his first album of original music, a vinyl LP called “A Shot Of The Usual”, released on his own label. Two other albums followed in rapid succession.
In 1977 Jim journeyed to the UK and performed at the Cambridge Folk Festival. The response was instant and overwhelming and he walked away with a feature in the national music press, two booking agents, and a European tour for the next year. He was off and running
and spent the next 6 years almost constantly on the road. He recorded two albums for a Swedish label called Nacksving and one for WEA Ireland.
It was in Ireland that Christy Moore first heard Jim’s song “Hiroshima Nagasaki Russian Roulette,” and made it a permanent part of his repertoire. When Christy formed the great Irish band Moving Hearts “Hiroshima” was their first single and a centerpiece to their shows.

Our main gallery is currently decorated with the work of John Cullinan’s Art Group.

The wonderful ever-popular ceramic art created by Katie Gaudig

is currently on display in our Cafe

Josephine Marsh

Accordionist/multi-instrumentalist and composer Josephine Marsh is a musician with a highly distinctive and personalised style – her playing being described as loose, free, spiritual, uplifting and flowing.  Josephine has toured all over the world as a solo musician/teacher and also with her own band with one of the highlights being a musical collaboration with Niamh Parsons and Pat Marsh in 1999 for the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on Capitol Hill. She has recorded four albums including this summer’s release, Music in the Frame which includes nine of her own compositions and tunes from the Traditional canon.

Here’s what some reviewers have said:

Josephine is a consummate and highly regarded traditional musician of great style, presence and originality while enjoying a global reputation wherever traditional music is played and appreciated.  She is also a gifted and creative musician – with many original compositions to her name over the years. PJ Curtis ( Author/ Broadcaster/ Record Producer.)

A player of outstanding ability. Nuala O’ Connor, Irish Times

Josephine Marsh is a musician with a highly personalised and distinctive style.  She looks for the deepest feelings in the music and has a way of bringing about a mood of great happiness and uplift. Martin Hayes

Mick Kinsella

Originally from Co Carlow and now living in West Clare, Mick plays harmonica and English concertina. Besides being a highly respected traditional musician his other musical genres include jazz, blues, rock and bluegrass. He is also a studio session player and an educator, having taught harmonica workshops worldwide.

Seamus Cahill

Seamus Cahill is an accomplished guitar player and singer originally from Cork but now resides in Copenhagen.  Seamus has been playing Irish music since the 1970’s.  He has played and recorded with many bands such as Ashplant, The ULC band and also with visiting Irish musicians to Denmark.

David Lyttle & Joseph Leighton

Saturday November 17th @ 8pm           Tickets €10

Described earlier this year by the Independent as ‘the best in jazz coming out of Ireland today’ and by Rolling Stone as “sophisticated and sharp”, jazz drummer David is one of the island’s most forward-thinking and celebrated instrumentalists. With nominations in the MOBO Awards and Urban Music Awards, he has performed in over twenty five countries and collaborated with jazz icons Joe Lovano and Kurt Rosenwinkel, and hip hop visionaries Talib Kweli and Soweto Kinch. Recently he brought his unique performance concepts to China, making three trips with his solo drums show, and last year he travelled from L.A. to New York in a Cadillac DeVille, performing for unusual audiences from cowboys to UFO tourists in a month-long Arts Council funded project in which he featured Football Special as his official tour drink.

“Just a feeling!”  by Maria Gallwey is currently exhibiting in our main gallery.

Sharon Fleming, a local Waterford artist, display’s her work in our Open Arts Space (porch),

Best known for her delicate porcelain and glass art pieces, she also likes to work in other media such as painting, monoprinting, collage and batik. She takes inspiration from the natural environment and her surroundings.