Eleanor McEvoy                   

Friday 17th May @ 8pm

Tickets €20

Eleanor McEvoy achieved star status in Ireland in 1992 when her song “A Woman’s Heart” was the title track for the A Woman’s Heart anthology album.  A Woman’s Heart has since gone on to become the best-selling album in Irish history.  She graduated from Trinity College Dublin with an honors degree in music and was accepted to the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland as a violinist. She worked with the symphony for five years before she finally took the plunge and left the classical world behind to concentrate on her real passion—songwriting.  Eleanor released her eponymous debut on Geffen records followed by tours in the USA, Europe and the Far East. She moved to Columbia Records in New York for her second album ‘What’s Following Me?’ The first single ‘Precious Little’ was a top 10 radio hit in the US.

Since then, Eleanor has gone on to become an artist and performer known throughout the world. Her critically acclaimed canon of work spans fifteen albums and appearances on numerous compilation albums. She has also had numerous cover versions of her songs by performers such as Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, Phil Coulter, Mary Coughlan, Bella Hardy, (BBC folk singer of the year) Eliza Carthy, Derek Ryan and Jack L Her songs have been used in many TV and film sound tracks including HBO cult series “Six Feet Under.”, ABC’s “Clueless” and the Pearce Brosnan film “The Nephew”

Her 2016 album “NAKED MUSIC”, featured a collaboration with British painter Chris Gollon which was launched in Gallery Different, London, where “Naked Music – The Exhibition” ran for three weeks, featuring 25 Gollon paintings inspired by the songs on Naked Music. The “Naked Live…” tour that followed ran throughout 2016 & 2017 with shows in Ireland, England, Wales, Spain, Germany, Australia, USA and Scotland followed by the launch of “Naked Music – The Songbook” published by Hot Press.

Her new album “The Thomas Moore Project” was launched in Ireland’s National Concert Hall and features 21st century adaptations of the songs of the 18th/19th century Irish poet Thomas Moore.  It became RTE 1’s album of the week the week it was released and received rave reviews in Ireland, Hot Press magazine saying “McEvoy has re-established the relevance of one of Ireland’s most important yet most besmirched national artists” and the Irish Times describing it as “a highly evocative collection”

International acclaim followed with the Sydney Morning Herald writing “Still the world around you and listen to the words. Eleanor McEvoy, ever questing in her artistry, has crafted her own arrangements of songs by the distinguished Irish poet Thomas Moore…her voice distinctively blends the earnest with the elfin”.  She has since toured The Thomas Moore Project throughout England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Spain, Holland, Germany and Australia and will soon be bringing it to the USA where the album has been receiving extensive airplay.  When home from her travels, as well as being the chair of IMRO, Eleanor is also a voting member of the Recording Academy of America (the GRAMMYs) and in 2016 was appointed by Minister Heather Humphries to the board of Ireland’s National Concert Hall.

Chrysalis is an art exhibition by Martine O’Donovan currently on display in our cafe.

‘Sisters’ 
An exhibition of Solargraphs by Rhoda Cunningham  & Stained Glass by Tricia Cunningham from March 29th to May 3rd 2019

Rhoda’s Solargraphs are recordings  of the suns path taken with   lensless pinhole cameras. The exposures range in length from three months to a year. The invisible movements of the sun become visible in landscapes. Rhoda is a lecturer in NCAD and is a photographic artist who has exhibited widely. Her work is held in private collections both here and abroad.

Trajectory
Tricia is a stained glass artist. She is widely known for her stained glass windows in both public and private spaces. The work she is exhibiting here are two and three dimensional pieces that deal with the expression of a line
Tricia’s statement: The movement of the line is exquisite. It stretches to a point; it is curved, arched and folded. It folds back on itself and reaches out from within, it curves with expression and folds with content. Its completion is in its gesture.

High Plains Tradition play the Coastguard Cultural Centre  on March 30th @ 8pm.

A Rocky Mountain Based Bluegrass Band that began it’s musical Journey in 1987. Since then their travels have taken them all across the US and to Canada and Ireland.

It all happened in 1987 when Doug Elrick and Kenny Pabst, after a year off from playing with the band Grain Of Salt, decided it was time to get back to playing the music we loved in front of the best fans in the world, Bluegrass Music Fans. Through several band member changes, this current band can be seen performing throughout the west from California to just about every state to the Mississippi River. They have also performed in Canada and had 2 tours in Ireland as well. Their music is rooted in the “Traditional Sound” with their own seasoning. Fans have been quoted as saying,” High Plains Tradition is the Most Entertaining Band they have seen in years. You just never know what is going to happen on stage with those Boys.” Doug Elrick is one of the finest songwriters this side of the Mississippi and their shows are full of the songs of the Masters as well as their own material. The Highlight of a Festival with High Plains Tradition is their very moving Gospel Show. They currently have 4 recordings, Prairie Wind, Where the Woods are Cool and Still, Children Go, and Milestones. If you get a chance to see them “LIVE” do. Until then enjoy their recorded music and we look forward to seeing you in the future.

Doug Elrick

One of the finest songwriters and mandolin players this side of The Mississippi so their shows consist of many originals as well as songs of the “Masters. Doug also is a top luthier.  He has made several mandolins including the one he plays, 2 guitars and 2 fiddles.

Steve Gilmore

The driving force behind HPT’s sound with his hard-driving guitar work and can hit the vocal harmony’s that are the mainstay of the band. He is believed to be an accomplished fisherman as well when not picking with the boys.

Mark Leslie

One of the finest banjo players in the whole west.  His leads are spot on and his backup is so tasteful. When not playing Bluegrass, Mark is an avid hiker,  bicyclist and hunter.

Bobbie Vickery

Bobbie can sing tenor to a dog whistle.  His powerful, cutting edge voice brought a whole new dimension to High Plains as well as his stellar fiddle work. Bobbie lives on the Gulf Coast of Texas and when he’s not picking and singing he is usually with his family doing something in the Gulf, either fishing boating or swimming.

Kenny Pabst

The heartbeat of the band with his rock solid bass. His work on the bass is what keeps the train on track. Kenny has a dream of taking his 1957 Greyhound Bus, (converted to a motorcoach) and just hitting the blue highways and seeing the real America.

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.