Dublin Songs and Stories, an event we organised back in June in conjunction with Johnny Moy and all at The Sugar Club, was a roaring success. As well as being a great night of talk and music, featuring everyone from street artist MASER to the unrivaled Barry Gleeson, we raised almost two thousand euro for Pieta House in the process.
There was a belief on the night that we should do it again, and we have decided we will try and carry the night into the future. This time, we’re hoping to donate any takings to the Rape Crisis Centre, a hugely important service in the city that deserves financial support and which has seen its funding ravaged in recent times. Once again, we’re getting together a mix of musicians, historians, story tellers and people we think are worth hearing.
Tickets in advance are recommended, the last night was near a sellout. You can get them here. It kicks off at 8pm in The Sugar Club once again. The event page is up now too, be sure to click attending if you’re coming along.
BP Fallon, by Maser.
BP Fallon has certainly lived a colourful life, and has more than a few stories to tell. I’m always amazed by where he shows up! He has managed Johnny Thunders, and photographed everyone from Jerry Lee Lewis to Public Enemy, Emmylou Harris to Iggy Pop. From DJing on the radio as a teenager to becoming publicist to acts like Led Zepplin and T Rex, he’s even rubbed shoulders with The Beatles along the way. Steeped in the Dublin music scene and now immortalised by Maser in Temple Bar (see above), he’s a perfect addition to this kind of night.
ADW
We’re long term fans of ADW, posting a lot of his work on the site over the years, from his ‘tribute’ to Bertie Ah€rn above to his recent new take on our rather ill-fitting city motto and coat of arms, declaring that “Obedientia Civium Urbis Felicitas.” He has used the city as a canvas over the years, and his work is thought-provoking and humorous, just how we like it.
Steve Averill
At our first Dublin Songs & Stories night, we were very fortunate to have Pete Holidai from The Radiators From Space join us. The Rads are a band that have long fascinated us, and in 2012 Sam had the pleasure of interviewing the late and great Philip Chevron. As well as keeping the spirit and passion of the Rads alive through the Trouble Pilgrims in recent times, Steve Averill is a graphic artist responsible for producing all of U2’s album covers, which have become truly iconic.
Skippers Alley album cover
We recently had the good fortune of catching John Flynn of Skippers Alley in the very same venue we’re taking over, opening for folk miscreants Lynched at what was a night of fantastic music. John is a part of Skipper’s Alley, a young band bring a great energy to traditional and folk music in this city at present. When I heard him perform As I Roved Out that night I made it my mission to rope him into our next night! Thankfully, he agreed. I’m very excited about this one.
Ailbhe Smyth
Ailbhe Smyth has been active in some of the social movements we have written about on this blog for decades, campaigning in a wide range of feminist and LGBT campaigns for change in Irish society, witnessing some landmark moments along the way. In light of the recent referendum, for which she served as an advisor to the Yes Equality campaign, we want to sit down with Ailbhe and ask what’s changed and what hasn’t, and to talk about radical movements in Dublin in recent decades.
Mick Pyro, the front man of Dublin band Republic of Loose, is someone I’ve had the good fortune to see perform before. His unique vocals, and the bands feelgood sounds, earned them a cult following, and the admiration of many in the Irish music scene and press, including Sinead O’Connor. Like ourselves, he likes a bit of Adidas.
“There was one club in the city, as far as I was concerned, and it was Sides.”
As An Talamh tells the story of the rave scene in Dublin historically, taking in venues and nights like Sides and the now legendary raves in the Mansion House. It is the story of Power FM, the Banana Boys, bedroom promoters and those who kept a vibrant rave scene alive in a changing city, among other things.We’re going to chat to James Redmond about this project, and show a few clips to give a taster.
The Cricket Bat That Died For Ireland.
Think of trying to tell the history of the Easter Rising in a few objects, what would you pick? A copy of the 1916 Proclamation? The flag that flew from the GPO? These, of course, are hugely important historical artifacts. The Cricket Bat That Died for Ireland, the blog of Brenda Malone, however is concerned with the more overlooked items in the collection of the National Museum of Ireland. Take the bat itself, shot in Elvery’s during the Rising, he has the bullet to tell the tale. Other items highlighted by the fascinating blog include the last letter (or so he thought) or Eamon de Valera, who believed he would be executed for his role in the insurrection.
