Original White lightning members Jeff Ward & Noel Gilbert Jones return to West Cork with old pal Steve ‘ Smiley’ Barnard (Joe Strummer/Robbie Williams) on drums to hang another Festival scalp around their battle worn rock n roll necks.
Since 1979 Jeff Ward has either played with, recorded or produced: White Lightning, Iron Pig, Mourneblade, Noel Redding, Paul King, & Colin Earl (Mungo Jerry), Vijay Jagtap, Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy), John Coughlan (Status Quo), David Jackson (Van Der Graf Generator), Roy Harper, Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Corky Laing (Mountain), Eric Schenkeman (The Spin Doctors).
“Jeff Ward is better than good, He’s Tasty!” – Noel Redding (the Jimi Hendrix Experience).
Culture Night is an annual all-island public event that celebrates culture, creativity and the arts. This year, it will take place on Friday 16th September 2016. On Culture Night, arts and cultural organisations and venues of all shapes and sizes, including the National Cultural Institutions, extend their opening hours to allow for increased access to the public. Special and unique events and workshops are specifically programmed at participating locations and everything is available free of charge.
Culture Night has grown from a relatively small scale cultural event staged only in Dublin in 2006 to the significant national cultural event it now is, with some 350,000 people visiting museums, galleries, historic houses, artists’ studios and cultural centres across the country. The initiative has captured both the public imagination and the enthusiasm of artists and cultural organisations.
Culture Night
-Encourages more people to visit cultural venues and experience culture in their locality
-Reminds us all about the fantastic cultural facilities and resources that we have locally and nationally
-Raises the profile of cultural organisations, activities and facilities
-Encourages people to try new things and to get into the habit of going more often to cultural venues and activities in their locality
-Makes it easier for people to play a role in their local cultural scene
-Helps create a sense of community and belonging
Who makes Culture Night happen?
Culture Night happens because many people share a vision and enthusiasm for enjoying, celebrating and promoting creativity and culture. The following list gives a taste of the wide range of people and institutions that make it happen across Ireland:
the public, artists, performing groups, galleries, museums, sports clubs, libraries, arts centres, craft workers, studios and workshops, theatres, public spaces, broadcasters, schools, community groups, local authorities, Government Departments, state agencies and public bodies, transport companies, universities, shops and many more!
Paula Gómez is a Spanish singing sensation.
From Chiclana de la Frontera, Spain, Paula has in the last few years sang and performed throughout the world as well as juggling work as a presenter for Spanish Television Station ONDA TV Chiclana.
Since moving to Clonakilty, Paula has collaborated with many of Irelands finest musicians.
Always one of the gigs of the festival Paula will perform a special show at this years festival with Steven Housden (the Little River Band) -guitar, Ronan Archibald – bass & Martin Leahy (John Spillane, Christy Moore) -drums
“The heart turning voice of Paula Gomez soars like a young Joan Baez” ( IRISH TIMES, July Kathy Sheridan, Sat 26th July 2014).
” The Scene try to find at-least one “diamond in the rough” at each festival that makes its all worth while. Paula Gomez was artist one, on
day one and was surprisingly that”. ( CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK 2014, Scene magazine Toronto, Darryl Shelley).
KINGS OF KUDOS (AU/IRL/UK) Australian Guitar legend Steve Housden (The Little River Band) fronts this pscyhadelic rock juggernaut with Les Samson (Noel Redding Band) on drums and Mike Geaney (Eric Bell Band) on Bass.
West Cork trio Kings Of Kudos bring a powerful blend of progressive rock, jazz-fusion and psychedelic blues to their own genre-defying sound.
Stephen Housden’s guitar style is an eclectic mix of influences that range from instrumental surf music through to complex Jazz riffs with deep bluesy overtones.
Les Sampson’s powerhouse drumming and Mike Geaney’s solid bass lines provide a driving groove underneath the guitar’s sonic flights of fantasy.
Stephen Housden, guitar, vocals and principal writer, toured the world for many years as a member of Little River Band. He has also has played along side many music greats including; Dr. John, Warren Zevon, John Entwistle (The Who), Glen Frey and Albert Lee.
After moving to West Cork from Australia, Stephen regularly played with with Noel Redding (Jimi Hendrix Experience) and his band which included Sampson on drums. Les and Stephen played so well together they eventually decided to form a band to play original music. In 2012 with the addition of Geaney on bass the Kings Of Kudos had arrived.
Kings Of Kudos’ new EP, Third Mode From The Sun, (featuring a guest appearance by Margaret Kennedy on flute) will be released and showcased on September 20th. at this year’s Clonakilty International Guitar Festival.
Stephen Housden is regarded as one of the finest guitarists in the world. Well known as guitarist with Little River Band for more that two decades, he has also played and recorded with such music legends as Warren Zevon, Glenn Frey (The Eagles), Dr. John, Christopher Cross, John Entwistle (The Who), Renee Geyer, P.F Sloan, Albert Lee, Steve Cropper, The Seekers, Noel Redding (The Jimi Hendrix Experience) and many, many others.
Born in Bedfordshire, U.K, Stephen was inspired to play the guitar by watching singing-cowboys on television as a child. After moving to Australia at the age of eight he quickly discovered Rock’n’roll and fell under the magic of such lead guitarists as Hank B. Marvin (The Shadows) and Chuck Berry.
He formed his first band at High School and played coffee houses, school fetes, and parties, all the time honing his craft. Hendrix and jazz great Wes Montgomery became influences as Stephen worked hard on learning as much technique as he could, while also striving to develop his own distinctive style.
That style brought him to the attention of some of Australia’s most successful recording acts and over the coming years Stephen was highly sought after as a band member and recording session player. Some of the stars Stephen worked with during this time were Marcia Hines, John Farnham, James Reyne, Joe Camilleri, Mark Hunter, The Bushwhackers, Doug Ashdown, Brian Cadd, Mark Williams, Doug Parkinson and Richard Clapton.
Stephen also played on various advertising jingles and film soundtracks including the international blockbuster Crocodile Dundee.
In August 1981 Stephen was asked to join one of the world’s most successful acts, Little River Band, as their lead guitarist. Since then he has toured the world many times with them and co-written many of their songs including their Top 5 hit Love Is A Bridge.
Over the years Stephen has conducted music theory and improvisation seminars for guitarists, and written columns for magazines such as Sonics and Australian Musician. He has also toured schools with his highly successful one-man showThe Evolution of Rock Guitar.
A few years ago he recorded his first solo instrumental album New World Groove. The opening track Celtic Warrior has been featured on the TV series Baywatch.
In 1999 Stephen and his family moved to Cork, Ireland. Long inspired by Irish music, Stephen now enjoys the opportunity to play with some of Ireland’s top musicians including a feature on Paddy Keenan’s Long Grazing Acre CD.
The Vespertine Quintet is a collection of musicians from West Cork, comprising the traditional string quartet and piano with added electronic sounds.
Made up of 5 West Cork musicians (including 2 composing members), the quintet was born last winter as an idea by violinist Justin Grounds to gather some friends and play some sparse and wintery minimalist music by Icelandic composer Olafur Arnalds and Estonian Arvo Pärt. They put on a series of house concerts, gathering friends in houses in West Cork, sharing warm food and wine and playing their program. Word soon got out and the quintet were invited to play to a sold out audiences at Glebe Gardens, Lissard House for the Skibereen Arts Festival, and most recently at the Ballydehob Arts Festival.
In July they hosted a unique concert in De Barra’s, collaborating with acclaimed composer Clodagh Simonds of Fovea Hex, melding their soulful live strings and piano in new arrangements of her pieces.
From this show followed a DeBarra’s Winter Residency that saw the Quintet perform SOLD OUT shows with the following artists: Farewell J.R., Liam O Maonlaoi (the Hothouse Flowers), Adrian Crowley & Camille Grieshal.
“They’re a five-piece from Cork, and they make damn good tunes”
– Dan Hegarty, 2FM
Transmission Club are a five piece indie band from Cork, Ireland. Transmission Club’s diverse sonic palette combines elements of indie, folk and grunge, textured with harmonium, violin, keyboards, guitars, drum machines and loops.
Recording takes place in bedrooms and living rooms around Ireland, allowing for songs to be captured on the spur of the moment – sometimes freshly-written – and giving the music a raw, untrammelled feel.
In late 2015, Transmission Club released Salt, an E.P collection of demos. Salt gained airplay from the likes of Dan Hegarty, 2fm and Paul McLoone, Today fm. Salt was also voted no.1 in The Last Mixed Tape’s Reader’s E.P of the Year 2015 Poll.
“Salt works as a solid introduction into Transmission Club’s music,” said TLMT, “but the most exciting aspect is how this sound expands in the future.”
Salt was again recently nominated for E.P of the Year 2016 by Pure M. The band are currently beginning to record their follow up to Salt and hope to release it at the end of the year.
Having previously drummed for Robbie Williams on the Life Thru a Lens album and tours, Barnard joined Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros after Ged Lynch left. Barnard drummed on the “Forbidden City” track of the Rock Art and the X-Ray Style album.
Following the Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros debut gig at the Sheffield Leadmill on 5 June 1999 The Mescaleros toured extensively throughout the UK, Europe, Canada, US and Japan for the next six months. Further tours followed in early 2000 that included Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. The final night of a ten-date British tour supporting The Who, at Wembley Arena in November 2000, proved to be his last for The Mescaleros.
In 2001, along with Johnny Wilks, formed one*iota, who later became King Louis. Barnard drummed for The Mock Turtles on their return to the charts in 2003 and is currently drumming for Archive, who though relatively unknown in Britain are reaching massive proportions on mainland Europe.
In 2009 Smiley joined fellow Mescaleros Pablo Cook, who together with Mike Peters (The Alarm), Derek Forbes (Simple Minds) and Steve Harris (Archive/Gary Numan) formed Los Mondo Bongo, and have toured the UK, Canada and elsewhere celebrating the music of Joe Strummer.
In 2010 Smiley replaced Steve Grantley (Stiff Little Fingers) as the drummer in the The Alarm. He drummed on the latest Alarm album, The Sound and The Fury.
In 2013 Smiley played alongside original The Jam member Bruce Foxton when he took over drums from Mark Brzezicki in From The Jam.
“catch them before they’re famous and only perform for royalty and astronauts” – The Brag
All Our Exes Live in Texas is a fantasy draft of Sydney’s finest singer-songwriters – Elana Stone, Katie Wighton, Hannah Crofts and Georgia Mooney – here combining in four-part indie-folk heaven. On mandolin, ukulele, accordion and guitar, the Exes deliver tunes that are tastefully crafted within the context of a playful and utterly charming live show.
With four songwriters and four unique voices, the Exes make music that draws from traditional four-part harmony, creating a new brand of modern folk. Fair warning: You’ll need your charisma sunnies or you’ll walk away a little bit in love.
All Our Exes Live in Texas has shared the stage with a range of acts from the Backstreet Boys to Megan Washington, Mama Kin and Ainslie Wills.
Fresh from a national run of sold-out shows, whilst solidifying their reputation as darlings of the festival circuit, the Exes wooed audiences from Port Fairy Folk Festival to the National Folk Festival and beyond.
With their debut album due for release in mid-2016, the Exes are a powerhouse of harmonies, charm and songwriting prowess, proving they truly are the most badass girl folk group ever.
‘All Our Exes Live in Texas have been touring over the past couple of years selling out venues all over Australia – its hard to feel sorry for someone singing a sad song when their talent is completely blocking any feelings of pity you could ever feel – they are the most badass girl folk group ever’ Hhhhappy.com
‘From the moment they stepped onstage, the Exes delivered exactly what they are renowned for – their harmonies are so good its actually a little ridiculous and their instrumentation is strong as it is disparate. Catch them before they’re famous and only perform for royalty and astronauts’ – The Brag
“I saw some great artists while up in Brisbane, and a few of them completely floored me with great songs and performances – heavy shout-out to All Our Exes Live in Texas…’ – Anthony Fantano ‘The Needle Drop’
‘A person could roam far and wide and never find finer harmonies, and the songs themselves are as disparate as they are captivating. A clear audience favourite, their improvised banter was an enduring highlight, their instrumentation (guitar, mandolin, ukulele and accordion) catchy and winsome.’ – The Brag
Sweet and charming, All Our Exes Live in Texas were a festival highlight. Soaring vocal harmonies, tight melodies, an accordion and a set peppered by the girls’ random audience banter left the audience in total adoration, with a standing ovation given to them – and rightly so.’ – The Music
‘Crammed into the corner of a chapel pew, as the church filled to its utmost capacity, the four young beautiful Sydney women made the squeeze worth it. They had us immediately eating out of their endearing little paws as they blew us away with their impeccable four-part harmonies. Their sound was both punchy and sweet and covered in lyrics you wanted to listen to because they told the most beautiful love stories.’ – Xpress Magazine Perth
“All Our Exes Live In Texas filled the Howler bar with incredible harmonies and a folky vibe. They clearly enjoy performing, and their talent combined with their relaxed and funny banter caused the audience to instantly fall in love with them. Their accordion and mandolin accompaniment in tandem with ukulele and classical guitar adds a unique dimension to their music, ensuring everyone who sees them play won’t be able to forget them. These guys certainly make a big impression” –- The AUreview