Five headline acts play Connolly Barracks this weekend
Paddy Casey | The Four Of Us | Luka Bloom | Cathy Davey | Declan Nerney
16 August 2021
The highlight of the summer is just ahead as Longford County Council, in association with Backstage Theatre and funded by the Arts Council of Ireland brings yet another weekend of live music to the stage at Connolly Barracks. Under the Faoin Spéir initiative, this weekend music fans will be treated to Irish rock, pop, folk and country royalty all in one location as Paddy Casey, The Four Of Us, Luka Bloom, Cathy Davey and Declan Nerney take to the stage at the former military headquarters.
To date, Longford County Council in association with Shane Crossan’s Republic of Culture, has delivered an incredible 34 live music events, across 23 locations in the county. Over 2,400 people have attended the free concerts under the ‘Live & Local’ initiative already, making Longford County Council a true leader in the battle to save the arts and entertainment industry, following the impact this devastating pandemic has had.
While other counties are only beginning to organise live events, Longford County Council was the first local authority in Ireland to mobilise its ‘Live & Local’ programme on 9 July. Organisers have battled every element along the way, from high temperatures to high winds and the odd rain shower throughout but even the Irish weather hasn’t dampened the spirits of gig-goers who have been so long starved of live music and this weekend is set to be the pinnacle of the calendar with five headline acts appearing over three days.
If you haven’t yet seen any of the gigs so far – not to worry. You are in for a real treat this weekend. The Faoin Speir Music concerts take place in Connolly Barracks, Longford this weekend Friday 20 to Sunday 22 August.
Sure to be a hit, The Four Of Us with special with guest Paddy Casey play on Friday night at 7:30pm. This will be Paddy Casey’s first live performance since launching his new album on 8 August. The Murphy Brothers from Newry, otherwise known as The Four Of Us will then take to the stage to deliver among others their hits like ‘Mary’ and rock anthem ‘Drag my bad name down’. Saturday night sees a double bill of Luka Bloom and Cathy Davey. Mastering his craft of song and sound over a 40-year tenure, Luka Bloom has become one of Ireland's most celebrated singer-songwriters. He can reimagine songs of any genre and make them feel brand new with his trusty acoustic guitar. Luka is followed by the chic pop tunes of Cathy Davey and her band. “Reuben", “Moving" and “Sing for Your Supper" are just a few of her expertly composed alternative pop anthems. Rounding it all off on Sunday is the Longford country legend - Declan Nerney. This will be Declan’s first gig in his native county in almost two years and he’s looking forward to meeting all of his fans again.
Tickets are €20 and are limited to 200 at the outdoor seated venue in Connolly Barracks, Longford town. Tickets are available from Backstage Theatre Longford by calling 043 33 47888 or www.backstage.ie.
#FaoinSpéir Longford is an initiative by Longford County Council in partnership with Backstage Theatre Longford and funded by the Arts Council of Ireland. More detail on the ongoing Live & Local outdoor music initiative is available on Eventbrite, on Longford.ie or by clicking here.
ENDS
All media queries should be directed to Longford County Council Communications Officer Denise Canavan on mediaenquiries@longfordcoco.ie or 043 33 43362.
Background Information
The Four of Us:
Founded in Newry, brothers Brendan and Declan Murphy found fame as The Four Of Us in 1989 with their debut album “Songs for the Tempted". It featured alternative rock anthem “Drag My Bad Name Down" and “Mary" and went double platinum, beating U2 to album of the year in the Irish Music Awards pushing The Four Of Us into the fast lane to international acclaim as one of Irelands best rock outfits.
Paddy Casey:
Starting out busking on the streets of Galway and Dublin, Crumlin-born Paddy Casey shot to stardom with his debut album “Amen, So Be It". With strong soul influences and folk nuances, Casey’s song writing led him to stellar heights with his chart topping “Saints and Sinners" and “Sweet Suburban Sky" prompting consecutive “Best Irish Male" awards in 2004 and 2005. Off the back of his newly released “Turn This Ship Around", Paddy Casey joins The Four of Us August 20th as their special guest.
Luka Bloom:
Luka Bloom was touring the UK folk scene by the age of 14 and had his songs covered by his contemporaries as early as 1972. Mastering his craft of song and sound over a 40-year tenure, Luka Bloom has become one of Irelands most celebrated singer songwriters. His albums “Treaty Stone" and “Keeper of the Flame" are considered must-own albums for any self-proclaimed songwriter. Bloom effortlessly shifts from a folkish bravado to a soulful and ambient artist in the wink of an eye. One of Ireland’s most celebrated songwriters, he can reimagine songs of any genre and make them feel brand new.
Cathy Davey:
“Something Ilk" was released by Cathy Davey in 2004 and was met with fanfare and praise from artists such as Blur's Graham Coxon and Supergrass. Her follow up “Tales of Silversleeve" (2007) was awarded five stars by the Irish Independent and gained her nominations for 2008 Best Female Artist and Album of the Year at the Meteor Music Awards. “Nameless" features Neil Hannon from the Divine Comedy and was the best-selling album in Ireland on the week of its release. “Reuben", “Moving" and “Sing for Your Supper" are among just a handful of her expertly composed alternative pop anthems. Join us for her performance at Faoin Spéir this August 21st.
Declan Nerney:
Declan Nerney is Longford’s most celebrated son and rightly so. Growing up in Drumlish at the tail end of the 60s meant Nerney was influenced by the British ‘invasion’ of The Hollies, The Rolling Stones and The Who while also taking inspiration from American Country superstars like Hank Williams, Buck Owens and Martyn Robbins. Meanwhile the Irish Showband scene entranced the youth of Ireland and Declan was no exception. Quickly becoming an accomplished guitarist Nerney found himself joining Gene Stuart and Brian Coll as part of their already established bands before forging his own solo career and becoming an international star renowned for his inimitable voice and on-stage persona. “Stop The World and Let Me Off" has become an anthem for most country and showbands and a cult classic in other fields. Declan has only gone from strength to strength with successful album after successful album and will bring his foot tapping and hand clapping show to the Longford Connolly Barracks on August 22nd.
Faoin Spéir Longford is a public arts initiative developed by Longford County Council in partnership with Backstage Theatre Longford funded through the Arts Council Ireland’s Faoin Spéir programme.
