The column appeared in todays Democrat rather than Tuesdays... oh well more potential readers I suppose!

Here's a mix by an old mucker of mine (well he's quite young compared to me) Toirse, a very fine funky electro techno dj who used to rock the cell back when .



Click here for the mix...


and here's his
myspace for more tracks and mixes.

oh and he says we should all go here...
Cyriak, (warning its fairly nuts!)

great footage of the frames gig in An Grianan, recorded by one of their own crew I'm pretty sure!,

We Build Smiles remix of sexyback...

Just got this from the mighty DeKLIn

Get it while it's hot:

update: hmmm he was less than satisfied with the last remix and so sent me another version, got to admit it is better, cheers Dec.

SEXYDEK2

And Back to the Arts! well briefly anyway...

The Smurfit Samhain International Poetry Competition and Festival is on from the 27th to the 29th October in Gortahork. Prizes this year amount to 6000 Euros. There is also music, art and food to be had over a fine weekend, but the most interesting of them all, to me anyway!, is the Calligraphy workshop with the President of world haiku club Susumu Takiguchi on the Saturday. It's on from 10am to 12 noon - The cost is €45 euros which includes lunch.

Oxford based Susumu is the Japanese founder of the world haiku club, www.worldhaikuclub.org. He is the publisher of the renowned e-journal, World Haiku Review. Sounds good to me.

The whole festival is hosted by my good mucker Cathal O' Searcaigh so here's a pic of him.


Film Club this week,

Letterkenny Film Club kicked off again last Thursday and a great crowd turned out. I've just watched the trailer for the next one and I must see it! click here TRAILER
This, the second film of the season is Ballet Russes (USA 2005) and will be screened on Thursday October 26. Created by filmmakers Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine, this film is a look into the revolutionary twentieth-century dance troupe known as the Ballets Russes. The story begins when a group of Russian refugees set up a ballet troupe in their adopted city of London. The group gradually evolved into not one but two rival dance troupes fighting the infamous Ballet Battles that consumed London society before World War II. Directed with consummate invention and infused with juicy anecdotal interviews from many of the company’s glamorous stars, Ballet Russes treats modern audiences to a rare glimpse of the singularly remarkable merger of Russian, American, European, and Latin American dancers, choreographers, composers, and designers that utterly transformed the face of Ballet.

‘Hugely entertaining….dazzling, entrancing, amazing’ – Film Review

‘One of the finest documentaries ever made……inspires and enchants.’ - Empire

And now the disclaimer! :

Films are open to members only. Members must rejoin each season. Membership is available to anyone over 18 from the arts centre (€1.50). All films start at 8.15pm and are screened at Century Cinemas, Port Road, Letterkenny. Admission is €7.50.

it's not big, its not clever, but it is funny

okay think I've got the M Ward doing pale blue eyes sussed...

click here then click listen beside it...

m ward pale blue eyes



And the Calexico and Iron Wine doing All Tomorrows Parties, I'm enjoying this!

Declan said Vanessa Paradis doing Waiting for my Man- and cracking it is too, cheers Dec hadn't heard this one. You know Vanessa Paradis doing Joe Le Taxi is seared into my brain from my teenage days.... lucky Johnny Depp....

hope this link works now..

it doesn't! will come back to this.. have the song here.. hmmmm

the most intellingent, funny and beautiful comedienne? Nina Conti. trying to book her now...wish me luck!

and KickAcid said Beck and Thom Yorke doing I'm Set Free and by the power of hype machine lo! it came to pass...

In the great hunt for great covers of Velvet Underground songs Mickey said Cat Power: I found a Reason so here's a live version recorded at Western Washington University. I love Cat Power.

Get this mix !




here's the link, not sure how long it will be up there....

GET IT!


it's dj ayers, dj eleven and cosmo baker. Your party doesn't need anything else!




TRACKLIST:

Thunder and Lightning - Bumping Bus Stop
Positive K - Step Up Front
MC Lyte - Paper Thin
Slick Rick - Mona Lisa Instrumental
Prince - Sign O’ The Times (Cosmo Baker live blend)
Schooly D - Saturday Night
Young Gunz - Friday Night
EPMD - Crossover
Redman - Time for some Akshun
Gangstarr - Just to get a Rep
KRS One - Hip Hop vs. Rap (Spinbad)
DJ Riz - Party Break
Herb Alpert - Rise
Crooklyn Clan - Franklinz
DJ Spinna - Everybody Bounce
Too Short ft Snoop Dogg - Keep Bouncing
Sunshine Anderson - Heard It All Before (QSO Version)
Aretha Franklin - Rock Steady (Mr K edit)
Rakim - I Know You Got Soul (Smalltown DJs Remix)
House of Pain vs Ding Dong - Bad Man Jump (Wido Blend)
Memphis Bleek - Yes (Instrumental) 106
Notorious B.I.G. - Nasty Boy (acapella - DJ Ayres live blend)
Beyoncé & Jay-Z - Deja Vu (Instrumental)
Beyoncé & Jay-Z - Deja Vu
Jay-Z f Sauce Money - Face Off
Kurtis Blow - The Breaks
LL Cool J - Jingling Baby (Marley Marl remix)
EPMD & LL Cool J - Rampage
Queen Latifah & Monie Love - Ladies First
Jackson Sisters - I Believe in Miracles
The Masterdon Committee - Funk Box (45 King remix)
Justin Timberlake - Damn Girl
Bobby Byrd - I Know You Got Soul
Special Ed - C’Mon Let’s Move It
Belle Epoque - Miss Broadway
Fatback Band - Backstrokin’
Zapp - More Bounce to the Ounce
Tom Browne - Funkin for Jamaica
Ronnie Hudson - California Poplock
Cameo - Candy
Rick James & Busta Rhymes - In The Ghetto (DJ Eleven Remix)

tip: never listen to Antony & the Johnsons if you are feeling a bit fragile. Here's a short reminder of their incredibly awesome set at Electric Picnic. The hair still stands up on the back of my neck at the memory...

Saturday Night at the Nerve Centre

Saturday night was a blast at the Nerve Centre: went on at 10pm to about 12 people and warmed things up a little until Dexter and Arsenio came on about 10.35 (lovely guys nice sense of humour), they cut things up nicely as the crowd poured in and by the time they finished to great applause just after 12 there was over 250 in. Erol alkan kicked right in and banged it big style which seemed to please the fairly young and male crowd. He is a nice bloke and a very good dj, but sure everyone knows that! Meanwhile I had transferred my big bag of cds and records to the back room where Jinksy of DFF had whipped up a storm. I kept it soulful and beaty and had fun although the Puppini Sisters really confused them!! Pepsi took the graveyard shift after me which considering the bar in the room had now closed and Erol was rocking the show next door was hard work but he played a very good set. By the close of play I'd say there was about 500 peeps overall. We then partied ( a music biz euphemism for talking rubbish..) backstage with stewarty et al until transferring to a party over the Waterside where I drank coffee in the kitchen!... it goes hazy then but cheers to everyone for a great night and their wonderful hospitality. I took my camera and forgot to get any shots whatsoever...

I think we are booking David Kitt for An Grianan Theatre for February, haven't firmed it up yet but saw this video on blogorrah and it made me much more enthusiastic about the whole gig. It's a cracking video for what i think is his best song..



Also hopefully happening in February is a gig by Jason Byrne, I love him...



Dancing at Lughnasa at An Grianan




When they write about the legacy Brian Friel has left us, hopefully not for a good while yet!, surely Dancing at Lughnasa will be right up there in the pantheon of plays written by our greatest modern writer? It’s a fabulous play and there’s a new staging of it with a predominantly Donegal cast coming to An Grianan from Thursday 19th to Sat 21st of this month. The cast includes Geraldine Galligan, Kevin and Marie Gallagher and Sorcha Shannaghan. It’s been doing great numbers in the Millennium in Derry and people have been loving it by all accounts. Call the Box Office on 074 91 20777 for more information and to book.

Keith Barry

Keith Barry’s third Irish tour lands up at An Grianan on 29th November its called “Keith Barry – Mental, A Mind Altering Experience”. Well talk about making it easy for the reviewers! Anyway its says here that the tour will feature brand new elements of Keith’s work where he mixes psychology, mentalism, neuro linguistics, instant induction hypnosis and magic. The show is dubbed “A Mind Altering Experience” after test runs of the new show it left people speechless and dazed at Keith’s talent. Or maybe that’s how they were before they came in .. Sure if you like this sort of thing you know who he is, basically Ireland’s David Blaine without the death wish. And apparently he’s doing very well in the states himself. They tell me that: Early in 2007, Keith will launch in the UK with a Live Saturday Night TV Special . Based on the success of his US show the UK show will be packed with Celebrities and will feature Keith doing a death defying stunt live. oh well maybe he has that death wish too! anyway call in to the theatre or ring 074 91 20777 to see him in Letterkenny

MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC

this week Nik has given me the Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man album,

the new Sarah Harmer album

and the Lou Rhodes album (she was the singer with Lamb), not had a chance to go through it all yet but looking forward to them, oh yeh...

oh my god! just heard this blind melon version of the VU's Candy Says, wouldn't want to compare it with the original (one of the greatest songs ever) but happily they make it completely their own creation. Enjoy! Candy

which kinda makes me think of velvet underground covers that I love, here's the cowboy junkies doing sweet jane.. any other suggestions?



for the sake of fairness thought I should put up the velvets doing something, so here's Sunday morning.. aint nothing cooler...kinda reminds me of waking up beside a beautiful girl on sunday morning after the Saturday night before, tired, exhausted, hungover, and curling into each other...:-)

dEcal as a band,or indeed duo, have gone through many musical changes over the years since I first saw them in the Downtown in Letterkenny all those years ago. We had some cracking gigs by them and indeed dj sets by Alan and Dennis separately as well. Dennis left some time ago to do his art thing, see post below, and Alan continued on alone until roping in percussionist, philosopher and all round deep thinker Dave Lacey on live drums. The live sets are far from the ambient electronica or four to the floor we have all come to know and love but hark more to the metaller I know he was in his youth! We love these tunes too though... here's a bit of live video to enjoy...

and if you like that there's more to listen to here My Space





The Frames


The Frames gig last tuesday was amazing, firstly the Pale played a cracking set and then the Frames tore the place up. Serious Frames watchers were saying that it was the best gig they had ever heard. The band and fans were gushing in their praise of the sound in An Grianan’s auditorium and the band picked up on all the work done with the acoustic panels which Guy Barriscale carried out over the last six months and they really felt it had added to the warmth of the sound. Darren Crossan gave us a cd of photos he took at the gig and they can be seen on the An Grianan website Frames pics. Now what to do with that fully autographed T- Shirt they gave me? Here's perfect opening line

Dancing at Lughnasa at An Grianan

When they write about the legacy Brian Friel has left us, hopefully not for a good while yet!, surely Dancing at Lughnasa will be right up there in the pantheon of plays written by our greatest modern writer? It’s a fabulous play and there’s a new staging of it with a predominantly Donegal cast coming to An Grianan from Thursday 19th to Sat 21st of this month. The cast includes Geraldine Galligan, Kevin and Marie Gallagher and Sorcha Shannaghan. Call the Box Office on 074 91 20777 for more information and to book. Check out more info here: Oct at An Grianan

Dubblejoint at the Balor

In this, the 25th anniversary year of the hunger strikes, Belfasts Dubbeljoint Theatre Company bring their acclaimed 'The Official Version' to the Balor Theatre. The play is a searching examination of the legacy of the hunger strikes from the various points of view of those involved. The play is set in Long Kesh in 2006. Plans are already advanced to develop the site, including part of it as a museum to include the prison hospital where ten prisoners died on hunger strike in 1981. The play follows Bridie and her daughter, Theresa, as they go on a tour of the prison. Bridie's son Gerard had been imprisoned in the H Blocks during the blanket protest and hunger strike and both Bridie and Theresa had been regular visitors to the prison - Theresa acting as one of the main couriers to smuggle communications in and out of the prison. Two others are also visiting the prison. Robert an NIO official attached to the Prison Department and Julie, a university researcher. as the four make their way around the prison they discover that each has a very different memory and knowledge of the place and what it means to them. For Bookings and Further Informaton contact the Balor on 0749131840.

Contact:

This week I’m mainly listening to Daniel Johnston. click here for one of his amazing songs Impossible Love and remember it was The Devil made me do it. Well actually it was Little John but shush..... oh don’t forget I make my Nerve Centre debut djing this Saturday night, already the twin towns massive are promising to come and I’m keeping them to it! Email me at chiba at eircom d0t net for maximum exposure!

Brilliant news!! Narty Station overlord and supreme ruler Steve McCollum is now working on the five follow up chapters to the multi award winning Pullin' The Devil By the Tail. Steve has a prodigious output of movies, music and animations. With a love of folk and a hatred of commerciality his extreme naturalistic style has won him legions of fans and Best British Animation Award at the Edinburgh Film Festival 2003 and Best Animation Director Award from the Irish Film Board 2003 both for Pullin' The Devil.
Here you can enjoy his video for the Frames song 'Fake', warning! extreme plasticine violence! :-) For more on Narty Station check out www.nartystation.com




Berkeley to play first Letterkenny gig for three years....



Local heroes Berkeley will play a free gig in the Casbah on Sat 14th October, at whatever time bands start there... I guess it wont be before 10pm! Their new album 'In Moments' is out now and its great. Hardcore- fueled songs reminiscent of old faves of mine like Big Black, Rapeman & Fugazi but with the odd subtler moment too. It's like its 1986 all over again! You can check them out at http://www.berkeley.tv and tell Tommy I sent you! Berkeley website link

Yaay! The Film Club is back! The season starts on Thursday October 19. As usual there are films from all over the world including France, USA and Iran. The first film of the season is Junebug (USA 2004). Directed by Phil Morrison and scripted by Angus MacLachlann, this film follows the story of Madeleine (Embeth Davidtz), a sophisticated gallery owner from Chicago, who finally gets to meet her husband, George’s (Alessandro Nivola) family, which includes prickly mother Peg (Celia Weston); taciturn father Eugene (Scott Wilson); cranky brother Johnny (Ben McKenzie) who has always suffered in the shadow of golden boy George; and Johnny's very pregnant, childlike wife Ashley (Amy Adams), who is instantly awestruck by her Yankee sister-in-law. I have no idea who these people are but it sounds great to me! And indeed winning the special Jury award at Sundance suggests it struck a chord or tickled a bone with them too. The rest of the season’s line up is: Ballet Russes (October 26); Offside (November 2); Cockles and Muscles (November 9); The Death of Mr Lazarescu (November 16); L’Enfant (November 23) and District 13 (November 30). Now for the important information: Films are open to members only. Members must rejoin each season. Membership is available to anyone over 18 from the arts centre (€1.50). All films start at 8.15pm and are screened at Century Cinemas, Port Road, Letterkenny. Admission is €7.50 per film. Cracking. There’s a trailer for junebug here http://www.sonyclassics.com/junebug/ or if you are using a mac better use this one http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/junebug.html

and there’s more! apparently the film club is going to Ardara for an an evening of Ardara films will take place in The Corner House Bar, Ardara on Sunday October 8. The evening will consist of three films by Donegal filmmakers. This is a fantastic opportunity to see films on a large screen that have a local and historical element to them. Each film brings their own interpretation to Ardara and its environs.

The first to be screened is called ‘Young Dylan’ and is directed by Peter Alexander. This is a stylish short docu-drama, which tells the story of the great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and retraces his two-month stay in Glenlough, in the summer of 1935. Produced and directed on location by Peter Alexander, it stars James Yates as Dylan Thomas with narration by Tommy O’Loughlin.The next film will be ‘Filí na gCnoc – The Mountain Poets’. This is an inspired film from Genevieve McGill and her father, Dr. Lochlann McGill. With a strong sense of place, they set out to bring to life the ancient Gaelic poetry of the small mountainous Gaeltacht areas of Aighe and Glengesh. T
The final film is a film produced by the Festival’s Film Company In Residence, Sadsack Productions. Sadsack Productions is a Dublin based film company composed of Donegal natives Cormac Cavanagh and Cian McDevitt together with Eimear O’Kane, Padge Tierney and Brian Moran. Over the course of the festival, they have been shooting a film in and around Ardara. This will be premiered on the night.
In conjunction with this evening, workshops have been taking place during the week with local schools, where the art of filmmaking is celebrated and taught to young aspiring filmmakers. Admission to the evening is free and all are welcome. For further information contact Letterkenny Arts Centre on 074 91 29186. Fair play there then.

Erol AlkanDexter Me Daithi pretends he’s a real D.J....... I’m going in to the Nerve Centre in Derry on 14th October to support legends such as Dexter from the Avalanches, ‘That boy needs therapy, that boy needs therapy, he’s crazy in the coconut!)’ and Trash’s Errol Alkan. Now these are two big, big names in world djing and really I’m chancing my arm but sure my name is on the poster and only the people who turn up early and watch me will know any different if I tell everyone I was brilliant! Sure I could even make up compliments for myself from Errol and Dexter.. what's that thinking out loud again? Damn! foiled again and I’d have got away with it if it wasn’t for you pesky kids....... Youth Arts on the Web The fab. Taryn Gleeson who currently works for Letterkenny Arts Centre (but we all know she’s destined for wonderful things) pointed me in the direction of the Youth Arts Website at http://www.youth.ie/arts/. A mine of information it is! Just like Taryn. An Grianan’s Cracking week ahead.. Tonight (Tuesday ’s The Frames with highlights from their career and no doubt the whole of their new album. Yes its sold out so unless you are mates with the band or already have a ticket you can forget it. Sorry. Let you know how it went next week. Like that’s a consolation! Friday (6 October ) is the very funny ‘King of Comedy’ (as crowned by Ch4 viewers) Andrew Maxwell. Winner of the 2004 Herald Angel Award at Edinburgh, Andrew was crowned the 'King of Comedy' by Channel 4, he's toured the world, and appears as a regular guest on RTE 2's 'The Panel' and in numerous other TV shows in the UK. He is also the host of the most talked about live show in the UK ‘Maxwell’s Fullmooners’. An intrepid social commentator, Andrew is renowned for his unique blend of comedy and socio-political observations. So it says! I just think he’s really funny and best when he goes off into strange flights of fancy. I’m there. See you at the bar! oh there’s a video clip of him on youtube, go to http://www.youtube.com and search for andrew maxwell and you’ll find it. And so to Sunday! And a rare opportunity to see America’s greatest gospel choir. The Harlem Gospel Choir first came to global attention when it joined U2 for a gospel version of ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” at its Harlem Church in 1988. Travelling the globe, it shares its joy of faith through its uplifting music. The theme for every performance is bringing people and nations together and giving something back. I’m in the front row give me a wave if you’re passing! The Balor’s big week Yes conor Malone isn’t one to be outdone , he’s very busy over in Ballybofey too. The London Classic Theatre come to the Balor in Ballybofey next Tuesday for one night only to perform their comedy The Double Inconstancy. Here’s how the storyline goes: Silvia, a simple country girl, has been kidnapped by the Prince, who has decided that he will marry her. However Silvia is devoted to Harlequin, her childhood sweetheart, and has vowed never to betray him. As the Prince and his courtiers try to bend and then break the bonds that unite the young lovers, the Palace becomes a labyrinth of duplicity and seduction. Trapped in a web of enchantment, will Silvia and Harlequin succumb to the temptations that surround them, or can true love prevail? If it sounds like your bag get thee hence to the Balor! Sat Oct 7th sees eurovision winner (from back when it was good says Conor, must have been before I was born) Charlie McGettigan play Ballybofey as part of a nationwide tour. Although best known for his Eurovision win Charlie has been a fixture in Irish music for almost 40 years. From the thriving Dublin folk scene of the ‘60s where his influences were people like Paul Brady, Donal Lunny and Andy Irvine to recording success with his first group Jargon, with artists like Maura O Connell and Eleanor Shanley and of course joining forces with Paul Harrington and Brendan Graham to win the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest with “Rock ‘N’ Roll Kids” Charlie has left an indelible mark on Irish music. And next Monday 9th oct. sees the launch of the new Lisa Richards comedy Club with Karl Spain. Karl has quickly established himself as one of Ireland's top comedians, continuing to go from strength to strength performing all over the world, such as London, Edinburgh, Montreal and Australia. Last year he took off around his homeland to look for a woman. This search was documented in the hit RTE series "Karl Spain Wants a Woman". Now he's back and he is looking for an audience for his brand new live show, "Love... whatever that means". The show may include bad dancing, football statistics, and a lot of pop trivia from 1984. The usual things that we've all used to impress the ladies. Ex-girlfriends will be allowed in for free but they must bring a picture of the two of us together and admit that I've touched their bits". (oh and by the way he’s still dating the young one he met off the show, well he was when I was chattin’ to him at Electric Picnic). Mammy!!! I want to go to this as well!!! For bookings and information contact The Balor on 0749131840. Fidget Feet at the Bluestacks... This multimedia aerial dance spectale unfolds high above the audience with the performers suspended from a crane. A fisherman and his small fishing boat is seen rowing across the clear night sky. A singing mermaid mesmerises his senses and 3 female flying sea dragons swoop over the audience and fly upwards to capture the poor fisherman from his boat. He tumbles into another underworld where fishermen get their wings. Original music and video art are projected on the fishing boat's sail. It’s a blast! It’s on in the Market Yard in Ballyshannon on Saturday 7 at 8.30 pm. This time I’m taking the whole family along! This week I'm listening to the Be Good Tanyas because folk is where its at. Check out a track here