Arts & Parts

Janet Ross Gallery

Just opened in Ramelton is the Ross Fine Art gallery with a fine display of works which are well presented in a lovely building. It makes a change to see a commercial gallery in Donegal not just taking the rack em high road and its a credit to Janet, who as an artist herself, has obviously thought about how the artists would like their work presented. With pieces by Derek Hill, Christy Keeney and others we expect the gallery to be a roaring success and we certainly hope it is. Its on the mall in Letterkenny, just two doors away from Whoriskey's shop, just at the bridge there. Tell her we sent you!

Phil Nicholl

In the world of stand up comedy there’s only one award that counts, formerly known as the perrier its now the if.comeddie and its handed out at Edinburgh every year. The list of those that have won it is legendary: Dylan Moran, Peter Kay, Eddie Izzard, etc. and this year’s winner was the Scottish Canadian Phil Nicholl with his show ‘The Naked Racist’, a timely subject given the shenanigans going on in the Big Brother house! He’s a quick thinking, quick moving kind of a guy and as an added bonus he’s bringing his three piece band with him! He’s on at An Grianan on Friday 2 Feb. Tickets can be got from the Box Office on 074 9120777 or online at www.angrianan.com

Hank Williams

Currently on at the Balor is the Hank Williams Show . The Balor CEP presents a spectacular musical biography of the rise and fall of the brash, forever young, always legendary singer-songwriter. Writers Randy and Mark Harelik have created a musical biography about an American icon of country music that is full of human understanding. Not only do they hold Williams’ music in deservedly high regard, but they also have treated his life story with great respect. His enduring songs like “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”,“Your Cheatin’ Heart”, “Hey, Good Lookin’”, and “Lovesick Blues” are given a fresh and profound resonance when set in the context of his life. This whole show really swings and rocks. The play is directed by Kieran Quinn and performed by local actors and musicians.

Music & Circus Skills Courses at the Balor

The Balor’s vision for 2007 is to become a Multi-Arts centre and to kick off the round of new opportunities available, they are offering Music Tuition Courses and a Circus Skills Training Course. If you’ve ever fancied giving a musical instrument a go, now is the time to contact the centre as they plan to run courses in Guitar (acoustic), Brass Instruments (Trombone, Trumpet, Cornet, Tuba, Baritone), Fiddle, Tin Whistle and Percussion (your chance to make a noise with a drum kit!). If, like many people at this time of year, one of your resolutions is to “try something new (or even scary!)”, why not enrol on the Balor’s Circus Skills Training Course which will include Stiltwalking, Juggling, Tightrope Walking, Uni-cycling, Platespinning and Diablo. This course is not for the faint-hearted and is sure to bring out the daredevil in you! Anyone interested in any of these courses, or simply wishing to find out what else the Balor tends to offer in the coming year, should contact the Co-ordinator, Cynthia Browne, on 9130424 or 0868034310.


What’s Hot

Derek O’ Connor’s trainers, Blogorrah, magooo.org, Pat shortt (tickets flyin’ out), Jason Byrne (ditto), Macbeth (some dead bloke apparently) and David Kitt. Yes back on the Hot list after a few years on the cold list. Its a fickle world. Ardal O Hanlon playing the Balor, fair play that man. Must be the Leeds fan in him. No I wont explain that, he is a Leeds fan, work it out yourself. Not sure I understand what I’m trying to say really...


Derek O’ Connor

I see in Friday’s Irish Times a photo of a slimmed down Derek O’ Connor, former assistant manager at Letterkenny Arts Centre and scribe of the Democrat’s film column, and his Blogorrah cohorts. Blogorrah is the Irish media sensation of 2006, a website where they basically take the hand at the media and as the media crave nothing more than attention they hype it back, confused? well check it out at www.blogorrah.com. Apparently the Sunday Tribune had Derek listed as the 28th coolest person in Ireland recently which just goes to show a/ you are only appreciated after you have left and b/ the Sunday Tribune has no idea what cool is. Talented, witty, fun, creative, borderline insane and many other things Derek may be but cool is not one of them! Having said that he’s wearing a fab pair of blue Adidas in the photo....

Web Stuff

Talking of the web some local blogsites really cranking up the creative juices are shindigrecords.blogspot.com, thoughtsetcetera.blogspot.com and www.magooo.org (that’s three o’s on the end of magoo there if you hadn’t noticed. Granted their attention is mainly on music but then often so is mine, oh and there’s me at andparts.blogspot.com.

Lifeboat

An Grianan Theatre is putting on four schools’ shows in the coming season and one that’s suitable for both National and Secondary Schools is the wonderful Lifeboat. It’s a cracking theatre show and a revival of the critically acclaimed 2006 production. On Friday the 13th of September 1940, a ship set sail from Liverpool for Canada carrying ninety young evacuees from the relentless bombing of war-torn Britain. Four days into the crossing the ship was torpedoed and sank, killing all but eleven of the evacuees. Two girls spent 19 terrifying hours in the water on an upturned lifeboat. They willed each other to survive. Lifeboat is their extraordinary true story of courage, survival and enduring friendship. It’ll have resonance particularly in coastal counties and with Donegal being so linked to the sea we expect a good take up here. For group bookings call 0749120777.

Hey D.J.

Great to see so many quality djs and bands coming to town over the last while, Voodoo broke their normal commercial cycle to put on Derry’s very talented Japanese Popstars, the Pulse through the Student’s Union had world champion dj Flip, Stiff Little Fingers are coming to the Casbah on the 8th March and the wonderful Cork band the Republic of Loose play the same venue on 8th February. An interesting side effect of the competition in town may be that people are now not just looking at the herd, long may it last. Of course for those who appreciate good music I’m still up in the Orchard every Friday and Saturday nights and despite malicious rumours it is still open! And remember Fridays are free!