Frank joins eight-night ‘Kings of Country’ tour Country Roads Michael Commins
MAYO’S Frank McCaffrey is one of six performers who will feature in the new Kings of Country show which will open an eight-night tour in Letterkenny at the end of the month. And the Westport man is delighted to have been chosen for the concert series which will see him perform on the same stage as Stonewall Jackson, Vernon Oxford and Jim Ed Brown, all from the Grand Ole Opry Show in Nashville.
“This will be something new for me and it is a tour I am very much looking forward to,” says Frank. “Nearly all the shows are in the northern area except for one in Dublin and another down in Thurles.
“The concert scene holds an attraction, especially during the winter months and the long nights. Early shows are much more in demand now and suit a lot more people. There’s a good combination of Irish and American singers on the bill so I think it will prove popular at all the venues.”
Stonewall Jackson has been around the circuit a long time, registering many major hits. One of the stalwarts of the traditional country scene, he remains a firm favourite to this day.
Vernon Oxford is also from the same style, strongly rooted in the traditional sounds of country and especially noted for some of his tear-jerker monologues.
The visit of Jim Ed Brown will also be welcomed by many. A singer with a smooth and velvet voice, among his hits were ‘The Three Bells’, ‘Jimmy Brown The Newsboy’, and ‘Scarlet Ribbons’.
Also on the bill are Roly Daniels and Robert Mizzell, both of whom will bring their own inimitable style to the shows. Accompanying the six front men will be the Blue Ridge Mountain Boys, seven-piece backing band. Percy Robinson has been confirmed to play steel guitar on the tour.
The dates are:
October 25 – Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny (box office 074 9122700),
October 26 – Glencarn Hotel, Castleblaney (042 97466660), October 27 – The Millennium Forum, Derry (048712664455), October 29 – Tullyglass Hotel, Ballymena (048 25652639), October 31 – St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh (07753936701), November 1 – Helix Theatre, Dublin (01 7007000),
November 3 – The Premier Hall, Thurles (052 25299),
November 4 – The Waterfront Hall, Belfast (048 90334455).
A true Dublin voice THERE was something absolutely special about Ronnie Drew. He was the quintessential Dubliner, one of those rare people who tend to encapsulate an entire people and way of life and become the very embodiment of that spirit that we tend to associate with ‘old’ Dublin.
Together with Luke Kelly and the rest of The Dubliners, Ronnie Drew served up a magic brew of ballads and folk songs that had the ability to intoxicate listeners with their authenticity. They were Dubs in the true sense and country people just warmed to them in a very special way. Wherever they went, they were always given a great welcome, the kind of one that comes from the heart.
Ronnie was the possessor of one of the most instantly recognisable voices on the island of Ireland. The gravel tones resonated strongly wherever it was heard, from Dublin to far Germany. The kind of voice that tends to linger in the mind.
Album after album carried the unmistakable stamp of The Dubliners, rousing, cajoling, happy, merry, and sometimes very powerful and evocative like ‘Raglan Road’ and ‘The Town I Loved So Well’ (Luke) and ‘Couple More Years On You Babe And That’s All’ and ‘Now I’m Easy’ (Ronnie).
In the final part of his journey, Ronnie was called on to show other fine qualities. This he did with characteristic courage and fortitude. In the world of Irish ballads and folk, he held iconic status and was the symbolic face of Dublin. He truly deserves a cherished place in the Hall of Fame of Rare Auld Times. Farewell, Ronnie.
Country Roads MAYO'S Frank McCaffrey is one of six performers who will feature in the new Kings of Country show which will open an eight-night tour in Letterkenny at the end of the month.
