Shakin’ Stevens comes to Castlebar

Shakin’ Stevens in Castlebar


Country Roads
Michael Commins

NOSTALGIA is everything it used to be. The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, George Jones, Big Tom and the Mainliners have all been enjoying a huge revival in recent years. And Shakin’ Stevens may now be added to that growing list.
The Welshman, who recently celebrated his 60th birthday, is about to make a comeback after a number of years away from the scene. He was one of the biggest names on the circuit back in the 1980s when he had four number one hits in the UK and Irish charts and 15 top ten hits, as well as a string of million-selling albums.
Among his best known songs were ‘This Ole House’, ‘You Drive Me Crazy’, ‘Green Door’, ‘Oh Julie’, ‘Teardrops’, ‘A Rockin’ Good Way’ (with Bonnie Tyler) and the perennial seasonal favourite, ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’.
Last year signalled his comeback with the recording of a new album, Now Listen, and he followed this up with a very successful performance at this year’s Glastonbury festival.
The thing about Shakin’ Stevens was his cross-over appeal to followers of various music styles and the feel-good factor that his happy and bouncy music brings to his live shows. He looks set for a sell-out show when he plays the new Royal Theatre in Castlebar on Friday, December 5.
Tickets can be booked through www.royaltheatre.ie, www.ticketmaster.ie, any ticketmaster outlet nationwide or from the box office of the Royal Theatre, Castlebar at 0818 300 000. This number is operational 24/7.

Bernadette back on the music circuit after four years

FOXFORD singer Bernadette Ruddy is making a comeback on the music circuit. She is currently undertaking a number of shows with Brendan Grace and these are her first stage performances in around four years.
Bernadette, who released her debut album some years ago and who did two duet numbers with Al Grant, is delighted to be back on stage again. She has also been booked for a number of guest appearances with Brendan Grace later in the year and for his Christmas tour. A date on Brendan’s show in Claremorris has been arranged for Sunday, October 12.


Last of ‘The Drifting Cowboys’ passes on

DON Helms, the last of Hank Williams’ iconic band, The Drifting Cowboys, died in Nashville last week. He was 81. A renowned exponent of the steel guitar, his music touched millions on such Williams’ classics as ‘Cold, Cold Heart’ and ‘Your Cheatin’ Heart’.
Helms played with Williams in local Alabama venues in the early 1940s. His career was interrupted by Army service, and he eventually rejoined Williams’ Drifting Cowboys in 1949 when Williams had become a star on the Grand Ole Opry.
Born in New Brockton, Alabama, Don’s style of playing tugged right at the heartstrings and the evocative sound of the steel guitar became hugely influential in the country music of that period. It was an essential part of the sound that to this day remains synonymous with the music and songs of Hank Williams and can be heard on nearly every classic recorded by Hank.
After Hank’s death in 1953, Helms played on Patsy Cline’s million-seller ‘Walkin’ After Midnight’ and Lefty Frizzell’s ‘Long Black Veil’, as well as countless other songs and hit records. In recent times, he featured on a fine album by Chris Malpass who was among the performers at the Omagh Bluegrass Festival last September.
“The sound of Helms’ precise yet bluesy steel guitar [on Williams’ recordings] helped usher in a honky-tonk sound that would define country music for years to come,” the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum said in announcing a programme honouring Helms in 2006.
Leona Williams, ex-wife of Merle Haggard, said on Wednesday evening that she had learned of the death of Don Helms with much regret. “Don was a dear friend and we shared a great love for the traditional style of country music. He knew what country music and heart songs were all about. All who love that style of country will be saddened to hear of his passing. He was a legendary musician in the world of country,” she said when I spoke to her from her home in Missouri.