Down Arts Centre Debut for Rapparees
23 October 2009
The Rapparees, with special guest Paul Tully, will make their Down Arts Centre debut at 8pm on Friday 30 October.
Quite possibly Ireland’s leading folk band of the present day, Gerard McNeill (guitar, banjo, vocals), Kevin Mawdsley (fiddle, whistles), Joe McKeague (guitar, fiddle, vocals), Conor McCaffrey (bodhrán, banjo, guitar), and Damian McErlean (bass guitar) have for the last six years been thrilling audiences around Ireland and Europe with their unique blend of folk music, encompassing everything from foot stomping belters to soothing ballads.
Highlights of the band’s blossoming career include supporting acts such as Shane MacGowan and the Popes, the Wolf Tones and Cara Dillon to name a few. Released in 2008, their debut album Clarity has received significant critical acclaim, and was described by Hotpress as presenting ‘helpings of fiddles, banjos and whistles that call to mind the more delicate moments from The Pogues back catalogue’.
Having had considerable success at international festivals, the band will tour Germany in March 2010 as part of the ‘Irish Heartbeat’ tour, alongside Matt and Shannon Heaton, the Paul McKenna Band and step dancer Kieran Jordan.
Described by Irish Music Magazine as ‘a band to watch as they straddle the line between the traditional and contemporary with ease’, The Rapparees deliver a hugely energetic show which is guaranteed to have everyone up on their feet and clapping their hands.
Promising haunting vocals, excellent musicianship, a mixture of folk, traditional songs and their own exciting new material, The Rapparees in Concert is a show not to be missed!
For information and tickets (£9 /£7 concession) contact Down Arts Centre box office on 028 4461 0747. For full details on autumn events throughout the district, download the Ultimate Guide at www.downartscentre.com
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR
• For interviews and further information contact Rachel Kennedy on 028 4461 0745
• Images available on request and downloadable from www.therapparees.com
Media enquiries should be forwarded to the Press Office, telephone 028 4461 0841,
email marketing@downdc.gov.uk
