Derry Live List October Edition by Derry Live List

issue 08 2015

Plus

INTERVIEW

hi!

We have yet another very busy month ahead with lots happening in our theatres and venues throughout the city. Another month means another festival here in Derry! Well a few to be exact. We have the City of Derry International Choral Festival from 22nd to 25th October not to mention our world renowned City o Bones Halloween festival at the end of the month. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exciting times for us here at Derry Live List too with the launch of our new website which is full of lots more features as well as a faster more user-friendly design. We also have an official launch night organised with great live bands on Friday 9th October at the fantastic Bennigans Bar. So come on down and join in on the craic! So whatever youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re up to this month, make sure to check out the website, derrylivelist.com for all the latest information in music, theatre, dance and art. Ed

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LINEUP October 2015

Contents

Interview

MAKING MONSTERS

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

pages 4 & 5

Preview

JOSEF LOCKE: A GRAND ADVENTURE pages 30 & 31

Interview

BALKAN ALIEN SOUND pages 10 & 11

4 & 5 Making Monsters Interview 6 & 7 Derry Live List Launch Preview 8 & 9 NTWRK Interview 10 & 11 Balkan Alien Sound Interview 12 & 13 Nina Kraviz Preview 14 & 15 Catmando Interview 16 & 17 This month’s music listings 18 & 19 City of Derry International Choral Festival Preview 20 Diwali Festival Preview 22 & 23 City of Bones Halloween Preview 24 & 25 Sherlock Holmes & The Ripper Murders Theatre Preview 26 Menopause The Musical Theatre Preview 27 Woody Guthrie: The Long Road to Peekskill Theatre Preview 28 & 30 Josef Locke- A Grand Adventure By Felicity McCall Theatre Preview 31 & 32 This month’s theatre listings 33 The Playhouse Exhibition Preview 34 This month’s Art listings

Preview

CITY OF DERRY INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL pages 18 & 19

4 music

#MusicCity #DerryLive

making

monsters B

~interview~

efore heading off on the road as support act to Fightstar, local band, Making Monsters have just spent the month of September touring the length of Ireland. The female fronted alternative rock band have amassed a legion of fans on their travels over the years and have supported some of the finest bands including Silverstein, We Came As Romans, Max Raptor and Skindred. With the release of their new four track EP just around the corner we caught up with the band for a chat on all things rock. What are your musical influences? Our influences range from pop punk to metal, and everything in between. Bands like The Used, Reuben, Funeral For A Friend, Brand New, Alexisonfire are some of the ones we have most in common. How would you describe your music? When we first started out, we would have described ourselves as Alternative Metal, but it seemed too specific and our sound naturally changed over time, now we describe it as alternative rock. Your latest single ‘Noodle Sync’ was released in August, what more new music can we look forward to hearing in the near future? We have a load of new material mixed and mastered, hopefully being released in a few months. You have recently been working on a new video, when is it due for release? Can’t say just yet, but releasing it very soon! You guys are just about to hit the road for an extensive Irish and UK tour… what can fans expect from the live shows? We haven’t toured since the start of the year, since then we have been locked away working on new material. So plenty of new stuff, and of course sweaty energetic live shows. You have supported some fantastic bands over the years, who would you

say you have enjoyed touring with the most… and why? Probably the guys in Max Raptor, fantastic live band and really lovely people, we also share the same weird sense of humour, very funny guys. We highly recommend catching them live if you get the chance. Skindred and Young Guns would be up there too, all extremely tight live bands. Out of all the gigs you have played… which stands out the most? It’s pretty hard to choose one, but we’ll never forget Stendhal Festival 2014, mid set our old bassist Joe was ‘rocking out too hard’, and put his foot through the stage, we couldn’t contain the laughter! What food (or drink) can you not live without on the road? Probably McDonalds, simply because there’s nowhere else open after the drives home or on the way to the next show, and if they didn’t exist we would likely starve. You guys are due to play your home town twice in October, an invite only gig in Trash and later the same night in Sandinos… what’s the best thing about playing locally? Home town shows are essential, you can never forget your roots and there’s just a different atmosphere, friends and family as well as fans, it’s always a great send off for the start of a tour, or an excellent way to celebrate the last of a run of shows.

>> You can catch Making Monsters at Sandinos on Saturday 10th October with admission priced at £5. The guys are also playing an invite only gig in Trash on the same day.

6 music

John Deery

#MusicCity #DerryLive

ready for the

launch

ver the past few months our friends at Zoo Creative have been tirelessly working away behind the scenes on our new website. With the website going live at the beginning of October we thought it would be a great excuse to have a party, and what a party we have lined up. On the night we have live music from some of the finest local musicians. John Deery and the Heads, Rosborough, Rainy Boy Sleep, Simon Kempston and Jessica Doherty will all be performing under one roof at the fantastic Bennigans Bar on John Street. With a line-up as incredible as that, it’s sure to be a night to remember. So let’s take a look at all the artists who will be on show. John Deery has been a big part of the local scene for many years now. Having spent some time as a solo artist playing throughout N.Ireland and Scotland, he has also been a campion of local music with his singer-songwriter nights. Since forming his band John Deery and the Heads, there have been many highlights for the guys. With the release of three well received albums, being made ‘Sound Cloud Artist of the Day’ in February of this year, RTE Radio 1 sessions, Other Voices, not to mention supporting the Beach Boys ... it’s been a busy few years for John Deery and the Heads. Another artist who has always been heavily involved in the local

Rosborough

music scene is Glenn Rosborough. Performing now as a solo artist and simply as ‘Rosborough’ the former Karma 45 and Intermission front man has been releasing new music while also working at the Nerve Centre mentoring those aged 16 and over, passing on his expertise and his love of music. Rosborough’s voice is incredible, it’s captivating. I still remember like it was yesterday how I was blown away by his cover of Jeff Buckley’s Lilac Wine which he recorded in his bedroom with one mic, and that was back in 2012! We caught up with Rainy Boy Sleep for our August Ezine ahead of his visit to the Stendhal Festival. He had just returned home from not one, but two performances at what is arguably the most famous festival

in the world - Glastonbury. We managed to grab Rainy Boy Sleep for our launch night just before he heads off on a jammed packed tour of the UK where he’ll be supporting none other than the Hot House Flowers. Edinburgh based Scottish award winning singer songwriter Simon Kempston will be performing his original and contemporary acoustic music which is steeped in the traditions of folk, Celtic and blues music. Regarded as one of Scotland’s best young songwriters, Simon’s training in classical guitar comes through in his distinctive finger picking playing style. Jessica Doherty has been tipped by many as Derry’s next big thing. At 17 years old and having only picked up the guitar two years ago, Jessica has an impressive list of achievements to date. In June Jessica released her debut single ‘Wolves’ to widespread acclaim, and most recently has been involved in a collaboration with Ruairi and the Owls - for ‘Lying Eyes’. Supporting artists such as SOAK, Janet Devlin, Ciaran Lavery, PORTS and our very own Rainy Boy Sleep, Jessica has also performed at several high profile events such as Glasgowbury, Other Voices, Stendhal Festival and MTV Crashes.

>> Why not come along to our official launch of the new website at Bennigans Bar on Friday 9th October and listen to some incredible music for only £5! Doors 9pm.

8 music

VINYL NIGHTS #MusicCity #DerryLive

TWRK is the brain child of local DJ Ethan McKinney and although it was only conceived in early 2014, he has managed to attract some of the biggest names on the DJ scene to come to his hometown. This month is yet another busy month for NTWRK, seeing Randomer, Hammer, Nina Kraviz and Deetron all bringing their vinyl to various locations around the city.

with

When was NTWRK formed and who are the team behind the name? NTWRK was formed at the start of 2014. Billy & Christy from Mason’s Bar approached me and asked if I was interested in running a monthly event held in both upstairs in Masons and in the Nerve Centre. At the time I was running a smaller night in various venues across the town and financing it myself with a small budget which isn’t ideal when it comes to running events. So to then be offered free reign in booking my favourite acts, I happily obliged. Billy & Christy then left it up to me to book whatever acts I thought would work and it has been successful ever since its formation. What made you want to get involved in

event promotions? I was always interested in electronic music and began DJing at 15 and from that came the idea of running events when I turned 16. For you what has been the highlight night for so far in NTWRK’s portfolio of events? It’s a hard choice. After Almost all of them I get back home thinking “that has to be the best one yet”. But some tend to stick out more than others when thinking back. The first NYTA night in Masons was nuts. Our first birthday in May with Joy O was amazing. I’m a huge fan of Joy O and to have him headline our

NTWRK birthday night in such a small intimate space like Masons was a proud moment. The atmosphere we had for Catz ’n Dogz & Green Velvet in the Nerve Centre both nights was crazy. All very special nights. What DJ would you most love to bring to Derry? Joy Orbison was top of my list since starting the night so I guess I would have said that had you asked before May. Although no-one sticks out in particular at the moment. I do have a lot of names in my head but most that I can think of we’re currently in talks with at the moment to bring them here so I’ll have to keep quiet on that. To be given the

opportunity to bring all these names to Derry is something I really thankful for. How healthy do you think the local DJ scene is at the moment? I think it’s at the best it’s ever been. All you have to do is look back on the success of Celtronic’s last festival. They sold out every show this year and it’s been their most successful year yet. The buzz around the town that week was something else and it was all to do with electronic music. More and more people are gaining an interest in the music and it’s great. You are one of NTWRK residents, who would have been your influences growing up?

My interest in House/Techno began about 5 years ago and since then my main influences have to be Joy O, Boddika & Deetron just to name a few. NTWRK have a great line-up this month (October), how much work goes on behind the scenes to bring big name DJs to the city? E-mails, booking flights, booking hotels, equipment hire, e-mails, airport runs, venue set up, e-mails, itineraries, clearing visas and did I mention e-mails? What are your future aims for NTWRK? To continue bringing the best names there is to the town. 2016 looks bright.

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#MusicCity #DerryLive

the sound of the balkans D

erryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very own high octane Gypsy and Balkan influenced band the Balkan Alien Sound have had yet another busy

year. With trips to Catalonia, Amsterdam and mainland UK not to mention the vast amount of Irish gigs, the guys have been heavily in demand. As champions of world music their Gypsy Folk Klub nights have been bringing inter-

national acts to this great city for my years now but the monthly event has recently taken up residence in Bennigans Bar. We caught up with Balkan Alien Soundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accordion player Martin Coyle to get the low down on the monthly event and find out more about Balkan Alien Sound.

11 When were the band first formed and how did you all get together? The band formed in 2007 and has had a few line-up changes over the years but essentially the four core members of the group have been involved from day one. At the minute we operate as a five piece, which at first was challenging, after working as a seven piece, but it definitely has made us stronger players. Working in a group with friends and people you can trust (musically) is very important and gives each of us freedom on stage to explore - which is the most enjoyable part of playing in the band really. How would you describe the music of Balkan Alien Sound? The music we play has certainly developed over the last 8 years. We started out being hooked on Klezmer music and were almost like a ska band, which was great fun. I’ve found the deeper we’ve delved into learning and playing Eastern European music, the more similarities we’ve seemed to

find with our own traditional music here. Our latest compositions certainly have an Irish flavour but still maintain that rigid balkan rhythm. Obviously with the addition of an electric bass and drum kit, the music then immediately takes on a more contemporary feel. What would you say you love most about this style of music? To be honest there are two sides to this music that I love. Firstly, it’s great party music. When we have a good gig it’s a fantastic adrenaline rush coming off stage after playing such frantic music. On the other hand though we like to break up our sets with some slower songs. The music of Macedonia particularly lends itself to really heartfelt melodies and it’s great to have this as a foil to the hectic Bulgarian influenced rhythms of the more upbeat stuff. What would be your main influences? Within the group there is such a wide range of influences. We are all into jazz, folk, traditional, blues, classical, punk and rock music. We’re music fans at the end of the day, regardless of genre. We like to pepper little bits and pieces of these influences into our own style of playing. If I had to site one main influence for the actual formation of the band though it would have to be the recordings of Andy Irvine and Planxty’s exploration of Bulgarian music in the 70’s. Tunes like Smeceno Horo from their After the Break album still blow me away to this day.

You guys have been big champions of World Music in Northern Ireland, how strong would you say the scene is at the moment? It’s healthy, and growing! We’ve been running the Gypsy Folk Klub now since 2008 which plays hosts to an array of international touring acts in the world, folk, trad and roots scene. Initially we were running it every three months but this year we’ve been able to put on a monthly event due to the volume of acts coming through. We’re really happy to have teamed up with Bennigans who are providing a real intimate environment for people to fully experience performances. It’s great for us to be able to host bands from around Europe and beyond that we’ve played with and maintain a musical relationship with. Setting up an international network with Derry as a pivot is the idea, and giving the audience an exciting new experience each month is important. We’re already taking some exciting bookings for next year and have secured some great acts. Next up for the Gypsy Folk Klub is Cup O’Joe in October, and Tolka Hot Club in November... tell our readers why they need to come and check these guys out... As I mentioned, the club plays host to a lot of international acts but for us it’s equally as important to showcase home-grown talent as well. Cup O’Joe are a young bluegrass band from Northern Ireland who I feel are on their way to great things with their vibrant playing and musicianship beyond their years! Also then in November The Tolka Hot Club, from Dublin, will transform Bennigans into a Parisian Gypsy Swing night with echos of Django Reinhardt and Stephan Grappelli throughout their sound. I’m really looking forward to October and November’s shows, and of course Balkan Alien Sound will be performing at the Christmas show on Boxing Night.

gypsy folk klub line-up Friday 30th October CUP O’JOE (N.Ireland)

Saturday 28th November TOLKA HOT CLUB (Eire) Saturday 26th December BALKAN ALIEN SOUND (Derry)

12 music

#MusicCity #DerryLive

on a siberian trip with

z i v a r K a n i N S

iberian Techno DJ Nina Kraviz will jet into the city this month for another show stopping NTWRK coup. One of the industry’s breakthrough names of the past 5 years, Nina has a deep rooted passion for house and techno which goes way back to her days as a journalist for Russian music magazine Ptuch. “That opened my mind to an even wider range of music,” she says. “I started building up my own record collection that captured many of my music phases, from techno, house and space disco to rare funk and ’60s and ’70s soundtrack music that I started mixing in small clubs and bars. I also found myself a job at an event agency, throwing parties with Underground Resistance, and it was through this that I met people like Juan Atkins, something I could have only dreamed about when I was in Siberia” She says. Even though at the time she was studying to become a dentist,

Nina knew that she wanted a future in music and in 2005 was accepted into the Red Bull Music Academy in Seattle, however unfortunately she was unable to obtain a visa. The following year Nina was able to attend the Red Bull Music Academy in Melbourne instead and this was seen as a turning point in her career. “That was the place where, for the first time in my life, I started to feel confident and believe in myself” she says. Nina has flirted with controversy along the way to becoming one of the most recognisable female DJs on the scene. Being accepted within a predominantly male industry would always have its hurdles as she soon found it. Some felt that she was trying to use her sexuality to sell records, Hitting out at her detractors on Facebook she said, “For many people I am just too real. But if you think I am gonna change because you don’t feel it or because you are full of clichés and sexism.

You think you can control people and tell them what they should be. No, sorry it doesn’t work this way with me. I am producing, exploring, digging for records since ages and sharing music with people -all by myself. I have my right to be who I am and you can like it or not. I love my job and I am just too real for some of you”. In May of last year, Nina launched her own label ‘Trip’ which focus on the trippier, acidic side of electronic music, the hypnotic sound that has become so synonymous to her own sound. So the monumental rise of Nina Kraviz continues and is sure to be another fantastic event from NTWRK…at least she should feel at home with Derry’s Siberian weather.

>> NTWRK presents Nina Kraviz & Bjarki on Friday 23rd October at 8pm with the venue still to be announced. Second release tickets are now on sale and priced at £15 plus Booking Fee.

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#MusicCity #DerryLive

relocation and records with

catmando Where did the name Catmando come from? Catmando is the name of the cat owned by one of the founders of the Monster Raving Loony Party, which is a legitimate political party in the UK. I think the cat actually became an official party leader or something at some point too. What were your own musical influences growing up? I got into music via my parents. There was always music on around the house so my first real musical idols were Neil Young and Bob Dylan. Years later I

got religiously into bands like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam. Since then I’ve pretty much been into bits of everything. When did you first begin producing music? 2004. That’s when I first started making music by myself and putting them online. I actually used the name Catmando back then as well. Some of those early attempts are still floating around the net actually but I’m not going to tell you where because they may be a tad embarrassing. How would you describe your music?

This is always a tough question so I decided a long time ago to refer to it as Slow-Fi. It isn’t a real genre and it’s my way of saying, I have no idea how to describe it. I try not to concern myself with genre’s too much. The Catmando project has been going for a few years now, but you guys only really started gigging this year - how did you find the jump from recording to performing your music live? It was a long and difficult process. We kind of needed to reverse engineer everything and at the start I quickly realised that as a live project it just wasn’t

As of last month local band Catmando have packed up their gear and taken their Progressive Glitch Pop to Leeds where the guys will now be located for the foreseeable future. September also saw the band release their new single ‘Faceplant’ to great acclaim,

taken from the upcoming album ‘Drool’ which will be out later this month. They may now be located across the water but that doesn’t mean we should forget our local bands, so we caught up with the guys to find out how they’re settling into Yorkshire’s music loving city of Leeds.

exciting enough. There was a lot of trial and error and a lot of new gear that needed to be bought before things really started coming together. I’m pretty sure it will continue to evolve too.

The new album ‘Drool’ is out this month, have you a confirmed date yet for it’s release? I can’t give an exact date quite yet but it will be late in October.

What would normally be your process for mapping out a song? I usually start with a melody, often played on guitar because it’s the instrument I’m most comfortable with. Every now and then though I try to change up my approach, for example, by setting myself a series of rules or restrictions to work by. I’m constantly looking for new ways to look at and approach music.

What would you say have been the main influences for the new album? The influences are really varied. This is a collection of tracks I have been making over the past two years or so and I realised that a large number of them would fit well on an album. Everything from Brian Eno to Aphex Twin to Portishead to Boards of Canada. So you guys have now relocated to

Leeds... how is the music scene over there at the moment? The scene is really rather exciting. There are just so many venues, so many promoters, so many fans of different genre’s. We’ve seen new live music almost every night since arriving. What does the future hold for Catmando? We are looking to establish ourselves over here and hopefully gig around the UK. I am also already working on a follow up EP which will be a little different and were also working on a little side project which will feature live drums and brass.

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Best Boy Grip Bennigans

Friday, 02 October Time:9pm Tickets:£8.80

An Acoustic Evening with:

Paddy Nash, Eamon Friel and Jonny Nutt

Paul Casey

Tinney’s Bar

Friday, 02 October Tickets:£10

Paul Casey is a talented singersongwriter from Northern Ireland with smooth vocal sensibilities, exceptional guitar chops and a spirited international following. He will be playing a one-off intimate solo acoustic gig.

Having only recently released his debut album to critical acclaim, this is your chance to hear the debut album by Best Boy Grip in its entirety at an intimate venue.

Legenderry Warehouse Friday, 02 October Time:8pm Tickets:£10

Part of the We Shall Overcome Weekend, live music and food at the Legenderry Warehouse with all proceeds in aid of Rotary Foyle Foodbank. Tickets are available from the Legenderry Warehouse.

Derry Live List Website Launch Bennigans

Friday, 09 September

Time:9pm Admission:£5 With an exciting newly designed from some of the finest local musiwebsite due to go live at the begin- cians. John Deery and the Heads, ning of October we thought it Rosborough, Rainy Boy Sleep, would be a great excuse to have a Simon Kempston and Jessica Doparty... and what a party we have herty will all be performing under lined up. one roof at the fantastic Bennigans On the night we have live music Bar on John Street.

25 Hour Convenience Store Showcase

Matt Woosey

Waterside Theatre Friday, 09 October Tickets:£10 Time:8pm

Sandinos

Oktoberfest: Cash Returns

Friday, 09 October Time:7.30pm Admission:£5

St.Columbs Hall Friday, 09 October

Matt Woosey’s refreshing song writing and playing style has acoustic, rootsbased music at it’s heart but is not limited to a particular genre. His self-penned songs are conveyed with an accomplished vocal delivery which has gained him praise from sources such as Paul Jones (BBC2), Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music) and a variety of respected publications.

Tickets:£7 ‘Cash Returns’ has been hailed the greatest and most exciting Johnny Cash Tribute in the UK and Ireland by fans and club owners alike. Now with a fantastic live and energetic six piece band, including the award winning JP Mac as Johnny Cash, who’s baritone voice and tone is scarily uncanny to the Man in Black’s himself.

Live music from The Clameens, Bright Young People, The Turning, Wasps, What About Bobby, Lost Avenue, Bue Jeans and also DJ’s James Meynell & Joe Lean

David Lyttle & Kaidi Tatham

(Stone Roses Tribute)

Saturday, 10 October

Friday, 23 October

Resurrection Nerve Centre

Bennigans

Tickets:£7.70 Time:9pm

Making Monsters Sandinos

Saturday, 10 October David Lyttle was recently praised by Rolling Stone for his “genre-spanning, sophisticated and sharp” approach to music making, calling his latest album ‘Faces’ one of this year’s best listening experiences. He’s toured in fifteen countries and collaborated on his own albums with the music world’s upper echelon, from hip hop stars Talib Kweli and Soweto Kinch to jazz icons Joe Lovano and Jason Rebello.

Time:10pm Tickets:£5 Derry based female fronted four piece ‘Making Monsters’ have spend the last two years relentlessly touring the UK and Ireland with bands such as Young Guns, Silverstein, We Came As Romans, Max Raptor and Skindred as well as their own headline tours. After the release of the ‘Attention’ EP they have followed up with three singles and accompanying music videos gaining extensive airplay on BBC Radio One and Across the Line.

Having previously sold out the Nerve Centre, Resurrection return as one of the UK’s top tributes to the legendary Stone Roses. Formerly The Complete Stone Roses, Resurrection formed in 1998 in Glasgow and have since played to hundreds of thousands of Stone Roses fans throughout Britain and beyond as the next best thing to the real thing.

Millennium Forum Monday, 26 October

Time:8pm Tickets:from £19.50

The Waterboys

A freewheeling rock and roll record with a southern soul edge, Modern Blues was recorded in Nashville by a line-up including Muscle Shoals legend David Hood on bass, Austin guitarslinger Zach Ernst, and Memphis keyboard wizard Brother Paul, all of whom play

in the 2015 touring line-up of the band. They join Mike Scott, Irish electric fiddle great Steve Wickham and ace drummer Ralph Salmins at a time when the relevance and popular reach of The Waterboys has never been greater.

Ritchie Remo & Guests

The Minutes Sandinos

Millennium Forum

Friday, 30 October

Time: 8pm Tickets:from £12.50

The Gypsy Folk Klub Presents: CUP O’JOE The Minutes were formed in 2006 in Dublin. After several years of performing live in Dublin, the band recorded their debut album in October 2009 at Marcata Recordings in Upstate New York. Together with producer Kevin McMahon the band recorded a ten track album that replicated the highlights of their live performances including Secret History, Believer and In my Time of Dying.

Bennigans

Friday, 30 October Admission:£5 Time:9pm

The Gypsy Folk Klub, hosted by Balkan Alien Sound, brings a monthly variety of world/folk/roots/trad music groups from around Europe to Bennigans. This month they present Cup O’Joe who are made up of two brothers, Benjamin, Reuben and a sister Tabitha, who play an energetic style of Bluegrass & Gypsy Jazz music.

Country music sensation, Ritchie Remo and his Big Band make their debut performance at the Forum. The Claudy based singer is currently enjoying huge success with his single Hit The Diff, one of the most requested songs on radio in 2015.

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#MusicCity #DerryLive

Wednesday 21st-Sunday 25th October

A Festival

he third edition of the City of Derry International Choral Festival will take place this month and feature a world-class lineup of guest artists and participating choirs from around the world. Consisting of competitive and noncompetitive participation, the festival is a celebration of choral music- making with more than 60 choirs due to take part in the five day festival. School, national and international choirs will be taking part in a range of competitions across the full five days including Unison, Partsong, Equal Voice, Mixed Voice, Youth, Sacred, Gospel and Barbershop categories. The festival will be opening with a bang as world-renowned composer and former member of The King’s

Singers, Bob Chilcott, leads the morning session of open rehearsals with the Music Promise Junior Choir from Derry and Utopia & Reality Chamber Choir from Norway. Ragnar Rasmussen, Professor of Conducting at Tromsø University in Norway and conductor of the chamber choir, Utopia and Reality, take up the reigns for the afternoon session. Dónal Doherty, Artistic Director of the Festival, said, “I’m delighted to welcome Ragnar and Bob to this year’s Symposium – the dream team! We are privileged to have two of the world’s leading choral experts coming to the city to work with local and international choirs and conductors. Their participation in the festival will undoubtedly add to its growing inter-

national reputation. One of the highlights of the festival will be the performance by double Grammy award-winning and internationally-acclaimed The King’s Singers. Since 1968 when the group were first formed by six choral scholars from King’s College in Cambridge, England, the King’s Singers there have had twenty-five members in total, the original six and nineteen replacements, each joining as somebody else leaves. They are synonymous with the best in vocal ensemble performance and perform over 120 concerts each year, touring regularly to Europe, the United States, Asia and Australasia. Commenting on their appearance at this year’s festival The King’s

of Kings Singers said, “It is both an honour and a delight to be joining singers from around the world at the City of Derry International Choral Festival... We know the vital role that music festivals play in both the enjoyment and development of musical skills alongside significant social and academic opportunities. Watching this festival’s creative development and achievement in such a short time has been extraordinary and we look forward to playing a part in it.” The final concert of the festival programme will feature a choir of 300 local school children for their performance of ‘Bluebottle’ which will take place in St. Columb’s Hall. Speaking of the performance, composer Brian Irvine said, “Bluebottle is a joyful avalanche of orchestra, animation, narration and 300 singing children – a roller coasting rollicking ride

that tells the uplifting story of one little girl’s quest to get her dad to sing again. Lying somewhere between the big orchestral worlds of Tim Burton, Roald Dahl, Wizard of Oz and Stravinsky – Bluebottle bursts at the seams with hope, adventure, celebration and big unapologetic tunes. Watch out for the mystic, wise and all knowing hipster – Riche Golden, the menacing ballet of fireflies, the Jobar Electronic Bug Zapper JB5000 and of course one particularly huge gooey, sucker footed Bluebottle. Bring your musical fly swat and step inside Richie’s Fear and Phobia Extermination Emporium to stock up on happiness.” Festivals such as the City of Derry International Choral Festival reaffirm just why we are known as ‘Music City’ and its third edition I am sure will be even more successful than the second.

Wednesday 21st

Sing Joyfully! International Choral Symposium with Bob Chilcott An Evening with The King’s Singers

Thursday 22nd

Primary School Competitions Bluebottle with Ulster Orchestra

Friday 23rd

Post-Primary School Competitions Utopia & Reality Chamber Choir | Codetta

Saturday 24th

National Female Voice Competition National Male Voice Competition National Mixed Voice Competition National Gospel Competition International Competition (evening)

Sunday 25th

National Sacred Music Competition National Vocal Ensemble Competition National Youth Choir Competition Closing Gala Concert and Award Ceremony (evening)

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Wednesday 21st-Sunday 25th October

Have a Diwali good time! T

he award winning Diwali Festival of Light is back this year and will take place at the Millennium Forum on Sunday the 25th of October. Diwali is the Indian annual national festival of light and one of the most significant festivals in the Indian calendar. Speaking at the official launch Mayor Cllr Elisha McCallion said, “This is a fantastic event that really showcases the city’s cultural diversity and growing multi-cultural society. It’s a very lively and colourful celebration for everyone to enjoy and I hope as many people as possible come along and be part of it.”

With over 2000 people to be in attendance, the Forum will be buzzing with family friendly Indian craft activities, henna tattoos, sari’s and turbans, rangoli floor decorations and you will even be able to sample some delicious authentic Indian cuisine. It is also a fantastic opportunity to learn about Indian culture and take part in traditional Indian music and dance. >> Tickets range from £5 to £20 and include admission to one show, food and activities on Sunday the 25th of October from 4-7 pm in the Millennium Forum. The Show will be on at 5:30pm with tickets from £5

Wednesday 21st

Sing Joyfully! International Choral Symposium with Bob Chilcott An Evening with The Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Singers

Thursday 22nd

Primary School Competitions Bluebottle with Ulster Orchestra

Friday 23rd

Post-Primary School Competitions Utopia & Reality Chamber Choir | Codetta

Saturday 24th

National Female Voice Competition National Male Voice Competition National Mixed Voice Competition National Gospel Competition International Competition (evening)

Sunday 25th

National Sacred Music Competition National Vocal Ensemble Competition National Youth Choir Competition Closing Gala Concert and Award Ceremony (evening)

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Halloween 2015

23 Thursday 29th October to Sunday 1st November

s a kid growing up in Derry, Halloween was the third most important celebration of the year, behind Christmas and of course my own birthday. As I got older, that belief stayed the same. Halloween has always been embraced throughout the city, a time when everyone can come together and dress up like an eejit no matter what their age and brave the cold wind and rain while trying desperately to get as close as possible to the celebrations in town. Abandoned cars all over the place, hundreds of people walking the footpaths and quay towards the city centre… we all love it, that’s why we do it every year, even if we do say to ourselves “no way am I doing this again next year”. But our City Council found a niche and fair play to them and to us for going along with it. They have built on the festival year after year with it now attracting over

40,000 people to its festivities. Derry’s Halloween celebrations are renowned worldwide and have even recently topped a poll conducted by USA Today to find the World’s Best Halloween destination. It’s safe to say that the 2015 edition of the Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival will be bigger than ever. The festival itself has come a long way since its humble beginnings as simply being a one night thing to what it is today, a four day festival. This year sees the return of the fantastic ‘Chateau le Fear’ as well as the Awakening of the Walls’ with the addition of the ‘Rio Bravo Fiesta’ celebrating Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) which is hosted by the Craft Village. Of course Halloween would not Halloween without the annual, world renowned, street carnival parade which is the biggest in Europe, culminating in the explosive fireworks finale.

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Elementary, my dear Watson

ack the Ripper is perhaps the most known serial killer of all time and has remained unidentified to this day. The Ripper’s victims, who typically were prostitutes, were all murdered around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. Although it is widely speculated that the number of victims were much greater, only five were considered the most likely to be linked and were known as the ‘canonical five’. Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly, were all murdered between 31 August and 9 November 1888 and there are currently over one hundred theories about the Ripper’s identity. But now for this theatrical production, two of Britain’s best loved detective duos are on the case. Sherlock Holmes and Dr John H Watson most use all their experience in solving the grisly murders which have taken place in London’s slums. A show packed with

suspense and drama that fans of the Sherlock Holmes franchise are sure to enjoy. This new production is written by one of the UK’s most prolific crime writers, Brian Clemens, who has also scripted many wellknown television series such as Diagnosis: Murder, The Invisible Man and The Avengers. It’s a fascinating concept, combining the fictional world of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson with the most harrowing story of Britain’s most infamous serial killer. The cast isn’t too bad either as it stars Andrew Paul (The Bill, Where the Heart Is, Coronation Street), Neil Roberts (Holby), Kim Taylforth (London’s Burning, Bad Girls), George Telfer (Emmerdale) and Samuel Clemens as Sherlock Holmes. >> You can catch Sherlock Holmes & The Ripper Murders at the Millennium Forum from Thursday 15 October to Saturday 17 October with the show starting at 8pm. Tickets from £16.

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THE GIRLS ARE BACK...

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enopause the musical is back. The show has sold out theatres throughout the world since its debut in 2001 when it was performed in front of a 76 seater theatre in Orlando and now it returns to the Millennium Forum this month. The Irish tours of 2008 and 2010 were sell outs and the popular hit show is back with a new cast starring Mary Byrne, who rose to fame in the 2010 edition of X-Factor, Sue Collins from comedy sensations The Nualas, Eurovision winner

Niamh Kavanagh and Linda Nolan from the famous pop girl group The Nolans. The stage show has become a world-wide hit with performances elsewhere such as Australia, Canada, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, South Korea and of course the U.S with over eleven million people having seen it through the years. For the no-nonsense group of four women, no issue is off limits which results in a hilarious all-singing, all-dancing comedy

with innuendo-laden versions of pop classics. The show runs for two nights at the Millennium Forum, and don’t be mistaken, even though the subject matter may consist of bras, hot flushes, night sweats, memory loss, chocolate binges, not enough sex or too much of it … the show is for both men and women alike. which have been organised. >> MYou can catch Menopause the Musical at the Millennium Forum on Tuesday 20th to Wednesday 21st October at 8pm. Tickets for the show are priced at £21.50.

legend & Song of T

~woody guthrie~

his month the Woody Guthrie: The Long Road to Peekskill stage show, written and performed by singer, multiinstrumentalist and Professor, Will Kaufman will return to The Playhouse. Will Kaufman has a life-long passion for American folk music and is a recipient of a Woody Guthrie Research Fellowship from the Broadcast Music Industry Foundation and the Woody Guthrie Foundation. He is one of the UK’s most senior scholars in American Studies and has also toured Europe and the United States with his production of Woody Guthrie: Hard Times & Hard Travelin’. The ‘live documentary’ examines 1930’s America through Guthrie’s music. The depression and Guthrie’s own politics are evi-

dent in his songs such as ‘Vigilante Man’, and ‘I Ain’t Got No Home’. The show is packed with the spirit of Woody and takes you on a journey with stories and songs of America’s most iconic folksinger. Grammy Award winning American folk singer-songwriter Tom Paxton said of the show “no one can understand the American people without listening to Woody Guthrie. Will Kaufman’s doing important work here.” Ralph McTell, who is one of the most influential figures UK Folk commented “Will presents this exhilarating show in the fastest hour and a half you are likely to witness when you consider the breadth and depth of his subject. He performs Woody’s songs with great skill and understanding, playing the guitar, banjo and fiddle with enviable panache and brio.

His presentation is accomplished with great musicality, wit, honesty and compassion. I was deeply moved by the whole show and grateful to Will for reminding me once again of the debt I owe to Woody and the admiration I have for his music. You have done Woody proud, Will! I urge everyone to see the show and find out more about the man who inspired so many.” In 2013, Will was also a consultant to Johnny Depp and Douglas Brinkley for their publication of Guthrie’s recently discovered novel, House of Earth while currently he is working on a second Guthrie book himself, Woody Guthrie’s Modern World Blues. >> You can check out Woody Guthrie: The Long Road to Peekskill show at The Playhouse on Saturday 17th October at 8pm with tickets from £8.

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THE STORY OF DERRY’S MOST FAMOUS SON Josef Locke

erry’s very first superstar and most famous tenor Josef Locke was a musical icon not only in his hometown, but for many miles beyond. Through award winning playwright and journalist Felicity McCall’s dramatisation of Josef’s life in ‘Josef Locke: A Grand Adventure’, his story lives on and what a fascinating story it is. Born as Joseph McLaughlin in Derry in 1917, he started singing in churches aged just seven years old. As a teenager he joined the Guards and later served abroad with the Palestine Police Force before returning to back to Ireland in the 1930’s and joined the RUC. At this time he was performing semi-professionally which earned him the nickname “the Singing Bobby’. Although Josef felt his future lay in Opera, he was advised by another renowned Irish tenor John McCormack that his natural showmanship may suit the stage circuit better.

He was adored throughout the UK and Ireland and was a regular on TV and radio as well as appearing in several movies. A bill topper for nineteen season at Blackpool he cemented his place as one of the highest paid and most popular singers of the 1940’s and 50’s. At the time however, some critics were disapproving of what they saw as the misuse of his voice. “The Londonderry tenor did indeed possess a fine organ,” wrote one, “ruined by undisciplined bawling and a delivery drenched in sentimentality.” The stage show had a fantastic run in The Playhouse last year and this year will see it hop across the city for a two night run at the Millennium Forum before taking to the road in November to appear at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. >> Josef Locke- A Grand Adventure By Felicity McCall will be at the Millennium Forum on Friday, 23 and Saturday, 24 October at 8pm with tickets priced at £16.

Karl McGuckin who is playing the part of Josef Locke

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A Dozen Summers Bruiser Theatre Waterside Theatre

Thurs, 01 - Fri, 02 October Tickets:£5 Time:7pm

Company presents: Playhouse Creatures The Playhouse

Saturday, 03 October

Spirit Medium: Derek Acorah

Waterside Theatre Thursday, 08 October Tickets:£20 Time:8pm

Tickets £12/ £9 Time:8pm

Maisie and Daisy McCormack are two ordinary 12-year-olds finding their way through life in the 21st century. Oh, and they may have just hijacked a movie! This hilarious British children’s comedy features a host of familiar faces including Colin Baker (Dr Who), Ewen Mackintosh (The Office) and Sarah Warren (M.L.E.)

Playhouse Creatures is a riotous and moving account of the precarious lives of the first Restoration actresses. These gutsy, flesh and blood heroines grapple for recognition and a new social role for women, whilst falling victim to the attitudes and consequences of the age.

The pioneer for Spiritualism and mediumship on television, he is arguably the world’s most renowned Spirit Medium having demonstrated to many hundreds of thousands of people in theatres throughout the UK. Derek’s television career dates back over fifteen years when he became the first medium ever to demonstrate live on air and without the benefit of an edit suite.

National Theatre Live presents Hamlet by William Shakespeare The Playhouse Thursday, 15 October

Time:7pm Tickets:£11 Academy Award nominee Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC’s Sherlock, The Imitation Game, Frankenstein at the National Theatre) takes on the title

role of Shakespeare’s great tragedy. Directed by Lyndsey Turner (Posh, Chimerica) and produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, National Theatre Live will broadcast this eagerly awaited production live to cinemas.

The Matchmaker Siege City- the story Fiona Scott Trotter presents: Millennium Forum of Derry and Thur, 08 - Sat, 10 October The Divas Story Londonderry Tickets:£10 Time:8pm

The Playhouse

Thursday, 08 October Tickets:from £10 Time:8pm

Starring Mary McEvoy and Jon KennyBased on the novella ‘Letters of a County Matchmaker’ by John B. Keane, one of Ireland’s most celebrated writers, the play follows the efforts of Dicky Mick Dicky O’Connor to make matches for the lonely and lovelorn from all parts of the country. At the centre of this celebrated production is John B Keane’s marvellous and mischievous wit coupled by his unparalleled way with words.

Dr Brian Lacey explores Derry and Londonderry through all the periods from the Ice Age to the 1980s. The Siege is an obvious jumping off point for any reflection on the city’s past although, with fairly continuous documentation since the mid-sixth century, Derry has many other historical strings to its bow.

The Playhouse

Saturday, 10 October Time:8pm Tickets:£12/10

From Billy Holiday, Peggy Lee, Nina Simone just to name a few. Travel back in time to the Glitz, the Glamour and Mystique of the Golden Era of The Divas. With a five piece band Fiona will be singing songs and telling the secret lives of the most Legendary Jazz, Blues and Swing Divas.

31 Sherlock Holmes & The Ripper Murders

Waterside Theatre

Thurs, 15 - Sat, 17 October

Tickets £2 Time:10.30am

Time:8pm Tickets:from £15

Denis Bond wrote Pipkins for children’s television, and went on to write for Rainbow, Let’s Pretend and to create The Munch Bunch. Denis is the author of a series of picture books for younger children, and several novels for older kids. His teaching and acting continue with his very popular school visits. Other titles include:The Dragon Who Couldn’t Help Breathing Fire, The Train Who Was Frightened of The Dark, The Granny Who Wasn’t Like Other Grannies and much more.

Millennium Forum

The grisly serial killings in Victorian Whitechapel, dubbed by the popular press as the work of ‘Jack the Ripper’, are the talk of London. Sherlock Holmes and Dr John H Watson are drawn into one of the darkest plots ever to shake the foundations of England.

Denis Bond

Tuesday, 13 October

Woody Guthrie: The Long Road to Peekskill The Playhouse

Saturday, 17 October Tickets £11/ £8 Time:8pm

The story of Woody Guthrie’s personal transformation from a youthful Oklahoma racist to the ardent anti-racist champion who, along with many others, risked his life holding the line against American fascism during the notorious Peekskill riots of 1949.

Josef Locke: A Grand Adventure By Felicity McCal

Millennium Forum

Waiting for Godot

The Playhouse presents Grimm Tales for Kids

Fri, 23 - Sat, 24 October Time:8pm Tickets:£17.00

and Ireland’s variety halls, becoming one of the most popular (and highly paid) singers of the 1940’s and 50’s. The Playhouse brings back to a larger After last year’s sell out success of stage the life of Josef Locke in the return this heartwarming and uplifting show in of this unique piece of music theatre 2014, esteemed singer Karl McGuckin exploring his life, music and legacy. will again join local musicians for an Known as The Singing Bobby, Locke affectionate look at Locke’s life, music established himself as a star of Britain … and his tax affairs.

Menopause The Musical

Millennium Forum

Tues, 20 - Wed, 21 October

Millennium Forum

Tues, 27 - Wed, 28 October Tickets:from £8.50

The Playhouse

Time:8pm Tickets:£21.50

Wed, 28 - Sat, 31 October Tickets £7.50 (4 tickets for £20)

Following previous sell-out Irish tours in 2010 and 2008 (which included an 18 week sell-out season at Tivoli Theatre) Menopause The Musical is heading your way this October with a brand new cast. Armed with a cast of hormonal women, one-liners about memory loss and innuendo-laden versions of pop classics.

Samuel Beckett’s 60-year-old masterpiece, Waiting For Godot, is a groundbreaking, anarchic meditation on the meaning of life and death. Part allegory, part burlesque, Beckett’s unique, timeless play moves seamlessly between absurdist comic sketch and captivating philosophical drama. NB suitable for 14+

Grimm is back! And his bath of sweets is bigger than ever! “There once was a wonderful building called The Playhouse that decided to throw a night full of treats for kids of all ages. A night full of fairy tales, scary stories, ugly princesses, kid eating witches and things that go “aaaahhhhh! oh lordy, that’s my leg!!!”

32 art

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all work, all play

other exhibitions this month at the playhouse Adrian Newton ‘Prints and Princesses’ Tues 20nd - Sat 31st October Original Woodcut Prints by Newton Adrian started making woodcuts about two years ago, he enjoys the process, firstly drawing, then carving, then the anticipation and surprise when pulling the first print. He loves the aesthetic qualities, the different styles achieved through endless possibilities of line and mark-making. His subject matter is very simple, based on the question, ‘what makes him happy?’ His three young daughters feature heavily in his work, their innocence, naiveity, playfulness and vulnerability provide constant inspiration. He love carving blocks, he loves his children, it’s the perfect combination for him to make art. Exhibition launch Tuesday 20th October at 6pm. All are welcome.

urrently on display at The Playhouse Gallery is an exhibition by none other than The Playhouse team themselves. A multi-media exhibition of visual and performance art showcases the wonderful talents of the team who by day are project co-ordinators, managers and administrators but by night artists, photographers and performers. Over 30 pieces are currently on show with the exhibition having been officially opened last Month by Gavin O’Connor Arts Development Officer with the Arts Council of N.Ireland. Speaking at the opening Gavin O’Connor said: “The arts provide us with opportunities to enjoy the good things, explore difficult experiences and develop new skills, confidence and awareness of the commonalities and differences within and between our communi-

ties. The Playhouse are to be commended on showcasing the artistic skills and talents of their staff team, creativity belongs to the artist in each of us and deserves recognition “. It’s the final week of the exhibition which runs until this Saturday, 3rd October. Then next up for The Playhouse Gallerythis month is an exhibition by Adrian Newton titled ‘Prints and Princesses’. Adrian studied Fine Art and a PGCE in Art and Design at John Moore’s University, Liverpool and moved to Derry in 2002. With his subject matter based on the question, ‘what makes him happy?’ His three young daughters feature heavily in his work, their innocence, naivety, playfulness and vulnerability provide constant inspiration. He love carving blocks, he loves his children, and it’s the perfect combination for him to make art.

33 art exhibitions coming up this month... #DerryLive #LoveTheArts

Spring Watching Pavilion:

Curated by Orla Ryan Void Gallery

3 October - 14 November £:Free Entry

Spring Watching Pavilion presents the first major exhibition of contemporary Vietnamese art in Ireland.

A Many Kathryn Elkin / Splintered Thing Trees Prosper & Len Graham Exhibition The Void

CCA Derry-Londonderry

£:Free Entry

Time:7pm

Sat, 18 July - 12 Sept

Void is currently hosting its first group photographic exhibition, ‘A Many Splintered Thing’. The show is curated by Gregory McCartney and Susanne Stich, and features selected works by Bieke Depoorter, Irina Popova, Jana Romanova and Nadia Sablin. Employing a documentary aesthetic and revealing aspect of their subjects’ everyday lives, the photographs on show scrutinise notion of home, family and love from four distinct perspectives.

art

2015 marks the 40 anniversary of the ‘Fall of Saigon’ and the end of the Vietnam war. Spring Watching Pavilion exhibits the work of 14 artists who mostly work in lens based media and participatory/socially engaged practices. The works presented are dynamic, engaging yet poetic and nuanced in their reflection on the richness and complexity of contemporary Vietnamese life. Art Labor Collective, Dinh Q Lê, The Propeller Group, Lin+Lam,Ngoc Nau, Linh Phuong Nguyen, Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, Nguyen Trinh Thi, Tran Minh Duc

Music

Bennigans Gallery

Thurs 01 Oct - Ongoing £:Free Entry

Saturday, 10 October

The opening of the CCA’s upcoming exhibition Kathryn Elkin / Trees Prosper & Len Graham, featuring new commissions by Kathryn Elkin and Seamus Harahan takes place on Saturday 10th October at 7pm. Seamus Harahan has invited a number of different collaborators under the name Trees Prosper (including Patrick Morgan, Christina Anna Morgan and Sara J. Barry), who have in-turn collaborated with folk musician Len Graham for a performance that will take place on Saturday 10th October.

Tonight will mark the grand opening of Bennigans Bar’s Art Gallery consisting of works from local artists. The exhibition will run for two months will all pieces being available to buy. Enjoy some food, music and wine from 6 - 8pm on Thursday 1st of October.