Grand Auction!

Grand Auction of toys, books, furniture, bric-a-brac, etc with all proceeds going to raise money for the Village Hall. Viewing starts at 11:30 am and the Auction starts at 12:30. You can donate your “treasures” just bring them to the Hall on the 6th August from 1pm-6pm.

HARP ICE COLD BIG GIG ANNOUNCES LATEST LINE UP

Captain Kennedy

Harp Ice Cold are pleased to announce that the July Harp Ice Cold Big Gig will see the cream of Northern Ireland’s alternate folk scene joined by two of the most talked-about local acts for a night of incredible music.

Headlining the bill are Lurgan folk band Captain Kennedy, who will be appearing ahead of their highly anticipated debut album release this summer. The seven piece ensemble have been the subject of regular airplay on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio Ulster and Cool FM and have appeared on BBC 2’s Blas Ceoil and Irish TV station TG4.

The band have a great reputation for their live performances and on stage banter, demonstrated by a litany of impressive festival spots at the prestigious Open House festival in Belfast and Glasgowbury in Draperstown.

Supporting Captain Kennedy will be Cara Cowan, a sultry singer / songwriter from Belfast with a Nashville lilt to her work. She is one of the hottest tipped acts to come out of Belfast for years and has made huge industry waves with her bluesy, alluring performances and constant radio play.

Cara Cowan

Rounding off the bill are the fascinating Belfast act Leeward Side, a band formed from the central core of popular home-grown act, The Delawares. Their former incarnation took them to primetime television spots, sell out performances and even a trip to Abbey Road, but now Cully, Rory, Owen and Dominic are ready to show the Harp Ice Cold Big Gig what their new act has in store.

Leeward Side
Leeward Side

The Harp Ice Cold Big Gig showcases the finest new and up-and-coming talent from across the island of Ireland each month in 2010. Visit the Harp Facebook page at facebook.com/harp for all the latest news on The Harp Ice Cold Big Gig and Harp events throughout the country.

The Harp Ice Cold Big Gig featuring Captain Kennedy, Cara Cowan and Leeward Side is on Friday 30th July at the Spring and Airbrake, Belfast. Admission £4 at the door. Over 18s only.

Drink Responsibly

Drinkaware.co.uk for the facts

A Gigantic Jazz-fest!

Shake out your picnic rug, pack your parasol and hamper and mosey down to Mount Stewart on the 14 August for an evening of Giant proportions.

The Giant Jazz Festival is a fundraiser for the National Trust campaign, A Giant Cause, to raise funds for the North Coast World Heritage Site. To date over £600,000 has been raised as part of the £2million needed to complete the project.

Jon Kerr, Property Manager at Mount Stewart says;

“The Jazz events are one of the most popular National Trust events in the calendar and previous visitors will know what a magical evening of entertainment can be expected. The evening promises to be unforgettable as we help support our local fundraising cause for the Giant’s Causeway. So come along to Mount Stewart one of Northern Ireland’s most popular House and Gardens and take part in this special evening while contributing to a worthwhile cause.”

Cheers! A group of happy revellers engage their taste and sound senses with the perfect accompaniment of food and drink to the musical delights on offer.

Locals and visitors to Northern Ireland know what an important part the Giant’s Causeway plays in people’s lives. From early childhood memories of family days out or school trips, to the international audience who travel from all round the world to visit each year, this World Heritage Site has helped shape our landscape and culture. The funds raised will go towards a new visitor centre, restoring the headland, building new car parks and ensuring the conservation and protection of the Causeway for future generations.

Music from the Martello Jazz Band, and Bill Cheney & the Bourbon Swing Jazz Band will provide the perfect soundtrack to your evening as your relax in the spectacular surroundings of Mount Stewart with family and friends. All you need to do is book your tickets and pack a picnic (and possibly an umbrella!). Let us do everything else!

Getting cosy and soaking up the atmosphere at the Jazz evening in Mount Stewart.
Getting cosy and soaking up the atmosphere at the Jazz evening in Mount Stewart.

While the cause is Giant, the prices certainly aren’t! Tickets are priced at £5 and are available in advance from Mount Stewart and all other National Trust properties.

For further information, please contact Mount Stewart on 028 4278 8387.

Hogfest @ LCDI for Roe Valley Chamber of Commerce & Limavady Rotary Club

Monday 19th July 2010 saw the press launch for Hogfest 1 – the first annual fundraising event being held jointly by the Roe Valley Chamber of Commerce and Limavady Rotary Club, administered and organised by North West Lifelong Learning Association, to be held Saturday 14th August.

This event was the idea of the NWLLA fundraising committee under its manager Betty McNerlin and Lucille Brolly of Lucille’s Kitchen as a means of setting up a fund for the benefit of children’s groups, clubs and organisations within the Limavady Borough Council area.

Many small groups  find it difficult to access funds for much needed activities and essentials to keep going.  Betty and Lucille are active members of both The Chamber and Rotary and felt that there is nothing like a community helping itself!  And so  the idea of  an annual mini festival, with fun, food & fundraising all in a one was born!

Whats On NI are very pleased to support the event by way of a digital media partnership promoting the event online keeping visitors to whatsonni.com, fb fans & twitter followers up to date as more details emerge.

Damien Corr, Manager of LCDI Limavady, graciously agreed to allow the old Roe Valley grounds to be used for the Hogfest and is even throwing in ghost tours to the old workhouse dormitory.

For the children’s there is KIDFEST – which will be held in the LCDI grounds from 3-6pm on the Saturday afternoon – free burger/sausages & drink for children, mini funfair (small charge for each amusement), free transport provided to get you there and back, (details to follow), fancy dress competition, fire engine on display.

The Hogfest itself will start at 7pm to midnight. Tickets can be purchased from NWLLA, 63 Irish Green Street and will gain entry to darned good night’s craic – you’ll find out what is free when you get there!  Fancy dress prizes for best country & western, best hat (ladies or gents), best hen/stag group.  Ghost Tour, Bar, Pig, Music, Auction, Snail
Race, Line dancing (Texas Kickers), food, even more food!

Watch this space!!

Thinking about Christmas?

Yes I went there – and said the “C” word.  I must admit even I was very surprised this week to get my first Christmas brochure in the post.  But thinking about it – it’s really only another 4 months until the Christmas Party season is upon us and if you are an obsessive forward planner like me you’ll already be thinking about your venue.

So, with that in mind, here is what is on offer at the fabulous Hastings Everglades Hotel this Christmas.  Book your Christmas Party Night early to avoid disappointment!

Fighting with Wire – ‘We’ve never been more excited’

Fighting with Wire, Headlining Glasgowbury 2010

The headliners for Glasgowbury 2010 are primed and ready to go and in their own words, they’ve never been more excited about a gig.

Cahir, Jamie and Craig, the men and monsters who make up Derry’s Fighting With Wire, are all set to leave their mark all over Glasgowbury 2010 with a performance that will put them back on top of the pile.

And after being forced to pull out of least year’s headlining slot to begin work in America on album number two, the punk rock trio have never been more energised about a performance.

“It would almost have been more appropriate for us to headline last year with Man Vs Monster just out and on the back of everything that we were doing it would have been the perfect end to that cycle,” said the band’s frontman Cahir.

“But we’re extremely excited about Saturday – because this is our comeback, and to do it on Glasgowbury’s big birthday is just something else.”

The long wait for the follow up to Man Vs Monster is almost over and Bones Of The Twilight will, says Cahir, see the light of day in the new year.

Ahead of that, there’s an Irish tour in September/October and a UK tour in November to contend with alongside single number one from the new collection.

“Glasgowbury will be the starting block for the new stuff, we’ll be picking up where we left off and using it as a stage before we go on tour again.”

As for Saturday’s headlining slot, Cahir promises the band have a few tricks up their sleeves but that it won’t take over from what they hope will be a real rock show.

“We’ll be giving people a taste of the new album but we’ll still be playing the older stuff that everybody knows. It’ll be a chance for people to hear where we were and where we’re going.

“But this is as much about Glasgowbury and we can’t wait to headline it – we’d have been happy to play anywhere on the bill to be honest, but being asked to headline is just an honour.”

So while the jet-lag begins to wear off (“We got back on Friday and we’ve been wrecked ever since”), Fighting With Wire have locked themselves into rehearsals for what promises to be one of their biggest and most important gigs to date.

“We’re going to try and play as best a rock show as possible and get the craic going. So hopefully people will join us for the celebrations.”

Glasgowbury 2010 takes place this Saturday 24th July and a number of tickets are still on sale. See www.glasgowbury.com for full details.

The Coronas & Gentry Morris – Empire Music Hall, Belfast – 04/09/10

Music snobbery has led to the demise of many bands and some musicians. It takes one slightly off-putting recording and it gets pretty difficult to recover, no matter what quality of music said bands go on to create. Let’s face it – most of us know at least one musician who has a story of how they almost ‘made it’. Lucky then that when the Coronas released their debut album ‘Heroes or Ghosts’ they had an army of loyal fans that were able to carry the band through the negative reviews that came from some critics that had dismissed the band from the off. Proving that sometimes its important for a band to be given the chance to grow, even if it is in the public eye.

‘Tony was an Ex-Con’, the Coronas second long player was released late last year and has most recently spawned the single ‘Someone Else’s Hands’. With this the Coronas are showing that they are more than willing to expand their song writing abilities and broaden their sound. The band are maturing and it will be interesting to see where they will go with it in the next five years. And let us not forget what the Coronas have already achieved since that debut release three years ago. Opening for Paul McCartney, beating Snow Patrol and U2 to win best album at the Meteor Awards and main stage appearances at Oxegen to name only a few of the milestones that will go down in The Coronas history.

While Hotpress, in my opinion, in an overstated manner described the band as ‘a cross between Jeff Buckley and the Libertines’ I believe the Coronas are more like a fresher Eyes Open period Snow Patrol with a better singer and with earlier material that would sit comfortably with the Hoosiers and Scouting for Girls on a drive time radio playlist. However, with an energetic live presence and impressive musicianship on show the band’s date at the Empire in Belfast on the 4th of September is definitely worth checking out and comes highly recommended.

Support on the night comes from Gentry Morris whose album ‘Awake O Sleeper’ is genuinely one of the best records to emerge from Northern Ireland in recent years. He may be American by birth but we’ll happily claim him as our own. Tickets for the Coronas with special guest Gentry Morris are priced at a reasonable £12.50 and are available from Ticket Master outlets and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

TJ, Belfast Rocks

Belfast Rocks is run in Belfast, right bang in the centre of the city. We work to list all upcoming live events in the city; if you are organising a live event in Belfast contact us.  Belfast Rocks is part of the Event Rocks suite.

www.belfast-rocks.com

E: tj@belfast-rocks.com

Find them on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BelfastRocks

Follow them on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/belfastrockscom

Learn to surf with our special promo in association with Alive Surf School

Another super surfing offer!

Following the success of our recent offer, whatsonni.com have once again teamed up with Alive Surfschool to offer whatsonni fans a special discount for next week only!

Ricky and the team at Alive Surf School are  reaching out to families and individuals all over the country to come and try the coolest sport on the planet.  Alive Surf School is the longest running surf school on the north coast and with their instructor being  a lifeboat man, they provide a safe and fun learning experience for all.

Week commencing Monday 26th July 2010 you can avail of a ‘buy one surf lesson get the second half price’ – all you have to do is quote promotional code ‘alive1′ “ to get your discount.  Become a fan of Alive Surf School here http://www.facebook.com/Alive-Surf-School on Facebook and quote ‘alive1′ when booking your lesson and you are ALL SET TO GET WET!

Come Alive this Summer!

Be quick because at these prices we expect things to fill up pretty sharpish.  Call Ricky on  07935952532 or email lessons@alivesurfschool.com.

There is also more information and an FAQ about Alive Surf School and the Surf experience at http://www.alivesurfschool.com.

Watch this space for weekly ‘Surfisodes’ from the coast – Alive have teamed up with local Digital dudes Awakin™ who are helping to spread the good word on Alive and their North Coast cohorts. The 2 minute Surfisodes will tell you how the summer swell is working out and you’ll get cheeky bonuses on what other funky and fun activities you can get up to on the North Coast. Get in, get on and Come Alive this Summer!  Surf’s up!!!

Meet Ricky :)

NI BANDS TO SHOWCASE TALENT FOR CHANCE TO BE PART OF ARTHUR’S DAY

As part of this year’s Arthur’s Day celebrations, GUINNESS® & CO launched the ‘Our Thursdays’ showcase which is on the look out for emerging talent all over Ireland to offer them the incredible opportunity to share the stage with Snow Patrol and other amazing International artists as part of the Arthur’s Day line up on September 23rd.

Over 800 bands applied online over June and early July for this opportunity and the Our Thursdays showcases kick off this week in pubs all over the country.

600 bands have now been chosen to play in pubs around Ireland over the coming month and the first events in Northern Ireland kick off at 9.30pm this Thursday 22nd July, where music fans can witness amazing emerging acts performing free of charge (*See list NI venues and bands below).

Two bands will perform in NI venues each night over three Thursdays (22nd July, 29th July and 5th August) and each Thursday, music fans will get to vote, via text, for their favourite act. Once the music fans decide on their favourite act on the night, the three winning bands will then go up against each other on the fourth and final night to be in with a chance to secure a place at one of the regional showcase events taking place in Cork, Galway, Dublin and Belfast on 26th August.

Each of the four regional showcases will take place on 26th August and at that stage four lucky bands will be selected by music industry experts to perform at the national showcase in Belfast on 2nd September.  Music industry experts including members of Snow Patrol will judge the final showcase, choosing the three final acts that will perform on 23rd September at the Arthur’s Day celebrations in Galway, Cork and Dublin. The lucky band selected to play in Dublin will perform alongside Snow Patrol on September 23rd at Hopstore 13, at St James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin.  Also, the 100 bands who won their pub showcase event in August will also be part of the Arthur’s Day line up in their pub showcase venue on 23rd September.

Arthur’s Day celebrations are strictly over 18’s events.

Drink Responsibly.

drinkaware.co.uk for the facts

For detailed information about GUINNESS® and Arthur’s Day visit www.guinnessmedia.com

Stage Times for Glasgowbury Line Up Confirmed

Small but MASSIVE!

Small But Massive Main Stage
11.00 – 12.00 – Fighting With Wire
9.45 – 10.30 – LaFaro
8.30 – 9.15 – Fight Like Apes
7.15 – 8.00 – Cashier No.9
6.20 – 6.50 – Yes Cadets
5.30 – 6.00 – mojoFURY
4.40 – 5.10 – Rams’ Pocket Radio
3.50 – 4.20 – Strait Laces
3.00 – 3.30 – The Jane Bradfords
2.10 – 2.40 – More Than Conquerors
1.20 – 1.50 – Wonder Villains
12.30 – 1.00 – Axis Of

G Sessions
10.00 – 11.00 – General Fiasco
8.50 – 9.30 – In Case Of Fire
7.40 – 8.20 – A Plastic Rose
6.30 – 7.10 – Not Squares
5.40 – 6.10 – Panama Kings
4.50 – 5.20 – Furlo
4.00 – 4.30 – Guests
3.10 – 3.40 – The Q
2.20 – 2.50 – Colenso Parade
1.35 – 2.00 – Gascan Ruckus
12.50 – 1.15 – Key of Atlas
12.05 – 12.30 – Futurechaser

Spurs Of Rock
10.00 – 12.00 – Deep Fried Funk DJs
9.00 – 9.45 – Here Come The Landed Gentry
7.50 – 8.30 – Pocket Billiards
6.40 – 7.20 – Adebisi Shank
5.50 – 6.20 – Triggerman
5.00 – 5.30 – Swanee River
4.10 – 4.40 – Team Fresh
3.20 – 3.50 – The Riptide Movement
2.30 – 3.00 – The Last Tycoons
1.40 – 2.10 – Standup Guy
12.50 – 1.20 – Fingersmith
12.00 – 12.30 – The Rupture Dogs

Eagle’s Rock
10.30 – 11.30 – Duke Special
9.15 – 10.00 – Joe Echo
8.00 – 8.45 – Lowly Knights
6.55 – 7.40 – Keith Harkin
6.05 – 6.35 – John, Shelly & The Creatures
5.15 – 5.45 – The Vals
4.25 – 4.55 – John Edgar Voe
3.35 – 4.05 – Paddy Nash & The Happy Enchiladas
2.45 – 3.15 – Silhouette
1.55 – 2.25 – Henrietta Game
1.05 – 1.35 – Jackson Cage
12.15 – 12.45 – Captain Kennedy

G Spot
9.30 – 10.10 – Chipzel
8.30 – 9.10 – Paul Casey
7.30 – 8.10 – Bronagh Gallagher
6.30 – 7.10 – Building Pictures
5.30 – 6.10 – Aaron Shanley
4.30 – 5.10 – Junior Johnson
3.40 – 4.10 – Paul Shevlin
2.50 – 3.20 – Little Hooks