The Ardhowen Theatre welcomes Canadian singer/songwriter Amanda Rheaume to the Gallery Bar for the first time on Saturday 23rd August followed by the most authentic tribute to Johnny Cash on these shores in The Man In Black on Friday 29th and Len Graham and Jack Lynch will entertain the audience with songs and stories on Saturday 30th August in the Gallery Bar.

 

AMANDA RHEAUME

 

Canadian singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume makes her first appearance in the Ardhowen Gallery Bar on 23rd August at 9pm. A powerful vocalist with just a touch of grit and an instantly-accessible roots-pop-Americana sound, her latest album ‘Keep A Fire’, is a varied and evocative collection of mostly story-songs about her ancestors that more than lives up to the tradition of epic family-of-origin albums. The title track “Keep a Fire in the Rain” tells the tale of her great grandparents, a mixed-race couple who were unwelcome in either of their communities, so had to live alone in a shack halfway between the mine, where her great grandfather worked, and her great grandmother’s Ojibwe native reserve. Amanda’s song-writing style provides the perfect vehicle to get her narratives across, whether she’s playing solo with just her guitar, or there’s a full band behind her, the song is invariably the attraction.

 

Life as a travelling musician has taken Amanda down many roads. Performing over 160 shows a year, Amanda has delivered her unique blend of folk-country-pop tinged tracks to audiences around the world, including the USA, Europe and more. For a taste of Amanda Rheaume’s powerful and heart-wrenching performance, check out her website on www.amandarheaume.com.

 

THE MAN IN BLACK

 

JP Mac is ‘The Man in Black’ on Friday 29th August at 8pm! JP and his sister, Caroline, capture the very essence of Johnny Cash and June Carter, singing some of the biggest hits such as ‘I Walk the Line’, ‘Ring of Fire’, ‘A Boy Named Sue’, ‘Big River’, ‘San Quentin’ and many more.

 

Hailed as the greatest and most exciting Johnny Cash Tribute in the UK and Ireland by fans and club owners alike, with a live and energetic six piece band, this fantastic show has been wowing audiences all over. They have been playing in clubs, festivals, cabarets, hotels and theatres throughout the north and the south of Ireland and the UK for the past 5 years, while also appearing on various radio slots nationally and internationally.

 

An official accolade of support was made from Johnny Cash’s very own Drummer of near 40 years, W.S (Fluke) Holland, who regarded JP’s tracks as “quite amazing” on his radio show in Tennessee just last year. If you’re a Johnny Cash fan don’t dare miss this show.

 

TALL TALES & MUSICAL STORIES

 

Enjoy an evening of tall tales, splendid songs and wickedly wise words on Saturday 30th August at 9pm in the Gallery Bar when two of Ireland’s finest performers conspire to delight you with great songs and heart-warming stories. Renowned storyteller Jack Lynch weaves his hilarious tales with sensitivity and expertise. Traditional singer Len Graham’s musical stories mingle sad farewells with joyous homecomings.

 

“Lynch has been, amongst other things, a master of shaggy-dog storytelling” Dublin Magazine

 

“Graham, another of the great naturals. The rich, grainy voice and fluid, unhurried style brings a reassuring quality of warmth to the song” The Guardian, London

 

Together this duo of master craftsmen create a gentle little gem of a show which is fresh, unfussy and great craic altogether!

 

FUTURE EVENTS

 

The New Beginnings Children’s Choir performs in ‘Voices of Africa’ at Ardhowen Theatre on Thursday 4th September as part of a tour of Ireland and Scotland to help raise funds for their orphanage in the Nakasongola district in Central Uganda. Veteran Jazz musician Gay McIntyre will be joined by John Leighton on piano, David Lyttle on drums and Rohan Armstrong on double bass on Saturday 6th September for an evening of popular jazz classics; the highly regarded tribute band Talon – The Best of Eagles return on Friday 12th and local blues band Sidewalk Boogie appear in the Gallery Bar on Saturday 13th September.

 

There is plenty of great entertainment lined up in the Ardhowen Autumn programme, now available with details of all events up to and including January 2015. Look out for The Bjorn Identity, Conal Gallen, Phil Coulter, Mary Byrne, Andrea Begley to name just a few. Book tickets for your favourite shows by calling the Box Office or visit the theatre website at www.ardhowentheatre.com. You can keep up to date with all the latest news on Facebook or sign up for the theatre e-Newsletter.