ARDS International GUITAR FESTIVAL 3–7 APRIL 2019

ardsguitarfestival.co.uk 22nd Ards International ardsguitarfestival.co.uk GIG GUIDE Guitar Festival 2019 +44 (0)28 9181 0803

WEDNESDAY 3 APRIL SATURDAY 6 APRIL TIME EVENT VENUE PRICE TIME EVENT VENUE PRICE 7.30pm Film Screening The Ivy Bar £5 11.00am Sing to Me with Kyle Riley Ards Arts Centre £5 METALLICA: Some Kind of Monster (2004) 11.30am–1.00pm Guitar Clinic with Mike Dawes Ards Arts Centre £10

8.00pm Gary Ryan The Queen’s Hall £12 1.00pm–2.00pm Rory Nellis Ards Arts Centre FREE Support from The Classical Guitar Society of Northern 2.00pm–3.30pm Guitar Clinic with Simon McBride Ards Arts Centre £10 Ireland 2.30pm George Lowden in Conversation Ards Arts Centre £8 with Ralph McClean and special guest Ariel Posen THURSDAY 4 APRIL 8.00pm Ariel Posen and Simon McBride The Queen’s Hall £15 TIME EVENT VENUE PRICE 11.00am–12.30pm Guitar Clinic with Gary Ryan Ards Arts Centre £10 10.00pm The Ronnie Greer Band with The Ivy Bar £5 special guest Bill Shanley 8.00pm Dea Matrona Molly Browns £5 Support from Hugo Boitel-Gill (upstairs)

8.00pm Traditional and Contemporary Ards Arts Centre £10 SUNDAY 7 APRIL with Donal Clancy and TIME EVENT VENUE PRICE Shane Hennessey 11.30am–1.00pm Rory Gallagher Brunch Ards Arts Centre £8 with Ralph McLean

12.00pm–1.30pm Guitar Clinic with Alexandr Misko Ards Arts Centre £10 FRIDAY 5 APRIL TIME EVENT VENUE PRICE 2.00pm John Tracey and Síomha Ards Arts Centre £10 1.00pm–2.00pm Amanda Agnew Ards Arts Centre FREE 4.00pm Weekend Wind Down with The Ivy Bar £5 Megan O’Neill and The Dunwells 8.00pm Mike Dawes The Queen’s Hall £15 Support from Amanda Agnew Support from Alexandr Misko and Ali Tod

10.00pm The HardChargers The Ivy Bar £5

Why not buy a Weekend Pass See pages 22-23 Special thanks to Anthony Toner as guest programmer and to Marty Coney at the Ivy Bar, ITAR CLINI weekend for access to all gigs for the GU C for details of all Ernie McMillen The Guitar Doctor, Lowden Guitars and to Paul McMordie, Paul O’Neill and pass bargain price of £60 Guitar Clinics Darren Porter.

2 ardsguitarfestival.co.uk ardsguitarfestival.co.uk 3 ITAR CLIN Gary Ryan GU IC The Classical WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CLASSICAL Guitar Society of GUITAR SOCIETY OF NORTHERN IRELAND Northern Ireland Wednesday 3 April, 8.00pm Venue: The Queen’s Hall Tickets: £12, includes refreshments IN SUPPORT OF GARY RYAN

Gary Ryan has performed to international After an acclaimed recital debut, he was CGSNI aims to promote locally the classical guitar and its music. The Society meets critical acclaim for two decades, becoming appointed – at only 27 – Professor of Guitar once a month in the Ulster College of Music and is open to players of all ages and the first guitarist since John Williams in at the Royal College of Music, and currently abilities as well as those who simply have an interest in the classical guitar. 1983 to be awarded a Fellowship of the combines that role with an international The Society meetings provide an opportunity for amateur players to perform for Royal College of Music in recognition of his career. His celebrated compositions are often each other in a supportive environment, and experienced players are on hand to contribution to the instrument. broadcast on Classic FM. Following a joint offer advice and encouragement. performance at ’s Globe Theatre in Ryan studied at the Guildhall School of Music, 2015 Gary Ryan was invited by John Williams There are many opportunities for ensemble playing and the Society promotes where he won the Director’s Prize, and was to form 6 Hands, a new trio with the jazz a number of workshops each year assisted by guitarists Sean Woods (Derry/ later awarded a scholarship to study at the guitarist , which has since Londonderry) and Patrick Zeoli (Berlin). Royal Academy of Music in 1987. In 1991 he toured extensively. graduated with first class honours and many cgsni.org awards – and was made an Associate of the ‘...one of the most accurate guitarists in the Academy in 1997. business... a level of precision that could easily have been released on CD with scarcely a retake. I promise this is no exaggeration...’ – Classical Guitar Magazine garyryan.co.uk

4 ardsguitarfestival.co.uk ardsguitarfestival.co.uk 5 FILM SCREENING METALLICA: Dea Matrona Some Kind of Monster and Hugo Boitel-Gill

(2004) Thursday 4 April, 8.00pm Venue: Molly Browns (upstairs) Wednesday 3 April, 7.30pm, 2hrs 21min Tickets: £5 Venue: The Ivy Bar Tickets: £5 includes a drink and a basket of chips Join us upstairs at Molly Brown’s for foot stomping rock gig with two legends of the local busking scene: Dea Matrona and Hugo Boitel-Gill!

Directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky

The momentum is building for what will undoubtedly be one of THE gigs of 2019... the Mighty Metallica at Slane Castle this June! Join us in the Ivy Bar for this special screening of the bands controversial film ‘Metallica: Some Kind of Monster’, that has now gained somewhat of a cult status amongst music documentary fans. ‘Metallica: Some Kind of Monster’ follows the band through three of the most turbulent years in their over three-decade long career. It gives viewers an incredibly raw and intimate look into the lives and psyches of the members of one of the most successful rock bands in music history as they battle their way through addiction, domestic life, backlash from their fans, and near-total disintegration during the making of their St. Anger . Dea Matrona Hugo Boitel-Gill Winner of the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature. Teenagers Orlaith Forsythe and Mollie Hugo Boitel-Gill is a 17 years old guitarist and McGinn, took up busking when they decided singer (he is also a chorister at St Peter’s it would be a happier alternative to getting a Cathedral Schola Contorum in Belfast) who part time job! began busking in Belfast at the age of 11. The success of the duo’s busking videos, He has performed in the City Centre reaching up to 60K views online, encouraged regularly since then, and his intuitive them to take things more seriously. After improvisation and distinctive playing of a a year of playing around Belfast they were wide blues/classic rock repertoire influenced joined by drummer Mamie McGinn and have by Hendrix, the Stones, Rory Gallagher, Led gone from street buskers to a bona fide band. Zeppelin, Neil Young, Radiohead, Bowie and many others, is very well known. The girls took their live show over to London this year as part of the Busk In London Hugo has won prizes at the Banbridge and Competition where they were the only Irish Dungannon Busking competitions and has act to qualify for the finals out of over 1000 performed at festivals including Bluesberry applicants. at Warrenpoint and Lurgan Live, and at Ards Guitar Festival last year. Showcasing their interpretations of old classics by bands such as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, they also proved their capabilities of writing and performing their own material releasing their debut EP ‘Chains’ last year. facebook.com/deamatronaband 6 ardsguitarfestival.co.uk ardsguitarfestival.co.uk 7 DÓnal SHANE Clancy HENNESSEY WITH SHANE HENNESSEY WITH DONAL CLANCY

Shane Hennessy is a virtuoso fingerstyle Thursday 4 April, 8.00pm guitarist and composer from Carlow, Venue: Ards Arts Centre Ireland. His energetic contemporary Tickets: £10, BYOB guitar playing style and cinematically vivid compositions tie in multiple influences from various world and ethnic Now rightly regarded as one of Ireland’s music. finest Trad guitarists, Dónal Clancy is the son of the world-renowned singer He has caught the attention of big Liam, of The Clancy Brothers and Tommy names like guitar legend Tommy Makem fame. Emmanuel and super-producer Nile Rodgers. His background in Irish Since the death of his father, Dónal traditional music has created a solid has focused his attention on the family base for his genre-defying musical repertoire, a collection of songs that explorations. he grew up with, and on keeping the Clancy tradition alive with his solo Achievements to date include a sold-out performances. solo show in The National Concert Hall in Dublin, a commission with Bill Whelan In 2006 he released his first solo guitar of Riverdance fame, and a billing at the album ‘Close To Home’, which The prestigious MerleFest in Wilkesboro, Boston Globe described as ‘a sweet North Carolina. He has also featured on masterpiece of melodic grace and the St Patrick’s Day mainstage in Dublin, riveting groove’. held solo tours of Europe, the US, and In 2014, to much critical acclaim, Donal Russia, and appears at Irish festivals and released ‘Songs of a Roving Blade’, and music festivals around the world. his latest album ‘On the Lonesome Plain’ Shane has released two of features a mix of seven vocal tracks and original music to date and works six guitar instrumentals, including two of frequently as a songwriter and his own compositions, which showcase composer. Donal’s wonderful fingerstyle playing to great effect. shanehennessy.ie donalclancy.com

8 ardsguitarfestival.co.uk ardsguitarfestival.co.uk 9 ITAR CLIN GU IC Mike Dawes IN SUPPORT OF MIKE DAWES WITH SPECIAL GUESTS ALI TOD AND ALEXANDR MISKO TWO EXCEPTIONAL CONTEMPORARY PERCUSSIVE/FINGERSTYLE GUITARISTS

Friday 5 April, 8.00pm Venue: The Queen’s Hall Ali Tod Tickets: £15, Bar available Building upon a classical guitar training, Ali Tod has developed a genre-defying style that has taken her Hailed as one of the world’s most creative modern fingerstyle guitar performers, Mike Dawes is on a whole new journey into the possibilities of the a master of technique – composing, arranging and performing multiple parts simultaneously on instrument. one guitar. Based in Edinburgh, Ali supplements her grounding in He has developed a repertoire spanning solo viral video hits, mainstream chart success and a traditional technique with heavy influences from artists steady slot as guitarist for Justin Hayward of Moody Blues fame. such as Rodrigo y Gabriela and fellow Scot, KT Tunstall. She creates a unique blend of percussive guitar and His debut record with Candy Rat Records gained strong critical acclaim and spawned a variety loop mastery to create an original sound that gets of world tours and singles. The lead single on his second album, an arrangement of ‘One’ by hands clapping, hips shaking and feet stomping. Metallica, achieved over 30m hits in its first week of release. Ali is the founder and organiser of the Edinburgh Guitar Mike also has a strong reputation as an educator, writing a regular column for Guitar World, and Night, a bi-monthly event that is the premier showcase pieces for Acoustic and other major publications, in print and online. In 2017 and 2018, he was for guitarists from the UK, Europe and beyond in voted ‘Best Acoustic Guitarist in the World right now’ by readers of Music Radar & Total Guitar Scotland’s capital city. magazine. alitodmusic.com mikedawes.co.uk

Alexandr

ITAR CLIN Misko GU IC

Alexandr Misko is one of a dazzling new breed of fingerstyle guitarists. The 20-year-old linguistics student from Russia already plays concerts all over the world, and has often appeared on TV in his homeland. Drawing on influences from the many musicians who pioneered and expanded this guitar style, Misko somehow manages to break through to new heights – while never losing sight of the beauty of the underlying music. He is a passionate and energetic performer who has released two solo albums. And he has attracted hundreds of millions of online views for videos of his stunning cover versions of ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Careless Whisper’. His fanbase continues to grow… facebook.com/alexandrmisko

Image © Frankie Jazz 10 ardsguitarfestival.co.uk ardsguitarfestival.co.uk 11 The HardChargers George Lowden

Friday 5 April, 10.00pm in Conversation Venue: The Ivy Bar with Ralph Mclean Tickets: £5 WITH SPECIAL GUEST ARTIST ARIEL POSEN Led by Lonesome Chris Todd, The The band released their debut album HardChargers are an electric power trio ‘Scarecrow’ in 2018 and followed it up with Saturday 6 April, 2.30pm steeped in inspiration from a variety of a successful tour of . Since then Venue: Ards Arts Centre sources, from the greats of pre-electric blues: Lonesome Chris has recorded tracks for Tickets: £8, includes refreshments. Pre-booking essential Blind Willie McTell, Blind Willie Johnson and an acoustic solo EP, and rehearsals and Bukka White, to early electric bluesmen such recording for a second HardChargers album as Lightnin’ Hopkins, Howlin’ Wolf and Frankie have begun in earnest. In 1961, the ten-year-old George Lowden The electric range along with some acoustic Lee Simms. made his first guitar – it had ‘fishing line for models will be on display and available to demo. ‘They’re magnificent … a joyous rumblethump strings,’ he recalls, ‘bent over nails for frets, Weekly tours of the Lowden workshop are Their live set is an electrifying reimagining of beat, raw and syncopated and doused in and a square soundbox’. all of the above, combined with the lyricism the cranky old methods of Clarksdale and available but must be booked in advance with of Chris Todd’s real-world blues and a musical Chicago’ – Stuart Bailie, BBC Radio Ulster From such humble beginnings, George Lowden Guitars. language exquisitely refined from a rich Lowden has developed a unique and facebook.com/The.HardChargers lowdenguitars.com melting pot of mid to late 20th century blues acclaimed approach to instrument making forms – everything from Link Wray to The that has helped him become one of the most Fabulous Thunderbirds. distinctive and revered luthiers in the world. Along the way, his instruments have been adopted by some of the finest guitarists and performers in the world, including folk and rock legends like Eric Clapton, Ed Sheeran, Richard Thompson and Snow Patrol and instrumental virtuosi such as Pierre Bensusan, Alex de Grassi and Thomas Leeb. In 2018, 40 years after George first made an electric guitar, inspired by an artists request, Lowden designed and launched their first production electric guitar range. In this special event for the festival, George will sit down with BBC Radio Ulster’s Ralph McLean to talk about his inspiration, his passions – and the guitars that have taken his name to concert stages across the world. They will be joined by the inimitable Ariel Posen who will demonstrate just how a Lowden Electric should be played!

arielposen.com

12 ardsguitarfestival.co.uk ardsguitarfestival.co.uk 13 ITAR CLIN GU IC Ariel Posen Simon McBride SHARED BILL WITH SIMON MCBRIDE SHARED BILL WITH ARIEL POSEN

Hailed by many as the rightful heir to Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore, Simon McBride is Saturday 6 April, 8.00pm beginning to make waves across Europe. After an extensive tour with ‘Ian Gillan Sings Deep Venue: The Queen’s Hall Purple’ and credits as guitarist and co-writer on Don Airey’s latest album, Simon recently Tickets: £15, Bar available signed to Europe’s leading rock label, Ear Music, home of Alice Cooper, Al Di Meola, Deep Purple, Foreigner, and a host of others.

Singer/songwriter. Internationally-renowned guitarist. With his band of fellow Irishmen Marty McCloskey (drums) and Dave Marks (bass), Simon Producer. Solo artist. As a lifelong musician, there are delivers his own distinctive songs along with crowd-pleasers from the likes of Hendrix and few roles Ariel Posen hasn’t played. Free. His guitar skills (he’s described by Guitarist magazine as ‘among the best blues-rock players anywhere in the world’) have earned him endorsements by some of the guitar Born in Winnipeg, Posen spent much of his childhood world’s biggest brands – he’s a longtime endorsee of PRS Guitars and the personal pick of on the road, travelling from show to show with his Paul Reed Smith. musician parents. He began playing guitar at nine years old, kicking off a career that eventually found His debut album on Ear Music is set to release in 2019. him travelling the globe for his own gigs, including simonmcbride.net shows as a member of the Juno Award-winning, roots-rock band The Bros. Landreth. Several years later, Posen began working on an album of his own, using the same studio where his parents once recorded their albums. His debut ‘How Long’ showcases not only his guitar technique, but his talents as a songwriter, too. The record casts a wide net, and nods to his influences – which include , Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Mayer, among others. arielposen.com

Image © Alain Broeckx 14 ardsguitarfestival.co.uk ardsguitarfestival.co.uk 15 The Ronnie Greer Band with special guest Bill Shanley

Saturday 6 April, 10.00pm Venue: The Ivy Bar Tickets: £5

Blues guitar legend Ronnie Greer has been a Bill is first-call guitarist with such luminaries central figure in the Irish blues scene now for as Ray Davies, Paul Brady, Gilbert O’Sullivan over 40 years. His distinctive guitar playing, and Mary Black. melding visceral Chicago style blues licks with Previous collaborations between these two jazz-inspired lines and chord voicings, has masters have proved very satisfying, their been critically acclaimed as world class. respective styles complimenting each other Joining Ronnie and his powerhouse all-star perfectly. band as special guest for this one-off festival ‘Greer, the doyen of Irish blues guitar…’ gig is Bill Shanley, one of Ireland’s finest and – allaboutjazz.com most in-demand session players. Rory Gallagher Brunch RALPH MCLEAN DISCUSSES THE LIFE AND WORK OF RORY GALLAGHER

Sunday 7 April, 11.30am–1.00pm Venue: Ards Arts Centre Tickets: £8, includes tea/coffee and brunch option

There has never been an Irish guitar legend award-winning Radio Ulster broadcaster to rival Rory Gallagher. In terms of technique, Ralph McLean takes a stroll through Rory’s passion and public affection, he remains at life and back catalogue in one of his relaxed the pinnacle of six-string achievement on brunchtime presentations. These have the island. And that acclaim and affection become one of the festival’s best-enjoyed stretches around the world. events, with Ralph talking about the artist in question, sparking discussions among the The Ballyshannon-born, Cork-raised legend audience, and illustrating the talk with audio (who passed away in 1995), may have been and video clips and photographs. This time famous the world over, but had a particularly the spotlight falls on Rory, looking at his strong connection with Northern Ireland, career and achievements, from the showband where his regular shows at the Ulster Hall, scene to being touted as replacement for during The Troubles, when many other artists Mick Taylor in The Rolling Stones. avoided gigging in Belfast, became the stuff of legend. When they asked Jimi Hendrix how it felt to be the greatest guitarist in the world, he was This year’s festival has a Rory connection reported to have said: ‘I don’t know – go ask as we welcome the fantastic In Your Town Rory Gallagher’. exhibition of Rory memorabilia, and to match,

16 ardsguitarfestival.co.uk ardsguitarfestival.co.uk 17 John Tracey Síomha SHARED BILL WITH SÍOMHA SHARED BILL WITH JOHN TRACEY

Coming from a family steeped in music, Síomha Sunday, 7 April, 2.00pm grew up on a diet of jazz, trad, folk and soul. Venue: Ards Arts Centre She started playing guitar at age 10, but it was Tickets: £10, includes refreshments in her teens in the south of France that she first took up jazz guitar, after an encounter with an Italian gypsy musician who taught her the As one of the stand-outs of last year’s manouche gypsy jazz style. The next few years festival, this afternoon concert allows saw her travelling, soaking up the sounds of Belfast-born John Tracey to demonstrate each of the places she visited. at more length his superb acoustic Returning to Ireland in 2016, she has exploded fingerstyle technique and his beautiful onto the festival scene with a wonderful compositions. collection of songs and a superb technique, Following the release of his debut solo playing renowned festivals such as Electric album, ‘Dangerous To Go Alone’, in Picnic, Clifden Arts Festival, Doolin Folk Festival, February 2018, John performed a series Sligo Live and Dingle Folk Festival. She has of shows that attracted warm applause played support slots for everyone, from the and praise from fellow guitarists, with likes of Joey Dosik (Vulfpeck) to Wyvern Lingo Sky Arts Guitar Star winner Gary Lutton - and is a regular special guest with the great describing him as a ‘guitar genius’. Paul Brady. Laced with flavours of blues, folk, jazz, Her song ‘July Red Sky’ garnered over 1.7 million ragtime and rock, his memorable and views online. Most recently, Síomha was accessible compositions take inspiration invited to tour with celebrated contemporary from artists such as Tommy Emmanuel, American-Irish group The Olllam. Randy Newman, James Taylor, Koji Kondo siomhamusic.com and Alan Menken. In the last year he has caught the attention of fingerstyle heavyweight Tommy Emmanuel while performing in Tommy’s guitar retreat in Scotland, performed at the Ullapool Guitar Festival in Scotland, Belfast Guitar Festival, the Dál Riada Festival and Belfast Autumn Festival. johntraceymusic.com

18 ardsguitarfestival.co.uk ardsguitarfestival.co.uk 19 Megan O’Neill and the Dunwells WITH SPECIAL GUEST AMANDA AGNEW

Sunday, 7 April, 4.00pm Amanda Venue: The Ivy Bar Tickets: £5 Agnew IN SUPPORT OF MEGAN O’NEILL AND As the festival enters its last day, join us at The Ivy Bar for lyrics from the heart and music that’s Megan’s collaboration with the Dunwells THE DUNWELLS good for the soul with Americana inspired singer-songwriters. from makes for a unique pairing. The brothers have a wide experience of Chart-topping and multi-award winning Irish singer songwriter Megan O’Neill is one of the most extensive US and UK touring, including exciting Alt-Country/Americana artists on the current scene. appearances on Late Night With Jay Leno Described as ‘the Irish Carrie Underwood’, Kildare-born Megan has scooped up all manner of and performances at Lollapalooza, Austin accolades since releasing her debut EP ‘Coming Home’ back in 2015. Since then she has appeared City Limits Fest and the Bonnaroo Festival, at countless festivals throughout the UK and shared stages with such artists as Miranda Lambert, as well as sold out shows across the UK. Kip Moore, Nathan Carter and Jenn Bostic. Her song ‘Don’t You’ featured on the hit TV Show Together Megan and the Dunwells are Nashville and she has played on a number of occasions at Nashville’s prestigious Bluebird Café. working on a new album for release in the megan-oneill.com spring of this year. thedunwells.com

With a style described as Folk/Alternative Country, Amanda’s songs and voice have an earnest quality and a broad appeal. In 2015 Amanda showcased at the famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, at the Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival performing in support of Tony Arata, and alongside Benita Hill and Lee Roy Parnel. Her performances earned her a nomination for Best Female Artist 2015 with Pure M Awards. Amanda’s live performances are gaining momentum with recent opening slots on Bagatelle’s last tour and for Nik Kershaw, Go West and Level 42 and not forgetting a sell out Friday Night Live performance at Ards Arts Centre!

20 ardsguitarfestival.co.uk Image © loumorrisphotography ardsguitarfestival.co.uk 21 3 FOR THE PRICE OF 2 ITAR CLINI BOOK 2 CLINICS AND RECEIVE A 3RD GU C CLINIC OF YOUR CHOICE FOR FREE!

Classical Guitar with Fingerstyle Tips and Tricks with UNLOCK YOUR GUITAR CREATIVITY with FINGERSTYLE Guitar with Gary Ryan Mike Dawes Simon McBride Alexandr Misko

Thursday 4 April Saturday 6 April Saturday 6 April Sunday 7 April 11.00am – 12.30pm 11.30am – 1.00pm 2.00pm – 3.30pm 12noon – 1.30pm Venue: Ards Arts Centre Venue: Ards Arts Centre Venue: Ards Arts Centre Venue: Ards Arts Centre Tickets: £10 Tickets: £10 Tickets: £10 Tickets: £10

Gary Ryan’s workshops are aimed at players Making his long-overdue Northern Ireland Simon McBride gives a masterclass for all One of a dazzling new breed of fingerstyle working at intermediate to advanced level – debut at this year’s Ards Guitar Festival – aspiring guitarists and all levels of player. guitarists, Alexandr will demonstrate ways he will begin with a brief question and answer Mike offers a Clinic that is not to be missed. to combine multiple ‘instruments’ together Simon will talk about unlocking your session to gauge participants’ needs and take while playing a solo guitar with some simple He has been developing his guitar style on creativity within improvisation whilst utilising it from there. and fun techniques. the world stage for just shy of a decade basic theory and technique. It will also Gary will lead participants through a series of and will be sharing tips and tricks about cover the most common question of how to Students will learn how to introduce drum warm up and technical exercises, as he finds modern techniques, arranging, and the break out of the rut! Also exploring how to patterns, how to effectively use electronics these are useful at a variety of levels. music industry, and will also be offering an use different styles of music to help boost and pedals to make a better sound and how extensive Q&A session. your creative thinking! Another topic that to use some unexpected foreign objects to Gary is also very happy to discuss some of will be covered is: ‘How to be a professional create music! his own pieces if there is interest. Mike was recently voted ‘Best Acoustic musician in the music industry today’. Guitarist in the World Right Now’ by Music There will also be plenty of time for a Q&A on PLEASE BRING YOUR GUITAR Radar & Total Guitar Magazine, in both their PLEASE BRING YOUR GUITAR Alexandr’s stand out style. 2017 and 2018 reader’s polls. PLEASE BRING YOUR GUITAR PLEASE BRING YOUR GUITAR

22 ardsguitarfestival.co.uk ardsguitarfestival.co.uk 23 fringe Events

Amanda Rory Agnew Nellis

Friday 5 April, 1pm – 2pm Saturday 6 April, 1pm – 2pm Venue: Ards Arts Centre, Venue: Ards Arts Centre, Georgian Gallery Georgian Gallery Tickets: FREE (Booking advised) Tickets: FREE (Booking advised)

The Sing to Me Tour features songs from With a style described as Folk/Alternative Around 1990, a small boy saw Matthew Kyle Riley’s 2018 release by the same title. Country, Amanda’s songs and voice have Broderick miming to a Beatles song on Sing to With some traditional children’s music and a an earnest quality and a broad appeal, she a carnival float. Shortly afterwards, he couple of tunes for the adults too, join us for has been writing and performing her original started writing songs, and he’s been doing Me with this entertaining and engaging family concert material since 2011 and her debut EP ‘Haven’t it ever since. Fast forward a few years and as part of the 2019 Ards International Guitar Met You’ was released that year. Belfast singer-songwriter Rory Nellis is Festival. currently working on his third album, the In 2015 Amanda showcased at the famous Kyle highly-anticipated follow-up to an LP widely There’s the fast paced ‘Astronaut’, a whirlwind Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, at the Belfast considered one of the strongest Northern tour of our Solar System or the slower ‘Do you Nashville Songwriters Festival performing in Irish albums of 2017, ‘There Are Enough Ever Feel Sad About the Dinosaurs?’, a ballad support of Tony Arata, and alongside Benita Riley Songs in The World’. about asteroids and dealing with change. Hill and Lee Roy Parnel. Her performances There’s even a song about ‘Irish’ wallabies, they earned her a nomination for Best Female “Nellis’ finely-crafted output has traversed Saturday 6 April, 11am might not be native, but they’ve made Lambay Artist 2015 with Pure M Awards. folk-pop balladry, straight-up indie rock and Venue: Ards Arts Centre Island off the coast of Dublin their home! That’s intimate chamber-pop tales.” – Hot Press Amanda’s live performances are gaining Tickets: £5 only the tip of the iceberg. Sing to Me features Magazine momentum with recent opening slots on an hour of folk and , sure to get your Duration 60 minutes Bagatelle’s last tour and for Nik Kershaw, Go “One of Ireland’s most naturally gifted little ones moving. For your under 8’s, your rock Suitable for ages 2-7yrs West and Level 42 at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall songsmiths” – The Thin Air toddlers and the little boppers in between, it’s and a solo slot during the grand finale at the fun for the whole family. rorynellis.com 2016 Belfast Tattoo at the SSE Arena. kylejamesriley.com facebook.com/amandaagnewsongs 24 ardsguitarfestival.co.uk ardsguitarfestival.co.uk 25 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Every year Ards International Guitar Festival will choose someone to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their work with the guitar. The very first award was presented in 1999. The recipients to date are: 1999 Norman Watson 2000 In Your Town 2001 Henry McCullough AN EXHIBITION OF RORY GALLAGHER MEMORABILIA 2002 2003 Louis Stewart Thursday 28 March – Saturday 13 April 2004 John Martyn Opening: Thursday 28 March, 7 – 9pm 2005 Arty McGlynn Venue: Georgian Gallery, Ards Arts Centre 2006 Martin Simpson Tickets: FREE 2007 Eric Bell 2008 Gordon Giltrap The ‘In Your Town’ Rory Gallagher Memorabilia Exhibition is a fantastic collection of items, 2009 Pat McManus dating back to Rory’s early days with Taste right up until the present day. The exhibition features the complete original back catalogue of all of Rory’s official vinyl releases including 2010 Gerry Donahue LPs, 7” singles, early Taste memorabilia, various signed pieces, a complete inside look at tour 2011 Carlos Bonell programmes and many magazine articles as well as the original Rory Gallagher guitar tab 2012 Martin Taylor book! 2013 Preston Reed Also on display are The Irish Legends Rory Gallagher stamp, articles and in-depth information 2014 Pierre Bensusan on Rory’s stunning guitar collection, rare CD releases such as the G-Men box set, the entire collection of Dino McGartland’s legendary Stagestruck fanzine and lots more. 2016 Martin Carthy Denver McCord, who has put together this unique exhibition from his own personal collection, 2017 Sarah McQuaid says: ‘It’s a great way of keeping Rory’s memory alive, especially for young fans who never 2018 The 4 of Us got to see Rory play live. I was honoured that in 2009, Rory’s brother and tour manager Dónal contacted me about the exhibition and gave it his seal of approval.’ So who will receive the award this year?

26 ardsguitarfestival.co.uk ardsguitarfestival.co.uk 27 QUEEN’S HALL

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PAYMENT/ BOOKINGS Tickets can be purchased in person or over the phone at Ards Arts Centre with credit cards, cash and cheques. Tickets can also be purchased from any of Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Visitor Information Centres, and North Down Museum. You can book online at ardsguitarfestival.co.uk Please note that tickets cannot be held without payment and are non-refundable. There will be a £1 postage charge on all tickets posted out.

BOX OFFICE Ards Arts Centre Town Hall, Conway Square, Newtownards BT23 4NP Opening Hours Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm Friday 9am-4.30pm Saturday 10am-4pm

ardsguitarfestival.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 28 9181 0803 email: [email protected]

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