The Lounge 102

Around 1979 a friend loaned me a cassette tape of Rory Gallagher Irish Tour '74.   I nearly wore it out, he had to come looking for it back.  I was blown away by the sounds I heard.  It was my first taste of electric rock blues.  From Cradle Rock to Who's That Comin to Walk on Hot Coals to Too Much Alcohol I was hooked.  The music was fresh and grown up and the total opposite to the Punk era that was prevalent at the time.  Robert Johnson may have sold his sole to the devil but Rory Gallagher did his own deal in Ballyshannon. In 1980 Rory Gallagher played what was then the Parkway Motel in Limerick.  Rory Gallagher. Live. In Limerick. And I was there.  I remember seeing him in the bar before the gig, just an ordinary guy mingling with the crowd. I have vague memories of the hall but no recollection of the gig other than I was in awe. I had to walk the 3 miles home but I hardly noticed. Saving whatever meagre pocket money I could s...

                          "Jazz washes away the dust of every day life" Art Blakey I 'm sure Art Blakey meant all jazz in all of its styles and all of it's performers.  From Dave Brubeck and John Coltrane to Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt to the doyenne of female artists, Ella Fitzgerald, the interpretation of jazz is wide and varied.  Indeed jazz has been called musical democracy given its acceptance of of so many styles.    And so it is that Limerick Jazz Society present their annual Limerick Jazz Festival from September 21st to 24th.  This years program takes in a number of venues throughout the city and promises some great gigs. PROGRAM Thursday Sept 21st:   Jazz Trail The Mysterious Mr.Valentine, Dolans, Dock Road, Limerick, 21:30 The Charms, Souths Pub, Quinlan Street, 21:30 Downtown Dixieland Band, George Boutique Hotel, Shannon ...