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2024-12-02 Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - The Academy, Dublin

Christmas came early this year for me.  Never did I think that  Me First and the Gimme Gimmes  would be playing Dublin, and never did I ever think I'd get to shoot one of their shows! Well, that all changed last week when they played the Academy in Dublin on a cold, damp, Monday night! I've been a fan since 1997, when one of the lads I worked with, brought in a copy of Have a Ball . It was love at first listen! I did manage to catch them live back in 2019 when they played the O2 Forum in Kentish Town , London, and it was every bit as good as I'd hoped, but it paled in comparison to Monday night in Dublin. So, how did it come about?  Well, back in 2013, I interviewed the band for a now defunct Irish website called Chunk.ie .  Over the years, I've stayed on their PR roster, so I took a chance and emailed my contact there.  Lo and behold, a few emails later and all was sorted, I was down to photograph the show. How was it?  Brilliant, amazing, fantastic,...

2024-06-14 Mary McGuinness - Judge Roy Beans, Newbridge

So Nashville country music star Mary McGuinness was in Ireland recently and played a couple of gigs in Kildare.  The first was a small, intimate gig in Lawlors of Naas, followed up the next night with a show in Judge Roy Beans in Newbridge.

We all know how much I know about country music, and it can be summed up as precious little, so I always go with an open mind, hoping to be entertained!

Was I entertained?  Indeed I was.  Mary, joined by Cole Ritter on guitar and backing vocals, put on two wonderful shows mostly performing her own music, but with a couple of covers thrown in for good measure.  I think she is on her way back to Nashville now, but if you get the chance to see her, or indeed Cole Ritter perform, take it!

Support on the night came from Cole (he did a short set by himself), Andy and Pete (ex of Vagabonds and Thieves) and Dubh Lee, who I hadn't seen perform in ages!

All in all, a great night of music in JRBs!

Now for a few photos:











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