Sonny Condell plays Ballymore

Sonny Condell and his Band, aka Radar, play The Ballymore Inn this coming Monday, November 14.

Many Kilcullenites will remember that Sonny played the back room in Berney's many years ago. So if you haven't seen him since then, I can assure you that he is as good now as he's ever been and Monday promises to be a cracker.

Sonny has played a pivotal role in Irish music as a member of Tir Na Nog, Scullion and as a solo artist. 
 
He first came on the Irish music scene in the early '70s as a member of seminal folk duo, Tir Na Nog. Forming a musical partnership with Leo Kelly, he created a distinctive brand of folk with both musicians merging their guitar styles and vocals. Tir Na Nog toured extensively around Europe and was compared to Fairport Convention for innovative folk albums like Tir Na Nog, A Tear and a Smile and Strong in the Sun.
 
After Tir Na Nog broke up in 1974, Condell released his debut solo album, Camouflage and went on to form one of Ireland's most popular folk groups, Scullion. Founded with Philip King, Scullion fused a wonderful hybrid of folk, rock, jazz and blues with infectious songs like "Down In the City", "Eyelids into Snow" and "John the Baptist" and popular albums like Scullion and White Side of Night.
 
After Scullion went into semi-retirement in the late '80s, Condell concentrated on his solo career releasing critically acclaimed albums like Someone to Dance With, French Windows and Backwater Awhile. But in the early '90s Condell and Kelly rekindled the old magic of Tir Na Nog and at the turn of the millenium, Scullion reformed with a host of stunning live performances.

They re-recorded 'Eyelids into Snow' and 'Down in the City' for the anthology Eyelids into Snow (A Collection).

The Sonny Condell Band was formed in 2003 with influences ranging from folk to jazz to rock. As the renamed Radar their new album Navigation was released in October on the Gael Linn Label.

With Sonny Condell's songs providing most of their material, the sheer volume of his repertoire inevitably shows elements of his early folk influences. The other band members bring their jazz, rock and orchestral backgrounds to the mix.

The lineup is Sonny Condell: Guitars & Vocals; Paul Barrett: Keyboards & Brass; Garvan Gallagher: Basses & Vocals; Mick de Hoog: Violin & Mandolin; Eddie McGinn: Drums & Percussion.

So do come along and see for yourselves. Doors open 9pm. More info from Larry Roddy 045 864017.

Roy Thompson.