Ronan's Joe and Dickie tribute show in Galway

POPULAR RTE TV and radio personality Ronan Collins, with a little help from some of his music scene colleagues, will present his tribute show to the songs of Dickie Rock and the late Joe Dolan at Galway's Town Hall Theatre next month. Before he became successful on radio and TV Ronan worked as a drummer and vocalist in Dickie Rock's band for several years and in more recent times he has been instigator of some of the most successful compilation CDs from the showband era. He has also worked on CD compilations of hits from Ireland's Folk and Ballad boom years. With his diverse background on the Irish music circuit it is appropriate that showband stars on the Galway show should join Ronan and one of the most popular of these is Shaun O'Dowd who fronted the band Ding-A-Ling for years and prior to that he worked with Tommy Drennan and The Monarchs Showband. Lorraine McDonald and The Conquerors will be providing the backing music for several of the artists at the concert in The Town Hall theatre on Tuesday September 25. Lorraine is daughter of Frankie McDonald who was a member of Joe Dolan's band for several decades and there is also music in the genes on her mother's side of the family as Lorraine is a granddaughter of Ciaran Kelly who fronted one of the most successful Ceili bands during the 1950s and 60s. Traditional Fiddle player, vocalist and broadcaster Kevin Rohan of Rodney's Glory is also on the show as is broadcaster and trumpet player from the showband era Jimmy Higgins. Keeping the Folk fans happy will be Don Stiffe from Galway city who now lives in Headford and who is a talented songwriter as well as being a great singer of mostly original material. Promoter Marty Welsh, who is based in London, organised a similar show in Galway last year and one of the stars then was young London cabaret singer Heidi McCaffrey. She is also on the concert next month as is talented guitarist Pat Goldrick who was a member of Pop band The Memories during the 1970s. Ronan Collins is the ideal man to sing the big hits of Joe Dolan and Dickie Rock as he has the feel for those songs, many of which he played drums on, during his days on the showband scene with Dickie and his band. Tickets for the Galway concert are available from the Town Hall Box Office at 091-569777 or at thtsales@galwaycity.ie.