Padraig’s night of songs already a sell-out
A NIGHT celebrating and honouring the unique storytelling songs of Tuam-based Padraig Stevens sold out within a few hours of going on sale.
Oíche Phádraig is a special evening celebrating the songs Padraig – a native of Sligo – at the Town Hall Theatre in Galway. The night featuring a host of local singers, performers and songwriters takes place on November 2 and tickets sold out on the same day they went on sale.
The night will feature performances of Padraig’s songs by a host of his favourite artists including New Beast; Davy Carton, Leo Moran and Mary O’Connor; Brid Dooley; Frank Gleeson; Rod Goodall; Tom Joyce; Matt Keane, Johanna Lane; Mouse McHugh; Little John Nee; The Racoons with Darragh O’Dea and Jamie Ralph; Seamus Rutledge; Aine Tyrrell and Ruth Dillon; Joe Stevens; Tyrone Ward; and The Whileaways.
The House Band on the night will feature Dave Clancy, Pearse Doherty, Jimmy Higgins, Leo Moran, Mairtín O Connor, Anto Thistlewaite and MC will be Tuam’s Midie Corcoran.
Born in Sligo in November 1946, Padraig Stevens has been involved in music-making all his life, both as a performer and a songwriter. His songs have been recorded and performed by Matt Keane, Eleanor Shanley, The Cabin Collective, Strange Boats, Ann Kirrane, Mike Denver, Michael English, and Christy Moore (whose recording of ‘The Tuam Beat’ was a big hit).
Padraig has recorded and performed with The Waterboys, Dé Danann, The Stunning, Blaze X, and The Problems, but is perhaps best known for his work with The Saw Doctors with whom he has been associated since their inception in Tuam, and with whom he has recorded and toured extensively. Padraig is also co-writer of some of their hit songs including I Useta Lover, Still the Only One and That’s What She Said Last Night.
Padraig has released several solo albums over the years, and he continues to inspire, encourage and help a horde of not just young musicians but people of all ages interested in all kinds of creativity.
“They say folk songs carry the history of a place more accurately than the history books and this will never be truer than in the songs of Padraig Stevens. The interests, passions, activities, and issues are not only recorded accurately within these magical and precious lyrics but also the authentic vernacular of the individuals and communities portrayed,” remarked Padraig’s great friend Leo Moran.
“On the spectrum of possible emotions, Padraig Stevens has covered them all, more than once.
“Heartbreakingly sad songs, laugh out loud funny ones, holy songs and risqué ones, songs about Gaelic football and hurling and soccer and all kinds of sports, songs for children and old people, songs for people who have passed away and ones for those not yet born, songs for the vulnerable and the ones on the periphery, protest songs, the beauty of nature and the harshness of humanity, songs of celebration of women and men, boys and girls, rural and urban songs, songs in English mostly, but in Irish too. And more, lots, lots more because making up songs comes as natural to Padraig as putting on the kettle for the tea and he’s made them up for all kinds of reasons and occasions like he does it for fun. And maybe that’s part of the secret of it.”