Roy Arbuckle, Anne Tracey, David J Bell, Michael Corey and Maura Johnston present ‘Songs and Poems for the Soul’ at The Heaney Homeplace, Bellaghy on Saturday, January 13 from 2.00pm to 3.30pm
Tickets for this exciting event are £5 and are available from the Seamus Heaney Homeplace.
About the artists….
David J Bell, a native of Lisburn, now lives and works in Desertcreat. David is an experienced guitar soloist, accompanist and studio player whose approach is ‘to support the song.’ Co-writing with Oonagh Derby, David has composed original material for local festivals marking the Flight of the Earls and the story of Patrick Donnelly, the Bard of Armagh.
Roy Arbuckle, will be fondly remembered by the people of South Derry from his days with folk band ‘Chaff.’ He later moved to North America and toured extensively with ‘Fiddlers Elbow’ and then ‘The Rambling Boys of Pleasure.’
Roy became involved with many community arts and community development projects around the North West of Ireland. He founded the internationally known ‘Different Drums of Ireland’ in 1991. In 1999 ‘Different Drums’ played at the White House for then then President, Bill Clinton.
Maura Johnston, is the well-known Moneymore writer whose poetry brings the landscape of her native South Derry alive. Maura has recorded for BBC radio and her work has appeared in Fortnight, The Honest Ulsterman, The Sunday Tribune and the Belfast Review. She is a recent recipient of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Award to support the development of her second collection of poems.
Anne Tracey (nee Corey) grew up in a musical household. Her father, Francie, was a renowned singer and storyteller. Anne’s great uncle Johnny penned well-known songs including ‘The Rose of Moneymore’ and ‘The Blackberry Fair’ (both songs often sung by her late father). Anne’s repertoire is both contemporary and traditional. She recently recorded the beautiful and reflecting ‘Songs for the Soul’ CD with Roy Arbuckle. Some of the songs from the CD will be included in the afternoon at Homeplace – an event that sets out to explore the emotional pull of home, identity and place.
Michael Corey, was lead singer with the Northern Swing Big Band, a popular 16-piece band that entertained audiences the length and breadth of Ireland. Michael’s repertoire now includes songs from artists as diverse as Frank Sinatra, James Taylor and Leonard Cohen. Michael also draws on the rich family tradition of music and song and is renowned for his beautiful rendition of the poignant song of emigration ‘Slieve Gallion Braes’, which he will sing at Heaney Homeplace this coming Saturday.
The artists who will perform at the event are pictured above. L to R, David J Bell; Roy Arbuckle; Maura Johnston: Anne Tracey and Michael Corey.
For more information or to book your tickets for 'Songs and Poems for the Soul’ call Seamus HomePlace on 028 7938 7444 or visit www.seamusheaneyhome.com
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