The FLive-Fermanagh Live Festival continues this week with an enjoyable and varied programme of events happening around Enniskillen including three superb shows at Ardhowen Theatre. On Thursday 2nd October The Big Brass Swing Band present ‘Swinging Through The Shows And Films’, Seamus O’Rourke returns in ‘Padraig Pott’s Guide To Walking’ on Friday 3rd and the legendary Donegal band Altan perform on Saturday 4th October.

SWINGING THROUGH THE SHOWS AND FILMS The Big Brass Swing Band led by Trombone soloist and arranger Bob Quick perform ‘Swinging Through The Shows And Films’ on Thursday 2nd October at 8pm. Join Bob Quick and his band as they swing through all the great show tunes from Oklahoma, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar, Oliver, the list goes on and on.

Guest vocalists Gerarda McCann and Gareth Devine will join the unique ensemble that is The Big Brass Swing Band. Following last years sell out concert and rave reviews this is sure to be a great night at Ardhowen Theatre.

PADRAIG POTTS’ GUIDE TO WALKING Following on from the success of ‘Dig’ and ‘The Quare Land’, Seamus O’Rourke, former Leitrim Gaelic footballer, writer, award winning actor and director, presents his new one man play, ‘Padraig Potts’ Guide to Walking’ on Friday 3rd October at 8pm.

This celebration of rural Irish life, the highs and lows, the madness and the mundane, is typical of the way O’Rourke tackles serious contemporary social issues through humour. The play follows the life of Padraig Potts McKeirnan, who has a habit of just eating whatever is on his plate… metaphorically that is… from growing up near the tiny rural village of Drumnamee, County Leitrim in the 70’s and 80’s to falling in love with Silvia Lang, a perfect protestant girl… to marrying Mary Tague, the priests housekeeper, who he never really liked… to getting rid of Mary Tague and her mother, who he claims invented vinegar… and eventually to the realisation that the world isn’t as big as he first thought. Please note, this funny and tender performance does contain some strong language.

ALTAN Altan, the legendary Donegal band named after a mysterious and deep lake behind Errigal Mountain, was formed in 1987 by the late Frankie Kennedy, a flute player from Belfast, and his wife, the charismatic singer and fiddler, Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh, who hails from Gweedore. Altan’s brand of music, inspired originally by Northern traditions and played with verve and heart, has matured down the years. Altan have appeared at prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall and at the White House during Clinton’s presidency and collaborated with the likes of Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt, and Alison Krauss. When not touring world-wide, Altan relish nothing more than performing to local audiences on their home soil and Ardhowen Theatre are delighted to have the band perform as part of the Fermanagh Live Festival on Saturday 4th October at 8pm.

Details of the full Fermanagh Live programme can be found at www.flive.org.uk and tickets for all events can be purchased via the Ardhowen Theatre Box Office.

PHIL COULTER - ‘ECHOES OF HOME’ TOUR The legendary Phil Coulter has not only weathered just about every change in the business, he has been one of the few songwriters who actually shaped pop history by dictating musical taste and fashions. He has performed with everyone from James Galway and the London Symphony Orchestra to Nanci Griffith and The Blue Moon Orchestra, not to mention Henry Mancini, Elmer Bernstein and Quincy Jones. He has written at least four titles that can be added to the list of Great Irish Songs - the anthems ‘The Town I Loved So Well’ and ‘Ireland’s Call’ and the haunting ‘Scorn Not His Simplicity’ and ‘Steal Away’. Phil will be joined by his special guest Geraldine Branagan for an unforgettable evening of music and song on Wednesday 8th October at 8pm.

MEMORIES ARE MADE OF HITS Barry Walker’s sensational showgroup SMACKEE return to Ardhowen on Thursday 9th October at 8pm with ‘Memories are Made of Hits’ taking a nostalgic journey of fantastic musical memories through the 50s and 60s. The show will include many of the hits from those two decades featuring music from artists such as ‘Elvis’, ‘Buddy Holly’, ‘Billy Fury’, ‘Del Shannon’, ‘Connie Francis’, ‘Dusty Springfield’, ‘The Shadows’ plus many more, providing wonderful memories from that period when the hit parade was King.

MICK FLAVIN AND FRIENDS Mick Flavin is one of the most successful entertainers in Irish Country Music. His career has profiled the aspirations, and trials of life, in an unabashedly proud and instantly recognizable voice. Nicknamed “The Gentle Giant of Country Music” his stylish songs and roguish persona have created the legend that is Big Mick Flavin. A robust vocalist capable of conveying startling emotion and making deceptively ordinary characters shine, he boasts a catalogue of hit singles that includes ‘The Old School Yard’, ‘Try It You’ll Like It’, ‘Wild Flowers’ and of course his monster hit single ‘When I Lay Me Down’.

Mick’s line up of friends will be compere Gary Wilson and Traditional Country singing legend John Glenn singing his hits ‘Keep On The Sunnyside’, ‘Let’s Turn Back The Years’ and more. Fermanagh Voluntary Welfare Support Group presents ‘Mick Flavin And Friends’ on Friday 10th October at 8pm.

BEOGA On Saturday 11th October at 8pm Moving On Music presents Beoga, a five-piece band based in Co Antrim. Beoga, Gaelic for ‘lively’, create a unique sound featuring the twin duelling accordions of Damian McKee and multi-instrumentalist Seán Óg Graham, pianist Liam Bradley, four times All-Ireland bodhrán champion Eamon Murray and Niamh Dunne, one of Ireland’s premier young talents, on vocals and fiddle.

The bedrock of their sound lies firmly within the Irish tradition, however, they are not afraid to incorporate other genres and nuances into their music. From bluesy riffs to Astor Piazzola-style jazz, to a raunchy New Orleans jamboree vibe, their music always returns to a wonderfully bouncy Irish sound.

Beoga’s support act, Ceolmar are the latest young Trad group to emerge on the scene. Hailing from Fermanagh and Tyrone, Ceolmar consist of: Martin Treacy, Accordion/Melodeon; Gareth Maguire, Vocals/Bodhran; James McCaffery, Flute/Whistle; Ciaran Owens, Banjo/Mandolin and Lee Jones, Guitar. This new group play a range of traditional and contemporary tunes and songs, arranged in a traditional style.

FUTURE EVENTS Nathan Carter has again filled the Ardhowen Theatre for two nights on 15th and 16th October, on Friday 17th The Young Folk return to the Gallery Bar after their outstanding performance earlier this year and Ulster Theatre Company and Theatre At The Mill present ‘Jonathan Harker and Dracula’ on Saturday 18th October.