TALENTED local drama group Borderline Players return to The Ardhowen stage with the hilarious farce, ‘Play On’ tonight (Thursday) and Friday and Celtic Soul celebrates the music of the legendary Van Morrison on Saturday.

PLAY ON

Written by Rick Abbott and directed by Siobhan O’Brien, ‘Play On’ is a comedy play within a play following an amateur dramatics society as they prepare for their annual drama, suitably titled ‘Murder Most Foul’.

Set three nights before ‘Murder Most Foul’ opens, we are introduced to the cast; a dysfunctional bunch of amateur performers where tensions between members are simmering. The director is reaching his wits end as the set remains unfinished, cast members are still learning their lines, the backstage crew interrupts the rehearsals at every turn and the novice writer makes sweeping plot changes on a daily basis.

‘Play On’ is a lively farce featuring a well-known local cast and for anyone who has ever been involved in amateur dramatics it is sure to open a mixed bag of emotions. Borderline Players perform ‘Play On’ tonight and Friday at 8pm.

CELTIC SOUL – THE MUSIC OF VAN MORRISON

Following their stunning debut Ardhowen performance in 2014, Celtic Soul returns on Saturday at 8pm, to pay homage to one of the truly great singer/songwriters of all time; our own Van Morrison.

Performing the big hits like ‘Jackie Wilson Said’, ‘Days Like This’ and ‘Brown Eyed Girl, Celtic Soul have received critical acclaim from devout Van fans everywhere. With more years than the band care to remember playing in blues, folk, traditional and jazz bands, these musicians have the ingredients to combine and deliver Van’s music authentically.

THE RTE CONTEMPO STRING QUARTET

Music in Fermanagh presents The RTE ConTempo String Quartet on Wednesday, November 25, at 8pm. One of the most exciting and vibrant chamber ensembles performing today, RTE’s Quartet in Residence has been praised as a ‘fabulous foursome’ by the Irish Independent and ‘full of imaginative daring’ by The Irish Times.

Since its formation in Bucharest in 1995, the ConTempo String Quartet has performed over 1400 concerts world-wide, including St Martin-in-the-Fields, Berlin Philharmonic Hall, Palazzo del Quirinale Rome and Carnegie Hall.

Bogdan Sofei and Ingrid Nicola on violin, Andreea Banciu on viola and Adrian Mantu on cello have performed in front of great world personalities such as the late Pope John Paul II, Prince Charles, Nelson Mandela, Nobel Prize winner Seamus Heaney and Hollywood actors, Angelica Houston, Angela Lansbury, Martin Sheen and Merv Griffin.

The programme for the evening will include Schumann’s Quartet op.41 no.3, Mozart’s Quartet KV 575 ‘The Prussian’, with the exceptional prominence and cantabile nature of its cello part, and Janacek’s ‘Intimate Letters’, the quartet which inspired Brian Friel’s play ‘Performances’.

JIMMY BUCKLEY IN CONCERT

One of Ireland’s top entertainers, Jimmy Buckley’s old style traditional country music, Irish ballads and original material are all included in this show along with tributes to some of the greats such as Hank Williams and Charlie Pride.

Jimmy Buckley has received many awards in Ireland and the UK and was recently given the accolade ‘Entertainer of the Year’ at the Sunday World Country Music Awards. He looks forward to meeting fans and friends, old and new, at his concert on Thursday, November 26, at 8pm.

GRAINNE DUFFY

A unique talent, raw and powerful, edgy and elegant, Grainne Duffy’s early influences range from the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and the Pretenders. The subtle playing of Peter Green on such songs as ‘Need Your Love so Bad’ and ‘Albatross’ led Grainne to listen to other guitarists such as BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughan and, of course, Rory Gallagher. All the while she was developing her vocal ability by singing in her local church choir and listening to artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Linda Rondstat and Bonnie Raitt.

Grainne’s band features a full line-up of Paul Sherry on guitar, Davy Watson on bass, Gerry Morgan on drums and John McCullough on piano and this ensemble is gaining a well earned reputation as a stellar unit always delivering passionate performances; the perfect foundation for Grainne’s guitar playing and vocals. Her brilliant mix of blues, rock and soul in her original material and her treatment of a few carefully selected standards charged with true emotion and feeling can win over any audience.

Join Grainne Duffy and her band in The Ardhowen Gallery Bar on Friday, November 27, at 9pm.

COMING SOON

With the festive season fast approaching it’s time for Enniskillen Light Operatic’s annual musical presentation. This year they bring the classic Charles Dickens tale, ‘A Christmas Carol’, to The Ardhowen audience - book now for this hugely enjoyable production.