A showband show to top them all is how the organisers decribe “Reeling In The Showband Years”. Starring some of the people who were there from the very beginning of this magical era, Reeling In The Showband Years will be hosted by RTÉ’s Ronan Collins who will also perform his acclaimed tributes to Joe Dolan and Dickie Rock.
Setting the UCH stage alight on the night will be greats including Paddy Cole, founder member of The Capitol Showband who dominated the scene right through the 60’s with their big brassy sound and Paddy’s virtuoso sax and clarinet playing. Tommy and Jimmy Swarbrigg will be there reliving all their old hits –being the very first showband stars to write and record all their own material – including “Looking Through The Eyes Of A Beautiful Girl”, “If Ma Could See Me Now”, “It’s Nice To Be In Love Again” and “That’s What Friends Are For”.
Sean Dunphy, the velvet voiced crooner who had a huge hit at The Eurovision Song Contest with “If I could choose” will be there together with Sean O’Dowd who was a member of one of the biggest drawing bands in Ireland in the 1970s – “You Are No Angel” was just one of his many hit records.
The Conquerors Showband was one of the greats Showbands of them all and they are still packing them in everywhere they go while Lorraine McDonald is one of the brightest talents to emerge from the later days of the showband boom. A terrific vocalist and a multi-instrumentalist, Lorraine brings glamour and glitz to this great show.
Lead singer with The Victors Showband, Art Supple, will also join this amazing line up. His great big voice covered everything from Tom Jones to Englebert Humperdinck and he had a huge hit with “Showbands On Parade” where he paid tribute to all the showband greats.
The event takes place at University Concert Hall on Saturday January 23.
