Guinness Castlebar Blues Festival

Friday 1st – Monday 4th June 2007 (Bank Holiday weekend)

Swing Commanders playing in the Bungalow during the 2004 Castlebar Blues Festival

The longest running Blues Festival in the country is almost upon us, and with over 30 gigs taking place around the town of Castlebar, Co Mayo as well as the double brew Blues Ball – it’s going to be a an enjoyable June Bank Holiday weekend for all! There are over 10 venues around the town who will host some of the top Blues bands in the world, with Blues Trail gigs every night (Fri – Sun) starting at 10pm – and admission is free! Bands from Ireland, the UK, Europe, Australia and the USA are all descending upon the county town, for three nights of great music, great craic and hopefully great weather! And to top off the weekend, the Blues Ball will once again take place in the TF Royal Theatre on Sunday night (3rd June) – this time for a double brew! Two bands, The Blues Band and The Swing Commanders, will both take to the stage for the late-night gig.

Conal Gallen comedian – recording new live DVD!

Friday 8th and Saturday 9th June

Conal Gallen is without doubt, one of the funniest people you will ever meet. Having travelled the world making people laugh, he is back to record a brand new DVD live at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar in June. Described as "Ireland's Funniest Man In Ireland's Funniest Show", it's easy to see why – with his hilarious singles "Horse It Into Ya, Cynthia" and “Holiday in the Sun” along with his witty humour, Conal certainly has the knack!

Who By Fire – powerful Auschwitz play

Wednesday 13th June

Who by Fire - by John MacKenna with music and lyrics by Leonard Cohen

With music and lyrics by Leonard Cohen, “Who By Fire” is a life-affirming story of love, survival and hope set against the background of Auschwitz concentration camp. Anna Borowski grew up as a young girl in Auschwitz and returns to the camp fifty years after her liberation this is a story about the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of the human soul when faced with cruelty, inhumanity and destruction. Written and directed by award–winning novelist, short-story writer and documentary-maker John MacKenna, this play has already been described as: “The most compelling and powerful piece of theatre I have seen. It challenges and persuades and moves. You must see it."

Riders on the Storm – featuring 2 original Doors members

Friday 22nd June

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the legendary band, The Doors. Having released their first record in 1967, almost 40 years later the band has now been awarded a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award and a star of The Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Now, The Doors founding members, Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger, have joined up with ex-Fuel lead singer, Brett Scallions, to front their project “Riders On The Storm” which will appear at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar on Friday 22nd June.

Who can forget the Doors?