Maiden City Festival Weblog

For some reason a number of bands have changed from the original programme on Thursday. All for the most unavoidable personal circumstances which could not have been anticipated. So briefly:

Rainy Boy Sleep is at Cafe Nervosa, and not Furlo;
Paula McAleese is still performing, at Claudes and not as Louis’s in the programme;
Michael E Thomas replaces Teg Magee at the Boston Tea Party in the Craft Village;
and poorly Paul Corrigan is unable to be at Java and, stepping in at short notice, Joan McEldowney is there instead.

All Culture Bite venues are 12.30-2.30pm. Up to date details on our website’s Thursday page.

No changes for Friday at this point and only one or two earlier. No idea what Thursday has done to deserve this amount of disruption – though you’ll hardly notice with the excellent range of talent that has been brought in.

On an entirely plus point, and nothing to do with cafe performances, we have added an extra exhibition to tie in with the Somme 95th Anniversary Tribute concert (SOLD OUT). Ulster at War: an exhibition of Ulster engagement in the Great War with a range of period memorabilia in the Memorial Hall’s Black Room – 10am-5pm.

We have a few last minute changes to the published schedule. Check www.maidencityfestival.com for daily schedules which we are keeping up to date.

The Bluegrass on the Walls line-up has changed a little, with the addition of David Hope & The Henchmen. And the Bluestack Mountain Boys are in fact the Blackstack Mountain Boys.

Monday lunchtime at the Cafe Nervosa on Magazine Street, our Culture Bite will not be Eoin O’Callaghan and will instead be local band Intermission – again full details on the Maiden City Festival website.

On Wednesday Janet Dowd will be at the Boston Tea Party in the Craft Village. Originally it was to have been Mons Wheeler.

And on Wednesday evening the inside spread of our printed programme says the Crimson Players will be at the Verbal Arts Centre on Wednesday when they will of course be at the Memorial Hall at 8pm-10pm with their annual Variety Show.

Other than those very small changes in a very large programme everything is up to date. Double check the website listing for each day to be sure.

All that is left to say is enjoy the Festival.

In the meantime….

We’ve had a delayed start to confirming the 2011 Festival programme. The elections seem to have delayed some funders in being able to sort the paperwork. But we will get there.

Sorting through some old discs while waiting, a number for 2005 were found forgotten on a shelf. One held a series of clips from that year when we first started to explore the history of the Memorial Hall as an entertainment centre in the city, and in particular from the 1960s. The Woodlanders were a resident band at the time, in the mid sixties. In 2005 they reformed for the Festival for one night, 40 years on, to relive the Memories of the swinging heydays.

This little video is not a professional cut, but hopefully it captures some of the enthusiasm and meaning of what it was for these guys to return after all those years. Especially about what the MEM meant to them all. Then, again by accident, found a wee video on YouTube about the Woodlanders and the MEM; a poem, don’t know much more about it.

Great guys, super musicians. Thanks to: Jackie Graham, Drummer; Mike Wells, Guitar and Vocals; Alan Peoples, Bass and Harmony; Billy Haslett, Lead Guitar.

And the poem…

Been trying to get in touch with the guys in the video again. If anyone sees them, tell them to contact us through the website.

Entrance to the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall and Siege Museum is FREE throughout Festival week – £2 per person throughout the rest of the summer.

This year there is a small range of merchandise available at the Hall.  Including these Apprentice Bears of Derry taking a brief break off the shelf to enjoy some of the afternoon entertainment around the historic Walls of Londonderry.  There’s lots to see in the Hall and on the Walls throughout Festival week, promising a great day out in Londonderry.

Apprentice Bears of Derry enjoying the historic Walls of Londonderry.

Last minute something always gets overlooked. We forgot to change the dates of the Tea Dances in the Mem from last year’s.

This year’s Good Afternoon in the Mem will take place from Monday and each day to Thursday 9th to 12th of August – NOT the week before, as printed in the programme. So let everyone know the dates when you can dance away the afternoon to the sounds of Danny Feeney on Monday and Thursday, and John Trotter & Friends on Tuesday and Wednesday. And there is a cup of tea too.

Come to the Mem for a cup of tea and a dance, 2.30pm-4.30pm Monday to Thursday, 9th-12th August.