O K A Y !
..........here's a list of performers already committed
WHAT A LINE-UP!
EVEN BY FLATLAKE STANDARDS! UNBELIEVABLE.
SEAMUS HEANEY - Nobel Poet~Laureate- Seamus Heaney's first book Death of A Naturalist came out in 1966. Since then he has published poetry, literary criticism and translations that have been widely read and admired. In 1995 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. His most recent book of poems is District and Circle and earlier this year The Burial at Thebes, his version of Sophocles' Antigone, had a successful run at the PeacockTheatre.
EDNA O BRIEN-WHAT CAN YOU SAY,is there no end to this woman's genius-THE COUNTRY GIRLS,INTO THE FOREST,GIRL WITH THE GREEN EYES,HOUSE OF SPLENDID ISOLATION,THE LIST GOES ON AND ON-WHAT A COUP FOR FLATLAKE-WHEEE HOOOO!!!!!!!!
CIARAN CARSON - born in 1948,Ciaran is Professor of Poetry and Director Of The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University.He is going to be reading from LAST NIGHT'S FUN at Flatlake which is already a classsic of it's kind,and will be playing music with his wife DEIRDRE.We here at Flatlake have just read his latest work FOR ALL WE KNOW-o boy what a book that is!Fugues and fairies and film noirs and all kinds of eerie fogs floating around.We love it.
MICHAEL LONGLEY - Again, born in Belfast,who has written one of the greatest works of our time in Ceasefire.It almost seems an impertinence to praise this writer.Like Seamus Heaney and others who are visiting the festival,he emerged as a poet in the late 1960's and early 70's.His most recent works are THE WEATHER IN JAPAN,SNOW WATER and COLLECTED POEMS.
STOP PRESS!Put that stick down and listen to your mother!For we have just been informed at this very minute that none other than the legendary DYLAN MORAN YES THAT'S WHAT I SAID DYLAN MORAN has been on the phone to confirm that yes he will be in a position to attend this year's festival-that's after being such a hit at last year's-and not just telling jokes about people stealing geese out of casions in pre-war Berlin but actually reading from his novel.I think this time he will be reading some short stories.His wife Elaine will be coming along too but I don't know if she tells jokes or not.Who cares whether she does or not all I know is it will great to see them.And now it's back to the Berlin casino.Over to you,goose.Or maybe it was Geneva.
GERALD DAWE - another nordie poet man - Jasus the place is coming down with them.He was born in Baaaale Fawwst in the fifties and has produced many collections-including LAKE GENEVA,ALL POINTS WEST and SUNDAY SCHOOL.He is also a critic and broadcaster and is an elected fellow of UCD.
STEPHEN REA - reading the works of Derek Mahon. Stephen is without doubt one of the greatest actors ever to come out of Ireland. Our personal favourite here at Flatlake was his performance in Tom Stoppard's Professional Foul way back in the seventies-well worth checking out if you like leftie politics and association football.
STOP PRESS AGAIN!SHANE MC GOWAN YES SHANE MC GOWAN AUTHOR OF SO MANY MASTERPIECES AND A GREAT MAN TO SUP A STOUT HAS CONFIRMED THAT HE WILL BE ON RADIO BUTTY WITH PAT MC CABE TO TALK ABOUT HIS FAVE RECORDS THAT IS TO SAY HIS SIX DESERT ISLAND DISCS TIME TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON THAT IS THE END OF THE SHANE MC GOWAN newsflash good luck.
MEDBH MC GUCKIAN - one of Ulster's great poets and a magical and mysterious word-weaver who has created a style that is all her own.She was born in Belfast in 1950 and has written a fascinating study of the car in Seamus Heaney's work-for that alone,I mean come on!Fantastic!her latest collection is entitled The Book Of the Angel and she was awarded The 2002 Forward Poetry Prize.
GEORGE MCWHIRTER - Vancouver Poet~Laureate grew up between the Shankill Road in Belfast and Carnalea on Belfast Lough. At the age of 26, he left Ulster for Spain, finally settling in Vancouver, Canada, with frequent sojourns in Mexico. All his books of poems, stories and novels are about these places. CATALAN POEMS won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize and his translation of Mexican poet, Jose Emilio Pacheco, published by New Directions, won the F.R. Scott Prize for translation.
EOIN MC NAMEE-special friend of The Flatlake Festival in that his brother drives an old seventies Cortina with a white door like you might see in old newsreels,where all the other doors are a different colour.Eoin is one of Ireland's,or anywhere's,finest prose stylists.Did you ever read RESURRECTION MAN.You didn't?Quare scary book hi!Then there's THE BLUE TANGO and the one about The Princess.Eeerie carry-on in shadowy places oo-er!Don't forget about THE LAST OF DEEDS-a strange tale of a Presbyterian shoemaker named James Deeds from Acakadokie whose...o forget it.
PAUL BRADY - what can you say? This man has penned some of the most beautiul tunes ever conceived, among them THE ISLAND,CRAZY DREAMS and STEEL CLAW.We here at FLATLAKE have been listening to him ever since we were knee high to a dockleaf and that is precisely what we intend to continue on doing.We're fit to burst wondering what he is going to play. It's a rare privilege.
HUGO HAMILTON - His latest book is called DISGUISE,although he has what we at Flatlake call a 'hape' of them written which for you metropolitan types means 'quite a few.' His best known work is probably The Speckled People which is a science fiction thriller about a country whose inhabitants mutate-I mean mate-with trout.No it is not you eejit.
TED MC CARTHY - we say one of the finest poets in the land and that's not just because he is one of our poetry judges or because he grew up near us on the Newtown Road-it is simply a fact.His book NOVEMBER WEDDING WAS MUCH acclaimed and he will be publishing another one soon maybe with THE FLATLAKE who knows?
DERMOT HEALY - The author of A GOAT'S SONG,BANISHED MISFORTUNE and SUDDEN TIMES.He is a might man at the pomes too.Dermot edits FORCE TEN and plays handball or used to in his younger days.I heard he was good-expecially on the back wall.
THE NEATH MALE VOICE CHOIR - 60 of 'em - from Welsh Wales. Anyone who doesn’t cry when they sing 'Myfanwy' is a cold hearted alien from Clontibret.
JOHN MAHER - author of THE LUCK PENNY. If you want to know anything about The Middle East ask John.But that's not all he knows about - he is a great man to talk about the works of James Joyce and has just completed a novel entitled A SHORT HISTORY OF DARKNESS. You'd know by the height of his forehead that he's brainy.
BERNARD MC LAVERTY - the author or LAMB and CAL is known chiefly for his work in the area of the short story.A favourite of ours from the telly is his MY DEAR PALESTRINA and also a book he published in the seventies called SECRETS and other stories.
MAURICE LEITCH - a powerful hard-hitting novelist and between him and Eugene Mc Cabe it would have to be said that the flinty and gritty side of northern affairs in the past fifty years could not ask for two finer or more authentic chroniclers. Our favourite books of his are STOMPING GROUND and SILVER'S CITY. But being from Clones we would also have a special fondness for POOR LAZARUS. Ahem,I wonder why. Keen-eyed readers send your answers on a postcard.
CHRIS MORRIS - about as dangerous anyone working in TV can be. Currently getting ready to shoot his first feature film - a feel good family yarn about Osama Bin Laden and worldwide terrorism.
KEITH ALLEN - serving lamb chops & mash. Take cover. Insurance cover.Also presenting the World Premiere of his fillum about Mohammad Al Fayed - the little Arabian fella who owns the big posh Gala shop in Knightbridge.
JINX LENNNON - A recent article in Q magazine describes this genius from Dundalk as a cross between 'Johnny Cash,Joe Strummer,and Ian Paisley'. There may be similarities yet Jinx takes the word singer songwriter, douses it liberally with petrol lights it up and then takes a piss all over the flames. Jinx creates a surreal baptist preacher persona in his shows and plays bullet paced acoustic and electro tunes, slam poetry style pieces, and fiery duets with his stage partner the soulful Miss Paula Flynn. Tony Clayton Lea described them recently within the Ticket section of the Irish Times as an 'exhilarating provocative pairing'.
PAULA FLYNN- To many she's best known as the crystal pure gossamer voice from the Ballygowan advert. Let's Dance was originally recorded for a laugh. An enchanting balladeer, Miss Paula Flynn is blessed with crystal clarity of expression reminiscent of classic country singers such as June Carter Cash. Miss Paula Flynn bridges the divides between Bjork and Hank Williams, with songs that love a good story and delivered with the sultry passion that is the hallmark of her vocal style.
THE BRAD PITT LIGHT ORCHESTRA - features a blend of warm vocal harmonies, classy instrumentation and ear-catching melodies that is desperately hard to categorise yet strangely easy to love. That said, if you're the kind of person who tends to categorise things, think Divine Comedy with Aimee Mann slippers and Tom Waits' complexion.
SEAN O REILLY - one of the most interesting voices to emerge in recent times,with his short story collection Curfew and his novels which have been widely acclaimed.He is proud to come from the same town as the Derry ghost.Do you know what the Derry ghost says.'Boo,hi!'-that's what he says.Or she if you are a feminist,especially from Derry,or Londonderry if you are a protestant.
GUY PRATT - Sort of rock 'n Roll stand up but better than a stand-up. Ex Pink Floyd bass player ..A backstage pass for those of us who didn't make it to the gig…An hour of rip-roaring anecdotes…Like being seated on a train journey next to the most interesting man you ever met...what tales he has to tell …A fascinating glimpse behind the rock 'n' roll curtain…Pratt is pretty hilarious..He regales the audience with hilariously indiscreet anecdotes about the stars he's worked with.
THE TOBLERONES - Delicious offering of jingle driven jauntiness. Played all the major campsites. Will kip anywhere.Their original version of PAT THE BAKER ( So fresh it's famous) is breathtaking.
SUZIE ALMOND - is an emerging singer songwriter from the London and New York folk scenes. A deft lyricist with an earthy yet otherworldly voice - she'll be bringing a pocketful of true stories and tall tales to this, her first festival.
AILBHE SLEVIN - was born in Dublin in 1971. She completed an MA in Writing at NUIG in 2005, graduating with First Class Honours. She has written for the Irish language soap Ros na Rún' and is currently working on her second novel. Ailbhe lives in Galway with her husband, Christian O'Reilly.
CHRISTIAN O'REILLY - Born in London and brought up in Listowel, Christian O'Reilly writes for theatre, film, television and radio.His first full-length play, The Good Father, produced by Druid and directed by Garry Hynes (Galway Arts Festival 2002, national tour 2003), was the joint winner of the 2002 Stewart Parker Trust New Playwright Bursary. Other plays include It Just Came Out (Druid Debut, 2001), Teacher (Galway Arts Festival, 2005) and Is this About Sex? (Rough Magic, 2007).
AIDAN COLEMAN - Arrived out of nowhere last year and stole the show in the lawn tent. Armed with little more than a casio keyboard and a little wooly bobble hat, he can glide Nissun Dorma into Bowie at the flick of a pedal. Buy a pint at the bar and then bathe in his tub of glorious musical radox.
GAVIN FRIDAY - Arrives Saturday - leaves Sunday??? Currently singing sea shanties with Nick Cave and Shane Mc Gowan and others,in Hal Wilner's celebrated project.
JOHN MINAHAN - renowned photographer of SAMUEL BECKETT. Legendary snapper of the sixties in action, Look out for the one of old Cockerel Head with the bag over his shoulder.
ADRIAN DUNBAR - brilliant actor, singer, theatre director .... he sent me quite a detailed biog and I've gone and lost it ...but doesn't matter... Recently saw his superb portrayal of Brendan ‘likes a pint’ Behan in London and he was bloody amazing ...he and his band, The Jonahs, are going to be great. Adrian is a matinee idol - already his rendition of 'Moonlight n Vermont' at Flatlake has acquired the status of legend, even though he hasn't sung it yet.
THE BUNNOE BRASS BAND - We had great weather last year, except for the half an hour when they played on the lawn. Could be tempting fate to get them back but hey, their lovely and very very welcome.
ANDREW DELLMEYER - Writer, director, Actor - has written 65 plays, won three fringe firsts, and BAFTA. He's bringing a play about Osama Bin Laden disguised as Santa Clause.
RADIO BUTTY with Pat McCabe - has to be seen and heard to believed. Transmits his nostalgic wares through a biscuit tin made by Sean 'brains’ McQuillan. Makes Val Doonigan seem hip.
MIKE MC CORMACK - why has this author not won every prize in the land?there is something wrong with the state of literature in this country and every other country.Mike is fab-especially if you like weirdy science stuff too.His books are NOTES FROM A COMA,GETTING IT IN THE HEAD o and he has a movie too with Eamon 'Butcher Boy' Owens-called THE TERMS.
LITTLE JOHN NEE - a performer and writer based in the west of Ireland. His shows mix physical comedy, songs, stories, heartbreak and the kitchen sink; a true 21st vaudevillian he travels through time and space with ease. He will perform a gentle selection suitable to the idyllic environs at the festival. Rural Electric "a masterpiece of storytelling" ***** The Guardian
Tom Sykes : is a journalist and writer. His work appears in publications such as Men's Health, Men's Vogue, British GQ, The Daily Mail, The Guardian and The Irish Examiner. He was trained on London's Fleet Street, where he worked at the Times, the Telegraph, and on the London tabloid The Evening Standard. He moved to New York in 2003 and became the nightlife writer for the New York Post and worked on the paper's infamous 'Page Six' gossip column for over a year.
His memoir of those years, 'What Did I Do Last Night? A Drunkard's Tale' was published by Ebury in the UK in 2007, and by Rodale in the US in 2006.
BARRY MCGUIGAN - yes World Champion Boxer BARRY MCGUIGAN will be in the X-tractor tent knocking out a few tunes with his band. No fightin’ lads or we’ll get 'the Cyclone' on to yer.
MIK ARTISTIK - a mate just rang up and says “I’ve just seen this guy and you have to book him...and we did ...so he better be good ... Sounds a bit like geoff Boycott but in the vain of Jinx. From Leeds - which is in england.
STRUMMERVILLE - HOSTED BY ROGER GOODMAN - The lovely cuddly Dodgy Rodge returns to guard the campfire with his magic box of tunes. He also puts up our posters all over the country, so buy him a pint when you see him.
ROWAN SOMERVILLE - was born in London to an English mummy and Irish daddy, went to university in Edinburgh to study baking and now lives outside Ramelton, Co.Donegal with his gorgeous bird a load of ducks. He worked in (spit) television for twelve years, got over it - then wrote his fine debut novel "The End of Sleep" which has sold all over the world and been translated into half a dozen languages ... but not including Welsh.
VICTORIA MARY CLARKE - Talks to Angels - and without the aid of medication. Not sure what she’s going to be doing this year but it’s bound to cause a kerfuffle.
DONAL O KELLY-what can you say about this man I don't know but you can say this-that he is one of the finest actors in the land anhe has been in overa million shows of his own devising including CATALPA,BAT THE FATHER RABBIT THE SON and God knows how many films he has starresd in,including cowboys.
KATE KERRIGAN - Skitzo - see Morag Prunty.
PADDY GOODWIN - Gives pub rock a genuinely good name. A criminal lawyer by trade and often seen at the bar. Can play anything ... as long as it’s rock... So, rock requests please....
NUALA NI CHONCHUIR- Born Dublin 1970, Nuala Ní Chonchúir lives in County Galway. Her bilingual poetry collection Tatto:Tatú (Arlen House, 2007) was shortlisted for the 2008 Strong Award. Her two short fiction collections The Wind Across the Grass and To the World of Men, Welcome, were also published by Arlen House. She is fiction editor for Southword magazine for 2008; also this year she will represent Ireland at the Tokyo International Poetry Festival in November.
HENRY MCCULLOUGH - read any book on Irish music over the last forty odd years and all roads lead to this legendary bluesman. Just finished recording a new album and set to lull you with his effortlessly mellow band.
DAVID HOLMES - DJ, Fillum composer, proud son of Belfast. Deeply talented ecclectic head of red hair on him. Pulled out last year due to a bout of the shits in Barcelona. Well that Gaudi plaster of Paris Bob the Builder stuff's enough to give anyone the shits.
TONY ALLEN - Svelte, Silver haired Grandfather of alternative comedy. Elton, Sayle, French,Saunders, Mayall and Edmonson would still be proping up the Student Union bar if it weren't for this man. Once a regular at Speakers Corner, Tony is bringing over his own troop of troopy troubadors to help him run the X-Tractor Tent .
BRIAN LEYDEN - is the author of the best selling memoir, The Home Place (New Island, 2002). Previous publications are the short story collection Departures (Brandon, 1992) and the novel, Death & Plenty (Brandon, 1996). His work for radio includes The Quiet Quarter Anthology (Lyric FM - RTE/New Island, 2004), The Clifden Anthology (Clifden Arts 2004) the Jacobs Award winning documentary No Meadows in Manhattan, the dancehall era, Even the Walls were Sweatin©ˆ, and more recently The Closing of the Gaiety Cinema in Carrick-on-Shannon.
EAMMON CAREY - very brainy lovely local lad with suspiciusly long hair - professor of old stuff at Derry ...will be presenting something on the Flight of The Earls.
THE FLAT LAKE KIDS TENT - Flora and Pat will be heading up a very exciting programme for the kids... so bring ‘em along and put them in the auction.
THE CLONES FILM FESTIVAL MARQUEE - Loads of great fillum stuff lined up ...will keep you posted when they have a programme.
THE LIVIN DRED THEATRE MARQUEE - Run by Padraig McKintyre, this years theatre offering looks like a feast of festivial luviness. Padraig will be presenting a new production of 'THE GOOD FATHER' along with a host of very exciting stuff from far and wide.
THE FLAT LAKE CONTEMPORARY ART AUCTION - JAMSHID MIR FENDERESKY from the Federesky Gallery in Belfast will be mounting 35 pieces to go on sale this year...we’ll also be bunging in a few cars and bits and pieces ... good affordable art and really fun auction so bring your wads. No Damien Hirst this year ..but we may have something special up our sleeve. We’re also thrilled to have NICK NUGENT - the Auctioneer Extraordaneer - back to conduct proceedings.
THE FLAT LAKE SEASIDE SOUVENIR SHOP - WANNA' STICK OF ROCK?
THE FLAT LAKE ARTS PROJECT - with sculptor Jonathan Leahey. Thanks to a generous commission from Monhaghan Arts Office, Leahey will back to create something rather special in our new Packo's Art Lab Field. We’ve also got our design competition finalists building their structures, a feast of visual art and tons to come and look at or even join in.
THE DUBLINER ARCHITECTURAL DEBATE "This House Believes that Ireland is Being Ruined by Bad Architecture." Proposing the motion will be Ruadhan MacEoin (conservationist), Frank MacDonald (Irish Times Environment Editor), Shane O'Toole (Sunday Times architecture critic) and Patsey Murphy (Editor of the Irish Times magazine)- chaired by Trevor White. I wanted to call it 'why’s the countryside littered with Shite' ... but it’ll be a fruity hour of heated debate anyway. Bring your opinions and for gods sake open your gobs.
THE X-TRACTOR TALENT CONTEST - Play the trombone? Whistle dixie with a spanner up yer bum? Sing? dance? Howl? The X-tractor Needs you! Winner gets a part in ‘Fair City’ ...can it get any better than that? Ummmm...
The Flat Lake Open Poetry Competition - get writing ... winner gets a bottle of dry sherry and some Kudos( Greek Brandy )
THE 15 SECOND FILM FESTIVAL WITH PETER 'MAGIC' JOHNSON - A big hit last year. Looking forward to his new slate of lickle fillums. No hanky panky in the booth please as someone has to clean it up.
'CULINARY REVOLUTION' with Morag Prunty and her Psycho 'Bun 'n Scone Brigade'. Say no more. Oh,alright then.
THE POETRY CHICKS - Flat LAke would not be Flat Lake without the chicks ... although they are now only two ( one’s gone solo chick ) their energy really sums up what the festival is all about.
MORAG PRUNTY - writes a weekly column in the Sunday Tribune. A reformed fashionista, she become a full time writer - publishing six novels, two by her alter ego, KATE KERRIGAN. One of these, Recipes for a Perfect Marriage was nominated for Romantic Novel of the Year. Morag will be hosting Scone Central, a cosy corner in the Butty Barn where you can join her for a miscellaneous stew of special guests, readings, recipes and traditional tasty tidbits.
JACKI MCCARRICK-local playwright based in Dundalk,has worked with Padraig Mc Intyre in Living Dred.Her best known play is probably THE MUSHROOM PICKERS-presenting a new work at the festival.
MR. TEA & THE BISCUITS - Mr Tea and the Biscuits are a 4 piece band based in Sligo, Ireland. They are fairly orthodox in their approach to music, playing a conservative brand of ukulele driven eclectic folk rock fusion with the slightest hint of vanilla and aged for no less than 2 years in oak caskets containing boiled farmers underpants.
SARAH MCQUAID - Born in Madrid and raised in Chicago, Sarah McQuaid recently moved to Cornwall after living in Ireland for 14 years. Drawing on the traditions of Ireland, America and the UK, her music is sublime and compelling, characterised by warm, velvety vocals and a distinctive acoustic guitar style. In 2007 she re-released her album When Two Lovers Meet to critical accaim: "Sarah McQuaid’s debut album offers a masterclass in restraint and subtlety," wrote fRoots magazine. Sarah is also the author of a highly-regarded guitar tutor, The Irish DADGAD Guitar Book, and has recorded a new album, provisionally titled I Won’t Go Home ’Til Morning and due for release later this year.
TOM PHELAN- Tom Phelan is the author of the acclaimed novels The Canal Bridge, In the Season of the Daisies, Iscariot, and Derrycloney. Phelan's novels have been published in four countriesthe U.S., Ireland, France, and Germany and in three languages. He has also written for Newsday and for the journal of the
American Irish Historical Society. Born and raised on a farm in Strahard, Mountmellick, County Laois, in the Irish midlands, Phelan now makes his home on New York's Long Island.
THE L-SHAPED ROOM - the little brats have cancelled due to catching collective crabs on tour in South Wales.
MARGOT QUINN - This wonderful painter eill be hosting the fabulous FLATLAKE ART CAR BOOT SALE-but she will not be alone!Ably assisting her in their Jackson Pollock-stained boiler suits will be no less than SIX fellow artists-yes that's SIX!-INCLUDING EILEEN FERGUSON,NEIL GREIG,GERALDINE O' REILLY,JOCK NICOL,CAROLINE CONWAY and the redoubtable MIKEY LYONS all the way from DE BANNER COUNTY!YEs,brilliant stuff in the arts field along with a host of other talented artists.
JC CARROLL - Has got married and Moved House and Studio! Update Your Records . The Shop in Pembridge Road is Gone. So there!
SARAH-JANE LOVETT O.B.E. - Will be performing her poetry form the inside of her London Taxi. Let’s hope she doesn’t leave the meter running. Boom Boom.
PATRICK CONYNGHAM - So out there he’s not likely to ever come back in. His outfit alone (007 meets the Grim Reaper) is worth the entrance fee. Not to missed.
PAUL MULDOON-Born in 1951 in Co Armagh and worked with the BBC BEFORE HEADING OFF 'STATESIDE'.His collections include THE ANNALS OF CHILE,MOY SAND AND GRAVEL and HORSE LATITUDES.He is currently scripting an underwater western.No he's not-we only made that up to sound funny and it isn't is it.It;s stupid.Paul has a band-RACKETT.Check it out on the Times Literary supplement label.
