Major concert for West Belfast
`Into The West' is the first major open air concert to be staged
in West Belfast and will feature the internationally recognised
talents of Brian Kennedy, Mary Black and Shane McGowan.
The concert is part of the West Belfast Festival and will take
place on Sunday 9 August at Beechmount Leisure Centre.
It is being hosted by Feile An Phobail and Wonderland Promotions
in association with sponsors Tennents lager.
At the concert preview Feile director, Caitriona Ruane said,
``this is a unique concert, riding on the historic waves of change
happening in Ireland. We are inviting international visitors, and
people from all over Ireland to join with us in celebrating this
historic musical feast.''
Brian Kennedy took time out from recording his new album, due for
release in the autumn, to attend the preview. He reminded the
audience that he grew up in the area and that he could ``hit my
mother's house with a brick from here'' before playing `Put the
message in the box'. At the end of the song a string broke on his
guitar leaving him to sing `As I roved out' unaccompanied.
However, despite broken strings, as well as crying children and
chirping mobile phones, Kennedy took it all in good humour,
cracking jokes along the way.
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