Top line-up of music and comedy for Navan fundraising night

Navan based Indie rockers The Whatmans headline a major fundraising night in aid of the Alzheimer's Day Care Centre, Navan, in the Newgrange Hotel on Thursday of next week, 23rd December. Also performing will be Joy Booth, Red Queen Contest, Trigger and the Hitmen. The MC is comedian FJ Murray with DJ Rob appearing afterwards. The Alzheimer's Day Care Centre in Navan is continuously in need of funding as monies from the State agencies are reducing all the time. The Whatmans have played at festivals such as Oxygen, The Sea Sessions and Vantastival in Ireland this year, and also having toured in the UK and Canada, including headlining a gig at the world-renowned Horse Shoe Tavern, The Rolling Stones favourite Canadian venue. Having stirred the Irish music scene with their debut single, 'Devil Shoes', the band released 'Kiss The Mind', which was an immediate chart success. The band is set to release already-finished debut album, 'Fire Up The Masses', as well as two more singles in early 2011. They write about anything and everything that revolves around today's ever-changing and challenging world, and can envelope social and economic comment embossed within a pounding, dancing kind of Rock'n'Roll. The Whatmans, together since 2008 are: John 'The Fox' Brennan (vocals); Padar 'P-Dog' Mulvey (guitar/backing vocals/author); Frany 'General Ben' McGinn (bass); Aidan 'Snatch' Carolan (drums); Lizzy 'Mama Oaksie' Oakes (keys/backing vocals). Red Queen Contest's music is lyrically red and marvellously aggressive. Themes of love, lust and loss abound with a passion countered with poise. Sparseness is employed where necessary but overall they have created, if not a wall, then a trench of sound. Most importantly however, Red Queen Contest constantly challenge itself as a band and each other as musicians, to plumb the eerie mirror-facing-mirror depths of experience and collaboration. Through no little soul searching, evocations of previous lives, social network boycotting, therapy and one or two cups of tea, Red Queen Contest have emerged from the dog days of their previous incarnation, The Dolldrums, and are armed, ready for battle. Trigger & the Hitmen features Peadar Farrelly, one of the most familiar and highly-acclaimed singer/songwriters to spring from the Meath original music scene. For many years, he has been thrilling audiences with his own individual blend of breath-taking vocals, imaginative and emotional lyrics, all complemented by catchy hooks and melodies. His band, Trigger & the Hitmen, bring amazing energy, passion and raw talent to every stage lucky enough to be graced with their presence. Joy Booth is a singer/songwriter from Navan. Having gigged extensively around Ireland for much of the last two years, she is now gearing up to record her debut album. Lyrically she tackles many themes ranging from regret and heart ache, to drugs and alcohol, to simply looking forward to summer time! Her musical style is uncomplicated and honest, with many folk/acoustic acts counted among her influences. Comedian FJ Murray is a late vocation to the comedy scene, only getting into it at the age of 46. Since then he continues to mine his past experiences for comedy gold. He has played major venues in Ireland, UK and US including the Laughter Lounge (Dublin and Galway), International, Comedy Cellar, Capital Comedy Club, Battle of the Axe (winner in December 2008), Empire Laughs Back and Queen's University Comedy Club, Belfast, the Stand Comedy Club, Edinburgh and Glasgow, Kingshead Comedy Club, London, and The Clubhouse San Francisco. He performs an observational and witty brand of humour which also includes musical comedy. Originally from Mullingar, he now lives between Navan and Kells, a place he calls 'East West Meath'. In 2009, FJ won the Father Ted Toilet Duck Award for New Irish Comedy. In 2008, he reached the Irish final stages of So You Think You're Funny? Competition and the grand final of the Bulmer's Nothin' Butt Funny Competition. In 2009 he came third in the Comedy Dublin Stand up Competition Final. Television appearances include ICE (RTE 2), Savage Eye (RTE 1) and Find Me The Funny (BBC 1).