Charities to benefit from Kells Stock music festival

Friday night next, 17th October, sees a line-up of original music bands new and old coming together at the VIBE nightclub in the Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells, to raise money for charities the Jack and Jill Foundation and the Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre. "Kells Stock" is about raising money and awareness for these charities, and about bringing together some of the past and present crop of bands and solo artists that have emerged from the Kells area over the years. The town has a heritage of producing talented music acts and this night will be a celebration of that tradition. Tickets €20, are available from the Headfort Arms Hotel. The line-up includes Ham Sandwich, the Van Winkles, Anthony Cregan and members of Little Palace, Slump, Moe-Joe, The Cherries and Fred Cooke. Ham Sandwich are having a great year. Their debut album "Carry The Meek" was released to rave reviews. They received a Meteor Music Award. They have played at major music festivals including an appearance at Glastonbury in the UK. An unforgettable appearance on the Late Late show, thanks to a certain superhero suit - and they even managed to get through the Podge and Rodge show on RTE without emotional bruises. Ham Sandwich are John Moore, Podge McNamee, Ollie Murphy, Brian Darcy and Niamh Farrell. The Van Winkles return to the stage after a 10 year absence from the music scene. Martin Flanagan (guitar and vocals) and Greg Smith (drums) are both original members of the group. For a number of years now bassist Derek Finnegan has been at the helm. Six-piece band Little Palace had much success on the recording and live scene in the 1990s until the band parted company in 1997. The soaring melodies and lyrics pouring with imagery, mainly penned by Kells-man, Michael Brunnock, who continues to release records and perform in the USA. Originally a six-piece outfit with three lead vocalists, Anthony Cregan will be backed up by original members, Martin Quinn on guitar, James Quinn on keyboards and Ian Melady on percussion. Slump blow the dust off their reggae songbook to make an appearance. Kells is an unlikely place to find an original reggae band - which is probably the best reason in the world to form one! Original members are Patrick Morris, Martin Lydon, Joey Burns, Ces Cole and Andrew (Sid) Clarke. Fiona Meleady releases her debut solo album on the 16th of October called "The fear I fear". Fiona"s music is an eclectic mix of pop, rock and jazz with influences from Etta James to Bjork. Over the past few years Fiona has been touring and recording with highly regarded artists Paddy Casey, Declan O"Rourke, and Gemma Hayes. For a time Fiona was also a part of Kells band Turn. Last December she sang a cover of "Apple Tree" on the Bulmers Christmas TV advertisement. Moe Joe was the brainchild of eternal Kells rocker and veteran jammer, guitarist Matthew Barret airs newly written material. Bassist Daois and drummer Andrew Quinn will be the backbone of Moe-Joe for their spot on the night. Matthew has played with a long list of original and cover bands in the locality including Say La V. Andrew and Daois are paired together for the first time after the cessation of another Kells rock band, McBane, last year. Fronted by Kells woman Gemma McGowan and musically engineered by Drogheda musician Joanne Kieran (with assistance from Rosanna Schwarzacher, cello and Jareth Tait on drums), The Cherries fuse a kind of cabaret sound (hints of Brecht/Weill) with a challenging dynamism last heard on long lost albums by Laura Nyro. They have just released their debut album "Vertigo Girl". Originally from Kells, comic Fred Cooke will MC the night.