Drogheda Brass Band help open TLT
October 13th 2009, by brianDrogheda Brass Band gave the town’s new TLT Theatre & Concert Hall at the Sound Shop a spectacular opening, receiving standing ovations on every night of the series of opening concerts in September.
The 900-seater hall, mooted as the likely venue for the national band championships in 2011, was officially opened on Wednesday 23rd September with a four-night all-local show featuring superb performances from the Honey Bees Jazz Group, traditional Irish group the Murphy Family, and St Peter’s Male Voice Choir in the first half.
The second half made full use of the huge 70ft x 30ft stage by featuring a sight seldom, if ever, seen in Ireland before – two individual brass bands onstage side-by-side together, as Drogheda Brass Band under the baton of Michael Maher and Lourdes Brass Band (conducted by Harry Kelly and Mark Shortt) treated the audience to two highly entertaining programmes. The concerts were hosted by Drogheda born comedienne and actress Deirdre O Kane.
The band opened with the very apt “Fanfare for a New Age” following with “Mack the Knife” and “Mid all the traffic” (Shenandoah). All pieces were very warmly received each night, however, the band literally brought the audience to their feet with our spectacular finale version of “Riverdance”.
The final item of the concert then featured both bands combining and being joined by St Peter’s Male Voice Choir for a suitably rousing rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” conducted by the choir’s MD, Edward Holly. The nights were hugely enjoyable for audiences and a further proof that Drogheda is a hot bed for musical talent – a point TLT owner Tommy Leddy of the Sound Shop was keen to make describing the concerts as a “great success” and thanked all the groups who took part, particularly as proceeds went to the local branch of the Alzheimer’s Society. Tommy also looked forward to welcoming many more large audiences to future shows in the TLT.
For more information about the TLT visit http://www.thetlt.ie/