Published: Friday, 2nd July, 2010 4:00pm

NAVAN LIVE 2010 - TICKET SALES SURGE

Navan Live 2010 organisers (Profile Music Group) have reported a massive surge in tickets sales during mid summer / festival season for their gigs on 17th & 18th September, The Saw Doctors, Sharon Shannon, Shane MacGowan & Damien Dempsey.

"With most of the country now well in festival mode, a lot of people are starting to think about the gigs they'll be attending this year and getting in there for their tickets".

The current biggest seller on tickets are weekend tickets to see all 4 acts both on the 17th & 18th September.

With line-up now complete and advertising campaign well underway, people are looking closely at the line-up and realise that this number of top musicians have never been to Navan before on the same weekend!!....

NAVAN LIVE 2010 - MUSIC EVENT

Friday 17th September, Teach Na Teamhrach, Trim Rd, Navan, Co. Meath

The Saw Doctors + Support

Over 18's / Doors: Open 7pm, Show Starts 8pm (Sharp) / http://www.navanlive.com / €28 (or Weekend Tickets €58)

Tickets available from e2music Navan & Mullingar Or Purchase online via http://www.navanlive.com/tickets/ • Limited Number of Tickets Available

Saturday 18th September, Teach Na Teamhrach, Trim Rd, Navan, Co. Meath

Sharon Shannon & Big Band, Shane MacGowan & Damien Dempsey

Over 18's / Doors: Open 7pm, Show Starts 8pm (Sharp) / http://www.navanlive.com / €34 (or Weekend Tickets €58)

Tickets available from e2music Navan & Mullingar Or Purchase online via http://www.navanlive.com/tickets/ • Limited Number of Tickets Available

THE SAW DOCTORS

Davy Carton: Vocals, Guitar • Leo Moran: Guitars, Vocals • Anthony Thistlethwaite: Bass Guitar, Saxophone • Kevin Duffy: Keyboards, Vocals • Eimhin Cradock: Drums, Vocals

In the last eighteen months, Ireland's Saw Doctors have blazed back phoenix-like from almost two decades of unsung glory. Out of the blue, their rambunctious cover of The Sugababes' About You Now rocketed to No 1 in Ireland, restoring them to their rightful place as that nation's best-loved good-time band.

Fronted by two criminally under-rated songwriters, Leo Moran and Davy Carton, this is the band that entered the record books back in 1990 when I Useta Lover spent nine weeks at number one, becoming Ireland's best-selling single of all time. They followed up with the No 2 hit, N17, and a chart-topping album, If This Is Rock And Roll, I Want My Old Job Back, but somehow the momentum wasn't maintained.

Irresistably singable songs (To Win Just Once, Hay Wrap and Same Oul' Town to name but three), still flowed from Moran and Carton; their stormingly exuberant live shows remained unparalleled celebrations of the spirit of great rock; and their substantial phalanx of hardcore fans on both sides of the Atlantic never wavered in support.

"I suppose we're a bit like an old dress," says Leo Moran with a wryly philosophical smile. "If you keep it long enough, it's bound to come back into fashion."

Typically for the Saw Doctors, coming back into fashion happened in the least likely way imaginable, on February 12, 2008. "We were on the Podge And Rodge Show," laughs Davy Carton. "It's a late-night Irish Television Show hosted by two rude puppets. Part of the show involves a spinning music board. They spin the board and the guest artist has to perform whatever song it lands on. It landed on The Sugababes hit About You Now."

At the end of the show, The Saw Doctors took to the tiny Podge And Rodge stage and delivered up their blindingly transformed re-interpretation of what had been a slick r'n'b pop hit. Now it was entirely their own, as surely as if Moran and Carton had written it themselves. Suddenly, About You Now had become a ranting, raving rock anthem.

On October 18, 2008, with hot releases from P!nk, Kings Of Leon and Snow Patrol trailing along in their dust, About You Now by The Saw Doctors debuted at No1 in the Irish Charts. Generous to a fault, the band donated all proceeds, over €10,000, to Galway's Salerno Cystic Fibrosis Fund.

There's a trace of impish delight in Davy Carton when he notes that The Sugababes' original version of About You Now stalled at No 2 in the Irish Chart. "We're not pretty to look at," he admits, "but we were No 1."

Leo Moran is typically self-effacing when he addresses the question of exactly what went right for The Saw Doctors after almost two decades of hovering just off the radar. "Sometimes you stumble upon a bit more attention," he reckons. "With The Podge and Rodge Show, and the Meteor (Lifetime Achievement) Award in 2008, we got a lot of attention."

For many artists a Lifetime Achievement Award comes towards the end of a long and acclaimed career but, for The Saw Doctors, it came at the start of their second sprint to the top - just three days after their momentous appearance on the Podge And Rodge Show.

The Saw Doctors were formed in Tuam, Galway, Ireland, in 1986. Although membership has fluctuated over the years, two founder-members have remained constant. Leo Moran, formerly of local reggae combo Too Much For The White Man and Davy Carton, a refugee from short-lived punk band Blaze X, were there right at the start, when it felt like success to be able to play in local venues such as Tuam's Imperial Hotel.

The Saw Doctors were discovered in the back room of the Quays Pub in Galway in 1988 by Mike Scott of The Waterboys who was recording The Fishermans' Blues album in nearby Spiddal. Mike Scott asked The Saw Doctors to open for The Waterboys' on the Fisherman's Blues tour of the UK and Ireland in the Autumn of 1988.

After posting a second Number One album (All The Way From Tuam), The Saw Doctors set about touring the UK and in February 1996, the band's third album "Same Oul' Town" went to Number Six in the UK Top Twenty, yielding two Top Twenty UK singles, World of Good, and To Win Just Once. The Saw Doctors appeared on BBC's Top of the Pops in January and July 1996 to promote the two singles.

Even after the first flush of success faded, The Saw Doctors were never far out of earshot. Guinness, for example, used the Saw Doctors' song Never Mind the Strangers in a multi-million dollar ad campaign for Harp Lager in the USA. The band made a film appearance in Walter Foote's directorial debut, The Tavern, which featured Same Oul' Town, and their song She Says became the theme to the BBC Northern Ireland comedy series Give My Head Peace.

In May 1997, the Saw Doctors undertook their first major coast to coast US tour and as a result landed a US record deal with Paradigm Records in New York. Sing A Powerful Song was released in November 1997, prompting Geoffrey Himes to write in The Washington Post that "the Saw Doctors are one of the world's most appealing roots-rock outfits".

Through it all, the twin planks of the band's enduring appeal have been immensely singable songs and riotous live performances. Instead of the usual swaggering rock cliches about life on the road, drug problems and easy sex, their songs range from bringing in the harvest, to running away to join the army; from the plight of Ireland's unmarried mothers to the effect of strong religion on a nation's youth; from playing football against a neighbouring village to loving the prettiest girl in town from a distance but lacking the courage to tell her.

"From country to punk to pop and rock'n'roll", explains Leo Moran on their success, "we stole all our favourite bits".

Saw Doctors' fans go home glowing from a gig crammed end to end with songs about real life. The band work the same live magic wherever they play, from the Royal Albert Hall in London to a convent in the West of Ireland, from the paddock at Sandown Racecourse to the front room of a lucky fan who won a live Saw Doctors concert as a competition prize.

As their new compilation, To Win Just Once..The Best of The Saw Doctors, hits the streets, The Saw Doctors current lineup features Leo Moran (vocals, guitar), Davy Carton (vocals, guitar), Kevin Duffy (keyboards), Anthony Thistlethwaite (bass guitar, saxophone), and Eímhín Cradock (drums).

SHARON SHANNON & THE BIG BAND

Bruce Springsteen gathered a bunch of great musicians a few years ago for a recording and touring project called The Pete Seeger Sessions. The organic nature and sheer good fun element of the show has made a huge impression on audiences everywhere. While this was happening, a very similar type of musical experience has been going on under our own very noses.

Sharon Shannon with a Big Band and special guests has been touring Ireland to sold-out houses everywhere.

The audience response is incredible. The show receives standing ovations everywhere. So, due to public demand, Sharon and the band went to Dolan's Warehouse in Limerick and, over two nights in July '06, recorded material for a DVD. As well as the band (the cream of Irish musicians)...Sharon invites along a whole cast of guests, composed of established Irish talent as well as showcasing new talent. Dessie O'Halloran regularly guests with her and the big band along with the legend that is Shane MacGowan and Mundy with the Galway Girl success. The band is James Delaney on keyboards, Donogh Hennessy on acoustic guitar, Jack Maher electric guitar, Jason Duffy on drums, Aongus Ralston on bass and Richie Buckley on sax as well as the award winning Mancunian fiddle player, Dezi Donnelly. Sometimes Gerry O'Connor from Four Men and Dog joins them on banjo too.

The result is the ultimate "session", in which band, guests and audience combine to create a party atmosphere where everyone is thoroughly enjoying themselves. Sharon blends traditional, world music, roots reggae, bluegrass, country with blues soul and gospel in a very unique high octane approach which will appeal to all. This incredible show which runs for over two hours and not only reinforces Sharon's talent as a top Irish star but also showcases her ability as a producer and arranger.

SHANE MCGOWAN

In 1996 Shane sang Frank Sinatra's "My Way" in a Nike commercial. The Popes got a new member in Kerina (accordion, whistle). Shane also appeared at The Pogues' final gig. Berni France (bass) left The Popesand was replaced by Bob Dowling. Shane began recording and co-producing a new album with Brian Robertson. He released the single "Christmas Party E.P. '96" in November. The next year he recorded "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death" for a tribute album to the Irish poet W.B. Yeats called "Now And In Time to Be". Another single, "Lonesome Highway", will be released in spring 1997 with an album in the summer. His long time girlfriend Victoria Clarke has written a biography about him and it will also be published some time in 1997.

The Popes are the greatest mix of foot stompin', folk rockin', head boppin' Irish rock you will hear this side of Dublin, "Sounding like the Pogues beating The Dubliners to death with a carjack" (Donal O'Sharpe). Shane MacGowan formed The Popes to record his album 'The Snake' in 1994 after leaving The Pogues. From that original line up are Paul (Mad Dog) McGuinness, on vocals and guitars (Paul originally played with The Pogues, his first performance being live on the David Letterman show, plucked from the technical team at a moments notice!) and Tom MacAnimal on Banjo (from London Irish band 'The Storm'). They first toured with Shane playing his new solo material as well as his songs from his time with The Pogues. The Popes line up was completed with Bob Dowling (originally from Kildare, but playing with anyone who was anyone in London) on bass and most recently Andy Ireland on drums, who joined for the 'Crock Of Gold' (Shane MacGowans' album recorded 1997 with The Popes) tour. Most recent addition is Andy Nolan (McManus's Elvis Costello's brothers band) on accordion. Andy also plays with ex-Pogue Spider Stacey's band.

Shane has had enormous success touring with Sharon Shannon and her Big Band in the last few years to the delight of crowds eager to hear Shane perform some of his biggest songs, including Fairytale of New York, Rainy Night in Soho and Fiesta

DAMIEN DEMPSEY

Damien Dempsey's 5th studio album "The Rocky Road" marks a departure for this critically acclaimed, No. 1 selling singer and songwriter who releases this collection of traditional Irish songs and modern classics on 6th June. The album includes collaborations with his heroes John Sheahan and Barney McKenna of The Dubliners and Sharon Shannon.

The Rocky Road, available from 6th June, comprises new arrangements of many well-loved and familiar songs including The Rocky Road to Dublin, The Foggy Dew, The Hot Asphalt, and Ewan MacColl's Schooldays Over and Shane MacGowan's Rainy Night in Soho.

Damien's collection of Meteor Awards include both Best Irish Male and also Best Traditional / Folk and his roots in Traditional music can be clearly felt in his own compositions on his previous albums. Damien says; "Ballads are my roots, it was the first music that turned me on, and the first songs that I heard being sung in my home by friends and family". "I would have over two hundred ballads in my head, and I used to sing them regularly in pubs around Dublin in the 1990's. I reckoned I had a good feel for these songs, and as I studied Irish history, I felt I could really tell their story and do them some justice on an album….I've always been an advocate of the sing-song, and I have a lot of very young fans, so naturally if I do this album, these kids are gonna hear all these timeless songs that they may not have heard otherwise". "I want to give the young kids an alternative to the new MTV generation, gangster rap, Britney Spears and maybe get them interested in their own history through music".

Damien has spent the first months of 2008 touring the US and Australia but returns to Ireland for his first tour dates this year, playing smaller venues around the country to showcase this intimate album. He will also be playing several festivals and appearing as a guest of Sharon Shannon, singing with her Big Band. More dates will be added soon and full worldwide tour dates can be found at www.damiendempsey.com