OÍCHE BEALTAINE 2011, “one-day Community Music Festival” in benefit of Music-Room at Camden Palace Hotel…

+ Venue/Location: Camden Palace Hotel, Cork-IE
+ Date/Time: Saturday 30th April 2011, 2pm - 12am, Doors close 10pm
+ Tickets: €8 per Adult at Door-of-Event / U18s €5 till 9pm
+ Wheelchair access-ramps & easy access-toilets accessible at Event
+ Café by Vaslav and Alisa and Vegan/Cup Cakes by “Sugar Moon”, & much more at day-of-event / Non-Alcoholic Event / R.O.A.R

>> A spectacular closing event for the ongoing APRIL FOOLS monthly showcase of exhibitions and performance events at Camden Palace Hotel. Volunteers and friends at Camden Palace Hotel have teamed up to present OÍCHE BEALTAINE, a “one-day Community Music Festival” in benefit for the development of the Music-Room at Camden Palace Hotel, Saturday 30th April from 2pm till 12am, doors close 10pm. The event itself will take place at Camden Palace Hotel, 1 Camden Quay, Cork, Ireland. Tickets for the day are €8 per adult and are available at door of event, teenagers €5 till 9pm, wheelchair facilities accessible at event.

Funding from the event will pave the way for the development of the Music-Room at Camden Palace Hotel, a Community Arts Centre located in the heart of Cork city, therefore a multitude of local music will be represented, be it Rock, Electronica, or Trad, with over twenty bands and artists, each performing/showcasing their musical talents and creative energy on two stages and the foyer. Wherever your tastes lie, be it rocking or dancing in front of the music stages, or stumbling upon a hidden performance inside the Dome, or drinking coffee or eating a Vegan/Cup cake while listening to some Trad music at the Café, or chilling-out in the cinema while watching a music/art documentary in the Music-Room, or being dazzled by projections in the foyer, we’re certain that the convergence of local bands and artists descending on Camden Palace Hotel this May Eve will arouse one’s aural, visual, physical, and spiritual senses. If you don’t find the music, the music will find you!!! So before we get too carried away, let us give you the first installment of what’s expected at OÍCHE BEALTAINE.

>> O.B. STAGE: Court Room 2 (Theatre)

+ Dummy Minefield - 14:10/14:55
+ VERSIVES - 15:15/16:00
+ Stuart Wilde - 16:20/17:10
+ Crow Black Chicken - 17:30/18:15
+ The Mental Notes - 18:35/19:25
+ MERSK - 19:45/20:30
+ People of the Monolith - 20:45/21:30
+ Trumpets of Jericho - 21:50/22:45
+ Carried by Waves - 23:00/00:00 *

* Projections by “Carried by Waves”

>> CORK BUSKER’S UNION & FRIEND’S STAGE: Court Room 1 (Venue) *

+ Gunshot Alley - 14:00/14:30
+ SHELFLIFE - 14:40/15:30
+ Matt Bishop - 15:40/16:10
+ Dylan - 16:15/16:40
+ Open Community Drum Circle feat. Yasir - 16:45/18:00 **
+ Friendly Battle of the Buskers & Friends feat. Ron Mcann, Yosi, Ralith, Jason, Jenny, James - 18:15/20:00
+ Mama Yeva - 20:15/21:00
+ Fez - 21:15/21:50
+ Half Man part Bicycle - 22:00/22:50
+ RUBENS7ONE - 23:00/00:00

* Projections in the “CORK BUSKER’S UNION & FRIEND’S STAGE” by Luno Valetti, more info’ at www.lunovaletti.org

** Please bring-your-own Drum/Percussion Instrument to participate in “Open Community Drum Circle”

>> FOYER: Café/Dome *

+ SUANTRAI - 14:00/14:45 (Café)
+ NARWHALS - 14:45/15:30 (Dome)
+ Solo performance feat. Jono from “Mama Yeva” - 15:30/16:15 (Café)
+ The Amazing Contraption of Padre Pio - 16:15/17:00 (Dome)
+ Tom Jordan - 17:00/17:45 (Café)
+ Solo Cello performance by Bertrand - 17:45/18:30 (Dome)
+ Sacred Harp Singers of Cork - 18:30/19:15 (Café)
+ FEZ - 19:15/20:00 (Dome)
+ J. Edgar - 20:00/20:45 (Café)
+ The Castle Inn Collective - 20:45/21:15 (Cafe)
+ SPANK - 21:30/22:15 (Café)
+ Capoeira Interação Cork - 22:15 (Foyer) & 22:35 (Beside the Dome)
+ Stuart Wilde - 23:00/00:00 (Café)

* Sugar Moon will be selling Vegan/Cup cakes and more at day-of-event, contact: [email protected]

>> Plus: CINEMA VERSO screening Communal Music Documentaries in Court Room 4 (Music-Room). Doors open 9pm - Movie starts 9:30pm *

* Full program-list available at day-of-event
_ _ _

Be sure to follow us on FACEBOOK so you don’t miss a single thing at OÍCHE BEALTAINE 2011:
www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000933733395
www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=137979009603601 *

* Help support your local music scene by Inviting your friends on Facebook to this event >;-)…

Further Information:
www.april.camdenpalacehotel.org
www.camdenpalacehotel.org/cph

Press Contact:
[email protected]

We look forward to seeing you this May Eve,
-

Adam Burke and all at Camden Palace Hotel

>> OÍCHE BEALTAINE, the Annual “one-day Community Music Festival” is made possible thanks to everyone who volunteer at Camden Palace Hotel, a Community Arts Centre located at the heart of Cork city, Ireland. Camden Palace Hotel does not receive any funding, your donation will be highly appreciated. Thanks for your support.

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Well we are into our last week of our hugely successful April Fools Exhibition and what a week it’s going to be. The last three weeks have been just great with loads of people just pouring in to Camden Palace everyday. The interest has been huge and we still have a week to go. I actually don’t know where to start there is so much happening. Okay, best to start at the start of the week so I show no favorites (Oiche Bealtaine) ahem…

First off we have the fantastic documentary Capoeira Iluminada on Wednesday evening, Capoeira is a Brazilian art form that binds fights, rhythm and dance into a vibrant investigation of dialogue and meaning through movement. This has to be seen - it starts at 8pm - doors open at 7pm and it’s FREE!!

On Thursday Camden Palace Theatre Co-Op have the final readings of The Marriage Proposal and All the Kings Woman between 1pm and 2pm. By the way the King in All the Kings Women refers to Elvis and not Henry VIII. The group where telling me that there has been a bit of confusion over that one. It’s an excellent piece - very funny. They are delighted by the numbers of people coming into watch and have had a great response. This is a FREE session too!

Also on Thursday this weeks film is “Umar” a road film from Finland. Doors open at 7pm for an 8pm start -€4 entrance fee.

Friday is International Dance Day and Camden Palace are doing their bit. Doors open from 1.30pm to 11pm Featuring Resident Camden Palace Hotel Dance Choreographer Inma Pavon, a Break Dancing workshop with Konrad Fischer and a Ceili dancing with Fionan Cogan. All details are available on http://april.camdenpalacehotel.org. Check it out for a fun filled FREE day.

The line up for Oiche Bealtaine - a one day Music Festival on Saturday is just unreal. Adam has done an incredible job and has but a huge amount of work into it. The whole of Camden Palace will be taken up with music of every kind from drumming to buskers to trad - every taste will be catered for. It starts at 2pm and finishes at 12am. The entrance fee is €8 for adults and €5 for under 18s. Check out the line up on http://april.camdenpalacehotel.org.

As you can see Camden will be jumping for the week. Also don’t forget that the visual art is still on display all over Camden Palace. It will probable be your last chance to check out The Dog Project - it will be sorely missed. Also, as you can see from this post a lot of the events are free, you may not know it but Camden Palace Hotel receive zero funding, YES ZERO FUNDING!!! All this has been made happen by the fantastic UNPAID staff and volunteers of Camden Palace. So the next time you have a wander around please do not hesitate to show your appreciation by throwing a few bob in the donation jars - all is gratefully received!!!!!!!!!!

What a week we had last week! The Lifelong Learning Festival was a huge success, Camden was absolutely buzzing for the week with music, ceramics, dog making, theatre and loads more. There was something for everyone and we where delighted to see so many people coming in to partake. It was also a huge pleasure for Camden to have Orchard Theatre Company come to perform Five Kinds of Silence for three nights. The play was just excellent, fantastic performances and riveting script. Well done to all involved!

Unfortunately tomorrow nights performance of “Margaret” has had to be canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. But I am informed by Ashley that it will go ahead on another date so keep an eye on Camden Palace facebook page for further details.

The Palace Trio Ceili Band will perform at the ceili on Wednesday night. If you want to get out and enjoy yourself this is the place to be. I am assured by Fionan Cogan that no partners are required as everyone just jumps in and gets on with the dancing and fun. What more could ya want for €5?

The Camden Palace Theatre Co-Op has changed their Chekhov reading from Tuesday to Wednesday at 12. They had a great crowd for this piece last week and where delighted with the response.

Saturday sees the return of the Body Painting. After a successful evening workshop in February, we are now back to a
full day of body painting. This will allow a further exploration of this vibrant medium. For models, come and get your most personal piece of Art ever! Bring your camera and if you have them, bodypaints. If you need to purchase body paints and brushes, they will be on sale on the day. This is €10 for a full day of body painting. Fantastic price for such a great day.

Next week sees Camden Palace holding a full day of events for the International Dance Day on Friday 29th and Oiche Bealtaine - day of music on Saturday 30th. More to follow on this next week!

Well the April Fools Exhibition is absolutely jumping this week as we are also hosting events for the Lifelong Learning Festival. The place is swarming with people and the atmosphere is absolutely electric. There is everything from acting classes to ceramics to hip hop and best of all - IT’S ALL FREE!!!!! So if you want to try something new but don’t want to hand out the cash to start, this is the week for you. The whole city is teeming with different free events and workshops.

We are all really excited to have Orchard Theatre Company coming to Camden Palace to perform their sell out show “Five Kinds of Silence” from tomorrow Wednesday 13th until Friday 15th. Five Kinds of Silence is the story of a family where control has become the driving force, where everything has its place, and there are only rules, duties and punishments. Billy controls his wife and two adult daughters to the extent that they can’t leave the room without asking permission. He runs his family as a personal fiefdom, and the women are there to service him and his madness. He is violent, disturbed and sexually controlling. But he is also tragic, sad, a lost soul. One day his family shoots him dead. The play shows us a distorted world of madness, control and despair through the eyes of dead Billy and those of his family, struggling to understand reality outside their stifling tomb.Winner of the 1996 Writers’ Guild Award for Best Original Radio Play and the 1997 Sony Award for Best Original Drama. Written by Shelagh Stephenson. For booking 0861086767

One of our resident artists Daniel O’Brien is exhibiting his work in Bishopstown Library for the month of April. I spoke to him today and he is delighted with the response he has received from the public. He is a visual artist whose work is informed by his passion for experimental music and Irish and American painters of the 20th century. His musical and visual experience of cork, what he hears and sees as he exists in the city, shape his paintings as they build layer by layer. A third year animation student, he was encouraged to realise a long held ambition to paint while attending an exhibition of american abstract painting at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (Vertical Thoughts). In his central cork studio he seeks to combine what is inspiring about the best modern american painters and musical improvisers with his own experience of life in modern Ireland.

I had a chat with Inma today about the International Dance Day on the 29th of April. They are in full rehearsal and working really hard to get everything just perfect. I am really looking forward to the “Spelling” Contemporary Dance Workshop that is on between 3pm and 5pm on the day. The workshop is about moving on stage with confidence and purpose. I don’t dance and can’t dance and I was explaining to Inma how I find it hard as an actor to move on stage with out absolute purpose, as this is how I was trained, but that some directors want you to move and cover the whole stage if it’s a more stylized piece. Well this is the workshop for me as it teaches you a method of spelling out words on stage with parts or all of your body therefore giving you a purpose to move. I cannot wait! Inma, you’re a savior!!

I was invigilating today and I just want to say a big Thank you to Ian and the guys playing the music upstairs for making it a very pleasant few hours. I was very happy sitting with Sooty on my lap, listening to beautiful music, passing the time of day with the great gang in Camden while the sun blazed in. Bliss!!!!!

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Well the week is moving along nicely in Camden Palace. Plenty of people are coming through the doors to check out the art work and sit in on the rehearsed readings. It was lovely today chatting to Kirsten who was invigilating downstairs while listening to music floating down from upstairs. A few guys had just decided to come in, set up and jam for a few hours. It was totally unexpected and really nice. That sums up the heart of Camden Palace - it’s so relaxed and welcoming that you feel at home instantly.

Camden Palace Theatre Co-Op where delighted with their rehearsed readings. They got a great response and are really looking forward to the rest of the readings.

Tomorrow night The Sacred Harp Singers Cork take their turn to wow the crowd. For anyone who was at the opening night, this is the group that sang you down to the theatre space. They are just incredible talented. They will start off with a screening of the documentary “Awake my Soul” following by a shape note workshop - highly recommend this event!!

Well what a night we had last night!!! Camden Palace Hotel was absolutely jumping, on the opening of the April Fools Exhibition, the place was packed and everyone really enjoyed themselves. There was no being fashionable late in Camden, no people where streaming in the door well before the 6 o’clock kick off. What can I say? They just knew they where in for a treat. Young and old wandered around taking in the fantastic art work.

Serving the wine upstairs I noticed the huge interest in Tom Jordan’s work. His photographs of local buildings (both inside and out) and places are just extraordinary. For me the most poignant one was of St Ann’s Asylum. I always feel the place evokes sadness and despair and Tom just caught that feeling perfectly. How he managed to capture the whole essence of the building in one photograph is just a small indication of what an insightful photographer his. He is definitely one to watch.

Now I’m a sucker for dogs, of the four legged variety, so I just adore Tom Campbell’s “The Dog Project” (It’s all about the Toms today). These are paper mache dogs of every shape and size doing all sorts of doggy things. My favorite has to be the Dachshund X on his back paws with his ears flying. But when I went in yesterday and Tom had added a black cat just on the out side of the group that just brought that extra little something that finished it off to perfection. Brill!!

On display last night where Liza Zagone’ costumes for the Cork Opera House Production of Dido and Aeneas. Liza is a resident artist in Camden Palace and her costumes are incredible. When you are looking at them you can’t help wondering where she gets the inspiration to use the materials and accessories in such a different way. You think a belt is a belt? No Liza sees a necklace or border for a waistcoat, a whole pile of them become a coat or cape.

Every type of visual art was catered for last night so after the crowd had been given the chance to take in as much as they could, and that’s hard as there is so much to see, it was time for the performance artists to have their turn. This part of the night started off with the musicians of Camden Palace wowing the crowd, it certainly got them in the mood for the fantastic Sacred Harp Singers of Cork who lead the crowd down stairs to the theatre for a performance by the Camden Palace Theatre Co-Op. As you where lead down the hall towards the theatre the doors where wide open where you could see the actors on stage frozen mid scene. The Sacred Harp Singers sang another song at the doors and the actor where like a picture in the back round. It just was surreal.

Boomers by Camden Palace Theatre Co-Op was just hysterical. It was a look at seemingly intelligent women and their moronic obsession with weddings and babies and the actors just played them to perfection. We have all met them in our lives and it was great to see them come to life on stage in such an absurd way. The actors told me afterward that they where thrilled with the audience reaction as it had been a project that had been simmering away for quiet some time. Last night was just a taster and they are hoping to have the full production up on it’s feet in a matter of months! Watch this space….

So the month begins and hopefully we will continue to have the support throughout that we had last night. Frank is hosting the Camden Tour today. He is an absolute genuine, interesting gentleman who is a pleasure to be around so I’m sure his tour will be one of the highlights of the month. Monday and Tuesday the Camden Palace Theatre Co-op will be holding rehearsed readings form 11am to 1pm. Get along to Camden Palace Hotel - there is something for every one!!!!

That’s the best way to describe Camden Palace Hotel today! Everyone was in today scrubbing, brushing, hovering and dusting. Walls are freshly painted, art work is hung and the place looks spanking new. The buzz around the place today was just electric. Everyone is really excited about how it has all pulled together so well.

Niamh was very busy yesterday organizing her Palm Reading room. Who would have thought that our Niamh’s a Palm Reader with a twist??? Intriguing, I hear you say? Well you’ll just have to go along during the month to see that wonderful twist. It’s in the small room downstairs, on the left, after the stairs…..

Dragan’s photos of all the resident and guest artists are displayed by the cafe. As usual he has surpassed himself. Especially the photos of Inma the Choreographer/Contemporary Dance Teacher in Camden Palace. It is an action photo that portrays so well the elegance and poise she brings to her work and as for Jan, with his cheeky grin and brilliant body paint - just fab!!

Bertrund has sequestered the right hand corner at the top of the stairs for his work. Part of his piece uses skeletons made from PAPER MACHE!!!!! You just won’t believe when you see them that they are made from paper mache. They are just incredible. How anyone can do what he has done with paper bloody mache is just beyond me.

The girls and guys from Camden Palace Theatre Co-Op where in tidying up a few lose ends for their performance of Boomers tomorrow night. They’re a bit nervous as it’s their first time performing together as Camden Palace Theatre Co-Op but they’re hoping that when other people see what they are doing they’ll come along and join the Thursday morning group.

So we are nearly there. Tomorrow is the last leg of the preparation. Bit of mopping to be done and hopefully the place will be packed out tomorrow night between 6pm and 9pm. Be sure to come along! Oh and by the way, when you go up to the top of the stairs and look up, I hope you don’t have the bejaysus scared out of you like I did. Thanks Jim!

Well, we’re nearly there. Three days to go and the exhibition starts! The amount of work Eoin, Sean, Frank, Bertrund and Niamh have but in is scary!!! Not only have they organized the whole exhibition they are also exhibiting some of their own work. I think when you step into Camden Palace an extra few hours must be added to your day, that is the only explanation I have for the amount of work they get done.

The place is really buzzing. Sean and Seamus are busy hanging pieces and they are just stunning (the arts not bad either!) Karina Adbul’s work is up and I was actually stopped in my tracks when I came up the stairs. As well as displaying her sculptures she also has photographs of her work displayed and the contrast between the white of the pieces and the models black skin is just incredible, it’s like they both flow into one another. There is no way I can do the work justice here on this blog, you have got to go and see it yourself.

The actors from the Introduction to Shakespeare workshops are getting really excited about their “Margaret” piece. I spoke to a couple of them and they where telling me how they had never acted before but that the performance Ashley is getting out of them is just brilliant. They felt the main reason was the feeling of support he had created within the group so there is no fear in the room. I am really looking forward to seeing this piece as I’ve seen some of Ashley’s work before and it was excellant.

The Camden Palace Theatre Co-Op are busy, busy devising their piece “Boomers”. It a piece about womens moronic obsession with weddings and babies. The piece will be based on factual conversations and research. Every word that is spoken is true - prepare to be scared at the depths people stoop to. They where telling me that they have been playing with the idea for quiet some time as they where so shocked at the conversations they had overheard and when they started researching it, it just took on a life of it’s own. They are showing a ten minute preview on the opening night with a view to developing a full show.

By the way, Eoin is still looking for volunteers. On Thursday 31st everyone (artists, actors,volunteers)involved in the exhibition are meeting in Camden Palace at 12 noon to get the place ready for the opening night. So if you have any spare few hours please come along and give a hand. Not only will you get to meet every one involved but Eoin is going to feed us all as well - I hear he makes a mean curry!!

Camden Palace Hotel Community Arts Centre kick-starts the month of April with April Fools - a kaleidoscope of exhibition and performance. The resident artists and friends of Camden Palace Hotel have joined forces to produce a comprehensive programme that showcases a broad spectrum of the arts in and around the building. In addition, from the 11th to the 17^th of April we are participating with the annual ‘Lifelong Learning Festival’ (currently in it’s seventh year), by offering a wide variety of exciting workshops, totalling over 100 hours of skills and knowledge.

On April the 1^st, starting with a strong emphasis on Visual Art, our doors open to an exhibition that will run throughout the month. Exhibits will include contributions from painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, mosaic, installation and multimedia art practices. There will be the opportunity for a guided tour of the building, including the artists studios, on April 2^nd with the Chairman of Camden Palace Hotel, Frank Hickey.

The April Fools programme offers a unique combination of events and performances, inviting you to participate, interact and be inspired . We have some great evenings of theatre ahead, including ‘Margaret; Shakespeare’s greatest unknown character’ - a homage to a character whose story spans over four of the bard’s plays- and ’5 Kinds of Silence’ by the Orchard Theatre Company, a play that delves into the subject of family relationships. Camden Palace Hotel Theatre Co-Op is facilitating a series of rehearsed readings, in which you will have the chance to participate.There is plenty here for the budding actor, or anyone with an interest in drama. There will also be the chance to catch screenings in our newly refurbished auditorium, where our current European Road Trip season continues it’s voyage across the continent. In addition our friends, The Sacred Harp Singers of Cork are showing the documentary ‘Awake my soul’- an insight into the origins and survival of the unique 4 part a capella singing tradition as well as treating us to an open session where you can learn and take part in the practice. Then, A ‘Day of Laughter’ invites you to a side splitting event in an intriguing practical exploration of the laughter epidemic, taking place on Saturday the 9^th of April.Warning: Laughter causes happiness!

On the evening of Wednesday the 27^th of April, Capoeira Interacao will be showing the film ‘Capoeira Iluminada’ in addition to generously treating the audience to a little live performance of rhythm and movement. On Saturday the 23^rd of April our ‘Day of Body Painting’ takes place, where you can be the painter or the canvas! Do you know about World International Dance Day? It’s on the 29^th of April, and our new, dedicated, fully fitted, dance studio, and our ballroom will be filled with colourful performances of Break, Contemporary, Dance Theatre, Aerial and Traditional Dance .

Last but not least, our one day mini-music festival music on Saturday the 30^th, a day packed with various strands of Folk, Rock, Classical, Jazz and Electronica, will take us towards the month’s close .

Camden Palace Hotel launches April Fools to the Public on Friday April 1st at 6pm. No really. Honestly! For more information on this and details regarding the rest of the month, please log on to : [email protected]

April Fools promises to be fun, interesting and should have a bit of something to appeal to everyone.