Lisa O'Neill at Cafe Sessions this week
Cafe culture has reigned in Cavan for (so far) three wonderful evenings this summer, thanks to the Cafe Sessions at Chapter One. For the last show of this season, Blue Valentines presents Ballyhaise singer/songwriter, Lisa O"Neill (below). Lisa, who played at the Electric Picnic with her band last summer, will do a solo acoustic performance at Chapter One tomorrow (Thursday, June 4). Her music and song-writing have been described as 'contemporary, folk, quirky, alternative and even very, very good', says Joe Keenan, of Blue Valentines.
Joe has been 'really pleased' with how the first series of Cafe Sessions has gone so far. The sessions got off to a great start with Poetry Me Arse - recitals to music performed by the Poetry Chicks from Derry and their special guests. Well attended and entertaining, it set the high standard for the acts to follow.
The second instalment was an evening of music by Cavan singer/songwriter, Ciaran O"Neill, who delighted another full house. The third was a performance by Something Maybe featuring some of the musicians who brought the Tom Waits show to the Cavan Summer Festival and the Sugar Club in Dublin. It opened with Andy Hilton reading from the works of poet Charles Bukowski and followed with original music by Lee and Michael O"Brien, Ray Fitzsimons and Shane O"Connor.
Joe explained that the idea behind the Cafe Sessions is to find something 'a little left of centre' by way of evening entertainment in Cavan, and he"s happy with the result so far.
'We wanted to see how it would go, and we"re really pleased. Anyone who has performed has loved it and the audiences have been fantastic. They respect the performers and listen to them,' said Joe, who paid a tribute to Chapter One proprietor, Grainne Hourican, and her staff.
Joe hopes they will be able to raise funding to keep the sessions going for another season. 'It"s hard enough to find alternative stuff that"s worthwhile putting on and you really have to raise the bar to sustain interest,' he says. He hopes the sessions are a welcome alternative to pub culture, also providing an early evening social outlet. Lisa O"Neill starts at 8pm and the cafe is open 6-9.30pm.
• myspace.com/lisaconeill
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