7 Things to do this week...
1 ABBA FOREVER: The smash hit show returns to the National Opera House on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 November at 8 p.m. It’s always party time when ABBA come to town but when it’s the Christmas Show, then It’s a real excuse to let your hair down. This happy sing-a-long event is pure escapism. It celebrates ABBA’S music with a loud and proud production and terrific audio visuals. It’s the perfect way to start your Christmas celebrations. Bring your special Christmas Party along and you will have a ball. ABBA FOREVER was formed and is lead by Dennis Scally, a London born musician who has been at the top of the music game for many years. For 13 years, while based in Los Angeles, he was the musical director for The Supremes and toured the world with them. He moved back to Europe 12 years ago and formed ABBA FOREVER. A virtuoso keyboard player, he really shines at all the great ABBA keyboard parts. Lead Guitar is Rae Daniel, also from London. Rae has played with various bands and shows down through the years including the London Mamma Mia Show. Tickets €25. 2 WEXFORD SINFONIA: Wexford Sinfonia will present a Winter Concert in the National Opera House on Sunday, November 24, conducted by Robert Houlihan. Soloist Martin Johnson, principal cellist of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello and Orchestra. The programme will include Wagner’s Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg and Dvorák’s Symphony No 5 in F Major. Alan Smale, former leader of the NSO, returns as the orchestral leader. Formed in 1993, Wexford Sinfonia is made up of professional, semi-professional and amateur instrumentalists from around the south east. 3 THE REMEDY CLUB: The Remedy Club is a husband and wife Americana/ Roots duo comprising Kj McEvoy and Aileen Mythen and they play in the Wexford Arts Centre on November 22 at 8.30 p.m. They released their album ‘Lovers, Legends & Lost Causes’ in 2017 to critical acclaim in Ireland and are just back from Nashville, having worked on their next album with five time Grammy award winning producer Ray Kennedy. Tickets €15. 4 INDEPENDENCE WAR EVENING: An Evening of History and Songs from the War of Independence, The Civil War and 1916 with history buff Séamus Kiely takes place at New Ross Library on Tuesday at 6.30 p.m. Séamus will include a historical look at the huge part that the Capuchin priests played during that period of our history and the main protagonists of the time Michael Collins, Eamon DeValera and others. Booking is essential on 051 421877. 5 COOLGREANY DRAMA: Get your fill of local drama at the Coolgreany One Act Drama and Comedy festival which takes place this week from Thursday to Saturday in St Mogue’s Hall, Inch. The festival in its sixth year and this year includes Wexford groups such as Kilmuckridge Drama Group, New Ross Drama as well as Bunclody-Kilmyshall Drama Group across the nights. Performances begin at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday with a night of comedies to be enjoyed on Saturday from 7.30 p.m. onwards. Tickets are €12 or a festival pass is €25, contact 086 8907118. 6 TALK TO TOM: A fundraising concert in aid of the suicide prevention community support organisation Talk To Tom will take place in the Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy, on Friday, November 22, at 8 p.m. The gig will feature a formidable line-up of acts including: Elmore; Chris Kabs; Insomniac; Sam Ali and Tuesday at Six. In addition to being a great night out the event will also raise money for one of the most important and highly respected charities working for communities throughout Wexford. Tickets, priced €10, are available from the Presentation Centre on 053 9233000 or www.presentationcentre.ie. 7 WALLIS BIRD: Enniscorthy singer Wallis Bird will perform at the National Opera House on Friday, November 22, at 8 p.m. The string shredding singer-songwriter, said she is calling her new 40-date tour the New Moon Tour ‘because of its symbolism; transition, femininity, the passing of time and new beginnings; the dark side of light. All of this amounts to how I feel at this point in my life. This is my new moon.’ Folked up and infused with brute soul, the album is heavy in beats and bass. ‘It’s built on quite different tonal and chordal structure than usual’, she said, ‘and I’ve tried to flood it with love, questions and understanding. I’m trying to make sense of the socio-political new world.’