CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF Gilbert O'Sullivan
Ireland-born Get Down star comes home to play Sligo Live as part of his anniversary celebrations
Legendary crooner Gilbert O’sullivan will be headlining the Sligo Live festival on Saturday October 28. The singer and songwriter became one of Britain’s biggest selling stars in the 70s, with hits including Alone Again (Naturally), Clair and Get Down.
Born in County Waterford, Gilbert, now 69, and his wife Ase have two daughters and live in Jersey.
He has won three Ivor Novello awards, and is currently back on tour to celebrate 50 years of Gilbert O’sullivan.
In 2016 he completed a sellout UK tour and recently said he couldn’t wait for his next one
“The reason I’m still in the business after 50 years is the love and enthusiasm I have for songwriting and performing.
“The process of writing songs hasn’t changed: I work 9am to 5pm sitting at a piano to come up with a melody and then, with an empty notebook, I start on the lyrics.
The Irish Folk, Roots & Indie Festival enters its 13th year on the Wild Atlantic Way kicking off on October 25-30.
Also appearing at this year’s event will be Imelda May, Damien Dempsey and Sharon Shannon are all set to play this year’s Sligo Live festival.
Some 20,000 music fans are expected to experience around 100 gigs in warm, intimate and atmospheric indoor venues.
May, (inset) who will be performing shows throughout Ireland this month, will headline the festival’s Friday night, October 27, in the Knocknarea Arena at 8.30 pm. Last August the Dublin star performed the national anthem at the T-mobile Arena in Las Vegas before Conor Macgregor’s clash with Floyd Mayweather.
The singer said she shocked herself with the “terrible profanities coming out of me” as she cheered on Mcgreggor.
The star said she was sitting beside Hollywood heartthrob Leonardo Dicaprio, who politely ignored her “madwoman banshee wailing’.
‘He was just across from me,” she said.
“Everybody from Hollywood seemed to be there. Somebody told me that the parking at the airport for the private jets was chaos,” she told the Daily Mail last week.
On Sunday, music fans are in for a treat with Damien Dempsey and Stockton’s Wing, who are celebrating 40 years together, will be on headlining duty.
Over in the Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sharon Shannong will perform at 8pm on Saturday, October 28.
Old Hannah & The Slocan Ramblers play the same venue on Friday October 27.
Other highlights include the world renowned Fiddler of Dooney which features the Junior and Senior Fiddler of Dooney competitions.
tickets on sale from www. sligolive.ie and www. Ticketmaster.ie, all Ticketmaster outlets and Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo (071 916 1518).