The heat is on for top festival

THE STUNNING were the soundtrack to the lives of a generation of people brought up in Ireland during the 1980s and 1990s. Formed by Steve Wall

their debut album, ‘Paradise in the Picturehouse’, spent five weeks at number one in 1990, and was powered by several singles, including

and They had an amazing run, headlining Féile at Semple Stadium, Thurles, opening for Bob Dylan over five nights at London’s Hammersmith Apollo and touring the States.

The band split up in 1994, with Joe and Steve Wall going on to form The Walls. In 2003, The Stunning reformed for an 18-date run of shows, which turned out to be one of the highest-grossing tours in Ireland that year.

This much-loved Irish band has just been announced for the Galway International Arts Festival in July, with support from The Academic. AS the snow melts, our thoughts turn to summer and some festive fun at the myriad of outdoor mu-music events that are staged every year across the island.

The Ballymore Country Music Festival in Co Westmeath — one ofof the oldest in Ireland — has just announced that it will be back again on the August Bank Holiday weekend. An all-star bill of country artists has been confirmed to perform at the event on Monday, August 6. Highlights include Mike Denver (pictured), Michael English, Derek Ryan, Jimmy Buckley, The Sheerins, Johnny Brady, Brendan Shine, Cliona Hagan, Olivia Douglas and Andy Feery.