Stunning line-up as Listowel prepares for Revival festival

LEGENDARY Irish rockers The Stunning can’t wait to get back to Kerry, as they face their Listowel debut in next month’s Revival festival.

Front man Steve Wall told The Kerryman this week the band have great memories of gigging in the Kingdom - not least some headline appearances at Rose of Tralee festivals past.

Wall fairly loves performing here, and August 13 is set to be no exception as The Stunning take the Revival stage in Listowel’s Square as part of the one-day festival also featuring The Frank and Walters and The Riptide Movement:

“We’ve played at the Rose of Tralee festival three times. The first was back in the early nineties, and we were down again as recently as three years ago”.

“The Stunning did a fierce amount of touring during our first stint, we used to make off Horan’s a lot in particular. We’ve played Killarney too, but Listowel will be a first for us.”

“It’ll be brilliant! I was doubly delighted when I heard The Frank and Walters will be playing as well – I love The Franks!”

When The Stunning’s members broke away from each other in 1994, Wall didn’t anticipate that the outfit would ever play together again.

But an unlikely reformation manifested after the band’s members re-releases the much loved Paradise in the Picturehouse on CD:

“When it was first released, 90 per cent of sales were from cassettes. We were inundated with requests to re-release it on CD, because all our fans’ tapes had been chewed up through overplaying. So we gave in, and reissued it.”

“A week later, we were second in the charts! The only reason we weren’t top was down to not issuing enough copies to stores! It was sold out within days.”

“After that, reforming was suddenly the next logical step!”

Over the last 30 years, either with The Stunning or The Walls, Wall has experienced playing in advance of the ilk of Bob Dylan, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and U2. He thinks back to those nights with pride, but seems more at ease with his current schedule:

“Dylan was different. He’s hit-and-miss live, because he’s introverted, and we certainly didn’t get to meet him after because he leaves straight away! But still, it’s Bob Dylan – even being associated with him was an achievement!”

“U2 were different too. When The Walls supported them at Slane, they treated us royally. They’re great to their support acts.”

“Right now, The Stunning only play a few times a year, and to smaller crowds. We prefer quality events like Revival now, and our performances I’d imagine are better now.”

The Walls are taking a breather for now. Steve has recently taken to acting, and has starred in shows like Rebellion and the critically acclaimed Moone Boy, while their drummer’s been busy touring with Hozier.

The Stunning’s relaxed rota suits Steve down to the ground and fits with where his life’s at right now:

“Acting takes a lot of my time nowadays. It’s different to anything I’ve done before, in that I have to do it on my own – nobody’s going to learn the lines for me!”

“But I still love music, and playing with The Stunning is a treat nowadays. Revival’s going to be great – I can’t wait to get down to Kerry.

Revival will take place in Listowel’s square on August 13, and the festival will also feature The Frank and Walters and The Riptide Movement.

There will be space on the day for 3,000 people. Gates will open at 5.00pm, and entry tickets, available from Ticketmaster, cost €27.50.