[quote="Spider Stacy"]He's absolutely fine. There's always someone trying to make a buck out of Shane. As far as I know he doesn't even have an agent for solo stuff.I reckon it's the bloke who does the Popes trying his luck again.

The Pogues as a live entity has nothing to do with these bottom feeders, don't worry yourself.[/quote]

Thanks a lot Spider for the info. See you in Drammen

He's absolutely fine. There's always someone trying to make a buck out of Shane. As far as I know he doesn't even have an agent for solo stuff.I reckon it's the bloke who does the Popes trying his luck again.

The Pogues as a live entity has nothing to do with these bottom feeders, don't worry yourself.

Now I´m a little worried about the Pogues gigs in summer.
Is Shane ok?

[quote="MacRua"]Trowbridge Village Pump Festival confirmed[/quote]
[quote="efestivals.co.uk"]Unfortunately - so say Trowbridge Village Pump - "[b]Shane MacGowan's agent has had to withdraw all the upcoming tour on the grounds of his lack of confidence in Shane's ability to guarantee his satisfactory attendance at his gigs[/b]. An apology to those who wished to see him but we have been able to persuade Baaba Maal to headline for us in his stead and we feel certain you will be delighted with him!"[/quote]

[url]http://www.efestivals.co.uk/news/09/090602a.shtml[/url]

[size=150]Hot hooley from Sharon and all-star band – and Shane[/size]
[i]The Inverness Courier
Published: 21 April, 2009[/i]

IF there is a problem with Irish accordion ace Sharon Shannon's all star Big Band, it might just be that it is too good.

[img]http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/images/9288.photo.3.jpg[/img]

Not much of a reason to complain, but given the standard of her seven strong backing band and the other guests who popped up during the two hour plus set and Shannon's own generosity to her fellow performers, at times Shannon seemed more like a master of ceremonies than the top billed star of the show.

Even if she was content to take a back seat from time to time, there were still plenty of opportunities for Shannon to show off the musical dexterity that has made her the youngest ever recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Meteors, the Irish equivalent of the BRIT Awards.

And Shannon clearly loves her music, grinning broadly as her fingers were playing wildly.

Starting off with a funky instrumental vibe in the vein of folk-rock groundbreakers Moving Hearts, the band then took a slightly more traditional route with a speeded up hornpipe, showcasing Shannon's particular skills on the box to their best and setting the high standards for an evening that would touch on several aspects of Irish music, not just folk.

"It's great to see you having a bit of craic," Shannon said, inviting the audience to go wild dancing, though at first only a few took her up on the offer.

Guitarist Jack Maher was the first guest vocalist, proving Jimmy Rabbitte's comments in "The Commitments" about Dubliners's affinity with black American music with some bluesy soul, James Delaney later re-inforcing the point with some Issac Hayes styled organ riffs, with roadie "Decky the Tecky" emerging from backstage to give a nod to one of Ireland's own rock greats with thin Lizzy's "Dancing in the Moonlight".

Banjo player Gerry O'Connor received loud cheers for his unfeasibly fast fingerpicking as he duelled with acoustic guitarist Tim Eady, while Shannon remained content to sit back and let her lads take the spotlight.

Singer Camille O'Sullivan arrived on stage wearing a pair of very sparkly bright red stilettos, a choice of footwear explained when she launched into a raunchy version of "In These Shoes?" — not the last time she would step into Kirsty MacColl's footwear that evening — which she performed with such energy that she had to calm down with some Nick Cave and Bob Dylan.
O'Sullivan reappeared a few minutes later, going slightly more high brow with some unaccompanied Jacques Brel, her theatrical performance winning over the crowd, who applauded warmly, before the star guest shambled onto the stage.

Described by Shannon as "the maddest man in the world", Shane MacGowan lived up to his near legendary hard-living reputation, clutching a plastic glass in one hand and a bottle of beer or cider in the other, much of the contents of which were destined to land on the stage as he attempted, with limited success, to pour it into his mouth.

Unsteady on his feet, though that did not prevent him trying a few high kicks on "Rainy Night in Soho", MacGowan only stayed around for a few songs from The Pogues back catalogue, starting with a lively "Irish Rover" and ending by partnering O'Sullivan on "A Fairytale of New York".

Though occasionally stumbling over his words, the combination of MacGowan's battered charisma and those familiar songs made him a tough act to follow, but Shannon and band succeeded by playing "the fastest tune possible" as they blasted through the Penguin Cafe Orchestra's "Music For A Found Harmonium".

There were more treats as the band returned for an encore, Shannon getting the audience to exercise their voices by singing along to catchy instrumental "Cavan Potholes", before they almost did the returning MacGowan out of a job by getting a fair way through "Dirty Old Town" before he had a chance to open his mouth.

After another karaoke turn from Decky on Men At Work's "Land Down Under", the set came to a rousing close with what has become Shannon's signature tune, the Steve Earle-penned "Galway Girl", providing the perfect closing note for these fine ambassadors of Irish music. CM

[url]http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/9288/Hot_hooley_from_Sharon_and_all-star_band__96_and_Shane.html[/url]

[size=150]Star turn from ex-Pogues star[/size]
[i]Highland News
Published: 23 April, 2009[/i]

CHEEK to say it, but was I the only one considering main act Sharon Shannon an inconvenient warm-up to sozzled legend Shane McGowan?
No, I don’t think so, given the huge, raucous cheer ringing around the Ironworks, Inverness, last Thursday when he finally arrived onstage.
[img]http://www.highland-news.co.uk/images//5518.photo.3.jpg[/img]

Still, whatever the motivation, the place was packed. No doubt with many more than respectful of the talents of international star Sharon, her fine band and a set which majored on traditional delights such as the impressive solos of The Mighty Sparrow plus much reelery, jiggery-pokery.

Not to mention the folk as funk the tour-“exhausted” line-up snuck in to keep us on our toes.

And early treats included the spontaneous-feeling turn from crewman Decci the Techie giving us Thin Lizzy’s Dancing In The Moonlight with a half-ton of gravelly vocal.

While waiting for the arrival of special guest Shane, there was time to watch Sharon in action – though she must be one of the most static band leaders ever. From her chair, she presides like a queen over her court of prime musicians, her boldly mini-skirted knees adding female allure to the winning smile and lightning fingers combination.

And it was like a proud sister that she welcomed sizzling chanteuse Camille O’Sullivan as her first special guest onto the stage for her own mini-set.

Ballsy, brash and beautiful to watch, Camille soon had the place wrapped round her little finger with a gutsy, fabulously-cabaret version of the late Kirsty McColl’s song In These Shoes – wearing red sparkly shoes apparently borrowed from The Wizard of Oz.

But what with Kirsty’s partnership with Shane McGowan on Fairytale Of New York, the song was a sensitive and crowd-winning choice. And Camille’s cavortings continued to impress – as did her voice recalling everyone from Marlene Dietrich to Leonard Cohen – as she gave Nick Cave’s Ship Song and Jacques Brel’s Amsterdam the Camille twist.
Her ability to seem to live every song with every fibre of her being as long as it lasted meant that when Shane appeared for THAT Fairytale duet, she was more than up to filling Kirsty’s feisty shoes.

But as Sharon promised, it was time “for the maddest person in the world” and perfect choice for Shane McGowan’s arrival was the rousing Irish Rover.

The years, as they say, have not been that kind to Shane in the tooth department. But with a shock of grey hair, leather trousers and specs he kept taking on and off, he looked like your favourite professor having a go on the mike after a night on the piss.

The timing might have been off at times, but at least the voice was there, sometimes reduced to a growl, and not exactly oiled by the bottle he kept pouring down his chin instead of his throat.

A few kicks and a possibly-accidental Nazi salute were as close as Shane got to matching Camille’s moves, as he gave us Pogues’ favourites Rainy Night In Soho and Fiesta. She returned to duet with Shane on his song Mama Lou before the two ripped the place up with Fairytale Of New York – their waltz an undoubted highlight of the night for Shane fans who might not count Sharon’s own hit version of Steve Earle’s Galway Girl.

Few might have realised how close we came to missing out on the Shane experience, as a cancelled ferry meant the star facing his flying fears to make it to our dirty old town on time. MC

[url]http://www.highland-news.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/5518/Star_turn_from_ex-Pogues_star.html[/url]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLy11d2Ryno&feature=related

Audience participation is sometimes overrated.

I'd been to see Eli "Paperboy" Reid last night (utterly fantastic) and was happily heading down the stairs from Academy 3 when I heard a little bit of dirty old town drifting through the fire door. 8) :lol:

Still smiling about that night.

My old man said, and I quote, "shane was great the atmosphere changed as soon as he walked on the stage but he still acted the bollocks"

Love it. :lol:

[quote="MissWalshy"]She was HOT![/quote]

It's a long queue... :wink:

She was HOT!

[quote="Mark_Wafc"]She is free to kidnap me anytime she likes![/quote]

Join the queue... :wink:

She is free to kidnap me anytime she likes!

Great night last night, the big band were fantastic as was Camille, and Shane was just Shane! Same songs as London i think, decent crowd there too.

I'd see them again without doubt.

Is there any chance that Camille will kidnap Shane and take him with her on her tour next month?

Go on, go on...

[quote="mike1"]Any other singers apart from Shane & Camille?[/quote]

One of the bass guitarists sang as did a couple of the roadies, including I
come from a land down under and Galway Girl. They were v good!