THE legendary blues and jazz singer, Mary Coughlan, is playing an intimate show in town this week for charity.
Mary is taking to the stage of Whelan’s on November 27 for a one-off gig in aid of the Sophia Housing Association.
The charity works with people who, for any number of reasons, find themselves out of their own home.
They try to help individuals and families acquire the skills to deal with every day issues that may have caused them to become homeless in the first place.
Mary and her band will take a break from her European tour to perform with special guests, The Young Folk, who have released their debut album
‘The Little Battle’.
This will be Mary’s first gig in Whelan’s for a very long time and The Young Folk’s last show in Dublin this year.
The night promises to be an entertaining and emotional experience as Mary and The Young Folk play in the intimate setting of Whelan’s, the home of Irish live music, to raise much needed funds so that Sophia can continue to support those at risk of homelessness.
At Sophia in Cork Street there are 50 one, two and three bedroom apartments offering long-term accommodation.
A Nurturing Centre and crèche provide support to children and parents who live there.
Established in 1999, Sophia has projects in Dublin, Wicklow, Limerick, Cork and Sligo.
Visit www.sophia.ie, check out their Facebook page or follow on Twitter @sophia_housing for more information.
Advance tickets are e15 and they are available from www.wavtickets.ie or Lo Call 1890200 078. Otherwise pay e20 on the night. Doors open at 8pm.
Meanwhile, Foy Vance, the winner of the Northern Ireland Music Prize for Album Of The Year with
‘Joy Of Nothing’ is embarking on an Irish tour that takes in Whelan’s on Saturday, December 7.
Vance was born in the Northern Ireland town of Bangor, but his passion for traditional music started in the southern states of America.
As a child, Foy relocated with his father, a preacher, to the American Midwest, settling in Oklahoma. With his father, Foy travelled the American South, widening his horizons and absorbing the rich musical traditions he was exposed to.
Returning to Ireland some years later, Foy began writing his own music, deeply shaped by the sounds of his youth.
Since those days, he has spent a considerable amount of time on the road, touring with such artists as Bonnie Raitt, Michael Kiwanuka, Marcus Foster, Snow Patrol, and Ed Sheeran.
Foy also scored Oscar-winning short-film The Shore with David Holmes, who collaborated with Vance on his 2012 Melrose EP.
Also in Whelan’s in December is The Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow, featuring the highly charismatic performer who refuses to countenance audiences having anything but a good time.
Jerry’s music has been described as
“Lounge Lizard Schmooze
? and
“Punk Latino
? and his latest single ‘Barefoot & Free’ has been compared to The Cramps, The Stooges and John Spencer Blues Explosion.
The Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow was launched at this year’s Electric Picnic and was deemed by many to be the highlight of the festival.
He will be in Whelan’s on Sunday, December 22 and Monday, December 23.