The Miami Showband - Joy To The World Tour not to be missed
Tuesday 16 September: Vicar Street, Dublin
Wednesday 17 September: The Grand Opera House, Belfast
Saturday 1 November: Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena
Sunday 2 November: Market Place, Armagh
Thursday 6 November: Strule Arts Centre, Omagh
Wednesday 19 November: Courtyard Theatre, Newtownabbey
Friday 21 November: Millennium Forum, Derry
Saturday 22 November: Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen
Friday 12 December: Iveagh Movie Studios, Banbridge
The late Jim Aiken described the now legendary Miami Showband Memorial Concert
at Vicar Street in 2005 as ‘the greatest showband concert ever staged’. On that
occasion the reception given to the three surviving band members Des Lee,
Stephen Travers and Ray Millar by the capacity audience was unprecedented.
Nobody could forget that magical summer night in Dublin and it was that very
concert that started the ball rolling toward a full blown countrywide Reunion
Tour.
It has taken three years to organise further concerts and on Tues 16 Sept the
band will return to Vicar Street for a very special concert to say ‘thank you’
to the Irish people for their love and support for over three decades. On the
following night, Wed 17 Sept, they will travel North for a second show at The
Grand Opera House, a symbolic gesture to finally reunite their massive fan base
that was spread throughout every city, town and village on this island.
The original Miami band members, Des Lee, Stephen Travers and Ray Millar, will
be accompanied on stage by three of Irelands finest musicians, Johnny Fean (Horslips),
Gerry Brown (Dana’s Musical Director) and Barry Woods (The Real McCoy).
The public demand for these concerts is the ultimate proof that the music of The
Miami Showband has indeed outlasted the sound of the guns that attempted to
silence it and drive a wedge between two great communities.
Like other famous Irish Musicians such as Christy Moore and Christie Hennessy,
The Miami Showband has formed a strong link with the charity Children in
Crossfire and the profits from both concerts and the single will be donated to
this charity.
In 1972, aged 10, while walking home from school, Richard Moore, the founder of
Children in Crossfire, was struck in the face by a rubber bullet and permanently
blinded. Astonishingly, his terrible experience has never turned to anger or
bitterness or in any way stunted his development as a remarkable humanitarian.
‘I learned to see life in a different way’ is how he describes his remarkable
acceptance of what, for most, would be a debilitating trauma.
In May 2008, Stephen Travers accepted an offer from Richard Moore to witness, in
person, the work of the organisation in East Africa. He says his visit to
Tanzania as the representative of the band was ‘a life changing experience’ and
consequently, The Miami Showband is now fully committed to highlighting the
wonderful work of Children in Crossfire.
The Miami Showband, with the children Hazlewood Integrated College Belfast,
recently recorded the very appropriate Hoyt Axton song Joy to the World in aid
of the charity.
The single is available on download from 18 August 2008.
For More Information, band availability, press, radio, TV etc
James Rollins: 07967 584573
James@jamesrollins.co.uk
www.childrenincrossfire.org