An evening with Gerard and friends

November’s ‘Evening with Gerard Bradley’ will see the Strabane music supremo grace the stage at the Alley Theatre tonight with another duo of talented guests to entertain the crowds. Joining Gerard on stage are special guests Denise O’Kane and Robert Peoples in the latest in his regular musical slots for a superb evening of music and song.

The hugely popular Thursday night gatherings, which have been going on since earlier in the year, span a mix of genres brought to the stage by a wide-ranging sprinkling of talent on the Irish music scene, including exponents of Irish folk, jazz, pop and opera.

Talented vocalist, Derry-born Denise O’Kane, has trained classically under the acclaimed singer James McCafferty. Her achievements include a stint as a Riverdance singer having toured USA, Asia and Europe for six years, and she has performed in prestigious venues such as Radio City music Hall New York and Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles. Denise returned to Dublin in 2003 and sang with Anuna. Since returning to Derry, Denise has been singing locally with St Eugene’s Cathedral Choir, Londonderry Musical Society and is currently with Strabane Chamber Choir.

Also from Derry, Robert Peoples studied viola at Colchester Institute School of Music under the tuition of Mr Glyndwr Parfitt from 1987-1991. As well as his classical training, Robert has played in several bands over the years, with genres ranging from blues/folk, country, and bands with original material in such places as the Albert Hall, Festival Hall, Glastonbury and the Cambridge Folk Festival to name but a few. A versatile player, Robert currently performs and composes with his current band Basork, and teaches both viola and violin.

Gerard is widely-known throughout Strabane as choirmaster in the hugely successful Strabane Chamber Choir, who have racked up major successes in finals spanning Derry, Sligo and Navan choral festivals. He has also been, if you’ll pardon the pun, instrumental in Strabane Concert Brass, as musical director the Letterkenny Music Society and in his own band, Jazz Gazette, which will also be making an appearance on the night.

With the talent on board, it’s surely not a night to be missed!

Tickets are £6 and available online www.alley-theatre.com or call the box office on 028 71 384444