Omagh festival celebrates rich musical heritage

With the ‘Omagh Music Festival Weekend’ just around the corner, the town is currently preparing for a number of special events in celebration of its rich musical heritage.

Taking place on November 3 and 4 in the Strule Arts Centre, music lovers are invited to what promises to be a wonderful weekend of events that you won’t want to miss.

Following last year’s successful Heritage Music Trail, which included a walking tour of Omagh, highlighting many historical locations of the showband era, it is set to return this year again, with the special addition of the ‘Sights and Sounds ‘exhibition.

The Heritage Trails brings you the sights and sounds of Omagh’s legendary music scene, as well as the chance to remember venues, groups and songs from days gone by, starting with an exhibition at the Strule Arts Centre, alongside the original location of the Old
Townhall.

The Trail also includes stops at the original site of the Star Ballroom, McSorley’s Records, the site of the Royal Arms Hotel, Boneyard records, the Old Labour Hall Site, the Irish National Foresters, and the Knock Na Moe Hotel site.

The Sights and Sounds exhibition will further offer music lovers the chance to view some of the style from the 1950s onwards through a costume display, with virtual elements introducing some of the distinguished sounds of the time.

On Friday, November 3, Swing Dance Tyrone will be hosting a ‘Fundamentals of Swing Dance Workshop’, from 19.00pm.

This will be a beginner-friendly workshop to learn the fundamentals of ‘Lindy Hop’ which was used in social dance halls from 1920s.

Normally danced to big band music, this workshop focuses on partnered dancing but no need to bring one; everyone dances together.

A big part of this year’s music festival includes a 50-year celebration of the Plattermen’s debut album, ‘Old Devil Wine’. To celebrate this monumental milestone, a concert will take place in the Strule Arts Centre on Saturday, November 4.

Some of the very best

Set to feature a band made up of some of the very best musicians from Omagh, Derry and Donegal, the show will additionally welcome a six-piece horn section and vocalists including Niall Moore, nephew of The Plattermen’s musical arranger, Ray Moore, to the stage.

This promises to be a rare chance to experience what The Plattermen sounded like in their prime, as they performed not only their own music but music from bands such as Blood, Sweat and Tears, Tower of Power, Earth Wind and Fire, Steely Dan and Aretha Franklin.

With the story of The Plattermen and their place in the music industry and Irish culture being somewhat complex, the concert will additionally feature narrations by Tom Sweeney, in which he will recount how the band was influenced by many elements, and in turn, influencing life across Ireland during the sixties and seventies.

On Saturday, November 4 from 10am to 12pm, you are invited to join Frank Galligan who will facilitate a workshop called ‘Melody Unveiled: Crafting Stories with Frank Galligan’ which will encourage upcoming songwriters to concentrate on creating lyrics as well as participants who may have a melody and want to add words.

This will be a wonderful morning of stories and making connections overlooking the Strule River. Between 12pm to 2pm, enjoy the addition of performances from Blue Notes and Culmore Swing Band, whose members have played in the showbands and St Eugene’s Brass and Reed Band and will certainly bring you back in time.

Everyone is welcome.

l Tickets are now on sale and can be booked through
Strule Arts Centre –www.struleartscentre.co.uk
or 028 8224 7831.