Tag Archives: Eric Roche Acoustic Sessions

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PHOTOS: Eric Roche Acoustic Session Delivers An Exciting And Beautiful Show

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Courtney Austin and Carol Roche Austin enjoying themselves at the Eric Roche Acoustic Sessions in the Brandon Hotel Conference Centre on Saturday night. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.

THE Eric Roche Acoustic Sessions, which were held in the Brandon Hotel Conference Centre last Saturday night will be remembered in a lot of different ways by the people that were there.

Some may choose the amazing technical skill of the six performing guitarists as their abiding memory, while others may choose to focus solely on some of the beautiful acoustic pieces that were so perfectly played on the night.

Side-note: An honorable hat-tip must go to Jacques Stotzem’s excellent acoustic version of Jimi Hendrix’s Purple Haze.

The night was all about remembering the life, music and the tenth anniversary of the passing of one of the most influential guitarists and musicians of his unique style, Tralee’s very own Eric Roche.

All proceeds from the event going toward the ‘Inspired Group’ and the Kerry Hospice Foundation.

The night started off with all six guitarists, Matt Buchanan, Gary Lutton, Jacques Stotzem, Thomas Leeb, Newton Faulkner and Robert Castellani all on stage together, as they recalled Eric’s influence on their lives.

Some, like Gary Lutton and Robert Castellani only knew him through his writings in magazines and through seeing him play, but it was clear that he had  a profound influence on all of their musical careers so far.

Others such as the Belgian born Stotzem and Austrian born Thomas Leeb shared intimate and humorous stories of their time with Eric, including his failed meeting with legendary musician Stevie Wonder, his apparent terrible driving skills and his less than clever idea of what to do during the birth of his child.

There was a very relaxed and intimate feel to the concert as a whole, with every member of the gathered audience caught up in the dulcet tones of the music.

Each artist then came back on stage separately after the interval to perform songs, with Newton Faulkner rounding off the seperate performances with two renditions of his songs ‘Teardrop’ and ‘Dream Catch Me’ before he got everyone back on stage for a performance of ‘She Drives Me Crazy’ to finish off the night.

Organisers, artists and finally Eric’s parents, Cora and Raymond thanked everyone for coming out and talked about how their strongest memory of Eric will always be how easy it was to make him happy.

Check out some photos from the event below…

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Chris and Syra Larkin with Gabby Stotzem enjoying themselves at the Eric Roche Acoustic Sessions in the Brandon Hotel Conference Centre on Saturday night. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.
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From left: Ann Lacey, Mary O’Callaghan, Ann Glazier, Patricia Byrne, Lillian Barry, Joan McDonnell and Marian Delaney enjoying themselves at the Eric Roche Acoustic Sessions in the Brandon Hotel Conference Centre on Saturday night. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.
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From left: Eoin Murphy, Glenn Dunleavy, Laoise Phelan, Gary O’Carroll, David Ryall and Rachel Templeman enjoying themselves at the Eric Roche Acoustic Sessions in the Brandon Hotel Conference Centre on Saturday night. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.
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Ian Absey, Bec Fahey and Ray Fahey enjoying themselves at the Eric Roche Acoustic Sessions in the Brandon Hotel Conference Centre on Saturday night. Photo by Fergus Dennehy.
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Five Things To Do In And Around Tralee This Weekend

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It’s almost the weekend already which means that there’s places to go, things to do and people to see. Here’s some stuff you can get up to around the county…

Friday

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The town park will be showing another one of Spielberg’s classics next weekend when ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ will be screened.

1. Enjoy a Close Encounter

The Secret Cine Club’s Free Open Air Cinema returns (weather permitting!) to the town park tonight when it screens another one of Spielberg’s classics, ‘Close Encounters Of The Kind’.

The film will be starting at 9.30pm but with gates opening at 7, it’s recommended you come early to get the best spot and have a picnic.

It is highly recommended too that you bring blankets and jackets to ensure you stay warm well into the night, with a strong hint too that insect repellent should be brought.

Everything and anything you need to know can be found out on the events Facebook page HERE, so please go and check that out.

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Saturday

A section of the crowd at the start of the Na Gaeil GAA Club fundraising cycle on Saturday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
A section of the crowd at the start of the Na Gaeil GAA Club fundraising cycle last year. Photo by Dermot Crean

2. Na Gaeil Cycle

Those of a sportier nature can choose to spend their weekend a little differently by taking part in the Na Gaeil cycle which will take place early on Saturday morning, August 29.

There are two routes to choose from for those taking part, the 40km to Castleisland and back or the 80km to Castleisland, Abbeyfeale, Listowel, Tralee.

Registration is set to cast adults €20, students €10 and families €50. People will now be able to register now online, in club, or on the morning of 29th from 8am. The official start to of the cycle is 9:30am from the clubhouse.

There will be a BBQ afterwards at 8pm at the club.

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Sandstorm will take place this Saturday, August 29.

3. Sandstorm Endurance

Ok, it’s a bit out the road, but keeping with the sporty theme, Saturday at noon will see the kick off of  Spin South West’s endurance event ‘Sandstorm’ when it takes place on Ballyheigue beach.

The award winning event will see competitors taking on a netted pyramid, an 8-foot wall and a 16-foot climbing frame to name a few, all the while wading through the sand of the scenic beach.

The race will kick off at 12 noon sharp on Saturday with race numbers able to be collected at Ballyheigue Beach Car park.

Registration is now closed, but be sure to come down and show your support on the day.

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Newton Faulkner will play in the Brandon Hotel on Saturday evening.

4. Eric Roche Acoustic Sessions

A more relaxed way of spending your day could be be to head down to the Brandon Hotel Conference Centre on Saturday evening to see a host of hugely talented guitarists play a set or two.

The event is in memory of famous Tralee guitarist Eric Roche, and will see folk star Newton Faulkner take to the stage alongside Thomas Leeb, Jacques Stotzem and Robert Castellani.

Tickets for the event are currently on sale now and are set to cost €25 for the main event, which is expected to sell out, they can be purchased HERE.

The main event will then be kicking off at 8pm, with doors opening to the public at 7pm that evening.

All proceeds from ticket sales for the event being held in the Brandon Hotel Conference Centre will be going toward the Kerry Hospice Foundation and the local Inspired Group.

Lixnaw's James Flaherty keeps his eye on the ball. Photo by Dermot Crean
Lixnaw’s James Flaherty will be in action this Saturday. Photo by Dermot Crean

5. Go watch the hurling

Head on out to Abbeydorney on Saturday and Sunday evening and you’ll be in for a GAA treat as four teams battle it out for places in the Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry SHC final next month.

St Brendans and Lixnaw do battle on Saturday at 6pm, while at the same time and same place on Sunday, Kilmoyley and Ballyduff cross hurls in the second semi-final of the weekend.

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Tralee’s Eric Roche To Be Remembered By World Class Guitarists

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The Eric Roche Acoustic Sessions will be held in memory of the late Irish and Tralee Guitarist.

AN incredible local guitarist will be remembered and honoured next weekend when the Eric Roche Acoustic Sessions takes place on August 29.

The event is being held in memory of the tenth anniversary of his Eric’s passing.

He was regarded as one of the best fingerstyle and most influential guitarists in both the UK and Ireland until his death from cancer in 2005 at the age of 37.

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It will welcome some of the most highly regarded guitarists and artists along to help celebrate his memory including two former pupils in Newton Faulkner and Thomas Leeb.

World Famous guitarist Newton Faulkner, who has had countless hits in the UK over the last number of years, along with two No. 1 UK albums will be playing and giving workshops alongside the Austrian born Thomas Leeb who Eric once taught and then remarked that he was his teacher “for about five minutes and then I heard him play.”

They will also be joined by Jacques Stotzem and Robert Castellani who are both highly regarded in the music world for their own fingerstyle techniques and who will also be giving workshops before performing in the main event on Saturday night.

Tickets for the event are currently on sale now and are set to cost €25 for the main event, which is expected to sell out quickly, they can be purchased HERE.

All proceeds from ticket sales for the event being held in the Brandon Hotel Conference Centre will be going toward the Kerry Hospice Foundation and the local Inspired Group.

Those wishing to take part in the workshops will pay upwards of €40 to €80 depending on how many workshops they wish to take part in. Registration for these can be done so HERE.

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Folk-Rock Star Newton Faulkner To Give Acoustic Session In Tralee

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Newton Faulkner will give a workshop in the Brandon Hotel in August.

A NEW acoustic guitar finger style session is to be held in town next month with Newton Faulkner, who has had two UK No.1 albums in the last ten years, scheduled to give a performance and workshop on their styles.

The Eric Roche Acoustic Guitar Sessions, named in memory of the late, great Tralee musician, are all scheduled to take place on August 29 in the Brandon Hotel Conference Centre with the guitar workshops set to take place from 11am-3pm on the day.

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The main event will then be kicking off at 8pm, with doors opening to the public at 7pm that evening.

The day will feature performances and workshops from leading ‘finger style’ guitarists such as Newton Faulkner, Thomas Leeb, Robert Castellani and Jacques Stotzem.

Tickets will cost €25 for the main event, which is expected to sell out quickly. Places in the artists led workshops are dependent on pre-booking your place.

All the information on the day and tickets/workshop booking can be found HERE.

All the proceeds from the day will be going towards the ‘Kerry Hospice Foundation’ and the ‘Inspired Group’.

Check out Newton Faulkner in action below…