OPRY RETURNS TO MILLENIUM FORUM HOSTED BY IRELAND’S ‘KING’ OF COUNTRY MUSIC - DANIEL O’DONELL

TG4 television’s highest viewed country music show, Opry le Daniel, returns to Millennium Forum, Derry for seven nights in May. With two concerts per night scheduled from 7.45pm, Opry is the biggest televised extravaganza of country music with artists from both home and abroad performing on stage with Ireland’s own legend of country music, Daniel O’ Donnell.

Series seven kicks off on Sunday 13 th May with the first of one of this year’s new concept shows, ‘Country Music Family’, which introduces well known singer/guitarist Brendan Quinn performing with his sons James and Stephen, both accomplished performers in their own right whilst the second concert of the opening night sees the legendary Charley Pride take to the stage. Pride, of course, needs no introduction to country music followers the world over and makes his only appearance in Ireland in 2018 in Derry.

Monday 14 th has Opry giving a fantastic tribute show to the iconic George Jones withbJimmy Buckley and Robert Mizzell performing some of George’s best known songs with none other than special guest Georgette Jones, daughter of country music’s golden couple, George Jones and Tammy Wynette. The second concert again features a ‘Country Music Family’, this time with Dominic Kirwan and sons Barry and Colm, the latter taking time out from his successful American television appearances to appear with his Dad and brother.

Ireland’s latest ‘superstar’ Derek Ryan takes to the stage on Tuesday 15 th with his dad Pat and brother Adrian for the third of the ‘Country Music Family’ shows followed by the new, up and coming stars of the country scene, ‘Young Country’ artists including Stuart Moyles, Keelan Arbuckle, Olivia Douglas, Caitlin and Brandon Mc Phee from Scotland. Wednesday 16 th brings together the ‘Classic Country’ artists from the ‘70’s era who kept country music alive during the ‘disco’ years and nostalgia will be the word on the night with John Hogan, Kathy Durkin, Shawn Cuddy and Gloria, still performing as strongly as ever, bringing us that classic country sound once more. Also appearing will be the new, ‘Contemporary Country’ performers of the modern era, Donna Taggart, Jacqui Sharkey and Niamh Mc Glinchey, giving us their own style of country. Two of the biggest names in country music are paid tribute to on Thursday and Friday, 17 th and 18 th , with Ireland’s ‘Queen of Country’ Sandy Kelly, Declan Nerney and Jordan Mogey ‘singing’ Johnny Cash. Both Sandy and Declan toured or sang with the ‘man in black’ whilst Jordan has a repertoire of Cash songs which has him receive many reviews from his peers. Following the tribute show is one of the undoubted ‘princesses’ of the country music scene, Lisa Mc Hugh, whose vast following extends to all corners of Ireland and abroad, while the final ‘tribute’ show on the Friday is attributed to the one and only ‘Gentleman of Country’, Mr. Jim Reeves. Paying tribute is the undoubted no.1 performer of Reeves songs, Al Grant accompanied by Tony Kerr, Patrick Feeney and Matt Leavy.

Closing night, Saturday 19 th , brings together a plethora of female singing artists with the first concert being a celebration of the music and songs of who was once described as the leading female country music artist in the world, the fabulous Loretta Lynn. Leading this exceptional night is none other than Loretta’s granddaughter, Tayla Lynn and Leona Williams, all the way from Tennessee, the latter having performed many times with Loretta both on stage and screen. Joining them will be Niamh Lynn and Louise Morrissey, two of Ireland’s best female country music artists of our time. The closing concert of the night will host the enigmatic Rita Coolidge, known worldwide as the ‘females female artist’, better known by many for penning such songs as ‘Help me make it through the Night’ and ‘Me and Bobby Magee’ with her then husband Kris Kristofferson.

Closing night at Opry le Daniel at Millennium Forum, Derry will certainly be a night not to be missed. Recorded in front of a live audience, mixing profiles/archive and comments from their biggest fans, Opry le Daniel brings the essence of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry to Derry.

For those wishing to travel to the Opry concerts, bus transport is available from;

Doherty Travel, Dungloe; tel. 07495 21105; Brennan Coaches, Ardara; tel. 087 6779933

Boyce Travel, Letterkenny; tel. 07491 51043; Furey’s Concert Travel, Sligo; tel: 07191 73055