Country, jazz and drama at the Riverside Theatre this month!

NI’s Country King, Kenny Archer, will be hosting an evening of Classic Old Time Country on Thursday, 25 May.

Country singer and yodeller Kenny Archer is the real deal – a genuine down to earth country singer with his feet firmly rooted in the mid Ulster farming community he comes from.
Join Kenny, his band ‘the Countryme’n and very special guests Ray Lynam (15 top 20 Irish hits) and Ann Breen (Pal of My Cradle Days) as they bring you back to the early days of country when artistes like Slim Whitman, Marty Robbins, Gene Autry, Loretta Lynn, Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Locklin, Jim Reeves and Patsy Cline ruled the airwaves.

And Rock Legend Albert Lee returns, for a one-night special concert in Riverside, on 22 May. Albert Lee, by common consent one of the world’s finest guitar-players, needs no introduction to Country Music & Rock fans. 
He has worked with some of the world’s top artists, from Emmylou Harris to the Everly Brothers, Dolly Parton to Eric Clapton. In November 2002, at Eric’s request, Albert appeared at the star-studded Memorial Concert for George Harrison at London’s Albert Hall, and was featured alongside Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill and Eric Clapton at Eric’s 2007 and 2010 Crossroads guitar festival. 
He is also a member of Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, and fronted the band at the O2 arena on the night of the Led Zeppelin reunion concert. Albert is a double Grammy award winning musician, whose talents continue to be in demand by fellow performers the world throughout. Albert will be on stage in Riverside with the sensational Hogan’s Heroes – and Riverside is doubly-delighted to welcome back this evening of brilliant music for purists!

THIS WEEK

On Wednesday, April 17 at 10.30am and 2pm, it’s a classic show for younger audiences: Pinocchio. Riverbank Productions proudly present Carlo Collodi’s classic Italian tale about the puppet who wanted to become a real boy. 
Gepetto decides to make a marionette from a magical piece of wood and he calls his puppet Pinocchio. To Gepetto’s dismay, Pinocchio turns out to be a mischievous, naughty puppet. He is easily distracted by a Fox and a Cat and soon forgets the Blue Haired Fairy’s good advice. 
With four versatile actors, puppets, catchy original music and lots of joining in, this show is guaranteed to please family audiences, particularly children aged four to nine.

On Friday 19th, Riverside has one of the best one-man shows currently on the Irish and British touring circuit – Tom Crean, Antarctic Explorer.

This show won a Fringe First at Edinburgh and Best Solo performance at the New York International Festival.
Tom Crean (1877– 1938), the intrepid Antarctic explorer and one of Ireland’s unsung heroes is brought vividly to life in this award winning, dramatic and humorous solo performance. Hear the riveting true stories of Crean’s Antarctic explorations as one of the few men to serve with both Scott and Shackleton and survive the three famous expeditions: Discovery, (1901 – 1904); Terra Nova (1910 – 1913); and Endurance (1914 – 1916).

And finally, for all Jazz Fans this Saturday 20th April, Riverside will be hosting a first visit from the Mary Ryan Blues Trio.

This will be a highly entertaining evening of ‘old time’ songs from this exciting blues trio who are rapidly building a fan base around the country with their gloriously earthy mix of Delta Blues, Ragtime, Gospel, Jazz, & comic Vaudeville from the 1920s onwards.