Gardiner Street Gospel Choir- 17th May, Temple Bar Music Centre

mullmick

In case you missed them last year at the Olympia, the Gardiner Street Gospel Choir will be playing the Temple Bar Music Centre on 17th May. Entrance is €12 and doors open at 7.30pm.

If you havent seen them play before, you should be prepared to be surprised. Good tunes, and great vibe.

Karaoke Queen

I'll definitely be there. Gardiner Street are such a feel-good choir. Can't wait for the Temple Bar gig, it'll be a good one

kt_hughes

Oooh I'll definitely be there!!!!

Karaoke Queen

Who's supporting?

GospelGroupie

Ballymun Gospel Choir are supporting. They, along with Dublin Gospel Project (not to be confused with the inferior *ahemm* Dublin Gospel Choir), are spin-off choirs, so to speak. BGC are young, but very good indeed. It will be a great gig indeed!!! I can't wait.

Karaoke Queen

Are you performing with the choir or supporting?
Who started up BGC?

Sean7

Well it's free every Sunday evening in Gardiner St. (except a donation obviously, I'm not a complete bastard) and the priest isn't too heavy on the sermon so that's where I go see 'em.

Karaoke Queen

Oh my God can't believe you wouldn't go to their concert (which they obviously put blood sweat and tears into and worked their @sses off to organise) because it's free on a Sunday!!!! €12 isn't exactly extortionate

Karaoke Queen

Well anyway, the concert was great last night. Thoroughly enjoyed. The venue was full and there was such a good atmosphere. Well done to all involved

GospelGroupie

Congratulations to Ballymun and Gardiner Street Gospel Choirs for their wonderfully uplifting performance last night at Temple Bar Music Centre in front of an audience of five-hundred very appreciative spectators.

Ballymun Gospel Choir are small, numbering around fifteen on the stage, but they gave more energy than many gospel choirs twice their size. Although they only sang six songs, the choir sang them with such soul and such power that I was singing their songs in my head long after the night had ended. Their conductor, Aoife O’Shea can be very very proud indeed.

“Breny”, or “Fr. Brendan”, or “Brendan”, the spiritual director of Gardiner Street Gospel Choir introduced the forty choir members and band with a warm tribute to their founders, Kevin Kelly and Edmund Grace, plugging the 7:30pm Sunday night Mass and introducing the current director, Louise Foxe to the stage. Louise took to the role with great charima and aplomb. Her youthful energy was infectious among the choir and audience.

Emer & Brian opened this part of the show with Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, and, to be honest, a something went amiss, somewhere, which caused bum-notes and dodgy key-changes throughout this number. I can’t say what the cause of this weak introductory song was, but the choir and soloists pulled it through the rough start and at least ended the song on the one key.

The following twenty songs performed where in complete contrast to those starting hiccups. With further solos from Emer & Brian, as well as Louise, Aisling, Eoin, Joanna, Anne, Derek, Aoife, Collette, Katie and the other Brian, the choir proved to be a polished and professional unit, delivering perfect harmony, incredible balance and 100% fun to the occasion. The audience just lapped it up. They loved it.

The band, consisting of Aidan, Paddy, Dave, Orlaigh, Frank and Podge, were note-perfect throughout. They proved their skill in the manner that they pulled the choir through that first, and wholly-unrepresentative opening song, and then continued throughout the night to prove that they are as much a part of this choir as any of the singers. They were the icing-on-the-cake in this choir.

The venue was perfect for this event, intimate. Its stage might have been just that bit too small for the choir and band to fit, it appeared somewhat confined. The wonderful dynamic backdrop, a moving flash logo of branches of a flowering tree overhanging the choir, as well as the four red drapes bearing the “fat-lady sings” logo reinforced the notion that this is one very professional choir.

Ultimately, this was a fantastic night, enjoyable throughout every moment. Both choirs are top-notch. Gardiner Street Gospel Choir are, however, in a league of their own. I can’t think of any other gospel choir in the country that compare, and I have heard most of them, and all the choirs in Dublin.

Well done!!!

Karaoke Queen

Nice work Gospel Groupie. I have to agree with you on your comments about Ain't No Mountain. Wasn't the best performance. Although Joyful Joyful was actually the opening number. The soloist for that one, Liz is incredible

GospelGroupie

Oops, you're dead right!!! How could I forget? That was a fantastic starter. Sister Act couldn't compare. And Liz has a perfect gospel voice, she's got soul. I understand that she had sung previously in another (lesser-known) Dublin-based gospel choir? Well she's a welcome addition to Gardiner Street, I'm sure!

There are many other outstanding soloists in the choir. Aisling, Emer and Collette spring to mind!

Karaoke Queen

Yes Liz used to sing with that other choir!!

GospelGroupie

Has anyone else seen the concert? what did you think of it?

I can't wait to hear the Mount Vernon Gospel Choir when they come over. If they want to tour they're more than welcome down to Ennis to join up with the Abbey Gospel Choir down there.

Karaoke Queen

Mount Lebanon Choir dude