The Newbies Keepin 'er Country


The Newbies

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In Ireland, country music is more popular than ever.

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A host of new country music stars have tempted a generation to turn

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their back on the nightclub, don their Stetsons and jive the night

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away, from Ballymena to Ballydehob.

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This week, we're hitting the dance floor and taking to the stage with

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the townies turning culchie...

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Dublin is ballads, trad, not country.

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..from a husband and wife duo starting jiving classes

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-in the city...

-I really think yous all should try it,

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cos it's bleeding deadly.

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Been a long time, baby.

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..to an Elvis impersonator swapping the jumpsuit for a Stetson.

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As soon as I put that on stage, I become myself.

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Country is coming to a city near you.

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But is Dublin really ready to jive?

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Any interest in jiving, dancing?

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Oh, no.

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Will the Belfast music scene be all shook up by a former tribute act?

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Cos I want people to leave here as if they've actually went to a country show.

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And can a man who's never seen the likes of it...

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-Bizarre.

-..really become a pro-dancer on Ireland's

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toughest floor?

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-I'm really nervous.

-Welcome to the brand-new world

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of Irish country music.

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# Well, you get down the fiddle and you get down the bow

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# Kick off your shoes And you throw 'em on the floor. #

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Now, country music in Ireland has always been

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a predominantly rural affair.

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Barn dances, tractor runs

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and agricultural shows are the heartland of the scene.

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But as the popularity of the music grows so does its fan base.

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Pat and Patricia run a garden centre on the outskirts of Dublin...

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..and in between the fuchsias and the petunias,

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country music is blossoming.

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# I beg your pardon

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# I never promised you a rose garden. #

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Country music, to me, is life now.

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I can't believe I went 50 years, or 40 years, without actually dancing,

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but we found it eventually.

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It's giving us a great social life,

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we're up and down the country, we've friends all over the place now.

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We're actually like teenagers again and that's being honest with you.

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Just putting a bit of music on, a bit of real music.

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Bit of jiving going on, you know, just get a bit of rhythm going.

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Ya boy, ye!

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With the music never off the stereo,

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unsuspecting customers can even get a jive.

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Did you ever jive before?

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Come on, we'll give it a...

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Let me show you here now. Just step out onto the floor.

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But not all Dubs are fans of country and Irish.

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It's very unusual in Dublin for two inner-city Dubs to enjoy country

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music. It's not heard of up here.

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They say, "Country music, what's that?"

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Their love of country music has only grown over the last year,

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when Patricia asked Pat to go with her to jiving class.

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It is a good fun.

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Keep coming towards me. She wanted me to take up dancing and I'm going,

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-"Yeah, right, dancing?"

-HE SCOFFS

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"I don't think so."

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And she says, "Country dancing." I says, "You're mad, I think.

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-"Would you go away with that?"

-Initially, he just didn't dig it.

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Champions League, how am I going to see the matches when I'm dancing?

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-Jesus.

-But Patricia's plan came up smelling of roses.

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But he actually loved it and I was surprised.

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He was as into it as I was.

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With this new-found passion for the music and dancing,

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Pat and Patricia are determined to sow the seeds of country in Dublin

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-city.

-Myself and Pat's mission is that we could bring country music

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and jive into Dublin cos I really don't think they know what they're

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missing, to be honest.

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They're convinced that by setting up a weekly jive class in the city,

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they can get the Dubs into the music.

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If we can even get 10% of Dublin jiving,

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I really think yous all should try it, cos it's bleeding deadly.

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Like their Dublin cousins, Belfast folk have yet to fully jump on board

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the country music bandwagon.

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Being from Belfast, you know, obviously everybody's city folk

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and the likes of city centre are still all about pop music.

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# When I heard Big Tom in the Galtymore

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# With the dancers crying out for more... #

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But that wasn't always the case -

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before pop took over Belfast, folk loved their show bands

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and their country music.

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Back in the day, in the '70s, every club in Belfast,

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if you were a band that didn't do country, you didn't get a gig.

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So, it'd be great to bring those days back again.

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James Lynas is hoping to bring back the glory days of country.

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I'm not going to stop until I have

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actually got Belfast loving country music again. That's my goal.

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# And if I got an encore

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# I'd go home feeling like a king. #

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James works as a cleaner...

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This isn't a bad old job, you know,

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but it's a long way from being on stage, you know.

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..but he has dreams of becoming a king of country music.

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When you've all the gear on, you know, the studded shirts, the jeans,

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the boots, it gives me a buzz.

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There's no better feeling in the world, you know.

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And then on the Monday morning, you come back,

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get your spray bottle out and continue on.

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# Oh, it's crying time again You're gonna leave me... #

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And before he found his country calling,

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James performed as The King.

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# Cos, baby

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# Baby, you know

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# You know that I can... #

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-Been a long time, baby.

-HE CHUCKLES

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I did look pretty funny, to be honest.

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Elvis had a nice, swarthy skin and I was white as a ghost.

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But...a few sunbeds fixed that!

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They want to see and think that you're Elvis Presley on that stage.

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But pretending to be someone he wasn't

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had this tribute act singing the blues.

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If somebody said to me, "I'll give you a million pounds to stick an

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"Elvis suit on and go and do it again," I would still say no.

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I want to be a country artist.

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James has now swapped the jumpsuit for a Stetson.

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This is the real me.

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And I've never felt so comfortable in all my life,

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dressing up in all this gear.

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And as soon as I put that on stage, I become myself.

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If he wants to make it as a country singer, it's now or never.

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For me, this is sort of make or break,

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I would love to just be able to leave work and go full-time at the

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singing and dedicate my life to it.

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# They're laying people off down at the factory... #

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Like The King before him, James has some legendary writers on board

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to help him break the big time.

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You know, you've got talent, you've got a really unique voice, you don't

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-sound like anybody and it's going to happen eventually.

-Cheers.

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Jon Philibert has written songs for the likes of country legend

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Bobby Bare and Tom Jones, and he hopes his new track

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Whiskey Get Busy will have James toasting success.

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Hopefully I'll have that track to you by Thursday evening and you can

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let me know Friday, then, what you think, sure,

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and we'll take it from there.

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-Excellent, looking forward to it, big time.

-No problem, Jon.

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# Dancing about the Liffey

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# Going through old Dublin town. #

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In Dublin, Pat and Patricia have hit the streets

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to try and convince city folk to come to the jive classes.

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-Have yous ever thought of jiving?

-Oh, not a chance.

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-Have you ever thought of it?

-Oh, no, no.

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Any interest in jiving, dancing?

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-Oh, no, thanks.

-SHE LAUGHS

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-No?

-Would you be interested in taking up a jiving class?

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-A which?

-Jiving class.

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But this is Dublin city...

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-Jiving?

-Jiving, yeah.

-Oh, I thought you said diving.

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-Jiving, a bit of this...

-It'll keep you fit.

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..they haven't seen jiving here since the early '70s.

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-We're starting a jiving class.

-Yeah?

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And we're just wondering would any of yous like to come along?

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-Me? I've two left feet and a wooden leg.

-You haven't!

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If you get into this, you'll be hooked, guarantee it.

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If you can't get something in here, you might give up.

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Watch the mules, now.

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Can yous teach us?

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With hundreds of flyers handed out and at least one on-street lesson,

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interest starts to pick up.

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-Have you ever danced?

-I have.

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Take that leaflet. Great for your mind, body and soul.

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-It'd be great to see there.

-Yeah.

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Great, you'll enjoy it.

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After a long day of traipsing the streets, Pat and Patricia

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will just have to wait and see if anyone in the city

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wants to learn to jive.

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I know they'll stay if they come.

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At least they know about it now and hopefully they might just try it,

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even, you know.

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# Too-ra-loo and a too-ra-lay It's in my DNA... #

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Pat and Patricia's new classes are too far away for wannabe jiver,

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Toura.

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He moved to Belfast from Zimbabwe back in the '90s.

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I'm almost as local as...

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an Ulster fry, you know.

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# Oh, there's Irish in America There's Irish in Berlin... #

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From a Northern Ireland perspective,

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we just all love having the craic, like.

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Initially when I came,

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the longest time I was going to stay was two years.

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I met an Irish girl and fell in love, the rest is history.

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23 years later, we have three daughters, so...

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..Ireland stole my heart.

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Since he's been in Northern Ireland,

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Toura has tackled everything the local culture has to offer,

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from learning Irish to perfecting traditional dance.

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A few years ago, I was in Donegal and I saw this guy dancing sean nos

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and I thought, "Wow."

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And then I decided that moment that I was going to learn the dance.

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There's an old Native American saying -

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when you see us dance, you see our spirit.

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That is what the dance of Ireland is to me.

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I'm a cultural vampire, I love to immerse myself in culture.

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With country music and jiving now

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such a part of people's social lives,

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Toura wants to get his teeth into the scene.

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The country music scene is huge.

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Young people who would normally listen to pop music,

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they are going out

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dancing to country music.

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Like...

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You know, that's just bizarre.

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It's a whole new world

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and tonight Toura is going to experience it for the very first

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time at the Ryandale hotel.

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I'm going to get a sense of what the country music scene

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is all about.

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Get a feel of what the craic is.

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I normally dress quite casually but

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from what I've heard about the country music scene,

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the guys love to dress up.

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The most important part of a dancer's wardrobe are his shoes

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and Toura's confident he's got the right footwear.

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I'm making an effort to look the part and

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if the shiny shoes help me blend in,

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so be it.

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I'm a novice, but I'm willing to give it a go.

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Time to go country dancing.

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If you want to become an accomplished jiver,

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there's nowhere better to watch the pros in action than the Moy,

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County Tyrone, the best spot in the land for a bit of country and Irish.

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He might be handy at the Irish dancing

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but jiving's a different game altogether.

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And it seems shiny shoes aren't welcome here.

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It's my first time, man.

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I can tell that by that attire.

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What's wrong with what I'm wearing?

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-Well, you haven't the brown shoes on, like.

-No.

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I wouldn't go to the back door with them on.

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What a night I've had!

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The craic is absolutely amazing.

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My plan now is to go and get some lessons.

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I need to get my steps in check.

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I need to learn how to dance.

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Dancing is the most important skill necessary if you want to really

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enjoy a country night out.

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# Going out for the craic Guitar on my back

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# Gonna sing and dance all night... #

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Jive classes are popping up all over rural Ireland

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as beginners get to grips with the moves.

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In Dublin city, husband and wife dance teachers Pat and Patricia are

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anxiously waiting to see if anyone will turn up

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to their new Monday night jive class.

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I hope people really do turn up now.

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This is the big test. This is the big push, so

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if we can get a bit of movement here tonight, we can work on it.

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You know, you can put notices up and you can give leaflets out

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but people say they'll come, but will they come,

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do you know what I mean? I've been there myself saying,

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"Oh, yeah, I'll go," and then, "No, I'm not going to go." So, yeah,

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so hopefully they'll just get the courage to walk through the door.

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How you doing, ladies? How are you? How are you doing?

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-Are you here for the jiving, are you?

-We are indeed.

-Oh, happy days.

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Enjoy yourselves. You'll have a good old night. Enjoy it.

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After a slow start,

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the hall starts to fill up with would-be jivers from the city.

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It looks like great fun, so here we are.

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In for a penny, in for a pound.

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And before long, they're learning their first country dance steps.

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Right, two, three, kick.

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Left, two, three, kick.

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# Going out for the craic Guitar on my back

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# Gonna sing and dance all night... #

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Best friends Sean, Leanne and Tanya are a former disco-dancing trio.

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I was the champ, so I came...

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I always used to come first.

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It just gives that more ability, you know yourself...

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-God!

-But these former disco dancers

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are struggling with the country moves.

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-Two, three, four...

-They'll do all right, in fairness.

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I've seen a lot worse dancers than what's here tonight.

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Just once they get their steps right.

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That starts with the rhythm and the count.

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Everything else will come after that.

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And the trio were finding out you need a good pair of lungs to jive.

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I'm like the Liffey in Dublin.

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I swear to God, the sweat is rolling off me.

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I've never done a work-out in the gym or anything in my life, just not into it. Like,

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this is something good for me, cos I'll end up taking the banger one of these days.

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The banger means a heart attack, just to let you know.

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Meanwhile, Patricia has a spring in her step about the good turnout.

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It's great to have a crowd so, yeah, I was delighted so many people came.

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Like, it's great. I'll make jivers out of them yet.

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Dublin can jive.

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And it seems the disco dancers are country converts.

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In my flat this week, I'm going to be practising,

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getting all the country music up on my telly.

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That's it. Got to get costumes and all now it's practising.

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Dress sense on this scene is no laughing matter.

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These boys and girls take their fashion seriously.

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Would-be jiver Toura from Belfast is preparing for a big night out at the

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Four Seasons in Monaghan and, if he's going country,

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he needs to dress country.

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I'm going to a country gig next week.

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Last time I was there, I was not dressed right.

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Can you get me sorted?

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Oh, definitely. Know what you're after, nice brown shoe, brown belt,

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double-collared shirt, 100%.

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-Come on this way.

-OK.

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On this scene, you can have any colour of shoe you like...

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-Now you're talking!

-..as long as it's brown.

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No, no, no, no, no, no. Definitely not.

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What you want is a nice brown shoe. See, something like that there?

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That's tidy, that'll do, that's nice.

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-They are a bit plain, like.

-Listen, that's what all the guys

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-are going for.

-'They are stylish.

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'They're not really me in the sense but...'

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..I'm game for it, like, you know.

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Yeah, that's a different style altogether, like.

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That's pure class, pure country.

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Oh, yeah.

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You're not going to know me now.

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You're 100% country.

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One, two, three, four and one, two...

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With the wardrobe sorted,

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Toura just needs to work on his moves.

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He's been attending a jiving class in Banbridge, along with 60 others

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keen to learn.

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This is my third lesson.

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I'll still have to get my footwork sorted,

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so I'm getting there but I'm not yet there.

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Oh!

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OK. So just watch the wee things like that there.

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The Four Seasons Hotel in Monaghan hosts the very best jivers every

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Sunday night, and if Toura's serious about mixing with the best,

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he'd need to learn fast.

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You're not driving a two-handed saw.

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-Hey!

-SHE LAUGHS

0:17:440:17:46

OK, bring me up for a spin.

0:17:460:17:47

Woo!

0:17:470:17:49

-Oh, OK.

-Well, maybe not too fast.

0:17:490:17:52

You need to calm down just a little bit there.

0:17:520:17:54

He's a very eager dancer,

0:17:540:17:56

so he can sometimes get overexcited and use a bit too much force when he

0:17:560:17:59

is leading a lady, which can be quite sore on her wrists,

0:17:590:18:01

arms and shoulders, and I definitely know that from experience.

0:18:010:18:04

One, two. Remember, not too many, not too big a step,

0:18:040:18:07

just a small kind of little pivot.

0:18:070:18:08

Yeah, very good. Just kind of get your whole body into the rhythm of

0:18:080:18:11

it cos you don't want to exert yourself too much by going crazy.

0:18:110:18:15

Other wee thing is that when you're leading the lady's hands,

0:18:150:18:18

make sure that you're leading it maybe a beat or two beforehand.

0:18:180:18:21

Especially, remember the very beginning, where we go one, two,

0:18:210:18:24

three, four, one, on two, the hand is raised...

0:18:240:18:27

-Ah.

-So that, on three, the lady begins to spin

0:18:270:18:30

and then brought back in.

0:18:300:18:31

OK?

0:18:310:18:32

It's a different dancing style than he's used to.

0:18:360:18:38

Oh, what was that?

0:18:390:18:40

I don't know.

0:18:400:18:42

But he's got rhythm and the moves are improving.

0:18:420:18:45

Much better.

0:18:470:18:48

Calm the arm down just a little bit.

0:18:490:18:51

You're doing really well.

0:18:510:18:52

Was that OK?

0:18:560:18:57

That was really good. You just need to remember that

0:18:570:19:00

when you're going up like that, you could be going up for a set that's

0:19:000:19:02

maybe two, three, four, maybe five songs long -

0:19:020:19:05

if they're doing a medley, it's going to be a very long dance.

0:19:050:19:08

You could be up on the floor for 15 minutes, just doing a jive,

0:19:080:19:11

so you don't want to exert all your energy just at once

0:19:110:19:13

and then be, like, mad jiving, crazy jiving and then all of a sudden

0:19:130:19:16

being like, "My goodness, I can't jive any longer!"

0:19:160:19:18

Shuffle, shuffle, left. Shuffle, shuffle, right.

0:19:180:19:21

He's come on quite a lot since he's first started out,

0:19:210:19:23

so we're looking forward to seeing the finished product.

0:19:230:19:26

Right, left, right, clap.

0:19:260:19:28

-Hips, hips...

-Woo!

0:19:280:19:31

I've had an amazing night.

0:19:310:19:32

That's the beauty of this scene, you know, that people just help you.

0:19:320:19:37

They dance with you.

0:19:370:19:39

And I tell you what - I'm ready for the Four Seasons.

0:19:390:19:43

# The more I get to drinkin'... #

0:19:480:19:51

Former Elvis impersonator James Lynas is recording his new single.

0:19:510:19:55

# So, whiskey

0:19:550:19:57

# Get busy

0:19:570:19:58

# I'm depending on you. #

0:19:590:20:03

What did you think of that, Frankie?

0:20:030:20:04

-SPEECH INAUDIBLE THROUGH GLASS

-# You! #

0:20:040:20:07

# You! #

0:20:070:20:08

# I'm depending on you! #

0:20:080:20:13

James hopes this new song will propel him to country music stardom.

0:20:160:20:20

All I'd hope, in about a year's time,

0:20:210:20:23

that we'll be down there with the likes of the Robert Mizzells,

0:20:230:20:26

Nathan Carters. That's my aim, is to get up there with those guys.

0:20:260:20:29

# Whiskey, I have heard your reputation. #

0:20:290:20:35

That's a wee Belfast twang. It sneaks in there now and again.

0:20:350:20:38

You can't take...

0:20:380:20:39

# I guess I'll get to... #

0:20:390:20:41

You can take a boy out of Belfast but you can't take the Belfast out

0:20:410:20:44

-of a boy.

-It's class.

0:20:440:20:46

Son, your voice is fantastic.

0:20:460:20:49

-Excellent.

-Cheers. Happy days.

-Very, very good.

0:20:490:20:51

# I'm depending on you Yeah! #

0:20:510:20:54

I would say I'm obsessive about country music.

0:20:560:20:59

It's actually become like a disease and I can't shake it off

0:20:590:21:02

and I won't. I don't even want to try and shake it off, to be honest.

0:21:020:21:05

I eat, sleep and breathe it.

0:21:050:21:08

Even the kids are starting to eat, sleep and breathe it.

0:21:080:21:11

James and his new band have struggled to get gigs

0:21:110:21:14

in and around Belfast.

0:21:140:21:16

Because Belfast is hard to get country venues, you know,

0:21:160:21:20

and it's very rare.

0:21:200:21:21

But they've secured a headline gig ten miles down the road in

0:21:230:21:27

Carrickfergus, but that's as close as the music gets to the city.

0:21:270:21:31

We're rehearsing like mad, just making sure it's going to be right.

0:21:310:21:34

The last thing we want to do is go to a country venue and

0:21:340:21:38

not be country.

0:21:380:21:40

In Dublin, country music and jiving is proving popular

0:21:440:21:47

with the city slickers,

0:21:470:21:48

as Pat and Patricia's class goes from strength to strength.

0:21:480:21:52

-You enjoyed last week anyway?

-Yes.

-That's your first night in. That's good, yeah.

0:21:530:21:56

Each week, more and more new faces are showing up to learn to dance.

0:21:570:22:01

I haven't danced in ages.

0:22:010:22:03

-I know, but you'll be grand.

-I've not been to a dance class in years.

0:22:030:22:05

Turn, two, three, left, right...

0:22:050:22:08

Amongst the new recruits, there are some regulars as well.

0:22:080:22:11

The former disco dancers, Sean, Tanya and Leanne, are back for more.

0:22:110:22:16

# Up the jive

0:22:160:22:18

# Yeah, up the jive... #

0:22:200:22:22

As Patricia puts the 40-strong class through their steps,

0:22:250:22:28

the local women's Gaelic team decide to pitch in, too.

0:22:280:22:31

-How are you?

-Grand.

-You're interested in coming in?

0:22:320:22:34

-We are, yeah.

-Lovely, lovely.

0:22:340:22:35

-The more the merrier.

-You'll be well able for yous are well fit.

0:22:350:22:38

Oh, I don't know about that!

0:22:380:22:39

The fancy footwork shouldn't be an issue for these girls.

0:22:390:22:43

# Up the jive... #

0:22:430:22:45

Woohoo!

0:22:450:22:47

Kind of tough after you've just done a Gaa workout

0:22:470:22:50

and then you're into a jive workout.

0:22:500:22:52

Instead of the hands being up here,

0:22:520:22:53

it's all this motion and getting my hands and the feet together and...

0:22:530:22:58

Yeah.

0:22:580:22:59

As the footballers tackle the basic moves,

0:23:010:23:03

the former disco dancers are jiving like old pros.

0:23:030:23:07

# There's flirtin', courtin' Who knows for certain

0:23:070:23:09

# Who's with who tonight

0:23:090:23:11

# Up the jive... #

0:23:110:23:12

-Tonight went brilliant.

-Oh, yeah, it went brilliant.

0:23:120:23:14

I think cos it's the second week, you know the steps, it's easier to get into, like.

0:23:140:23:17

You know, we could be teaching our own classes coming up.

0:23:170:23:20

-You never know.

-Have a jive and...

0:23:200:23:22

Having a jiving class in Coulagh.

0:23:220:23:24

Garden centre owners Pat and Patricia are delighted with how

0:23:260:23:30

things have blossomed.

0:23:300:23:33

I think our mission to countrify Dublin is going to work

0:23:330:23:36

and we're going get them all jiving so, yeah, it's brilliant.

0:23:360:23:39

At the end of the day, that's our goal,

0:23:410:23:43

bringing jive and dance back to Dublin,

0:23:430:23:45

and I think we're going to get there, do you know that?

0:23:450:23:48

# I'm gonna

0:23:480:23:49

# Roll out the red carpet When you come home... #

0:23:490:23:52

Bringing the music back to Belfast is James Lynas' ultimate goal.

0:23:520:23:57

Tonight, him and the band are in Carrickfergus

0:23:570:23:59

for their biggest gig yet.

0:23:590:24:01

It's not the Grand Ole Opry, but it's a nice venue, you know,

0:24:010:24:04

and we're getting closer and closer to doing it in the home city.

0:24:040:24:07

The nerves are starting to kick in.

0:24:090:24:11

But, sure, that's all part of the fun.

0:24:110:24:13

If there are no nerves, you can't perform.

0:24:130:24:15

That's how I feel about it, you know.

0:24:150:24:18

Well, that's my Elvis tattoo

0:24:180:24:20

I got a few years ago. It says TCB.

0:24:200:24:22

That means taking care of business

0:24:220:24:23

and that's hopefully what we'll do this evening here.

0:24:230:24:26

As well as playing the standard country tunes,

0:24:260:24:28

James will be testing out his brand-new track on the crowd.

0:24:280:24:32

Good old-fashioned honky-tonk country song.

0:24:320:24:34

Typical country song about women and beer, you know.

0:24:340:24:37

A nice wee story to it.

0:24:370:24:38

With a quick costume change, James is ready to hit the stage.

0:24:380:24:42

Sure you wouldn't know I was from Belfast.

0:24:420:24:44

THEY CHEER

0:24:440:24:47

# Stop the world and let me off

0:24:510:24:54

# I'm tired of going round and round... #

0:24:560:24:58

He's absolutely amazing.

0:25:000:25:01

Really, really enjoying the night so far.

0:25:010:25:03

It's great. And it's great to see a fantastic crowd in there.

0:25:030:25:06

This place is buzzing.

0:25:060:25:07

It really is good to see.

0:25:070:25:08

-To be fair, I'm not a country and western fan, don't really...

-We're getting there, we're getting there.

0:25:100:25:14

Yeah, we're getting there, but it's actually a very, very good night.

0:25:140:25:18

The paying punters are enjoying the well-known country tunes,

0:25:200:25:24

but the big test is whether they'll like James's new single,

0:25:240:25:28

Whiskey Get Busy.

0:25:280:25:29

# I said, whiskey

0:25:290:25:31

# Get busy

0:25:310:25:33

# Do what you gotta do... #

0:25:330:25:36

Whiskey Get Busy? I really enjoyed it.

0:25:360:25:38

Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

0:25:380:25:40

-If he's back here again, we'll be here.

-Yeah.

0:25:400:25:42

-Definitely.

-We definitely will be here.

-Definitely.

0:25:420:25:44

# Whiskey, I have heard your reputation... #

0:25:440:25:49

To think that someone from Belfast is going to be singing instead of us

0:25:490:25:53

having to travel down the country all the time, it's great.

0:25:530:25:57

# I'm depending on you! #

0:25:570:26:03

Oh!

0:26:030:26:05

With such a great reception,

0:26:050:26:06

country might just ride again in Belfast city.

0:26:060:26:10

James, please bring the country music back to Belfast, please!

0:26:100:26:14

-We need it!

-I just love the old music and

0:26:140:26:17

I just wish it was everywhere.

0:26:170:26:19

If you can please Belfast people, you can please anybody.

0:26:190:26:22

Most Belfast people are hard to please, you know.

0:26:220:26:25

The Four Seasons in Monaghan on a Sunday night attracts the very best

0:26:260:26:30

country dancers to jive the night away...

0:26:300:26:32

..and Toura is about to jump feet first into the evening.

0:26:330:26:37

This time, I have made the effort to get the right shoes,

0:26:370:26:41

the brown shoes and the belt.

0:26:410:26:43

He might look the part, but the proof is in the dancing.

0:26:450:26:48

I want to watch it a little bit and then I'll give it a go.

0:26:480:26:52

Before daring to step onto the floor,

0:26:520:26:55

Toura gets an idea of the standard the ladies expect.

0:26:550:26:58

Seeing some of the dancers, it really makes me nervous.

0:26:580:27:01

I'm going to ask somebody for a dance now,

0:27:010:27:03

so hopefully I won't make an idiot of myself!

0:27:030:27:08

I've got to give it a go.

0:27:080:27:10

It's the moment of truth.

0:27:100:27:11

Can Toura from Zimbabwe jive with the best of them?

0:27:110:27:15

# Kiss me, Mary Kiss me, Mary

0:27:150:27:17

# Kiss me one more time

0:27:170:27:19

# I may be young and a little scared But I wanna cross the line

0:27:190:27:23

# Oh, come on, Mary... #

0:27:230:27:25

There's no doubt - the boy can jive.

0:27:250:27:27

# Kiss me Let me walk you home tonight... #

0:27:270:27:31

He's great. He's fantastic.

0:27:310:27:33

And he just wanted to throw in extra bits.

0:27:330:27:34

It's good to have something different and a bit of energy and he's a lovely, lovely person.

0:27:340:27:38

He's bubbly and he's a bit of craic and, sure, that's what you want.

0:27:380:27:41

# Life's too short Let's have some fun

0:27:410:27:43

# There's good times here for everyone... #

0:27:430:27:47

And having proved his dance floor credentials,

0:27:470:27:50

there's no stopping him now.

0:27:500:27:52

His humour, he's, like, in your eyes and his legs are like this here!

0:27:530:27:57

Yeah, all you can do is laugh,

0:27:570:27:59

but that's what makes it a brilliant dance.

0:27:590:28:01

That's why you'd want to go back and dance again and again with him,

0:28:010:28:04

because he's such fun to dance with.

0:28:040:28:06

What a night I've had!

0:28:070:28:09

Absolutely amazing.

0:28:090:28:10

You know, it's family, it is a way of life for these guys

0:28:100:28:14

and I think it might be a way of life or me, too, now.

0:28:140:28:17

# So, whiskey

0:28:200:28:22

# Get busy

0:28:220:28:23

# I'm depending on you

0:28:240:28:27

# Yeah, whiskey

0:28:270:28:29

# Get busy

0:28:290:28:30

# Well, I'm

0:28:310:28:33

# I'm depending on you. #

0:28:330:28:38

Keep it country, boys!

0:28:400:28:41

Yeah!

0:28:430:28:45

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