St Patrick's Night Concert

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our St Patrick's Day Concert

from the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.

Please give a huge welcome to the Ulster Orchestra and your conductor

Mr David Brophy.

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Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your hosts John Toal and Karen Kirby.

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Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen,

and a huge welcome to all of you here

and those watching or listening at home,

to our St Patrick's concert 2015.

A big thank you also to Belfast City Council for their support

in staging tonight's event.

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We've a fantastic line-up of musical guests for you this evening,

performing alongside the Ulster Orchestra

under the baton of conductor David Brophy.

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Yes, there's a great mix of established and emerging talent

from right across the island of Ireland,

and we're going to kick things off right now with one of the most

energetic and innovative new bands to emerge on the traditional

Irish music scene in recent years.

This five-piece from Sligo and Limerick

formed just a few years ago.

They blend Irish trad, jazz, bluegrass

and world music to create their own unique sound.

Last year they released their debut album, Planted, to critical acclaim,

and have become a favourite at festivals across Europe

and North America.

Perfuming their new single, also called Planted,

it's our pleasure to introduce you to the fabulous Moxie!

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Our next artist has had a wide and varied career so far,

from performing in his own right

to composing for television and theatre, TV presenting and acting,

and even writing the theme tune to the CBeebies TV series Sesame Tree.

This summer he will write the score for a new musical version

of Gulliver's Travels to be staged in Belfast,

and releases his latest album, Look Out Machines, later on in the year.

He's no stranger to performing with the Ulster Orchestra,

so please welcome the brilliantly talented Duke Special!

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Thank you.

# Jesus and his blood

# Don't mean so much any more

# Something must have died

# In this rotten apple core

# Don't get me wrong

# Isn't that I don't believe

# Maybe it's this place I grew

# That burns in my throat

# Fundamental shoes

# Carry souls to the boat

# Courage to find

# I refuse a safety net

# Don't shrink it down

# To the size of your head

# You know that some things are more

# Than can ever be said

# I have seen

# God

# In all these kinds of dives but

# Love is still exploding in my mind

# Hey, look out, crows

# Cos systems blow

# On and on and on and on

# And on and on

# Certainty's a city

# I decided I should leave

# To live within the waters

# Filled with doubt and fallen trees

# Tangled and cold

# Flailing like a drowning man

# Don't shrink it down

# To the books you have read

# You see that there's still a light

# In the eyes of the dead

# I have seen

# God

# In all these kinds of dives but

# Love is still exploding in my mind

# Hey, look out, crows

# Cos systems blow

# On and on and on and on

# On and on and on

# Don't dumb it down

# To the size of your head

# You see that some things are more

# Than can ever be said

# I have seen

# God

# In all these kinds of dives

# But love

# Is still exploding in my mind

# Hey, look out, crows

# Cos systems blow

# On and on and on and on

# And on and on

# Hey, look out, crows

# Cos systems blow

# On and on and on and on

# And on and on. #

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# One is the loneliest number

# You'll ever know

# Two can be as bad as one

# It's the loneliest number since the number one

# No is the saddest experience you'll ever do

# Yes, it's the saddest experience you'll ever know

# Because one is the loneliest number

# That you'll ever know

# One is the loneliest number

# That you'll ever know

# It's just no good any more

# Since you went away

# Now I spend my time

# Making rhymes of yesterday

# Because one is the loneliest number

# That you'll ever know

# One is the loneliest number

# That you'll ever know

# One is the loneliest number

# One is the loneliest number

# One is the loneliest number

# You'll ever do

# Because one is loneliest number

# Much, much worse than two

# One

# Is a number divided by two

# One

# Ahh

# One

# Ahh

# One

# Ahh. #

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Each year the BBC issues its influential short list

of the most exciting new acts,

as decided by the music industry and national media.

Our next performer was nominated for the Sound of 2015

and is fast becoming a favourite on BBC Radio 1,

appearing on the Live Lounge only a few weeks ago.

Still only 18, she's performed at Glastonbury, Electric Picnic,

and toured with the likes of George Ezra and Chvrches.

She releases her debut album in June.

It was produced by Tommy McLaughlin from Villagers,

who appears with her here tonight on bass,

along with fellow band member James Byrne on drums.

Performing her new single Sea Creatures, released yesterday,

and written when she was only 14,

please give a warm welcome to Soak.

# The stars and moon

# Remind me of you

# I don't know what to say

# It might make you worse

# I don't understand

# What her problem is

# I think's she's just a fish

# And now you get it back

# You don't reserve this

# And I won't put up

# With their ignorance

# When they tell you

# They love you

# Well, they don't mean it

# I don't think they know what they mean

# I don't think they know what love is

# Throw it around like it's worthless

# I don't think they know what love is

# I don't get this town

# Neither do you

# We should run away

# Just me and you

# Cos I don't get the people here

# They're curious

# They don't really care

# Sea creatures interfere

# Wish they would disappear

# They don't know what love is

# Throw it around like it's worthless

# They don't know what love is

# I prayed for you

# And you know I don't like Jesus

# Want you to get better

# Please, please get better

# For you

# For me. #

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As we said earlier,

we're celebrating emerging talent tonight,

and our next performer is a prime example.

The inaugural winner of the Traditional Music section

of the Young Musician's Platform Award,

run by the BBC and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland,

he impressed the judges with his dexterity

and flair on the uilleann pipes.

Aged just 23 and from County Armagh,

here to perform on his own

the selection of reels that won him the award,

Man Versus Waterfront, please welcome Conor Mallon!

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Under the guidance of Donal Doherty,

Codetta is an internationally acclaimed chamber choir

based in Derry.

They've performed all across Europe,

including appearances with Barry Douglas and Camerata Ireland.

They've also played at the BBC Proms

at the Royal Albert Hall in London with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Put simply, they're one of our finest talents.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Codetta!

# Mmm

# Mmm

# Mmm

# Mmm

# Oh, Danny Boy The pipes, the pipes are calling

# From glen to glen and down the mountain side

# The summer's gone and all the flowers are falling

# 'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide

# But come ye back when summer's in the meadow

# Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow

# 'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow

# Oh, Danny Boy, oh, Danny Boy I love you so

# Ah

# Ah

# Ah

# Oh, Danny Boy

# I love you so

# But when you come and all the flowers are dying

# If I am dead

# As dead I well may be

# You'll come and find the place where I am lying

# And kneel and say an Ave there for me

# An Ave

# And I shall hear though soft you tread above me

# And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be

# Warmer, sweeter be

# For you will bend and tell me

# That you love me

# And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me

# Ooh

# Ooh

# Ooh

# Ooh

# Oh, Danny...

# Oh, Danny Boy

# Oh, Danny...

# Boy. #

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In 1989, the Irish charts were dominated by a band from Newry

when hit after hit was released from their debut album,

Songs For The Tempted.

Tracks such as Mary, Drag My Bad Name Down

and Just Can't Get Enough ruled the airwaves

and they won Album Of The Year at the Irish Music Awards.

Still going strong, they've notched up six top 20 albums

and numerous radio hits

and they're celebrating over 25 years in the business.

They'll release a brand-new album, Sugar Island, later this year.

Performing with the Ulster Orchestra

and master percussionist Noel Eccles,

please give a massive welcome to The 4 Of Us.

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# Mary's got a new job She's working in the bank

# Making lots of money and giving it to Frank

# Frank's her married boyfriend Been that way for a year

# Slapped her in the face once but says he loves her

# Oh, Mary, why don't you have some sense?

# Please do something

# To restore my confidence

# He's met another woman and travelling on his own

# He wrote a loving message and left it by the phone

# Mary still knows nothing As innocent as snow

# Everyone has heard the truth but no-one lets it show

# Oh, Mary, why don't you have some sense?

# Please do something

# To restore my confidence

# Let it go, no

# Mary's got a new job She's working for herself

# Making lots of money and thinking of her health

# She's colder than November As hard as she would will

# There are times I lie there thinking I miss the warm days

# Oh, Mary, why don't you have some sense?

# Please do something

# To restore my confidence

# Oh, Mary, why don't you have some sense?

# Please do something

# To restore my confidence

# Let it go, no

# Oh, Mary, why don't you have some sense?

# Please do something

# To restore my confidence

# Oh, Mary, why don't you have some sense?

# Please do something

# To restore my confidence

# Oh, Mary, why don't you have some sense?

# Please do something

# To restore my confidence

# Let it go, no. #

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Thank you very much.

Um...this next song was a favourite of...one of our favourite people.

So we'd like to dedicate this next song

to the one and only Mr Gerry Anderson,

and, eh...

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This song is called Blue.

# What's the chances that I'd see you here

# After all this time

# All these years?

# Seems like only yesterday I was holding you

# Are you someone else's sweetheart now?

# Do you still hang out with the same old crowd?

# Everybody else has settled down with somebody

# White

# In a chiffon dress, trimmed in lace

# Bright

# In the midday sun

# Blue

# Is the colour that I see on you

# Blue

# Just seeing you

# And I won't remind you

# What you left behind you

# Rain on your parade

# Something in your eyes

# A look I know you can't disguise

# Still we both pretend there's nothing there

# Blue

# The thought of you with somebody new

# Blue

# I'm no good at lying

# I can't keep these hands tied

# I can't watch in vain

# Watch us tearing out the last page

# In another life, there's a chance we would survive

# So why throw a line?

# Look for a sign

# But it's no use

# It's no use

# What's the chances that I see you here

# Some other day, some other year?

# Will this feeling that I carry round ever disappear?

# White

# In a chiffon dress, trimmed in lace

# Bright

# In the midday sun

# Blue

# Is the colour that I see on you

# Blue

# I'll be seeing you. #

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We have a genuine Irish music legend for you now.

Originally from Strabane, he's been a major musical figure

for over 40 years,

first coming to our attention back in 1967

as a member of the Johnstons.

In the mid-1970s,

he was part of the Irish traditional supergroup Planxty,

but moved towards rock and pop

when he released his solo album Hard Station in 1981.

He went on to produce modern classics

such as The Island, Nobody Knows and of course, The Homes of Donegal.

His songs have been covered by the likes of Cher,

Tina Turner and Phil Collins, to name but a few,

and Bob Dylan has declared him a personal favourite.

Performing a brand-new song, Oceans Of Time,

Please give a huge welcome to the one and only Mr Paul Brady.

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Thank you. Good evening.

You having fun?

AUDIENCE: Yes!

New song, called Oceans Of Time.

# Come every day, it's sink or swim

# Take it to heart or on a whim

# Are we the loser or the hero?

# It's a dice throw

# So what if we lose our focus?

# Nobody's going to notice

# Oceans of time will wash your mind

# Ebbing and flowing through our lives

# Why should we hurry up the tide?

# You and I

# Only have oceans of time

# Sunrise to sunrise, it's a game

# 24 hours, it doesn't change

# No point to beg, steal or borrow from tomorrow

# Whatever we need, we have it

# Let's not get stuck in traffic

# Oceans of time will wash your mind

# Ebbing and flowing through our lives

# Why should we hurry up the tide?

# You and I

# Only have oceans of time

# Yeah

# Oh

# Oh

# Yeah

# Oh

# Darling

# Yeah

# Oceans of time will wash your mind

# Ebbing and flowing through our lives

# Why should we hurry up the tide?

# You and I

# Only have oceans of time

# Only have oceans of time

# Only have oceans of time

# Yeah

# Oh

# Yeah, yeah, yeah

# Hey, oh

# Oh, why? #

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Thank you.

Thanks very much.

Well, the last time I sung this next song in Belfast

was actually in this hall, a little over three years ago,

with this wonderful orchestra and conductor here that you have tonight.

So it's a great pleasure for me to get a chance to sing it again.

And, eh...it's a song called Nobody Knows.

One, two...

# Johnny's got high expectations

# He's going to rise

# Everyone knows that Johnny is ready

# He's ready to fly

# Up on the rooftop he turns to the crowd

# No-one is waiting

# No-one is there

# Nobody knows why Elvis threw it all away

# Nobody knows what Ruby had to hide

# Nobody knows why some of us get broken hearts

# And some of us find a world that's clear and bright

# You could be packed up and ready

# Knowing exactly where to go

# How can you miss the connection?

# No use in asking

# The answer is nobody knows

# No use in asking

# The answer is nobody knows

# Johnny will keep his illusions

# What else can he do?

# And you can pretend that it would be different

# If it happened to you

# But up on the rooftop it's a whole other world

# And who could see heaven and not want to stay?

# Nobody knows why Elvis threw it all away

# Nobody knows what Ruby had to hide

# Nobody knows why some of us get broken hearts

# And some of us find a world that's clear and bright

# You could be packed up and ready

# Knowing exactly where to go

# How can you miss the connection?

# No use in asking

# The answer is nobody knows

# No use in asking

# The answer is nobody knows

# Hey

# The answer is nobody knows

# Yeah, yeah, yeah

# Oh

# Nobody knows. #

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Thank you.

Enjoy the rest of the evening.

Well, we're almost at the end of the evening, ladies and gentlemen,

but before we introduce the final act,

we'd like to say a huge thanks to all our performers tonight

and, of course, to the backbone of the whole thing,

the Ulster Orchestra, conducted by David Brophy.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Well, our next artist is a multi-instrumentalist and composer

who has scored for orchestra, film, TV and theatre.

His style blends Irish traditional and classical,

particularly evident in his work with the West Ocean String Quartet.

He's contributed to over 100 albums

and his music's been played across the world,

most recently in a play off Broadway with Sam Shepard and Stephen Rea.

Please welcome Belfast's very own Neil Martin.

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CHEERING AND APPLAUSE