Tara Sessions set for the Summer

dublin | arts and media | other press Wednesday May 31, 2006 13:33 by Geraldine Moorkens Byrne

Tarawatch.org presents a summer of Tara Sessions!

The second Tara Session was held last night in the Dice Bar, heralding a summer of hot Tuesday nights! Musicians, bands, a DJ: all in a great venue, with a good-looking crowd and all in a great cause – what more could a body ask for? Except of course to do it all over again, through the summer....

The Beer Gardeners kick things off!

The second Tara Session was held last night in the Dice Bar, heralding a summer of hot Tuesday nights! Musicians, bands, a DJ: all in a great venue, with a good-looking crowd and all in a great cause – what more could a body ask for?

Gig organiser , Claire Bonass , hosted a night of great music, kicking off with
The Beer Gardeners. . Virtuoso guitar, running the gamut between huge driving chords and intricate tremolo, mesmerizing freight-train harmonica and the excellent contrast of Peter and Claire’s voices, gravel and molasses. The Beer Gardeners gave two sets, starting with a core group of three and the second boasting a full line out of five (another guitar and harmonica added to the mix) – both opening and closing the night.

The first set by The Beer Gardeners was followed by DJ Buno at the desk, a real treat for the crowd and a clever contrast to the opening act. For a moment it almost felt like summer there, especially for those smirting outside – balmy night and sweet tunes carrying on the air. Well, sweet tunes and it wasn’t raining but it was the nearest we’ve got yet this year.

The stage was then taken by Dan Bardon for a highly original set, performed solo (with guitar) and although the singer introduced his songs with a wry "and this is another one about being pissed off” - it was a far from depressing experience! Wit and pathos abound in Bardon’s songs and he is a most enjoyably “real” performer. If you want something out of the ordinary this is the man. You can catch Dan at the Organic Market Ranelagh on Sundays around 1 pm – go! Dan is also spending time in the recording studios at the moment so watch this space.

As mentioned The Beer Gardeners finished the night, with more than one encore called for. Like Bardon, they have been busy recording with a new album coming out in the next month or so (this is now top of my current wish list! ) and you can catch them in JJ Smyths on the last two Fridays of the month.

This evening of free music ended with a passionate plea from Claire Bonass – get on a bus and go see the Hill of Tara. Because as she so rightly pointed out in a blink of an eye it could be gone, changed utterly and reduced to yet another mere outpost of the city, an anomaly among urban concrete. That so many great musicians, bands and DJ would give of their time free in aid of Tarawatch.org must at least give us all hope that it’s still important, that some people think it’s still worth protecting.

So there you have it. There is no finer way to spend a Tuesday night than in the Dice Bar Queen Street Dublin. Weekly line-up and details are available from www.tarawatch.org or look out for notices on MySpace.com and other sites.

Dan Bardon singing for Tarawatch

enjoying the night: vivienne Drennan, Paulien O'Reilly and Lenore Mulhall

The Dcie bar prooves a great venue again

The full Beer Gardeners lineout