Blaze Away! The Incredible Story of Josef Locke @ The Grainstore, Ballymaloe

 

The Music and Scandalous Life of the Legendary Derry Tenor

BLAZE AWAY! THE INCREDIBLE

STORY OF JOSEF LOCKE

Ballymaloe Grainstore, Sunday 21 April, 8pm

Blaze Away! The Incredible Story of Josef Locke, which chronicles the scandalous life of the Derry-born singing legend, is coming to Ballymaloe Grainstore, Shanagarry Co. Cork on Sunday 21 April at 8pm.

The show features all Locke’s hits like his signature tune Hear My Song, Violetta, Come Back To Sorrento, I’ll Walk Beside You, Blaze Away, The Old Bog Road and My Heart and I.

Blaze Away includes these and many more of the great songs of tenor Josef Locke – the stage name of Joseph McLaughlin who was born in Derry in 1918 – plus the scandals that always had him in the headlines. A notorious womaniser, Locke’s legendary tussles with the British tax authorities had him fleeing Britain to Ireland where he lived out the remainder of his life.

Josef Locke was one of the most popular entertainers ever in Ireland and Britain in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. His story was immortalised in the 1991 film Hear My Song – he was portrayed by American actor, Ned Beatty – which was a huge international success. He performed in no less than five Royal Variety Performances, such was his popularity.  In 1947 he released Hear My Song, Violetta, which was to become his life-long signature tune.

Blaze Away! The Incredible Story of Josef Locke features TV and radio personality Kevin Hough, and the beautiful voices of Frank Ryan and Linda Kenny, with actor Joe O’Gorman playing the older Josef Locke. Musical Director and pianist is the brilliant Michael Casey.  Blaze Away was devised by former RTE Head of Radio, Cathal McCabe.

Tickets for Blaze Away are €23 and can be booked online at www.ballymaloegrainstore.com or by phone on 021-4651555.  Subject to booking fees.  Packages for pre-show dinner and accommodation in Ballymaloe House are available for all performances – bookings by phone only.

Ballymaloe Grainstore is a 300-seat performing arts venue located twenty miles east of Cork City.  The only purpose-built venue in East Cork, it is built on the site of a 17th-century building used for storing grain and farm machinery.