Party: Aslan – Friday 23rd October – Guinness Cork Jazz Festival - Supported by The Niall McCabe Band

Party: Aslan – Friday 23rd October – Guinness Cork Jazz Festival - Supported by The Niall McCabe Band

The Savoy Cork Proudly presents Aslan as part of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival

Tickets are available from Eventbrite.ie for €22.40 including booking fee - http://aslancork.eventbrite.ie

Support Act: The Niall McCabe Band

Aslan, who took their name from the heroic lion in C.S. Lewis’s series of books chronicling the fictional land of Narnia, (Aslan is the Turkish for ‘Lion’), emerged from the working class areas of Finglas and Ballymun in Dublin’s Northside, in the mid 1980s. They released a demo single, ‘This Is’, in the Spring of 1986, which was a huge hit and became the longest ever play-listed single on Ireland’s pop radio station, RTÉ 2FM.

In the summer of 1986 they played a series of rapturously received shows in the UK and Melody Maker noted, ‘Lucky the label that signs this band!’. Janice Long at BBC Radio 1 recorded Aslan in session and went on to air it for an unprecedented three times in the subsequent weeks. At the end of 1986 Aslan walked away with The Stag/Hot Press,’ Most Promising New Band’ award and signed to EMI.

In 1988 they recorded their debut album, ‘Feel No Shame’ which shot straight in to the No.1 spot of the Irish charts and remained there for weeks. Within a couple of months it was certified Gold. Then in August 1988, just as the option for their 2nd album had been picked up, Aslan infamously imploded, torn apart by overindulgence of all kinds.

Five years and a day to the last time they gigged together (on the 11th of July 1993) they played what was supposed to be a one off charity gig in Finglas; the spark was reignited and Aslan landed a new record deal with BMG. The first fruit of the deal, their single “Crazy World”, entered the charts at No 4 and stayed in the charts for 3 months, becoming one of the most played songs on Irish Radio for the year. “Crazy World” also won the “Single of The Year” in 1993’s Hot Press Awards. A few months later the follow-up single “Where’s The Sun” reached No.3 on the chart.

The latter part of 1994 was spent touring consistently in Ireland and recording their album, ‘Goodbye Charlie Moonhead’, which was released in Ireland at the end of 1994 and charted at number one, going on to be certified Gold weeks later. Then in 1995 the band were dropped, the victims of boardroom changes at BMG.

Undeterred, Aslan went into the studio under their own steam and began recording a new album, ‘Here Comes Lucy Jones’ in April 1996. Released in October 1997, the album went into the Irish chart at 14 and Aslan were nominated in seven categories of the 1997 Hot Press readers poll.

‘Shame About Lucy Moonhead’, a compilation of the best of Aslan’s recorded work on EMI, was released in July 1998, shot into the Irish albums charts at No.1 and has since turned double platinum.

In March 1999 Aslan played 5 sell out shows in Ireland’s most prestigious intimate venue, Vicar St, during which their live album and video concert movie/DVD ‘Made In Dublin’ were recorded. Both shot to No 1 in their 1st week of release. The album turned platinum within 3 weeks and remained in the top 10 for 8 weeks. Aslan finished 1999 on a high note by selling out Ireland’s largest indoor venue (9000 capacity) , the Point Theatre on 26th December.

In Summer 2000 Aslan toured Australia for the first time to promote the release down under of the album “Shame About Lucy Moonhead” and in the process, sold out shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Aslan ended 2000 by playing their first gig in the Netherlands to a sell out crowd and then returned to home soil to sell out the Point Theatre again on Dec 27th.

In the Spring of 2001 Aslan recorded a single, “She’s So Beautiful”, (featuring Sinead O ‘Connor on backing vocals,) which entered the Irish singles charts at number 9. The band released the follow-up “Different Man” which charted at number 7.

In September 2001, the band’s most recent studio album, “Waiting For This Madness To End” went straight into the Irish Album charts at number 1, out selling the number 2 album four times over. The following week it remained at number 1 and kept Kylie Minogue off the top spot! “Waiting For This Madness To End” hit the platinum sales mark after only four weeks.

In Christmas 2001 Aslan again sold out the 9000 capacity Point, and in 2002 Aslan were nominated for eight categories of the Hot Press readers poll, demonstrating the immense following the band have in their homeland.

October 2005 and the band release a 48 track CD, simply called The Platinum Collection. The album chronicles the singles, b-sides and rarities of their long career. The platinum collection went into the charts at no. 3 and after a few weeks lived up to its name by achieving triple platinum sales.The same year also say a successful sold out show in the Point marking the platinum collections release.

2007 saw the release of “For Some Strange Reason” which was produced by Ger McDonnell. It went straight into the top 10 album charts at number 7.
In February 2008, Tony McGuiness left the band and moved to Australia. He was replaced by Rod O’Brien and in 2009, the band released a covers album “Aslan UNCASE’d” which went straight into the charts at number 2. It was kept off the number 1 spot by Eminem. The single from the album, John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy” was play listed on every station in Ireland and has become an Aslan favourite at their live gigs.
2010 saw the band undertake an extensive Australian tour which took them to Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra which was a great success with a lot of the gigs sold out!

On the 19th April 2012, the band attended The Savoy cimema for the world premier of their film “Please Don’t Stop” which tells the full story of the bands 30 years together. The film was made by three friends of the band; Paul Andrews, Daragh Murphy and Ronan Quinn and it received a standing ovation at the end. A DVD of this movie is being released in September 2012!

The following day, 20th April 2012, their album “Nudie Books and Frenchies” was released on the E.M.I. label and went straight in at No. 1 in the Irish charts! Not only did the fans like the album, but the critics described it as one of Aslan’s best albums to date and it received rave reviews across the board.

Towards the end of 2012, Christy was admitted to hospital with a chest infection. Little did anyone know but Christy had cancer which was blood cancer, amalydosis, which was attacking his heart. He was transferred to Beaumont hospital where a pacemaker was fitted and more tests could be done. It looked like the end for Aslan.

In June 2013, A Night For Christy was organised in the Olympia Theatre which Christy attended. The vibe for the night was that all the acts had to perform an Aslan song. Such was the demand from acts that Aslan could have done a week in the Olympia. The list of acts that performed were Paul Brady, Danny from The Coronas, Gavin Friday, Bressie, Riptide Movement, Horslips, Jedward, Steve Wall, Tom Dunne, Don Mescall, Mary Black, ORB, Kiera Dignam, Gavin James, Ryan Sheridan, Damien Dempsey & U2.

U2 recorded a video from New York of them performing Aslan’s “This Is” which nobody expected them to do. Big thanks to Guggi who was MC on the night and had a big part in getting U2 on board. The night ended with Christy doing Crazy World.
In February 2014, Aslan released a live album “30” which was recorded over 2 nights in the Olympia Theatre to celebrate the band being together 30 years. After a year of no Aslan gigs, Christy received the news that he was in a type of remission. He wanted to do a gig and the band booked the Olympia Theatre for the 30th May. This gig sold out in 7 minutes and a second was added which also sold out. Aslan were BACK and added a 3rd gig in the INEC in Killarney.

Aslan are playing the Vicar st Dec 27th and will be returning to Germany to play their first gig outside of Ireland since Christy’s return to the stage. They’re be playing The Paddock Club in Frankfurt Hann, Germany.

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Doors: 7:30pm
ID Required
Neat Dress Essential