10 years of talent

The Lobby Bar in Cork, scene of many a roof-raising gig and scorching seisiun this past decade, is currently in the throes of…

The Lobby Bar in Cork, scene of many a roof-raising gig and scorching seisiun this past decade, is currently in the throes of a raucous series of celebration concerts.Staged to mark its first 10 years as a live venue, the concerts feature an astounding array of talent for a club with a capacity of just 100. Sharon Shannon, Frances Black, Mick Hanly, Scullion, Begley and Cooney and the Cafe Orchestra are among the dazzling constellation of acts lending a celestial glow to the festivities, which started on Thursday and continue every night until February 19th.While all The Lobby's celebration bashes should be worth a gander, a special mention might go to the Chris Smither show on February 18th. A critically-acclaimed American singer-songwriter, he's now a bi-annual visitor to Cork and his 1992 debut at The Lobby has entered local folk memory and remains a frequent topic of misty-eyed reminiscence among Leeside blues aficionados.