The Commitments announce 20th birthday gigs + The Swell Season cover Candi!

The stars of The Commitments are re-grouping next year to mark the film’s 20th anniversary.
Glen Hansard, Robert Arkins, Michael Aherne, Angeline Ball, Dave Finnegan, Bronagh Gallagher, Felim Gormley, Dick Massey, Ken McCluskey and Andrew Strong visit the Royal Theatre, Castlebar (March 14); INEC, Killarney (15); Odyssey, Belfast (17); and the O2, Dublin (19) where tickets start at €55.80. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Irish Cancer Society.
The news was announced today in Dublin’s Liberty Hall where the assembled media were treated to renditions of ‘Treat Her Right’ and ‘Mustang Sally’.
“I have been through many emotions regarding The Commitments reunion but after I met everyone in Dublin last month and we sang and played and then had a good chat about how we all felt, the decision was just there in front of us!" Gallagher says. "I was so happy to see everyone again and I believe it’s a new time and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate such a special film with all the Irish people who loved it so much too. I have life long friendships due to my involvement in it and I'm honoured to have been. With our performances next year, we aim to stimulate positivity, pride and happiness back into our beautiful country and people after the very hard road the Irish people have been on."
The only member of the cast who won’t be taking part is Maria Doyle-Kennedy who has prior acting engagements. As previously reported in Hot Press, she plays an Irish nanny in the new series of Dexter, which started last week in the States and will make it over to this side of the Atlantic in the New Year.
Meanwhile, you may want to visit [link]www.levispioneersessions.com/artists/the-swell-season[/link] where you can get a free download of Outspan and Marketa running through Candi Staton’s classic ‘Young Hearts Run Free’.