Friday 23rd September – Orlagh’s Fest, Irish Centre, York Road, Leeds
On the 22nd September 2010, aged 21 months, after a 5 and a half week battle with meningitis, Orlagh Windle passed away. She spent five of those weeks on the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the LGI where a fabulous set of staff took such good care of her. To say thanks and to help other children and families who find themselves in need of their care, Orlagh’s family would like to raise enough money to buy a much needed machine for the PICU.
In addition to helping the PICU, Orlagh’s family also took the brave and commendable decision to help other parents and their young children by donating Orlagh’s organs for transplant, and last Christmas eve found out that two of Orlagh’s heart valves had indeed saved a young life as they had been transplanted into a the heart of a young boy. “It’s nice to know she has saved someone’s life. Someone who she never met has been affected by her.” – Phil Windle (from YEP)
To mark the anniversary of Orlagh’s passing, Emma McPartlan, along with Orlagh’s parents Clare & Phil Windle are holding a fundraising concert with all proceeds going to the PICU. Orlagh’s Fest is packed full amazing of amazing live music to celebrate the life of a cheeky, chatty, energetic little girl.
The line-up for the night is, in no small part due to Emma McPartlan’s drive and enthusiasm to draw attention to and raise money for this worthy cause. Clare and Phil Windle, with Emma have been exemplary champions for both the cause and the event, and have moved the musicians to get involved and play this one night celebration of Orlagh’s life to raise this much needed money. Full of Cuckoo’s Fest faithfuls (Emma runs Acoustic Revolution regularly at the Adelphi, as well as the ace Cuckoos Fest), Orlagh’s Fest boasts some of the finest talent that calls Leeds “Home” including: Gary Stewart, Ryan Spendlove, Rosie Doonan, Laura J Martin, Hope and Social & Middleman (more on the performers below).
Orlagh’s Fest is on the 23rd September, at Leeds’ Irish Centre, York Road. Tickets cost £10 and are available from the Irish Centre (0113 248 0887) and by phone or online at Crash Records (0113 243 6743). For more information about Orlagh’s Fest visit the Facebook event page. Get yourselves there if you can, and if you can’t, simply donate to the cause here or here.
More on the performers:
Gary Stewart & Friends – *full disclosure – I play with Gary*. Gary’s been describes as like a “Michael Stipe with a Scottish burr” but that only does our diminutive Gary part justice. With all the fingerpicking goodness of Paul Simon, and the warmth of camp-fire singalongs, you can hear Gary’s “In the Pines” here.
Ryan Spendlove – With an acoustic guitar and voice to envy, Ryan purveys the finest tunes paying homage to a blues and folk heritage. From the delicate and heartfelt “The Bottom Line” through the hard slide guitar riffs of “Pretty Polly“, Ryan Spendlove is a powerful performer.
Rosie Doonan – Hailing from Wakefield, Rosie has a voice a shade sweeter than Joni, while retaining the soulfulness. Words won’t do Rosie justice, so have a look at moving pictures and sound here. Just gorgeous.
Laura J Martin – Beautifully left of centre. If Bjork did folk, she’s most likely duet with Laura. The Hangman Tree video on Youtube is as charming as the song it accompanies. You can find Laura on Twitter here.
Hope and Social – *Conflict of interests declaration – I’m in this band*. We’ll play some music.
Middleman – Headlining the night are the amazing Middleman. Bounding with energy and with delivery as pinpoint sharp as the social commentary in their lyrics (as this video will attest), Middleman are just great.
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