Gerarda McCann

Slippin’ and slidin’ in the Old Regal, Enniskillen: Linley Hamilton, above, left-to-right (Paul Maguire behind), Bob Quick (Aidan Dunphy to the rear), Gerarda McCann, Ken Murphy.

Launching the Fermanagh Live Arts Festival the Bob Quick band, a modern mainstream-straightahead combo, saw Paul Maguire from the Omagh scene excel on guitar, he reminded me of Nigel Mooney in terms of skill and taste, and positioned in front of him Linley Hamilton from Belfast on trumpet was on fine form joining Omagh’s Bob Quick (think the sound of JJ Johnson) on trombone in the front line. With Ken Murphy from the Dublin scene on bass, Aidan Dunphy from the Omagh scene on drums and Omagh singer Gerarda McCann (who reminds me a little of Derry singer Ursula McHugh) completed the line-up as featured singer and she shone. Easy highlight was McCann’s superb rendition of the Bergmans-Michel Legrand classic What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?’ SG pic marlbank Fermanagh Live runs from 2-10 October.