The 5th year in the running 'The secret song festival' was supposed to happen last year but for obvious reasons it didn't go ahead. Having been crowned ‘IMRO Music Venue of the Year’ for Munster, it holds a capacity of 40 people and now it will host a number of Artists to play virtually and individually. The format it would usually take is numerous musicians varying from well established artists to less well known play and are kept a mystery until the day itself,all taking place on one day. This year however it is broken up over 2 days with 10 artists, and its available to watch online. This year the secret song festival has teamed up with a festival in Canada called 'The Calgary Folk festival'. With the intention of each of the two festivals exchanging footage of one of the other festivals set. The festival takes place next Weekend and tickets are available here://leviscornerhouse.bandcamp.com/merch

One Hundred and seventy six years ago a young African American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass, sailed from America to Ireland for a four month lecture tour. Amongst other places, he visited Cork where he spoke to a large, enthusiastic, audience. To honour his legacy, Douglass Week (February 8th to 14th) a multi-disciplinary, collaborative event has been organised, and Nano Nagle Place in Cork City will host a number of them to help strengthen his connection to the city. Paul Oakley Stovall, who played George Washington in the first national tour of Hamilton is in Cork to help celebrate Douglass Week and will visit Nano Nagle Place to join in a series of events and workshops organised in partnership with the Cork Migrant Centre. “I am particularly thrilled with the opportunity that has been presented to me to meet people like Junior and his friends and colleagues in Cork Migrant Centre and Nano Nagle Place. It was the unexpected icing on this wonderful cake. Frederick Douglass is not only significant for black people in America, he has continued to bring people together for nearly 200 years. It’s quite exciting for me to be forming a bond with Junior and Nano Nagle Place and Cork Migrant Centre. In the end, its’s one of the more unexpected bonuses of this whole experience.” Junior, a spoken work artist and rapper from Cork, is one of those who’s mentoring young people in Nano Nagle Place. He says he is “aware that an open mind is key for a successful and progressive society, we hope that our creative baby steps will eventually become giant strides that will inspire others. The focus on the Cork Migrant Centre is to educate and enable the youth we work with.” Junior also works to help develop structures to raise racial awareness in the Irish education system. Cork Migrant Centre and Nano Nagle Place will be hosting four events during Frederick Douglas Week: The Inspiration Series on Wednesday 10th where a panel of established artists, such as Paul Stovall, will be present, hosted by Youth Mentors, Stevie G and Raphael Olympio. Teaching Douglass and Decolonising the Curriculum on Thursday 11th , a roundtable event with Dr Naomi Masheti, Douglass’s 18th Century to 21st Century Cork which will showcase mentors from the Cork Migrant Centre speaking about their inspiration and the work they have created as part of Douglass Week and I Am Remarkable, a webinar series which will serve to highlight and promote the positive narratives of black people in Ireland.For more information about the event visit : https://nanonagleplace.ie/nanoevents/douglass-week-curating-activism-roundtable/

The future of a worthy animal charity which offers homes to unwanted racing greyhounds is secure thanks to a significant donation from Maxi Zoo Ireland. In a year that has pushed charities to the brink, Maxi Zoo, Ireland’s largest pet retailer, has given a critical lifeline to Homes for Unwanted Greyhounds (HUG) through its Friendship Connects campaign which was run throughout its 20 stores nationwide. HUG is a national charity that provides loving homes for the gentle giants of the canine world - greyhounds that have been bred for racing and retired young due to injury or underperformance which would otherwise be destroyed. Through Maxi Zoo’s Friendship Connects campaign, over €27,000 was raised for the charity to secure its future which was in jeopardy and allow it to purchase a new vehicle to enable more greyhounds to be rehomed and ensure the continuance of its responsible rehoming and due diligence processes for fostering. Thankfully perception has and is changing in relation to greyhounds which were unfairly thought of as ‘hard work’ rather than being excellent pets for their gentle, affectionate and friendly nature. This is why HUG was established to cater for the speciality breed, particularly those that have been bred for racing, that deserved an equal right to a new and loving home. Maxi Zoo employee Mark Slattery from Crosshaven is himself a greyhound owner and talks about what a wonderful dog they are and how they make a great pet. If you would like to adopt a four legged friend visit: https://homesforunwantedgreyhounds.ie/

Micheal tells us about the collective which includes artists: John Blek, Anna Mitchell, Rowan, Kevin Herron and Marlene Enright, all of whom are great singer songwriters in their own merit. However they have now joined up with the collective on order to reinterpret songs about Love, Loss and grief. All in the name of charity. Anna's song which was originally recorded by Beth Gibbons of Portishead and Paul Webb (Rustin Man) of Talk Talk, with all the proceeds going to Cork Simon Community. It is a song which a lot of people in these current times can identify with as it is a song about loss either from losing loved ones or struggling with the changes in daily life. It is part of the forthcoming album from the collective titled 'No simple highway' If you would like to support this worth while cause visit; https://www.somerisesomefall.com/

Edel Curtin of Coughlans live music venue chats about the Live Music Collective which consists of 23 live venues around around the Country with 6 in Cork and they are: Coughlans, The Crane Lane,The Kino,De Barras, Levis Corner Store,The White Horse and Connolly's . With funding from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. 2000 people were hired taking part in 400 shows, with over 500,000 audience members engaging digitally. Having seen how much of a success those events were the venues decided to come together and support each other by applying for the funding as one group. As they all have one goal and this is to save the live music industry. Edel feels like now more than ever it is so important to support grassroots venues. If you are looking for some virtual live gigs to watch this weekend you can catch Mick Flannery live in Ballincollig at 9 O'Clock on Saturday night, the set theatre have David Kitt at 8.30 PM, and The Spirit Store have The Strypes at 8 PM. For more information on upcoming gigs visit :https://www.facebook.com/LiveVenueIre/

Cork singing star and actor Claudia Rose Long brings a modern twist to the famous Irish lament, Caoineadh Art Uí Laoghaire (Lament for Art O’Leary), in the latest episode of Scéalta Grá na hÉireann. Claudia gives a powerful performance as Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill who composed the Caoineadh over 200 years ago expressing her love and passion for Cork hero and legend, Art Ó Laoghaire. Claudia worked with Cork composer Darren Sheahan and musicologist Nóirín Ní Riain to re-imagine the ‘Caoineadh’ for a modern audience. Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill was the daughter of Máire Ní Dhonnchadha Dhuibh and Dónal Mór O'Connell. Eibhlín grew up in Derrynane house in the beautiful southwest corner of Kerry. She was the aunt of The Liberator, Daniel O'Connell. Eibhlín's mother bore 22 children with 8 daughters and 4 sons surviving. Death and lamentation were a regular part of life. Eibhlín was widowed at fifteen after marrying a much older man. At 23 she saw Art O'Laoghaire in the market square of Macroom and fell in love at first sight. Art, a Captain in the Hungarian Hussars, was an outspoken, brash young man who wore his officer's uniform in public. He rode a fine brown mare he had brought from Austria, a silver-hilted sword at his side. The ruling protestant class did not take kindly to such behaviour from a catholic living under the penal laws in 18th century Ireland. The O'Connells saw Art as unwanted trouble. Not wishing to draw attention to themselves and their smuggling activities, they forbid the marriage. Eibhlín went against her family’s wishes and eloped with Art. They were married on December 19th 1767 and returned to live with Art's father at Rathleigh House outside Macroom. There was a history of bad blood between Art and the Sheriff of Cork, Abraham Morris. Morris’ disgust and hatred for Art eventually led to the violent events that inspired Eibhlín Dubh to compose 'Caoineadh Art Uí Laoghaire'.To watch the show on playback visit: https://www.tg4.ie/en/player/play/?pid=6228071872001&title=Eibhl%C3%ADn%20Dubh%20&%20Art%20%C3%93%20Laoghaire&series=Sc%C3%A9alta%20Gr%C3%A1%20na%20h%C3%89ireann&genre=Faisneis&pcode=604369

Organised by a team made up of: Anna Butler, Rebecca O' Mahony, Isabelle Canning, David Walsh, Eadaoin Murphy and Eoin O' Reilly. If this is something that sparks your interest you can take a look at their online brochure where you will find out about the various speakers and as well as information about them. This year's theme 'changing with the times' is about how everything is changing and how businesses need to adapt with the change. Speakers include: Anne O'Leary CEO of Vodafone Ireland, Sinead Mc Sweeney Managing director of Twitter Ireland and Cian Kelleher Managing director of KPMG Ireland.There's 9 speakers in total with something to inspire everyone. For more information on how to watch this conference (at the time of streaming only) visit: https://www.ucccommerceconference.com/

Jack talks up his live set which was filmed in Cyprus Avenue in Cork city. With a diverse mix of old and new songs played, along with the assistance of his band; Hugh on Guitar, Aishling on Cello and Davy on drums. This isn't the first time he has played live since the pandemic, he has done other voices before Christmas with Such performers as; Denise Chaila,The Mary Wallopers, John Sheehan and Eimear Quinn. To watch Jack's gig from Cyrus Avenue log on to the RedFM Facebook page and find it in the video section along with performances from Brian Deady, Gavin James & Moncrieff.

Joining us from Spain, Brian talks to us ahead of the steaming of his Live gig at Cyrus Avenue at 8 PM. Listen to him play his acoustic songs on a brand new guitar.We played his new single - Great Big mystery.We also give a nodd to Alan O'Donovan of Green on Red who has been a massive supporter of Brian's music down through the years.Watch Brian's gig at: https://www.facebook.com/corksredfm/videos/863977307721263/

Chatting from Dingle, where he’s attending a song writing boot camp with Pa Sheehy of Walking on Cars and Talos, Moncrieff discusses his recently released ‘Class of 2020’ EP and says that the lockdown has given him the perfect opportunity to put write music to suit the mood of what is happening in the world right now. This year will see him putting out music of a more personal nature on his debut album. We hear his new track 'America' If you want to hear anymore of his music visit: https://www.facebook.com/MoncrieffMusic/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvB2YyMvbC-X1GxhBF8IpVQ