05/07/2013

Kevin Barry is the author of the short story collections ‘There Are Little Kingdoms’ (Stinging Fly Press) and ‘Dark Lies the Island’ (Vintage).His novel ‘City of Bohane’ (Vintage) has just received the 2013 International Dublin Literary Award. Kevin’s also the editor of ‘Town and Country: New Irish Short Stories’ (Faber)”. He reads a piece specially written for The Verb, ‘The Slow Days’, about the times when you just can’t write.

Kevin Barry

The musician Michael Bradley played bass in seminal Derry band ‘The Undertones’ – he’s now a broadcaster and presents Pure Culture on BBC Radio Foyle. Michael explores his relationship with the song ‘Danny Boy’, also known as the ‘Londonderry Air’, which celebrates its centenary this year.

Pure Culture

Gerry Diver is the producer and sound artist behind the Mercury prize nominated ‘Speech Project’ (One Fine Day Records), music inspired by and incorporating interviews with Irish folk musicians. Gerry visited Barry McGuigan to record memories of his father Pat McGuigan, singing ‘Danny Boy’ before his 1985 WBA featherweight championship match. This interview is the inspiration for a specially commissioned piece of sound art called ‘A Father’s Anthem’ 

Gerry Diver's Website

Gerry Diver's Twitter

SOAK, aka Bridie Monds-Watson is a Derry based singer-songwriter who has released two EPS and performed at the launch of the City of Culture, all before her 17th birthday. For The Verb, SOAK performs two of her intimate and powerful songs, ‘Sea Creatures’ and ‘Cells’.

Her forthcoming EP is called ‘Blud’.

SOAK's Website

SOAK's Twitter