"THREE Cork students are planning to hold a charity rock concert in a city-centre pub later this month.
Vikki Peters, a student at St Colman's Community College, Midleton, Amy Stuart who attends Mayfield Community College and Sinéad O'Leary, a pupil at Ursilines Cork, are organising the music event, which will take place in Cyprus Avenue, Caroline Street,on Sunday, July 22nd, with all the proceeds going to the Irish Cancer Society.
The trio, who first met in the Peace Park in Cork city, have a common experience which was the inspiration for the charity gig - all three have lost somebody close to cancer.
"My Uncle David Philp, an Irishman who lived in Middlesborough in the UK, passed away last October from Prostate cancer. He was a kind of father figure to me, and Mums best friend's husband," says Vikki, adding that Amy Stuart lost her 17-year-old friend, Linda Kelly to leukaemia in March 2006. "Sinéad's grandfather, Joesph Browne, passed away from lung cancer before she was born so she never got to meet him."
But the rock concert idea might have never come about if, six weeks ago, Vikki's mother hadn't refused her permission to shave her head.
"I was thinking about cancer one day, and about my Uncle, and i asked my Mum if i raise money by shaving my own head, and she said no," says Vikki, who explains that this disappointment fuelled a conversation with Amy and Sinéad about what they could do to raise funds. "I can't recall whose idea it was the rock concert was, but all of us came up with the notion of getting bands involved."
Lining up five bands to perform free of charge, took the girls all of three days. They secured Red Enemy, a Dublin rock band who will headline the event, because Vikki is friendly with the bassist Joe Panama, while Wexford band Chaka came through Sinéad knowing the lead guitairst, Seán Cahill. Vikki had a contact number for Alan Grouse, guitarist and singer with Spare from County Clare, so they came on board.
"We set up a page on Bebo, and Evan Prendergast, the drummer with Mantra, a Kilkenny band, contacted us. He's been a saint to us, promising the Irish Cancer Society all sales of his albums on the day. We also emailed John Doyle of Is Risen, a Cork band, and they've said they'd be privileged to do the concert."
However, finding a venue proved a much more difficult task. "Most people aren't interested in teenagers and rock concerts," says Vikki, adding that a suggestion to approach Cyprus Avenue bore fruit. "The manager was brilliant about it and gave us lots of advice about running the concert."
Billed as a mini Live Aid event, which will run for six or seven hours from 1pm on Sunday, July 22nd, willing volunteers will also have their legs waxed and their heads shaven, while some people have agreed to turn up in drag. Head-shaving will be carried out by Matthew Kenneally, a trainee hairdresser in the College of Commerce, who is offering his services free. Admitting that they'll need to get in plenty of practice beforehand, the girls themselves will be doing the leg-waxing.
Entry to the event costs 10euro. Anybody wishing to sponsor accommodation for the bands, as well as security, should contact 086 8848 723."

http://Irish-Cancer-Society.bebo.com
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Catch up Time....

Ok So we've been pretty busy lately since the release of the album we have been gigging an awful lot,Definatly more than we should be for our age ha.It came to my attention that since our 1st gig on Oct 13th 06 we have NEVER once been gigless.We've been on the move with gigs since the very first one,and now that we have gigs starting to book past thatdate for 07 (Watergate on the 31st) This means we will have never been gigless for a full  Year which is just fucking crazy!

I think for me that the past few months have really shown me that people outside kilkenny are taking a genuine intrest in us especially with the album out which is more than what we asked for,To be honest i dont think any of us really had an idea what the album would do for us.I guess we just thought ok itl be alot better recording than what we had at the time,And now weve had tracks played on american radio and not to mention a few irish podcasts.And at times we can even see people singing along to the songs that are not on myspace and get every word right! Shows there actually listening and taking us seriously

ALSO!

now that i have booked us gigs in the october mark it is official we have done a FULL YEAR of gigs! there was NEVER one point since our very first gig in oct 06 did we not have a gig!......Not to shabby eh???

Thanks so much

Evan