From ‘Tango to Twist’ new book featuring Offaly showbands

A number of showbands from Offaly feature in a new publication called From Tango to Twist.

The book is an almanac of 20th century Irish dance-bands and showbands.

There is lots of content about bands from Offaly (Tullamore, Ferbane, Edenderry, Clara) and the midlands including the Agents, Fairways, Crackaways, Playmates, Countrymen, Assassins, Concords, Houston, Royal Aces, Safaris, Central 7, Evergreens, Eamonn Robinson, etc. along with many Offaly venues featured in some of the vintage adverts.

A hardback, with 336 pages it is packed with photographs of 865 different Irish bands from every corner of the island (most with bio and a list of personnel), 160 vintage dancing and music cuttings, and selected discographies for all bands who recorded. The book includes a 12-page index with 1,500 entries including bands, towns, villages and singers or featured artistes.

The ultimate reference book for those with an interest in the social history of Ireland or an ideal gift for a relative who may have played in a dance-band or showband or one who just enjoyed dancing. There are roughly 5,000 musicians’ faces in the book so he or she might even be in there.

The author, Francis K. Beirne, himself toured as a showband musician and has been collecting press cuttings, magazines, records, photographs and memorabilia since he was a teenager.

He has had articles on the subject published in various publications including the Irish Independent, Ireland’s Own (three different series), Senior Times, the Irish Post and Irish-America Monthly. He was a consultant for the RTE series ‘A Little Bit Showband’ and the 2005 TV film, ‘Showbands’. He founded the irishshowbands.net web archive in 2002.

Books may be pre-ordered at www.thebookshop.ie.