The Tatty Tenors' Fourth World Tour

starts in Melbourne 15 August, 8pm, at Southgate

at P.J.O'Brien's 

(just by the main entrance to Southgate)

BOOKINGS essential: online or by phoning Bob on 03 9898 2900

Never heard of the Tatty Tenors? 

Their back story, a prelude to the swelling scene.....

In mid-1996, the Irish-born Parish Priest of St John’s Wood Parish, in the inner West of Queensland’s capital Brisbane, was returning to Ireland for a holiday. Three members of the congregation were asked to sing the" Irish Blessing" at an open air Mass to farewell the priest.

The response of the congregation to this spontaneous outburst of song was such that it was decided that another opportunity needed to be found to unleash the talents of the three singers, Ralph Devlin, Jim Ahern and Ron Jackson, on an unsuspecting public.

That opportunity came in October 1996 when the singers were asked to make their concert debut, accompanied by the Royal Artillery Band, at a fundraising open air dinner, known as "Music in the Moonlight" at Brisbane’s historic Glenlyon House.  "Music" as it is affectionately known, continues to be one of the best known social events in Brisbane. Over 600 people attend the dinner each year, to hear the music of the Royal Artillery Band, Brisbane.

A name for the new group had to be found and after one patron commented on the “shoddy” state of the tenors well worn “white ties and tails” The Tatty Tenors were born.

As they grew into their roles, Jim Ahern, from Ballyhooly (Cork Co.) and as large as Pavarotti, was required to grow a beard and carry a hanky with him at all times. Thus, "Big Luci" as he is affectionately known, became a reality. As it was considered that Ron Jackson bore an uncanny resemblance to Placido Domingo, Ralph Devlin got the only role that was left - Jose Carreras.  Once they climbed into their white tie and tails, even they started to believe their own publicity!

Jim, Ron and Ralph were all experienced singers, but from different singing backgrounds. Jim hailed from a very large and musical family in Ireland, but had only exercised his tonsils in the local pub after a Rugby game.  Ron Jackson was from the "Barber Shop" tradition.  Ralph Devlin was perhaps the most experienced performer of the three, having performed for over twenty years, principally in Gilbert & Sullivan operettas.  But that didn't stop them, they brushed up on their Italian and Spanish, and have been in constant demand ever since!

Ted Chapman was another school parent who saw them perform at the first "Music". He approached the Tatty's with an offer they couldn't refuse - Ted had been a professional musician in another life and promised to brush up his prodigious skills on the piano if the Tatty's promised to let him play the role of Zuhben Mehta.  Ted has been tickling the ivories for the Tatty's ever since.  Apart from the fact that he hates playing "Granada" and " La Danza" after he's had a few drinks, Ted has very few complaints.

The Tatty Tenors have given hundreds of performances in the fifteen years they have been together with Australian highlights being appearances at the "Outback Muster” at Longreach for the Stockman’s Hall of Fame and at the Ingham Australian-Italian Festival. Their performances have ranged from a performance at the Governor of Queensland’s Dinner to an appearance before 2,500 people in the main street of Ingham. They have appeared throughout Australia, but mainly in Queensland.

They have performed internationally, at the James Joyce Festival in Ireland and at one of the most historic theatres in Europe, the Manoel Theatre in Malta.  – Their “First World Tour” was  in 2004 – to Ireland and Malta, to name just two.  Their “Second World Tour” was to Melbourne in 2005, where they played to packed houses (60 seats) for a week, in a reprise of their Dublin triumph the previous year.  Now, after a merciful gap of 6 years, their “Third World Tour” took them to beautiful Belgium, and Flanders Fields as guests of the Australian Embassy in Europe to perform for http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=28303 Day in 2011. Their next major gig is for the opening of the Australian Surf Titles in South Australia.

Why are they wearing Cameron Highlander rig?  The ceremony in Flanders honoured the Scots brigades in Flanders, as well as the Australians & New Zealanders. The band that accompanied them was the Passchendaele 1917 Pipe Band.

What will they sing?

Their repertoire is broad but for Bloomsday, it's the Irish - trad and stage - that they will sing, with a little of their trademark Italian (a sop to Joyce's formative years being spent in Italy) thrown in for good measure.  They have promised to repirse the songs they sang for Her Song be Sung (Dublin 2004)/ Her Singtime Sung (Melbourne 2005). These boys are good fun, and talented.  

Why P.J.O'Brien's?

P.J.'s, the REAL Irish pub (there are a few more like The Snug in Brunswick!), has in 2012 proudly enrolled as one of Bloomsday's sponsors and offered to provide a venue for us. They join the ranks of just a handful of corporate sponsors (including the Celtic Club, ever generous to us, the Irish Embassy (ditto) and Deakin University). We are proud to have them all as sponsors and donors. 

The performing space in this venue is tiny, and the Tattys fit perfectly. So, when the boys offered to come at their own expense, and P.J.'s started making the mini-Guinness pies and similar canapés, we could but agree it was a super idea.

P.J.'s is a warm and welcoming refuge from the winter blasts. Come early and bring your friends.

BLOOMSDAY's plans for its TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY season

will be announced on the night. And very exciting they are!  

BOOKINGS: 

ONLINE, or by phoning Bob (03 9898 2900)