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Irish Examiner
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Oasis, Abba, Bono and more: What it's like to play in one of Ireland's top tribute acts
For James Bermingham, it was a question of Faith; that, and the other albums. Matt Houlihan has become something of a Super Trouper. Derek Power found what he was looking for, and as for Gavin Fleming, well, he's feeling Supersonic. Is it even better than the real thing? Definitely? Maybe. Just ask some of the members of tribute bands who this weekend — almost every weekend — are playing shows to people up and down the country, and sometimes overseas. According to Gavin Fleming, electrical engineer and marathon runner by day, but who turns into Liam Gallagher at the weekends, 'I know some people look at tribute bands as a bit 'cruise ship', but our fans would say different — I psyche myself up, it's raw, you get into the zone, and the day you lose that, you should give it up'. There's not much chance of that these days, with Live Forever, the Oasis tribute band fronted by Gavin, playing shows to audiences already hyped by the prospect of the real Liam and Noel Gallagher getting back together again and playing a string of mega shows, including two nights in Croke Park this August. The re-formed Mancunians taking to the stage for the first time in more than 15 years has provided a boost to Live Forever, just one of a number of tribute acts who in some peculiar, opaque way, seem to become something beyond a facsimile of another group. Often, the whole enterprise takes on a life of its own. 'I'm a passionate person, to put it mildly,' says Gavin, who is from Dublin. A self-described 'Oasis fanatic', he had no experience of music when he won a karaoke competition in the Swallows pub in his native Clondalkin, which led to him teaming up with Paul, aka Noel, and the other members to hone what they describe as the 'definitive' Oasis experience. And while the band still work regular jobs, it means that every weekend, they are cranking up both the volume and the attitude to appreciative audiences who may even like the odd obscure B-side being dropped into the setlist. 'It's what they represent,' Gavin says of Oasis, sounding like a true believer. 'They are the band that defined an era, they are saying you can still get through this, it's the way out, it's the Irishness, it's that punching the air thing...' YOU GOTTA HAVE FAITH James Bermingham as George Michael: 'I'm so passionate about George's music, I fell into the role,' he says. 'It was like a hand in glove.' James Bermingham knows the feeling. Another Dub, he was a taxi driver whose livelihood took a huge hit in the economic crash, ultimately pushing him towards his passion for the work of George Michael. A trained musician, James had been a pop fan since his childhood, but it was the album Faith which propelled his own particular obsession. 'I couldn't get work for love or money so I said I would go back to my first love,' James says of the recession years. 'I gave it a proper go. In 2011, I did my first show, I did the solo circuit in pubs and clubs, from there on in it accelerated, I got better with the feedback. You're programming yourself to be someone. It can be a pseudo science, and I applied those techniques to the tribute thing.' According to Robbie Lee, the Svengali behind James is 'the head off George Michael', yet James himself says that he focused first on the voice, and then later on the appearance, the mannerisms. He even took a kind of method acting approach, finding that on listening to George's old media interviews, if he replicated George's English accent when speaking, it helped with his impressive vocal delivery. 'I'm so passionate about George's music, I fell into the role,' he says. 'It was like a hand in glove.' James Bermingham as George Michael: 'It is a privilege, to replicate someone who has been adored for decades and who is a timeless artist.' Yet that doesn't mean that it did not take a whole pile of work to get to the point where being George Michael is now his full-time profession. As James points out, George had a relatively small back catalogue, even including the Wham! era — 'it was quality over quantity'. It means he had to nail every number so he can mix up the setlist. Evidently, it's working: when we speak, he is gearing up for a main slot at the prestigious summer festival dedicated to George in his home suburb of Goring in London. It surely helps that George's appeal is far from dimming and if anything, is growing among younger fans. 'My eldest daughter is 25, they love the '80s, they are crazy about the '80s,' James says. 'Her old classmates, they love Wham!, Duran Duran ... I'm 51 myself, and there was something magical about the '80s that was probably on a par with the '60s, it was a magical decade.' It might say something that the ever-brilliant RnaG radio show An Taobh Tuathail, presented by Cian Ó'Cíobháin, recently finished its Friday night electronic/club show with the relatively obscure Wham! cut Nothing Looks the Same in the Light. James is delighted with this news. 'What I do when I find myself down and out sometimes is to never take it for granted,' he says. 'It is a privilege, to replicate someone who has been adored for decades and who is a timeless artist.' A PERSONAL WATERLOO Abbaesque, Matt Houlihan as Benny, top left: 'They are amazing songs, they are arranged beautifully. It's not Leonard Cohen or Rage Against The Machine but they are so well crafted." Photo: Gareth Chaney For Matt Houlihan, the story was a little different. 'No, I was not [a fan], I will admit,' he says of Swedish pop legends Abba. Which, given he is Benny in the ultra-successful group Abbaesque, may have proved an issue. 'I had pretensions to be a serious musician back then, I had a future ahead of me of rock stardom and Glastonbury and all that kind of stuff and Abba was not on my radar at all.' Born in England, raised in Clonmel, and a self-declared funk fan, being Benny was initially a bit of a challenge. 'For a few years I didn't like that fact that I was doing it,' he continues. 'I remember being in a bar in New York with my wife-to-be and sitting down talking to this fella and he was all about music and my wife said 'my husband plays music' and I started kicking her leg under the table. "The band was Abbaesque, for whom Matt has played for approximately 25 years. 'I can still remember his name — Ramon. And he said, 'oh man, that's so bad, I feel so bad for you.'' It is safe to say those feelings don't linger these days. 'Now, I love it,' Matt says. 'They are amazing songs, they are arranged beautifully. It's not Leonard Cohen or Rage Against The Machine but they are so well crafted. They're about love and innocence. We get audiences from infant to 90 years old, and the division of the sexes has changed a lot — there are more un-ironic male fans coming to the gigs, and that was never was the case before.' Matt denies he had a Damascene moment where he ultimately embraced his role in what is a hugely successful enterprise, playing in an acclaimed band with its own dedicated following, but he does recall sharing a cigarette outside a club as he turned 50 with another musician. 'I said 'look at me, I'm wearing a wig, putting on high heels, acting like a twat on stage — what the fuck am I doing?' And she said: 'look at you, you're wearing a wig, putting on high heels, you're dancing around a stage for a living... And I said 'you're right'.There are worse ways to make a living.' FINDING WHAT HE'S LOOKING FOR Derek Power, in his former role as Bono: 'It takes a lot of work — it goes from really low to really high, it takes a lot of power.' If Derek Power ever sold his soul, it was in the services of U2, more specifically his role as Bono for many years in the Joshua Tree. Now retired from wearing the shades, and happily living in Tenerife, Derek's introduction to U2 was the classic War album, though his favourite is Achtung Baby. 'Bono has a distinctive vocal,' he says of the artist formally known as Paul Hewson. 'It takes a lot of work — it goes from really low to really high, it takes a lot of power.' That range is something he mastered over the years, but he admits that when it comes to emulating Ireland's greatest ever band, there are some downsides. 'Everybody hates Bono,' he says with a laugh. 'Now, if I did it in mainland Europe, I'd make a fortune but in Ireland, it's marmite, people like him or people don't.' Derek met Bono once, and found him to be absolutely charming. Gavin has met Liam, and had a similar encounter. Robbie Lee, who first set up the tribute bands website way back in 1998, is convinced that the musicians are all invested in what they do. He recalls a time when Live Forever were doing a show and Gavin had been preparing for a marathon, meaning his on-stage pint — always more of a prop in any case — was non-alcoholic. 'The publican says, 'you'd know he wasn't drinking.'' Gavin chuckles at this, and adds that Liam himself doesn't drink these days. In fact, Liam is looking and sounding as good as ever, and as for a metamorphosis, it's arguable that anyone who listens to Colombia at high enough volume will end the song at least 20% Liam and feeling biblical. So Oasis are very much here, but according to Robbie Lee, there can be a risk in the tribute scene when it comes to an act who has passed on, as their profile starts to slip away. LIVING THE DREAM Live Forever, the Oasis tribute band. Picture: Emily Quinn Yet given the appetite for tribute acts, it seems the scene is as robust as ever, particularly in an era where the traditional pathway for an original band — demo, radio airplay, short-term deal with a label, potential stardom — seems a relic of another era. 'I'm not as factional as when I was a kid,' Matt says, sounding like someone who misses the era where you were almost defined as much by what bands you didn't like as those you did. He is not the only interviewee to remark that these days, how you fare on social media, and particularly TikTok, is as likely to be a bellwether for future career prospects as a spin on a radio show. Derek wonders whether a modern day U2 would make it as a far as album three or four, while James remarks that today, thanks to the internet, everything is effectively available all the time, instantly: 'You have multifaceted trends happening at the same time.' There we were, now here we are. Are we in danger of drowning in a sea of nostalgia? According to Gavin, absolutely not. 'The biggest rock and roll comeback of all time is coming,' he says with relish. Live Forever will be 15 years on the go by next January. 'We always play it down but the people who come to our show, they're supporters of the band, and they say 'you constantly deliver'. I think we are more than a tribute band … we are normal working class lads out living a dream.' Music can always exert its strange power. James Bermingham recalls the time he played a gig in a place near Sydney, Australia. 'We did a venue where the promoter forgot to promote the show, and the warm-up act was a thrash metal band, and I said 'how am I going to do this?' The other band said to try George's song Freedom 90. I went up and did that song with them, they stayed on for my set, it was all pop and glam, and those fans who were there for the death metal band stayed for the full hour of my set. Careless Whisper... they knew that song inside out.' Live Forever will play Whelans Dublin from 2pm before Oasis take the stage in Croke Park on August 16 and 17. Tickets from Abbaesque play Gleneagle Arena, Kerry on August 9 and Dolan's Warehouse, Limerick on September 20. Tickets from The Ultimate George Michael Tribute performs at Palmerstown House Estate, Kildare on July 25. Tickets from Read More Tom Dunne: Bruce Springsteen gives us an early Christmas gift
Forbes
29-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch Unveils Final Design: First Look Inside The Stylish New East London Destination
Virgin Hotels Shoreditch, London Virgin Hotels Collection 'I suspect we should have chosen London 40 years ago when we launched Virgin Atlantic but we didn't have the resources to open an airline, film company and hotel company at the same time. Now we've decided to open a number of hotels in London so that passengers who fly on Virgin Atlantic can continue their experience in the way they've been looked after on our planes.' Sir Richard Branson The first property in London for Virgin Hotels Collection was officially opened this week by Sir Richard Branson and CEO of Virgin Hotels, James Bermingham. Following a soft launch last August, the hotel has undergone a phased transformation with suites, a listening room and rooftop pool added to complete the luxury offering. Located in east London's Shoreditch, the 120-bedroom hotel also has 14 suites and a glorious rooftop pool. And, Hidden Grooves, a brand-new hi-fi listening bar pays homage to Virgin's musical roots, featuring a studio-album-themed cocktail menu, light bites and an extensive vinyl collection. The opening marks the eighth property for Virgin Hotels Collection. The flagship property is in New York with five others in the United States, including Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Nashville and New Orleans. In the UK, London joins and Edinburgh and soon to open, Glasgow. Hidden Grooves at Virgin Hotels London Virgin Hotels Designed by Richard Branson himself, who insists that 'vinyl sounds better' than digital music, Hidden Grooves, the hotel's brand new hi-fi listening bar, is a first for the hotel group. Taking cues from Japanese listening bars, the concept celebrates the golden era of vinyl and draws inspiration from Virgin Records' roots, honoring Richard Branson's iconic music legacy. The cozy bar resembles a chic 1970s lounge, featuring retro furnishings and curated music memorabilia that reflect the brand's early days. Richard Branson at the new Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch. Professional Images/@ProfImages 'It's a tribute to Virgin's music roots,' said Branson. 'We built our name on records – now inside our beautiful new hotel, we've built a space where people can enjoy them again. Who also doesn't remember visiting a Virgin Megastore and listening to the music before choosing which album to buy? This is exactly what I wanted to recreate with Hidden Grooves.' At the 38-seat venue, guests can explore a vast selection of music, from rare finds to timeless classics, played through the highest quality sound systems designed by London-based Project Audio. There's even a turntable in one corner where guests can choose their own vinyl to play. To complement the music, the hotel offers album-themed cocktails and bites. A range of weekly entertainment and vinyl sessions are an additional reason to drop in. A suite at Virgin Hotels London Virgin Hotels Collection Lynne Hunt London (LHL), together with Virgin Hotels' in-house design team, have created a bold and contemporary new design for its Premier Suites and Sir Richard's Penthouse Flat (also available to stay in). The guestrooms and suites pay homage to the vibrant spirit of the 1970s, when the Virgin brand was established and today's buzzy Shoreditch, famous for its cafes, bars and the rise of the YBAs (young British artists) like Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas and Tracey Emin. The spacious suites feature an eclectic palette of rust, olive green, pale blue, and cream, with fabrics like boucle, velvet and leather. Hollywood-style orange mirrors, carefully selected artwork and painted brick walls lend a contemporary feel. Enhancing the suites are cosy sofas, velvet armchairs and custom-designed burl oak furniture and Virgin Hotels' super comfortable, patented beds. Hotel guests can use the innovative Lucy app which allows a fully digital check in but rest assured, a traditional check in with the friendly staff is also available. A rooftop bar and Marlin's on the Roof restaurant are on the seventh floor, along with a lovely petite swimming pool, heated to 28 degrees all year round. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the bright rooftop restaurant which serves a modern mediterranean menu. A chic new signature restaurant on the lower ground floor will open later this spring. Getting to Shoreditch from London Heathrow is a short trip on the new Elizabeth Line. A double room at Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch is from £300 per night. Members of Virgin Red – Virgin's rewards club – can pay with Virgin Points for Reward Stays at Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch. For a limited time, weekend Reward Stays start from just 45,000 Virgin Points per night.
The Independent
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Richard Branson says opening of first Virgin hotel in London ‘really special'
Sir Richard Branson said it 'feels really special' as he officially opened Virgin's first hotel in London. The 74-year-old founder of the Virgin Group drove a giant red suitcase to the new location at 45 Curtain Road in Shoreditch on Tuesday morning, more than five decades after the opening of his first shop in the capital. 'I'm absolutely delighted to celebrate the grand opening of Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch', he said. 'It's a beautiful hotel in the heart of the capital. 'It's fantastic that, when travellers step off our planes in London, they now have somewhere to rest their head and the wonderful Virgin experience continues. 'London is where we started Virgin more than 50 years ago, and it feels really special to mark the opening of our first hotel here. 'Virgin Hotels was built on the idea of doing things differently, and Shoreditch is a perfect reflection of that spirit.' Virgin Hotels, the Virgin Group's luxury lifestyle hospitality brand, announced its first hotel in the capital in June 2024. The company took over the Mondrian Shoreditch hotel and kept it open while completing a phased transformation between August 2024 and April this year. The newly-completed 120-bed hotel boasts a rooftop pool, a private gym, treatment rooms and rooftop club. There is also a rooftop Mediterranean-style restaurant called Marlin's On The Roof, with another restaurant due to open later in the spring. A 38-seat bar called Hidden Grooves provides a retro '70s-style setting complete with album-themed cocktails, weekly vinyl sessions and music memorabilia that serves as a nod to the early days of the Virgin Records label. The first Virgin record shop opened in London in 1971 and, two years later, the business had burgeoned into a record label, a recording studio, a music publisher and an export operation. James Bermingham, chief executive of Virgin Hotels Collection, said London is 'the birthplace of all things Virgin, where Richard started everything'. 'It's a very important market for us,' he added. Since its formation in 2010, Virgin Hotels has opened sites in Edinburgh, Glasgow, New Orleans, Nashville, Las Vegas, New York, Dallas and Chicago, with openings in Miami and Denver planned for 2026. Rates at the London-Shoreditch hotel start from £300 per room per night.
