In Dublin "The Last Sunday Showcase" is a unique opportunity to listen to emerging songwriters perform their own original works. The event takes place in the wonderful, intimate setting of the Holiday Inn Dublin City Centre on the last Sunday of every month. The showcase is organised in association with IMRO. This month's showcase takes place on Sunday 26th October 2003 and will feature:- Tania Nally SJ McArdle Pat Ambrose & Brian McGowan (from Fresno) with special guest Leslie Dowdall Date: Sunday 26th October 2003 Doors: 9.00 pm Admission: €10.00 Venue: Holiday Inn Dublin City Centre 99-107 Pearse Street Dublin 2 Parking: Free underground parking available Phone: 01 670 3666 Web: www.holidayinndublincitycentre.ie PLEASE SEE BIOG INFORMATION BELOW Tania Nally Having produced her first demo only eighteen months ago, Tania Nally has made an assured start to her musical career. Her song "Summer" was nominated as one of the top one hundred songs of 2002 in the Bacardi/Hotpress Song of the Year Awards. Tania’s distinctive blending of sounds coupled with her vocal style and range together comprise a highly impressive package. In Ireland, Tania has supported both Jack L and the legendary Donovan. She recently returned from a ten month long sojourn spent in Australia honing her live act. Plans are now underway for a compilation album with other female artists entitled "Show us your Riffs" and a promotional tour will follow in early 2004. SJ McArdle www.sjmcardle.com SJ McArdle hails from Drogheda, Co. Louth and his 2003 debut album "Lancelot" received an 8 out of 10 rating from Hotpress who called it "highly intelligent and literate, yet admirably accessible....damn good". The Irish Times dubbed it "a warm, wry and sonorous debut". Presenting a skewed study of love, chivalry, duty and honour in the modern age, it is musically diverse, from cowboy surf-punk and dark pop to sparse, cello-driven folk. In the past year, SJ has performed with Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy, recorded with Joe Elliott of Def Leppard, Ricky Warwick (ex The Almighty)and opened shows for John Spillane, The Four Of Us and The Thrills. Fresno (Pat Ambrose & Brian McGowan) www.bandnamedfresno.com The uplifting sound and captivating live performances of Fresno have quickly made an impact on the Irish music scene. The band was voted one of the most promising new Irish acts in the 2002 Hotpress Annual Readers’ poll. May 2003 saw the launch of the band’s debut EP "Now That You Know Me" and a sell out show in the Dublin's Sugar Club. In the same month Fresno were featured as Tom Dunne's "Band of the Week" and also made it to the final of the Witnness Rising competition on Today FM. The band's songs have already sparked considerable interest with "Now that you know me" being selected for the soundtrack on the Irish feature film "When Bridie met Gerry". Fresno's debut album is planned for 2004. with special guest Leslie Dowdall www.lesliedowdall.com One of Ireland's leading female vocalists and singer-songwriters, Leslie Dowdall first came to prominence in the 1980s during her seven-year stint as lead singer with In Tua Nua. Her solo career has flourished since the release of her first album "No Guilt, No Guile" in 1997 which won high praise for its creativity, vision and soulful vocals and earned Leslie the award for that year’s 'Best Solo Female' artist at the Heineken/Hot Press Music Awards. The single "Wonderful Thing" became one of the public's all time favourite songs from the 1990s and is currently receiving renewed interest as the theme music for the National Lottery TV since 2002. A second solo album "Out There", collaborations with Ronan Hardiman on his albums "Solas" and "Anthem" and supporting Paul Brady during his epic 23 date run in Vicar Street have kept this songstress busy of late. Leslie's poise and style on stage is something special and her voice appears to strengthen with each performance. Her continued interest in gentler, more reflective, vocally driven songs is sure to find renewed expression on her next album scheduled for release in early 2004. Leslie will be accompanied on guitar by the extravagantly talented Bill Shanley, a veteran of the Mary Black Band who has also worked with Clannad, the Devlins and Eleanor McEvoy.