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Two’s company for Camden’s finest
By Fiona Audley
 A chance
meeting resulted in two workers at the London Irish Centre in Camden joining
together for what will be a unique evening of Irish music.
Despite working in the same building for months, it was a chance meeting
that led two fine guitarists from the north London Irish music scene to
find one another.
Fellow musicians Gary Dunne and John Myers wowed a small and unsuspecting
audience when they settled into an impromptu guitar session at the London
Irish Centre in Camden last year.
Their spur-of-the-moment jam which occurred after both men performed for
an RTÉ broadcast proved an exciting turn-up for the few who stuck
around for a final drink.
In fact it was so well received that the centre’s director Peter
Hammond became determined to recreate the craic.
He explained: “What we heard that night was amazing. When those
two came together there was no stopping them.
“It was a great, unexpected end to the day and something I have
thought they should do again for a wider audience.”
And so An Evening With Gary Dunne And John Myers is now set to take place
this month as part of the London Irish Centre’s St. Patrick’s
week of celebrations.
And the easy-going musicians — who are both launching their own
albums — are billing it as “an informally formal gig”.
John, who was born in Camden to Irish parents, said: “We hope it
will be a very fresh set similar to the relaxed nature of a pub session
but with the type of music that is probably quite new to the Centre.
“It was strange how we got this together as after that first night
we both thought little more about it but something really did click when
we played.
“We haven’t seen each other since and probably won’t
before the gig so that should help to bring that spontaneity back.”
Ironically the meeting of these musical minds could have happened at any
time as they had worked in the same building for months but never met.
Gary, 28, who was born in Portlaoise, Co. Laois but
now lives in Camden, voluntarily runs the Irish Centre’s High And
Dry group for people recovering from alcoholism.
Elsewhere in the sprawling building 34-year-old John works for Comhaltas.
Gary added: “It’s going to be great to have some original
Irish music back in the London Irish Centre as it has massive potential
as a live venue.
“John and I will do a set of original material as well as a late
night singalong which should be great — and it’s free.”
The gig kicks off at 7pm on Tuesday, March 11 and all are welcome. For
more information about the artists visit
www.garydunne.com and
www.johnmyers.co.uk.
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