The Stunning to rock Tara

The Stunning is the headline act for the Tara Rocks! one day festival on 24th August next at Tara na Rí, Navan. 
The Main Stage at Garlow Cross will also feature up and coming acts and other acts from the local area, including Shannon and The Shortcuts and The Furry Gilberts.  The Stables stage will feature 'Open Mic’ performances from local bands and the Lounge Stage will be a 'Jamming Session’ where anybody will be welcome to join in and sing a song or play an instrument. 
During the early nineties, the biggest Irish band in the world was U2, but in Ireland it was The Stunning. In the seven years that The Stunning were together, they toured relentlessly building up a following that would make them one of the most successful Irish bands ever. In 1990 their debut album 'Paradise In The Picturehouse’ spent five weeks at number one and became one of the most-loved Irish albums of all time. Two years later, the follow up 'Once Around The World’ also hit the No 1 spot, and the band went on to sell over 100,000 albums in Ireland alone. During their time, the band enjoyed numerous Top 20 singles and scooped every music prize and award going. Irish radio & TV championed the band and they were rarely off the airwaves.
The band formed in 1987 and broke up in 1994, but despite the passing of time, their popularity has never waned. Songs such as 'Half Past Two’, 'Romeo’s on Fire’, and 'Everything that Rises’ are still to be heard on the radio and have been featured in movies and numerous compilation abums of the best of Irish rock. 'Brewing Up A Storm’ has become an anthem of sorts and is to be heard everywhere from football stadiums to clubs around the country where it is still a guaranteed floor-filler. President Michael D Higgins is a huge fan and even guested on the band’s 'Tightrope’ album.
During the late eighties and early nineties the band frequently toured in the US and the UK and also supported the likes of Bob Dylan, The B52’s and the Waterboys.  All the band members are still actively making music. Frontmen Steve and Joe Wall found success with The Walls and released their third album 'Stop the Lights’ in March 2012. Guitarist Derek Murray played for years with The Sawdoctors and now teaches recording in the west of Ireland. Cormac Dunne is a renowned and in-demand session drummer, while multi-instrumentalist Jim Higgins plays bodhran with some of Ireland’s best traditional acts such as Altan and Mairtin O’Connor.
In 2003 the band reunited for the first time to promote the re-release of 'Paradise in the Picturehouse’ on the Dirtbird Records label. They played four sold-out nights in Dublin’s Vicar Street venue as well as packing venues throughout the country on a 14-date tour. After that they decided they would reform every two years as the demand was so high and have since played to capacity crowds at the Electric Picnic and other festivals and venues throughout Ireland.
This is the third year of the Tara Rocks! festival, with Damien Dempsey headlining in 2012 and Ryan Sheridan in 2011.
Last year, over 700 people turned out for entertainment that included Damien Dempsey, The Lost Brothers, Tupelo, Eoin Glackin, The Furry Gilberts, Trigger and The Hitmen, Pauly Fagan, Macey South and more.
The festival is ideally located, just four miles outside Navan and only 20 minutes from the M50.  The 109 bus stops at the venue, with buses leaving Navan and Dublin every 30 minutes.  The 109A bus route brings visitors directly from Dublin Airport.
Food outlets include Ma’s Browne’s Famous Burgers (who sell every burger from crocodile to wild boar!), Japan Food Markets and Malone’s Fish and Chips. See www.tararocks.ie and our social media pages for festival updates and ticket giveaways.
Tickets are €20, with a launch special of no booking fee for tickets bought in May, a saving of 10 per cent.