Enduring Phil Coulter to perform on Ratoath stage

The legend that is Phil Coulter is to stream a new show called ‘Up Close and Personal with Phil Coulter’, from the Venue Theatre, Ratoath, featuring special guests George Hutton and Geraldine Branagan, from 1st to 3rd October, with limited tickets keeping in line with Covid-19 regulations. The show on October 3rd will be live streamed.

From winning the Eurovision Song Contest with ‘Puppet On a String’ through scores of pop hits with the likes of The Bay City Rollers to big ballads like Elvis Presley’s ‘My Boy’, to the Rugby anthem ‘Ireland’s Call’, Phil Coulter’s songs have consistently hit the mark. Few songwriters can claim to have had songs covered by artistes ranging from The Dubliners to James Last, from Waylon Jennings to James Galway.

It’s now over thirty years since the distinctive sound of ‘Tranquility’, featuring Phil’s piano and orchestra, first seduced the whole of Ireland with its easy melodic charm, before going on to make believers around the world.

With record sales now counted in millions, as well as a Grammy nomination, several appearances in the White House and sold out international tours, it’s been quite a ride.

Phil Coulter is without doubt one of the enduring talents in the music business, having enjoyed success and notched up hits in the 60s, 70s 80s and 90s with a tally of 23 platinum, 39 gold and 52 silver discs.

Phil Coulter has contributed at least four titles to the list of great Irish songs - ‘The Town I Loved So Well’, ‘Ireland’s Call’, the haunting ‘Scorn Not His Simplicity’ and ‘Steal Away’. He was very honoured to receive the Legend of Derry award as part of Foyle Legends of Derry.

His production credits include Van Morrison, Sinead O’Connor, Elvis Costello and Richard Harris, while in Ireland his successes have ranged from the Dubliners to Planxty, from Paddy Reilly to the Furey Brothers.

Over the years, Coulter has won countless awards including 23 Platinum Discs, 39 Gold Discs, 52 Silver Discs; two Grand Prix d’Eurovision; five Ivor Novello Awards; three ASCAP Awards; a Meteor Award; Lifetime Achievement National Entertainment Award; Rose d’or d’Antibes, and a Grammy nomination.

He has performed with everyone from James Galway and the London Symphony Orchestra to Nanci Griffith and The Blue Moon Orchestra, not to mention Henry Mancini, Elmer Bernstein and Quincy Jones.

He has brought all of that musical experience and his boundless enthusiasm to help create another phenomenon, Celtic Thunder.

His well honed craft as a songwriter, coupled with his command of orchestral textures and an unerring ear for a great song, combine to make this show a treat for the ears. His musical edge, his versatility and his commercial nose have combined to produce a track record that is as impressive in its range as in its longevity. One of his earliest songwriting successes, ‘Congratulations’ has become one of the most performed songs in the world in the last thirty years.

As a producer, Phil has worked with some of the real legends in the business. He is a long time collaborator with Van Morrison and on the album, ‘No Prima Donna’ worked with the likes of Elvis Costello, Lisa Stansfield and Marianne Faithfull. His work on Sinead O’ Connor’s ‘Universal Mother’ won him a nomination as Producer of the Year.

His recent work in the field of instrumental and classical crossover has brought him a legion of new fans and sustained critical acclaim. Two collaborations with James Galway, ‘Legends’ and ‘Winter Crossing’ spent more than a year in the Billboard New Age chart and led to sell out concert tours in the United States and performances at the White House and the Nobel Peace Awards when teh recently deceased John Hume received hsi prize with David Trimble.

Coulter has been a popular performer at the Venue in Ratoath, and recently took part in the Marie Keating Concert4Cancer which was recorded there.