Today, concert promotion giant Goldenvoice announced a new festival, Arroyo Seco Weekend, set to take place in Pasadena, California on June 24th and 25th. The festival will boast three stages stacked with performances by talented rock, soul, jazz, funk and blues acts including Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, The Meters, Mumford & Sons, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Presercation Hall Jazz Band, Fitz & the Tantrums, Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, Galactic, The Revivalists, Lettuce, John Mayall, Alabama Shakes, The Shins, Weezer, and many more.Targeted toward older fans with families, Arroyo Seco Weekend will offer a kid-friendly area presented by Kidspace Children’s Museum, art installations and a roster of food and drink vendors that will include some of the city’s most respected chefs and craft breweries. The new event follows the trend the company began with Desert Trip last year, catering events to music fans with money to spend on more luxurious concert experiences.According to Goldenvoice CEO Paul Tollett in the Los Angeles Times, “Grown-ups can go to festivals, and it turns out there’s a market for it. We’ve all as promoters had to step up the game because the older you get, the luxuries become necessities, but Desert Trip proved that there’s definitely support out there.” He added: “[Arroyo Seco Weekend] is more like, ‘You’re a dad and you want to bring your kids to this.’ It’s not really for the 13-year-old kids who are begging their parents to go. It’s the opposite. It’s like, ‘Dude, you’ve gotta come to this with me. This is going to be our first festival together.’”For tickets and further information, head to the festival’s website.[via Los Angeles Times] read more

A mum of one is celebrating after scooping a tidy sum on the Grand National because she “liked the names of the horses.”Lucky Bernie O’Brien collected more than €1,000 for her €30 bet after picking the 1st, 3rd and 4th places horses in the race.Bernie, from Killygordon, admits she knows nothing about horses. “I just liked their names and I suppose it was a bit of luck. I couldn’t believe that all three of the horses finished so far up in the race.“I only ever bet on the Irish and English Grand Nationals. I just liked the names of the horses but I would never allow myself to spend more than €5 each way on a bet.“That would be to much like gambling and I’m certainly not a gambler,” laughed hotel worker Bernie.Bernie picked Auroras (she got it at 80-1), Teaforthree (10-1) and Oscar Time (66-1) which were all placed. Her weekend luck comes after she picked the winner of the recent Irish Grand National – Liberty Counsel which won at 50-1.But Bernie, who works in Jackson’s Hotel in Ballybofey isn’t getting carried away by her luck.“I won’t bet again until net year. I’ll do the lotto but that’s as far as I’ll go.“I might even go on a little holiday with my winnings,” she said. EVERYTHING IS ‘GRAND’ FOR BERNIE AFTER NATIONAL WIN! was last modified: April 7th, 2013 by StephenShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:Bernie O’BrienGrand NationalJackson’s Hotel read more

Four Donegal ladies have decided to take on an admirable challenge and shave their heads for charity later this month. Debbie Houston from Milford and Letterkenny women, Sonia McGarvey, Stephanie McCole and Kerrie Duffy will shave their heads to raise funds for three charities; Donegal Hospice, Pieta House and The Alzheimer Society of Ireland. All four women work in the Stroke and Medical Rehabilitation Unit at Letterkenny University Hospital.  They have been inspired by personal experiences to take on the challenge, and are showing great enthusiasm for the upcoming event.The fundraising event takes place on Saturday, 12th November in Arena 7 at 9pm and members of the public are invited to come along and show their support. Mum of three, Debbie Houston is one of the women taking part in the charity head shave: “I work as an Occupational Therapy Assistant at LUH and my charity is Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland Donegal Branch. “I’ve had a personal experience of Alzheimer’s within my family and have witnessed the devastating effect that the disease has on an individual and their families.” Stephanie McCole has three daughters and is a Physiotherapy Assistant at LUH: “My chosen charity is the Donegal Hospice because cancer has claimed the lives of many of my dear family and close friends.“I’ve experienced first-hand the vital role that the Donegal Hospice plays in providing patients with comfort care and dignity on their final journey and would be delighted to do anything I can to support them.”Physio Assistant at LUH, Kerrie Duffy is a mum of three and has selected Pieta House as her charity: “Unfortunately, most people are unaware that someone is suffering in silence from depression until they commit suicide. Donegal has been hit particularly hard and I believe people could really benefit from the services of Pieta House.”Mum of two, Sonia McGarvey recently returned to work as an Occupational Therapist in the Stroke and Medical Rehab Unit in LUH after a career break: “When my friend and work colleague Debbie told me about the charity head shave, I was struck by their enthusiasm and inspired by the charities. Before I knew it, I had offered my mass of unruly hair! “I lost a dear friend, Noreen Diver, to cancer in January and I can just imagine what she would have to say. Another work colleague has come through cancer treatment, so it really is in part respect to them both and in the hope of raising much needed funds for the Donegal Hospice, Pieta House and the Alzheimer’s Society, which are all close to my heart.” Sponsorship cards are available from Debbie Houston on 086 3153243 or via the Go Fund Me page, www.gofundme.com (search “Ladies Charity Head Shave” in Donegal).These four brave Donegal women are in for a very close shave was last modified: November 3rd, 2016 by Rachel McLaughlinShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:charitydonegal hospicefundraisinghead shaveletterkennyPIeta HouseThe Alzheimer Society of Ireland read more