This is the ‘End of the War’ for songwriter Joby Fox
29th May 2014
Long-standing and renowned artist, singer/songwriter and short film maker, Joby Fox will be performing during the Community Relations Week ‘Building a United Community’ in Holywood Family Trust, Holywood, 17th June 2014, Marquis Hall, Bangor, 18th June, Island Arts Centre, Lisburn, 19th June, and in Square Box, Ranfurly House, Dungannon on 20th June.
Using poetic visuals to set the mood, this renowened artist will be stripped down to a powerful and intimate acoustic performance. Joby will also screen his short film “Lost Commandos”; A rare opportunity to see this thought-provoking production – the film, in a strange twist, portrays the difficulties of identity and moving on after a conflict.
This year has seen Joby opening the UN’s Peace and Arts Festival in Hong Kong. His short film was screened in New York recently ad last year he re-released his first hit ‘Belfast’ to encourage a possitive outlook following recent controversies in his hometown.
Joby’s show deals with the realities of coming face to face with yourself, in the meeting between inner conflict and a troubled society. Joby challenges his audience to travel inside the soul to discover who we really are, and the audience is encouraged to take part in a discussion after the show.
“The songs on offer are high on melody and fuelled with human emotion, resulting in each one carrying a powerful, social and political message while at the same time being beautifully wrapped up for mass consumption like an iron fist in a velvet glove.” (John Kearns, music critic)
Fox’s musical heritage and enourmous energy are carried through right from his days with the Good Vibrations teen-band ‘The Bankrobbers’ in ’79-’81, to the international fame of Energy Orchard, of which he was the main catalyst. He penned their UK chart hit single ‘Belfast’. This song has for many of his generation become the unoffical anthem of his hometown, and Terri Hooley’s favourite song.
Jacqueline Irwin, CRC’s Chief Executive, says: “Building a united community is as urgent now as it was when the peace agreement was signed in 1998. We have plenty of examples of our capacity to slip back into animosity and old ways of thinking. There is no room for complacency. Community Relations Week is always an opportunity to showcase the great work that goes on quietly all year round to build and sustain relationships. It is a time to celebrate the ethnic and cultural diversity of our community and the many imaginative ways in which we are building a shared cultural region. We are grateful to everyone who is organising or attending events during the week. Your personal commitment to good community relations is changing this place. Your energy and enthusiasm is the fabric of our peace.”