Ballroom Blitz – RTE Two Aug 19th & 26th

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NOTE: Above is The Miami Showband, featuring star singer Dickie Rock (second left, bottom). The outfit underwent numerous line-up changes, and this commemorative stamp was issued in 2010 to celebrate the era of showbands when they dominated the Irish social scene in the 1960s and the early 70s. For all Irish-based night owls, BALLROOM BLITZ […]

Bealtaine—this 3rd Actor accepts the part!

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I am honoured to be part of the team that brings the Bealtaine Festival to the nation every May. I am starting a 3-year position as Live Events Programmer and look forward to working with Dr. Tara Byrne and her team to deliver a special national event year-on-year that unites us all in celebrating that […]

Sideline’s Billy (Magra) McGrath Tells All!!

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Sideline’s Billy (Magra) McGrath Tells All!!

Sunday Indo Feb 12th Not very often do we say ‘yes to the press’! Barry is a good guy tho. Onwards and upwards in whatever life offers. Looking forward to your 3rd Act – and so should you!

2 Part RTE TV Series BALLROOM BLITZ

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2 Part RTE TV Series BALLROOM BLITZ

In BALLROOM BLITZ U2’s Adam Clayton races the rise and fall of Irish showbands as they inspired a church dominated 1950s Ireland to embrace a new modern world of music, fashion and pop culture of the 1960s. Ireland has its first modern music stars as over 600 showbands packed out over 1000 ballrooms nationwide. As […]

BALLROOM BLITZ – New RTE series

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U2’s Adam Clayton hosts Irish TV series Ballroom Blitz (2×60,1×90) Dublin based Sideline Productions ‘Ballroom Blitz’ explores the unique phenomenon of the Irish showband which provided the soundtrack to Ireland as it danced its way through a revolutionary period of growth and prosperity in the 1960s. The bands – normally a 7 or 8 piece with powerful […]

proVoke

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proVoke

– to rouse to strong feeling or action No generation in Ireland underwent such a social rebellion as the OAPs of today. Their evolution from teen to adult in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s coincided with a global rise in nonconformism, rebellion, and protest. With domestic TV, we witnessed firsthand political upheaval across NI, the USA, […]

GUSTO

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An original one-man ‘memoir’ theatre show written and performed by Billy Magra. Sprinkled with comedy and packed with slides. Premiered in The Project Arts Theatre Dublin April 2023. A personal challenge and another box ticked!

New RTE Doc Series

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New RTE Doc Series

Sideline is pleased to announce that they are in pre-production for a new two x one hour music documentary series for RTE One. More news anon.

GUSTO with Billy Magra at ATN 23

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Highly acclaimed live comedy memoir & slide show at ALL CURIOUS MINDS tent at the brilliant All Together Now Festival in Waterford Sunday August 6th at 4pm. Click for promo … More information on ALL CURIOUS MINDS https://www.alltogethernow.ie/atnnews/2023/8/1/all-curious-minds-full-programme-announced BE THERE OR BE SOMEWHERE ELSE