Official Blog of Darren Holden: June 2011

Monday, 20 June 2011

Solo Gigs And Movin' Out Live Video

Hi Everyone

Well the High Kings are still on their break and Darren has been in demand to perform a couple of exclusive solo gigs, not open to the public.

"Hey everyone, I have some solo dates this weekend....Saturday the 18th I will kick off at "The Library in Lillies Bordello" at 12am til late

Monday the 20th at "The K Club" Straffan Co Kildare."

The first on Saturday night was an exclusive 'invited members only' gig with Darren taking to the piano at midnight. It wasn't until he got to the venue that he found out that this exclusive event was even more high profile and exclusive than he thought!

Ok so... Just got to my show to find out I am the official entertainment for the aftershow party of a certain Manchester 5 piece!!!

This was a little video blog he recorded from the venue.

The Manchester 5 piece, which he couldn't name at the time, were of course Take That who had performed at Croke Park to a sell out crowd earlier that evening. The evening was a great success and although Robbie, Gary and Mark weren't there, opting to return to their hotel, Howard and Jason both were. There were plenty of other celebrities on hand ready to be entertained by Darren too. Darren enjoyed the evening and posted this before setting off for home in the early hours.

Wow!!!! Amazing night! Hung out with Howard and his buds after I did my thang. Who's who of Irish celebs there including,BOD and Amy,Rob Kearney,Grainne Seoige,and my old pal Louis. Heading home now for 3 hours sleep.....lol

This is an online version of an article from the A List event in the Evening Herald.

We especially like the bit

"Musician Darren Holden provided the entertainment and both Jason and Howard said they were very impressed with him".

Tonight Darren is doing his second solo show at the prestigious K Klub at the Kildare Hotel in Straffan Co Kildare. He will be performing a 2 hour set for yet another celebrity audience as they attend a Golf Classic corporate event.

Movin' Out Live Video

Darren has shared a very special performance of him performing as the 'Pianoman' in the Billy Joel musical Movin' Out from his private collection. The show is the opening night at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles September 17 2004. Darren was joined up on the platform at the end of the show by none other than Billy Joel himself. The photo on the the left was taken of Darren outside the theater during the 6 week run and featured in a Venice Magazine interview article which you can read on his official website CLICK HERE

We have added the first couple of video clips to YouTube tonight, Shameless, and a medley of River of Dreams and Keeping the Faith. The video has been filmed from the circle of the theater of the whole stage, so there are no close ups of Darren. But his voice and piano skills are there for you to enjoy from up on his 30ft platform with his band.

We will be adding more songs over the coming weeks.

We hope you enjoy watching Darren in Movin' Out, the press at the time certainly did. Here are a few quotes. CLICK HERE to read the rest.

"Keep your eyes and ears tuned into Darren Holden's vocals and piano playing. Whether Holden is belting out 'Keeping The Faith' or crooning 'She's Got A Way,' he pours such life into the melodies that they seize the heart and won't let go!"

-Jan Sjostrom, Palm Beach Daily News January 11, 2007

"Holden oozes charisma; he emotes as he sings and he looks down on the characters from his perch (the band is suspended on the catwalks above the stage) like a storyteller. He brought the audience to their feet."

-Molly Bettiga, Voice of San Diego October 11, 2006

"Darren Holden truly holds Movin' Out together and pumps out song after song with great passion. He's not imitating Joel, he's a star in his own right. He's sexy, breathy and really rocks."

-Amy Matsuoka, The Daily Yomiuri , Tokyo August 2, 2006

"Vocalist Darren Holden rocks the ivories and displays superlative talent. He's clearly destined for bigger fame."

-Ellen Fagg, Salt Lake Tribune June 21, 2006

"Holden leads his high-energy ensemble through more than 20 Billy Joel songs, but he makes no attempt to imitate the master. With his sometimes-raw tenor voice and two-fisted piano style, he gives songs such as "Angry Young Man" and "Captain Jack" an urgency that even Joel doesn't equal."

-Paul Hodgins, Orange Country Register, June 30, 2005

That's it for now, back with more news as we have it!

Thanks for your support

Darren and the DH Team

Saturday, 11 June 2011

Strand Hotel photos and new video

There is very little news at the moment as Darren and the rest of the lads are currently taking a well deserved break before the High Kings hit the road again. In July and August there are a few dates in Ireland and lots of festival appearances in America. Check out the Tour Dates page for details.

While we wait for more news, we will bring you some photos from their last show, the rescheduled Strand Hotel in Limerick, and some new archive video of Darren's career before he joined The High Kings.

Strand Theatre Limerick

"Limerick brought the party yet again!! Super crowd. Good times. On the road home"

Photos courtesy and copyright www.munsterimages.ie 29 May 2011.

New Video on YouTube

Darren performing his own composition Broken Ol' Guitar with his band Wanted. This performance was on the RTE Summer Cabaret with Bibi Baskin show 1994.

Darren performs his own composition Summer Place, written with Movin' Out band mate Bryan Steele, about their experiences in San Francisco. This is from Darren's set at Whiskey a Go Go in LA in 2004.

This is the fourth of 7 parts of a live gig Darren performed with his band Wanted, in Dublin, in 1993. Part 4 has performances of the songs Don't Let Out Love Start Slippin Away, Carrie (Darren original), and The Dance.

Back with more news soon.

Thanks for your continued support.

Darren and the DH Team

Thursday, 2 June 2011

Message from Darren and triAthlone Launch

Message written by Darren for his second newsletter:

Hey everybody

Thanks so much for all the massive support on the road this month, and to the thousands of you who purchased the new album,"Live in Ireland", sending us back into the top 10.

Also, infinite thanks to everyone who was there for Brian during his darkest hour. It was heartwarming to witness such an outpouring of love and sympathy for him and his family. His dad, Sean was there with advice for me ever since Brian and I began working together 11 years ago, and his tips were always noted and put into practice. He is, and will be, sorely missed. RIP

So, due to the phenomenal reaction to the first newsletter, here we are hot on it's heels with the second one. It's been a busy month, so hence the need to do a new one.

HK will be hitting various beaches and resorts around the world during June, as we are on VACATION! Woo hoo...

Some DH stuff coming up soon, including the long awaited RTE screening of the Kilimanjaro Documentary.

Thanks as always for being there.

Enjoy the summer.

Darren

Would you like to read the first Newsletter to see what it's all about? Click the link here to take you to the archive.

Official Newsletter Issue 1

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* An exclusive link for a FREE download of Darren's The Great Hunger from Rhythm Of The Dance which is no longer available to buy.

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triAthlone Launch Night

A couple of weeks ago, Darren attended the Launch of TriAthlone 2011 at Lillies Bordello in Dublin and performed a few songs. The Triathlon event to be held in Athlone in July is in aid of RESPECT. RESPECT is an Irish Registered Charity (CHY 11481) – Responsible for Fundraising Projects for People with Intellectual Disabilities of all ages within the Daughters of Charity Service in the Dublin area.

Since 1892, The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul have worked hard to provide care, education and training for People with an Intellectual Disability. We provide a seamless partnership of care for people from infancy right through to old age. Our work is ultimately about people, their dignity and their quality of life. We have the responsibility of caring for 2,300 people, 800 of whom are in full-time residential care, with 1,500 attending our Specialist Centres on a daily basis.

www.triathlone.com

www.respect.ie