In aid of Saint Vincent DePaul and their unending quest to rid the world of the evil that is poverty a celebration of things musical will rock the Twisted Pepper tomorrow week.

Details are in the poster above with bands such as "Disconnect 4", "So Cow", "Go Panda Go", "Friend", "Attention Baby" who will hopefully prove that their not just a bunch of great names. Get down and spend.

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My brother Mark is quite the charitable soul, and will soon be heading off to Africa with Niall Mellon's Township Trust project. For those who may not know, this is an awesome charity which basically recruits a bunch of Irish folk to fly to South Africa and build a load of houses in impoverished communities.

The idea is to do annual 'building blitzes'- for example, last year they built an astonishing 203 houses in a single week. Obviously houses don't come for free- and neither do flights to Africa- so a lot of fundraising has to go on to support the project. Which is where you come in...

Mark & Co. have organised a comedy extravaganza for tonight (Wednesday) in Dublin's Laughter Lounge, with four comedians, a late bar and DJs. Tickets are 25 euro a head, and all proceeds go towards this year's Building Blitz. Things kick off at 8, but as is the way with comedy, it goes nicely with booze- so get there between 7 & 7.30 for a free cocktail. Woo hoo!

For more on the Niall Mellon Township Trust go here.

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Achieving Art, an exhibition in aid of Saplings School for Autistic Kids opens tonight at The Bernard Shaw. The exhibition features the work of 40 Irish and international illustrators, graffiti and contemporary artists including Maser, Boz, Asbestos,Myse, Dano, A1One & Hush. There's a silent auction and FREE BEER.

Thursday 10th July sees the return for the second year of the hugely successful ACHIEVING ART - a charity art exhibition for ‘Saplings’, a special needs school for children with autism www.saplings.org/Html/schools.html.

Achieving Art was conceived in 2007 by a parent concerned with the chronic under funding of autism services in Ireland. Upon enlisting the skills of good friend working in the street art scene, together they organized the inaugural Achieving Art exhibition in July 2007 which ran for 2 months, also at the Bernhard Shaw . This was the first exhibit of its kind in Ireland showcasing a variety of street & graffiti art alongside contemporary artists & designers. Due to the overwhelming success of last year, raising in excess of 8,000euro, the exhibition returns for its second outing.

Saplings is a school in Rathfarnam which caters for 24 children in varying degrees of the autistic spectrum disorder. In order for the children to achieve their maximum potential it is necessary to raise funds for speech & language therapy, & occupational therapy. All funds raised during the art exhibition will go towards the provision of these essential services.

Without the artists involved, who have so kindly donated both their time & art pieces to this worthy cause, this would not be possible. Therefore, we are delighted to launch this month long exhibition with an opening party at the Bernhard Shaw Bar in Portobello’s Richmond Street, where all the artists & public are encouraged to enjoy the celebration & hopefully go home with an original piece of work from some of the countries most exciting upcoming artists.

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Got this in my mail today. Regardless of whether you like the artists involved, charity is charity.

The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" by U2, Kila, The Dubliners and "A Band of Bowsies" - the Bowsies including Christy Moore, Shane MacGowan, Damien Dempsey, Andrea Corr, Sinead O'Connor, Moya Brennan and Glen Hansard will receive its first play on radio stations across the country after the 8am news on Tuesday, 19th February. All radio stations both nationally and regionally will play the single simultaneously.

A host of Ireland's finest singers and musicians have got together to produce a tribute to Ronnie Drew, a founding member of the Dubliners and one of the great voices of modern Irish music. It will be available in Ireland only, on digital download from February 22nd and CD single the following week – 29th February.

The lyrics to "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" were written by Robert Hunter (Grateful Dead) with Bono, The Edge and Simon Carmody, "The idea was that we would all try to write a song for Ronnie to sing, but then it changed to writing a song about Ronnie himself", said Bono.

Hotpress' Niall Stokes (Boo-Urns!!!) has described the recording as "a fitting tribute" to Ronnie Drew, who first came to attention performing with The Dubliners on their chart hit 'Seven Drunken Nights' which topped the Irish Charts in 1967. "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" will arrive at Irish radio stations this week. It will be available in Ireland only, on digital download from February 22nd and CD single the following week – 29th February.

All profits from the release of this single will go to the Irish Cancer Society at the request of Ronnie Drew. The Irish Cancer Society, is dedicated to eliminating cancer and improving the lives of those living with cancer. www.cancer.ie

Bono speaking at the time of the recording (and talking wank as usual) said "Ronnie is like the King of Ireland, and we are his subjects. This is a big fight for him. But like any fighter, it's easier if there's a crowd cheering".

Cast:

"The Ballad of Ronnie Drew"

A tribute - recorded at Windmill Lane, January 14th and 15th, 2008.

Musicians:
U2 (Adam Clayton, Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jnr) The Dubliners (Barney McKenna, Eamonn Campbell, John Sheahan, Patsy Watchorn) Kíla (Dee Armstrong, Eoin Dillon, Brian Hogan, Lance Hogan, Colm Ó Snodaigh, Rónán Ó Snodaigh, Rossa Ó Snodaigh)

A Band of Bowsies:
Christy Moore, Shane MacGowan, Damien Dempsey, Andrea Corr, Sinéad O'Connor, Moya Brennan, Glen Hansard

Chorus in alphabetical order:
Billy McGuinness, Brian Kennedy , Bronagh Gallagher, Chris de Burgh, Christy Dignam, Duke Special, Eleanor McEvoy, Eleanor Shanley, Gavin Friday, Iona Green, Jack L, Jerry Fish, Joe Elliott, Mary Black, Mary Coughlan, Mik Pyro, Mundy, Paddy Casey, Paul Brady and Ronan Keating.

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