| The Annual Louis
McManus Memorial Concert presented as a part of the Brunswick Music Festival | Home | 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of the Brunswick Music Festival, and over those 20 years, no-one has captured 'the heart and soul' of the Festival more than Louis McManus. Louis lived in Brunswick for more than ten years and this was his 'home-town' festival. It was fitting then, that he played such a major role in the 1st Brunswick Music Festival way back in 1989. Louis' first appearance at the Brunswick Music Festival Festival was on Saturday April 1, 1989, in the Guitar Concert at the Brunswick Town Hall, alongside Martin Carthy, Tommy and Phil Emmanuel, Steve Housden, Tony O'Neill and Steve Groves. The next day, Louis appeared in an afternoon concert with the great Martin Carthy in the intimacy of the Brunswick Mechanics Insititute. In fact, it was the Brunswick Music Festival that brought Louis and Martin together in a hastily arranged short-tour that resulted in a life-long friendship. Later that night, Louis took the 1st Brunswick Music Festival out in style with his mates in the Celtic spectacular at the legendary Retreat Hotel. The Festival finished with George Butrumlis, Martin Carthy, Dan Bourke, Tony O'Neill, Dobe Newton, Steve Groves and Jan Wositzky joining Louis on stage under the banner of The Purple Dentists: a night that will live forever for those lucky enough to be at the Retreat Hotel. Louis would go on to play at the Brunswick Music Festival with either the The Purple Dentists or the Leisure Twins each and every year until illness forced him from the stage. The Annual Louis McManus Memorial Concert, presented as a part of the Brunswick Music Festival, is an opportunity to celebrate the music and the friendship that we all shared with Louis. It is also an opportunity to continue 'the tradition', with the awarding of the Annual Louis McManus Encouragement Award to an outstanding young Irish musician. 4th Annual Louis McManus Memorial Concert 3rd Annual Louis McManus Memorial Concert 2nd Annual Louis McManus Memorial Concert 1st Annual Louis McManus Memorial Concert |