A question of taste: Ger Duggan

Ger Duggan is vocalist with Cork band Serengeti Long Walk.

GER Duggan is the lead singer with Cork band Serengeti Long Walk.

Originally from Turner’s Cross, he now lives near Clonakilty with his wife and twin boys.

The band originally gigged in the 1980s, and reformed in 2012. Their third album, Live at the Lian Club, has just been released.

It is a recording from a gig they played in Rome last year and is available across all digital platforms.

Best recent book you’ve read:

Following on from the movie release I picked up Patrick De Witt’s The Sister Brothers. I have never really read westerns but this is a great novel, cleverly written both dark and funny.

Also, Terry Pratchett is my favourite author of all time — hilarious social commentary.

Best recent film:

Went to this under duress and looked to dismiss it, but I was really taken with Little Women. Great cinematography in the way it felt like an old-fashioned musical when there was joy and claustrophobic during the sadder moments.

Give it a watch, and don’t judge a film by it’s poster.

Best recent gig you’ve seen:

Amadou & Mariam at last year’s Skibereen Arts Festival. They played a double header with the Blind Boys of Alabama in the town hall and it was just simply joyous and uplifting.

Best piece of music you’ve been listening to lately (new or old):

New it’s Bombay Bicycle Club’s comeback album, Everything Else Has Gone Wrong.

Great to see them regroup with a cracking set of songs. Old music? I’m playing Stiff Little Fingers’ Inflammable Material a lot lately, I’ve just rediscovered it.

First ever piece of music that really moved you:

‘Looking After Number 1’, the Boomtown Rats, just for the bass and drumming alone! A song that captures the mood of the country at the time.

The best gig or show you’ve ever seen (if you had to pick one!):

Again, it’s the Boomtown Rats, Live at the Marquee, 2013. As a huge fan back in the day it was incredible to see them back together.

Twenty-six years after a fractious break up I thought I’d never see them play live again.

Tell us about your TV viewing:

There’s enough serious stuff going on in the outside my front door, so give me something, short, clever and funny and I’m happy.

Radio listening or podcasts:

You can’t go too far wrong with John Creedon (RTÉ), Tom Dunne (Newstalk) and Ed Smith (Today FM) on the national airwaves and Michael Carr’s Select Irish on 96FM, Sundays.

These are the places I find old, new and interesting music away from the mainstream.

You’re curating your dream festival – which three artists are on the bill, living or dead?

Elvis, the Sultans of Ping FC and the Boomtown Rats.

Your best celebrity encounter:

Twink.

You can portal back to any music event or music era – where, when, and why?

The Big Band, Swing era, 1930’s America.

The arrangements, instrumentation and musicianship was just incredible. I defy anyone not to be uplifted by Artie Shaw or Benny Goodman. Also, those suits would really suit me!

Unsung hero – individual or group you think don’t get the profile/praise they deserve:

I think the people working behind the scene at gigs don’t get anywhere as much credit as they should.

So, here’s to those crewing, sound and lighting engineers at events all over the country.

You are king of the music biz for a day what’s your first decree?

Pay for your bloody music, people.