Adam Clayton
Dublin-based independent production company Sideline Productions has announced the launch of an 85-minute feature documentary exploring the unique phenomenon and musical legacy of the Irish showbands, fronted by U2 bassist Adam Clayton. "Ballroom Boom" – a feature based on an original two-part series commission from Irish pubcaster RTÉ, with a global distributor to be confirmed – dives deep into the story of the Irish showbands, which dominated Ireland’s music scene in the 1960s. The seven- and eight-piece ensembles employed thousands of musicians, including future rock legends Van Morrison and Rory Gallagher, who cut their teeth in ballrooms across the country, performing an eclectic mix of waltzes, Irish music, jazz, and pop hits.
It is estimated there were around 700 Irish showbands at the height of the ‘ballroom boom’ — and their popularity wasn’t confined to Ireland. As Adam Clayton reveals, some 60 years before U2’s era-defining residency at Sphere in Las Vegas, Irish showbands were packing out venues in Sin City, New York, Boston, and Chicago. They were managed by colourful Irish-born promoter Bill Fuller, who once owned more than twenty ballrooms worldwide – including The Fillmore West in San Francisco and The Electric Ballroom in London – now run by his daughter Kate. As dancehalls sprung up in major British cities, Adam uncovers how Irish emigrants gave birth to an extraordinary generation of talent, including Dusty Springfield, three of the Beatles, Oasis, Johnny Rotten, and The Smiths.
One shocking event, however, tore the Irish music scene apart. On July 31, 1975, three members of The Miami — then Ireland's most popular showband — were gunned down in Northern Ireland by rogue British soldiers. Massacre survivor Steve Travers relives that tragic night alongside a visibly emotional Adam Clayton. The tragedy dealt a devastating blow to Ireland’s live music scene, leading to musicians fearing for their safety and the mass cancellation of cross-border dances.
"Ballroom Boom" is an amalgam of RTÉ One’s critically acclaimed two-part documentary "Ballroom Blitz," also presented by Adam Clayton, which examined the showbands’ central role in the development of the Irish music industry and their cultural impact on a generation of young people. The film is directed by Billy McGrath, whose previous credits include U2, David Bowie, Clannad, The Pogues, and the feature-length film "Citizens of Boomtown," which tells the story of Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats. That film premiered at the 2020 Dublin International Film Festival and subsequently aired on BBC2's "Imagine" arts documentary slot.
Adam Clayton, reflecting on why he decided to host the project, said: 'When Billy, who I grew up with on the Dublin music scene, initially pitched me the idea of hosting a documentary about Irish showbands, I was initially hesitant. Personally, I was aware of the Irish showband phenomenon, not just musically but it also pioneered the concept of stardom in Ireland. But as Billy expanded on the idea what drew me to the project was that he wanted to explore the impact of The Miami massacre. That tragedy happened just as we were thinking about starting U2, so it had huge resonance for me. It was a story that I felt needed to be fully explored and spending an afternoon with survivor and campaigner Steve Travers (a fellow bass player) was both inspirational and emotional" expressed.
Finally, Billy McGrath, director of the documentary, on his own connection to the world of showbands, said: 'My passion and love of music started with showbands. One in particular – The Columbia Showband – used to rehearse in the garage next to our rented holiday house in Co Wicklow. As a kid, I’d listen to them play the same song over and over. I never want to hear "Are You Going To Amarillo" ever again… But those summer years were my “school of music” and, at a time when the economy and the church had us on our knees, showbands brought Ireland’s youth to their feet. When Van Morrison, The Chieftains, Rory Gallagher, Thin Lizzy and The Boomtown Rats opened the ears and eyes of a new generation, the “copycat” showbands faded away. But they had a huge influence on what came after and their impact is often undervalued and overlooked. "Ballroom Boom" aims to rectify that, and it was refreshing to see Adam Clayton, as filming progressed, conclude that the world in which U2 emerged would have been so different without the pioneering and unique musical force of the Irish showband," noted.
