Alf McCarthy, Linda Kenny, Damian Smith, and Alan Carney of the Everyman Sunday Songbook who will be bringing a special Rat Pack show to Leeside this weekend. Photo: John McGrath

Sing along with the Kings of Cool this Saturday!

“It is said that when the Rat Pack checked in to the Sands Hotel for their annual visit each year, rich Las Vegas merchants locked up their silver, poured themselves a stiff drink, and sent their daughters off to convents in France. It was that bad!”

The words of beloved Cork broadcaster Alf McCarthy delivered with a typical twinkle of the eye as he prepares to bring the story and the music of the Kings of Cool, Deano, Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jnr, to Leeside this Christmas.

To celebrate their 18th year of Christmas magic on MacCurtain Street, The Everyman Sunday Songbook team presents A Rat Pack Christmas for one night only on 12 December.

MC Alf McCarthy, Linda Kenny, Damian Smith and Alan Carney, accompanied by the Songbook band, promise a “high-octane” show full of laughs, storytelling and, most importantly, all the classic songs the world has come to love so much.

And don’t think you’re getting away without doing some singing of your own because the show comes complete with a giant screen to bring you every lyric to every song throughout the night.

“Individually, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop were free spirits. Together, they were totally unpredictable. Even the Sands itself didn’t know what they were going to do. The poster outside the hotel might read, ‘Tonight, Dean Martin, maybe Frank, maybe Sammy’,” says Alf.

Leeside audiences, however, can rest assured that they are in for a special treat this weekend with all members present and accounted for.

“We are so delighted and, dare I say it, relieved to be able to do what we love again with people that we love,” says singer Alan Carney, who is also deputy principal at Bunscoil Rinn an Chabhlaigh in Cobh.

“The people of Cork have always been so wonderful and welcoming to us and we genuinely consider them an integral part of our Songbook family,” adds Linda Kenny.

At the helm as always is the vastly experienced Cathal MacCabe who has directed countless productions throughout his career and is the former RTÉ Head of Music.

Cathal says: “The Everyman team have been so supportive of the idea from the get-go, and now 18 years on, we are one of the longest-running, if not the longest-running, popular music concert series in the entire country.”

Singer Damian Smith adds: “So much has happened to everyone since March 2020, it is just such a joy to be back having the craic and singing such amazing music.”

Ticket for the one night only show on 12 December cost €30 and are on sale now at everymancork.com.

As per current Covid-19 guidelines, the Everyman will only be able to welcome patrons who are fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 within the previous six months or minors accompanied by an adult. The Everyman asks that all attendees bring photo ID and proof of vaccination.