RTÉ Documentaries

U2 Agus An Arc (2017x3)

Uitzenddatum: Jul 20, 2017

Before their forthcoming performance in Croke Park, ‘U2 agus An Arc’ looks back at U2’s early years in the late 1970’s when the emerging Dublin band connected with a loyal audience at the thriving Downtown Kampus gigs, run by students in U.C.C. at the fabled Arcadia Ballroom in Cork. U2 at the time were a band still honing their craft and ‘The Arc’, as the venue was affectionately known in Cork, played an important role in the band’s development. Between 1978 and 1980, U2 played there about 10 times in all, building a loyal and enthusiastic following. ‘The Arc’ provided the band with the space to experiment with their music in front of an audience that welcomed difference and originality. The promoter of those Downtown Kampus gigs was Elvera Butler, the Entertainments Officer in UCC’s Students’ Union and, apart from U2, she also brought to ‘The Arc’ English bands like The Specials, UB40 and The Cure, to name but a few. Attendances of up to 2,000 were not uncommon and the venue also provided a platform for emerging local bands who supported the headline acts. ‘U2 agus An Arc’ looks back at this seminal period in U2’s development and the band’s links to the Arcadia in Cork. The documentary also remembers some of the other big nights there, as well as the burgeoning local music scene. ‘U2 agus An Arc’ is an Irish language documentary produced by ForeFront Productions for RTÉ.