We are delighted to present

AN AFTERNOON WITH RICK ASTLEY

Get Tickets

Join us on Saturday 19th October at 2.30pm in Vicar Street to hear musician Rick Astley - in conversation with The Mary Wallopers frontman Charles Hendy - as he discusses his brilliant autobiography, Never.

Balancing nostalgia, fresh perspectives and introspection, Never begins with family and unconventional upbringings; journeys through the tumultuous and glamorous world of pop; and takes pause for self-reflection. The book goes beyond the blinding lights of the stage – giving an intimate look at the man behind the hits – and is a portrait of truth, artistic evolution and the astounding power of contentment.

At just nineteen, Lancashire boy Rick Astley signed with legendary music powerhouse Stock Aitken Waterman, and  'Never Gonna Give You Up’ propelled him into the pop stratosphere. At twenty-seven, Rick retired himself from the industry that had brought him success and financial stability. In 2021 a viral social media event called Rickrolling resulted in over 1 billion people viewing his hit song on YouTube ..and off it went again.

Interviewer Charles Hendy is a founding member and vocalist of The Mary Wallopers who he has met Rick once or twice in backstage-land and got chatting.

Seated show, all tickets €20.

Signed copies of Never will be available for sale at the event.

Image

Festival of Writing and Ideas 2025: June 6, 7, 8

Tickets on sale October 20th 2024

Borris Festival have a carbon offset programme to counter air and ground travel, food and beverage consumption, packaging, energy use and waste management, feeding directly back into local resources. For each festival we hold in Borris, we are committed to planting 2000 trees to help offset our footprint.

We have become committed recyclers of everything that makes up your meal. We have a blanket ban on plastic of any kind across the whole festival and we ask you, please, not to bring in plastic bottles or straws. Please bring reuseable bottles and we will provide sources of drinking water. There is no need to ask for your help, you already know it.

2019 Programme

And there’s more

Get the latest information sent to you

Sponsors & Funders