Steve Spade brings his Voodoo Show to Bray

Steve Spade will bring his Voodoo show to The Martello Hotel in Bray on 6th April. Tickets are €15 or €12 with concession.  Steve is touring this show at the present and to find out your nearest venue the best bet is to follow Steve on Facebook.

Steve Spade gets American Management

Via Steve Spade on Facebook we learn the following - 

"I am Delighted to Announce that U.S Magician Morgan Strebler who is already my Magic consultant has just signed me to his production company and from now on is my Stateside Manger !!
cant wait to start working with him !!! "

Best of luck to Steve with his American adventure.

Steve Spade's Houdini Cuffs

Steve Spade featured in many of today's newspapers.  Steve claims to have won a set of handcuffs once used by Houdini.  It seems, according to an article in the Irish Independent, Steve won the cuffs in a bet with a US TV crew.  Read the full article here.

Steve was also featured (and posted pictures on Facebook to this fact) in The Irish Sun and The Irish Daily Star.

Steve Spade featured in MagicSeen Magazine

Steve Spade is featured in the most recent issue of Mark Leveredge's MagicSeen Magazine.  You can see samples and buy the magazine here.

Steve Spade and Iron Mike

Steve Spade's writes to let us know he is performing on stage before Mike Tyson, yes that Mike Tyson, at a special event in Thomand Park this evening.  Unfortunately the event is already sold out.  In other news Steve recently filmed with the Discovery & Travel Channel for Sky TV.

Update on Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 9:25AM by Brendan Byrne

Here is a picture of Steve and Mike Tyson from the event.

Steve Spade's Night of Fire

Steve Spade successfully perfromed his "Burnt at the Stake" illusion last Saturday as part of the Elemental Arts and Culture festival.  We have to find video of the event but you can get a taste of the proceedings by having a flick through David Doyle's Photography album of the event on Facebook.

Steve Spade to be Burned at the Stake

Magician Steve Spade announced yesterday he will attempt one of the most spectacular and dangerous escapes every performed in Ireland on 15 September next when he bids to escape from being burned at the stake.

The illusion, which has never before been performed in modern times in Europe, will be the headline act in an event entitled  “Night of Fires” at the medieval King John’s Castle in Limerick, part of the inaugural   Elemental Arts & Culture Festival.

The burned at the stake illusion has been designed and choreographed by Spade and Morgan Strebler, a professional magic advisor from the United States who has designed effects for illustrious performers such as David Blaine.  Permission to perform the illusion has been sanctioned by Shannon Heritage, which manages King’s John Castle.

The illusion, named ‘Sacrifice - Without Fear There Is No Courage’, will see Spade being tied to a stake on a 6-foot high platform surrounded by wooden logs in the middle of the mediaeval Castle courtyard. Numerous torch bearers will light the logs and Steve will have less than 60 seconds to free himself while battling flames and smoke.

The Limerick native, who last year made headlines when he escaped from a sealed box that had been lowered into the River Shannon in Limerick City, described the illusion as his “most dangerous and challenging to date.”

“I was inspired to perform the illusion from the mediaeval stories of magicians accused of being witches or warlocks and being burned at the stake. Burning at the stake was a common method of executing blasphemers, thieves and witches in Catholic and Protestant countries during the Middle Ages,” he explained.

Steve continued: “This illusion has never before been performed in Europe, which is what attracted me to do it as a magician and escape artist. I am fully aware of the huge risks associated with attempting this escape but am confident that the work that I have carried out in recent months will stand to me on the night. The Elemental Festival has provided me with the ideal platform to perform the illusion, considering King John’s Castle’s direct links with the Middle Ages and the Festival’s earth, wind and fire theme.”

Las Vegas performing psychological illusionist and celebrity magician, Morgan Strebler: explained: “Steve will have to fight for his life, and every second counts. With the flames burning at his feet, he will have to make the escape of his life at record speed, with no room for error. Even though the escape is near impossible Steve will also have to worry about smoke inhalation which can prove fatal it. It certainly won’t be an event for the faint hearted.”

Spade is managed by the So Management Agency, an Artist and Nightlife Management company based in Dublin & London. Agency Director Steve K described the illusionist as one of the most exciting to have emerged in Ireland and the UK in recent years.

According to Steve K: “We were taken aback when Steve came to us with his proposal to perform this particular escape. The illusion is one of the most insane and crazy stunts ever attempted in Ireland. As it has never been attempted in Ireland before and with Steve going to have to fight for his life, it is something that people cannot miss."

The 2012 Elemental Arts & Culture Festival on September 15, 2012, encompasses the arts in all their guises, from interactive street art, dance and short films, to street performers. 

Pius McGrath, Chairperson of the festival organising committee stated: ''We were delighted that Steve chose the Elemental Arts and Culture Festival as a platform to showcase this death defying stunt. Our creative team isworking closely with him to deliver spectacular finale to this year's festival.”

For more on Steve Spade visit www.facebook.com/SteveSpadeMagic. For more on the Elemental Arts & Culture Festival visit www.elementallimerick.com.

Steve Spade's RTÉ Residency

There have been a number of appearances by Irish magicians on TV recently.  

Steve Spade has returned to The Daily Show on RTÉ and tell me that he wil be on every second Friday or so for the foreseaable future.  Steve is also involved in the planned new corporate magic night in Dublin that we reported about here.  You can catch Steve's appearance on The Daily Show yesterday on the RTÉ Player by clicking on the grab below. It is available until the 17th Febuary.  Steve's spot begins at about 22 minutes.  To be kept up to date with his scheduled appearances check out Steve's Facebook.

Steve Spades Christmas Cracker

Limerick based Steve Spade appeared on The Daily Show's Christmas Cracker Special on the 28th December.  In a Facebook message prior to airing Steve told me he will be "freaking out the likes of Daniel O'Donnell bending forks ... and some fun festive MAGIC with some of the guests,,Bernard Dunne,2fm Paddy McKenna,celebrity chef Kevin Dundon and many many more....."

The footage has now become available on the RTE Player and you can catc it here.

Steve Spade on RTÉ 2's Hubble

Steve Spade recently appeared on RTÉ 2's children's programme Hubble.  You can catch the performace on the RTÉ Player here until 21st November.  And watch out for another magician appearing on the same programme soon.

Steve Spade :: Escape

Steve Spade recently successfully performed a fundraising escape in Limerick.  Anthony Galvin was on hand and sends the following report.  Video of the event can be viewed below.

Over a thousand people lined Mathew's Bridge in Limerick as local magician Steve Spade risked his life in a daring stunt that came dangerously close to going wrong.  As a fundraiser for the ISPCC Steve was chained in thirty feet of heavy chain, which was then securely padlocked by volunteers from among the spectators. Then he was placed in a big wooden tea chest. The lid was securely nailed down, then a crane hoisted the chest out over the fast-flowing river. The chest was then lowered into the water.

Steve had trained for months for that moment, and could hold his breath for over three minutes. He needed all the training as the water slowly filled the chest and it began to sink.  From the bridge we could see the crate shaking as he attempted to escape the chains. After about five minutes the chest had sunk so that only a tiny corner remained visible. By that stage the movements from the crate had stopped, and his family were getting anxious. Finally the crane operator insisted on raising the crate. Dripping with water, it was brought back to the pavement, and the lid levered off with a crowbar. But just as the lid was about to pop off we heard a banging from the other side of the bridge. Steve was standing on top of an advertising hoarding, dripping wet. 

The stunt was a tremendous success, and got Steve a lot of positive coverage in the national press, as well as radio stations across the country. His new show 13 (mentalism and magic) will debut in Limerick later this month, and he will be touring with Tony Black in their Houdini Tribute show Beyond Magic throughout Munster in October.

Beyond Magic :: 22nd July Cork

As we reported back in January, Anthony Galvin is launching the show 'Beyond Magic', which is based on the work of Houdini. The show has been created by Anthony Galvin, Steve Spade, and Rikki Zendini, and it will have it's premiere (as part of a fundraising event in aid of the Alzheimer's Society, which was organised by Ray Horgan, a member of the SBM) in the City Limits Comedy Club in Cork City on Friday 22nd July.  John Casey from the SBM sent us on the post below, taken from the homepage of the Southern Brotherhood of Magicians. 

"Ray Horgan has organised a fundraising night for the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland which will take place on Friday night the 22nd of July. Here's what Ray has to say about the night:-

 

'This night is organised to help raise awareness for alzheimer's and dementia sufferers and the people who look after and care for people suffering from this disease.  There is currently no known cause for Alzheimer’s disease and there is no cure for the condition..

It is a progressive neurological condition characterised by the build up of proteins in the brain called ‘plaques’ and ‘tangles’. These proteins gradually damage andeventually destroy the nerve cells. This can make it more and more difficult to remember, reason and use language. The loss of memory of recent events may be one of the first difficulties noticed. The person may also become disorientated, be at a loss for a word when speaking and have increasing difficulty with simple daily tasks such as using the phone, making meals or managing money..

To Help make the night a success and fun for everyone, Anthony Galvin has helped put together the world premier of the ''Houdini Tribute Show''..

Here is a brief description of the show that should definately not be missed..

Houdini Recreated!

A century after his death Houdini is still a household name. Now his show has been recreated by three Irish magicians.

Witness the Razor Blade Swallow, see death-defying stunts, a pulse-stop while standing on a bed of nails, hypnotism and a genuine Victorian seance. But the highlight is a deadly escape from a sealed and padlocked perspex cube of water.

The show stars Tony Black, Steve Spade and Rikki Zendini.

There will also be some close up magic at the bar to help keep the crowds entertained...'

 

Best of luck to all involved, it should be a great night and hopefully you guys will raise a lot of money for a very worthy cause!"

We echo the words abover in wishing everyone involved the best of luck with this project.

Steve Spade on Come Dine with Me

Limerick based magician Steve Spade will appear on an upcoming episode of TV3's Come Dine with Me.  We are waiting on Steve to clarify the date of broadcast and will update this as soon as we know.  Steve is also appearing at the Oxygen and Electric Picnic music festivals this summer.

Update on Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 11:28AM by Brendan Byrne

Steve Facebook'ed me to let me know he will be on Come Dine With Me at the end of July.

Steve Spade's Paddy's Day Parade

Limerick based magician Steve Spade took part in Limerick's St. Patricks Day Parade on his own branded open top bus.  Posting on Facebook Steve says "my show will be shooting live from our open air bus".  We will keep you posted.

Steve Spade wow's Kevin Spacey

Limerick magician Steve Spade attended the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival last weekend and while there had the pleasure and honour of meeting Kevin Spacey for whom he performed several trick including stealing his watch. "But I sold it back because i'm a nice guy" mentions Steve.