On Stage At Sea, with Liam Cooper

On this episode I catch up with vocalist, Ashley Rose Smith. Inspired by the music of ABBA since the age of 12, Ashley’s one woman tribute to the iconic Swedish pop group has audiences singing and dancing on ships across the world. We chat about Ashley’s journey from banker to production vocalist to guest entertainer, a nightmare travel story where it took her three days to get home, and the joy o...

On this final episode of the season I catch up with guitar virtuoso Bruce Matiske. His shows are a hypnotic fusion of guitar and didgeridoo. High-energy rock to soulful ballads featuring iconic melodies and stunning original compositions. We chat about growing up on a wheat farm in rural Australia, the new era of big screens and projection surfaces on cruise ship stages and being mindful and prese...

On this episode I chat with rockstar violinist Yoomia. Her high-impact electric performances feature songs from rock, pop, classical and soundtrack genres complete with her spicy stage presence! We talk about growing up as a young musician in South Korea and New Zealand, working as a talent agent for other guest entertainers and her life changing moment during an earthquake that saw Yoomia dive in...

In this episode, it’s singer, songwriter and guitarist Chantelle Delaney! Music has been her life since the age of 6. And her biggest crowd? 100,000 people! We chat about the chaos of Chantelle’s very first performance at sea, juggling family life with being away, and ok - we have a little whinge about other guest entertainers not leaving their rooms on time! Interview recorded December 2023 Send...

In this episode I’m catching up with comedy magician, Brendan Dooley. This guy cooks up world-class magic, quick-wit comedy and insane mind-reading with a dash of cheeky pickpocketing and a side of audience participation to create the yummiest show you’ve ever tasted.  We talk about Brendan’s fascination with magic from the age of 5, managing a jam-packed schedule of working on both land and sea a...

In this episode I have the pleasure of catching up with comedian George Casey. They call him The King of Blarney. Good clean comedy with deadly timing. He’s been entertaining audiences all over the US for over 30 years and on ships for around half that. We talk about growing up in Ireland honing people skills behind the counter of George’s family’s shop, how he tweaks his material for internationa...

In this episode I catch up with violinist Christopher Watkins. If you’ve never heard of him, just imagine Adam Lambert playing an electric violin bedazzled with over 1000 Swarovski crystals in a pair of Louboutin cuban heeled boots. We chat about how a gymnastics injury launched his music career, creating a spectacular theatrical show with the violin and if you’ve ever freaked out about missing a...

In today’s episode, I catch up with Krista Thomson - founding member of vocal group The Cover Girls. Starring a trio of talented ladies, they celebrate music from the 40s through to today with a vintage twist. We chat about mental health, what makes a really bad contract and Krista’s advice for first-time guest entertainers. Interview recorded December 2023 Send Liam a Text Message 🎙️ Hosted &...