2013 Harvest Blues Trail
Monaghan Rhythm and Blues Festival
6/7/8 2013
Hosted by 6 of the Best Hostileries (or Pubs to you & Me) in Monaghan Town no cover charge at all to gain entry
Be sure to check out the Harvest Blues Booklet available at the event
The Mighty Mojos –
The Mighty Mojos are a musical blast of fresh air! Refreshing and original, they sound like nobody else out there. A blend of rock and blues songs with killer hooks and grooves, catchy riffs, dynamic drums and bass combined with one of the best vocalists you’ll ever hear! It’s a recipe for a great band. That’s why they’re called the MIGHTY MOJOS.
The unbelievably powerful voice is supplied by Alan Ward who hails from Limerick. He’s played in metal bands for years but has finally found the style which suits him best.
Drums are by Hillsborough native David Kennedy who can hammer those snares and toms into total submission! He’s played in many line-ups for years.Bass is supplied by Belfast man Ali McKenzie who lays down a mean groove that’s tight and melodic.
He’s a vastly experienced session player.
Guitars are plucked by Ballymena man David McClean
Who also writes and records the bands material.
He’s got a unique distinctive slide style.The current band has been together for a year rehearsing and honing the songs to get them ready for unleashing to the world. Now its time to listen!
Please visit The Mighty Mojos website and their Facebook page.
Playing : Sunday 3-5pm The Westerna Arms Hotel and 9-11pm The Anchor Bar in Mc Kenna’s
Clara Rose – Monaghan
Clara Rose’s unique blend of raunchy blues, mesmerising folk and sultry roots are sure to save the soul as her “voice soars and swoops with the ease of an opera star running through her scales”(Dubliner Magazine)
Clara Rose… songstress of rockin’ blues, saviour of rootsy folk and with a voice that can make the hairs stand on the back of your neck or your money back!
You never know who you might see at a Clara Rose gig… The Horslips, Henry McCullough, The Waterboys, Don Baker… all these Celtic legends have shared the stage with or attended a Clara Rose gig in the past 2 years. She is a mesmerising performer with a voice that can make the hairs stand on the back of your neck.Her acclaimed debut album, “A Portfolio” features 12 original tracks; 10 original, one of which written by her mother Liz Monahan -the songstress from the Drumlins of Monaghan and the other a sensitive reworking of Bob Dylan’s ‘I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight’.
Please visit Clara Rose website and their Facebook page.
Sunday 3-5pm The Shamrock Bar
Ronnie Greer – Northern Ireland
Chicago blues with a twist. A big bouncy rhythm section with Chicago blues on one side (Ronnie) and funky Little Feat-ish slide on the other (Anthony)
One of the justifiable legends of the Northern Ireland music scene, Ronnie Greer is also one of its favourite performers. A superb blues and jazz guitarist, his fingers have added passion and fire to some of the greatest blues bands in the country, including for a time the legendary Jim Daly Blues Band and a host of others.
Ronnie never fails to wring the last drop of emotion out of a solo, while still keeping the toes tapping. As a sideman and frontman, Ronnie has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the business – including the likes of Dr. John, Lowell Fulson, Phil Guy, Johnny Mars and many more.
Please visit Ronnie Greer website
Sunday 4-6pm The Squealing Pig
The Hardchargers – Belfast
“An innovative and energetic power trio who remain true to the spirit of the blues” Blues Revue (US), Oct ‘12
“They’re magnificent! … a joyous rumble-thump beat, raw and syncopated and doused in the cranky old methods of Clarksdale and Chicago.” Stuart Bailie (BBC Radio April 2013)
“A hard working innovative band steeped in the blues/rock tradition” Sunday World (NI), July 8th 2012“Dirty Blues from Belfast”…Formed in late 2009, the band’s intense live sets live up to their name, comprised mostly of raunchy, exciting, provocative and honest original songs, ranging from down-home washboard/ resonator/double bass workouts, to a heady blend of twangy electric blues and roadhouse style rock, complemented by arrangements of cuts by trailblazers such as Son House and Howlin’ Wolf. The band has performed at a stellar list of music and arts festivals all over the island of Ireland, opened for US artists Bob Log III and Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, shared equal billing with Californian Band, The Old Tire Swingers and were amongst a small number of artists chosen to take part in the successful “Backin’ Belfast” initiative, A recent Belfast gig prompted the legendary Terri Hooley to describe the band as “My kind of fecking band”.
The HardChargers released the six track “Bumpin’ and Grindin’” EP in autumn 2011, containing three original songs, garnering critical acclaim and radio play in the process. Here are quotes from reviews of the EP, in the US and UK respectively:
Incognito Music Magazine, (Nov. 2012) “The sound of this band might be described as low-down, but it’s also pretty clean. The three guys in this band sure know what they’re doing with their instruments.”
Blues Matters! Issues 65/68 (2012) “High-octane”…“Suitably manic and certainly one to clear the cobwebs”, describing the original songs as “worthy comparators to the Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters covers” , and a live performance as having an “Intensity of punk proportions”
Please visit The hardchargers website and their Facebook page.
Saturday 9.30pm – 12am The Shamrock Bar and
Sunday 9pm – 11pm The Sqealing Pig
Joe Fury and The Hayride – Dublin
RED HOT COUNTRY ROCKABILLY BOOGIE WITH A TOUCH OF BLUEGRASS, SWAMP BLUES, SWINGY THINGY……”IF IT SOUNDS GOOD “N” WE LIKE IT WE DO IT ! –
Please visit Joe Fury website and their Facebook page.
Saturday 4-6pm The Brewery Bar in McKenna’s (upstairs) and 9.30pm – 12am The Westerna Arms Hotel
Sunday 9-11pm Terry’s Bar
The Rockets – Dublin
The Rockets are a 5 piece band from Dublin with a love of all things Beatles, and in particular 1950’s Rock N Roll and Rockabilly. If you love Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly, Elvis and the rest, and in particular if you love your Rock N Roll faster than a Formula One car, and louder than a 747 coming into land, then dont miss the Rockets live on stage
Please visit The Rockets website and their Facebook page.
Satuday 4-6.30pm The Westerna Arms Hotel and 9.30pm – 12 am The Anchor Bar in Mc Kenna’s
Sunday 4-6pm Terry’s Bar
Crow Black Chicken – Cork Clonmel Dublin
Since forming in 2009, Crow Black Chicken have earned back-pats aplenty for their charming Southern sound, most notably after their performance on the BBC Introductory Stage at Glastonbury in 2011. Their debut album Electric Soup, released in June 2012, typifies this positive energy with 13 tracks of tooth-rattling rhythms and bluesy rock’n roll vibes. Upon the release of Electric Soup, the Tipperary based trio has won the adoration of many playing all major festivals and venues across the country in 2012. With extended invitations to play USA, UK and Europe in Summer 2013, never has it been the right time to catch Crow Black Chicken live in an intimate surrounding… while you still can.
“Fans of Cream, Rory Gallagher and all things classic rock will adore this assured debut. Electric Soup is the real deal.” – Hotpress Magazine
Please visit Crow Black Chicken website and their Facebook page.
Saturday 9.30 – 12am The Squealing Pig
Sunday 9.00-11pm The Shamrock Bar
Giles Robson and the Dirty Aces – England
Giles Robson and The Dirty Aces are fast-rising stars on the UK and international music scenes. Robson first came to the attention of the UK national press in 2010 when backing blues legend Muddy Waters’ eldest son Mud Morganfield.
At a packed show in central London, The Daily Express praised his “Exquisite harmonica” and The Dirty Aces were described as “Virtuosi”. The Express’s Paul Stewart stated that Robson could “Possibly be the best harmonica player on the blues scene today” and praised Filip Kozlowski’s “Cutting guitar” and lauded the band as a “Great blues combo”.
A track called “The Mighty Incinerator” from the band’s 3 track promo CD was played on BBC Radio 2′s Paul Jones show and was immediately spotted by Chris Evans and played on his Breakfast show the next morning with Evans stating “This is so good”. This is the first time in the Paul Jones show history that a track has been heard by a mainstream radio 2 DJ and chosen spontaneously to be played on their show.
Please visit Giles Robson the Dirty Aces website and their Facebook page.
Saturday 9.30 – 12am Terry’s Bar
Sunday 9-11pm The Brewery in McKenna’s (upstairs)
The Revolutionaires – North East England
Established within the ‘hotbed’ of the North East music scene in the UK, they power out jumpin’ hot rhythm & blues in their own indomitable hard hitting style.
Primarily, they are influenced by 1940’s and 1950’s R&B. In particular, Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Roy Brown, but have adopted a harder and more aggressive approach, synonymous with modern blues artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Mike Henderson which helps create their own high energy sound.
Over the last decade, The Revolutionaries have established themselves on the UK and European Rockin’ circuit, as well as the Blues scene.
They have toured extensively both home and abroad, performing at festivals in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Malta and Dubai.
Highlights include performing at festivals with artistes such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Sting, Tom Jones, Hugh Laurie, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray, Walter Trout, Eric Bibb, Albert Lee, Snake Davis and Dave Edmunds.
The band has recorded five CDs to date containing a collection of Hot Rockin’ R&B tracks. Each CD captures the ‘rawness’ and sheer energy of the band, who like to give their performances a ‘hard-edged’ vibe!
Please visit Therevolutionaries website and their Facebook page.