2010 Harvest Blues Trail
Blues Trail Acts for 2010
The Blues Jam – Monaghan
Takes place on the“Last Thursday” of “Every Month” in Seamie Mc Kenna’s Bar, Dublin St. Monaghan, and is available to everyone who likes to sing, play or just enjoy the blues. A band, comprising local musicians is always on hand to open the proceedings, & the Jams to date have witnessed everything from first-rate acoustic blues, to young guys cranking it up with classics by Rory Gallagher & Jimmi Hendrix. It’s been running now since 2003. There will be a “House Band” to start things off; you never know who is going to be there. It could be you!! Des will be your host and MC
Parchman Farm – Dublin
The aim of the band was to steer clear of the heavy side of the blues , and to retain the distinctive classic blues style of early Chicago – a formula that has worked well for the band giving the favourable comments from many of the blues artists the band have played with over the years including Phil Guy, Larry Garner, Louisianna Red and Rock Bottom amongst others. With Chicago being the mecca for many blues musicians , Pete and Fran on different occasions had the privilege of guesting with Johnny Drummer in Lee’s Unleaded blues club (South Chicago) and Charlie Love in Kingston Mines and also took to the stage in Rosa’s (West Chicago) with the James Wheeler’s band. Having played all of the major blues and Jazz festivals at home, the band have since made their mark on the International scene, gaining excellent reviews and response from critics and audiences alike when they appeared on the main stage at Lillehammer Blues Festival in Norway, and have also been well received at festival appearances and tours in the Nederlands, Finland and in Britain where the band performed four times, including appearances on the prestigious International stage at the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival. The band’s first CD “Nothing But The Blues” gained considerable European airplay and was also featured on the Paul Jones radio show in Britain , guitarist Mick Martin’s Blues Party Show in California, and Don O’s show in Texas, while back home they have opened the launch of the Dublin Guinness Blues festival on several occasions, as backing band to Eugene Hideaway Bridges and Johnny Mars, and also supported Joe Louis Walker and Robben Ford on main festival nights.
Swinging Blue Cats – Kilkenny
Resplendent in Royal Blue 1940’s Zoot Suits the focus is now firmly on Jump, Jive & Swing. The band covers artists such as Big Joe Turner, Louis Jordan, Louis Prima, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Colin James, Fats Domino, and Cab Calloway.
The band have brought the house down at many prestigious events and venues this year including Boutique Burlesque, Carlsberg Rhythm & Roots Festival, Carrick Water Music Festival, Cirque Du Cabaret, City Of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival (NI), Docklands Maritime Festival, Empire Music Hall – Belfast (NI), Rose Of Tralee – Festival Dome, Foynes Flying Boat Festival, Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, Hepcats Holiday(UK), Limavady Jazz & Blues Festival(NI), Taste Of Dublin Food Festival, The Button Factory, The Famous Spiegeltent @ Dublin Fringe Festival, The Sugar Club, Warrenpoint Blues On The Bay Festival(NI), Waterford Spraoi Festival as well as numerous weddings, conferences, black tie events etc. Each number has been professionally arranged in a set which covers classics made famous by such legends as Louis Jordan, Louis Prima, Cab calloway, Jackie Wilson, Big Joe Turner, Bill Haley, Brian Setzer Orchestra etc. The band is firmly focused on delivering the finest in Jump, Jive & Swing!
The Lyndon Anderson Band – Newcastle
When it comes to the blues, The Lyndon Anderson Band have all the bases covered, whether it’s a 1950’s Chess classic, a chunk of 70’s funk, a rocking Texas shuffle, jazz influenced west coast swing or one of their many originals, they play it all with style, authority and taste.
Lyndon is considered by many to be one of the top players on the scene today, his intense playing is unmistakably one of a kind. You know something must be good when you win praise from the likes of Sugar Blue and Paul Jones.
Together with guitarist Davey Dormand, femme fatale bass player Christine Wilson and drummer Neal Wood, they produce their own distinctive brand of blues; described as ” a sure cure for the rhythmically deficient”.
Ronnie Greer Band – Northern Ireland
Irish blues guitar virtuoso Ronnie Greer returns to the festival with his powerhouse band featuring some of the country’s leading musicians.
Ronnie has shared the stage over the years with many distinguished artists including Dr. John, Memphis Slim and Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.
His distinctive guitar style, blending bebop jazz elements with Chicago blues, and played with an exhilaration and ferocity that is of world class, makes his music unmistakable.
Add to the mix the seriously talented guitarist/vocalist Anthony Toner, keyboard wizard John McCullough and the brilliant rhythm section of Alan Hunter on bass and drummer Colm Fitzpatrick, and you have the recipe for a show which will appeal not only to blues and roots music fans, but indeed to anyone who enjoys great music played with style and conviction.
The Jeremy Wallace Band – New Jersey, United States
Jeremy Wallace is “Americana with a Bite!” His work has been described as, “a little folk, a tinge of rock, some country and loaded with gritty blues.” Wallace’s dynamic songs and style bring “a fresh voice and attitude to traditional American music.” He has been compared to Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett and Bruce Springsteen, to name a few. It is his songwriting that places him in the company of the aforementioned. If we’re lucky, once or twice a decade, an artist with such detailed storytelling and dynamic phrasing, comes along.
“Wallace blends the best of American roots music, with a little bit of folk, some rock, a little country and a healthy dose of gritty blues, all enhanced by the distinctive sound of his resonator guitar.
“Jeremy Wallace’s sharp combination of finely crafted stories, tongue-in-cheek humor, heartbreaking details and blatant honesty has earned him a reputation as one of the finest songwriters on the blues circuit. Eschewing all that is formulaic or predictable, Jeremy’s art is a throwback to the gruff-voiced, irony laced “three minute novels” of his top influences: Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Tom Waits and Leon Redbone. The songs are tales of woe and ultimate hope told after hours to the bartender after last call.
For his new collection, She Used to Call Me Honey, Wallace has turned to experimenting with the sonic landscape of his music, pushing the boundaries and expectations of what a singer-songwriter can accomplish in both the studio and as a live performer. Edgy, dangerous and with a greater emphasis on the raw energy of his craft, Wallace has emerged with a stunning album that both diverges from and compliments his previous material. Sharper, with restrained power and vibrant honesty, his new songs capture Wallace’s most personal and creative work to date.
Wallace writes visually crisp and emotionally solid with mortality, life and reality exposed without prevarication or prettying. A keeper of a fine one!” -DR. BLUES REVIEWS – http://www.libluessociety.orgOne of Dylan’s early influences was legendary acoustic musician, Dave Van Ronk. The late Van Ronk says of Jeremy, “He’s one of the most arresting new talents I’ve ever heard. When I hear him I get the feeling I got the first time I heard Bob Dylan and Arlo Guthrie.”
“A little folk, a tinge of rock, some country and loaded with gritty blues, Jeremy Wallace’s dynamic songs and style bring a fresh voice and attitude to traditional american music.” -THE SOUNDING BOARD CONCERT SERIES – http://www.folknotes.org
he has shared the stage with JOHN HAMMOND, WATERMELON SLIM, MAVIS STAPLES, JOHN GORKA, JANIS IAN, DAN HICKS and HIS HOTLICKS, ROBBIE FULKS, DEL McCOURY, FREEDY JOHNSTON, STEVE FORBERT, GREG BROWN, RICHIE HAVENS, KELLY JOE PHELPS, ODETTA and OLLABELLE.
The Robin BiBi Band – England
The Robin Bibi Band are busy as always having released 2 new albums recently….”SWITCH ON THE LIVE” a new live double album ,which captures the Bands exciting and Dynamic stage show and really Rocks Out…..and “FAST DREAMS COME ALIVE” an Acoustic live album released december 2009 featuring the classic songs of the Late BRIAN “FAST” HOLMES again played with sensitivity and spontaneouseness …..the band are playing prestigeous venues in the uk ..recently supporting Georgie Fame at the Live Room Twickenham and have a busy run of festivals in the summer across the UK, a visit to Atlanta is planned later in the summer …and the band have recently started performing occasional “Couldnt Stand The Weather” celebration shows dedicated to the music of Stevie Ray Vaughan….. the band is recieving airplay on local and national radio stations in the UK, Europe and America…
plans are afoot to record a new album that will mark a change of direction whilst still staying faithful to the bands blues roots…watch this space…!!
B & The Honeyboys – Wexford, Ireland
this band is a Blues/Rock/Roots outfit from wexford committed to pushing the boundaries of the blues/roots genre. Formed in early 2006 by Kieran McEvoy (aka K.J. Mac) and Aileen Mythen (B), the line up is completed by Paddy Joyce on bass and Shane Atlas on drums. They have recently been touring Ireland and Europe promoting their debut album to huge critical acclaim. Their songs inject a freshness and vitality into the Blues/Rock/Roots genre and are emerging as one of the leading lights in the Blues Rock revival. Live, B & The Honeyboys pull out all the stops with an energy and passion that has been winning them fans from all corners of the world and are an absolute must for fans of roots music with an original twist.
‘B has an exraordinary Blues/Gospel voice which hits all the right notes with sass and flair and plenty of oomph’.(Limerick Event Guide)‘These guys aren’t playing on the trend for pop songs that harp back to the big band days. They are a big band with the big vocals to pull it off‘. (Limerick Event Guide)
B (aka Aileen Mythen) is a ‘real discovery, her bluesy voice filling your head with pure soul as she gets under the skin of the songs and sings them from the inside out’. (Jackie Hayden -HOTPRESS magazine)
K.J. Mac has a ‘kick ass full on electric guitar style for which the word gritty might have been specially coined’. ‘Further proof that white folk can sing the Blues‘. (Jackie Hayden – HOT PRESS)
The Roy Fulton Band – Northern Ireland
Internationally acclaimed guitarist Roy Fulton has been described by the music media as one of Ireland’s premier blues players and a ‘respected blues artist’. Appearing regularly in guitar magazine adverts and at guitar trade shows across the country for his sponsors, in 2009 Roy played at the Irish Music Show, RDS and the JHS Event 09 including performances with Geoff Whitehorn (Paul Rodgers, The Who). 2010 has shaped up to be another busy year for Roy with his guitar tuition DVD ‘Southern Fried Rock’ continuing to receive favourable magazine reviews and a five page feature in the world-wide magazine, Guitar & Bass. His live performances for this year include playing at Europe’s largest Harley-Davidson store and also supporting legendary blues artist, Robert Cray.
The new ‘Roy Fulton’ Signature guitar being launched by Case Guitars at the London Guitar Show and a return to the festival with his power-trio – the Roy Fulton Band – will bring to close, a productive and exciting 2010 for Roy. Expect a night of blues & rock classics all played with a fire and passion that has to be experienced, at least once, during the festival.
Has played wih or appeared on the same bill as:, Bernie Marsden & Whitesnake, Bonnie Tyler, Gary Barlow (Take That), John Primer (Muddy Waters), Jools Holland, Katrina & the Waves, , Matt Schofield Trio, Peter Sarstedt, Richie Havens, ,Roy Wood, Suzi Quatro, Taste (Rory Gallagher), The Buzzcocks, The Corrs, The Roosters, The Yardbirds, Vanessa Mae,volume swells, soaring bends, melodic mojo, on-the-tip-of-destruction note flurries… …played with fire and respect. Guitar Player (US Magazine)
June 2010 – Supporting legendary blues artist Robert Cray in Belfast
June/July – Due to be featured in Guitar & Bass Magazine – A five page feature and interview.
Oct – Due to appear at the London Guitar Show
Oct – New ‘Roy Fulton’ Signature Guitar due to be launched at the LGS by Case Guitars: www.caseguitars.co.uk
Smokin’ Hogs – Ipswich, East Anglia, England
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Smokin’ Hogs play rocky and punchy blues with a distinctive sound which has its roots in the late 60’s and early 70’s British Rock & Blues era but is still very relevant today. They are an exciting and authentic live act and like to generate energy on stage with an electric and visual stage show.Smokin’ Hogs formed six years ago, and have built up a solid reputation on the music scene playing at various clubs and festivals around the UK and Europe.
The band have released two CD’s entitled “Leavin’ Here” and “Bite The Bullet” which have received good reviews and airplay on BBC radio.The excellent sound and tightness of this band is second to none, with great playing ability all round and a well equipped outfit which I am sure you will enjoy.
“The Smokin’ Hogs had the whole place smoking at The Poc……without breaking a law in sight!” The Northern Standard
“If you’re a fan of heavy, dirty and groove filled chord changes, with a sound that combines elements similar to Seasick Steve and The Blues Brothers, then boy
have I got a treat for your ears. ” Blues In Britain
“Saw the Smokin’ Hogs tear the place up with a mind blowingly, top drawer live set” Bob Stewart – KLFM
The Deans – Athenry, Galway
They are a musical trio from the west of Ireland whose roots are firmly planted in Blues, Country and folk music. They have adapted their influences into a more progressive and diverse rock setting which some fans describe as “crazy music” for its spontaneity.
The Deans consist of Gavin Dean (Guitar, Harmonica and Lead Vocal), Gary Dean (Bass Guitar and Vocals) and Gary Keon (Drums and Vocals). The 3 have a unique companionship between them and boast a very energetic live show. In their 3 year existence as The Deans they have worked with some of the most prestigious rock and guitar legends including Woodstock veteran Henry McCullough (Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Paul McCartney..s Wings) Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy), Johnny Fean (Horslips) as well as Irish traditionalists Sharon Shannon and Liam O’Maonlaí (Hothouse Flowers).
2009 saw their first extensive tour of Europe which included 35 shows in 7 countries in the space of 6 weeks. They have just returned from their second European tour of 2009 which took in a performance at the prestigious43rd Montreux Jazz Festival . They played two shows with the legendary Godfather of British Blues, John Mayall, in The Academy in Dublin and proved to be hugely popular. The future looks very bright for this young band who have yet to leave their teens!. They site their main influences as Cream, Bob Dylan, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, The Band, Taste, Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, Otis Rush, Blind Willie (McTell) (Johnston), The Byrds, JB Lenior, alot of blues and folk as well as Django Reinheart, The Kinks, Ry Cooder and of coures The Beatles.
“There is an explosion happening in the town of Athenry which will soon be heard all over the world and it’s called The Deans. I loved every minute of our time together in the recording studio. I felt quite emotional watching Gavin Dean play the Gibson Les Paul that I used with Joe Cocker at Woodstock, the same guitar I used on “My Love” with Paul McCartney.”_Henry McCullough (Joe Cocker, Wings)
“The Deans are R&B heart and soul, Wonderfully powerful and inventive within the grand old tradition. Go and see them as soon as you get the chance and they will make you feel brand new.”_Mojo,emusic.
“….. a mix of cheap speed and Heineken”_Tommy Tiernan.
“a cross between Peter Green and early Johnny Winter, is was a thrill to record with The Deans. They are a breath of fresh air………..no Hype, no BS, just raw talent”
Doctor Brown and the Groovecats – Newcastle , England
Doctor brown and the groovecats are a “must see” band playing 50s style west coast swing, jump jive, Chicago blues and a bit of rock n roll.over the years they have played a major part in all of the main festivals… colne, Burnley, Dundee, Montrose, Arbroath, Edinburgh, Mary, also at Monaghan, Dublin, and Castlebar in Ireland plus festivals in Holland which involved a month long tour playing at 5 festivals over that period, as well as doing the festivals they have opened shows for some of the biggest names in the blues world the likes of……. Albert Collins, Albert king, Sherman Robertson, big Joe turner, Joe Louis Walker and many many more………
The band was formed many years ago by Doc Brown who at a gig can be seen doing vocals and playing harmonica, guitar and saxophone at different times during the gig this gives the band much more variation within the music that they love to play, the band are as tight a band as you,ve ever come across and always dress for the part ( you wont see this band in scruffy jeans and t.shirts) the band and the music is nothing short of slick the main aim of the band is to have a good time and entertain everyone who comes to see them doc brown can accommodate for every occasion so you may catch them as a solo, duo, trio or the full band and can be seen at many different events festivals, weddings, corporate, private functions or live music venues, the one thing you can see about this band is that they love the music that they have chosen to play covering tracks by people like Jimmie Vaughan little Charlie and the nightcaps, fabulous thunderbirds, Ronnie earl and James Harman they have not gone down the rock/blues road that so many others have gone down.
Remember if your looking for that great night out and want a tight,slick and professional band this is that”must see” band ……sit back and enjoy doctor brown and the groovecats
No festival can be complete without the support from the publican’s venues in town who are the partners in bringing this festival together.
Access to any of these venues is free of charge and performance times may vary from venue to venue. Nearly 40 gigs will be played at these venues by the time we head to work on Monday
List of Monaghan Pubs participating:
The Shamrock Bar, The Town Hall suite at the Westenra Hotel, The Squealing Pig Bar & Restaurant, The Anchor Bar, An Poc Fada bar & beer garden, The Brewery Bar, Terry’s Bar & Lounge, Master Deery’s Bar & Restaurant