Thin Lizzy guitarist among highlights of blues festival
ENNISCORTHY IS once again set to welcome bluesmen from all over the country, and indeed the world, once again as Enniscorthy comes alive to the sounds of the annual Blackstairs Blues Festival on September 8, 9 and 10.
The festival will have it’s official launch this Thursday night in Treacy’s Hotel with music from the Delta Dogs. At the launch, a full programme of events will be unveiled, showing some of the finest blues acts from across the country and further afield playing in venues right across town over the course of a jam-packed weekend.
Among this year’s most anticipated performances will be Malkum & Chris, Jackie McCauley and legendary former Thin Lizzy guitarist Eric Bell and his band.
Hardened bluesmen, Malkum Gibson & Chris Kleeman have been playing together since 1969 and have crossed paths with the likes of BB King, who produced them, in a long and distinguished career. Having split up after just two albums, the pair reunited in 1998 and the old magic came flooding back. Now they can’t wait to take it before an Enniscorthy audience and they will even be performing a special intimate slot in the library.
Jackie McCauley was there at the very start for a little known artist called Van Morrison. A member of his band Them, he was behind hit records such as ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’, ‘Here Comes the Night’, and ‘Gloria’, sharing a Wembley stage with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Kinks along the way. When Van went solo, McCauley joined Paul Brady in the Dublin Blues band The Kult. Most recently, he has been revisiting some of the songs he first played in the mid 60s with Them and is looking forward to hitting the festival along with his band.
Eric Bell is a man who’ll need little introduction. The iconic guitarist behind Thin Lizzy songs such as ‘Whiskey In the Jar’ and ‘The Rocker’ his work is simply legendary. Recently he has joined up with bassist Dave Wintour and drummer Romek Parol to create The Eric Bell Trio. Bringing a new album ‘Exile’ on the road to the Blackstairs Blues, Eric’s performance is set to be unmissable.
At the festival’s official launch on Thursday night, a full programme of events will be officially unveiled as the excitement for this year’s festival gets under way. The fun will kick off from 8.30 p.m. and all are welcome to attend. For more information, follow Blackstairs Blues on Facebook.