It’s only Rock and Roll Bingo (but we like it)

A NEW musical take on bingo is sweeping across Ireland.

Rock and Roll Bingo is an innovative version of the classic game and is proving a huge draw for punters everywhere from Athenry to Annascaul.

Sligo-based DJ Martin ‘Scruffy’ Duffy is one of the DJs currently bringing the show to the masses.

‘I started gigging the show about 18 months ago and I can’t believe how well it’s taken off,’ he said.

‘The basic idea is the same as ordinary bingo with a novel twist, punters don’t have numbers on their bingo cards they have songs.

‘When I play a song they mark it off and if they get the four corners marked off, a straight line completed or a panel finished they don’t shout “Bingo” or “House” they stand up and scream, “Rock And Ringo”.

‘It’s great craic actually because you have grannies turning up thinking it’s a normal bingo session and they are faced with this.’

Instead of cash prizes, Duffy dishes out items such as coffee makers to bingo winners.

‘It saved a gig on me recently,’ he said. ‘I was on at a show after a comedian who had gone down like a lead balloon and the whole place was dead.

‘I explained the game and started into it. You could see the whole atmosphere lift in minutes.

‘I know other lads around the country doing it. The feedback is that it has really taken off.’