The Cash is back as Tralee gets set for special tribute show
IT’S 24 years since music legend Johnny Cash entertained crowds in Tralee and thanks to one of his biggest fans in the Kingdom, the ‘ Cash will be Back’ on Saturday June 17 at The Rose Hotel, Tralee, when Johnny Cash (aka Fergus O’Sullivan), June Carter (aka Patrice O’Connor) and The Real Deal Band will walk the line in honour of Cash.
Fergus is still reeling from a hugely successful tribute event to Johnny Cash in his home village of Kilflynn back in November in what was a sell-out concert. “The feedback we got from those concerts was just phenomenal and we decided we would do it on a bigger scale. There isn’t a whole lot of Johnny Cash tribute acts out there, and given he is so popular, I decided it would be good to do it,” said Fergus.
Ticket sales have been brisk for the concert which is generating huge interest among people who attended Johnny Cash’s Tralee concert back in February 1993. Fergus also believes the 2005 hit movie
‘ Walk the Line’ has brought a resurgence in interest in Johnny Cash to a whole new generation. All of Cash’s early music, right up the American Recordings with Rick Rubin, will be performed by Fergus on June 17.
“I would have studied Cash’s life over the years, even down to the way he moves on stage. For the hour or two that you’re on stage you must pretend you are Johnny Cash to make it real. It’s important to work hard at this,” Fergus added.
Fergus also explains how Johnny Cash joined with Rick Rubin to record much of his modern material around the time he left Tralee in 1993.
“Johnny had no label at this time and it was Rubin who asked would he do some recording with him. I’ve been listening to Cash since I was very young and I’m a huge fan of that whole era. Growing up, many of my friends would have listened to U2 while I was listening to the likes of Cash. I’m looking forward to it.”
Tickets for the Johnny Cash Tribute Concert are now on sale and cost €20. Tickets are available from The Rose Hotel, Tralee, on 066 71 99100, or by contacting Fergus directly on 087 698 8929.