A welcome return to the festival for Jim Murray and Pete Mason who met in short pants in the late ‘60s at the legendary South Tyne Folk and Blues club, and have been playing together, on and off, ever since. Hokum is ‘blues with a smile on its face’ and the Hotshots do it very well . .
Instruments played include Steel National and Dobro Horizontal Guitars, Mandolin, Tiple (a 10 stringed South American instrument), ukulele, and acoustic 6 stringed guitars - that makes a total of over 50 available strings, which according to the boys are 'mostly hit in the right order'.
The musical influences range from field hollers, through ragtime, vaudeville, country blues, jazz and swing, through to the urban blues of the 1940s. Add to this compositions sympathetic to the tradition and a large dash of humour and you get close to defining the music that is The Hokum Hotshots.
Some singers own the stage but Mirenda Rosenberg is famous for owning the stage, the dance floor and sometimes the audience's personal space when she performs!
The experience of relocating to Ireland in 2005 from the United States helped make the new album 'Placeholder,' a rich gumbo of musical flavours and tones. The upcoming launch follows a busy couple of years since forming her band in 2007. The charismatic singer has showcased her vocal talents and performance skills throughout Ireland and even opened for the legendary Chuck Born in Springfield, Illinois, Mirenda grew up outside Washington DC. The daughter of an ordained minister, Mirenda's musical influences were initially restricted to Christian and classical music. The discovery of jazz and blues opened up a whole new musical soundscape and introduced her to the likes of Billie Holliday and Bessie Smith - formative influences who remained constant companions on her musical journey.
"I love music in a way that is sick!" Mirenda explains. "If I could, I would marry it, make a life with it so we could have little notes of our very own. It's all about music, performing, and connecting for me. I'm like a spider, I lure you into my web and you can't help but stay there…but instead of sucking you dry after a gig I hope you'll want to take me home for a glass of wine and a chat – or at least some tea.”
Northsyde started life in 2004 as Funkydory, an incendiary unit combining the fiery passion of Lorna Fothergill's vocals and songwriting with the forceful grooves of rhythm section Hayden Doyle (drums) and Ian Mauricio (bass). Intertwined, the virtuoso guitar playing of one of Britain's best young guitar players, Jules Fothergill, completes the lineup to create a band who, since their first gig, have generated a loyal following throughout the UK and Europe. Playing everywhere from the London Ealing Festival to Holland's Queensday festival in Eindhoven, their live performances have earned them rave reviews and a firm place in the festival circuit. With the release of their latest album, Mercy's Medicine, the band look forward to continuing their success through 2010... "This band took my breath away... great original material... I am going to see this band again, be there!" - Blues in Britain Mag.
Blues guitar legend Ronnie Greer returns to the Festival with his powerhouse band, featuring some of the country’s finest musicians. Regular band members Anthony Toner, guitar and vocals, Alan Hunter, bass guitar and Colm Fitzpatrick, drums are all highly acclaimed and experienced performers. Joining Ronnie and the band for this gig is special guest Dave Howell on tenor sax, a brilliant and much in demand session musician.
Ronnie has been at the centre of the local blues scene for many years, and has performed with some of the leading names in the music, including Dr John, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee and Lowell Fulson. The current band merges various styles of blues and roots music, with material from the likes of Robert Johnson, Ry Cooder Robben Ford and Jimmy Reed.
Expect a night of great music played with style and passion with Ronnie’s distinctive and soulful guitar playing pulling it all together.
The festival committee is proud to welcome back Mark Braidner and his band who were one of the highlights of last year's festival.Consummate flat-top acoustic and resonator fingerstyle and slide guitar playing combined with a voice that delivers his choice of material with authority and authenticity, Mark Braidner is the real deal. Leadbelly, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Robert Johnston, Blind Blake and traditional gospel tunes all get the Braidner treatment. Braidner's CD hasn't been far from this writer's player in the past year - don't miss this band.
Rockin' Chicago blues band from the North Down Delta. Dedicated to keeping the blues alive. In the two years they've been together they have impressed audiences at the Derry Big Band Festival, Warren Point Blues Festival, Belfast Big River Blues, Dunfanaghy Jazz n Blues Fest, Woodstock R&B Fest, Dundee Blues Bonanza, Callander Jazz n Blues Fest. Ciaran "Ciarz" Gorman fronts the band on blistering lead guitar and deep soulful vocals and is backed by a solid rhythm section with Laurence Dugan on bass and David Breen on drums. Michael Beattie completes theline up on Blues Harp. The Pontiax play the blues with a passion and gusto that's hard to resist.
This blues based power trio is far from your traditional blues based outfits. Featuring amplified 12 string acoustic guitars, lap steel, didjireedoo, pumping driving roots rhythms grooves that make this act one of the hottest and dynamic live acts in the country. If the music of Hendrix’ Band of Gypsys, jam bands like Government Mule, Dave Matthews Band or John Butler Trio appeals then check out MBTrio.
The band is led by singer/songwriter and guitarist Mark Black, whose musical credentials include 2 self produced studio albums and now a double live album and concert dvd featuring the 13 Piece Big Band “The Roots Orchestra”. Also featuring Seamus Devenny on drums and percussion and violin and Peter Doherty on bass and double bass. The latest album ‘Live at The RCC’ was recorded and filmed in March 2009 and was released in December 2009.
Mark Black whose live appearances included Glastonbury 2009, guested and performed with Moya Brennan and Liam O Maonlai at the Spirit Voices Show, and a string of festivals and packed out gigs across Ireland. His distinctive style of “rootsy blues” often combines rock, country and Celtic influences into the powerful mix.
Over the past number of years he has support credits for Alabama 3, Paddy Casey, Mundy, Hot House Flowers, Jerry Fish, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford from Squeeze. In addition, he has collaborated with artists such as Bronagh Gallagher, Foy Fance, Duke Special, Joe Echo, and Ken Haddock, for the BBC’s Urban Hymns series. In December 2009 they were joined onstage by Henry McCullough for an unforgetable performance of leadbellys ‘Western Plain’.
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The Apex Jazz Band was formed back in 1966 by trumpet player George Chambers and is unarguably Ireland's longest established and most successful jazz band. Steeped in the tradition of New Orleans Jazz, The Apex Jazz Band repertoire includes material from Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, George Lewis, Kid Ory, Bunk Johnston et al. Marches, spirtuals, rags, blues, stomps and pop tunes from the jazz age are all present in a well balanced and entertaining programme.
Throughout the years the The Apex Jazz Band has appeared all over Ireland and Europe at festivals, concerts and jazz club sessions, has backed many big name singers, and has made numerous radio and TV appearances for BBC, Ulster Television and RTE.
Night train are a good time 7 piece soul / R&B band in the style of the Blues Brothers. Alan Thompson ( Harmonica and vocals) leads the lineup which consists of 5 former members of Otis and the Elevators. The band play a mix of stax style soul and blues standards and are guaranteed to please all tastes.
Ursula is well established on the local Jazz scene and her reputation is growing throughout the Northwest. She is making her debut appearance at this year’s City of Derry Big Band Festival with her four piece band consisting of piano, saxophone, bass and drums. She loves singing Theatre songs and songs from the shows and her versatile repertoire include the songs of Rogers and Hart, Gershwin and Cole Porter.
The Martello Jazz Band aim to produce a sound reminiscent of the Dixieland bands which were commonplace in the New Orleans of the 1920's and 1930's, but also to stamp on it their own brand of drive and flair. The resulting music is fresh and full of vitality, while still retaining the traditional flavour. This recipe has been successful in introducing a wide range of audiences to this form of music, even those who previously did not consider jazz to be to their taste!
Since 1985, the band has built on its reputation for quality music, and has featured in many local and national television and radio programmes, in addition to numerous appearances at regional and international jazz events.
A consummate guitarist, whose tasteful acoustic picking caused a reviewer in the Irish Times to refer to him as ''Donegals best kept secret and a real find'' . Paul Buckley has been plying his trade, acoustic and electric, band and solo, since the mid 1970's and plays a repertoire of old American folk and blues songs mixed with his own material. A musician's musician, Paul's material has been performed and recorded by many, including Mary Black, and his work is often heard on film and TV.
The Men Who Knew Too Much play a delightfully unique style of Country-Hawaiian-Jazz. Their musical ingenuity and wry humour never fails to offer a direct connection to the heart as they effortlessly relay sharp vocal-phrased, self deprecating songs about drinking, loving, cheating and fighting, from the archives of Randy Newman, Tom Waits and Bob Dylan.
Spanning a combined one-hundred years of playing between them, this is a trio of equal partnership that can’t be beaten for sheer consistency. Percy Robinson (guitar, dobro, pedal-steel), Egon Callery- van Vliet (guitar, mandolin and vocals) and Sean McCarron (saxophone, percussion), have variously recorded and played live with John Prine, Don Everly, Nancy Griffiths, Mary Black, Paul Brady, Townes Van Zandt, Henry McCullough, Terence Trent Darby, the Naturals, Boof, Quarterdeck, Gooseberries, Brendan Quinn, Paul Buckley, The Mark Black Band and many others.
Gay McIntyre is nothing less than an Irish jazz saxophone legend. He has performed with many international jazz greats over a career spanning no less than six decades. Gay was there at the birth of the showband era, during which he performed with several bands from the age of 15 and in the process he became a well known Irish showbiz personality. As he matured, his first love, jazz, became his main musical outlet and he has been performing ever since with the cream of Irish and international jazz musicians.
‘The Katz’ have taken classics by the blues Grand Daddies such as Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Slim Harpo and turned them around with a Nu Blues / Rockabilly vibe. They have supported Van Morrison, Peter Green, Paul Jones, The Yardbirds, Robben Ford, Big Jack Johnson and Otis Grand, Appearances include Budapest harmonica festival, Buskfest, Cork and the Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival. So get down and shake your booty when Ian Sands and the boys perform on the festival Thursday.
This 4 piece blues ensemble from Portrush Co. Antrim take their influences from artists such as Bo Diddley, BB King and Cream. They promise a foot stompin gig of Chicago/Texas style rhythm'n'blues. The line up includes Pete Simpson(vocals/guitar), Doc(guitar), Mike Thomas(bass) and Robert Cardwell(drums).
The Lee Hedley Band are a fun, well travelled, well cured outfit with plenty of crunch and bite and a relentless rhythm attack. Classic rock and blues covers are given a worker and delivered with upbeat enthusiasm. Hedley is in great demand for festivals in Ireland and overseas as he never fails to deliver a performance that has audiences coming back for more.
Graffiti Limbo take material from classic and contemporary sources, stirring in their own collection of influences ; Dr John, Taj Mahal, Little Feat, Howlin Wolf, Tom Waits, Stax soul, etc ; to produce an eclectic mix of searing, soulful vocals, swirling Hammond, swooping bottleneck and funky grooves.
Featuring Donald Craig (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Allan Nicholl (guitar), Rory Clements(piano, hammond), Davy McCracken (bass), and Roger Patterson (drums), Graffiti Limbo always get the joint jumping with their good time R&B sound.
Fiona trotter is one of the brightest stars of the festival singing a broad range of jazz including the great american song book, contemporary, blues and latin jazz. Singing in the styles of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Blossom Dearie, and working alongside her father the great John Trotter, who will accompany Fiona on piano, they draw the crowds wherever they go with their distinctive style.
This guitar duo features Frank Robinson and Ian McGowan, who have many years gigging experience and will be familiar to many festival goers. Their repertoire is a relaxed and unpretentious mix of jazz blues and country.
The beekeepers are an established outfit from west Donegal, appearing again this year following great reviews from last years festival and from the Dunfanaghy Jazz and Blues Festival. They offer a heady mix of driving blues, funk/rock and soul delivered through the exceptional lead vocals of Lianne McLaughlin (pictured), the guitar genius of Jimmy Simmons, the red hot harp playing of Sean Debney and the driving groove of the rhythmn section: Harry Law on Drums and Marty Sheridan on bass. With influences as wide as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Peter Green and Bonny Raitt, the band promises a stonking night of great music that'll have you grooving the night away!"
Local blues rockers Zero Resistance make a welcome first appearance at the festival. Fronted by Rory Gallagher fan Giles O'Hara (guitar/vocals), the boys play a range of rock and blues material from the likes of Gallagher, Thin Lizzy, Jimi Hendrix, SRV, Johnny Winter, Gary Moore, and Horslips. Owen Anderson (bass) and Adam McIvor (drums) complete the lineup of this exciting young band who have lined up a series of festival appearances this summer.
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Cafe Jazz Project is local composer/performer Roy Mitchell on clarinet and saxophone accompanied by guitarist Greg Payne. Regular visitors to the festival, and leading protagonists in the northwest’s contemporary jazz scene Cafe Jazz Project will take part in the acoustic troubadour trail on Saturday afternoon.
An acoustic duo from NW donegal. Donald Graig (vocals, guitar, percussion , harmonica) will be familiar to many festival patrons as the front man of Graffiti Limbo and half of the Baldy Men. Donald is joined by Pat Muldowney on guitar and vocals - surely one of the finest working guitar players in Ireland today.
A welcome return to the festival for the local school band who have impressed in previous appearances with the quality and maturity of their music. The band are geared towards mini-bigband style music, and their repertoire includes standards and popular film and TV themes. Surely a fertile source of many great musicians of the future and well worthy of your support.
The pick of local Jazz musicians featuring saxophone, piano, double bass and guitar.
With a fantastic repertoire of sophisticated jazz standards and swing favourites, The Limavady Big Band Sound brings you an unforgettable swing experience. Their programme includes music from the days of the big bands of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Erroll Garner, Duke Ellington right up to big band arrangements of the Beatles and Van Morrison numbers.
The band draws its personnel from Limavady and the wider North Coast area and includes a wide range of age groups. Limavady Big Band Sound continue to go from strength to strength, extending their repertoir and the range of engagements they play. Fabulous. 
Kenny Peace cut his performing teeth in the '60s on blues and R'n'B and relishes nothing more than cutting loose on the guitar. Expect a set of jazzy ballads mixed with gritty blues delivered with the legendary Peace style and panache.
The Bourbon Swing Jazz Band, one of Northern Ireland’s best Dixieland bands, was formed a few years ago by a group of friends who were asked to play together a charity fund raising event. Since then it has evolved, into a band which plays in the New Orleans tradition and draws both capacity crowds and visiting musicians who play alongside at the band’s Thursday night residency at the Parador Hotel, Belfast.
The band stays faithful to the tradition of the Delta, drawing upon a substantial repertoire of tunes from the early 20th Century with influences including King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong.
Victor Staley (banjo), David Smith (bass), Harry Burns (drums), Trevor Foster (clarinet / sax) and John Trotter (trombone / vocals) complete the line-up.
Crossroads formed back in 2002, with Michael Collins on lead guitar and vocals, Davy greer on bass and vocals, And Barry [Badger] Duncan on drums.
These boys really rock the blues and are to be found playing at biker rallies and blues festivals throughout the country and mainland Europe.
John Trotter is without doubt one of the most exceptional musicians to grace a stage. A multi-instrumentalist with an incredible repertoire of material to draw from, John will surprise and delight with a varied set on the acoustic trail on Saturday afternoon, and supporting his exceptional daughter Fiona as part of her trio on Saturday night in the Crown bar.
A jam band of local acoustic musicians playing folk blues and a some old time country featuring flat-top, acoustic bass and metal resonator guitars mandolin and fiddle.
Local festival stalwart John has a wealth of experience in a wide range of musical settings spanning decades. Saturday afternoon sees John on the acoustic trail with one or two of his old buddies.