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MUSIC
Sunday 27 December 2009 at 8pm
The Mark Black Roots Orchestra
Tickets: €15
"We weren't looking to create a Blues Big Band, but we needed musical vehicles treated to just the right measure of Instrumentation and style. The show, for it is a show, takes an audience from plains of Eastern-acid-folk to antipodean roots music to mississippi delta blues, all infused with celtic flavours. A roots acoustic tapestry, woven by a roots orchestra."
Over the last number of years Mark Black has become something of a musical phenomenon in his native Donegal, winning a broad and dedicated following. His latest album Sweet Rescue Blues is a unique slice of rootsy blues, a musical spaghetti western, although there is an obvious influence of his native Ireland with a strong use of celtic melodies throughout the album. In addition to being an exceptional musician – Mark is a natural born performer, whose tales and anecdotes are woven seamlessly into his song writing.
The Donegal singer songwriter released his second studio album in March of this year to a sell out capacity crowd at the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny. It featured a 13 piece band of some of the finest musicians in the country, in what has been described as ‘one of the best concerts of the year.’ (Donegal News) The concert was filmed and recorded for a DVD release in the Autumn of 2009.
The band line up reads like a Who’s Who of musical reputations. Take for example Ted Ponsonby on guitar, dobro and Hammond organ – a true master who has recorded and played with the likes of Mary Black, EmmyLou Harris and more recently Van Morrison.
There’s internationally renowned pedal steel maestro Percy Robinson. The rhythm section featuring Martin Smyth on bass and Seamus Devenny on drums and percussion.
The Henry Girls, Joleen on Harp and piano and Karen and Lorna on backing vocals are accompanied by Kate O Callaghan and other members of the Inishowen Gospel Choir who performed at Glastonbury ‘08 & ‘09 and appeared on the Late Late Show with Duke Special.
In the horn section Sean McCarron (Henry McCullough Band) plays saxes and Mark Bradley (Oasis, Ben E King) is on trumpet with Donal McGuinness (Mirenda Rosenberg Band, Rare Groove Funk Orchestra) trombone. Mark Black and the band have just recently appeared at the UK’s Glastonbury 2009 Festival.
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