NEWS: Pat McManus to headline Belfast City Blues fundraiser at Belfast's Empire

WITH the success of the Belfast City Blues Festival 2017 still ringing in fans’ ears next year’s thrust begins next month with a star-studded fundraiser headlined by six-string slinging Pat McManus.

The fundraising show is at Belfast’s Empire on September 16, with proceeds going to support next year’s city wide festival.

The full line-up sees Blackwood deliver their ‘Taste of Rory’ tribute to the late, great Rory Gallagher, the usual stunning set from The Willie Byrne Band and the always mesmerizing guitar histrionics of The Pat McManus Band.

Festival Director Seamus O’Neill said: “This is a special show, not just because of these three great acts, but because this is about making sure the Belfast Blues Festival in 2018 will be bigger and better than ever.

“Anyone who saw Pat, Willie and Blackwood at this year’s festival knows they deliver songs that will knock you over!”

The Belfast City Blues Festival is an annual event held in multiple venues across the city. 2018 will mark the 10th anniversary of the festival and Seamus says blues fans can be sure it’s going to make a big impression.

He added: “After a decade of festivals we’re really excited about putting our 2018 10th Anniversary programme together.

“We’re looking forward to working with all our festival partners and artists once again as well as developing new relationships as we see the festival grow bigger and better than ever before.”

At the 2018 Belfast City Blues Festival homegrown Northern Ireland acts will be joined by national and international bands and musicians exploring the rich heritage of the blues across the country and further afield.

Tickets for the fundraising show are on sale now, priced £12.50 (+ booking fee) from all Ticketmaster outlets.

NEWS: 50 gigs in 22 venues for ninth Belfast City Blues Festival

ROCK and metal evolved from the blues - and all self-respecting fans enjoy a little bit of the blues.

Well, on the weekend of June 23rd to 25th, the ninth Belfast City Blues Festival sees 50 gigs across 22 venues in a packed agenda filled with highlights.

From 'A Taste of Rory' featuring The Pat McManus Band, the Willie Byrne Band and Blackwood, through to two sets from The Steve Payne Trio (SP3) that includes Belfast's Billy Boy Miskimmin alongside the Bristolian legendary roots/blues man.

From shows in the Black Box, through to a Blues Cruise on Belfast Lough many of the shows are free and those that charge within the affordable range.

The likes of Rab McCullough are on the line-up, but one old rockers will definitely pencil in is a show by a rejuvenated Light - featuring the music of Jim Armstrong. Speedo Wilson will be taking over axe-duties for tracks like 'Castles In The Sand', 'The Dancer' and 'Harland and the Wolf'.

Belfast City Blues Festival, with main sponsor American Holidays, is what can be easily described as a weekend is packed full of gigs as well as amazing opportunities, including the now famous Blues On The Boat Music Cruises, taking place over the weekend on Belfast Lough. More than just music, there will be tasty food and drinks to spend a perfect Saturday afternoon sailing. The cruises are set to host top performers The Fabulous Mustangs, Rab McCullough & The Rev Doc and Lee Hedley & Co.

Topping off the Saturday night, the Belfast Barge Gigs will be showcasing some of the finest local blues talent in a chilled atmosphere. Performers include The Kenny McDowell Project and The Ronnie Greer Band featuring Ken Haddock.

Festival go-ers can also enjoy the Big Belfast City Blues Busk, taking place across the city with a top prize of £200.

At the Record & Memorabilia Fair fans can find the best of blues merchandise and vintage records from the best traders in the business. It’s just one of many events taking place at The Black Box and will be turning the city of Belfast into a celebration of the genre, blues fans of all backgrounds can come together on this vibrant, fun-filled weekend.

Other sponsors of the festival include Belfast City Council, Kolor Master Belfast, Sunday World,

Berts, FT Contracts, Aer Lingus, Guinness and U105.

Pat McManus proves more than a six-string wonder on stage

THERE are people who play guitar; there are guitar players, there are guitar shredders; and then there are true artists when they strap on a guitar, proving that entertainment with a six-string is an art form. Pat McManus is such an artist.

And when backed by the musicianship of Marty McDermott (bass) and Paul Faloon (drums) there is a potency that few can equal, with power, precision and pure musical fun.

On Saturday (April 12th) that fun was brought to bear on the Voodoo, Belfast in a set as varied as it was entertaining.

Opening for the Pat McManus Band were locals, Worldsend; returning after a break with only their second gig in a year.

While many acts try to recreate that classic rock sound that was so prevalent in the 80s many miss out on the fact that there needs to be variety and a sense of danger, whether that be in the performance or the lyrical content.

There was no danger of this quartet falling down on musicianship, as Eddie led the crowd on a musical journey through hard rock nirvana with his dark jester persona, while Jay performed with a cool extravagance on guitar.

Opening with the eponymous Worldsend it was clear from the beginning that this was a band that has used the break to re-focus and return tight and fluid.

Andy (drums) and Paul (bass and backing vocals) were locked in as tight as a nut, providing the foundation for the flourishes and finesse of all on stage.

'Letters to Lost Souls', 'Warning Signs' and 'Enemy' all stood out in an all too brief a set, leaving many asking when their next full album will emerge.

The Pat McManus band emerge with no fanfare just a headlong rush with songs from the most recent release Dark Emerald Highway: 'S Before X' and 'Let's Turn It Up' roared with a real sense of occasion, while Pat grinned as his guitar became part of his body, an extended limb wrenching sounds that caused spontaneous smiles across the room.

From blues to hard rock, from six-string soloing to 12-string mandolin solos; from emotive slow songs to acoustic memories, what stood out amidst such a literal belter of a set was that there is an essence that can be distilled from skill to produce what is the pure liquor of rock.

It is a redundant exercise to pick out a song, a moment or a solo in a subjective basis, nor list the tracks, as each person there will have an abiding memory. 'Lazy Days, Crazy Nights', 'Return of the G Men' stood out for us; but Pat's tribute to the late, great Gary Moore 'Belfast Boy' is a song that produced all-round applause and sense of connection that we believe can only be achieved - such as on '...G-Men' - when there is a geographical link and a link to musical heritage.

Leaving the venue as more and more people queued up to shake Marty, Paul and Pat's hands, buy t-shirts and have albums signed; and emerging into the small hours of Sunday morning what can be in doubt is that Pat McManus and his cohorts deserve to be playing on larger stages to showcase what they can do: until then we will continue to cherish the moments when Pat's skill is displayed a few feet from our smiling, appreciative audiences.

Photos courtesy of Metal Planet