BAND OF FRIENDS - celebrating the music of RORY GALLAGHER UK dates, May 2016
BAND OF FRIENDS: ‘Live’ In The UK, May 2016
‘Best Live Band – European Blues Awards’
Not just the notes – but the sound, energy and feel of Rory Gallagher, delivered by people who helped define it…
MAY
FRI 13TH - LONDON, The Borderline, Orange Yard, Off Manette Street W1D 4JB Doors 7pm £20 + b/f http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/
THURS 19TH – GLASGOW, The Cathouse, 15 Union Street G1 3RB www. http://cathouse.co.uk/
MORE DATES HERE -
Twitter - @B_O_F_Official - https://twitter.com/B_O_F_Official
2015 proved to be another eventful and highly successful year for BAND OF FRIENDS. To acknowledge spending most of the year on the road, the Band released their live album “LIVE ‘N’ KICKIN” ; whilst Glaswegian, Ted McKenna was awarded “MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR” at the European Blues Awards, and Gerry McAvoy received a Civic Award from Belfast City Council, for his services to the town and the music industry - it was a very prestigious affair!
2016 is looking no quieter for the band with shows booked throughout Europe, and recording is well underway for their 2nd album of original material, which they hope to release in the Summer.
As Winners of European Blues Awards “Band Of The Year” in 2013, and boasting rave reviews from every show, it’s clear to see why the band continues to be so popular.
In the era of tribute acts who deliver note-perfect renditions of their heroes' catalogues, the Band Of Friends is something different. They can do the notes played by electric blues icon Rory Gallagher. But they can also do the sound, energy and feel – because the band includes people who helped define those essential elements. When the Irish guitarist-vocalist passed away in 1995 he left behind an eleven-album catalogue of inspired albums, and the memory of unforgettably energetic concerts.
Bassist Gerry McAvoy (Rory Gallagher / Nine Below Zero Champion Jack Dupree / Deep Joy), drummer Ted McKenna (Rory Gallagher / Sensational Alex Harvey Band / Greg Lake / Gary Moore) and guitarist-vocalist Marcel Scherpenzeel (Wolfpin) recorded their first batch of songs in 2013, with co-producer Paul Rose.
The new package includes a new recording of classic Gallagher track ‘If I Had A Reason’ to make up the seven-track EP. Packed alongside is a DVD shot at Kulturhalle, Remchingen, Germany, also in 2013, featuring 11 Gallagher tracks with sound fully remixed by Paul Rose.
McAvoy appeared on every Gallagher studio album until the bandleader's passing in 1995. McKenna appeared on ‘Photo-Finish’, ‘Top Priority’ and ‘Stage Struck’ as a member of the group from 1977 until 1981.The Band Of Friends were formed after McAvoy played with Scherpenzeel in 2010 and realised the Dutch artist was “the closest thing to Rory you'll ever hear.”
McAvoy continues: “Too Much Is Not Enough is a line in the sand for us. We're always going keep Rory's songs alive – but we're creative artists too and it's time to make that point.
“The tracks came about when we did a writing session in Cumbria last year. Paul knows where we're coming from artistically so it was ano-brainer to work with him as co-producer. He also contributed guitar, mandolin and percussion to the recordings, and Tommy Stead played harmonica. I think you'll see a direct line from the DVD through our cover of If I Had A Reason to the new tracks. We're looking forward to discovering where it'll take us.”
"A fantastic atmosphere... blends perfectly, with legitimacy" ZicaZic
"Emulating Rory's sound has been a bugbear but Marcel has nailed it. The audience hang on every note and the band give their all" AnnularMedia
"Gerry and Ted were no backing musicians. They were part of an integral unit that allowed the maestro to present his prodigious talent. Plenty of body language was what I remember. Little nods here, smiles there and just enough ad lib without over milking the solo breaks. The tradition continues with Marcel”. Noel Buckley, Record Collector.
