The BC Blues Band.
David Whittredge and David King in The Hole and the Wall.
Monica, Anne and Claine Carthy, Rory and Luke Carthy, Anne O Connor and John Murphy in Stamp’s Pub.
Mick and Pauline Farrington.
Eileen Murphy and Lorna Lawlor enjoyed the Blackstairs Blues Festival.
Lee Ellis and Richard Cotter.
Sarah Chuter and Colin Greenaway.
Graham Moore playing the Harmonica with The BC Blues Band in Holohons.
Ben Prevo in Stamp’s Pub.
Rebecca Salmon and Veronia McFadden.
Peter and Nicola Kausten.
Ibar Carthy and Joni Galvin.
The town of Enniscorthy was alive with the sound of music as respected blues players from around the country and the world converged on the pubs for a stellar edition of the annual Blackstairs Blues Festival.
Each year, organiser John Murphy puts together a jam-packed schedule of acts in various establishments around the town, ensuring that all locals and visitors have ample opportunity to experience the live music.
Taking part in this year’s line-up was Ben Prevo, King and Whittredge, Pete and Ollie, Gus Munre, The BC Blues Band, Garry Cogdell, Delta Dogs, David Broad, the Meanwood Valley Stompers, Richard King, Eddie Crean, The Scalder City Slicks, Niamh Strong Band, Dermot Byrne and Danny Tobin.
Pete Wearn of Pete and Ollie said the duo had a great time attending the festival after travelling over from their home in Staffordshire.
“Genuinely one of the best music related experiences of my life – we played three gigs, wrote eight songs with 200 children, stayed in an amazing 18th century merchant’s townhouse, and used every opportunity there was to meet and jam with the other performers,” he said.
He added that they were incredibly grateful to the organisers, the other performers and the people they met along the streets of Enniscorthy for an unforgettable experience.
“Huge thanks to the students of St Aidan’s school for helping our workshops go so smoothly and for coming up with brilliant songs about unlucky robots and stinky socks. To all the awesome musicians we got to play with and chat to and our lovely hosts at St Anthony’s.”
“Last but not least, the wonderful people of Enniscorthy and its environs who came to watch us play, sang along, provided train sounds, paid for our beer even when we tried to buy our own and made us so incredibly welcome in their beautiful hometown,” he added.
