American tunesmith and band tour Ireland in May

The Jack Grace Band from New York City tours Ireland from 1 May to 10 May, kicking off their run of original American country music at the Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots Festival.

The honkytonk band with 5-string banjo is touring to promote Jack’s newest recording of all-original music, Drinking songs for lovers, featuring the band and such legends as Earl Poole Ball, Johnny Cash’s piano player for 25 years, and John Sebastian, composer of numerous hits with the Lovin’ Spoonful.

The tour is as follows:

1 May Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots, Langton’s, 21:30
2 May Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots, Morrison’s, 16:00
2 May Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots, Breathnach’s, 22:00
3 May Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots, Syd Harkins, 21:00
5 May The Thatch, 20:00, Rahan, Co. Offaly
7 May Barry’s Public House, 21:00, Sligo, Co. Sligo
8 May The Stillery, 20:00, Longford, Co. Longford
9 May Colfer’s Pub, 20:00, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford.

Jack Grace’s musical inspirations include Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, The Band, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Neil Young, Tom Waits, the Louvin Brothers, Django Reinhardt, Thelonius Monk, Sam Peckinpaugh, Charlie Parker, Frank Zappa, Bob Wills, and whiskey.

The Waterford News & Star writes: 'From New York, Jack Grace is one of the great characters of country music. A singer-songwriter, guitarist and banjo-picker, Jack was like the Pied Piper. Everywhere he went, looking for all the world like a cowboy from an old western movie, the fans followed.'

The New York Times says about Jack Grace: 'His prized possession is a 1947 Gibson acoustic guitar, autographed by his heroes, the country star Merle Haggard and the bluegrass legend Doc Watson. He is rarely spotted without his weather-beaten cowboy hat and rugged boots. He has been known to praise whiskey and tall glasses of beer. Make no mistake: Jack Grace is an old-fashioned country musician.' – Kevin Canfield

The Village Voice writes: 'NYC someday will brag about its great legends of country music, that's right we said country, and among those names will be the engaging, hardworking, witty, and schmoozin' and boozin' Grace.'

Jack Grace, aka the 'Martini Cowboy', sings and plays guitar. Joining him on tour are his wife Daria Grace on bass and lead and harmony vocals, Tom Hanway on lap steel guitar, 5-string banjo and vocals, and Jason Bowman on drums and vocals.

For more information about Jack Grace, please visit him at his website.

MEDIA CONTACT: Tom Hanway
Mobile: +353 (0) 87-610-1712
Telephone: +353 (0) 43-46340