The Molly Hicks at Town Hall Theatre, Galway, TOMORROW

Thanks to Ruth Dillon for this news:

Tomorrow night, Wednesday 30 June, is a very special night for the Molly Hicks, Galway’s finest bluegrass outfit. They play their first concert in the prestigious Town Hall Theatre at 8.00 p.m., and will be joined by many special guests on the night. The evening will be filmed by none other than Pat Comer, the film-maker who won an award for his Des Bishop documentary, In the name of the fada.

The Molly Hicks are singer/songwriter Ruth Dillon from Tipperary, and singer Bernie O’Mahony, who when they sing together have been described as having the 'seamlessness of Emmylou Harris and Alison Krauss in O brother where art thou?' (Irish Times).

Joining them on stage on the night will be Peter Akerstrom, from Sweden, who burns up the fretboard with his flatpicking style, New Yorker Tom Hanway, playing 5-string like no other, Paul O’Driscoll on bulldog bass, and from Finland Juliana Erkkonen on fiddle and extra vocals from Yvette Gorham. There is a also very special surprise guest for the end of the evening which will be kept just that… a big surprise!!

Everyone takes turns singing songs, adding five-part harmonies, and lots of call/answering in the true bluegrass and gospel style. Ruth writes original songs for the band, some of which have drawn attention from Nashville producers, and Tom has written some truly classic tunes for the band.

Following their packed-out show at the Westport Bluegrass Festival last weekend, this is a bluegrass hootenanny not to be missed.

Tom Hanway (shown right with actor John Kenny in this photo by Denise Hanway) adds:

The band sets sail the next day to Wales for the North Wales Bluegrass Festival in Conwy, their first festival appearance, also representing Irish contemporary bluegrass. Tom Hanway will be giving a Celtic Banjo workshop and making his fourth festival appearance, previously with Tennessee Hob, featuring Karl Deeter.