The
Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival have announced a significant
headline act to appear at this years 5-day event in Ballyshannon,
Co. Donegal Ireland with former lead guitarist with the world renowned
“Whitesnake”, Bernie Marsden and his band set to appear
in Ballyshannon on Saturday 5th June 2010. The Festival takes place
between Wednesday 2nd June and Sunday 6th June 2010.
Marsden who in the late 1970’s teamed up with former Deep
Purple vocalist David Coverdale to form the legendary “Whitesnake”.
The Marsden-Coverdale compositions of "Here I Go Again"
and "Fool for Your Loving", were to become sizeable worldwide
hits. Bernie Marsden will be joined in Ballyshannon by Rory Gallagher’s
former band members Rich Newman and Dave Levy and no doubt will
deliver an explosive set of Gallagher and Whitesnake classics.
Bernie Marsden was a close personal friend
of the late Rory Gallagher, who died 15 years ago this June. Speaking
to www.rorygallagher.com this week Mr. Marsden said “Rory
was a lovely guy and a great influence on me, both as a player and
a human being. Sadly he passed away much too early, but this gig
in Ballyshannon will be all about celebrating him and his music.
I don’t intend to impersonate him, but instead I will be playing
his songs the way I play and the way I sing”.
The Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival opens on Wednesday
2nd June 2010 with the unveiling of the Rory Gallagher bronze statue
at 7.30pm on Main Street , Ballyshannon. Speaking to www.goingtomyhometown.com,
Festival Chairperson, Barry O’Neill said “we are delighted
that we will be unveiling the Rory Gallagher Sculpture this June and
congratulate the designer and sculptor David Annand for the superb
work in honouring Rory. We are equally pleased that Bernie Marsden
is coming to play the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival
2010 and his performance with Dave Levy, Rich Newman and Jim Kirkpatrick
is sure to be a popular gig for Rory’s loyal fans at the Rory
Gallagher Theatre. Also appearing on the same bill as Bernie Marsden
at the Rory Gallagher Theatre on Saturday 5th June are the highly
rated Dutch based band “Wolfpin” who took the festival
by storm last year and are led by the talented Marcel Scharpenzel
on lead guitar and also an incredible artist from Norway Monica Heldal
who is set to make quite an impression, playing many of Rory’s
classic numbers in her own amazing style. Tickets for that Concert
are now on sale in the Box Office section of this website.
In all
there will be 25 different acts appearing at this year’s Rory
Gallagher Tribute Festival including one of the Festival favourites
“Sinnerboy” from Manchester, former “Mama’s
Boy’s” guitarist - Pat McManus, while making a welcomed
debut to the Rory Festival is the Willie Byrne Band and travelling
from Norway are the “Bearded Babies” and from Germany
“The Loop”. Among the leading local acts appearing are
Ballyshannon Rockers “Moonchild”, “Johnny Gallagher
& Boxtie” and “The Skins”.
The organiser’s are delighted to present one of the legends
of Blues ‘n Folk Music – Chris Newman who was a close
friend to the Late Rory Gallagher and appeared on Rory’s Album
‘Wheels within Wheels’, while a new face to this years
festival will be the respected Belfastman Roy Fulton and no Rory
Gallagher Festival would be complete without former ‘Dervish’
guitarist Seamie O’Dowd and his Electric Rock ‘n Blues
Band. Among other acts to watch-out for, the superb “Shinkicker”
from England , “Dave McHugh Band” ( Dublin ), “Brian
Meakin Band” and “Slumming Angels” from Dublin
.
Visitors attending the Festival now have much to see in Ballyshannon
where Rory Gallagher lived for the first four years of his life.
The appropriately named - Rock Hospital where Rory was born on March
2nd 1948, East Port Road is the Street where Rory first lived and
with it nowadays are Rory Gallagher Place and the main Theatre at
the Abbey Centre was named “Rory Gallagher Theatre”
and unveiled by Donal Gallagher.
The Festival is a must for Music lovers with a mass gathering of
Gallagher fans set to participate in the 5-day programme of events
filled with non-stop Rock 'n Blues sounds. The vast majority events
of the 5 day Festival are Free Open Air Concerts and Pub Gigs, with
the Theatre Concert on Saturday 5th June – the only Pre-Sold
Ticket event. You can purchase your tickets for that event in the
Box Office section of this website. For all General Enquiries including
Accomodation, contact Barry O’Neill,
Email: barryfest@hotmail.com Tel. 0035386-8772325 with the full
festival programme now available on this website. Also
visit our Facebook Page
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