ONE of the ‘must-see’ bands of this year’s City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival’s line-up is the unique Blues sound of The Revolutionaires, who will perform over the May Bank Holiday festival weekend at Da Vinci’s Hotel on 05 May, the Collon Bar at 7pm and at the City Hotel on 06 May.This is the first time the band have performed at the Derry Jazz festival and something they are really looking forward to having heard all about it through the music grapevine.
Originally from the North East of England, the band are renowned for their hot rhythm & blues in their own indomitable hard hitting style.
The musicians are heavily influenced by 1940’s and 1950’s R&B, in particular, Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Roy Brown.
However, they have adopted a harder and more aggressive approach, synonymous with modern blues artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Duke Robillard, Jools Holland and Mike Henderson which helps create their own high energy sound.
Over the last decade The Revolutionaires have established themselves on the UK and European Rockin’ circuit, as well as the Blues scene.
Andrea Campbell, events co-ordinator with Derry City and Strabane District Council, who organise the festival, is really looking forward to having the band perform and says Derry audiences are in for a real treat when they perform next month.
“The Revolutionaires are a top quality act who have toured extensively both home and abroad, performing at festivals across Ireland and the UK, but also in France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Malta and Dubai.
“They have also toured with their Big Band project which consists of extra horns and pianist, and we are delighted that they have included Derry in their Festival circuit and are bringing their power house line up and big sound for our audiences to enjoy.
“The Revs are renowned for their energy and providing a very visual and entertaining performance so anyone coming along to one of their gigs over the festival should expect to dance their socks off,” she added.
The band has recorded five CDs to date, containing a collection of Hot Rockin’ R&B tracks.
Each CD captures the ‘rawness’ and sheer energy of the band, who like to give their performances a ‘hard-edged’ vibe!
The Revolutionaires are one of a number of new and exciting acts confirmed for this year’s event – others include Dinosaur, Kaz Hawkins and one of the UK’s most authentic New Orleans style brass band The Heavy Beat Brass Band.
Other new attractions include the Jessica Radcliffe Quartet; an eight-piece ska/reggae band from London called The Dualers; Irish jazz and folk singer, Mary Coughlan; the Swing Cats, Darren Beckett Trio and much much more.
Regular festival go-ers will be delighted to hear that many of their jazz favourites such as The Red Stripe Band, The Ska Beat, Jiveoholics, Cat Scratch Fever Featuring Western Valley Hot Club, Paddy Sherlock and Les Swinging Lovers, The Jive Aces and Harry Connolly Band will be making a welcome return to the festival, bringing with them their unique style of musical performance and personality.
The City of Derry Jazz festival is organised and funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council with support from Diageo and Tourism Northern Ireland.
For full details of the jazz festival line-up and to download a copy of the programme visit www.cityofderryjazzfestival.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DerryJazzFestival and Twitter @DerryJazzFest for regular updates.
Tags: