HOTLY-TIPPED young Irish band The Strypes will play the first gig in Port St Mary Town Hall after it re-opens at the weekend.
The Town Hall, on the upper promenade of the village, was built some 114 years ago. It closed its doors nine years ago due to weather damage. But next Saturday (October 27) it will re-open having been renovated and installed with its first ever clocks.
Meanwhile promotion company Triskel Promotions Ltd, owned by Port Erin resident Lenny Conroy, celebrates 10 years this year. And to mark the occasion it has announced its most ambitious concert to date.
Having secured a reputation early for booking bands at The Venue, Peel Centenary Centre and the Villa Marina, Triskel has gone one step further by retracing its roots and supporting one of the first venues it used before going professional.
As a result sensational rhythm and blues band The Strypes will host the town hall’s first music event since 2003. Lenny exclaimed: ‘This rock beat band have wowed summer festivals in Ireland, the UK and Europe earlier this year and have just returned from a performance at the legendary Ronnie Scott’s in London where Jeff Beck gave them a standing ovation.
‘Then last Wednesday they were flown to London from their hometown of Cavan to play the aftershow at the Mayfair hotel after the premiere of BB King bio-pic film The Life of Riley. They hung out with Kenney Jones (Faces), Mick Taylor (Rolling Stones) and Jeff Beck again.’
He added: ‘Their live shows are both legendary and incendiary. They play with conviction and commitment rarely seen in today’s burgeoning reality TV music world.
‘They are particularly knowledgeable about the 60s blues rock era and have been likened to early Yardbirds and Rolling Stones. What’s most remarkable is the average age of the band is 15.’
Tickets, costing £20, are on sale now, available from Port St Mary Town Hall or Quine and Cubbon Printers and Patchwork Cafe in the village. Bring your own refreshments.
Doors open at 7pm. Hoodoo Nation will support.
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