Donegal Derry band Mojo Gogo.
BY SEÁN P. FEENY
IT HAS just been announced that a brand new music festival featuring some of Donegal’s best original talent will take place on the island of Arranmore next month.
The first ever Arranmore fest will be staged at Early’s Bar from August 17 to 19 and will feature Mojo Gogo, Mark Black & The Trips, Heads of State and In Their Thousands plus other acts over the weekend.
The event, which has been spear-headed by the band Mojo Gogo, will be a must for any real music fans looking for an enjoyable weekend away with top class music.
Jerry Early, of Early’s Bar said the festival is an opportunity to see the best original talent on offer in Donegal in a very unique and exclusive setting.
“There will only be 300 tickets for sale and €35 will cover the festival, ferry trip and camping so it’s a very affordable price for such a great weekend away right here in Donegal,” he said.
Mojo GoGo are widely renowned for their intensive energy fueled live performances and their utter determination to deliver an unforgettable show and feature a line-up of musicians from Donegal and Derry City in Niki Pollock, Keelin Gallagher, Paul Rodgers and Jordan Carty.
They have shared the stage with top International acts such as Ash, The Minutes, The Enemy, Kelis and Horslips to name but a few, to featuring on the cover of Hotpress Magazine in September 2011, to appearing on the hit TV series The Apprentice in October 2011. Mojo GoGo are the ones to watch for 2012.
In Their Thousands’ first EP was released to acclaim at the Earagail Arts Awakening festival on February 3 in Rathmullan House and they are currently working on new material at Attica Studios with Tommy McLaughlin in Termon.
The EP is the first of a quartet of four track EPs to be drip fed by the band in 2012. On the night they will treat the audience to tracks from both the current and forthcoming EPs.
Also appearing are the ever popular Heads of State, who always bring the house down with their singalong harmony driven material.
They all hail from the Finn Valley and Letterkenny areas. The band’s songwriting style combines the use of vocal harmonies and acoustic based instrumentation, wrapped up in catchy melodies with songs like Hands Dirty and Gone that are sure to grab your attention and get you singing along.
Mark’s outfit features Letterkenny’s Brendan McGlynn on bass and Carndonagh man Seamus Devenny on drums and together they form a real rock power trio in the spirit of The Police, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Taste and The John Butler Trio.
Mark said: “I’ve always played with a three-piece band and I’ve always been very influenced by some of these great trios in rock history.
“I find it very exciting and challenging playing in a three- piece, it provides a lot of space for each musician and really keeps you on your toes. With great musicians like Seamus and Brendan they bring so much to the band musically and of course in terms of extra vocal harmonies.”
For more tickets and further information on Arranmore fest log onto facebook.com/mojogogo or call Jerry on Mobile 0878054246.