Foot-stomping, hair-flying, fist-pumping, high-octane, hard-rocking! It has been just over a month since Rackhouse Pilfer’s now legendary album launch of “Back to the Country” at The Model.
The free gig in the bluegrass Americana band’s hometown over Paddy’s weekend led to an electrifying atmosphere that was packed to the rafters with a crowd that traversed every age and ilk. Entering The Model, revelers were greeted by the spectacular sight of the band’s reliable talisman- a scarlet tractor entangled with colorful lanterns. The Model transformed into a little slice of Americana, a perfect tableau for a rollercoaster ride through some of the best sounds Sligo music has to offer.
Supporting the group on the night were the mellifluous tones of Sarah Crummy, an up and coming star on the Sligo music scene. Though the venue was packed the intensity and beauty of Crummy’s songs managed to evoke an intimate atmosphere and send shivers down the spines of the audience. Sligo rock veterans Those Nervous Animals followed delivering a powerful, funk-laden set which included all their big hits and
one of the highlights of the night: a duet with Sarah Crummy. This collaboration of musical styles and generations was a special moment for Sligo music and a great prelude to the night’s headliners.
Rackhouse Pilfer’s set started as it meant to go on- bursting with a blistering energy and brimming with confidence and the crowd lapped it up! The six-piece performed original, bluegrass folk, old-time country songs showing not only how accomplished they are as musicians but as performers too. Their energy is infectious and the crowd was like putty in their hands! Each member of the six-piece performed out of their skins! It was a night of Model legend! The album launch reinforced Rackhouse Pilfer’s reputation as one of the Northwest’s finest bands.
If this has wet your appetite for live music, Collette Sheerin will be launching her second album “Making Grace” this Friday the 10th May in the Model/ 8 PM (Admission €5). Though not a native of Sligo (originally from Croghan/ Offaly) – Collette has been immersed in the eclectic and inspiring Sligo music scene for some time now. Her sound is an amalgamation of a vast array of influences from “Sligo style flute and fiddle music, the harp tunings of the great Turlough O’Carolan […] The poetry of the great Patrick Kavanagh and American poet, Robert Frost. No Crows, Planxty, Kila, Declan O’Rourke, Neil Young, Dervish, Tom Waits, John Martyn, Prince, Gail, Lyric FM, Robert Burns, Bob Dylan, John Spillane, Mick Flannery, Tracey Chapman, Radiohead, Alison Krauss, Anna Houston, Leonard Cohen, da Paul McCloon show, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen, Crowded House, Christy Moore, Tori Amos, Peter Tchaikovsky to name but a few….”
On the night Collette will be accompanied by Anna Houston, Steve Wickham, Seamie O’Dowd, Leslie Jones & Willie Kelly (Rackhouse Pilfer) Ray Coen, Hugh Feely and Eoin Troy and support will be played by Dean Gurrie. The night is shaping up to be a cracker- not to be missed!!!