The irreverent Godfather of country music Hank Wangford returns to his spiritual home of Galway this Thursday, September 21 as part of his Irish tour.
By day a medical doctor Dr Sam Hutt, on stage for 30 years as Hank, the Englishman with an Americana drawl treads the line between respect and disdain for the Nashville scene.
Venturing forth from his Connemara bolthole, Rancho Wangford, Hank will be joined by The Messages and Noel Dashwood for an intimate gig at Monroe’s Live at 7pm.
The country-and-western stalwart balances his medical career with his musical alter ego, created in the 1970s when he met the late Gram Parsons of the Byrds’ and Flying Burrito Brothers’ fame.
It was a period when Hank was known as London’s long-haired rock’n’roll doctor, whose dive into music led the New York Times to describe his originality as “something that still has the bite and twang… the sharp cutting wit and the rawness of hard country”.
The wildlands and seascapes of Galway inspire his latest album, Holey Holey, which was written in his rural hideaway and continues his unique relationship with the county.
While working as a doctor and musician, Hank is also an author, feature writer and broadcaster. His passion for Galway was the subject of his BBC radio documentary Way Out West in the 1990s.
His style of country music is peppered with humour and an irreverent attitude, influencing Billy Bragg, The The and Alabama 3. His current album’s artwork is by fellow Galway-based irreverent Joe Boske.
At the Monroe’s event Hank will play tracks from his new album Promises, Promises, as well as songs from his extensive back catalogue, alongside original compositions by The Messages. They are Donegal’s Seanan Brennan from KÍLA on guitar and bouzouki, Denise Boyle from SíFiddlers on fiddle and mandolin, and Cavan’s Fiona Maria Fitzpatrick on harmonies and guitar.
With his “dark and troubled, grubby soul” Hank will take to the stage at the Backstage venue at Monroe’s Live on Dominick Street, with The Messages and The Dash, on Thursday, September 21st at 7pm.
Tickets cost €15 and are available from www.monroes.ie .
