TOO MUCH For The White Man's SugarBeat Festival reunion show is possibly the most anticipated performance of the weekend, and the band, who enjoyed a wide following in Ireland in the late 1980s/early 1990s play Tuam Stadium on Saturday August 22.
The nucleus of Too Much For The Whiteman came together in London, where a group of Tuam musicians found themselves in the early 1980s. It was here they broadened their musical influences while jamming with reggae, jazz, and blues influenced Brixton musicians.
That loose grouping - vocalist and songwriter Mouse McHugh and drummer Alan Flynn (both previously of All Cats Are Grey ), guitarist Mikey Ivory, Gerry McHugh (ex- Shattered Image ) on percussion, Der Holian on bass, Danny Kelly on trombone, Axel Grude on keyboards, and future Saw Doctor Leo Moran on rhythm guitar - returned to Tuam in 1987 and formed Too Much For The Whiteman.
The band’s first live performances were at O'Rielly's in Salthill, where they established a local following. They were invited to perform at the 2FM Larks in the Park, which led to national tours and support slots with The Waterboys, Hothouse Flowers, The Stunning, Aslan, Stockton’s Wing, Cry Before Dawn, and Mary Coughlin. One of the band's songs appeared on the soundtrack of the Gabriel Byrne film The Courier, and in 1988 they enjoyed a hit single with 'Put Your Mind At Ease', still played by 2FM's Larry Gogan from time to time.
SugarBeat takes place in Tuam Stadium on Saturday August 22 and Sunday 23. A shuttle bus is available from Galway to the festival site. Day tickets are available for the festival at €35 for Saturday and €30 for Sunday. See www.sugarbeat.ie
