London ‘tropical punk’ purveyors Rum Shebeen make a welcome stop in Kilkenny this Sunday evening fresh from some Stradbally antics.
The six-piece act, whose music beckons the sun on even the dreariest of days and creates an instantaneous carnival atmosphere, will celebrate the launch of their debut single, ‘Tropical/Old Punk’, this month.
Dave Ashby (vocals ), Matt Allchin (guitar, vocals ), James McCool (piano, organ ), Bobb Twoshoe (drums ), Bob Doyle (bass ) and Steely Dan (steel drums ) met by accident, perhaps brought together by fate.
It wasn’t long before the collective decided to “leave their old lives behind to recreate that perfect melody, that seductive, groovy bass line, the tribal beat, that throb of organ and the seething guitar” that had initially united them.
According to the group their songs are “best heard on a sweaty dancefloor, live and in good company”.
Rum Shebeen make the trip to Ireland for their annual pilgrimage to the Electric Picnic festival in Stradbally, Co Laois, where they are favourites on the late-night shipwreck stage known as the Salty Dog.
They will follow their EP appearance with a gig in Cleere’s Theatre in Kilkenny on Sunday, September 5. For more info visit myspace.com/rumshebeen
