About - Mark Black & The Trips
This power trio is far from your traditional blues based outfits. Featuring amplified 12 string acoustic guitars, lap steel, didjireedoo, pumping driving roots rhythms grooves that make this act one of the hottest and dynamic live acts around. The band is led by singer/songwriter and guitarist Mark Black, whose musical credentials include 2 self produced studio albums and a double live album and concert dvd featuring the 13 Piece Big Band “The Roots Orchestra”. Also featuring Seamus Devenny on drums and percussion and Brendan McGlynn on bass. The band are finished recording studio album number 3 which will be released in autumn of 2011. Their distinctive style of “rootsy blues” often combines rock, country and Celtic influences into the powerful mix.
New Album - ‘Ghosts' release date TBC
The album produced by Mark Black features 11 new tracks written by Mark and includes a cover of the Jimi Hendrix Experience ‘Purple Haze’. The forthcoming release is a return to their rock influences with pumping guitars, driving bass and drums, tight vocal harmonies and dynamic song arrangements Unlike his previous 2 solo albums, ‘Sweet Rescue Blues’ (2008) and ‘Midnight Ramblings…..’ (2004), and the double live album/DVD with The Roots Orchestra, this will be the first Mark Black album to feature the new band ‘The Trips’ which is Seamus Devenny on drums and Brendan McGlynn on bass. ‘After the enormity of the Roots Orchestra and the 13 piece band, I was intent on making this album a true reflection of the live power trio. ‘The Trips’ band with Seamus and Brendan is an exciting change from the big band and brings the songs back as the central focus for the band.’
‘We went into the studio in October 2010 to begin the process of recording. Houses were converted into recording studios and peoples lives were turned upside down in a mass of cables, microphones, wall hangings, baffles. The snow fell and the country came to a collapse in a state of political mayhem and lack of leadership but inside a house in the wild north of Ireland we closed our doors to the outside world for 4 months. After the first 4 tracks had been recorded it was obvious that this was not going to be another laid back acoustic affair.’
Highlights from previous years include performances at Glastonbury Festival 2009, Sea Sessions 2010, Earagail Arts Festival 2009/2010 and Enniskillen Arts Festival 2010 and touring support dates with Alabama 3, Paddy Casey, Mundy, Hot House Flowers, Jerry Fish & The MudBug Club, Brian Kennedy, Duke Special, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford from Squeeze. This power trio is far from your traditional blues based outfits. Featuring amplified 12 string acoustic guitars, lap steel, didjireedoo, pumping driving roots rhythms grooves that make this act one of the hottest and dynamic live acts around. The band is led by singer/songwriter and guitarist Mark Black, whose musical credentials include 2 self produced studio albums and a double live album and concert dvd featuring the 13 Piece Big Band “The Roots Orchestra”. Also featuring Seamus Devenny on drums and percussion and Brendan McGlynn on bass. The band are finished recording studio album number 3 which will be released in Sept 2011.
Mark Black whose live appearances included Glastonbury 2009, Sea Sessions 2010, Derry City Jazz & Big Band Festival 2010, Castlebar Blues Festival 2009/2010, Limavady Blues Festival 2009/2010, Blues On The Bay Festival 2010 and Earagail Arts Festival 2009/2010, Enniskillen Arts Festival 2010., Dunfanaghy Jazz & Blues festival 2008/2009/2010. His distinctive style of “rootsy blues” often combines rock, country and Celtic influences into the powerful mix.
Over the past number of years he has toured with and supported amongst others, Alabama 3, Paddy Casey, Mundy, Hot House Flowers, Jerry Fish & The MudBug Club, Brian Kennedy, Duke Special, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford from Squeeze. In December 2009 the Mark & The Roots Orchestra were joined onstage by special guest Henry McCullough for an unforgetable performance of leadbellys ‘Western Plain’.
