What a summer we had of rockin’ blues at cr inc.

The Clara Rose Band had a ball rocking out with so many wonderful people this summer. It all started at The Warrenpoint Blues on the Bay Festival in May. I even had a few family members arrive to tear up the dance floor on the night. Then it was onwards to the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal on the June Bank Holiday Weekend. What a weekend that was, we had two shows on the Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the second of which was with my Big Band. Both audiences were absolutely up for rock AND roll and I will never forget those gigs. I really hope that festival can continue next year, it is one of the highlights of our musical year, every year.

Eddie Lynch (Keys), Tony McManus (Bass), Clara Rose, Kacper Kucharski (Guitar), Gavin Taylor (Drums)

Eddie Lynch (Keys), Tony McManus (Bass), Casey Trowel (Trombone), Gavin Taylor (Drums), Mason (Sax), Kevin Foran (Trumpet), Clara Rose, Kacper Kucharski (Guitars)

If you could bottle a feeling of moment, this would be it:

It was onwards to our debut show at The Belfast City Blues Festival at the end of June, that was a brilliant festival and we were delighted to play a show at The Black Box as a Big Band. It was great to play Belfast again, the last time was part of my debut album tour in 2010 (so a while ago!). Thanks to Keery Irvine of this shot of our band:

Kacper Kucharski, Clara Rose, Liam McCabe, Alan D’Aarcy, Kevin Foran (The Greenhorns), Paul Moore, Josh Johnston

We took a holiday after all those gigs and it was back with a bang to headline Whelan’s of Dublin for the Blues, Roots & Brass Festival on the August Bank Holiday weekend. We had the show filmed by Dowd Film & Media and the full gig is available to watch on the Clara Rose YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/7FLmzn8jC8s and a Highlight Reel: https://youtu.be/sypJiYouNaQ

Paddy Hopkins, Kacper Kucharsk, Clara Rose, Paul Moore, Josh Johnston

The close of the summer was our annual pilgrimage to Monaghan for the Harvest Time Blues Festival. The perfect ‘homecoming’ after a blistering summer of blues! (Thanks to John Nutley for the image below)

A Massive “Thank You” to all the wonderful musicians I had the privilege of playing with this summer.. Daragh Slacke and Kacper Kucharski (Guitars), Josh Johnston and Eddie Lynch (Keys), Kevin Foran (Trumpet), Liam McCabe (Sax), Alan D’arcy (Sax), Mason (Sax) and Casey (Trombone), Tony McManus and Paul Moore (Bass), Gavin Taylor, Baz Fitzgerald, Dylan Lynch and Paddy Hopkins (Drums). All the supporters (my husband Mark, family and friends), and fans of music, we would be lost without you.

The goal for the next few months is to focus on finishing my fourth album so watch this space for updates on that, that’s a whole other adventure!

Thanks to you all for your support this summer,

All my best wishes,

Clara Rose x

by Clara