Bruised Orange, Ireland's premier John Prine Tribute band, are set for a landmark show in the Town Hall Theatre in Galway on Friday 16th February. Find out more here...
The band has toured Ireland extensively over the past 2 years, performing sold out shows in some of the country's finest venues including, Theatre Royal Waterford, The Marketplace Theatre Armagh, Solstice Arts Centre Navan, Source Arts Centre Thurles, to name just a few. The band capped off a successful 2023 by being selected by Keltic Country TV as the Irish Country Tribute Band of the Year for 2023. It will be a proud moment for the band to perform their show in a city which was beloved by the late John Prine, who based much of his time in the small town of Kinvara.
Boasting a quintet of Co. Meath’s most experienced musicians, the Bruised Orange band is made up of Michael ‘Mike Mack’ McGarry as Prine (Guitar & Vocals), Anthony Toby Cregan (Lead Guitar, Vocals), Derek Matthews (Bass), James Quinn (Keyboards) and Shay Carry (Percussion). Each member brings a unique set of talents and abilities to the group which provides for a unique live John Prine experience.
The show is fronted by Michael McGarry who accurately reflects John's vocal range with similar ease of delivery, an affected twang and drawl. His storytelling and short antidotes are also a testament to a Bruised Orange live show. Lead guitarist, Toby Cregan is one of Navan's most revered guitarists. His style and playing reflects that of Jason Wilbur, Prine's go-to guy from the early 1990s up until Prine’s death in 2020. Bassist Derek Matthews is known for being a member of one of Ireland's top wedding bands Stop the Clock. His double bass and look again reflects that of Prine's bass man Dave Jacques. Drummer Shay Carry is the backbone of the band and has toured extensively with some of Ireland's top country artists.
John Prine is widely cited as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation. Prine was known for his humorous lyrics about love, life, and current events, as well as serious songs with social commentary and songs that recollect sometimes melancholy tales from his life. His songs were not like the sugary songs of pop or country radio; they were droll, deadpan observations on everyday life, stories so understated that you often had to hear them twice to get the joke—or the knife stab of fate. You get the impression that John Prine often feels like a friendly neighbour, a buddy next door who occasionally comes over after work, pulls up a chair, cracks open a beer, and tells you all about Jimmy down the street, chuckling through every sentence. Then, after he’s had a few, you notice a change: what was funny before now seems pretty bizarre; a few uncomfortable truths have entered the conversation, and you can only nod your head in unspoken agreement; he’s still grinning - and you are too - but things seem much bigger than last week.
Many artists such as Jonny Cash, Bob Dylan and Roger Waters cite John Prine as one of their main influences. According to Bob Dylan; "Prine's stuff is pure Proustian existentialism. Midwestern mindtrips to the nth degree. And he writes beautiful songs. All that stuff about 'Sam Stone', the soldier junkie daddy, and 'Donald and Lydia', where people make love from ten miles away. Nobody but Prine could write like that."
In 2020, Prine received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
All the most famous John Prine songs will feature on Friday 16th of February when the THT doors open at 7pm. The show kicks off at 8pm. Admission €25. This is a show not to be missed so early booking is recommended. Get your tickets here.
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