Hank Wangford, the godfather of the English alternative country music scene, will play gigs in Clifden and Galway City next week as part of a short Irish tour. He has teamed up with the Irish band, The Messages, and one of Britain’s top dobro players, Dash, for the tour.

Hank has been picking at the troubled soul of Country music for more than 30 years since he befriended Gram Parsons in the early 1970s. He then had two groundbreaking TV series, the first on Country music in Britain, HW’s A to Z of C&W, followed by Big Big Country.

The New York Times praised his gigs for having “the bite and twang that drained out of so much country, the sharp cutting wit and the rawness of hard country’.

Last year, Hank joined forces with The Messages and special guest, Leitrim writer and performer Seamus O’Rourke, for two concerts. The Messages also feature in this short tour that kicks off at Clifden Arts Festival next Monday, September 18.

The Messages are Donegal’s Seanan Brennan (KÍLA) on guitar and bouzouki, Denise Boyle on fiddle and mandolin and Cavan’s Fiona Maria Fitzpatrick on harmonies.

Noel ‘Dash’ Dashwood, who also features, has recorded a new album with Hank. Promises Promises is due for release in December.

The Irish shows will feature songs from Hank’s latest album, Holey Holey – with the cover designed by Clifden resident, Joe Boske – and new tracks from Promises Promises, plus material from his extensive back catalogue, as well as original songs from The Messages.

Tickets for the Galway shows cost €15. For the gig at Clifden’s Station House Hotel next Monday, September 18, these are available from 087 3315009 or www.clifdenartsfestival.ie. It starts at 8pm.

The Galway City show is next Thursday, September 21, starting at 7.30pm in Monroes Live, with tickets from www.monroes.ie.

Pictured: Hank with dobro player Noel ‘Dash’ Dashwood. The concerts in Clifden and Galway City will feature songs from their forthcoming album, Promises Promises.