British blue Strypey Beatles

To quote a recent feature in music bible Q: ‘The Strypes look and sound like they’ve just walked onstage at The Cavern in 1963.’

The four-piece rhythm and blues band from Cavan, Ireland, formed in 2011, is made up of Ross Farrelly (lead vocals) with Josh McClorey (lead guitar), Pete O’Hanlon (bass guitar) and Evan Walsh (drums).

The group has spent the past 18 months launching their explosive R&B assault on the clubs and festivals of Ireland, the UK and Europe, hammering out a no-nonsense blues repertoire drawing from the songbooks of Chuck Berry, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Slim Harpo and more, with the passion and venom of British blues groups such as Dr Feelgood, The Yardbirds and The Animals.

“R&B is to the point,” says drummer Walsh.

“Music over the last 30 years has become too complicated, it should be a basic thing.”

Having already met with 
critical acclaim from greats such as Jeff Beck and Paul Weller, and tipped by NME as the top new band to watch, it seems things can only get better for The Strypes.

Channelling the spirit and influences of a certain other famous Cavern Club offshoot, in the words of Q ‘if you like early Beatles, you’ll love The Strypes’.

Tickets for the 7.30pm performance on Thursday, July 11 cost £8 in advance. See www.53degrees.net.