Jazz and blues quintet playing the Greville this week

Some of the finest jazz and blues musicians in the country are playing a show in The Greville Arms Hotel this Thursday night.

The acclaimed Ray McLoughlin Quintet will perform new original music as well as some traditional favourites at their concert in the Greville. The band features Robbie Casserly on drums, James Blennerhassett on bass, John Byrne on saxophone and Paulie Martin on guitar and vocals, with Ray McLoughlin on Hammond organ and vocals.

These musicians all reside in the midlands with two living here in Mullingar. They have played with some of the biggest artists and shows in the world including Riverdance, The Rolling Stones, Mary Black, Mark Knopfler, Mary Coughlan, Derek Ryan, Nathan Carter, to name a few!

The evening opens with the amazing Danny Sheerin, playing his own original music on guitar and piano. Danny is a full-time session singer and rarely has the opportunity to showcase his original work, so this is not to be missed.

Prior to the 7.30pm gig, at 5pm there will be a 45 minute informal performance and question and answer session where local musicians and students of all ages can ask questions and get tips from these amazing musicians.

The concert is part of a large programme of events taking place in the coming months that are supported by the Local Live Performance Programme Scheme. Funded by the government and set up last year, the scheme aims to help underpin the recovery of the live performance sector by assisting local authorities to fund live performance events that engage the services of local artists, musicians, technicians, producers and other professional practitioners.

On Friday, The Railway Rest in Moate in association with Rainwater Studios and Studio93 will host a live performance of local musicians to mark the coming of summer. The gig will tie in with the ancient festival of Bealtaine, and will feature local performers, some of which include First Day Lions and Paulie Martin. This event will also be available to view online at a later date.

As part of the much anticipated Westmeath Bachelor Festival, a series of local acts will be performing throughout the weekend and will also perform at the ‘Local Heroes’ stage on the Sunday night from 7pm to 11 pm supported by the Local Live Performance Programming Scheme.

This is a great opportunity for local audience to witness the up and coming talent that Westmeath has to offer and a great opportunity for our local musicians to perform in front of a full crowd and get great exposure to music management teams.

Westmeath Arts Officer Miriam Mulrennan says the Local Live Performance Programming Scheme is helping the recovery of the live performance sector in Westmeath after a very difficult two years.

“It was heartening to receive such a large number of applications from groups, venues, crew and artists in the live performance sector across the county. Until the end of June, Westmeath audiences will have a wide variety of live performances to look forward to and enjoy from varying music genres, storytelling, dancing, art and design,” she said.

Tickets (€10) for the Ray McLoughlin Quintet 's gig on Thursday's are available at The Greville Arms.