MUSIC David Hope to play in McGing’s, Westport

Hope returns


Ciara Moynihan

David Hope and his band will be playing in McGing’s pub, High Street, Westport, this Friday night, March 9. A Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival regular, rootsy acoustic folk singer Hope always pulls a crowd when he plays in Mayo.
Since his last visit to Westport, Hope has been very busy indeed. He was crowned winner of the ‘What the Folk?’ competition, which was run in the Workman’s Club, Dublin, throughout summer 2011. He subsequently won a slot at the inaugural Spirit of Folk Festival in September 2011.
Hope also toured Switzerland for the third time in December 2011, and is just back from a tour of Germany in January. He is currently in the studio recording a new album, which is due for release in 2012. Next month, Hope will return to Switzerland for a tour with Robert Hope, the Breaffy-born leader singer of Limerick band Senakah.
For Friday night’s gig in McGing’s, Hope will be joined by Tom T-Bone Lyons (banjo/mandolin), Gert Nungesser (dobro/lapsteel) and Adrian Healy (drums). The show is being presented in association with Electric Cave Productions, which has found a new home in McGing’s after its four-year run putting on free gigs in Geraghty’s pub at the Octagon.
David Hope is one of the most popular acts that Electric Cave Productions has brought to Westport over the years, and – even though there have been four Electric Cave gigs at McGing’s already – his appearance will officially launch the new series. Look out for more gigs in McGing’s over the coming months.