MUSIC Hickory Wind return to Westport

Hickory Wind return to Westport


Having won many fans in Westport after their full-house gig in The Jester pub during the Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Hickory Wind are back in town this Friday night, October 26, for a free gig in McGing’s on High Street.
Hickory Wind are a four piece group based in Athlone. Formed around four years ago, when Alan O’Neill (guitar and vocals) and Michael Byrne (fiddle, mandolin, vocals), who were performing regularly together at the time, were joined by multi-instumentalist Neil Fitzgibbon. Since then, the trio have been gigging constantly around the country, playing a blend of country, folk and bluegrass.
A couple of years ago, Hickory Wind decided to expand their sound with the addition of a double bass player, a role which has since been shared by both Brian ‘Bean’ Dolan and Dave ‘Sammy’ Rohan.