Dermot Blues Byrne

Best of Country Blues Vocals Guitar Harmonica

"Welcome to everybody who has supported Blues and Roots music over the past years.The reason I play it is that I love it. The reason I love it is that the music that developed from the deep south of the United States after 1900 had everything that human kind should cherish . With The Blues came new ways of paying music. It raged against the oppression and alienation of man and it came from the hearts and minds of poor black (and later white) working people. I hope you enjoy my songs. Many are old blues and roots songs, while others I have composed myself".

 

Dermot Byrne is Ireland's foremost roots and blues performer and a prolific songwriter. He has taken his authentic style of blues to top festivals in Europe and the United States. Playing fingerstyle, slide guitar and harmonica he is a regular performer on the club and festival scene and his music has received critical acclaim in music press.

His influences are the blues masters such as Son House, Robert Johnson, Fred McDowell and Texas folk-blues artist Huddie Leadbetter.

Acts Dermot Byrne has played with or supported include legendry names such as Sam Mitchel, Eric Bibb, Homesick James, Boy Edwards, Steve James, Long John Hunter and Byther Smith.

In 1998 he released his first album "Raw Whiskey Blues" on the "Me and My" label based in Holland.  This was distributed by Continental Record Services (C.R.S.) in Europe and later released in the U.S. on the Beatville label.

As well as doing workshops for schools and colleges on the "origins of the blues" Dermot has narrated and performed a short film for Trinity College Dublin entitled "The life and music of Leadbelly".

In 2005 Dermot Byrne came first in the finals of the Irish Blues Challenge (solo/duo) and subsequently performed at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis T.N.  He has done gigs in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and performed on the world famous King Biscuit radio show in Helena, Arkansas.  

DETAILS

Venues

Castlebar Blues Festival - Temple Bar Blues Festival - Monaghan Harvest Time Festival - Clifden Country Blues Festival - Backstairs Blues Festival - Cork Jazz Festival - Wexford Whole Hog Festival - Dingle Festival - Dun Laoghaire Culture Festival - Ghent City Blues Festival - Postart Blues Festival.

Radio

"Mick Maloney" (R.T.E) - Today at Five (R.T.E)  - Bluestime (R.T.E) - People in music (East Coast) - Bluestrain (Anna Liffey)- Near F.M. - Dublin Community RADIO - Classic F.M.

Television (Ireland)

"Live at Three"
"Open House"
"Limelight" (with Don Baker and Connie Lush)

Albums

"Raw Whiskey Blues" Dermot Byrne - Continental Record Service (C.R.S.) Holland
"Recorded live at the Mermaid Theatre" (BRR) Ireland