Mark Black & The Trips

New Album - ‘Ghosts' Release Sept 2011
The album produced by Mark Black features 11 new tracks written by Mark and includes a cover of the Jimi Hendrix Experience ‘Purple Haze’. The forthcoming release is a return to their rock influences with pumping guitars, driving bass and drums, tight vocal harmonies and dynamic song arrangements Unlike his previous 2 solo albums, ‘Sweet Rescue Blues’ (2008) and ‘Midnight Ramblings…..’ (2004), and the double live album/DVD with The Roots Orchestra, this will be the first Mark Black album to feature the new band ‘The Trips’ which is Seamus Devenny on drums and Brendan McGlynn on bass. ‘After the enormity of the Roots Orchestra and the 13 piece band, I was intent on making this album a true reflection of the live power trio. ‘The Trips’ band with Seamus and Brendan is an exciting change from the big band and brings the songs back as the central focus for the band.’

‘We went into the studio in October 2010 to begin the process of recording. Houses were converted into recording studios and peoples lives were turned upside down in a mass of cables, microphones, wall hangings, baffles. The snow fell and the country came to a collapse in a state of political mayhem and lack of leadership but inside a house in the wild north of Ireland we closed our doors to the outside world for 4 months. After the first 4 tracks had been recorded it was obvious that this was not going to be another laid back acoustic affair.’

Highlights from previous years include performances at Glastonbury Festival 2009, Sea Sessions 2010, Earagail Arts Festival 2009/2010 and Enniskillen Arts Festival 2010 and touring support dates with Alabama 3, Paddy Casey, Mundy, Hot House Flowers, Jerry Fish & The MudBug Club, Brian Kennedy, Duke Special, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford from Squeeze.