Bagatelle

Type : Gigs

Bagatelle, the band that inspired U2 bring their “ 40thAnniversary Tour ” to the Riverside Theatre

They’ve inspired U2 and shared the stage with Bob Marley;now 40 years after their humble beginning in a small bar in the Co Wicklow townof Bray, veteran Irish rockers Bagatelle are on a 40th Anniversary tour. One oftwo existing original band members, bass guitarist Ken Doyle, has mixedemotions about 'his 40 years on the road '. While thoroughly enjoying playinglive and the audiences "making the hairs stand on his head", headmits that he is "just getting too road weary". Bagatelle travelledfar and wide, bringing their music to audiences in Europe, American, the MiddleEast and China, as well as in Ireland. Their hit Second Violin was such asuccess in Uruguay that it's still played there today.

Over the years, the band has had various changes of members,but, currently it has four main performers – Ken, pianist and lead vocalistLiam Reilly, drummer Seanie Devitt and lead guitarist Kurt Schefter.

The group, dominated by the superb piano playing andsongwriting ability of front man Reilly, broke up for a while but reformed in1992. Since then, they have been performing non-stop.

The lads have come a long way since the early days Bagatellehave shared the stage with the likes of Bob Marley, Van Morrison, U2, ThinLizzy, Don McLean and The Pogues, but

Flight of Earls has become one of the most popular Irishemigration songs, while their 1978 hit Summer in Dublin has become one of Irishrock's iconic songs.

Bagatelle was just a band, playing a few songs with no planand no real expectation. They just got together to play a few songs and drink afew beers because they liked music. The success over the years was simply ahappy accident."

Over the years they have witnessed monumental changes to themusic industry over the past few decades they feel it's not for the better.

Bagatelle were playing in a small stone cellar venue inDublin when they were approached afterwards by John Woods, the managingdirector of Polygram Records who treated them to a burger, chip and Coke aftertheir gig and offer them a record deal.

Don’t miss this chance to see them live at the Riversidethis March.

What's On Soon

No results