Bruised Orange play the Solstice Arts Centre on Friday night, 29th September.

John Prine tribute band’s hometown show

Navan-based John Prine tribute band Bruised Orange is set for a hometown show in the Solstice Theatre this Friday, 29th September. The band has toured Ireland extensively over the past two years performing sold out shows in some of Ireland's finest venues including Theatre Royal Waterford, The Marketplace Theatre, Armagh, Droichead Arts Centre, and Source Arts Centre, Thurles, and capped off a successful spring tour earlier this year being selected by Keltic Country TV as the Irish Country Tribute Band of the Year for 2023.

The Bruised Orange band is made up of Michael ‘Mike Mack’ McGarry as Prine, (guitar and vocals), Anthony 'Toby' Cregan (lead guitar, vocals), Derek Matthews (bass), James Quinn (keyboards), and Shay Carry (percussion). Each member brings a unique set of talents and abilities to the group which provides for a unique live John Prine experience. The band focuses on the early years of John Prine from his debut 1971 album ‘John Prine’ up to the early 2000s where he recorded classic duets with some of the most recognisable female names in country music, most notably Iris DeMent.

John Prine is widely cited as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation, known for his humorous lyrics about love, life, and current events, as well as serious songs with social commentary and songs that recollect sometimes melancholy tales from his life. Many artistes such as Jonny Cash, Bob Dylan and Roger Waters cite John Prine as one of their main influences. In 2020, Prine received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

The band will be supported by Colette Rathborne-Clinton who will fulfil the role of Iris DeMent for some classic duets for which Iris and John were famous for such as ‘In Spite of Ourselves’.

All the most famous John Prine songs will feature on Friday 29th September when the Solstice doors open at 7pm. The show kicks off at 8pm. Admission €25.