Published: Wednesday, 8th April, 2009 12:00pm

Blues, soul, rock "n" roll

Susan Tomelty (right), one of the finest singers from Northern Ireland, is making a return appearance to The Breffni Arms on Easter Saturday night (April 11) in the front lounge.

A pure and distinctive voice, she can cover a wide range of material but her influences are more rhythm and blues, soul, and gospel.

Supporting Van Morrison and singing for Nelson Mandela, the Susan Tomelty Band have had many terrific line-ups, and on this Saturday"s gig Belfast man Big Billy McCoy is on guitar. He"s well for his country blues style - akin to Steely Dan"s Jeff Skunk Baxter. On bass is Stephen Gallagher from the Ballyshannon musical family and on drums is Down man Davey Kennedy.

Sadly, Susan"s partner Steve McGovern, who was instrumental in keeping the blues torch lit at The Breffni Arms, passed away in February from pancreatic cancer, aged 43 years. He was a fine hammond and piano player, fondly known as Keyboard Steve and worked with many bluesmen - The Ed Deane band, Otis Grand (of Ike and Tina Turner) and Texan harmonica Paul Orta and the King pins. He is sadly missed and would want to know that Rhythm and Blues is kept alive in the area.

The Susan Tomelty Band band covers songs from many of the greats such as Joni Mitchell, Linda Rondstadt, Bob Dylan, Elvis and James Brown. Admission is free and the show is at 10pm.