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The Hardchargers – essential acoustic blues from N. Ireland

Lonesome Chris Todd – vocals, resonator guitar, electric guitar, mandolin
Dave Thompson – bass guitar, ukulele bass
Richard J. Hodgen – drums, washboard

Release Date: Album: Jan 2018
Label: Market Square Music
Genre: Blues/Rock

The Hardchargers are a refreshingly original blues trio from Northern Ireland. This radio promo EP preludes the release of their album Scarecrow. It’s essential listening if you love the grand traditions of acoustic blues. The Hardchargers manage to distill everything from Blind Blake to Johnny Winter and come up with relevant, contemporary blues of their own that keeps faith with the authentic and antique voices mentioned further below.

Together, Lonesome Chris Todd (guitars/vocal), Richard J. Hodgen (drums/washboard) and Dave Thompson (bass/ukulele bass) have been repeat guests at numerous Irish festivals including Monaghan’s Harvest Time Blues Festival, Wicklow’s Knockanstockan Festival, and the Hilden Brewery Festival, Lisburn, and have performed an average of ninety gigs a year at bar and theatre venues from Ireland’s southern tip to its northern coast.

Incorporating an exhilarating back-porch section to their set with resonator, washboard and ukulele bass, the Hardchargers are an electric power trio steeped in inspiration from the greats of the pre-electric blues – Blind Willie McTell, Blind Willie Johnson, Bukka White, Willie Brown – to the progenitors of electric blues such as Lightnin’ Hopkins, Howlin’ Wolf and Frankie Lee Simms. Their live set is an electrifying reimagining of all of the above, combined with the lyricism of Chris Todd’s real-world blues and a musical language exquisitely refined from all of blues/roots and rock history since.

This EP is an advance taster for the Hardchargers debut album Scarecrow which will be released nationally in physical and digital form through Market Square Music/Proper Distribution in January 2018.

Scarecrow was recorded over five days in Belfast with engineers Jude McCaffrey and Late-Night Tony Furnell in December 2016/January 2017 and comprises six originals and two covers, Muddy Water’s ‘Can’t Be Satisfied’ and Johnny Winter’s ‘Mean Town Blues’.

Album guests include Irish jazz sensations Linley Hamilton (trumpet) and Scott Flanigan (piano/organ). While Lonesome Chris went off on sabbatical for three months, playing guitar in England with blues maestro Billy Boy Miskimmin – a long-term fan of the band – the mixing process began. The eventuating vinyl-length album was mastered at RedBox Studios, Belfast, by Cormac O’Kane. The CD packaging was designed by award-winning Whitenoise Studios MD Mark Case.

After a challenging 2017 due to external circumstances, the band members were thrilled when a Kickstarter campaign to fund the final part of the project – the CD pressing (£1200) – reached its target within one day.

Full details of the album to follow, for further information, promo EP and album review copies, interviews, images etc contact Pat Tynan:

Pat Tynan Media

Tel +44 (0) 1895 631336 Mobile 07985 400297
Email: pattynan@btconnect.com

For further information about Pat Tynan’s artist’s, their music, tours and new releases go to Pat Tynan Media