Fresh from whipping up a frenzy at the Open House, Celtic Connections and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, the ‘Hillbilly Hurricane’ that is rootin’-tootin’ Kansas City four-piece, The Wilders, blasts its way to Belfast’s Black Box tonight.

Playing storming roots of country, bluegrass and old-time tunes with the pure essence of early rockabilly, The Wilders (pictured) deliver a blistering fiddle/banjo/ dobro/slap bass hoedown.

The energetic quartet’s high-octane live performances have won them many accolades, while current album, Someone’s Got To Pay, went straight to the top of America’s Roots of Country chart in America.

Following last weekend’s Glastonbury appearance, Bap Kennedy returns home to launch his latest album, Howl On, with a triple bill at the Black Box tomorrow.

The first release from the album is Kennedy’s country rock version of the Hendrix classic, Hey Joe, featuring the legendary Henry McCullough on guitar.

Tomorrow’s gig also features local singer, songwriter, author and artist, Brenda Kennedy (Bap’s wife) — whose debut album, Banish The Blue Days, has just been released — and the excellent Lost Brothers.

Finally, American singer/songwriter Gary Ferguson is joined this weekend by top local singer/songwriter, Janet Holmes, at the July 4 celebrations at the Ulster American Folk Park.

damien.murray@hotmail.co.uk