Legendary Dublin group Dr. Strangely Strange will take to the stage at St. James’ Church on Saturday, July 25, as part of this year’s Mallow Arts Festival, promising an intimate evening of music, storytelling and memories spanning more than 60 years.
Emerging from Dublin’s vibrant late-1960s music scene, the band quickly earned cult status with a distinctive blend of folk, psychedelia and whimsical songwriting. Their rise saw them perform across Britain and Ireland alongside artists including Elton John, Mott the Hoople and a young Thin Lizzy during the formative years of both bands.
Their debut album, Kip of the Serenes, recorded in London in just a day and a half in 1969, has since become one of Ireland’s most celebrated psychedelic folk recordings and was recently reissued on vinyl by Universal Records.
The follow-up album, Heavy Petting, expanded the band’s sound with contributions from Irish guitar greats Gary Moore and Brush Shiels. Released in 1970, it marked another milestone in the group’s evolution and received a special 55th anniversary vinyl reissue earlier this year, complete with its iconic artwork by renowned illustrator Roger Dean.
While the decades have passed, Dr. Strangely Strange have continued to perform, record and influence generations of Irish musicians, cementing their reputation as one of the country’s most enduring cult acts.
Audiences at St. James’ Church can expect an evening that blends classic songs with stories from a remarkable musical journey that stretches from the counterculture of the 1960s to today.
The concert takes place on Saturday, July 25 at 8pm in St. James’ Church, Mallow. Tickets, priced at €20 plus booking fee, are available through the Mallow Arts Festival website.
