The legendary Blues /Soul singer Rob Strong returns to the north east with a concert at The Balreask Bar & Restaurant Navan on Sat the 20th April at 8.30 pm.The past year has seen the Derry native receive a phenomenal response all over Ireland with gigs in Dublin, Derry, Belfast, Cork, Clones, Waterford, Kildare, Omagh & Cavan.Locally the band were thrilled with the reaction at gigs in The Royal Meath Navan, The Palace Navan, Gleeson's Drogheda & Gartlan's in Kingscourt.

In the late '60s and early '70s Rob fronted one of Ireland's most successful showbands, the iconic Plattermen and frequently packed out huge ballrooms in the North East such as The Beechmount Ballroom Navan, The Abbey Ballroom Drogheda,The Granada Ballroom Kingscourt and The Embassy Castleblaney. This summer The Rob Strong Band will headline three of the biggest Blues Festivals in Ireland, in Belfast (29th June), Armagh's 7 Hills festival on the 2nd August and Howth festival on 11th August.

Rob has just celebrated his 77th birthday after recently surpassing an amazing 60 years on the road in Ireland.

Amongst the most popular songs on the set are " Mustang Sally'', "Treat her Right", " Hard to Handle" & "Take me to the River" from The Commitments movie and many of the biggest hits of the '70s and '80s, such as " Sweet Home Alabama"(Lynard Sknyrd) & "Ain't no Sunshine"(Bill Withers). The interaction of Rob with the audience in many of the songs is a hugely popular part of the night's entertainment.

Tickets cost €20 and are available from the Balreask or online from Eventbrite. Full details from www.robstrong.ie.

QUOTES ON ROB STRONG FROM HIS BIOGRAPHY ' STILL GOING STRONG' BY PAUL HOLLAND

“Rob Strong is unique. He is incredibly talented. In my opinion he is the best Blues or Soul singer to ever come out of Ireland. His innate gift is his voice and his timing is incredible.
COLM WILKINSON

“Seeing Rob Strong with the Plattermen in the late 60s was big influence on me. To hear a fellow Northerner sing the soul music I loved so well, gave me a lot of confidence that oneday I could find my own voice. Rob is one of the true originals!” PAUL BRADY

" For me Rob Strong hass always been the best Blues/Soul singer Ireland ever produced!" BRISH SHIELS

“To play with someone of the calibre of Rob Strong was a huge honour for me as Rob was one of the best singers I had ever seen in Ireland." JOHNNY LOGAN