Doors 4:00pm • Music 8:00pm

Blaggards were a huge, huge favorite at the 2010 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Fest, as they tore up the Abilene Roots-Americana Stage.....don't miss them in the intimate surroundings of Abilene Bar and Lounge!!

Blaggards (no “the”, pronounced BLA’ GUARDS or BLA’ GHERDS, depending on where you’re from) formed July 2004 in Houston, Texas.

They play what they call Stout Irish Rock, traditional Irish music mixed with rock n’ roll, informed by everything from Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley to Thin Lizzy and Black Sabbath. They are most frequently compared to bands like Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, and the Pogues.

Blaggards are guitarist/vocalist Patrick Devlin, bassist/vocalist Chad Smalley, drummer Michael McAloon, and fiddler Wes Barlow.

Front man Patrick Devlin grew up in Dublin, Ireland, and moved to Houston in his early 20′s. After working in the local club scene for several years, Patrick saw a demand for Irish rock music that nobody was taking advantage of. In 1996, to this end he formed a band called On The Dole. Although the band did well, opening for legendary Irish touring acts like the Wolfe Tones and the Saw Doctors, eventually Patrick decided it was time to clear the decks and start again.

In 2003, while hosting a weekly open mic at an Irish pub, Patrick met bassist and singer Chad Smalley, a veteran of the Houston music scene who had recently returned from New York and was looking for a new project. The two of them soon began singing and performing together every week, developing a tight vocal harmony style. A year later, Blaggards was born.

Michael, a first generation Scot-American, grew up learning Irish step dancing, winning gold medals all across the United States before picking up the drums at age 13. Mike has toured the country many times with several different Houston bands and studied jazz at the University of North Texas. Mike joined Blaggards in January 2009.

Wes Barlow, born in Memphis, Tennessee, and started playing violin when he was ten years old. After relocating to Texas in the 5th grade, he realized that the fiddle was his calling. He started playing in Texas country bands when he was 16, has won several national classical music competitions and performed on multiple albums. Wes joined Blaggards in January 2017.

Blaggards maintain a rigorous schedule, playing constantly throughout Texas and touring nationally several times a year. They've also toured Ireland every year since 2010.

www.blaggards.com

https://www.facebook.com/events/206597070135352

Tickets: $8 advance, $12 day of show, on sale now at Abilene and online at https://abilene.showare.com/