Tribute bands will be flocking to Ireland next year to cash in on the nostalgia surrounding the 20th anniversary reunion of The Commitments, writes Senan Hogan.
The original cast members of the hit 1991 film of Roddy Doyle’s book are planning gigs in Dublin, Belfast, Killarney and Castlebar around St Patrick’s Day period in mid-March.
However tribute bands based in the UK will also be jetting to Ireland to set up concerts across the country to capitalise on new-found hype around the Dublin soul band.
Neal Hargreaves (41), lead singer with The Committed - and Andrew Strong lookalike - said: “We will be coming over and are slotting in gigs in Cork and Galway where we will be belting out the usual hits such as Mustang Sally and Try A Little Tenderness.
“We've been on the go since 2005 but the reunion tour is really capturing the imagination of fans and we are seeing more people coming to recent gigs at the Cork Jazz Festival and the UK."
Neal, whose mum is from Co Westmeath, added: “I’m often mistaken for Andrew Strong at many of our gigs and especially in Ireland.
“We try to look and sound exactly the same and I think fans respond to that. Why try to improve on perfection?"
The Committed, who recently played several venues at the Cork Jazz Festival and at London's Dorchester Hotel, boast a full 10-piece line-up including three female backing singers and a brass section.
The band also plays some popular hits from Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Dusty Springfield, the Blues Brothers, Duffy and Amy Winehouse.
Other UK-based tribute bands such as 'The Kommitments' have also built careers around performing songs from the hit film.
The full cast of the original band in the film is taking part in the reunion except Maria Doyle Kennedy - who played backing singer Natalie in the film - as she is focusing on her own solo career.
Others taking part include Frames frontman Glen Hansard who played Outspan and Even Robbit Arkins who will be reliving his character, Jimmy Rabbitte.
The others are: Andrew Strong, Angeline Ball, Bronagh Gallagher, Michael Aherne, Felim Gormley, Dave Finnegan, Ken McCluskey and Dick Massey.
A donation will be made to the Irish Cancer Society for every ticket sold and the cast hope to raise over €30,000 for the charity.
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