www.sligolive.ie

Musical legend, JOAN ARMATRADING,  has been announced as one of the headline  acts of SLIGO LIVE 2012  for what   promises to be a really special intimate concert. Tickets for her show in Sligo’s newest venue, The Knocknarea Arena at I.T. Sligo are on sale now at €35 and a limited number of early bird weekend tickets for all Sligo Live shows at last year’s price of €95 will also be available from www.sligolive.ie and the Hawk’s Well Theatre.

Following the success of last October’s festival and the huge impact of Elvis Costello’s and KT Tunstall’s intimate performances, Sligo Live has secured one of the most influential women in rock, the three times Grammy nominated, two times Brit nominated singer/songwriter will perform on Saturday October 27th 2012.

During her long and illustrious career Armatrading has been successful in many musical genres, Pop, Blues, Folk, Reggae, and Jazz. Her audience newly attracted and long term fans are as loyal to her as she is faithful to them.

Sligo Live has been working on bringing Joan to Sligo for years. Co-producer, Shane Mitchell explained “When we started Sligo Live seven years ago, Joan Armatrading was one of our top choices. She was keen to play Sligo, but it has taken this long to find a suitable date. Joan is a fantastic live performer who really enjoys communicating with her audience and we are delighted to bring her to Sligo Live.”

Her Sligo Live show will see Joan and her full band performing Love and Affection amongst many other firm favourites, and also showcase songs from her new CD due for release next year.

Joan is recognised as one of the world’s leading singers, songwriters and guitarists and the Sligo Live performance is a very special opportunity to enjoy her in an intimate setting in Sligo’s new acoustically superb venue.

“Sligo Live co-producer, Rory O’Connor said ”We are in discussions with many other superb acts and Between now and October we will announce a stellar array of top quality music spanning 6 days over the October Bank Holiday Weekend, October 24th – 29th 2012.

Sligo Live is now widely considered to be Ireland’s premiere folk, roots and Indie festival, bringing together established Irish and international acts with some of the best emerging talent on the scene. This is the eighth year of the festival and each year it grows from strength to strength.”

Joan Armatrading has 19 albums to her credit and a new album due for release in 2012.   She has received countless gold, platinum and silver discs, she has figured large in VH1’s Top 100 voted poll and is amongst the few female artists to be awarded an MBE. Her music has touched millions of people all over the world.

She has stood the test of time with songs like “Love And Affection”, “Willow”, “Drop The Pilot” “Lovers Speak” and “Me, Myself I”.  Armatrading became the first ever female UK artist to debut at number 1 in the Billboards Blues chart.   She became the first ever female UK artist to be nominated for a Grammy in blues category.   The first black UK artist, male or female, to debut at #1 on Billboard blues chart.  The first black UK artist, male or female, to be nominated for a Grammy in blues category

Born in St Kitts in the West Indies and moving to England when she was seven, she took her first musical steps on her mother’s piano. She taught herself to play guitar and began writing songs at the age of 14.

Tickets for Joan Armatrading (€35 + €1 service charge) and great value Sligo Live Early Bird Weekend Tickets (€95 + €1 service charge) are now on sale from www.sligolive.ie and from the Hawk’s Well Theatre (071- 916 1526). Other Sligo Live shows will go on sale as they are announced.