Belfast's Limelight rocked to the Heavy Fire of Black Star Riders on Sunday night (5th March), as local boy Ricky Warwick and crew hit the stage in the popular venue. The storming set followed on from an intimate acoustic set that the band performed earlier in the day at the city's Head Music store.
Photo: Jimmy Little Jnr.
By Eamon O'Neill On 6th March 2017.
Belfast's Limelight venue rocked to the Heavy Fire of Black Star Riders on Sunday night (5th March), as local boy Ricky Warwick and crew hit the stage in the popular city spot. Their storming show followed on from an intimate acoustic set that the band performed earlier in the day at the city's Head Music store.
Celebrating the success of their recent top ten charting album 'Heavy Fire', the five piece who also feature Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham and former Alice Cooper guitarist Damon Johnson, rocked the sold-out venue with a set packed with fist in the air anthems, and swaggering balladry.
Taking to the stage around 9pm, Black Star Riders were introduced by 'That Metal Show' presenter Don Jamieson, whose quip that Warwick and been sacked and replaced by local celebrity Julian Simmons caused much hilarity among the Belfast audience.
Kicking off with the title track from their number six peaking latest before raising the roof with an incendiary 'The Killer Instinct', the band went on to play an impressive seven tracks from 'Heavy Fire'. Tempering their set, Warwick and co also added a dramatic 'Blindsided', as well as a solitary Thin Lizzy cover, in an obligatory 'The Boys Are Back In Town'.
Clearly glad to be back in his hometown, the charismatic Warwick greeted the crowd, saying; "What about ye, Belfast! It's so good to be here - wonderful, wonderful people." He also went on to reveal that Scott Gorham has Northern Irish roots, saying; "I speak for myself and Mr. Scott Gorham, whose mother is from Enniskillen - it's great to be right here in Northern Ireland".
Earlier in the evening, Scottish rockers Gun played a blistering set, crammed with hits from their impressive catalogue. With the likes of 'Better Days' and 'Steal Your Fire' vying for space with covers of Cameo's 'Word Up' and Beastie Boys' '(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)', the Glasgow veterans proved a hard act to follow.
Black Star Riders continue their tour with special guests Gun and The Amorettes on 7th March in Inverness, before Backyard Babies take over from the latter from 8th March onward.
Look out for eonmusic's EXCLUSIVE interviews with Black Star Riders and Gun to be published shortly.
Black Star Riders 2017 UK & Ireland tour dates:
With Gun and The Amorettes
2 Mar - Tramshed, Cardiff
3 Mar - William Aston Hall, Wrexham
4 Mar - Academy, Dublin
5 Mar - Limelight, Belfast
7 Mar - Ironworks, Inverness
With Backyard Babies and Gun
8th Mar - O2 ABC, Glasgow (Co-Headline Show with Gun)*
9th Mar - O2 ABC, Glasgow (Co-Headline Show with Gun)*
10th Mar - O2 Academy, Newcastle*
11th Mar - O2 Academy, Leeds*
12th Mar - O2 Ritz, Manchester*
14th Mar - Rock City, Nottingham
15th Mar - UEA, Norwich
16th Mar - O2 Academy Bristol*
17th Mar - O2 Kentish Town Forum, London*
18th Mar - O2 Institute, Birmingham*
19th Mar - O2 Academy, Bournemouth*
For Ticket Info please visit www.blackstarriders.com * Tickets from ticketweb.co.uk
Belfast's Limelight venue rocked to the Heavy Fire of Black Star Riders on Sunday night (5th March), as local boy Ricky Warwick and crew hit the stage in the popular city spot. Their storming show followed on from an intimate acoustic set that the band performed earlier in the day at the city's Head Music store.
Celebrating the success of their recent top ten charting album 'Heavy Fire', the five piece who also feature Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham and former Alice Cooper guitarist Damon Johnson, rocked the sold-out venue with a set packed with fist in the air anthems, and swaggering balladry.
Taking to the stage around 9pm, Black Star Riders were introduced by 'That Metal Show' presenter Don Jamieson, whose quip that Warwick and been sacked and replaced by local celebrity Julian Simmons caused much hilarity among the Belfast audience.
Kicking off with the title track from their number six peaking latest before raising the roof with an incendiary 'The Killer Instinct', the band went on to play an impressive seven tracks from 'Heavy Fire'. Tempering their set, Warwick and co also added a dramatic 'Blindsided', as well as a solitary Thin Lizzy cover, in an obligatory 'The Boys Are Back In Town'.
Clearly glad to be back in his hometown, the charismatic Warwick greeted the crowd, saying; "What about ye, Belfast! It's so good to be here - wonderful, wonderful people." He also went on to reveal that Scott Gorham has Northern Irish roots, saying; "I speak for myself and Mr. Scott Gorham, whose mother is from Enniskillen - it's great to be right here in Northern Ireland".
Earlier in the evening, Scottish rockers Gun played a blistering set, crammed with hits from their impressive catalogue. With the likes of 'Better Days' and 'Steal Your Fire' vying for space with covers of Cameo's 'Word Up' and Beastie Boys' '(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)', the Glasgow veterans proved a hard act to follow.
Black Star Riders continue their tour with special guests Gun and The Amorettes on 7th March in Inverness, before Backyard Babies take over from the latter from 8th March onward.
Look out for eonmusic's EXCLUSIVE interviews with Black Star Riders and Gun to be published shortly.
Black Star Riders 2017 UK & Ireland tour dates:
With Gun and The Amorettes
2 Mar - Tramshed, Cardiff
3 Mar - William Aston Hall, Wrexham
4 Mar - Academy, Dublin
5 Mar - Limelight, Belfast
7 Mar - Ironworks, Inverness
With Backyard Babies and Gun
8th Mar - O2 ABC, Glasgow (Co-Headline Show with Gun)*
9th Mar - O2 ABC, Glasgow (Co-Headline Show with Gun)*
10th Mar - O2 Academy, Newcastle*
11th Mar - O2 Academy, Leeds*
12th Mar - O2 Ritz, Manchester*
14th Mar - Rock City, Nottingham
15th Mar - UEA, Norwich
16th Mar - O2 Academy Bristol*
17th Mar - O2 Kentish Town Forum, London*
18th Mar - O2 Institute, Birmingham*
19th Mar - O2 Academy, Bournemouth*
For Ticket Info please visit www.blackstarriders.com * Tickets from ticketweb.co.uk
