Review by Stuart McNiff

The Rab MCcullough Band – The Basement, Empire, Belfast Thursday 16^th April 2009.

With a career spanning more than 30 years, Rab MCcullough has been playing the Blues in many forms in many countries across the world. But it is in his native Belfast, that you can catch this amazing guitarist who is up there with the great and the good. I’m not sure why it is that Belfast produces such amazing blues guitarists but with Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore amongst the most well known, there must be a dozen like Rab MCcullough who are as gifted and working the circuit in Northern Ireland any other country’s.

In the very relaxed atmosphere of the basement in the Empire this free gig brings the intimacy of a real live experience where you are never more than 40 feet away from the stage. The musicians are tight, they are having fun and this is a great experience if you appreciate the blues and great guitar work. I was told that this band have been playing together for almost thirty years, but have guest musicians joining them week to week at the Basement.

This is live music in it’s very rawest form and gives the whole evening a feeling of something magical. Make no mistake, if you find yourself in Belfast this is the gig that you must attend, it’s free and it’s absolutely a must see.

Review by Stuart McNiff