Gerry Guthrie, the young singer from Ballina on the banks of the River Moy in Mayo, is looking forward to a hectic 2015 on the music circuit.

The end of this month sees Gerry host his first ever dancing weekend.

The event takes place in the Springhill Court Hotel in Kilkenny from Friday 27 February to Sunday 1 March. Over the weekend, Gerry will be joined by a host of other performers, including Mick Flavin, Sandy Kelly, Michael English, Louise Morrissey and Matt Leavy.

“Kilkenny is a lovely place and the event is generating plenty of interest. I am delighted to have such a fine line-up of entertainers joining me,” says Gerry.

The Mayo man is among the mentors on the current series of Glór Tíre on TG4. His finalist is Donegal girl Sarah Louise McFadden.

Second Hand Heart, the brand new 13-track album from Gerry, was released in recent weeks.

Among the songs featured are When A Man Can’t Get A Woman Off His Mind, a classic country number that was a major hit for Gene Watson in America, Living In A House Full Of Love, Lefty Was Right After All and The Boxer.

Also included is Another Day Gone, which is likely to be his next single. There are also two country Irish songs, Cottage On The Borderline and My Old Home in Mayo.

Gerry began his career on the road with Sandy Kelly and toured extensively with her and the late George Hamilton IV. Later, he featured with bands fronted by Martin Cuffe, Shawn Cuddy and Louise Morrissey.

Gerry had his own one-man show around the Mayo-Sligo region for sometime before Henry McMahon, bandleader with Big Tom and The Mainliners, approached him to front a new band. Now, four years after the launch of the band, Henry is still in charge of the diary and has written a number of songs for Gerry, including The Lucky Horseshoe which was among his early hit records.

An excellent lead guitar player, Gerry can hardly remember a time when he did not have an interest in the guitar. He credits much of his expertise to his friend and music teacher, Joe Sweeney from Ballina.

“Every time we still get together to have a jam session, he teaches me something new,” says Gerry.

The current band features one of Ireland’s best-known country fiddle players, Billy Condon, who was a member of the original Ray Lynam and The Hillbillies band and who later featured with the Daniel O’Donnell band, as well as Peter Carr on keyboards and piano, Noel Callan on bass and Chris Napier on drums.

Spain is calling in May (6-13 May) when Gerry will be among the guest performers on a week-long trip to Santa Susanna on the Costa Brava, promoted by Robert Mizzell and Sean Slattery. Other guests include Johnny Brady, Grainne Gavigan, The Logues, Limelite, Big O and Kieran McAree.

In the autumn, Gerry will become part of the Patsy Cline Memories and Music Tour, headlined by Sandy Kelly and playing theatres and hotels around Ireland. While singing the songs of stars from Patsy’s era, Gerry will bring a fresh and youthful approach to the show.

“This will take me back to where it really all began for me,” says Gerry.

“It will be a new challenge. This is a show immersed in the golden era of country music. How could you not rise to the challenge?”

Sandy is thrilled to have Gerry along for the tour. “Gerry joined my band back in 2001 and was part of our concert tours for two years. We have remained great friends since then.”

During the weeks of the Patsy Cline Memories and Music tour, Gerry will also be maintaining his regular dancing dates at the weekends, so his fans need not feel they are losing out in any way.

For details about Gerry’s forthcoming weekend in Kilkenny, contact 087-3334336 or visit www.gerryguthrie.ie for further information on his other tour dates. He will also be among the award recipients at our annual Country Sound awards in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone, on Monday 9 March.