Smokie in Athlone for Radisson concert this evening
Rock'n'rollers Smokie will be in Athlone for a concert in the Radisson Blu Hotel this evening (Thursday).
The band, which hails from Bradford in England, has been performing since the 1960s and their popularity reached a peak the following decade with a string of hit songs.
Their most famous singles include, “If You Think You Know How to Love Me”, “Don’t Play Your Rock ‘n’ Roll to Me” and “Lay Back in the Arms of Someone”.
Their most popular hit single - “Living Next Door to Alice” - peaked at No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart.
The band's line-up consists of Terry Uttley, Steve Pinnell, Martin Bullard, Mike Craft and Mick McConnell.
Terry, who has been performing with the band since 1968, recently answered these questions from the Westmeath Independent ahead of the Athlone gig.
* What is your earliest musical memory?
My Dad playing opera and songs from the musicals of the time.
* What is your favourite album?
'Pieces of Eight' by the Chicago band, Styx. Everyone knows them from the pop songs ‘Babe’ and ‘Boat on the River’ but there is far more to this band than those two songs. Magical!
* Do you have a favourite song?
‘Blue Collar Man’ by Styx.
* Most memorable gig or career highlight to date?
Selling out the Moscow Olympic indoor stadium for three nights running back in 1991. There were 28,000 people at each show.
* Who is your favourite guitarist?
Tommy Shaw from Styx. He can play anything. Alabama boy.
* What was the best advice you were ever given?
Be nice to folks and you won’t get a kicking going down.
* Name one thing you can't live without?
Nowadays it’s my laptop and phone. Information on the run is so important.
* What's your favourite food?
Chinese.
* What is your favourite place in the world to visit?
Anywhere the sun shines. Australia, South Africa, South Korea.
* What are your hopes and plans for the remainder of 2017?
We still have many shows left to do from Ireland to Sweden, Israel, Czech Republic and Russia, and we also have some studio time booked soon.