Hawk
Hawk’s commanding vocals resonate with raw emotion and power.
Classic numbers take on new life and texture as he sings the stories of the blues, from hard-hitting rockin’ numbers, to ones of struggle and fortitude.
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His playing is as masterful and as uncompromising as his vocals; the perfect counterpoint to Malcolm Scott’s guitar.
After performing with an Irish band in Philadelphia in the 90s he winged his
way back home in 2000 and joined a band, Sneakers, later changed to The Rocky Racoons. They rocked the local music scene for the next decade!
Hawk claims Waterford’s Dylan Bible, and America’s Glenn Campbell as major guitar playing influences. He also lists our very own Malcolm Scott as an influence on his playing, but we’re not telling Malcolm that.
He says he feels privileged to be a part of the Black Water Blues Band, but the privilege is all ours to have him on board!
Malcolm Scott
Malcolm hasn’t quite played the blues all his life yet, as he’s still thankfully alive and very much kicking, but for all of it so far he’s been a killer guitarist playing metal, jazz, and blues.​
He has toured extensively in Europe and the U.S. with his heavy metal band High Treason, and his blues project Mussel Shell. He has recorded with Pete Brown ( Cream), Elliott Randall (Steely Dan), and Mick Taylor (the Rolling Stones).
​His musical pedigree is evident in his dynamic range, which combines subtle riffs with explosive, soaring solos. All played with the casual virtuosity of a seasoned blues guitarist.
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He has been managing director of 3Ms Music Ltd., www.3msmusic.com, a boutique record label with its own recording studio, Darkwood (now Signal House) Studios, specialising in rock, blues, and jazz, featuring many classic bands and well-known musicians.
The label has released albums by classic artists such as the Average White Band, Jah Wobble, Sharks (Chris Spedding, Paul Cook ex-Sex Pistols), Albie Donnelly’s Supercharge, Pretty Things and Arthur Brown.
It has also produced albums by up and coming blues artists such as Conor Selby, Stephen Dale Petit, Sharpeez and Jamie Williams and the Roots Collective.
He is owner of Research Works, Ltd. and has worked with major labels such as Universal, Sony, Def Jam, and Beggars Group
Liam Shanley
Liam lays down the deep, steady groove that is the heartbeat of the band. Playing with understated precision and emotion, Liam is the archetypal blues bass player, locking in with the drums to create a rhythm section that is simply lowdown cool.
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Liam comes from a family whose musical pedigree made it inevitable that he would pick up an instrument.
His dad Tom hailed from the famous Shanleys Music Pub in Clonakilty, West Cork and was an accomplished piano player and singer in his day.
​Early musical influences would have been the music of the 70's i.e. Beatles, Rolling Stones, Status Quo, Rory Gallagher, and Lizzy, but seeing Paul Jones and the Blues Band live in Macroom in the early 80’s was a light bulb moment, and so began a lifelong appreciation of blues music in all its forms.
Liam ran the Anchor Bar, Dungarvan in the 80's and 90's and established it as a well renowned music venue which featured many local and internationally renowned artists over the years.
Liam also plays bass with 4 piece Deise Voodoo whose sets feature classics by Zeppelin, Gallagher, Hendrix, Stones etc.- foot stomping music at its best.
Playing with the Blackwater Blues Band has, says Liam, afforded him the opportunity to play music that he loves with a great group of musicians. He says there is a chemistry and energy within the band which is unique. This is transferred to the audience and returned tenfold. There can be no better feeling than that!
Kevin Power
Kevin Power is a native of Abbeyside, Dungarvan, and the powerhouse (yes, that’s a very bad pun, but true nonetheless) and uncompromising backbone of the band, laying down a solid backbeat - with the occasional explosive fill!
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He's played in rock bands in Dublin and Cork since he sold his soul to rock and roll as a teenage, and played in several bands in Dublin in the 80's.
Back in the day, when U2 were starting off, they played support to his band
The Facets. He also shared TV appearance with The Pogues.
Today he is playing stronger - and louder! - than ever.
He lists Rory Gallagher's drummer Rod De Ath, as a seminal influence, although the lads in the band claim it's more likely to be Animal in the Muppets!
He is also an accomplished bodhrán player and teacher, and taught in classes in Dungarvan and in Ring, the Déise Gaeltacht. He has performed on stage with Martin Hayes, and Davy Spillane when in the U.S.
He has played percussion in different genres in several musical projects at home and abroad. He has recorded an album with his songwriter brother, Donal's, compositions, and also, when in the U.S. with a traditional Appalachian group. But his musical home is the Blues, in all its forms.
"Once a bluesman, always a bluesman"