COUNTY MAYO singer, Gerry Guthrie, is to appear in the Westville Hotel next week. On January 13, Gerry promises a night of top country music and dancing.

From Ballina, where he still lives, Gerry was a familiar face in the county in 2013.

Twice he played in the Enniskillen Hotel, most recently over the summer – and his most recent album ‘Good Country Songs’ has been going well for him.

Gerry first began playing with a local group at the age of 15 and cites his musical influences as including Duane Eddy, Hank Marvin, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Garth Brooks, Gene Watson and on the Irish scene Jimmy Buckley, Ray Lynam and Matt Leavy.

In 2000, Gerry accepted an invitation to become lead guitarist with Sandy Kelly’s band, with whom he stayed for three years. Whilst touring with Sandy he also worked on her hit shows ‘The Patsy Cline Story’ and ‘A Night At The Opry’.

This gave him the opportunity to perform in theatres in Ireland, England and Scotland, in addition to television appearances.

In 2009 Gerry decided it was time to venture into the studio, shortly afterwards he released his first single, the Cal Smith song ‘Sunday Morning Christian’, the track received a huge amount of airplay on local radio stations throughout the country.

It had long been Gerry’s dream to front his own country band, and a chance meeting with Henry McMahon at a Jimmy Buckley dance brought Gerry one step closer to fulfilling it.

Henry takes up the story: “I had heard his single ‘Sunday Morning Christian’, and when I met him, I was amazed how much we had in common when it came to singers and songs.

“I am always of the opinion that a good dance programme is the most important ingredient in our type of music.”

In the months after, Gerry was signed to Henry McMahon Promotions and the K-Mac record label.

And he has went from strength to strength, cementing his name as one of the country’s biggest draws.

Doors open at 9pm.