Johnny Cash tribute to play on Spike Island

Michael Olney

Ireland’s longest running Johnny Cash tribute band is set to make its much-anticipated return to Spike Island next month.

Tribute act Strictly Cash are inviting Cork’s rebels to become inmates for an evening on 20 August as they recreate Cash’s iconic Folsom Prison gig.

Johnny Cash’s prison performances became legendary in musical circles after he played to some of America’s most hardened criminals at San Quentin and Folsom Prison.

The Folsom performance resulted in a live album which became one of the defining moments in his career.

Strictly Cash have been performing the country singer’s hits for many years and previously played at Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison back in 2008 for the 40th anniversary of Cash’s Folsom Prison concert.

Cork inmates can expect a fitting tribute to the Man in Black at Spike Island prison next month, with iconic hits such as ‘I Walk the Line’, ‘Jackson’, Ring of Fire’, ‘Get Rhythm’, and ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ certain to get the rebellious juices flowing.

Tickets cost €25 and are on sale by advance booking from spikeislandcork.ie. Boats depart from Kennedy Pier, Cobh at 5pm and 5.45pm with time to see the fortress and prison cells before the show. Those on the 1st sailing will be treated to a short, guided tour.