Rackhouse Pilfer have been enthralling crowds throughout Ireland and Nashville and are now planning to do the same in Chester when they come to Telford’s Warehouse on Friday, June 5.

They were special guests to Imelda May at Sligo Live last October where they were a big hit with the audience, so much so that May invited them to join her for other dates.

The band formed in 2012 by the fireside of McGarrigles bar in Sligo, performing an acoustic set of bluegrass and folk hits from their favourite Americana artists.

It wasn’t long before they had to be plugged in to be heard due to their growing popularity. In that short time they have also supported Paul Brady, Mundy, Royseven, Beoga, Birds of Chicago (USA), Cabin Collective, Leo Moran of the Saw Doctors, Steve Craddock Band Band (of Ocean Colour Scene).

They have shared the stage with Kila, Brian Kennedy, Jack L, Fiachna O’Braonain, Eleanor McEvoy, Republic of Loose, Sandy Kelly, Charlie McGettigan, Lumiere. As well as their nationwide tour, fans will also see them support Damien Dempsey.

March 2013 saw the release of their debut album Back to the Country, filling the Model Arts Centre, Sligo to capacity.

Following the release of their first self-titled album, the band took their electric and energetic stage show to some of Ireland’s biggest festivals and venues including the world famous Omagh Folk Park Bluegrass festival, Body and Soul, Sligo Live 2012 and 2013 where they opened for headliner Imelda May, Monaghan Blues Festival, Whelan’s, The Empire, Monroe’s, Crane Lane and many more.

They set off on their first European tour in the summer of 2013, performing at festivals in Italy, Switzerland and France which included a storming performance and standing ovation at La Roche Sur Foron – widely regarded as Europe’s biggest Bluegrass Festival.

January 2014 saw Rackhouse Pilfer jet off to Nashville, Tennessee to record their new album of original tracks entitled Love and Havoc at Alex the Great studios with producer Brad Jones.

Brad has worked with a long list of pop, rock and alternative country artists including Steve Earl, John Prine, John Hiatt, Josh Rouse and Bobby Bare Jr.

While in Nashville Rackhouse Pilfer were invited to play at the legendary Station Inn, Nashville’s most famous traditional Bluegrass venue where over the years the best of the best in this genre have graced its stage.

They were also asked to perform on the Viva Nashvegas live internet stream music show.

At the Station Inn they played to a star studded audience including actress Mary Steenburgen, musical legends, cast members and the production team of the TV show Nashville.

They were invited to perform on stage with an all-star band which included Jeff Hanna (lead singer with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), Fred Eltringham (drummer with Sheyl Crow), Mike Bub (bass player, Steve Earle Band and Del McCoury Band), legendary guitarist Guthrie Trapp and many more.

This was followed by an invitation on stage as guests at the Grand Ole Opry by country music legend George Hamilton IV.

They were invited to perform with John Carter-Cash, son of Johnny Cash as his special guests together with Raelyn Nelson, granddaughter of Willie Nelson.

The legendary Harold Bradley features on two of the tracks from their new album. Harold Bradley, now 88, is regarded by many as being the most recorded guitar player in history and played on many hit records with Elvis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and Jerry Lee lewis among others.

Harold was most famous for inventing a style called Tic Tac bass guitar and he joined Rackhouse Pilfer at their recording session in Nashville to play his legendary Tic Tac guitar on two of the album tracks Angela and Me and a Polar Bear.

Sligo film maker Colin Gillen travelled to Nashville to document Rackhouse Pilfer as part of a film documentary about the band which will be released following the album launch.

Rackhouse Pilfer write, record and perform all of their own songs. Some of their influences include Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earl, Ryan Adams and John Hiatt.

Their line-up is Leon Mooney – acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocals; Willie Kelly – acoustic guitar, drums and vocals; Fiachra Cunningham – fiddle, dobro, and vocals; Mark McGovern – tenor/five string banjo and vocals; Leslie Jones – mandolin and vocals; and Hugh Feely – double bass and vocals.

Free entry before 9pm, £4 thereafter. Call 01244 390 090 or visit www.telfordswarehouse.com .