One rockabilly-loving Wexford native will be putting the spare time and money that result from his forthcoming redundancy to good use this year, when he begins importing bands of the rockabilly, rock’n’roll, rhythm’n’blues and authentic country music persuasion to Irish shores. Eamonn Doyle has founded Rock Bop Boogie, a company that will promote gigs and provide other entertainment for the niche genres.

First on the agenda is the Riverside Jump Rockabilly Classic Car Festival, a three-day gathering in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, on July 16th, 17th and 18th. Doyle is hopeful that the impressive line-up – which features bands from the UK, Spain, Sweden and Finland, as well as a number of Irish acts – will attract fans from far and wide, and that the festival will eventually become an annual event.

Further plans involve a four-date Irish tour for 1980s rockabilly revivalists The Jets in March 2011, as well as a Rockabilly Ball in Dublin this September.

See rockbopboogie.com for full line-up