BY MARK McKELVEY

LOOKING through a smokey mist, as your feet uncontrollably start tapping are thoughts synonymous with watching the Dirty Blues Band perform in the Top of the Town.

This will soon be lasting memory as the six-piece contemporary bluegrass band prepare to make their farewell performance in their familiar haunt next Wednesday, April 11. But don't worry, their absence is only temporary as the John Street venue is closing for refurbishment in preparation of the smoking ban at the end of the month.

To mark the occasion they will be unleashing a few original songs, previously never performed in public, to go along with the old favourites like Constant Sorrow and Wagonwheel.

Their new songs have been written and composed by lead singer Kevin Sweeney and lead guitarist Mark McCausland, and Wednesday night gives them a perfect opportunity to fine tune their performance before going into the recording studio at the end of next week.

Kevin explains, "At the end of the week we are hitting the studio for a few days in Cavan. We have had a few preliminary recordings but this will be the first time we will be having a professional recording.

"Hopefully we will record a full album and once its down we will see what happens from there."

If you want to be one of the first to hear these new tracks, you don't have to wait for the album, make sure to be at the Top of the Town by 10pm on Wednesday, April 11. £5 entry on door.