The Freedom 35's

The Freedom 35's are a 4 piece instrumental funk soul band originating from Armagh. They are Jimmy Hagan / Disco Jimbo on Drums, Adrian Lee/ Jimmy Big Bass Calloway on the Bass, Anthony Mc Kee/ The Crop Duster on Organ and Gordon Lee/ Mr Hit It and Quit on Guitar.

Their love for bands like Booker T and the MG's, The Meters, Jimmy mc Griff, and some of the new wave funk bands like The Sugarman 3 and Deep Street Soul brought the guys together. They spent a lot of time in rehearsals getting the groove just right before they took their show on the road.

The name THE FREEDOM 35's comes from the cult Canadian comedy show; THE TRAILER PARK BOYS which the band are big fans of.

2012 was a great year for The Freedom 35s with them playing the first Northern Ireland Mod Weekender were they went down a storm. The summer saw them play a couple of festivals most notably Vantastival and Tanglewood Festival to great receptions.
They played their first fashion show which was held in The Black Box Belfast, it was a sixties inspired show so The 35's tunes went down a treat! They finished the year with a run of gigs in their hometown and in Amplified Bar in Newry.

2013 kicks off with a bang with a support slot in Belfast's Black Box with The Strypes on the 5th January.

Upcoming gigs also includes Whelans in Dublin and also they're playing as part of The Teenage Cancer Trust in Belfast which coincides with the Roger Daltrey (From the Who) run gig in London. The lads are currently in the studio recording 4 tracks for release in early February, which they will promote with a nationwide tour and a live video.

The bands demo is starting to get a lot of radio play at the moment on Ralph Mc Leans soul show on BBC radio and also Mark Daveys Afrodisiac show on Feile FM Belfast.
The guys are gathering a cult following with their shows in DJ Dave Grahams "Come and get it" funk and soul nights in Belfast.

REVIEW’S

"If you’re a fan of the rare groove these guys are up there with the best of them". Dennis Boyce, Funk Street magazine.

“The organmeister lends swirly psychedelic blissful keyboard bashing”

“Lockdown, Nimble, booty-shakin’ grooves with aplomb”,

“Fiery Wah Wah manipulated licks”

“They call to mind the peppy organ-powered sound of ‘The Charlatans’ in their funky ‘Madchester days’”. David Roy – Irish News

“This band really lean into their instruments to create a spacey, mesmeric sprawl”

“A promising group who would make an ideal house band”