It was once Cork’s own Alcatraz.

Now Spike Island is inviting the public to become inmates for an evening as the island recreates the iconic ‘Folsom Prison’ gig played by the legendary Johnny Cash over 50 years ago.

Following on from their performance at the island’s recent fireworks event, Ireland’s longest-running Johnny Cash tribute band, Strictly Cash, make a much-anticipated return to the historic island to fill the shoes of the infamous performer on Saturday, August 20th, 2022.

“Johnny Cash’s prison performances became legendary in musical circles as he played to some of America’s most hardened criminals at San Quentin and Folsom Prison.” the organisers say.

“The Man in Black became forever linked to his infamous prison gigs, and this special Spike Island performance will recreate his prison escapades. His Folsom Prison performance resulted in a live album which became one of the defining moments in his career.”

Tribute act 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 40^th anniversary of Cash’s Folsom Prison concert. Expect a fitting tribute to the Man in Black at Ireland’s most famous prison island featuring his iconic hits such as I Walk the Line, Jackson, Ring of Fire and Folsom Prison Blues.

Tickets, €25, are on sale by advance booking only 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.