The Bass Player: Surviving the Miami Showband Massacre – NEW BOOK by Stephen Travers
Book Launch & Conversation with Stephen Travers
Discover The Bass Player, the memoir by Stephen Travers, recounting his experience as a young bass player in the Miami Showband and surviving one of the darkest events of The Troubles on July 31, 1975. Join Stephen at the Irish Cultural Centre for an unforgettable evening of conversation, music, and remembrance.
Stephen Travers has lived two extraordinary lives. His first life was full of music, friendship, and the thrill of performing with The Miami Showband. That life was brutally interrupted when a Loyalist gang ambushed the band on the A1 road at Buskhill, County Down, murdering three of his friends.
In the quiet aftermath, Stephen awoke in a nearby field to his second life—as a survivor. This second life led him to become an author, composer, producer, and international speaker on peace and reconciliation. Over decades, he has supported other survivors, challenged suspected state collusion, and pursued justice in landmark cases against the British Ministry of Defence. Despite these achievements, Stephen was drawn back to that field, revisiting the young man he had been moments before the massacre—searching for closure and reconciliation.
Now, fifty years later, Stephen Travers presents The Bass Player, a love letter and eulogy for his first life. The memoir is a deeply personal story of survival, hope, and healing, honoring those silenced by conflict and offering a path toward peace.
About the Author
Stephen Travers is an author, composer, producer, and international speaker on peace and reconciliation. In 2019, he co-founded the Truth and Reconciliation Platform (TaRP), which provides a safe space for survivors of The Troubles to share their experiences, regardless of background. He currently lives in Cork, continuing his work in writing and music.
Praise for The Bass Player
The Bass Player has been shortlisted for the 2025 An Post Irish Book Awards ‘Biography of the Year’.
“From the wreckage of the Miami Showband massacre, Stephen Travers is a voice of hope and compassion for all.”
“If Stephen thinks something can illuminate corruption or secure peace, he moves toward it without a second thought.”
Event Details & Tickets
Date: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Doors: 6.30PM | Event Starts: 7PM
Tickets: £8 entry | £20 entry with pre-ordered copy of The Bass Player
Pre-order your copy and save £3 on your ticket! Limited copies available. Secure yours in advance to avoid disappointment.
Why Attend
- Meet Stephen Travers in person and hear his story
- Learn about one of The Troubles’ pivotal events
- Be among the first to get a signed copy of The Bass Player
- Support peace, reconciliation, and survivor stories
Publisher: Birlinn Publishing
Pre-order your copy here: https://stephentravers.org
Doors: 6.30pm; Starts: 7pm
Tickets: £8 entry - £20 entry with pre-ordered copy.
Netflix Documentary
ReMastered: The Miami Showband Massacre
In 2019, Netflix, the world’s largest media platform, released a major documentary based on his book, The Miami Showband Massacre; A survivor’s search for the truth, as one of eight films in the Netflix ReMastered docuseries.
The other seven films, released at monthly intervals, tell the stories of Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Jam Master Jay, Victor Jara, Sam Cooke, Robert Johnson and Solomon Linda and how their musical careers influenced society. The series began in October 2018 with Who Shot The Sheriff; an investigation into the attempted assassination of Bob Marley.
Stephen Travers’ story, The Miami Showband Massacre, was released on March 22nd 2019 and immediately began trending all over the world. It was Emmy nominated in 2020.
WATCH ON NETFLIX HERE
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