Tuesday, July 13, 2010

The countdown to the 16th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival is underway!


Press Release – for immediate release
July 9th, 2010


After 15 years of banjo pickin', mandolin' pluckin', step dancin', fiddle playin', double bass clawin' sessions in the picturesque fishing village of Dunmore East – 2010 promises an even more jam packed, foot tappin’, barnstormin’ weekend for the 16th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival.

The countdown has begun to this summer's Guinness International Bluegrass Festival which takes place from August 26th to August 29th.

This is the 16th year in which roots music pilgrims will flock to Co. Waterford for the free, family orientated festival. All of the famous local hostelries will play host to over 50 free gigs throughout the weekend with local, national and international bands playing a variety of traditional and contemporary bluegrass music.

Last years headline stealing main act Jack Grace, aka The Martini Cowboy, will make a welcome return to Dunmore East. Last years performances on stage and on TV3’s Ireland AM reinforced Jack’s position as the King of Bluegrass with his gritty down home country style, with a twist of New York urban.

A band that is looking forward to the Dunmore Bluegrass experience for the first time is Wookalily, an all - female combo that refers to its own style as “Frockabilly woo-grass, putting the blues in bluegrass, the rock in rockabilly and the woo-factor into action.”

Wookalily has been playing together since 2009 and the girls received much acclaim at festivals such as the Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival, The Ards International Guitar Festival and Belfast’s Open House Festival.

Apart from some of the biggest international names in bluegrass and country appearing at the 16th Guinness Dunmore East International Bluegrass Festival some well known Irish acts will take to the coastal stages, including Knotty Pine, Molly Hicks, Little Ass Birds, Blue Stack Mountain Boys and Bending The Strings amongst others.

Waterford’s very own Southern Welfare will be making their debut at the Guinness Festival this summer. Lovers of bluegrass can expect a selection of authentic bluegrass and gospel from artists like Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs and Ricky Skaggs.

Now in its 16th year the Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival has evolved over the years to meet the tastes of roots music fans. Mick Daly, the musical visionary, who founded the festival back in 1995 has seen a lot of genre defying acts take to the free stages of Dunmore East.

“It has been a really exciting journey for all of us involved. We are delighted with this year’s line up, particularly the return of the Martini Cowboy and the debut appearance of Wookalily. Both of these acts have strongly defined blues and bluegrass traits. However over the years we have seen everything from old time country, futuristic newgrass and rhythm and blues – that is the beauty of the festival!”

“The organic growth of the Festival has ensured that it is not only hardened bluegrass fans who can come along and enjoy themselves, but anyone who simply enjoys a good tune is guaranteed to have a great time.”

For more information about the 16th Guinness International Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival in Co. Waterford visit http://www.discoverdunmore.com/

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