Bluegrass returns to its roots!

17^th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival bound for Dunmore East

After 16 years, almost 1,000 gigs, 150 bands and artists and a whole heap of hoopin’, hollerin’, pickin’ and clawin’, the 17^th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival is returning to the picturesque fishing village of Dunmore East, Co. Waterford.

The line-up has been announced for the festival which takes place from August 25^th to August 28^th and in 2011 the Dunmore East festival is bringing together an enviable line up of bluegrass artists for Ireland’s largest free bluegrass music festival.

The famous local hostelries; the Strand Inn, The Haven Hotel, The Spinnaker, The Ocean Hotel, Powers Bar and Azzurro, will play host to over 50 free gigs throughout the weekend with local and national bands playing a variety of traditional and contemporary bluegrass music.

The 17^th Guinness Dunmore East International Bluegrass Festival will feature some well known bluegrass names, but the stages will be heaving to the strains of festival veterans, Knotty Pine, Molly Hicks, Little Ass Birds, and Bending the Strings amongst others.

Desert Aces are Dunmore Festival veterans. This highly talented six-piece has played extensively in venues throughout Ireland. Citing musical influences such as Kenny Hall, Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams, Jerry Garcia, Gram Parsons, Johnny Cash, Cisco Huston, Pete Seeger and many more you can expect a high octane bluegrass performance from Ireland’s finest!

Having made a big impression at last years Electric Picnic, Galway band Mikey and the Scallywags are new to the Dunmore bluegrass scene. The band is composed of five skilled musicians; Mikey McCrory, guitar player and lead singer, brothers Alan and Brian Gosker playing banjo and drums respectively, Paulie Small on bass and Juliana Erkkonen playing violin and fiddle. The genre of their music varies from gypsy, folk, bluegrass and storytelling….. a must for any rhythm, roots and blues fan!

Now in its 17^th year the Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival has firmly established itself as the Mecca for bluegrass fans from all over the country. According to Mick Daly, who established the festival in 1995, the festival is the highlight of the year for blues, roots and bluegrass fans.

“The Dunmore Festival has evolved to bring together a fusion of country, rhythm, roots, new grass and blues. Because the festival is free and has such an eclectic line-up over three days it makes it open to everyone, not just hardened bluegrass fans.”

“Coupled with the great headline acts, you have the stunning vista from Dunmore East Harbour, award winning restaurants and pubs, fringe entertainment throughout the village and, of course, some of the best musical entertainment for free!”

The 17^th Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival kicks off at 7pm on Thursday, August 25^th at the Haven Hotel and will feature a wide selection of bands, playing 50 free gigs in the villages’ pubs, restaurants and hotels.

For more information about the 17^th Guinness International Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival in Co. Waterford visit www.discoverdunmore.com