Friday, August 12, 2011

17th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival line – up gets better and better!



The Guinness International Bluegrass Festival is delighted to announce two more acts to the line up of what is regarded as Ireland’s largest free Bluegrass Festival.

Taking place in the picturesque fishing village of Dunmore East, Co. Waterford from August 25th to August 28th the Dunmore East festival is bringing together an enviable line up of bluegrass artists.

Two more acts that have just confirmed their appearance at the festival are Well Enough Alone and Hanway & Murray.

Well Enough Alone is a Dublin based four piece bluegrass band. Known for the energy and rawness they bring to traditional and contemporary bluegrass, Well Enough Alone delivers a mix of original songs to classics to hot instrumentals.
The band consists of Hugh Taggart on guitar and lead vocals with Martin McWhorter on mandolin and tenor vocals. Ben Goodbody plays bass and baritone vocals, while Conor Daly lends his talents on the five-string banjo.

Another much anticipated addition to the line-up is Hanway & Murray. When New York banjoist, Tom Hanway, was jamming in a hotel lobby with guitarist Kieran Murray from Belfast, their talent was immediately recognised by an RTE radio producer. That was a significant moment as Hanway & Murray was officially formed and since then the duo has featured often on national radio.

Murray is regarded as a “genius tunesmith” who can churn out one amazing song after another, while Hanway is one of the most ferocious and versatile banjo players on the planet. They share lead and harmony duties and cover a vast musical terrain, mixing popular and original songs with soaring instrumentals.

Tom Hanway is no stranger to the Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival having jammed in previous years with Galway three piece Molly Hicks and The Jack Grace Band, aka The Martini Cowboy. In 2005, Hanway won the European Bluegrass Music Association’s “European Bluegrass Band of the Year” award as a member of the Bluegrass Ravens.

Festival organiser, Mick Daly, is delighted with the addition of the two acts to the Dunmore East Festival line – up.

“Year on year the Dunmore East Bluegrass has brought a wide and varied bluegrass and blues vibe to the South East. This year, the line–up is as talented as ever and the addition of Well Enough Alone and Hanway & Murray really is the icing on the cake.”

“We are very conscious that bluegrass has quite a select following, however at the Dunmore East festival we endeavour to bring together an eclectic mix of bluegrass, rhythm, folk, blues and roots. The mix of traditional bluegrass with slightly more mainstream country makes the festival appealing to anyone who has an interest in music. And because all the gigs are free, it’s even more appealing!”

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

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