BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL – HERE WE COME! Banjo expert Derek Lockhart and 5 year old Daniel Beatty from Omagh have their banjos ready for the Bluegrass Festival at the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh from Friday 30th August – Sunday 1st September.
FANS of a wide range of Americana music will descend on the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh at the end of this month for the biggest bluegrass festival in Europe.
Local Irish and Northern Irish bands will be joined by groups travelling from Belgium and the US to play the award winning Omagh Bluegrass Festival.
Running from Friday August 30 to Sunday September 1st the festival is predicted to attract over 10,000 visitors throughout the weekend.
Taking place over seven stages amongst the historic exhibit buildings and outdoor museum a special marquee will house the various seated concerts throughout the weekend.
Headlining the event is the Nashville, Tennessee band Lonesome River Band who celebrated their 30th award at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) for their song Angeline The Baker this year.
Also taking to the stage as a main act of the weekend are Cedar Hill (Arkansas), duo Lynda Dawson and Pattie Hopkins (North Carolina) and gospel bluegrass band The Churchmen (Virginia).
Joining the headliners is Rawhide, one of the longest established European bluegrass bands, Edinburgh-based Southern Tenant Folk Union, English trio Jaywalkers and local bands including Woodbine, Rackhouse Pilfer, Broken String Band, Northern Exposure, Tupelo, Well Enough Alone and The Down and Out Bluegrass Band.
Richard Hurst, organiser of the Festival, said; “We have an exceptional line-up for this year’s event and we are sure our visitors will not only enjoy these outstanding bands but also enjoy soaking up the unique bluegrass atmosphere in the Folk Park. We have a very eclectic lineup of some of the biggest names in Bluegrass from both sides of the Atlantic and are looking forward to a jam-packed festival.”
For more information on the Omagh Bluegrass Festival, supported by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, log onto nmni.com/bluegrass. Tickets can be booked online or via the ticket hotline on 028 8224 3292
SCHEDULE
As well as smaller stages with many bands performing, the main events are:
McAuley Lecture
Saturday 31 August at 1.00pm
Gettysburg Recalled – The American
Civil War in Folk, Bluegrass and Early
Country Music with renowned music
collector & archivist Rodney McElrae.
Evening Concerts
Friday 30 August at 8.00pm
Jaywalkers
Southern Tenant Folk Union
Cedar Hill
Saturday 31 August at 8.00pm
Lynda Dawson & Pattie Hopkins
Rawhide
Lonesome River Band
‘Spirit of Bluegrass’ Gospel Concert
Sunday 2 September at 6.00pm
Cedar Hill
The Churchmen
