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Westport's Bluegrass Festival

Westport's Bluegrass Festival
29 June 2012 - 01 July 2012

Now in its sixth year, the Westport Folk and Blue Grass
Festival is fast gaining a reputation as one of the best boutique music
festivals in Ireland, boasting top-class local, national and
international acts, a host of free gigs and sessions and a five-hour
main event. This year will feature approx. 15 acts playing over 20
different gigs, sessions and workshops over the course of the weekend.
The festival is ever growing in popularity and is one of the main events
on the Irish bluegrass calendar. Music fans from all over the world
return year after year to the festival. Once again this year, the
Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival promises to be a great weekend of
music on the shores of Clew Bay, with a unique programme to suit all
ages and tastes.

Website: www.westportfolkandbluegrass.com


Friday 29th June 9:30pm
THE ROCKY TOP STRING BAND

'The Rocky Top String Band are chomping at the bit and delighted to be returning for the 6th Annual Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival in Beautiful Westport.
The group is a sweet bunch of manual musicians from around the Mayo region who share a common love
of the Bluegrass 'Tongue’. The band comprises of: Tommy Lyons on Banjo & Mandolin from Prizon Balla (Not Prison), Rob Thornburgh on Fiddle from Carracanada, Swinford, John Flatley on Upright Bass from The Partry Mountains and Hubie & Sarah MacEvilly on Guitar & Autoharp Resp from Killawalla, Westport.
Interested in all Bluegrass standards, including old traditional bluegrass tunes revitalised as well as several tunes by 'new' Bluegrass bands. The selection is influenced by personal tastes, happy memories & the ability of this music to make one 'feel good'.
The songs are all morally good.
 

Saturday June 30th 1:00pm (lunch time gig)
DOGHOUSE

Doghouse are a three piece acoustic ensemble, performing finger picking blues, american folk and old time country tunes. Seamlessly blended with original compositions and clarified with refreshing reworks of classic Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Tom Waits to name a few. Comprising of Juliana Erkkonen (Fiddle), Peter Akerstrom (Guitar and Vocal) and Mark McConville (Vocal and Guitar). Between them, this trio have
played in several of Galways finest live acts, including The Molly Hicks and No Banjo. 


Sunday July 1st 12:30pm (early lunch time gig)
WOODBINE

Woodbine is a four-piece band playing a powerful mix of traditional and contemporary Bluegrass & Acoustic Country Music. Formed in 2002 Woodbine has played all the Irish bluegrass and related festivals over the past number of years. The band covers material from Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, Flatt &
Scruggs to Johnny Cash to Rhonda Vincent and much more in between.  Woodbine have recorded three albums to date “Shades O’ Grass” in 2003 and “Tulla Hill” in 2007 which were both very well received & “Free As A Breeze” our latest released in July ’09 which includes a fine banjo tune Smokin’ Woodbine written
by Richard. They also have two of their own songs on their 2nd CD, the title track Tulla Hill and A Match Made in Heaven, both written by Tony.
Liam Wright lead guitar, dobro & vocals and Richard Hawkins 5string banjo are the musical driving force in the band with Tony O’Brien and Nicola O’Brien-Kennedy taking most of the lead vocals as well as holding down the solid rhythm on guitar & double bass.
Woodbine pride themselves on their strong lead and harmony vocals and a feature of the band is
Nicola’s powerful lead vocals
Woodbine has established themselves as the most popular band on the Irish bluegrass scene and has a very dedicated fan base.

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