The 25th Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival – a picker’s paradise
If free banjo pickin’, foot tappin’ mandolin’ pluckin’, barnstormin’, step dancin’ fiddle playin’, double bass clawin’ sessions are for you, then the beautiful picturesque coastal village of Dunmore East, Co. Waterford is the only place to be from August 22nd to August 25th.
Fans of bluegrass, Americana, blues, country, rhythm ‘n’ roots can expect the cream of the musical crop as top class acts line up for this year’s 25th Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival.
Top international names include Liz Moriondo from Missouri and The 19th Street Band, with roots in Arlington, Virginia and Holywood, Northern Ireland.
Closer to home there’s Alfi, a new Dublin trio combine Appalachian old-time music and Irish trad sounds to produce their own unique songs. Their tracks feature an unusual blend of harp, five-string banjo, low whistle, uilleann pipes and vocals. Dublin band Raglan Rodeo are renowned for their blend of originals and covers.
Acoustic harmony band The Blue Light Smugglers, specialise in bluegrass, country and swing, while Pilgrim St is a seven-piece outfit who bring a broad range of Americana, country, folk and bluegrass to their concerts.
Lands End’s music is strongly embedded in the bluegrass tradition, while each bandmate brings a distinctive sound of their own to the musical arrangements of the group.
Kiss My Grass hailing from Co. Wexford is a band all set to bring an energetic and vibrant bluegrass and rockabilly sound to the festival. Whistle specialises in Americana-style folk, roots, bluegrass, country and rock ’n’ roll. Together the six-piece deliver multi-part vocal harmonies, alongside guitar, banjo, violin, bass, harmonica, mandolin and accordion instruments.
The Northern Irish based Mons Wheeler Big Band also make a welcome return to the festival. Their trademark big rockabilly sound is guaranteed to get the crowds on their feet and Charlie Reader, often referred to as ‘The One-Man Band’ performs acoustic folk melodies and harmonies with the energy one would typically expect from a full group.
The 25th Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival kicks off on Thursday, August 22nd at the Strand Inn and heralds the start of forty free gigs and pickin’ sessions throughout the village at The Strand Inn, The Spinnaker Bar, Azzurro Restaurant, Power’s Bar and The Ocean Hotel.
For more information about the 25th Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival in Co. Waterford, keep up to date on Facebook – Discover Dunmore East – or to download the Dunmore East Festival Bluegrass brochure visit www.discoverdunmore.com.
