Programme for Saturday 6th August

Bluegrass on the Walls

Saturday 6th - 1pm-4pm - Around the Walls

Bluegrass on the Walls is a popular event that takes music to the walls, streets and shopping centres of the City. Once again a selection of the very best in Bluegrass will be on the streets and Walls of the City. Playing on the day will be the Broken String Band, Tim Rogers & The Clew Bay Critters, Well Enough Alone, Little Ass Birds, The Sullivan Brothers, Wookalily, Down & Out Bluegrass Band, Bluestack Mountain Boys, Janet Holmes, and more... All the bands join in a weekend of great music, evolved from the music that once departed from the shores of Ulster, and returning to the Maiden City for this headline event that opens the Festival to everyone.

Tim Rogers & The Clew Bay Critters - Tim Rogers and The Clew Bay Critters are a stringband based in Westport County Mayo. Formed in February 2010 they play at Geraghty's bar on the first Monday of the month. They play a good timey mix of Old time songs, wild fiddle tunes, acoustic swing and bluegrass standards. The Critters were hunted down and tamed by Tim Rogers, previously known as the fiddler for the Rough Deal Stringband. In this combo Tim plays fiddle, 5-string banjo and mandolin. He’s joined by husband and wife Dan Delaney on fiddle and Dearbhla Ryan on string bass. Rounding out the sound is Brian Lofthouse on guitar and mandolin. All of the critters sing.

Well Enough Alone is a bluegrass outfit based in Dublin, Ireland. With many influences from the hot licks of Tony Rice and to the traditional high lonesome sound of Bill Monroe and Jimmy Martin. Well Enough Alone brings authentic bluegrass to the pubs and bars of Ireland. Bluegrass, a distinctly American form of music, has spread world wide.

Well Enough Alone's debut CD is a continuation of the tradition while adding their own taste. The self titled CD is half original songs written by the bands lead singer and flat-pick guitarist Hugh Taggart. The album is not just hot guitar and banjo licks, though there are plenty of those from five-string banjo player Conor Daly. Upright bassist Ben Goodbody and mandolin player Martin McWhorter blend harmony vocals with Hugh for that authentic high and lonesome sound.

Little Ass Birds - From Old Carter Classics to their own original songs drawn from the musical wells of mountain music and gospel revivals. Their sound evokes an atmosphere of simpler days where generations of hard working men and women passed their time on front porches or around campfires, singing songs of life's harsh realities, survival, hope and songs of better days to come. Haunting harmonies and uplifting melodies mingle in a stirring concoction of spirited Bluegrass, old-time and country music.

Formed in March 2008, Little Ass Birds have gone from strength to strength playing gigs throughout Ireland. Playing many festivals including; Dunmore east BG Festival (2009,2010), Festival of World Cultures (2010), Taste of Dublin (2010), Greystones Americana Festival (2010), Knockanstockan (2009,2010), Redline Roots festival (2009) amongst others.

The Sullivan Brothers - The Sullivan Brothers have been playing music around Ireland for the last 15 years in bands called The One I'd Jax, Smith 'n' Wesson and more recently and what they'e more known for The Honeysuck'rs. But in 2006 the guys decided to go out on their own and try to get their own songs out to the public...

KEEP HOLDIN ON the debut album of The Sullivan Brothers was released 29th September 2006. From the rock 'n' roll of 'She' to the country/trad of Steve Young's 'Seven Bridges Road' to the powerfully haunting title track 'Keep Holdin On', they mould different genres and influences combined with their absorbing harmonies into what is most definitely their own sound.

Now, alongside The Brand New Companions (Sean McKerr - mandolin, Roy Brennan - Stand-up Bass and Rob Chanders Jr - Banjo), The Sullivan Brothers have gone back to their roots playing original music that’s combines many influences into a fresh new bluegrassy sound.

Wookalily - Between hammerin' out the harmonies, slammin' on the geetars, slappin' the bass, beatin the drums, pickin' on the banjos (not to mention the banjo player), chopping on the fiddle and striking blows to the flute it's a miracle Wookalily haven't been arrested for cruelty to expensive musical instruments. Despite their reckless ways they've managed to create a unique and quirky sound that's all heart. Their style, sometimes referred to among the lilys as chillbilly roots, has an old-timey feel with a young-timey appeal.

Down & Out Bluegrass Band - 'The Down And Out Bluegrass Band are a Belfast based band who started playing together in March 2011 after meeting at different bluegrass sessions across Northern Ireland.  The band has 4 members - Roy Brown (bass), Mal Duffin (fiddle), Richard Leeman (guitar & mandolin) and Howard Walker (5 string banjo & guitar).  The band are heavily influenced by classic American bluegrass acts, such as Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys, The Stanley Brothers and Flatt ↦ Scruggs to name but a few.  The band's sound is characterised by strong vocal harmonies, hard driving banjo and above all a love of bluegrass music which shines through in their performances.

The Bluestack Mountain Boys - The Bluestack Mountain Boys have made great strides in the
past year and have travelled all over Ireland
bringing their style of bluegrass to a wide
audience.

Freshly Mown Bluegrass

Saturday 7th - 7.30pm-10pm - The Artisan - Bishop & London Street

An line-up of new and young (not always both) Bluegrass music including The Norian Kennedy Collection, Owen & The Monts and the White Mansions.

The Norian Kennedy Collection - Norian Kennedy (5 string/banjo uke), Gerry Paul (guitar banjo player and singer with Tim O'Briens 3 Oceans Trio), Sean Paul (fiddler with Sharon Shannon and Damien Dempsey), Paul O'Driscoll (bass player and singer with Mad Uncle Harry and Sharon Shannon). Norian has released her own CD which includes some fresh new takes on bluegrass/oldtime music. Her style is best described as raucous oldtime country honkytonk which some may recognise from her collaboration with Mad Uncle Harry.

Owen & The Monts - The Monts are a three piece acoustic family group based in Belfast. They focus on delivering harmony driven grassy roots songs with a 1 acoustic guitar 3 vocal arrangement. Whilst they are all individually busy with other projects like, the Belfast Community Gospel Choir and bands, 'Leeward side' and 'Arc Royal', they still regularly come together as the Monts to perform a selection of original songs as well as their slant on bluegrass classics.

The White Mansions - From the ashes of previous Belfast Country and Bluegrass bands The White Mansions have risen, singing songs of love and darkness, cherry blossom and whiskey, heartache and loss!

Line Dance Extravaganza

Saturday 6th, doors open 8.30pm till Late - Memorial hall

Once again hosted by the wonderful Elma and Sharon this promises to be an extraordinary night, with Disco by the ever popular DJ Tony Devenny and live music from the superb MAGILL. The evening will also feature an exhibition dance from the Victoria Line Dancers.

Line Dance is popular across all communities and has a dedicated following in the Maiden City, and the Memorial Hall is delighted to be a central dance venue where everyone is welcome.

Once again the Line Dance Extravaganza promises to be a great night of entertainment and dance, and tickets will sell quickly. Admission is ticket only at £5.00 per ticket. You can pay at the door, but to guarantee entry please contact 077 1843 6923 or 077 3200 3358.

Admission is ticket only £5