Airfield presents 'Urban roots: Hoe Down on the Ranch', 23-25 June

Press release:

Dublin's first roots festival will take place from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 June at Airfield in Dundrum. With the tag line 'Country Heart, City Home' and as the city's last remaining working urban farm, Airfield provides a perfect backdrop for music encompassing Appalachian, Cajun, bluegrass, blues, gospel, old-time, and rockabilly.

On midsummer weekend in the badlands of south Dublin, Airfield'll be throwin' open the gates o' the ranch to a posse of buckaroos, gringos, curly wolves, locos, and long riders, in addition to a couple of copperheads from the north side and maybe a few mail-order cowboys from south city, even some Wicklow hillbillies.

It's going to be a regular hog-killin' time; with barbecues on-the-go there'll be plenty of chow. You can grab a root and bend an elbow till yer fuller than a tick. There'll be buskers, barn dances in the Grey barn, acoustic sessions in old Mr Overend's billiard room, and a late-night Rockin' Blues Hoe Down in da House. In short the music's goin' be sharper than an Arkansas toothpick and hotter than a snake's ass in a wagon rut. No high-falutin, just a good ol' fashioned fandango!

Rough Deal String Band
8 p.m. Friday 23 June: €10 / €7
A blazing set of Cajun & Appalachian from a passionate old-time string-band

Frankie Lane & Paul Kelly
6 p.m. Saturday 24 June: €10 / €7
'Their playing has passion & soul, their performance together is electrifying!' Irish Times

Clem O'Brien Band
8 p.m. Saturday 24 June €10 / €7

D.J. Markey V.
10 p.m. Saturday 24 June: €5
Hoe Down in da House with the very best of Rockin' Blues Sounds

Prison Love
3 p.m. Sunday 25 June: €5
These Dublin fugitives are above the law of averages & will rock your roots with passionate bluegrass, old-time, gospel, and Cajun - no holds barred.

The Tennessee Hob Two-Step
6 p.m. Sunday 25 June: €10 / €7
'O brother'-style duo harmonies, virtuoso guitar & banjo picking

Hill of beans: Saturday Pass €17 / Whole kit & caboodle: Weekend Pass €33

Airfield, Upper Kilmacud Road, Dundrum, Dublin 14

Tickets available in advance: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday, from the ticket kiosk at Airfield; 'phone (01) 298 4301; e-mail this link.