Award-winning Festival: tickets now on sale

Press release

The 15th Annual Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival has been launched at the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh. The highly popular music festival, which is taking place from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd September, was recently named 'Event of the Year' at the Northern Ireland Tourist Board Awards. Over 7,000 visitors from across the globe attended the 2005 event as the unique setting of the outdoor museum showcased the very best in international bluegrass music.

As always the festival will offer a lively and diverse mix of contemporary and traditional bluegrass music. This year’s event will treat visitors to one of the strongest line-ups in the festival's fifteen-year history with Grammy award nominees Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the current European Bluegrass Band of the Year, Mideando String Quintet, and up and coming acts such as Bearfoot Bluegrass and Beansprouts.

The 2006 programme includes 'Bluegrass in the Park' afternoon sessions, Bluegrass Camp for Kids, the Sunday 'Spirit of Bluegrass' evening gospel concert, music workshops, and lectures with Professor Jack Bernhardt from the USA.

A standard weekend festival pass for the 2006 event will cost £33, while a full festival weekend pass is £39. Evening concert tickets can be bought individually at £16, or £10 in the case of the Sunday gospel concert. For anyone without tickets, general admission to the Bluegrass in the Park afternoon sessions will be £6 for an adult and £4 for a concession. There are also corporate hospitality opportunities on the evening of Saturday 2nd September.

Richard Hurst, Visitor Services Manager, is anticipating a 'sell-out' scenario for the packed programme. 'The 2006 festival is going to be something really special due to the superb quality of acts on show. We are the largest and most prestigious bluegrass event outside of North America and this is reflected in the line-ups for our evening concerts. We believe that we have established a festival that entertains everyone from bluegrass music enthusiasts to those just seeking an alternative weekend experience on their doorstep.'

Peter Kelly, Head of Museum Services at the Folk Park, commented: 'We are delighted to have secured these world-class performers for the 2006 festival. The Event of the Year award was a fitting tribute to the skill and dedication of a large number of staff and we expect this year's event to match and exceed the expectations of the thousands of fans who will make the trip to Omagh during the first weekend in September. Special thanks go to all of our event partners including Creative Media, TC Autos, Omagh District Council, Signal Signs, Dannios Medical Clinic, Grants Restaurant, Molly Sweeney's Filling Station, PineCone, the Community Relations Council and the American Consulate.'

Tickets are available from the BLUEGRASS TICKET HOTLINE on 028 8224 3292 or for further details log on to the Park website.

For further information contact Paula Donnelly on 02882 256309 or by e-mail at this link.