Ricky Skaggs at Midlands Music Festival?

13 February

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder are now down for a further date in Europe - on 3 August at Indigo, in London (TBA).

12 February

Thanks to Darach McGrath for the news that the Blind Boys of Alabama are also scheduled on their website for the Midlands. As Darach says, 'Not exactly bluegrass... but great none the less'.

9 February

Thanks to Roger Ryan for the news that Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder are scheduled on their website to perform at the Midlands Music Festival on 28 July, on the second day of a four-day European tour. On 27 July they are playing in Prague, on 29 July at the Cambridge Folk Festival, and on 31 July in Glasgow. NB: at present the Prague, Mullingar, and Glasgow dates are marked TBA on the site.

Thanks to Roger also for the following (edited) press release:

The Midlands Music Festival returns this year on Saturday 28 July/ Sunday 29 July 2007. Tickets and camping for the festival went on sale Saturday 9 December, at 9.00 a.m.

Considered one of the best contemporary music festivals last summer, Midlands was the first of its kind in Europe with a stellar line up of some of the world's country greats including Emmylou Harris, Glen Campbell, Dwight Yoakam, and Kenny Rogers. This year's festival promises to be even better with an even more diverse mix of music and a brand new location, equally as stunning but even more central than last year.

Only 50 minutes from Dublin, Belvedere House is set on a 160-acre estate, of magnificent parkland, lakeshore walks, and woodlands, located on the outskirts of Mullingar town, Co. Westmeath, and is a perfect setting for this year's festival, with its instant accessibility, numerous hotels and B&Bs on its doorstep, and a layout that will enable organisers to locate the camping site even closer to the stages.

The festival will cater for all tastes and all ages, keeping the country element for which it's famous, but also extending the musical reach. There will be the usual international country greats, both mainstream and more diverse; in addition the promoters will introduce what's best in traditional, contemporary, and World Music.

Under 12s free. Tickets, subject to licence, will be available at usual outlets such as Ticketmaster. Credit card hotline 0818719300; or for UK, 08702434455.