It’s Lucky 13 for Dunmore East International Bluegrass Festival

The 13th Guinness Dunmore East International Bluegrass Festival returns to its roots in Dunmore East, Co. Waterford from August 23rd to August 26th.

What’s touted as the strongest line-up to date will feature a host of internationally renowned bluegrass and country music acts in the idyllic setting of Dunmore East. Music lovers, tourists, and locals can expect to experience over fifty free gigs in six venues over four jam-packed days and nights.

For the last 12 years bluegrass fans and pickers have been making the pilgrimage to Bluegrass Nirvana to see some of the world’s most heralded acts. In fact, to date Dunmore East has welcomed more than 200,000 bluegrass music lovers to their serene fishing village nestled in County Waterford.

Headlining this year’s festival is the Jeff and Vida Band from the USA, probably one of New Orleans best known acoustic roots acts. The band will be performing a repertoire of original material spanning from Appalachian bluegrass to alternative country. Another US bluegrass band making a welcome return to Dunmore East is the Boxcar Preachers. The Boxcar Preachers music, and their stage persona, would have fit perfectly into the movie O brother, where art thou? The dubious heroes in that story are escaped prisoners who start making music and somehow transform into a recording sensation. Fortunately, it’s only the ancestors of the Boxcar Preachers who were the criminals. Bruce Gardner, co-founder of the band is rather dubiously related to the nineteenth-century outlaw Black Jack Kethchum.

Apart from some of the biggest US names in bluegrass and country appearing at the 13th Guinness Dunmore East International Bluegrass Festival, some well known Irish acts will take to the coastal stage, including Prison Love, Hazard Hollow, Anyoldtune, and Desert Aces.

According to Mick Daly, festival promoter, 'When we conceived the idea of the International Bluegrass Festival back in 1995 we had a small, but hugely talented line-up. Twelve years later we have the top live acts in the world coming to play on our stages... it really is testament to how bluegrass is shifting away from the niche music market to mainstream popularity. Music lovers appreciate the quirky comedic element of bluegrass that you won’t find in today’s chart music.'

The 13th International Dunmore East International Bluegrass Festival takes place from August 23rd to August 26th in Dunmore East, Co. Waterford. All gigs are free and will be performed both indoors and outdoors in six of Dunmore East’s most vibrant venues.

Further information here.

Mick Daly is available for interview on 051 878 832 / 087 256 2899 or e-mail.