Ricky Skaggs et al. at UTV Country Fest, 2-3 Aug.

Roger Ryan (like many of us) regrets that the International Festival of Country Music, which ran at the Wembley Arena and was recognised as the biggest festival of country music in the world, has had no lasting replacement since it ended in 1991 after running for twenty-two years. But Roger continues:

So, is it a case of back to square one for country music fans? Far from it, my friends, far from it. As a matter of fact the news couldn’t be better. J.W. Promotions have announced details of a major country music festival called UTV Country Fest and it boasts a lineup of talent as good as anything ever staged at the famous Wembley Festival, and the good news is it’s right at our doorstep. The festival will be staged over two days on August 2nd and 3rd, at Dungannon Park, Tyrone.

Fifty artists will perform on three stages over the two days and the lineup reads like a virtual who’s who of country music stars from the USA and Ireland. Headed up by George Jones...

and the next on the list is Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. More details and Roger's full text can be read here.