Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival 2008, Omagh

The 17th Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival, to be held at the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 5-7 September 2008, now has its programme online, and as usual, it's astounding. Michael Cleveland (above) made a big impression some years ago at Omagh playing fiddle with the Dale Ann Bradley band; after winning several more IBMA awards as fiddler and recording artist, he's back with his own band. The rest of the concert programme measures up to this standard (both evening concerts at 8.00 p.m., doors open at 7.30 p.m.).

Friday evening concert, 5 September
Jiri Kralik & the Rowdy Rascals (Czech Republic)
Hungry Hill (Canada)
Bluegrass Boogiemen (Netherlands)
Jerry & Tammy Sullivan (USA)

Saturday evening concert
G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden)
Big Medicine (USA)
Mike Cleveland & Flamekeeper (USA)
Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass (USA)

Gospel concert, Sunday, 6.30 p.m. (doors open 6.00 p.m.)
Jerry & Tammy Sullivan (USA)
Aubrey Ghent Band (USA)


Bluegrass in the Park, Friday, 1-5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 12.30-6.30 p.m. All the concert artists will be performing, plus the Jeff & Vida Band (USA), Janet Holmes & Friends (Northern Ireland), Jack Lawrence & Tony Williamson (USA), Hungry Hill (Canada), the Paperboys (Canada), Papa Truck (England), Woodbine (Ireland), the Rough Deal String Band (Ireland), the Broken String Band (Northern Ireland), Northern Exposure (Northern Ireland)...

The schedule also includes hour-long instrument workshops (Saturday, starting 11.00 a.m.) on fiddle, banjo, and guitar in both bluegrass and old-time styles; the McAuley Lectures (Saturday & Sunday, 1.00 p.m.), delivered by Professor Jack Bernhardt from North Carolina with local collector and folk music enthusiast Rodney McIlrea ; and the Bluegrass for Kids programme (Saturday & Sunday 7th), conducted by Charles Pettee & John Currie (USA). Book early for all workshops! More details are on the programme page of the Festival website.

Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass