Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival lineup announced

Blue Highway: Shawn Lane (mandolin), Wayne Taylor (bass), Jason Burleson (banjo), Rob Ickes (dobro), Tim Stafford (guitar)

The Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival is proud to announce the lineup for the 8th annual event, 24-27 September 2009, in Longford:

Steve Earle
Blue Highway
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Leroy Troy
Carter Brothers
Niall Toner Band
Ross Nickerson
Rough Deal String Band
Gerry (Banjo) O'Connor
Lunasa
Eleanor Shanley
Enda Scahill / Leon Hunt
Tom Cussen
... and more TBC

There will be nightly concerts, masterclass workshops, street & pub sessions & jams, recitals, and outdoor concerts. Tickets and weekend passes are now on sale at TicketMaster or through the Festival website. Further information: 087-281-7825 (international: +353-87-281-7825)

BIB editor's note: Links to all artists' websites will be found on the Festival site; we'll just remark that in Blue Highway the Festival has one of the strongest and most respected contemporary bluegrass bands, who are celebrating their fifteenth year together. Rob Ickes has won the IBMA Dobro Player of the Year award ten times. Here's a recent news item concerning their guitarist, Tim Stafford.