Galway Americana Festival, 10-13 Sept. 2009

Thanks to Pete Lamb for the good news that after a fallow year in 2008, the Galway Americana Festival is back on track and ready to rock. As the Festival website explains,

... 'Americana' is a label loosely used to describe alternative modern country music, music with that 'twang thang' which isn't strictly country in the 'Nashville' sense of the word, but nonetheless shares common roots. As far as the Galway Americana Festival goes, we are taking the broader meaning of the word, i.e. any American roots music, not simply modern 'alternative country', but folk and roots music in all its glorious forms: bluegrass, country, blues, Cajun, Americana, old-timey... hell, even a quiff of rockabilly! This festival is a celebration of of root-and-branch American folk forms, and we sincerely hope that embracing this diversity will mean that we can offer something to please everyone!

OK. But why Ireland? Why Galway? We want to show the common musical heritage these forms of music share with Irish traditional music, where many of the tunes originated. Where better than the cultural capital of Ireland!

The Galway Americana Festival 2009 will be launched with a show at the Crane Bar on 21 August by Jeff & Vida. Artists taking part in the main festival (10-13 Sept.) include Bill Evans & Megan Lynch, Clive Barnes, John Martin & Boucherie (Cajun), and Erin McDermott & Doug Perkins. Full details of programme, venues, and artists can be seen on the Festival website.