Johnny Crampsie Traditional & Bluegrass Music Festival, 9-11 Oct. 2009

Woodbine at Athy 2009 (photo: Des Butler)

The Alley Theatre, Strabane, Co. Tyrone, hosts the welcome return on 9-11 October 2009 of the Johnny Crampsie Traditional & Bluegrass Music Festival. The weekend's events will include two evening concerts, pre-show sessions, a talk on the origins of bluegrass, and informal open sessions.

The traditional music group Dalltach - Tom Byrne (button accordion, harmonica), Matt McGranaghan (fiddle), Michael Carey (whistle), Michael Gallanagh (guitar and vocals) - will play in concert on Friday 9 October at 8.00 p.m.; tickets £14 / £12 (concession). On Saturday 10 October, the 8.00 p.m.concert will be given by Woodbine - Tony O'Brien (guitar, vocals), Nicola O'Brien (bass, vocals), Liam Wright (guitar, dobro, vocals), Richard Hawkins (banjo); tickets £12. A special £20 weekend package ticket covering both shows can be booked. On both nights there will be pre-show music by CRAIC Youth from 7.00 p.m. within the Alley’s Jenca Café Bar.

On Saturday at 2.00 p.m. the Johnny Crampsie Talk on 'Tracing the origins of bluegrass' will be given by guest speakers at the Alley. Admission is free, and the duration is given as one hour.

On Sunday 11 October the Johnny Crampsie Traditional and Bluegrass Festival Weekend will conclude at St Patrick’s Hall, Strabane, with CRAIC hosting a series of informal open music sessions. The family session will run from 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m., with an adult music session from 7.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. Online booking facilities and more information are on the Festival website.