All-female combo Wookalily for Dunmore Festival: update

Thanks to Karen Cheevers of B2B Communications for this release:

Describing themselves as 'frockabilly woo-grass, putting the blues in bluegrass, the rock in rockabilly and the woo-factor into action' - music lovers will have the chance to hear Wookalily at the 16th International Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival.

The lineup for the Festival, which takes place from 27 to 29 August, includes some of the most revered names in Irish and international bluegrass including Jack Grace (aka the Martini Cowboy), Knotty Pine, Bending the Strings, Molly Hicks, and Little Ass Birds - to name but a few.

Wookalily, while new to the Dunmore festival, have been bringing their unique sound to bluegrass lovers of Northern Ireland for over a year with memorable performances at the Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival, the Ards International Guitar Festival, and the Belfast Film Festival.

The band comprises lead singer Una McCann, whose inspiration comes from a smorgasbord of musical influences including traditional Irish, rock, world music, samba, African drumming, and even a cappella; drummer Siobhan Skates; Adele Ingram-Magee on guitar and banjo; self-taught guitarist Ciara Butcher and harmonica-tootin’ Cat Smith make up the phenomenon that is Wookalily.

Mick Daly, festival organiser, is delighted to welcome Wookalily on their Dunmore East debut. 'Now in its 16th year, the festival has attracted a wonderful selection of bluegrass, roots, country, and rhythm exponents from all over the world. No matter where you travel from to experience the festival, the eclectic mix of music the Dunmore East Festival has to offer will guarantee a good time.'

'Wookalily bring a new dimension to the festival this year. Bluegrass, by its very nature, has for a long time been a principally male-dominated music genre and only in recent years have we seen the emergence of some wonderful female bluegrass artists including Molly Hicks, Sarah Grey, and Sharon Cort. Wookalily’s unique, quirky, often sad and humorous style of bluegrass is sure to put a smile on your face.'

Wookalily’s lead singer is also looking forward to the festival this year. Una McCann added: 'We have only heard good things about the festival and can’t wait to be part of it in 2010.

'The Wookalily sound mixes wildly captivating harmonies with traditional and not-so-traditional instrumentation to create our very own special blend of country rock and bluegrass with a funky twist. So for anyone travelling to Dunmore East for the Bluegrass Festival all we can say to them is "Expect the unexpected!"'

For more information about the 16th Guinness International Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival and the artists appearing (including the Jack Grace Band, Bending the Strings, Wookalily, Sharon Cort, and many more) visit the Festival website.

Mick Daly is available for interview on 051 878 832 / 087 256 2899 or e-mail. Links to band websites are here (with the addition of the Sharon Cort Band). Wookalily took part in the 'Maiden Grass' concert during last Saturday's 'Bluegrass on the Walls' event at Derry city.

Update 13 Aug.: There will be coverage of the Festival in this week's Sunday Business Post and the Sunday Tribune, along with Jack Grace's appearance on TV3 next week.