Bluegrass returns to its roots! - 17th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival bound for Dunmore East

Press release: After 16 years, almost 1,000 gigs, 150 bands and artists, and a whole heap of whoopin’, hollerin’, pickin’ and clawin’, the 17th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival is returning to the picturesque fishing village of Dunmore East, Co. Waterford. The lineup has been announced for the festival which takes place from August 25th to August 28th, and in 2011 the Dunmore East festival is bringing together an enviable lineup of bluegrass artists for Ireland’s largest free bluegrass music festival. The famous local hostelries - the Strand Inn, the Haven Hotel, the Spinnaker, the Ocean Hotel, Powers Bar, and Azzurro - will play host to over 50 free gigs throughout the weekend with local and national bands playing a variety of traditional and contemporary bluegrass music. The 17th Guinness Dunmore East International Bluegrass Festival will feature some well known bluegrass names, but the stages will be heaving to the strains of festival veterans Knotty Pine, Molly Hicks, Little Ass Birds, and Bending the Strings among others. Desert Aces [above] are Dunmore Festival veterans. This highly talented six-piece has played extensively in venues throughout Ireland. Citing musical influences such as Kenny Hall, Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams, Jerry Garcia, Gram Parsons, Johnny Cash, Cisco Houston, Pete Seeger and many more, you can expect a high-octane bluegrass performance from Ireland’s finest! Having made a big impression at last year's Electric Picnic, Galway band Mikey and the Scallywags are new to the Dunmore bluegrass scene. The band is composed of five skilled musicians; Mikey McCrory, guitar player and lead singer, brothers Alan and Brian Gosker playing banjo and drums respectively, Paulie Small on bass, and Juliana Erkkonen playing violin and fiddle. The genre of their music varies from gypsy to folk, bluegrass, and storytelling... a must for any rhythm, roots, and blues fan! Now in its 17th year the Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival has firmly established itself as the Mecca for bluegrass fans from all over the country. According to Mick Daly, who established the festival in 1995, the festival is the highlight of the year for blues, roots, and bluegrass fans: The Dunmore Festival has evolved to bring together a fusion of country, rhythm, roots, newgrass, and blues. Because the festival is free and has such an eclectic line-up over three days it makes it open to everyone, not just hardened bluegrass fans. Coupled with the great headline acts, you have the stunning vista from Dunmore East Harbour, award-winning restaurants and pubs, fringe entertainment throughout the village, and, of course, some of the best musical entertainment for free! The 17th Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival kicks off at 7.00 p.m. on Thursday 25 August at the Haven Hotel and will feature over a dozen bands, playing 50 free gigs in the village's pubs, restaurants, and hotels. BIB editor's note: further info on this year's event will soon be posted on the Festival website. Mick Daly is available for interview on 051 878 832 / 087 256 2899 or by e-mail. Complete 2011 lineup: Bending the Strings, Knotty Pine String Band, Mikey & the Scallywags, Mons Wheeler Band, Little Ass Birds, Desert Aces, Molly Hicks, Gypsy Rebel Rabble, Southern Welfare