Warming up the Westport winter

Uri Kohen of Electric Cave Production reports from Westport, Co. Mayo:

During the months of July and August, Geraghty's bar in Westport was hosting mainly international acts with a good mixture of folk and bluegrass from the UK and the US. September and October will offer a great lineup of some of the best folk acts currently working in the Irish music scene.

This Saturday coming (17 Sept. 2011) is the first of our winter programme and we will host a great Galway band - Mikey and the Scallywags (above), a five-piece band who played Europe and some of the major venues around Ireland, providing energetic and uplifting folk music.

On Saturday 24 Sept. 2011 we will welcome once again David Hope and Tommy Lyons (above). David was the first singer to perform in the 'Unfinished music series' in Geraghty's and since then he became the most celebrated artist to perform in the pub. His excellent performances won him a place on the main stage of the 4th Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, and this week he won a place in Ireland's newest folk festival - the Spirit of Folk festival.


October will open with an exciting show by Hickory Wind (above), bluegrass band from Westmeath who play original bluegrass alongside classic and contemporary music in bluegrass style. The Oil Skins (right) from the US will drop by at Geraghty's on Monday 10 Oct. 2011 as part of their Irish tour and will stay around Westport for a few more days, by which they will join local musicians for sessions and busking.

On Saturday 15 Oct. 2011 a fantastic Irish duo (left) will make its way to the west to honor us with their great music: singer/songwriter James O'Connor from Laois joins forces with classically trained fiddle player Audrey Trainor from Louth to create a unique and exciting sound.

The current programme will finish on 22 Oct. 2011 with one of Ireland most exciting bands - the Young Folk (below), the five-piece band from Dublin, playing superb folk music with a good mix of original and covers, supporting the release of their new EP.

The Electric Cave Production are looking forward for all these acts to come to Westport, and already working on booking more gigs for the rest of the year and beyond.