Bruff Bluegrass 2011: a great success

Thanks to Michael Hehir of the Bruff Bluegrass Music Festival committee, who reports on the third festival in Bruff, Co. Limerick, last weekend:

Thanks to all our bluegrass friends for a fantastic weekend of excellent music. The Southern Welfare Bluegrass Band opened up events in Derry's [above] on Friday night along with the Wiretappers (USA) in Clancy's, and both set the tone for what was to be our most successful Festival to date.

The star-studded Wiretappers on stage in Clancy's

What a fantastic picking session followed on Saturday with the Down and Outs joining the Wiretappers and Southern Welfare to give all present a real treat. Bending the Strings rolled into town on Saturday, also the Desert Aces, and everything just gained momentum.

'Donkey Derby' on Main Street early evening added another successful element to the overall event, also 'Pig on the Spit' (early p.m. on Sunday) was very well received. After another great picking session on Sunday, gigs from Bending the Strings, Southern Welfare, the Down and Outs, and the Desert Aces played out our Festival 2011.

Southern Welfare in Derry's