Athy and after: 4 Wheel Drive on tour in Ireland, 13-22 July 2012

Ireland's longest-established annual bluegrass event, the Athy Bluegrass Festival in Athy, Co. Kildare, will be holding its 22nd 'edition' (as they say on the Continent) this year. Due to the closure of the Carlton Abbey Hotel, the main concert venue will be the Athy GAA Centre, and festival organiser Tony O'Brien sends this important message:

As we are in a new venue for this year's Athy festival, can fans please pre-book, as we have a choice of two rooms at the Athy GAA Centre and we want to make sure in advance of seating, stage, and similar arrangements. Booking: phone/text +353 (0)85 1656685; e-mail.

The splendid 4 Wheel Drive (NL/D/B), always welcome in Ireland, will be headlining the festival, playing on all three nights. Their Athy appearances launch a ten-day tour in Ireland, and the full schedule is as follows:

Fri. 13th-Sun. 15th July: Athy Bluegrass Festival, Athy, Co. Kildare
Mon. 16th: Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork
Tues. 17th: St John's Arts Centre, Listowel, Co. Kerry
Wed. 18th: Pikers Lodge Hotel, Gowna, Co. Cavan
Thurs. 19th: House concert, Gowna, Co. Cavan
Fri. 20th-Sun. 22nd: Ardara Bluegrass Festival, Ardara, Co. Donegal