Bunratty Banjo Pickers Festival, 28-9 Sept. 2013

The BIB announced on 6 August that good news was on the way for those who feel that the absence of a Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival this year has left a big hole in the calendar. Well, the good news has come. The Bunratty Banjo Pickers Festival will be held at Bunratty, Co. Clare, on 28-9 Sept. 2013. The Festival page of the official Bunratty website announces:

The Bunratty Business Association in conjunction with Sixmilebridge Folk Club presents this inaugural musical event. Aimed at musicians and listeners, the festival will celebrate the diversity of the banjo. Visiting musicians are invited to join in the many 'Fleadh Style' sessions which are free to the public from noon on Saturday in Bunratty village. These will feature Irish traditional musicians as well as bluegrass, Dixieland jazz, old-timey, American roots, and folk music.

There are two concerts on Saturday, a buffet concert at 5.30 p.m. (€18) in the Manor Hotel (061-707984) and the headline concert (€15) featuring Cathal Hayden & Jamie O’Dowd at 8.30 p.m. in the Bunratty Castle Hotel (061-478400). Tickets available at concert venues.

On Sunday the festival continues in the Folk Park with four 45-minute concerts in the Barn, starting on the hour from 1.00 p.m. Normal admission rates apply. This is a great venue and anyone who has had the Winter Music Weekend experience at this venue will certainly come back for more this September.

A full downloadable schedule will be appearing on the Bunratty website in due course. Bands and artists featuring over the weekend are:

Irish Trad: Cathal Hayden & Jamie O’Dowd, Eoin O’Neill, Quenton Cooper & Kevin Griffen, the Kirby Family, Sixmilebridge Folk Club Festival Band
Old-timey: BanjaBill All Stars (Bill Whelan and friends)
Bluegrass: USA band, the Banjaxed Bluegrass Band (Limerick)
Jazz: London Dixieland Jazz Band
Roots/folk: Gale Force, Trembling Hand Band, Gordon & Rosie, John Nyhan, the Kellehers