Bluegrass at the Country Roots Festival by Lough Erne (15-18 Oct. 2015)

Thanks to Jonathan Toman of Northern Exposure for this news of the imminent Country Roots Festival of live country, bluegrass, and traditional music which will be held this week (Thurs. 15-Sun. 18 Oct.) at the Share Discovery Village on Lough Erne, near Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh. The Festival blurb says:

This October sees an exciting new event for all you live-music lovers. Country roots celebrates the music and sounds that have grown from stories of rural life and have been shaped by the landscape of their origin. A hybrid of many influences and traditions, string instruments, harmonies and melodies that guarantee you’ll be swinging your partner and stamping your feet.

Swinging and stamping begins at 9.00 p.m. on Thursday 15 Oct., with a Country Dance evening featuring many big local names in country music.

The bluegrass section of the Festival comes the following evening (Fri. 16 Oct.), again at Share Arena at 9.00 p.m., with two bands who both performed at the Omagh Festival a month ago:

Northern Exposure on stage at Omagh 2015: (l-r) Brendan Hendry, Patsy Toman, Jonathan Toman, Pete Toman (photo: Chris Brennan)

Northern Exposure embrace both modern and traditional forms of bluegrass music. Also featured in their show are new pieces from the upcoming Appalachian and traditional Irish banjo/ fiddle album by Brendan and Jonathan, due for release early in 2016.

Harpers Hollow Bluegrass Band from Moira: (l-r) Derek Lockhart (bass, vocals), Derek Norwood (guitar, vocals), William Duddy (mandolin, clawhammer banjo, vocals), and Colin Allen (banjo, vocals). The band is dedicated to honouring the heritage of Bill Monroe with traditional hard-driving, three-part harmony and a touch of Appalachian old-timey 'high lonesome'. Colin is originally from Lisnaskea.

The festival will finish with 'Trad on the Lough' (Sun. 18 Oct., 2.00-4.00 p.m., with a live trio playing traditional music aboard the Innishcruiser cruising along Lough Erne. Tickets can be purchased online or directly from Share Discovery Village. Group rates are available. For more information, contact Share on 028 677 22122 or e-mail.