Open House hits the road again with Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys

Following on the BIB post of 30 Dec. 2015 on Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys (USA), thanks to Lesley Richardson of the Open House Festival team in Belfast for this release. The dates are all on the BIB calendar:

Following the success of last year’s inaugural tour, Open House Festival is hitting the road again. This time the headline act will be US band Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, who were one of the standout hits of last summer’s month-long festival in Bangor.

'Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys were one of the first music acts to sell out when we launched our summer programme last June', says Festival director Kieran Gilmore. 'Their show in Ballyholme Yacht Club received rave reviews, and a lot of people were disappointed not to see them, so when we were planning this tour, they were our number one choice. We are thrilled to be bringing the band back to Northern Ireland, and this time more audiences will have the opportunity to see their fantastic live act.'

With a magical blend of bluegrass and Americana, the Michigan band, who now call Nashville their home, have a unique style and a captivating stage presence. Their latest album, Ionia, has received widespread critical acclaim. Supporting the Flatbellys is renowned local musician Stephen Macartney. Singer-songwriter Stephen, who comes from Bangor, is known for being part of Farriers and as a prolific solo performer. He has garnered a dedicated fan base thanks to his mesmerising live performances.

The tour runs over five consecutive nights in February, in five unusual and bespoke venues. First up is the smart new Space Theatre in Bangor on Wednesday 3rd, followed by the beautiful setting of Holywood Yacht Club on Thursday 4th. On Friday 5th the tour travels to the Brown Trout Inn in Aghadowey. This will be the first time the popular family-run hotel has featured on Open House’s ever-expanding list of special places. Saturday 6th sees another new venue in the form of the beautifully renovated Victorian tea rooms in Portrush, now known as the Arcadia building. The road trip finishes in Lisburn on Sunday 7th with a return to the Hilden Brewery, one of last year’s most popular venues.

Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, who are supporting the tour, commented: 'The Northern Ireland Music Touring Programme has already delivered a range of impressive tours to new audiences and venues across the region since its introduction in 2014 with names such as the Quercus Ensemble, Neil Cowley Trio, David Little, Iarla Ó Lionáird, and Beoga, among others, taking to the stage. We are delighted to support Open House with this current tour through the programme as they continue to bring the best music to new audiences in unique locations.'

For tickets and further information, go to the Open House Festival website.