Another fab WFABF ahead

FLYING START Pine Marten will be on hand to launch the 2016 Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival on May  20, after the annual fundraiser, which takes place this weekend.

Westport gears up for its annual bluegrass festival

Ciara Moynihan

The renowned Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival is set to return on June 10-12 with another jam-packed top-class line up. Acts slated to appear include The Foghorn String Band, Red Wine, The Kentucky Cow Tippers, The Cannonball Strong Band, Old Hannah, Cup O’Joe, The Molly Hicks, Erdini, The Bog Standard String Band, The MacEvillys, Pat & Ricky Kelleher, Shane Sullivan, Dana Sipos, Roni Stoneman, Richard Hawkins & Friends, Tim Rogers and The Herbert Murray Band.

Launch party
The festival will be officially launched by the festival's founder and producer Uri Kohen on Friday, May 20, in McGing’s bar, High Street, Westport at 10pm. Cllr Brendan Mulroy will also attend on behalf of Mayo County Council. The all-important musical element will be supplied by Pine Marten, an exciting new roots/bluegrass band led by one of Ireland’s top banjo players, Paddy Kiernan (The Niall Toner Band, Lands End, NavΡ). For the launch party, Kiernan will be joined by innovative folk-cellist Alec Brown and respected double-bassist Niall Hughes. Expect bluesy Irish jigs, funky bluegrass standards, haunting arrangements of old folk songs and a host of their own compositions.
Festival fundraiser  
But before all of that kicks off, the annual festival fundraiser – a mini festival in itself – takes place this Saturday, May, 14 in Blousers’ loft at 8.30pm. For a mere €7 patrons will be treated to the music and songs of Billy Clarke, Tony Reidy, Mando Mhaigh Eo, Derek McLoughlin and The MacEvillys. There’ll also be a raffle to raise money for the festival, which will once again put on a huge amount of free gigs in venues throughout the town over the June weekend.

For more information on the Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival or to buy tickets, visit www.westportfolkbluegrass.com. Tickets can also be purchased from many SuperValu outlets, including Westport.