Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival launches this weekend

LAUNCH BAND Bluegrass band The Breadwinners will play at the festival launch this Saturday night.

Ciara Moynihan

The 2017 Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival takes place from June 9-11 – and the festival will be officially launched in McGing's, Westport, this Saturday evening, May 13, at 9.30pm.
The launch will be hosted by Westport Community Radio and MC’d by Liam McNamara, and speakers will include festival producer Uri Kohen; Cllr Tereasa McGuire on behalf of Mayo County Council and Ann McCarthy of Mayo County Council Arts Office.
No Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival launch would be complete without some top-class music, and taking on that role will be Dublin-based bluegrass band The Breadwinners. The four-piece is made up of Lily Sheehan (guitar, vocals), Luke Coffey (banjo, vocals), John Denby (mandolin, vocals) and Mark Corry (bass).
The night before the launch, Rackhouse Pilfer will play in the venue, while the day after, Sunday, May 14, will see David Hope return to McGing’s at 7pm as part of his new album ‘Tough Love’ launch tour.   The festival in June will once again feature acts, from the US, the UK, Europe, and of course Ireland north and south, plus the Clew Bay Folk Club. Over the three days there will be a load of gigs, more than one massive session, masterclasses and workshops and some local instrument makers will be showcasing their craft to boot.
Acts slated to appear include The Vanguards, Carboard Box, Jaywalkers, Evan Lyons, Greenshine, Fox & Branch, The Rye River Band, Corner Boy, The Rocky Top String Band, Jock Tyldesley and Vera van Heeringen, The Original Five, The Horsenecks, Padraig Jack, The Clew Bay Critters, The Old Yellers and Nettles & Ivy.
All are welcome to the launch, and admission to all three gigs this weekend is free.