EVEN the best efforts of our sodden summer could not dampen the spirits of reveller fans and families who packed the Co. Waterford fishing village of Dunmore East to almost over-flowing for the 14th International Bluegrass Festival last weekend.
Six local hostelries, all village landmarks, played host to fifty free gigs over the weekend right into the early hours of Monday morning, with the Martini Cowboy Jack Grace and his band bringing down the curtain on a hugely successful festival, at The Spinnaker Bar.
From New York, Jack Grace is one of the great characters of country music.
A singer - songwriter, guitarist and banjo-picker, Jack was like the Pied Piper. Everywhere he went, looking for all the world like a cowboy from an old western movie, the fans followed.
On Sunday afternoon, when the sun shone, for a few hours at least, Powers Bar resembled a saloon in the old west as Jack, complete with cowboy hat and rugged boots really kicked up a storm with his 1947 Gibson aceustic guitar autographed by two of his heroes, Merle Haggard and Doc Watson, one of the legends of Bluegrass.
The crowds standing out-side in the laneway, enjoying the last remnants of the classic summer sunshine, took turns to peek through the narrow doorway for a glimpse of the originators of one hell of a sound.
Just up the laneway, a plaque in the front garden of a typical seat farer’s cottage bore the inscription: a fisherman lives her with the greatest catch of his life.
The unseasonal weather meant indoor gigs on Friday and Saturday and Irish band Knetty Pine, firm favourites at Dunmore East followed up and earlier set at Azszuro @ The Ship with a rellicking late night Satruday session at The Strand.
This venue comes into it’s own, too, for afternoon family entertainment and the marquee was packed on Sunday for the Jeff and Vida Band from New Orleans and the Buffalo Gals from the U.K.
Sunny Side from the Czech Republic brought a true classic sound to a huge turn-out at the Haven Hotel on Sunday afternoon.
The Huzzars, another Irish band proved very popular at the Ocean Hotel on Sunday afternoon.
Hungry Hill from Canada, the Scottish-based duo, Blue-flint and the Irish bands, Sullivan Brothers and Brand New Companions, Anyold-tune, Southern Bluegrass Union and the Tin Box Company completed a line-up that ensured, for the followers of Bluegrass, Dunmore East is the nearest place to Heaven!
