Bluegrass is back!

SOME of the best local and international giants of Americana and roots music are set to grace Omagh soil, as the star-studded line-up for this year’s Omagh Bluegrass Festival has been announced – and it will be the first in-person event of its kind in more than two years.

Taking place at the Ulster American Folk Park across May 28 and 29, the annual music extravaganza showcases a wealth of world class Bluegrass and Americana acts on the Irish and UK scene, along with acts from further afield, including Appalachia, the heartland of American bluegrass music.

Among the constellation of stars performing are The Slocan Rambler; Anthony Toner and the Doone Borthers; Seth Mulder and Midnight Run; Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno; Aaron Jonah Lewis: The Often Herd; and local group, Cup O’Joe – while even more acts will be playing in various location throughout the Folk Park.

For details of the full line-up you can got to the Bluegrass Omagh website.

Bluegrass virtuosity

One of the highlights will be Canadian quartet, The Slocan Ramblers, who blend impressive bluegrass virtuosity with a fresh contemporary appeal.

Emerging from Toronto’s lively roots music scene a decade ago, the band were winners of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2020 ‘Band Momentum Award’, and they have also conquered the bluegrass heartlands of the USA.

They’ve toured extensively across North America and Europe, building a reputation as a barnstorming live band.

Old-time Americana

Meanwhile, acclaimed young duo, Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno, based in North Carolina, will be performing a mesmerising blend of old-time Americana, folk and bluegrass, combining fine original songs with fiddle tunes and striking harmony vocals.

Their debut album, produced by Grammy-winning Cajun musician, Joel Savoy, was released in 2021, and named in many ‘Best-of-Year’ lists.

Vivian grew up in Virginia with folk musician parents, and began writing songs and performing at the age of nine.

Her debut solo album was released in 2018, and Rolling Stone cited her as one of the ‘top ten country artist to watch’.

Music reimagined

Local favourites, Cup O’Joe, a progressive bluegrass and folk band founded in the North by three siblings, Tabitha, Benjamin and Reuben Agnew – and later joined by Tabitha’s husband David Benedict – are one not to be missed.

Their unique mix of original compositions and re-imagined traditional songs, paired with their lively performances, has given them a growing presence in the acoustic music scene surrounding Ireland, The United Kingdom, Mainland Europe, and beyond.

l The Omagh Bluegrass Festival takes place on May 28 and 29, and tickets are available on the festival’s website ‘bluegrassomagh.com’. Watch this space for more information.