Sligo comes alive next Wednesday (8 August) with the start of the 2nd annual Sligo Lúnasa Festival. The festival runs for 5 days culminating on Sunday 12 August. This major festival is being produced by FergusonEvents, in conjunction with Marketing Forum Sligo.
The Sligo Lúnasa Festival will feature a myriad of events from Café Culture to pub gigs, a two-day race meeting, children’s workshops and puppet show, music for teenagers at “The Lark In The Park”, theatre, art exhibitions, lectures and parties in the nursing homes for residents, family and friends The beauty of these events especially in these recessionary times is that over 95% of them are free. The organisers have expressed a special thank you to the main sponsors, Guinness, Failte Ireland and the 458 committee of Sligo Borough Council.
Sligo is throwing one big party. The party is for everyone and has innumerable events to suit all ages and musical preferences ensuring that both festival goers and promoters alike will enjoy local hospitality at its best. Whether your preference is a small intimate and relaxing gig in a café or a lively pub session, it’s all there. To compliment this there is also the the French Market offering specialised crafts and tasty delights.
“Almost 40 venues have come together to put on over 100 events. The many fringe events will have the whole town buzzing and will showcase the wealth of musical talent Sligo has to offer, this will be complimented by a host visiting artists,” enthused Bairbre Ferguson of FergusonEvents.
"Everyone can experience the best that Sligo has to offer, the best music, the best food, the best shopping, the best atmosphere and most of all the best of craic.
“Whether your preference in music is traditional, folk, rock, jazz, country blues, funky, disco we have it all,” says Bairbre. The brochure is available from all the usual outlets. There are 15 events on Wednesday, 19 on Thursday, 23 on Friday, 28 on Saturday and 16 on Sunday.
“Festivals and events are important drivers of tourism activity in Sligo, this festival will spur economic activity in the area; showcase the vast and diverse musical and cultural heritage to both visitors and residents, thereby, increasing the visibility of Sligo as a tourist destination” said Sile Garrett Haran, Marketing Forum Sligo.
The festival line up is very exciting this year. Following on the success of last year’s, we are happy to announce that we have been able to bring back some of the artists which made the most impact. So look out for The Screamin’ Bluecats, Saramai and The Swords, Ultan Conlon and The Cool Hand Dukes.
An array of local talent, which will be showcased in many of the pubs and cafes around Sligo, such as Grizzly Dippers, Saki Soto, James Blennerhassett and Robert Harris, Gerry and Aoife Grennan, Sarah Crummy and Hugh O’Neil, Dean Gurrie, Ray Coen, The Red Hot’s, all three Conway sister’s with their own bands and an array of top class local traditional music players.
In the are included new acts that have never performed at a festival in Sligo before; Maeve Kelly and Fling, The Hot Sprockets, Tallahassee Blues (all the way from Sligo's Twinned Town - Tallahassee), Adela and The Meanits, Hickory Wind, The Joy Booth Band, This Club, the OKO DJ Set with Live Jazz and many more.
To top the bill is the much lauded Honor Heffernan and Dick Farrelly.
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