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2024-08-02 Tribfest - North Kildare Sports Club, Kilcock

No one, and I mean no one, goes to TribFest to be cool.  After all, it's hard to look cool dancing to the music of Joe Dolan, ABBA, Tom Jones, Cher or Queen, well, maybe Queen, but... No, people go to TribFest to party, to listen to great music and most of all, to have fun.  Fun, that's the most important part of a festival, and it was in abundance this year! The festival was a three day affair this time out and, for the first time, kicked off with a night dedicated to hard rock and metal, featuring IE/DC (AC/DC), Live Lizzy (Thin Lizzy), Whiplash (Metallica) , Guns Reloaded (Guns n' Roses), and Legendary (Bon Jovi).  Was it loud?  Yes, yes it was.  Did it rock?  Most certainly!  Were the leather clad crowd entertained?  Most definitely.  What a way to kick off TribFest! Live Lizzy Whiplash Legendary Guns Reloaded IE/DC Night two of TribFest was a much more relaxed affair with sets from Mairead Rooney (Shania Twain), The Classic Beatles (The Beatles), Will Power (Joe Dolan)

2024-06-01 What's De Craic Festival - Maynooth

It's festival season again, and I nearly missed out on my first of the year!  I'd spent the previous 11 days in the south of Spain, missing out completely on Day 1 of Maynooths brand new music festival, What's De Craic.

I did, eventually, make it there on Saturday for Day 2 of What's De Craic, just in time for some good old country music with these fantastic performers, Cliona Hagan, Robert Mizzell and Nathan Carter.  

As I've said previously, my country music experience is limited to the likes of Cash, Kristofferson, Campbell, Nelson and a few others, so my knowledge of the good and great on the Irish country scene is very limited.

These artists are definitely part of the good and great though, and the crowd really got into the swing of things as they line-danced the night away, all whilst singing their hearts out!

I just like to say that I can neither confirm nor deny the rumour that I might, just might have, sang along to Wagon Wheel!!!






So, Saturday might have been all about country, Sunday was just one big, long, trad session!  The weather wasn't quite as hot as the previous day, but under the massive canvas covering, no one cared! The drink was flowing and the craic was great.

The day kicked off with the Róisín Dubh Duo, quickly followed by George Murphy and The Rising Sons.  George has, as you no doubt know, an astounding voice, perfect for trad!

Next up on the main stage, all the way from Glasgow, was Katelin Tierney.  It's safe to say, going by her song choices, she is not a fan of the British Royal Family, or Rangers FC, and the crowd loved every minute of her set!

Next up were The Highstool Prophets followed by Sean Magee,  who both had the crowd belting out trad classics, leaving me struggling to find my voice!

Closing out What's De Craic 2024, were festival circuit favourites, The Whistlin' Donkeys, and they put on one hell of a show  I'd not seen them before, but I instantlly became a fan.  A great way to close out proceedings.

There's nothing left to say apart from roll on What's De Craic 2025!

















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