After somewhat of a ‘blip’ (shall we call it?) in 2022, this much loved event at the Ulster-American Folk Park returned in style on the May 26-29 Bank Holiday weekend. Despite being yet another victim of public funding cutbacks, Richard Hurst and his team in National Museums of Northern Ireland once again managed to put on a superb weekend of music and entertainment, helped by the sunny weather.
One of highlights for the music fan was the annual McConversation, which this year featured one of Ireland’s earliest purveyors of bluegrass, the venerable Niall Toner. His interviewer was the broadcaster and festival MC Frank Galligan, brought back by popular demand after being sorely missed in 2022. Niall regaled the audience with fascinating anecdotes from his long career in bluegrass and traditional country, including how he passed a cassette tape of one of his first compositions to the Nashville Bluegrass Band at this festival in the 90s and it ended up on one of their Grammy nominated albums, TWENTY YEAR BLUES, in 2004. That plea for peace, There’s a Better Way, was performed, along with many more of Niall’s original compositions, by himself and his band at several performances over the weekend.
The American headliners this year were Zoe & Cloyd and The Honey Dewdrops from the US, and Viper Central from Canada. Clearly delighted to have finally made it here after the original 2020 booking was scuppered by the pandemic, Zoe & Cloyd (and band) brought their mix of bluegrass, klezmer and Americana to an enthusiastic audience. Promoting their new release, Songs of Our Grandfathers, Natalya Zoe Weinstein (fiddle) demonstrated her Jewish klezmer influences, while husband John Cloyd Miller (guitar) paid homage to his grandfather, pioneering bluegrass fiddler Jim Shumate, an original member of Bill Monroes’s Bluegrass Boys. The Honey Dewdrops (Virginia), comprising Laura Wortman (frailing banjo) and Kagey Parrish (guitar) were also on their first visit to N Ireland, and their beautiful blend of Americana/folk/bluegrass and original compositions were impressive. Back again after their 2017 appearance, Viper Central were stronger than ever. Their unusual rootsy sound, while bluegrass based, fuses jazz and folk influences into joyous uplifting performances, while they were bolstered by the addition of multi instrumentalist, Jack Garton, on trumpet and accordion! Europe was represented by the return of festival favourites, The Bluegrass Boogiemen (NL) and the equally entertaining Truffle Valley Boys, on their first visit from Italy. The latter are dedicated to paying homage to traditional early bluegrass, which they do with outstanding musicianship, sartorial style and with great humour.
Ireland was also represented by old favourites Woodbine, and newer favourites the Watery Hill Boys, the Broken String Boys, the local Knotty Pine String Band and the new combo, Henry (Janet and Colin). A rare treat was the appearance of Co Down’s Ian Alexander (formerly of Appalachian Strings), who impressed with his original compositions and covers, and his chops on mandolin and guitar.
Poignantly, there was recognition of those we have lost in recent years, particularly the beloved fiddler and all round character, Geordie McAdam, after whom there was a new event created, the Geordie McAdam Open Mic stage, which we hope will become a regular feature.
Debates over the timing of the event continue among the punters, with some favouring a return to the previous early September slot. Unfortunately, the current May dates fall very close to the Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival, which attracts a similar audience.
Sadly, Richard Hurst will retire soon and it remains to be seen how his legacy will be carried on. Regulars will be hoping for ‘more of the same’, in the hopes that this will continue its reputation as one of the best bluegrass festivals outside of the US. Long may it run.
Report and photographs by Eilís Boland