North Coast Folk Festival 2008, Musicians and Organisers

The Anchor Bar, became a hub of musical activity during the festival, hosting five acts in all over the course of the weekend. Local, Ballycastle based 4 piece ‘Tannasg’ performed a set of top quality traditional Irish music early Saturday evening followed by, Scottish Group, ‘Life O’Reilly’ who played to a packed house. The fun continued at the Anchor on Sunday afternoon with the quirky, country-folk, six piece ‘The Delawares’, who played their own unique brand of music to an enthusiastic audience. Music was rounded off at the Anchor on Sunday by Belfast based ‘Venue I’ who, contrary to their young years have composed a large amount of their own material and who’s genuine passion for music became infectious during their breath – taking, fast paced set.

Saturday was the festival’s busiest day with a packed timetable of events. The music began in the late afternoon, with an eager audience of families, and music fans greeting the Delawares for their energetic performance at the Eglinton Hotel. Later that evening at the Magherabouy House Hotel, Portrush, residents and visitors alike were delighted by the high spirited performance of George Murphy’s ‘Failte’, another local group who also take part in the annual Roe Valley Folk Festival.

On the festival fringe, the musicians of ‘Tannasg’ were kept busy from early on Saturday morning at Flowerfield Arts Centre, where Catherine Sands co-ordinated several music workshops in Fiddle, Bodhràn and Folk Singing as well teaching the Tin-Whistle workshop. Students, of all ages had the opportunity to learn musical skills, directly from professional musicians.

Malcolm Murchison, Director of Flowerfield, stated; “Flowerfield was buzzing with music and creativity this weekend. Not only did we have the headline act of the festival performing here, but we also heard promising young musicians learning musical skills in several workshops. The quality of music that this years festival has brought together has fitted in well with our goals here at Flowerfield Arts Centre”.

Further festival fringe events took place during the course of the weekend including a free, fun-filled, Halloween story telling session at Portstewart Town Hall on Saturday evening and two well attended cookery demonstrations, sponsored by Stephen’s Catering and hosted by the Strands Good Food Group at The Anchor Complex and Beetle’s Restaurant at Kelly’s. Carolyn McKeown, speaking on behalf of the Strands Good Food Collective, stated “The Strands Group restaurants are delighted with the success of the Folk Festival and are pleased that both good food and good music were enjoyed at venues throughout Portrush and Portstewart. We have worked closely with Coleraine Borough Council to make this event happen and we feel the timing and content of the festival were highly appropriate for the area.”

The response by audiences attending performances, workshops and demonstrations over the course of this first Guinness North Coast Folk Festival has been widely positive and has prompted requests for information on more of this type of cultural event in the North Coast Area. Feed back received from participating musicians has also been widely positive.