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Introducing Graham Brown from the Open House Festival 18th August 2009

When I was asked to write a blog about our upcoming festival I wasn't too sure about what to include. However it soon became apparent that I should be highlighting exactly what is happening during the festival, and tell you about what local bands we are really excited about. My role at the festival is Marketing Manager, and I also help with programming some of the shows. These two roles go hand in hand, as obviously marketing a festival lineup that we are proud of, is great. This year we are delighted with the lineup, and are looking set for a brilliant festival.

Between the 23rd-27th September, Coors Light Open House Festival runs within Belfast's Cathedral quarter. The festival itself is celebrating it's 11th birthday and to mark such a milestone, we put together a jam packed lineup, covering all areas on the folk music spectrum, be it Americana, New Folk or Irish Traditional Music, we have it more than covered.

The challenge this year has been to secure major headliners, such as Steve Earle, and blend this with much more up-and-coming acts, like Noah and the Whale or William Elliot Whitmore. Although this is the 11th festival, we have made every effort to make the festival as fresh and exciting as possible, and couldn't be happier with our lineup.

An additional feature that we are running this year is free downloadable mp3s that feature festival artists. The can be downloaded directly from our website, http://www.openhousefestival.com

Within Coors Light Open House Festival, we place a lot of faith in Irish music and are always keen to get strong local acts involved. Some local highlights this year include:

Captain Kennedy- this seven piece band from Lurgan are a must see. They blend strong songwriting with excellent delivery. I hope for big things for these guys, as they are looking to get into the studio in Autumn for their debut album. They've been kind enough to give us a track called Roll Ramona, which is on downloadable CD 1. Within Open House festival they are playing a show with a wonderful singer from Nevada City, Alela Diane. It would make for an excellent evening.

Captain Kennedy

Brendan Mulholland on Brendan Hendry and Paul McSherry- these three outstanding musicians, Brendan Mulholland on flute, Brendan Hendry on fiddle and guitarist Paul McSherry hail from the Hills of Tullyrusk, the lowlands of South Derry and the streets of West Belfast. In 2008 they recorded a stunning and award winning album, Tuned Up, which was universally acclaimed as a modern classic in Irish traditional music.

"So damned good that its essence should be bottled and force fed to all Irish infants" Folk Roots Magazine

Lowly Knights- if you keep your eyes on the local music scene in Ireland, it will have been hard to miss the buzz that the Lowly Knights are creating. Be it from playing arena shows with Snow Patrol, or busking in the city centre, these Knights are working hard. We couldn't be happier with the lineup that the Lowly Knights part of, with two London acts, Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling. Big things are predicted and coming into fruition for all three of these new folk bands. We have included their track Devotion on CD 3, be sure to check it out. The only real problem with the final evening of our festival is picking which show to go to, Americana legend Steve Earle, or to check out the New Folk Finale.

Lowly Knights

Check out a past festival highlight with The Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir

Enjoy the festival!

Graham Brown

COORS LIGHT OPEN HOUSE FESTIVAL - FREE MP3 DOWNLOADS

CD 1

1. Beth Orton Shadow Of A Doubt

2. Hillstomp Poor Black Mattie

3. Alela Diane White As Diamonds

4. Captain Kennedy Roll Ramona

5. Peggy Sue Lazurus

6. Urban Voodoo Machine Getting Hot Going Down

7. Danny And The Champions Of The World These Days

CD 2

1. Noah And The Whale The First Days Of Spring

2. The Boss Hoss Break Free

3. Mórga Jigs

4. Jackson Cage Taste the Moon

5. Agnostic Mountain Gospel
 Choir Go Back Home

6. Lee Mitchell Heart Over Head

7. Prison Love Are You From Dixie

CD 3

1. Damien O'Kane The Road To Cashel/The Happy Sundays/Shuffle

2. Otis Gibbs Caroline

3. The Lowly Knights Devotion

4. Ivan Ivanovich & The Kreml
 Krauts Deutsches Essen In Russland

5. Captain Cameron Stay Safe For Denmark

6. Liam Ó Maonlaí Siobhan Ni Dhuibhir

7. Joe Gideon And The Shark DOL

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