The 45th Marymass Folk Festival 22-26 August
The annual Marymass Festival in Irvine is now well underway and as an integral and popular part of the town’s celebrations, the 45th Marymass Folk Festival swings into action on Wednesday 22nd August for a five day musical thrash. It starts on Wednesday afternoon in gentle fashion with Coffee Afternoon Folk climaxing on the Saturday night the 25th with the fabulous new band The Outside Track.
Among the 20 folk music events on offer there are lunchtime folk sessions at The Ship Inn at the Harbourside, mini-concerts in five local schools, and an afternoon concert especially for senior citizens. Marymass Queen Elect Emma Morrison will formally open the 45th Marymass Folk Bonanza on Wednesday night at Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road followed by the Open Stage Competition.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings there are concerts featuring artists with one common denominator – they are all quality musicians and singers who excel at entertaining audiences. Artists this year include Celine Donoghue & Neil Sturgeon, Stephen Quigg, Tom McConville & David Newey, The Barbara Dymock Band and Heather Heywood. International representatives are Irish band Drantan, The Stavanger Harbour Band and from Ireland, England and Scotland- The Outside Track.
All this plus not one but two world championships to be contested! The tricky Whammy -Diddling and the baffling Chuckie-Chucking. Both championships will be played to a finish on Sunday 26th August at Vineburgh Community Centre and participants are quite possibly already limbering up so that they are in peak condition. What’s involved? Go along on Sunday at 2pm and find out!
Community events, pub sessions, concerts and world championships – it must be Marymass Folk Festival. All info from Joyce Hodge on 01294 551047