Scrap whatever’s in your diary next weekend (August 1- 3) as Newry City will play host to a phalanx of local talent in the inaugural Newry City Blues Festival. In a mouth watering programme staged in four venues over three days blues aficionados can expect to enjoy a weekend of revelry and bonhomie to a sonic soundscape of the cream of local talent with acts such as The Backbone Blues Band, the Nooks and Cold Porter already pencilled in to perform. Speaking to the Democrat Event Director Ian Sands said: “This was first proposed to me by Marie-Therese McKenna from the Brass Monkey who was seeing what is being done with the Blues on The Bay festival in Warrenpoint thought that it was viable in Newry. The Brass Monkey, Cobbles and The Bank and Amplified have all invested themselves in this as they see the potential for growth, have confidence in the potential and are looking to provide a platform for the local talent for the local talent we have at our disposal in Newry,” said Mr Sands. I have looked first hand at the ambience and festival vibe that has been created in Galway, Kinsale and Warrenpoint and feel that Newry’s fortuitous geographical position and its range of hotels bars and restaurants we can stimulate something equally special for Newry,” said Mr Sands. Mr Sands said that he had envisioned the growth of a festival that could eventually be on a similar scale to the Blues on The Bay but that because the festival is still in its infancy ambitions had to be tempered until it was established. We don’t want to run before we can walk although it is undeniable that Newry is home to a wealth of local talent we believe will become the life blood of this festival. We want the focus to be on the great music and to create a festival atmosphere through that and for people to come and enjoy, soak up the event and tell people about it because people will vote with their feet ultimately,” he said. In what can be described as a long overdue shot-in-the-arm for the local entertainment scene Mr Sands believes a key strength of the festival is the close proximity of the venues to each other cutting out the need to travel inordinate distances. “I have been to festivals where to go from one venue to another you have to get a taxi,” he said. All the bars are within walking distance of each other meaning that you get to see a lot more music without having to travel huge distances and this helps keep the buzz vibrant and within close quarters.” For more details and regular festival updates visit www.newrycityblues.com and facebook.
Newry Democrat
22nd July 2014
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