Bluegrass music returns to Athy after six years
The Clem O'Brien Band
FROM 1991 to 2019 Athy was known as the spiritual home of Irish Bluegrass music. The first International Bluegrass festival was held in Athy from 1991 to 2019, bringing some of the top Bluegrass bands from the USA and Europe to South Kildare.
Since Covid the festival has not returned, but fortunately this year Bluegrass music is set to grace Athy once again on Saturday 12 April in The Methodist Church.
Bluegrass will make a return to its spiritual home with a top class concert featuring The Howard/Hughes Project from the USA and The Clem O’Brien Band, Ireland.
The Howard/Hughes Project is a five-piece band fronted by Lisa Kay Howard and Wally Hughes, backed up by some of the finest musicians in Bluegrass. They play in the traditional style with strong lead and harmony vocals.
The Clem O’Brien Band is made up of four veterans of the bluegrass scene in Ireland for over 30 years. Clem is the front man who has long been recognised as Ireland’s premier Bluegrass vocalist and guitarist, carrying with him huge experience from playing with bands like The Flint Hill Boys, The Niall Toner Band and playing in the US with award winning band Special Consensus for a six month spell in1997. He is also known for touring with Hungry Hill, 4 Wheel Drive, and The Chieftain’s.
Clem is joined in the band by Gerry Madden on mandolin, Dick Gladney on bass, and Tony O Brien on guitar.
This is a concert not to be missed as promises to be a fantastic night.
The show will start at 8pm, and tickets can be booked by calling or texting Tony on 085 1656685
