Update: The Blind Boys Of Alabama NOT appearing at Langtons, contrary to announcement.
Organisers for the Dysart Festival have announced that headline acts Jools Holland (Saturday) and Katherine Jenkins (Sunday) have been removed from the festival bill for August 9th / 10th weekend.
As news breaks on the demise of the initial festival structure here’s the breakdown from this morning…
- The festival won’t be taking place in Dysart and Thomastown will “be left dry” in relation to music on the 9th / 10th
- The Dysart grounds will be open to the public for viewing to “see where next year’s festival will be held”, no cars allowed on ground.
- Organisers are citing “monsoon” like conditions over recent weeks as a major factor in the effective cancelling of the festival with grounds “destroyed” and one of the stages “sinking”
- The festival is being moved indoors with a limited number of acts on the bill. Jools Holland (Saturday) and Katherine Jenkins (Sunday) won’t be performing as no alternative venue is available.
- The Blind Boys Of Alabama will perform in an alternative venue on Saturday. John Martyn will be the main act on Sunday while organisers still plan to screen the hurling semifinal on the day.
- Sources close to KilkennyMusic.com indicate that The Blind Boys Of Alabama and John Martyn will be joined by Clive Barnes, Luane Parle, Hoarsebox, Republic Of Loose (confirmed) and Prison Love across the Saturday and Sunday though these acts have yet to be confirmed by festival organisers.
- Early bird ticket sales and general ticket sales aren’t massive (opinion) with refunds available after the festival has taken place. Details will be announced shortly in relation to using festival tickets to access venues in Kilkenny.
- Acts booked for The Orb along with the comedy tent acts will be spread around venues in Kilkenny
Of course, it’s also the start of the Kilkenny Arts Festival… more on this as we hear it during the day.
No way! That’s a crying shame. Really.