New features and news of Omagh 2014: update

Cup O' Joe from Armagh; see below for the link to their new website

Thanks to Richard Hurst at the Ulster American Folk Park at Omagh, Co. Tyrone, for more news and details of this coming weekend's 23rd Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival.

Everyone interested in the history of bluegrass music will be glad to know that Omagh's national treasure, the world-class country music record collector and historian Rodney McElrea, will be giving the McAuley Lecture on Saturday 30 Aug. (1.00-2.00 p.m.) in the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies. This year’s subject is 'Women in bluegrass', and the lecture is guaranteed to be worth hearing whether you have Murphy Henry's book on the subject or not.

The Friday night ‘Party in the Park‘ experiment is aimed at introducing a new audience to the world of bluegrass and old-time music. Gaining further major exposure for the Festival and the artists, April Verch will feature on RTÉ's John Murray Show on Thursday morning next (28 August), followed by Love Canon on the Sean O’Rourke Show a little later on the same day.

The Open Mic Stage will be running this year in the Pennsylvania Barn, and only on Saturday; it is fully booked at present. Richard writes:

I am sure you know about Cup O’ Joe travelling to IBMA in October to perform on the Youth Stage? [See the BIB post immediately before this.] Happy to think we had a part in getting them there. They will perform on Open Mic on Saturday and contribute to church service in Omagh Methodist church on Sunday morning.

Update 27 Aug.: You can see some of these details and make bookings online via the Park's latest e-newsletter.