A celebration of the American roots tradition, Soul Of The Mountains takes place as part of the Cork 2005 Music Migration series next month in the European Capitol of Culture.

On Thursday, July 21, Cork Opera House will host blues and gospel band The Blind Boys Of Alabama, with support from local bluegrass veterans The Lee Valley String Band.

And on July 23, The Savoy Theatre is the venue for a double headliner featuring cult alt. country band Giant Sand and gothic husband and wife duo The Handsome Family, who describe their live performance as an attempt “to be as beautiful and creepy as a thorny rose twisting around the bleached jawbone of a dead horse.”

Tickets are available from venue box offices and the usual outlets nationwide.