Arguably putting up its strongest bill yet, the sixth Carlsberg Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots Weekend was without doubt three days of heaven on earth for fans of alt. country, Americana and roots.

Highlights this year included the wonderful Laura Cantrell who charmed audiences with her appealing blend of country and power pop (or “Badfinger country” as she described it). Taking the place of headliner Alejandro Escovedo (forced to pull out due to illness), Canadian Kathleen Edwards impressed everyone with songs from her highly-rated Failer album. Elsewhere, The Mendoza Line were at times, impossibly shambolic and amateurish but made a wonderful noise all the same; LA outfit The Devics take the prize for being the coolest, most aloof performers of the weekend; while sometime Emmylou and Steve Earle sidekick, Buddy Miller & Band put in a storming performance at the Ormonde Hotel. Other highlights included HEM, The Blue Moon Boys and singer songwriters Josh Rouse and Greg Trooper. As ever in Kilkenny, Morrissey guitar-player Boz Boorer and his band rocked Langtons and other venues while our own Steve Rapid and Ronnie Norton (The Lonesome Highway DJs) provided hot country sounds all over town throughout the weekend.

All in all an embarrassment of great music – roll on next year!