Summer festivals ahoy: Tramore, Letterkenny + Enniscorthy

The summer is getting busier by the day with Guinness announcing deatails of the 7th annual Trafest, running in Tramore, County Waterford, from July 2 to July 4.

Acts appearing over the four days include – deep breath! – The Walls, 10 Speed Racer, Grada, Tychonaut (ex-Brahe), Shamrogues, Stanley Super 800, Opus Pocus, The Real, Duped, The Batican, The Lace, Kabron, Lady Mammoth, Torann, The Disconauts and Shakedown @ The Cape.

Meanwhile, in County Wexford, the 35th annual Strawberry Festival promises to be the biggest yet with a gaggle of top acts flocking to Enniscorthy from July 1 to 4.

Musical highlights include The Lark In The Park featuring Mundy, Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club, Blue Moose & Wallis Bird (July 2 @ The Waterfront Leisure Centre) and The Furey Brothers (3 @ Market Square). There’s also a free Rhythm & Roots Pub Trail taking in all manner of musical styles.

And at the other end of the isle, in Letterkenny, the Earagail festival has assembled an impressive cast of music-makers, led by cult heroes Billy Childish & The Buff Medways.

The annual festival will take place over 11 wonderful days, kicking off with the Childish one on July 15.

Cited as a key influence by the likes of Kurt Cobain, Jack White and Beck (who reckons "That’s how a rock ‘n’ roll group should sound"), the former Milkshakes/Mighty Ceasars/Thee Headcoates man will be plugging his new album, Steady The Buffs, at The Orchard Inn on July 15.

Also appearing as part of the beano are Bob Geldof, The Handsome Family, Erin McKeown, Burrito Deluxe featuring Flying Burrito Brother Sneaky Pete and ex-Band member Garth Hudson and Donal Lunny & Andy Irvine’s Mosaik.