Tickets are selling rapidly for this year’s Masters of Tradition festival taking place in Bantry, Cork from 23-27 August. Celebrating its 21^st anniversary, the event promises to be a journey to the heart of Irish music.

The opening gig takes place on Wednesday the 23 August at 8pm in the Maritime Hotel. Art Director and fiddle player Martin Hayes will be joined by renowned American guitarist Sam Amidon as well as fellow guitar player Conal O’Kane, concertina player Brian Donnellan and cellist Kate Ellis.

The next day will see the music move to Bantry House on Thursday 23 August at 7:30pm. Indie-folk pair Scoth will play alongside sean-nós singer Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and fiddler player Ultan O’Brien.

Amidon takes the stage again with Crash Ensemble. There will also be special late-night concerts in the candlelit library of Bantry House.

Friday the 25 August will see a guitar-driven set from Luka Bloom, Steve Cooney and Laura Snowden, starting from 10:30 pm.

At the same time on Saturday jazz will meet trad via singer Christine Tobin and an ensemble of jazz and traditional musicians.

One of the festival’s secret shows has had a change of venue to St Brendan’s Church at 12:30pm. Admission is free, but booking is required if you’d like to check out the mystery perfomer(s).

For the full programme and ticket information, visit  www.westcorkmusic.ie or call West Cork Music on +353 (0) 27 52788