Mary Stokes Confirmed For Shannonside Festival

Dubbed "the first festival of the New Year", the Shannonside Winter Music Weekend takes place on Friday 13, Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January 2012.

The festival, which takes place in Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare, is a favourite for Mary Stokes. Over the 12 years of its existence, Mary has performed on a number of occasions, taking the strictly acoustic festival as an opportunity to perform an unusual selection of acoustic country blues. She will play a session each day, respectively in The Courthouse (9.00, supported by Sarah Savoy and the Francadians), Ó Gliasáin's Bar (9.30) and McGregor’s (2pm).

Accompanied by Andrea Rodo on acoustic guitar and Brian Palm blowing harmonica with Steve Tierney on acoustic bass, these shows will feature acoustic arrangements of songs from Mary's favourite women blues singers – Bessie Smith, Memphis Minnie, Ma Rainey and Lillian Glynn – along with country and classic blues and some new originals.

The weekend also features I Draw Slow, Ger Wolfe, John Nyhan and friends, Full Set and The Wingers, among a plethora of fine roots acts, as well as poetry readings, a Woody Guthrie session and a number of UK outfits.

See [link]www.wmw.ie[/link] for details.