Drogheda hosts Irish Guitar and Blues Festival 2011

The Irish Guitar and Blues Festival 2011 takes place in Drogheda from 15th to 17th April. The main events centre will again be the TLT Concert Hall, with three days of guitar and blues madness with master classes from internationally acclaimed musicians and songwriters including Grammy Award winner Ed Gerhard, Irish legend Jimmy Smyth, one of the greatest drummers to come out of Ireland Jason Duffy, American finger picking legend Richard Gilewitz and many more. Mundy and Eleanor McEvoy will host a unique songwriters master class on the Sunday 17th April at 2.30pm. Concerts will take place every night over the weekend with an opening concert on the Friday 15th with Irish rock legend Pat McManus and special guests Andy Powell from Wishbone Ash, Henry McCullough from Wings and Barry Barnes of Sinner Boy. On the Saturday evening, songwriter Paul Brady will play live at The TLT Concert Hall at 8pm. Special guest is Ed Gerhard. To close the festival on the Sunday evening a unique All Stars Show featuring Navan's Jimmy Smyth hosting the event with his band, Mundy, Eleanor McEvoy, Ed Gerhard, Richard Gilewitz, Paul Moore, Jason Duffy and more. A Guitar Fair will take place at the Sound Shop (next door to the TLT) all weekend with demonstrations and clinics from all the leading brands in the music industry including Marshall, Peavey, Fender, Gibson, Breedove, Godin, Seagull, and Takamine Boss. There will also be 20 per cent discount on all equipment sold at the fair. 2FM's Rick O Shea and Cormac Battle will broadcast live from the festival in the 2FM Roadcastor on Friday and there will be plenty of giveaways and family fun on Friday afternoon from 3pm onwards. For more information on the Guitar and Blues Festival check out www.irishguitarfest.com or call the events office on (041) 987 8560.