Bluegrass music weekend at Virginia's Lakeside Manor

Ireland's premier bluegrass band Woodbine will play a weekend of bluegrass music at the Lakeside Manor Hotel, Virginia, from this Friday, 20th May, to Sunday 22nd May. Bluegrass music was started in the 1940s by Bill Monroe, the son of Scottish emigrants. It's played on stringed instruments, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, five-string banjo and double bass with strong emphases on lead and harmony singing. Bluegrass has become very popular in Ireland over the past few years with festivals in nine different counties. This will be the first bluegrass music weekend in Cavan. Woodbine have made a name for themselves playing all the Irish festivals over the years. A four-piece band based in Athy, Co Kildare, they have recorded three albums. They will be joined for the weekend by Clem O'Brien, Ireland's finest bluegrass guitarist/vocalist. They will play a concert on Friday and Saturday nights and at noon on Sunday. There will also be an informal session from noon on Saturday open to any visiting musicians or singers. Woodbine have many fans in Cavan and Meath already and hope to have many more after this weekend, which, it is hoped, could become an annual event The entire music weekend at the Lakeside Manor Hotel is free so everyone is invited to hear some of Ireland's premier bluegrass musicians put Cavan on the bluegrass map.