Irish Music Festivals

Spending time at Irish Music Festivals are a great to enjoy the summer, make new friends, and reconnect with old friends. As time moves on I find I am not attending as many as I once did. This summer marks my 25th year travelling to the Cleveland Cultural Festival. One of the benefits of this festival is that it is only two hours from home, it is an enjoyable drive as the anticipation builds. John O'Brien always has a suberb line-up of talent and this year is no different. You can check this festival out at www.clevelandirish.org.

The entertainment includes The High Kings (first time at the festival), Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, Dublin City Ramblers, Scythian, Cherish the Ladies, Tommy Fleming, The New Barleycorn, Dermot Henry, Dennis Doyle, Brigid's Cross, Patrick O'Sullivan, Girsa, Seven Nations, Screaming Orphans, Slide Ireland, Guaranteed Irish (from Pittsburgh - our hometown Irish band), Glengarry Bhoys (out of Canada), Boston Comhaltas, Mickey Finns, Four Courts, The Kreelers, The Kilroys, Michael Crawley, plus more.

The shopping is good as well with some top notch vendors selling their wares. Admission is $10.00, Parking is FREE, and food and beverage are the most reasonable priced compared to many other festivals.

The Cleveland Cultural Festival at the Berea Fairgrounds takes place July 22, 23, & 24, 2011 - next weekend and I can't wait to go!! If you are in the area, stop in and enjoy some of the music; if you see me, stop and say HELLO!!

My good friend Jim Caldwell, will be filling in hosting Echoes of Erin next week; he always does a good job!