The 16th Ards International Guitar Festival is back in town this week with a jam packed programme of the some of the world’s most talented guitarists.
Running from the 27th – 30th September in venues across Ards, sixteen years on this annual event remains fresh and vibrant with sell out performances every year.
Thursday 27th kicks off with a free fringe event in Ards Arts Centre from 12.30 featuring Cup o’Joe then later the Arts Centre hosts the Classical Guitar Society and Aquarelle Guitar Quartet from 8.00pm. The Ivy Bar finishes off the opening night of the Festival with a rock double bill with Vizion and Haze from 9.00pm.
It’s a ‘fantastic’ Friday with two free fringe events starting with Gypsy’s Wish in Ards Arts Centre at 12.30pm and later in Molly Brown’s catch Ciaran Lavery from 5.00pm. The Queens Hall big gig from 8.00pm has three incredible acts with Martin Simpson, the Muriel Anderson and Gareth Dunlop. Then to finish off Friday is the infamous Ronnie Greer Band in the Ivy Bar from 9.00pm supported by Infamy.
A ‘sizzling’ Saturday sees even more gigs across the town. Two more free fringe events with Nina Armstrong in Ards Arts Centre at 12.30pm and Gavin Ferris in the Ivy bar from 4.00pm. Real enthusiasts can participate in two workshops in the Ivy Bar on Saturday afternoon – Muriel Anderson from 12.30pm followed by Gonzalez Walsh Duo at 2.30pm. Molly Brown’s then opens its doors to the Festival’s All Ages gig ‘Pigstock’ from 5pm featuring Annapurna, Hornets and Lafaro. Back to the Queen’s Hall at 8.00pm for three more amazing acts including the Gonzalez Walsh Duo, Bap Kennedy and Martin Taylor. Grainne Duffy brings the night to a close in the Ivy Bar from 9.00pm supported by the Paradiso Guitar Duo.
The Festival then winds down in the Ivy Bar on Sunday 30th from 3.00pm with what will be breathtaking performances from Maeve Dunphy and Devon Sproule. The Steve Experiment play one last free fringe event in Molly Brown’s at 7.00pm …… and that’s all folks!
Festival Director Emily Walsh says ‘There’s a real buzz around the Festival this year as we have some real world class performers coming to Ards. Martin Simpson is a legend on the folk/Americana scene and Martin Taylor is undoubtedly one of the world’s foremost jazz guitarists, with the support of local greats Gareth Dunlop and Bap Kennedy. As well as all this there will be loads more happening this weekend including a classical guitar recital, free one hour concerts at the Arts Centre and Molly Brown’s and workshops at The Ivy Bar.’
Information on this Festival for guitar and music lovers is available on www.ardsguitarfestival.co.uk , on Facebook at Ards International Guitar Festival or Twitter at ArdsGuitarFest. Programmes and tickets are available by contacting Ards Arts Centre on 028 91810803.