Bringing their mix of rock'n'roll, blues and voodoo scat to Ranelagh.

Singer and guitarist Noel Mac Avenue played a set of country blues at the first Ranelagh Arts Festival in 2005, and returns to the Festival in 2009 with the Blueshawks, a reelin' rockin' band from the Delta featuring Conlan brothers Rory (saxophone) and Neil (vocals, bass, harmonica), and Aidan O'Donovan (drums). Aside from his superb bass playing Neil will also be singing a selection of songs from his debut album 'Know This', released in 2008.

Musicians:
This year's concert includes 3 of the brilliant musicians who performed at last year's sell out concert and who have been such great friends of the Festival over the years:

Áine N Dhubhghaill, harp.
Caoimhin Ó Briain, cello.
Ciaran Tourish, fiddle. Member of Altan.
Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh, fiddle and vocals. Member of Altan. Has just released her solo album, Imeall.
Manus Lunny bouzouki, guitar and vocals. Member of Caparcaille.

Last year's concert celebrated the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Scoil Eanna, located on Oakley Road. This year the Festival stages another concert to salute the four schoolmasters of Scoil Eanna, and their contribution to education, community, the arts and Ireland's struggle for independence. They were executed in 1916, for their part in the Easter rising.

Patrick Pearse; Writer, dramatist, orator and educationalist and was founder and headmaster of Scoil Eanna. He was also a Commander in Chief of the revolutionary forces and president of the Provisional Government.
Thomas McDonagh; Poet, playwright and teacher.
Willie Pearse; Sculptor and art teacher in Scoil Éanna (See associated exhibition).
Con Colbert; Physical education teacher and gifted piper.

Il Coro Italiano, founded in 1986 by Dr. Rosa Maria Chicco-Ferraro, will open the concert. It is comprised for the most part of adult students of Italian language and Literature in Dublin.

Note to patrons: Full bar facilities are available in the Tennis Club all evening. We encourage patrons to please avail of them and come early.

Donal Lunny and Andy Irvine - Parallel Universes

The Bouzouki Boys
The first bouzouki was brought to Dublin by Anne Briggs. Her then boy friend, Johnny Moynihan, and his friends Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny, have since propelled a previously unknown instrument in contemporary 'trad/folk' line-ups into being de rigueur in the genre. Andy and Donal's passion for and exploration of Balkan and East European rhythms is another lasting legacy of these two amazingly influential musicians; an influence which extends into many different forms of music, perhaps the best example being Bill Whelan's world famous 'Riverdance'.

The Left Hand of God
Donal Lunny has continually been at the forefront of developments in traditional/folk music in Ireland and Europe since the Sixties. Every twist of the road, every turn, up hill and down dale finds Donal at the centre of the tradition in his role as arranger, composer, producer, musician and singer.

Like decades of the rosary, the bands we associate with him - Emmet Spiceland, Planxty, The Bothy Band, Moving Hearts, Coolfin - resonate and resound through our memories. The list of albums that Donal has produced is a long one; for so many of us they echo our youth and modern Ireland's musical heritage.

Donal has recently been appointed artist in residence at the University of Limerick, Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. Last year he received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Trinity College University. He is also a member of Aosdana.

First Knight of The Road
In the parallel universe that he strides through we find Andy Irvine following his musical heart, often collaborating with fellow travellers like Donal.

No other Irish based musician has done so much to merge traditional Irish reels and rhythms with the folk music of North America, Scotland, England, and Eastern Europe, or to give the songs of those countries an Irish setting; a seamless merging that enriches all the traditions that he touches. Andy is a brilliant songwriter, and many of his compositions have been absorbed into the general canon of Irish traditional music, which is perhaps the ultimate accolade his work could receive.

Andy has played in Sweeney's Men, Planxty, De Dannan and Patrick Street, all highly influential bands. His solo career, which in its turn has been influenced by the songs and philosophy of his great hero Woody Guthrie, has brought his music to every corner of the globe.

Surely it's time that Andy joins his colleague and friend in Aosdana.

Over the last number of years Andy and Donal have worked together with the wonderful Mozaik and will be touring Ireland with them in October and November.

Note to patrons: Full bar facilities are available in the Tennis Club all evening. We encourage patrons to please avail of them and come early.

"the hottest honky tonk band east of the Pecos"
Dermott Hayes, Hot Press

A night to bring your dancin' shoes! There's goin' to be a whole lot of shakin' goin' on in the Tennis Club on Saturday night. Chris Meehan and his Redneck Friends is a band that embraces country music in all its many forms.

Later this year, the band will feature at a number of leading festivals throughout the country, such as the Cork Folk Festival and Sligo Live. Now on release is their new album "Dancing in the Kitchen", produced by legendary Nashville producer Jim Rooney, who unfortunately cannot be here in Ranelagh with Chris and the band.

Chris Meehan: piano/vocal
Bobby Kelly: acoustic guitar/vocal
Eamon Murray: tenor sax
Brian Harris and Francie Lenehan: electric guitar
Percy Robinson: pedal steel guitar,
Matt Cranitch: fiddle,
Gerry O'Connor: viola/mandola
Ronnie O'Flynn: bass
Mick O'Connor: drums

Ana and Ide Leddy, Mary Roche on backing vocals.
Kelan Walsh, baritone sax, and special guest, singer Michele Rayfus.

Although recently formed, many of the members of The Ranelagh Singers have performed at the Ranelagh Arts Festival since its inception in 2005. This year we are delighted to perform, under the direction of our musical director Rosemary O'Brien, Schubert's Mass in G Major and a selection of choral and organ works by the Irish composer Charles Villiers Stanford. Accompanied by our regular organist Charles Pearson, we look forward to our concert and hope to see you there!

Now in its fourth year, The Mark Cabena Battle of the Bands has become a staple of the festival programme and is not to be missed. Young bands from Ranelagh and environs will perform on an open-air stage in Ranelagh Gardens. Judged by a panel of professionals, there are top prizes to be won. The winners also take home the prestigious Bistro Bianconi Pizza Award. Last year's winners, Severe Naked Crisis, will headline the show. Stick around for the Rockfest afterwards.

The Battle of the Bands is named after Mark Cabena, a member of the band Immaculate Conception, who won the inaugural Battle of the Bands in 2006. Mark, a brilliant young musician, died of Sudden Cardiac Death aged 18 during the summer of 2007.

The first event of its kind for the Ranelagh Arts Festival. Come along and enjoy the satisfying strains of Zealots, The Dead Flags, and local band The Hot Sprockets in Ranelagh Gardens. Prepare thyself to rock and/or roll.

Once again, Ranelagh restaurants are offering a special festival menu, featuring some outstanding musical acts Please book directly with your restaurant of choice early booking is advised to avoid disappointment.

For the first time RAF presents the "Street Music Scene", a collection of local buskers plying their trade at the Triangle in Ranelagh throughout the weekend.
James O'Toole: From The Beatles to Bauhaus, covers and originals
Jamie Macdonald: Collection of Irish classics and 70's folk
Funky Damo Trio: Galway based acoustic funk collective
Wascana: Dublin born and bred groove rock
Thai Well: present traditional Thai Dancing

Official Sponsors of the festival will be hosting music events on Sunday afternoon. Check for our 'Friend of the Festival' stickers at the venues (they should be in the window) and ask for list of events at the Ranelagh Arts Shop 26,Ranelagh.

Do you want to learn what it takes to become a top class DJ? Learn the basics in this friendly hands-on course for beginners, suitable for all ages and skill levels. You will be introduced to: setting up your equipment, beatmatching and scratching along with various tips and hints that will help you stay ahead of the pack of all those sucka DJ's out there.