Let down your hair for a great cause this October Bank Holiday weekend as Kilkenny welcomes back one of its longest established music festivals, Rockfall.
Renowned for bringing together the creme de la creme of Kilkenny’s extensive music scene, incorporating all genres, the Rockfall festival turned 21 last year and is back for a 22nd year in 2010 from October 22 to 25.
The festival held a launch party in the Cellar Bar of the Smithwicks brewery last night, with guests given a taste of what to expect from this year’s festival, and another fantastic, jam-packed, line-up revealed.
Festival organiser Eamon Cleere said he was excited about this year’s Rockfall, with all systems go, ahead of kick-off on Friday, October 22.
“There is a vast array of gigs going on all over town, with most of the pubs hosting walk-in gigs over the weekend,” he said. And he said he was delighted with the number of pubs that had sought to get involved with this year’s festival.
As always, this year’s Rockfall will be held in support of a very important local charity, Enable Ireland in the O’Neill Centre, with all funds raised going towards this worthy cause.
Enable Ireland is a support group for parents of children with cerebral palsy and provides comprehensive day services for children with cerebral palsy and other identified developmental delay.
Mr Cleere said last year’s 21st birthday celebrations had raised in the region of €21,000 for the charity and, mindful of the tough economic times, organisers would be thrilled to collect funds anywhere in that region.
Highlights of this year’s festival will include the captivating sounds of Little Black Wren in Cleere’s, exciting Meath singer-songwriter Simon Fagan in Billy Byrne’s, Kilkenny’s own Americana-roots rockers The River Valley Band with Canice Kenealy of Engine Alley in the Pumphouse, and Dublin roots rockers The Last Tycoons in Billy Byrne’s.
There is also a series of themes running through the festival schedule, with the Set Theatre to host a ‘Rockabilly Mayhem’ night featuring TV Jones & The Tomahawks, Johnny Blaze & the C, DJs and screening of a vintage film of Eddie Cochran and friends.
Rockfall joins forces with the Savour food festival to host a dance and dine Elvis inspired evening with The Memphis Cats in the Clubhouse Hotel, and Thin Lizzy tribute act Black Rose will revive the spirit of Phil Lynott and co in Kytlers.
The Set Theatre will host an all-ages gig hosted by Martin Bridgeman and a marathon gig featuring acts like The Fundamentals, The Acousticats, Pete Fagan, The Spikes, and The Pink Floyd Experience in Kytlers on Bank Holiday Monday will play the festival out in style.
For full details visit Facebook.com/RockfallKilkenny2010
