While there’s no big festival marquee or no massive headlining acts this year, Open House Festival have not been resting on their laurels in 2013. A move from the city of Belfast to the seaside town of Bangor joins the twin celebrations of the festival’s fifteenth year and the four hundredth anniversary of the town.
Tonight is launch night with a free party featuring music, drinks and an exhibition from local artist Terry Bradley. Tickets for the festival are selling well with ‘Folk on a Boat’ and the ‘Celtic Soul Show’ already sold out. There’s much more to the festival in 2013 than fiddles, banjos, plaid and beards though. Running for the full month of August, there’ll be music, art, film, comedy and spoken word. Half the featured events will be completely free and as well as standard festival fayre you can also enjoy a bluegrass picnic in the park or a screening on cult 70’s movie ‘Jaws’ in the Aurora Swimming Pool.
We could talk at great length on what we’re looking forward to most; perhaps Farriers in Bangor Abbey, The Undertones rocking out at The Windsor or Midlake’s first ever Northern Irish headlining show in the same venue. There’ll be the stunning sounds of The Staves and more footstomping hoe-downs than you could shake the biggest of sticks at. If you don’t believe us, get your hands on one of the glorious 100 page booklets to accompany the festival.
Tickets for the festival as well as a full lineup and daily guide are available on openhousefestival.com.