Irish Country star headlines Irish Festival weekend

Irish Country star Gerry Flanagan is flying in from Ireland to headline the August bank holiday Irish Festival weekend.

Gerry will be appearing a special warm up gig at at the Farmers Arms on Saturday 28 August before he plays the Full Irish Radio Festival the next day at Old Bedians in Didsbury.

South Manchester will be turning Green when a host of pubs and venues in the area join forces to stage a mini Irish Festival from Friday 27 August to Sunday 29 August. Special Irish events are being held in the Union, Hennigans Sports Bar and M19 in Levenshulme village along with The Farmers Arms and The Oasis Music Bar in Burnage.

Highlights include a special Irish night dedicated to Bob Dylan’s Irish roots at m19 bar on Friday 27th August. The night will feature eight acts from all over the UK and Ireland paying tribute to Dylan’s back catalogue of Irish inspired tunes which were influenced by his time spent with the Clancy brothers and Tommy Makem in New York. On the same night the Union will host a special Irish Karaoke special with Irish DJ Ronnie.

On Saturday 28th August Irish singer songwriter and TV actor Kieran Cunningham and his band Quare Craic will stage a special Irish concert at the Union in Levenshulme. Hennigans Sports Bar is screening live GAA Games and Celtic games all weekend.

Popular Levenshulme Irish Councillor John Commons said “I always look forward to this mini Irish Festival during the August Bank holiday, it’s a taster for our forthcoming Levenshulme village community festival in October and the city’s Irish Festival in March. It is great that it coincides with Levenshulme’s ‘Full Irish Radio Festival Day’ which this year is being staged at Old Bedians in Didsbury on Sunday 29th August. It is a very popular weekend and a great way to meet up with friends old and new.”

M19 Bar and Venue
847 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 3PW
Telephone 0161 257 2484

Friday 27th August
UK’s Bob Dylan Tribute Festival - Irish Night
Features sets by Troubadors, Shimeon, Mary Lucey, Mickey the Hat, Easy Dream, Denise Morgan, Giro Junkie, John Clapper
Now in its third year the festival is only one of seven festivals in the world dedicated to the legend that is Bob Dylan. Acts are coming from all over the UK and Ireland to appear in the Festival. Tonight’s launch event is dedicated to Dylan’s Irish roots and his Clancy brothers and Tommy Makem influenced back catalogue.

Doors 7pm
Tickets are £4 advance, £6 doors
Tel 0161 257 2484 for more information
www.m19bar.com

Saturday 28th August
UK’s Bob Dylan Tribute Festival - Blues Night

Features sets by Keith Forde, Joanna Lyon, Oyster, John Ridd, Glyn Bailey, Ged Wilson, Becky Rose, The Statements. Now in its third year the festival is only one of seven festivals in the world dedicated to the legend that is Bob Dylan. Acts are coming from all over the UK and Ireland to appear in the Festival. Tonight’s event is dedicated to Dylan’s Blues roots.
Doors 7pm

The Union Inn
845 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 3PW
Telephone 0161 224 1271

Friday 27 August Ronnies Irish Karaoke Party Night 8pm to Midnight

Saturday 28 August Irish Night with Kieran Cunnigham and Quare Craic 9pm till Midnight

Sunday Afternoon Ronnies Irish Karaoke Sing - along 4pm onwards

Farmers Arms and Oasis Lounge
256 Burnage Lane, Burnage, M19 1EN
Telephone 0161 432 6441

Saturday 28th August
Full Irish Festival warm up gig with Gerry Flanagan
The Farmers are holding a special warm up gig for The Full Irish Festival with Irish Country singer ‘Gerry Flanagan’ who is flying over to perform at the Farmers and will be appearing on the main stage on the Sunday at the Festival in Didsbury.

Doors 8pm, on stage at 8.30pm
Admission free