ONE of Ireland’s favourite music festivals, The Baltimore Fiddle Fair takes place this year from May 7th to 10th, with musicians from Canada, USA, England, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Poland, Finland, and from all over Ireland.

The Fiddle Fair is one of the most loved and respected festivals in the country.

It is famous for its intimate settings, beautiful surroundings and friendly atmosphere, but primarily for its consistent ability to present a truly world-class line-up of national and international acts.

This year’s festival is no exception and features an eclectic program of incredible artists from around the world.

The festival is bookended by appearances from two of the most influential artists in the history of traditional Irish music.

It opens with a very special tribute to Steve Cooney, the extraordinary Australian musician who arrived in Ireland in 1980 and reinvented an entire style of traditional music accompaniment with his guitar. And it closes with a concert by the legendary Matt Molloy, with John

Carty and Brian McGrath. Flute-master Molloy is the only artist that played in each of the three seminal groups Planxty, The Chieftains and The Bothy Band.

In between, this remarkable festival features a host of national and international acts, many of whom are making their first appearance in Ireland.

These include rising old-time sensations from USA The Onlies, incredible young English folk duo Spafford Campbell, and The Complete Recordings of Hezekiah Procter (1925-1930) – a musical performance art piece based on the life story of fictitious country music legend Hezekiah Procter, by acclaimed Montreal songwriter Li’l Andy.

It also features Sweden’s most famous folk act Väsen, incredible Irish duos Aoife Ní Bhríain and Cormac McCarthy, and Gráinne Brady with John McCartin, Sligo-based Austrian yodeling fiddler Claudia Schwab, and two of Scandinavia’s most exciting artists, Lena Jonsson from Sweden and Johanna Juhola from Finland. 

There’s a world premiere performance of the collaboration between four artists from Ireland and four from Norway: Northern Nights 3, another new collaboration between The Máirtín O’Connor Trio and Scottish singer Kathleen MacInnes, and for the very first time at the festival, there’s an act from Poland – the amazing trio Wowakin.

These intimate concerts will be held in unique venues across Baltimore, including small churches and cosy marquees, and all in one of the most stunning festival settings on the planet.

Baltimore Fiddle Fair will also include a host of additional events including musical boat trips, top-class workshops, a film screening, an informative historical walking tour, outdoor musical yoga, a concert for local primary schools and a plethora of great sessions in and around the village.

For many musicians and music lovers, the annual pilgrimage to the Baltimore Fiddle Fair is definitely the highlight of the year and this year’s festival promises to be no exception.

A few remaining tickets are available at www.fiddlefair.com