The Johnny Crampsie Music Festival
Johnny Crampsie Traditional Music
Weekend 2011
The Johnny Crampsie Traditional Music Weekend will take place from Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd October with an outstanding music line up including CRAIC and Four Men and a Dog along with Irish singing workshops and performance workshops with Four Men and a Dog.
Speaking at the launch Chairman of Strabane District Council commented ‘The festival is one of the most important annual music events in Strabane. The Johnny Crampsie festival has grown over the past few years, now incorporating more venues, including the The Alley Theatre, Strabane Community Library and The Fir Trees Hotel over a three day programme. It’s an excellent programme and I would like to congratulate CRAIC and their partners for this year’s festival’
Sean O’Neill chairman of CRAIC also added ‘CRAIC are delighted to be joining up with so many groups in this years festival. The festival will start on Friday 21st October as CRAIC take to the Alley stage with an interesting line up spanning Irish Language Choir, traditional music, Irish Folk and Celtic Rock. The Saturday youth workshops will be hosted by 4 Men and a Dog as they prepare for a joint concert in the Alley that evening. This year the festival will have a singing workshop in Strabane Library facilitated by Gaelphobal and finally on Sunday the Fir Trees Hotel will be hosting youth and adult music sessions.’
Séan Mór from Gaelphobal concluded ‘We are delighted to be taking part in this year’s festival and we would encourage everyone to come along and enjoy a weekend of wonderful music and craic.’
Tickets are now on sale for CRIAC on Friday 21st which are £6 each and Four Men and a Dog on Saturday 22nd October which is £16 each. Four Men and a Dog are a traditional Irish folk band with a twist as they incorporate elements of rock, jazz, blues, bluegrass, swing, salsa, polka and even rap. They currently perform with Cathal Hayden (fiddles, viola, banjo), Donal Murphy (accordion), Gerry O’Connor (fiddles, banjo, mandolin), Jim Higgins (bodhran, vocals) and Kevin Doherty (vocals, acoustic guitar). If you would like to book tickets or for further information contact the Alley Theatre Box Office on 028 71 384444 or online www.alley-theatre.com
Spaces are also still available for workshops with Four Men and A Dog. If you are aged 8 – 18 and would like to learn more about staging a performance contact Jean Smyth on 028 71 382204
Johnny Crampsie Music Festival 2010
announces new line up!
The Johnny Crampsie Music Festival is set for a triumphant return to Strabane’s Alley Theatre in October with a outstanding music line up set to include The Fureys with Davy Art
hur, youth music workshops, CRAIC and the award winning Irish Trad group, the Border Collies.
“This year the Johnny Crampsie Festival will be offering even more entertainment, workshops and the opportunity for Trad fans to take part or relax to the heart beating sounds of Irish music” commented Mark Diver from CRAIC. “Each year we want to make the festival bigger and better than the last, so this year we are delighted to annouce that the festival will be held over 4 days with some great bands from across Ireland lined up.”
On October 21st the festvial is set to welcome one of Ireland’s most popular groups, The Fureys & Davey Arthur. They have been entertaining people all over the world for 32 years with their music, songs and stories, however this will be 
their first Johnny Crampsie Festival appearance. “There is nothing we can say about these legends of Irish Music that people don’t already know, so don’t miss this concert when you can hear them sing all their hits including ‘I will love you’, ‘When you were sweet 16’ and the ‘The Green Fields of France”
The following night (October 22nd) it will be the turn of North West favourites, CRAIC, who will be performing one of their excellent heart beating sets on stage to the delight of their legion of North West fans. The group, made up of a variety of local Strabane based musicians, including All Ireland Champions, are eagerly looking forward to performing in their hometown theatre.
The Border Collies are set to take the stage on Saturday, October 23rd, the first time the band have performed in the North West after storming the Trad charts in the south of Ireland. The Collies, who recently swept the boards at the Trend Studios and Irish Music Magazine Comhraigh Ceol competition held at the National Concert Hall Dublin, attribute their success to their versatility in terms of instrumentation and song. The band excels in showcasing wonderful musical versatility through arrangements of popular and well-known songs, coupled with their use of both Irish and English language songs. In addition to the performance the Collies will be offering performance workshops to 8-18 yr olds on the 23rd, ideal for those young musicians keen to develop their skills and confidence on stage. To book a workshop please contact Jean Smyth at Strabane District Council on 028 7138 2204.
“After three great nights of music and workshops, the festival then moves to the Strabane Cricket Club for a family fun day of music, with junior sessions from 4-6 p.m and seniors at 7 p.m. till late. For more information on the festival or to book tickets contact the Alley Theatre Box Office on 028 7138 4444 or online at www.alley-theatre.com
The Johnny Crampsie Festival returns in
foot stomping style!
The Alley Theatre and Strabane's CRAIC held a fantastic weekend of traditional Irish and Bluegrass Music last weekend, which saw the second year of this revived popular festival take Strabane and the North West by storm.
Kicking off the festival was Dalltach, starring Ireland's leading fiddle player Matt McGranaghan, Michael Carey, Tom Byrne and Michael Gallenagh. “Dalltach certainly gave a tremendous performance on the opening night” commented Mark Diver from CRIAC” Matt and the boys have a real talent in performing great Irish Trad music with a slight twist, opening up the genre to a whole new audience. I must also congratulate Woodbine for their fantastic bluegrass performance on Saturday night, the first time Bluegrass music has been played in the festival. Our sincere thanks must be extended to Joe Mullan, who offered a great talk on the links between Irish Trad and Bluegrass and Father Boland for use of St Patrick’s Hall which hosted the conclusion of the festival with a great free music session.”
John Kerr from the Alley Theatre stated “The festival has been a great success, building on the great work CRIAC did in the last festival. We hope next year will see even more participation and more great bands at the festival, their certainly is demand for Irish Trad and Bluegrass in the North West!”
The Johnny Crampsie Festival set for
the Alley!
The Alley Theatre is delighted to see the welcome return of the North West's leading traditional and bluegrass music festival, the world famous Johnny Crampsie Music Festival.
Taking place over three days, from October 9th, Strabane's CRAIC music group and the Alley Theatre will offer you three nights of great music!
The festival is set to include....
Dalltach
Friday, October 9th at 8p.m.
Tkts: £14, £12 (con)
Pre-show music by CRAIC Youth from 7 p.m. within the Alley’s Jenca Café Bar
Comprising Tom Byrne (button accordion and harmonica), Kintra’s Matt McGranaghan (fiddle), Michael Carey (whistle) and Michael Gallanagh (guitar and vocals), Dalltach deliver a fantastic musical performance ranging from beautiful melodies and songs to high energy sets characterized by stunning arrangements and a superb musical ability. Not to be missed!! Click here to book now.
The Johnny Crampsie Talk
Tracing the origins of Bluegrass.
Saturday, October 10th at 2 p.m. (1hr)
Free admittance. Venue - The Alley Theatre
Guest speakers will offer a unique insight into the history of Bluegrass music, exploring how the origins of Bluegrass originated in Scotland and Ireland, brought to America by the early settlers and developed into the world music force it is today.
Woodbine
Saturday, 10th October at 8 p.m
Tkts: £12
Pre-show music by CRAIC from 7 p.m. within the Alley’s Jenca Café Bar
Ireland’s leading four piece Bluegrass and acoustic country music band are set to make their Johnny Crampsie Music Festival debut. Expect to hear some excellent Bluegrass and Country tunes as Woodbine perform hits from performers like Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, Johnny Cash, Rhonda Vincent and much more in between. To book click here.
Why not book the special festival ticket package!
Want to catch Woodbine and Dalltach? Why not take up the special Johnny Crampsie ticket offer! Both shows for only £20, saving up to £6.
To book this special offer please contact the Alley Theatre Box office on 028 7138 4444 between Mon-Sat, 9.30 a.m. - 5 p.m
Want to take part?
Why not join CRAIC on Sunday, October 11th for the conclusion of the Johnny Crampsie Traditional and Bluegrass Festival Weekend at Strabane’s St Patrick’s Hall, Strabane. CRAIC will host a series of informal open music sessions. The family session will run from 3pm-5pm, with an adult music session between 7pm-10pm.
For further information or book tickets over the phone contact the Alley Theatre Box office on 028 7138 4444 between Mon-Sat, 9.30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
To book online click here
To download the Alley Events Guide Winter 2009 click here.
