The Open House Festival comes rolling into Belfast this Autumn with its most impressive line up to date. The 12th annual incarnation of the Festival will take place from 7th – 12th September 2010, throughout the arts & cultural flavoured Cathedral Quarter. The main festival venue will be the new 2,000 capacity festival marquee in Custom House Square – the biggest music marquee ever to be erected on the site.
BY CHRIS JOHNSON
Folk rock heroes Mumford and Sons make a highly anticipated return to Belfast to open up the first evening of this year’s Open House Festival. Still riding high on the waves created from their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Sigh No More’, tickets sold out within 36 hours of their release. Support will be provided by Lissie, and Andrew Davie.
White Lies have provided support for an impressive number of A-List acts such as Kings of Leon, Coldplay and Snow Patrol, but Tuesday 7th will see them take centre stage at the Marquee. Coming equipped with piercing guitar, grandiose synth and an impressive post-punk clout, the award winning London 3-piece is the volatile firecracker of this year’s Open House line up. Support will come from local band Panama Kings.
After providing support for Mumford and Sons, Lissie will headline her own evening in the Black Box on Wednesday 8th. Meanwhile, gothic-Americana troubadour Sam Beam, better known as Iron & Wine, will be bringing his unique pastoral folk sound to the Festival Marquee in Custom House Square, with support from Nathaniel Rateliff, and The Low Anthem.
Indie giants Modest Mouse arrive back in Belfast on Thursday 9th. Frequently lauded with praise throughout their career, the band reached new heights when former guitarist of The Smiths, Johnny Marr, joined the ranks from 2006 to 2009. Front man Isaac Brock recently revealed the band is beginning work on their new album. Support comes in the form of Morgan O’Kane &Ferd4, and local darlings Kowalski, who recently released their impressive EP, ‘Take Care Take Flight’.
Conor O’Brien’s appearance at the Open House Festival on Thursday 9th will mark his Belfast debut. Sophisticated folk rockers Moulettes will provide support.
In McHugh’s Basement bar on Friday 10th, Denver based singer songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff makes his debut headline show in Belfast with support coming from local folkie Captain Cameron, and newcomers Matrimony.
Meanwhile, in the Marquee, the Elder Statesmen of Alternative folk, Wilco, will be geared up to set the stage alight, with their unmistakable brand of star-gazing county folk. The band are set to return to the studio later this month to record their new album, so who knows what kind of surprises they will have in store come September. Field Music and The Felice Brothers will open up the evening’s proceedings.
All hail to the Americana gig of the year. The Dave Rawlings Machine, fronted by long-time musical partner of Americana singer songwriter Gillian Welch, play an exclusive Irish debut at this year’s Open House Festival in Belfast on Saturday 11th September. Sharing the stage will be musical compadres Old Crow Medicine Show, creating the perfect union of “old-time string music and punk swagger.”
Everyone’s favourite crooning carnie, Seasick Steve, comes freewheeling into Belfast to close this year’s Open House Festival. Since his rise to public recognition, he has been rubbing shoulders with the likes of Jools Holland and made an appearance on the Pyramid Stage at this year’s Glastonbury. So grab your moonshine, don your dungarees and prepare yourself for a terrific toe-tapping finale.
Don’t miss this year’s Chillifest, where you can expect to find the finest in American music (including Hayseed Dixie on Sunday afternoon), record fair, cupcake corner, barn dancing, helium karaoke, and of course, some red hot chilli. It’s a great family day out, so get your tickets while they’re hot. Be sure to check out some of the extraordinary Irish Tradition Music evenings in The John Hewitt Bar and The Black Box.
For more information, visit www.openhousefestival.com or call the Box Office on 028 9024 6609.