Top acts come to town for festival
SLIGO Summer Festival 2018 looks set to be the biggest and best yet with an extra day added to August event.
Once again Stephen Street Carpark by the Garavogue will be transformed into an open air venue to host top artists including Example, Mundy, Paddy Casey, Mike Denver and Kieran Quinn.
The now annual summer fixture began in 2012 and organisers say this year is the most exciting to date.
Spokesman Brendan Tierney told the Sligo Champion: “Once again an array of national and local headliners are set to grace Sligo town centre for 4 nights in August. What makes it even more appealing is that it is only €3 admission each night and U12 children go free.”
The festival always draws a crowd. People travel from all across Sligo and beyond to enjoy the entertainment which caters for audiences of all ages.
Brendan says: “Example is arguably the biggest act the festival has ever booked and is guaranteed to have the car park wedged very early on Friday August 10 th.
“With a long list of radio hits such as ‘Kickstarts’ and ‘Changed the Way You Kiss Me’ and a massive online following, he is a big attraction.”
Brendan adds: “Saturday 11 th August will see a magical Irish double headline with endless sing along after sing along hits as Paddy Casey and Mundy take to the stage. Expect to hear the crowd singing the likes of ‘July’, ‘Mexico’, ‘Saint & Sinners’, ‘ The Lucky One’ and many more late into the night.”
The festival also caters for country fans with a dedicated Country music night on Sunday 12 th August. The hugely popular Mike Denver will headline following a host of other country and western stars.
Brendan says: “With the seemingly endless popularity of country music in Ireland in the last few years, it is quite possible the Sunday could bring the largest crowd of all so get in early.”
Those into nostalgia and the 1980’s will enjoy Thursday 9 th August when local artist Kieran Quinn takes to the stage with a set of hits from that era.
Brendan explains: “Thursday night has become the ‘Kieran Quinn’ slot and we hope it never changes. You could trawl the whole country and not find a better man to put together a musical extravaganza like Kieran can. 80’s fans are in for a real treat as that is this years theme. Expect a wealth of amazing local talent on stage and as always, a few unexpected guests.”
The festival runs for four nights from Thursday August 9 th to Sunday 12 th, and overlaps with Sligo Races two day August meeting (August 8 & 9 th), so it promises to be five fun-filled days for Sligo.