Féile Beag returns to Thurles this weekend

Féile Beag 2017 in association with CAMEO Care will once again make Thurles the home of music as the “Two Days Strike Back†this Saturday & Sunday.

There will be musicians from Nenagh, Limerick, Kildare, Dublin, Wicklow, Carlow, Offaly - the list goes on. There will also be the very best Thurles has to offer across two days of song, prose & laughter. Also they have a very unique first time ever event as part of this year's festival. 

Sunday evening local Group “Billy's Cinema†will play their set live in the Source Arts Centre, Thurles this will then be streamed live to all corners of the globe. Philly Ryan's of Nenagh will be showing a live stream of the Nenagh bands set in their newly refurbished function room on their HD quality screen. Images and sound will also be live at Feile Beag's Sunday night venue, Hickey's bar. A link to this can be found on facebook page - Feile Beag '17 or Billy's Cinema.

This year we have Yellow weekend wristbands for €20, Green wristbands for Saturday in Millea's Bar are €10 with Red wristbands for Sunday in Hickey's also €10. All profits will go to Cameo Care, close to €8,000 has been raised for this charity to date. This has been made possible by those who have given up their time to organise all this, David ‘Sully' O'Sullivan & Melvin Brennan did a lot of the heavy lifting. While Josephine O'Sullivan will have kept things moving along. Thanks to Kevin Callanan and Simon Gleeson on sound & tech, Johnny Gleeson for the poster design and to all who help out across the weekend.

If you're worried about the weather - don't, both venues are putting covering in place to guarantee a weekend to remember. Below is a little run down on the times & bands who have made this a Festival for people and not profit.

Féile Beag is in its third year thanks solely to the support received from the people of Thurles and travelling music fans. This Saturday sees a return to Millea's Bar where the music starts at 7pm - with “Sam Rappoport Band†kicking things off. 7.30pm - It's over to Thurles man “Eddie Mac Cormac†on his acoustic guitar. 8pm - Larry O'Sullivan recites some of his gripping poetry. 8.15pm - Then as the lights go on the ridiculously talented Mister Wells take to the stage. This time last year was the bands first gig if that was all Féile Beag did it would be a success.

9pm - Next on stage will be Kildare's “Lisa Loughrey & Bandâ€, Lisa has been working hard she recently launched her debut solo single “Coming Upâ€. A brilliant singer-song writer she is surely on course to rise to the top. 9.45pm - After a much talked about set in Brennan's at last year's festival “Tigwara†are back with their hard hitting, bass driven, indie rock sound. The Limerick based band have new material to bring to the show. “Sirens†is their latest EP - a funky riff to get you on your feet.

10.30pm - If you're not up by the time 'Blind Wolf Club' hit the stage you'll have no choice once they get stuck into their high energy set list. Dynamic three piece there are not many bass players out there given the backing that the boys give their man. 11.15pm - Last to take to the stage will be well known local band 'Jester'. The lads have recently released their new single “She's Just A Little Run Down†which deserves more time on our national airwaves. Being familiar with the venue and the crowd allows them push it to the limit bringing an end to day one.

Hickey's on the Sunday has a perfect festival Sunday feel to the line up with a cross section of musical genres that will broaden the mind if allowed. 5.15pm - The music starts after the Tipperary match. Up first Dublin based, “The Sky At Night†whose influences range from, alt-country to folk to dream pop and skewed electric ballads, should get a real festival vibe flowing. 6pm - Then we take a detour down humour street as “Scene of the Ryhme†entertain us with some comedy inspired slam poetry. Travelling from Tullamore this will be a first for the festival. 6.45pm - Its then on to “Strings & Things†to bring us their very original blend of traditional folk pop fusion. A hard working band this will be there third year playing the festival. Their sound continues to grow as you can hear on their new album “Turbulenceâ€.

7.30pm - All in Thurles and its environs will know our next act, 'Tom Lyons', Tom will bring his light & springy lilt of country soul to the stage which will dovetail beautifully with our next act. 8.15pm - “Leda For King + Ain't Saint John†playing for a first time at Feile Beag bring a soul filled piano driven sound not yet heard at our festival. Leading lady Ali Byrne's voice is captivating and we can only hope for a sunny back-drop to complete the setting. Carlow's John Mac Naeidhe and Wicklow's Leda for King combine to provide an Americana and folk experience, both complementing each others style.

Then at 9pm we have yet another first for Féile Beag and maybe a first anywhere. “Billy's Cinema†from Nenagh will perform live in The Source with images being streamed to both Hickeys and Philly Ryan's in Nenagh. This is a big undertaking we hope no one has fed the gremlins after twelve. 9.45pm - This will give “U-Turn†plenty of time to set up. A real favourite for music people of Thurles, the lads produce a tight set covering the best of the big acts of the moment. Always gets the crowd in full voice.

10.30pm – “Vagabonds and Thieves†hit the stage with a willingness to go where ever their sound takes them. A Bouzouki through a Marshall amp certainly takes you off the main grid. An energetic blend of rock, blues and funk will see the time fly. 11.15pm – 'Seskin Lane' certainly have kept their foot on the gas, keeping sharp with gigs up and down the country. They played a memorable gig in The Source, selling it out. A feat some of the country's top performers have failed to do. It's clear a lot of people 'Like The Taste Of Strawberry Medicine†which I'm sure we will hear as they bring the curtain down on what will no dobut be a magnificent weekend of song, prose & good vibes.