10th Anniversary Irish BeatlesFest this Weekend
BeatlesFest on the Lough
The 10th anniversary of the BeatlesFest on the Lough will take place this weekend in Moville, in Donegal. Music will take place in multiple locations indoor and outdoors over the 4 days from Thursday to Sunday of this weekend.
It started small back in 2007 but has now grown into one of Ireland’s major festivals.
Indeed it is Ireland’s longest running festival of Beatles music.
Come Together
Said organiser, Gerry McLaughlin, “If you missed the Sixties then Moville is where to be this weekend. We are encouraging people to wear Sixties Gear.”
The festival has attracted some top names in the Beatles world in previous years.
Tony Bramwell, the Beatles road manager and talent scout as well as ex-head of Polydor Records, has been a regular since 2010.
Henry McCullough, the only Irishman to play at Woodstock and the lead guitarist in Paul McCartney’s band Wings, played at one the festivals.
Pete Best
Said organiser Gerry “Pete Best, the Beatles drummer before Ringo, was in touch one year too but we couldn’t quite make it happen. Maybe next year!”
According to Tony Bramwell, whom Paul McCartney has asked to attend Beatles events over the world, the BeatlesFest in Moville is the quaintest of all the ones he goes to. Indeed he told an Irish journalist, “My three favourite places in the world are Nashville, Hawaii and Moville. The people are so friendly and welcoming in Moville, so much so that I’m thinking of retiring there”.
Moville is on a salmon fishing sea lough surrounded by countryside and with houses all coloured differently.
Top Beatles Acts
Bands like The Cavern Brothers, Dahlia and Caolan are playing this year along with solo acts and duos.
Said Gerry “There will be lots of Open Mics during the day for people that come to the festival and can play a few Beatles tunes.”
“The Beatles lyric that we most want to hear this weekend is “Here Comes the Sun” said Gerry smiling.”
The pubs are always merry in Ireland but they will be even merrier as such songs as She Loves You and I Wanna Hold Your Hand are belted out.
Those that take the Long and Winding Road to the very top of Ireland (and westernmost point of Europe) will find it well worthwhile this weekend.
Also taking place this weekend in Moville will be the Moville Regatta on the lough which has been ongoing for more than 150 years.
Moville’s DylanFest, also in its 10th year, will take place from August 25th to 28th.
Contact info@craicon for further details.