Bluegrass beat sets Dunmore East feet tapping

A young seven-piece Dublin band lit up this year's international bluegrass festival in Dunmore, writes Carol Duffy.

Typing the words "Prison Love" into an Internet search engine is not for the faint-hearted but, nestled between websites trading sex dolls and oddly titled "adult videos", you'll find a site dedicated to a young Dublin band who label themselves inmates of the Bluegrass Correctional Facility.

The seven-piece band from Crumlin and Kimmage ranges in age from 21 to 31. They emerged as one of the biggest hits of the 9th International Bluegrass Festival, which drew to a noisy close in Dunmore East, Co Waterford in the not-so-early hours of this morning.

Joining the Dublin band in bringing the normally sedate fishing village to life were top international acts including Hickory Project (USA), Coal Porter (UK) and Grassroots (UK), as well as the Niall Toner Band.

Prison Love performed five sets as well as joining in countless impromptu sessions during the three-day festival. The band members wear prison-style shirts, and play a variety of instruments including not only the guitar, bass, mandolin and fiddle, but also lap steel, accordion, mouth harp, kazoo, two washboards (wood and plastic), and a tenor banjo played with finger-picks.

Singer Barry O'Mahony acknowledged yesterday that some people may consider it odd to hear young city slickers from Dublin playing a style of music with its roots in 1950s America, but said weekend audiences had definitely caught the vibe.

"Bluegrass is very infectious, and is much better when heard live and acoustic. It is enjoyed by everyone that hears it, and I have never seen anybody leave a bluegrass session without a smile on their face and their feet tapping.

"While it may appear strange that young people are in to this type of music, we have been surrounded by it for years," he said. "We all loved the banjo music in Deliverance and the music in the Dukes of Hazzard. Although it may have started in the Appalachian Mountains, the instruments and style of playing appear to have some connection with Irish music."

The 31-year-old, who credits the 2001 film O Brother, Where Art Thou? with helping to increase the profile of bluegrass music, said he was "thrilled" at the chance to play again at the Waterford festival.

"Dunmore East is definitely the key festival for bluegrass in Ireland, but other festivals are slowly starting to take an interest in this type of music. While Dunmore East concentrates solely on bluegrass, other festivals are adding it on as an extra dimension due to its popularity with live audiences."

The festival organiser, Mick Daly, welcomed the return of a large number of high-profile bands to Dunmore East for the Guinness-sponsored event. "The festival is one of a kind, with top international talent and is a superb showcase for bluegrass music.

"We'll soon begin planning for 2004, when we'll have the milestone of our 10th bluegrass festival," he said.Tropical Places has extended the closing date for special offers to Barbados until August 31st. Staying in the Coconut Court Hotel on a room-only basis, seven nights will cost from €855 per person sharing, children €325. Flights via Manchester.

Tel: 01-4331020. Joan Scales