MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Third Annual Great Lakes Irish Music Festival At Fifth Third

Published on March 4, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Fifth Third Ballpark will host the Great Lakes Irish Music Festival, presented by Tullamore Dew, at Fifth Third Ballpark for the third straight year, the venue announced today. The festival is scheduled for Saturday, August 7, 2010 and features music from several of the world's premier Irish acts.

The festival will be headlined by the Young Dubliners, internationally renowned Irish rock band known for seamlessly blending their rock and Celtic influences into a high energy mix. The band, whose lineup since 2002, includes from Dublin, Ireland; co-founder Keith Roberts (vocals, guitar), and Brendan Holmes (bass, vocals), American-born members Bob Boulding (guitar, vocals), Chas Waltz (violin, keyboards, harp, mandolin, vocals) and Dave Ingraham (drums, percussion). From edgy political tunes to the travails of life in an internationally touring band their music tackles it all with high energy. They're joined once again by Uillean pipe and pennywhistle master Eric Rigler, famed for his film work on the Titanic and Braveheart soundtracks, who has appeared on the bands last three albums and is a regular touring member.

The band has released eight albums, including their most recent, 2009's "Saints and Sinners," and they are notorious for their highly popular, jam-like live shows. The Young Dubliners' music can be downloaded from their website (www.youngdubliners.com) or from iTunes.

Other musical acts include Téada direct from County Sligo, Ireland named 2009's Best Young Irish Traditional Act by Ireland's Music Awards and returning by popular demand Ireland's Screaming Orphans, a fantastic Irish Rock Band out of County Donegal, Stephen's Green, one of Ireland's finest balladeers out of Dublin, in addition to The Fenian's Players and the Award Winning Quinn's School of Irish Dance.

This year's festival again features continuous performances by Ireland's best artists. Fans will find Irish markets to shop, a specialized children's area, Art at the Ballpark (artwork from local artists available for purchase) and gourmet Irish food and drink at the ballpark venue. Gates open at 11 a.m. and the music plays from noon to 9:30 p.m.

The event is co-produced by the Whitecaps and Fear N' Ti & Me Irish Productions. Vendors interested in participating should visit www.greatlakesirishmusicfestival.com for more information. Artists interested in participating in Art at the Ballpark will find registration forms at www.greatlakesirishmusicfestival.com

The festival is one of a growing number of non-baseball events hosted at Fifth Third Ballpark, among them both indoor and outdoor concerts, weddings, football games, and private company parties, as the Whitecaps continue to brand Fifth Third Ballpark as a multi-use facility. Dan Glowinski, Whitecaps Facility Events Manager, said this particular festival has a solid foundation on which to grow, and he expects this festival to be the largest yet.

"We saw tremendous growth from year 1 to year 2 of hosting the Great Lakes Irish Music Festival at the ballpark," Glowinski said. "Last year we introduced a phenomenal Irish gourmet food menu that fans raved about. We had a great musical lineup, a fantastic Art Fair, and expanded the Irish market from the first year. We're bringing to West Michigan outstanding new Irish bands & artists and will continue to tweak the activities again this year to make this festival a premier musical event at Fifth Third Ballpark."

Tickets for the festival are on sale now. They are $12 for adults, $1 for kids 3 to 12 and free for kids 2 and under. Parking prices are $5 per car and $10 per bus or RV. Tickets can be purchased online at www.greatlakesirishmusicfestival.com, by calling the Fifth Third Ballpark ticket office at 616-784-4131 or at the Fifth Third Ballpark Box Office during normal business hours.

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