Ballymaloe Grainstore is providing a taste of summer living with the inaugural Malt and Music Festival which will take place from June 30 to July 2.
Appropriately for a rural Irish festival, it will be held in a shed.
The Malt and Music Weekend – in the grounds of Ballymaloe House in Shanagarry, East Cork – will “showcase emerging and established bands”.
Headline acts will be Jerry Fish on Friday, June 30, at 8:00pm and Little Green Cars on Saturday, July 1, at 9:00pm.
The line-up includes Hurricane Highway whose new album, ‘Exposed’, topped the Irish country charts.
Also rocking Ballymaloe will be: upcoming R&B / hip-hop band Shookrah; ‘transatlantic soul’ act The Niall McCabe Band; Hank Wedel with his five-piece band; alt-roots / blues outfit One Horse Pony; burlesque performer Foxy P. Cox; and a Soul Funktion set by DJ Dr. Quigley.
Beer aficionados can savour a selection from the many artisan brewers raising the bar across Ireland by producing beers based on local ingredients.
Among the craft brewers attending are Lough Gill; 12 Acres; Blacks of Kinsale; Stonewell Cider; 8 Degrees; Rascals; Arthurstown; 9 White Deer.
A selection of boutique Irish gins and whiskies will also be on hand from distillers such as St. Patrick’s Distilling.
And as you would expect at Ballymaloe, there will be stands offering culinary creations from Friday evening at 7:00pm through to Sunday at 8:00pm.
All events take place under the cover of the rustic Big Shed, so rain or shine won’t matter – though fingers are crossed for sunshine.
It will be a family-friendly event. Under 12s will be admitted free with an adult and are welcome until 9:00pm.
There will be a dedicated kids’ area where little ones can engage in The Brickx Club, a LEGO building and social activity club for four to 12-year-olds. It will run on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am until 5:00pm and costs €2 per child per hour.
Tickets range from €10 for a Sunday ticket to €56 for an all-weekend pass. See www.ballymaloefestivals.ie for a complete schedule and to book.
Parking is free. There is no camping – it’s not an overnight event. All events are wheelchair accessible.