Top names to perform at must-see Ballina music event

COMMUNITY NOTES: BALLINA - WESTERN PEOPLE (AUGUST 19 EDITION)

Vintage and current stars of the country music scene will bring the summer to a lively and entertaining close next week, as a collection of top names present their show ‘A Summer Night with the Country Stars’ in Ballina. The concert in the Great National Hotel is a must-see event for all Irish country music fans.

Brendan Shine, Patrick Feeney, Declan Nerney, Gerry Guthrie, Shawn Cuddy and Owen Mac will be on stage for high-energy performances, unforgettable songs and good-time country vibes.

Brendan Shine has been performing since the 1960s while at the other end of the scale is Owen Mac, who is barely out of his teens. Between them, the six artists have achieved sales in the hundreds of thousands and have played all over the world.

Ballina-born Gerry Guthrie has become a household name on the country music scene, 15 years after he first fronted his own band.

Gerry has appeared on ‘The Late Late Show’, and his numerous radio hits have been played across dozens of Irish stations. The local musician and singer has received many top country music awards, including Vocal Performance of the Year, Musician of the Year and Album of the Year.

The six artists will be backed by the four-piece Keltic Storm, regarded as one of the foremost bands to emerge on the Irish country music scene in recent years, and winner of the Best Backing Band award at the Northern Ireland CMA Awards in 2022.

Keltic Storm has accompanied leading country music stars on many stages across Ireland and the UK, along with touring in Canada. The band’s instrument line-up includes electric and bass guitars, keyboards, drums and a pedal steel guitar, a sound that is synonymous with country music. The band has also released four studio albums in its own right, and clocked up a staggering 250 shows in 2024.

Ballina fans can now book to hear ‘six of the best’ and Keltic Storm at ‘A Summer Night with the Country Stars’ on Wednesday, August 27, in the Great National Hotel Ballina by calling 096-23600 or by emailing info@hotelballina.ie.