PICTURES: Ready for Roots - Kilkenny festival set for 25th anniversary

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There was a great turnout on for the recent launch of the Kilkenny Roots Festival, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary. This year’s festival will take place from April 28 to May 1.

Since 1998 the Kilkenny Roots Festival has been drawing audiences and performers to Kilkenny from all over the world. The festival provides a very welcome early season boost to tourism in Kilkenny, attracting up to 10,000 visitors over the four days.

In addition to 23 ticketed shows, there will be over 60 free gigs on the Smithwick’s Music Trail. There’s a mixture of old and new acts on the free pub gig trail and all styles are catered for, from swing to bluegrass, rockabilly to cajun, folk, blues and beyond.

Where many festivals fell by the wayside during the difficult economic times, Kilkenny Roots has continued to grow, with last year’s event drawing record crowds. Since 1998 the festival has attracted some of the finest names in the Americana/Roots canon, including Calexico, Giant Sand, Drive-By Truckers, Jason Isbell, Alejandro Escovedo, Guy Clark, Chuck Prophet, Ray LaMontagne, Richmond Fontaine, Rodney Crowell, Phosphorescent, Sturgill Simpson and Alabama Shakes.

See kilkennyroots.com.