Vantastival 2011 – Alabama 3 Acoustic and Unplugged join the bill
Alabama 3 Acoustic and Unplugged have been added to the increasingly impressive line up at Vantastival 2011. The acoustic and unplugged outfit, featuring Larry Love, Aurora Dawn, Rock Freebase and Harpo Strangelove, are touring the UK this March and April, and are due to cross the Irish sea for the May bank holiday weekend to appear at Vantastival on Sunday, May 1st, in Dunany Estate, Co. Louth. With this four-piece they bring a whole new dimension to the songs made famous by Alabama 3. This isn’t acid house music, this is country/gospel/delta blues, but played with a rhythm you’ve still got to dance to. The first album recorded by the Alabama 3 acoustic line up is due for release at the beginning of May.
Whipping Boy, The Frank and Walters, Duke Special, Wallis Bird, and Donal Dineen playing with Congolese guitarist Niwel Tsumbu are all on the bill for the second Vantastival festival, one of Ireland’s newest independent festivals. Vantastival is a celebration of campervan culture and a top class music festival rolled into one. Three stages host over 70 live acts from Friday 29th April to Sunday 1st May, while a range of activities focusing on the campervan lifestyle are an interesting addition to the only festival of its kind in Ireland. The BRING YOUR OWN BEER policy and €85 weekend camping tickets make it more affordable than most music festivals in this country, and the family-friendly nature of the event is a bonus, with free entry for children under 14, a range of children’s entertainment and a family camping area.
Additional features at Vantastival 2011 include the Gramophone Disco, a cinema tent and an open mic stage, as well as a Campervan Cook-off, Scrapheap Challenge, food and craft stalls and a number of quirky art installations. €40 day tickets are available, with €30 weekend entry for 14-17 year olds. Campervans are welcome to park on site at no extra charge, but you don’t have to have a campervan to enjoy all that’s on offer and there is a dedicated tent campsite for those without vans. See www.vantastival.com for more details.
