SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2007

EVENT: HEADLINE CONCERT Battlefield Band, Julie Fowlis, Steve Tilston
VENUE: Ards Leisure Centre, Newtownards
TIME: 8pm
PRICE: £15/£12 concession

Winners of 'Best Live Act' at the inaugural Scots Trad Music Awards 2003

Under their banner 'Forward With Scotland's Past', Battlefield Band are inspired by their rich heritage of Celtic music and fired by the strength of the modern Scottish cultural scene. This unique quartet mix the old songs and tunes with new self-penned material, playing them on a unique fusion of ancient and modern instruments; bagpipes, synthesizers, fiddles, guitars, cittern, bass, whistles and bouzouki. Battlefield Band pioneered the integration of bagpipes with fiddle, keyboards, guitar and voice.

After 3 decades they still lead the way for Scottish music, all the time introducing new musicians, new music; always involving their ever widening audience, as they travel the world.

Julie Fowlis

BBC Radio 2 Horizon Winner, Julie Fowlis hails from the remote island of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. The first Gaelic artist ever to be nominated for a coveted BBC Radio 2 Folk Award, Julie only recently released her critically acclaimed debut solo album, "mar a tha mo chridhe / as my heart is". Not only is she an award winning Gaelic singer but Julie is recognised as a fine instrumentalist as well, playing bagpipes and whistles. She has performed with some of the finest musicians in the business and continues to enthusiastically bring Gaelic music and song to new audiences all over the world.

Bar facility available.

WEDNESDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2007

EVENT: FLOOK
VENUE: The Web Theatre, Newtownards
TIME: 8pm
PRICE: £7/£5 concession

The flutes of Brian Finnegan and Sarah Allen, the guitar of Ed Boyd and the bodhran of John Joe Kelly weave and spin traditionally rooted tunes into the breathtaking sound of the groundbreaking band Flook.

Flook has a reputation as one of the most exciting and innovative bands to emerge from the English/Irish folk scene. Having celebrated their tenth anniversary in November 2005, they won the coveted Best Group award at the BBC Folk Awards 2006.

THURSDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2007

EVENT: The Living Tradition Concert with Heather Heywood, Kathleen O'Sullivan, Derek Williamson
VENUE: The Web Theatre, Newtownards
TIME: 8pm
PRICE: £7/£5 concession

FRIDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2007

EVENT: Songwriters In Concert with Steve Tilston, Colum Sands, Rosemary Woods, Ian Bruce
VENUE: The Web Theatre, Newtownards
TIME: 8pm
PRICE: £7/£5 concession

SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2007

EVENT: Songwriter's Forum
VENUE: Ards Arts Centre, Newtownards
TIME: 11.30-1.00pm
PRICE: FREE

A chance to hear about and discuss the intricacies of songwriting with Steve Tilston and Ian Bruce.

SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2007

EVENT: BBC Radio Ulster presents Folk Club
VENUE: Ards Arts Centre, Newtownards
TIME: 3pm
PRICE: Free but by ticket only

Colum Sands presents a special edition of his weekly folk and traditional music programme from the Londonderry Room in the Arts Centre featuring a selection of local and visiting musicians and singers.

SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2007

EVENT: Ian Bruce
VENUE: Romas Restaurant, 4 - 6 Regent Street, Newtownards
TIME: 5pm
PRICE: £15

(includes early bird menu - starter, main course, tea/coffee) non-diners £6/£4

SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2007

EVENT: The Real Macaws
VENUE: The Strangford Arms
TIME: 11.30pm - late
PRICE: £7/£5 concession

Late night high energy Latin dance music with touches of New Orleans, South Africa and a whole host of Global rhythms. A brassy blast of colour and fun!

SUNDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2007

EVENT: Festival Brunch
VENUE: Strangford Arms Hotel, Ards
TIME: 12 noon
PRICE: £6/£4 concession

Join us in a relaxed and informal couple of hours as the Festival of the Peninsula draws to a close for another year. Enjoy Colum Sands, Billy Teare, Kathleen O'Sullivan and Steve Tilston come together for a celebration of stories, songs and tunes - and savour the brunch at the interval !!!