The moment you’ve all been waiting for…

I’ve said before that this blog is a passion project of mine. Music, in general, has played such an important role in my life since I was quite young. In more recent decades, roots music and its offshoots (namely Americana and alt-country) have become my sustenance. This type of music and the stories spun by its creators have kept me going. They’ve gotten me through some terribly dark times and helped me celebrate the best times of my life. The more I began to travel, the music started serving as a soundtrack to my adventures. Eventually, I began to seek out local and traditional music wherever I was traveling. That’s when I started thinking about beginning a blog with this sort of spirit. Traditional/folk/roots music coupled with travel is just a natural fit for me.

A few months ago, I learned of a music festival that truly embodies the passion I have for roots and traditional music. And, it takes place in a country that I’ve not yet visited – a country with a famously rich musical heritage. It fit the focus of this blog perfectly. I started putting the wheels in motion, making contacts and drafting proposals with the hopes that I’d get approved to attend this festival as a member of the media. Dozens of emails and some phone calls later, I received the news I’d been hoping for: my proposal was accepted! I’ve been sitting on this news for some time as I got this site up and running. And now, it is time to share with you …

I’M GOING TO TEMPLE BAR TRADFEST 2019 IN DUBLIN, IRELAND!

Temple Bar Tradfest is “Ireland’s largest festival of traditional music and beyond”. It will take place in Dublin,  January 23-27, 2019, and I will be there to take it all in! Well, and to write about it and share with all of you, of course.

Almost as important as the music of Tradfest are the venues where the performances will take place. They’re not music halls or theaters built specifically for concerts. Rather, they are some of Dublin’s most historic sites, a few even dating back 1,000 years! Just a sampling of the venues:

• Dublin City Hall: Built between 1769 and 1779 and a stunning example of Dublin’s renowned Georgian architecture.
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral: Now the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland, the building dates back to 1220.
• St. Michan’s Church: Dates back to 1095 and sits above burial vaults containing the mummified remains of some of Dublin’s most influential 17th, 18th, and 19th-century families.

Expect much more about Tradfest, festival performers, and Dublin in the weeks leading up to my departure for Ireland. And once I’m there, coverage will only amp up! Please be sure you’re also following Roots Music Rambler on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, so you don’t miss anything!

To hold you over until the next update, here is a stirring rendition of “On Raglan Road”, featuring prominent Irish artists and some of the Tradfest venues.