The second Boyne Music Festival will take place from the 1st to the 3rd August, 2014 in Townley Hall, Drogheda. It will feature three days of world-class chamber music, poetry and song, with performances by established artists from both Ireland and abroad.
Performers include Rita Manning, Chris Laurence, Louis Stewart, Layla Claire, John Chest, Mark Lockheart, Manning Trio and many others. These performers all have international reputations but some have their roots in the North East.
The Festival will open with a Gala Concert on Friday, 1st August, followed by an exciting Saturday morning Children's Workshop based on the theme Dances from Around the World. Children who wish to participate will have an opportunity to play instruments, sing, compose music and let their imaginations run wild. This will be succeeded by a Family Concert, a programme which is sure to please young and old alike.
In addition to classical music, the Boyne Music Festival is delighted to present guitar legend Louis Stewart, saxophonist Mark Lockheart and renowned bassist Chris Laurence for an unforgettable Saturday Evening of Jazz. Other festival highlights include acclaimed Irish poet Martin Dyar presenting readings of his own work, as well as a talk on the life and work of Seamus Heaney. On Sunday afternoon the next generation of rising stars, chamber ensembles from the Royal Irish Academy of Music and other music colleges will perform in a Young Associated Artists Concert.
Along side the weekend concerts there will be guided tours of the magnificent Townley Hall and Stoney Road Press will be curating an exhibit featuring leading Irish printmakers.
Historic Townley Hall, built in 1799 by Francis Johnston, is home to the festival. Its salons, centered on a grand Roman-style rotunda, flow seamlessly from one to another offering great warmth and beautiful acoustics.
From the world-class artists to the gorgeous programmes, all within the intimate setting of Townley Hall, the Boyne Music Festival promises to become one of Ireland's foremost summer festivals. Townley Hall is adjacent to exit 10 off the M1 motorway, 30 minutes from Dublin and 70 minutes from Belfast. For further details and ticket information see the festival website.
