After a fallow year in 2008, the Galway Americana Festival is back on track, and ready to rock. In musical terms, Americana is a label loosely used to describe alternative modern country music, music with that 'twang thang' which isn't strictly country in the 'Nashville' sense of the word, but nonetheless shares common roots. As far as the Galway Americana Festival goes, they are taking the broader meaning of the word (i.e. any American roots music), not simply modern 'alternative country', but folk and roots music in all its glorious forms; Bluegrass, Country, Blues, Cajun, Americana, Old-Timey.. hell, even a quiff of Rockabilly! This festival is a celebration of root and branch American folk forms. Where better than the 'cultural capital of Ireland' for this festival to take place?