The best beard contest was a fun feature of Saturday afternoon’s pulsating programme on the Juke Joint stage in Church Square. A rare window of glorious summer weather saw large crowds circulate in the town centre from the Church Square and Diamond stages, and sample the hospitality of local hostelries where quality blues artists were providing a non-stop session of live music entertainment. The excitement of the weekend festival culminated on the late night stage where there were powerhouse performances from The Revolutionaies Big Band, Crow Black Chicken, Johnny Maestro and the Mamas Boys, Ghalia Volt and Dom Martin. The event provided a welcome late-season fillip to the tourism and hospitality sector in the town, attracting visitors from throughout Ireland and from Europe to enjoy a festival that has now become firmly established as one of the leading celebrations of the blues nationally and on the continent.
