Hi Folks

The sun is splitting the stones here in Skibbereen and the place is buzzing with the build up to the big day on Saturday

Gates Open at 12pm and the music starts at 2

Stage times will be distributed as you enter and will also be posted around the site

All the very best

Declan

The official festival of us, MURPHY’S presents CORK X SOUTHWEST returns for a fourth outing on Saturday July 31st, in the gorgeous West Cork town of Skibbereen. The Showgrounds will play host to Ireland’s best one-day music and arts festival, with an eclectic offering of local and international musicians, bands, DJs, art, drama, comedy, fringe events, the finest West Cork food and cool, creamy pints of MURPHY’S.

Indie folk queen Martha Wainwright and alt country legend Bonnie Prince Billy were just two of the international acts announced at the launch party for the festival last night in The Kiln in Murphy’s Brewery in Cork.

This year’s festival site will feature a host of fully weatherproofed stages (just in case!), including the Cork X Southwest Mainstage, De Barra’s Sitting Room and the Eclectic Tent. Entertaining the good denizens of West Cork and beyond will be local legends The Frank and Walters, folk hero John Spillane, leading singer songwriter Mick Flannery and the spellbinding Interference. Also on the bill, The Hothouse Flowers, Luka Bloom and Jinx Lennon, with many more acts yet to be announced.

Launching the festival, director Declan McCarthy said “We’re delighted to be able to bring Cork X Southwest back for a fourth year and we thank MURPHY’S for their continued support. We’ve managed to add an international flavour to the line up for 2010 and are honoured to be welcoming artists of the calibre of Martha Wainwright and Bonnie Prince Billy to Skibbereen. Our line-up celebrates the very best music that Cork and Ireland has to offer, with younger artists such as Mick Flannery and O Emperor performing alongside veterans such as Hot House Flowers and Luka Bloom. Here at Cork X Southwest, we have one, simple goal and that’s to bring the best musicians and keenest music lovers together for a day and night of damn good music sessions, a creamy pint or two and a belly-full of real West Cork food.”

With the sun staunchly refusing to give-in to a number of menacing clouds, a huge gathering of Cork musicians and media enjoyed the laid back atmosphere in The Kiln, where MURPHY’S hosted the launch of this year’s festival. On hand to perform an intimate set was the wonderful Mick Flannery. Also in the crowd were Ray and Bobby Blackwell from De Barra’s in Clonakilty, chatting with the Frank and Walters Ashley Keating and well known music manager Lorcan Ennis, who along with his son Tiernan, had travelled from Dublin to attend the launch.

Adding some glamour to the occasion was top Irish model Jennifer Foley, who is one of Ireland’s leading lights on the international modelling scene following her appearance in the Erin O’Connor fronted Irish model search TV series.

Chowing down on delicious local hot dogs from O’Flynn’s Gourmet Sausages and supping on pints of Murphy’s were a host of bands and musicians including members of O Emperor, Neon Flea Circus, Low Mountain and FreezerRoom, who are all looking forward to performing at the festival.

This year’s Cork X Southwest continues its partnership with MURPHY’S, the official pint of us. Tickets for MURPHY’S presents Cork X Southwest are €55 including booking fee and are available from www.tickets.ie and a number of outlets in Cork. Camping is also available on-site and the event is strictly over 18’s.

Enjoy MURPHY’S responsibly – visit drinkaware.ie