LATEST NEWS

23/9/08 - Collapse of Zoom Airlines claims a festival victim

A bit of bad news folks: The recent collapse of Canadian airline, Zoom has claimed a festival victim - the Tom Fun Orchestra. The band had hoped to get their rather expensive airfares back so they could rebook their flights with another airline but as Zoom hasn't yet officially filed for bankruptcy the credit card companies just won't reimburse - cue financial stalemate. We are really sorry for the hassle this will cause and we are bitterly disappointed that we can't bring you the hottest young band from Canada. We had worked extremely hard to get them here but excess fuel charges got the better of the airline. Naturally all tickets for this show can be fully refunded through the festival box office at the Belfast Welcome Centre on 028 9024 6609 or they can be exchanged for the O'Death concert at the marquee that very same night or for Heavy Trash which is at the Kings Head also that very night.

However, some good news. The Delawares will now be playing the Black Box on Saturday 27 September in place of the Tom Fun Orchestra. Tickets are now a mere fiver
(Credit Crunch Club, anyone?) and they will be joined by that other brilliant Canadian outfit, the D-Rangers, who decided not to let the collapse of an airline prevent them from coming to the Coors Light Open House Festival. Way to go guys, way to go.

*For more info on The Delawares gig please click here

23/9/08 - Outlaw Social News: Kendal Carson Band and Dustin Bentall

Kendal Carson and Adam Dobres (from Outlaw Social) will now be appearing with their brand new lineup featuring Delaney Cousill and Damian Graham, and the outstanding heartbreak troubador, Dustin Bentall.

Kendall and Dustin front this great new alt-country line-up, which features guitar, fiddle, bass and drums.

*For more info please click here

12/9/08 - Fancy winning tickets to several festival gigs?
Check out the competition at www.americana-uk.com

11/9/08 - Mike Scott Endorses Waterboys celebration in Belfast
The classic ‘Fisherman’s Blues’ album performed at the Oh Yeah Music Centre, Belfast, September 28.

Mike Scott, mainstay of The Waterboys, has given his support to a Belfast gig that will recreate his classic album, ‘Fisherman’s Blues’. The night will see a collection of Irish players performing the album in sequence at the Oh Yeah building.

The record was released in 1988 and to celebrate its 20th birthday, the musicians will re-imagine the record in sequence, adding their own creative touch to the music. Journalist and Oh Yeah CEO Stuart Bailie will explain the birth of this influential roots record and introduce each track.

“It’s an honour”, said Mike Scott when he was contacted about the gig.. "I hope someone sends me a bootleg".

4/9/08 - Nashville Babylon - more acts added

Loose Music recording artist, Peter Bruntnell, who has just received Americana Album of the Month in the September issue of Mojo magazine has been added to the Nashville Babylon gig which takes place at the Black Box on Friday 26th September at 8pm sharp. Titled, Peter and the Murder of the Crows, the new album is available now and Peter is currently on an extensive UK tour with American Music Club to help promote it. This takes the number of acts playing at Nashville Babylon to a grand total of four - Pete Molinari & band, The D-Rangers, Bap Kennedy and Peter Bruntnell. Are we generous or what.

3/9/08 - Changes to advertised programme:

Bap Kennedy confirmed to perform at Nashville Babylon night with Pete Molinari, Friday 26th September, the Black Box.

The Samsonites will now play at ChilliFest on Friday 26th, 3pm, instead of the advertised Trampled by Turtles.

Trampled by Turtles will now play with Casa De Chihuahua on Saturday 27th in the Black Box instead of Philip Roebuck (Banjo Ninja)

3/9/08
Open House favourites, Hayseed Dixie, had nice things to say about our festival during a recent interview with Rigsy of Across the Line. Look for the video clip at the following link - you'll need to scroll down and select it:

www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/atl/video_ep08.shtml

1/9/08
Listeners of BBC2's Radcliffe and Maconie Show have just voted Pete Molinari's new single 'One Stolen Moment' as their Pick & Mix Record of the Week. Nice one Pete.

12/8/08
New Wilders CD 'Someone's got to pay' now available in the UK from 10th August on the Trade Root Music label - orders from www.traderootmusic.com

24/7/08
The Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir did a cracking gig in the Black Box on 24th July and we saw a few familiar Open House faces there. Thanks for the kind words about the festival from the stage guys.
Good luck with the album and the rest of the tour.

23/6/08
The Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir, one of the festival's favourite bands, will be doing a small tour of Ireland in July - including the Black Box Belfast on Thursday 24th July - to promote their new album 'Ten Thousand' which comes out in August. Check out the following link and see if you notice anything familiar about Bob's tshirt...

http://www.pod.ie/list_cdaddy.php?view_details=1&event_id=1567&venue=3

Festival volunteers wanted

Would you like to help at this year’s Open House? We have lots of jobs that need doing – stewarding at events, taking tickets at the door, selling merchandise for the bands, helping traders on their stalls at ChilliFest and more.

If you are keen, friendly and reliable, please contact us for an application form.
Email: alison@openhousefestival.com, or phone 028 91 454 754.