Modest Mouse

Q: What are the two connections between Modest Mouse and Open House Festival?

A: We first heard about Modest Mouse back in 2005 during late night sessions with Open House stalwart and supporter, Seasick Steve who, surprisingly, produced several releases for them, including their debut album in Seattle in 1996, This is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About.

Secondly, multi-instrumentalist Tom Pelosa left the Hackensaw Boys to join Modest Mouse and was replaced by none other than Ferd 4 - former Open House artist-in-residence (and permanent annual hell raiser)... long beard, cool hat, furious fiddler and occasional gumbo cookery demonstrator.

Aside from these connections, we also love the music of Modest Mouse, their peerless album titles (We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, and Good News for People Who Love Bad News), and the fact that Johnny Marr joined the band in 2006. Awesome.

Kowalski

The Bangor based four piece are back with a fresh line up, a European tour under their belt, and an impressive self-released EP, “Take Care, Take Flight”. Not surprisingly, the BBC called them "one of the most exciting bands to come out of Northern Ireland in recent years and most certainly a force to be reckoned with.”

Morgan O' Kane & Ferd 4

Intensely talented banjo and fiddle scum-billy critters, generally found hanging out in Brooklyn or the Virginian Mountains. These dudes are the real deal and are no strangers to the festival (see above). And Morgan has an excellent brand new CD.