One of the recent good news stories for 2020 is the fact that Stendhal Festival will be taking place this August, albeit in a slightly different format. No longer condensed down into one weekend, Stendhal Festival Presents Unlocked will take place across a series of weekends later this year.
Still subject to license at this stage but if the restrictions on lockdown continue to ease, you will be visiting Ballymully Cottage Farm for the first series on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd August 2020.
The first weekend will feature headline performances from And So I Watch You From Afar and Ryan McMullan, but will also feature local scene stalwarts Ciaran Lavery, ROE, Joshua Burnside, The Bonnevilles, Hunkpapa, Rosborough, Ports & Malojian.
Ross Parkhill, the organiser had this to say:
“We are really pleased with how event one is coming together, we have a great mix of genres, a line-up that have all previously gone over really well at past Stendhal events and some of the finest talent in Ireland taking to the stage.“
“I think everyone who is on the bill are really excited to be even on a bill at this point, the last three months or so have been incredibly tough on those who make a living through music and the arts, so to be in a position now to fight for them to get back on stage is really important.“
“With the majority of Covid Issues on both sides of the border we have believed that a joint approach and consultation between both governments is vital, so we hope that there can be some consultation on this issue also. Its crazy to think that if we were not allowed to host 500 people outdoors in August that we could potentially drive 20 miles to a farm in Muff just over the border and be perfectly within the guidelines to do it there.“
He concluded: “We have a really excellent plan in place to run the events while fully adhering to all social distancing measures and we are confident that once the decision makers get to review this plan that Unlocked will by given the go ahead.”
Tickets for the festival can be purchased here: Stendhal Festival Presents Unlocked.
