Well known folk for Douglasdale Festival

Ruth, from Douglas, has been invited to play the main stage after performing on the Open Stage section last year. Most of the acts are professionals, from far and wide – last year many were from America and Ireland, and this year they are from south of the border.

But the festival enourages local performers too.

“Ruth came along and did a really great spot last year,” said organiser Willie Ormiston.

Ruth plays acoustic guitar.

The festival runs over three days, from Friday September 18 to Sunday September 20.

The opening acts, on the Friday in the St Bride’s Centre from 8.30pm are Tom McConville and Andy Watt, Celtic Twice and Dave Dick.

Tom, The Newcastle Fiddler, was voted BBC 2’s Folk Musician of the Year in 2009. He is accompanied by young guitarist Andy Watt,

Celtic Twist have played the Douglasdale Festival before. The duo consists of Phil Holland, a classically trained violinist, who also plays the harp and clarsach, and Dave Palmley who plays guitar, mandolin and bass.

And Dave Dick has appeared before as part of a duo; the blues singer and slide guitarist is back for a solo spot.

On Saturday St Bride’s plays host to three acts, this evening starting at 7.30pm.

Glasgow-born Anna, Clare and Sheila Friel play the music of the Donegal Gaeltacht, which is their own heritage, on fiddle, flute and uilleann pipes.

Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer are a talented duo playing a multitude of instruments for a blend of traditional music and their own songs.

Ruth Elliot appears on that night too.

Then on Sunday there is an Open Stage at the Cross Keys Inn.

Tickets for the Friday and Saturday sessions are £10 each, and the Sunday session is free.