Finale Week At Open House Bangor

With a total of 25 ticketed events and eight free ones on the programme between Tuesday 25th and Monday 31st August, plus three ongoing exhibitions, the town will be treated to a finale week packed with music, film, comedy, food, literature, theatre, art and photography, before it waves farewell to what has been a truly remarkable month.

“Once again, we’ve been completely overwhelmed by the reaction to this year’s festival,” said Open House Director, Kieran Gilmore. “The people of Bangor have really embraced it. They understand what we are trying to do here, and they want to be a part of it, to the extent that folk who haven’t yet been to something are now clamouring to get tickets for one of the remaining events. So far, the public response has been brilliant, and the feedback from all of our acts has been unanimously positive too.”

As the festival reaches the home strait, highlights still to come include the remaining concerts at Bangor Abbey. Mercury nominated Nick Mulvey, plays on Wednesday night. Echo and the Bunnymen front man, Ian McCulloch, gives a rare solo performance on Thursday. It’s the turn of internationally acclaimed Flamenco singer, Rocio Marquez on Friday evening, and completing the Abbey week on Saturday is Festival favourite, Bangor’s Ghost – the evening of music, poetry and tall-tales about Bangor’s past with, amongst others, Farriers, Arco String Quartet and Moyra Donaldson.
There will also be music from one of Scotland’s most acclaimed singer-songwriters, King Creosote; American, David Corley, whose debut album, Available Light, was an international sensation last year; and popular blues songstress, Kaz Hawkins, who, along with her Band O Men, will be entertaining the crowd at this year’s Festival Ball.

Other remaining highlights include a special 30th anniversary screening of the 80s cult ‘Brat-Pack’ movie, The Breakfast Club, which will be shown in the assembly hall of Bangor Academy on Friday. “Where better to watch this classic film, set in a school, than in an actual assembly hall?” says Kieran. “There’ll be an 80s soundtrack playing beforehand, and, to complete the experience, everyone attending will sit at their own school desk.” The final two Walled Garden films will also be shown over the weekend: the iconic coming-of-age, Dirty Dancing, on Saturday, and romantic comedy favourite, When Harry met Sally on Sunday.

Following on from last weekend’s sell-out Patrick Kielty show, comedian, Ellie Taylor, brings her critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe show, Elementary, to the Festival Theatre at SERC on Saturday, whilst the back bar at popular Bangor pub, Fealtys, will host theatre from Pintsized Surprise and Shotglass Theatre Company from Friday through to Sunday.

The remaining free events include the annual Open House Festival Bluegrass Picnic in Ward Park on Sunday afternoon, when the sensational Americana band, Rackhouse Pilfer will entertain the expected four-thousand strong crowd. The Festival House Band, No Oil Paintings, will continue their weekend run of gigs at the Jamaica Inn, Fealtys and the Rabbit Rooms, whilst the Hop House will host three free weekend events, including a gig from popular local band, The Hard Chargers.

For full details of all Open House Festival Bangor events, and to book tickets, go to www.openhousefestival.com, or call 07599853481.