PREVIEW: Swell Festival
Off the coast of Donegal via a ferry crossing from the mainland you will find the Swell Music and Arts Festival.
Arranmore Holiday Village which is about 1km from the ferry port, will welcome festival goers for a weekend of music and arts this summer.
Now in its second year, the festival is run by a collective on a not for profit basis, so the Swell festival is unique in many ways.
With many people in Derry due to get make the trip across Donegal, they will also be joined by a host of our bands as well. And what a great line-up it is.
With music from Natty Wailer and Reggae Vibes, PØRTS, In their Thousands, The Wood Burning Savages, The Clameens, Our Krypton Son, John Deery & The Heads and The Pox Men to name a few, the festival also boosts a massive selection of poetry, spoken word, live art, DJs and Sound baths all of which will be located on the Arts stage.
The festival is built upon a green ethos, a grassroots festival that can showcase the talents of Donegal and beyond. A voice for the locals to come together and celebrate the Arts.
We are no strangers to seeing independent festivals take flight with the likes of Stendhal and Glasgowbury being very well received through the years, so it will be fascinating to see the Swell Music and Arts Festival grow year on year. With the visual arts element of the festival already due to be larger this year, there will be plenty of things to check out.
With the weather now seeming to take shape, the weekend will surely be a scorcher. With camping available also, it would be a no brainer so why not make a weekend of it and call Arranmore home at least for one weekend this year.
