Ranfurly House presents Wookalily (9 Sept.), Rackhouse Pilfer (12 Nov.)

On 21 May the BIB drew attention to the Square Box music venue at Ranfurly House Arts and Visitor Centre, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone. Thanks to Angela O'Connor of the Centre for this news and press release of two forthcoming shows by bands well known to BIB readers:

Wookalily, Friday 9 September, 8.00 p.m., tickets £8

Wookalily are quirky, in a good way. Folk-gothic troubadour tales, new-time mountain music, glorious melodic hooks, and a drum kit which guarantees purists cover their ears. Five women (Adele, Sharon, Lyndsay, Lou, and Clair): too girly to be a beat group, too funky to be a folk group, too good to miss.

Wookalily released their debut EP Black magic doll in 2011. Their song ‘Diamonds and gold’ gained them a showcase at the prestigious IBMA World of Bluegrass Festival in Nashville in 2012. They also recorded for Country Music Hall-Of-Famer Dixie Hall’s Pickin’ like a girl compilation in 2013 – the only non-American band to do so. Their own debut album All the waiting while was released in November 2014. Wookalily are a cult, but they’d like to be popular!

Rackhouse Pilfer, Saturday 12 November, 8.00 p.m., £12

Rackhouse Pilfer are a fiery and exciting six-piece Irish band who have been getting rave reviews with their roots blend of Irish-Americana after a storming 2014, which included being awarded 'Live Band of the Year 2014' by Hot Press and Jägermeister, recording in Nashville, their first headline tour of Ireland, playing for the Irish president, headlining Europe's two biggest bluegrass festivals, and loads of great Irish festival performances.

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Ranfurly House Arts and Visitor Centre (above) at Dungannon. Located in the former Belfast Bank and with stunning modern facilities, it is on the historic Hill of the O'Neills, with views over seven of the nine counties of Ulster.