Dunmore East is preparing for four days of live music as the village’s Bluegrass Festival returns this Thursday.

The festival is celebrating its 31st year and will feature 14 bands performing across the Waterford village until Sunday, August 30th.

This year’s event will see the return of the four-day format, beginning with the Blue Stack Mountain Boys at Aggie Hayes at 6pm on Thursday.

A pub trail will follow that evening, with a band performing in each of the festival’s four venues.

Music will continue from 5pm on Friday, 3pm on Saturday and 2pm on Sunday.

The Strand Inn, Spinnaker Bar and Powers Bar will once again host performances, while Aggie Hayes will join the festival as a venue for the first time.

All gigs taking place across the four days will be free to attend.

The line-up includes acts travelling from further afield, with Sweden’s New Valley String Band among those making the trip to Dunmore East.

I Draw Slow, Prison Love, Mons Wheeler, Dublin Country Club, The Backyard Band and Lorraine Nash are also among those set to perform, alongside local band Stony Point.

Free campervan parking will be available behind Aggie Hayes, although visitors are being asked to book a space in advance due to limited availability.

Organisers are also encouraging visitors to make use of public transport and designated parking areas around Dunmore East, with the village expected to be particularly busy throughout the weekend.

The Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival runs from Thursday, August 27th to Sunday, August 30th.