Buncrana musician Jim Woods to perform at Féile an Phobail in West Belfast
Accordion and bodhrán player joins Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones for the festival's closing concert on 9 August
Buncrana traditional musician Jim Woods is preparing for one of the biggest gigs of his career when he takes to the stage at Féile an Phobail in West Belfast on Sunday 9 August before a crowd expected to exceed 10,000 people.
A familiar face on the traditional music scene across Inishowen and Derry, Jim will perform on the festival's 'Let The People Sing' stage as part of Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones, who headline the closing night in Falls Park.
One of the first members of The Young Wolfe Tones, Jim said he is delighted to reunite with the band for what promises to be a memorable finale to one of Ireland's biggest community arts festivals.
The concert, which also features The Irish Brigade, Shebeen and Gary Óg, is billed as the world's biggest ever rebel concert.
Joining Jim on stage will be his sister, Damaris Woods, whose distinctive banjo playing has become a defining feature of The Young Wolfe Tones' sound.
Jim will perform on accordion and bodhrán alongside Belfast musicians Paddy McGrandles, Andreas Durkin and Eddie Kane, while special guest Ailish Ferry - granddaughter of the legendary Co Louth singer Dermot O'Brien - will also make an appearance.
Adding to the family occasion, Jim will also be joined on stage by his sons, Odhrán and Dallán Woods.
The brothers have already made names for themselves through the award-winning Irish film Trad, directed by Lance Daly. Dallán starred in front of the camera, while Odhrán worked behind the scenes creating the film's visual effects.
Closer to home, Jim is widely recognised for encouraging young people into traditional music. In September, he returns to teaching at Scoil Trad in Buncrana as well as working with primary school pupils across Donegal.
His musical career has also reached an international audience in recent years. Together with Damaris, he arranged, produced and performed on music featured in the Netflix drama House of Guinness, while his music has also appeared in two episodes of the television series iZombie.
This year's Féile an Phobail, which opens on Saturday 25 July, features a packed programme of music and entertainment, with performers including The 2 Johnnies, Kneecap and The Saw Doctors. Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones bring the festival to a close on the night of Sunday 9 August.