Ards International Guitar Festival

Ards International Guitar Festival Featuring some of the world's best guitarists!

15 - 19 April 2026 | www.ardsguitarfestival.co.uk

The Ards International Guitar Festival - a jam packed programme of the some of the world’s most talented guitarists! Twenty years on this annual event remains fresh and vibrant with sell out performances every year. April 2018
www.ardsguitarfestival.co.uk

Brought to you by Ards and North Down Borough Council
www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk
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Musical Instruments: Meet the Maker 🎵As part of the celebrations for the arrival of the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil, the C...
29/07/2026

Musical Instruments: Meet the Maker 🎵

As part of the celebrations for the arrival of the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil, the Creative Peninsula festival will host a fascinating evening with three talented local instrument makers.

Meet the craftsmen behind Avalon Guitars, William Smyth Harps, and Boardman Violins and discover the skill, craftsmanship and passion that goes into creating these beautiful instruments.

Hear the stories behind their work, enjoy demonstrations of the instruments being played, and take the opportunity to chat with the makers themselves.

📍 Ards Arts Centre
📅 Wednesday 5 August
🕢 7.30pm
🎟 £5 (includes refreshments)

Book here 👇
https://creativepeninsula.andculture.org.uk/whats-on/musical-instruments-meet-maker

CRAFT NI August Craft Month Visit Ards and North Down

Step inside Avalon Guitars, one of Ards and North Down’s hidden gems, and explore the craftsmanship and story behind eve...
29/06/2026

Step inside Avalon Guitars, one of Ards and North Down’s hidden gems, and explore the craftsmanship and story behind every instrument.

From Tree to Tone: The Story of a Guitar’s Journey
31 July 2026

Visitors are invited into the world of Avalon Guitars in Newtownards, where wood, skill and sound come together to create something truly special.

Meet John McCartin, the celebrated traditional Irish guitar player, and the craftsmen behind the brand as they share the story of how each guitar is crafted. See the journey each instrument takes from carefully chosen timber to a finished piece, then hear and try these world class guitars for yourself, and learn why Avalon guitars are played by artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Katie Melua and Ricky Warwick.

This engaging experience offers a fascinating and rare glimpse behind the scenes of a world renowned maker.

Book this Experience 👇 https://www.visitardsandnorthdown.com/experienceand

Ts and Cs apply

Part of the Ards and North Down Borough Council 2026/27 programme.

Images: Ricky Parker Photography



Visit Ards and North Down Culture - Ards and North Down

Where you inspired to play the guitar after last week's Ards International Guitar Festival?If so, then why not enrol ont...
25/04/2026

Where you inspired to play the guitar after last week's Ards International Guitar Festival?

If so, then why not enrol onto our new weekly Ards Guitar Circle with Paddy Anderson!

This multi‑level weekly workshop is all about playing together, building songs as a group, and having a great time doing it. We’ll create and prepare instrumental arrangements of well known songs, with guitar parts tailored to suit every level.

Suitable for most levels except complete beginners (i.e. you should at least be able to hold the instrument, tune it, and play some simple chords).

ℹ For full class details, and to enrol online now, visit: https://andculture.org.uk/classes/new-ards-guitar-circle

📍Ards Arts Centre
📅 Mondays (6 weeks from 11 May*)
🕙 7pm - 8.30pm
🎟 £90

*NB: No class Bank Holiday Mon 25 May

Did you attend an event at this year's Ards International Guitar Festival? If so, we would love to know what you thought...
24/04/2026

Did you attend an event at this year's Ards International Guitar Festival? If so, we would love to know what you thought!

📝 Please take a moment to complete this short survey on the festival: https://engage.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/crafts/468fbb86/

All those who leave their email addresses will be automatically entered into a draw for two complimentary tickets to either Friday Night Live with Colm Gavin and Kenan Flannery on Friday 29 May, 8pm, OR Friday Night Live with Gráinne Hunt on Friday 26 June, 8pm.

The survey will close on Friday 1 May.

Thank you, your views are very important to us!

Last week, while visiting Newtownards to perform at Ards International Guitar Festival, Andy McKee was treated to a tour...
23/04/2026

Last week, while visiting Newtownards to perform at Ards International Guitar Festival, Andy McKee was treated to a tour of the Avalon Guitars factory.

Andy was not only able to play a few of the models fresh off the bench, but he was also given the opportunity to meet the luthiers and see the various stages of making these beautiful instruments.

📸 Ricky Parker

Let’s take a closer look at the - literal work of art - Ards International Guitar Festival Lifetime Achievement Award!Ev...
22/04/2026

Let’s take a closer look at the - literal work of art - Ards International Guitar Festival Lifetime Achievement Award!

Every year we task local ceramicist Andrew Cooke with designing and creating the Award for the festival.

Andrew goes above and beyond in his creations, spending hours researching and designing a bespoke award for each recipient. And not only that, but he has to keep the secret too! 🤐

This year, the design was inspired by home. Not only Andrew’s, but that of Ricky’s who grew up under the watchful Scrabo Tower.

The tower also has special meaning to Ricky as it is where he proposed to his wife.

As Andrew says in his blog:

“But it was backstage where everything truly came together. Meeting Ricky in person added layers of meaning I couldn’t have planned. He told me he used to spend Friday nights at the stock car races at Ballyskeagh — the stock car track my dad built, and now the place that holds my studio space. Two paths crossing years before either of us knew it. Then he mentioned that he proposed to his wife beside Scrabo Tower. In that moment, the design made perfect sense. The tower wasn’t just a symbol; it was part of his life story, part of his memories, part of the man he became. And somehow, without knowing any of that, I had built it into the award. It felt like hitting the mark in a way that had nothing to do with luck.”

Congratulations to Ricky Warwick in receiving the Ards International Guitar Festival Lifetime Achievement Award 2026, and huge thanks again to Andrew Cooke for creating it!

You can read more from Andrew’s blog about creating the award here 👉 https://artisatrade.com/blog/f/making-the-lifetime-achievement-award-for-ricky-warwick?fbclid=IwdGRleARTUiBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe7MOsaFig9P_IyYI02JcwVAv94x70TuU-eOcoM_tZITZO7f-s8IqXTCAmA_E_aem_eZHwkhRMHGueg4-ixOLuVg

Andrew Cooke ,Maker of unusual ceramic instruments & strange things

The final chord has rung out on the 30th Ards International Guitar Festival...Bravo, and thank you, to the fantastic per...
21/04/2026

The final chord has rung out on the 30th Ards International Guitar Festival...

Bravo, and thank you, to the fantastic performers who put on an incredible show, and a MASSIVE thank you to every single person who came out and supported us this year!

We would also like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone involved behind the scenes in bringing the Festival together - you know who you are!!

Here are a few highlight snaps from the festival courtesy of Festival Photographer Julie Ann Rouquette.

If you took photos during the festival, then feel free to share them in the comments below, we would love to see them!

We look forward to seeing you all again next year for the 31st celebrations!!

A wonderful afternoon was spent at Ards Arts Centre on Sunday as we enjoyed 'In the Round' with Matt McGinn, Eilidh Patt...
21/04/2026

A wonderful afternoon was spent at Ards Arts Centre on Sunday as we enjoyed 'In the Round' with Matt McGinn, Eilidh Patterson, and Anthony Toner.

📸 Julie Ann Rouquette

The Ivy Bar played host to two great gigs over the weekend as part of the 30th Anniversary celebrations for Ards Interna...
21/04/2026

The Ivy Bar played host to two great gigs over the weekend as part of the 30th Anniversary celebrations for Ards International Guitar Festival.

We were joined by the fabulous Taylor Lally and Luke Kerr on Saturday evening, before a 'Weekend Warm-up' performance by the superb The Frank Carbery Blues Band on Sunday afternoon!

📸 Julie Ann Rouquette, and Marty Coney

Last night, after a show stopping performance to a sold out crowd, we were thrilled to present local Ards man - the almi...
20/04/2026

Last night, after a show stopping performance to a sold out crowd, we were thrilled to present local Ards man - the almighty - Ricky Warwick with this year's Ards International Guitar Festival Lifetime Achievement Award!

"I was born and bred in Newtownards so it’s always extra special for me to play my hometown" - Ricky Warwick

Ricky Warwick is one of British rock’s most authentic and enduring voices. Best known as the front man of The Almighty, Black Star Riders and Thin Lizzy. Warwick has spent four decades writing songs rooted in grit, heart and lived experience and we were delighted to welcome him back to his hometown of Newtownards for this very special gig with The Fighting Hearts, as part of Ards International Guitar Festival's 30th anniversary celebrations.

Many thanks to ceramicist Andrew Cooke who was commissioned to design and create the bespoke award for Ricky Warwick.

📸 Photo credit: Julianne Rouquette.

Andrew Cooke

Address

Ards Arts Centre
Newtownards
BT234NP

Telephone

+442891810803

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