THE 1975 and TIRED PONY Rock the World's Only Whiskey and Music Festival in an Irish Distillery

BUSHMILLS VILLAGE, Northern Ireland, June 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Bushmills Live™ 2014: A special blend of established and up-and-coming artists take to the stage at age-old distillery

Global stars including THE 1975 and Gary Lightbody and Peter Buck's supergroup TIRED PONY came together along with friends of BUSHMILLS to complete an unforgettable day at 'Bushmills Live 2014' - the festival of handcrafted whiskey and music that took place yesterday at the Old Bushmills Distillery on Ireland's north coast. 

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They were joined by rising stars JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW, LUKE SITAL-SINGH, DAVID C. CLEMENTS, MATTHEW AND THE ATLAS, LEVITY BREAKS and RUBBLEBUCKET on what was a fantastic day of music.

The intimate festival on Ireland's north coast was attended by 700 music and whiskey fans from around the world, including countries as far-flung as the US, Bulgaria, Portugal and Russia.

Artists more used to playing to crowds of thousands performed a series of small gigs in centuries-old buildings at the Old Bushmills Distillery where the art of whiskey-making, perfected over generations, is practiced every day.

Gary Lightbody from TIRED PONY said: "Last night was TIRED PONY's first gig in Ireland and it was unlike any other gig we've played before. The atmosphere was great."

Master Distiller at the Old Bushmills Distillery, Colum Egan, said: "Bushmills Live 2014 was a great success.

"I was looking around and everywhere people were smiling and having a great time, enjoying the wonderful music  - and the exceptional whiskey, in moderation of course.

"THE 1975 and TIRED PONY were sensational and it was fantastic to continue to provide a platform to up-and-coming talent. The atmosphere backstage was like an old school reunion with so many friends of the festival in attendance - the craic was brilliant!"

Notes to Editors 

About Bushmills Live 

Bushmills Live is an annual music festival which hosts both iconic and emerging artists for a series of intimate gigs in age-old buildings at the historic Old Bushmills Distillery, where the art of distilling has been perfected over generations.

Keep up with Bushmills Irish Whiskey at: Facebook: facebook.com/bushmills
Twitter: @BushmillsGlobal

About 'TIRED PONY' 

TIRED PONY are Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol), Peter Buck (REM), Iain Archer, Richard Colburn (Belle and Sebastian), Scott McCaughey, Troy Stewart and producer/multi-instrumentalist Garret "Jacknife" Lee. They have released two albums: 2010's The Place We Ran From and last year's The Ghost of the Mountain.

About 'The 1975' 

THE 1975 are an English alternative rock/indie band based in Manchester. The group consists of Matthew Healy (vocals/guitar), Adam Hann (guitar), George Daniel (drums) and Ross MacDonald (bass). Their self-titled debut album was released on 2 September 2013 and debuted at No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart.

About 'JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW' 

JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW is renowned for his incredible live performances and has recently sold out the Sydney Opera House and a string of tour dates in America.  The Guardian has described his voice as "rich and soulful" and asserted that his second album Post Tropical (released earlier this year) delivers "moments of magnificence."

About 'LUKE SITAL-SINGH' 

English singer/songwriter LUKE SITAL-SINGH was nominated for the BBC's "Sound of 2014". Luke's mentor is friend of Bushmills Live and TIRED PONY member Iain Archer.

About 'DAVID C. CLEMENTS' 

The winner of last year's Bushmills Live Legacy Fund - an initiative set-up to help artists' career progression - DAVID C. CLEMENTS is returning to play the main stage having toured with SNOW PATROL and ED SHEERAN recently.

About 'MATTHEW AND THE ATLAS' 

MOJO magazine described MATTHEW AND THE ATLAS as being "like a Brit Bon Iver". The band is fronted by Matthew Hegarty and they have been championed by MUMFORD & SONS.

About 'LEVITY BREAKS'  

Belfast four-piece LEVITY BREAKS  are the winners of this year's Bushmills Live Legacy Fund.

About 'RUBBLEBUCKET' 

Brooklyn-based indie dance band RUBBLEBUCKET have won a Boston Music Award for Live Act of the Year.

About Bushmills Irish Whiskey


Bushmills Irish Whiskey is hand crafted in small batches for a smooth taste at Ireland's oldest working distillery, in Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Old Bushmills Distillery's portfolio includes seven award-winning variants: Bushmills, BushmillsBlack Bush™, Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt, our anniversary edition, Bushmills 1608 and Bushmills Irish Honey Spirit Drink.

About Diageo


Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan's, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people and its brands, visit http://www.diageo.com. For Diageo's global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit http://www.DRINKiQ.com.

SOURCE Bushmills Irish Whiskey