Tipperary will not be a long way away for the many revellers who are planning on making the trip for what promises to be a wonderful afternoon of country music in the Premier County.

While the hearts and minds of Tipperary and Waterford people (and many more GAA followers around the country) will rightly be focused on the Munster hurling final in Semple Stadium, Thurles, this coming Sunday (12 July), the attention of county fans will switch to the big show in Holycross a week later.

Country music has always been hugely popular in Tipperary and neighbouring counties. One has just to gauge the massive response to country shows on Tipp FM and Tipperary Mid West Radio to recognise the outreach of this genre and the special place it commands in the hearts of so many people in the region.

The organisers are thrilled to have secured Nathan Carter as the headline act for the 2015 Cut Loose Festival. The young man, born and raised in Liverpool, has surged to the top of the scene in the last two years.

What makes Nathan extra special is that he has attracted a whole new young audience to country music and, in so doing, has opened so many doors for other aspiring acts. Country music is truly cool all over again.

Nathan was the featured guest on Terry Wogan’s top-rated show on BBC Radio 2 last week. He has a host of other outdoor festivals lined up for the coming weeks, including the Rose of Tralee.

Also sharing the bill with Nathan on Sunday 19 July will be Michael English, Robert Mizzell, Mike Denver and Lisa McHugh, all of whom are eagerly looking forward to a mighty day. It promises to be another cracking show.

Michael Lowry TD, who has been closely associated with the organising of the event since its inception, says there appears to be an extra buzz about the festival this time.

“Like previous years, the country festival is organised in a bid to reduce the outstanding debt on the GAA centre since it was upgraded in 2011. The centre provides top facilities to all players, young and old.

“This is a unique opportunity to enjoy great entertainment and to make a much-valued contribution towards ensuring the continued success of the John Doyle Centre. We are delighted to have many of the major country music names in Ireland coming to Holycross. The Cut Loose Festival has established a fine reputation as a quality event and a great welcome awaits all,” says Michael.

Holycross is just a few miles from Thurles and easy to access from all sides. A superb local voluntary committee exercise top-class stewarding and patrons can park free of charge almost alongside the venue. In the event of inclement weather, they have a fully covered stand along one side of the pitch and this will accommodate all visitors.

Gates open at 12 noon and there will be top-class entertainment from 1pm until 7pm. A large dance floor will facilitate those who wish to dance to the various artists and ample seating is also available. Hospitality features includes a full alcohol licence and food services.

Tickets cost €20 and are available at local outlets which are displayed on the www.cutloosecountryfestival.com website and will be available on the day of the show. They can also be purchased online here