The Cut Loose Country Music Festival takes centre stage on Sunday 21 July when the Holycross GAA grounds in Co Tipperary will host one of the biggest outdoor country shows of the season.

This festival has been a pace setter since it was launched seven years ago. Superb organisation has played a central role in keeping Cut Loose at the top of the poll when it comes to country festivals.

Easy access and a central location also play a role in the success story of the Holycross venture. Just out the road from Thurles and a few miles off the main Dublin-Cork motorway, Holycross has a lot in its favour. The organisers are also blessed that they are not clashing with any of the big hurling games in the region this summer.

Nathan Carter and Derek Ryan from the current decade are among the headline acts on this occasion. Liverpool-born Carter has enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent years, catapulted to the top of the league by the runaway success of his recording of Wagon Wheel, a major hit for Old Crow Medicine Show over in America.

He first came to attention when invited by Dermot Hegarty and Gerry Flynn to join the Enjoy Travel trip to Ibiza 12 years ago. His decision to locate to Ireland played a pivotal role in his career which took time to ignite. It received a significant boost with songs penned by John Farry including One for The Road and The Rainbow in Glenfarne.

But it was Wagon Wheel that became Nathan’s calling card and opened many doors along the way. Major UK tours, his own TV series and numerous guest spots on major shows on both sides of the Irish Sea and further afield have paved the way for the man whose family roots are in Co Down.

Derek Ryan’s journey started out with strong country influences in the family home before branching out and becoming a pop singer with Irish boy band, D Side, that enjoyed international success between 2001 and 2006.

The Carlow man later switched back to country music where he has enjoyed a lot of success in the past decade or so. Derek has also penned numerous songs, many of which have been covered by various artists.

Michael English returns to the Cut Loose Festival again this year. He has been associated with the venture from the outset. The Kildare native has concentrated on releasing a series of radio-play singles on a frequent basis which is always good for the profile.

Another regular at Holycross is Jimmy Buckley who has a busy summer season between festival spots and the regular dance shows. Jimmy continues to keep the flag flying for traditional country music and is a firm favourite on the summer festival circuit.

Louise Morrissey has featured on all of the Cut Loose Festivals and this is one of the days closest to her heart as she welcomes the guest performers and patrons to her home county of Tipperary. Slievenamon is assured of a rousing sing-along rendition on the day.

Keith and Lorraine McDonald will bring a touch of the showband era to the festival when they perform a medley of classic hits from those days in the company of The Conquerors who will bring their own magic to the big occasion.

Michael Lowry and the committee look forward to extending a warm welcome to all patrons at this country music celebration in Holycross on the 21 July.

Tickets, priced at just €20 plus booking fee, are available online at tickets.ie and at local Super Valu and Centra stores. Children under 12 attend free once accompanied by an adult.

There is free car parking and a large dance floor, plenty of seating, and full bar and food services. The Cut Loose Festival runs from 12.30pm to 7pm. Gates open at 11am.