Of Monsters and Men and Jake Bugg Rock the World's Only Whiskey and Music Festival in an Irish Distillery

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BUSHMILLS, Ireland, June 21, 2013/ PRN=KYODO JBN / --

    - Bushmills Live: International indie artists take to the stage at age-old

distillery

    Global stars including Of Monsters and Men and Jake Bugg, together with

friends Foy Vance, Willy Mason and Iain Archer, gave electrifying performances

last night at Bushmills Live - the festival of handcrafted whiskey and music

which took place among the barrels at the Old Bushmills Distillery.

    (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130621/622694-a )

    (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130621/622694-b )

    (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130621/622694-c )

    (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130621/622694-d )

    The intimate two-day festival on Ireland's north coast was attended by just

500 music and whiskey fans from around the world, including attendees from

countries spanning from the USA to Bulgaria and Portugal to Russia.

    Artists more used to playing to crowds of hundreds of thousands, such as Of

Monsters and Men and Jake Bugg, performed a series of small gigs in

centuries-old buildings at the Old Bushmills Distillery, where the art of

whiskey-making has been practiced for generations.

    Of Monsters and Men's Ragnar thorhallsson said: "Last night was unlike any

other gig we've played before. We have performed in many venues in cities all

around the world, but this one, in a whiskey distillery, was something very

special. The atmosphere was great and we loved it. We would be honoured to play

here again."

    Jake Bugg added: "I've played many gigs but never thought I'd be playing in

a whiskey distillery and it was pretty cool. Good to see my mate Iain Archer -

happy birthday."

    These global superstars were joined by emerging indie artists Bear's Den

and Sons and Lovers, together with David C Clements and VerseChorusVerse,

recipients of the inaugural Bushmills Live Legacy Fund. This is a trust of

GBP20,000 set up by Bushmills(TM) Irish Whiskey and Third Bar, an artist

development company run by last year's headliner, Snow Patrol's lead singer,

Gary Lightbody and Davy Matchett, curators of the fund.

    Master Distiller at the Old Bushmills Distillery, Colum Egan, said: "This

was an incredible night for Bushmills Irish Whiskey and for music lovers. Last

night, we welcomed both globally-established artists and emerging talent to our

home on Ireland's north coast. Their music, like our whiskey, represents the

very best in hand craftsmanship. He added: "It was fantastic to see so many

friends come to the distillery, enjoy the music and of course share a glass of

Bushmills."

    NOTES TO EDITORS

    For further photographs go to Facebook: http://facebook.com/bushmills1608

    Twitter: @BushmillsGlobal [http://www.twitter.com/BushmillsGlobal ]

    Hashtag: #BushmillsLive

    Tickets to Bushmills Live were not available for sale but were won via a

competition on Facebook. To find out more, visit

http://facebook.com/bushmills1608.

    BUSHMILLS LIVE ARTIST INFORMATION

    About Of Monsters and Men

    http://www.ofmonstersandmen.com

    About Jake Bugg

    http://www.jakebugg.com

    About Willy Mason

    http://www.willymason.net

    About Bear's Den

    http://www.musicglue.com/bearsdenmusic

    About Iain Archer

    http://www.iainarcher.co.uk/modules/news

    About Foy Vance

    http://www.foyvance.com

    About Sons and Lovers

    http://www.sons-and-lovers.com

    About David C Clements:

    http://davidcclements.bandcamp.com

    ABOUT VERSECHORUSVERSE

    http://soundcloud.com/vcvtony

    ABOUT BUSHMILLS IRISH WHISKEY

    With a heritage rooted in authenticity and quality, Bushmills Irish Whiskey

is produced, aged and bottled at Ireland's oldest working Whiskey distillery in

the village of Bushmills in County Antrim on the far north coast of Ireland.

The Old Bushmills Distillery uses 100% malt barley to make triple distilled

malt whiskey, which is what creates the rich, mellow and distinct flavour that

is the house style. The Bushmills portfolio includes: Bushmills Irish Whiskey;

Black Bush, Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 16 Year Old Single

Malt, Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 1608 and now Bushmills Irish

Honey.

    BUSHMILLS LIVE VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjyzNFGuRmo

    To launch the festival, Bushmills commissioned some artisans to make a 3D

art installation that depicts the Bushmills Live poster using materials

inspired by the handcrafted whiskey and music at the heart of the festival. The

master craftsmen who cemented their friendship when creating the stage set for

a hugely popular American television epic that was filmed in Belfast - used 254

casks, 250 bottle tops, 30 bottles of whiskey, five metres of AMP wiring and

four guitars to handcraft the 10ft by 16ft installation artwork.

    ABOUT DIAGEO Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an

outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine

categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JepsilonB,

Buchanan's, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One

vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, 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, brands, and performance, 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.

    Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

    SOURCE: Bushmills Irish Whiskey