Cork: powerhouse of Irish bluegrass

Kevin Gill reports from Cork: 'We are tipping away at the playing. Myself, Geraldine, and the boys are playing Sunday nights at the Spailpin Fananch and Thursday nights at the Gables Bar. I play the Corner House on Monday nights with the Lee Valley String Band. Also at the Corner House on Sunday nights are Dark Road [Pete Brennan, Brendan Butler, Hal O'Neill, and Martin Styles]. This is four bluegrass sessions per week here in Cork. Is that some kind of an Irish record?'

Dublin grits its teeth and prepares to redouble its efforts. Meanwhile, the Kevin & Geraldine Gill Band have also been asked to play at a new festival in Wales, the Coastline Bluegrass Music Event, to be held at Llandudno on 9-11 June 2006, a month before the established North Wales Bluegrass Festival a few miles away at Conwy. Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens are topping the bill at Conwy this year.