Calendar 2023-4
The calendar is frequently updated, and past events are transferred to the separate calendar archive post. All events in the Irish bluegrass festival season for which we have dates can be found below. Some items of country music news, prepared by the Country Music Association of Ireland, can be seen here.
A few important and/or accessible events outside Ireland are also listed. For a fuller listing of events in the UK, see the calendar pages on the BBMA website and FOAOTMAD website. A select list of festivals in Europe is on the EBMA website.
Bands and event/venue organisers: if your session or event is not shown here, please contact the editor. Punters: please note that tour schedules often have to be changed, so before you go to a show, please check that the date and place are still the same as when you first noted it down.
If you first heard about an event from the Bluegrass Ireland Blog, we'll appreciate it if you tell the organisers that.
JANUARY 2023
Fri. 20th: Wookalily, Black Box, Belfast, 1.00 p.m.; tickets (£10) include lunch (part of 18th Out To Lunch Festival)
Wed. 25th: Special Consensus (USA), Black Box, Belfast, 1.00 p.m. (part of Out to Lunch Arts Festival); American Bar, Belfast, 8.00 p.m.
Wed. 25th: Dirk & Amelia Powell, Shanley's Bar, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
Thurs. 26th: Special Consensus (USA), Court House, Bangor, Co. Down, 8.00 p.m.
Thurs. 26th: JigJam, Grand Social, Dublin, 8.00 p.m. (part of TradFest Temple Bar)
Thurs. 26th: Tim O'Brien (special guest of Dervish), National Stadium, 145 South Circular Road, Dublin 8 ('Great Irish Songbook')
Thurs. 26th: Dirk & Amelia Powell and I Draw Slow, The White Horse, Ballincollig, Co. Cork (part of Ballincollig Winter Music Festival); SOLD OUT
Thurs. 26th: The Yonder Boys (USA/AUS/CHL), St John's Theatre, Listowel, Co. Kerry
Fri. 27th: Special Consensus (USA), Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Limavady, Co. Londonderry, 8.00 p.m.
Fri. 27th: Tim O'Brien and Jan Fabricius, Moynihan's Bar, 30-34 Upper Gladstone St., Clonmel, Co. Tipperary (Clonmel World Music)
Fri. 27th: The Yonder Boys (USA/AUS/CHL), Levis Corner House, Ballydehob, Co. Cork
Fri. 27th: Brendan & Louis Butler, free-admission bar session, The White Horse, Ballincollig, Co. Cork (part of Ballincollig Winter Music Festival)
Sat. 28th: Dirk Powell, old-time music workshop, 11.00 a.m.-2.00 p.m., €20.00, The White Horse, Ballincollig, Co. Cork (part of Ballincollig Winter Music Festival)
Sat. 28th: Special Consensus (USA), Marketplace Theatre, Armagh city, 8.00 p.m.
Sat. 28th: The Yonder Boys (USA/AUS/CHL), Levis Corner House, Ballydehob, Co. Cork
Sun. 29th: Tim O'Brien and Jan Fabricius, White Horse, West Village, Ballincollig, Co. Cork (part of Ballincollig Winter Music Festival); SOLD OUT
Sun. 29th: The Yonder Boys (USA/AUS/CHL), free-admission bar session, The White Horse, Ballincollig, Co. Cork (part of Ballincollig Winter Music Festival)
FEBRUARY 2023
Thurs. 2nd Feb.: Tim O'Brien and Jan Fabricius, Cleere's Bar & Theatre, 28 Parliament St., Kilkenny city
Fri. 3rd: Special Consensus (USA), Colfers Pub, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford, 9.00 p.m.
Sat. 4th: Special Consensus (USA), Raheen House Hotel, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, 9.00 p.m.
Sat. 4th: Tim O'Brien and Jan Fabricius, Clew Bay Hotel, James St., Westport, Co. Mayo
Sun. 5th: Special Consensus (USA), Campbell's Tavern, Headford, Co. Galway, 4.00 p.m.
Sun. 5th: Tim O'Brien and Jan Fabricius, Hawk"s Well Theatre, Temple St., Sligo town
Mon. 6th: Special Consensus (USA), Glen Theatre, Banteer, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m.
Tues. 7th: Special Consensus (USA), Bob's Bar, Durrow, Co. Laois, 8.00 p.m.
Wed. 8th: Special Consensus (USA), Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo town, 8.00 p.m.
Thurs. 9th: Special Consensus (USA), Beehive Bar, Ardara, Co. Donegal, 8.00 p.m.
Fri. 10th: Special Consensus (USA), Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, 8.00 p.m.
Fri. 10th-Sun. 12th: Friends Of American Old Time Music And Dance (FOAOTMAD): Gainsborough festival, England, with FOAOTMAD AGM
Sat. 11th: Special Consensus (USA), Séamus Ennis Arts Centre & Café, Naul, Co. Dublin, 8.00 p.m.
Sun. 12th: Special Consensus (USA), Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, 8.00 p.m.
Mon. 13th: Special Consensus (USA), The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, 8.00 p.m.
Tues. 14th: Special Consensus (USA), Corner House, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, 8.00 p.m.
Fri. 17th: I Draw Slow, Workman's Club, 10 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2. from 7.45 to 11.45 p.m.; tickets
Sun. 26th: Two Time Polka, Crane Lane Theatre, Cork city. Starts midnight, adm. free
MARCH 2023
Sat. 4th: Pilgrim St, Ballina Arts Centre, Ballina, Co. Mayo, 8.00 p.m.
Thurs. 16th: Pilgrim St, Droichead Arts Centre, Stockwell St., Drogheda, Co. Louth, 8.00 p.m.
Thurs. 16th: Two Time Polka, Left Bank Bar, Kilkenny city, 10.00 p.m.-midnight, adm. free (part of Kilkenny Tradfest)
Fri. 17th: Two Time Polka, Crane Lane Theatre, Cork city, 2.00–3.30 p.m., adm. free
Sat. 18th: Niall Toner Band, The Pumphouse, Kilkenny city, 2.30 p.m. (part of Kilkenny Tradfest)
Sat. 18th: Two Time Polka, Blarney, Co. Cork; open air outside Castle Hotel, 2.00–3.45 p.m.
Sun. 19th: Two Time Polka, St Columba's Hall (Tinny Shed), Douglas, Cork, 5.00–7.00 p.m.
Fri. 24th: The Raines, Seachurch, Ballycotton, Co. Cork
APRIL 2023
Sat. 8th: Niall Toner Band + special guest Andrea Booth, The Cherrytree, Walkinstown, Dublin
Mon. 10th-Fri. 14th: Sore Fingers Week (bluegrass/ old-time music instruction camp), Kingham Hill School, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 6TH, England
Sat. 15th: Pilgrim St, The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, 8.00 p.m.
Thurs. 27th-Sun. 30th: MerleFest, Wilkes Community College, NC
Fri. 28th-Mon. 1st May: Cahersiveen Mountain Roots Music Weekend, Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry: High Plains Tradition, Two Time Polka, Freddie White, Hank Wedel & Friends, many more acts; tel. 087 706 9935
Fri. 28th: Two Time Polka, Langtons Hotel, Kilkenny city, 10.00 p.m., adm. free (part of Kilkenny Roots Festival)
Fri. 28th: Woodbine, Lenehans, Kilkenny city, 10.00 p.m., adm. free (part of Kilkenny Roots Festival)
Sat. 29th: Two Time Polka Left Bank Bar, Kilkenny city, 4.00–6.00 p.m., adm. free (part of Kilkenny Roots Festival)
Sun. 30th: Two Time Polka, Sheebeen Bar, Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry, 11.00 p.m., adm. €10 (part of Cahersiveen Mountain Roots Music)
Sun. 30th: The Needables, Lenehans, Kilkenny city, 4.00 p.m., adm. free; also at O'Gorman's, 10.00 p.m., adm. free (part of Kilkenny Roots Festival)
Sun. 30th: Blue Light Smugglers, The Front Room, Kilkenny city, 10.00 p.m., adm. free (part of Kilkenny Roots Festival)
Sun. 30th: Prairie Jaywalkers, Clubhouse Hotel, Kilkenny city, 10.00 p.m., adm. free (part of Kilkenny Roots Festival)
Sun. 30th: Rye River Band, Ormonde Hotel, Kilkenny city, 10.00 p.m., adm. free (part of Kilkenny Roots Festival)
Sun. 30th: Niall Toner Band, Pembroke Hotel, Kilkenny city, 10.00 p.m., adm. free (part of Kilkenny Roots Festival)
MAY 2023
Mon. 1st: High Plains Tradition (USA), Kilworth Community Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m.; tel. 087 792 1771 (25th Anniversary Concert)
Tues. 2nd: High Plains Tradition (USA), The Copper Buoy Restaurant, Lower O'Connell St., Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, X35 FE09, 8.00 p.m.; tel. 087 064 0542
Wed. 3rd: High Plains Tradition (USA), St Senans Church of Ireland, Ardrum, Inniscarra, Co. Cork, T23 T934, 8.00 p.m., support act Pat Kelleher; tel. 087 792 1771
Thurs. 4th: High Plains Tradition (USA), O Gliasain's Bar (concert room), Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare, 8.00 p.m.; tel. 086 607 9864
Thurs. 4th-Sun. 7th: Baltimore Fiddle Fair, Baltimore, Co. Cork; Foghorn Stringband (USA), Alison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves (USA), many more; programme
Fri. 5th-Sat. 6th: Mini Bluegrass Festival, Bob's Bar, Durrow, Co. Laois; High Plains Tradition (USA), supported by the Gill Family (Fri.), Woodbine (Sat.); pickin' session all day Sat.; concerts €20.00 per person each, €30.00 per person for both days; booking 851 656685
Sat. 6th: Two Time Polka, La Grange, Bellachassagne, 10.00 p.m., adm. free (part of Fete de St Georges, Bellechassagne, France)
Tues. 9th: Foghorn Stringband (USA), Raheen House Hotel, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Wed. 10th: Foghorn Stringband (USA), Colfers Pub, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford
Thurs. 11th: Foghorn Stringband (USA), Séamus Ennis Arts Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin
Thurs. 11th: Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves (USA), Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre, Armagh city, 8.00 p.m.
Fri. 12th: Foghorn Stringband (USA), The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Fri. 12th: Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves (USA), An Taibhdhearc, 19 Middle St., Galway city, 8.00 p.m.
Sat. 13th: Foghorn Stringband (USA), The Beehive, Ardara, Co. Donegal
Sun. 14th: Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves (USA), The Cobblestone, Dublin, 8.00 p.m.
Thurs. 18th-Sat. 20th: European World Of Bluegrass (EWOB) Festival, De Eng, Voorthuizen, the Netherlands; programme
Fri. 19th: Pilgrim St, The Venue Theatre, Ratoath, Co. Meath, 8.00 p.m.
Sat. 20th: Watery Hill Boys, The Moorings restaurant, 156 Derrylin Rd, Bellanaleck, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh BT92 2BA; 8.00-10.30 p.m.; tickets (£15) include light supper; fundraising event for Enniskillen palliative care unit, and in memory of John Watson
Sat. 20th: World Fiddle Day
Sun. 21st: Two Time Polka, Crane Lane Theatre, Cork city, midnight, adm. free
Fri. 26th-Mon. 29th: Bluegrass Omagh 2023, Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone: Honey Dewdrops (USA), Zoe and Cloyd (USA), Truffle Valley Boys (I), Blue Grass Boogiemen (NL), Viper Central (CAN), Niall Toner Band (IRL), Woodbine (IRL), Watery Hill Boys (IRL), Henry (NI), Eilidh Patterson (NI), Cool Hand String Band (NI), Knotty Pine String Band (NI), Old Baby Mackerel (ENG); Friday events at Silverbirch Hotel; weekend tickets include entry to Bluegrass Family Day (Monday)
Sat. 27th: Pilgrim St, The Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth, 8.00 p.m.
JUNE 2023
Fri. 2nd: Two Time Polka, Harley Bar, Muckross Rd, Killarney, Co. Kerry, 9.30 p.m., adm. free (part of Ireland Bikefest)
Sun. 4th: Two Time Polka, River stage, Clashmore, Co. Waterford, 5.30 p.m., adm. free (part of Strings & Things)
Wed. 7th: Gumbo Birthday Bash! Dirk and Amelia Powell (USA), The White Horse, Ballincollig, Co. Cork
Thurs. 8th: Dirk and Amelia Powell (USA), The Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Thurs. 8th: Demolition String Band (USA), Matt Molloy's, Bridge St., Westport, Co. Mayo, 7.00 p.m.
Fri. 9th: Dirk and Amelia Powell (USA), Fumbally Stables, Fumbally Lane, The Liberties, Dublin
Fri. 9th: Two Time Polka, Lighthouse Bar, Allihies, Co. Cork, 10.00 p.m., adm. free (part of Michael Dwyer Festival)
Fri. 9th: Demolition String Band (USA), Clew Bay Hotel, James St., Westport, Co. Mayo, 12.00 noon
Fri. 9th-Sun. 11th: 17th Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Westport, Co. Mayo: Kody Norris Show (USA), Fog Holler (USA), Bill and the Belles (USA), Melody Walker & Jacob Groopman (USA), The Pond (USA), Rustic Robots (CZ), Lluís Gómez Bluegrass 4tet (E), Niamh Dunne, Tim Rogers, Rocky Top String Band; concerts, pub gigs, sessions, workshops, square dance, gospel hour
Sat. 10th: Dirk and Amelia Powell (USA), Chandler’s House, Rathfriland, Co. Down
Sat. 10th: Demolition String Band (USA), Doolin Folk Fest, Co. Clare, 7.00 p.m.
Sun. 11th: Dirk and Amelia Powell (USA), Doolin Folk Festival, Doolin, Co. Clare
Sun. 11th: Demolition String Band (USA), Levis, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, 7.00 p.m.
Mon. 12th: Demolition String Band (USA), Charlie's Barn, Union Quay, Cork city, 7.00 p.m.
Tues. 13th: Fog Holler (USA), The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Tues. 13th: Demolition String Band (USA), with Hank Wedel and Ray & Robbie Barron, Copper Buoy Bar, O'Connell St., Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, 8.00 p.m., 20 euros
Wed. 14th: Fog Holler (USA), The Moorings, Bellanaleck, Co. Fermanagh
Wed. 14th: Dirk and Amelia Powell (USA), Colfers, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford
Wed. 14th: Demolition String Band (USA), Finn's Bar, Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary, 7.00 p.m.
Thurs. 15th: Dirk and Amelia Powell (USA), Cleeres, Kilkenny city
Fri. 16th: Dirk and Amelia Powell (USA), World Music Club, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Fri. 16th: Demolition String Band (USA), The Rusty Spur, Claudy, Co. Londonderry, 7.00 p.m.
Fri. 16th-Sat. 17th: 51st Banjo Jamboree, Čáslav, Czech Republic (oldest bluegrass festival in Europe); programme
Sat. 17th: Pilgrim St, The Ramor Theatre, Virginia, Co. Cavan, 8.00 p.m.
Sat. 17th: Two Time Polka, Blue Haven Bar, Kinsale, Co. Cork, 10.00 p.m.
Sat. 17th: Dirk and Amelia Powell (USA), Clew Bay Hotel, James St., Westport, Co. Mayo
Sat. 17th: Demolition String Band (USA), Beehive Bar, Ardara, Co. Donegal, 7.00 p.m.
Sun. 18th: Two Time Polka, Two Time Polka, Main stage, showgrounds, Curaheen Rd, Cork, 4.00 p.m.; tickets (part of Cork Summer Show)
Sun. 18th: Two Time Polka, Crane Lane Theatre, Cork city, midnight, adm. free
Sun. 18th: Demolition String Band (USA), Campbell’s Tavern, Cloughanover, Co. Galway, 4.00 p.m.
Wed. 21st-Sat. 24th: Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum ROMP (River Of Music Party) festival, Owensboro, KY
Fri. 23rd-Sun. 25th: Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival, Rotterdam (NL); lineup
Thurs. 29th: Kinnaris Quintet, The Playhouse, Derry city
Fri. 30th: Kinnaris Quintet, Portico of Ards, Portaferry, Co. Down
Fri. 30th: Shane Hennessy, Mills Inn, Ballyvourney, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m.; tickets (€20/€15)
Fri. 30th: Ian Alexander, Dufferin Arms, 35 High Street, Killyleagh, Co. Down BT30 9QF, 8.00 p.m., £10
JULY 2023
Sat. 1st: Kinnaris Quintet, Market Place Theatre, Armagh city
Sun. 2nd: Kinnaris Quintet, Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim
Fri. 14th-Sun. 16th: Crossover Bluegrass, Old-Time. & Americana Festival, England; details TBA
Sun. 16th: "Bluegrass Sundays Birthday Bash Jam": Bluestack Mountain Boys welcome all friends of bluegrass to celebrate a year of weekly jam sessions, at Mother Reilly's, 32 Rathmines Rd Upper, Dublin 6, 7.00-11.00 p.m.
Fri. 21st-Sun. 23rd: Ardara Bluegrass Festival, Ardara, Co. Donegal: Woodbine, Henry, Mules & Men, and Kevin & Geraldine Gill; all events in The Beehive Bar, Main St., Ardara
Sat. 22nd: Niall Toner and Andrea Booth (Brendan O'Regan, support), Ballyraine Cafe, Vale Road, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, Y14 HR53, 8.00 p.m.; tickets from Ballyraine Cafe, Beat That Records (Arklow), or e-mail
Sun. 23rd: Two Time Polka, Emo, Co. Laois; Fleadh Stage, 8.15 p.m.; see festival website for tickets (part of Forest Fest)
Fri. 28th: Cairncastle Ulster Scots Cross-Community Festival, Bluegrass day: History of bluegrass music workshop, 2.00 p.m., adm. free; evening concert, 7.15 p.m.: Cormac Crummey (banjo), Knotty Pine String Band (Omagh), Bluestack Mountain Boys (Dublin), £10: Halfway House Hotel, 352 Coast Road, Ballygally, Larne, Co. Antrim
Fri. 28th: Two Time Polka, Greyhound Bar, Kilkee, Co. Clare, 9.30 p.m., adm. free
Sat. 29th: Two Time Polka, Blue Haven Bar, Kinsale, Co. Cork. 10.00 p.m., adm. free
Sun. 30th: Two Time Polka, Crane Lane Theatre, Cork city, 11.55 p.m., adm. free
AUGUST 2023
Wed. 2nd-Sun. 6th: Bluegrass in La Roche festival, La Roche-sur-Foron, Haute Savoie, France; largest bluegrass festival in Europe; multinational schedule: 25 bands from 11 countries
Sat. 5th: Woodbine, Scarecrow Festival, Durrow, Co. Laois
Sat. 5th: Two Time Polka, O’Connell St., Waterford city, open air, 4.00 p.m., adm. free (part of Waterford Spraoi)
Sun. 6th: Two Time Polka, Market St., Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry; open air, 3.30 p.m., adm. free (part of Cahersiveen Festival of Music & the Arts)
Thurs. 10th-Sat. 12th: Trad & Folk Festival Free Weekender, Whelan's, Wexford St., Dublin 2; Sat. 12th I Draw Slow
Tues. 15th: The Purple Hulls (USA), free concert in Riverside Church, Basin Walk, Newry, 8.00 p.m.
Fri. 18th: Two Time Polka, Tanyard Bar, Skibbereen, Co. Cork, 10.00 p.m., adm. free (part of Skibbeereen Blues, Soul & Roots Festival)
Sun. 20th: Two Time Polka, Eldon Hotel, Skibbereen, Co. Cork, 7.00-9.00 p.m., adm. free (part of Skibbeereen Blues, Soul & Roots Festival)
Thurs. 24th: Water Tower (USA), TBA
Fri. 25th-Sun. 27th: 28th Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford: Boxcar Preachers (USA), Water Tower (USA), Eskies, Mons Wheeler Band, The Common Good, Backyard Band, Woodbine, Whistle
Fri. 25th: Water Tower (USA), Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford
Sat. 26th: Water Tower (USA), The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Sun. 27th: Water Tower (USA), Picnic in the Park, Ward Park, Bangor, Co. Down, 3.00-5.00 p.m.
Sun. 27th: Two Time Polka, Crane LaneTheatre, Cork city, midnight to 2.00 a.m., adm. free
Tues. 29th: Joachim Cooder (with Rayna Gellert (fiddle) and Mark Fain (bass)), Campbell's Tavern, Loughanover, Headford, Co. Galway, 7.30-11.30 p.m.
Tues. 29th: Water Tower (USA), The Rusty Spur Sessions, Claudy, Co. Londonderry
Wed. 30th: Joachim Cooder (with Rayna Gellert (fiddle) and Mark Fain (bass)), The Black Box, Belfast, 8.00-11.00 p.m., £23
Wed. 30th: Nickel Creek (USA), National Concert Hall, Dublin, 8.00 p.m.; tickets €45, €40, €35, €27.50
Wed. 30th: Water Tower (USA), Finn's Bar, Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary
Wed. 30th: Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Country Band, Colfer's Bar, Carrrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford, Y35 V Y10, 8.00 p.m.
Thurs. 31st: Joachim Cooder with Mark Fain (bass) and Rayna Gellert (fiddle), Whelan's, Wexford St., Dublin, €27.50
Thurs. 31st: Water Tower (USA), The Greyhound, Kilkee, Co. Clare
Thurs. 31st: Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Country Band, The White Horse, West Village, Ballincollig, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 2023
Fri. 1st: Joachim Cooder (with Rayna Gellert (fiddle) and Mark Fain (bass)), Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo town, 8.00-11.00 p.m., €22.50
Fri. 1st: Water Tower (USA), The White Horse, Ballincollig, Co. Cork
Fri. 1st: Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms Country Band, Levis" Corner House, Main St., Ballydehob, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m.
Fri. 1st-Sun. 3rd: Earl Scruggs Music Festival, Mill Springs, NC
Sat. 2nd: Water Tower (USA), Levis Corner House, Ballydehob, Co. Cork
Sat. 2nd: Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Country Band, Séamus Ennis Arts Center, Main St., Naul village, Co. Dublin, 8.00 p.m. [Outdoor seated event under the iconic TSEAC canopy; full bar, food and snacks available]
Sun. 3rd: Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Country Band, Balor Arts Centre, Main St., Ballybofey, Co. Donegal, 8.00 p.m.
Mon. 4th: Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Country Band, TBD, Co. Sligo. 8.00 p.m.
Tues. 5th: Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Country Band, The Red Room , Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, 7.00 p.m.
Wed. 6th: Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Country Band, The Cobblestone, 77 King St. North, Smithfield, Dublin, 8.00 p.m.
Fri. 8th-Sun. 10th: Trafaria Bluegrass Festival, Portugal
Fri. 8th: Yonder Boys (USA/AUS/CHL), Séamus Ennis Arts Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin
Sat. 9th: Yonder Boys (USA/AUS/CHL), Monroe's, Galway city
Sun. 10th: Yonder Boys (USA/AUS/CHL), Mullarkey's, Clifden, Co. Galway
Tues. 12th-Tues. 26th: US picker Matt Bruno in Scotland and Ireland, looking for jams and places to pick
Wed. 13th: Yonder Boys (USA/AUS/CHL), The Sunflower, Belfast
Fri. 15th: Yonder Boys (USA/AUS/CHL), Bennigan's, Derry city
Sat. 16th: Yonder Boys (USA/AUS/CHL), Balor Arts Centre, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal
Sat. 16th: Watery Hill Boys, The Moorings, 156 Derrylin Rd, Bellanaleck, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh BT92 2BA, 8.00-10.30 p.m.
Sun. 17th: Yonder Boys (USA/AUS/CHL), The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Sun. 17th: Two Time Polka, Crane Lane Theatre, Cork city, midnight-2.00 a.m., adm. free
Thurs. 21st-Sun. 24th: Yonder Boys (USA/AUS/CHL), Clonakilty Guitar Festival, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
Fri. 22nd-Sun. 24th: 13th Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival, Moniaive, Dumfries & Ayrshire, Scotland; Bashed Potatoes (D); The Fountaineers; Martha Spencer and Archer (USA); Blue Lass; Rain of Animals
Fri. 22nd: Two Time Polka, Culture Night, Old Market Bar, Bandon, Co. Cork, 9.45-11.15 p/m., adm. free (but a ticket is required for entry. Booking link - FREE tickets)
Sat. 23rd: Two Time Polka, Blue Haven, Kinsale, Co. Cork, 10 p.m.-midnight, adm. free
Tues. 26th-Sat. 30th: International Bluegrass Music Association World Of Bluegrass (IBMA WOB), Raleigh, NC
OCTOBER 2023
Sun. 1st: Two Time Polka, Crane Lane Theatre, Cork city, midnight-2.00 a.m., adm. free (part of Cork Folk Festival)
Sun. 8th: Two Time Polka, ZydecoSwamp, Molenstraat 58a, Raamsdonk, the Netherlands, 7.00-8.30 p.m. Doors 2.30 p.m.. adm. €7.50
Fri. 20th: Level Best (USA), The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Sat. 21st: Level Best (USA), The Beehive Bar, Ardara, Co. Donegal
Sun. 22nd: Level Best (USA), The Moorings, Bellanaleck, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh
Tues. 24th: Level Best (USA), Gleeson's Bar, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare
Wed. 25th: Level Best (USA), Richhill Castle Marquee, Richhill, Co. Armagh
Thurs. 26th: Level Best (USA), Matt Molloy’s, Bridge St., Westport, Co. Mayo
Thurs. 26th: The Local Honeys (USA), The Sound House, Dublin, 7.30 p.m.
Thurs. 26th-Fri. 27th: 15th Red Wine Bluegrass Party, Teatro della Tosse, Sala Agorà/La Claque, Piazza Renato Negri, Genova (Genoa), Italy, 9.30 p.m.
Fri. 27th: Level Best (USA), Sligo Bus Station, 3.00 p.m. (part of Sligo Live International Music Festival); Knocknashee Community Hub, Lavagh, Tobercurry, Co. Sligo, F56 W744 (evening show)
Fri. 27th: The Local Honeys (USA), Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo town, with Niall McCabe
Sat. 28th: Level Best (USA), Richhill Apple Fayre, Richhill, Co. Armagh
NOVEMBER 2023
Wed. 1st: The Dead South (CAN), Ulster Hall, Belfast, 7.00 p.m.
Thurs. 2nd: The Dead South (CAN), Vicar Street, Dublin, 7.00 p.m.
Thurs. 2nd-Sun. 5th: 26th Annual Banjo Gathering, Birthplace of Country Music Museum and Sessions Hotel, Bristol, TN/VA
Thurs. 9th-Sat. 11th: Industrial Strength Bluegrass Festival, Wilmington, OH
JANUARY 2024
Sat. 13th: Earl Scruggs 100th Birthday Celebration, Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN: Bela Fleck, Jim Mills, Charlie Cushman, Gina Britt, Tony Trischka, Alison Brown, Earls of Leicester, Del McCoury, Sam Bush, Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan, Justin Moses. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Thurs. 18th-Sun. 4th: Celtic Connections festival, Glasgow, Scotland; programme includes Chris Thile, Molly Tuttle, Sarah Jarosz, Kaia Kater, Natalie Haas, Alison Brown, Tim O'Brien, Béla Fleck & ‘My Bluegrass Heart’, Transatlantic Sessions, many more
Wed. 24th-Sun. 28th: TradFest 2024, Temple Bar district, Dublin 2; artists include Alison Brown, Aoife O'Donovan, Kaia Kater, Shane Hennessy, more TBA
FEBRUARY 2024
Fri. 2nd-Sun. 4th: Ardara Bluegrass Festival, Ardara, Co. Donegal: East Nash Grass (USA), other acts TBA; tickets from Pat McGill, 087 6900 714
MARCH 2024
Sat. 16th: New single and video, 'Across the pond' from JigJam
Sat. 16th: Two Time Polka, outdoor, Blarney, Co. Cork. from midday
Sun. 17th: Two Time Polka, Crane Lane Theatre, Phoenix St., Cork city, 2.00 p.m.; Canty’s Bar, Pembroke St., Cork city, 7.30 p.m.
Fri. 22nd: Bela Fleck on Deering Live
Wed. 27th: JigJam on Deering Live (watch on YouTube
Sat. 30th: I Draw Slow with support, Whelan's Main Venue, Dublin 2; tickets
APRIL 2004
Sun. 7th: Two Time Polka, Crane Lane Theatre, Phoenix St, Cork city, from midnight
Mon. 15th: Two Time Polka release new CD Border radio
Thurs. 25th-Sat. 4th May: Joachim Cooder with Rayna Gellert (fiddle), tour of Ireland: Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast, 25th; Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart, 26th; Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, 27th; Dolans Upstairs, Limerick, 28th; Matt Molloy's, Westport, 29th; Campbell's, Headford, 30th; Whelan's main venue, Wexford St., Dublin, May 1st, 8.00-10.45 p.m., €30.00; Cyprus Avenue, cork, May 2nd; Connolly's. Leap, May 3rd; Kilkenny Roots Festival, 4th May
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MAY 2024
Fri. 3rd-Sat. 4th: 20th International Bühl Bluegrass-Festival, Bühl/Baden, Germany
Fri. 3rd-Mon. 6th: Bluegrass Omagh 2024, Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone; Nothin' Fancy (USA), Thomas Cassell (USA), Milkeaters (CZ), Rookie Riot (SE), Pilgrim St (IRL)
Fri. 3rd-Mon. 6th: 26th Kilkenny Roots Festival
Sat. 4th: Two Time Polka, The Left Bank, The Parade, Kilkenny city, 4.00 p.m.; Billy Byrnes, John St. Upper, Kilkenny city. 10.00 p.m. (part of 26th Kilkenny Roots Festival)
Sun. 5th: Two Time Polka, The Shebeen Bar, New Market St., Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry, 11.00 p.m., €10 (part of Cahersiveen Mountain Roots Music Festival)
Sat. 18th: Two Time Polka, Cherrytree Bar, Walkinstown, Dublin, 9.00 p.m., tickets
Sun. 19th: Two Time Polka, The Nest, Coughlans Bar, Douglas St. Cork, 6.00 p.m., tickets
JUNE 2024
Fri. 7th-Sun. 9th: 18th Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Westport, Co. Mayo: Martha Spencer & the Wonderland Country Band (USA), The Wayfarers (USA), Remedy Tree (USA), Pauline Scanlon (IRL), Zoe & Cloyd (USA), East Tennessee State University Bluegrass Band (USA), Big Chimney Barn-Dance (USA), Hackney Hill Pickers (UK), The Folly Brothers (UK), Late for the Train (USA), The Lois & Clark Expedition (USA), The Rocky Top String Band (IRL), Tim Rogers (IRL)
Sat. 21st: Level Best (USA), The Beehive Bar, Ardara, Co. Donegal
Sun. 22nd: Level Best (USA), The Moorings, Bellanaleck, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh
Tues. 24th: Level Best (USA), Gleeson's Bar, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare
Wed. 25th: Level Best (USA), Richhill Castle Marquee, Richhill, Co. Armagh
Thurs. 26th: Level Best (USA), Matt Molloy’s, Bridge St., Westport, Co. Mayo
Thurs. 26th: The Local Honeys (USA), The Sound House, Dublin, 7.30 p.m.
Thurs. 26th-Fri. 27th: 15th Red Wine Bluegrass Party, Teatro della Tosse, Sala Agorà/La Claque, Piazza Renato Negri, Genova (Genoa), Italy, 9.30 p.m.
Fri. 27th: Level Best (USA), Sligo Bus Station, 3.00 p.m. (part of Sligo Live International Music Festival); Knocknashee Community Hub, Lavagh, Tobercurry, Co. Sligo, F56 W744 (evening show)
Fri. 27th: The Local Honeys (USA), Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo town, with Niall McCabe
Sat. 28th: Level Best (USA), Richhill Apple Fayre, Richhill, Co. Armagh
NOVEMBER 2023
Wed. 1st: The Dead South (CAN), Ulster Hall, Belfast, 7.00 p.m.
Thurs. 2nd: The Dead South (CAN), Vicar Street, Dublin, 7.00 p.m.
Thurs. 2nd-Sun. 5th: 26th Annual Banjo Gathering, Birthplace of Country Music Museum and Sessions Hotel, Bristol, TN/VA
Thurs. 9th-Sat. 11th: Industrial Strength Bluegrass Festival, Wilmington, OH
JANUARY 2024
Sat. 13th: Earl Scruggs 100th Birthday Celebration, Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN: Bela Fleck, Jim Mills, Charlie Cushman, Gina Britt, Tony Trischka, Alison Brown, Earls of Leicester, Del McCoury, Sam Bush, Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan, Justin Moses. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Thurs. 18th-Sun. 4th: Celtic Connections festival, Glasgow, Scotland; programme includes Chris Thile, Molly Tuttle, Sarah Jarosz, Kaia Kater, Natalie Haas, Alison Brown, Tim O'Brien, Béla Fleck & ‘My Bluegrass Heart’, Transatlantic Sessions, many more
Wed. 24th-Sun. 28th: TradFest 2024, Temple Bar district, Dublin 2; artists include Alison Brown, Aoife O'Donovan, Kaia Kater, Shane Hennessy, more TBA
FEBRUARY 2024
Fri. 2nd-Sun. 4th: Ardara Bluegrass Festival, Ardara, Co. Donegal: East Nash Grass (USA), other acts TBA; tickets from Pat McGill, 087 6900 714
MARCH 2024
Sat. 16th: New single and video, 'Across the pond' from JigJam
Sat. 16th: Two Time Polka, outdoor, Blarney, Co. Cork. from midday
Sun. 17th: Two Time Polka, Crane Lane Theatre, Phoenix St., Cork city, 2.00 p.m.; Canty’s Bar, Pembroke St., Cork city, 7.30 p.m.
Fri. 22nd: Bela Fleck on Deering Live
Wed. 27th: JigJam on Deering Live (watch on YouTube
Sat. 30th: I Draw Slow with support, Whelan's Main Venue, Dublin 2; tickets
APRIL 2004
Sun. 7th: Two Time Polka, Crane Lane Theatre, Phoenix St, Cork city, from midnight
Mon. 15th: Two Time Polka release new CD Border radio
Thurs. 25th-Sat. 4th May: Joachim Cooder with Rayna Gellert (fiddle), tour of Ireland: Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast, 25th; Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart, 26th; Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, 27th; Dolans Upstairs, Limerick, 28th; Matt Molloy's, Westport, 29th; Campbell's, Headford, 30th; Whelan's main venue, Wexford St., Dublin, May 1st, 8.00-10.45 p.m., €30.00; Cyprus Avenue, cork, May 2nd; Connolly's. Leap, May 3rd; Kilkenny Roots Festival, 4th May
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MAY 2024
Fri. 3rd-Sat. 4th: 20th International Bühl Bluegrass-Festival, Bühl/Baden, Germany
Fri. 3rd-Mon. 6th: Bluegrass Omagh 2024, Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone; Nothin' Fancy (USA), Thomas Cassell (USA), Milkeaters (CZ), Rookie Riot (SE), Pilgrim St (IRL)
Fri. 3rd-Mon. 6th: 26th Kilkenny Roots Festival
Sat. 4th: Two Time Polka, The Left Bank, The Parade, Kilkenny city, 4.00 p.m.; Billy Byrnes, John St. Upper, Kilkenny city. 10.00 p.m. (part of 26th Kilkenny Roots Festival)
Sun. 5th: Two Time Polka, The Shebeen Bar, New Market St., Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry, 11.00 p.m., €10 (part of Cahersiveen Mountain Roots Music Festival)
Sat. 18th: Two Time Polka, Cherrytree Bar, Walkinstown, Dublin, 9.00 p.m., tickets
Sun. 19th: Two Time Polka, The Nest, Coughlans Bar, Douglas St. Cork, 6.00 p.m., tickets
JUNE 2024
Fri. 7th-Sun. 9th: 18th Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Westport, Co. Mayo: Martha Spencer & the Wonderland Country Band (USA), The Wayfarers (USA), Remedy Tree (USA), Pauline Scanlon (IRL), Zoe & Cloyd (USA), East Tennessee State University Bluegrass Band (USA), Big Chimney Barn-Dance (USA), Hackney Hill Pickers (UK), The Folly Brothers (UK), Late for the Train (USA), The Lois & Clark Expedition (USA), The Rocky Top String Band (IRL), Tim Rogers (IRL)
Thurs. 13th: Jake Blount, Mussenden Temple, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry
Fri. 14th: Jake Blount, Market Place Theatre, Armagh city
Sat. 15th: Jake Blount, Strule Arts Centre, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Sun. 16th: Jake Blount, Black Box, Belfast, 7.00 p.m.
Fri. 28th-Sun. 30th: Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; very distinguished lineup
JULY 2024
Wed. 31st-Sun. 4th Aug.: Bluegrass in La Roche, La Roche-sur-Foron, Haute Savoie, France; full schedule
AUGUST 2024
Fri. 30th-Sat. 1st Sept.: Earl Scruggs Music Festival, Mill Spring, North Carolina, USA
SEPTEMBER 2024
Tues. 24th-Sat. 28th: IBMA WOrld Of Bluegrass, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
5 Comments:
The Horsenecks touring Dec 6-15th nad @ Cobblestone on the 12th are from Portland Oregon and play Old Time Stringband music on 5 Str, Fiddle & G - TMI?
Any blue grass in Dublin in November/ December?
If there is to be any, no public announcement of it has yet (7 Nov.) been made. The likeliest place to see news of bluegrass activity in Dublin is the Dublin Bluegrass Collective Facebook - see the BIB's sidebar. If the BIB receives any news, it will go on our calendar, with a corresponding post on the front page.
BIB editor
Thank you Richard for so many years of your Blog we will miss you. Micheal Murphy
Thanks, Michael!
BIB editor (retired)
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