8th Wexford Hooves 'n' Grooves Festival, 7-9 July

Thanks to Senan O'Reilly, Festival organiser, who says: 'This year’s Wexford Hooves ‘n’ Grooves Festival, the 8th in the series, will once again bring a carnival atmosphere to Wexford town with a winning mix of racing and music... And remember most of the gigs are free!'

For the magnificent full line-up, visit the Festival website. Among the many other acts, from blues, funk, and folk-rock to Balkan folk, the bluegrass/old-time-related ones are as follows (in Senan's words):

'Cajun specialists Two Time Polka will be bringing a touch of Louisiana mayhem to the streets... From across the water come Roots & Galoots and Buffalo Gals with their infectious, foot-stompin', fast-pickin' bluegrass and old country music. Gary Ferguson and David Miner from the USA include dates in Wexford as part of a national tour. Ferguson, a bluegrass stalwart, has a wealth of American civil war songs in his repertoire.'

The venues at which to catch these acts are:

Maggie May's, Monck Street, Wexford; 053 9145776.
Fri. - Buffalo Gals
Sat. - Gary Ferguson and David Miner (6 p.m.)

Centenary Stores, Charlotte Street, Wexford; 053 9124424.
Sun. - Two Time Polka (5 p.m.)

Wexford Arts Centre, Cornmarket, Wexford; 053 9123764.
Sun. - Roots 'n' Galoots with Gary Ferguson and David Miner - brunch session (1 p.m.)

Thomas Moore, Cornmarket, Wexford; 053 9124348.
Fri. - Roots & Galoots
Sat. - Buffalo Gals
Sun. - Gary Ferguson and David Miner (9 p.m.)

Finegan's, South Main Street, Wexford; 053 9121578.
Sat. - Two Time Polka (10 p.m.)

The John Barry, The Quays, Wexford; 053 9123143.
Fri. - Gary Ferguson and David Miner
Sat. - Roots & Galoots

Riverbank Hotel, Ferrybank, Wexford; 053 9124424.
Sun. - Buffalo Gals (3.30 p.m.)

Wren’s Nest, The Quays, Wexford; 053 9123359.
Sat. - Roots & Galoots (2 p.m.)

Prison Love and Brayvista at Whelans, 30 June

Hurricane Barry of Prison Love reports:

Howdy y'all!

This Friday, 30 June, sees a first in Ireland, with two proven live acts combining to give you a unique taste of Americana.

Whelans of Wexford St., Dublin, will seal all exits as roots retrobates Prison Love take to the stage with their brand of bluegrass, Cajun, old-time, & gospel.

Then prepare to be won over by dustbowl troubadours Brayvista, who will bring you Nashville-inspired original country music all the way from Wicklow County.

Doors 8.00 p.m. €15 cover... or in advance from the WAV Ticketbox on Camden Row, tel.1890 200 078. Be good, and see you at the show!

BIB editor's note: Prison Love and Brayvista are two more examples of artists with 'myspace' sites: www.myspace.com/prisonloveband and www.myspace.com/brayvista.

'My Space'; further adherents

After Vincent Cross's announcement of his 'My Space' site back in April, two further musicians on the scene here have taken up Their Spaces: Colin Henry and Janet Holmes. In Janet's case, this is in addition to her already existing and neat-looking website. On the latter, Janet recently announced: 'I aim to get back to the studio soon and I hope to have Jonathan Toman record some banjo for me. Jonathan is a super player on both banjo and guitar and writes some great songs with his musical partner Stevie Scullion. Check out their website and their new EP.'

Special Consensus tour, 10-28 January 2007

Good news never comes too early. The Special Consensus will be returning to Ireland in January for their eighth tour since 1995. Last year the band celebrated thirty years of continuous existence under Greg Cahill's leadership, and Greg joined the team of leading players who endorse Huber banjos.

Thanks to Nigel Martyn, the tour schedule at present is:

10 Jan. - OPEN
11 Jan. - OPEN
12 Jan. - Naul, Co. Dublin; Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre
13 Jan. - Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare; McGregor's (Sixmilebridge Folk Club Winter Music Weekend)
14 Jan. - Listowel, Co. Kerry; St John's Arts Centre
15 Jan. - Kilworth, Co. Cork; Arts Centre
16 Jan. - TBC
17 Jan. - Lurgan, Co. Armagh; Mount Zion House
[18-21 January - shows in Scotland and England]
23 Jan. - OPEN
24 Jan. - OPEN
25 Jan. - Grange, Co. Sligo; Barry's Public House
26 Jan. - Armagh; Marketplace Arts Centre
27 Jan. - Athy, Co. Kildare; Carleton Abbey Hotel
28 Jan. - Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford; Colfer's (Colfer's Bluegrass Day)

Greg reports: 'Tres [Nugent; bass] will be leaving the band to move back to Louisiana to live with his mother and work on an offshore oil rig. We are all quite amazed that he will actually attempt to hold a "real" job, and a difficult one at that. Not to worry - we have an excellent replacement in David Thomas, a young high-and-lonesome-singing bass player from Alabama, just over the Alabama-Tennessee state line and about 80 minutes or so from Nashville. And Ron [Spears; mandolin, lead vocals] is in the process of moving from Salt Lake City to Nashville - he will be an official Nashvillian by the end of this month.'

Coastline Bluegrass Festival: report!

Aran Sheehan reports:

Thought I’d fill you in on how the Coastline Bluegrass Festival in Llandudno, Wales, went.

It was the first year of the festival and we were blessed with fine weather. The whole event is on a visitor farm with llamas, snowy owls, peacocks, and various other beasties. Everything is self-contained with concert space, jamming areas, food, real ale, camping, and toilet facilities all on the one site. There was a lovely friendly atmosphere with picking sessions all over the place with some fine musicians. There were also workshops and I attended the mandolin one, which was very helpful (could do with a couple hundred more of those). All of this was complemented by the fact we had beautiful views of the sea and Welsh coastline and we were nowhere near a road or any other noise pollution. So: a very relaxing place to get away from it all. I may be back next year.

Aran also supplied the following photos from the festival:


A focused bassist: Cian Gill of the Kevin & Geraldine Gill Band


Geraldine & Kevin themselves


A solid wall of F-style mandolinists: Bill Titley, Aran Sheehan, Donal Gill, unidentified

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Dee Hallett of the British Bluegrass Music Association reports: 'The committee responsible for organising the recent Coastline Bluegrass Event that took place at Bodafon Farm Park, Llandudno, North Wales, emailed; "The EVENT turned into the most glorious weekend with a real gathering of some of the most talented 'pickers' in the UK. The setting was superb, the atmosphere 'electric', and the sun shone (did it ever!) With so many favourable comments, what else can we do - only do a repeat next year! Many thanks to all those who turned up to help make the EVENT such a success and we hope they'll tell their friends all about it." Check out their website.'

Gary Ferguson tour, 27 June-12 July

Gary Ferguson, the first-class singer/songwriter who toured Ireland last summer with Gail Wade, is touring this year with David Miner on resonator guitar. Full details of the tour are now posted on the BIB calendar and in the latest issue of Bluegrass Ireland.

Bluegrass Ireland, June 2006 [+ correction]

The latest number of Bluegrass Ireland has just been issued. As well as items that have appeared on the BIB, it includes the reason why the delights of Amsterdam include top-class mandolin, guitar, and banjo instruction, and a review of the new CD by the Blue Grass Boogiemen, stars of this year's Dunmore East Festival. Annual subscription: 15 euros or £10 sterling, payable to the Irish Bluegrass Music Club. Contact the editor.

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NOTE: Instead of the 'phone number that appears in this issue for Paul van Vlodrop, founder of 4 Wheel Drive, please substitute +31 (0)622 824251. The other facts about Paul (that he gives mandolin, guitar, and banjo lessons at the long-established Hampe’s music store on the Spui, right in the city centre, is widely considered the best bluegrass mandolinist in Europe, and is outstanding on banjo and guitar) remain unchanged. Thanks to Dee Hallett of the BBMA and to Bruno van Hoek for the correct number.

Double award for 4 Wheel Drive at EWOB 2006

The Ninth European World of Bluegrass (EWOB) Festival took place on 25-7 May in Voorthuizen, the Netherlands, its permanent location, under the auspices of the European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA). The full EBMA press release on the EWOB Festival and the many other events of EWOB 2006 can be found on the EBMA website or here.

In this year's professional band awards at Voorthuizen, the title of #1 European Bluegrass Band 2006 went to the Mideando String Quintet (Italy), a vividly original acoustic music group whose talents have carried them a long way from the parameters of classic bluegrass. The #3 place went to a solid, crisp bluegrass band, again from Italy, Bononia Grass. But the #2 place went to 4 Wheel Drive (Netherlands), a favourite with Irish audiences since their appearance at the 2001 Athy Festival, from which they went on to win the title of #1 European Bluegrass Band 2002. They also gained the #1 place in the 2006 Audience Popularity Awards, and will therefore be appearing at the Athy Festival (together with other dates in Ireland in mid July; see the BIB calendar) with the well deserved rank of a multi-award-winning band.

The #2 place in the Audience Popularity Awards went to the Blue Grass Boogiemen (Netherlands), whose many visits to Ireland began at the Dunmore East Festival in 1997; they will star there again this August. Their new CD, released earlier this year, is enthusiastically reviewed in June issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine. The #3 place went to Rawhide (Belgium), who in your editor's view deserved an award long ago for their musicianship, powerful vocals, sense of humour, and ability to hold an audience's attention.

This year's EWOB Festival was the first to feature two bands from Ireland, both of whom earned enthusiastic receptions. Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens (Ireland), #1 European Bluegrass Band 2005, will represent Europe at the IBMA's World of Bluegrass Fan Fest at Nashville, TN, in September 2006, where they'll also be showcasing at the Business Conference and beginning work on recording their second CD; while the energy and joie de vivre of Prison Love made a big impact in the twenty-minute set plus encore which all European bands receive.

Randy Waller & the Country Gentlemen (USA) headed the bill with a show that was the nearest thing to seeing a bluegrass legend reincarnated. Randy sings very like his father Charlie, plays more lead guitar, and presented a programme almost entirely composed of classic Country Gentlemen material, which revealed how innovative the Gents really were; much of it would still be considered avant-garde for a bluegrass band today if the Gents had not done it thirty or forty years ago. The Festival audience, however, had a particularly warm welcome for the Hunger Mountain Boys (USA), a duo in the style of the 1930s and early '40s, with spirit, wit, and uncompromising attitude. I can see a lot of their 'Nashville Keep Your Hands Off My Country Music' T-shirts being worn at IBMA week in September.

BASSES WANTED!

Not one but two upright basses are needed for use by overseas artists appearing at the 12th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival at Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, on 24-27 August. If you can help, please contact the festival organiser, Mick Daly, Ballymabin, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, by mobile (+353 (0)87 256 2899) or via this link.

Vern Williams

Vern Williams, singer, mandolinist, bandleader, and icon of traditional bluegrass in California since the 1950s, died on 6 June. Laurie Lewis, who played bass for Vern during 1979-80, recalls: 'Asked at a workshop once about what it takes to sing bluegrass, Vern replied: "You've got to spill your guts on stage. And then walk in them." Vern sang like a siren, a car horn, a bugling elk, a big leather bellows, rearing back away from the mic and blasting through the band with his high tenor. He sang the great old songs, with a penchant for Stephen Foster and Carter Family material. He always had an interesting and varied repertoire, full of beautiful gems that nobody else was singing.'

For Laurie's other memories of Vern, see her website.

'A taste of bluegrass heaven...'

Press release

15th Annual Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival 2006

Annually thousands of visitors make the pilgrimage to the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, for the award-winning Annual Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival. The event has just been voted Event of The Year in the Northern Ireland Tourism Awards sponsored by Norfolk Line. This is the largest festival of its kind in Europe and is taking place from 1st to 3rd September 2006. World-renowned musicians and dancers from all over the world will be performing in the unique setting of the outdoor museum.

The Festival celebrates the trans-Atlantic migration of music, song, and dance and a shared musical heritage that explores the huge contribution emigrants from these islands have made to the evolution of American folk music.

2006's packed Festival programme will include 'Bluegrass in the Park' afternoon sessions, evening concerts in the Festival marquee, Bluegrass Camp for Kids, the Sunday 'Spirit of Bluegrass' evening gospel concert, as well as music workshops and lectures.

Direct from the USA & Europe, performers booked include: Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the Wilders, Bearfoot Bluegrass, the Buffalo Gals, Grassroots, Roll's Boys, the Mideando String Quintet (#1 European Bluegrass Band 2006), Beansprouts, Blue Railroad Train, and Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens (#1 European Bluegrass Band 2005) as well as many more…

This project is supported by EU programmes for Peace & Reconciliation. The Ulster American Folk Park is part of the National Museums of Northern Ireland. For further details and ticket information, please telephone the Ulster American Folk Park on 028 8224 3292 or check out the website.

Airfield presents 'Urban roots: Hoe Down on the Ranch', 23-25 June

Press release:

Dublin's first roots festival will take place from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 June at Airfield in Dundrum. With the tag line 'Country Heart, City Home' and as the city's last remaining working urban farm, Airfield provides a perfect backdrop for music encompassing Appalachian, Cajun, bluegrass, blues, gospel, old-time, and rockabilly.

On midsummer weekend in the badlands of south Dublin, Airfield'll be throwin' open the gates o' the ranch to a posse of buckaroos, gringos, curly wolves, locos, and long riders, in addition to a couple of copperheads from the north side and maybe a few mail-order cowboys from south city, even some Wicklow hillbillies.

It's going to be a regular hog-killin' time; with barbecues on-the-go there'll be plenty of chow. You can grab a root and bend an elbow till yer fuller than a tick. There'll be buskers, barn dances in the Grey barn, acoustic sessions in old Mr Overend's billiard room, and a late-night Rockin' Blues Hoe Down in da House. In short the music's goin' be sharper than an Arkansas toothpick and hotter than a snake's ass in a wagon rut. No high-falutin, just a good ol' fashioned fandango!

Rough Deal String Band
8 p.m. Friday 23 June: €10 / €7
A blazing set of Cajun & Appalachian from a passionate old-time string-band

Frankie Lane & Paul Kelly
6 p.m. Saturday 24 June: €10 / €7
'Their playing has passion & soul, their performance together is electrifying!' Irish Times

Clem O'Brien Band
8 p.m. Saturday 24 June €10 / €7

D.J. Markey V.
10 p.m. Saturday 24 June: €5
Hoe Down in da House with the very best of Rockin' Blues Sounds

Prison Love
3 p.m. Sunday 25 June: €5
These Dublin fugitives are above the law of averages & will rock your roots with passionate bluegrass, old-time, gospel, and Cajun - no holds barred.

The Tennessee Hob Two-Step
6 p.m. Sunday 25 June: €10 / €7
'O brother'-style duo harmonies, virtuoso guitar & banjo picking

Hill of beans: Saturday Pass €17 / Whole kit & caboodle: Weekend Pass €33

Airfield, Upper Kilmacud Road, Dundrum, Dublin 14

Tickets available in advance: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday, from the ticket kiosk at Airfield; 'phone (01) 298 4301; e-mail this link.

Blue Railroad Train in Ireland, August-September

Back in March, we heard from James Field, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Blue Railroad Train, and have since had the pleasure of meeting him at the EWOB Festival in the Netherlands. James wrote: 'The band includes some of the finest players in France: Jean-Marie Redon on banjo, Thierry Lecocq on mandolin and fiddle, and Philippe Perrard flatpicking lead guitar. We played at Dunmore East last year and have been invited back again this year, to which we just added a booking for the Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival in Omagh. After those two festivals, we will head for the States to attend IBMA's World of Bluegrass and then play the Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival in early October.'

Thanks to John Meegan, Blue Railroad Train will also be playing in Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, on Thursday 31 August. They would still be glad of another booking to help cover the expenses of staying in Ireland between the two festivals. This is an outstanding band both vocally and instrumentally, hard-driving, composed of some of the most experienced bluegrass musicians outside the USA, and with a great repertoire. If you can offer them a show, please contact James at this link, by post at 14 rue des Acacias, 75017 Paris, France, or by phone: +33 (0)1 45 74 08 67; mobile +33 (0)6 14 83 94 51.

Downloadable Bluegrass Patriots

Terry Turner reports that there are free mp3 tracks to download on the Bluegrass Patriots website; so anyone who hasn't yet heard this splendid band can get a taste of them before they appear as headliners at the Athy Festival and elsewhere in Ireland during July (see the BIB calendar for full tour details).

Fair City Grass anniversary gig: report

Aran Sheehan reports:

The birthday gig in Mother Reilly's last week [24 May] was a great night. The evening was well attended by fans and supporters. Finger food was also laid on for everyone so nobody went hungry and it added to the congeniality of the evening. Fair City Grass played their first set, which included classics such as 'There’s more pretty girls than one' and 'Red-haired boy'. After the first set we were invited to take the stage for a couple of numbers with our emerging outfit, the New City Pickers, with Carey (USA) on upright bass, myself on mandolin, Conor (originally with Fair City Grass but now taken to the high seas) on banjo, and Eddie Walshe from Fair City Grass on guitar. This was very well received and followed into the second set by the residents, with Connor staying on stage to compliment Paddy with double banjos which was very nicely done with subtly different interpretations of some great numbers including 'Pig in a pen' and 'The old home place'. Andrew Basquille then joined the band on vocals for a wonderful version of 'Fly away', which was a real crowd pleaser. All in all it was a night of good old bluegrass with a great atmosphere, and well done to the boys for being the longest-running regular bluegrass gig in our fair city.