The Old Yellers: Irish tour, 8 Nov. - Dec.

Thanks to Michael Berly of the Old Yellers from Portland, Oregon (home of the Foghorn Stringband) for the news that the Old Yellers will be touring Ireland from 8 November to 4 December, with a brief interlude in the Netherlands and Germany.

Michael (guitar, vocals) adds: 'We play Americana, bluegrass, folk, and lots of original music. You can see us, hear us, and see our tour dates at our site. We will be travelling with four people, bass, guitars, washboard.'

The Old Yellers list the Foghorns, the Rough Deal String Band, and Bill Monroe among their many varied influences. Contact them at this link.

The tour dates are as follows:

Wed. Nov. 8th: The Cobblestone, Smithfield, Dublin, 8:00 p.m.

Thurs. 9th: Mourne Grange, Kilkeel, Co. Down, 7:00 p.m.

Fri. 10th: Wicklow Arms, Delgany, Co. Wicklow, 8:00 p.m.

Sat. 11th: Lynham's of Laragh, Glendalough, Co. Wicklow, 8:00 p.m.

Sun. 12th: The Bridge, Wicklow town, Co. Wicklow, 8:00 p.m.

Tues. 14th: Wexford Song Club, Wexford town, 8:00 p.m.

Thurs. 16th: Yukon Bar/The Stables, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, 8:00 p.m.

Fri. 17th: The Crane Bar, Galway city, 8:00 p.m.

Sat. 18th: Debarras Folk Club, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, 8:00 p.m.

Thurs. 23rd: Lynham's of Laragh, Glendalough, Co. Wicklow, 8:00 p.m.

Fri. 24th: The Cobblestone, Smithfield, Dublin, 8:00 p.m.

Sat. 25th: Butler's, Wexford town, 8:00 p.m.

Sun. 26th: The Bridge, Wicklow town, Co. Wicklow (TBC)

Tues. 28th: Mulligan's Music Bar, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 8:00 p.m.

Wed. 29th: Mulligan's Music Bar, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 10:00 p.m.

Thurs. 30th: (TBA) Munich, Germany

Mon. Dec. 4th: The Cobblestone, Smithfield, Dublin, 8:00 p.m.

Meeting a legend

Charlie Louvin and Vincent Cross

Vincent reports:

'New York continues to provide great chances to meet the legends. Last night I had the great honor of meeting Charlie Louvin of the Louvin Brothers. A very quick-witted man, who had many stories to tell. As you probably know, I cover one of their tunes 'Cash on the barrel head', which I had learnt from the secondary source Gram Parsons.

'Playing with a few bands here, which helps as there are so many talented people. I've put some home recordings on my myspace page of some original songs, in the bluegrass vein, if any one is interested.'

Vincent adds the welcome news that Buddy Merriam, who last brought his solid, hard-driving band Backroads here at the beginning of 2006, will be returning in May 2007.

Sully's Banjos at Midlands Banjo Festival (UK), 11 Nov.

Tony Sullivan ('Sully'), performer, teacher, recording artist, and supplier through Halshaw Music of banjos and everything connected with them, reports that the Midlands Banjo Festival will be held from 12 noon to 10.30 p.m. on Saturday 11 November 2006 at the Bretby Conference Centre, Bretby Business Park, Ashby Road (A511), Burton on Trent, Staffordshire DE15 0YZ, England. Admission £5.00. The organiser is Reg Stranks ('phone +44 (0)1924 863 614; for accommodation, ring +44 (0)1283 553 440 or e-mail.

The annual Midland Banjo Fest (MBF), now entering its eighth year, is becoming the largest banjo festival for all styles of banjo in the UK. The MBF features many styles of banjo: plectrum, fingerstyle, tenor, Irish, bluegrass, clawhammer, and ukulele, performed by professional, semi-professional, and amateur players. Within reason, any banjo player wishing to play a 5-15 minute spot can do so by pre-booking with the organiser.

Contact Sully:

Halshaw Music, 37 Catherine St., Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 6ET, England

Tel: +44 (0)1625 610849 or +44 (0)870 774 5575; fax: +44 (0)1625 267136; e-mail this link.

Memories of Dunmore East

If you were at the 12th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival at Dunmore East between 24 and 27 August, you'll appreciate a reminder of it; if you weren't, some of what you missed was videotaped by Aran Sheehan, who has now put the results on his MySpace site.

Aran's videos from Dunmore East comprise footage of Jack Danielle's String Band working up a song in rehearsal; the JDSB picking 'Shady Grove' outside the Ship, with Aran himself on mandolin; part of a late-night show by the Boxcar Preachers (heavy on atmosphere); and the Kevin & Geraldine Gill Band playing the classic instrumental 'Remington ride' in Power's bar.

Carter Brothers tour, 7-19 Nov.: UPDATE 2

Thanks to Chris Keenan for the following updated details of the tour by the Carter Brothers.

NB: if you first read these dates on 23 October, they contained a misprint which is now corrected below: the show at Manorhamilton is on the 10th, not the 9th. This correction has also been made in the BIB calendar.

Tues. 7th Nov.: live on Niall Toner's show, RTE 1, 9.00 p.m.
Wed. 8th: Athlone Folk Club (Palace Loft)
Fri. 10th: Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim
Sat. 11th: live on Shannonside Northern Sound Radio with Charlie McGettigan, 10.00 a.m.
Sun. 12th: Dolan's Warehouse (upstairs), Limerick city
Mon. 13th: Whelan's of Wexford St. (Whelan's Sitting Room), Dublin
Tues. 14th: Longford town
Wed. 15th: The Crane Bar, Galway city
Fri. 17: Sant Marti de Tous, Spain
Sun. 19th: Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth

Distinguished visitors coming VERY soon...

Tim O'Brien, honorary member of the British Bluegrass Music Association (BBMA), and recent winner of the IBMA's Male Vocalist and Song of the Year awards, is touring the UK and Ireland with Arty McGlynn in October and November. Most of his brief tour in Ireland is already past (21 Oct., the Crane Bar, Galway; 22 Oct., the Half Moon Theatre, Cork), but still remaining is Tuesday 24 Oct., Temple Bar Music Centre, Curved Street, Dublin. The remaining dates in the tour till 5 Nov. are in England and Wales.

Thanks to Dee Hallett of the BBMA for the info. Dee also writes: 'Musician/singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale is equally at home playing solid country music, rockin' country, acoustic roots and bluegrass. The multi-talented performer has a new bluegrass album, simply called Bluegrass – a follow up to his 2003 Grammy-winning Best Bluegrass Album Lost in the Lonesome Pines, with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys - and will be playing the following dates/venues. Catch him if you can - you'll be in for a real treat!' Jim's dates in Ireland are:

Oct. 26th: The Errigle Inn, Belfast
27th: The Town & Country Inn, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry
28th: The Bronte Centre, near Rathfriland, Co. Down
29th: The Patron, Downpatrick, Co. Down
30th: The Village, Dublin 2

Mandolin wizard Chris Thile, formerly of Nickel Creek (and now leading his own How to Grow a Band), will be playing the Sugar Club in Dublin on 9 November as part of his solo tour in these islands. His latest CD, How to grow a woman from the ground, is sure to be available.

Thirty-six years of Rounder Records

Rounder Records report:

Today is the 36th anniversary of the release of the first two albums on Rounder Records, 0001 George Pegram and 0002 The Spark Gap Wonder Boys.

Thirty-six years and over 3,500 albums later, the company is still owned by the three founders.

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Enda Donnelly writes: 'Would you believe I have the George Pegram album? I bought it years ago in Dublin when I was searching for American bluegrass stuff, but sadly there wasn't much of it in Ireland then. It's still in mint condition; I was captivated by it at the time!'

This week (and month) in the past

Fifty-six years ago: on 15 October 1950 Bill Monroe recorded 'Uncle Pen', and on 20 October 1950 Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs recorded 'Salty Dog blues' and 'Roll in my sweet baby's arms'. Anyone picking instruments or playing records this week might consider going over those three classics.

Fifty-five years ago next week: on 24 October 1951 Flatt & Scruggs recorded 'Earl's breakdown'.

Sixty-six years and ten days ago: on 7 October 1940 Bill Monroe recorded 'Mule skinner blues'.

All these dates, and very many more, can be found on the Bluegrass Calendar published annually by the Copper Creek record company. It's getting near time to place orders for the 2007 issue.

David Tinkoff, 4 August 1939 - 9 October 2006

Many people, including those who knew him in Ireland, will be sorry to hear that David Tinkoff of Canada died on 9 October in Saint-Vincent Hospital, Ottawa, of an internal haemorrhage. He was immobilised by severe injuries two years ago when he was hit by a car on Bank Street, close to the Ottawa Folklore Centre, where he worked part-time.

Dave grew up in Montreal listening to WWVA, one of the most influential US radio stations for bluegrass, country, and gospel music. He taught himself to play mandolin, and moved to Ottawa in the 1960s, becoming part of the folk and bluegrass scene there. He played in the bands Maple Hill, the Back 40 Band, and many others, and was widely valued for his abilities as a mandolin player and singer - a severe stutter, which hampered his speech throughout his life, had no effect on his singing.

In the early 1970s he spent some time in Dublin, taking part in jam sessions with George Kaye and others in O'Donoghue's on Merrion Row and elsewhere; and in 1999 he returned to Ireland with his good friend Ross Harvey, Canadian bluegrass broadcaster, to attend the Dunmore East and Omagh festivals. He was devoted to bluegrass music, and proud of having been dubbed 'the Coca-Cola Cowboy' by the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe. Kitsy Kuykendall of Bluegrass Unlimited, which recently celebrated forty years in publication, says: 'We believe that David was one of our earliest subscribers from Canada and were proud to count him as a subscriber all these years.'

Having faced several challenges in his life, Dave was often in severe and prolonged pain after his accident, and tributes have been paid to his fortitude and good spirit during this period. He had been in better health recently, and was able to enjoy the Ottawa Folk Festival in August.

Thanks to Ross Harvey for information; Ross attended the funeral in Montreal on 13 October, along with others from the Ottawa Valley Bluegrass Association and also members from Townships Bluegrass and the Wheel Club in Montreal. The Ottawa Citizen of 12 October reports that a musical celebration of Dave's life will be performed by several musicians on 21 October at 5.00 p.m. at Saint-Vincent Hospital, 60 Cambridge St. N.

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Enda Donnelly reports:


I was sad to hear about David's untimely death; my bluegrass friend Ivan Kelsall in Manchester, who was in constant contact with him over the years, informed me last week and included the attached picture of David in full flight. In this pic he is playing his new love, a fine Heiden mandolin made by a highly respected craftsman from British Columbia.

I met him in 1999 after he contacted me about coming over to Dunmore East; we were playing that year & he guested with us at one gig at the Ship. He had just got the new mandolin then, and we had some great pickin' testing out the merits of this fine instrument, although it had not yet been fully played in & opened up.

May he rest in peace.

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Ivan Kelsall reports:

Many thanks for publishing the article regarding my dearly missed friend, David Tinkoff.

I met David in Owensboro, Kentucky, in 1992 at the IBMA FanFest there, & we became firm friends. David came over to stay with me for three weeks in 1994 & we attended the Ironbridge Bluegrass Festival. He was a truly nice person in every way. He was honest & gentle, & in spite of a stammer that would stop a train, he made lots of friends.

I was informed by a Canadian friend of David's that he was unable to have his beloved mandolin in hospital with him. That would have been enough to drive his spirits down. He lived for his mandolin playing. He spoke far more eloquently though his playing than he ever could through speech.

David was hit by one car which threw him into the path of yet another car. I don't know to what extent he was injured; one can only assume that it was very severely. I spoke to David several times while he was in hospital, but could never have a decent conversation, for one reason or another. There was always someone around monitoring him.

Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Celebration '06

Lynwood Lunsford, former banjo-player with Jimmy Martin & the Sunny Mountain Boys and the James King Band, and now with the Misty Valley Boys, reports:

I can't find adequate words to describe the aura that surrounded this wonderful event! Taking place on 'Ground Zero' for bluegrass music, the birthplace of Bill Monroe, the Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Celebration is fast becoming THE bluegrass festival of the 21st century! I am quite certain that Bill Monroe would be extremely proud of what this event has grown to be... [read more here]

BIB editor's note: I was at the Celebration for two days in 2004; the unique setting, the great atmosphere, and the stream of solidly traditional bands on stage made it a powerful experience. Hopes were being expressed then that it would become a much bigger festival, and from Niall Toner's account of his experience there in 2005, followed by the above, it seems to be well on the way.

Colin Henry and Janet Holmes at Clonmel

Colin Henry reports:

Janet and I have a song in the final of the Clonmel Songwriting Contest in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, on 3 November.

The song is called 'New Year's Eve' and was written by us for our appearance on last year's Radio Ulster New Year's Eve party. We just decided to write a song for the particular evening and didn't really think too much about it. It was the late and great Geoff Harden who felt it was a good song, so we entered it for the competition and we have made it to the final - such are the imponderables of songwriting!

Janet and I will perform the song live at Clonmel on 3 November.

Uncle Josh remembered

Earl Scruggs, Clem O'Brien, Josh Graves, Louisville 1997

Clem O'Brien reports:

I was saddened to hear of the passing of one of my heroes, Uncle Josh. As an on-off Dobro player for fifteen years or so, he and Os were the two I always went to for a charge up if I hadn't played in a while.

As you mentioned, he and Earl were inducted to the Hall of Honor in '97 and I met them in the Galt House in Louisville just a few hours before. I was a member of Special Consensus at the time and we were at the IBMA that week. Dick Gladney has a great story of meeting both Josh and Bill Monroe at a Gibson endorsers' event at IBMA some years earlier, which he might tell you sometime.

Well, that's it for the moment. Just wanted to add my voice to those who will miss Josh.

BIB editor's note: For those who have always enjoyed Clem's too-infrequent performances on dobro, he writes: 'I'm happy to report that I will be playing more Dobro in the coming year thanks to an Artist Endorsement Deal with Paul Beard/Gold Tone. I recently took delivery of a Signature Mahogany Standard that I am very happy with.'

IBMA week: personal memories

Jonathan Toman writes:

Sitting at my desk here, it's hard to believe I was standing backstage at the Opry next to Vince Gill and had the great opportunity to present an award with the Sheerins at the IBMA awards night - it seems so far removed from what I'm doing now. Well, actually, it is! Hee, hee (sad laughter)

It was a great experience getting to take part in the IBMA week, not to mention recording in Bil VornDick's Nashville studio for a week; I'll not forget it, that's for sure. I hope to get back to IBMA next year; we were so busy, we didn't actually see that much music, ended up talking to lots of people & players: it was great! Plus we were staying a good few miles away. It would be great to stay at the Convention Centre next time.

Tried out some nice banjos with Greg Cahill - he's a sound fellow. He introduced me to a few people and helped us with getting a lend of a double bass for the duration of the trip. Some great people over there!

Barry & Holly Tashian tour, 21-23 October

Roger Ryan reports:

Bluegrass and country music specialists Barry & Holly Tashian are now regular visitors to these shores and will return again for a short tour in October. As part of their European tour they will play dates in Germany and Ireland. Dates already confirmed for Ireland are:

Sat. 21st October: Burncourt Community Centre, Burncourt, Co. Tipperary (087-9701653)
Sun. 22nd: Colfer's, Carrick-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford (087-8200986)
Mon. 23rd: Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork (087-7921771)

Kilworth is one of their favourite venues. 'This intimate venue is ideal for our type of programme', said Holly, 'and Barry & I love playing there. It's one of the few venues where you get really close to your audience. The Irish people have a great affinity for our type of music and we love coming here to perform for them. This time 'round we are bringing our friend Dimitri with us. He is our regular bass player back home and he is really looking forward to his first trip to Ireland.'

Barry & Holly Tashian were part of the Emmylou Harris band for eight years before branching out on their own as a successful duo. Apart from their performing, they are also very successful songwriters and publishers, and regularly conduct classes in harmony singing etc. at several camps throughout the States.

To date they have had three songs recorded by Daniel O'Donnell ('Ring of gold', 'Look both ways', and 'Heaven with you', which appears on his travel video), and one, 'Lucky break', by Mick Flavin.

BIB editor's note: Further details on Barry & Holly can be found here (more information is linked to this page). Holly, as spokesperson of the IBMA's Leadership Bluegrass 2006 course, addressed the Special Awards Luncheon at IBMA's World of Bluegrass in Nashville on 28 September.

Two Time Polka at the Cork Film Festival

Ray Barron reports:

TTP's music features in two short movies in this year's Cork Film Festival: Ruby La Mer delivers (made in Cork) by award-winning local film-maker Peter Gleeson, and The Puchán by Co. Laois film-maker Mark Dollard (National Shorts Competition).

Fundraiser Gig.
Tues. 24th: Cypress Avenue, Caroline St., Cork. More details to follow.

Cork Jazz Festival
Sun. 29th: Briar Rose Bar, Douglas Road, Cork. Kick-off 10.00 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 021 4291686.

Mon. 30th: Briar Rose Bar, Douglas Road, Cork. Teatime gig, 6.00 - 8.00 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 021 4291686.

Regards,
Ray and TTP

'Josh' Graves, 27 Sept. 1928 - 30 Sept. 2006

Thanks to Roger Ryan and Colin Henry for forwarding information on the sad news that Burkett Howard ('Buck' or 'Uncle Josh') Graves, father of bluegrass resophonic guitar playing, died on the morning of Saturday 30 September. Since 2000 he had had severe health problems involving the amputation of both legs, but had continued to perform with the aid of a device built for him by Eddie Adcock to enable him to hold the instrument. He entered hospital in critical condition earlier this year.

Born in Tellico Plains, Monroe County, east Tennessee, he was nicknamed 'Buck' as a child after the cowboy hero Buck Jones; he later used the name 'Uncle Josh' as part of a comedy routine (a common feature of bands at that time). Taking up guitar, mandolin, and steel-body National guitar, he worked with the Pierce Brothers, Esco Hankins, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, and Mac Wiseman before joining the Flatt & Scruggs band in 1955 as a bass player. His talent as a dobro player was soon recognised and became an essential part of the band's sound; he further developed the instrument's capability under the influence of Earl Scruggs's banjo rolls - which had themselves been influenced by the dobro playing of Pete 'Bashful Brother Oswald' Kirby with the Roy Acuff band. The later achievements of such players as Mike Auldridge and Jerry Douglas, and the current strength of the dobro in country and acoustic music, are direct results of his work.

He remained with Flatt & Scruggs till their split in 1969, when he played first with Lester Flatt & the Nashville Grass and then with the Earl Scruggs Revue. He later performed and recorded in a duo with Kenny Baker, doyen of bluegrass fiddlers, and in 1991-2 as a member of The Masters with Eddie Adcock, Jesse McReynolds, and Kenny Baker. He was in demand as a session player, and his own recordings included King of the dobro (1996), Sultan of slide (2000), and Memories of Foggy Mountain (2002). In 1992 he received an IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award in recognition of his unique contributions to bluegrass, and in 1997 he was inducted into the IBMA Hall of Honor.

Josh was to have appeared on the evening of 30 September in a 'Legends' section of the IBMA's Fan Fest at Nashville, TN. Instead, Randy Kohrs brought on stage Leroy Mack, Phil Leadbetter, Rob Ickes, and other well known dobroists, who played 'Fireball' and 'Foggy Mountain Rock' in tribute to him.


Tribute to 'Josh' Graves at IBMA Fan Fest, 30 September 2006. Photo by Carol Hawkins

For news stories, see this link. Additional information from Barry R. Willis, America's music: bluegrass (1997), and from the official website. Tributes can be found on the Bluegrass Blog.

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Apologies for changes in the dates given for Josh's year of birth, which originally appeared here as 1925. On the official website it is 1928; other sources give 1927.

The following remarks by Earl Scruggs, made before Josh's death, appear in a major interview with Earl in the September/October 2006 issue of Bluegrass Music Profiles magazine:

I always look forward to going and seeing Josh... He's always 'up' and never has pity for himself, it seems, and I always come back feeling better myself. I go to try to cheer him up but he makes me feel better. He's a prince of a guy.

Ned Evett at the Green Room, Dublin, 7 October

The Green Room, Holiday Inn Dublin City Centre, 98-107 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, presents Ned Evett on Saturday 7 October (doors open 8.00 p.m.; admission €15.00). The Green Room reports: 'Launching his new album Shine, Evett is one of the world's foremost fretless guitarists and the sumptuous sounds he seduces from his instrument's strings fuse rock and pop with jazz, blues, and soul. "Ned is the vastly entertaining master of the fretless glass-necked guitar" - USA Today'. To book, call 01-6703666 or e-mail this link.

Jeff & Vida tour: final dates

Jeff and Vida, who appeared earlier in September at the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival and other dates, are finishing their current tour in Ireland. The dates they played in the last two weeks have mostly been on the BIB calendar; the last two are:

Sat. 7th: Ballyboughal Hall, Ballyboughal, Co. Dublin. (01) 8020898. Doors open 8.30 p.m. Adm: €12.50. NB: This show is presented by the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin, and is being held at Ballyboughal in consequence of the recent fire at the Centre.

Sun. 8th: Buncrana, Co. Donegal; Rodden's Bar

For the record, dates for the rest of the tour since 22 September appear at the end of this post.

Nigel Martyn reports about J. & V.: 'Since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans they have relocated to Nashville, where they are making new waves amongst the elite of Music City with their original brand of bluegrass and Americana. The Jeff & Vida Band is one of New Orleans's best-known acoustic roots acts, performing original material from Appalachian bluegrass to alternative country. With ballads that sound like they could have been written fifty years ago and raucous barnstorming numbers that keep your feet tapping, their live shows are exciting and unique, full of humour, good music, and unforgettable songs.

'They began in bars in New Orleans in 1998 and, having toured nonstop for three years, are gaining serious acclaim and attention, taking them into the major national and international club and festival circuit. Their latest album, the award-winning The simplest plans (Binky Records 2002) has earned them a large fan base and a reputation for embodying the spirit of "Americana" music.

'Their different backgrounds and shared love of American roots music helped them create a unique sound that fuses blues, country, rock 'n' roll, and bluegrass. You've got to hear Vida's powerful voice, Jeff's superb picking on mandolin, guitar, and banjo, and Mike Kerwin's slap-you-in-the-face bass playing and tight harmonies.'

'Unclassifiable but terrific: New Orleans's Jeff & Vida Band, a bluegrass-influenced group with a bluesiness at its core and a powerful stage presence' - No Depression

'Jeff and Vida return to country's working-class roots... The real blue-plate special comes with their harmonies. Call it old-school country. More Austin than Nashville' - Sing Out magazine

Fri. 22nd Sept.: Grange, Co. Sligo, Barry's Public House
Sun. 24th: Buncrana, Co. Donegal, Rodden's Bar
Tues. 26th: Richhill, Co. Armagh, Groucho's Music Lounge
Thurs. 28th: Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, Riverside Theatre (now booking 028 70 323232)
Fri. 29th: Armagh city, Marketplace Theatre (now booking 028 37 521821)
Sat. 30th: Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Railway Hotel
Sun. 1st Oct/: Belfast, Black Box (now booking 028 90 246609), Open House Festival
Wed. 4th: Listowel, Co. Kerry, St John's Arts Centre
Thurs. 5th: Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford, Colfer's Pub