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.