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.