Knotty Pine String Band back in action

Declan O'Kane reports:

Bluegrass is the most narcotic and addictive substance known to mankind - I realised this after sometime away from playing. So here it is: the Knotty Pine String Band are back on the road again. The only change is that Aiden McGale is now playing bass; Aiden has a great bluegrass voice and is concentrating on a lot of the old classics. We are producing a programme which will have old favourites of the band with lots of new material included.

Bill Monroe once said that you should not be on stage unless you were enjoying performing; I can testify to that, so here I am. As usual the show is everything and in Knotty Pine style will be fairly high octane. We have a few gigs around Omagh in December and have a show in Dungiven GAA club in Derry on 26 December. We are currently working on a new album and should have it completed late spring.

Contact Declan: mobile 07770 507981; e-mail
Seamus: 02882 244756

BIB editor's note: We consider bluegrass a stimulant (to put it mildly) rather than a narcotic; nonetheless it's good to hear that the KPs are back. Look out for a photo of the new configuration here soon. The band is booked for the 2007 Dunmore East festival, together with the Boxcar Preachers and Hickory Project; more details later.