Chris Newman at Irish harp festival, 24 June

Cathal Cusack reports that An Chúirt Chruitireachta, the International Festival for Irish Harp, will be taking place from Sunday 24 June to Friday 29 June 2007 at An Grianán, Termonfeckin, Co. Louth. This ranks among the top international harp festivals and focuses on the ancient traditions of harping, allied instruments, and song from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Full details can be seen on the festival website.

Why do we mention this? Cathal points out: 'The opening concert has Chris Newman (guitar) and Máire Ní Chathasaigh (on harp) - their website is here. The programme is mostly Irish harp but they often include swing or American fiddle tunes. Anyone in any doubt about whether this has any interest to bluegrass people can view a YouTube grab of Chris and Steve Kaufman tearing through Doc Watson's "Nothing to it". Just in case you don't know, Chris is the one in the flowery shirt!'

BIB editor's note: This link also puts you within reach of some videoed jams with David Grier, Herschel Sizemore, and others, not to mention many other possibilities. After watching an excellent video on how to wash a cat, I realised I may have gone too far...