Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens in Bluegrass Now

The May 2007 issue of the US magazine Bluegrass Now includes a substantial and highly complimentary feature on Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens, written by Mary McWay Seaman, wife of Kenny Seaman, banjo-player of the Bluegrass Patriots. The article is focused on the appearance by Carmel & the Ravens at the IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2006, where they showcased, played the Fan Fest, and took part in the Awards Show in their capacity of #1 European Bluegrass Band 2005.

The same issue includes several other features concerned with bluegrass in Europe.

Radio Bluegrass International launch, 1 May

Liz Fuhrman Bragg of the International Bluegrass Music Museum reports:

Just want to remind you that RBI: Radio Bluegrass International is getting ready to launch on 1 May! It’s completely free until 5 July, and thereafter it’s free for museum members, so be sure to check it out.

One of the most-fun things about working at this museum is being surrounded by cool artifacts, huge vintage collections, and personal visits by legendary musicians. (Even as I write this, Ronnie Reno is here filming the Del McCoury Band.) We want to share all this with you, and that’s what RBI is all about.

BIB editor's note: A link to Radio Bluegrass International will be on the IBMM website. The IBMM's own Mike Lawing was on air in the Eddie Stubbs Show on Thursday 26 April at 7.00 p.m. on WSM. The show could be heard live at www.wsmonline.com, or on 650 AM.

A first for Ireland?

Enda Donnelly reports:

Was history made this week, when young Paddy Kiernan of Fair City Grass played a number of bluegrass tunes and some jigs and reels on his five-string banjo - as part of his practical Leaving Cert. music exam ?

Accompanied by Enda Donnelly (also of Fair City Grass) on acoustic guitar, bluegrass tunes rang out in St Mary's College, Rathmines, for the first time!

Let us all join together and wish Paddy every success with his exams this June.

Wade Mainer at 100

Thanks to Roger Ryan for reminding us that Wade Mainer, one of the stars of old-time country music in the 1930s and a highly influential banjo-player, celebrated his hundredth birthday a week ago on 21 April. He and his brother, fiddler Joseph Emmett ('J.E.') Mainer, and their Mainer's Mountaineers band, recorded classic versions of 'This world is not my home', 'Lights in the valley', 'Maple on the hill', 'Sparkling blue eyes', and many more. A major biographical feature by Richard Thompson of the BBMA appeared on the original Bluegrass Blog on 21 April.

Mr Mainer's original 1933 flathead Gibson Granada 5-string banjo is now for sale at Elderly Instruments. Beautiful photos of the banjo and many archive photos of the band can be seen here. Articles about him have also appeared in the August 2006 issue of the Fretboard Journal and the April 2007 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited. His version of 'Old Reuben', in particular, is said to have influenced a younger North Carolina banjoist, Earl Scruggs (83).

Another noted Granada user, Dr Ralph Stanley, celebrated his eightieth birthday two months ago. The mayor of Berkeley, California, made 24-5 February the 'Ralph Stanley Days' in his honour (see this story). It is not yet known whether Gibson's recent Granadas prolong active life as well as the prewar ones seem to do.

Changes for DL&Q and the Special C.

(left) Ron Spears

At the time of this posting, one of the top news items on the original Bluegrass Blog covers important developments for two US bands who have both played recently in Ireland.

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver have had several changes since they played at the Ulster American Folk Park at Omagh in last September's Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival. Alan Johnson, most recently with BlueRidge, is now on fiddle with them, and Chris Warner on banjo. Chris's CV includes playing with Jimmy Martin, Jim & Jesse, the Seldom Scene, Chief Powhatan, and the Johnson Mountain Boys, and he has recently been upholding the Jimmy Martin tradition as banjo-player with Audie Blaylock & Redline. He is also a highly regarded luthier and instrument repairman.

The latest recruit to DL&Q is Ron Spears, who was here in January as lead singer and mandolinist with the Special Consensus. Ron, who plays all the bluegrass instruments, will be playing bass and singing lead with DL&Q from July 2007, allowing ample time for the Special C. to find a replacement.

The Bluegrass Blog quotes Doyle Lawson: 'Ron is a longtime student and fan of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and he understands the style... I'm looking forward to his vocal input as well as having another songwriter in the band.' Ron's song 'Ocean of teardrops' can be heard on the latest DL&Q CD, More behind the picture than the wall.

Béla Fleck on Niall Toner radio show, 3 May

Niall and Béla; photo taken recently at Vicar Street, Dublin

On Thursday 3 May at 9.00 p.m. Niall Toner talks to legendary American banjo genius Béla Fleck about all aspects of the 5-string banjo, including his ventures into jazz, blues, and classical music, as well as his ongoing contribution to bluegrass.

Niall spoke with Béla during his recent visit to Ireland when he performed at Vicar Street with his band, the Flecktones. Anyone with an interest in the banjo should hear this broadcast. If you miss the original airing, it should be available for at least a week on the RTE website. Niall adds:

I should point out that this Béla Fleck interview is a separate entity from my weekly 'Roots Freeway' programme, and is the first of many, including a clatter of interviews from this year's Midlands Festival, the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival, the Jerusalem Ridge Festival in Rosine, and IBMA in Nashville, and others. Producer Aidan Butler from RTE Radio One is very enthusiastic and supportive, and hopefully our collection of interviews will become a regular on Thursday nights on Radio One.

Matrimony in Belfast

From Tony Curran:

It is with great pleasure that I report: Lisette Manly committed Matrimony yesterday with Jonny Watson! (By the way – this carries a mandatory life sentence.)

Married in the City Church, Belfast, the bridal party repaired to Queen's University, Belfast, where they (& their out-laws) were entertained by a bluegrass reception comprising Bill Johnston (bass), Sean McKerr (mandolin), Derek Norwood (guitar), Colin Henry (Dobro/resophonic guitar), and Tony Curran (banjo). It is reported that the bridal party survived this experience and have carried on to honeymoon in Cork.

Jim Irvine

Dee Hallett of the BBMA reports:

It is with deep regret that British Bluegrass Music Association announces the death of Jim Irvine of the Down County Boys. Dave Bresnen, chairman of the BBMA states that, sadly, Jim apparently had taken his own life, having been found by the staff in a hotel room in London on Wednesday morning 18 April. The sincere and heartfelt condolences of the British Bluegrass Music Association and its members go out to Jim's family, his fellow musicians and many friends.

Jim Irvine of Coventry was a landmark on the British bluegrass scene, and a member for many years of the Down County Boys, longtime holders of the title of #1 British Bluegrass Band. Jim played banjo with the band at several Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festivals at the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone. He also played guitar and fiddle. Jim can be seen in action with the band in several frames of a slideshow on the website of the Cornish Bluegrass Association, from which the above shot is taken. He was also the BBMA area representative for the West Midlands.

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Update 30 April: Peter Parker (the Down County Boys' fiddler) confirms that Jim's funeral will take place on Tuesday 8 May at 3.15 p.m. at Canley Garden cemetery and crematorium, Cannon Hill Road, Coventry, in the Charter Chapel. Flowers should be sent to the funeral directors, Henry Ison & Sons (Coventry) Ltd, 76-78 Binley Road, Coventry, CV3 1FQ; tel: +44 (0)24 76458665.

Everyone attending the funeral is invited for refreshments after the proceedings in the upstairs room at the Coventry Working Men's Club in Whitefriars Street, Coventry (next door to the Coventry Boys Club). Here is a map link. The link for a location map of the Canley Crematorium Coventry is here.

Kilkenny Vintage Guitars: sale

Greetings from Kilkenny Vintage Guitars!

We're pleased to announce our 2nd Anniversary Sale, taking place 4-6 May, in conjunction with this year's Rhythm & Roots Festival. We'll be discounting our entire stock, with 10% off of our already low prices on most items. We've got lots of great 'roots'-style guitars, including:

1956 Gibson J-45
1965 ES-330TD
1928 Martin 0-18
1966 Fender Telecaster
1976 Gibson ES-335TD
1992 Gretsch Black Falcon

... plus lots of Strats, Teles, Les Pauls, Lowdens, and more. Check out our website for a full list of our current inventory. We also take trades, so feel free to BYOG!

Sale hours: 4th-6th May, 12.00-5.30 p.m.
Regular hours: Tues-Sat, 12.00-5.30 p.m.

Directions: Our shop is located in Thomastown, just 11 miles southeast of Kilkenny. From the Kilkenny ring road, take the R700 Bennettsbridge/New Ross Road. Once in Thomastown, follow the one-way system until you get to Market Street, which is the main street in town. Kilkenny Vintage Guitars is located at the north end of Market Street, just around the corner to the right, across from the church/ruin.

Kilkenny Vintage Guitars
Pipe St., Thomastown
Co. Kilkenny
+353 (0)56 7793288
e-mail

Vintage bluegrass recordings released

Press release

Under the direction of bluegrass historian and researcher Gary Reid – a two-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s award for Best Liner Notes - several new vintage bluegrass collections have recently entered the marketplace.

Chief among these is a 4-CD boxed set of recordings by bluegrass legends Don Reno & Red Smiley. Released on the Gusto label (GT-0955) and simply titled 1959–1963, this collection contains 102 songs and tunes that the duo recorded while at King Records during this period. Accompanying the discs is a splendid 26-page full-colour booklet containing much anecdotal information about the recordings as well as a fine assortment of photos – a number of which appear in print for the first time. A similarly packaged release from 1992 documented Reno & Smiley’s early days at King Records (1951–9); the 15-year gap between releases has had bluegrass fans anxious for more – happily, the wait is over!

No less impressive is a wonderful overview of the Stanley Brothers' career as portrayed in a 3-CD set issued by the folks at Time Life: The definitive collection 1947–1966. Carter and Ralph Stanley were perhaps one of the most profilic bluegrass bands to record, committing nearly 500 songs to tape. This collection highlights 60 of the best and, unlike other anthologies that have profiled specific phases of their career, this is the first set to offer a retrospective look at material from all segments of their career. A 7,500-word essay documents the story of the brothers, and a number of photos show their progression from young pickers to bluegrass luminaries. This set is an amazing introduction for those who are new to bluegrass or the Stanley Brothers; for the seasoned veterans of the music, there are a few previously unreleased gems and first-time-on-CD selections.

Yet another offering from the Stanley Brothers is the re-release of a previous boxed-set recording. Originally issued by King Records in 1992, this 4-CD set (called 1958–1961) has been re-mastered and offers an improved listening experience over the original collection. The package has been unavailable for over a year and is back now by popular demand. It highlights the duo’s early efforts at the Starday and King labels; the music of eight different albums (plus a few singles and unissued tracks) are featured.

Additional information about these multi-disc sets – as well as ordering information for those who are interested – can be found at the Copper Creek Records website.

BIB editor's note: The Copper Creek company has done great work in reissuing Stanley Brothers material in the past. Combined with the recent release on two DVDs of Flatt & Scruggs TV shows, this news confirms that we're living in a Golden Age as far as availability of classic material is concerned.

Fair City Grass: update

Fair City Grass at Mother Reilly's, left to right: Smitty/Mike Smith (bass), Paddy Kiernan (banjo), Enda Donnelly (mandolin), Jody Smith (guitar)

Due to family bereavement, Fair City Grass will not be playing their regular gig in Mother Reilly's, Uppercross House Hotel, Rathmines, Dublin, on Wednesday 18 April, but they will be playing on Friday night 20 April at the same venue and time, 9.30 p.m, as part of the Rathmines Arts and Entertainment Festival 2007 being held on that weekend in Rathmines.

The Tin Box Company

The Tin Box Company, left to right: Barney Bowes (vocals, guitar, fiddle); John Heaney (bass fiddle); Paul 'The Tin Man' McEvoy (vocals, guitar); Martin Gilligan (banjo, vocals); Martin Kavanagh (mandolin, banjo)

Formed in late 2005, the Tin Box Company can be heard in residence at the Glenside, Landscape Road, Churchtown, Dublin 14, every Saturday night, and are taking on other engagements. For bookings and other information, contact:

Barney Bowes
50 La Touche Road
Bluebell
Dublin 12
mobile: 086-1031541

Fresh Picked from Florida

The editor reports:

It's good to be back in e-mail contact with Jennifer Hill, bass player with the Fresh Picked bluegrass band of Tallahassee, Florida, whom we first heard from two months ago. Fresh Picked are interested in coming to Ireland - together with friends such as Aaron O'Rourke, a fine Appalachian dulcimer player - and would be glad to make contacts here for the purpose. To make contact with Fresh Picked, e-mail Jennifer at this link.

Voice of the Blue Ridge carries round the world

Thanks to Art Menius of the IBMA for the news that the historic radio station WPAQ of Mount Airy, NC, the 'Voice of the Blue Ridge', began broadcasting on the World Wide Web last Thursday, 5 April. The station first went on air in 1948, testing its equipment by getting local bands to play. The great old-time fiddler Benton Flippen, now 86, was one of those original musicians; and on 5 April he launched the internet version of WPAQ with 'Bile 'em cabbage down', backed by Kevin Fore (banjo) and Trish Fore (guitar).

For more details and audio/visual material, see the article by Sherry Youngquist in the online edition of the Winston-Salem Journal at this link.

On to a good thing

Special Consensus at Seven Mountains Bluegrass Association show, York, PA, 10 March 2007: photo by courtesy of Roger Green of Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition

Those of us who got the latest Special Consensus CD (The trail of aching hearts, on the Pinecastle label) during the band's last tour of Ireland have already had nearly three months' enjoyment out of it. For a good two months Pinecastle have been getting elated responses from radio presenters who've been playing it; and it's due for official release on 15 May. We can congratulate ourselves in having been on to a good thing.

As mentioned during the tour, you can get the album before the official release date, via the Pinecastle website. The band is shown below in one of their few quiet moments during the tour, with our own Niall Toner, one of whose songs is on the album. They'll be crossing the Atlantic again for a short Continental tour in July.


Ron Spears, David Thomas, Niall Toner, Justin Carbone, Greg Cahill; photo from Niall Toner

Tom Hanway: Pickin' across the sea

Stan Jay, owner of Mandolin Bros, with Denise and Tom Hanway and the SwallowTail

Tom and Denise Hanway (Longford) recently visited Stanley Jay at Mandolin Bros on Staten Island, New York City, to pick up Tom's second Tom Hanway SwallowTail Banjo, which he co-designed with Geoff Stelling (1998). Tom now plays both the Deluxe and Standard models, one for each side of the Atlantic.

During the Easter holiday, Tom has been asked to appear at some classic honky tonks in New York City and at a concert in New England. With his American all-star pickin’ band, 'Hanway, Kosek, Whitney and Collins', Tom kicks out the jams on 11 April at the Rodeo Bar, 10 p.m. Hanway (banjo/guitar) and ace-fiddler-raconteur Kenny Kosek appeared in the off-Broadway bluegrass musical 'Feast here tonight' at the Vineyard Theatre, NYC (1989). Tom will play music from his three Joyous Gard recordings, also featuring songs he recorded with Vassar Clements for The Badbelly project: Hesitation Blues.

Special guests at the Rodeo Bar include New York’s bluegrass sweetheart, singer-guitarist Jen Larson, recently featured on Garrison Keillor’s 'A Prairie Home Companion' (America’s favourite radio variety show), and Trip Henderson, New York’s 'Merry Monarch of the Mouth Harp'.

On 13 April, Tom has been invited to play rock banjo with the Brooklyn’s longest-running jam-rock band, the Electrix at the Knitting Factory, for the 'After Jammy Awards Show'. Tom and deeply missed pickin’ pal Vassar performed together with the Electrix and the Zen Tricksters at Vassar’s 72nd birthday bash in Brooklyn (2000). Tom winds up his U.S. sojourn on 15 April, trekking to Amherst, Massachusetts, for a concert commemorating the retirement of legal scholar Lester J. Mazor, Tom’s Hampshire College law and philosophy professor, mentor, and dear friend. Mazor clerked for Warren E. Burger, chief justice of the US supreme court. Tom will sing anthems by Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and Steve Goodman and original pieces on banjo and guitar. Tom is sitting in at sessions all over Manhattan, including two that he started in the nineties at Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar and the Baggot Inn. Denise Hanway is documenting all the shows on camera and video.

Good news from Athy

Tony O'Brien of the Athy Bluegrass Music Association sends two pieces of good news: first, Woodbine's 2007 gigs can now be viewed on their website calendar page.

Second: a new CD is due for release in late April or early May from Martin Cooney (5-string banjo), accompanied by Myra Fraser (piano) of the Foster & Allen group. Martin Cooney has been one of the pivotal people in bluegrass in Ireland: - prime mover of the Athy festival for its first seven years; leader of the Flint Hill Boys, who remain unsurpassed in this country as a solid traditional bluegrass band; and the best traditional-style bluegrass 5-string banjo player ever heard on the Irish scene (not to mention his work on tenor banjo in Irish music).

Tony reports that the CD will have all Martin's favourite tunes, so the release has a strong claim to be the Recorded Event of the Year as far as bluegrass in this country is concerned.

Old-time events in Dublin and elsewhere

Tim Hawkins, who was responsible for the old-time 'happening' in the Oxfam bookshop, Parliament Street, Dublin, on Saturday afternoon, 24 March, to publicise the music available there in various forms.


Tim (fiddle), Cathal Cusack (guitar), and Richard Hawkins (banjo) played old-time breakdowns and waltzes.


Tim's thanks go to the McGrane Family (above, left to right: Noreen, Helen, Bryan, and Jenny) for their programme of old-time songs with guitar, autoharp, and up to four-part harmonies.

All above photos are by Carol Hawkins. Unfortunately, we have no photos of the old-time session that same evening at the Cobblestone, Smithfield, hosted by Bill Whelan and Ben Keogh of the Rough Deal String Band with Liam Kennedy. The packed bar held five fiddlers, two banjo-players, two guitarists, and Liam on mandolin or harmonica, all pouring out tunes and songs like a fountain - a model of what a session should be.

Thanks to Bill Whelan for the news that, as well as the new old-time session in Belfast (see post of 1 April), there is an old-time session in Cork at the Corner House, Coburg Street, every Sunday at 5.00 p.m. including Stephanie Coleman on fiddle. (Dark Road play bluegrass there at 9.00 p.m.)

Bill (generator of innumerable bands) is also bringing the Oxo Project - an old-time band with himself (banjo), Ben Keogh (guitar), and Jamie Ferguson (fiddle) - to operational status to meet those occasions when Tim Rogers may be unavailable.

Monroe-style mandolin camps in Kentucky: UPDATE

Press release

Owensboro, KY, 5 April 2007: Due to scheduling conflicts beyond its control, the International Bluegrass Music Museum will offer Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp for one weekend only: September 7-9.

Bluegrass music enthusiasts from around the world still have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the stylizations, songwriting, and multi-cultural musical influences of Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass. But for a short time. Attendance will be limited to 45.

'We regret that we will only have one camp but it's going to be a doozy!' said Mike Lawing, assistant director of the museum and camp organiser. 'There are fifteen spots left and we will reserve them with a major credit card so participants won’t have to pay until later.'

Mandolin greats and Monroe authorities Frank Wakefield, Mike Compton, Roland White, Skip Gorman, and David Long comprise the prestigious faculty for 2007. Instructors will give workshops on multiple facets of Monroe's style, including right-hand technique, the blues, fiddle tunes, cross-tuning, church music and songwriting.

The star-studded faculty will present public concerts on September 8 with special guest and former Bluegrass Boy Tom Ewing. Ensemble performances will include Monroe compositions, jams, and story-telling remembrances of Bill Monroe. Tickets to the concert will be $15.00 at the door; campers' tickets are included with their tuition.

The $500 camp package includes all classes, three meals, two nights of hotel rooms, the concert, a group picture, and a road trip to Rosine, KY, the birthplace and resting place of Monroe. The 2006 Camp drew participants from twenty-five states and four countries and received rave reviews. For reservations, call the International Bluegrass Music Museum at 1-888-692-2656 or visit its website.

The International Bluegrass Music Museum is the only museum of its kind in the world and is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of bluegrass music for fans around the world.

Gabrielle Gray, Executive Director

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More International Bluegrass Music Museum news: the IBMM partners with Carnival Cruise Lines, www.ibluegrass.com, WAMU, www.bluegrasscountry.org, Caybe Consulting, and bluegrass artist Abigail Moore to provide a unique cruise featuring the first high-seas screenings of the museum's Video Oral History Project (VOHP) film documentaries.

Fletcher Bright [leader and fiddler of the Dismembered Tennesseans], the IBMM national chairman, will host the screenings onboard the Carnival ship Victory from 28 May 28 until 2 June 2007 as the ship goes from Charleston, SC, to Nassau, Bahamas, and back. The 'Bluegrass Jamming Cruise' will provide bluegrass lovers the unique opportunity to experience their favorite music in new ways and places.

Low Country Boys: summer in Washington

The Low Country Boys of Co. Down will be performing on the National Mall in Washington, DC, this summer as part of the 41st Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival. As the Smithsonian says: 'Few regions of the world have contributed more to the formation of the United States than Northern Ireland', and the LCB - together with Bushmills, Belleek, and many other things - are part of a special festival programme celebrating its culture and arts.

The Festival takes place from 27 June to 1 July and from 4 to 8 July 2007, opening daily from 11.00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Evening events start at 6.00 p.m. Details are on the Smithsonian website.

The Low Country Boys - Ireland's only bluegrass gospel band, and probably the only bluegrass band in the world recording original material in the Ulster Scots tongue - released their CD Sangs o Bairns an hame (an a wheen aboot drink forbye) at the end of 2006, as the first part of a set. Volume 2 is due for release in spring 2007.

Foghorn String Band tour, 8-21 April: UPDATED

Thanks to Larry Roddy for the latest news of fine tuning to the imminent Foghorn String Band tour. The BIB calendar now shows the tour schedule as it stands at present. Please note the following changes from the version shown earlier on the calendar and on the band's website.

The first show, on Sunday 8 April, is at Naul, Co. Dublin, but not in the Seamus Ennis Centre itself. Check with the Centre (+353-(0)1-8020898) for the location.

Full names are supplied for the venues on 10 and 11 April.

The show on 15 April will not be private, but a proper gig at Tutty's Bar, Hollywood, Co. Wicklow.

The venue for 18 April is Bric's Bar, Ballyferriter (not 'Briggs Bar').

And - most important - the band plays at the Moving Stair, Boyle, Co. Roscommon, on 20 April, not 19 April. On 19 April they will play at the World Music Club, Lismore, Co. Waterford.

Prison Love on Bray Easter Weekend Music Menu

Howdy y'all!

As Easter approaches, we're delighted to announce Prison Love headline the Easter Weekend Music Menu, Bray, Co. Wicklow.

This Saturday, 7 April: Liquid Club, in Katie Gallagher's bar beside Bray Dart Station. Cover charge €10, including late bar & DJ. Doors 9.00 p.m., with support from award-winning country rock prodigy Luan Parle.

Drop in and say hi! Be good,

Prison Love

Concert & workshop for young bands in Berlin, 4-6 May

Friedrich Barniske of the Hot String Quintet of Berlin reports: 'We are looking for two bands (3-5 musicians), one from Ireland, one from Poland or the Czech Republic - both from the acoustic music scene. Age should be 18-27 years; there should be female and male musicians in the groups. We will pay travel costs, accommodation, and food, but no fee. Also we will show the visitors a bit of the town and will visit some other interesting concert together.'

The bands involved should arrive in Berlin on Friday 4 May at lunchtime; the program will include a concert, and a workshop on the following day, returning home on Sunday 6 May in the early afternoon. The venue for concert & workshop is the cultural youth club CAFÉ LIETZE in Berlin-Charlottenburg.

This project is organised by the Amt für Jugendarbeit Kirchenkreis Charlottenburg, as part of YOUrope07, a program of the Confederation of German Youth Organisations, financed by the national youth plan for more participation by young people. Contact Friedrich Barniske by e-mail, telephone +49-30-8560 4818, or post:

Friedrich Barniske
Knobelsdorffstr. 72
14059 Berlin
Germany

Tin Box Company: Easter gigs

Paul 'The Tin Man' McEvoy reports:

The Tin Box Company* will be playing two dates in Dublin on the Easter weekend: our regular Saturday night in the Glenside (9.00 p.m.-12.00), and in the K.C.R., Kimmage Road, on Sunday the 8th (9.00 p.m.-12.00).

*Barney Bowes (vocals, guitar, fiddle); Martin Kavanagh (mandolin, banjo); John Heaney (bass fiddle); Martin Gilligan (banjo, vocals); and Paul McEvoy (vocals, guitar).

Belfast: new bluegrass and old-time sessions

Thanks to Tony Curran for the news that Broken Strings (seen above at the Ulster American Folk Park) are now playing every Sunday night at the John Hewitt Bar, 51 Donegall Street, Belfast. For bookings and other details, contact Wilson Davies, 1 Manor Park, Comber, Co. Down; 'phone +44 (0)28 9187 1074.

The John Hewitt also hosts Nigel Martyn's OldFlatTop Music Club, which opens its doors earlier every Sunday, at 3.00 p.m.. Music from the Club can be heard on streaming audio or the club's MySpace site, all accessible here. Featured artists include Cat Malojian.

More Belfast news: Bill Whelan of Dublin's Rough Deal String Band reports that a fortnightly old-time music session will be held on Sundays at 9.00 p.m. in the Fountain Tavern, 16 Fountain Street, Belfast. The first took place on Sunday 25 March. Former members of the old Appalachian Strings band, including Geordie McAdam and Ian McAllister, are taking part.


Geordie McAdam (fiddle), not in a central Belfast setting; both photos by courtesy of the Ulster American Folk Park

Tony also reports that Jimmy Quinn - he of the left-handed Gibson Mastertone, and long renowned for his instrument set-up and repair work - is now doing top-quality inlaying as well. Contact James Quinn, 71 Hornbeam Road, Dunmurry, Belfast BT17 9DN, Northern Ireland.