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.