More from the Big Apple

Vincent Cross reports:

It's been a busy week here in NYC. I was delighted to have my old comrade from The Doblin Bros, Pete Lamb, visit me for a few days. He continues to do a lot of work for Americana & bluegrass in Galway, and is organizing a festival in September. We had a picking session in Central Park to blow the cobwebs off.


Blowing off the cobwebs (and shaking down the acorns?)

Also, I had the chance to go to a wonderful (bluegrass only) festival in Maryland. It's called the Brandywine Bluegrass Festival. Nonstop bluegrass with some incredible singing. I was blown away by one band in particular, the Virginia Ramblers; they are definitely worth checking out if they get to Ireland. The lead singer, Charles Frazier, has an incredible voice.


Vincent and Charles Frazier of the Virginia Ramblers

Looking forward to catching up in August,

take care,

Vincent

Urban Roots II: Hoe Down on the Ranch, 21–24 June

Press release

Dublin’s first and only roots festival follows on from the success of its launch last year, taking place from Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 June at Airfield in Dundrum. With the tag line 'Country Heart, City Home' and as the city’s last remaining working urban farm, Airfield provides a perfect backdrop for music encompassing Appalachian, Cajun, Bluegrass, Blues, Gospel, and Old-Time.

Supported by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council

The Magnificent 2007 Urban Roots

T'ain’t no point doin’ a good thing only once, so, Airfield’s fixin’ to keep that old cartwheel rolling by throwin’ open the gates o’ the ranch again this Mid-Summer weekend, to a rednecked posse of curly wolves, gringos, locos, and long riders, in addition to a couple of copperheads from the north side and maybe a few mail-order cowboys from south city - why’ll even be some Wicklow hillbillies coming across the border.

It’s going to be a regular hog-killin' time in the badlands of South Dublin - with barbecues on-the-go there’ll be plenty of chow. You can grab a root and bend an elbow till yer fuller than a tick. With buskers, barn dances, and acoustic sessions in old Mr Overend’s billiard room, the shindig’s goin’ be sharper than an Arkansas’ toothpick and hotter than a snake’s ass in a wagon rut. No high-falutin, just a good ol’ fashioned fandango!

Niall Toner Band
8.00 p.m. Thursday 21 June €15 / €12
The father of Irish country bluegrass and his highly respected band take us on a barebacked gallop from lighthearted western swing into the raw roots of traditional country; 'a musician’s musician' (Hot Press).

Woodbine
8.00 p.m. Friday 22 June €15 / €12
A fantastic foursome hailing from Athy, Co. Kildare, serve up a well honed set of traditional & contemporary bluegrass & acoustic country, sourced from the purest of western folk roots.

Horse Whispering
High Noon Saturday 23 June
Cowboy up an’ learn how to hold your horses with a regular buckaroo. 'Lost in Translation, I whisper but my horse doesn’t listen.' The Cochise Stud team will be showing us the basics of Western pleasure riding. They will also work a horse in a round loose pen (Monty Roberts style) and on the day will have a large selection of Western tack, saddles, and some American breeds on display.

Fair City Grass
1.00 p.m. Saturday 23 June
Established in Dublin in 2000, this mighty fine four-piece acoustic outfit play traditional American bluegrass with a wild passion and imposing vigour.

Two Time Polka
3.00 p.m. Saturday 23 June
A Cork collective that has developed a distinctive sound harvested from old-time American, Cajun, Zydeco, bluegrass and country music, with their truly astounding live shows proving extremely popular on the national and international tour circuit.

The Broken String Band
6.00 p.m. Saturday 23 June
A top-notch, Belfast-based bluegrass & old-time band with the classic line-up of fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar, and stand-up double bass.

Bray Vista
1.00 p.m. Sunday 24 June
Inspired by the likes of Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, and Appalachian bluegrass, this nine-strong posse out of north Wicklow have honed their own authentic country sound with songs that stride from soul-searching heartache to foot-stomping southern grooves.

Prison Love
3.00 p.m. Sunday 24 June
Spare the hemp on these Dublin fugitives who are above the law of averages. Full of wit, this tight and talented ensemble shoot from the hip with a high-spirited blast of passionate bluegrass, old-time, gospel, and Cajun – no holds barred.

Saturday or Sunday Pass €9
Hill of beans ~ Saturday & Sunday Pass €15
Whole kit & caboodle ~ Festival Pass €40

Tickets available in advance: 10.00 a.m.–5.00 p.m., Tuesday–Sunday from the ticket sales at Airfield, Upper Kilmacud Road, Dundrum, Dublin 14; tel: +353 (01) 298 4301 / e-mail / website

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WANTED: BUSKERS

REWARD OFFERED

Airfield is offering a reward of festival admission, a couple beers, and a bite to eat to any musicians who would like to busk at Airfield on Saturday 23 or Sunday 24 June. And of course whatever nickels, dimes, and dollars are thrown in your hat are yours to keep.

Contact Sancho Gallilei, Director of Arts & Culture at Airfield ~ Tel. (01) 296 7609; Mobile (087) 938 3186; e-mail

Midlands Music Festival, 28-9 July

Tony Curran reminds us that the Midlands Music Festival programme is now fully displayed on the festival website. Prison Love are scheduled for Saturday 28 July along with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Jim Lauderdale, and many others. The Niall Toner Band and Bray Vista are scheduled for Sunday 29 July with Gillian Welch, Glen Campbell, and a similar galaxy. Congratulations to all our groups who are appearing.

The schedule may be subject to change, so keep in touch with the details shown on the website.

Grade A banjos for sale

Silvio Ferretti, banjo-player with Red Wine, columnist for Banjo NewsLetter, and luthier, reports:

Right now I've got two banjos to sell:

- Scorpion #9, American black walnut neck and reso, ebony fingerboard, Prucha hardware, Pass Thin Skirt rim, Price Classic flathead ring (unplated). Peghead shape and inlays are 'mine', pearl work by Custom Inlays. Comes with a Saga ABS case.

- early '60s (I'd say) converted Gibson TB-100, curly maple neck (being finished at this time, already played in the white), Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with RB-75 inlays (hand-cut by David Nichols), Crowe ring, Prucha Presto tailpiece, Pavel pancake tuners.

The festival in Athy would be a good time and place for me to bring either banjo to the potential customer. Of course I can take jpg pics of them and record sound clips of both.

For the complete range of Silvio's highly regarded banjo bridges and one of his Scorpion banjos, see the Elderly Instruments website. Contact him by e-mail, and in good time; if he doesn't hear from an interested customer before the Athy festival, he'll be bringing over the 1985 Saga Kentucky which is his 'low-cost airline' banjo, and is not for sale.

UK Autoharp Day, 7 July

The second UK Autoharp Day in 2007 runs from 11.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. on Saturday 7 July at Ashley Green Community Hall, Chesham Road, Ashley Green, Bucks HP5 3PL, England.

Mike Fenton, a 1997 inductee into the Autoharp Hall of Fame, is the main tutor for experienced players, and Heather Farrell-Roberts for beginners. Chris Younger will give expert help on autoharp maintenance; CDs, instruments, and other items will be on sale; and luthier Alec Anness will bring his new harp for people to try out. The programme includes a jam session, open stage, and concert, and a bring-and-share supper.

Complete beginners, non-members, and other instrument players are welcome as well as experienced players, and loaner autoharps will be available. Further details are on the website. Contact the Advance Organiser, Sue Laughton, at +44 (0)1963 251026, or the Event Organisers, Alan and Judy Spindler, by e-mail.

Resonator guitarists victimised

Thanks to Martin Styles (banjo-player with Dark Road in Cork) for the news that one Raymond Boze ('Matt Roe') has been convicted in Texas for an extensive and varied series of frauds targeting resonator guitar players. The full story, which Martin found on the internet bluegrass magazine Cybergrass, is here.

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Colin Henry reports from Belfast:

This was quite an audacious scam. Boze set up the resonatorguitarist.com web site a few years ago and all the reso heads, including myself, subscribed (for free) and I think we all thought it was a great site and that the guy seemed a great guy, setting up workshops that took place and giving information. He also started offering custom guitars. Fortunately I never actually sent any money but many did, and some lost quite a bit on the scam guitars. I seem to remember that it was a thread on the Jerry Douglas BB that began the suspicion when it was discovered that he had been giving different stories to different people. He had one story where he claimed to be on the way to deliver six guitars to people but had a crash and the guitars were destroyed. I think it slowly dawned on people that he was a charlatan. Unfortunately it has made people very suspicious of what are usually quite genuine situations.

The Special C.'s new mandolinist

Greg Cahill writes:

A brief note to inform you that Ashby Frank will be the new Special C mandolin player/singer. He is currently with Alecia Nugent, formerly with Marty Raybon, and we are excited about having such a superb musician and friend join our ranks. He is a fantastic player and a great singer! Ron is with us until mid-June, and Ashby will make his first appearance with the band at the great Bean Blossom festival on June 13.

BIB editor's note: Ashby will be playing with the Special C. during their tour in Europe at the beginning of July.

Cornish Bluegrass Association

The Celtic extremities of these islands seem to be a growth area for bluegrass at present, and String Band News, the bluegrass/old-time newsletter for the south-western UK, has always shown an impressive number of events taking place down there. You can now keep up with the musical news of that favoured region via the Cornish Bluegrass Association website. Dean Woon, the CBA chairman, also maintains a CBA MySpace site.

Coastline Bluegrass Music Event: tutors

John Prytherch is organiser of the Coastline Bluegrass Music Event at Llandudno, north Wales, which includes instrument instructional workshops in its programme. John reports:

We have now finalised our list of tutors for our Bluegrass Event on 8/9/10 June and are delighted to announce that they are (on Saturday) Richard Collins (banjo), Alan Ward (mandolin), Stuart Williams (guitar), Roy Nicholls (fiddle), Ian Wooley (dobro), and Beth Holland (double bass).

On Sunday our tutors for our 'Introduction to Bluegrass' workshops will be Pete Ainsworth (banjo), Roland Emmanuel (mandolin), Paul Hill (guitar), Jo Percival (fiddle), Ian Wooley (dobro), and Beth Holland (double bass).

For more information about the Event, contact John by e-mail or 'phone +44 (0)7747 825 139

Coastline Bluegrass Music Event, 8-10 June 2007
Plas Uchaf Farm, near Llandudno Junction
N. Wales LL28 5PD

Banjo Revolutionary in Europe, Sept. 2007

Tom Nechville of the Nechville Banjo Company reports:

Last summer I made a tour of Europe and attended festivals, jams, and workshops as a banjo designer, player, and professional repair and set-up man. I am planning a return trip to Europe in early September 2007. I am looking for festivals, or places to perform banjo workshops. If you have any events or suggestions during this time, I may be available.

Best regards,

Tom Nechville
9700 Humboldt Ave S.
Bloomington, MN 55431
Phone +1 952-888-9710
Fax +1 952-884-4500
E-mail

Banjo Revolution - Rev it up!

An article by David McCarty, 'Nechville banjos: serving the denizens of Planet Banjo', appeared in the March 2007 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited.

Prison Love at the Cherrytree, 25 May

Howdy folks!

Prison Love play the Cherrytree next Friday with material from their soon-to-be-released new album A night in the Box. With support from the excellent I Draw Slow.

Where: Cherrytree bar, Walkinstown roundabout (50, 56A, 77, 77A) www.musiclee.ie
When: 9.00 p.m., Friday 25 May
Wedge: €15/13 concessions

Hope y'all can stop by!

Prison Love

Peter Rowan tour, 15-19 May

Peter Rowan at Bunclody, Co. Wexford

Niall Toner reports that the legendary Peter Rowan has just completed a short tour in Ireland, appearing with Rex Foster on Tuesday 15 May in the Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork; on Thursday 17 May at Grant's Hotel, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary; on Friday 18 May at the Crane Bar, Galway; and on Saturday 19 May at the Cobblestone, Dublin.

Peter Rowan's great new CD, featuring Tony Rice on guitar, was available on the tour. A special interview with Peter and Rex is being recorded by Niall for future transmission on RTE Radio One, on the same lines as the Bela Fleck feature earlier this month.



Niall Toner and Peter Rowan at the Toner home on 14 May

Your patience is requested...

The editor's usual alacrity in getting news on to the BIB is likely to be impaired in the coming week by demands on his time in connection with the European World of Bluegrass Festival in the Netherlands (17-19 May). Normal service will be resumed from 20 May.

Athy Bluegrass 2007 launch, 11 May: report & photos

Clem O'Brien (gtr), Liam Wright (gtr), Dick Gladney (bs), Martin Cooney (bjo), Niall Toner (mn)

The Athy Bluegrass Music Association held the official launch of Athy Festival '07 in the Albert Dunne Suzuki showrooms at Athy, Co. Kildare, on Friday 11 May at 8.30 p.m. Tony O'Brien, on behalf of the ABMA, reports:

'We had a great evening - Martin Cooney on stage at a bluegrass event for the first time in ten years and in great form. Martin played with the Niall Toner Band and Liam Wright. Woodbine were joined for a couple of songs each from Paul McEvoy and Adrian Sullivan. Albert Dunne made a presentation of the sponsorship cheque and supplied a free bar all evening. So it's all set for a great July in Athy.'

This is the second year in which Albert Dunne and Suzuki have been the main sponsors for the Athy festival.


Clem, Liam, Dick, and Niall as Martin takes his break

Lee Valley String Band on RTE1, 17 May

Just spotted on the RTE1 website and scheduled for broadcast on Thursday 17 May: a profile of the Lee Valley String Band, Ireland's longest-running bluegrass and old-time music ensemble, founded by Niall and Colm Toner and Chris Twomey in Cork city, and featuring the musical giant Mick Daly (we quote; nice going, Mick). The programme is presented and produced by Marcus Conaughton.

Sometymes Why tour, 16-23 May

We announced in March news of a tour by Sometymes Why: Kristin Andreassen (vocals, guitar, harmonica, glockenspiel, piano, cymbals, tambourine), Aoife O'Donovan (vocals, guitar, ukulele, piano, glockenspiel, tambourine, cowbell), and Ruth Ungar (vocals, guitar, ukulele, fiddle, glockenspiel, high hat).

Andreassen and O'Donovan played in Ireland last year, as guitarist/dancer for Uncle Earl and vocalist for Crooked Still respectively; Ungar is (among many other things) daughter of Jay Ungar, composer of 'Ashokan farewell'. You have the following chances to see them:

Wed. 16th: The Crane Bar, Galway

Thurs. 17th: The Cobblestone, Dublin

Fri. 18th: The Glens Center, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim

Sat. 19th: Glor, Ennis, Co. Clare

Sun. 20th: Dolans Pub, Limerick city

Tues. 22nd: Debarra's, Clonakilty, Co. Cork

Wed. 23rd: McCarthy's Bar, Dingle, Co. Kerry

New look on Jim Moss website

Jim Moss's online bluegrass newsletter has an attractive new look and - of course - loads of varied info, photos, film, interviews, tabs, and practically anything you can think of. If you want to know how to equip your home recording studio for under $40,000 (that's just for the console, naturally), this is the one for you. Have a look at it here.

Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, 29 June-1 July

Thanks to Electric Cave Productions, Westport, Co. Mayo, holds its first Folk and Bluegrass Festival on the weekend 29 June-1 July. The programme (outside illustrated above and inside below) gives a good sense of the style and care that seems to be going into this event.

By clicking on the images you can see everything that'll be happening; we'll just remark that bluegrass and old-time music is well represented by the belaurelled Lee Valley String Band, Tim Rogers (of the RDSB), Lena Ulman, Mick Daly, and the Colonel Bullshot Bluegrass Band. This looks a very promising addition to our festival calendar, in a neat town! For further info, contact Uri Kohen at 087-7570958.

Martin Cooney CD launch: Athy, 21 May

Bending the strings, Martin Cooney's long-awaited CD of 5-string banjo music, will be launched on 21 May in a special musical evening at the Carlton Abbey Hotel, Athy, Co. Kildare, beginning at 8.30 p.m.

Reflecting the wide range of Martin's musical interests and the number of his friends, the artists taking part will include Foster & Allen, the Glenside Ceili Band, Michael English, Richie Kavanagh, and the Niall Toner Band.

New York, New York!

Tom Hanway reports:

While back home in New York City, I returned to several old bluegrass haunts, where I jammed with good friends at the Baggot Inn and Paddy Reilly's Music Bar, and played two shows at the Rodeo Bar. I was approached there by John Cecil to do an interview for his upcoming film Get a rope, which is about the blossoming country and bluegrass scene in New York City. I did a 90-minute interview the next day on location at the Rodeo, picking and talking about many of the great New York characters and history. I also composed a banjo tune on the spot, which the producers want to use for the movie soundtrack, calling it 'Get a rope', and breaking in the new Tom Hanway SwallowTail. Filming began two months ago and is expected to take another eight months to complete. Exciting stuff.


The first of these photos was taken at the Sunday afternoon bluegrass jam at Paddy Reilly's, which I started in 1997 - the longest-running weekly bluegrass jam in the Big Apple. Some folks who have been to the EBMA's EWOB Festival may recognise multi-instrumentalist Norris, pictured with me and Jen Larson, a regular at Paddy Reilly's. Jen is a dedicated bluegrass singer, songwriter, and rock-solid rhythm guitarist. Norris, who taught me some neat guitar and banjo tunings, plays with the Ebony Hillbillies, and has a big concert at Carnegie Hall on 12 May. Jen will also play at Carnegie Hall with Straight Drive.


Jen and I got to play three consecutive Sundays at Paddy Reilly's with my old pickin' pal Tony DeLello, who runs the jam, here pictured (sitting) with old bandmate Todd Collins (from Blue Horizon and Burnt Toast) at the Rodeo Bar.


Also at Rodeo Bar are Kenny Kosek, myself, Jim Whitney (obscured), and Greg Garing, who played in several of my Big Apple Bluegrass Festivals, where we performed with the legendary John Herald. At Rodeo, I got Greg to play 'Store bought liquor', a song which he wrote and forgot, but Asleep at the Wheel recorded and kept for posterity. Check out Greg singing it here.


Also at the Rodeo Bar, on twin fiddles, playing in the Monroe tradition, are two luminaries of the New York fiddling scene, Tony DeMarco (left) and Kenny Kosek (right).

Thanks to Denise Hanway for all the photos.

Karl Deeter and I are happy to report that we have put up the official Tennessee Hob website, and we will be updating it with news, photos, mp3s, guitar and banjo tabs, plus a schedule. Karl is getting married next week in Dublin, and we will be having a hoedown at the reception. Stay tuned.

The Special C. on video

If it seems too long since the Special Consensus was here in January, and much too long till the next time they come over, thank Cathal Cusack for the news that the band can be seen and heard online, on the Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour TV show hosted by folksinger Michael Johnathon. The archives of this show are a treasury of appearances by bands such as J. D. Crowe & the New South.

In their part of show #437, the Special C. are clearly having a good time as they play 'Trail of aching hearts', 'Blue skies', 'Carolina in the pines', 'Branded wherever I go', and the Niall Toner composition 'Josie's reel'.

Rein Wortelboer, one of Europe's premier bluegrass radio presenters, has recently played on his show the Special C.'s version of 'Josie's reel' and the NTB's own version of another Niall Toner song, 'Chainsaw country blues'.

Bluegrass news from the Big Apple

Vincent Cross reports from New York:

Things are hectic here, we've had some great concerts recently in Brooklyn, and the summer is looking good too. We have a new EP of material available on my MySpace site. You can buy the album or purchase the tracks individually if you're so inclined.

I've attached a photo taken last night which has myself, the legendary Greg Garring, and New York darling Jen Larson sharing a tune. It's a pleasure to play with folks of this caliber, you can learn so much.

I met Tom Hanway while he was here and enjoyed his gig in the Rodeo Bar; he was in great form. I will be popping over to Ireland from the 7th of August to the 17th to do a few gigs - if you have anything coming up, let me know.

BIB editor's note: Vincent's MySpace site has a good collection of photos drawn from his musical career in New York and in Ireland.

Martin Cooney: a tribute

Bill Andrews of Belfast reports:

Can't say how pleased we are to see that Martin has appeared again. Martin was the first person we met, way back in 1991*, at the Lion Center for the 'First ever Bluegrass Festival in Ireland'; he introduced us to the Flint Hill Boys and all the helpers. Glad to see him back playing again - as you say, one of the best banjo players around. The FH Boys were a sad loss, but happy to say they are still playing in different bands. We look forward to maybe seeing Martin again, at this year's Festival? (DV)

Best wishes to all at Athy - looking forward to July.

Bill and Irene

(*I was a youngster of 59 then - time flies!!)

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Dick Gladney of Carlow adds:

Absolutely delighted to hear that Martin is 'pickin' the 5' again. He has been a major absence from the scene and one of the most influential figures in Irish bluegrass throughout the 90s. I, for one, wouldn't have been playing bluegrass only for Martin. A lot of the current bluegrass festivals, it could be argued, would not currently be taking place if he had not had the vision and determination to start the Athy Festival which led the way for all the others.

The other wonderful thing Martin was responsible for was in my meeting and becoming friends with people like Bill Andrews and many others, people I would otherwise not have met, and consequently not have had my life enriched by over the years.

Looking forward to seeing you all at Athy and hoping very much that Martin will be there.

Final bluegrass jam at Rosie's

The last bluegrass jam session at Rosie O'Grady's pub, Harold's Cross Road, took place on Friday 27 April, ending a series of weekly get-togethers that has run almost unbroken since the end of February 2005. The last BIB post on the subject can be found here.

A roomful of pickers and listeners came to give the session a good send-off, and it was a pleasure to learn how the session had been appreciated over the two years since it began. When Danny McCarthy announced that the starting of a new acoustic and roots music session was under consideration, it was clearly what many people present wanted to hear.

Full details of such a session will appear as soon as possible on the BIB; as will any arrangements that can be made for a specifically bluegrass get-together. Meanwhile, thanks to Aran Sheehan for conveying the flavour of last Friday in two videos made on the spot, showing many of those present engaged in 'Will the circle be unbroken' at this link, and 'Arkansas traveler' at this link. Musicians visible include Danny McCarthy; Paul McEvoy; Maeve Toner; Enda Donnelly; David, Patrick, and Catherine Simpson; Aran himself; Terry (resonator guitar); and your editor. Thanks again to everyone who took part in this session since 2005, whether picking or listening.

Baldassari meets O'Carolan

One of the best modern American bluegrass mandolinists interprets one of the most distinguished composers in the history of Irish music - Butch Baldassari has released a new CD, Music of O'Carolan, Ireland's bard. The harpist Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738) was a prolific composer whose work, drawing on the aristocratic harp tradition on one hand, and influenced by contemporary Continental art music on the other, enriched Irish traditional music.

Baldassari presents twenty tunes, with himself on mandolin, mandola, and bouzouki, and John Mock on guitars, whistles, concertina, and harmonium. The CD can be bought for $15.00 at the SoundArt Recordings website.