Banjo news

If someone offers you a 2001 Stelling Masterflower 5-string banjo (serial number 5189) with chrome plating and walnut resonator - it was stolen in California on 4 August from Chris Cairns of the Chris Cairns Band. At that time it was in a bright yellow Calton touring case. If you see this instrument, please e-mail Chris Cairns or call the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office - Paul Tashiro (+1 (831) 454-2314; reference case number 07-7527).

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Johnny Butten of Taunton, Somerset, England, will make an attempt on the title of World's Fastest Banjo Player at the 4th Cornish Bluegrass Association Bluegrass Festival, held at Hendra Holiday Park, Newquay, Cornwall, on Saturday 15 September.

The present Guinness World Record (210 beats per minute) is held by the USA's Todd Taylor, whose version of 'Duelling banjos' can be seen on YouTube. Todd is currently featured in ads for Recording King banjos.

Johnny Butten also plays guitar (acoustic and electric), fiddle, mandolin, viola, cello, bass (electric and upright), Dobro, and ukulele; has worked with such musicians as Bill Keith, Peter Rowan, Kenny Baker, Josh Graves, and Bob Black; and has won many international awards. In 1998 he was one of three nominees for a European Fiddle Player of the Year award in Vienna. He will host the intermediate and advanced banjo workshops and take part in judging the instrument competitions at the CBA Festival; and he hosts the 'Ask Dr Johnny' forum page on the CBA website.

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Bill Forster, another leading English banjo-player (best known here for his work at festivals with the Acme Band at Omagh and the Tom Travis Band at Dunmore East), will be moving to a new house at Tulla, Co. Clare, sometime in 2008. Bill is hoping to find musicians to pick with, and banjo students: he has 35 years' experience as a banjo teacher in England, both for solo students and in workshops.

Bill will also be acting as an agent for Prucha banjos from the Czech Republic. (Prucha, as well as making their own fine instruments, supply hardware to the Gibson company.) His next visit to Ireland will be in October; till then he can be contacted in England by e-mail or at 0044 1132854892.