Quote of the month

...You have to study black music. Back in the 1930s and '40s, Monroe was aware of the dynamics of black music, and he was able to cross genres. If we're going to translate the paradigm 60 years later, it's no longer blues; it's rapping and beatboxing. You have to understand the groove, the intensity, the sexual edge of contemporary black music to play bluegrass music right.

Mandolinist Chris Henry, quoted in an article by Nancy Cardwell in the October 2007 issue of Bluegrass Now magazine

Merle Haggard's Bluegrass sessions on Amazon

McCoury Music, the record label operated by the Del McCoury Band, reports:

For all of you who have been thinking about buying the new Merle Haggard album, The bluegrass sessions, or would like to get some of your Christmas shopping out of the way early, here's your chance. Due to the high sales volume since release, Amazon.com has reduced the price all the way down to $9.99. This is something they do for a lot of their best-sellers. We're not sure how long it'll stay that low, so make sure you take advantage of it. Great reviews continue rolling in.'

Across the Black River up for Grammies

Thanks to Louis O'Dwyer for forwarding the following news. Louis adds: 'To me, this is a groundbreaking masterpiece album.'

Fiddler Kevin Burke and composer Cal Scott first met while working on music for a TV documentary about the Troubles in Northern Ireland. This initial collaboration led to a friendship, which has resulted in their first CD together, Across the Black River, on the Loftus Music label. Guest musicians include Johnny B. Connolly (accordion), Michael McGoldrick (flute) and Phil Baker (double bass).

Across the Black River is listed in three categories in the Grammy 2008 awards first-round ballots:
Category 74, Best Traditional World Music Album;
Category 86, Best Instrumental Arrangement (the track 'The long set', comprising 'The boys of the lough'/ 'Crowley's'/ 'Sean sa Cheo'/ 'Reel of Rio'/ 'Paddy Ryan's dream'/ 'Wind that shakes the barley'; and
Category 40: Best Country Instrumental ('Evening prayer blues')

The deadline for receiving Grammy ballots is 7 November. Kevin Burke and Cal Scott will appreciate any support.

BIB editor's note: 'Evening prayer blues' was composed by DeFord Bailey, star of the early Grand Ole Opry, and is best known to bluegrassers through the 1981 recording by Bill Monroe, who said: 'Deford was the best [blues] harmonica player... that ever lived'. A mandolin duet version by Mike Compton and David Long, on their Stomp album (Acoustic Disc ACD-63), was released last year.

Red Wine on Woodsongs #457

Red Wine (Silvio Ferretti, banjo; Luca Bartolini, guitar; Stefano Cavallo, bass; Martino Coppo, mandolin) appeared on Michael Johnathon’s Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour on 1 October, in live performance together with the veteran Celtic music group Boys of the Lough. The band played four numbers from their new CD, Winter's come and gone.

A link to the video of the show (#457) is now available on the Bluegrass Blog. Don't stop viewing when the after-show credits begin to roll! Details of the rest of Red Wine's US schedule can be found on the European Bluegrass Blog.

The audience at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco - one of the band's engagements - has been estimated at over half a million people during the three days. Warren Hellman, organiser of the completely free festival, received an IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award this year.

Appalachian women's mountain songs on BBC

Thanks to FOAOTMAD for the news that 'Woman's hour' on BBC Radio 4 carried a feature nearly ten minutes long on Friday 19 October about Appalachian women's mountain songs, introduced by Rachel Hopkin, and mainly consisting of the voices of the singers themselves. Though the current fragility of the tradition is mentioned, the singing is a real tonic and can be heard on the station website here. Especially recommended for women singers, but good listening for anyone.

Woodbine at Ballylinan, 27 Oct.

Woodbine: Nicola O'Brien, Tony O'Brien, Liam Wright, Paddy Chanders

Tony O'Brien sends a reminder that Woodbine will play Tadghin's Bar, Ballylinan (on the Kilkenny side of Athy), on Saturday night 27 October, starting at 10.30 p.m. The date has been on the BIB calendar for a while, and many of us will already have made plans to be there. If you don't have plans for that evening yet - all support for the band is welcome.

Transatlantic Bluegrass School brings top US musicians to Wales

The first Transatlantic Bluegrass School will be held on 7-11 May 2008 in Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales, giving bluegrass musicians in Europe an opportunity to learn from the very best contemporary and traditional musicians and vocalists. The instructors are:

Fiddle: Bobby Hicks
Flatpick guitar: Kenny Smith
Vocals: Amanda Smith
Mandolin: Emory Lester
String bass: Mike Bub
Banjo: Ross Nickerson

The residential course begins with a reception on the evening of 7 May, followed by four days of bluegrass music classes, elective workshops, and two faculty concerts. The total cost for all activities is £195. Demand is expected to exceed available spaces for the course, so early registration is suggested. For further information about the course, location, and tutors, visit the school’s website.

For further information, please contact:
Nadine Highfield, Transatlantic Bluegrass School
Telephone:
01239 881334 (within the UK),
011 44 1239 881334 (from the US)
e-mail

Read Nadine's full press release here.

Free Mountain Heart download from The Bluegrass Blog

Thanks to John Lawless for the following news:

The Bluegrass Blog is offering a free download track from Mountain Heart's new live CD, Road that never ends, from the BB site. The track is 'While the gettin's good', a new song written by Josh Shilling, Jim Van Cleve and Craig Market.

The free iTunes-compatible MP3 will be available to all registered users of the Bluegrass Blog from noon on Monday (10/22) until 10:00 p.m. (eastern US time). You must log in during that time to get the download.

Road that never ends will be released on 23 October on Rural Rhythm Records, and was recorded 26 May this year at The Ark in Ann Arbor, MI, where the band has developed a large and loyal audience.

The Bluegrass Blog will also be running a contest next week where six winners will receive free, autographed copies of Road that never ends and some Mountain Heart caps and T-shirts. Everyone who downloads the track will be automatically entered, and all others will be welcome to enter for the drawing starting next Tuesday.

Be sure to visit on the 22nd and get a free sneak peek at the new Mountain Heart release... and tell a friend!

John Hunter

Paul McEvoy and Tony Curran have separately sent the sad news that John Hunter of Sixmilecross, Co. Tyrone, died last night at a session, shortly after having sung. John suffered a critical heart attack several years ago.

John and his wife Noreen made their mark on the bluegrass scene in Ireland by their duet singing and by organising for several years - till John's health intervened - the successful Bluegrass Weekends in their home town of Sixmilecross. Our thoughts are with Noreen and the family.

NB: John's funeral will be at Beragh church, about four miles south of Omagh, at 2.00 p.m. on Tuesday 23 October, not 1.00 p.m as we originally announced.

************

Dear Richard and all Bluegrassers,

We want to offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences to Noreen and the Hunter family on the sad occasion of John's sudden passing. We had great time for him, as they say, and he will be sadly missed. His memory will live on in our hearts and our memories.

With love and respect,

Niall and Moira Toner, Clem and Trish O'Brien, and Dick and Trischa Gladney.

************

Richard,

Sorry to hear of death of John; please convey our condolences to his family, from Irene, myself, and Sandra here in Belfast. He'll be sadly missed.

Bill Andrews.

************

Very sad to hear of John's passing. One of the true gentlemen of Irish bluegrass in every sense of the word. How appropriate that he should leave us whilst doing what he loved doing best - playing music with Noreen and his friends. We'll miss him greatly - there'll be an empty seat at all our gatherings which can't be filled.

All our thoughts are with Noreen, I hope she will take comfort from knowing how much we all care for herself and John.

Richard Gladney

************

We were so very sorry to hear of John's passing. John, you will be remembered fondly in Athy and your duets with Noreen at many of our festivals will live on.

To Noreen and family - our thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time.

Tony, Robert, and everyone associated with Athy Bluegrass.

Andy Owens & Druha Trava tour, Jan.-Feb. 2008

April Smith's introduction on Andy Owens's website says:

If multi-instrumentalist, globe-trotting bluegrass ambassador Andy Owens had a single word on his business card above his telephone number and e-mail address, it would read: 'Adventurer'. This is how Andy Owens does things — with an adventurous, contagiously enthusiastic spirit. In addition to multi-faceted musical talents (he sings, writes songs, produces & engineers, builds & repairs instruments, and plays mandolin, banjo, guitar, fiddle, bass, Dobro and pedal steel), Owens is committed to taking bluegrass music literally around the world, with performances in 34 different countries, so far.

Andy Owens has done and/or been practically everything in the bluegrass world; and for a long time now, he has worked regularly with Druha Trava, one of the very best of all the excellent Czech bluegrass bands. They begin a tour in western and central Europe on 16 January, with confirmed dates so far in Amsterdam (18, 19 Jan.), London (23 Jan.), and North Wales (25 Jan.).

The Irish section of the tour begins on Sat. 26 Jan. at the Cobblestone, Smithfield, Dublin (confirmed). Also confirmed is Tues. 29 Jan. at the Roisin Dubh Pub, Galway. At present, shows for 27 and 28 Jan. are TBC, and 30 Jan. is still open.

On 31 Jan. Andy Owens & Druha Trava begin three days of shows in Scotland, and for the following ten days they will be in the Czech Republic. Full details are on Andy's website.

Clarence 'Tater' Tate

The Bluegrass Blog reports the sad news that Clarence 'Tater' Tate, one of the most distinctive bluegrass fiddlers, died on Wednesday 17 October at the age of 76, after a long struggle with lung cancer. His obituary in the Johnson City Press can be read here.

In Tater's long musical career, he played fiddle with Wilma Lee Cooper, Red Smiley & the Bluegrass Cutups, Lester Flatt & the Nashville Grass, and Bill Monroe & the Blue Grass Boys, with whom he also played bass. His style was marked by his use of double stops, but above all by his clean, direct, and powerfully rhythmic melodic line. There was nothing flabby, superfluous, or 'fiddly' about his playing; he could be identified, without prompting, on record after the first few notes. His legacy continues through the students whom he instructed in the East Tennessee State University bluegrass programme.

You can't hide your lyin' eyes from the Outlaws

Thanks to Tom Hanway for the news:

Early next week Sharpe Music will release to radio presenters The Outlaws’ new single, '(You Can’t Hide Your) Lyin’ Eyes', for airplay in Ireland and the UK. Sean Hughes, the ringleader of the most wanted country music desperadoes in Ireland reveals: 'It’s a completely different song. It’s been stripped down and reinvented.' Hughes gave the song a new air and jiggy time signature, and the band has been playing it out at shows across the country. Fans keep coming up after shows to say: 'that new song... I know it from somewhere', and the song is catching on everywhere the band breaks in.

The Outlaws have become a top draw in Ireland’s biggest dance halls, recently wrapping up a country music weekend with the Declan Nerney Band at White’s Hotel in Wexford. The Outlaws are the only group on the Irish country scene to use predominantly bluegrass and folk instruments, writing and arranging their own material, and playing a wide range of roots-music styles. This good-time gang boasts an inimitable line-up that includes 'old-time' fiddle, 'Scruggsy' 5-string banjo, 'Cajun ‘n’ Irish' button accordion, acoustic guitar, bass, and drums. Band members are: Sean Hughes (guitar, vocals), Diane Treanor (fiddle, vocals), American Tom Hanway (5-string banjo, vocals), Brian Walsh (drums, vocals), Barry Lenard (button accordion), and Myles Watson (bass).

The Outlaws have an uncanny ability to blend traditional styles into a fresh, contemporary alt-country sound - styles which include bluegrass, old-time, Cajun, Irish, Tex-Mex, and honky-tonk.

The band is busy collaborating on new material for their next eagerly awaited release on Sharpe. Empty mansions, the band’s current CD, is available in all fine music shops, major record outlets and at all Outlaws gigs.

The Outlaws' tour dates for October and November include:

Sat. 20 Oct: Lawlor’s Hotel, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Sun. 21 Oct: Lordan’s, Castle Ahan, Enniskean, Co. Cork
Thurs. 25 Oct: Caffertys @ The Ierne Ballroom, Parnell Square, Dublin
Sat. 27 Oct: OBs, Kilross, Co. Tipperary
Sun. 28 Oct: Rhue Glen Hotel, Co. Kilkenny (near Waterford City)
Thurs. 01 Nov: The Glencarn Hotel Awards, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan
Fri. 02 Nov: The Fort Royal, Ballymena, Co. Antrim
Sat. 03 Nov: The Lavey Inn, Dublin Road, Lavey, Stradone, Co. Cavan
Sun. 04 Nov: Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey, Co. Wexford
Fri. 09 Nov: Grants Hotel, Castle St., Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
Sun. 11 Nov: The Spa Hotel, Lucan, Dublin
Fri. 16 Nov: The Mellon Country Hotel, 134 Beltany Road, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Sat. 17 Nov: The Ryandale Hotel, Moy, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone

Management: Kevin McCooey, 042-974-0612 or 087-249-2495.

Ron Spears

Thanks to the original Bluegrass Blog for the news that Ron Spears, who was in Ireland in January as mandolin player and lead singer with the Special Consensus, is now with David Parmley & Continental Divide.

Ron's many admirers and friends in this country will wish him well in the new post, and we know that his old comrades in the Special C. do the same.

RTE's 'Roots Freeway' at IBMA's World of Bluegrass

Roland White and Niall Toner

RTE Radio One sent 'Roots Freeway' presenter Niall Toner and producer Aidan Butler to Nashville to report exclusively on this year's IBMA Convention in Music City, USA.

During their visit, Niall and Aidan conducted over twenty interviews with bluegrass musicians, instrument makers, publishers, and songwriters, and the results of those interviews will be heard on 'Roots Freeway' over the coming months. Guests included Monroe aficionado Buddy Merriam; songwriters Barry and Holly Tashian; Pete Wernick (Dr Banjo); the all-girl Goldheart; Roland White, brother of the late, great Clarence, and mandolin maestro; Keith Sewell, songwriter and sideman for Lyle Lovett; Ricky Skaggs; Sam Bush; the Dixie Chicks; Wendy Buckner, singer-songwriter; the Doerfel Family, the bluegrass stars of the future!; Kathy Chiavola, with the voice of an angel; Si Kahn, writer of a thousand bluegrass hits; Greg Cahill, Special Consensus leader; Steve Kaufman, guitar wizard; and many more.


Joan and Pete Wernick sitting comfortably with Niall

Niall's in-depth interviews will be broadcast over the Christmas period and in the New Year as specials in the Radio One Music Collection Series on Thursday nights, and his shorter pieces will be included over the coming weeks as part of his regular 'Roots Freeway' shows on Tuesday evenings at 9.00 p.m. on RTE Radio One.

RTE are also delighted to announce that Niall's 'Roots Freeway' radio show has been nominated for a PPI Award at this year's Gala Dinner to be held at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin on Friday 20 October.


Steve Kaufman and Niall

A happy ending

Our post of 12 August reported the theft of Chris Cairns's Stelling Masterflower banjo in California. It has since been recovered unharmed from the hoard of a known felon; meanwhile Chris has been able to buy a replacement with the help of many well-wishers.

Bluegrass Calendar 2008

Gary Reid of Copper Creek Records reports:

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2008 Bluegrass Calendar, a striking 14-month publication that – this year – pays homage to the Women in Bluegrass.* For folks who can’t wait to get started, this edition contains the months of November and December for 2007, as well as all of 2008. Additional information can be found here.

We also offer discounted pricing to associations (the calendars make great fund-raising items), retail establishments, and musicians wishing to resell items on their show dates. Please ask for details!

*Artists featured include Margie Sullivan • 3 Fox Drive • Sally Love • Cherryholmes • Hazel Dickens • Rhonda Vincent • Laurie Lewis • Lynn Morris • Valerie Smith • Fiddlers: Becky Buller, Megan Lynch, & April Verch • Bass Players: Nancy Cardwell, Jeanette Williams, & Sharon Gilchrist • Banjo Players: Casey Henry, Murphy Henry, Janet Beazley

Two Time Polka: October gigs

Ray Barron of Two Time Polka reports:

Hi all,
Here are our gigs for October.

Thurs. 25th: Uluru Bar, Dunmore Road, Waterford. Kickoff 9.30 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 051 855333

Jazz Festival, Cork
Sun. 28th: The Briar Rose Bar, Douglas Road, Cork. Kickoff 9.30 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 021 4291686.

Mon. 29th: The Briar Rose Bar, Douglas Road, Cork. Teatime gig: kickoff 5.30 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 021 4291686.

We have a few gigs coming up in Kilkenny in mid November. Full details in the next mail.

Regards and thanks,
Ray and TTP

Jon Glik benefit concert in USA, 19 Oct.

On 28 July the Bluegrass Ireland Blog announced that a visit to Ireland by the celebrated American fiddler Jon Glik was expected in late August and early September. Unfortunately, no visit took place, and we now learn that Jon is seriously ill and needs an emergency liver transplant.

To help meet the medical costs, a benefit concert will be held from 7.00 to 11.00 p.m. on Friday 19 October at the Arcadia Fire Hall, 16020 Carnival Ave., Upperco, Maryland 21155, USA, featuring the Del McCoury Band, David Grisman, David Grier, and the Forbes Family. A $35 donation will be taken at the door, and all the proceeds of this concert will go to Jon's emergency liver transplant fund.

To reach the venue, from I-95 take 695 to 795 to Rt. 30N, Exit 9A. Located 6 miles north of Reisterstown or 4 miles south of Hampstead off MD Rt. 30. Take Arcadia Ave. to Carnival Ave. to Gate. Food and drink will be on sale by VFD kitchen. A donation can be sent to Barbara Glik for JON GLIK MEDICAL FUND, P.O. Box 4005, Annapolis, MD 21403.

Hank Wedel and Ray Barron at Westport, 24 Nov.

Uri Kohen of Electric Cave Productions, organisers of the first Folk and Bluegrass Festival in Westport, Co. Mayo, earlier this year, reports:

Electric Cave Productions are proud to annouce a special concert of Hank Wedel and Ray Barron in the unique surroundings of the Linenmill Restaurant in Westport, Co. Mayo, on Saturday 24 November 2007. Only a small number of tickets are available, and the cost is €12.

For more info, contact Uri by mobile 'phone (087-7570958) or e-mail. Hank and Ray have been hosting their roots music session on Monday evenings in Charlie's Bar, Union Quay, Cork city, for a long time now. The Linenmill Restaurant is in The Demesne, Westport; 'phone 098-29500, fax 098-29861.

Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition tour: photos

Thanks to Roger Green of Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition for a link to an album of forty-four nice photos taken during the band's trip to Ireland in early September. They're mainly scenery and venues - Roger reports: 'Not much of the band, because we were busy playing and had no one to take pics of us'.

Tim O'Brien at Naul and Cork, 12-13 October

Colette Lawless of the Séamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin, reports that Tim O'Brien will be performing in concert at the Centre on Friday 12 October. Doors open 7.30 p.m. Performance 8.30 p.m. Adm. €20. Tel. (01) 8020898; e-mail.

The Centre says: 'Tim O'Brien is one of the spearheads of contemporary bluegrass. As co-founder and lead vocalist of Hot Rize and Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers, O'Brien served as a bridge between the traditional sounds of the hill country and the modern styles of bluegrass in the 1980s. Since the band's breakup, O'Brien has continued to expand the music's borders as a soloist, a duo partner with his sister Mollie, and with his band, the O'Boys. Not to be missed.' We completely agree.

Tim will also be playing at the Half Moon Theatre, Cork, the following night - Saturday 13 October.