Cornish bluegrass festival 2008: YES

'And shall Trelawney die?' Well, no, he won't. The Cornish Bluegrass Association is delighted to be able to announce that there WILL after all be a Cornish Bluegrass Festival in September 2008. Moss Drew, the new chairman, writes: 'The CBA is still very much alive and kickin’. "September 08" is most definitely a date!' For details, keep an eye on the CBA website.

Athy 2008 programme preview

Leroy Mack (dobro)

Tony O'Brien of the Athy Bluegrass Music Association reports:

Athy Bluegrass Festival '08 will be on 10-13 July. Headline acts are Special Consensus (USA), Butch Waller & High Country (USA), LeRoy Mack (USA) and Grassroots (UK). Irish bands TBC. Full details in new year.

ABMA wish all their supporters a very happy Christmas and a bright new year.

The Special C. have played many times at Athy, but not at the festival; High Country played at two of the earliest Athy festivals, in the early 1990s; Leroy Mack nearly played at Athy one year; and Grassroots have played at Omagh and Dunmore East, but not previously at an Athy festival. In bringing them all together for 2008, the ABMA have achieved a very impressive lineup.

Cat Malojian on YouTube

Thanks to Jonathan Toman for the news that Cat Malojian, whom the BIB mentioned last week, played a half-hour show for NVTV in Belfast last week, in the series 'Kick out the jams'. The show is now on YouTube, here.

Steve Scullion (rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals) and Jonathan (fingerpicking lead guitar, banjo) talk about their experiences in music to date and play six songs. Your first impression may be 'folk'; in fact, it's easy to imagine many contemporary bluegrass bands recording this material, especially 'Bad company' and 'Little darling, you're bringing me down', the two numbers on which Jonathan plays banjo.

Jonathan also plays banjo for Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens, who will be playing at Moate this coming Sunday, as mentioned in an earlier post.

Laura Cortese tour: update

Singer, songwriter, and fiddler Laura Cortese, who has been playing bass for Uncle Earl on their just-finished European tour, is playing four dates in Ireland over the next week, followed by seven UK dates.

Laura's website shows the following Irish dates:

Thurs. 29 Nov.: The Barge Rooms, Ennis, Co. Clare

Sat. 1 Dec.: Kilgorlan, Co. ?

Sun. 2 Dec.: Dingle, Co. Kerry

Tues. 4 Dec.: Dolan's pub, 3/4 Dock Road, Limerick city; 8.00 p.m.; €9

Shopping benefits bluegrass

Elizabeth Fuhrman Bragg, curator of the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, KY, sends a friendly reminder to use ShopforMuseums.com when doing holiday shopping online. In this way, a portion of what is spent will be donated to the IBMM at no extra cost to the purchaser.

The method is easy to use and allows shopping with Amazon, Toys R Us, and hundreds of other stores; the customer also gets exclusive savings and discounts including free shipping, coupons, and more. Go to the website and select International Bluegrass Music Museum to support. Then use the links to shop your favorite stores. The donation will count automatically when you check out. A demo video on how to do it is here.

Link to Old-Time Forum

We mentioned in an earlier post the internet forum for old-time music on this side of the Atlantic, set up by Dick Glasgow of Causeway Music. For the convenience of Bluegrass Ireland Blog users who also want to visit the forum, a link to it has been added to the links listed on the right-hand side of the BIB.

Bill Whelan to fly to Frisco

Photo by Ronnie Norton

Bill Whelan of Dublin's Rough Deal String Band and many other musical enterprises (but not 'Riverdance') will be playing his eclectic, comprehensive, and utterly dependable old-time banjo style at the 9th Annual San Francisco Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival (SFBOTF), which takes place on 1-9 February 2008. SFBOTF events take place in several different venues in the San Francisco area during the Festival period; see the '`07 Festival Re-cap' page on the website for examples.

A six-page interview with Bill by R. D. Lunceford appears in the October 2007 issue of Banjo Newsletter. Get the issue and read about Bill's life with the banjo, his present banjos, why he considers the banjo to be the perfect punk instrument, and much more.

Robirohi tour, 10-13 December: update

Estonian band Robirohi delivered a splendid gospel set at the Omagh Festival in September, and Tommy Vance of Anchor Promotions was so impressed that he has arranged a brief return visit for the band, who will be playing the following dates next month:

Mon. 10 Dec. Trinity Methodist Church, Lisburn, Co. Antrim, 8.30 p.m. Also appearing: Alex and Anna from AA Music (who are supplying the grand piano), Graham Murphy, and others.

Tues. 11 Dec. Clontibret Church Hall, Co. Monaghan, 8.00 p.m. Also appearing: Live Issue.

Wed. 12 Dec. Royal Hotel, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, 8.00 p.m. Also appearing: Calvary Quartet.

Thurs. 13 Dec. Mourne Country Hotel, Newry, Co. Down, 8.00 p.m. Also appearing: Revelation.

Tickets only £5.00. Inquiries: 'phone +44-2892-648523 (from ROI 048-92-648523); mobile 07834243009.

Tommy Vance says:

Based in Tallinn, Robirohi are steeped in spiritual and gospel themes of bluegrass music. Their four-part harmony and quality musicianship has wooed audiences throughout Europe, and now audiences in North and South Ireland have the chance to see and hear again one of the best bluegrass gospel groups outside the USA.

Richard Hurst of the Ulster American Folk Park adds:

It was great to hear the news that the Robirohis are scheduled to return to Ireland so soon after performing at our festival in September. The feedback we gathered from our post-event survey showed that the band went down extremely well with thousands of festivalgoers, and they did Europe proud into the bargain. I believe that anyone who has the pleasure of attending the schedule of concerts in December will hear high-quality singing and musicianship which will succeed in bringing bluegrass music to a wider audience. Tommy Vance of Anchor Promotions is to be congratulated by all followers of bluegrass music. I encourage as many people as possible to support Tommy in this venture and play their part in giving Robirohi a warm welcome back to our shores.

Robirohi consists of Robert Kreutzwald (guitar, banjo, vocals), Tarmo Vardja (violin, vocals), Aivar Nurmik (mandolin, vocals), Indrek Vainu (dobro, autoharp, guitar, vocals), and Jurgis Kazjava (upright bass)

Korby Lenker tour dates, 29 Nov.-10 Dec. 2007

Thanks to Michael Grimes for the schedule for the forthcoming tour by Korby Lenker (see the earlier BIB post). The dates are:

Fri. 30th Nov.: Workshop, Fingal Community College, Swords, Co. Dublin. 1.00-3.00 p.m. Phone +353-1-8401420.

Sat. 1 Dec.: Moving Stairs, Boyle, Co. Roscommon, 9.00 p.m.; also a live slot on Shannonside Radio 10.30-11 a.m. with Charlie McGettigan. Phone +353-7-19663586.

Sun. 2 Dec.: Moving Stairs, Boyle, Co. Roscommon. Show time TBC. Phone +353-7-19663586.

Tues. 4 Dec.: Live radio interview on Niall Toner's 'Roots Freeway', 9.00-10.00 p.m., RTE Radio 1.

Thurs. 6 Dec.: Songwriters' Night, Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin. 8.30 p.m. Phone +353-1-8020898.

Fri. 7 Dec.: The Armoury, Balrothery Inn, Co. Dublin. 8.00 p.m. Phone +353-1-8412252.

Sat. 8 Dec.: Drumcoura Lake Resort, Derrygowan, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. 10.30 p.m. Phone +353-7-9645781.

Sun. 9 Dec.: House concert (private), Co. Dublin. 8.30 p.m.

Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens in Moate, 2 Dec.

Press release


Sunday 2 December sees Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens perform in the Tuar Ard Theatre in Moate, Co. Westmeath. If the recent performances to packed crowds in the Bog Lane Theatre in Ballymahon is anything to go by, then this is a night not to be missed. If you appreciate quality music playing, together with amazing vocals, then Carmel Sheerin and the Ravens will not disappoint. This band simply gets better and better with each performance, and following their three-week summer tour in America, event organisers over there are sitting up and taking note. The band are returning to the States next summer, where they will be headlining some prestigious Bluegrass festivals during their stay.

The band will be performing tracks from their forthcoming album and will have copies of their EP on sale on the night. The EP consists of three songs from the new album and include two original tracks penned by Danny (acoustic guitar, vocals) & Dessie (double bass and backing vocals) Sheerin - 'I’ll never let you down' and 'Must’ve been love', together with the much loved 'Streets of Heaven'. The band are busy preparing for the release of their second album, which they hope to have out early in the new year. The new album was recorded in the studio of the much acclaimed producer Bil Vorndick (Nashville, Tennessee), and includes a guest vocal appearance from Tim O’Brien, IBMA Bluegrass Male Vocalist of the Year 2006. Watch this space!!!!!

Tickets on sale @ Tuar Ard box office or can be reserved by phoning 09064 82042.

Uncle Earl European tour ends

On behalf of all who enjoyed the appearances of Uncle Earl at the Longford Festival in 2006, thanks to FOAOTMAD for the news that bluegrass writer and photographer MaryE Yeomans, now living in Wales, has posted on her blog an enthusiastic account, running to several thousand words and well illustrated, of the band playing in Bristol, UK, on the last show of their just-ended European tour.

The g'Earls have now dispersed to various locations in Europe or the US. Rayna Gellert is offering a fiddle workshop at 7.00-9.00 p.m. on 13 December in Chiswick, west London (near Turnham Green tube station). £35. Rayna says: 'This will be a fun old-time fiddle workshop for players who already know their way around the instrument - at least enough to play a few tunes passably. Since it's a short one-off, I'll try to keep the pace quick, so bring an audio recording device (no video, please). I will teach at least a couple tunes thoroughly (breaking down to demonstrate bowing, etc.) and get everyone playing, but will also include a repertoire session (playing tunes by myself for you to record and work on later).' Contact her by e-mail.

Finally: Uncle Earl's long-awaited 'kung-fu clogging video', to the tune 'Streak o' lean, streak o' fat', can now be seen on YouTube here.

Simpsons Bluegrass Band + Friends at Dalkey, Nov.-Dec.

Catherine, David, and Patrick Simpson at Airfield, Dublin, June 2007

The Simpsons Bluegrass Band - David Simpson (lead guitar), Patrick Simpson (vocals, mandolin), and Catherine Simpson (vocals, rhythm guitar) - played an evening of bluegrass at the Cuala GAA Club, Hyde Road, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, on Wednesday 21 November, beginning at 9.00 p.m. Other pickers present included Conor Daly (banjo), Richard Hawkins (banjo), and Tim Hawkins (fiddle). A photo album from the night is here.

The band was so well received that they are now scheduled to play at the Club on Friday nights for three weeks before Christmas - 30 November, 7 December, and 14 December - after which, arrangements for the future will be considered. All are welcome! (Cuala also run traditional music and set-dancing nights; see the Club's website.)

Also present in the Club were Richard Hurst, organiser of the Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival at Omagh, Co. Tyrone, and - by pure coincidence - local resident and master musician Jimmy Kelly (banjo-player with the Sackville String Band from April 1979).

Grassroots in Ireland, July '09; gigs wanted

UK bluegrass stalwart and multi-instrumentalist Rick Townend has played in Ireland more than once, most recently on fiddle with Grassroots. Rick reports that the band are arranging to play next summer at the Kinsale Arts Week (12-20 July 2008):

It looks as if Grassroots are booked at Kinsale festival on 12/13 July 08, and I’m looking around at gigging possibilities for the Tuesday to Friday before this – any ideas or contacts welcome! This band are aiming for enjoyable playing rather than money, and we would like to travel a bit.

In particular, Rick wonders about a possible Dublin gig:

Is there a band who would find a venue and help with local publicity in exchange for us doing the same for them over here?

Contact Rick by e-mail if you have a gig or other opening to suggest.

New resophonic guitar magazine

In your editor's experience, resophonic guitar players in Ireland already know any news there is to know about the instrument; but just in case... Resonance magazine is 'a new bi-monthly publication for resophonic guitarists featuring interviews, CD and product reviews, news, instruction, and tablature for beginners and more advanced players'. Issue #2 (see cover above) was the September-October 2007 issue; the contents of the new #3 are listed on Resonance's MySpace site. Subscription is $18 a year in the US, $30 international by airmail, and $12 by internet.

Direct links to latest Bluegrass Blog articles

John Lawless and Brance Gillihan of the original Bluegrass Blog received an IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award in Nashville last month. Their development of this medium has been enormously influential in spreading bluegrass news - the many imitations include the Bluegrass Ireland Blog.

Thanks to the original BB, the BIB now has a new facility. Look down the right-hand side of the BIB. Below the lists of links, previous posts, and archives and the sitemeter you'll find a panel showing the headlines of the latest articles on the Mother of All Bluegrass Blogs, with links to the articles themselves. Additional thanks to George Hawkins for implementing this.

On the Crooked Road

Noreen and Brian McGrane at the grave of A. P. Carter, with A. P.'s granddaughter Flo (centre)

The Crooked Road Heritage Music Trail passes through some of the most picturesque areas of south-western Virginia and links some of the most important places in the past and present of old-time and bluegrass music. One of them is Hiltons, VA, where the Carter Family Fold is home to the Carter Family Memorial Music Center, established in 1979 to honour the original Carter Family and to preserve their music.

Noreen and Brian McGrane of Booterstown take a leading role in honouring and preserving the Carters' music in the Dublin area. Noreen and Brian, who run the monthly session at the Old Punch Bowl in Booterstown, travelled the Crooked Road earlier this year, and have shared some of the photos from their trip.


Brian and Noreen at the door of the Carter Family house

Among the many internet sites related to the Crooked Road, try this one. There is also a 225-page guidebook by Joe Wilson, which comes with two CDs.

Old-time music on video

FOAOTMAD sends the good news that one of the best and most influential string bands of the 1990s has been reborn as Freighthoppers '08 (original members David Bass and Frank Lee are now joined by Thomas Bailey and Isaac Deal) with a MySpace page.

FOAOTMAD also gives links to some YouTube videos from the Clifftop festival in West Virginia this August: (1) the New North Carolina Ramblers (tantalisingly short); (2) a nice jam of 3-4 minutes; (3) another about the same length; (4) a jam on 'Waynesboro'; and (5) some sedate flatfooting by Cordell Lawson.

When you get to any of these, there are of course links to lead you further... for flatfooting I recommend this clip, which was shot in Galway.

Myra McCabe

Tony O'Brien sends the sad news of the death last weekend of Myra McCabe, wife of Sean McCabe of Portarlington, Co. Laois. Tony adds:

Sean is one of the great bluegrass followers in Ireland and ran many great sessions in Portarlington during the 1990s. Many of the bands passing 'Port' dined at Sean's and Myra's house, with Myra cooking some of the finest chicken dishes plus her home-made apple pie.

Bluegrass in Ireland owes a great deal to Sean and Myra, and Sean has all our sympathies.

Outlaws win Best Acoustic Country Band award

Photo by Rory Geary, from the Northern Standard

Tom Hanway reports:

The Outlaws recently won the Best Acoustic Country Band award at the Glencarn Hotel Entertainment Awards ceremony in Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan, their second band award this year. Fiona Dooley presented each band member a crystal trophy, along with a bouquet of flowers to the popular Diane Treanor. The Outlaws are packing Ireland’s best-loved hotel dance halls, brandishing acoustic artillery that include fiddle, 5-string banjo, button accordion and guitar.

Pictured above (L-R) are presenter Fiona Dooley, John McKenna (bass), Barry Leonard (button accordion), ringleader Sean Hughes (guitar, vocals), Diane Treanor (fiddle, vocals), American Tom Hanway (5-string banjo, vocals). Also playing with the band, not pictured, is Brian Walsh (drums, vocals). In May 2007 the band won the Top Entertaining Band award from Tipperary Mid-West Radio, at the station’s Country Awards dinner, Templemore Arms, Co. Tipperary.

Since last month’s release of the Outlaws’ hot new single, ‘(You can’t hide your) Lyin’ eyes’ (Sharpe), the song has become a firm favourite from one end of the country to the other, being requested by fans night after night. Country presenters are now giving heavy rotation to the single in Ireland and the UK, giving great exposure to the Outlaws, and the band is roping in new fans wherever they roam. The Outlaws are blazing new trails in adapting traditional folk and Americana styles into a contemporary alt-country sound - styles which include bluegrass, old-time, Cajun, Irish traditional, Tex-Mex, and honky-tonk.

Empty mansions is currently available in all major record outlets, fine music shops and at all Outlaws’ hoedowns. The band is clandestinely collaborating on brand new material for their next anxiously awaited release. The Outlaws wish to thank their new friends, fans, presenters and all the terrific venues who have made their success possible in Ireland and the UK.

The Outlaws tour dates for November and December can be found on the BIB calendar.

John Hunter memorial benefit evening, 16 Feb.

Tony Curran reports:

I am planning a benefit evening for Saturday 16 February 2008 at Fergal Farley’s pub in Beragh, Co. Tyrone, in memory of the late John Hunter.

Although I realise this is some time hence, I should like to advise the bluegrass fraternity in sufficient time for them to set the date in their diaries. All welcome! (The usual suspects have already been rounded up!)

Proceeds for the evening will be donated to the Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke Association.

Bill Forster and Prucha banjos

Bill Forster (see our posts of 12 and 22 August) reports that he should be moving over to Ireland sometime in the summer of 2008. Bill adds:

I have some details of Prucha banjos I could bring over with me, and which are for sale via the Music Room in Cleckheaton, Yorkshire. I have played all these instruments and can vouch for their quality.



Prucha Diamond Point: pot and peghead

The Diamond Point is especially good with a wide neck and profiled fingerboard, slick action and a superb tone which will only improve with playing; its price is £3,299.

The Legend has a very solid tone and is extremely well made; its price is £1,699. Also available are two custom Legends, one mahogany and one maple. The maple banjo is spectacular looking and very loud. The tone is still a little raw (the banjo is still very new) but has tons of potential once it is played in. It is very playable and has a good tone all the way up the neck. There is also a mahogany banjo which is less loud, with a more delicate tone, but with the same playability and tone all the way up the neck. I have no prices for these as of yet, but pictures will soon be available on the Music Room website. I will be over in January, February, and May, and will be able to bring banjos in February and May.

Andy Owens & Druha Trava tour: update

Good news following our post of 20 October: multi-talented Andy Owens sends word that the four projected dates in Ireland for his tour with premier Czech band Druha Trava at the end of January 2008 are now confirmed (see the Bluegrass Ireland Blog calendar). Andy adds:

I also have some cool news: Katy Garcia will be joining us on the Ireland part of the tour. She is a CZ girl who sings in Gaelic and English and Spanish and Czech and plays whistles too. She will be doing a few songs on the sets and singing harmony and playing whistles - it is going to be great!! I will send you some links for her when I get them...

Old-time Music Forum for Europe

Thanks to Dick Glasgow of Causeway Music, who organises the Causeway Dulcimer Festival at Bushmills, Co. Antrim, for the news that he has just launched an Old Time Music Forum for this side of the Pond, with improved security against misuse by spammers. You can find it, and sign on, either here or at the Causeway Music website.

While you're in the neighbourhood, stop off at Dick's Old Time Music page. A visit to Causeway Music's MySpace is worth making for Dick's bio alone; there's also plenty of good hammered-dulcimer music, and a taste of what he and his wife Sabine can do on many other instruments. Thoroughly recommended!

Help the IBMA (and the EBMA, and the BIB)

The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) is currently undertaking a large-scale update of its radio/dj list. This is one of the IBMA's most requested member services, and is used mostly by independent artists looking to distribute CDs for airplay, and by event producers looking to promote events in their region.

The IBMA would be glad of help in updating the list by completing the information below for each radio station within your area that is currently programming bluegrass. For each radio station, please supply the following:

Call letters [or other station name]
Frequency
Bluegrass DJ
Show(s)
Times
Website
E-mail
Phone

Contact Katy Leonard, who holds an MA degree from the University of Limerick (see our post of 4 June 2007) by e-mail, or by post at the IBMA office, 2 Music Circle South, Suite 100, Nashville, TN 37203, USA.

This information is also important to the European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA), which is preparing the 2008/9 edition of the European Bluegrass Directory, and to the Bluegrass Ireland Blog, which aims to have its own directory page. So if you're sending info direct to Katy at IBMA, please send a copy to the BIB editor, who will forward it to the EBMA.

Nechville News on the Internet

Nechville Musical Products, originators of the revolutionary Helimount banjo and associated innovations, are merging their print newsletter Banjovia with the Internet-based Nechville News. Subscribers will receive banjo setup tips, notice of scheduled workshops and special events, new product announcements, and special savings on Nechville products for list members.

Newsletter back issues, product manuals, and the official Nechville screen saver can be downloaded here.

On Friday 9 November from 9:00 a.m. to noon (EST), Tom Nechville will be interviewed by host Carol Beaugard on WFDU Radio, broadcasting in the New York City area and on the World Wide Web. You can tune into the live broadcast by going to the station's website and clicking on their live radio link.

Nechville Music Center has a list of Nechville banjos in stock at dealers all over the world, and an ever-growing worldwide network of retail dealers. Nechville Banjos carry a lifetime warranty for the original owner, and a ten-day review period for new purchases.

Open House Festival on Belfast Telegraph TV

A four-minute video clip on the 9th Open House Festival in Belfast can be seen on Belfast Telegraph TV. The reporter was Gary Grattan, who also filmed and edited it. Seen on screen are the Earl Brothers in performance, and Kieran Gilmore, festival organiser, who underlines the growth of the festival since 1999 from 'two pubs and a cathedral' to its present size, with about a dozen bands from the USA. The clip can be seen here.

Sore Fingers Week 2008

The thirteenth Sore Fingers Week will be held from Monday 24 March to Friday 28 March 2008 at Kingham Hill School, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England. The US instructors for intermediate and advanced courses are:

Guitar: Scott Nygaard
Singing: Keith Little
Songwriting: John Lowell
Dobro: Sally Van Meter
Fiddle: Megan Lynch
Bass: Danny Thompson
Autoharp: Mike Fenton
Old-time fiddle: Thomas Bailey

Sore Fingers are currently in communication with Ron Block (banjo), John Reischman (mandolin), and Joe Newberry (old-time banjo).

Beginners' courses will be taught by UK instructors:

Banjo: John Dowling
Mandolin: Dan Norton
Fiddle: James Dewdney
Guitar and bass: TBA

The residential course (five full days' tuition, six nights' accommodation, and three meals a day, with several accommodation options) finishes with the annually renowned tutor concert. For more information see the Sore Fingers website or call John Wirtz or Moira Wirtz at +44 (0)1373 813590.

Read John's full press release here.

Mando Lore CD

For the many people who combine interests in bluegrass and 'Celtic' music, there's a new mandolin-plus CD out by Brian Taheny of Co. Sligo and Andrew Collins of Canada, mandolin player with the Creaking Tree String Quartet and the Foggy Hogtown Boys, who also designed the cover. An article about Andrew can be found on UKBluegrass.com.

The sixteen tracks on the album (seven of which are medleys of tunes) are predominantly mandolin duets, with guitar, mandocello, and bouzouki also used. The album receives very favourable comment on the Bluegrass Blog and from mandolin virtuoso Simon Mayor in his review on CDBaby.

A cure for Banjo-Player's Spine

For anyone who plays banjo a lot standing up (as bluegrassers do), the weight of the instrument can cause chronic and debilitating spine problems. Kim Koskela, leader and banjo-player of the Wildwood Girls, who plays an extra-heavy top-tension banjo, has had these problems and fought back against them by inventing the No-Strap (TM), a product of Fifth Child Music.

The No-Strap transfers the weight of the banjo to the hips, just as the waist-belts used with heavy backpacks do. Full instructions for fitting the No-Strap are shown on the Fifth Child Music website. Fifth Child Music* will also be selling a new type of picks, tab books, and practice aids for the banjo.

*Ask any Bill Monroe enthusiast for the significance of the name. The answer is also on the website.

New CD: Live at Podunk (update)

Live at Podunk (Patuxent Music CD-161), by Gary Ferguson and Friends - Mike Auldridge, Gail Wade, Ron Stewart, Emory Lester, Kene Hyatt, and Marc Roy - was recorded at the Podunk Bluegrass Festival in East Hartford, Connecticut.

The album's appearance featured on 29 October on the original Bluegrass Blog, which points out that audio samples and download purchases are available at DigStation, and info about mail orders can be found on Gary’s MySpace page.

$15 plus $3 postage and handling. Send check or money order to:
Gary Ferguson
6211 Baltimore Pike
Littlestown, PA 17340

Gary Ferguson has toured in Ireland for each of the last three years, and Gail Wade accompanied him in 2005. Mike Auldridge, father of modern dobro playing, who received an IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award this year, has also been over here. We look forward to hearing the rest of this group as well. Gary also appears on the latest CD by banjo master Bill Emerson; see details here.


Gail Wade, Gary Ferguson, Ronnie Stewart, Emory Lester, Marc Roy, and Mike Auldridge at Podunk

Korby Lenker in Ireland, 29 Nov.-10 Dec.

Singer-songwriter Korby Lenker, born in Idaho, based formerly in the Seattle area, and now working out of Nashville, TN, recorded two CDs (2002, 2003) with his west coast bluegrass band the Barbed Wire Cutters and a further album of gospel songs, David Goliath's old-time gospel hour (2004). Since 2001 he has also released four albums of original material (mainly in the alt.country and acoustic rock areas) under his own name, which have been very well received.

Korby works at home with a band consisting of bass, fiddle, and his own guitar. He will be making a solo tour in Ireland between 29 November and 10 December, and will be appearing on Niall Toner's 'Roots Freeway' radio show on RTE 1, where Niall has been playing some of his music. Dates will appear on the BIB as soon as we have them. For further details, contact his agent/promoter:
Michael Grimes
Priorland
Naul
Co. Dublin
+353 01 8413100; mobile +353 01 8413100
e-mail