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).