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.