Sixmilebridge Winter Music Weekend, 11-13 Jan.

The Sixmilebridge Folk Club of Sixmilebridge, southern Co. Clare, once again gives Ireland a musical pick-me-up for the new year with its Winter Music Weekend from Friday 11 January to Sunday 13 January 2008.

The event takes over much of the village, with shows and sessions taking place in the Mill Bar, Casey's, McGregor's, the Greyhound Bar, the GAA Hall, the Jamaica Inn, and the Court House. Among the wide-ranging programme of acoustic music, bluegrass-related acts include Simon Mayor & Hilary James, the Niall Toner Band, Two Time Polka, and the Critters (folk, bluegrass, and old-time, from Cork).

The full programme, together with a map showing all venues and other locations in Sixmilebridge, is here. Contact data are on the Weekend website.

Bluegrass at Derryhirk, Co. Antrim, 28 December

Thanks to Tony Curran for news of a bluegrass session at the Derryhirk Inn at 3.00 p.m. on 28 December, to which all were welcome. Unfortunately, due to absence we did not get the news in time to put it on the BIB. For information on any upcoming events in the same area, you can contact Tony by e-mail.

The Derryhirk Inn is on the B156 in western Co. Antrim, between Aghalee and Lough Neagh. A location map is at this link.

New CD from Four Wheel Drive

For the many fans and friends of Four Wheel Drive (NL) in Ireland: the band officially released their new CD, Another town, during the weekend of 7-9 December. The album is on their own label, Stoney Man Records, named in honour of 4WD's former bass player and lead singer, the late Theo Lissenberg, composer of the song 'Stoney Man Mountain'.

Four Wheel Drive is Joost van Es (fiddle, vocals), Jürgen Biller (banjo, vocals), Jan Michielsen (guitar, vocals), Alfred Bonk (upright bass, vocals), and Edu Grin (mandolin, vocals). A preview of Another town can be heard on the 4WD MySpace site. Jan Michielsen reports:

We gave three concerts on that weekend, one in Belgium for our Belgian fans on Friday 7 December in a place called 'The Singer' in Rijkevorsel. On Saturday night there was a CD party/concert at the Waldorfschool in Utrecht; it was a full house, and every fourth visitor bought a CD.

On Sunday afternoon we played a gig in 'De Amer', a prestigious venue in Amen (Holland). The concert was videotaped and put on YouTube (type in 'Four Wheel Drive Bluegrass'). That first weekend we sold about 100 CDs.


Jürgen Biller and Joost van Es at The Singer

For guitarists

Alison Brown's label Compass Records announces proudly that the Russ Barenberg tune 'Little Monk' has been nominated for Best Country Instrumental Performance category in the 2008 Grammy Awards. It is a track on his Compass album When at last, and also features Jerry Douglas (dobro), Viktor Krauss (bass) and Stuart Duncan (fiddle).

'Little Monk' (a good tune) is named after Pepper, Barenberg's border collie dog. Nonetheless, anyone who knows a little monk (and in Ireland this is still possible, despite the decline in vocations) might find the CD a welcome idea for a Christmas present.

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Cathal Cusack reports:

I have a spare copy of the November/December issue of Flatpicking Guitar magazine (and the accompanying CD). The publisher sent me a replacement copy when I let them know I hadn't received mine, and both the official and the replacement arrived the same day!

I'll like to offer anyone, who might be interested, the spare copy. Dan Miller is the man behind Flatpicking Guitar and he runs a good show. Apart from the magazine, there are all sorts of wonderful guitar-related CDs and DVDs listed in his website. I'll post the magazine FOC to whoever raises their hand first.

Contact Cathal by e-mail.

Greetings from friends overseas

Season's greetings from Lucy (above), Ciska, and Arnold Lasseur! Arnold (lead singer and mandolin player of the Blue Grass Boogiemen) adds: 'I'd like to take any opportunity to wish as many folks well as possible, anytime, any place and anywhere!'

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We wish everybody a nice and peaceful Merry Christmas, and may all your wishes for 2008 come true. Stay healthy.

Beate and Andy Glandt (of the Fox Tower Bluegrass Band)

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And Greg Cahill of the Special Consensus sends a very seasonal link to the classic video of Earl Scruggs and the Gibson All-Stars playing 'Jingle Bells'.

Old-time fiddle and banjo vacancies for Sore Fingers

John Wirtz of the superb Sore Fingers bluegrass and old-time camps reports:

We have booked the very talented Thomas Bailey for old-time fiddle and Brett Ratliff for old-time banjo for our Easter courses 2008. We only have three people booked on each of these courses at present, and we need at least ten more on each course to make it viable. If you are intending to come, could you please send your booking as soon as possible, as I need to commit to booking their flights and at present we are in a position where it is not viable to run these courses with US tutors.

All details are on the Sore Fingers website and you can download a booking form from there too. If you have any questions, please call +44 (0)1373 813590 or e-mail John.

Lovell Sisters live DVD

As you may have seen from the headlines from the Bluegrass Blog down on the right-hand side of the BIB, the Lovell Sisters, who were among the headliners at this year's Omagh Festival, have now brought out a DVD, Live at the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Read more about it here.

Scholarships available for Transatlantic Bluegrass School

An earlier post on the BIB announced the Transatlantic Bluegrass School, to be held 7-11 May 2008 in Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales (UK). Instructors include Bobby Hicks (fiddle), Kenny Smith (flatpick guitar), Amanda Smith (vocals), Emory Lester (mandolin), Ross Nickerson (5-string banjo), and Mike Bub (string bass).

Nadine Highfield of Transatlantic Bluegrass reports: 'We have established a scholarship program, which will offer free tuition to younger bluegrass musicians who might otherwise not be able to participate. This has been developed in an effort to encourage the development and appreciation of bluegrass music in musicians between 16 and 25 years of age... Bluegrass music will only thrive if we continue to encourage and support young musicians with a serious interest in playing and performing. We are delighted to be able to use this program to extend access to those dedicated individuals who will become our next generation of fine bluegrass musicians.'

Full terms and conditions, together with an application form, are available here.

Strictly Bluegrass in Drogheda, 19 Dec.: change of venue

Jim MacArdle (guitar, vocals), Dick McGarry (banjo, vocals), and Mick Dunne (mandolin) will present 'Strictly Bluegrass' in the Well, Newfoundwell, on the Termonfeckin Road, Drogheda, Co. Louth, at 9.00 p.m. on Wednesday 19 December, and not at Sarsfield's Pub, Chord Road, as originally announced. The change was unavoidable because of a double booking. Admission is free.

Jim, one of the pioneers of bluegrass and old-time music in Ireland, reports: 'We have started playing together only recently. Dick (5-string) you probably know, Mick Dunne is from Drogheda and is the proud possessor of a nice Gibson F-5 (and he can play it too). We hope to see all our friends there!'

Jim is also working on a album of local Drogheda and mid-Louth music, which he hopes to complete in the New Year.

Simpsons Bluegrass Band + Friends at Mount Merrion, 9 Dec. 2007

Michael Tubridy and his wife step-dancing

The Simpsons Bluegrass Band (and friends from the bluegrass and old-time mafia of Dublin) formed part of an afternoon of traditional music, dance, and refreshments at the Mount Merrion Community Centre, south Dublin, on Sunday 9 December. The Centre, set in a completely refurbished historic building which was originally a lodge and later a chapel, turned out to be a great venue for intimate concerts, as well as for a fair number of dancers. For more photos by Mark and Angela Simpson, go here.

Prison Love Christmas gig at the Tripod, 19 December

Hey Y'all,

A quick reminder of the Prison Love Christmas Breakout this Wednesday night (19 Dec. from 7:30 p.m.)!!

Prison Love with the North Strand Klezmer Band
Venue: Tripod, The POD, Old Harcourt St. Station, Dublin2
Date: Wednesday 19 December
Showtime: 7:30-10:30 p.m. sharp
Tickets: €15 on the door (or €17.50 from Ticketmaster)

In other news...
We're playing a tune live in Today FM Studios on Ian Dempsey's Breakfast Show tomorrow morning Tues. 18th at about 8:30 a.m.
AND
We'll be on The View on RTE 1 tomorrow night, Tues. 18th, sometime after 11.00 p.m.

Other gig news: see the websites for more details, including two Xmas gigs in the North.

Be good,
Marko

Fair City Grass's new member

Enda (mandolin) and Bruno (guitar) at the Christmas Bash

Following on from Aran Sheehan's report on Fair City Grass's Christmas Bash, Enda Donnelly reports on the band's latest member:

Ah, the Bruno story! Well, he has no connection with bluegrass or playing. Has been to USA. He started coming to our gig some time ago & heard of it through going to some Irish trad sessions, which he enjoys. He is, by the way, from Brazil, of Italian extraction (partly). He was captivated by what we were up to & showed an interest in getting involved.

After coming back from a tour of USA (end Oct./Sept.), we found we would downsize to a trio. This was grand for a while, with myself on guitar mostly & changing our set to suit. I asked Bruno could he SING & play chords, & the rest is history. The nice thing about all this is he came with no preconceived notions or baggage (bluegrass). This made it all the more easier to coach him over the past month, & he lives nearby.

He is tall & good-looking, which even helps in the presentation of BLUEGRASS! He never played on a steel-stringed guitar before, although he has a Spanish nylon-stringed model. May I conclude, he has taken to bluegrass like a duck to water! & is great fun to work with.

Orrin Star: news update

Jimmy Gaudreau and Orrin Star

News from New York multi-instrumentalist Orrin Star, whom we heard from back in February and again in July, in connection with the expected visit to Ireland by fiddler Jon Glik, which was prevented by Jon's illness. Orrin reports that Jon has had a liver transplant operation and is doing well.

Among other activities, Orrin has been playing with mandolin wizard Jimmy Gaudreau, and also says:

The muse has recently called me to learn a rash of Celtic fiddle tunes. It began by hearing 'Dick Gossip's reel' played by Steve Hickman at a contra dance about two months ago, and has continued at a lovely cadence ever since. (I find myself particularly drawn to jigs lately, a la 'Morrison's', 'Geese in the bog', and 'Maggie Brown's favourite'.) NB: my three extant CDs are all now available for downloading on iTunes and CD Baby et al.

Songwriter's fourth tour of Ireland, 14-29 July '08

Gary Ferguson (guitar, vocals) will make his fourth consecutive tour of Ireland in July 2008, together with David Miner (dobro, vocals) who accompanied him in 2006 and 2007. The tour will begin on 14 July and end on 29 July. It will include concerts and workshops on Dobro playing and songwriting. Promoters looking for performance or workshop dates can reach Gary here or here.

Gary will have two new CDs available for the tour; a Rebel Records project, Bill Emerson and the Sweet Dixie Band, with Tony Rice, Jimmy Gaudreau, Mark Newton, Paul Williams, Pete Goble, Dudley Connell, Tony Trischka, etc. The second project is Gary Ferguson and Friends: Live at Podunk, recorded at the Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival in East Hartford, CT, with Mike Auldridge, Ron Stewart, Emory Lester, Gail Wade, Kene Hyatt, and Marc Roy.

Dates confirmed so far are Sat. 19 July, Bog Lane Theatre, Ballymahon (w/Charlie McGettigan); Tues. 22 July, Groucho’s Music Lounge, Richhill, Co. Armagh; and Thurs.-Sun. 24-27 July, Phil Murphy Weekend, Carrig on Bannow, Co. Wexford.

Partial list of venues played in 2005, 2006 and 2007: Barry’s (Grange), the Cobblestone (Dublin), the Crane (Galway), Ulster American Folk Park (Omagh), Colfer's (Carrig on Bannow), Ballymore Inn (Ballymore Eustace), Wexford Hooves and Grooves Festival (Wexford), McDaid's (Midleton), Village Arts Centre (Kilworth), Athy Bluegrass Festival (Athy), the Green Room (Dublin), Seamus Ennis Centre (Naul), Phil Murphy Weekend (Carrig on Bannow), St John’s Theatre (Listowel), Airfield (Dundrum), Droichead Arts Centre (Drogheda), etc.

The Nashville Sessions, 2007: on RTE Radio One

Niall tries out a Huber banjo, with the best possible guide

Niall Toner reports:

On 27 and 28 December, at 6.00-7.00 p.m. each evening, RTE Radio One will broadcast the first two programmes in the 'Nashville Sessions' series, featuring writers, performers, and instrument-makers interviewed by Niall Toner and producer Aidan Butler during our visit to the IBMA convention in Nashville during October last. Guests include Greg Cahill, Pete Wernick, Barry and Holly Tashian, Steve Huber, Goldheart, Broken Wire, Si Kahn, Steve Kaufmann, Keith Sewell, Wendy Buckner, and loads more. Details of further programmes featuring interviews with bluegrass people will be announced in early 2008.


Niall talks to Wendy Buckner and Keith Sewell

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The NTB are currently working on CD #3, provisionally titled We believe in clean endings, featuring another baker's dozen originals. Recording should be completed before mid-January, and hopefully we will have details of a release date in early February. NTB are also delighted to announce their inclusion in the 2008 Athy Bluegrass line-up, one of the strongest ever! See details elsewhere on the BIB.

Season's greetings and kind regards to all,

Niall


Niall gets to hold a Gibson, and talk with the man who makes them: David Harvey

Fair City Grass Christmas Bash, 12 Dec.

Thanks to Aran Sheehan for this report on FCG's annual Christmas show at Mother Reilly's in Rathmines, Dublin:

It was a lovely evening with a receptive and appreciative crowd. My personal highlight of the evening was Fair City Grass playing 'Southern flavour' which had the real Monroe feeling and was executed with sublime class and dexterity. I also enjoyed having the honour of being invited to join the boys for a few stonking numbers along with Banjo Conor [Daly] where we passed breaks around and wigged out with the rock-steady sound of Fair City Grass.

I was also delighted to meet the newest member of Fair City Grass, a gentleman from Brazil called Bruno, who has a great alto voice and harmonized wonderfully with Enda to give the sound a true bluegrass feeling.

Aran also sends a link to about four minutes of some very atmospheric MySpace TV footage, showing the band playing 'Oh, Susanna'; watch it here.

Carolina Chocolate Drops tour, Feb.-Mar. 2008

l-r: Dom Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens, Justin Robinson

Thanks to Dick Glasgow and his old-time music forum for the news that the Carolina Chocolate Drops, leaders of the revived black stringband tradition, will be in Ireland and the UK at the end of February and beginning of March 2008. The schedule is:

Tues. 26 Feb. Errigle Inn, Belfast
Thurs. 28 Feb. Strule Theatre, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Fri. 29 Feb. Bronte Centre, Rathfriland, Co. Down
Sat. 1 Mar. Seamus Ennis Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin
Sun. 2 Mar. Playhouse Theatre, Derry, Co. Londonderry
Mon. 3 Mar. Maverick @ Zebra, Maidstone
Tues. 4 Mar. St Bonaventure's, Bristol
Wed. 5 Mar. Arts Centre, Windsor
Fri. 7 Mar. Cluny, Newcastle
Sat. 8 Mar. Tolbooth, Stirling
Sun. 9 Mar. Memorial Hall, Sheffield

Dick says: 'I can't wait to see them!' Nick Pilley of FOAOTMAD says: 'See these folks if you possibly can. They are mentored by Joe Thompson, probably the last of the original black old-time musicians and replicate his material plus their own influences.'

Radio Bluegrass International adds 3 new hosted programmes

Fred Bartenstein, bluegrass renaissance man

Launched in May 2007, the streaming audio representation of the International Bluegrass Music Museum known as RBI (Radio Bluegrass International) will debut three new programs beginning 13 December 2008 at 8:00 a.m. CST. Produced and hosted by well known bluegrass luminaries, these shows continue the expansion of programming geared toward fans of bluegrass and old-time music. The internet stream is accessed from this address. Rob Calhoun is the RBI program director.

The new programs are:

1) 'Banks of the Ohio': A three-hour show on the history of bluegrass, hosted by Fred Bartenstein for five years in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and produced from its inception as a service to the IBMM. Beginning 13 Dec., new 'Banks of the Ohio' episodes will play Thursday mornings (8:00-11:00 CST) and archived episodes from the show’s earliest years will air Sunday mornings (6:00-9:00 CST).

2) 'The Bluegrass Review': An hour of bluegrass from show host Phil Nusbaum in St Paul, Minnesota, will stream every Thursday afternoon at 1:00 CST, also beginning on Thursday 13 Dec. 'The Bluegrass Review' will enlighten bluegrass fans about the evolution of bluegrass music. In addition, through interviews with today’s players, the show gives insights into the current scene. RBI will begin airing Bluegrass Review with archived episodes from late 2006.

3) 'Dan Crary’s Classic Bluegrass': World-famous guitar hero, educator, and historian Dan Crary has begun to dig through his personal collection of bluegrass vinyl in Placerville, California, to produce this one-hour program exclusively for the Bluegrass Museum and RBI. 'Dan Crary’s Classic Bluegrass' will stream every third Sunday at 3:00 p.m. CST beginning 16 December.

Festival listings for 2008 on EBMA website

EBMA is currently updating the festival listing for 2008. Could all festival promoters please check out the information and date about their festival on www.ebma.org --> festivals/concerts? Any additions and changes should be e-mailed to me.

Thank you for supporting us to keep our information up to date!

Angelika Torrie
EBMA webmistress

Robirohi keep their word despite tragedy

Richard Hurst of the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, reports:

10 December

Dear friends,

I write to inform you of the tragic news that Robirohi's fine violinist and vocalist, Tarmo Vardja, was killed in a car crash in Estonia on Saturday last, 8 December, whilst on his way to meet the rest of the band members for a performance that night.

The band decided to go ahead and fulfil their engagements in Northern Ireland & the Republic of Ireland this week and flew into Dublin earlier this morning. They will take to the stage in Trinity Methodist Church Hall in Lisburn tonight, Monday 10 December, without their fiddle player of the last ten years.

I will be meeting the band this afternoon as I have been asked to compere at the concert tonight. We are filled with admiration that, in spite of the deep sadness and hurt they must be feeling, they have decided to go ahead with their four-night tour and will return to Estonia on Friday in time for Tarmo's funeral, which I believe is scheduled to take place next Saturday, 15 December.

More information will be made available in the coming days, I'm sure. I understand that Tarmo was 57 years old and the father of seven grown-up children.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.

11 December

Last night [Monday 10 December] Robirohi performed to a highly appreciative audience in Trinity Methodist Church Hall in Lisburn. Their fine musicianship and harmony vocals impressed all in the auditorium. When the audience learned of the tragic and sudden death of band member Tarmo Vardja many wept and remembered with fondness his contribution to Robirohi's performances only a few short weeks ago at the Ulster American Folk Park's Annual Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival.

The band are obviously finding it very difficult to come to terms with the enormity of it all, and their thoughts and those of the audience in Northern Ireland were firmly fixed on Tarmo's wife and their seven children last night. As well as being an integral part of Robirohi for the past decade, he was a violinist with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. Many fellow Estonian musicians will mourn his loss in the days and weeks to come.

Robert, Aivar, Indrek, & Jurgis will perform in Monaghan, Cookstown, and Newry over the next three evenings, and I urge as many followers of the music in Ireland as possible to try and attend one of their concerts to enjoy their music, and perhaps say hello and let them know we are thinking of Tarmo's wife, family, and all in Robirohi.

Low Country Boys: an intermission

The Low Country Boys of the Ards Peninsula, Co. Down, Ireland's only bluegrass gospel band, will be 50 per cent non-operational in the coming year. Their message on the band website says:

Mark (mandolin/vocals) and Graeme (guitar / vocals) have decided to take a break from playing concerts with the Low Country Boys, to spend more time with their long-neglected wives and wee weans. They will not be available for concerts for (at least) the 12 months of 2008.

However, Gibson (banjo) and Ivan (bass) do plan to keep playing concerts, so if you want to book them just drop them a line.

Thanks to everybody for your interest and support since the Boys started in February 2002. It's been a great five and a half years - taking us from footerin in Mark's kitchen at The Burn in Ballyhalbert to the stage of the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC - and who knows what the future may hold. CDs are still available and the old website will still be up and running for a while. You can stay in touch with the Boys via the email links below.

Visit Mark Thompson's blog when you drop in to the LCB website.

NTB at Newbridge, Co. Kildare

Niall Toner reports:

At our recent gig in the Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge [2 November] there was a very appreciative listening audience. I handed my camera out to the people and invited them to photo-at-will, and this was one of the shots which captured some of what the performance was like. Dick was having an equally good time, off-camera...

Tenor guitar now available from Hobgoblin

If your group wants to get closer to the original sound of the Delmore Brothers (or, for that matter, the Kingston Trio), thank FOAOTMAD for the news that the Ashbury tenor guitar, made in China, is now available from Hobgoblin Music in the UK for €237 (£159). Full details and photo are here.

FOAOTMAD also announce that details, booking forms, etc. for February's Gainsborough old-time festival are not yet on their website, but the line-up will include Piney Woods (Kate Lissauer, Dave and Tim Bing, and Jim Martin) (USA); Adam Hurt (USA); Beth Hartness (USA); Down Trodden String Band (UK); Kitty Hawks (UK). 'Dancers will have the pleasure of Kerry Fletcher's tuition, and Kerry will be supported by fiddler Tim Brooks. All that and more...'

Andy Owens & Druha Trava tour: cancelled

Andy Owens has been obliged by circumstances beyond his control to cancel his projected European tour with Druha Trava in January and February. Andy writes:

This was not a lightly made decision,... and it pains me, as I have never cancelled a single show in my life, much less a whole three-week tour of five countries.

He hopes to be able to reschedule the tour at some time in the future.

Charity bluegrass session at Rostrevor, 26 Jan.

Tony Curran reports:

In addition to the benefit organised for February in Beragh, Tim Donnelly from Kilkeel is organising a 'Bluegrass, Trad & Folk' session at 8.00 p.m. in the Kilbroney Inn, Rostrevor, on 26 January 2008. Proceeds are to be donated to the Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke Association and other local charities.

He would like any bluegrass musicians (available to play that evening) to contact - within the next few weeks - either Tim or myself, that we may organise advertising, accommodation etc.

Contact Tim at 29 Ballanran Road, Kilkeel, Co. Down ('phone 040-417-62795) or Tony by e-mail.

The Panfils in Ireland, 1-14 July

Mark, Katie, and Chris Panfil in action

Chris and Mark Panfil are multi-instrumental brothers from western New York State, whose combined CVs in original, traditional, and contemporary bluegrass music are impressive (see their website). They're regulars at the renowned Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival and have instructed, recorded, and performed with some of the best in the business. With Mark's son Scott (bass) and daughter Katie (fiddle), they make up a four-piece bluegrass band, using a lot of original material.

The band intends being in Ireland from 1 July to 14 July 2008. Event organisers take note; their press pack and CD info are on the website, and Chris can be contacted by e-mail.

Christmas bargains

This is the last night of the Rounder Records Christmas sale that began a week ago; if you see this tonight in Ireland, there may still be time to get your order in to Rounder before the office closes. CDs on sale for $12.99 include A Celtic Christmas sojourn, live, a compilation from Brian O'Donovan's 'Celtic sojourn' radio show; latest albums from Alison Krauss, Ron Block, King Wilkie, Doyle Lawson, Uncle Earl, and Bobby Osborne; Tony Trischka's award-winning Double banjo bluegrass spectacular; and more. See the full offer here. If you missed the sale, don't take it too hard; they're all well worth the regular price.

If you're likely to be going to California or have friends coming from there, check out the bargains offered by the folks at Tricopolis Records. Good prices not only on records but on Blue Ridge guitars, tuners, instruction books and videos, and one-off bargains on a used Gibson Hound Dog dobro and a new Gold Star banjo.

Bill Evans and Megan Lynch, March 2008

Megan and Bill going where no pickers have gone before

The tutors for the coming Sore Fingers Week (22-28 March 2008) in the UK include Bill Evans for the bluegrass banjo course and Megan Lynch for bluegrass fiddle.

Bill Evans is among those featured in the classic book Masters of the 5-string banjo by Pete Wernick and Tony Trischka. He has performed with Dry Branch Fire Squad, Laurie Lewis, Kathy Kallick, Jody Stecher, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Lynn Morris, Jim Hurst and Missy Raines, the late Charlie Moore, and many others. His latest CD, Bill Evans plays banjo, was named a top CD of the year by the Chicago Tribune and County Sales. His first CD, Native and fine, received an honourable mention for Acoustic Instrumental Recording of the Year from the National Association of Independent Record Distributors. He is also a masterly analyst of other players' styles, and a regular columnist for Banjo Newsletter. His other recent publications include a fine Acutab instructional DVD.

Megan Lynch has won numerous titles as a fiddler since she was eight years old, and has performed with country legend Pam Tillis as well as with Roland White, Larry Cordle, Jim Hurst, Chris Jones, Chris Stuart, 3 Fox Drive, and west coast supergroup Due West. She is the founder and director of FiddleStar Youth and Adult Fiddle Camps, and plays in bluegrass, Texas, Celtic, and Motown styles.

Bill and Megan are interested in seeing if some gigs in Ireland could be arranged, either before or after Sore Fingers. Neither of them have ever played here before. Together, they perform a mix of traditional and contemporary songs and tunes, featuring lots of hot banjo-and-fiddle duets. They are very experienced teachers and workshop leaders, and would welcome the chance of doing some teaching in Ireland.

Don't miss the opportunity of having these two great US musicians over here. For more information, contact Bill by e-mail.

Instruments in RDS exhibition

Thanks to Carol Hawkins for a sight of the catalogue for the Royal Dublin Society National Crafts Competition Winners Exhibition 2007. The RDS runs Ireland's oldest craft competition, which is open to all craft workers based in Ireland and to Irish craft workers living abroad.

Class 9 of the competition is for musical instruments. First prize was won by Gary Leahy of Kilbride, Newport, Co. Mayo (+353 984 2569), for his violin bow, priced at €2,000. Second prize went to Brian Lofthouse of Crimlin, Ross West, Castlebar, Co. Mayo (+353 94 904 4920), for his F-hole mandolin, priced at €2,650. The maker writes: 'This is an archtop (and back) of my own design based on the American F-5 Bluegrass mandolin. Top, back, neck and fretboard purfled and bound with snake wood. It is French polished.'

The bow (detail, frog end) and mandolin are both illustrated in the exhibition catalogue. The mandolin resembles a short-neck A model, with no scrolls on headstock or body; there's a point each side of the body at the end of the 21-fret fingerboard, and the pickguard outline swells out to match the point on that side. The finish is clear, and the hardware is gold-plated.

After displays at Dublin (August), Belfast (September), Cahir (October), and Mullingar (November), the exhibition returns to the RDS (Ballsbridge, Dublin 4) for the National Crafts & Design Fair on 5-9 December. Contact data to enter next year's competition can be found here.