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.