Bluegrass & Celtic jams in Brazil continue

Thanks again to our friend Erio Meili of the Sao Paulo Bluegrass Music Association in Brazil for these photos of the 'Bluegrass & Celtic' jam in the Olivo Bar, Sao Paulo, on 27 January. The seventeen musicians taking part (on guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, bass, dobro, tin whistle, or bodhran) included Seth Evans from Denver, Colorado (visiting), and Danny Littwin from New York (now resident in Campinas). More photos are on the SPMA website.



Erio (centre, with banjo)

SLR going good in Drogheda

Skillet Lickers Revival poster image Jim MacArdle reports that the 'Strictly bluegrass' sessions every Wednesday at Sarsfield's, Chord Road, Drogheda, Co. Louth, by the Skillet Lickers Revival (Jim, guitar; Mick Dunne, mandolin; Dick McGarry, banjo) are going well and will continue there for the foreseeable future. The session now appears in the 'Weekly sessions' section of the BIB calendar.

Cat Malojian on BBC2

Thanks to Dianne Trimble for the news that Cat Malojian (Steve Scullion, guitar; Jonathan Toman, banjo and guitar) are scheduled to appear on Tuesday night (29 January) between 10.00 and 10.30 p.m. on the BBC2 TV programme 'The Blackstaff sessions'. Video footage from their other TV appearances can be seen on their MySpace site.

On Saturday 26 January Cat Malojian were among the artists taking part in the first live show ever held at the Paint Hall, in the Harland & Wolff shipyard, Belfast. The concert was filmed by ATL TV for broadcasting in the fourth series of the BBC's award-winning music show 'Across the line' some time next month.

The above image is the cover of Cat Malojian's Life rolls on EP, released on their own Bad Paw Music Label. Their recordings can be bought by PayPal through their MySpace site or at Discs Records, Market Street, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, and the Rusty Zip, Botanic Avenue, Belfast. They are currently looking for a distribution deal.

Ricky Skaggs et al. at UTV Country Fest, 2-3 Aug.

Roger Ryan (like many of us) regrets that the International Festival of Country Music, which ran at the Wembley Arena and was recognised as the biggest festival of country music in the world, has had no lasting replacement since it ended in 1991 after running for twenty-two years. But Roger continues:

So, is it a case of back to square one for country music fans? Far from it, my friends, far from it. As a matter of fact the news couldn’t be better. J.W. Promotions have announced details of a major country music festival called UTV Country Fest and it boasts a lineup of talent as good as anything ever staged at the famous Wembley Festival, and the good news is it’s right at our doorstep. The festival will be staged over two days on August 2nd and 3rd, at Dungannon Park, Tyrone.

Fifty artists will perform on three stages over the two days and the lineup reads like a virtual who’s who of country music stars from the USA and Ireland. Headed up by George Jones...

and the next on the list is Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. More details and Roger's full text can be read here.

Benefit night, Rostrevor, Co. Down, 26 Jan.

Tony Curran reports:

Just a brief e-mail to advise that the Tradgrass session tomorrow evening in the Kilbroney Inn to support Mourne Stimulus will begin about 9 o’clock and not 8–8.30 (as previously understood)

The usual suspects have been rounded up and it promises to be a great event for a worthy cause.

News from the Tin Box Company

Paul 'The Tin Man' McEvoy reports:

The Tin Box Company will be taking a break from their regular Saturday night gig in the Glenside Inn, Landscape Road, Churchtown, Dublin 14.

The band have played at this venue for over a year and would like to thank all those who supported us, also a big thanks to the staff and management. Watch this space for future dates for the coming year.

Dirk Powell at Whelans with Prison Love (and in Cork)

Prison Love report:

Come and see the great Dirk Powell and his duo of Kentucky cohorts, Jesse Wells and Brett Ratliff. Fresh from the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Dirk couldn't resist a quick visit to Ireland to play for his fans and catch up with some old friends.

Dirk has expanded on the deeply rooted sounds of his Appalachian heritage to become one of the preeminent traditional American musicians of his generation. In addition to acclaimed releases on Rounder Records, he's recorded and performed with artists such as Loretta Lynn (playing several instruments on her Grammy-winning release Van Lear Rose), Sting, Jack White, Levon Helm, Jewel, T-Bone Burnett, Ralph Stanley, and Linda Ronstadt, among others.

His work on the Cold Mountain soundtrack led Jude Law to remark: 'Hearing Dirk play the fiddle on the set of Cold Mountain, I felt my work as an actor was already done for me.' How about that?!

Support on the night comes from yours truly, Prison Love and it promises to be a great night of music, stories and laughs... Here are all the details:

Dirk Powell with Jesse Wells and Brett Ratliff
Supported by Prison Love
Monday 28 January
Whelans, Wexford St., Dublin 2
Doors 8.00 p.m. Show 9.00 p.m. sharp
Tickets €15 (from here or on the door)
See you there...

BIB editor's note: Dirk, Jesse, and Brett will be playing the following night (Tues. 29 Jan.) at the Corner House, Coburg Street, Cork city, about 9.30 p.m.

Foghorn Duo in Ireland, 5-12 Feb.

Photo from the Foghorn Stringband website

Caleb Klauder of the Foghorn Stringband from Portland, OR, perennially welcome in Ireland, reports:

Sammy Lind and I will be on tour as a duo starting February 5th until the 12th. We will be playing most of the same material as the full Foghorn band, but we also will sing some classic and original country songs from the likes of Kitty Wells, Ray Price, George Jones, etc... Sammy plays fiddle, guitar, and banjo and sings. I play mandolin, guitar and also sing. Our dates are:

Tues. 5th: Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim
Wed. 6th: Crane Bar, Galway
Thurs. 7th: Claremorris Folk Club, Claremorris, Co. Mayo
Fri. 8th: McGrory's, Culdaff, Co. Donegal
Sat. 9th: Wine Bar (?), Ramelton, Co. Donegal
Sun. 10th: Feile an Phobal, Belfast
Mon. 11th: free
Tues. 12th: Cherry Tree, Dublin

The Foghorns' latest CD, Boombox squaredance, was released last year.

Second Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, 27-9 June: UPDATE

Edu Grin (mandolin) and Joost van Es (fiddle) of Four Wheel Drive

Two weeks ago Uri Kohen, manager of Electric Cave Productions, announced the Second Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, to be held at Westport, Co. Mayo, on the last weekend of June (Friday 27 June-Sunday 29 June) 2008. Uri now reports that the lineup for this year's festival is close to completion:

Friday night will be dedicated all to folk music and inspired by the work of Guthrie, Seeger, and Dylan. The night will be headlined by Gavin Glass, one of Ireland's best folk newcomer performers.

Saturday will be all about bluegrass and will include musical lunch, workshop, free sessions, and at night the main stage with Woodbine (Athy), Colonel Bullshot Bluegrass Band (Westport), and the headliner will be FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (Netherlands/Germany/Belgium) with their ONLY concert in Ireland this year.

On Sunday we will finish with a few more pub sessions. More musicans will be named in the near future.

The main stage will be at a newly built function room in the Westport Inn Hotel and they will offer special rate packages for the weekend. Tickets will go on sale in early June. See you all in Westport!

For last year's festival, see the BIB post of 10 May 2007. If you are interested in assisting or otherwise being part of the festival, contact Uri by e-mail or by phone: 087 7570958.

4WD's new CD, Another town, will soon be available through CDBaby.

Sessions on the East Coast

Jim MacArdle of Skillet Lickers Revival reports: 'We are continuing on the next couple of Wednesdays at Sarsfield's, Chord Road, in our mission to make Drogheda safe for bluegrass and old-timey.'

************

The Simpsons Bluegrass Band report that owing to family commitments their Friday sessions at the Cuala GAA Club, Hyde Road, Dalkey, will be suspended for the next couple of weeks. New arrangements will be confirmed early in February.

Chris Thile & the Punch Brothers in Dublin (yes, really)

The Punch Brothers recording live for RTE, in the sitting room of producer/engineer and photographer Aidan Butler

Chris Thile and his Punch Brothers band did indeed play on Thursday 17 January at the Lord Edward in Christ Church Place, Dublin - but at 4.00/5.00 p.m. instead of an hour or two later, as originally announced. Their record label, Warner Brothers, no doubt wanted to keep it a low-key affair.


Chris Thile and Niall Toner comparing the similar patterns of damage to their mandolins

Niall Toner writes: 'The interview and live recording went very well indeed, and will be broadcast on RTE Radio One as a Thursday night special in the 'Nashville Sessions' series. I will let you know as soon as the date is fixed.'


Chris takes to the Dublin way of doing things

Prison Love at Whelans, Dublin, 24 Jan.

Hey Friends,

So isn't January just as sweet as a bowl of cotton candy? Well, it gets better - Prison Love invite you and your moms and dads, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas to a great night of hillbilly hollerin' and rootsy ramblin' in the newly refurbished Whelans. Acoustic music has no better home in Dublin; where there's plenty of room for dancin' and lots of rocking chairs for takin' it easy....

The support group for the night is the very special I Draw Slow, an Irish old-time, roots band playing original tunes that are soon to be classics - a real treat.

Thursday 24th January
Whelans, Wexford St., Dublin 2
Doors 8.00 p.m. Show 9.00 p.m. sharp
Tickets €12 (Students, OAPs €8) on the door

See you there,
Mark

UK Autoharp Day, 16 February

The first UK Autoharp Day 2008 is on Sat. 16 February at Picklenash Junior School, Ross Road, Newent, Glos. GL18 1LL, from 11.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., ending with open stage/ playing together. Tea and cakes (but not lunch) are provided.

Mike Fenton is organiser and main tutor; Nadine White is intermediate tutor; Heather Farrell-Roberts is beginners' tutor. There will be a 'slow jam' session with Chris Younger, and technical help with maintenance of 'harps. Mike Fenton will also be available for individual tuition throughout the day as requested.

Players at all levels are welcome, loaner autoharps will be available, and people can also try out a variety of harps, chromatic and diatonic. Details are on the website. Contact the advance organiser, Sue Laughton (+44 (0)1963 251026).

Beppe Gambetta in Dublin: UPDATE

Thanks to Cathal Cusack for the news that the Dublin solo concert by Beppe Gambetta will take place on Friday 1 February in the Cherry Tree Inn, Walkinstown - not on 23 January as announced in our original post. Show time is almost certainly 9.00 p.m.; check with the venue at +353 (0)1 450 3983.

Chris Thile & Co. in Dublin TODAY (17 Jan.)

Chris Thile (mandolin) and the Punch Brothers - Chris Eldridge (guitar), Gabe Witcher (violin), Greg Garrison (bass), and Noam Pikelny (banjo) - will be in Dublin in the next 24 hours or so, on their way to pick at the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow on Friday.

They will be talking to Niall Toner for future airing on his 'Roots Freeway' programme on RTE Radio One, and are expected to be playing somewhere in Dublin, open to the public, on Thursday evening. Watch this space!

Ireland in Leadership Bluegrass 2008 Class

In the IBMA's words, 'Leadership Bluegrass, now in its ninth year with more than 180 alumni, is an intensive three-day program of advanced-level, interactive learning experiences that invites participants to examine the challenges and opportunities facing our music along with related leadership issues.'

The IBMA has just announced the names of the twenty-five members of this year's Leadership Bluegrass Class, and Ireland is well represented - the list includes Roger Ryan of the Country Music Association of Ireland, Richard Hurst of the Ulster American Folk Park, and Katy Leonard, now an IBMA staff member, who did her thesis at the University of Limerick on bluegrass in Ireland. The full list can be seen here. Roger and Richard are the only members of the class to come from outside North America.

Leadership Bluegrass will be hosted again this year at the BMI offices in Nashville on 25-7 March, and will be facilitated by Fred Bartenstein. Contact the IBMA office for information on future Leadership Bluegrass programmes: +1 615 256-3222; e-mail.

Hayseed Dixie in Europe, 24 Feb.-19 April

Hayseed Dixie (USA), the bluegrass-rock band incorporating Dale and Don Wayne Reno, will bring their 'No Covers' tour to Europe for eight weeks, beginning on Sunday 24 February in Reykjavik, Iceland. From Reykjavik, the band goes on to play five shows in Ireland:

Wed. 27 Feb.: Empire Music Hall, Belfast

Thurs. 28 Feb.: Nerve Centre, Derry city

Fri. 29 Feb.: Roisin Dubh, Galway

Sat. 1 Mar.: Tripod, Dublin

Sun. 2 Mar.: Cypress Avenue, Cork

The tour continues with fifteen in England and Wales (4-31 Mar.), eight in Scotland (21-9 Mar.), four in Norway (2-5 Apr.), two in Sweden (6-7 Apr.), four in Denmark (8-11 Apr.), three in Germany (12-15 Apr.), and one each in the Netherlands (13 Apr.), Austria (16 Apr.), and the Czech Republic (17 Apr.), with a final show in London (19 Apr.)

Full details are on the band's website. Thanks to UKBluegrass.com for the tip.

Bonne année, y'all!

Blue Railroad Train dans le studio de KTBC/ in the KTBC studio (Austin, Texas, USA): Philippe Perrard, Jean-Marie Redon, Sharon Lombardi, James Field, Thierry Lecoq

Pour un merveilleux 2007, plein d'aventures musicales, nous vous disons Merci. Et nous vous souhaitons un très heureux 2008, plein de bonheur, de joie, et de la musique !

For a wonderful 2007, full of musical adventures, we say Thanks. And we wish you a very happy 2008, full of joy and music!

************

James and his wife Pat returned recently from the States. For him, the highlight of the trip was

an all-afternoon-evening benefit show to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of Club 47 in Cambridge (Massachusetts). As you may know, it was where Mlle Baez got her start and became the cradle of the Boston folk scene where everybody played. For the occasion, they reprinted the Club's calendar for two months in 1967, and it included Bill Monroe, Merle Travis, Mose Allison, Muddy Waters, the Chambers Brothers, and Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band, among others. THOSE were the days.

The Club's later incarnation, Club Passim, still exists, and the benefit was quite an affair. Jim Kweskin, Geoff Muldaur, Peter Rowan, Spider John Koerner, Carolyn Hester, Jim Rooney, Bill Keith, Chris Smither, and my old band, the Charles River Valley Boys - as well as a dozen or so other acts - all put in an appearance... It all came off shockingly well.

Jim Rooney appears this coming Friday (18 January) at the Seamus Ennis Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin.

Bluegrass goes to the Dogs

Woodbine on stage at Athy: Nicola O'Brien, Tony O'Brien, Liam Wright, and Paddy Chanders (electric hare disallowed as unsuitable to bluegrass music). Tony reports:

Woodbine kick off their New Year with a show at Newbridge Greyhound Track on Sat. 19 Jan. at 10 p.m. We are also on the bill for Colfer's Bluegrass/Roots Day on Sun. 27 Jan., along with Frankie Lane + Moonshine, the Sullivan Brothers, and Beppe Gambetta.

Skillet Lickers Revival

Skillet Lickers Revival: Jim MacArdle (guitar), Mick Dunne (mandolin), Dick McGarry (banjo); photo by courtesy of Jim MacArdle. Jim reports on the scene in Drogheda, Co. Louth:

Having started off our weekly 'Strictly Bluegrass' gig on Wednesdays in Sarsfield's Pub, Cord Road, we have decided to call ourselves 'Skillet Lickers Revival', and we will continue in Sarsfield's for the foreseeable future (I will keep you informed). On Wednesday next we will be joined by double-bass player Darren Rooney. Our repertoire is based on early string band music right up to first generation bluegrass, and with our new name we have added the 'Hawkins Rag' to our repertoire (those Riley Puckett out-of-time runs take a bit of practice).

BIB editor's note: On behalf of the family, we acknowledge this tribute to Ted Hawkins, who played mandolin with Gid Tanner's Skillet Lickers. Ted's recording of 'Hawkins Rag' can be heard on the 4-CD compilation Serenade in the mountains.

New mandolin picker on the Dublin scene

Martin McWhorter (mandolin)

Martin McWhorter, traditional bluegrass-style mandolin player from Chicago, made his debut on the Dublin scene at the Fair City Grass show on Wednesday night. Thanks for the above photo to Enda Donnelly, who reports:

We are delighted to say after some time waiting, our American MySpace friend Martin Mac. played bluegrass mandolin as a guest with us (Fair City Grass) at our regular gig at Mother Reilly's Rathmines, Dublin, Wed. 9 Jan. We really enjoyed his authentic sound & hope to have him back soon again. Martin has recently moved from Chicago USA and is now working in Ireland.

Jon Glik: good news

Tracey Eldridge (guitar) and Jon Glik (fiddle); Mike Munford (banjo), not shown here, appears on the video clip

Thanks to Gary Ferguson (who will be touring Ireland again with Dave Miner in July) for the news that master fiddler Jon Glik of the Baltimore region is well on the road to recovery after his liver transplant operation in November 2007.

Jon had been hoping to visit Ireland in September last year, but was unable to do so when his illness became life-threatening. The original BIB post about him was on 28 July. Gary sends this link to a report, with video footage, in the 'Eyewitness news' service of WJZ TV in Baltimore.

Tom Hanway and 'Sally Ann/ Sail away ladies'

Tom Hanway reports:

I wrote and researched a blog entry about a recording I did with Robert Mizzell, 'Who's gonna dance with Sally Ann' - the only known recorded country song to explore the subject of lynching. I put it on the Banjo Hangout, entitled, 'Bluegrass banjo in a country context'; go here for the story and links.

The version Tom sent to the BIB can also be seen here.

News from Ulster

Tony Curran reports:

In relation to Tim Donnelly’s benefit night on 26 January (at the Kilbroney Inn, Rostrevor, Co. Down), I wish to advise that the proceeds will go to Mourne Stimulus - a very worthy local charity that is struggling to survive with (ever-reducing) grants.

The John Hunter memorial benefit on 16 February may be held in the Beragh (Co. Tyrone) GAA hall at the southern end of the village, but I will advise further when/if this is confirmed.

I note on Nigel Martyn’s email of Monday past that there is to be an open bluegrass picking session at the Rotterdam Bar in Belfast on 19 January.

Outlaws dates, Jan.-Feb.

The Outlaws (l. to r.): Back row: Tom Hanway, John McKenna, Sean Hughes, Barry Leonard. Front row: Diane Treanor, Brian Walsh.

Tom Hanway reports the following tour dates for the Outlaws, starting tonight:

January 2008

Fri. 11th: The Hazel Tree, Mallow, Co. Cork
Sat. 12th: The Lavey Inn, Cavan
Sun. 13th: Newtown Country Club, Newtown (near Ardee), Drumconrath, Co. Meath
Fri. 18th: Setanta House Hotel, Celbridge, Co. Kildare
Sat. 19th: The Ramble Inn, Antrim, Co. Antrim
Sun. 20th: McWilliam Park Hotel, Knock Road, Claremorris, Co. Mayo
Fri. 25th: The Crowenstown Inn, Delvin, Co. Westmeath
Sat. 26th: Lawlor's Hotel, Dungarvin, Co. Waterford

February 2008

Fri. 1st: Mellon Country Inn, 134 Beltany Road, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Sat. 9th: The Well, Moate, Co. Westmeath
Sun. 10: Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey, Co. Wexford
Fri. 15: The Southern Hotel, Chorlton, Manchester, UK
Sat. 16: The Galtymore, Cricklewood, London, UK
Sat. 23rd: The Glenview Lounge, Goatenbridge, Co. Tipperary
Sun. 24th: Newtown Country Club, Newtown (near Ardee), Drumconrath, Co. Meath

Beppe Gambetta in Ireland, 26 Jan.-6 Feb.

Beppe Gambetta, legendary Italian musician who was the original guitarist with Red Wine, will be on tour in Ireland from 26 January to 6 February. The following dates are announced for solo concerts:

Jan. 26th: Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. 9.00 p.m. Info tel. +44 28 663 25440

Jan. 27th: Colfer's Pub, Carrig On Bannow, Co. Wexford. 9.00 p.m. Info tel. +353 51 561 159 (as part of Colfer's American Country, Roots and Bluegrass Day)

Jan. 28th: The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork. 8.15 p.m. Info tel. +353 25 24858

Jan. 31st: The Crane, 2 Sea Road, Galway. 9.00 p.m. Tel. +353 91 587419

*Feb. 1st: Cherry Tree, Walkinstown, Dublin. Tel. +353 (0)1 450 3983

Feb. 4th: Rotterdam Bar, 54 Pilot Street, Belfast. 9.00 p.m. Tel. +44 28 9074 6021

* New information, received on 17 January; this replaces the Dublin date for 23 Jan. originally shown on this post.

Paul McEvoy

We're glad to report that Paul McEvoy, lead singer and rhythm guitar player with the Tin Box Company of Dublin, has had his heart bypass operation in Naas hospital, Co. Kildare, and returned home in good form in the middle of last week. Paul says: 'My thanks to all those who sent their good wishes to Anne and myself. Looking forward to playing again soon.'

Cedar Hill for Ireland?

Cedar Hill: Kenny Cantrell (banjo), Jim Boling (guitar), Frank Ray (mandolin), Rob Collins (bass), and Lisa Ray (fiddle), at IBMA's World of Bluegrass

Cedar Hill, from Missouri, are a leading Midwestern band building a national reputation. They have four fine albums out on the Hay Holler label, and their latest CD, Poverty Row, is on Tom T. and Miss Dixie Hall's Blue Circle Records Label.

In addition to thirteen nominations for SPBGMA awards include in 2005 and ten in 2006, they received the SPBGMA 2004 #1 awards for male vocalist, vocal group, songwriter, fiddle, and banjo, and were nominated for IBMA's Emerging Artist award. Their CD Stories was among the top ten bluegrass recordings of 2005 on Cybergrass internet bluegrass magazine, and they were #3 in Bluegrass Now magazine's pick for the 2006 Top Ten.

Cedar Hill would be glad to play in Ireland and Scotland, and possible dates for them this year are:

May 13 through June 3
August 26 through Sept. 3
September 9 through Sept. 23
October 1 through October 18

If you have a date to offer them, contact Cedar Hill through their website or direct to Frank Ray by e-mail.

PS: Greg Cahill of the Special Consensus interviewed Kenny Cantrell, Cedar Hill's banjo-picker, for the December 2006 issue of Banjo Newsletter.

Gary Ferguson & Friends on internet radio

This week Mike Kear's 'Music from Foggy Hollow' show on Bluegrasscountry.org features the new album Live at Podunk, by Gary Ferguson and friends, featured on the Bluegrass Ireland Blog on 3 November. Also on the show: a look at the new live CD from Mountain Heart, some Australian music, and a look back at what was on the show five years ago.

Gary will be touring Ireland in July 2008, as reported on the BIB on 15 December - his fourth time here, and his third time with resonator guitarist David Miner.

The Simpsons back at Dalkey from 11 January

The above image says it all - the Simpsons Bluegrass Band (and friends) will resume from 11 January the schedule of sessions that began before Christmas at the Cuala GAA Club, Dalkey, Co. Dublin. NB: the electric shown above is artistic licence and does not form part of the band; this is a bluegrass session!

More for banjophiles

Gourd and minstrel banjos made by Jay Moschella

Tom Hanway reports:

For banjophiles (banjo-lovers) here are some general banjo websites that are listed on the free Open Directory Project (ODP). These are general information directories, listing various bluegrass, old-time and minstrel banjo sites, among others:

(banjo)
(bands and artists)
(banjo makers)

One fascinating site, which came to my attention a few days ago, has history about minstrelsy and the 19th-century gourd banjo, with some historically faithful recordings here: just hit the link that says 'Listen' and take your pick of some really fine minstrel (upstroke) banjo picking.

Fans of Bill Keith (melodic banjo) may want to take note of the melodic minstrel version of 'Devil's dream'. Interestingly, 'Barley reel' is an older version of 'Off to California', at least to my ears, and 'Congo prince' would make a lovely duet with 'Cripple Creek', which seems almost a variant of it.

I hope banjo aficionados will take some time to explore these fascinating links. Enjoy and happy pickin'!

BIB editor's note: Thanks, Tom; anyone who likes the minstrel banjo sound should also visit David G. Hyatt's gourd banjo website, where some very sweet MP3s can be downloaded from here. And don't miss the video by Frank Lee of the Freight Hoppers.

At last - news for banjoists

Charlie Cushman and Casey Henry with their new signature model Kel Kroydon® banjos

The American Made Banjo Co. Inc. has made its name over the past few years by reintroducing the Kel Kroydon® banjo from the golden age of 1930s design. The present range includes signature models for Charlie Cushman, one of the most respected session players, and Casey Henry, who as well as being a fine picker is a first-class bluegrass journalist - in this capacity she covered the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival for Banjo Newsletter a couple of years ago.

The AMB Co. will be introducing new products in 2008, including the Dannick No-Hole archtop tone ring; a 1930s replica style 2 banjo with the Dannick flathead or archtop tone ring; 'new' RB75 and Granada-style Kel Kroydon banjos; and more.

************

AND - for clawhammer-banjo players who want to learn the highly regarded Round Peak style, FOAOTMAD draws attention to an excellent set of free video lessons from Tom Collins of the New Hot Times string band. Lesson 1 can be found on YouTube here, and the following lessons can be reached from there. Highly recommended.

North Side session: change of venue

Mike Stimpson reports from the fabled North Side of Dublin:

Happy New Year. The fortnightly session at the Clontarf Court Hotel has switched to the Parlour Bar, Killester (used to be the Hollybrook). The first session of the year is tomorrow (3 January), then 17 January, and every other Thursday thereafter until further notice.

All welcome, especially fiddlers and mandolin persons... The music is traditional (both sides of the Atlantic) and Bluegrass. Free visas to the North Side for all genuine performers!

Ulster author commemorated in new website

Thanks to our friend Nancy Cardwell of IBMA for the news that Ron Block, banjo- and guitar-player for Alison Krauss & Union Station, now has his CDs Faraway land and DoorWay at $10 each on his website.

Ron also produced and plays on the new CD Secrets by 16-year-old mandolin prodigy Sierra Hull, which is due for release in March 2008. Also taking part are other members of AKUS and Mountain Heart.

Finally: Ron is a contributor to a new website, the Rabbit Room, named after the room in the Oxford pub where C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and other friends met for convivial discussions. C.S. Lewis was of course brought up in Holywood, Co. Down, and (according to Tolkien) remained more of an Ulsterman than even he himself was aware.

More for guitarists

Tom Hanway reports that guitar wizard David Grier (who played on Tom's Bucket of bees album) has brought out a new CD, Live at the Linda. The thirteen tracks range from old-time fiddle tunes - including a six-and-a-half-minute version of 'Bonaparte's retreat' - to Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs numbers, original Grier compositions, and a medley of 'America the beautiful' and 'Yesterday'. The album can be ordered from the David Grier website.

Be part of bluegrass history

Pieter Groenveld and Liz Meyer of Strictly Country Records /Strictly Music, the Netherlands, have a New Year's request for all friends of European bluegrass: Become part of bluegrass history by sponsoring the new SCR compilation, 10 years of EWOB.

The double album consists of tracks by fourteen US & Canadian guests and thirty-four of Europe’s finest, including all the #1 European Bluegrass Bands from 1999 onwards, recorded at the annual European World of Bluegrass Festival. Ten tracks have never before appeared on EWOB CDs, and all tracks have been remastered for improved sound.

The Festival helps to nurture bluegrass bands and events all over Europe, generates tour possibilities for US bands, and - through the annual EWOB CDs - helps European bands to get airplay in the homeland of bluegrass music. Pieter points out:

The EWOB CDs are the biggest commitment Liz and I have made to giving something back that can make a difference in the music world... This double album, 10 years of EWOB, is our most significant contribution yet, and will be an important vehicle for a whole generation of bands from a continent with a wealth of great musicians. The promotional value of the 10 years of EWOB compilation for European bluegrass and EWOB will outweigh the first ten years of EWOB CDs combined.

The full text of the SCR release is here. Contributions are welcome at any time, but your name can be added to the 10 years of EWOB CD booklet only until 19 January 2008. Later sponsors can be listed in the EWOB 2008 CD booklet. Contact Pieter by e-mail or at

SCR Productions
PO Box 628
2130 AP Hoofddorp
The Netherlands
Tel. +31 (0)297 347 101
Fax +31 (0)297 347 488