Bluegrass Unlimited on Live at Podunk

The April issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine reviews Gary Ferguson's latest CD, Live at Podunk, beginning:

Gary Ferguson has always had a penchant for attracting talented friends. Pickers such as Ronnie McCoury, Jon Glik, Tom Gray, and Ned Luberecki have spent time in his band and artists such as Larry Sparks, Cliff Waldron, and Paul Adkins have recorded his songs. For his newest release, Ferguson did what he does best. He put together a list of great songs, lined up a fantastic band...

... and that's just the start. The full text of the review can be seen here. Gary will be touring here in July, with Colin Henry of Belfast on resonator guitar. Meanwhile the CD can be ordered from him by e-mail or from Tom Mindte's Patuxent Music, P.O. Box 572, Rockville, MD 20848.

Bill Whelan: business as usual

Bill Whelan, doyen of clawhammer banjo in Ireland and well regarded further afield, will be back in action at the Cobblestone weekly old-time music session this coming Saturday or the following week. Bill, who has been sorely missed on the scene since being taken ill shortly after his return from the US in February (see the BIB post of 25 Nov. 2007), is bringing his playing back up to his own exacting standards, and resuming operations with his 'new' old-time band, the OXO Cubes.

Bill was the featured artist in a recent issue of the 5-string player's favourite journal, Banjo News Letter. The Rough Deal String Band (Bill, Ben Keogh, and Tim Rogers) will be playing on 1 May for the opening day of the 9th Cathedral Quarter Festival in Belfast.

Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition news

ABC in their third annual concert for Davidsonville United Methodist Church, Davidsonville, Maryland, 9 March 2008

Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition, who have made a lot of friends and fans in several tours of Ireland, had a busy March, and on 11 April will (among other April dates) be playing at the Prince Theater, Chestertown, Maryland, for the fifth time. Their album Live at the Prince was recorded there in 2006.

ABC now have a very nice monthly e-mail newsletter (with photos, links, etc.); so to keep up with what the band are doing, visit their website and sign up to receive the newsletter.

New tunes from Colin Henry

Colin's Weissenborn

Colin Henry of Belfast has posted some new instrumentals on his My Space site, including two originals: 'The children's waltz' (written for his own children) and 'Archie Craig's jig' (dedicated to the memory of an old family friend).

Colin has chosen originals or Irish tunes for his MySpace page, for reasons explained there; a wider range of his work can be heard on the CD Wonder why, released last month by Janet Holmes, with whom Colin regularly performs and records. In July he will be accompanying Gary Ferguson on Gary's fourth tour in Ireland.

10 Years of European World Of Bluegrass

Strictly Country Records are proud to announce the release of SCR-66, 10 years of European World of Bluegrass, produced by singer-songwriter Liz Meyer. With over two hours playing time, this two-CD compilation captures highlights from the first decade of the European World of Bluegrass (EWOB), recorded live at the annual EWOB Festival and other EWOB events. Complementing the ten prior EWOB CDs, it includes previously unreleased tracks, and all material has been specially remastered.

10 years of European World of Bluegrass features 48 bands from 15 countries, including the #1 European Bluegrass Bands and a selection of Europe’s finest, alongside 15 special guests from the USA and Canada. The full press release, including tributes by Jon Weisberger and Dan Crary, is here. Contact:

Strictly Country Records/Strictly Music
PO Box 628, 2130 AP Hoofddorp, the Netherlands
Tel: (from USA 011-)+31-297-347-101
Fax: (from USA 011-)+31-297-347-488
E-mail Pieter Groenveld, Liz Meyer

Prison Love: gig & festival news flash

Howdy folks,

Come tonight to Eddie Murphy's pub, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny - doors 8.00 p.m., €10 cover, proceeds going to Crumlin Hospital.

Fresh news just in is that we've been asked to play at Glastonbury this year, and the good folks at Electric Picnic will be hosting us again at the Village Hall... double good news!

So get on down like a clown to Thomastown, and celebrate with us!

Prison Love
(MySpace)

Desert Aces: 'Bringing Oldtime into Newtime'

Desert Aces, the bluegrass/trad/folk/rhythm and roots/string band based in Dublin, consists of French virtuoso violinist Camille Champarnaud, Limerick folk singer Pete McGuire, Wicklow balladeers Mike & Barry Kehoe, and traditional musician Darren Hurley from Limerick. Playing the best of Irish and North American traditional and country music, Desert Aces are looking for bookings throughout the country and are already booked to play in leading Dublin music venues. Barry Kehoe reports:

We launch our debut album in Crawdaddy [at the old Harcourt Street station, Dublin 2] on 7 April. The 11-track debut CD features a mix of old-time tunes and original compositions, all with a distinctly North American roots and Irish folk sensibility. The CD booklet features liner notes on each track indicating the origins of this eclectic selection. Tunes are fused together that span all the way from the state anthem of Ohio to a polka from west Limerick.

Recent media appearances by the Desert Aces include articles in the Waterford Today (12 Mar.) and Munster Express (14 Mar.), and appearances on RTE (Seoige and O'Shea; 14 Mar.) and Lyric FM (Sunday night, 23 Mar.). A full listing of shows is on the band's MySpace site. Upcoming dates are:

Wed. 30 Apr.: On the Verge@Thomas Read, Smithfield, Dublin
Sun. 4 May: Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots Festival
Fri. 16 May: Lower Deck, Portobello, Dublin
Sun. 25 May: Kildare Riverbank Theatre
Sun. 15 June: Cobblestone, Smithfield, Dublin
Fri. 11 July: Whelans, Dublin

For more info, see the Desert Aces website and MySpace site.

Jesse McReynolds's 'new old-time radio'

Thanks to Tony Curran for forwarding the following news:


The Pick Inn Party Radio Show: Jesse, Lyle Cook, the mayor of Cairo (by popular demand!) Homer Bradley, & Harv Mason

The 'Ironman of Bluegrass', Jesse McReynolds, has his own radio show, broadcast live on his radio station, WHIN 1010AM, from the 'Pick Inn' located on his family farm in Gallatin, TN. Every weekday from Easter Monday, from 8.00 to 9.00 a.m. CST, the Pick Inn Party Radio Show can be heard on the internet. To receive it, click on or copy and paste this link into your browser. Information & pictures about the show are here. To quote Jesse & Joy McReynolds:

Jesse remembers how it was in the golden days of radio. The Pick Inn Party Radio Show is built around the way he remembers radio used to be. Live and real! Jesse's more than able co-host is the great Harv Mason. These two share a friendship and camaraderie that is truly wonderful. The show features live music, phone call-ins, guests, our wonderful local sponsors and the commercials Harv does for them that are always spontaneous and heartfelt. The show is filled with more surprises than we can tell you. Why can't we tell you? Because it's live! The 'Pick Inn Party Radio Show' might just as well be called new old-time radio. And we'd like for you to be part of our radio family...

Jesse & Joy McReynolds
PO Box 1385 Gallatin, TN 37066
(615)452-7321

Woodbine: new lineup, new season

Tony O'Brien reports:

Woodbine are delighted to announce the addition of Richard Hawkins to their lineup. Richard will replace Paddy Chanders in the band. The new lineup has already played one official gig together in Tadghin's Bar in Ballylinan on 16 March, and it was at this gig the lineup change was decided. Richard brings many years' experience on the 5-string banjo to the band. As Niall Toner wrote, 'You got to have a banjo in the band', and Woodbine have one of the finest in the country.

Woodbine now look forward to a busy summer with festival appearances at Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots, Westport Bluegrass & Folk, Athy Bluegrass, Ardara (Donegal) Bluegrass, Bluegrass on the Walls (Derry), Omagh Bluegrass (Ulster American Folk Park), and lots more gigs during the year.

Above: a foreshadowing of the new lineup - Woodbine + RH at Omagh a few years ago. The 1982 Washburn B-21 banjo has a 'hole-in-the-head' set-up

Laura Boosinger and Josh Goforth in Scotland, 2-11 Apr.

Dick Glasgow of Causeway Music in Co. Antrim reports:

Two of America’s top roots music musicians - Laura Boosinger and Josh Goforth – return to Scotland for a string of nine dates to promote their brand new album, Most of all. Last time they toured in Scotland, fans travelled from far and wide - some from the south of England - to see them perform.

Josh Goforth is already known to fans in the Derry area from his playing at 'Bluegrass on the Walls' two and three years ago. Full details of the Scotland dates (2-11 April) are here. Thanks to Dick's old-time music forum for the news. As Dick says,

Wouldn't it be nice if they toured Ireland, next time?

Niall, Ronnie, and the Lloyd Loar

Niall Toner reports:

I sent you a photo of Ronnie McCoury and myself backstage at the Opry in October last. I forgot to mention the fact that Ronnie was celebrating the acquisition of a Lloyd Loar mandolin, and that's it in the photo! I had a little 'go' of it, and it sounds just wonderful.

Niall's MySpace site

Goin' back to the old home

The editorial chair will be vacant for a few days; so please keep the news coming in, but don't expect it to be posted till Wednesday 26 March.

The Sullivan Brothers & Brand New Companions

The Sullivan Brothers & Brand New Companions (left to right): Shane Sullivan, Paddy Chanders, Tom Hanway, Adrian Sullivan

Tom Hanway reports:

After a rugged year on the dusty ol’ country music trail, I have decided to hang up my boots, start a new adventure, and so have joined forces with the Sullivan Brothers to form 'Brand New Companions'. We played our first show (okay, our first rehearsal) at Colfer’s Pub in Carrig-on-Bannow on 15 March. It was a lovely, focused audience who cheered us on all night long. We brought the house down, left them wanting more, and later joined in the traditional session, which Colfer’s, John and Pip Murphy are famous for hosting. Halfway through the night, John approached me about playing his late-July festival, the 17th Phil Murphy Weekend, along with dear old friends, bluegrass-country diva Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, featuring amazing fiddler Becky Buller, also one of the most gifted bluegrass songwriters in the business. I was ecstatic and eager, but it wasn’t my call. I told him that this was my first time with the lads, who had only approached me in January about working with them (during his 4th Annual Bluegrass/Roots show). It all just came together and the Brand New Companions, featuring the Sullivan Brothers, were formed on the spot. We all agreed to play Phil Murphy Weekend (26-27 July).

I am in seventh heaven, feeling new musical energy, and look forward to collaborating on songs, singing and playing my Stelling SwallowTail and Nechville Meteor (acoustic-electric) banjos, maybe other instruments, with this gifted and original musical team. Our first full-scale concert appearances will be on 24-25 April (Thursday and Friday) at the Punchestown Racing Festival. Stay tuned here for more developments.

Vote for the Carrivick Sisters!

The BIB carried news on 6 February of the success of the Carrivick Sisters on the BBC TV show 'Upstaged'. Having won their heats, they are due to compete in the final stages next week.

This success for bluegrass is more than just a UK matter, and international votes count in the final result. So keep up with events at the show's website and support them with your votes. Thanks to UKBluegrass.com for the news.

European Bluegrass Directory 2008/2009

Paolo Dettwiler, chairman of the EBMA, reports:

The EBMA is currently working on the next issue of the well known and widely used European Bluegrass Directory, the seventh, heavily updated edition for 2008/2009.

For the second time we will be giving the European Bluegrass Directory away for free in order to reach a lot more people; much like a phone directory. It will be officially presented on 1-3 May 2008 at EBMA’s EWOB Festival 2008 in Voorthuizen, the Netherlands.

That is why we are looking for advertisements – an ad makes sure you will be in the mind of bluegrass people in Europe and around the world for the next two years. Our prices are reasonable (and haven’t changed for over ten years):

full page – €150
half-page – €80
quarter page – €50

Our deadline is 5 April 2008 – the earlier the better. Even if you can’t or don’t want to have an ad, perhaps you can help us with finding new advertisers. Many thanks!

Paolo Dettwiler (e-mail)

Korby Lenker back in Ireland, May 2008

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Korby Lenker was on tour in Ireland before Christmas (see the BIB post of 1 November). Since then he has been selected as a finalist for the International Songwriting Competition.

He will be back in May, and is scheduled to appear at the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin, on Sunday 4 May (the May bank holiday weekend), together with the Niall Toner Band. For further details, contact his agent/promoter:
Michael Grimes
Priorland
Naul
Co. Dublin
+353 01 8413100; mobile +353 01 8413100
e-mail

Niall Toner Band now on MySpace

Niall Toner reports on behalf of the Niall Toner Band:

We have just established a page on MySpace. Currently featured is a short documentary on NTB filmed at the 2007 Athy Bluegrass Festival by Kate Bradbury. This is the documentary that will also be included on NTB3, our new CD which will be released in April.

DVD promotes Welsh festival

A promotional DVD has been issued for the Third Coastline Bluegrass Music Event, which will be held at Plas Uchaf Farm, near Llandudno Junction, North Wales LL28 5PD, on 6-8 June. It proves that a DVD need not be long, and need not be an expensive technical miracle, to be a completely effective promotional tool.

The DVD, using stills throughout, shows the site and its picturesque setting, looking over the Conwy estuary; photos of all members of bands taking part; and shots of the open mike stage, jam sessions, and other features of the festival. The soundtrack consists of the song 'Sleepy Hollow' by the G2 Bluegrass Band from Sweden (the current #1 European Bluegrass Band).

G2 are at the top of the bill for the Event, together with the Sons of Navarone (Belgium), Longway (Scotland), and two Appalachian dance teams, Mind the Step and Wicked Soles. The Event also has a MySpace site.

Wonder why now at CD Baby

Thanks to Colin Henry for the news that Janet Holmes's new CD Wonder why, released earlier this year, can now be sampled and bought online through CD Baby, here.

Wailin' Jennys in Ireland, 8-10 May

The Wailin' Jennys will be playing four dates in Ireland in early May before going on to a further twelve dates in Britain. The dates over here are:

Thurs. 8 May: The Bronte Music Club, the Bronte Centre , Churchill Road, Rathfriland, Co. Down. 9.00 p.m. 028 4062 3322

Fri. 9 May: The Strule Arts Centre, Townhall Square, Omagh, Co. Tyrone. 8.00 p.m. 028-8224-7831

Sat. 10 May: The Black Box, 18-22 Hill Street, Belfast; Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival (CQAF). 12.00 p.m.

Sun. 11 May: Whelan's, 25 Wexford Street, Dublin. 8.00 p.m. 00-353-1478-0776.

Full details are on the band's website. The Jennys also have a MySpace site.

At the beginning of June, Crooked Still also have a nine-day tour in Ireland scheduled, as the last part of a visit to Europe beginning in mid-May. Details are still TBA, but will appear on the BIB as soon as we see them.

Classic Kentucky Colonels albums on CD

Gerry Fitzpatrick reports:

It may be of interest to the BIB readers to know that two Kentucky Colonels recordings are now again available on CD.

The 1963 recording The new sound of bluegrass America and the 1964 album of instrumentals entitled Appalachian Swing are available online at the UK Roots and Americana Speciality store Smart Choice.

On their website, click on the Bluegrass genre button to check out their range of bluegrass recordings.

See our link to Wayne Rice's Bluegrass Bios for more about the Kentucky Colonels.

Black Twig Pickers in Europe, 12-20 July

The Black Twig Pickers three-piece old-time string band from Ironto, south-western Virginia, are looking for opportunities to perform during the week July 13-20 - they are playing the P'ti Faystival in Petit-Fays, Belgium, on 12 July and hope to spend about a week in Europe afterward. Their fifth CD, Hobo handshake, was launched on 9 March.

Contact the band through their website or MySpace site. Thanks to Dick Glasgow's Old-Time Forum for the news.

Joe Ryan

Jim MacArdle reports: I'm sad to report that the wonderful Clare fiddler, Joe Ryan, departed from us this evening (Monday) after a short illness. Joe will be reposed at Townley's Funeral Home, Cross Lanes, Drogheda, on Wednesday evening (12 March) and at Queally's, Milltown Malbay, on Thursday evening. The funeral will take place at Inagh on Friday 14 March after 11.00 mass.

Bill Evans and Megan Lynch, 14 & 15 March

Bill Evans and Megan Lynch, on their way to teach banjo and fiddle respectively at Sore Fingers Week, are playing two dates in Ireland, three in England, and two in Scotland. The dates here are on Friday 14 March at the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin; and on Saturday 15 March at Gallagher's Pub, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare, under the auspices of the Sixmilebridge Folk Club.

Details of other shows are on their joint MySpace site, which states: 'We are influenced by people who really mean it. Whatever it is.' A good indicator that some pretty intense banjo, fiddle, and vocal music will be delivered.

Outlaws dates, March-April

Tom Hanway reports:

The Outlaws, still blazing happy trails and roping in new fans, are pleased to announce these upcoming shows.


Sean Hughes, Diane Treanor and Tom Hanway of the Outlaws (photo by Denise Hanway)

March 2008

Sat. 8th: O’Bs, Kilross, Co. Tipperary
Sun. 9th: The Hazel Hotel, Monasterevan, Co. Kildare
Fri. 14th: Digger Jays, Ayle, Westport, Co. Mayo
Sat. 15th: Clonmel Park Hotel, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Sun. 16th: Upper Deck, Crossmolina, Co. Mayo
Mon. 17th: The Hazel Tree, Mallow, Co. Cork
Sat. 22nd: Sligo Southern Hotel, Sligo, Co. Sligo
Sun. 23rd: An Grianan Hotel, Burt, Co. Donegal
Fri. 28th: The Ramada Hotel, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Sat. 29th: The Lavey Inn, Cavan, Co. Cavan
Sun. 30th: Edel Quinn Hall, Kanturk, Co. Cork

April 2008

Fri. 4th: Fort Royal, Ballymena, Co. Antrim
Sat. 5th: Kades Kounty, Glenville, Co. Cork
Sun. 6th: Rhue Glen Hotel, Slieverue, Co. Kilkenny (near Waterford City)
Wed. 9th: Ashdown Hotel, Gorey, Co. Wexford
Fri. 11th: Valkenbourg Hotel, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo

Special Consensus: now in liquid form

Now, if you want to enjoy a top-class bluegrass show, you can see, hear, AND drink the Special Consensus.

As shown on the Bluegrass Blog, the Special C. are playing tonight at the Livery in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The Livery is not just a venue - it's a microbrewery, where the management have launched a new beer named in the band's honour.

The liquid Special C. is described as 'a dark Czech lager... deep mahogany* in colour'. We look forward to seeing this among the band's merchandise at the Athy festival in July.

*Above: the sunburst finish. Walnut, maple, and rosewood variants may be developed in response to demand.

Records wanted for airplay on RBI

Bob Mitchell of Louisville, KY, reports:

Radio Bluegrass International has given me a weekly two-hour bluegrass program. 'The Best of Bluegrass' will be broadcast from the International Bluegrass Museum website. The first internet broadcast will probably be in March or April.

I've recorded eight programs and played several tracks from the recordings of the EWOB Festival - I want to include more music from around the world. I'd be interested in receiving CDs for possible airplay. I can not promise each artist will be played, but I will give everyone equal consideration. Traditional bluegrass only, please. If you have any questions or suggestions, let me know. Best wishes from the United States,

Bob Mitchell
5800 Coach Gate Wynde (309D)
Louisville KY 40207
1-502-897-0256
e-mail

Carter Brothers on Woodsongs

As you can see from the Bluegrass Blog, the Carter Brothers appeared on the Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour on Monday this week, along with Irish singer Tommy Sands. The show can be seen on the Woodsongs website.

The Carters have established themselves as favourites at several Johnny Keenan Banjo Festivals, and will be on the bill again at the seventh JKBF this coming September.

Appalachian Roots in Belfast, 12 March

Many thanks to Dick Glasgow and his old-time music forum for the news that Appalachian Roots (Ira Bernstein and Riley Baugus) will be performing at the Black Box, 18-22 Hill Street, Belfast (in the Cathedral Quarter) as part of the 'Over Here' mini-festival of American Arts, under the auspices of the Open House Festival organisation. The show starts at 8.00 and admission is only £5. As if that weren't enough, Ira Bernstein is giving a dance workshop before the show (6.00-7.30 p.m.); £10 gets you into the workshop and the show.

It was Dick who gave us advance notice of the recent tour by the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Read his post on the coming show here.

Tennessee Mafia Jug Band on the Opry

Anyone who enjoyed the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band at the 2006 Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival will be glad to hear the following news:

I wanted to let you all know that you can tune us, the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, in this weekend on the Grand Ole Opry on both Friday and Saturday nights! Better yet, we'd love for you to come down and see the show live and in person. Here is the schedule: Friday night 8:00 p.m.; Saturday night 8:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Mike Armistead
Journeyman guitarist

The band's MySpace site features the unmistakeable vocals of Leroy Troy.

Gary Ferguson: new contact data

Gary Ferguson has a new MySpace site, which includes tributes to Dave Miner, who died last month. The above photo, taken by Janet Holmes, shows Gary and Colin Henry in the hotel lobby at the 2007 Athy Festival. Colin will be taking Dave's place in the tour this coming July.