Westport Festival poster now out

Thanks to Uri Kohen for the above copy of the poster for the Second Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival, in Westport, Co. Mayo, on the last weekend of June. See the Festival MySpace site for all details.

Blood Red Mountain Band: upcoming gigs

From the Blood Red Mountain Band's bio:

Formed in 2005, the Blood Red Mountain Band draw influence everywhere from Ryan Adams to Bonnie Prince Billy and have been described as ‘Arcade Fire meets Bob Dylan’. The eclectic line-up features no less than eight members, playing a vast array of instruments; Mark Flynn (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Martina Leonard (vocals, glockenspiel, melodica), Tracy O’Grady (fiddle), Joeby Browne (bass & backing vocals), Ian Devlin (lead guitar, charango, mandolin), Dave Keegan (drums), and the recent additions of Brian Duggan (trumpet) and Lindy-Sue Dredge (accordian)

The BRMB will launch their debut EP on 24 May and are busy planning a national tour. Upcoming dates are as follows:

May 9th: The Village, Wexford St., Dublin 2, supporting Modena City Ramblers (Italy). Adm. €15

May 22nd: Alfie's Bar, the Conrad Hotel, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2.

May 24th: Whelan's, Wexford St. - EP Launch. Guests include the Prairie Dawgs & David Hope. Adm. €12. Doors 7.30 p.m.

June 14th: Tumbleweed Love Sessions, the Cobblestone, Smithfield, Dublin

June 20th: Dolan's (upstairs), Limerick. With David Hope. Adm. €15

July 11th: Whelan's (upstairs), with Desert Aces. Adm. tbc

Visit the BRMB's MySpace site for more info.

Hear MerleFest - past and present

Colin Henry reports from Belfast:

I am not sure if everyone is aware that you can listen live this weekend to the MerleFest. Go to mvyradio.com and follow the link to the MerleFest. They also archive performances from this year and past years.

BIB editor's note: A link to mvyradio is on the MerleFest website. We also look forward to hearing some personal recollections of this year's MerleFest from Louis O'Dwyer on his return to Tullamore.

Kudos for Coastline Bluegrass Music Event

The Coastline Bluegrass Music Event in North Wales has not only been nominated as 'Favourite Bluegrass Festival 2007' by UKBluegrass.com - it is now listed in The Guardian newspaper as being among their 'Top Ten Folk Festivals for 2008'! The Guardian article can be seen here.

The third Coastline Bluegrass Music Event takes place on 6-7-8 June 2008 at Plas Uchaf Farm, near Llandudno Junction, North Wales LL28 5PD, UK. This year's lineup has a strong international element with G2 (current #1 European Bluegrass Band) from Sweden, and the Sons of Navarone from Belgium. For further details, see the Event's MySpace site. The Kevin & Geraldine Gill Band were among the headliners at the very first Event.

Skillet Lickers Revival at Drogheda, 30 April

Jim MacArdle reports that the Skillet Lickers Revival (Jim, guitar; Mick Dunne, mandolin; Dick McGarry, banjo), who hold their 'Strictly bluegrass' sessions every Wednesday at Sarsfield's, Chord Road, Drogheda, Co. Louth, are playing a gig in Sarsfield's at 9.30 p.m. on Wednesday 30 April as a Fringe event to the Drogheda Arts Festival. Jim adds that the SLR have been playing plenty of gigs recently with pickups on all instruments (including autoharp) due to the lack of 'listening' pubs. They would welcome the chance to play all-acoustic for a listening and knowledgeable audience. Event organisers: contact Jim by e-mail.

NTB album launch in new 'Roots Freeway' series: UPDATE

Thanks to Niall Toner for the news that the launch date for NTB 3, the new CD by the Niall Toner Band, is now Sunday 25 May, at Studio One, RTE Radio Centre, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, starting at 7.30 p.m. Niall adds:

NTB3 is another collection of original material from Niall, Clem, and Dick, and includes songs co-written with Barry and Holly Tashian and Peter Rowan. Ten songs and two instrumentals, as well as a video interview/documentary shot by Kate Bradbury at Athy 2007, with comprehensive sleeve notes explaining the background to all the tracks, and a beautiful sleeve design by bass-totin' graphic artist Kelvin Busher. You can have an advance listen by checking out our MySpace page, where you can hear Clem sing 'Jimmie Rodgers's dream', and Niall sing 'Walk on water'.

On that evening [25 May] we are recording two programmes in the 'Roots Freeway' series in front of a live audience, with NTB as the house band, and special guests Prison Love, Bray Vista, and Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens. Admission on the night will be by ticket only, and seats can be booked by e-mailing Roots Freeway or the show's producer, Aidan Butler.

RTE are also celebrating May as International Bluegrass Music Month by broadcasting a series of radio shows on Thursday nights during May called 'The Bluegrass Sessions'. Among the artists featured will be Bela Fleck, Ricky Skaggs, the Punch Brothers, the Paperboys, Steve Kaufman, and Greg Cahill. These shows are hosted by Niall Toner and Sandy Harsch.

Also during May, each edition of 'Roots Freeway', which is broadcast on Tuesdays at 9.00 p.m., will contain a twenty-minute segment telling the story of bluegrass music, from its beginnings with Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs and the Stanley Brothers, right up to today's modern masters like Chris Thile, Tony Trischa, Pete Wernick, and Peter Rowan. These mini-documentaries are intended as an introduction to bluegrass music.

Niall is also one of the many artists taking part in the tribute show for Larry Roddy, to be held at Poulaphouca House, Co. Wicklow, on Sunday 27 April. Larry has been one of the most active, discerning, and indomitable promoters of live acoustic music in this country for many years, and the bluegrass and old-time communities in Ireland have good reason to be grateful to him.

Small world

Brett Ratliff

As you can see from the panel down on the right-hand of the BIB, yesterday the original Bluegrass Blog carried a post on a series of films that retell parables of Jesus in a modern setting - in particular, one (The shrewd manager) shot in Adairville, Kentucky, with local people playing the parts, and background music provided by the Clack Mountain String Band, playing three numbers from their 2006 live album.

Two of the band - Brett Ratliff (banjo) and Jesse Wells (fiddle) - were in Dublin and Cork at the end of January, picking with Dirk Powell (see the BIB post of 23 January). Brett went on to teach old-time banjo at Sore Fingers Week in England last month. AND one of the musicians shown in the bountiful slideshows on the band's website is Brian, from the Patuxent Partners entourage, who has been to the Athy Festival several times. Small world, right?


Jesse Wells

Next time they caught 'em was away out West...

Hurricane Barry of Prison Love reports:

Howdy folks, catch us this weekend;

Friday April 25th: 10.00 p.m. Clarence Hotel, Wine Street, Sligo, +353 71 9142211

Saturday April 26th: 9.00 p.m. Crane Bar, Sea Road, Galway, €10/12.50

Be good!
Hurricane

Songwriters at IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2008

Louisa Branscomb, chair of the IBMA's Bluegrass Songwriter Association (see the BIB post of 15 Jan. 2007), gives a preview of the BSA part of this year's IBMA World of Bluegrass:

We are planning a Songwriter Crash Course, an open 'Song Circle' (all welcome), a business meeting, and a 'Virtual Mentor' project this year. In addition our rooms in the hotel will be open for spontaneous meetings between songwriters and as a place for folks to co-write or network.

For the 'Virtual Mentor' project: if you are an established and recorded songwriter and would like to volunteer, we will pair you up with a younger or newer writer in IBMA, so that person can ask basic questions about songwriting. You would volunteer an hour of your time via internet or phone to answer questions or help with their songs (and hopefully meet at IBMA). After that, if you wish to keep up the relationship or charge for your consultation, that is up to you.

Attention all songwriters: Please email me if you would like to help with any of these, or if you would like to be on our songwriter email list!

Bobby Hicks: past and present

The latest issue of Jim Moss's free e-mail newsletter is headed with a splendid b/w photo of Bobby Hicks and Charlie Cline, taken when they were with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in 1955. This introduces an interview with Bobby about the early years of his career. The rest of the newsletter gives (among many other goodies) access to Jim Moss's stock of interviews with major figures in bluegrass history ranging from Frank Wakefield to Jimmy Martin (don't miss the photos of Jimmy Martin on stage with Marty Stuart).

Fiddlers this side of the Atlantic have an unrivalled opportunity to learn from Bobby Hicks when he teaches the fiddle course at the Transatlantic Bluegrass School in Wales on 7-11 May this year.

Punch Brothers start tour in Dublin, 11 July

For those who missed their appearance in Dublin in January, or didn't get enough then, the Punch Brothers, Chris Thile's no-hold-barred band, will play at the Sugar Club, Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, on 11 July, starting at 8.00 p.m.

This is the start of an eight-day tour this side of the Atlantic, and will be followed by six shows in England and Scotland: Bristol, Birmingham, London, Gateshead, Glasgow, Manchester. Full details are on the Punch Brothers tour schedule.

Prison Love at Oxfam, Parliament Street, Dublin

Howdy folks,

To celebrate ClearURMusic Month, the Oxfam Ireland shop in Parliament Street, Dublin, is hosting free gigs on four successive Saturdays throughout April – including famous Dublin bluegrass band Prison Love and a fantastic Indian classical music recital.

Prison Love play a free acoustic set this Saturday 2.00-3.00 p.m., Oxfam bookshop, 23 Parliament Street, Dublin 2. Come for the tunes, stay for the wide range of books & music! Be good,

Hurricane

BIB editor's note: For a similar event last year, see here.

Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots: bluegrass-related artists

Kilkenny Rhythm & Roots Festival sends word on the bluegrass/old-time/country-related acts on this year's lineup (2-5 May):

Chatham County Line are four men with an acoustic guitar, a fiddle, a mandolin, and a stand-up bass; but don't be fooled by the traditional instruments, because they're a mega-sonic force. On their appearance, Dave Wilson of the group says: 'You think we're gonna sound like the Kingston Trio, but listen up 'cause you're gonna get rocked.'

Of Eilen Jewell, the Philadelphia Enquirer had this to say: 'The young singer and songwriter brings a Billie Holiday sultriness and a Lucinda Williams plaintiveness to classic country, jazz and blues styles, forging a low-key but alluring brand of Americana that's all her own.'

Tim O'Brien is no stranger to the festival, having appeared here before with his band, The Crossing.

Baskery, the three sisters from Stockholm, Sweden - Greta, Stella and Sunniva - make a beautiful noise, described as somewhere between Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Johnny Cash and the Be Good Tanyas...

The haunting quality of Martha Scanlon's voice, her unique perspective, and the poetic imagery of her songs helped to gain national acclaim in the States for the innovative old-time string band, Reeltime Travellers.

As well as the visiting American acts, the Irish bluegrass scene is well represented with free gigs for bands such as Woodbine, the Desert Aces, and the Hussars. For more info see the Festival website, tel. 056-7794664, or e-mail.

International lineup at Orwell Bluegrass Festival, 25-7 April

Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain

Will Burchnall reports from eastern England:

The Orwell Bluegrass Festival at Hallow Trees, Ipswich, Suffolk, opens on Friday 25 April and runs until Sunday 27 April. This year's festival has a truly international lineup with G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden; current #1 European Bluegrass Band), the Dick Smith and Mike O'Reilly Band (USA/Canada), and Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain (USA) headlining over the weekend, with a further 10 British bands on the Main Stage, plus special guests and impromptu performances on the Open Mic Stage.

For more information go to the Festival website. A copy of the Festival flyer is here. Chris Hockley adds:

We are only 45 mins from Stansted Airport... Please take a look at the website, and we hope to see some of you there.

Tim O'Brien in Ireland, 1-5 May

Thanks to Aran Sheehan for the news that Tim O'Brien will be performing at the Cherrytree, Walkinstown Cross, Dublin 12, on Friday 2 May at 9.00 p.m. Admission €20 (€18 if booked in advance). Aran also sends the info:

Preeminent Americana and bluegrass musician. Recently featured on 'The Transatlantic sessions' with Darrell Scott, Eddie Reader, Karen Matheson, Cara Dillon, Paul Brady, Todd Parks, Ronan Browne, Donald Shaw, James McIntosh, Russ Barenberg, Joan Osborne, and Iris DeMent. Tim is touring to promote his new solo record Chameleon. One of only three Irish concerts.

Tim O'Brien's tour schedule shows four Irish dates: 1 May in Belfast, 2 May in Dublin, 4 May in Kilkenny, and 5 May in Galway. However, all are marked TBA, and the reader is warned that Tim, his staff, and his web developer are not responsible for errors or omissions in this schedule. So check locally for further details.

Free Gibson Brothers tracks on the Bluegrass Blog

John Lawless of the Bluegrass Blog reports:

Thanks to the folks at Sugar Hill Records, the Bluegrass Blog is offering free downloads of two tracks from the Gibson Brothers' new CD, Iron & diamonds.

The title track is offered today (7 April) and 'Picker’s blues' will be offered tomorrow. There is no charge for the MP3 download to any registered user of the Bluegrass Blog. Registration is quick and free online.

Each free download will only be available for 24 hours. Just visit the Bluegrass Blog to get the free tunes from Sugar Hill and the Gibson Brothers.

New CD from Frankie Lane

Frankie Lane's new album Me to you is out, and can be bought on line via PayPal. Frankie says:

I hope you enjoy this new collection of songs and music that I've put together over the last year. I feel they reflect much of what I do and find myself repeatedly drawn to.

Old-time music is an important part of this: the thirteen tracks include 'Elkhorn Ridge', 'Say darling say', 'Wedding dress/Marie's wedding', 'Riley 'n' Spencer', and 'Sail away ladies'. Sample the album through the mp3s on Frankie's website and contact him by e-mail.

Westport Festival on MySpace: new look

Three weeks ago Uri Kohen, organiser of the second annual Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival in Westport, Co. Mayo (27-9 June), reported that the Festival had established a MySpace site. The site now offers more features and info, including:

* an extended schedule for the Festival venues (the Westport Inn Hotel, the Wyatt Hotel, McGing's Pub, Blouser's Bar, Geraghty's Pub, the Porter House, and the Linenmill Restaurant);

* photos of artists taking part (Four Wheel Drive, the Sullivan Brothers, Woodbine, Gavin Glass and N.C. Lawlor, Billy Clarke, the Colonel Bullshot Bluegrass Band, the Paul K. Trio, and Tim Rogers) with links to websites;

* Links and/or contact data for the Westport Inn Hotel, the Wyatt Hotel, the Clew Bay Hotel, J. Geraghty's B&B, and the Quay Lodge B&B; and

* a slideshow of Westport, the main venues, and photos from last year's Festival.

For more details or ticket booking, contact Uri by e-mail or at 087 7570958. Thanks to Jan Michielsen of Four Wheel Drive for the news.

Carolina Chocolate Drops concert on video

For anyone who missed the Carolina Chocolate Drops on their recent tour in these islands and the Continent, or who can't wait till their next tour, or who wants to know what the excitement is about, there's a video shot during their concert at the Paradiso in Amsterdam on FabChannel.

Picture quality is excellent, and eighteen numbers are performed. View it here. Thanks to FOAOTMAD for the news.

Leadership Bluegrass 2008 Class

Leadership Bluegrass 2008 graduates: front row 1, L-R: Marty Raybon, Dana Thorin, Lucy Weberling, April Verch, Lorraine Short, Debbie Durant, Cindy Gray, Ron Cox, Tim Graves, Roger Siminoff; middle row 2, L-R: Katy Daley, Rebekah Weiler, Roger Ryan, Katy E. Leonard, Bill Hartley, Mike Marceau; back row 3, L-R: Serge Bernard, Matt Lindsey, Tim McFadden, Richard Hurst, Carl Jackson, Diane King, Wayne Taylor, Ethan Burkhardt, Arnie Fleischer (photo by Priscilla Warnock)

Leadership Bluegrass (LBG), now in its ninth year with more than 200 alumni, is an intensive three-day program of advanced-level, interactive learning experiences, designed to build commitment, motivate talents and instill enthusiasm for addressing the future of the bluegrass music industry. Each year approximately 25 individuals are selected to take part. LBG 2008 was hosted 25-7 March at BMI in Nashville, TN, and the course was facilitated for the ninth consecutive year by Fred Bartenstein, a noted bluegrass historian and broadcaster as well as a professional meeting facilitator.

The above photo includes Richard Hurst and Roger Ryan from Ireland, the only European class members this year. The full IBMA press release is here. For information on LBG 2009, contact Nancy Cardwell at (615) 256-3222, 888-GET-IBMA or e-mail.

Join the IBMA now!

If you're seriously involved in bluegrass and not already a member of the IBMA, there's never been a better time to join. The IBMA is offering, for a limited period, a 35 per cent reduction on the subscription for new members in the professional category - $45 instead of $70. Full details are here.

With the present price of the dollar against the euro, it's an even better deal over here. And the IBMA adds: 'In a recent survey, an overwhelming 44 per cent indicated they weren't members of IBMA because they simply hadn't been properly asked!' (our emphasis).

Well, if that's what it takes to get people to join the world's main bluegrass organisation, the IBMA clearly needs the services of Mrs Doyle from 'Father Ted': 'Ah, gwan then. Ah, you will. You will, you will, you will, you will, you will...'

IBMM's ROMP, 26-8 June

The International Bluegrass Music Museum (IBMM) holds its annual fundraiser, the River Of Music Party (ROMP), by the Ohio River in Owensboro, KY, on the last weekend in June. ROMP 08 begins at 11 a.m. on Thursday 26 June at the Riverpark Center, Owensboro, which also hosts the Legends Concert at 7.00-10.00 that evening, featuring the Sullivans, the Lewis Family, and the Isaacs.

The shows at Yellow Creek Park on Friday 27 June and Saturday 28 June feature twenty-one top-notch bands, including Red Wine (Italy) and G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden), the current #1 European Bluegrass Band (who will be playing at the Omagh festival this coming September). Full details of the programme can be seen here or here.

Prison Love on the air

No escape from them, let alone for them; the latest from Dublin's favourite bluegrass serial offenders:

Hi folks,

Tune into TodayFM 100-102 this Friday at 7.30 a.m., to hear us play the song that beat the original 'Teenage kicks'. Afterwards special guest Cathy Davey will announce through the medium of song the Thin Lizzy tune that listeners are invited to 'beat'.

Stay good, y'hear!
Hurricane Barry & Prison Love