Iris DeMent in Ireland, 22-26 July

Thanks to Sharon Loughrin for the news that Iris DeMent will be playing four shows in Ireland in late July. Her concert schedule shows the following dates:

Tues. 22 July: Button Factory, Dublin

Wed. 23: Spring & Airbrake, Belfast

Thurs. 24: Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny

Sat. 26: Campbell's Tavern, Cloughanover, Headford, Co. Galway

Among the other dates on Iris's schedule is the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival (October) in San Francisco - its organiser, Warren Hellman, received an IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award in 2007.

Bruce 'Utah' Phillips, 1935-2008

Singer, song-writer, writer, and story-teller Bruce 'Utah' Phillips died on 23 May. An obituary by Richard Thompson, outlining his career (including the songs that have passed into the bluegrass repertoire, such as 'Rock salt and nails'), appears on the Bluegrass Blog, together with video footage of a performance.

A fuller obituary, provided by his family, is here. A memorial gathering will be held at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, Sunday 1 June, at Nevada City Little League Park, Pioneer Park, Nevada City, California.

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

Update, 5 June:

Laurie Lewis, in her latest newsletter, has a memoir of Utah, ending:

Utah said that one of his mentors, Ammon Hennacy, once told him to always make sure your heroes are dead, so that they don't have a chance of messing up. Utah has been a hero of mine for many years, and I'm happy to say he never let me down in his lifetime.

The Australian Bluegrass Blog

A week ago a new link appeared in the list on the right-hand side of the BIB: a link to the Australian Bluegrass Blog. We hope it's already getting plenty of attention from BIB readers, in view of the historic links between Ireland and Australia - underlined by the fact that the ABB's founder and editor is Greg McGrath.

We learned about the ABB from a feature on the original Bluegrass Blog, in which John Lawless of the BB said: 'Greg shared the story of how he came to be involved in blogging, and it demonstrates the sort of missionary zeal that has kept bluegrass music active and growing for so many years.' Read the full story here.

The ABB is all set to be a great asset to the Australian scene, and has many features which would be highly desirable on the BIB...

Burma benefit concert in Dublin, 4 June

Prison Love report:

Howdy folks,

We're playing a fundraiser for Burmese cyclone victims this Wednesday, 4 June, in the Sugar Club, Leeson Street, Dublin 2. Doors 8.00 p.m. Admission €15.00. Be sure to make it along.

Good news from Nigel Martyn

Nigel Martyn of Belfast continues to maintain his position as leading promoter of bluegrass and related acoustic music in this island. His website carries the dates at present confirmed for tours by Jack Lawrence (guitar) & Tony Williamson (mandolin) in early September 2008, and by the Special Consensus in January-February 2009.

The dates for these are now on the BIB calendar. Tours are also indicated on Nigel's site for Jeff & Vida in August-September 2008, and for Dan Crary in October. No dates as yet; stay tuned...

Foghorn Duo: new CD

Caleb Klauder and Sammy Lind, of the Foghorn Stringband from Oregon, toured in Ireland as a duo in early February. They are now releasing a Foghorn Duo CD, Lonesome song, which will be available through CD Baby, County Sales, and Elderly Music. Details and audio samples are on the Duo's MySpace site.

New website for Going to the West Fest

The Going To The West Fest, the new old-time music event in Angle, south Wales, mentioned in the BIB post of 28 February, now has a new website. The Fest takes place two weeks from now (13-15 June).

Tickets are now printed and can be ordered from PEMS, 14 Courtyard Flats, Stackpole, Pembroke, SA71 5DE. Weekend ticket £27.50 (£21 concession, £65 family of 2 adults plus children); evening ticket for Friday or Saturday £8.50 (£6 concession, £20 family). Please enclose an SAE if you can.

Second UK Autoharp Day 2008, 5 July

UK Autoharps will hold their second UK Autoharp Day this year on Saturday 5 July at the Goring Community Centre, Station Road, Goring on Thames, Oxfordshire RG8 9ES, England. The programme combines workshops, the UKA AGM, and an evening concert.

The workshops cater for all levels of player from absolute beginners. Loaner harps will be available; non-members and other instruments are welcome; and Alec Anness will be on hand to deal with minor autoharp technical problems. More details are on the FOAOTMAD news page, and details plus a downloadable booking form are on the UKA website.

Worldwide Bluegrass Music Month

Richard Thompson writes:

Hi Richard

You might want to share this with your bluegrass friends in Ireland.

A story about Worldwide Bluegrass Music Month (May) has recently been posted on the Bluegrass Blog website.

While it provides some historical information about the concept and activities over the past 20 years since the first 'celebration' (1988), it does attempt to identify ways in which activists can continue to work to increase awareness and interest in the music.

It isn't too soon to plan activities for the future. Bluegrass can be promoted in so many ways and everybody can contribute. Think about what you can do and engage the help of like-minded associates. Share ideas for the benefit of bluegrass music.

This forum is just one of many where the topic can be discussed. Share this with other social groups and tell your friends to do likewise. It's all for the benefit of bluegrass music.

Westport Festival programme

Thanks to Uri Kohen for a preview of the programme of the 2nd Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival at Westport, Co. Mayo (above; click on the image for a larger view). Uri adds:

The programme, poster, and tickets are going for print first thing next week. Tickets can be booked by 'phone at:
Uri Kohen 087-7570958
Westport Inn Hotel 098-29200
There is no need to pay with credit card, but we can take names; the tickets will be waiting at the door, and you can pay on the door.

For further info, see the Festival MySpace site.

Athy Festival launch party jam, 22 May

L-R: Richard Hawkins (banjo), Niall Toner (mandolin), Liam Wright (lead guitar), Dick Gladney (bass), Tony O'Brien (rhythm guitar)

Thanks to Tony O'Brien for the above photo from the Athy Bluegrass Music Association's launch party for this year's bluegrass festival (10-13 July), held at Paddy Dunne's bar, Athy, on 22 May, with the welcome presence of Albert Dunne, the festival's chief sponsor.

Woodbine played the first set of the night, and after the interval were joined by Niall and Dick from the Niall Toner Band. The song being played when the photo was taken is almost certainly 'Cryin' my heart out over you'.

Crooked Still in Ireland, 1-9 June

Crooked Still are rounding off their European tour with eight shows in Ireland, after playing six in Denmark, two in Scotland, and one in north-east England. The band now consists of Aoife O'Donovan (vocals, guitar, baritone ukulele, piano, glockenspiel), Brittany Haas (five-string fiddle), Dr Gregory Liszt (banjo), Tristan Clarridge (cello, fiddle), and Corey DiMario (double bass, tenor guitar). Shows in Ireland are:

Sun. 1st: Glor, Ennis, Co. Clare
Mon. 2nd: Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork
Tues. 3rd: De Barra's, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
Thurs. 5th: The Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim
Fri. 6th: The Cherry Tree, Dublin
Sat. 7th: The Crane Bar, Galway city
Sun. 8th: The Crane Bar, Galway city
Mon. 9th: Dolan's, Limerick city

See also the Crooked Still MySpace site.

Organise an Oxjam session for October!

The month of May, IBMA's International Bluegrass Music Month, is drawing to a close (although events in the EWOB schedule go on for a further three weeks). The summer festival season is beginning to rev up and will reach a climax in September. What then?

Oxfam Ireland has a powerful idea, as Bill Monroe might have said. Oxfam's May e-mail newsletter includes this section:

Sweet harmony

This October Oxjam is giving you a chance to party against poverty. All over Ireland Oxfam supporters are organising music events to raise money and awareness to support issues of poverty and injustice.

Whether you're a budding rock star or a music quiz fanatic, we want you to be a part of Oxfam's month-long music festival.

At the most modest level, this might take the form of a pick-in (by arrangement) at a local Oxfam shop - see the BIB posts of 6 April 2007 and 16 April 2008 as examples. Think about it; October is not so far away...

Open House Festival launch, 29 May

The Coors Light Open House Festival 2008, to be held in the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast on 24-28 September, will be launched on Thursday 29 May at a special reception in McHugh's Bar, 29-31 Queen's Square, Belfast, from 10.30 a.m. to noon (attendance by invitation).

The full programme for this year's festival will be released at the reception. BBC Radio Ulster's Gerry Anderson will be broadcasting his show live from the launch, with many festival guests. For more info, contact:

Alison Gordon, Festival Manager
OPEN HOUSE FESTIVAL
PO Box 272, Bangor BT20 5WX
tel: 028 91 454 754
e-mail

Coastline Bluegrass Music Event, 6-8 June

John Prytherch reports:

Now in its third year, the Coastline Bluegrass Event, held at Plas Uchaf Farm near Llandudno, north Wales, goes from strength to strength.

Nominated by UKBluegrass.com as the ‘Favourite Bluegrass Festival of 2007’, in the Top Ten of the Guardian’s ‘Folk Festivals’ for 2008, and listed in the Telegraph’s ‘Best Events for 2008’.

The Event offers extended workshops for all the acoustic bluegrass instruments, starting with an introduction to bluegrass for beginners and those who have come from other genres, right through to the advanced levels. The workshops offer a unique opportunity for people to participate in fun-filled, informative instrument and vocal workshops, which start them on the road to playing music.

The tutors are experienced band members with a wealth of knowledge who also perform in the concerts and are on hand over the full weekend. This provides great opportunities for the participants to learn and get together in traditional ‘picking’ sessions with so many talented people on site.

Appearing as headline band from Sweden will be G2 [above], who won the #1 European Bluegrass Band award at the EWOB Festival, hosted by EBMA (European Bluegrass Music Association) in Holland. In October 2007 they showcased at IBMA in Nashville. Later this year they appear at Bill Monroe’s Bean Blossom Festival, the IBMA showcase at Nashville in the USA, and the 17th Annual Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival at Omagh, N. Ireland.

Sons of Navarone from Belgium and Longway from Scotland will also be appearing.

If you would like more info, please ring me on +44 (0)9911 244418.

Ardara Bluegrass Festival, 18-20 July

Frank Galligan reports:

The first ever Bluegrass Festival to be held in historic and beautiful Ardara in Co. Donegal will take place from 18th to 20th July. Niall Toner will headline the opening Friday night and will also conduct songwriting workshops on Saturday 19th. On Saturday night the Dirty Blues Band and Slim Picken headline, and on Sunday 20th Woodbine and Gary Ferguson (USA) & Colin Henry.

Frank Galligan, who will officially open the Festival and be the MC for the weekend, will give a talk early Saturday afternoon about the historic links between the Donegal fiddle style and Appalachian music. Buskers/bands are warmly invited to play in the bars and streets through the weekend, and further information re accommodation etc. can be found through the Nesbitt Arms website or by e-mail to Marie and Paul Gallagher, telephone 0749541103 or e-mail Frank Galligan.

Athy Festival Launch Night, 22 May

The Athy Bluegrass Music Association will be holding a Festival Launch Night in Pat Dunne's Lounge, Athy, Co. Kildare, on Thursday 22 May at 9.00 p.m. (Pat is the brother of Albert Dunne of Albert Dunne Car Sales (Suzuki), the main sponsor for the Athy Festival.) Music will be provided by Woodbine and special guests.

Full details of this year's Athy Bluegrass Festival (10-13 July) can be found on the ABMA website.

Longford lineup: UPDATE

The lineup for the Seventh Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival (25-28 September 2008), first announced earlier this year, is now even bigger and better. The Americana side of the programme now includes:

Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band
Tony Trischka's Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular (see his award-winning album of last year)
Tom Russell
Don Rigsby
Pete & Joan Wernick
Carter Brothers Band
Lluis Gomez Quartet
Ranch House Favourites
Niall Toner Band
Woodbine
Ross Nickerson
Hungry Hill
Rough Deal String Band

Irish traditional music is represented by Altan, Dolores Keane, Barney McKenna, Gerry O'Connor, At the Racket, and Thom Moore & Seamie O'Dowd; others TBC. Full details are on the Festival website.

EWOB 2008 in pictures

Photos by Jan de Mooy

Information about the 11th European World of Bluegrass Festival which took place in Voorthuizen, the Netherlands, on 1-3 May, is on the festival website and the European Bluegrass Blog.

In addition, the original Bluegrass Blog carries fourteen excellent photos taken by Jan de Mooy at the festival venue in 't Trefpunt, Voorthuizen. They appear there with Jan's captions, giving full details of the performers shown. Above, the Niall Toner Band; below, perennial favourites at Irish festivals, 4 Wheel Drive (NL/D/BE).

Festival photos and videos on Bluegrass Now

Festival organisers, or even just camera buffs, should note the following news from Dee Hallett:

If you have photos from some of your festivals, or even video clips of festival sites, then Wayne Bledsoe, of the USA magazine Bluegrass Now, would love to hear from you. He says: 'Beginning in May we will become a E-Zine and we are very excited about all the new features we can provide to our readers. We will be adding audio and video segments to our features and regular columns. Also, unlike the print media, we will be able to add updates to the magazine daily.'

To contact Wayne, either visit the website or e-mail him.

RTE Radio 1 and Prison Love need YOU!

Mark O'Mahony of Prison Love (not forgetting their MySpace site) writes:

Howdy Friends,

We invite you to a night with the stars in RTE Studios (Sunday 25 May) to mark the end of 'International Bluegrass Music Month' on Niall Toner's 'Roots Freeway' radio show. The night will feature live performances from Ireland's premier bluegrass group, the Niall Toner Band; wandering Wicklow country cousins, Bray Vista; roots groover from Vancouver, Stephen Fearing; not to mention our good selves, Prison Love.

For free tickets to this great night of music, just e-mail Roots Freeway with your name, address, phone number, and number of tickets required (max 4 per person). More details here. Take care,

Mark

Niall Toner composition on Grand theft auto 4

Press release

Songwriter Niall Toner is delighted to announce that a song of his is featured on the biggest-selling video game of all time, Grand theft auto 4, with sales in excess of $7 million since its launch on 29 April.

Niall's song is called 'The Real Real' (originally 'Nuns Island Reel'), and is played during the scene in an Irish pub in NYC. Niall composed the song in 1990, and recorded it originally as a single for release on the Irish market which never happened. Then, through a publishing deal with Bardis Music in Dublin and Crucial Music in LA, the song was pitched and accepted for inclusion in GTA4.

When asked what this meant to a songwriter, Niall replied: 'This is the kind of break that every songwriter dreams about, and it's the biggest thrill of my writing career. It goes to show that you should never lose faith in a song you are proud of, and I hope it serves as an example to other writers who are waiting for a break. I would also have to say that this would never have happened without the hard work and dedication of two very determined publishers, Peter Bardon of Bardis Music in Dublin, and Tanvi Patel of Crucial Music in LA. Thanks, guys, let's get working on another one.'

Niall's new CD with his band, NTB3, which is his third all-original, all-acoustic project, is to be released on Avalon Records (AVCD006) on 25 May at Studio One in the RTE Radio Centre in Donnybrook, Dublin 4. For further information contact Niall at +353 (0)59-9157570/(0)87-2877299 or by e-mail.

BIB editor's note: this post first appeared with an inaccurate title for Niall's composition. This has now been corrected, and Niall confirms that the story is most fully and accurately told on the Bluegrass Blog.

Noreen Hunter

Tony Curran sends the sad news that Noreen Hunter, whose husband and musical partner John died last autumn (as reported on the BIB on 21 October 2007), died on the evening of Sunday 11 May.

Noreen's remains were taken to her home in Sixmilecross, Co. Tyrone. The funeral took place after mass at the Roman Catholic church in Beragh at 1.00 p.m. today, Wednesday 14 May. The family requested a bluegrass accompaniment for the service.

Further details will be made known as soon as possible.