Ry Cooder to play three shows in Dublin, June 2009

Thanks to Bill Whelan for the news that multi-instrumentalist and pioneer of 'world music' Ry Cooder will be in Dublin to play three consecutive shows in 2009. The Irish Times reports that Ry Cooder, his son Joachim (drums), accordion wizard Flaco Jimenez, and Nick Lowe will be at the Olympia Theatre on 10, 11, and 12 June 2009. Tickets go on sale on Friday 19 December, at prices ranging from €96.25 to €131.25 (the Irish Times says this, so it must be true).

Bill is now playing a CEB-5 Gold Tone cello banjo with 14-inch pot, which he used at first with nylon strings tuned an octave below a normal 5-string; he is now, however, using regular strings at standard pitch. Bill obtained it through Paul Doyle at Monastery Music, in the old cinema in the main street of Clondalkin, Dublin 22 - a shop which Bill recommends for its assortment of interesting and unusual instruments.