Special C. back again in four weeks' time!

David Thomas (bass), Ashby Frank (mandolin), Greg Cahill (banjo), Justin Carbone (guitar)

A reminder (as if it were needed) that the bluegrass new year in Ireland begins with a bang as Greg Cahill brings the Special Consensus back for their ninth time in Ireland since 1995. They'll be playing in all four provinces, beginning at Barry's, Grange, Co. Sligo, on 14 January, and with an interval of seven dates in Britain (21-7 Jan.), before their final show on 3 February. Events which they'll be headlining include the Sixmilebridge Winter Music Weekend in Co. Clare, the annual Americana show at Colfer's, Co. Wexford, and a two-day mini-festival at Kilworth, Co. Cork, which rounds off the tour. The full schedule for Ireland is on the BIB calendar.

As anyone will confirm who saw them at the 2008 Athy festival, the present configuration of the Special C. is a very hot one! The band now has a MySpace site, with Niall Toner's song 'Josie's reel' as one of the songs that can be heard on it.