Help save historic instruments

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum in Nashville, TN, has launched a $1.1 million fund-raising campaign to enable it to retain and display four instruments of unique significance in the history of country music: Maybelle Carter's Gibson L-5 guitar, two Martin guitars that belonged to Johnny Cash, and the Lloyd Loar Gibson F-5 mandolin #73987 that was Bill Monroe's prime instrument.

The full story can be read here. Ricky Skaggs has said: 'This is an equal-opportunity challenge to the greatest fans in the world... Twenty–five cents is as significant as a gift of $25,000.'

The Precious Jewel Fund already has $450,000 and needs to have the remaining $750,000 by 22 February 2009. Persons interested in making a tax-deductible contribution may do so online, by mail, and by telephone. Gifts by mail may be sent to Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, 222 Fifth Avenue South, Mail Drop DP, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, USA. Cheques should be made out to the Country Music Foundation. Please specify 'Precious Jewel Fund'. For credit card contributions, call +1 615/416-2050; all major credit cards are accepted.

Old-time trio booked for Dunmore East festival

Thanks again to FOAOTMAD for the news that Sara Grey, Kieron Means, and Ben Paley - who begin a six-day tour this coming Saturday night - will be back in Ireland for (at least) 28-30 August 2009, as they will be playing at the 15th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival at Dunmore East, Co. Waterford. For further info (as with everything to do with the Dunmore East festival), contact Mick Daly for details: +353 (0)51 878832 or +353 (0)87 2562899, or e-mail.

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And thanks yet again to FOAOTMAD for news of internet info that should be of value to some of our readers: one is a news story about the Field Recorders Collective, who make field recordings of old-time musicians available on CD; another is a new site for women guitar players, called 'Girls with Guitars', with a welcome from Marcy Marxer.

Win a free weekend at a Northern Ireland festival

Audiences Northern Ireland reports:

Courtesy of Tourism Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, you could be winging your way to one of six premier music festivals in Ireland in 2009. The prize includes flights, accommodation and tickets to the event - all you have to do is enjoy the gigs!

The six events are the Féile an Earraigh (Belfast, 5-8 February), the 5th Belfast Nashville Songwriters' Festival (Belfast, 18-22 February), the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival (Belfast, 30 April-10 May), the 18th Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival (Omagh, 4-6 September), the Open House Festival (Belfast, 23-7 September), and the William Kennedy Piping Festival (Armagh, 12-15 November).

The free flights are from anywhere in the UK. Details are on the NI Festivals website, where you can enter by signing up for the NI Festivals newsletter and indicating which festivals you'd like to visit.

Coastline Bluegrass Music Event on YouTube

Chill Until Blue

John Prytherch of the Coastline Bluegrass Music Event in North Wales reports that the promotional video for this year's Event (5-6-7 June 2009) can now be seen on YouTube and MySpace. Headliners at the Event will be 4 Wheel Drive (NL/D/BE), the Toy Hearts (UK), and Chill Until Blue (UK).

A gallery of pictures from last year's Event can be seen here. Among British newspapers, the Event has appeared on the Guardian's list of Top Ten UK Folk Festivals and the Daily Telegraph's list of Best Events for the summer of 2008. UKBluegrass.com ranked the Event as one of the favourite festivals in 2007.

Coastline Bluegrass Music Event
Plas Uchaf Farm, near Llandudno Junction
North Wales LL28 5PD, UK

'Skewball/Stewball' - the Irish connection

Thanks to Jim MacArdle of the Skillet Lickers Revival of Co. Louth for drawing our attention to the connection between Ireland and the American song 'Stewball' celebrating a racehorse, noted by Alan Lomax and recorded by Lead Belly and subsequently by Lonnie Donegan and others. Jim sends copies of material including two pages from the venerable Dundalk publication Tempest's Annual for 1953, which reproduces by permission of the Irish Field an account of the Bellewstown races of June-July 1752. One of the gentlemen taking part was Arthur Mervyn of Naul, Co. Dublin (location of the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre), who owned large flour mills and several horses, of which the most famous was Skewball, a son of the Godolphin Arabian. Skewball was entered for the 40 Guineas race at Bellewstown against Mr Bellingham's mare Sophia on Friday 3 July 1752. Alan Lomax's American folksongs, p. 91, prints words of the work song 'Stewball', in use in the Mississippi penitentiary in 1933; the accompanying notes refer to 'a dullish Anglo-Irish come-all-ye ballad'. Jim also reports that the Skillet Lickers Revival played at the East Anglian Bluegrass Festival last weekend. We look forward to his report.

Tupelo

The welcome tide of new bands in the Dublin area influenced by bluegrass continues to rise. Aran Sheehan, recently back from the Far East, reports:

I met some musicians a few months back and it all came together, and we are called 'Tupelo'! One of the guys - James, who plays guitar and sings - writes all the songs. So there are no covers, but words have been put to some blatant bluegrass progressions. Anyway it's quite exciting, as James seems to have an endless stream of songs coming from him and we find ourselves having to learn two or three songs every week. A great, natural fiddle player called Kevin Duffy joined us last week and it feels like it's kicking into place. Whilst James plays rhythm and sings, Paul plays lead acoustic guitar, Tim plays sax, and Damo plays the big fiddle. Everyone joins in harmonies and it's all acoustic, but I'm afraid it's not a bluegrass band and I wouldn't dream of advertising it as such.

We are very much in our infancy right now but there's a lot of energy there, so we will explore it and see where it takes us. Between myself and the fiddle player's influence and the style of songs that James is coming out with in recent weeks, it's starting to sound bloody Americana/Progressive Acoustic/Singer-Songwriters (whatever that means!)... Anyhoo it looks like it's all going in a good direction and if you have the time, pop into the Cobblestone on Friday 27 February as we are playing the Tumbleweed Love Sessions on that night.

Update 28 Jan.

After our initial report two days ago, Aran adds:

We are playing on Country Mix 106.8 FM on Saturday 7 February from 2.00 p.m.; so if you are in the car, spin that dial and check us out. We are also booked to play at Bruin's pub, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, on Sunday 8 February (no cover charge) and at Whelan's on Sunday 15 March (€10 cover charge).

JB's Band tour, May-June 2009

Jean-Blaise Rochat (France/Switzerland) is putting together a European tour for 'JB's Band' (featuring Raymond McLain, Mike Stevens, Tom Gray, Joost van Es, and himself) in the second half of May 2009. Some dates are already booked for the Netherlands and Germany, and bookings in other countries are welcome.

J.-B. released a two-CD album last year, JB's Band (featuring Bill Clifton, Matthias Malcher, and many others), which can be bought by PayPal from his website. Bill Clifton (who was inducted into the IBMA Hall of Fame this year) says:

Personally, I am honored to have been a small part of JB’s Band, and the more I listen to these discs, the more they brighten my days!

Joost van Es is well known in Ireland as a member of 4 Wheel Drive, who are scheduled for the Athy festival this year; Tom Gray is a member of the 'Classic Country Gentlemen', who were inducted into the IBMA Hall of Fame in 1996; muilti-instrumentalist and singer Raymond McLain is one of the famous McLain family of Berea, KY. A demo of JB's Band in the configuration which will be used for the May tour is available. Contact

Jean-Blaise Rochat
Chemin de la Bruyère 10
CH-1197 Prangins
Switzerland
e-mail
website

Ken Orrick

Ken Orrick on stage with Lost Highway in Switzerland, 2001

Lilly Pavlak of Switzerland sends the sad news of the death of Ken Orrick, well known in Europe as the lead singer and guitar player of the California band Lost Highway, who toured several times this side of the Atlantic, including Ireland. He had a massive heart attack on Saturday 24 January.

Ken was originally from Smithville, Tennessee, and his first band was a gospel group called the Premanaires, which included Faye, older sister of Iris DeMent. Lost Highway was originally formed in 1975, and broke up in the 1980s; Ken reassembled the band in 1996. Thanks to Bluegrass Bios for information.

More on Ken, including tributes from those who knew him, can now be found on the Bluegrass Blog.

I Draw Slow at Whelans, Dublin, 4 Feb. 2009

Dave Holden, guitarist and singer with I Draw Slow, reports:

Just to let you know that Dublin's old-time country band I Draw Slow play Whelans of Wexford Street, Dublin, on Wednesday 4 February. To follow up the release of their critically acclaimed debut album Downside, the five-piece bring their unique sound to this intimate seated venue. Support on the night comes from the Blood Red Mountain Band. Doors 8.30; €10.

For resonator guitar players

In the last twenty-four hours or so, the BIB has carried good news for guitarists and banjo-players, so here's a nugget of wisdom for players of the resonator guitar. On YouTube you can see a ten-minute lesson by Stacy Phillips, giving unique advice on left- and right-hand techniques and other aspects of the instrument, all shot in the Beard Guitars workshops.

Beard Guitars have thirteen videos posted on YouTube, which can be seen here. Some of them, including Stacy's lesson, are also on the company's website. Thanks to the original Bluegrass Blog for the news that Beard will be bringing out a new resonator model with an oval soundhole; no pictures are yet available.

Dangem Banjo Camp in Co. Antrim, 27 Feb.-1 Mar. 2009

John Dowling among leprechauns

'Forty-eight hours of total banjo immersion... Spend a weekend away from the toil and cares of everyday life, with nothing to do but learn about the 5-string banjo from world-famous teacher John Dowling, play, jam, and possibly even sleep!'

That's what is waiting for attenders at the Dangem Banjo Camp 2009 (5-string Scruggs style), to be held from Friday 27 Feb. to Sunday 1 Mar. 2009 in Corrs Corner Hotel, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim.

Dangem Bluegrass and Deering Banjos will bring John Dowling to Northern Ireland for the first time ever. From Cornwall, UK, John took up the banjo at the age of 12, and in 2002 he was sponsored by the ACLAIM (Acoustically Live And Inclusive Music) organisation to enter the prestigious National Bluegrass Banjo Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, USA. He won the first prize, a very large trophy, and a new banjo worth $4,500. John is the first European ever to have won this award.

John was an experienced teacher before he won the award, and in the BBC1 TV series ‘Play it again’, he helped to prepare comedian Frank Skinner to enter the Winfield banjo contest. He was also a teacher at the 2nd Munich Banjo Camp in November 2008.

Costs for the weekend are:

Tuition only: £100.00
Single room B&B for the weekend and full tuition: £240.00
Twin room B&B for the weekend and full tuition for two persons sharing: £350.00 Total
Twin room B&B for the weekend and full tuition for one person with non-playing partner sharing: £280.00 Total

An application form with full details can be found here. Deposits (details on the application form) should be sent by cheque payable to Derek Lockhart, 101 Belfast Road, Magheralin, Craigavon, Co. Armagh, BT67 0RP. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Deposits should be received no later than 6 Feb. For more info, call Derek (07802364846) or e-mail.

Christmas time returns for guitarists

Cathal Cusack reports:

Something for real bluegrass fans this time!

Roland White has published a book of transcriptions of Clarence's early guitar playing. There is a CD accompanying the book and there is also (I know, this sounds like the shopping channel) a DVD with, among other things, some footage of Clarence and Roland playing on a 1960s TV show.

It costs $35 plus post so it's not cheap, but then neither was Clarence.

Clarence White was the first person to adapt Doc Watson's lead style to the guitar's role in a bluegrass band, so this book should be as much a part of the canon for guitarists as Earl Scruggs's book is for banjo-players. Cathal adds, with reference to the folk/old-time/bluegrass session every Wednesday at the Punch Bowl, Booterstown, Co. Dublin:

I brought a few people down to the Punch Bowl last week and I may have almost converted them to Americana! They are playing great music and there's great singing. I hope to get back down there myself again next week.

San Diego bluegrass!

Thanks to Andrew Basquille (radio presenter, singer, and Hank Williams devotee) of Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, who reports:

Just back from family holidays in California. Highlight was guided tour of the Taylor Guitar factory in El Cajon, San Diego. (Tours are free, Mon.–Fri. 1.00 p.m.)

Also, singing a few songs with my daughter Andrea and U.S. cousins at San Diego Bluegrass Society’s open mic night on in Fuddrucker’s, La Mesa, on Tues. 13th. We had a great night, and it was a pleasure to hear the wonderful singing of Tanya Rose and enjoy Richard Burkett’s fine band Gone Tomorrow.

Above all, the San Diego bluegrass people made us feel at home!

Quote of the month

I don’t think there is any need to go into the controversy around the question of what bluegrass is. I ask myself: Does it make a difference to the soul? I don’t build strong walls, but I do think you have to pay attention to the source of the power that is there.

Fred Bartenstein, quoted in an interview with Kurt Mosser, 'Fred Bartenstein: the right place at the right time' in Bluegrass Unlimited, May 1999. Fred will be the facilitator at the European Bluegrass Summit meeting in Germany on 7-8 February 2009

Superfiddle at Brazilian jam session

Thanks to our good friend Erio Meili of the Sao Paolo Bluegrass Association of Brazil for this link to a page of the SPBA website, showing photos and audio clips from a recent jam session at the Olivo Bar in Sao Paulo. Erio mentions that Irish fiddle music predominated in this particular session, but we picked on this photo of the fiddler Elcio playing the traditional Swedish keyed fiddle, the nyckelharpa.

No, the link with American old-time music is not too remote; your editor has seen a nyckelharpa played at the annual Tennessee Fall Homecoming in the Museum of Appalachia at Norris, TN, north of Knoxville. Plenty of nyckelharpa clips can be found on YouTube.

Tennessee Hennessees in Belfast festival gig

Thanks to Sharon Loughrin, who draws our attention to an upcoming gig by the Tennessee Hennessees on 21 February in the Student Union bar, York St., Belfast, as part of the Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival. Sharon adds:

The festival attracts top performers like Nanci Griffith, but I think this T. Hennessees night will be a lotta fun, with the co-performers (I'm not sure who is supporting who!) a group called the Bourbon Street Preachers. I believe they play a New Orleans/Louisiana inspired style of music, sounds a bit cajun, and reputedly have a mean washboard player - what more could you ask for?!

Also, for any big Chatham County Line fans, their very first, self-titled, CD is now re-released. It's available online from Yeproc Records; my copy is on its way to me at the minute.

The Bourbon Street Preachers can be seen on YouTube.

Mountain Heart at major English festival

Richard F Thompson of the BBMA reports:

Mountain Heart (USA), who are scheduled to appear at the Didmarton Festival this September, has announced the return of Clay Jones to their lineup.

Following the departure of Clay Hess, Mountain Heart, who will be the headline band at the Didmarton Festival, 4-6 September, welcome Clay Jones once more to their number.

Mountain Heart consists of Josh Shilling (rhythm guitar), Jim Van Cleve (fiddle), Barry Abernathy (banjo), Jason Moore (bass), Aaron Ramsey (mandolin), and Jones (lead guitar). Their most recent album is Road that never ends: the live album, recorded at the Ark, Ann Arbor, Michigan, in March 2007.

Full details for the Didmarton Festival, which takes at Kemble Airfield, near Cirencester, Gloucestershire, will be available soon.

Richard F Thompson, 14 Lime Grove, Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, WS13 6ER; 'phone +44 (0)1543 252683; e-mail

Special C. tour on the Bluegrass Blog

Special Consensus with Derek Mooney (second from left), on whose RTE 1 show they appeared on 15 January

Thanks to the original Bluegrass Blog for publishing accounts by Ashby Frank, mandolinist and lead singer for the Special Consensus, of the band's current tour in these islands. The first instalment, with photos including this one, can be seen here.

Thomas Bailey

Thomas Bailey (guitar) with the Freighthoppers

Thanks to FOAOTMAD for the news that old-time musician Thomas Bailey will be in Britain in April and is looking for gigs. FOAOTMAD says:

As a recognisable face in the old-time music scene/festival circuit, Thomas Bailey's sound and style expresses his deep love and passion for Southern string band music. Born and raised in south-west Virginia, this die-hard performer's distinct baritone voice punctuates his multi-instrumental facility of guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and string bass.

Anyone interested in booking Thomas can check his website, Facebook page, or MySpace site, and contact him by e-mail.

Tin Box Company: sessions and Bluegrass Weekends

Thanks to the Tin Box Company band of Dublin for the following report:

Tin Box Company wish to thank all the musicians who came along and played a few tunes with us to celebrate the festive season at Delanys Pub, Knocklyon. Good music and craic was enjoyed by all.

The Tin Box Company play bluegrass in Delanys Pub, Knocklyon - a nice warm, friendly pub with plenty of parking space - every Thursday at 9.00 p.m.; musicians, singers, and friends of bluegrass will be made most welcome, so come along and join in the fun. Admission is free.

The Tin Box Company play a series of Bluegrass Weekends: Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon gigs at the Leitrim Marina Hotel in lovely Leitrim Village on the following dates:

Jan. 17 & 18; Feb. 14 & 15; Feb. 28 & Mar. 1; Mar. 14 & 15; Mar. 28 & 29. Admission is free.

Musicians, singers, and friends of bluegrass will always be made welcome. Contact John Heeney (087-2592414) or Martin Kavanagh (087-2504505).

Ireland leads the un-American bluegrass world?!

The January 2009 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine is out, with its annual massive calendar of bluegrass festivals throughout the USA, and a much shorter list of festivals outside the USA, including twenty-three from Canada.

Once again, Ireland appears in this list as the country with the largest number of bluegrass festivals outside North America: four - Kilkenny, Dunmore East, Open House (Belfast), and Johnny Keenan (Longford).

Of course, this is an incomplete list even of Irish festivals, and it's necessarily (and no blame to BU) a very incomplete picture of bluegrass festivals round the world. But in this incomplete picture, we're glad Ireland makes so good a showing. Congratulations, all!

Special Consensus tour: UPDATE

The ninth trip to Ireland by the Special Consensus begins on Wednesday 14 January at Barry's, Grange, Co. Sligo. The full schedule in its latest form is on the Old Flattop website and the BIB calendar; details of two northern shows (28, 29 Jan.) have been changed since the dates went on the band's website and MySpace site.

Signs, the new Special C. album on Pinecastle Records, is now available through the Pinecastle website for download to radio stations, and is due for general release on 24 March. It includes plenty of new material, including originals by present band members. Advance copies can be bought from the Special C. during the tour, while stocks last.

Niall Toner reports that he will be recording a 'Roots Freeway' special with Greg and the band on the afternoon of 30 January for broadcast at a later date - on the evening of the same day, they'll be playing at the Carlton Abbey Hotel, Athy, Co. Kildare.

A marriage in Woodbine

The future Mrs Kennedy (on bass) with the rest of Woodbine

Thanks to Tony O'Brien for the news that his daughter Nicola, bass-player and lead singer with Woodbine, became engaged to Tom Kennedy on 10 January, and they will marry during the coming year. Congratulations to all concerned!

Gig news from Tom Stapleton

Thanks to Tom Stapleton for the following news:

Johnny O'Connor tells me the Fethard gig this Friday with Jim Rooney, Arty McGlynn, and Mick Daly is sold out, so do not travel without a ticket. The lads will be appearing at the Leap Castle in the autumn.

In the meantime Arlo Guthrie tickets for Grant's Hotel (Friday 23 Jan.) are down to the last 150.

Tom Stapleton
The Music Store
Roscrea
Co. Tipperary
tel. +353 (0)505 23481

Jim Rooney, Arty McGlynn, and Mick Daly can also be heard at the Seamus Ennnis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin, on Saturday 17 Jan.

Butch Baldassari

Butch Baldassari (photo kindly supplied by Lilly Pavlak)

Enda Donnelly of Fair City Grass writes:

It is with great sadness I learned of the death of Butch Baldassari (1952- 10 Jan. 2009).

He was a great mandolin player - teacher and a wonderful inspiration to us all.

Butch Baldassari died on Saturday after a long, courageous struggle with inoperable brain cancer. Features on his life and death can be found on the Bluegrass Blog, and a Nashville Tennessean obituary is here. Enda adds:

Butch got a good sendoff, including loads of contributors in the Mandolin Cafe. One player said he was the 'King of double stops' on mandolin,which is very true. I was shocked to hear of his death, because recently he seemed to be improving & in good spirits from time to time.

It's ironic to think that all over holidays I was playing my favourite Christmas CD, Evergreen: mandolin music for Christmas, which I sent away for two years ago. It comes with a tutor - tab book & I learned a few tunes for our pre-Christmas gig. Any Butch Baldassari teaching videos are highly recommended for beginner and intermediate.

May he rest in peace.

Old-time trio in Ireland, Jan.-Feb.

Thanks to FOAOTMAD for the news that Sara Grey (banjo), her son Kieron Means (guitar), and Ben Paley (fiddle) will be playing the following six dates in Ireland, as the start of a long period of touring by Sara and Kieron in these islands and the US.

31 Jan. World Music Club, West End Bar, Main St., Lismore, Co. Waterford; John Cullimore, 058 53970
1 Feb. Colfer's Bar, Main St., Carrig on Bannnow, Co. Wexford; John Murphy, 051 561159
2 Feb. Mick Murphy's Pub, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare; Larry Roddy, 03456 64017
3 Feb. Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork (TBC); John Nyhan, 08779 21771
4 Feb. Crane Bar, 2 Sea Road, Galway; Mick Creehan, 091 587419/ 872 245637
5 Feb. Cobblestone, 77 North King St., Dublin; Larry Roddy, 03456 64017

From these dates, they will be on the same bill with the Special Consensus twice: 1 February at Colfer's (where Woodbine will also be playing, as part of the annual Colfer's Americana event) and 3 February at Kilworth. Looks like being a hot part of the winter...

Prison Love @ Whelan's, Dublin, 9 Jan. 2009

Mark O'Mahony (alias 'Marko', alias 'Soapy', etc., etc.) of Prison Love reports:

Hey folks,

In an attempt to work off our Christmas bellies, Prison Love will be rolling in to Whelans and getting physical this Friday night. You simply must be there to join in on some clogging or maybe even a cajun two-step! See flier attached... [above left]

Prison Love
Whelans, Wexford St., Dublin 2
Fri. 9 Jan. 8:30 p.m.
Tickets €10 (on the door or from here)
Late bar and DJ afterwards

Be good,
Marko

New Audie Blaylock CD

It's an editor's prerogative to mention a favourite band every now and then; so we're pleased to announce that the new CD by Audie Blaylock & Redline will be released on 27 January. It's already available for pre-sale at $13.99 from the band's website; samples can be heard there and on their MySpace site.

Blaylock is the epitome of a hard-core bluegrass pro: his CV includes playing guitar with Rhonda Vincent & the Rage and with Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper. Earlier, he played mandolin for Jimmy Martin, and he's a leading preserver of the Martin traditions in repertoire, drive, and keeping things lively on stage. His band includes Patrick McAvinue, whom Athy regulars will remember as the exciting young fiddler with Tom Mindte's Patuxent Partners.

Dailey & Vincent harmony workshop on Homespun

Just a year after their first public performances together, Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent took no fewer than seven awards at the last IBMA awards show. Their band is an exciting one right across the board, but it's fair to say that their powerful, poignant duet singing is at the heart of the group's appeal.

You can now hear their vocal style, learn how they build it, and add your own harmony parts, with a new instructional DVD from Homespun, Bluegrass and gospel duet singing: old-time country harmony. Samples from the DVD can be seen here.

Homespun have been voted #1 in Music Instruction by the readers of Acoustic Guitar magazine for the fifth consecutive time.

Tragic death of conscientious worker

Thanks to Tim Rogers of the Rough Deal String Band for sending us this link to a news item which should interest all BIB readers.

The Isaacs in Northern Ireland, March 2009

Thanks to Dee Hallett of the BBMA for the news that the Isaacs bluegrass gospel band is scheduled to play three dates in Northern Ireland in late March 2009, as follows:

Thurs. 19 Mar.: Craigavon Civic Centre

Fri. 20 Mar.: Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena, Co. Antrim

Sat. 21 Mar.: Spires Centre, Belfast

with two subsequent dates in Scotland. Tickets are now on sale. This is one of the most vocally powerful and moving bluegrass gospel bands on the planet - possibly the most - and well worth going to hear.

Nechville's New Year's Extravaganza Sale

Tom Nechville of Nechville Musical Products, who has brought his innovative instruments, accessories, and know-how to past Longford festivals, sends the season's greetings, together with news of recent developments and great deals on new instruments. Tom says:

Take note of our specials on electronic gear, and miscellaneous merchandise, including banjo pickups, armrests, and bridges. I even have a couple of nice Northwoods guitars left.

* New lightweight tone ring options
* New model - Athena
* Nechville right- or left-hand neck on a Vintage pot - using the Flux Capacitor
* New open-back, block-wood-body Hybrid banjo
* List of holiday specials - sale extended!
* Northwoods guitars - solid spruce tops, bone nut and saddle, super nice sounding and playing for $250.
* Electric banjo in stock
* Gr-33 Synth Controller

Call now: sales office +1-253-670-3208; shop +1-952-888-9710, +1-612-275-6602