The Seamus Ennis Centre - or the Button Factory?

Many bluegrass fans like the music of Johnny Cash, and plenty of his songs lend themselves to a bluegrass treatment. So: if you too like his music and you're in central Dublin and without a car on Saturday 3 April, go to the Button Factory in Temple Bar, Dublin 2, where the Folsom Five, Dublin-based Johnny Cash tribute band, will be playing at 7.30 p.m. Shown above: Johnny B, the band's lead singer, whom you can contact at 086-3953433. The band is also on Facebook.

However - if you have access to a car, and you really want to hear solid and exciting bluegrass, remember that on the same night the award-winning 4 Wheel Drive (another five-piece, whose own instrumental and vocal power are augmented by the awesome country voice of Jolanda Peters) will be playing not very far away, at the Séamus Ennis Cultural Centre at Naul, Co. Dublin, where the show starts at 8.30. The rest of their dates in the current tour are on the BIB calendar, but this is the only one in the Dublin area...

I Draw Slow at the Sugar Club, Dublin, 4 Apr. 2010

Dave Holden reports:

Just to let you know that I Draw Slow will be playing the Sugar Club in Leeson Street, Dublin, this Easter Sunday (4 April). Support on the night will be from the Blood Red Mountain Band. Doors 8.00 p.m. Adm. €12. Hope to see you there!

Bluestack Mountain Boys at Tumbleweed Love Sessions, 10 Apr. 2010

The Bluestack Mountain Boys report:

We have the honour to be joining the Prairie Dawgs and the Annulments at the Tumbleweed Love Sessions in the Cobblestone Inn, Dublin, on Saturday 10 April from 8.00 p.m. Cover charge is €8.00.

Bluestack lineup for the night: Patrick Simpson (guitar), Simon McVeigh (double bass), Aran Sheehan (mandolin), and [update 31 Mar.] Camille Charpanoud (fiddle).

Should be a good night of bluegrass, roots, and Americana acoustic music in a lovely intimate venue, and we would love to see you there.

Happy pickin,

Bluegrass Row Contest 2010

Thanks to our friend Erio Meili of the São Paulo Bluegrass Music Association in Brazil for the invitation to participate in a very creative project:

... The 'Bluegrass Row Contest 2010', a new international feature for bluegrassers to serve as opportunity to show their talents across the worldwide YouTube scenario. For this contest a medley of three tunes in a row has to be played to become eligible for the Best Bluegrass Row Arrangement 2010, where creativity will draw the parameters for a winner’s election.

The tunes are to be played with all six rooted bluegrass instruments (mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle, bass, dobro) also allowing some inserts, within certain rules, for vocals and other instruments. The tune sequence of the medley has to be:

a) The Crow (Californian Steve Martin’s 2010 Grammy Winner)
b) The Frobee Watch (Brazilian Erio Meili’s public domain composition)
c) None Finer (from AcuTab and The Bluegrass Blog editor John Lawless from Roanoke, VA)

This is a project running for six months; the winner will be announced on 30 September 2010. Please take a look now at the contest rules (various language options) and listen to an embedded midi sample of the medley at the Sao Paulo Bluegrass Music Association homepage.

Please do not hesitate to incentivise yourself and any of your bluegrass picking friends to enter this first and unique bluegrass world contest challenge with creativity and with a full bluegrass instrument lineup. Bluegrass will keep growing!

Erio Meili
Sao Paulo Bluegrass Music Association
Bluegrass Row

Last days of Homespun's March sale

The latest in the ongoing series of sales from Homespun Tapes will end at midnight on 1 April. Plenty of the items in Homespun's amazing catalogue of instructional material are now available at discounts ranging up to 50 per cent, and all of them can now be obtained by direct download to your computer.

Full details of the Homespun March sale can be seen here. Keep an eye on the Homespun website, because something is always happening there.

Nicola O'Brien to marry Tom Kennedy

Tony and Joan O'Brien announce that their daughter Nicola, lead singer and bass player with Woodbine, will soon become the wife of Tom Kennedy. The marriage will take place on Friday 16 April in Ballylinan, just over the Laois border from Athy, Co. Kildare. The reception will be held at Langtons Hotel, Kilkenny city. Good wishes and/or advice can be sent to Nicola by e-mail.

While the above photo is not recent and not of top quality, the rest of Woodbine feel that the words appearing in the upper left-hand corner are a providentially accurate description of Nicola's contribution to the band.

It's (only) folk music - but I like it

Thanks to Uri Kohen of Electric Cave Production and the Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival for this warning title to the post, and for his report on last night's concert in Westport, Co. Mayo:

Last Saturday (27 Mar. 2010) Geraghty's pub in Westport opened its doors once again to a top-class musical act. This time around it was the turn of A Band Called Wanda from Galway. They played to a full house and gave a superb performance.

The lads play a variety of instruments including guitars, mandolin, fiddle, drums, and a range of brass instruments. They paid tribute to The Band with a superb version of 'The weight', and are doing a great job with carrying the tradition of some of the best folk acts in the world. It was sure a night to remember and a well recommended gig.

At the end of April we will host Eilidh Patterson from Derry and Jim Keaveny from Austin, Texas.

Stelling banjos at Dangem

Dangem Bluegrass Banjo of Craigavon, Co. Armagh, have been appointed as new distributors for Stelling banjos, and have taken delivery of their first batch of these top-class instruments.

Dangem have now become the sixth Stelling dealer in Europe, in addition to their long-standing association with Deering banjos. More about Stelling instruments can be seen here.

Clonmel World Music: new series of gigs begins in May

Very welcome news from Gerry Lawless, a longtime gig- and festival-goer from Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, who has decided to bring a series of top-quality gigs to Clonmel.

The shows, under the banner of Clonmel World Music, will be held in Raheen House Hotel (see photo above) - an excellent riverside venue in Raheen Road, only five minutes' walk from Clonmel town centre.

The music presented will be mainly Americana/bluegrass but will also include World Music and Irish traditional music. All tickets will be €15, and gigs will start promptly at the advertised times. The following four shows are arranged for 2010:

Thurs. 13 May Launch night with Prison Love
Mon. 2 June Po' Girl & J.T. Nero (Canada)
Mon. 30 Aug. Southern Tenant Folk Union (UK)
Mon. 13 Sept. Pokey Lafarge & the South City 3 (USA)

Details, including links to band websites, MySpace, and videos, are on the Clonmel World Music website. More details regarding ticket sales will follow in due course.

Gerry hopes that music fans in the Clonmel area will support the project, which certainly seems to us to deserve every support in the way it is being planned and carried out. Contact Gerry by e-mail or 'phone (089 4316398).

Danny Sheerin to showcase at EWOB Festival, 15 May 2010

The programme for this year's European World of Bluegrass Festival at Voorthuizen in the Netherlands was announced earlier this month, and we note that Danny Sheerin (pictured left), singer and guitarist with Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens, is scheduled to appear in a band showcase at 17:30 on Saturday 15 May 2010.

This is not Danny's first time at the EWOB Festival, as Carmel & the Ravens showcased there in 2005 and won the #1 European Bluegrass Band award, subsequently representing Europe at the IBMA's World of Bluegrass in 2006. Danny has a website of his own under construction. More details of the EWOB programme can be seen here.

Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens bring bluegrass to Dublin Town

Press release: see also the Cobblestone's Facebook page

Dubliners will have a rare chance to catch the award-winning bluegrass band Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens at the Cobblestone in Smithfield on Thursday 25 March.

Creating a unique sound, Carmel & the Ravens appeal to both young and old with their versatility. Their music represents a variety of music genres including bluegrass, country, folk, and pop. This family band has a powerful acoustic sound, great song writing skills, inspiring acapellas, tight family harmonies, and a great sense of humour! Not only are they talented and gifted musicians, they are awesome performers.

In May 2005 Carmel Sheerin and the Ravens were voted the #1 European Bluegrass Band (2005-6) at the prestigious European World of Bluegrass Festival (EWOB) in Holland, in only their first appearance on the Continent. The band was picked by the European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA) to represent Europe (and Ireland) at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards Ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee (2006).

The band is backboned by a family that is steeped in music and has been at the forefront of the music scene in the heart of Ireland for the past few decades. Four of the multi-talented Sheerin family are represented: Carmel (lead vocals), Danny (acoustic guitar & vocals), Des (double bass & Vocals) & Tom (mandolin & vocals). They are joined by virtuoso banjo player Jonathan Toman.

Support on the night is by the acoustic duo Factor One (Andrew Basquille & Padraic Gilligan) and LA-based roots musician Crosby Tyler, who has just finished a new CD with Sarah and Sean Watkins, former members of the band Nickel Creek and now members of the band WPA. Crosby Tyler has been touring relentlessly opening for Peter Case and T-Model Ford, then headlining on his own and winning audiences and critics alike in Scotland, England, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and Italy. He has completed tours of the Northeast, Northwest, and Southwest of the USA as well as returning to the UK and Ireland in September 2009. He charted an unbelievable 70 weeks on the Roots Charts and was in the top 25 of both the Americana UK and Euro-Americana Charts.

'A night of top quality roots, bluegrass and folk. Highly recommended!' says the Cobblestone.

Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens
The Cobblestone, Smithfield, Dublin 7. Thursday 25 March 2010
Support: Factor One, Crosby Tyler
Admission €10/ Concession €8
Doors: 8.30 p.m.

See also the BIB post for 16 February.

Well Enough Alone at the Cobblestone, 27 Mar. 2010

Hugh Dean Taggart, guitar player and lead singer from Dublin bluegrass band Well Enough Alone, reports that Well Enough Alone, with their original lineup, will be playing at the Cobblestone, Smithfield, Dublin, this Saturday (27 March). The show starts around 8.30 p.m. with support from Way Back When, and the admission is just €5.

4 Wheel Drive in Roscrea, 7 Apr. 2010

Thanks to Tom Stapleton for confirming details of the Wed. 7 April show by 4 Wheel Drive in their tour of Ireland which begins on Good Friday.

The band will be playing on 7 April at the Damer Court Hotel on Castle Street in the centre of Roscrea, Co. Tipperary (details tel. 0505 23300). Thanks to Charlie Horan for putting on this really excellent award-winning band, presenting solid and exciting bluegrass.

Tom Stapleton also announces that Al O'Donnell, a living legend of the folk scene in Ireland who has just released the double album Ramble away, will be playing at Leap Castle, Roscrea, on Friday 16 April at 9.00 p.m. Tickets can be reserved from Tom by telephone (087 2238040).

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

Bending the Strings earn high praise

L-r: Vinny Baker, Georgette Jones, Martin Cooney, Moyra Fraser

Thanks to Vinny Baker, who reports:

Last Saturday, Bending the Strings did support on a major country music concert in Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford, and on the bill were Billie Jo Spears, Georgette Jones, and Philomena Begley.

Bending the Strings went down a storm with the country audience, who were very taken with the band's style of honkey-tonk bluegrass; and afterwards Georgette Jones, country music superstar and daughter of George Jones and the late Tammy Wynette, congratulated the band on their unusual brand of bluegrass, saying that the folks back home in the United States would love the band's approach to the music.

Bending the Strings were suitably impressed with getting such positive feedback from Georgette, and were more than happy to pose for a picture with the American country superstar.

Jane McNamee, Vinny Baker, and Tom Hanway on RTÉ Pat Kenny - now TUESDAY 23 March

Thanks to Tom Hanway for the news that the radio appearance originally scheduled for Monday 22 Mar. has been moved to Tuesday 23 Mar. and is probably taking place AS I WRITE; details in the following text have been adjusted accordingly:

Captivating singer Jane McNamee [above] is backed by Vinny Baker (guitar) and Tom Hanway (5-string banjo, guitar) on RTÉ's Pat Kenny show on Tuesday 23 March (10.00 a.m.-noon). This live performance/interview is slated for approximately 11.00 a.m., but it could be sooner so folks may want to tune in early to make sure to catch it.

Born and raised in Edenderry, Co. Offaly, Jane McNamee’s love of music was instilled in her at an early age. She grew up listening to and emulating great folk artists of the time. It was obvious early on that this young girl had a big voice and was developing it for a career in music. Gifted with a strong, rich, and soulful voice, this sultry Offaly native can move the soul of the audience with her emotional energy and angelic-like presence.

Jane has a magnificent voice and sings straight from the heart. She has the uncanny ability to create visual imagery through her lyrics, melodies, and spontaneous performances. The best way to hear her music is live, in the moment, and her performance on Pat Kenny will surely gain her new fans. Not to be missed.

Brian and Noreen McGrane

Welcome news from Brian and Noreen McGrane, of the McGrane Family of Booterstown, Co. Dublin, who were badly injured in a road accident at the end of January (see the BIB post of 1 February). The weekly session at the Old Punch Bowl at Booterstown has been maintained in full vigour by their daughters and friends, pending their return. Brian and Noreen write:

Please put a notice of thank you in the blog to all our friends who wished us well. We really appreciated all our visitors. We are both recovering well and look forward to playing music again in the summer.

2nd Dangem Banjo Camp: photos

Thanks to Derek Lockhart of Dangem Bluegrass Banjo for these photos from the 2nd Dangem Banjo Camp, held at Corr's Corner Hotel, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, on 26-28 February. These and other photos can be seen in a slide show on the Dangem website, where there are also three video clips from the camp.

Dangem's March Bluegrass Get-Together will be held this coming weekend: full details are on the Dangem website.

A full house: camp attenders and teachers inside...

... and out

Jimmy Quinn and Noel Campbell (left and second from left)

The Broken Strings in concert: Wilson Davies, Adrian Muirhead, Geordie MacAdam, Michael Ash, Ivan Muirhead

Escape from the burdens of responsibility

Southern Welfare - Waterford

L-r: Tony Wall, Finbar Healy, Ray O'Brien, Gerry Wall

Thanks to Ray O'Brien of Southern Welfare, who reports:

A big 'thank you' to everybody who has come to support us every Tuesday night in McLoughlin's Bar, O'Connell Street, Waterford. The band have been getting rave reviews over the past few month in the local newspapers (nice to see the practice is all paying off) and hopefuly we will continue along this path.

We have extended the set list to include some of our own songs as well as all the favourites from Bill Monroe, Stanley Brothers, Alison Krauss, to name a few. A big 'thank you' to the management and staff of McLoughlin's for putting up with us every week. We have some plugged-in gigs coming up over the next few months which we will keep you informed of.

So bluegrass is on the up in Waterford - so if you're looking for somewhere to go midweek, why not come along to McLoughlin's Bar, Waterford, where you'll be made to feel at home in a lovely old pub, with some nice music to enjoy with your pint!

The Banjo Project: UPDATE 2

Thanks to Denis Hayes of Cork, who writes:

Here is a short Youtube link to a trailer for a new tv documentary about the banjo, being produced by Tony Trischka. Steve Martin narrates.

The trailer is well worth watching: a good nine minutes long, it includes footage of Pete Seeger, Bela Fleck, Taj Mahal, and many others. The full documentary will be eagerly awaited; if it surpasses the hour-long 'Echoes of America' film on the same subject, made twenty years ago, it will be a real classic.


Update 21 March: Thanks again to Denis for this link to the Banjo Project website, where the treasures include a dozen performances on video and some very enlightening interviews with players such as the splendid Tony Ellis (above).

Update 25 March: 'Echoes of America' can be seen in instalments on YouTube here.

New Athy Bluegrass Music Association website

The Carlton Abbey Hotel, Athy

Tony O'Brien announces that the Athy Bluegrass Music Association website was relaunched today after a complete remodelling.

The BIB can report that the new website is easy on the eye, and the features include a full programme for the 2010 Festival. Athy hosts the longest-running annual bluegrass event in this island, and this year's will be the twentieth consecutive bluegrass festival held there. Also featured are details (with web links) of all bands taking part. This year the lineup includes three new bands from Dublin and Cork, making their first Athy appearances.

The Accommodation page includes names and 'phone numbers for over a dozen hotels and guest houses in the Athy area, headed by the Carlton Abbey Hotel in central Athy, venue for all Festival concerts.

Tom Hanway & his Bluegrass Pals TONIGHT and TOMORROW

Tom Hanway & his Bluegrass Pals play tonight, Friday, at Loughrey's, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, 10.30 p.m., and Saturday night at the Greville Arms Hotel 'Ulysses', Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, 10.00 p.m.

Personnel: Tom Hanway (banjo/vocals), Barry Coffey (guitar/vocals), Howard Whelan (mandolin/guitar/vocals), Justin Whelan (bass/vocals), Pete Mulkearns (fiddle/vocals). For further details of the band, see the BIB post of 13 February.

Contact information:
Tom's MySpace and website
Mobile: Barry 087 2280626; Tom 087 2047926
E-mail: Barry, Tom

Factor One's European tour: update

Thanks to singer/songwriter Andrew Basquille (left), who reports on two imminent shows by Factor One (Andrew himself and Padraic Gilligan):

Padraic and I are playing support next Thursday to the fantabulous Carmel Sheerin & The Ravens in the Cobblestone. We’d love to see you! Crosby Tyler (MySpace), LA-based Americana folk/rock/roots musician, will open the gig. Crosby has recently finished a new CD with Sarah and Sean Watkins, former members of the band Nickel Creek and now members of the band WPA.

Thurs. 25 Mar. Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens
Award-winning bluegrass family band. Support is acoustic duo Factor One. The Cobblestone, Smithfield, Dublin 9.00 p.m. €10/€8 [Irish Times listing]

Fri. 26 Mar. Factor One
St Francis Xavier Hall, Hope St., Falkirk, Scotland 8.00 p.m.

Hot rumours for this year's Omagh lineup

Speaking of the Ulster American Folk Park - the Park usually keeps its cards very close to its chest, as far as the lineup for the current year's Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival is concerned.

This year, the Park holds its nineteenth Festival on 3-5 September, and so far no official announcements have been made - indeed, the Festival's web page plainly states: 'There are no events coming up.' But a well informed source tells us that (as we've come to expect) the Park has booked some powerful and highly respected US bluegrass artists for 2010: the Gibson Brothers, Dale Ann Bradley, and Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters (featuring Roger Williams, dobro).

Dale Ann Bradley topped the bill at the Park several years ago, when she was responsible for the first appearance there of the phenomenal fiddler Michael Cleveland. Since then, she has won the IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year award for the past three consecutive years, among other accomplishments. The other bands mentioned will be worthy company for her at Omagh.

4 Wheel Drive on Folk Park flyer

A fine photo of Jurgen Biller (banjo) and Joost van Es (fiddle) of 4 Wheel Drive is the illustration for a flyer issued by the Ulster American Folk Park at Omagh, Co. Tyrone.

4 Wheel Drive will be 'in residence' at the Folk Park throughout its Easter Celebrations programme, which will run from 10.00 a.m. on Saturday 3 April to 5.00 p.m. on Tuesday 6 April, under the title 'A Spring Fair Day'. Details of the rest of their tour can be seen here.

Bending the Strings: new album, new shows

Thanks to Vinny Baker, who reports:

Bending the Strings, whose music has been described by one reviewer as Honky-Tonk Bluegrass (which fairly aptly describes the trad bluegrass set played by the band with the guitar, 5-string banjo & piano line up), release their second album of bluegrass standards, guitar, piano, and banjo instrumentals, including some original material by the group. The album is expected to be on sale in just under two weeks and the band is very pleased with the results.

In advance of its release, Bending the Strings play support to American country music superstars Billie Jo Spears and Georgette Jones this coming Saturday (20 March) in Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford, in the Park House Hotel. The concert kicks off at 8.00 p.m. and Bending the Strings will be doing a six-song set, which will include several songs from their forthcoming album - which, incidentally, will be titled All keyed up. The following Saturday (27 March) sees Bending the Strings return to the Bluegrass Sessions in Mullingar's Greville Arms, which are proving to be a very big success.

The band will keep you updated on the progress of the new album, and just remind all their friend and followers to keep a watch for it on sale in their local record store; and any requests from the album which are sent to local and national radio stations will be greatly appreciated.

We look forward to meeting our friends and fans at the Park House in Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford, on Sat. night next, 20 March. Best wishes from Martin, Moyra, & Vinny.

Sharon Cort Band: 'Kiss the Banjo' tour to include Ireland

The Sharon Cort Band on an earlier tour: Bill Keith, Jeff Wisor, Sharon, Ernie Sykes, and Butch Baldassari in Basel (photo: Lilly Pavlak)

The Sharon Cort Band (USA) will begin their 'Kiss the Banjo' tour with their first appearance as guest artists at the European World of Bluegrass Festival (13-15 May 2010) in Voorthuizen, NL. They follow this with over a month of shows in France, Switzerland, Ireland, and elsewhere in Europe.

Sharon is known for her powerful, sensitive vocals, her original songs, and her top-notch band members. On this trip the Sharon Cort Band will include Sean McKerr (Ireland; bass), Tom Corbett (USA; mandolin), and Jean Marie Redon (France; banjo). Fiddler Aaron Till (USA) will join the band for a few dates.

Previous tours by the SCB have included the largest country music festival in France, Country Rendez-Vous at Craponne, and a 2007 national television appearance in Paris on 'Magic TV', with founding members of the classic French band Bluegrass Long Distance.

Preliminary dates for the present tour include the slot 25-31 May for shows in Ireland (dates TBD). More details of the schedule are on the European Bluegrass Blog. Read the full press release on the tour here. For further information, contact Terry Harkleroad, Mitero Entertainment, +1-888-301-3529; e-mail.

Sharon Cort website; MySpace; e-mail

RURAL TV to launch 'A Little Bit of Ireland'

Rural TV, which includes a good deal of bluegrass interest in its schedules, announces a brand new magazine-style country-and-Irish programme to be broadcast monthly on RURAL TV (beginning in May). 'A Little Bit of Ireland', which is to include news, reviews, competitions and much more, is

intended to inform and entertain the Irish community throughout the UK and Ireland, and to keep the community informed month-by-month about everything of interest that's going!... This programme is also very keen to promote all types of Irish music including both country and traditional, and is also excited to be a new showcase programme for up-and-coming talent from every corner of the country... including those who would not otherwise get a chance to appear on television!

Who knows... perhaps, A Little Bit of Ireland will launch a number of wonderful new artists and music careers! Could you be the next great music sensation?

The show will be brought to you from a unique studio setting where top named artists will be able to chat about their careers to date, and promote their latest albums. The show will also feature non-music guests, who will be invited in to tell their stories. Sponsors of A Little Bit of Ireland will be further adding to the fun and good times by providing prizes for a number of great competitions...

Upcoming Gone to Grass shows

Thanks to Pete Lamb of the KAM Collective and the Galway Americana Festival for news of two imminent gigs for his band Gone to Grass:

Mar. 17 Mill Times Hotel, Town Centre, Westport, Co. Mayo. Early gig (4.00 p.m.)
Mar. 20 Spells Bar, Pound St., Ballaghaderren, Co. Roscommon (as part of the Spells Springtime Bluegrass Fest)

On 17 Mar. the lineup will be Pete (guitar), Paul Johnson (double bass), and Tom Portman (dobro); on 20 Mar., Pete, Paul, and Bill Forster on 5-string banjo. For future gigs Tom and/or Bill will take part, depending on circumstances; and for major events the reappearance of fiddler Ivor Ottley (now in Sweden) is possible...

Blood Red Mountain Band at the Cobblestone, 17 Mar.

Linda Devlin, Back Room venue manager at the Cobblestone, 77 North King St., Smithfield Square, Dublin 7, says:

LÁ FHÉILE PÁDRAIG DAOIBH!

Quick hello to wish you all a very happy St Patrick's Day tomorrow. If you are looking for somewhere away from the scary madness of Temple Bar but somewhere that still has a great atmosphere and excellent music, look no further!

The Cobblestone front bar will be its usual mix of welcoming faces, cosy corners, authentic trad sessions, and of course the finest pint of Guinness you'll find in Dublin!

The Back Room Venue will be hosting the perfect afternoon post-parade antidote with an all-ages show by the Blood Red Mountain Band & Friends. Come in, sit down, relax your weary feet, and tuck in to some complimentary tea, coffee, cake, and fruit for the little ones! Or of course indulge in some Guinness, and treat your ears to the roots and upbeat folk sounds of the Blood Red Mountain Band.

Doors are 4.00 p.m. and admission costs €4 for adults, €2 for kids over 5 yrs, or free for kids under 5 yrs.

Contact data for Linda and the Cobblestone: tel. +353 86 3384460; MySpace; Facebook

Little Ass Birds at Westport

Uri Kohen reports from Westport, Co. Mayo:

In June 2007 with the launch of the first Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival, the sound of bluegrass hit the town like thunder on a sunny day. Now approaching the 4th festival, it seems like the people of Westport can't get enough of the sweet sound of bluegrass and old-time music.

Last night (Saturday 13 Mar.) we experienced another great gig, this time by the Dublin-based Little Ass Birds. They performed a superb set of bluegrass and old-time classics with their own unique touch. The band showed great commitment and love of music, as the gig was in risk of cancellation dew to some member of the band falling sick; but they made it to Westport after all and gave us a night to remember.

On 27 Mar. 2010 we will have a folk night with a twist, headlined by A Band called Wanda, from Galway.

Little Ass Birds in Geraghty's, backed by the Electric Cave Production banner

Special C. in the schools

Too long to wait till the next visit from the Special Consensus? - of course it is. But in the meantime you can see and hear the Special C. in an important part of the band's professional life: performing in schools and giving the schoolchildren, through personal contact, an idea of what bluegrass and its instruments are, and how the instruments and the music work.

A twenty-minute sampler, shot on video by Fred Robbins while Special C. were on the job, can be seen on the original Bluegrass Blog. The band is in a fairly recent configuration, with Ryan Roberts on guitar, and Ashby Frank still on mandolin.

Traditional (and other) music at Mount Merrion, 21 Mar. 2010

Thanks to Patrick Simpson of the Bluestack Mountain Boys, who writes:

I thought I would let you know of an Irish Traditional Evening on Sunday 21 March in aid of Mount Merrion Parish and Scoil San Treasa in the Mount Merrion Community Centre. I know there is a lot of 'closet' players out there who love the Bluegrass Blog and Irish music! So I'm sending you out the word to anyone who wishes to come down and enjoy or join in the post-St Patrick's Day celebrations for a good cause. The fun should begin at around 8.15 p.m. and admission is €5. Happy St Patrick's Day!

The Mount Merrion Community Centre is next to St Theresa's Church on top of Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin, and can be reached either from the Rise or from the roundabout where North Avenue, South Avenue, and Deerpark Road meet. Ample car parking. For a similar previous event at the Centre with a bluegrass/old-time ingredient, see the BIB for 17 Dec. 2007.

Tom Hanway & his Bluegrass Pals: shows and session

Tom Hanway & his Bluegrass Pals play Loughrey’s in Tullamore tonight, Friday 12 March, 10.00 p.m. This is a new venue for the band, who are playing an open bluegrass session the following night, Saturday 13 March at Murtha’s Pub, a cosy country pub in Multyfarnam, Co. Westmeath, at 10.00 p.m., in the hopes of developing a monthly session open to all bluegrass and string musicians.

Tom (a fingerstyle guitarist as well as a banjo player) and his Pals are also booked to play the Irish National Guitar Festival in Drogheda, Co. Louth, on 9 April. More details soon.

The band has added several new songs and fiddle-banjo tunes to its repertoire and will be trying them out on audiences this weekend.

Old Crow Medicine Show for Open House Festival 2010

Graham Brown, marketing manager of the Coors Light Open House Festival, announces that the 12th annual Open House Festival will take place from 7 to 12 September 2010, with music gigs at venues throughout Belfast's arts-&-cultural-flavoured Cathedral Quarter.

Of the acts confirmed so far, the most directly bluegrass-related is the Old Crow Medicine Show (USA) (photo below), who are about to begin a tour in New Zealand and Australia. For the opening (non-bluegrass) concert of the Festival, a limited number of Early Bird Tickets (£25 each, instead of £32.50) are available till noon on Friday 12 March.


Tickets are available online. New for 2010 is a recession-friendly booking policy - no booking fees, no transaction charges, and no hidden costs.

For more information about the festival, please see the website. To receive a free printed programme when it is released, get on to the Festival's mailing list. Any questions can be posed to:

Graham Brown
Marketing Manager
e-mail
'Phone +44 7708763408

Evie Ladin for Ireland in autumn 2010?

Evie Ladin (USA) - clawhammer banjo player, singer, songwriter, step-dancer, and square-dance caller - has been involved with old-time music most of her life, and hopes to be performing in Ireland during September 2010 as part of a tour in Europe and extending as far as Brazil.

She has toured in Britain twice with the Stairwell Sisters, San Francisco's 'all-gal old-time teardown', has recorded three albums with them and made her own video Buckdancing for beginners, and has just released her solo debut CD Float downstream, produced by Mike Marshall, and formed her own new band. Evie writes:

I can appear solo, as a duo (with bass & percussion), or with the whole band, which has an expansive string-band feel - some traditional material, and my original songs, led on driving clawhammer banjo. Dance included.

Anyone who likes clogging/flatfooting/buckdancing should watch the videos on Evie's MySpace site; and any banjo player should watch (either there or on her website) the footage she shot in Nigeria of a local musician playing 'clawhammer/stroke style' on a banjo made out of a blue plastic container, a stick, and (probably) nylon fishing line.

For bookings, contact Evie Ladin by e-mail.

Spells bring bluegrass back to Ballaghaderreen

Moonshine: Frank Hall, Lena Ullman, Johnny Moynihan

Press release

The sound of banjos, dobros, guitars, fiddles, and singers will ring out on Pound Street, Ballaghaderreen, on Friday 19 March, letting everybody know that the second annual Spells Springtime Bluegrass Fest is under way.

The three-day event will see top bluegrass bands take to the stage in Spells (downstairs bar) each night as well as open bluegrass sessions in the afternoon / evening.

On Friday night from the misty midlands Hickory Wind will perform. On Saturday the headline act will be Gone to Grass and on Sunday, bringing the festival to a close, the bluegrass sound of Moonshine from Kinvara will send the festival goers home buzzing after a great weekend of music, song, and fun.

Admission to all events is free. Enquiries 094 9860144 or log on to the website.

Spells Springtime Bluegrass Fest, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, Friday 19-Sunday 21 March 2010

BIB editor's note: The Fest website gives location, contact details, and a list of accommodation within easy walking distance of Spells.

4 Wheel Drive in Ireland, 2-9 Apr.

4 Wheel Drive at Omagh, 2009: Joost van Es, Jurgen Biller, Jolanda Peters, Ulli Sieker, Alfred Bonk, Jan Michielsen

Thanks to Jan Michielsen, guitarist with perennial favourites 4 Wheel Drive (D/NL/BE), for the news of their all-too-brief tour in Ireland in just over three weeks' time. Jolanda Peters, with her great country voice, will be with the band on all these dates:

Fri. 2nd April Bronte Music Club, Rathfriland, Co. Down
Sat. 3rd (daytime) Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Sat. 3rd (evening) Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin; 8.30 p.m.

NB: 4 Wheel Drive would be grateful for the loan of an upright bass for the Naul show. If you can help, please contact Jan (e-mail) or Andy Peters (e-mail).

Sun. 4th (daytime) Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Sun. 4th (evening) House concert, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Mon. 5th Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Tues. 6th Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Wed. 7th Roscrea, Co. Tipperary (details TBA)
Thurs. 8th Colfer's bar, Carrick-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford
Fri. 9th Knocklofty House, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary

Thanks also to Andrew Peters of the Bronte Music Club, for his work as booking agent for the band, giving us another chance to see and hear this great group - #1 European Bluegrass Band for 2002/3.

Mad Uncle Harry schedule, Mar.-Apr. 2010

Thanks to Noriana Kennedy (left in the above photo) for the following news:

Mad Uncle Harry, Galway-based American roots band (5-piece) are playing the following dates this season:

March 13th Patrick's, Ennis, Co. Clare
March 14th Neachtains, Galway city
March 17th The Black Box, Galway city
March 19th The Crane, Galway city
March 27th Tess Burke's, Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary
April 3rd KAM, Kinvara, Co. Galway

The band includes vocals by Noriana Kennedy (banjo-uke player and singer with folk group Nábac) and the talented singer/songwriter Christof Van Der Ven (guitar) accompanied by Paul O’Driscoll on double bass (well known for his work with Sharon Shannon and Deiseal), 'take it or leave it' Liz Coleman on fiddle (Spinning Jennies and Nábac), and tasty beats from Paddy Kennedy on percussion and snare.

With a finely selected mix of moody ballads to high-energy foot stomping-tunes, their performances always give a great night out for all - hope you can make it out.

Mad Uncle Harry
30 Crescent Court
Fr Griffin Road
Galway
Tel: Noriana Kennedy, +353 (0)861003342; e-mail
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New festival in England, 30 Apr.-1 May

Thanks to FOAOTMAD, the UK old-time music association, for passing on this news, which should be of particular interest to autoharp players:

Sue Edwards of UK Autoharps informs of a new music festival: the 2010 Bordergrass Music Festival, held Friday 30 April-Saturday 1 May. This is at Hopelands Hall in the village of Weobley, Herefordshire, famous for its picturesque setting, and the centre of the ‘Black and White’ villages in the area.

There are evening concerts both days, and also free workshops on the Saturday afternoon with Mike Fenton, who is bringing 35 autoharps for new players to try. There are also workshops from Sarah McQuaid on DADGAD (Irish) Guitar and Old Time Band from the New Prohibition Band.

The Friday concert line up is the New Essex Bluegrass Band, Sarah McQuaid, the New Prohibition Band, Mike Fenton, and the Toy Hearts. The Saturday concert is the same lineup apart from the Toy Hearts, but also includes Hilary James & Simon Mayor, and the Carrivick Sisters.

Details re camping and caravans, ticket prices, etc., are on this website, or phone +44 (0)1544 327936.

This new festival is a varied one, a blend of old-time, bluegrass, and folk, with a great lineup for the concerts, so do have a look at the website for full information.

Quote of the month

One thing I liked about the [Bill] Monroe style was that there was a lot more blues in it than other styles of bluegrass. It was darker. It had more of an edge to it. And yet it still had the ballad tradition in it, and I loved that.

Peter Rowan, featured artist of the month in the current Colorado Case Company newsletter, and lead singer for Bill Monroe & the Blue Grass Boys in the 1960s

Crooked Still in Ireland, 15-20 Mar. 2010

Thanks to James O'B. for the news that Crooked Still (USA), leaders in the field of 'alternative bluegrass', are making five appearances in Ireland at the start of a tour in Europe, beginning in just ten days' time. The dates are:

Mon. 15 Mar. Roisin Dubh, Galway city
Tues. 16 Mar. Whelan's, Wexford St., Dublin 2
Thurs. 18 Mar. Dolan's Warehouse, Limerick city
Fri. 19 Mar. 'Late Late show' appearance, RTE TV
Sat. 20 Mar. Seamus Ennis Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin

Westport shows in March

Uri Kohen of Electric Cave Production reports from Westport, Co. Mayo:

They say that time goes fast when you are having fun, and so March is here already. As in the previous months, Geraghty's pub in Westport will host two top gigs during March.

The first one is on Saturday 13 Mar. 2010 with a great old-timey/bluegrass band from Dublin, the Little Ass Birds [above].

The second gig will take place at the last weekend of the month, 27 Mar. 2010, with a great folk band from Galway, A Band called Wanda [below]. Both gigs are free to the public and sure to be great. See you in Westport!

2nd Dangem Banjo Camp in video and photos

Thanks to Derek Lockhart of Dangem Bluegrass Banjo for the news that photos and video footage of last weekend's 2nd Dangem Banjo Camp can be seen on the Dangem website. It looks as if this year's Camp was again a conspicuous success, and the event (we hope) is now a permanent fixture on the bluegrass calendar here.

The video, showing Jimmy Quinn, Noel Campbell, and others performing 'Walls of time', can also be seen on Dangem's own YouTube channel, where the fifteen videos currently showing include footage from the first (2009) Banjo Camp and from the Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival at Omagh, Co. Tyrone.

Woodbine shows in the NEAR future

Tony O'Brien reports that Athy band Woodbine will be playing two shows in the next two weeks:

Sat. 6 Mar. Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, 10.30 p.m. (Greville Arms Bluegrass Sessions series)
Wed. 17 Mar. (St Patrick's day) Bob's Bar, Durrow, Co. Laois, 5.00 p.m.