Bluegrass artists with Irish form on Compass Records

The current Special C.: Ryan Roberts, David Thomas, Greg Cahill, Rick Faris

The US-based label Compass Records, whose catalogue covers a wide range of musical genres (with Irish music probably accounting for most of its releases), has recently added some notable bluegrass musicians to its roster of artists.

The full list of Americana/bluegrass artists on Compass can be seen on the company's website. Several of those listed, including the most recent addition, will be specially familiar to bluegrass and old-time enthusiasts in Ireland. In addition to Compass's founder, Alison Brown, there are Bruce Molsky; Bearfoot; Missy Raines and her band the New Hip; the Gibson Brothers and Dale Ann Bradley (both acts are rumoured to be on the bill at this year's Omagh festival); the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band (who will be heading the bill at the UK's Didmarton Festival, at the same time as Omagh); and the Special Consensus (above).

The news appeared yesterday on the Bluegrass Blog that the Special C. have been signed to Compass, and their next album, 35 (recorded while they were still with the now-defunct Pinecastle label), is scheduled for release on 25 May.