County Line at Westport; Festival programme release

Uri Kohen reports from Westport, Co. Mayo, on 'A night to remember':

As Westport's 4th Folk & Bluegrass Festival is approaching ever closer and just before the official launch party (5.6.2010), we hosted one more superb gig. Last night (Saturday 29.5.2010) Geraghty's pub in Westport was once again the main attraction in the town as we hosted the great County Line [above] from the States.

In what appears to be one of the highlights of their first Irish tour, they played to a full house of bluegrass fans. Around 200 people crammed into the pub to hear the sweet sound of this band. with some bluegrass originals and a good mix of bluegrass versions of other famous songs, they provided a night to remember. The three very talented guys performed a superb show with fine control of their musical instruments and top-class vocal harmonies. Hopefully they will come back to our shores and give all bluegrass fans in the land a chance to see them.

Uri adds:

As reported in the blog previously, this Saturday coming (5.6.2010) the Electric Cave Production will host the launch party for Westport's 4th Folk & Bluegrass Festival. The music on the night will be provided by the Henry Girls and a guest appearance by Hubie MacEvilly. On the night we will present the programme for this year's festival.

BIB editor's note: The programme will be posted here as soon as possible. As Uri says, 'Hopefully, this will convince you to make the trip to Westport at the end of the month.'

Greystones Americana & Roots Weekend, 4-6 June 2010

As announced on the BIB on 6 May, the first Greystones Americana & Roots Weekend will be held next weekend, 4-6 June 2010, among the sea breezes of Greystones, Co. Wicklow. Thanks to Greg Corcoran for the latest press release:

Next weekend (the June bank holiday weekend) sees the arrival of the inaugural Greystones Americana and Roots Festival. Bluegrass and alt country acts from both sides of the Atlantic will be bashing out all kinds of roots and Americana goodness. The first of its kind in Co. Wicklow, the festival will take place in the one venue with two stages, the Beach House, Greystones, from Friday 4 June through to Sunday 6 June.

There will be an abundance of sessions, a good old-timey atmosphere, duelling banjos, and a full pig on a spit barbecue for that down-home authenticity! And better still all events are a recession-busting FREE of cover charge!

Artists lined up include the magnificent I Draw Slow, an alt-country, folk, roots, old-time Americana band, the Oxo Boys who will be brewing up an Americana storm, and the Big Muddy and B & the Honeyboys, two well-renowned acts on the local Americana scene. Also playing will be the Niall Toner Band who are considered the most authentic bluegrass band in the country. We also have folk legends like Al O' Donnell and Phelim Drew, and a washboard master-class from world-renowned player Wayne Waits from Columbus, Ohio.

For more info please visit our website or go like us on Facebook!

Contact:
Conor O' Donnell, Festival Organiser
Mob: 086 3354915
e-mail

Guitar legends in print

As Kevin Lynch points out on the European Bluegrass Blog, 2010 is becoming a vintage year for books on legendary figures of bluegrass guitar playing, with publications appearing on Clarence White's guitar style and the lives and music of Tony Rice and Doc Watson. More details are here.

Cedar Hill in Ireland, Sept. 2010

Cedar Hill (l-r: Mark Vaccaro, Frank Ray, Bradford Lee Folk, Britt McGarity, Jimmy Bunch, Ferrell Stowe)

The BIB reported on 30 August 2009 that Cedar Hill, the powerful six-piece traditional band from the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, with a growing national reputation in the States, were aiming to make a two-week tour in Ireland and/or Britain in 2010. We're delighted to be able to report now that Cedar Hill are booked for this year's Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival at the Ulster American Folk Park, Co. Tyrone (3-5 September), and will be playing the Gower Bluegrass Festival in Wales, and other dates in Wales, a week later. They will be bringing over their new CD.

The band would be glad to fit in one or two more dates in Ireland before going to Wales; so if you know of an opening for them, or can offer one, please contact Pam Bunch, Cedar Hill's manager, by e-mail.

Frank Ray, Cedar Hill's mandolinist, sends the following YouTube links to three numbers recorded live during a Cedar Hill show at the world-famous Station Inn, Nashville, TN, in July 2009: 'Stobro blues', featuring Ferrell Stowe; 'Why, oh why'; and 'Heartaches and teardrops'. Live mp3s are also available if required by promoters or event organisers, and Pam is ready to supply any further information needed.

The Wilders at Naul tonight: SHOW SOLD OUT

If you had intended to go to the Séamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin, tonight to see the Wilders (left), and have not already booked a seat - the bad news is that the show is already completely booked out, and new fire regulations make it impossible for the Centre, however willing, to squeeze anybody else in.

The Centre has work in progress which will increase its capacity. And fortunately the Wilders cross the Atlantic often (they'll be touring in Scotland in July and August), so we can hope to see them again before too long. But on their next trip, book early to avoid disappointment.

8th Bühl International Bluegrass Festival

The BIB editor reports:

The Bühl International Bluegrass Festival can be thoroughly recommended. Founded in 2003 as a one-day event, it receives full support from the pleasant, compact city of Bühl on the edge of the Black Forest, just south of Baden-Baden in south-west Germany. With continued and growing success, it expanded to two days last year, and it's no accident that the formation of a new German Bluegrass Music Association was announced at this year's event. Full details of the 2010 festival lineup and schedule, with many photos and press reports, can be seen here.

Thanks to our good friend Jan Michielsen of 4 Wheel Drive (D/NL/B) for this link to a five-minute feature from R.TV Baden-Baden. The footage was shot at the free open-air concert by 4WD in the Johannesplatz, Bühl, on the morning of Saturday 15 May (see photo above), and includes an interview with Walter Fuchs, country music historian and guiding spirit of the festival.

The Sons of Navarone: (l-r) Thierry Schoysman, Benjamin Steegen, Guido Bos, Eugene O'Brien

Not least among the delights of the 2010 festival were the sets by the Sons of Navarone from Belgium, who have been building a strong reputation for themselves in successive tours of the UK with their powerful harmonies and instrumental work, imaginative choice of material, and sheer gift for entertainment. Making their German debut at Bühl, they closed both Saturday indoor concerts (a slot usually reserved for the senior visiting American group), earned a great reception, and sold a lot of CDs. Irish festival organisers should consider booking this band - they even include a Dublin-born banjo-player, Eugene O'Brien, who was prominent on the south-east England bluegrass scene before moving to Brussels.

The new European Bluegrass Directory

... for 2010/2011 is now out, published by the European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA), with over 1,000 entries on all aspects of bluegrass activity in twenty-three countries of Europe. This is a new record for content; and at the same time as including new features, an improved format has made the whole Directory more compact and readable.

This is the eighth updated edition, and it includes a table of dates and website addresses for over seventy bluegrass (or bluegrass-friendly) festivals throughout Europe during 2010, plus some for next year. The festival list can also be seen on the EBMA website (which has recently been thoroughly redesigned).

The cover price is €3, but the Directory is available free from an official EBMA representative at several major European bluegrass events. €5 covers postage and packing if you get it from the EBMA head office. More about the Directory is on the EBMA website. Ireland provides three of the advertisers in this issue - the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival, Dangem Quality Instruments, and the BIB.

Bluegrass session and barbecue: DATE CORRECTION

Dangem Quality Instruments (aka Dangem Bluegrass Banjo) of Craigavon, Co. Armagh, report that their next monthly Bluegrass Jam Session and get-together - the last before the summer break - will be held next Saturday (29 May) at the Island Arts Centre, Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn, Co. Antrim. The session starts at 9.30/10.00 a.m. and continues to noon. It's a good idea to bring £10 as a deposit for the next Dangem event four weeks later, namely...

On Saturday 26 June [NOT on the same day as the jam session, as the BIB mistakenly reported yesterday], Dangem proudly present the Bluegrass BBQ, running 'from 18.00 to who knows', at the Belfast Rowing & Tennis Club, Lockview Road, Stranmillis, Belfast. The Club is very highly rated for good food at reasonable prices. Dangem announce:

To make this a successful event, we have to guarantee numbers (30 to be precise) in order to keep costs to a minimum, so deposits (non-refundable) are required to confirm places. All are welcome - friends, family, and neighbours.

The price is £10.00 per head (£12.00 if you want steak), and the bar stays open till 23.00. Tickets are available from Billy ('phone 07825565430) or Derek ('phone 07521464125; e-mail).

Dangem
Tel. (+44) 07521 464125

A band of brothers

Uri Kohen reports from Westport, Co. Mayo:

Two years ago, I was approached by the Sullivan Brothers to play the 2nd Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival. After listening to their music and finding out that we share the same musical taste, I booked them to the festival. They played the opening show of the festival and went down a treat with the Westport crowd.

Last night (22.5.2010) they returned to Westport, this time with new companions, new CD, and a fresher sound. Their 'brotherly sound', backed with vibrant energy and three very talented musicians, created the perfect show [see photo above]. The crowd in Geraghty's pub loved them, and I'm sure they will return to the west soon. A well recommended gig.

Next week, we will have County Line from the States.

Uri also sends the coming summer schedule in Geraghty's:

29 May: County Line (USA)
5 June: The Henry Girls (Donegal): launch of the 4th Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival
8 June: Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson (Australia/N. Ireland)
12 June: Gerry Creen (N. Ireland)
19 June: Louisiana Joyraid (N. Ireland)
25 June: John Taylor (Scotland), as part of the 4th Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival
27 June: Tim Rogers and friends (USA/Ireland), as part of the 4th Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival (afternoon session)
10 July: Gary Ferguson (USA)
17 July: The Rye(Galway)
24 July: Jim Keaveny (USA)
31 July: Mad Uncle Harry (Galway)
7 Aug.: Nicole Maguire (Cork)
14 Aug.: Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson (Australia/N. Ireland)
28 Aug.: David Hope & the Henchmen (Clare/Cork/Galway)

ROMP 2010 in Owensboro, KY: 23-6 June 2010

From a good friend of bluegrass outside the USA - the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky:

The International Bluegrass Music Museum requests your assistance in getting the word out about our upcoming festival, ROMP: the River Of Music Party, 23-26 June 2010. ROMP is the Museum's annual fundraiser, with all proceeds going to the preservation of bluegrass music history, artifacts, and collections. We have very little funding for advertising and therefore rely on the goodwill of our friends and supporters.

If you'd like to help, we'd be happy to trade links with you. Please direct your link to us here and let us know how you'd like yours to be posted.

HIGHLIGHTS OF ROMP 2010

* A stellar lineup of 30 bands from four countries with music ranging from traditional and progressive bluegrass to jam bands. Please see the lineup here.
* Two historic reunions: the Pioneers of Bluegrass and the Blue Grass Boys. Between 75 and 100 legends will be in attendance. Come to ROMP to meet and jam with these musicians, hear their stories and their music.
* The kick-off to the Bill Monroe Centennial Celebration: an exhibit of visual art inspired by the lyrics of his original songs.
* The Bluegrass Masters Film Festival, featuring the world premiere of 8 documentary films on the lives of the following iconic musicians: Mike Seeger, the Dillards, Paul Williams, Tater Tate, Vic Jordan, Gloria Bell, Jack Cooke, and Noah Crase. Also featured are the Goins Brothers and Curly Seckler, among other films.
* Free Dry Camping!
* Great ticket prices, with deep discounts for seniors, active military and students. Click here for tickets. Children 12 and under get in free. Four-day family passes available for $150 (in advance only until 6/16/10).
* Hall of Fame Unveiling, The Legends Concert, workshops, trade show, great food (coolers and picnics ok), museum tours, educational forums, live filming and radio broadcasting.

Join the party at the Bluegrass Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky... a great time for a great cause.

'An evening with Arlo Guthrie': tour in Ireland, Aug. 2010

Thanks to Nigel Martyn for the news that singer, songwriter, storyteller, and multi-instrumentalist Arlo Guthrie, whose new album In times like these will be released for his 60th birthday on 10 July, will be in Ireland the following month to play this schedule:

Thurs. 5th Aug.: The Black Box, Belfast
Fri. 6th: McGrory’s, Culdaff, Co. Donegal
Sat. 7th: Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo town
Sun. 8th: The Royal Theatre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Tues. 10th: Roisin Dubh, Galway city
Wed. 11th: Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick city
Fri. 13th: INEC Acoustic Room, Killarney, Co. Kerry
Sat. 14th: The Pavilion, Cork city
Sun. 15th: Colfers Marquee, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford
Mon. 16th: National Concert Hall, Dublin city

The Fox Hunt in Ireland, June-July 2010

Thanks to FOAOTMAD for the news that the Fox Hunt band from West Virginia (see the BIB post of 1 Feb. 2010) will be playing seven dates in Ireland in June and July, as part of a tour that also includes eight shows in Scotland and adjacent islands. FOAOTMAD says: 'West Virginian show-stoppers the Fox Hunt play a wild and raucous brand of American roots music that’s more akin to good old rock ‘n’ roll from the early days.'

Their shows in Ireland are:

Sun. 27th June: Cork Midsummer Festival
Sat. 3rd July: Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin
Tues. 6th: Conway’s, Ramelton, Co. Donegal
Wed. 7th: The Beehive, Ardara, Co. Donegal
Thurs. 8th: (with the Henry Girls): McGrory’s, Culdaff, Co. Donegal
Fri. 9th: (with the Henry Girls): The Factory Performance Space, Sligo town
Sat. 10th: (with the Henry Girls): An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Westport Festival launch party, 5 June 2010

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

After a year of preparation, Westport's 4th Folk & Bluegrass Festival is going on its way. On Saturday 5 June 2010 the Electric Cave Production will host the official launch party. The event will take place in the 'home' of the festival - Geraghty's pub.

On the night we will present the program of the festival and will start the ticket sales. Music for the event will be provided by the Henry Girls [photo above]. The band opened the concert in the main event of last year festival, and although being the festival's 'wild card', they received a standing ovation and amazed the crowd with their unique sound.

They will be joined on stage by Westport's own bluegrass duo, Sara and Hubie MacEvilly [right], who will play a major part in this year's festival and are one of only two acts who return to the festival for the fourth year running.

This event is another stepping stone in the 'Unfinished music' series which takes place in the pub and hosts the cream of folk and bluegrass acts from Ireland and the rest of the world. See you there!

More views of MerleFest 2010

Thanks yet again to Louis O'Dwyer of Tullamore, Co. Offaly, for this link to Ted Lehmann's 'Bluegrass, books, and brainstorms' blog. Louis advises: 'See archive panel on left of home page and click Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 2010 for news & pix.'

Louis's e-mail is entitled 'A picture paints a thousand words'; on Mr Lehmann's blog, the reader gets plenty of pictures together with ample, informed, and judicious text on all aspects of this many-sided event.

Tom Paxton in Ireland, July 2010

Thanks to Tom Stapleton for the news that legendary folk-singer/songwriter Tom Paxton, whose songs have influenced bluegrass musicians among many others, will be in concert at the Damer Court Hotel, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, on Friday 23 July. Doors open 8.30 p.m., and the show starts at 9.00. Admission is €25.00. Tickets can be booked from the Music Store, Roscrea: tel. 0505 23481 or 087 2238040. Damer Court Hotel: 0505 23300.

The show is one of a number of select appearances by Tom Paxton in Europe during July; one in Denmark and two in Britain earlier in the month, and then three in Ireland: at the Fiddlers' Green Festival in Rostrevor, Co. Down, on 21 July; at the National Concert Hall in Dublin on 22 July; and finally the Roscrea concert. See Tom Paxton's schedule for links and more details.

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

Awake, my soul: the story of the Sacred Harp

We know for sure that at least some BIB readers love the Sacred Harp choral style, especially after the film Cold Mountain and the subsequent visit of a fine Sacred Harp ensemble to the Omagh festival a few years ago. At that same festival, one of Professor Jack Bernhardt's lectures touched on the contribution of Sacred Harp to bluegrass vocal harmony. So thanks to FOAOTMAD for drawing attention to the film Awake, my soul: the story of the Sacred Harp.

If you have friends on Tyneside in England, let them know that there'll be a special showing of the film today week (Thursday 20 May), plus performances from Richard Dawson and Cath & Phil Tyler, at 7.30 p.m. in the Star & Shadow Cinema, Stepney Bank, Newcastle, NE1 2NP; admission £5. There are other Sacred Harp activities in the area soon; for more info, call +44 (0)191 2150138, or see this website.

The film (on which the narration is by Jim Lauderdale) is available on DVD and the soundtrack on CD; both can be bought through the Awake, my soul website, on which plenty of this glorious sound can be heard. Meanwhile, take two minutes and give yourself a treat by watching the trailer.

Coastline Bluegrass Music Event, 4-6 June 2010

Just across the Irish Sea and a short road or rail trip away, the annual Coastline Bluegrass Music Event (MySpace) is held at Plas Uchaf Farm, near Llandudno Junction, north Wales. This year's Event is headed by three fine bands, two from the Continent and one from the UK, with workshops, jams, and all... See the European Bluegrass Blog or the Event's own website for more details.

Report from MerleFest II: the saga continues

Thanks to Louis O'Dwyer for the second chapter in the saga of Irishmen at MerleFest 2010, which captures

... our traverses across the Blue Ridges, meandering our way down the great Smokies, being at one with the natives in a village in the Cherokee Nation, & then onwards to that magnificent citadel of Southern hospitality, Knoxville. There we shared the comforts of a common cultural pillow, upon which there was no difference between visitor & visited & local.

Scene 1: 11.39 p.m. Me standing in a smaller version of Plaza Major, air profused with the fragrance of fresh farm produce & ripened by the dung pungency of the farm animals that had carried their booty to market for those small-time traders. My eyes, enveloped with tears of confusion, led me by my ears to a lone Cherokee musician, playing upon a one-stringed piece of willow wood, proclaiming the injustices, sufferings, of his heritage & people.

I hear you talking, Buddy, I said, & tossed a silver dollar in his threadbare hat. Thank you, Sir, was his response. I have never encountered such gracious good manners in my life.

Grey, Means, & Paley in Ireland, July 2010

Thanks to Sara Grey (USA) for the welcome news that she (banjo, vocals), her son Kieron Means (guitar, vocals), and Ben Paley (fiddle) will be playing a series of old-time music concerts in Ireland towards the end of July. The schedule is:

Fri. 23 July Feile Iorras, Belmullet, Co. Mayo; +353 97 81079 (c/o Tony Conway)

Sat. 24 July Seamus Ennis Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin; +353 180 20898

Sun. 25 July One-day festival, Colfer's, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford; +353 515 61159 (c/o John Murphy)

Mon. 26 July Gleeson's, Irishtown Road, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary; +353 87 291 3484 (c/o Liam Condon)

Report from MerleFest 2010

Thanks to Louis O'Dwyer, logistics officer for the official ROI mission to Merlefest 2010 (see the BIB for 7 April 2010), who sends a report by Dermot Reidy, with which the rest of the mission are in total unanimity. The report, in its entirety, can be read here. Subsequent instalments, covering experiences after MerleFest, are on their way. Louis adds:

On behalf of our entire entourage I am saying a big thank you to Banjo Bill, whose invaluable knowledge of, & contacts in, Asheville NC added greatly to the comforts of us weary travellers. A casual arrangement to meet in a pub on Monday p.m. was withdrawn at the last minute by our hosts, Lewis & Katie, & instead we were collected from our hotel, whisked to their home, pre-dinner cocktails, sumptuous food, & impeccable hospitality, a six-piece string band of neighbours & friends gathered, including bull fiddle & you can imagine the rest - Heaven's Gate & Paradise Regained, all in one. Thanks for that, Bill - see you soon. Athy beckons.

Open House Festival 2010 line-up

Thanks to Graham Brown, Open House marketing manager, for this press release:

All hail to the Americana gig of the year. The Dave Rawlings Machine, fronted by long-time musical partner of Americana singer/songwriter Gillian Welch, play an exclusive Irish debut at this year’s Open House Festival in Belfast on Saturday 11 September. Sharing the stage will be musical compadres, Old Crow Medicine Show, creating the perfect union of 'old-time string music and punk swagger'.

Tickets are just £20 online from the Open House Festival website and feature our recession-friendly booking policy - no booking fees, no transaction charges, and no hidden costs.

Another exciting addition to the festival line-up is Lissie, the 'guitar-toting Americana lovechild', marking her first visit to Belfast. She appears on Wednesday 8 September in the intimate surroundings of McHughs basement bar, with new local boys Napoleon.

Other artists recently announced include Seasick Steve, Wilco, Low Anthem, the Felice Brothers, and Field Music – more acts to follow. The 12th annual Open House Festival will take place 7-12 September 2010, throughout the arts-&-cultural-flavoured Cathedral Quarter. The main festival venue will be the new 2,000-capacity festival marquee in Custom House Square – the biggest music marquee ever to be erected on the site.

Ticket link

BIB editor's note: The latest CD by the Dave Rawlings Machine is on the current 'Best sellers' list from County Sales.

Update 11 June: The poster image that originally accompanied this post has now been superseded. For the up-to-date version of the poster, see the BIB post of 11 June 2010.

A piece of mandolin history for sale

For anyone who is interested in owning a first-class F5-style mandolin, with a lot of bluegrass history attached to it - have a look at this post on the European Bluegrass Blog.

Buy through UKBluegrass!

The excellent UKBluegrass.com website, first stop for all information on what's happening on the bluegrass scene in that big island to the east, has made an arrangement with Amazon and now has a shop page, where you can buy bluegrass-related CDs, DVDs, instruction books, and other good things.

A great idea; the BIB must try to do something similar some day... Meanwhile, we cordially advise shopping at UKBluegrass.com. And look at the news - and the many other good features of this website - while you're doing so.

Sore Fingers news, 2010-11

John and Moira Wirtz report:

Back here at the 'Hogwirtz' planning department in deepest Somerset, the Captain and Cruella have just about recovered from last Easter’s little party! Thanks to all those who sent messages of thanks and reviews of the event.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the great tutors for their outstanding work, and our loyal staff and crew who help us make the show run smoothly for you year after year.

But there’s no let up, and the October weekend is beginning to receive bookings and the tutor list is already announced except for one or two yet to be confirmed. Biogs and pictures will be uploaded within a couple of weeks. The list is as follows:

Autoharp: June Maugery
Banjo: Rod Jackson
Dobro: Martin Froud
Fiddle: Ian Nicholls
Guitar: Paul Hill
Mandolin: TBA
Old-time banjo: Sara Gray
Old-time fiddle: Dave Proctor
Singing: Roland Emmanuel

The booking forms for October can now be downloaded from the bookings page.

For next Easter, we are in negotiation with a number of tutors and we will announce their names in due course. However, we are pleased to announce those already confirmed and their biogs will be posted up on the website shortly.

Bluegrass banjo: Tony Trischka
Mandolin: Matt Flinner
Old-time banjo: Bob Carlin
Old-time fiddle: Jock Tildesley
Beginners: Eleanor Cross (fiddle), Dan Norton (mandolin), Guy Rogers (banjo), and an additional beginners tutor for guitar.

We will certainly repeat the 'Basic music theory' classes, which were a great success, and Peter Earle will be perfecting the content and presentation for next year.

Do make a note: Sore Fingers Week 2011 runs the week BEFORE Easter this time as it falls so late in the month of April. Don’t get caught out!

More news as soon as we have it. Information and booking forms here. In the meantime, we look forward to meeting you at festivals throughout the summer season.

The Captain and Cruella (John and Moira)

BIB editor's note: At least five of the 250 students at Sore Fingers Week 2010 were from Ireland.

Sharon Cort Band tour: UPDATES

Sharon Cort

Thanks to Derek Lockhart of Dangem Bluegrass Banjo of Craigavon, Co. Armagh, for the news that Adele Ingram-Magee of One-A-Chord Music Promotions and Wookalily (Adele comes to the monthly Dangem bluegrass get-togethers at Lisburn) is hosting the Sharon Cort Band from Nashville in the Shed, Killyleagh, Co. Down, on Monday 31 May. NB: This is a house concert, and admission is by invitation only.

Update 7 May: Roger Ryan of the Country Music Association of Ireland, who is organising the tour, reports that the Sharon Cort Band will be playing in Colfer's, Carrig-on-Bannow, on Monday 24 May. Thursday 27 May is still open. If you can offer or suggest a booking for the band for the 27th, contact Roger by e-mail.

The Sharon Cort Band (Sean McKerr (Ireland), bass; Tom Corbett (USA), mandolin; Jean Marie Redon (France), banjo; plus fiddler Aaron Till (USA) on a few dates) will be in Europe for a month, beginning with the European World of Bluegrass Festival in the Netherlands (13-15 May), and including several country music festivals in France.

Update 10 May: The SCB's full European schedule can be seen on the European Bluegrass Blog. All the Irish dates from the schedule are on the BIB calendar.

Flatpicking Guitar Magazine e-newsletter

Thanks to Cathal Cusack for drawing our attention to the latest e-newsletter from Flatpicking Guitar Magazine. The main news item is the publication of Still inside: the Tony Rice story (of which you may already have seen news on the original Bluegrass Blog).

In connection with the book's appearance, the May/June 2010 issue of FGM includes two arrangements of 'Salt Creek' in Tony Rice style, one for beginners and one for more advanced players. This is available as a free flatpicking lesson through the e-newsletter, the whole of which can be read here.

Greystones Americana & Roots Weekend, 4-6 June 2010

The first Greystones Americana & Roots Weekend will be held on 4-6 June 2010, among the sea breezes of Greystones, Co. Wicklow. We can't describe the Weekend better than its own website has done:

Our Mission: To bring great American-style music to everybody.

The idea came from Conor O’Donnell about 5 years ago. He plays in a roots/heavy bluegrass/country band called The Big Muddy. Conor has played evey year in Portland, Oregon. The music there is lively, earthy Americana. So he was hoping to bring a taste of what he saw there, here. There are awesome bands there like the Old Yellers and Lewi Longmire. So Terry Cullen of the Beach House in Greystones came on board and we said we have to do this.

So this year we are going to put on a fun, chilled American music weekend for all the family.

We have the awesome Niall Toner, I Draw Slow, and many more. We want Granny and Grandkids to come grab a burger and relax and enjoy the great artists we have lined up. We have Bluegrass, Alt/Country, Folk, and Blues. It’s an all-day event Saturday and Sunday. With a washboard masterclass on the Sunday. (jaysus you’d have to) for the kids we have bouncy castles and a rodeo bull!

And the best part is that all the music is FREE!

You’d be mad to miss it cus everybody will be talking about it. See you all there.

The Weekend website includes a full programme with performance times, details and photos of all artists taking part, and a location map. Thanks to Conor O'Donnell for the news, and the event!

'65s for Burma' poster issued

Thanks to Niall Toner for forwarding this message from Keith Donald on the '65s for Burma' concert on 19 June, in which the NTB are taking part (see the BIB post of 17 February 2010):

Dear 65s and others,

Thought you might like to see the artwork for the poster [left]. It will be up on fifty sites in Dublin from next weekend. It would be great if you could encourage friends and colleagues to circulate it or print it off and put it in their workplaces or ??, as not only will it help ticket sales but it will also publicise a chronic injustice.

County Line (USA) tour in Ireland, 20-30 May 2010

County Line, from Carbondale, Illinois, will begin a ten-day tour of the West of Ireland and the Dublin area later this month. Here's the band's bio:

County Line was born in the heartland of America. What was intended to be a pick-up gig of local talent in southern Illinois on a moon-filled Tuesday night in 2006 became a long-lasting musical friendship that surpassed rudimentary expectation. The energy and originality of the trio - with its triple threat of vocalists and soloing showmanship - was evident from note one. County Line blends the talents of Tim Whiteford (guitar), Jon Beck (mandolin, fiddle), and Sam West (double bass): each taking turns on harmony and lead, each sharing in a common goal of quality and expressiveness.

The sound: a stew of bluegrass, acoustic blues, and Americana. The trio spills across the spectrum: traditional bluegrass (from Bill Monroe to Ricky Skaggs), novelty and American classics (from Jerry Lewis to Lionel Ritchie), and eclectic originals by West and Whiteford.

The creative conglomeration comes from each player's distinctive discipline. All three members arrive together through engaging musical backgrounds: Tim Whiteford with reggae roots (the Rum Runners) and country concoctions Bosco & Whiteford (recently taking part in the nationally televised program 'Can you duet'), Sam West with funk foundation (Sam West Trio), and solo singer/songwriter campaigns, and Jon Beck sidelining bluegrass group the Whistle Pigs, as well as other impressive regional Illinois acts.

Dynamic, soulful, unique and true to their roots - County Line is sure to keep people dancing and romancing for years to come.

County Line releases their new album Jackson this May - including ten fresh, original songs. Pick one up at their live performances.

And here's the schedule:

Thurs. 20 May O’Shea's Merchant Pub, Merchant Quay, Dublin city, 8.00 p.m.
Fri. 21 May Penny Hill Pub, Lucan, Co. Dublin, 9.00 p.m.
Sat. 22 May The Courtyard Hotel, Leixlip, Co. Kildare, 9.00 p.m.
Sun. 23 May O’Shea's Merchant Pub, Merchant Quay, Dublin city, 10.00 p.m.
Wed. 26 May Gallagher’s Pub, Kilkishen, Co. Clare, 9.00 p.m.
Fri. 28 May Castlebar Tennis Club, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, 8.00 p.m.
Sat. 29 May Geraghty’s Pub, Westport, Co. Mayo, 9.00 p.m.
Sun. 30 May Mannion’s Pub, Balla, Co. Mayo, 7.00 p.m.

The band are on Facebook and MySpace. Thanks to Sam West for the information, and to Alanna Ní Mhíocháin for organising the tour.

Floods in central Tennessee

Ireland knows what flooding means, so there will be much sympathy for the people of the Southern states, where the Cumberland river has risen and flooded large areas. According to one source, at least 28 people have died in three states, and the areas affected in central Tennessee include downtown Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry, as well as the pleasant and historic town of Franklin. See the details on today's Bluegrass Blog.

An earlier post on the BB mentions Ashby Frank (last here on tour with the Special Consensus sixteen months ago) as one of the many bluegrass people affected by the floods. Ashby's house was severely damaged while he was out on the road.

Whistlepig news - and mandolin lessons

Fred Keller (left), mandolinist with the Whistlepigs String Band of Minnesota, was in Ireland last autumn with his wife Missy, seeing, hearing, and making a good deal of music, mostly in the west - at the first Balla Bluegrass Festival, among other events. Fred sends some welcome news, including good work by the Whistlepigs:

My band's been playing some: a mid-winter festival at a hotel in Minneapolis was a highlight. We didn't play; we ran the Grass Seeds Kids Academy. We taught some 40 kids of varying degrees of proficiency a whole lot of bluegrass in three short days. We've done it once before and it is one of the most rewarding musical experiences you can imagine. Seeing a young person go from looking like a deer in the headlights to playing a newly learned song on stage in front of an audience is pure magic...

Fred is also working up a solo career: he has developed a body of work for solo mandolin (some bluegrass, old-time, originals, and string-band blues), and is scheduling gigs and working on promotional materials - website, recordings, pictures, etc. He is now giving lessons over the internet.

... I have been taking students via webcam. If you have a good internet connection, a reasonably fast computer, a webcam, and Skype, you're all ready to take lessons. My specialties are Monroe-style bluegrass, old-time, pre-war string-band blues/ragtime... My YouTube site has some examples of my playing and my teaching. The lessons I post to YouTube merely enhance the webcam experience. The primary lesson is an in-person, live, one-on-one webcam lesson.

Contact Fred via his website, where there is a starter page for lessons, or by e-mail. The mandolin in the picture is his 2004 Brentrup 23V Maestro Model.

A week in Hogwirtz

Photo: UKBluegrass.com

So it was with a thousand pentatonic tunes in my head, the warmth of new friendships in my heart, and yes, sore fingers, that I betook myself back to the station for the train to another world where hippogriffs and bluegrass are still not commonplace.

With these words Roger Jackson ends his memories of being a student at Sore Fingers Week 2010, held at Kingham Hill School in Oxfordshire, England. His full account can be read here.