Little Ass Birds at the Cobblestone, Dublin, 18 June 2010

Thanks to Charleen Hurtubise (on right, above) of the Little Ass Birds for this news:

LITTLE ASS BIRDS LIVE AT THE COBBLESTONE: IT'S OUR BIG AMERICAN SEND OFF...
Some of our folks will be spending the summer roaming the Great State of Michigan in an RV camper van, in search of Great American Bluegrass, Old-Time Music, and Beer. These kids got class! Come send them off in Style on Friday 18 June at the Cobblestone in Smithfield. Cowboy Boots Optional.

The above photo, from Orla Keeshan, comes from a previous show by the LAB at the Cobblestone. Charleen adds:

On the heels of the Americana & Roots Festival in Greystones and the Taste of Dublin last weekend, LABs have a big gig coming up at the Cobblestone on 18 June... I'm going off for a few weeks to hang out with the home folk and to attend a few festivals: namely the great Blissfest in Michigan. Conor and I plan to regroup with some old-timers there for a few weeks and play some music on-stage and off a few front porches as well, before he heads back to Ireland to join the band for some great Irish festivals: Festival of World Cultures (23-5 July) in Dun Laoghaire and Knockanstockan in Wicklow.

Being from the good ole USA originally, I am always on the lookout for music that makes me feel at home (or homesick, should I say?). We recently stopped in on the Tin Box Company in Knocklyon Inn. Is it possible to say how authentic and genuine I find their sessions? They are so laid back, mellow, and the music they play sends a buzz up and down my spine. They are incredibly welcoming and always encourage any visitors who stop in. I know there are many sessions like this throughout the country, but unfortunately we don't have much opportunity to get to them - so I feel fortunate we have had the chance to get into see them a few times here and there. We brought a few friends to the last session - they felt it was a real back-country Americana find hidden away in suburban Dublin!

For more details of the Tin Box Company session every Thursday evening in Knocklyon, enter 'Knocklyon' in the search slot at the top of the BIB, or see - for instance - the BIB for 9 March 2009.