Open mic sessions at Omagh, Sat. 4 Sept. 2010

Thanks to Sharon Loughrin for drawing attention to the fact that the Ulster American Folk Park has a Facebook site - and that this has a special message for pickers coming to the Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival at the Park this coming weekend. On 19 and 20 August Richard Hurst, the Festival organiser, announced:

So many musicians want to play at the Festival each year, so in an effort to recognise the passion and commitment that is out there: festival lovers who like to play bluegrass and old-time music have the opportunity to perform in the unique setting of the Pennsylvania Barn on the Saturday afternoon of the Bluegrass in the Park sessions.

Aspiring musicians who want to fill a 30-minute slot in the Barn, entertain the crowds, and maybe impress the festival organisers, should jump at the chance to show us what you can do! Booking in advance is not necessary as places will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis. Call +44 (0) 28 8225 6307 if you need further information.

The open mic sessions are scheduled to begin at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday 4 September. NB: on 25 August it was announced that there are still a few places left, so anyone who wants to take part should call the above number as soon as possible.

Keep up with the KPs on Facebook

Omagh's own, Dunmore East's adopted sons, and the Irish bluegrass scene's best-kept secrets - the Knotty Pine String Band have so far been successful in keeping their activities hidden from the BIB.

However, last Sunday Declan O'Kane (far right in the above photo, which was the cover image on their Old home place album) fell into our hands, and under interrogation revealed that the band are now accessible on Facebook. So now there is at least a means of finding out when they do the odd thing such as touring the USA (see the picture below, taken at Lake Tahoe on their tour last year).

Band applications for EWOB 2011

Thanks to our friends in the EBMA and on the organising committee of the European World of Bluegrass [EWOB] Festival in Voorthuizen, NL, for the news that the 14th EWOB Festival will be held from Thursday 2 June to Saturday 4 June 2011 at 't Trefpunt, Voorthuizen. Forty-two bands will appear over the three days, and one will become the next #1 European Bluegrass Band.

Bands wishing to take part can post in their applications from 20 September to the deadline of 1 December 2010. Information on applying is here, where you can download a printable application form. You should also read the FAQ page for musicians and bands, and the explanation of the voting and awards system.

Find the EWOB Festival on Facebook.

Southern Welfare: forthcoming gigs

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

Southern Welfare are playing on the opening night (Friday 22 October) in Mannion's Pub, Balla, Co. Mayo, for the Bluegrass Weekend.

Also we have another picking session to add to the weekly calendar: in Kitty Kiernan's, Barrack Street, Waterford city, every Wednesday night at 9.00 p.m.

Bending the Strings at Dunmore East

On the main outdoor stage at the Haven Hotel

Thanks to BTS for this report:

Bending the Strings just completed their debut at the Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival last weekend, and it was a very successful trip for them. The festival crowds gave the band a great reception, and their high energy set of up-tempo bluegrass banjo breakdowns and guitar and keyboard fiddle tunes went a treat with the very large crowds attending the Festival.

The band's new album All keyed up was very well received by the Dunmore East Festival crowds also, and the tracks which have been getting a lot of airplay on RTE Radio 1 - namely the title track 'All keyed up' and the U2 cover 'Still haven't found' - went particularly well and were very popular and requested by the Bluegrass Festival followers.

Bending the Strings played five gigs in the three-day event as well as numerous jam sessions, so a lot of bluegrass was played over the weekend.

The band would like to take the opportunity to thank Mick Daly and all the Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival organisers for inviting them to take part in this very well organised event, also the trojan work done by all the sound engineers who provided all the bands with excellent sound, and finally all the cafes, restaurants, and hotels who provided first-class service to the bands and festival-goers. Roll on next year!

On stage at Azzurro at the Ship

'Roots Freeway' banjo competition: the winners

The 'Roots Freeway' team report:

On the final 'Roots Freeway' in the current series on RTE Radio One on Saturday night, Niall Toner announced the winners of the banjo competition. The 5-string banjo was won by Jimmy O'Regan of Tralee, Co. Kerry, and the tenor banjo was won by Pamela Williams of Tallaght in Dublin. There was an absolutely humongous amount of correct answers, and the judges had a fearsome task in choosing winners. A panel comprising presenter Dave Fanning, Head of Radio Ana Leddy, and producer Aidan Butler, made the final decision. These handmade Clareen banjos will be presented to the winners on the Friday night of the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival which runs from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 September.

Our sincere thanks goes out to all those who went to the trouble of researching the answers and entering our competition, and, of course, also to Tom Cussen of Clareen banjos in Clarinbridge, Co. Galway, for his generous contribution of the two wonderful instruments. 'Roots Freeway', presented by Niall Toner, will return to RTE Radio One with a new series on 4 December 2010.

Westport flying the bluegrass flag

Westport’s reputation as a bluegrass hub continues to grow, thanks in large part to the tireless efforts of Uri Kohen of Electric Cave Production. Uri organises the Westport Bluegrass Festival every year, as well as a host of top-class free gigs in Geraghty’s Pub on the Octagon year round.

Those are the opening words of 'Westport flying the bluegrass flag', Ciara Moynihan's recent article in the Mayo News earlier this week. The article continues:

Westport Bluegrass Festival regular, local musician Tim Rogers (originally from New England, USA) is heading north to Omagh for the first weekend in September...

and ends with three detailed paragraphs on upcoming gigs which Uri has arranged: tonight's show by David Hope & the Henchmen, and during the Omagh weekend the shows by the Dust Busters old-time string band (USA) on Friday 3 Sept. and the reggae show with Natty Wailer on Saturday 4 Sept. Read the whole article here on the Mayo News website.

For songwriters

Dublin's In the Round, 4 Sept. 2010

Thanks to singer/songwriter Aisling Kavanagh (left) for news of a new Dublin event for songwriters. Although not strictly bluegrass, some of the writing presented comes from the Americana and alt.country genres, and any further such events would give opportunities for songwriters with bluegrass in mind. Aisling explains:

... After a recent trip to Nashville and seeing their 'in the round' format of gigs I thought I would gig it a try here. For those unfamiliar with the format, three to five songwriters take to the stage at the same time. Each writer plays one of their own songs, followed on by the next writer. All in all, the gig lasts one-and-a-half to two hours long, so each performer gets around five songs.

I believe this is the first of its kind in Dublin, and I would love to make it a regular thing, with the writing personnel changing at each event. The audience gets to experience new performers and new styles of music they may not have heard before, all on the one night.

Our maiden gig is on in the Cobblestone in Smithfield on 4 September, starting at 9.00 p.m. and admission is €8. The proceeds will go to the Pakistan Flood Relief Fund of Concern.

The performers on the night will be Enda Reilly, Aoife Moriarty, Pearse McGloughlin, and myself Aisling Kavanagh. Support on the night will be from Shane Regan.

More information is on the 'Dublin's In the Round' Facebook. The July tour by Ferguson, Holmes, & Henry included sessions 'in the round' with Charlie McGettigan, but no nearer to Dublin than Naul...

'Come home to bluegrass' Songwriting Contest

In an unequivocally bluegrass context, the Ohio County Tourism Commission in Rosine, KY, birthplace of the Father of Bluegrass, announces the first ever 'Come home to bluegrass' Songwriting Contest as part of a programme celebrating the centenary (13 Sept. 2011) of Bill Monroe's birth. The winner of the songwriting contest will debut his/her song at the celebration in 2011. Entries can be submitted from 13 Sept. 2010 to 13 Mar. 2011, and winners will be notified by 1 July. The rules of the contest include:

• Instrumentally and lyrically, songs must represent the traditional bluegrass style of Bill Monroe, should be between two-and-a-half and three minutes long, and should not have been published.

• No professional songwriters, contest judges, or their family members are eligible to enter. Amateurs may enter as many times as they wish, but no more than two songs per $10 entry fee are allowed.

The prizes are: 1st, $500; 2nd, $200; 3rd, $100. For more information about the contest and the whole centenary celebration programme, visit here or call +1-270-298-0036.

Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival, 23-27 Feb. 2011

The 7th annual Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival and Song Writing Convention will be held from 23 to 27 February 2011 in Belfast. All info, including videos from previous festivals, can be found on the website.

International Songwriting Competition 2010

Finally, for songwriters in all genres the International Songwriting Competition, with a galaxy of judges, offers a total of $150,000 in prizes. More details can be seen here.

Athy festival news

The Athy Bluegrass Music Association announces on its updated website:

The 20th Athy Bluegrass Music Festival was again a fantastic success, with great performances from headline band High Plains Tradition [above], and all the supporting Irish bands more than holding their own.

The Carlton Abbey Hotel has become a great home for the festival and lends itself to the pickin' sessions during the day and well into the night/morning after the concerts.

It is with renewed confidence we look forward to 2011 and hope to see all our old friends back, plus many more. Thanks for your continued support.

Next year's Athy Bluegrass Festival is scheduled for 7-10 July 2011. The full lineup will be announced in January.

Galway Americana Festival, 15-19 Sept. 2010

Thanks to Pete Lamb for welcome news of this year's Galway Americana Festival, with concerts and sessions throughout the west side of the western capital. The Festival website gives the complete schedule of times and venues, with photos, bio details, and web links for the twenty-five acts taking part over the five days (15-19 September 2010),* plus the associated lecture programme.

*In error, this post originally showed the dates as 13-19 Sept.

As usual, as much as possible of the festival has been made free of admission charges, so there is no overall festival ticket. Tickets for shows with admission charges are available directly from the venues concerned tight up to show time, but advance booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.


The lineup is headed by the legendary, award-winning Jim Rooney (shown above with Nanci Griffith and John Prine: photo by Erika Goldring). Jim has done so much that even the fine bio on the Festival website can't help omitting some of his notable contributions to bluegrass history: early picking partner of the equally legendary Bill Keith; writer of the first published biography of Bill Monroe; and - as a member of the New Blue Velvet Band - featured artist at the first Athy Bluegrass Festival in 1991.

For all other details and info, see the Festival website.

News from the Carter Brothers

Thanks to Tim Carter of the Carter Brothers (USA), longtime Longford festival favourites, who sends word to the band's many friends in Ireland:

... we will not be attending the Johnny Keenan Festival this year, but will be there next year for the 10-year anniversary. We hope to get to Ireland in the spring/summer of 2011.

Also, we have started to work on our next Carter Brothers CD, co-writing most of the tunes; we just recorded a tune we wrote, called 'Road To Roosky', one of our favorite places just outside Longford.

Joining us on the tune is the great Sam Bush playing slide resonator mandolin. It's a good blues rocker, with banjo on it of course. Sam has joined us on four tunes so far; stay tuned for some other guest artists...

Tim's solo CD, Bang bang, is available at these sites:

Tim's MySpace and CD Baby
Carter Brothers Band website, MySpace, and Fan Club

For guitarists

Thanks to Carrie Oakley for news of a post she has just added to her Online Colleges blog. It's entitled 'Novice to slash: 100 free resources for teaching yourself guitar', and lists 100 internet sources, grouped in sections: basic guitar lessons (#1-#26), lessons for intermediate and advanced guitar players (#27-#52), videos on how to play guitar (#53-77), and blogs, websites, and forums on how to play guitar (#78-100).

While BIB readers may find some of the music theory and basic technique sources helpful, none of these sources have the player of bluegrass, old-time, or even country guitar in mind - even the three or four dealing with finger-picking show 'folk' or 'parlour' guitar material. But for guitarists who find that vodka makes a significant contribution to their playing, #49 (which explains the distilling process and different types of popular vodka fusions) should be interesting. We feel, however, that a balanced list should include more for pickers who prefer beer, wine, other spirits, or mineral waters; our personal favourite can be seen here.

Bending the Strings at Dunmore East, 27-29 Aug.

Bending the Strings Honky Tonk Bluegrass Band make their debut this coming weekend at Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival from Friday 27 to Sunday 29th August. The band are looking forward to meeting all their followers and friends at the festival and hope to get some serious jamming with other musicians at the festival.

Bending the Strings have a brand new album, All keyed up, in the shops and now currently getting great airplay on our national radio station, Radio 1, and the album will be on sale at Dunmore East from a variety of sources, including from the band at their gigs.

The band have a busy gig lineup for the festival, taking in a total of five gigs in the three-day event, and their gigs are as follows:

Fri. 10.00 p.m. Ocean Hotel
Sat. 3.00 p.m. The Haven
Sat. 8.00 p.m. The Spinnaker
Sun. 5.30 p.m. Power's
Sun. 8.00 p.m. Azzuro at The Ship

The Dunmore East Festival promises to be a great bluegrass event, and Bending the Strings members Martin Cooney, Moyra Fraser, and Vinny Baker would like to wish Mick and all the organisers a very successful festival... See you all there!!!

Woodbine at Durrow on 22 August: from 8.00 p.m.

Woodbine are due to play tomorrow at one of their favourite venues, Bob's Bar in Durrow, Co. Laois; and as the announced time of starting the show has had to be amended twice because of other events, this post is just to announce that the time will be 8.00 p.m. on Sunday 22 August.

Bluegrass Blog accolade for Open House flyer

Congratulations to the Coors Light Open House Festival (which will be well under way less than three weeks from now) for the flyer for its Chilli Fest (left), which the original Bluegrass Blog has made its choice for Best Festival Flyer.

As the BB must see a great many festival flyers, this is a meaningful accolade. See the full story here.

New Caleb Klauder CD: Western country

Fans of the Foghorn Stringband and the Foghorn Duo (and there are plenty of them in Ireland) will be interested in the new solo album by Caleb Klauder, Western country. The music on it is not old-time nor bluegrass (though there's plenty of early bluegrass feeling around); it's old-fashioned hard-core country. CDBaby (where you can sample all the tracks) says: 'Recommended if you like George Jones, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson'.

Nor is this a new development: he has been playing honky-tonk music with his Country Band for years now. A YouTube video shows the Caleb Klauder Country Band doing 'Worn-out shoes' in a radio studio.

A vision of the bluegrass life

Claire Lynch's band played at Omagh last year and will be among the headliners at this year's Didmarton Bluegrass Festival (at the end of a ten-day tour in four European countries). Yesterday Claire and mandolin wizard Adam Steffey co-hosted a press conference in Nashville for the nominations for this year's IBMA awards. A full list of nominees is on the IBMA website.

Claire Lynch's own version of 'My Florida sunshine' (written by Bill Monroe and recorded by him in 1977) is nominated for the Song of the Year award. Claire's latest e-newsletter expresses her appreciation, and adds:

here's what I truly appreciate most of all: the bluegrass life, more so than any awards or chart success, is a profound source of happiness and sustenance for me and so many people I know. Bluegrass music is great music, but it is also much more than music. It's a community, a family, and for many musicians as lucky as I and my band members are, it's a livelihood and a charmed life. Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, and all of those first-generation bluegrass greats created this bluegrass life. That photo, above, with me and my bandmates sitting in the glorious sunshine, sharing our music - for me, captures the essence of the bluegrass life.

You can read the whole of the newsletter here.

NTB at Dublin Viking Festival, 21-2 Aug. 2010

Thanks to Niall Toner, who sends news of another event this coming weekend:

The Niall Toner Band play the Dublin Viking Festival this weekend at Wood Quay, in the Amphitheatre at Dublin City Council Offices behind Christ Church cathedral. NTB will do four twenty-minute spots between 12.30 and 4.30 p.m. on Saturday 21 August and Sunday 22 August.

Dick Gladney is away on vacation, and we will be joined by Kelvin Busher on string bass. Kelvin has played previously with NTB, and toured with us in the UK.

Niall Toner Music
Teach Burren, Coolasnaughta, Myshall, Co. Carlow
NTB website
'Roots Freeway'

Bending the Strings at Nutfest 2010, 21 Aug.

Above: Bending the Strings at Warrenpoint recently, with Hugo Duncan as MC. Thanks to Vinny Baker for the photo and for this news:

Bending the Strings play the Nutgrove Shopping Centre between Dundrum and Rathfarnham in south Dublin this coming Saturday (21 August) at 6.00 p.m., as part of Nutfest 2010.

The band are playing the gig as part of an ongoing promotion of their new album All keyed up, which is getting tremendous radio attention from our national station RTE Radio 1 as well as all the local stations. The album is getting steady plays from Ronan Collins and John Creedon and the Mooney Show.

The track getting a lot of media attention is the band's bluegrass version of the U2 classic 'Still haven't found what I'm lookin' for', which features the voice of Moyra Fraser and great soloing from Moyra, Martin, and Vinny. The national radio DJs seem to really like the track and the album in general, so things are really looking up for the three-piece Honky Tonk Bluegrass trio.

The Nutgrove Shopping Centre gig promises to be a great event, so make sure to catch Bending the Strings at the Nutfest, Nutgrove Shopping Centre this coming Saturday 21 August.

Dangem at the Omagh festival, 3-5 Sept. 2010

Thanks to Derek Lockhart of Dangem Quality Instruments of Craigavon, Co. Armagh, who writes:

Just a reminder - not only do you get a chance to hear all that wonderful music at the 19th Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival in Omagh from the 3rd to 5th September; you also have a chance to win a Goodtime 2 banjo.

Just purchase one of the Festival programs and fill out the form inside and pop it in the allocated box. You could be the lucky owner of a Goodtime 2 by Deering, sponsored by Dangem.

Dangem again will be attending the Festival this year with our stock of banjos, etc. So come along and see us; you can have the opportunity to try out the 2010-2011 Deering model and/or range of Gold Tone, Ashbury gear - so don’t forget to come see us.

Gillian Welch confirmed for Open House Festival, 11 Sept. 2010

Westport, Co. Mayo, must be a good place for news. Over a week ago Uri Kohen of Electric Cave Production reported that he would be going to see Gillian Welch at the Open House Festival in Belfast next month. Today the Open House announces:

We are delighted to confirm that legendary American singer-songwriter Gillian Welch will be playing as part of the band when the Dave Rawlings Machine comes to the Coors Light Open House Festival, Belfast, on Saturday 11 September. We would like to point out that this will not be a Gillian Welch solo show as such, but that 'Mrs Rawlings' will be very much an integral part of the live band. So, you have Old Crow Medicine Show, Dave Rawlings, Gillian Welch, and Joe Pug all on the same night - and all for a mere £20. And there you were thinking that the night before, which features Wilco, Felice Brothers, and Field Music was the Americana gig of the year. We think both nights are pretty darn special.

Tickets (priced £20), timings, and further info for the Dave Rawlings Machine, featuring Gillian Welch, and which takes place at the festival marquee on Saturday 11 September, are available from the Festival website.

Cedar Hill in Ireland, Sept. 2010

Thanks to Roger Ryan of the Country Music Association of Ireland, who reports:

Following their starring role at the Ulster American Folk Park on 3, 4, and 5 September, the Cedar Hill bluegrass band will play two dates in southern Ireland before moving on for some further dates in Wales. They will play at the Blackrock GAA Club, Cork, on Tuesday 7 Sept. and at Colfer's Pub, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford, on Wednesday 8 Sept.

Formed by its patriarch and mandolin player Frank Ray some forty years ago, Cedar Hill is a traditional bluegrass band made up of six accomplished musicians and singers who have stayed true to their Ozark roots. Now settled into their own in the mainstream of the national bluegrass scene, Cedar Hill has been pleasing audiences everywhere with their original, emotional, and exciting brand of traditional bluegrass music.

Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters: tour schedule, Sept. 2010

Thanks to Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters (featuring Roger Williams on dobro) for the following schedule of their dates in Ireland next month. The final date follows a series of dates in Britain, and is the last show they play on this trip before returning to New England.

Fri. 3-Sun. 5 Sept. Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival, Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone

Mon. 6 Sept. Village Arts Centre, Kilworth (near Fermoy), Co. Cork, 8.15 p.m.; booking/ inquiries tel. 087 7921771 or 087 6492514

Tues. 7 Sept. St John's Arts Centre, Listowel, Co. Kerry, 8.00 p.m.; booking/ inquiries tel. 068 22566

Wed. 8 Sept. The Market House (Malone's), Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare; 9.30 p.m.; booking/ inquiries tel. 087 6881650

Thurs. 9 Sept. Colfer's Pub, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford, 9.30 p.m.; booking/ inquiries tel. 051 561159 or 087 8200986

Tues. 28 Sept. Mary's Bar, Arklow, Co. Wicklow

Cadillac Sky to tour with Open House headliners

Cadillac Sky

On 20 July the organisers of next month's Coors Light Open House Festival in Belfast announced that the opening-night concert (6 Sept.) with Mumford & Sons (UK) had sold out its 2,000 tickets in 36 hours. A second major concert is reported as being already sold out; and if you are thinking of attending any of the other bookable events, you are advised to book as soon as possible.

We also learn that Mumford & Sons will be touring North America in October-November in a package with Cadillac Sky (photo above), currently one of the hottest younger bands on the US bluegrass scene.

BIB readers may be specially interested in the following free sessions during the Open House Festival:

Fri. 10 Sept. American session at McHugh's, 4.00-7.00 p.m.

Sat. 11 Sept. Old-time session at the John Hewitt, 3.00-6.00 p.m.

Sun. 12 Sept. Old-time session at McHugh's, 2.00-5.00 p.m.

The old-time sessions are hosted by the Ragged and Rough String Band: Ian Carmichael (banjo), Geordie McAdam (fiddle), Bernie Stocks (fiddle), Eugene 'Spooly' Kelly (guitar), and Wilson Davies (bass). For more details, see the Festival website.

A fine day for bluegrass in Dublin

Fair City Grass (l-r): Graham Nolan (fiddle), Tony Melon (bass, vocals), Enda Donnelly (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Dave Howard (guitar, vocals)

Thanks to Enda Donnelly of Fair City Grass for this report and photos of the band's show in central Dublin on 13 August:

Once again Fair City Grass was blessed with the weather in St Stephen's Green, as they played their lunchtime concert to a sun-drenched audience last Friday. People of all ages and cultures sang and danced to the familiar sounds and tunes of the band. It was a truly enjoyable gig for the band as well, as several requests for CDs were made after the show.


Two shades of grass: green on the ground, blue in the air

Pinecastle is back

Thanks to Sara Elizabeth Hetland of Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, who writes:

You wrote about the ending of Pinecastle Records in an earlier post, but the good news is that the label is back...

and sends a link to the Country Standard Time website report on the latest developments.

The revival of this major bluegrass label is good news, and deserves more attention than we've given it. BIB readers may have seen the news item that appeared on the original Bluegrass Blog on 11 August and was updated the following day. This gives all the necessary details and contact data for the new management.

As we write, a new Pinecastle website is not yet launched. The label still owns the masters for earlier Pinecastle releases (numbering nearly 250 albums) and will be reprinting them under the new management. The catalogue includes CDs by rising artists such as Kristin Scott Benson, Terry Eldredge, and Josh Williams, as well as legendary figures such as the Osborne Brothers, Jim & Jesse, and Charlie Waller & the Country Gentlemen. Irish audiences may be most familiar with the Pinecastle albums by the Special Consensus, who have toured here often since 1995 and are now signed to Compass Records.

Recordings on the internet

Thanks to Cathal Cusack for this link to an audio recording of two legendary guitarists, Clarence White and Tony Rice, duetting on 'New River train'. The date is presumably c.1970, give or take a couple of years - can anyone be more accurate? The track comes from the mp3 section of the Clarence White Forum, where there are also video clips and other material relating to White, who can be considered the first player to apply Doc Watson-style flatpicking to the bluegrass band context.

[Update 16 Aug.: see John Lawless's review on the original Bluegrass Blog of the Tony Rice biography Still inside.]

Thanks also to Sharon Loughrin for this link to a video from the Bluegrass on the Tube archives, of a Canadian band, The Bills, singing 'The old blue bridge'. NB: although the harmony singing that opens the number is close and powerful and the whole track is good to hear and would work well in bluegrass style and tempo, the overall sound is closer to cajun music. There is no banjo; there is an accordion.* And though Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, the Del McCoury Band, and Hazel Dickens are among the thirty-five influences listed on the Bills' MySpace site, the band call themselves a 'folk' or 'world music' group and don't use the B-word there or on their website.

*Henk Bloupot of the Stroatklinkers (from the Groningen province of the northern Netherlands) uses the accordion well in a bluegrass-band context.

The Dust Busters in Ireland, 2-5 Sept.

At around the same time that the Water Tower Bucket Boys from Portland, Oregon, begin playing in the north of Ireland (the Omagh and Open House festivals), another old-time string band from the other side of the USA will be playing in the west and in Dublin.

The Dust Busters from Brooklyn, NY, consist of Walker Shepard (guitar, banjo, bantar, vocals), Eli Smith (banjo, guitar, bantar, manjo, autoharp, harmonica, vocals), and Craig Judelman (fiddle, pump organ, vocals). Their MySpace site comes with glowing endorsements from people who know what they're talking about when it comes to old-time music; and they arrive here after playing in Bulgaria, and possibly Rome.

As Uri Kohen mentioned a few days ago, the Dust Busters will take part in the series of shows arranged by Electric Cave Production in Westport, Co. Mayo. Their full schedule in Ireland, as it stands at present, is:

2 Sept. 2010 The Crane Bar, Galway city, 9.00 p.m.
3 Sept. 2010 Geraghty's, the Octagon, Westport, Co. Mayo, 8.00 p.m.
5 Sept. 2010 The Cobblestone, Smithfield, Dublin, 8.30 p.m.

New jamming DVD from Acutab

Thanks to Acutab Publications for news of their latest release: the two-and-a-half-hour DVD Bluegrass jamming essentials, designed to help the picker make the essential transition to playing with others. It also serves as a course in the fundamentals of how a band works.

The artists taking part describe the basic roles of the bass, mandolin, guitar, banjo, and fiddle in the band setting, and address such crucial topics as tuning, choosing keys and tempos, proper capo use, and more. Other concepts covered include backup and fills, soloing, playing with drive, a variety of song formats, and communication within a band while playing.

They demonstrate all this using twelve bluegrass vocal and instrumental classics, each chosen to show these important concepts in a variety of keys, tempos, and styles. And for each song, they leave a spot for you to play your own break...

All the musicians will be familiar to pickers in Ireland: Bill Evans & Megan Lynch have toured here three times as a duo, while Adam Steffey, Tim Stafford, and David Thomas have played here with Alison Krauss & Union Station, Blue Highway, and Special Consensus respectively.

Full details are on the Acutab website, where a six-minute-plus video sample can also be seen.

PS: Megan Lynch, six times US national fiddle champion, won the Randall Franks Trophy at the Fiddlers' Convention at Ringgold, GA, in May 2010.

All-female combo Wookalily for Dunmore Festival: update

Thanks to Karen Cheevers of B2B Communications for this release:

Describing themselves as 'frockabilly woo-grass, putting the blues in bluegrass, the rock in rockabilly and the woo-factor into action' - music lovers will have the chance to hear Wookalily at the 16th International Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival.

The lineup for the Festival, which takes place from 27 to 29 August, includes some of the most revered names in Irish and international bluegrass including Jack Grace (aka the Martini Cowboy), Knotty Pine, Bending the Strings, Molly Hicks, and Little Ass Birds - to name but a few.

Wookalily, while new to the Dunmore festival, have been bringing their unique sound to bluegrass lovers of Northern Ireland for over a year with memorable performances at the Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival, the Ards International Guitar Festival, and the Belfast Film Festival.

The band comprises lead singer Una McCann, whose inspiration comes from a smorgasbord of musical influences including traditional Irish, rock, world music, samba, African drumming, and even a cappella; drummer Siobhan Skates; Adele Ingram-Magee on guitar and banjo; self-taught guitarist Ciara Butcher and harmonica-tootin’ Cat Smith make up the phenomenon that is Wookalily.

Mick Daly, festival organiser, is delighted to welcome Wookalily on their Dunmore East debut. 'Now in its 16th year, the festival has attracted a wonderful selection of bluegrass, roots, country, and rhythm exponents from all over the world. No matter where you travel from to experience the festival, the eclectic mix of music the Dunmore East Festival has to offer will guarantee a good time.'

'Wookalily bring a new dimension to the festival this year. Bluegrass, by its very nature, has for a long time been a principally male-dominated music genre and only in recent years have we seen the emergence of some wonderful female bluegrass artists including Molly Hicks, Sarah Grey, and Sharon Cort. Wookalily’s unique, quirky, often sad and humorous style of bluegrass is sure to put a smile on your face.'

Wookalily’s lead singer is also looking forward to the festival this year. Una McCann added: 'We have only heard good things about the festival and can’t wait to be part of it in 2010.

'The Wookalily sound mixes wildly captivating harmonies with traditional and not-so-traditional instrumentation to create our very own special blend of country rock and bluegrass with a funky twist. So for anyone travelling to Dunmore East for the Bluegrass Festival all we can say to them is "Expect the unexpected!"'

For more information about the 16th Guinness International Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival and the artists appearing (including the Jack Grace Band, Bending the Strings, Wookalily, Sharon Cort, and many more) visit the Festival website.

Mick Daly is available for interview on 051 878 832 / 087 256 2899 or e-mail. Links to band websites are here (with the addition of the Sharon Cort Band). Wookalily took part in the 'Maiden Grass' concert during last Saturday's 'Bluegrass on the Walls' event at Derry city.

Update 13 Aug.: There will be coverage of the Festival in this week's Sunday Business Post and the Sunday Tribune, along with Jack Grace's appearance on TV3 next week.

For radio presenters: Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters

Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters (USA), who rank among the cream of the New England bluegrass scene, will be in Ireland in early September as part of a tour of over three weeks in these islands. Radio presenters who would like to use their music through links to the band's albums can contact Amy by e-mail.

The band is made up of Amy Gallatin (guitar, vocals), Roger Williams (Dobro, vocals) Eric Levenson (upright bass), and J.D. Williams, mandolin. They will be playing at the Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival at Omagh, Co. Tyrone (3-5 Sept.) and elsewhere in Ireland on the four following nights, before crossing to Britain to play at nine locations there, including the Cornish Bluegrass Festival at Newquay (17-18 Sept.) and the Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival in Dumfriesshire, Scotland (24-26 Sept.), and ending with a final show in Ireland on 28 Sept. before flying home.

Sharon Cort Band: in search of gigs from 23 Aug.

Many BIB readers will have heard of the collapse of the Indie'Go World Music Festival at Fenagh, Co. Carlow, last weekend, with artists, sound people, and stage crews among the many who were left unpaid for their time and effort.

Those who are suffering from this debacle include the Sharon Cort Band (USA), for whom the festival had represented the anchor point for their current tour of Ireland, and an essential part of their income for the trip.

As a result, Sharon and the band will be glad to consider any possibilities of playing shows in the week beginning Monday 23 August, before they are due to appear at the Dunmore East Festival later in the week. If you know of, or can offer, an opening for the band, please contact Sharon by e-mail.

Southern Tenant Folk Union: new album and eight-date Irish tour, Aug.-Sept. 2010

Thanks to music media consultant Ann Marie Walsh for news of the new album by the Edinburgh-based band Southern Tenant Folk Union, The new farming scene, to be released on the Scottish label Johnny Rock Records as JOROCK 011. Distributed by Forte Music and available at iTunes/play.com/amazon, it comprises ten tracks of original material and one traditional Scots ballad, 'South Ythsie', which can be heard on the band's website.

Southern Tenant Folk Union have used this album to bring out the talent of their new members, most of whom come from the Scottish folk-music tradition, and to blend that tradition with the sound of bluegrass and old-time music. The original songs, with their 'post-apocalyptic lyrical tone', give a stark, soulful, and spirited vision of a post-technological agrarian future.

The album will be released in Ireland on Friday 27 August; directly afterwards, the SFTU will play an eight-date Irish tour starting on 29 August at the Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival, followed by concerts in Clonmel, Galway, Castlebar, Dublin, Drogheda, Omagh, and Belfast. Launch parties for the new album will be held in the Dublin and Belfast shows. The full schedule is:

Sun. 29 Aug. Guinness International Bluegrass Festival, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford. Doors 8.00 p.m. Free

Mon. 30 Aug. Clonmel World Music, Raheen House Hotel, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. Doors: 8.00 p.m. Tickets €15. Bookings: 086 3389619/087 9107201; e-mail

Tues. 31 Aug. The Crane Bar, 2 Sea Road, Galway. Doors 9.00 p.m. Tickets €12.50. Booking: 091 587419; e-mail

Wed. 1 Sept. Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. Doors: 7.30 p.m. Tickets €15/ €12 conc. Booking: 094 9023733; e-mail

Thurs. 2 Sept. The Cobblestone, 77 North King St., Smithfield, Dublin 7: album launch. Doors 8.30 p.m. Tickets €12. Booking e-mail

Sat. 4 Sept. Droichead Arts Centre, Stockwell St., Drogheda, Co. Louth. Folk music workshop 3.30 p.m., followed by concert 9.00 p.m. Booking: 041 983 3946; e-mail. Workshop & concert €25/ Advance booking (concert only) €18/ at the door €22/ conc. €16

Sun. 5 Sept. Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival, Ulster American Folk Park, 2 Mellon Road, Castletown, Omagh, Co. Tyrone. Times: between noon and 6.00 p.m. (3 x 45-minute sets). Booking: +44 (0)28 8224 3292

Mon. 6 Sept. Black Box, 18-22 Hill St., Belfast; Northern Ireland album launch, Doors: 7.30 p.m. Tickets £10. Booking: +44 (0)28 9024 4400

What the UK press said about the new album:

‘A bold concept piece' - The Independent, 4 stars

‘A convincingly seamless fusion… surging vocal harmonies riding a railroad of strings…drives along in furious breakdown style’ - The Scotsman, 4 stars

‘Let Me Wipe The Tears From Your Eyes, lovely song isn’t it? I really like the track' - Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2

‘More than simple roots-music revivalism’ - The Sunday Times

‘Absorbing third album… restrained harmonies on a series of rugged songs’ - Mojo Magazine

‘Those harmonies, especially a cappella, are glorious, and the playing is out of the top drawer too’ - The Sunday Herald

‘A smart conflation of Celtic tradition and bluegrass played with rare intuition’ - Uncut Magazine

Southern Tenant Folk Union website

Upcoming shows in Westport, Co. Mayo, Aug.-Sept. 2010

Uri Kohen and the Electric Cave Production are proud to announce the upcoming gigs in Geraghty's, Westport, for August and September 2010:

Sat. 14 Aug. will see the return of Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson (Australia & Northern Ireland) with one of the best blues shows to hit our shores.

Sat. 21 Aug. Without George, exciting and original folk act from Galway in their first appearance in Westport.

Sat. 28 Aug. David Hope & the Henchmen will return to Westport on the back of their superb show on the main stage of the 4th Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival.

Fri. 3 Sept. In the weekend that most of the readers of this blog will head over to Omagh, we will have a great old-time group from Brooklyn: the Dust Busters are bringing their unique bluegrass style to the west of Ireland.

Sat. 4 Sept. Uri will take a trip back to his musical past and will be joined on stage by the reggae ambassador Natty Wailer for DJ set and acoustic reggae show.

Sat. 18 Sept. The Molly Hicks make the short trip back from Galway to Westport after they received a standing ovation in their show during the festival.

Fri. 24 Sept. Mad Uncle Harry, one of the best bluegrass acts on the road these days, will return to Westport to the venue which welcomes them with open arms.

Sat. 25 Sept. Tupelo, Dublin-based rhythm and roots band, will show case their talent to the people of Westport.

All gigs will start around 9.45 p.m. and are free to the public.

On Sat. 11 Sept. there will be no gigs as Uri is making his way to Belfast to see the David Rawlings Machine with the wonderful Gillian Welch. I hope to see all of you up there and in Westport for all our great gigs.

BIB editor's note: The latest issue of the magnificent Fretboard Journal includes an article by Marc Greilsamer on David Rawlings and his 1935 Epiphone Olympic, not to mention features on Jethro Burns, Huss & Dalton, and much more.

NTB at St Enda's, Dublin, 2 August 2010

Why are these men smiling? Thanks to Niall Toner for news of the Niall Toner Band's show in the idyllic setting of St Enda's (the Hermitage), Rathfarnham, Dublin, on Monday 2 August:

... It was a great success, with the biggest crowd we have ever drawn to that venue. The sun was shining, and as you can see from the attached photo, we had a really good time. My thanks to Anne Marie Farrell, a member of the audience, for the photo.

Niall Toner Music
Teach Burren
Coolasnaughta
Myshall
Co. Carlow
Niall Toner Band
Roots Freeway

Southern Welfare at Bunmahon, 15 Aug. 2010

Thanks to Ray O'Brien of Waterford's resident bluegrass band Southern Welfare, who reports:

Southern Welfare will be kick-starting their summer in the run-up to the Dunmore East bluegrass festival with an outdoor gig with barbecue next Sunday (15 August) in Hayes' bar, Bunmahon, Co. Waterford. It's set to be a cracker - the bar is set in a lovely quiet seaside village about 20 minutes drive from Waterford city, the gig kicks off at 5.00 p.m., so - if ya want some good food and a bit of bluegrass mixed in - drop in next Sunday afternoon. Hope to see ye all there!

NB: Southern Welfare have an album of 41 photos on their website, taken at the Friday night concert of the recent Athy bluegrass festival.

Tom Hanway to play on Sharon Cort Band tour

Thanks to Tom Hanway for news: Tom is playing banjo in the Sharon Cort Band during their current tour of Ireland (see the schedule on the BIB of 5 August).

Tom also sends playlist #071e from Bob Mitchell's 'Best of Bluegrass' radio show on Radio Bluegrass International. This programme - recorded on 20 June 2009 at WFPK-FM 91.9, Louisville, KY - was first aired a year ago and is being rebroadcast in 2010 to celebrate the month of August, including historical trivia about the month and featuring music from many artists who were born in August.

1) Jimmy Martin: Sunny Side of the Mountain / # 11 / CMH / Songs of a Free Born Man
2) Ralph Stanley: Stone Walls and Steel Bars / DISC # 2 Track # 6 / Rebel / Clinch Mountain Country
3) Jeff White: Cold Cold Heart / # 1 / Rounder / The White Album
4) Jeanette Williams: Mountain Way Of Life / # 12 / Blue Circle Records / Too Blue
5) Big Country Bluegrass: Hicker Nut Ridge / # 3 / Hey Holler / On Fire
6) Steve Dilling: Nashville Blues / # 6 / Independent Release / Cuppa Jo – The Huber Banjo Sessions Vol. 2
7) Ralph Stanley II: We’ll Be Sweethearts in Heaven / # 2 / Rebel / Stanley Blues
8) Ron Spears: Grandpa Loved The Carolina Mountains / Disc # 1 = # 2 / Copper Creek Records / Gold Rush at Copper Creek
9) Michelle Cupit: There’s A Healer in This House / # 12 / Independent Release / Bluegrass Baby
10) Cedar Hill: Love Gone Cold / # 4 / Independent / Poverty Row
11) Beth Stevens & Edge: New Home / # 2 / Pinecastle / Strong Enough
12) J.D. Crowe: J’s Tune / # 5 / Rounder / Come On Down To My World
13) Early Grass Revival: Getting Slow / # 22 / Strictly Country Records / European World of Bluegrass: 2000 {Czech Republic}
14) Karen Lynne: There is a Reason / # 6 / Shoestring / Changes {Australia}
15) Tom Hanway: Horizon Hornpipe / # 7 / Joyous Gard / Tom Hanway and Blue Horizon {Ireland}
16) Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road: Carolina Hurricaine / # 12 / Blue Circle / Carolina Road
17) Bill Monroe: I’m On My Way Back To Old Kentucky / # 10 / Universal Music / 36 All Time Favorites (Disc 2)
17a) August 2001 PSA: Bill Monroe’s Home Place / # 8 / Prime Cuts # 53
18) Audie Blaylock & Redline: Lonesome Weary Heart / # 4 / Rural Rhythm / Self Titled
19) The Grasscals: Keep On Walking / # 10 / Rounder / Keep On Walking
20) Dale Ann Bradley: Heaven / # 4 / Compass / Don't Turn Your Back
21) Del McCoury: I Feel The Blues Moving In / # 1 / McCoury Music / By Request
22) Alison Brown: Leaving Cottondale / # 2 / Vanguard / Simple Pleasures
23) The Stanley Brothers: Darling Do You Know Who Loves You / # 7 / Columbia / The Stanley Brothers: An Evening Long Ago (1956)
24) Gina Britt Tew: You Can’t Do Wrong and Get By / # 13 / Independent Release / Doing All I Can
25) Boys From Indiana: These Memories of Mine / # 5 / Rebel / Good Time Blues
26) Flatt & Scruggs: Blue Ridge Mountain Home / # 8 / Columbia / Foggy Mountain Jamboree
27) Blueridge: Avalanche / # 5 / Sugar Hill / Side By Side
28) Waterflow: After Last Night / # 8 / Sabik / Self Titled (Czech & Slovak Republics)
29) James Alan Shelton: Angeline The Baker / Track # 7 DISC #2 / Copper Creek Records / Blockbuster Bluegrass
30) Gary Ferguson: Hot Day In August / # 2 / Webco / I'm Really Leaving
31) Mark O’Connor: Granny White Special / # 6 / Warner Brothers / The New Nashville Cats
31) Jimmie Rogers: Jimmie’s Texas Blues / # 11 Disc B / JSP Records / Classic Sides
32) Charlie Poole and the NC Ramblers: Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down / DISC # 1 Track # 2 / Columbia Legacy / Can’t You Hear Me Calling Bluegrass: 80 Years of American Music
33) Mac Martin & The Dixie Travelers: Goin’ Down The Country / # 1 / Rural
Rhythm / Top Picks and Hot Licks (31 Bluegrass Favorites)
34) Larry Sparks: A Little Ways Down The Road / # 3 / Rebel / Travelin’

Radio Bluegrass International is a service of the International Bluegrass Music Museum.

News from La Roche 2010 - and coming Irish festivals

Chris Keenan of the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival recently got back from this year's La Roche Bluegrass Festival at La Roche-sur-Foron, Haute Savoie, France, where she was one of the panel of judges for the band contest section of the festival.

The three top bands were all Czech, underlining the position of the Czech and Slovak Republics as the powerhouse of bluegrass in Europe. The #1 award went to G-Runs 'n Roses (photo above by Lilly Pavlak). Earlier this year, this band won the title of #1 European Bluegrass Band at the European World of Bluegrass [EWOB] Festival 2010 in the Netherlands, where they also won the #3 Audience Popularity Award.

At EWOB 2009, the #1 Audience Popularity Award was won by Blackjack, who came second after G-Runs 'n Roses in the La Roche 2010 contest. Bluegrass enthusiasts in Ireland can look forward to a real treat when Blackjack play at the Omagh festival four weeks from now; they're a tight, hard-driving band with excellent choice of material, as is shown from their albums. The photo above was taken in February this year, when they were chosen to give a special concert during the 2nd European Bluegrass Summit in Bühl, Germany.

Enthusiastic reports on the BIB about the 2009 La Roche festival can be seen here and here.

Critters session in Cork every Monday

The Cork bluegrass and old-time scene continues to produce an inexhaustible stream of fine musicians and bands. Thanks to Eileen Healy of the Critters for news of the band's regular session on Monday evenings in the LV bar, MacCurtain Street, Cork city.

The Critters are Yvonne Leahy (fiddle), Eileen Healy (vocal/fiddle/cheese grater), Pete Hull (mandolin, vocal), James Dilkes (guitar, vocal), and James O'Sullivan (double bass). Their sound combines old-time and gospel with the music of eastern Europe - listen to the 'Hungarian set' and other audio tracks on their MySpace site.

For the benefit of instrument enthusiasts, we asked Eileen about her cheese grater. She replies:

It's a 1950s retro aluminium model with red handle and alternative grating holes for different effects. I use a steel dessert spoon I inherited from my granny to create that special subtle sound. I use a Fishman C-100 pickup on stage. It's a very difficult instrument to master, and now everyone wants to try it - in fact I've been asked to give workshops on how to get the most out of your cheese grater.

Festival organisers - take note.

Bending the Strings - All keyed up on BBC Radio Ulster

Thanks to Bending the Strings, who report:

Tuesday 3 August saw Bending the Strings doing the BBC Radio Ulster Hugo Duncan show as part of promoting their latest album, All keyed up. The album has been getting tremendous attention from BBC Northern Ireland radio, with the band's self-penned and title track, 'All keyed up', getting the majority of the airplay on the Ulster station.

The very popular BBC radio DJ Hugo Duncan is a huge fan of the album and has been playing the title track every day on his show, and when he did his annual outdoor radio extravaganza from Warrenpoint last Tuesday he wanted his listeners to see and hear, live, the band he has been telling his audience for the last few weeks, and Bending the Strings did not disappoint. They opened and closed the show and went down a storm with Hugo's audience. Martin Cooney, Moyra Fraser, and Vinny Baker were on hand to meet the Hugo Duncan listeners and sign their albums and photos for the large crowd.

The new album, All keyed up, is making great strides on the national airwaves also with track 2, Bending the Strings' own take on the U2 song 'Still haven't found what I'm looking for', getting plenty of plays on the John Creedon Show, with John Creedon expressing his love of the entire album, saying that he will be playing a lot more of it in the coming weeks.

So things are looking very promising for Bending the Strings and their honky-tonk bluegrass album All keyed up, and they are continuing their run of gigs in St Enda's park, Rathfarnham, Dublin, this coming Sunday 8 August at 3.00 p.m. It's always a great gig and if you are around, go and have a listen to Bending the Strings; you will have a great time in these lovely surroundings of St Enda's and will hear some of the best bluegrass and western swing music ever!

Sharon Cort Band tour schedule, 8-27 Aug. 2010

Thanks to Sharon Cort for the following provisional schedule of dates for the Sharon Cort Band's second 2010 tour of Ireland. More dates in the North are expected, and will appear very soon on the BIB.

8 Aug.: Indie'Go World Music Festival, Fenagh, Co. Carlow
10 Aug.: Colfer's Pub, Carrig-on-Barrow, Co. Wexford
11 Aug.: Rockies Club, Blackrock, Cork
13 Aug.: Corrigan's Kitchen, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan
15 Aug.: Private event, Cork
18 Aug.: Jackson's Hotel, Ballybofey,* Co. Donegal
19 Aug.: Jackson's Hotel, Ballybofey,* Co. Donegal
20 Aug.: Jackson's Hotel, Ballybofey,* Co. Donegal
21 Aug.: Co. Donegal (TBD)
22 Aug.: House concert, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone (TBC)
27 Aug.: 16th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford

* not Kilkenny, Co. Donegal, as earlier stated on this post

Sharon is managed by Terry Harkleroad and can be contacted c/o Rose Records, Mitero Entertainment, PO Box 50662, Nashville, TN 37205 USA; 'phone +1 888-301-3529. She is also on MySpace and Facebook.