'Listen to the jingle, hear the rumble and the roar' - Woodbine at Stradbally Steam Rally

'Hear the mighty rush of engines' - what the Rally is all about

The BIB editor reports:

Woodbine's promo picture is on the Irish Steam Preservation Society's website. We played two three-hour slots during the 46th National Stradbally Steam Rally - one on Sunday 1 August and one on Monday - and 'Black smoke a-rising, and it surely is a train' (from 'Long journey home') was as close as we got to the main theme of the occasion. It was appropriate enough: plenty of black smoke was rising from the main arena, and the steam railway audibly ran a few yards behind our stage. Next time, we must have John Hartford's 'Steam-powered aereo-plain' in the repertoire...

Thanks to Patrick Simpson of the Bluestack Mountain Boys for these photos; Patrick was present on Monday, and writes:

What an excellent day-out. The Steam Railway is a great ride and worth the fare for anyone thinking of blowing off a little steam! Woodbine sounded brilliant, a perfect act in an ideal setting. Maybe next year we could try to get a few more bluegrass bands to play there? Anyway, thanks for the steamy music and the threshin'.

Woodbine in 'Dress: casual' order