Wanted: a bluegrass band in the midlands

John Cassin on bass at the Sunday midday jam in Clancy's at Bruff, 3 Oct. 2010 (from a photo on the Bruff festival blog)

Bassist John Cassin and his fiddling partner Toni Sheridan have been making their mark in jams at bluegrass events in Ireland during the 2010 festival season; and at the 2nd Bruff Bluegrass Festival at the beginning of this month, John was right in the centre of things, doing an impeccable job as bass player for the Waterford band Southern Welfare throughout the weekend.

John himself is based in the midlands, and would be glad to know whether anyone is thinking of forming a bluegrass band in that region. In our view, good upright-bass players who can sing lead on the bluegrass standards are worth their weight in platinum; and anyone in the midlands with plans for playing bluegrass would be well advised to send John an e-mail.

Bruff postscript: Last Tuesday the Bruff blog added a long report on the festival by visitor David Lennon; and here's an atmospheric photo of the Bluestack Mountain Boys on stage at Clancy's: