The Wranglers at the Patriots Inn, Kilmainham, Wed. 14 Sept. 2011

Thanks to Anthony Mannion for the news that a new bluegrass band, the Wranglers, will be playing in The Patriots Inn, Kilmainham, Dublin, on Wednesday 14 September. Anthony adds:

They specialise in traditional bluegrass as well as modern songs by Levon Helm, David Rawlings, Steve Earle, etc. It's free in, and has a nice mix of bass, guitar, and dobro with three singers.

The Patriots Inn has a fascinating past of its own, and it's good to be able to include this historic spot in the future of bluegrass music in Ireland.

NTB to provide 'Music under the mountain' at Croc an Oir

Thanks to John Bermingham, co-host with his wife Monika of the acclaimed venue Croc an Oir (above), in an idyllic setting, warmly mentioned on the BIB by Colin Henry in the 19 July 2010 instalment of his chronicle of last year's tour by Ferguson, Holmes, & Henry. John writes:

Greetings from Croc an Oir (the crock of gold) Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary. I often dip in and out of the Blog and always enjoy reading about the various happenings in the bluegrass world.

Our venue is a converted barn beside the old farmhouse where I was born. It was at various times a tailor's workshop, a potato store, and a cattle shed. It now pulses to a different beat every month when we hold concerts with some leading musicians from many genres.

Next up on Thursday 8 September we have the Niall Toner Band here in concert. It should be a great night's music in a unique setting at the foot of Sliabh na Mban. To get a better idea of the place have a look at our website.

Croc an Oir
Ballycullen
Mullinahone
Co. Tipperary
Ireland
Tel. +353 52 9153117

Tupelo to play Croke Park on Saturday

Thanks to Kevin Duffy of the Dublin-based folk/roots/rock band Tupelo for the good news that the band are to play at the half-time interval during Sunday's All-Ireland Hurling Final in Croke Park. They're quoted on the 'Music news' page of the RTE website as saying:

We're really looking forward to playing at Croker and we have no fear of playing in front of 80,000 people because we have put years into getting to this stage and we intend to grab it with both hands. There are not many bands who have the opportunity to play their own songs in front of so many people so we will enjoy it and make the most of it!

Tupelo's debut album, Dirty money, will be released on Friday 23 September (see also the BIB post of 30 July 2011).

Bending the Strings at Dunmore East

Thanks to Vinny Baker (eating the mandolin headstock in the above photo), who reports:

Bending the Strings got back from Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival, very tired and sore fingers all round, but what an enjoyable festival it was. Huge crowds attended all gigs and the town was heaving with people throughout the weekend.

I managed to catch Woodbine at the Strand on the Saturday and a large and appreciative crowd attended, despite the cold sea breeze which eventually forced us to move on.

Our first gig was in Powers Bar on Saturday night, and a large number of our usual followers were in attendance; next we played the Spinnaker bar and marquee at 3.30 p.m. on Sunday, and again a large crowd attended. Finally we played the Ocean Hotel on Sunday night, and a huge crowd attended and proved to be a great windup to Bending the Strings' stint in Dunmore East.

On Sunday, previous to our gig in the Ocean we had a visit from Hugh and John from the Well Enough Alone band and we had a short picking session with John on mandolin, Hugh on guitar, Martin on banjo, and myself on Hugh's lovely Martin D-16. The only problem was lack of time. Meanwhile Gerry Madden arrived back from a fishing expedition down on the rocks, with a bag of fresh mackerel, so we dined on the cheap that night.

We would like to extend our sincere and grateful thanks to Mick Daly and all the organisers of the Dunmore East festival; we wish the festival continued success; and Bending the Strings would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who travelled long journeys to come and see us at our gigs and all our good friends who we met at the festival.

From Bending the Strings - Moyra, Martin, Gerry and Vinny - a big 'thank you' to you all.

Down and Out Bluegrass Band at the Barn at Omagh festival

Thanks to Dangem Quality Instruments of Craigavon, Co. Armagh, for this news:

Only three days left till it all kicks off, bluegrass style

The Down and Out Bluegrass Band {above] have been offered a slot at the open mike sessions on Saturday 3 Sept. and Sunday 4 Sept. at the 20th Annual Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival at the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh.

The Down and out Bluegrass Band are a strictly traditional old-time bluegrass band with no fancy frills, just straight forward country pickin' and harmony with a good hard driving style. So come along - get the feet tapping and the hands clapping. So make your way to Omagh this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (2-4 Sept. 2011).

Read the whole Dangem e-newsletter online.

News from Westport

On a personal note, Uri Kohen reports from Westport, Co. Mayo:

Last Wednesday (24/8) I was lucky enough to see an amazing show entitled 'Look at Miss Ohio', a tribute to the music of Gillian Welch. It was one of two nights: the first was in Dublin, and I travelled to the one in Galway.

First, the gig took place in the amazing surrounding of Kelly's Bar, which is a brilliant venue for such a show. On stage we saw eight fantastic musicians with great passion for music and great love of the work of Gillian Welch. The musical director of the show, New Zealander Gerry Paul, played guitar and banjo and did a very fine job recreating the sound of David Rawlings. He was joined on stage by bass player Trevor Hutchinson and fiddle player Sean Regan, which gave a strong and unique backing for the beautiful voices of three fine singers. Noriana Kennedy, Nicole Joyce, and Pauline Scanlon - all dressed in Welch's trademark dresses and high boots - seemed like they were having the time of their life while performing superb versions of all of Welch's great songs.

The lineup was completed by great Galway singer/songwriter Noelie McDonnell who sang and played guitar for most of the song, and the surprise appearance of Dutch singer Christof van der Ven, formerly of Mad Uncle Harry, whose voice was well missed on our shores since his return to Holland.

All in all it was a superb evening performed by the cream of Irish musicians and paying respect to one of the finest singers on the planet (by my own admission). I sure hope that they will get together again and we will have the chance for such an enjoyable night once again.

Uri also reports on a '100 miles an hour' show presented by his Electric Cave Production at Geraghty's in Westport:

The last show we had in Geraghty's pub was the brilliant Vincent Cross, and last night we upped the pace with Jukebox Gypsy (UK) [photo above]. The band's current Irish tour is their fifth, and it is nearly a month and a half long. The band, which was formed in Liverpool, have changed their lineup several times but never lost their quality.

The visit to Westport saw them arriving just as a four-piece band, as their singer and banjo player is currently pregnant (another bluegrass fan on the way). The four lads started the show in full-on energy and took the packed house on an amazing roller-coaster of roots, folk, and bluegrass. I heard many great reviews about them, but to see the show in my own eyes was a great experience. It was a fantastic show and as they are around the country for another while, I highly recommend all music lovers to try and catch the show.

A full schedule for the Jukebox Gypsy tour, which lasts till 18 Sept. 2011, is on the band's website.

Bending the Strings: new promo video for 'All keyed up'

Thanks to Vinny Baker of Bending the Strings for the news that the band's new promo video, 'All keyed up', based on the title track of their latest CD, has been showing live on Showcase TV (Sky channel 201) since Monday and is now also here on Youtube.

The song, which Vinny wrote specially for the CD, became a popular choice with radio DJs around the country, and the album itself was honoured in the 2010 Leinster Entertainers Awards (see the BIB of 26 Apr. 2011). The six-minute video presents the song in a comedy drama sketch about a bluegrass band whose advertisement for a mandolinist has been answered by a keyboard player. They take some convincing, but she gets the job in the end. 'A true story', as Vinny says (and BTS did get their mandolin player, too). Supporting roles are ably played by Vinny's two-year-old twin grandsons on 5-string banjos.

On a more serious note: Vinny thanks everyone who sent good wishes on this and other BTS videos, and wishes to explain why comments can no longer be posted on the band's YouTube channel. The reason is that (as happens too often on the internet) ugly, bickering, and offensive comments were also being received; and, while the band welcomes constructive criticism, these had reached a pitch at which disabling the comments facility was the only practical remedy. The BIB unreservedly sympathises with Bending the Strings in this action.

Vinny, Moyra, Martin, and Gerry thank all their friends for their continued support, and look forward to seeing them this weekend at the 17th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival in Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, where the band are scheduled to play three shows on Saturday and Sunday, as shown on the official festival schedule.

Sandy Harsch receives CMA International Broadcaster Award

The BIB sends its warm congratulations to Sandy Harsch, presenter of RTE's 'Country Time', on receiving the prestigious International Broadcaster of the Year award from the Country Music Association (CMA) of Nashville, TN. The photo above shows Sandy with country star Brad Paisley, the CMA’s current Entertainer of the Year and co-host of the CMA Awards show, at the presentation backstage at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin, where he was about to go on stage for his first show in Ireland last week.

The award honours radio broadcasters outside the USA who have made outstanding contributions toward the development of country music in their country. Sandy has worked in and around the music business in Ireland in many roles (including chief photographer, record reviewer, and interviewer for Hot Press magazine), has been a broadcaster since 1989, and has presented 'Country Time' since 1996, playing (as she once put it) 'bluegrass, old-time string-band music, Cajun, roots country, Western swing... honky-tonk, cowboy songs, hillbilly, Bakersfield, rockabilly – in fact everything from Americana to zydeco'. She is quoted:

... does anyone really deserve getting an award for doing something they absolutely love?... Country music has been a huge part of my life since I was a kid. I have been sharing this passion on air for twenty-two years and I am totally honoured that the CMA thinks I am doing a good job.

The full CMA press release can be read here. (A minor detail for historians: the trophy itself was held up in customs, so its role in the photo is being played by a digital recorder.)

Vincent Cross - till the next time

Thanks to Vincent Cross, now back in New York, who reports on his too-brief (but welcome and very active) return to Ireland during August:

We had a great time in Ireland, and met many enthusiastic patrons of the Americana arts.

Firstly, a big shout must go out to Conor O’Donnell whose passionate interest in live music led us to the Greystones Americana Festival [photo above: Vincent on stage at Greystones], our first stop on our 'tourcation'. May it long continue under his stewardship. In fact, Niall Toner was kind enough to give us a plug on RTE, Roots Freeway, which certainly pleased friends and relations no end.

Our second stop was in Galway at Neachtains, a classic venue for Irish sessions and now it appears to be entertaining Americana sessions. I was joined by two close friends, Keith Horan on drums and Tom Portman on dobro: both are remarkable players with great sensitivity. Then, we took a quick spin up to Spells Bar in Ballaghaderreen, Roscommon, and played a late set into the wee hours.

The view from the back of the crowd at Whelans

Fortune brought us from the east to west in one fell swoop, and certainly a highlight of the tour was our gig in Whelans (upstairs) on the 12th. Martin McWhorter put on a wonderful night of bluegrass and old-time and just great music. The audience came to listen and the artists served up a menu of quality music, and we were delighted to be one of the choices. I was joined by Sean McKerr on base and Tom Portman on dobro. Need I mention the quality of their musicianship? We then swung across the country, and were greeted by Uri Kohen. Uri has a dream of bringing quality music to the west, and we are behind that dream. Another great night, and many new friends were made.

Plans are in the making for a return in the summer of 2013. It seems like a long way off, but believe me it ain’t!

Vincent (centre) with Tom and Sean at Geraghty's in Westport, Co. Mayo

Your chance to win a Deering Goodtime 2 banjo - at Omagh

Two weeks ago Dangem Quality Instruments of Craigavon, Co. Armagh, sent us the news that among the many attractions of the coming 20th Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival (2-4 Sept. 2011) at Omagh, Co. Tyrone, will be the chance of winning a Goodtime 2 banjo, made in the USA by Deering. Dangem have organised a free draw for the Goodtime 2, and an entry form for the draw is in every copy of the Festival programme booklet.

Since the first news of the draw, the Ulster American Folk Park has issued more information on the Festival. Richard Hurst, visitor services manager at the Park, says:

In the past 20 years we have seen the festival go from strength to strength and in that time we have welcomed over 100,000 visitors and 1,200 musicians. The festival is now well established as one of the most important annual leisure and tourism events in the west of the province. We are thrilled to have Dailey and Vincent, currently the biggest bluegrass band in the world, as headline act for this landmark year. It’s a real coup to have them here as it’s the only venue they will play in the UK or Ireland this year.

Read more on this year's festival here.

Jim Eanes (and much more) on YouTube

Thanks to Jan Michielsen of 4 Wheel Drive (NL/D/B) for this link to the YouTube channel set up by Dennis Schut (NL). The channel includes many videos showing the great Jim Eanes (1923-95), performing or being interviewed c.1990, both in Europe and in the USA.

Jim at the time looked much the same as on the cover of his Rebel CD Classic bluegrass (above), and is shown performing both solo and with full bands. Some of the European musicians shown have since played in Ireland - Jurgen Biller with 4 Wheel Drive and Lody van Vlodrop with the Blue Grass Boogiemen (NL). Very much worth watching, despite background noise; Jim was in fine voice and chose (and wrote) good material, and what he has to say about his life in music is of great interest.

Jan also sends links to videos on his own Cheap Aldi Camera Productions channel: a reunion show by Helmut & the Hillbillies (D) in Thun, Switzerland, this year; a tribute to Ulli Sieker, mandolinist and fiddler with the Looping Brothers (D) and 4 Wheel Drive; Jurgen Biller and friends at the Banjoree 2009, 1 and 2; and 4 Wheel Drive at 'Folk in Schlosshof', shot at the beginning of July 2011. Have fun identifying the musicians from 2011 who also played with Jim Eanes twenty-one years ago!

New banjo course at Walton's, Dublin, this autumn

Thanks to Paddy Kiernan, outstanding player and experienced teacher, for this news:

I'm starting an 'Introduction to 5-string banjo' class in Walton's [Walton's New School of Music, 69 South Great George's St., Dublin 2] at the start of October. I'm doing it in a group format and it lasts for ten weeks. A link to the web page is here, and people with any questions can contact the office or e-mail me on this address.

The web page gives full details of the course - structure, content, schedule, and fee - together with more about Paddy.

Ten days left of Homespun's summer sale

Homespun, the leading producers of instructional videos for the bluegrass instruments (and others), send a reminder that their summer sale ends at the end of this month. Meanwhile, there are reductions of up to 50 per cent on items from the astounding Homespun catalogue, which can be browsed according to instructor, instrument, or style - whatever is your main focus.

Quote of the month

The two things in my life that were always treated as secrets are how to play bluegrass and how to train horses. Back when I was trying to learn bluegrass music, people who really knew how to do it treated it as the world's greatest secret. I remember watching Monroe's right hand and thought, if you want to play like Bill, you've got to do what he does. And you're going to have to build up that strength.

Ron Thomason, quoted in an article on him by Chris Stuart in the August 2011 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine (read also this interview with Ron Thomason)

Woodbine at Dunmore East 2011

Woodbine at the Ship during last year's Dunmore East festival

Woodbine (who are playing from 5.30 p.m. tomorrow, Sun. 21 Aug., at Bob's Bar, Durrow, Co. Laois) look forward to seeing their friends and fans at the 17th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival in Dunmore East, Co. Waterford. The band are scheduled to play three shows:

Sat. 27 Aug. Strand Bar, 6.30 p.m.
Sun. 28 Aug. Ocean Hotel, 3.00 p.m.; Haven Hotel, 7.00 p.m.

A copy of the full programme, with times and venues for all bands, can be seen here.

Fair City Grass in Stephen's Green, 17 Aug. 2011

Smithy, Graham, Enda, and Dave on the Green bandstand (photo: Tim Nolan)

Thanks to Enda Donnelly for news of the latest show by Fair City Grass, Dublin's senior bluegrass band:

With all the broken weather this summer, we were blessed with a beautiful sunny day again on Wednesday. People were gathered around sitting on the grass enjoying the sunshine while Dave and I set up the PA system.

Most of our set list consisted of Bill Monroe tunes & songs, to coincide with his centennial celebration. We did a takeoff on 'Big Mon' with 'In the pines' plus wind sound effects and falsetto on chorus, and were helped out by a highly amused group of French people.

Dave introduced his Martin D45, with a Gibson strap, may I add; nevertheless it made a sweet sound. Smithy made a welcome return on a Fender fretless bass with a brand new bass amp and bass bin containing six ten-inch drivers, so we could really rock the green.

Overall it was an enjoyable day except I had to struggle with a damaged tendon on the middle finger of my left hand, which will be undergoing surgery soon.

More praise for 'William Smith Monroe'

In the September 2011 issue of the UK's Maverick magazine the editor, Alan Cackett, reviews the new single commemorating the Father of Bluegrass Music, 'William Smith Monroe' (Avalon Records AVCDS-008), written and performed by Niall Toner. A short extract from the review, which gives the record four stars:

This song is a real cracker. Penned by Niall Toner, who knows Bill Monroe and his music as well as anyone. A minor masterpiece that should be played on every country music radio show in the world.

Tom Hanway reports from the USA

Stan Jay (president, Mandolin Brothers), Denise Hanway, Tom Hanway (with Stelling Tom Hanway SwallowTail) at Mandolin Brothers Ltd., Staten Island, New York With my wife Denise I’ve been touring and picking banjo from the day we landed in JFK, first at my old Manhattan jam at Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar, fifteen years old and the longest-running bluegrass session in New York City, which I founded back in the mid-nineties. This jam has spilled over to Monday nights with a beginner jam open to all. On 9 August, two days after arriving, I picked banjo at Brooklyn Bowl alongside fiddle legend Kenny Kosek (Jerry Garcia Band/Country Cooking) with Jam Stampede (formerly Zen Tricksters/Donna Jean Godchaux Band). This marked the last day of 'Jerry Garcia Week', a tribute to the legendary rock guitarist and bluegrass picker. I rocked out on bluegrass banjo, and I didn’t plug in, keeping the banjo acoustic and natural sounding. This weekend in Pennsylvania we’re celebrating my 50th birthday (one twentieth of a millennium) this Saturday, 20 August, at Hickory Fest, raising money for the American Cancer Society. My first wife Kathleen, whom I lost to cancer on 17 March 2002, was part of this wonderful bluegrass community centered in Wellsboro, PA. I’ll be playing with my old friend from Burnt Toast, Dan Shipe, joining some very hot pickers in Dan’s band, including multi-instrumentalist Billy Gilmore and possibly Sue Cunningham, who is currently battling cancer. We are praying for Sue and sending her our love. It’s at one of the most beautiful places for a bluegrass festival, Stony Fork Creek Campground, home of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, just south of Wellsboro, PA. Ireland’s own Prison Love has played this festival and gained the admiration of American bluegrass fans. On 8 and 15 August we joined up with Arcadia at Cosi, Rye, NY, playing bluegrass-jazz standards that Earl Scruggs (‘Farewell blues’) and Don Reno (‘Limehouse blues’) recorded back in the day. I built up my crossover repertoire this trip, adding ‘How high the moon’, ‘Ornithology’ and ‘Honeysuckle Rose’. Other tunes I play in this hybrid style include my original ‘Bucket of Bees’, ‘Avalon’, ‘Bye, bye blues’, ‘All of me’, ‘When you’re smiling’, ‘The world is waiting for the sunrise’, and ‘Chinatown, my Chinatown’. On 16 August I played with Arcadia at the Watercolor Café to family and good friends in my hometown of Larchmont, NY, and was joined by flatpicking guitarist Dave Bahssin and blues harmonica ace Jay Gale, who recorded with me on The Badbelly project: Hesitation blues. All this woodshedding paid off on 17 August at the American Yacht Club in Milton Point, Rye, New York, where Arcadia was asked to play a private jazz function for the Board of Trustees. We played acoustic jazz and bluegrass, and I also played some solo banjo, mainly hornpipes and the classic ‘Danny boy’ as a samba. Next weekend we’re looking forward to seeing old friends at one of the nicest festivals in Ireland, Dunmore East, where I will be playing with Belfast tunesmith and guitarist Kieran Murray (Hanway & Murray).

Greg Cahill to receive IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award

Greg Cahill, past president of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and former chairman of the IBMA board of directors, is to receive a Distinguished Achievement Award from the IBMA. Greg, whose ancestors came from Ireland, has brought his band Special Consensus to Europe many times in the thirty-six years of its existence and regularly to Ireland since 1995, and the above fine photo of him was taken by Janet Holmes of Belfast at the Athy Bluegrass Festival in 2008.

The IBMA announced today the nominations for this year's International Bluegrass Music Awards. The winners will be announced at the IBMA Awards Show on Thursday 29 Sept. 2011. The names of the 2011 inductees into the IBMA Hall of Fame - Del McCoury and George Shuffler - and of the five recipients of Distinguished Achievement Awards were also announced. In addition to Greg, the awards went to Bill Knowlton, Geoff Stelling, Roland White, and our good friend Lilly Pavlak, EBMA member and one of the truly central figures of the bluegrass scene in Europe.

The BIB sends congratulations to Greg on this great news. His award will be presented at the special awards luncheon on 29 Sept. The IBMA's press releases, including the full citations for Greg and the other award recipients, can be read here.

Update 25 Aug.: Greg has asked the BIB to send his regards to all his friends in Ireland.

Bending the Strings video debut on Showcase TV next week

Bending the Strings bluegrass band have been spending a lot of time recently shooting a new video for their highly successful single and album title track, 'All keyed up'. The song was written specially for the album by the band's guitarist, Vinny Baker, and proved to be a very popular choice with radio DJs around the country, including top National Radio 1 DJs Ronan Collins, John Creedon, Lillian Smith and Alf McCarthy, and the album was also voted Top Bluegrass Album for 2010 by Leinster Entertainment Awards.

But now the video is ready to go, and it debuts on International Sky TV channel Showcase TV's 'Hot Country' show on Sky 201 and Free to Air 403 on Monday next (22 Aug.) at 8.00 p.m., Tuesday 23rd at 2.00 p.m., Saturday 27th at 2.00 p.m., and Sunday 23rd at 8 p.m. The video is a six-minute, hilarious sketch featuring the band in a story of a keyboard player (Moyra) looking for a job with a bluegrass band who have advertised for a mandolin player. At first they were dubious; but when they heard her play Bluegrass on the Keys, she got the job. A true story...

Tune in and have a look at 'All keyed up: the video' - you will really enjoy it. Looking forward to seeing you all at Dunmore East at the end of the month.

Martin, Moyra, Vinny, & Gerry: Bending the Strings

Well Enough Alone on Dublin City FM TONIGHT

Thanks to Martin McWhorter (on left, above) for news of an imminent media appearance by one of our Dublin bands:

Be sure to catch Well Enough Alone being interviewed and performing live on Dublin City FM 103.2 on Thursday 18 August at 11.00 p.m.

Southern Welfare news: Mohill and Dunmore East

Thanks to Southern Welfare for this report and the fine photos by Ave Maria Photography showing (top to bottom) Tony Wall and Ray O'Brien; Gerry Wall; and Finbar Healy:

Southern Welfare would like to say a big thank you to Tommy and Joyce for having us at the 1st Mohill Bluegrass Festival last weekend; we had a fantastic time and met many old friends and made some new ones too.

The weekend was a great success in the little town of Mohill. On Friday night we kicked off the Festival in the bar to the biggest crowd in town; during the interval the boys from the Down and Out Bluegrass Band took to the stage to entertain the crowd for over an hour.

After a late gig on Friday we awoke on Saturday morning to the sound of P.J. and the guys in the car park erecting a marquee to cater for the outdoor events. We were not up long when we had the banjos and guitars out, and we were on the bluegrass train again for the rest of the day. On Saturday evening we made our way to the lovely catholic church in Mohill, where we played a bluegrass gospel mass to a packed church. We sang some lovely songs and did an a cappella version of 'Amazing Grace'. We were a bit taken aback by the response we got, as when the mass was finished we got a standing ovation from the crowd of over 100 people. Then it was off to the concert in the hall of Clarke's Hotel, where a huge crowd had gathered. The night went off without a hitch, with two of Ireland's premier bands playing alongside us, Woodbine and Southern Bluegrass Union.

After a late night (again) we were invited to to do some gospel music for the Church of Ireland service, which again was lovely to do and be part of. On Sunday everywhere you turned there was a banjo being picked or Big John Cline playing his mandolin. The weather was great for all the outdoor sessions and hopefully we can repeat this next year - so again, a big thanks to all who came to support this festival.

In other news, Southern Welfare have been invited back again this year to play the 17th Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival at the end of next week (25-28 August). We had a fantastic time there last year and hopefully we can bring the house down this year with our two new additions to the band from last year's lineup: John Cassin (Longford) on double bass and P.J. Power (Cork) on dobro.

The grass will be blue in Waterford next weekend and hopefully the weather is good as it's set to be a cracker with some great bands playing over the three days; so if you're around the sunny south-east next week, why not pop down to Dunmore East?

For more info contact Ray on 085 1386710. This is Southern Welfare signing off...

Open mic sessions at Omagh festival, 2-4 Sept. 2011

Thanks to Sharon Loughrin for drawing attention to this announcement on the Ulster American Folk Park Facebook page - open mic sessions will be held from 1.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. on each of the three days (2-4 Sept.) of next month's Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival:

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 each day in the unique setting of the Pennsylvania Barn as part of the Bluegrass in the Park sessions. These sessions were a great success with festival followers last year, so any 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!

There is no fee! Booking in advance is necessary, as only a handful of performance slots are available. First come - first served! For more information telephone 028 8225 6307 or e-mail.

Sharon adds:

Also Charles Pettee and John Currie are taking the kids' camp this year again - good news for our Katie, who looks forward to this every year.

Mohill success surpasses expectations

The BIB editor reports:

As a rule, the BIB is still not publishing its own reports on festivals; but as a member of one of the bands taking part, I'd like to thank Tommy Kelleher, Joyce Merne, and their team for a highly enjoyable weekend in a very pleasant little town: the 1st Mohill Bluegrass Festival at Mohill, Co. Leitrim. Getting a new festival off the ground involves months of hard work and anxieties, but the results exceeded all expectations. The concert hall was packed - largely with local residents - and the lively, long-lasting, and rewarding jams were kept going not only by band members but by other expert visiting pickers from Ireland, the Continent, and the USA. The sponsors who supported the festival can consider it money well spent.

Our youngest and our oldest bluegrass festivals thus turn out to have common ground. The programme for this year's Athy festival had to be drawn up with significantly less sponsorship support than in recent years, and the result was a masterly piece of cutting a good coat from the affordable cloth. One very welcome feature was the number of new pickers who showed up at the jams. To anyone who holds that a bluegrass festival has to have an American band, I can only say that (to me) bluegrass is a spirit, not a postal address.

News from Westport: 2012 festival lineup taking shape

Electric Cave Production reports from Westport, Co. Mayo:

The blue paint on Westport's grass is still wet and few big events on the Irish bluegrass calendar are still to take place in 2011, but in Westport Uri and his team are charging full steam ahead with preparations for the 2012 Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival.

The dates for the festival next year are 29-30 June and 1 July. The headline act next year will be the wonderful Thunderbridge Bluegrass Boys {above] from the UK, and a taste of what they have to offer can be seen here.

They will be joined on stage by the superb Molly Hicks. Other names that will make an appearance in the festival are Tony O'Brien of Woodbine and Sean McKerr.

The lineup is already starting to shape up, but we have plenty more surprises up our sleeves that will be revealed over the next few months. Meanwhile we will continue to promote great folk & bluegrass music in Westport. See you all soon!

Niall Toner and the story of 'William Smith Monroe' - now on YouTube

Niall Toner reports that the story behind the creation of his new commemorative song, 'William Smith Monroe', can now be seen on YouTube.

The video shows Niall himself, against the background of scenes around his home in the countryside of Co. Carlow, explaining the part that Bill Monroe played in his life, and some of the inspiration that went into the song. Music from Niall's previous recordings, and of course from the new song itself, forms the audio background. Niall adds:

The whole thing was filmed, directed, and edited by my thirteen-year-old grandson Kyle, and his eight-year-old brother, Jay (who also played the part of young Monroe/Toner in the final scene). If these boys stick at it, I believe they could have a bright future in the movie business! I have given them a little write-up on my new blog on our website.

Bluegrass banjo looking for a good home

Tim Rogers reports from Westport, Co. Mayo, that he aims at getting a Dave Stacey old-time banjo, and is therefore having to sell his bluegrass banjo - a Deering Boston pot matched with a Gold Tone neck, and with top-quality Schaller tuners and hardware, set up for bluegrass playing by Matt Cooper of Dublin.

Tim is offering this instrument at a good price. You can see further details, together with how to contact Tim, on the Done Deal website.

News from the Red Room and points south

Apologies to Arnie and Sharon Loughrin, who sent in a long and welcome report three weeks ago, after their house concert for Ferguson, Holmes, & Henry in the Red Room, Cookstown. We publish the report now, with gratitude and indeed with some awe at seeing what really dedicated music fans are capable of doing:

We had a great night with Gary, Colin, and Janet and a really full house with around ten new people, purely through word of mouth recommendation from previous attenders. We're about our limit for the Red Room (around 43 that night), and the larger space in the open-plan kitchen/dining/sun lounge that we squeezed around 45 into for the Wilders may need to be used for future nights.

We've been off work for the past two weeks and we've clocked up around 1,400 miles - we set the mileage when leaving for Athy, had a few trips out with the kids to Belfast and the Antrim coast, and went to the Celtic Fusion Festival in Castlewellan. Great trad music there, but the highlights for us were the Dirty Blues Band, who are playing the Omagh festival this year... numbers like 'Midnight flyer', 'Will the circle be unbroken' and covers of Old Crow Medicine Show's 'Wagon wheel' and 'CC rider' along with the Gillian Welch 'I want to sing that rock and roll'. If we'd been asked what we wanted to hear we couldn't have chosen better.

The wonderful Louisiana cajun band L'Angelus closed the show and included a couple of their younger siblings, twin brothers around five years old, I'm guessing, and a little sister a few years older.

We then clocked the miles up dramatically with a two-day trip to the deep, deep south (unchartered territory for us northerners!). Tuesday was spent in Waterford, and thanks to the BIB calendar we discovered Southern Welfare's weekly gig in Kitty Kiernan's pub. It was a lovely informal night: all the old bluegrass favourites with a bit of John Prine thrown in - a really enjoyable few hours.

Our main reason for the trip was to check out the Clonmel World Music Centre at the Raheen House Hotel. What a brilliant venue - superb organisation, a really friendly, lively crowd, and the hotel itself is a first-class overnight stop, set in beautiful grounds, and a delicious breakfast the next morning. The fact that the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band were playing there during our annual holiday period was the deciding factor on making the trip to the faraway venue we'd heard such good things about. The concert was really entertaining - loads of laughs, these boys put together a great show featuring great musicianship (the fiddle playing in particular) and of course Leroy Troy's trademark banjo spinning. A few aftershow tunes in the hotel were a special end to the night, and a chat with Leroy and the other band members over breakfast the next morning confirmed what a genuinely good bunch of fellas they all are.

Gerry (who is one of the organisers at Clonmel) and I have been Facebook friends for a while so it was great to meet him and the team at last.

We also managed to fit in trips to Dunmore East, Cahir Castle, the Swiss Cottage, and the railway trip along the River Suir, plus some excellent food; so a good time was had by us and the kids (and bluegrass music brought a little more business to the counties of Waterford and Tipp.; we're not broke but we are badly bent!).

Sharon adds that there are great photos from the concerts on the Red Room Facebook page and the Clonmel World Music website; and on her YouTube channel there is this video of the Dirty Blues Band playing 'Midnight special'.

A reminder

We all have our own stories of what attracts people to bluegrass music; but if you need a reminder of the kind of thing that keeps people in bluegrass music, it would be hard to beat fiddler Blaine Sprouse's memories of his inspiration, mentor, and friend, the late Kenny Baker. Read them on the original Bluegrass Blog.

17th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival lineup gets better and better!

Thanks to Karen Cheevers of B2B Communications for this news:

The Guinness International Bluegrass Festival is delighted to announce two more acts to the lineup of what is regarded as Ireland’s largest free bluegrass festival.

Taking place in the picturesque fishing village of Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, from 25 August to 28 August, the Dunmore East festival is bringing together an enviable lineup of bluegrass artists.

Two more acts that have just confirmed their appearance at the festival are Well Enough Alone and Hanway & Murray.

Well Enough Alone is a Dublin-based four-piece bluegrass band. Known for the energy and rawness they bring to traditional and contemporary bluegrass, Well Enough Alone delivers a mix of original songs to classics to hot instrumentals. The band consists of Hugh Taggart on guitar and lead vocals with Martin McWhorter on mandolin and tenor vocals. Ben Goodbody plays bass and baritone vocals, while Conor Daly lends his talents on the five-string banjo.

Another much anticipated addition to the line-up is Hanway & Murray. When New York banjoist Tom Hanway was jamming in a hotel lobby with guitarist Kieran Murray from Belfast, their talent was immediately recognised by an RTE radio producer. That was a significant moment as 'Hanway & Murray' was officially formed and since then the duo has featured often on national radio.

Murray is regarded as a 'genius tunesmith' who can churn out one amazing song after another, while Hanway is one of the most ferocious and versatile banjo players on the planet. They share lead and harmony duties and cover a vast musical terrain, mixing popular and original songs with soaring instrumentals.

Tom Hanway is no stranger to the Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival, having jammed in previous years with Galway band Molly Hicks and the Jack Grace Band, aka The Martini Cowboy. In 2005 Hanway won the #1 European Bluegrass Band of the Year award as a member of the Bluegrass Ravens.

Festival organiser Mick Daly is delighted with the addition of the two acts to the Dunmore East Festival lineup.

Year on year the Dunmore East Bluegrass has brought a wide and varied bluegrass and blues vibe to the South East. This year, the lineup is as talented as ever and the addition of Well Enough Alone and Hanway & Murray really is the icing on the cake.

We are very conscious that bluegrass has quite a select following; however, at the Dunmore East festival we endeavour to bring together an eclectic mix of bluegrass, rhythm, folk, blues and roots. The mix of traditional bluegrass with slightly more mainstream country and blues makes the festival appealing to anyone who has an interest in music. And because all the gigs are free, it’s even more appealing!

The 17th Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival kicks off at 7.00 p.m. on Thursday 25 August at the Haven Hotel and will feature over a dozen bands, playing 50 free gigs in the village's pubs, restaurants, and hotels.

For more information about the 17th Guinness International Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival in Co. Waterford, visit the Festival website.

Bill Monroe tribute CDs

Rebel Records are marking the Bill Monroe centenary this year by issuing two compilation CDs of songs or instrumentals written by (or closely associated with) the Father of Bluegrass. The 34 tracks, drawn from Rebel's fifty-year archives, are by artists ranging from the 'founding generation' of bluegrass up to the present day, and some have not been previously released. The albums include extensive notes by the outstanding bluegrass historian Neil V. Rosenberg, who is quoted as writing:

These musicians not only preserve the feeling and content of Monroe's repertoire, they reflect his belief that every musician should place a personal stamp upon each performance.

Read the full Rebel Records press release here.

Richard F Thompson also reported yesterday on the original Bluegrass Blog that a further tribute album, A tribute to Bill Monroe, has been recorded by Frank Wakefield, one of the first bluegrass mandolinists to come close to Bill Monroe's command of the instrument. The album is on Patuxent Records, the label operated by Tom Mindte, who is well known over here from past appearances at Athy festivals with his Patuxent Partners band. On the album - his fourth on Patuxent - Frank Wakefield has a very strong lineup of supporting musicians, including Tom on second mandolin. Further details are on the BB and the Patuxent website.

Well Enough Alone, Vincent Cross, Lazy Band in Whelan's, 12 Aug. 2011

Thanks to Martin McWhorter (mandolinist with Well Enough Alone), who writes:

Well Enough Alone are having their second Dublin CD release show this Friday (12 Aug.) at Whelan's Upstairs. Along with them are two great acts:

Vincent Cross is a bluegrass singer and songwriter - born in Dublin, reared in Australia, now living in NYC.

The Lazy Band is Dublin's premier Americana/ skiffle/ jug-band. They have been thrilling audiences with their unbridled energy.

Upstairs in Whelan's, 25 Wexford St.
Doors: 8.00 p.m.
Tickets: €6

The Molly Hicks to play 'The road west' at the Town Hall, Galway

Thanks to Ruth Dillon for this news:

The Molly Hicks are thrilled to be invited to join a stellar lineup of traditional/folk/roots performers, including Máirtín O'Connor, Cathal Hayden, Jimmy Higgins, and Seamie O'Dowd for a series of concerts in the Town Hall Theatre, Galway, from Monday 15 Aug. to Wednesday 17 August at 8.00 p.m.

'The road west' concerts promise evenings of technical brilliance, flamboyant style, and rich entertainment. Folk singers Don Stiffe and Mary McPartlan will also feature.

Ruth Dillon (vocals, guitar) and Bernie O’Mahony (vocals, uke-banjo) of the Molly Hicks, who are noted for their sister-like harmonies, look forward to adding a bluegrass/ old-time flavour to the night.

Tickets available at the Town Hall by 'phone (091-569777) or online.

Kevin Conneff with Jeff White and Deanie Richardson, 14-15 Aug. 2011

Thanks to Kevin Conneff of the Chieftains for the news that two highly respected bluegrass artists from the Mother Country - Jeff White (guitar, vocals) and Deanie Richardson (fiddle, mandolin) - will be joining him to play a couple of special dates in Ireland within the next seven days.

Jeff White plays regularly in the USA with Vince Gill and with Tim O'Brien (he was a member of the Tim O'Brien Band at the Omagh festival in 2002), and has also played with the Chieftains. Deanie Richardson is a former member of the New Coon Creek Girls and a current member of the Daughters of Bluegrass. Both artists play, or have played, with Patty Loveless. You can hear them both with Kevin at the following venues:

Sun. 14th Aug.: Lynch's, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Mon. 15th Aug.: Mick Murphy's, the Square, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare

In a further cooperation between Irish and American musicians, Tim O'Brien himself begins a tour here two days later; details are on the BIB calendar.

NB: Thanks to Cathal Cusack who, mindful of the fact that both Tim O'Brien and Chris Thile will be playing in Dublin in the near future, sends this link to a YouTube video of the two of them playing 'Jerusalem Ridge' as a tribute to the late Kenny Baker. As the original Bluegrass Blog observed, it's a striking demonstration of their different personal (and musical) styles.

The pipes, the pipes are calling...

Thanks to Niall Toner, who reports on the latest show by the Niall Toner Band and developments with his latest single commemorating the Father of Bluegrass:

We played a super gig yesterday in Banbridge during the Pipe Band Championships. What an appreciative audience! The weather was a little inclement, to say the least, but we were in a marquee, and it was a really enjoyable experience. This was our 'replacement' show for Derry, and we were booked to return for two shows there in 2012.

'William Smith Monroe' [see the BIB for 1 July] is being featured as a new release on Dave Cash's BBC Radio Kent (which also goes out to all BBC Local Radio Stations around Britain) show, and continues to be played on US radio.

The current issue of Hot Press magazine (p. 14) and p. 48 of the current issue of RTE Guide (right) both include features on the Monroe centenary and on the impact made by Niall's new commemorative recording.

Southern Welfare's 'own brand' wine

Thanks to Ray O'Brien of Southern Welfare for this intoxicating news:

Southern Welfare will be kicking off the 1st Mohill Bluegrass Festival this Friday night in Clarke's Hotel at 9.30 p.m. It's set to be a cracking weekend with some great bands performing over the three days (12-14 Aug.).

Here we are pictured with Sean McManus and P.J. Coleman [seated left and front respectively] who have commissioned two bottles of special limited-edition 'Southern Welfare Bluegrass Wine' which will be presented to festival organisers Tommy and Joyce on the night for their raffle. Each bottle of wine comes with a copy of Southern Welfare's debut CD The old home place.

As well as kicking off the festival on Friday evening, you can catch us on Saturday evening mass singing some gospel in the Catholic church and also at the Sunday morning service in the Church of Ireland church with more gospel music.

We would like to wish all the best to Tommy and Joyce for the weekend, and hopefully this will be the first of many festivals in Mohill. We hope that you can all make it along the weekend and show some support for this new festival.

Band news

The news has just appeared on the European Bluegrass Blog that the #1 European Bluegrass Band award at the La Roche Bluegrass Festival in France has gone this year to Blackjack (CZ; left), who won the #2 award last year and also won a great reception at the 2010 Omagh festival a month later.

The #3 place at La Roche this year was won by Lazy Tater (NL), who appeared on the BIB on 22 July. The #2 place was won by Blueland from Slovakia.

Meanwhile Blue Highway (USA), who will be making their second Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival appearance next month, will be releasing a new CD later this month. Sounds of home, which comprises the traditional 'Nobody's fault but mine' and eleven original pieces, is scheduled for release on 23 August. Full details are here.

Update 9 Aug.: The August 2011 issue of Guitar Player magazine has Rob Ickes of Blue Highway on the cover - the first time there for a dobro player. Read the full story on the original Bluegrass Blog.

Bluegrass on the Walls 2011

Thanks to Derek Lockhart of Dangem Quality Instruments for these photos from yesterday afternoon's Bluegrass on [or under] the Walls at Derry city: above, the Down and Out Bluegrass Band (Belfast); below, Well Enough Alone (Dublin).

Athy and Woodbine websites renewed

Tony O'Brien (left) reports that the former Athy Bluegrass Music Association website has now been completely reorganised as the website of the Athy Bluegrass Festival. In a note on last month's event, Tony writes:

Thanks to all the bands and our great supporters for making the 2011 festival a great success. With nine Irish bands and Clem O'Brien solo, the music from Thursday night to Sunday night was fantastic and shows how far bluegrass music has come in Ireland over the past 25 years. We look forward to 2012 with renewed confidence and plan to have another great 'Athy in July' weekend.

Tony also announces that the music page of the Woodbine website now includes audio tracks from the band's last two CDs.

Down and Out on the Walls, 6 Aug. 2011

Thanks to Dangem Quality Instruments of Craigavon, Co. Armagh, for a reminder that the Down and Out Bluegrass Band, based in Belfast, is among the bands that will be playing from 1.00 to 4.00 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday 6 Aug. 2011) on the historic walls of Derry city as part of this year's 'Bluegrass on the Walls'.

No one who was at the Athy festival (7-10 July) will need reminding that the D&OBBs came down on their own initiative and played a leading role throughout the weekend in the intense jams that were among the many enjoyable features of this year's Athy.

Americana at The Venue, Ratoath, Co. Meath

Thanks to Neil Cummins for news of

... a few gigs we are hosting at The Venue Theatre in Ratoath, Co. Meath.

Thurs. 1 Sept. Otis Gibbs [see photo left, by Todd Fox]. Tickets are €12 (incl. fees).
Fri. 16 Sept. Daniel Martin Moore (YouTube video). €12 (incl. fees)
Sat. 12 Nov. The Webb Sisters. €20 (incl. fees)

All tickets can be purchased online.

Not bluegrass, but it's not hard to imagine bluegrass fans enjoying music by these artists. Check out the links and the ample music samples available online.

20th Omagh Festival: more news

The BIB has just received its own copy of the flyer for this year's Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival (2-4 Sept. 2011) at the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone (see our post for 19 July).

We're delighted to take in the fact that the US guests this year include the magnificent and pioneering Footworks dance team; the Omagh festival led the way among Irish bluegrass events in featuring Appalachian dancing. Omagh's example is still not as widely followed as it might be, and it'll be good to see a first-class team of American cloggers back on the main stage. They'll be dancing, we assume, to live music by the BanjaBill All Stars, led by Bill Whelan.

[We assumed wrong. Bill himself assures us that the Turtle Duhks (Canada) will be playing for Footworks. Bill's All Stars will consist of himself, Ben Keogh, and Mick Daly of the Lee Valley String Band.]

Lineup and schedule details are not yet on the Festival website, so use the flyer, in its Dangem version, for reference.