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.