Niall Toner signs with Pinecastle Records

Bandleader, singer/songwriter, broadcaster, and 'Godfather of Irish bluegrass' Niall Toner has joined the roster of artists on the prominent US bluegrass label Pinecastle Records. He will soon release a new single in Ireland, a song called 'Tomorrow', taken from his upcoming Pinecastle release - a new album of original material, due in autumn 2012 in conjunction with a US tour.

Niall's most recent release in the US was The sounds of the Blackstairs Mountains, featuring his tribute to the father of bluegrass, 'William Smith Monroe', which is still receiving extensive airplay on bluegrass radio. Niall writes:

I am thrilled and delighted to be the first Irish artist signed to Pinecastle Records. It's a dream come true for me, and an honour to be part of a label roster that includes many of my own musical heroes, like Jesse McReynolds and the Osborne Brothers. I look forward to working with Lonnie, Ethan, Matt, and the entire Pinecastle team. Onwards and upwards.

The Pinecastle press release includes tributes to Niall's achievement from Greg Cahill of Special Consensus (USA), Robert Weingartz, chairman and CEO of AirPlay Direct (Niall has the fastest rising bluegrass album in APD's history), and Paul Williams, songwriter and president of ASCAP. Niall's compositions have been recorded by many artists in and out of bluegrass, and in 2003 he was nominated for a Global Artist Award by the CMA. His radio show, Roots Freeway, is broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1. A feature is also on Bluegrass Today.