Recent EBMA publications

Nearly two months ago (3 Mar. 2012) the European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA) published its first European Bluegrass Festival Directory, listing over 100 festivals throughout Europe, as part of the service provided by the EBMA's European Festival Network (EFN).

The EFN at present comprises twenty major events (including our own Omagh and Johnny Keenan festivals), and each of these has a two-page feature in the Directory; however, full contact details are given for all the festivals on the list, whether EFN members or not. As is almost inevitable with a print publication, some festivals are missing from the list. Nonetheless, this is a basic reference source for anyone interested in the European scene, especially bands from abroad looking for bookings.

The Directory was posted out to all EBMA members and other subscribers with the latest issue (#83, Apr.-June 2012) of the EBMA's official magazine, Bluegrass Europe. Although - as explained in the magazine itself and on the EBMA website - its appearance was delayed by 'life issues' facing individual members of the editorial team, #83 reached subscribers in the second half of April. As with the previous four issues since BE was relaunched a year ago as a separate, all-English-language journal, it is pretty impressive in the range and substance of its content. The 'life issues' mentioned above left their mark on a few pages in the form of editorial and design errors; but overall BE began its relaunch at a high point, and continues to improve.