Not bluegrass, but...

... the centenary of Woody Guthrie's birth falls on 14 July this year. To mark the occasion, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings will release the new box set Woody at 100: the Woody Guthrie centennial collection on 10 July. For a special pre-sale, including an instant album download and to hear a previously unreleased Woody song, visit this link.

Woody Guthrie's son Arlo Guthrie (above) will celebrate, through his own talents as a musician, writer, and entertainer, the immeasurable contributions of his father to American folk music. His 'Here comes the Kid' tour begins in Ireland at the end of August 2012. Thanks to Nigel Martyn whose Old Flattop agency sends this schedule for the Irish section of the tour.

Fri. 31st Aug.: Damer Court Hotel, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
Sat. 1st Sept.: Colfer's, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford
Sun. 2nd: Town Hall Theatre, Galway city
Wed. 5th: Kilworth Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork
Thurs. 6th: The Pavilion, Cork city
Fri. 7th: Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick city
Sat. 8th: St James's Church, Dingle, Co. Kerry
Mon. 10th: The Market House, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare
Thurs. 13th: Black Box, Belfast
Fri. 14th: Black Box, Belfast (tentative)
Sat. 15th: McGrory’s, Culdaff, Co. Donegal
Sun. 16th: Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo town
Wed. 19th: The Button Factory, Dublin city

Nigel Martyn, 23 Lowwood Park, Belfast BT15 4BB
Tel. +44 (0)28 90 580 793; mobile +44 (0)7545 020938
Skype name : nigelmartyn

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Otis Gibbs (USA), another singer/ songwriter who is also a political activist, toured Ireland in 2009 and got a standing ovation at the Open House Festival in Belfast. The Open House team, under the new strategy of a 'festival lineup all year long', is presenting him again in Belfast on 24 June 2012. He will then play four further dates in Ireland before the end of June, continuing his tour in Britain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Full details of the Belfast show, including online ticket booking facilities, are on the latest Open House e-newsletter. Details of the other shows can be seen on his tour schedule.