Broken Strings at Maghera, 10 Aug. 2012

Thanks to Sharon Loughrin of the Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, for news of

... an upcoming gig this Friday night. The Broken String Band [above] are playing in Walsh's Hotel, Maghera, Co. Londonderry. Start time is 9 o'clock; tickets are only £5, payable at the door, or can be booked by calling 02879549978 or 02879627826.

Sharon also sends news of the Macrae Sisters (USA) old-time string band, who performed at the Red Room on Monday 30 July (their first date in Ireland); visited the Broken String Band's weekly session in Balloo House in Killinchy on Wednesday; enjoyed a session at Cookstown with local musicians on Thursday; and will be revisiting Sharon and Arnie before continuing their travels.

A photo of the Sisters at the Red Room (with some leading figures of the Ulster bluegrass scene in the audience) is reproduced below by permission from the Red Room Facebook album, where there are many more fine photos.


Sharon adds:

With this all going on, and the Mohill Festival [10-12 Aug.], it's shaping up to be a nice busy, bluegrassy week ahead. If you discover how to make more hours in the day, will you let me know?

The BIB research department is still working on that one...