What is 'drive'?

Thanks to Mel Corry for this link to a YouTube video of Sammy Shelor (photo, left; four times IBMA Banjo Performer of the Year) at a workshop, explaining exactly what is meant by 'drive' in one's playing. Mel says: 'I have been trying to put in words my own thoughts on this for years and Sammy explains it all in a couple of sentences.'

 In the video, Sammy Shelor also quotes fellow banjoist Terry Baucom, the 'Duke of Drive', as saying: 'Drive is a state of mind'. Find out more here.

Place your ad in Bluegrass Europe

Angelika R. Torrie, chief editor of Bluegrass Europe, the official magazine of the European Bluegrass Music Association, reports that issue #85 (Oct.- Dec. 2012) has been posted out to everyone on the mailing list. This issue's contents include:

Editorial ¦ EBMA NEWS [by current chairperson Petr Brandejs] ¦ Cover feature: Covered Grass ¦ Hats off to Europe ¦ BluegrassDuinen - News Europe ¦ La Roche Bluegrass Festival (report) ¦ Abaliget BG Festival (report) ¦ Int. Bluegrass Music Awards (report) ¦ Concert & Festival Calendar ¦ News US ¦ 1st European Bluegrass Jam Camp ¦ Risor BG Festival ¦ Gary Reid Interview ¦ Art Satherly (part 2/2) ¦ CD Reviews ¦ EBMA’s European Bluegrass Guide ¦ So long Doc, Earl & Doug 

BIB editor's note: As you can see from the above contents list, Bluegrass Europe is a substantial magazine (40 pages) with high-quality content and high design standards. It is completely in English; in fact, it always has been completely in English, but for some years BE appeared between the same covers as Dutch and German bluegrass magazines. It's also produced to a high standard; however, this doesn't come cheap, and BE would benefit from more revenue from advertising. Angelika says:

... Currently, EBMA's expenses on Bluegrass Europe are higher than what subscriptions and advertisements are generating. Advertising could be especially interesting to companies outside of Europe, touring artists, record labels with new CDs...

You can contact BE by e-mail or check out its Advertising page for more information. And you don't need to be an EBMA member to subscribe. 

Random Canyon Growlers at the Red Room

(photo: Alan Rooke of Owlsworld) 

Thanks to Sharon Loughrin at the Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, who reports:

We had an amazing night here in the barn at the Red Room with the Random Canyon Growlers last night, our biggest crowd yet at one of our house concerts - well over fifty in the audience. There's still time to catch this great American bluegrass band in St John's Theatre, Listowel, Co. Kerry, on Wed. 31 Oct.; the Belfast Barge on Fri. 2 Nov.; and the Fifty Six Bar, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, on Sun. 4 Nov. Added to this is an appearance at the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, where the band will play three-quarter-hour sets at 1 o'clock and 3 o'clock. The chance to hear some very fine bluegrass music is an added attraction to what would make a good day out, the Park looks beautiful at this time of year with its autumn colour.

It would be great to pull a few in both for the band and for the Folk Park. They're a lovely bunch of fellas and we had a great night (and into early morning) with Colin Henry and Janet Holmes also stopping over.

Michael Miles in Ireland and England, Sept. 2012

Thanks again to Michael J. Miles (USA), clawhammer banjo player extraordinaire (to use a serious understatement), for the news that there is now a new page on his website, devoted to his trip to these islands last month, which - as Michael points out - marked the international debut of his one-man show 'From Senegal to Seeger: stories of the American banjo' in three new countries.

The new page features over a dozen photographs from his travels and performances, including the finale (above) of the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival in Tullamore (Michael, with banjo, appears left of centre), and the Ulster American Folk Park at Omagh.

Pinecastle releases Niall Toner's Onwards & upwards

Pinecastle Records, one of the leading US bluegrass record companies, today released Onwards & upwards, the new album by Niall Toner - his first on the Pinecastle label. The ample album notes include the author's own accounts of writing each song as well as photographs from the studio sessions. The Pinecastle press release includes the information that

... For months Toner's AirPlay Direct profile occupied the #1 spot on the service's all-time bluegrass album chart, and is currently #3.

You can read the full press release here, as well as Niall's artist profile from the Pinecastle website. The eleven tracks (ten vocal, one instrumental) make up a powerful demonstration of the breadth and depth of his songwriting ability.

Red Barn Radio: music from 'the heart of the Bluegrass'

Thanks to Ed Commons for this news from 'the heart of the Bluegrass', Lexington, Kentucky, USA (a city whose links with Co. Kildare were a contributory factor in the early years of the Athy Bluegrass Festival).

Ed is the producer/director of Red Barn Radio, a syndicated radio programme, now in its eleventh season, which offers an authentic look into the bluegrass and old-time music and musicians of the Kentucky region. Recorded in front of a live audience, it includes interview material woven into the show, giving insight into the history and interests of the music and musicians, and their roots in Kentucky. Ed writes:

I am interested in getting our programme to listeners around the world where an interest and love for bluegrass and its roots are appreciated. I am wondering if you might have any suggestions of stations in your country or region that might be interested in such a programme. Any contact information would be appreciated.

The show is offered free of charge, and is available from a secure download site in the NPR format. It is offered in two parts, both 59 minutes each, with a separate promo.

You can find more information on Red Barn Radio from the website. Contact Ed Commons by e-mail.

Acoustic Music Pinboard: a new facility for getting the word out

John Hart of NewFolkRadio.com, based in Portland, Oregon, USA, sends word of his new website, Acoustic Music Pinboard. This is intended as a service, facility, and resource for anyone involved in acoustic music - including folk, old-timey, bluegrass, Americana, etc. - and especially for anyone who wants to maximise the number of search-engine results for their own website. John says:

The mission of this new site is to publicise your band, label, news, event, concert, achievement, profiles, etc. using images and text... From bands to managers to labels to radio stations, to news sites, all are welcome. This is your site, have fun with it.

Jed on air to promote John Dowling Banjo Weekend

Thanks to Derek Lockhart of Dangem Bluegrass for this news:

This is Jed, just before we went on to play and promote the John Dowling Banjo Weekend in the Spectrum Centre next Friday and Saturday. This was on the 'Saturday Magazine' with John Toal on BBC Radio Ulster; you can catch it on iPlayer. We are about 1.30 into the programme. In the picture (l-r): Derek Norwood (guitar), Colin Henry (resophonic guitar), Tony Curran (banjo), Derek Lockhart (bass). The sound was a bit ropey - it sounded good at our end, but it was live radio, so anything can happen.

Don’t forget the great evening concert on Saturday 3 Nov. at the Spectrum Centre with John Dowling + the Down & Out Bluegrass Band. Tickets only £5.00; contact the Spectrum Centre for booking, call 028 9050 4555, or e-mail.

Hickory Wind - a musical storm

Uri Kohen reports from Westport, Co. Mayo:

During my searches for acts to add to my monthly musical programme, it was Tommy 'T-Bone' Lyons, of Balla Bluegrass Festival, who told me to check out a band called Hickory Wind. With very little info about them over the net, I followed Tommy's advice and booked them for a gig in Geraghty's pub in October 2011 [see the BIB for 3 Oct. 2011].

The excellent gig won the band a place in the 2012 Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival. They played the Jester pub and won over the hearts of bluegrass lovers and hard rockers alike. It was one of the highlights of the festival. I invited the band to play McGing's pub last Friday night (26 Oct.) and once again they took over Westport like a storm.

The band plays folk, country, and bluegrass classics with a very noticeable stamp of their own. Alan O'Neill, who plays guitar and sings most of the songs, has a unique voice (and superb hair style) which gives the songs warmth and connects with the crowd very well. The band have two bass players, and this time they arrived with Bean Dolan who also played mandolin and guitar. The band's music is driven by the very energetic sound of the fiddle and mandolin of Michael Byrne and Neil Fitzgibbon, both of of them changing instruments, throwing out the show, and providing the signature sound of the band.

It is still hard to find info of the band's gigs; but they are highly recommended, so look out for Hickory Wind. We had a great time; hope you will too.

Rooney, McGlynn, & Daly at Croc an Oir, 3 Nov. 2012

Thanks to John Bermingham for this news:

Three music veterans will join forces for an evening of country, bluegrass, and traditional music not to be missed at Croc an Oir on Saturday 3 November at 8.00 p.m.

Jim Rooney has been producing records in Nashville for the past twenty-five years. Many of his recordings with Nanci Griffith, John Prine, Iris DeMent, Peter Rowan, and Tom Paxton have been nominated for Grammys, with Nanci Griffith's Other voices, other rooms winning a Grammy in 1996. Jim was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Americana Music Association in Nashville. In Ireland Jim is best known for his work with Sean Keane, the Lee Valley String Band, and Chris Meehan & his Redneck Friends.

Arty McGlynn is in demand as a top guitarist and record producer. He has played with everyone from Van Morrison to Liam O'Flynn and produced hits for Frances Black and Sean Keane. He and his wife Nollaig Casey are acknowledged as two of Ireland's best traditional musicians.

Mick Daly has played an important part in many of Ireland's best known groups, including 4 Men & a Dog (he was the dog), Any Old Time, and the Lee Valley String Band. There are still some tickets available for what promises to be a great night's music with three superb musicians.

Croc an Oir
Ballycullen
Mullinahone
Co. Tipperary
+353 52 9153117  

BIB editor's note: A few of Jim Rooney's substantial claims to fame in the bluegrass world can be seen here.

Gone to Grass at the Crane, Galway, 14 Dec. 2012

Following Monday's announcement that master fiddler Ivor Ottley will be back in Ireland from 12 to 19 December, thanks to Pete Lamb in Co. Galway for the news that Ivor will be playing at the Crane Bar, Sea Road, Galway, on Friday 14 December with the band Gone to Grass (Pete, guitar; Tom Portman, resophonic guitar; Paddy Jordan, bass). Admission is free.

Gone to Grass are recording an EP at the moment,and other gigs are being arranged for the period of Ivor's stay in Ireland. The photo shows (l-r) Ivor, Pete, and Tom.

Update 31 Oct.: Please note also the additional date shown in the comment just received on this post - Tuesday 18 December at the Mill Bar, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare. More dates will be coming along in due course.

Homespun blues sale - ends 30 Oct. 2012

A 2-DVD set on playing blues mandolin, by Steve James, is among the blues instruction videos in the latest set of offers by Homespun. The two DVDs (with a combined playing time of two hours) are available as a direct download for $39.95.

The many other DVDs in the current blues sale (which lasts till Tuesday 30 Oct.) include instruction for playing blues on flat-picking, finger-picking, and slide guitar, as well as other instruments. Given the importance of blues in the makeup of bluegrass music, this should be worth investigating.

Hillfolk Noir tour, June 2013 - response from Irish promoters needed

As mentioned on the BIB on 13 Oct., the UK agency Brookfield Knights is planning a tour in these islands for Hillfolk Noir (USA) from 4 June to 23 June 2013. The last date (23 June) is now booked for a show in Belfast, so Brookfield Knights is now looking for more Ireland dates in the days immediately before then. Contact the agency through its website, as soon as possible. Brookfield Knights adds:

The band is working on a brand new album and we have heard some rough mixes. They are sounding better than ever and we will have the new one available for widespread distribution to the media (print press and radio) in the New Year.

John Dowling banjo weekend in Belfast, 2-3 Nov. 2012

Dangem Bluegrass send a reminder that master banjo player and teacher John Dowling (UK) - the first European to win the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship at Winfield, Kansas (2002) - will conduct a Banjo Teaching Weekend (Scruggs style), at the Spectrum Centre on the Shankhill Road, Belfast, on Friday 2–Saturday 3 November 2012.

Registration opens at 7.00 p.m. on the Friday, and the workshop then runs from 7.30 to 9.30 p.m., resuming at 10.00 a.m. on Saturday and continuing till 5.00 p.m. with breaks for coffee and lunch. An evening concert given by John and the Down and Out Bluegrass Band (7.30-9.00 p.m.) is free to workshop attenders and only £5.00 to guests.

The total cost of the workshop and concert is just £35.00, which will include a free commemorative T-shirt. If you don’t own a banjo you can hire one for the weekend for £20.00; please give prior notice by e-mail. Places will be limited to twenty, so contact the Centre by e-mail or call 02890 5045 55 to register. This is supported by the National Lottery, the Arts Council for N.I., and Dangem Bluegrass. Some of John's last banjo workshop in Northern Ireland can be seen on YouTube. The full text of the Dangem circular can be read here.

Hatfields & McCoys

This five-part series starring Kevin Costner, on the famous feud that developed on the West Virginia/Kentucky border in the years following the American civil war, begins tonight on the UK's Channel 5 TV. The Radio Times says: '... western fans get all the squinting and tobacco-spitting and tough-talk and fiddle music they could hope for.'

Sounds ideal. We hope some of the old-time music for which West Virginia and eastern Kentucky are now famous is at least recognisably echoed in what's coming from the TV.

New Cabin Sessions T-shirt - in a good cause

Latest news of the Cabin Sessions, 'Acoustic Music at its Finest', at Uncle Tom's Cabin (not far from Dundrum Luas station in the city direction); Gerry Fitzpatrick announces:

Tomorrow night (25 Oct.) we will be selling a specially designed Cabin Sessions T-shirt. This has the Cabin Sessions logo on the front and a list of all our guests on the back. Price €12 each or two for €20.

All proceeds go to the Children's Cancer Fund, Our Lady's, Crumlin.

T-shirts sponsored by Uncle Tom's Cabin, Pat McGonagle, and Kevin Cray.

Dangem Bluegrass Get-Together this Saturday

Dangem Bluegrass of Craigavon, Co. Armagh, send a reminder that the first of the new season of Dangem Banjo and Bluegrass Music Group monthly Bluegrass Get-Togethers, combining instruction and jamming, will be held at the Island Civic Centre, Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn, Co. Antrim BT27 4RL, on Sat. 27 Oct. from 9.30/10.00 a.m. to noon.

All bluegrass instruments are welcome, and everyone is welcome, no matter what their playing standard - even if you can’t play, you are welcome. If you don’t have an instrument, you can hire one from as little as £10.00 (see the link above), making your reservation no later than 7.00 p.m. the day before the get-together. Full details can be found on the Dangem website and on this e-newsletter.

4th Balla Bluegrass Festival, 26-9 Oct. 2012

Having attended all three previous Balla Bluegrass Festivals so far as a member of Woodbine, the BIB editor wishes to make it more widely known that this very enjoyable mini-festival is making progress towards getting out of the 'mini' category. In addition to Mannion's (the core festival venue), the Olde Woods, on the other side of Balla Main Street, will also be hosting bands and concerts, with the schedule staggered so that the determined fan can move across the street to hear the next band without missing an act.

The concert programme includes the Molly Hicks (Fri.), the Down and Out Bluegrass Band (Fri.-Sat.), the splendid High Plains Tradition (USA; Sat. & Sun.), Woodbine (Sun.), and Colonel Bullshot (Mon.), together with jam sessions and other enjoyment. For further information, contact Chris Mannion (094 9365093) or Tom Lyons (087 2296018), or e-mail.

The BIB reader may note that although this year's programme has been made known by posters and other means, the information is not on the Festival website. We suggest that any bluegrass enthusiast in Mayo or adjoining counties who also has experience in operating websites should contact Tom Lyons via the above 'phone number or e-mail link.

A reminder to Moniaive 2012 attenders

C. Paul Lyttle, organiser of the Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, which always has bands and attenders from Ireland, sends this

... wee reminder to anyone who attended MMBF 2012 and has still to submit their online evaluation form which is on our website home page.

Please do send in your evaluations before 31 October and you will have a chance to win two weekend tickets to MMBF 2013. Meanwhile all the best and thanks for your support.

Woody Guthrie tribute in Kinvara, Co. Galway, 25 Oct. 2012

Thanks to Pete Lamb in Kinvara, Co. Galway, for forwarding this news just received from Aoife Lee:

The musical legend that is Woody Guthrie would have been 100 this year, and centennial celebrations have been happening all over the world; and Galway is no different. The Lost Highway Show and Tully's Bar, Kinvara, will host a Woody Guthrie tribute on Thursday 25 October. The night will feature the cream of local talent and all proceeds go to the Galway Rape Crisis Centre, who provide counselling and support services to survivors of sexual violence and abuse in the West of Ireland.

It is forty-five years since the death of Guthrie, but his music resonates with both young and old and is still relevant in this modern age. His music has crossed musical boundaries and has influenced many musicians such as Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, and Tom Morello. In the words of Guthrie himself:

A folk song is what’s wrong and how to fix it, or it could be who’s hungry and where their mouth is, or who’s out of work and where the job is, or who’s broke and where the money is, or who’s carrying a gun and where the peace is...

Lost Highway Show presenters Stella Mae & Jolene are delighted that so many musicians in the Kinvara area are willing to lend their support to the evening including Fia Rua, Paul Mulligan, Pete Lamb, John Martyn, and Stuart Walker. Tickets will be available at the door (opens at 9.00): €8 waged, €5 unwaged.

Pokey LaFarge & Co. at the Ubangi Stomp Club, 28 Oct. 2012

Thanks to Paul Foley of the Ubangi Stomp Club in central Dublin for a reminder that Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three (USA) are back in Dublin next Sunday, 28 October, at 8.00 p.m. in Whelan's. Tickets at €22 are still available from www.tickets.ie and from www.whelanslive.com. Paul also sends this press release:

Following their stompin' success on 'Later with Jools' on New Year’s Eve and a sold-out UK and Ireland tour, Pokey returns to Dublin for what promises to be yet another musical highlight from the great man. 

Pokey LaFarge delivers a creative mix of early jazz, string ragtime, country blues, and western swing. It’s wonderfully infectious, and all laid down in front of a big, big swingin’ beat. His sounds are truly original and modern, yet LaFarge’s influences are apparent, as tinges of Blind Boy Fuller, Bob Wills, and Jimmie Rodgers are easily recognizable. From St Louis, Missouri, Pokey is accompanied by fellow St Louis musicians the South City Three: Joey Glynn on upright bass, Adam Hoskinson on guitar, and Ryan Koenig on harmonica and washboard.

Watery Hill Boys: horse play at Mohill, 28 Oct. 2012

Thanks to Tommy Kelleher, organiser of the Mohill Bluegrass Festival, for this reminder:

The Watery Hill Boys [from Drogheda; above] are playing in O'Brian's Tavern, Glebe St., Mohill, Co. Leitrim, on Bank Holiday Sunday (28 Oct.) from 9.00 to 11.00 p.m. to coincide with the annual Horse Fair. We'll have a Bluegrass stall on the street with ongoing jam sessions during the day, and later on in O'Brian's. This promises to be a lively event with plenty of characters about. All musicians welcome!

Ivor Ottley - performing and teaching in Ireland, 12-19 Dec. 2012

Thanks to Ivor Ottley for some good news for his friends and fans in Ireland, and especially for anyone wanting to learn bluegrass fiddle from the currently reigning West Tennessee Fiddle Champion. Ivor, originally from England, has been long resident in the west of Ireland and subsequently in Sweden, and is shown (left) in Holladay, TN, where he won the championship earlier this year.

Ivor is coming over to Ireland between 12 December and 19 December to play some gigs in the Galway area. He will also be available for teaching and workshops between those dates, and will be glad if the word can be spread around. We're happy to oblige, so please pass it on, especially to anyone who could benefit from contact with this outstanding fiddler. Check the 'Learning' page of his website. He can be contacted by e-mail, and is also on Facebook.

Ivor has also written a solid, extremely useful two-page article, 'Fundamentally good playing', in the current issue of British Bluegrass News (no. 62, autumn 2012), surveying, assessing, and advising on practice methods and instructional resources, which holds good for players of any instrument and for ensembles as well. Strongly recommended.

Your festival in BU's 2013 list: deadline 2 Nov.

The October 2012 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine reminds festival organisers that the details of their events for next year should be sent in by 2 November 2012 in order to appear in the January 2013 issue of BU. The BU list is for bluegrass/ old-time/ acoustic music festivals, contests, or conventions. Events should have at least five bands or performers taking part, and no less than five hours of music a day.

A questionnaire form for giving the details of your event is published on page 60. This can be cut out, filled in, and posted to the magazine, or sent by fax (001-540-341-0011). You can also send in the information by e-mail. The details required are:

City of event
State of event [or country, for those outside the USA]
Dates in 2013
Name of event
Location
Name of contact person (one name only)
Address
City
State
Zip code
Phone (one only)
Fax (one only)
E-mail (one only)
Website (one only)

Ireland has usually scored pretty high in the number of festivals listed outside the USA, and we hope this position can be maintained or improved. While you're about it, the BIB will be glad to receive similar details for its own calendar.

Bookings sought for Leon Hunt's tribute to Earl Scruggs

Following the news that appeared on the BIB on 3 October, Loudon Temple of the Brookfield Knights agency reports that leading UK banjoist Leon Hunt (left) will be touring with his 'n-Tet' band next spring to support his forthcoming album of 'old-fashioned bluegrass' as a tribute to Earl Scruggs. Loudon writes:

We are hoping to bring the Leon Hunt n-Tet over to Ireland for a few dates at the end of April with their fabulous tribute show... I have interest from one venue already for the Saturday night (27 April) and need to add some around that - or leading up to it. Please let me know if you'd like to take the show. Info follows below and we are next week sending our review copies of the new album to the Irish media (print and radio) for review and radio plays. It is a fine album and is bound to attract a lot of attention.

Contact the agency through their website, or 'phone +44 (0)1505 706346.

Open House bring Old Crow Medicine Show to Belfast, 31 Jan. 2013

Thanks to the Open House team in Belfast for the news that as part of their 'festival lineup all year long' programme, they will be presenting the Old Crow Medicine Show (USA), together with special guests, on Thursday 31 January 2013 in Mandela Hall, QUB Students Union, University Road, Belfast BT7 1NF. Tickets (advance online price £19.50; door price £23) will be available from 9 a.m. on Monday 22 October 2012 from this link. Doors will open at 7.30 p.m., and the show is strictly for over-18s.

The OCMS (who released their fourth album, Carry me back, this summer) have already played two Open House shows with great success. The Open House team says:

... why is it this band in particular who have broken through into the mainstream? It's the very things that we love about the band, and make us feel that they reflect what Open House Festival is all about - proper virtuoso grass-roots folk music but played with such swagger and punk-DIY attitude that in an uncanny way, it actually makes you forget you're listening to folk music and makes you think you are listening to rock 'n' roll.

See the whole Open House release here. The OCMS will be playing the previous night (Wed. 30 Jan. 2013) at Vicar Street, Dublin. On 1 February they begin three dates in Britain.

********************

Thanks also to Bluegrass Today for the news that the Punch Brothers, who will be playing an Open House show in Belfast on 5 Nov. 2012 as part of a four-week tour in Europe, are due to release a five-track EP, Ahoy!, on 13 Nov. The record can be pre-ordered on the band's website.

Two Man Gentlemen Band, Jan. 2013

More transatlantic talent on offer from the UK's Brookfield Knights agency, who send this news:

The Two Man Gentlemen Band (USA) will be flown in to the UK for an appearance at Celtic Connections Festival on the weekend of 25/26 January and will thereafter be available for a select few add-on dates in England/ Wales/ Ireland. If you wanna catch a slice of the action, please get back to us asap. If we have enough interest, this will happen.

'Celtic connections' seems a pretty elastic term; but the TMGB's music would have sounded familiar to many of the first generation of bluegrass musicians and their immediate old-time predecessors. With bass, kazoos, tenor guitar, plectrum banjo, and the like, in neat arrangements with a lot of humour, they present the blues-, jazz-, and ragtime-influenced styles of the first third of the twentieth century. Several videos of them can be seen on YouTube.

I Draw Slow at IBMA - on Facebook

Fans of I Draw Slow will be glad to know that, thanks to Pinecastle Records, a series of photos (including the one above), taken at their official showcase during IBMA's World of Bluegrass in Nashville, can be seen on Facebook.

Onwards and upwards due for release on 30 Oct. 2012

Niall Toner writes:

Dear friends,

Onwards and upwards, my new CD on Pinecastle Records, is scheduled for release on 30 October. I am excited about the project and the quality of musicians that participated in making this latest CD. Those that were involved include Rob Ickes on Dobro and Weissenborn guitar, Viktor Krauss on upright bass, Ashby Frank on mandolin, and Keith Sewell on guitar, fiddle, piano, banjo, and electric guitar. Keith also acted as producer on the entire project, and Fiaz Farrelly was responsible for the artwork and Design. Jake Burns was the engineer, and we recorded at Loud Studios in Nashville.

'Judge and jury', a tale of betrayal, attrition, and justice, inspired by 'CSI Miami' and a BBC series called 'The jury', will be the first single release from the CD and will be appearing soon on radio worldwide.

You can obtain your copy by visiting the Pinecastle website, and the CD is also available from Barnes & Noble Bookstores. Please consider ordering your copy today, and thanks for your support!

Onwards and upwards,

Niall

Boogiemen memories of Omagh 2012

The Blue Grass Boogiemen (NL) have made many friends and fans in Ireland over the years. If you come into these categories, pay a visit to the blog on the Boogiemen's website, where you will find a lot about this year's Omagh festival (written both before and after the event) and many pictures taken while they were there.

The above photo isn't actually from Omagh - it was taken more recently at the Hague, but we thought any Boogiemen aficionado would be glad to see it, wherever it came from.

Breffni Bluegrass in Concert at County Museum in Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, 19 Oct. 2012

Thanks to Tom Hanway for news of this performance of bluegrass in a concert setting - an all-too-rare situation - tomorrow night (Friday):

On Friday 19 October 2012, 8.30 p.m., Breffni Bluegrass are billed to play 'An Evening of American Honky Tonk Country Music' – that’s code for 'bluegrass' and 'pickin’ music' – at the County Museum, Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan. Admission is €5.00. For more details please call 049-8544070 or e-mail.

Breffni Bluegrass are Aidan Cunningham (dobro, vocals), Tom Hanway (5-string banjo, guitar, vocals), Kevin Logue (guitar, vocals), and Mick McCormick (bass, vocals).

Video footage from Moniaive 2012

Thanks to FOAOTMAD for the news that the Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival website now features several videos of performances during this year's festival (28-30 Sept.) - including the Knotty Pine String Band doing 'Where do [sic] the good times go?' and the Down and Out Bluegrass Band playing 'Cherokee shuffle'. The Down and Outs' home page, by the way, now has several photos of their full five-piece configuration.

The Moniaive website also gives advance details for next year's festival, including the dates (27-9 Sept. 2013) and most of the scheduled lineup, including two bands from Ireland: the august Lee Valley String Band and the fast-rising Watery Hill Boys.

High Plains Tradition - only a few hours away

A reminder that this outstanding five-piece classic bluegrass band from Denver, Colorado, who last toured here in July 2010, will begin a ten-day tour in Ireland on this coming Friday (19 Oct.). The tour begins and ends with two of the mini-festivals that have become a characteristic of the bluegrass scene in Ireland: the Bluegrass Weekend in Kilworth, Co. Cork (19-21 Oct.) and the 4th Balla Bluegrass Festival in Balla, Co. Mayo (26-9 Oct.).

Full details of High Plains Tradition's tour are on the BIB calendar. As announced earlier, banjo-player Mark Leslie (centre, in the above photo) is unable to come this time; instead, another distinguished Colorado picker, Ron Lynam (right) of Cowtown (and formerly of Front Range) will be playing banjo with the HPT.

Random Canyon Growlers begin Irish tour at the Red Room, 29 Oct. 2012

Thanks to Sharon Loughrin of the Red Room in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Ireland's premier house concert venue, for this news:

We have the Random Canyon Growlers (USA) playing on Monday 29 October. This is the band's first gig in Ireland, and - as Red Room regulars know - this is a great venue for anyone wanting to listen to bluegrass in a concert atmosphere, where you can appreciate the quality of the music and get to meet the musicians.

Glasgow reviewer Paul Kerr writes of the band: 'They definitely stake their claim to be one of the best of the current young bluegrass bands.' Sounds like our sort of night. As usual, all are welcome; either e-mail me or call on 07747120659 for further details.

The Growlers will be touring in Ireland till 4 Nov. Other dates in the tour are on the BIB calendar.

Slow Jam resumes in central Dublin, 19 Oct. 2012

Thanks to Paddy Kiernan (left) for the news that the Bluegrass Slow Jam recommences at Walton's New School of Music, George's St., Dublin 2, this Friday (19 Oct.) from 6.30 to 8.00 p.m. All the details can be found via this link.

Paddy is also banjo-player with the thrusting new band Lands End, who made a big impression when, after a busy summer in Ireland, they played at the major Didmarton Bluegrass Festival in England at the beginning of last month.

New acoustic music club in Monasterevin

Thanks to Paul 'The Tin Man' McEvoy for the news that a new monthly acoustic music club will open very shortly in Monasterevin, Co. Kildare (easily accessible from the M7 motorway). The Red Hat Acoustic Music Club will meet on the first Friday of every month, beginning on Friday 2 November at 9.00 p.m., in the Hazel Hotel, which is on the R445 at the south end of Monasterevin, between the river bridge and the canal bridge.

The Red Hat will have a regular cadre of singers, including Anna & Orla Greaves, Ray McGee, Mick Dunne, and Paul himself, together with other guests - we understand that prominent bluegrass and old-time performers from the surrounding region can be expected to appear. Musicians and listeners are welcome; a donation of 3 euros is to help provide light refreshments. For more information, contact Paul at 086-2640667.

Keeping up with the times

The latest offer from the US Compass Records label is a 25% discount on albums by the Canadian acoustic duo Dala; plus, if you buy three or more Dala albums, you receive a free Dala iPhone case.

Not so long ago, bands who used T-shirts, pens, lapel badges, or beer mats to make their names and faces known were considered enterprising. Times are moving on, and we commend the use of promotional iPhone cases to any band looking for new ways of putting themselves about. See the full Compass release here.

Morrison & West tour next spring 'has lift-off'

The UK Brookfield Knights agency reports that the projected tour of these islands by Cahalen Morrison & Eli West (USA) next April is now booked, except for one or two dates.

This is due, at least in part, to the surprise emergence of their latest album, Our Lady of the tall trees, at #2 on the Roots Music Report Top Fifty list, and its enthusiastic reception by reviewers, one of whom has called their music 'ultra-traditional, yet incredibly modern too. Beautiful!'

Niall Toner in the bluegrass heartland

Niall Toner reports from Raleigh, North Carolina:

I did a gig last night in Tir Na nOg here in Raleigh, with a fine bunch of local musicians who went to the trouble of learning all my new songs from my Pinecastle album, Onwards and upwards. Jan Johansson, originally from Sweden, played mandolin and fiddle; Tom Langdon (Lorraine Jordan's husband) played Dobro; and Rick Lassiter was on bass. The stage at Tir Na nOg, and the in-house sound system, are just superb, and the house soundman, Ethan Chesson, really knows his stuff. This will be one of the live venues for World Of Bluegrass when they relocate here next year.

Last Wednesday I was in Bristol, TN, where the locals are working hard to promote the city as one of the most important country music historical locations, and where they have streets named after Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family. I performed on a lunchtime TV news show, which provoked a huge reaction and drew a great crowd to my show that night at the Bristol Museum's Performing Arts Centre.

I also recorded a show with Tim White for the 'Songs of the Mountains' TV series, which will be broadcast on PBS TV, and goes out to an audience of over forty million viewers in about four months time. Tim and his band, the VW Boys, were great to work with, and we also had Special Consensus on the show.

Onwards and upwards went out to radio and TV last week, and the reaction from DJs and presenters has been very positive. The official release here in the US is set for 30 October.

This coming week it's Asheville, Burnsville, and Jonesborough, with No Strings Attached, Mark Newton and the VW Boys, the Boxcars, and Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice. Hey, it's all go...

The photos above were taken by the celebrated US bluegrass blogger Ted Lehmann, were published among others on 10 Oct. on his blog 'Ted Lehmann's Bluegrass, Books, and Brainstorms', and are used here with his permission. Top, Niall performing in front of the Blue Plate Wall at WDVX-FM in Knoxville, TN; bottom, Niall and all-girl Boston-based band Della Mae.

Welcome back, UKBluegrass.com

Readers will have noticed that UKBluegrass.com - since 2006 the most valuable source of day-to-day information on what's happening on the British bluegrass scene - has been oddly quiet over the past summer, with only a few news items published during the busiest time of the bluegrass year. The reason? Its founders and operators, Katherine Selby and Jer Boon, have been moving house, and have accordingly taken a not-quite-complete sabbatical from bluegrass activity.

If you've kept an eye on the headlines displayed on the right-hand side of the BIB, you'll have seen last night a new post announcing a new festival for next June, at Tamworth in the English midlands. Today there's a further post, with embedded video, about the new young multi-national band Lands End, mentioned recently on the BIB. We welcome UKBluegrass.com back as a vital part of the daily nourishment for fans of the music in these islands.

Future tours announced

Anyone who has enjoyed the previous appearances by the Wiyos (USA) in Ireland will be glad to learn two pieces of news: (1) they are now using a redesigned washboard and (2) they are available for dates in these islands eleven months from now - between 13 Sept. and 6 Oct. 2013. Left: the cover of their latest CD, Twist.

Hillfolk Noir (USA) are also planning a tour in these islands for up to three and a half weeks in June 2013. The UK agency Brookfield Knights will be glad to hear from promoters and event organisers who would be interested in putting on shows by either band (or both, of course).

Photos from Bruff 2012 welcome

At last weekend's 4th Bruff Bluegrass Music Festival we (and everyone else we could see) had such a good time that any photos taken during the Festival will be welcome as reminders. We know that crowded conditions can make taking pictures difficult, but good photos have come out of previous Bruff festivals, so...

Niall talks on Bluegrass Today

The video interview conducted by John Lawless with Niall Toner at IBMA's World of Bluegrass has now been published on Bluegrass Today.

All of Bluegrass Today's special features from World of Bluegrass 2012 can be reached here.

Layne Publications - tabs and online instructional material

An example has just come in of what purports to be a comment on a BIB post but is in fact a promotional message. However, in this case what it's promoting may be of interest to BIB readers.

Layne Publications, based in South Carolina, claims to have the largest directory of tablatures for banjo, mandolin, and bluegrass guitar, plus online lessons for fiddle, Dobro, dulcimer, and bluegrass jamming. The standard price is $2.99 for a tab and jam track (and $69.99, for instance, for the total forty-eight bluegrass banjo tabs/tracks); you can also sign up for some free material. The site also sells the CDs of Jordan Layne Bourland, himself a picker.

Tumbling Bones: new single, new visit?

Thanks to Pete from the New York string band Tumbling Bones (USA), who toured here this past summer, for the news that the band have just released a new single which can be heard and downloaded for free here. It's called 'Golden gates of Heaven', and is written by a fellow young Brooklyn folksong writer, Feral Foster.

Tumbling Bones can also be seen on YouTube, and are hoping to make it back to Ireland in late spring/early summer 2013.

Tumbling Bones // 'Gritty traditional American music'

E-mail

phone: +1 (434) 872-3864

Website; Facebook

Kilworth, 19-21 Oct. 2012: extra details

On Sunday last we mentioned the attractive full-colour brochure produced for the Kilworth Bluegrass Weekend, but omitted to mention some of the additional details given in it.

The Kellehers, Pat and Ricky, who support High Plains Tradition on the evening concert on Friday 19 Oct., are a father-and-son duo from Cork who bring their own blend of music to the event. The Down and Out Bluegrass Band from Belfast are playing in Cotter's Bar on Friday night, in Jimmy's Bar on Saturday, and in the winding-up sessions on Sunday. The Gordon & Rosie Band from Cork (Gordon and Rosie plus P.J. Power on Dobro and Eddie Fitzgerald on bass) play in Jimmy's on Friday night and Cotter's on Saturday; all the evening sessions are at 10.30 p.m.

Workshops on Saturday begin with a workshop for children at 11.30 a.m. - introduction to the bluegrass instruments and participation in a sing-song. Workshops in fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, and bass begin at 2.00 p.m.; a separate workshop on song arrangement and singing, accessible to all, is at 3.00 p.m.

The weekend will also have a theme of 'Remembering Earl and Doc' running through it. You can book by telephone from 087-7921771, from the Avondhu office in Fermoy (025-32227), from Cotter's bar in Kilworth (025-27109 after 5.00 p.m.), or from Hyland's in Mitchelstown (025-24528 or 087-6492514). For accommodation details, call 087-7921771.

Homespun 20% discount continues through Fri. 12 Oct. 2012

Instructional DVD giants Homespun are extending their Columbus Day sale through Friday 12 October, meaning that all their downloads are available at a 20 per cent discount till then. Given the richness of the Homespun catalogue, this should make for some remarkable bargains. Check out what's available at the Homespun website.

Fine times at 4th Bruff Bluegrass Festival

Festival window display in O'Connor's Pharmacy, Main St., Bruff - the background for the Festival blog

The BIB editor reports: 

This is not even an attempt at a proper report on the 4th Bruff Bluegrass Festival; just a brief and necessary word on how enjoyable it was for me as a member of Woodbine and (judging by appearances) for all the other musicians taking part.

In four years of growth the festival has become hard to beat as a showcase for bluegrass in Ireland. Nine bands, from the north, south, east, west, and middle of this island, were on the official schedule, with some unscheduled bonuses such as Cian, Kevin, and Geraldine Gill, who led the lunchtime jam at Clancy's on Sunday. Congratulations and thanks to Jack Clancy and other members of the organising committee for ensuring that a good time was had by all!

'I see bluegrass - and I want to paint it black'

Uri Kohen writes from Westport, Co. Mayo:

During 2005-6 I used to run a club, playing only black music such as reggae, soul, funk, and hip-hop. In 2007 I parked that project and was drawn into the world of bluegrass; the joke of a reggae DJ becoming a bluegrass promoter has been around for a while now. During the last seven years I met a lot of people who taught me about the tradition and history of bluegrass, but I never knew that my love for black music and bluegrass will meet one day.

Last night (7 October) I saw the light - I went to see the amazing Carolina Chocolate Drops, a four-piece string band which has been described as the revival of the black string-band tradition. They played a fantastic show to a very supportive audience in Galway: the band changed instruments, lead vocals, musical styles, and combined it with unique explanations about the music, the instruments, and their origins. Alongside traditional old-time fiddle tune the band combined string arrangements for hip-hop and country numbers. Bar the fact that it was an unbelievable show, it brought it all home for me and I learned a lot of new things about bluegrass.

The band were supported by another great band by the name of David Wax Museum which played folk, bluegrass, gospel, and Mexican-style music - a great night hailed by all. I just hope that the sky line between North Carolina and the west of Ireland will be open and that we will see them in Westport during one of our festivals. Maybe the Chocolate Drops will turn into rain.

Uri sends this link to a playlist of thirteen YouTube videos of the Chocolate Drops.

The BIB editor apologises for not giving advance news of the Galway show; few people regret missing it more than he does.

Good news from Dangem, Oct.-Nov. 2012

Dangem Bluegrass announce that master banjo player and teacher John Dowling (UK) - the first European to win the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship at Winfield, Kansas (2002) - is to return to Northern Ireland for another Banjo Teaching Weekend (Scruggs style), this time at the Spectrum Centre on the Shankhill Road, Belfast.

Dates are Friday 2–Saturday 3 November 2012. Registration opens at 7.00 p.m. on the Friday, and the workshop then runs from 7.30 to 9.30 p.m., resuming at 10.00 a.m. on Saturday and continuing till 5.00 p.m. with breaks for coffee and lunch. An evening concert given by John and the Down and Out Bluegrass Band (7.30-9.00 p.m.) is free to workshop attenders and only £5.00 to guests.

The total cost of the workshop and concert is just £35.00, which will include a free commemorative T-shirt. If you don’t own a banjo you can hire one for the weekend for £20.00; please give prior notice by e-mail. Places will be limited to twenty, so contact the Centre by e-mail or call 02890 5045 55 to register. This is supported by the National Lottery, the Arts Council for N.I., and Dangem Bluegrass. Some of John's last banjo workshop in Northern Ireland can be seen on YouTube. The full text of the Dangem circular can be read here.

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The Dangem Banjo and Bluegrass Music Group is resuming its monthly Bluegrass Get-Togethers, combining instruction and jamming, at the Island Civic Centre, Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn, Co. Antrim BT27 4RL. The first meeting of the new season is on Sat. 27 Oct. from 9.30/10.00 a.m. to noon.

All bluegrass instruments are welcome, and everyone is welcome, no matter what their playing standard - even if you can’t play, you are welcome. If you don’t have an instrument, you can hire one from as little as £10.00 (see the link above), making your reservation no later than 7.00 p.m. the day before the get-together. Full details can be found on the Dangem website.

High Plains Tradition headline Kilworth Bluegrass Weekend, 19-21 Oct. 2012

Thanks to John Nyhan for details of the Bluegrass Weekend to be held in Kilworth, Co. Cork (just off the main Dublin-Cork road, a short distance north of Fermoy) on the weekend from Friday 19 October to Sunday 20 October 2012. [Update 7 Oct.: John has now produced an attractive full-colour illustrated flyer for the event, which has been widely distributed and can also be had from him via the channels given below.]

The weekend centres on four performances by the superb five-piece classic bluegrass band High Plains Tradition from Denver, Colorado, who last toured here in July 2010. Banjo-player Mark Leslie (centre, in the above photo) will not be able to make this trip; but another distinguished Colorado picker, Ron Lynam (right) of Cowtown (and formerly of Front Range) will be playing banjo with the HPT.

The main venue will be the Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, where the weekend starts at 8.15 p.m. on Friday 19 Oct. with the HPT in concert, supported by the Kellehers bluegrass duo from Cork city. Workshops will be held during Saturday (ring 087 7921771 for details); at the evening concert (8.00 p.m.) the HPT will be supported by the Down and Out Bluegrass Band from Belfast and by the four-piece Cork band of Gordon & Rosie. On Sunday the HPT will give a gospel recital in Kilworth catholic church at 11.30 a.m., followed by a gospel concert in the arts centre at 4.00 p.m.

Sessions will also be held in Cotters and McCarthy's. A ticket for the whole weekend, covering all concerts and workshops, is a mere €35; Friday's concert is €15, Saturday's €17.50, and Sunday's €5.00 (as for workshops). Bookings and inquiries: 087 7921771.

Down and Out dates in October 2012

Thanks to Richard Leeman, guitarist and lead singer for the Down and Out Bluegrass Band, for this news:

Here's where people can see the Down and Out Bluegrass Band during October 2012.

Sun. 7th: Clarke's Bar, Bruff, Co. Limerick (part of 4th Bruff Bluegrass Festival)
Tues. 9th: The Weigh Inn, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Sat. 13th: The Hudson Bar, Belfast (part of Grassstock)
Sat. 20th: The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork (supporting High Plains Tradition (USA) as part of Kilworth Bluegrass Weekend)
Sat. 27th-Sun. 28th: 4th Balla Bluegrass Festival, Mannion's, Balla, Co. Mayo

We'll try and post exact details of stage times if we know them on our Facebook page closer to each gig.

The photo above was taken at Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare, earlier this year, with John Denby (mandolin) sitting in with the band; he has recently become a full member.

Frank Fairfield on Vimeo

Thanks to FOAOTMAD, Britain's old-time music association, for the news that multi-instrumental old-time musician Frank Fairfield, who played in Belfast and Dublin a month ago in the course of a European tour, is the subject of a film that can be seen on Vimeo.

Michael Miles at JKBF 2012

Michael J. Miles, whose one-man musical dramatisation of banjo history, 'Senegal to Seeger', was very well received at last month's Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival, sends a link to his own blog, with JKBF in its most recent entry.

The photo is one of several taken at Michael's Sunday night performance on the main stage, together with Gerry O'Connor (half-hidden) and Suzy Bogguss (left). The trio played what Michael describes as

a one-time only rendition of Dylan's 'I shall be released', arranged rather spontaneously for three voices, fretless, and tenor banjo. It was truly delightful and big fun, with audience singing as well. And we tacked on 'I'll fly away'.

Other photos and text can be seen on his own blog.