News digest #11

Events in the next week (taken from the BIB calendar; please check also the 'Weekly sessions' section of the calendar) 

Fri. 22nd-Sun. 24th: Springtime Bluegrass Festival, Spells Bar, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon: Colonel Bullshot Rides Again (Fri.), Woodbine (Sat.), Banjaxed Bluegrass Band (Sun.); no cover charges

Thurs. 28th: The Cabin Sessions, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Dundrum, Dublin: the McGrane Family, Con Butler (bass), Gerry Fitzpatrick (dobro), Cathy McEvoy (fiddle); special guests the Hot Dots (Hawaiian), Zuppa Mista (Latin/Folk), Dave Hardy (clarinet/sax);  9.30-11.30 p.m., adm. free

Other news

See the separate 'Fiddle matters' post which will be published later today.

And thanks to Ray O'Brien's 'Bluegrass in Ireland' Facebook page for news from Tom Hanway:

(1) RTE will soon air a nationwide commercial for Molson Canadian Beer, featuring a rolling bluegrass banjo with Irish and Canadian overtones. Tom played along to the TV ad, working closely with the composer and producer in Dublin, and sends big thanks to Niall Toner for recommending him for the session.

(2) Bluegrass Today, thanks to John Lawless, has run a feature article about Tom's latest book/CD set, Easy Irish and Celtic melodies for 5-string banjo: best-loved airs and session tunes, described on the BIB on 20 Dec. 2012. The article includes substantial input from Tom on how his involvement with Irish music developed.

Full details on the book/CD set itself are on the Mel Bay website. It should be readily available from all good suppliers and music stores.