News digest #21: further updates

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

Wed. 12th: Tumbling Bones (USA), Old Oak Pub, 113 Oliver Plunkett St., Cork city; starts 10.30 p.m., adm. free

Thurs. 13th: Lands End, Mullarkey's, Clifden, Co. Galway

Fri. 14th: Bluegrass Slow Jam, Walton's New School of Music, George's St., Dublin 2, 6.30-8.00 p.m.
Lands End, Monroes, Galway city
Red Hat Acoustic Music Club, Harbour Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare; musicians and listeners welcome

Fri. 14th-Sun. 16th: 7th Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Westport, Co. Mayo: Blue Grass Boogiemen (NL), Tumbling Bones (USA), Roni Stoneman (USA), Kidnap Alice (GB), Wildflowers, Tim Rogers, Rocky Top String Band, Molly Hicks, Woodbine, Eilidh Patterson, Tin Box Company, Jukebox Gypsy

Sat. 15th: Lands End, Crowley's Music Store, Cork city (5.00 p.m.); Charlies Bar, Cork city (10.00 p.m.)
Prison Love, Sweeney's, Dame St., Dublin 2, midnight

Sun. 16th: Tumbling Bones (USA), Mannion's, Main St., Balla, Co. Mayo
Woodbine, Bob's Bar, Durrow, Co. Laois
Lands End, Ballydehob Maritime and Folk Festival, Co. Cork

Mon. 17th: Roni Stoneman (USA), The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, 8.30 p.m., £10; bookings/more info, call Sharon at 07747120659

Wed. 19th-Sun. 23rd: 15th Open House Festival, Belfast: Morgan O'Kane Band, Hillfolk Noir, Belfast American Folk & Roots Club, American sessions, much more

Thurs. 20th: Hillfolk Noir (USA), McCann's, Omagh, Co. Tyrone

Fri. 21st: Love:livemusic - National Music Day

Other news

Niall Toner had a very successful launch of his new book The nuts and bolts of songwriting on Saturday 8 June at the Borris Festival of Writing and Ideas (part of the 2013 Carlow Arts Festival). A full account is on Niall's own blog, and can also be seen on Ray O'Brien's Bluegrass in Ireland Facebook.

The Brookfield Knights agency in Britain is setting up tours for several US bands for February and March 2014, and would like to hear from Irish promoters and venue owners who would be interested (or have already expressed interest) in putting on Petunia & the Vipers in the period 1-9 March 2014. Elephant Revival and the Stray Birds will be touring in these islands during February; exact dates will soon be available.

Thanks to Adele Ingram of Wookalily (also on Facebook), whose debut album (now being recorded at Millbank Studios in Lisburn) will include their popular murder ballad 'Don't speak of the devil'; Adele sends this link to the track, recorded live round one microphone. Wookalily will feature in the next issue of Bluegrass Europe magazine, which will have 'Women in bluegrass' as its main theme.

Thanks to our Midland correspondent for drawing attention to the Hands of Music website, which he considers 'is totally non-discriminatory, asexual, and reflects greatly on the sacredness and profound observations expressed by the artist on other parts of the human anatomy. In particular, the detail on hands and fingers is mind-boggling.' The BIB editor has one of the Hands of Music range of T-shirts, and will bring it to the Athy festival next month.

The updated schedule of events up to 23 June at the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre in Naul, Co. Dublin, can be seen here.

Ireland's long-time favourite US band, the Special Consensus, have now officially announced Dan Eubanks as their new bass player. Dan has been playing with them since David Thomas left the band after Special C's tour in Ireland earlier this year. More details are on Bluegrass Today. 

Thanks to old-time clawhammer-banjo-player and singer Alec Somerville for the news that he will be playing two dates in Scotland later this month: on Thursday 27 June at the Baw-bee Folk and Blues Club, Dumfries, 8.00-10.30 p.m.; and on Friday 28 June in the Lounge, the King's Arms, Dalbeattie, 8.00 p.m.