30 July 2013

News digest #28: update

Events in the coming week

AUGUST 2013

Thurs. 1st-Sat. 31st: Open House Festival presents the 400 Festival at Bangor, Co. Down; events include Bluegrass Picnic (Sun. 4th; see below)

Sat. 3rd: Photo shoot at Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, 10.00 a.m.: at least 15 banjo players needed (details here)
Bluegrass on the Walls, Derry/Londonderry city: Knotty Pine String Band, Gypsy Rebel Rabble, Down and Out Bluegrass Band, Wookalily, White Mansions, Janet Holmes, 1.00-4.00 p.m.; old-time/bluegrass concert in Craft Village Square, Greasy Coat String Band, Down and Out Bluegrass Band, Well Enough Alone, 7.30-10.00 p.m. (part of Maiden City Festival)

Sat. 3rd-Mon. 5th: 4th Greystones Americana & Roots Weekend, the Beach House and other venues in Greystones, Co. Wicklow; lineup and other details, see website; contact Conor O'Donnell (e-mail)

Sun. 4th: Bluegrass Brunch, Craft Village Square, Derry/Londonderry city: Dog Ruff String Band, Higglers, One for the Road, Janet Holmes Band, Wookalily, Jim Corr, 1.00-6.00 p.m. (part of Maiden City Festival)
Bluegrass Picnic at Ward Park, Bangor, Co. Down: Oh My Darling (Canada), 3.00-5.00 p.m.; adm. free

Other news

Apologies to our friend, clawhammer-banjo maestro Michael Miles, for not passing on in time the news that last week (Tuesday 23 July) he was on the air for thirty minutes of live music and conversation with host Lilli Kuzma of the Folk Festival radio show on WDCB, 90.9fm, Chicago, streaming online. The show runs from 7.00-9.00 pm (CT) on Tuesdays, and Michael was on at 8.00 p.m. - 'playing banjo, singing like there is a tomorrow, fretless banjo, fingerstyle guitar, and stories of the road'. Anyone who heard Michael in Ireland last September or this April will be sorry to have missed this.

Admirers of the Down and Out Bluegrass Band heard recently with great regret that Howard Walker (banjo) had suffered a bad injury to his right wrist. Richard Leeman, the band's guitarist, reports that if everything goes well, Howard could be fit again in time for their scheduled appearance at the 22nd Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival in Omagh (31 Aug.-2 Sept.). Meanwhile, the Down and Outs are grateful to have Tony Curran standing in on banjo, pending Howard's full recovery.


Thanks to Ray O'Brien for forwarding good news from the Down and Outs:

We are very happy and proud to announce that our first album, Lowering the tone, is finally ready! It was recorded over a couple of days in Newtownabbey earlier this year and is a mix of our own material alongside some classic bluegrass. You'll be able to get it at any of our upcoming gigs, and we'll post details of where you can order it online shortly. We're excited for everyone to hear it and hope you enjoy it.

Dangem Bluegrass in Craigavon, Co. Armagh, announce special offers in used and ex-demonstration 5-string banjos, including a Deering Sierra and a Gibson RB-250, with shipping to your door. Full details, including photos, can be seen on the latest Dangem e-newsletter and on Ray O'Brien's 'Bluegrass in Ireland' Facebook page.

The schedule of events at the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin, updated to 28 Sept. 2013, can be seen here. Of particular interest to BIB readers is the show by Session Americana on 27 Sept.

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