Hackensaw Boys (USA) in Cork, 3 Sept. 2013

Thanks to Bluegrass Today for the news that the highly mobile Hackensaw Boys from Virginia, USA, are now touring in Europe with an album in LP format which is available only on the tour, Live 'til the sweet bye and bye. More details and audio samples are on Bluegrass Today.

According to their online schedule, the band has been playing this week in Germany, will be in Belgium and the Netherlands over the weekend, and will play two dates in England in the first half of next week. In between (Tuesday 3 Sept.) they are scheduled to play the Crane Lane Theatre in Cork city. On Friday 6 Sept. they will wind up the tour in Iduna, Drachten, the Netherlands.

Dangem at Omagh - win the latest Goodtime banjo!

Thanks to Derek Lockhart for the latest e-newsletter from Dangem Bluegrass - on the 22nd Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival, which begins at 12 noon tomorrow (Friday 30 August). Derek's bulletin gives the full lineup; advises intending visitors to get there before the crowd shown above rushes the gates; and reminds us that a full range of banjos will be on the Dangem stand, together with your chance to win the latest in Deering Goodtime banjos (shown below), inspired by Steve Martin.

The new Rare Bird Alert Goodtime banjo includes a full accessory package: Deering gig bag with the Deering logo, strap, electronic tuner, full set of picks, and the combo pack of Steve’s Rare bird alert CD plus the banjo tablature book. Full details are on the Dangem bulletin and the Deering website.

Catching up

The schedule of events at the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin, updated to 27 Sept. 2013, can be seen here. Of particular interest to BIB readers is the show by Session Americana on 27 Sept.; note also the show by US songwriter Sam Baker on 14 Sept. More details are on the Centre's website.

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This weekend's 22nd Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival at the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, now includes the Churchmen (USA), who released their new CD Mercy Road last month on Mountain Fever records and will be headlining the Sunday evening gospel concert. Full details of the band and everything else about the weekend, including online ticket booking, are on the Festival website. Yes, the structure behind the Churchmen looks as if it belongs in the Park - a covered bridge is about all the Park lacks in the way of traditional American wood building...

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Looking ahead a month, thanks to Brian Falvey of the Bruff Bluegrass Festival Committee for news that the Festival has a new website with details of the lineup for this year's event (4-6 October): the Rocky Top String Band, Tennessee Hennessees, Woodbine, Bending The Strings, Knotty Pine String Band, Tin Box Company, Down and Out Bluegrass Band, and more to be confirmed, with music in all the pubs.

There is also a full ancillary programme of events, including the Morning Star Rose competition on Friday 4th; a Donkey Derby, 50 km cycle race, and 10km Fun Run on Saturday; and a Cowboy and Tractor Run (with celebrity guest) and Horse Shoe Pitching Competition on Sunday. Banjo workshops will also be given by Howard Walker of the Down and Outs, Martin Cooney of Bending the Strings, and the BIB editor.

Congratulations to the Bruff committee on taking the Festival to a new scale and a new level.

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On Sunday last, we announced that Compass Records had been offering 40% discounts on CDs from their list featuring the fiddle. This was a Deal of the Day, and we concluded that the offer was over; but it's back today, so fiddlers (like everyone else) should stay tuned.

One For The Road

Thanks to Patrick Simpson, who sends:

Just a brief note to let all our Bluegrass Ireland readers know of one of the reasons I just love music and bluegrass... A great and perfect product of this bluegrass community since I can think to remember, Luke Coffey [above] of County Cavan. I have watched and heard many bluegrassers in my life, such as Robbie McCoury and Steve Sparkman, etc., and as the passing of one of our dearest and finest pickers Vinnie Baker goes forth, whom I do so fondly remember from Mohill, Dublin, Athy, and Dunmore East bluegrass festivals, God rest his soul, whom I have found billed with me sometimes at the same time here in Ireland.

'Lucás' Coffey as I call him, possesses some of the greatest and most essential ingredients or components needed for such a small handful of singers, songwriters, players found here or abroad. Clandestine, graceful, and pleasant banjo player, he is now playing with either Tom Hanway or Well Enough Alone, and with his friend Niall Hughes making this combo One For The Road a strong performance. Niall, yet another extremely humble and talented banjo player and singer in his own right from here, or in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as you may know is a tour de force in passion and talent, singing, and professionalism on 5-string banjo, guitar, and double bass.

Both Luke Coffey and Niall Hughes in bluegrass jam sessions are seldom apart and are dearly loved by the Dublin Bluegrass Collective of musicians, bluegrass lovers, family, and fans of bluegrass music of Ireland, and we hope to see them achieve a higher standard of greatness for things to come.

God bless you Vinnie Baker, may the force be with you! Here for you we have John Denby (mandolin), Aran Sheehan, Luke Coffey, myself, Niall Hughes with legendary Hugh D. Taggart thanks to our performance at Knockanstockan, Co. Wicklow, July 2013.

Sincerely,

Patrick Simpson

The link Patrick sends is to a 43-minute YouTube feature, 'Bluegrass Music Live From Ireland', with the group's full set on audio, capped with Patrick's artwork for the visual. Solid stuff!

Thanks to Ray O'Brien...

... for posting on his 'Bluegrass in Ireland' Facebook page news of a ten-minute video shot by Big John Cline at the 3rd Mohill Bluegrass Festival earlier this month, which can be seen and heard on the Festival's Facebook page. There is good footage - well edited and assembled - of Hard Station, the Down and Out Bluegrass Band, Bee's Knees, the Greasy Coat String Band, and others at the crafts show, the main concert, the gospel show, and other festival venues and events. The video closes with the festival's dedication to the late Vinny Baker.

Thanks to Ray also for good tidings of last weekend's Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival, where (among other things) Ray, standing in for Roy Brennan, played bass with Hard Station. But his best news from Dunmore East is:

Southern Welfare also made a comeback with a late gig on the Sunday evening in the Ocean Hotel with support from Delle Belle. We're looking forward to next year's 20th anniversary festival.

It'll be a treat to have this powerful band back on the festival and gig circuit.

Cedar Hill to play at the Red Room, 2 Sept. 2013

 

Thanks to Sharon Loughrin for the news that Cedar Hill (USA) will be playing a special house concert at the Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, on Monday 2 September, directly after their weekend at the 22nd Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival at Omagh.  Sharon adds: 'This is the only gig outside the festival before they return home, as usual all are welcome.'

The above photo shows Frank Ray, who fronts Cedar Hill, founded the band in 1967, and was inducted into the Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

Bunratty Banjo Pickers Festival, 28-9 Sept. 2013

The BIB announced on 6 August that good news was on the way for those who feel that the absence of a Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival this year has left a big hole in the calendar. Well, the good news has come. The Bunratty Banjo Pickers Festival will be held at Bunratty, Co. Clare, on 28-9 Sept. 2013. The Festival page of the official Bunratty website announces:

The Bunratty Business Association in conjunction with Sixmilebridge Folk Club presents this inaugural musical event. Aimed at musicians and listeners, the festival will celebrate the diversity of the banjo. Visiting musicians are invited to join in the many 'Fleadh Style' sessions which are free to the public from noon on Saturday in Bunratty village. These will feature Irish traditional musicians as well as bluegrass, Dixieland jazz, old-timey, American roots, and folk music.

There are two concerts on Saturday, a buffet concert at 5.30 p.m. (€18) in the Manor Hotel (061-707984) and the headline concert (€15) featuring Cathal Hayden & Jamie O’Dowd at 8.30 p.m. in the Bunratty Castle Hotel (061-478400). Tickets available at concert venues.

On Sunday the festival continues in the Folk Park with four 45-minute concerts in the Barn, starting on the hour from 1.00 p.m. Normal admission rates apply. This is a great venue and anyone who has had the Winter Music Weekend experience at this venue will certainly come back for more this September.

A full downloadable schedule will be appearing on the Bunratty website in due course. Bands and artists featuring over the weekend are:

Irish Trad: Cathal Hayden & Jamie O’Dowd, Eoin O’Neill, Quenton Cooper & Kevin Griffen, the Kirby Family, Sixmilebridge Folk Club Festival Band
Old-timey: BanjaBill All Stars (Bill Whelan and friends)
Bluegrass: USA band, the Banjaxed Bluegrass Band (Limerick)
Jazz: London Dixieland Jazz Band
Roots/folk: Gale Force, Trembling Hand Band, Gordon & Rosie, John Nyhan, the Kellehers

News digest #31

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

Thurs. 29th: The Cabin Sessions, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Dundrum, Dublin 14: Spats Davenport (guitar), Con Butler (bass), Gerry Fitzpatrick (dobro), Cathy McEvoy (fiddle), Christian Volkmann (harmonica) and special guests No Direction, aka Larry and Rose (country), Taylor's Lane (contemporary), Minnie & the Illywhackers (ukulele swing); 9.30-11.30 p.m., adm. free

Fri. 30th Aug.-Sun. 1st Sept.: 22nd Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival, Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone: Lonesome River Band (USA), Cedar Hill (USA), Lynda Dawson & Pattie Hopkins of Kickin' Grass (USA), Rawhide (B), Jaywalkers (GB), Southern Tenant Folk Union (GB), Woodbine, Broken String Band, Northern Exposure, Tupelo, Well Enough Alone, Down and Out Bluegrass Band, Rackhouse Pilfer, more

Sat. 31st: Harvest Music Festival, Greyabbey Estate, Greyabbey, Co. Down; adm. £20; tel. 028 9182 6846; lineup includes Hayseed Dixie (USA)

Other news

Practically all you need to know about the 22nd Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival at Omagh is either above, or online at the Festival web page, or in the brochure which can be downloaded as a pdf document - including ticket prices, online booking facilities, concert schedules, and Bluegrass in the Park lineups for all three days. The main thing is to be there!

Thanks to Ray O'Brien for forwarding this news from Aran Sheehan of Dublin Bluegrass, who announces that the circle jam every Tuesday in central Dublin is suspended temporarily, and adds:

We will be back... We just need to change a couple of things such as noise pollution, which is affecting our playing. A massive thank you to the Mercantile Bar and staff Tom, Conor, Hughie who have all been terrific hosts and all the folks who have joined in or come to listen over the past couple of months. So watch this space and we will update you as soon as we know where we are going to be next. Pick on...

News for acoustic guitarists: Preston Reed (not bluegrass, but very impressive) will be playing in Whelan's, Dublin, on 24 Sept.;

... for fiddlers: Compass Records recently offered 40% discounts on CDs from their list featuring the fiddle; the offer is now over, but one should keep an eye on the Compass website, as on the Homespun website for deals on instructional videos;

... for dobroists,

... for people who want to keep their picks from slipping,
,
... and for people who'd like to play bass but don't have room for one: if you were intrigued by the BIB post of 3 July 2012 about the Ashbory bass as played by Robert Bowe at last year's Westport Festival - then read on. This is a similar concept.

US bands to visit in 2014 - DEFINITE and possible

Tours in Europe in 2014 are currently being prepared for several young, dynamic bands from the USA. Della Mae (above) from Boston, Mass., have just released their second album, This world oft can be, and have been nominated for the Emerging Artist award at this year's IBMA awards show. They took part in Rainer Zellner's Bluegrass Jamboree! package tour in central Europe in 2011, the year when their debut album I built this heart was released.

Promoters and event organisers in Europe who would like to book them to perform around the time of their projected appearance at the 12th International Bühl Bluegrass Festival (2-3 May 2013) in Bühl, Germany, should contact Glenn Blackman of WBA Entertainment.

Also scheduled for the Bühl Festival, Tumbling Bones (above) from Portland, Maine, present bluegrass, old-time, and classic country music with intense trio harmonies backed by guitar, bass, banjo, slide guitar and more, and expert buckdancing from Pete Winne. They released their debut EP (Risk not your soul) in 2011, and their first full-length album will be recorded in autumn.

They're well known in Ireland, having toured here for the second time and for over a month earlier this year, culminating in the Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, and they will return to Ireland in April 2014. Promoters and event organisers who would like to book them for performances should contact them by e-mail.

The Hot Seats (above) from Virginia, presenting 'old-time music with attitude' (Washington Post), will be returning to these islands in 2014 for tour dates and festival availability from 25 July to 10 August. They have previously made an impact at British events such as Celtic Connections, the Shetland Folk Festival, Didmarton Bluegrass Festival, Maverick Festival, Speyfest, the Edinburgh Fringe, and HebCeltFest. A YouTube video, made during a low-key house concert for a friend, can be seen here. Bookings can be made through the Brookfield Knights agency.

Detached notes

Andrew Basquille, Padraic Gilligan, and Eugene Murphy write:

Dear Friends,

Please tune in to see if #FinbarFurey (or @mundyirl) chooses our song #YestoYou on @RTETheHit - tomorrow Friday 23rd at 9:35 p.m. on RTE1.

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On 23 June the BIB carried news from the UK Brookfield Knights agency about the new Cajun supergroup from Lafayette, Louisiana, the Revelers, for whom a tour in these islands was being prepared for March 2014. The agency now reports that dates for this tour were filled so quickly that a return trip by the Revelers later in 2014 is now being planned. Venue owners and event organisers who would be interested in booking them should let Brookfield Knights know. The band will be in Denmark this weekend, playing the big Tønder Festival.

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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.

Accept no substitutes

Following the recent BIB post about the new Banjo Babes calendar, here's a photo which you will not find in the calendar, showing the Original Bluegrass Banjo Babe - Roni Stoneman. Roni and her husband Tom send their warm thanks to all who made their visit to Ireland in May and June such a memorable experience. A return trip is under consideration.

The BIB editor also recommends this YouTube video - in which the Stoneman Family band are prominent - as a glimpse of a time when country music and bluegrass had not become separated, and also as an introduction to an important archive of sounds and images from that time, compiled by Leon Kagarise.

Cabin Sessions in Dundrum, Dublin, 29 Aug. - and the NCH, 22 Aug.

A reminder from Gerry Fitzpatrick about this month's show in the Cabin Sessions series, 'Acoustic Music at its Finest', at Uncle Tom's Cabin in south Dublin (not far from Dundrum Luas station in the city direction):

Next session will be on Thursday 29th with the Cabin Sessions House Band: Spats Davenport (guitar), Con Butler (bass), Gerry Fitzpatrick (dobro), Cathy McEvoy (fiddle), and Christian Volkmann (harmonica). Special guests: No Direction, aka Larry and Rose (country), Taylor's Lane (contemporary), Minnie & the Illywhackers (ukulele swing). 9.30-11.30 p.m. Admission FREE. Hope you can make it.

And a reminder that Minnie & the Illywhackers will also be performing at the National Concert Hall (John Field Room) this Thursday (22nd) to mark the launch of their new single. Show starts 8.00 p.m.

If you or someone you know would like to perform at the Cabin Sessions, let Gerry know by e-mail. The Sessions are particularly interested in featuring local musicians and singers.

Jack of Diamonds Rhythm & Roots Festival in Dublin THIS WEEKEND

Thanks to Mark 'Marko' O'Mahony of Prison Love, who writes:

Howdy Friends,

Year two of the Jack of Diamonds Festival is upon us – three days of the best this country has to offer in roots music. Here’s the link to the lineup. All gigs are FREE, with notable shows being:

I Draw Slow in Whelans on Saturday night
Prison Love and Larkfield Four on Sunday night in Dame Lane.

Sure who wanted a quiet weekend anyway?

Mary Jean Lewis for Dunmore East; downloadable festival programme

Thanks to Karen Cheevers of B2B Communications for this image of Mary Jean Lewis, who is the headline act of next weekend's Guinness International Bluegrass Festival at Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, together with her band the Low Men (Mary Jean, vocals, acoustic guitar; Martin Barrett, guitar; J.T. Davidson, pedal steel, acoustic guitar: Mike Fowler, stand-up bass; David Cameron [no, not that one], drums). Karen's press release is entitled 'Musical royalty to headline at Dunmore Bluegrass Festival'. The instrumentation makes clear that this is not bluegrass royalty, but as Mick Daly, the festival founder and organiser, says:

Mary Jean Lewis is without a shadow of a doubt, a musical legend. From an early age she couldn’t but be influenced by her uncle, Jerry Lee Lewis. But she has also experienced so much musically and culturally and has lived and performed in Louisiana, Nashville, England and Scotland, drawing on the influences of these places. Mary Jean draws on a wide range of country, blues and rock ‘n’ roll and her powerful voice and soulful lyrics will be a huge hit to festival-goers.

The concerts by Mary Jean Lewis and the Low Men are the only pay-in shows during the festival, which will be launched on Thursday 22 August at the Strand Hotel. Thanks to Karen also for the complete programme brochure for the weekend, which can be downloaded as a pdf document here. Mick Daly is available for interview on 051 878 832 / 087 256 2899 or by e-mail.

News digest #30

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

Thurs. 15th: Tim Eriksen (USA), Fleadh Ceoil, Derry city

Thurs. 15th-Sun. 18th: BroadOak Bluegrass Band (UK) host mini bluegrass festival, Richmond Inn, Clondra, Co. Longford: concerts, jam sessions, barn dance (Sat. 17th)

Fri. 16th: Rocky Top String Band launch new album Tall pines, Mannion's, Balla, Co. Mayo
Two Time Polka, Langtons Hotel, John St., Kilkenny city. Start 10.00 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 056 7765133

Fri. 16th-Sun. 18th: Jack of Diamonds Rhythm & Roots Festival, venues in Dublin; lineup includes Prison Love, Well Enough Alone, Dublin Bluegrass Collective, Greasy Coat String Band, many more

Sat. 17th: Down and Out Bluegrass Band, Stendhal Festival of Art, Limavady, Co. Londonderry
Two Time Polka, An Tobar Bar, Main St., Ardmore, Co. Waterford. Start 10.00 p.m. Adm. €10. Tel. 024 94166 (Fund-raiser for Cope Foundation)

Sun. 18th: Woodbine, Hollywood, Co. Wicklow; open-air, 9.00 p.m.

Thurs. 22nd-Sun. 25th: 19th Guinness International Bluegrass Festival, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford: Mary Jean Lewis and the Low Men, Land’s End, Well Enough Alone, Tin Box Company, the Pilgrims, Down and Out Bluegrass Band, more TBA

Fri. 23rd: Two Time Polka, Hotel Doolin, Doolin, Co. Clare. Start 10.00 p,m. Adm. €10 (includes free commemorative Doolin Craft Beer Festival glass). Tel. 065 7074111

Other news

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); founder and director Gerry Fitzpatrick announces:

August's Session is on Thursday 29th with the Cabin House Band: Spats Davenport (guitar), Con Butler (bass), Gerry Fitzpatrick (dobro), Cathy McEvoy (fiddle), and Christian Volkmann (harmonica). Special guests: No Direction (country), Taylor's Lane (contemporary), Minnie & the Illywhackers. 9.30-11.30 p.m. Admission FREE.

If you or someone you know would like to perform at the Cabin Sessions, let me know [e-mail]. We are particularly interested in featuring local musicians and singers.

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Thanks to Ray O'Brien for forwarding this request from Elaine Lyons of the Clonmel Busking Festival:

We are looking for some bluegrass bands for next year's Clonmel Busking Festival to play the pubs and maybe do some busking for us in aid of Crumlin Children's Hospital. If anyone is interested, please contact me or Eelco Beckers on Facebook, or leave a message on the Busking Festival Facebook page. The festival is on the second weekend in August next year; we will sort out details of fees, etc., when we speak to you. Thanks, everyone.

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Thanks to Des Butler for these photos from last weekend's 3rd Mohill Bluegrass Festival: above, the memorial to Vinny Baker, to whose memory this year's festival was dedicated; below, dancing to the music of the Down and Out Bluegrass Band. The festival organiser, Tommy Kelleher, deserves all the support and assistance he can get from bluegrass enthusiasts in Mohill and the surrounding area. Many more photos taken by Des at the festival can be seen here.



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Thanks to Colin Henry for drawing attention to the Earls of Leicester, an all-star Flatt & Scruggs tribute band in the US. Many videos of them in action at the Station Inn in Nashville can be seen on this YouTube channel, and they're a real tonic and inspiration.

In a further tip of the hat to the first generation of bluegrass musicians, award-winning banjoist Noam Pikelny of the Punch Brothers has had released on Compass Records his remake of the classic Kenny Baker plays Bill Monroe album (1976). You can hear the new version of 'Sandy River Belle' here.

New times for Tony Friel on radio

Thanks to Ray O'Brien of Bluegrass In Ireland Facebook for forwarding news from Tony Friel, broadcaster and bluegrass historian in Co. Tyrone.

As 'The Bluegrass Boy', Tony presents a two-hour internet radio show every week on Strabane Radio. The new times scheduled for the show are 7.00-9.00 p.m. every Tuesday evening. Tony adds: 'Still playing the best bluegrass on internet radio. Let's hope you can all join me.'

Rocky Top String Band launch Tall pines in Balla, 16 Aug. 2013

Thanks to Tommy Lyons for the news that the Rocky Top String Band of Co. Mayo will launch their new album Tall pines with an evening of music in Mannion's, Balla, Co. Mayo, this coming Friday (16 August).

The Rocky Tops comprise (above, l-r) John Flatley (bass) from the Partry Mountains; Rob Thornburgh (fiddle) from Carracanada, Swinford, by way of Boone, North Carolina; Sarah MacEvilly (vocals, autoharp) from Killawalla; Tommy Lyons (banjo and mandolin) from Prizon, Balla; and Hubie MacEvilly (vocals, guitar), Sarah's brother.

The band have taken part in all seven Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festivals to date, with a powerful and danceable mix of bluegrass classics from Bill Monroe, the Stanley Bros, Del McCoury, Flatt & Scruggs, Jimmy Martin, together with Carter Family songs and other music from the old-timey era. More details are on the BIB for 23 May.

Mannion's hosts bluegrass events throughout the year, culminating with the 5th Balla Bluegrass Festival, which will be held on 25-28 October 2013.

... and Banjo Babes

The photo above (showing a beautiful Nechville, not to mention Janna Kim of Tashkent, Uzbekistan) comes from the Banjo Babes 2014 Calendar and CD. The calendar can be considered a bit of fun to draw attention to the CD, which showcases the talents of twenty-two young banjo-picking women.

If you're considering buying a 2014 calendar, or perhaps giving calendars as presents, take this one into consideration - but act quickly. As John Lawless points out on Bluegrass Today:

There will only be a single, limited production run of the 2014 Banjo Babes calendar and showcase CD. What isn’t pre-sold by September 8 will be distributed among the Babes for sale at their respective merch tables. If you pre-order now you can not only guarantee that you receive a calendar, but also help finance their production costs.

The music of the CD can be heard both on the Bluegrass Today feature and on the Calendar website.

Bands visiting soon

Thanks to Ray O'Brien for the above photo and a reminder that - as mentioned on the BIB a week ago in news digest #29 - Danny and Tim, the Carter Brothers (USA), will be back in Ireland next month. Still no details on their online tour schedule, but they will be coming here after completing a twelve-day tour in Russia.

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As mentioned earlier this year (e.g. on 16 May), the premier Belgian bluegrass band Rawhide will be taking part in the 22nd Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival at the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone (30 Aug.-1 Sept.). You can now get a foretaste of them through this album of great photos, taken at a recent open-air performance before a large audience.

Rawhide have performed at every European World of Bluegrass (EWOB) Festival in the Netherlands since 1998, and this year they received the Liz Meyer European Innovation of Bluegrass Music Award in recognition of their continuing success in bringing bluegrass music to a wider audience, coupled with their unique approach blending vocal and instrumental proficiency, imagination, creativity, showmanship, and humour. They are probably the cleverest bluegrass band the BIB editor has seen. Like other bands in Belgium, they are benefiting from the recent phenomenal success of the film The Broken Circle Breakdown, which has been showing in sold-out cinemas on the Continent.

The news keeps coming...

Thanks to Ray O'Brien for forwarding this report and images from Aran Sheehan on the Dublin bluegrass scene:

For the attached KinFolk poster: we are obviously the bluegrass end of it... listened to White Trash on soundcloud last night and it's good old Southern Americana. Most of us know our homegrown prolific songwriter David Hope...

Also a quick reminder that the regular Dublin city centre bluegrass session on Tuesdays is back in full swing every Tuesday from 8.00 p.m. in the Mercantile (Dame St.). We are managing to keep it very genre focused, which is great. The funny thing is being where it is, every week we have had folks from the US on holiday here, who chanced upon us; they have all come up to say hi and how they love the music and what part of the US they are from - so far Arizona, Tennessee and Carolina. The last two lads were really into it and good ole country boys who told us we would go down well where they come from. Always nice to be appreciated, especially from them.

As you can see from the poster, a band has formed from the session (as these things do) and we are billed as The Dublin Bluegrass Collective; we will be playing all night from 7.30 in the Grand Social beer garden (great spot for the craic) as part of the Jack of Diamonds Festival on Saturday 17 August (no cover charge). We have also just returned from playing a couple of stages at the Knockanstockan festival, which was a great success (I'll throw up a picture of that too so you get the idea).

We are available for gigs, so if you want some more info just contact me on 085-7110826 or message through our Facebook page. While I'm at it I'll throw up a last picture of the band in action at a wedding a couple of months ago (hence the suits). Hope you are all having a wonderful musical summer and look forward to seeing you for a pick down the road.

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Thanks to Karen Cheevers for the above poster image for this year's Guinness International Bluegrass Festival at Dunmore East, Co. Waterford (see the BIB of 6 July for details).

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Brian McNeal of Prescription Bluegrass Media (USA) announces today that Niall Toner, recipient of the EBMA's European Bluegrass Personality of the Year 2012 award, is joining the Prescription Bluegrass CD review team, with the primary concern of reviewing CDs by bands and artists based in Europe. Niall's first review (for the premier Italian band Red Wine) has been published this week on the Prescription Bluegrass Blog CD review page. Read the full Prescription Bluegrass press release here.

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Derek Lockhart of Dangem Bluegrass sends a big 'thank you' to all who turned up to the photo shoot at the Ulster American Folk Park on Saturday as part of publicity for this year's Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival (30 Aug.-1 Sept.). Derek was particularly impressed by the presence of Evan Lyons (13) and his parents Michael and Martyna, who had come up all the way from Co. Tipperary. (Evan and his banjo also took part in the 'WoodSongs in Dublin' event on 18 July.)

Derek also thanks the BIB, Ray O'Brien's 'Bluegrass in Ireland' Facebook page, Big T and Downtown Radio for helping to spread the word, and adds: 'And last but no means least Richard [Hurst] and Patrick [O'Kane] for the welcome plus tea and sticky buns. See you all at Omagh in a few weeks time.'

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Thanks to Paul and Anne McEvoy for the news that this coming Friday (9 Aug.) the Red Hat Acoustic Music Club will hold its monthly meeting in the Harbour View Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare; musicians and listeners welcome.

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Finally, for banjo-lovers (and aren't we all?) who feel a yawning gap in the September calendar with no Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival this year: good news is coming from the Bunratty direction and will be officially released very shortly, so stay tuned...

News digest #29: updates

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

Wed. 7th: Kinfolk presents the Dublin Bluegrass Collective, White Trash & the Spear Headed Sparraw Hawks, David Hope; Whelans, Dublin 2, 8.00 p.m., adm. €5

Thurs. 8th-Sun. 11th: Clonmel Busking Festival: Niall Toner Band (Sun.), Soggy Wellie Boys (Sat.)

Fri. 9th-Sun. 11th: 3rd Mohill Bluegrass Festival, Mohill, Co. Leitrim (Facebook), Down and Out Bluegrass Band, Hard Station, Bees Nees, Greasy Coat String Band, and more; arts-and-crafts stalls, free Bar-BQ, Gipsy Caravan, other attractions; Saturday night concert (three bands) adm. €5, all other events free

Fri. 9th: Red Hat Acoustic Music Club, Harbour View Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare; musicians and listeners welcome; €3 donation

Fri. 9th-Sun. 11th: Scottish Autoharp Weekend, Moniaive, Dumfriesshire, Scotland; featuring Maeve Toner

Sat. 10th: Dog Ruff String Band, the Goat's Toe, Bingham Mall, 53 Main St., Bangor, Co. Down, 8.00 p.m.; adm. free

Mon. 12th: Tim Eriksen (USA), shape-note singing workshop, the Black Box, Belfast, 7.00 p.m.

Tues. 13th: Tim Eriksen (USA), the Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone

Thurs. 15th: Tim Eriksen (USA), Fleadh Ceoil, Derry city

Other news

Bluegrass Unlimited magazine published in the Aug. 2013 issue the news that the late Wade Mainer's Gibson RB-Granada Mastertone banjo has been restored by Steve Huber to full 1930s condition and sounds magnificent into the bargain. You can read the full story, as written by Mike Kropp, online. Credit goes to Pete Kuykendall, editor of BU, for commissioning the restoration.

The sequel: Steve Huber has built an exact replica of the Mainer Granada, which is being auctioned for a good cause. Read the details on Bluegrass Today.

Closer to home, the bargains offered by Dangem Bluegrass on pre-loved banjos now include another Gibson RB-250; see full details here.

Thanks to fiddle-and-banjo duo Pe & Pe (CZ) for this link to a video on Donegal Films Facebook page, showing them playing one of their original songs with clawhammer banjo master Alec Somerville at the Reel Inn in Donegal town on 30 July.

Thanks also to Ray O'Brien for forwarding the news that the Tillers neo-old-time string band from Cincinnati, OH, will be playing a few dates in Ireland in November 2013, after supporting Pokey LaFarge in Britain. The UK Owlsworld agency is looking for a booking for Sat. 9 Nov. at a minimum fee of 500 (presumably euros). Full details here.

And thanks to Bluegrass Today for the news that the Carter Brothers of Virginia, well known here from appearances at Johnny Keenan Banjo Festivals, will be touring in Ireland next month. Their online tour schedule shows that they will be here from 15 to 30 September. No details of dates and venues are available at present. As shown on Bluegrass Today (with a YouTube video), Tim Carter is at present touring with a full band of distinguished pickers in support of his Bang bang album.

Tim Eriksen in Ireland, 12-15 Aug. 2013

The 'hardcore Americana' singer and musician Tim Eriksen (USA), who performed and taught in Ireland last year (see the BIB for 23, 25 Mar., 2 Apr. 2012), is returning to Ireland this month, in the last leg of a European tour that began in the Czech Republic last week and also takes in Britain and Belgium. The three dates on his schedule, all in the North, are as follows:

Mon. 12th: Shape-note singing workshop at the Black Box, Belfast, 7.00 p.m.
Tues. 13th: The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Thurs. 15th: Fleadh Cheoil, Derry city

More details are on the online schedule and a nice video on the Red Room's Facebook page. Last year the Cork Sacred Harp group announced:

Tim is the founder of the Western Massachusetts Sacred Harp convention (currently the largest SH convention in the world) and has been very influential in the tradition’s modern proliferation. He lectures on the history of Sacred Harp in universities in the US and, over the years, has taught a great many people about its techniques. Notably, he was Anthony Minghella’s on-set music consultant during the filming of US civil war film Cold Mountain and also led the wonderful Sacred Harp singing sessions found on its soundtrack.

Some July 2013 memories

Thanks to Des Butler for these and other photos from this year's very enjoyable Athy bluegrass festival (12-14 July). Des just sent copies of photos showing your editor, so modesty prevents our publishing more than two. Above, Johnny 'Born to be Bad' Gleeson (vocal, dobro) with Roy Brown (bass) and - among the floral display - the editor, in the show outside Athy Heritage Centre at Saturday lunchtime.

Above, Woodbine on stage during the Saturday evening concert, with George Kaye (fiddle) at centre rear.


Carol Hawkins took this photo during a long jam in the beer garden at Clancy's in Athy's main street. The jammers include (l-r) Gerry (mandolin), George (fiddle), Howard, Richard, and Roy of the Down and Out Bluegrass Band, and Fintan (fiddle). Does anyone have contact data for Fintan? We have some info on the Toronto scene that might be of use to him.

Above, Bryan Thurber who (along with Tom Corbett) played on and off stage with the Tennessee Hennessees and Woodbine during the Ardara festival a week after Athy. Playing with Bryan and meeting him and his wife were great pleasures. The photo is from the website of the Gadjo Gypsies, the string swing trio with which he plays in the US.