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.