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.