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.