News digest #34

Events in the coming week (from the BIB calendar; please check the 'Weekly sessions' section of the calendar as well)

Mon. 30th: Down the Road (USA), Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork, 8.15 p.m.; support by Jacob's Ladder (six-piece gospel group); 087 7921771

Tues. 1st: Down the Road (USA), TBA

Wed. 2nd: Down the Road (USA), St John's Arts Centre, the Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, 8.00 p.m. Tel. 068 22566

Thurs. 3rd: Down the Road (USA), Dolan's Bar, Dock Road, Limerick, 9.00 p.m. Tel. 061 314483

Fri. 4th: Rackhouse Pilfer, Kenilworth Barnbuster, Kenilworth Bowling Club, Rathmines, Dublin 6 (fundraiser for MS Ireland); plus finger food, spot prizes, raffle, prizes for best outfit and for riding Bucking Bronco; tickets 20 euro from Bourke's Pharmacy, 220 Lower Rathmines Road or ring/text Norabeth Hogan on 087 750 4906
Two Time Polka, Uluru Bar, Dunmore Rd, Waterford city. Start 10.00 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 051 855333
I Draw Slow, the Grand Social, Dublin; doors open 8.00 p.m.; tickets €12 at the door
Down the Road (USA), The Tallyho Bar, New St., Longford, 9.30 p.m. Tel. 043 3346594

Fri. 4th-Sun. 6th: 5th Bruff Bluegrass Music Festival, Bruff, Co. Limerick: Bending the Strings, Down and Out Bluegrass Band, Knotty Pine String Band, Tennessee Hennessees, Woodbine; more bands and features TBA, plus Horse-shoe Pitching Competition, Donkey Derby, Morning Star Rose Competition; 'phone Jack Clancy, 061 382488; e-mail

Sat. 5th: Down the Road (USA), Rodden's Bar, Main St., Buncrana, Co. Donegal, 9.30 p.m. Tel. 074 9320790

Sun. 6th: Down the Road (USA), Matt Molloy's Bar, Bridge St., Westport, Co. Mayo, 9.00 p.m. Tel. 098 26655

Other news

Congratulations to Niall Toner - Niall has been booked for next year's MerleFest (24-27 April 2014), one of the world's leading roots-music festivals.

MerleFest, held annually on the campus of Wilkes Community College, NC, since it was founded by the late, great Doc Watson in 1988 in memory of his son Merle, is the primary fundraising event for the college and has raised millions of dollars for it. One of the largest US music festivals, it presents top-ranking artists in a wide range of genres - the blend that Doc himself called 'traditional plus'.

********************
Thanks to Fiach Mac Aodha for pointing out on Bluegrass in Ireland that I Draw Slow will also be representing Ireland at MerleFest 2014; in fact, though the 2014 lineup is not yet on the MerleFest website, it was announced a week ago here.

********************
Thanks to Roger Ryan of the Country Music Association of Ireland for news of this year's Irish Steel Guitar Festival (19-20 Oct. 2013) at the Green Isle Hotel, Dublin, which offers special rates to festival attenders. Full details are on the Festival website.

********************
Thanks to Des Butler of Co. Meath for two dozen photos from this year's Omagh festival. We also owe Des an apology for failing to publish any on the BIB; but the good news is that they can now be seen (much better than would have been possible on the BIB) on the Bluegrass in Ireland Facebook page.

Bunratty: the new banjo festival

The BIB editor reports:

Contending both with intense regional excitement about the match on Saturday and with the celebration of the result throughout Clare on Sunday, the Bunratty Banjo Pickers Festival was successfully launched this past weekend, and there is reason to hope that it will be back next year. Thanks in particular to Brendan Walsh and his team, and to John Nyhan, for making this event happen.

Bluegrass enthusiasts were amply rewarded by Down The Road from Nashville, TN (photo above). Jeff Burke (guitar, lead vocals) and Josh McMurray (banjo, harmony vocals) play a wide range of vocal and instrumental classics from the Flatt & Scruggs repertoire, and they are an object lesson in recreating with a duo music originally played by a full band. Jeff's guitar break on 'Foggy Mountain Special' faithfully reproduces Lester's; elsewhere, he plays hot breaks after the Doc Watson pattern. Josh has an exceptionally powerful right hand and an exceptionally agile left hand, coordinated with imagination and sensitivity. Don't miss an opportunity of seeing them in the coming week at one of these venues:

Mon. 30th: Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork, 8.15 p.m., supported by Jacob's Ladder (six-piece gospel group). Tel. 087 7921771
Tues. 1st Oct.: TBA
Wed. 2nd: St John's Arts Centre, the Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, 8.00 p.m. Tel. 068 22566
Thurs. 3rd: Dolan's Bar, Dock Road, Limerick, 9.00 p.m. Tel. 061 314483
Fri. 4th: The Tallyho Bar, New St., Longford, 9.30 p.m. Tel. 043 3346594
Sat. 5th: Rodden's Bar, Main St., Buncrana, Co. Donegal, 9.30 p.m. Tel. 074 9320790
Sun. 6th: Matt Molloy's Bar, Bridge St., Westport, Co. Mayo, 9.00 p.m. Tel. 098 26655

For more info: 087 7921771.

NB: two luthiers, both based in Ireland and producing banjos of very high quality in materials and workmanship, plus original construction features, were exhibiting at Bunratty. Most of their displayed instruments were tenors, but both also make 5-strings, and both can be recommended to the player requiring a custom job, or simply a top-grade banjo with an individual character. Look up the websites of

Al's Banjos
Alan O'Rourke, Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow; 087 2749673; e-mail

Emerald Banjos
Graham Jones, Labasheeda, Co. Clare; 065 683 0141 or 0879 817 985; e-mail

IBMA awards 2013 and 1990; and the 'Miracle of Raleigh'

The IBMA website was inaccessible for some time last night, presumably because of the number of people wanting to know the results of the Awards Show in Raleigh, NC. You can now find a list of the award recipients in a feature by Richard Thompson on Bluegrass Today. Several names on the list, and the faces that go with them, will be familiar to audiences in Ireland, and fans of the Gibson Brothers should be particularly happy.

Related posts on Bluegrass Today include another by Richard Thompson, on the first IBMA awards show (1990), including an added treat - a video of a performance by Alison Brown (banjo, harmony vocal), Alison Krauss (mandolin, lead vocal), Andrea Zonn (fiddle, harmony vocal), Lynn Morris (guitar) and Missy Raines (bass). And all admirers of Tony Rice should read this post by Dave Morris.

Kay and Patrick Crouch and Friends in Ireland: next two weeks

Great to hear from Kay & Patrick Crouch of Strictly Clean and Decent from Lenoir, North Carolina, who have been to Ireland many times, but unfortunately not recently. Kay writes:

Patrick and I will be in Ireland the first two weeks in October. We’ll spend the first few nights in Swords, waiting for our friends to arrive, then head to Dingle for the first week. The second week we’ll visit old friends in Cobh. Since Patrick retired a few years ago and I retired in June, this will be our first trip 'out of season'.

We had hoped to join the circle jam in Dublin on Tuesday and were disappointed to hear that it won’t be going on, alas. If you know of any great music going on Monday or Tuesday, 30 Sept., 1 Oct., anywhere around Dublin, please do let us know. [BIB editor's emphasis; see below]

Patrick entered a songwriting contest sponsored by the International Bluegrass Music Association and his 'Carolina Waltz' was selected as one of twelve finalists to be showcased at the IBMA convention this week. We’ll attend the awards show that night in hopes that our friend Milan Miller will walk away with the Song of the Year Award for which he’s nominated (the second time). We also hope to catch up with Niall Toner while we’re there.

We have a gig at the Sirius Arts Centre (poster attached) in Cobh, Co. Cork, on Friday 11 October at 8.00 p.m. Milan Miller will join us, as well our long time friend and pickin’ buddy Tall Paul and his wife Kristie Bobal. They all live in Nashville now and we get to see them all too seldom so it’ll be great to spend time with them, on and off stage. We’ll also be joined by singer/songwriter Kevin Leftwich, who will be making his first trip to Ireland.

Patrick and I are still performing with Ron Shuffler (George’s youngest brother) in the trio Strictly Clean and Decent. Ron is unable to make this trip because he’s been filling in with Dave Peterson & 1946 lately. Mercy, what a singer! I know he’s played at the Ulster-American Folk Park but I’m not sure if he’s played anywhere else in Ireland. You’re probably familiar with him but, if not, check him out. And, if you ever get a chance to hear him live, do so! He’s even better in person.

Thanks for helping us get the word out about the Sirius gig. We always have a large time when we play there.

For opportunities for Kay and Patrick to pick in Dublin, they can be contacted by e-mail.

Bluegrass at the Ards Guitar Festival (25-29 Sept. 2013)

Thanks to Adele Ingram for this link to the Performer Profiles page showing the full lineup, with photos and bios, for the 17th Ards International Guitar Festival.

Adele draws attention to the bluegrass-related element in the Festival programme, ranging from the Down and Out Bluegrass Band and Wookalily to White Mansions and Acoustic Dan & the Black Mountain River Dipsos. The festival takes place in Newtownards, Co. Down, this coming weekend. Tickets can be booked online; this link is for the Weekend Wind Down concert on Sunday afternoon, with the Down & Outs and White Mansions.

High Plains Tradition return to Ireland, Jan. 2014

Thanks to Ray O'Brien for passing on this welcome news from the fine band from Denver, Colorado, High Plains Tradition (above, l-r: Bobbie Vickery, Doug Elrick, Mark Leslie, Steve Gilmore, and Kenny Pabst):

OK, folks. Here is our itinerary for our tour of Ireland this coming January.

Fri. 17th, Sat. 18th, Sun. 19th: Shannonside Winter Music Weekend, Sixmilebridge/Bunratty, Co. Clare
Mon. 20th: The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork
Tues. 21st: Church of Ireland church, Bruff, Co. Limerick
Wed. 22nd: Dolan's Bar, Dock Road, Limerick city
Thurs. 23rd: St John's Theatre, Listowel, Co. Kerry
Fri. 24th: The Tearoom Sessions, Brewery Lane Theatre, Carrick on Suir, Co. Tipperary
Sat. 25th: Mannion's Bar, Balla, Co. Mayo
Sun. 26th: The Lodge Hotel, Loughgowna, Co. Cavan

Our fine promoter, Mr John Nyhan, is working on a show on the Thursday before and the Monday after, so keep checking out this site for more updates.


High Plains Tradition made a great impact on their two previous tours (July 2010, October 2012), and no one who loves solid traditional bluegrass with plenty of fun should miss them.

Locust Honey String Band in Ireland, 23-27 Oct. 2013

The Brookfield Knights agency in the UK gives details of the tour next month in these islands by the Locust Honey String Band (right), from Swannanoa, North Carolina.

Wed. 23rd: Balor Theatre, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal
Thurs. 24th: Sligo Live Festival, Sligo town
Fri. 25th: Sligo Live Festival, Sligo town
Sat. 26th: Sligo Live Festival, Sligo town
Sun. 27th: The John Hewitt, Donegall St., Belfast (afternoon)
    The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone (evening)

Locust Honey will begin their tour in Ireland, and play ten subsequent shows in Britain.

NT in NC

Above: the Niall Toner Band (l-r, Dick Gladney, Niall, and Clem O'Brien) cutting up on stage at their third successive sell-out gig at Killoughternane schoolhouse, near Borris, Co. Carlow. Niall, who is now in Raleigh, NC, for IBMA's World of Bluegrass, at the beginning of his autumn US tour, will be reporting on IBMA week in due course.

Meanwhile, he is understandably pleased to find his Pinecastle album, Onwards and upwards, doing very well in the US charts; a song from the album, 'Judge and jury', was on the radio twice in Raleigh on Friday; and the original NTB recording of an earlier song of his, 'Lonely souls and broken hearts' (featured in the ABC-TV drama series 'Nashville'), has also been selected to feature in the US TV sci-fi drama 'Haven'. More details are on the European Bluegrass Blog.

Full schedule published for Bunratty Banjo Pickers Festival, 27-29 Sept. 2013

Thanks to Brendan Walsh of the Sixmilebridge Folk Club in Co. Clare for this link to a Facebook page showing the complete schedule, hour by hour and venue by venue, for the Bunratty Banjo Pickers Festival which will be held next weekend (Friday 27 to Sunday 29 September).

Bands taking part who will be of special interest to BIB readers include Down the Road (USA), the Banjaxed Bluegrass Band, the BanjaBill All Stars, and the Greasy Coat String Band, to say nothing of the many other acts using the banjo in different genres. (By the way, a nine-minute video demo by the Greasy Coats can now be seen on YouTube.) This can safely be called an action-packed schedule.

Note also the Facebook page for the next Shannonside Winter Music Weekend, to be held in Sixmilebridge and Bunratty in the middle of January 2014, in what has become the traditional opening to the calendar of acoustic musical events.

Events in the next ten days

From the BIB calendar (please check the 'Weekly sessions' section of the calendar as well)

Fri. 20th: Demolition String Band (USA), Cheers, Fermoy, Co. Cork, 10.00 p.m.
Two Time Polka, the Blue Haven, Pearse St., Kinsale, Co. Cork. Start 10.15 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 021 4772209

Fri. 20th-Sun. 22nd: River Valley Bluegrass Session Weekend with Southern Welfare & Friends, River Valley Caravan Park, Redcross, Co. Wicklow; for camping and accommodation info, contact website or ring 0404 41647

Sun. 22nd: Demolition String Band (USA), Commeragh Wild Festival (with Hank Wedel), Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford, 3.00-5.00 p.m.
Demolition String Band (USA), The Blackbird, Ballycotton, Co. Cork, 6.30-8.30 p.m.

Mon. 23rd-Sun. 29th: International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass, Raleigh, NC, USA (note new location)

Wed. 25th: The Wiyos (USA), The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone

Thurs. 26th: The Wiyos (USA), Raheen Country Hotel, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, 8.00 p.m.
The Cabin Sessions, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Dundrum, Dublin 14: Luas station in the city direction): the Cabin Sessions House Band [Spats Davenport (gtr), Con Butler (bs), Gerry Fitzpatrick (dob), Christian Volkmann (hca)] with special guests Dublin Bluegrass Collective, Elga Fox (folk), Emma Butler (contemporary); 9.30-11.30 p.m., adm. free
Two Time Polka, Tatler Jack, Plunkett St., Killarney, Co. Kerry. Start 11.00 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 064 32361

Fri. 27th: The Wiyos (USA), The Lodge in Mallow, Ballyellis, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m.

Fri. 27th-Sun. 29th: 5th Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival, Moniaive, Dumfriesshire, Scotland; lineup includes Broken Strings Band (east Ulster), Watery Hill Boys (Drogheda), Cup O' Joe (NI), many more

Fri. 27th-Sun. 29th: Bunratty Banjo Pickers Festival (all genres), Bunratty, Co. Clare: Down the Road (USA), Banjaxed Bluegrass Band, BanjaBill All Stars, Greasy Coat String Band, many more (Facebook)

Sat. 28th: The Wiyos (USA), Balor Arts Centre, Main St., Ballybofey, Co. Donegal, 8.00 p.m.

Sun. 29th: Down and Out Bluegrass Band, Ards Guitar Festival, Newtownards, Co. Down
The Wiyos (USA), The Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, 8.00 p.m.

Mon. 30th: Down the Road (USA), Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork, 8.15 p.m.; with support act Jacob's Ladder (six-piece gospel group); 087 7921771

Irish artists visiting the US, summer-autumn 2013: update

Niall Toner's website records that he will be on tour in the USA from 20 September (tomorrow) to 26 October. An important part of the trip will be next week in Raleigh, N.C., at the IBMA's World of Bluegrass, where he will make at least four evening showcase appearances at several venues. Reports from WOB will be appearing on Niall's news blog - which also reveals that he and his wife Moira recently gained a new grandchild, Alfie.

Update 20 Sept.: Details of Niall's showcases are in this announcement from Make Welcome Entertainment.

********************
Between 19 July and 4 Aug. I Draw Slow (Niall's stablemates on the Pinecastle Records label) played ten engagements across the US from New York and Connecticut to New Mexico, Colorado, Washington, and Oregon. The latest Pinecastle newsletter says:

I Draw Slow, the Dublin-based, alt-country band led by songwriting siblings Louise and Dave Holden, recently wrapped a very successful US tour. The group performed for fans at festivals and venues in six different states acoss the country in July 2013. During their stint, I Draw Slow's album Redhills hit #23 on Amazon's Top Bluegrass Albums. The band is now back in the studio in Ireland, and they are scheduled to return to the States in spring 2014.

Update 20 Sept.: News just received from Dave Holden - I Draw Slow will play the Grand Social in Dublin on Friday 4 October. Doors open 8.00 p.m.; tickets €12 at the door.

Down the Road (USA) tour in Ireland... and more

Thanks to John Nyhan for this news and dates of what looks like a very rewarding tour for lovers of traditional bluegrass. Jeff Burke is already well known in Ireland as half of 'Jeff and Vida'. Josh McMurray is one of the most highly regarded younger banjo pickers. We note that John himself is one of the people thanked by Down the Road on their website for supporting the project.

Down The Road from Nashville, Tennessee, play a tribute to the music of Flatt and Scruggs. They feature Josh McMurray on banjo and vocals and Jeff Burke on guitar and vocals.

They will be playing all the hits of Flatt and Scruggs, such as 'Foggy Mountain breakdown', 'Roll in my sweet baby's arms', 'Will you be lovin' another man', and 'The ballad of Jed Clampett' (the theme from the TV show 'The Beverly Hillbillies').

Fri. 27th, Sat. 28th, and Sun. 29th Sept.: Bunratty Banjo Pickers Festival, Bunratty, Co. Clare. Tel. 086 8464509.

Mon. 30th: Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork, 8.15 p.m.; with support act Jacob's Ladder, a six-piece gospel group. Tel. 087 7921771

Tues. 1st Oct.: TBA

Wed. 2nd: St John's Arts Centre, the Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, 8.00 p.m. tel 068 22566

Thurs. 3rd: Dolan's Bar, Dock Road, Limerick, 9.00 p.m. Tel. 061 314483

Fri. 4th: The Tallyho Bar, New St., Longford, 9.30 p.m. Tel. 043 3346594

Sat. 5th: Rodden's Bar, Main St., Buncrana, Co. Donegal, 9.30 p.m. Tel. 074 9320790

Sun. 6th: Matt Molloy's Bar, Bridge St., Westport, Co. Mayo, 9.00 p.m. Tel. 098 26655

For more info: 087 7921771.

********************
Homespun Tapes continue to announce discount offers on items from their rich catalogue of instructional material. Their current 20% offer, which ends tomorrow night, includes a DVD/download by Natalie Haas on 'Celtic cello'.

********************
The schedule for coming events at the Séamus Ennis Cultural Centre in Naul, Co. Dublin, can be seen here, updated to 12 October 2013.

********************
Nigel Martyn's Old Flattop agency announces two imminent tours. The first is by acoustic blues guitarist Catfish Keith (USA):

Fri. 27th Sept. Ards Guitar Festival, Newtownards, Co. Down, 028 91 810803
Sat. 28th Sept. Bryson's, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry 028 79 632473
Sun. 29th Sept. Whelan's (upstairs), Dublin 2, 01 478 0766
Mon. 30th Sept. Mick Murphy's, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Wicklow, 086 327 0780
Tues. 1st Oct. Cunningham's Bar, Kildare town , 045 521780
Fri. 4th Oct. The Sunflower Bar, Belfast, 028 90 232474

The second is by guitarist and singer/songwriter Nick Harper (UK):

Wed. 2nd Oct. Sandino's, Derry city, 028 70 309297
Thurs. 3rd Oct. Whelan's, Dublin 2, 01 478 0766
Fri. 4th Oct. De Barra's, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, 023 883 3381
Sat. 5th Oct. The Sunflower Bar, Belfast, 028 90 232474

Detached notes

The Old-Time Herald, founded by Alice Gerrard as the meeting place for old-time music enthusiasts everywhere, is making its annual appeal for support, which can be read in full here. If you love old-time music, the BIB strongly recommends subscribing to this first-class magazine. Donations can also be made through the OTH website.

********************
Want to play a part in the development and launch of a quality production budget-price 5-string banjo, made in these islands and bearing the name of a world-famous explorer born in Co. Kildare? Moreover, the historic banjo that inspired it was played by a Dr Hussey... Learn more about the Shackleton banjo and how to help it on to the market, for a proportionate reward, here.

********************
Tom Stapleton, to whom bluegrass fanciers in Ireland are indebted for the artists he has put on in the past, announces this programme of autumn gigs in folk and other genres:

Sat. 28 Sept. Ed Romanoff and Rachael Yamagata (see them on YouTube), Leap Castle, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, 9.00 p.m. Tel. 0872238040
Fri. 4 Oct. Jim Rooney, Arty McGlynn, and Mick Daly, Cleeres, Parliament St., Kilkenny city. Show 9.00 p.m. Tel. 056 776 2573
Fri. 18 Oct. Gretchen Peters, The Set, Kilkenny city, 9.00 p.m. Tel. 056 7721728
Wed. 23 Oct. Gretchen Peters, Town Hall, Galway city, 8.00 p.m. Tel. 091 569777
Fri. 15 Nov. Sweeney's Men, Town Hall, Galway city, 8.00 p.m. Tel. 091569777
Sat. 16 Nov. Sweeney's Men, The Set, Kilkenny city, 9.00 p.m. Tel. 056 7721728
Fri. 6 Dec. Josh Ritter Trio, Birr Theatre and Arts Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly, 8.00 p.m. Tel. 057 9122911
Wed. 11 Dec. Josh Ritter Trio, Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, 8.00 p.m. Tel. 057 8663355

Tom Stapleton, Mountheaton, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
Mobile (+353) (0)872238040; land line (+353) (0)505 21647. Facebook

********************

Clawhammer banjo maestro Ken Perlman (USA), who toured Ireland this spring, sends his autumn 2013 newsletter. Much of the news is on Ken's thoroughly refurbished website. His newest book, Everything you wanted to know about clawhammer banjo, with 120 tunes and two accompanying CDs, is published by Mel Bay.

Ken has recently moved house and the new street address is not yet on the 'Contact' page, but his mobile number and e-mail address remain the same.

Pickers needed in Lisburn, evening of 20 Sept. 2013

We need the Banjos, Guitars, Mandolins, Fiddles and a few singers This announcement comes from Derek Lockhart of Dangem Bluegrass in Craigavon: The lady from the Island Arts Centre, Lisburn, was in contact last week. She asked if I could rustle up some musicians to play from 4.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. on Friday 20th in Lisburn. It is to promote the various activities that take place in the Lisburn Arts Centre. We need the banjos, guitars, mandolins, fiddles, and a few singers to fire up. Let me know if you can help me out with this. I would very much appreciate it. Thank you kindly, Derek

Wookalily: new CD on the way

Wookalily, the 'female-led Americana folk band' based in Portadown, announce that their debut full-length CD will be released soon. Meanwhile, a free download of their four-track EP Black magic doll (2011) is available - only to those who are signed up to receive the band's newsletter, and only till Tuesday 22 September 2013.

Wookalily were the subject of a full-page feature in issue #88 of the EBMA magazine Bluegrass Europe, which had 'Women in bluegrass' as its main theme.

News digest #33

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

Thurs. 12th: Demolition String Band (USA), Midnight Ramble, The Oliver Plunkett, Cork city, midnight

Fri. 13th: Demolition String Band (USA), Charlie's Bar, Union Quay, Cork city, 10.00 p.m.

Fri. 13th-Sun. 15th: Down and Out Bluegrass Band, Cornish Bluegrass Festival, Newquay, Cornwall, UK

Sat. 14th: Demolition String Band (USA), Olde Fiddle, Mallow, Co. Cork, 10.00 p.m.
Two Time Polka, Arnold's Hotel, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal. Start 10.30 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 074 9136208 (part of Dunfanaghy Jazz & Blues Festival)

Sun. 15th: Two Time Polka, Molly's Marquee, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal. 2.00-4.00 p.m. Adm. free (part of Dunfanaghy Jazz & Blues Festival)

Wed. 18th: Demolition String Band (USA), The Atlantic Aparthotel (with Hank Wedel), Bundoran, Co. Donegal

Thurs. 19th: Demolition String Band (USA), Crowley’s, Kenmare, Co. Kerry, 9.30 p.m.

Other news

The BIB has previously noted that Session Americana (USA) will be playing on 27 Sept. at the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre in Naul, Co. Dublin (for which the updated schedule of events can be seen here). This is part of a three-week tour in these islands; the band's full list of dates in Ireland, as shown on their calendar, is:

Sept.
Wed. 25th: 36th Clifden Community Arts Festival, Clifden, Co. Galway
Thurs. 26th: 36th Clifden Community Arts Festival, Clifden, Co. Galway
Fri. 27th: Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin
Sat. 28th: McDaid's Wine Bar, Ramelton, Co. Donegal, 10.00 p.m.
Oct.
Wed. 9th: The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, 8.00 p.m.
Thurs. 10th: Whelan's, Dublin 2
Fri. 11th: Wexford Arts Centre, Wexford town
Sat. 12th: Monroe's Live, Galway city
Sun. 13th: Dolan's, Limerick city, 9.00 p.m.

Session Americana's online calendar also has links to venue websites, locations, etc.

********************

BIB readers who are also fans of Herschel Sizemore will be glad to learn of a new 57-minute DVD, Herschel Sizemore: mandolin in B, filmed at a tribute concert early last year, with many bluegrass stars taking part. Read more on Bluegrass Today.

********************

Thanks to UKBluegrass for a reminder that though the most active part of the 2013 season is coming to an end, the UKB archive is a valuable resource - and not just about bluegrass in Britain.

Demolition String Band in Ireland, 12-22 Sept. 2013

Thanks to Boo Reiners of the Demolition String Band (USA) for news of the band's tour in Ireland beginning this coming Thursday - and thanks also to Mark 'Marko' O'Mahony of Prison Love for suggesting to Boo that he might contact the BIB. Here are the dates:

Thurs. 12th: Midnight Ramble, the Oliver Plunkett, Cork city, midnight
Fri. 13th: Charlie's Bar, Union Quay, Cork city, 10.00 p.m.
Sat. 14th: Olde Fiddle, Mallow, Co. Cork, 10.00 p.m.
Wed. 18th: The Atlantic Aparthotel (with Hank Wedel), Bundoran, Co. Donegal
Thurs. 19th: Crowley’s, Kenmare, Co. Kerry, 9.30 p.m.
Fri. 20th: Cheers, Fermoy, Co. Cork, 10.00 p.m.
Sun. 22nd: Commeragh Wild Festival (with Hank Wedel), Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford, 3.00-5.00 p.m.
Sun. 22nd: The Blackbird, Ballycotton, Co. Cork, 6.30-8.30 p.m.

The Demolition String Band's latest album on Varese Sarabande Records, Gracious days, has received much critical acclaim. Audio and video samples of the band's work, including cuts from the album, are on their website. Award-winning bluegrass writer and photographer Stephanie P. Ledgin, author of Homegrown music: discovering bluegrass (a great introduction to the music), calls the album '... a discerning mix of roots-based originals and covers. DSB and guests dish out delicate picking and singing alongside bolder, uptown selections that complement well to deliver an engaging latest recording.'

And Rolling Stone magazine wrote: 'Thank you, Elena Skye and Boo Reiners, for honoring the late Ola Belle Reed, a remarkable banjoist, songwriter, and Appalachian music legend.'

New Banjo Rolls Trainer

Thanks to the European Bluegrass Blog (EBB) for this news:

Back in June the EBB drew attention to a feature in Bluegrass Today on the Banjo Rolls Trainer, developed by Czech banjo player Jiří Markalous as an aid to learning all the important five-string banjo rolls and improving speed and accuracy, and available as an iOS app through the Apple App Store.

John Lawless has now featured on Bluegrass Today Jiří's further development of the concept, launched on 5 September: a Mac OSX version, combining all the features of the original with further options, including the ability to create and save your own rolls, and a speed-up feature, where the metronome setting will increase after a preset number of repetitions, at a user-determined rate. A video tutorial can be seen here. The new app is available through the Mac App Store for $14.99. John Lawless concludes: 'All in all, this is a very effective roll trainer'.

River Valley Bluegrass Session Weekend with Southern Welfare, 20-22 Sept. 2013

The BIB recorded with pleasure some time ago that Southern Welfare are an operational band once more, and the benefits can already be felt - Ray O'Brien of Bluegrass In Ireland sends this news:

Come enjoy a weekend of non-stop finger-picking bluegrass music sessions with Southern Welfare & Friends at the River Valley Caravan Park, Redcross, Co. Wicklow from Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd September.

From sandy shoreline to high mountains, remote glens, and forest trails, this is an ideal location for this bluegrass weekend, with plenty of room for campers and various accommodation available on site for rental over the weekend. All bluegrass pickers are welcome. So come along for this great weekend of bluegrass fun.

There will be a reduced rate for any campers and accommodation within the park for this weekend. More info on camper charges and accommodation rental over the weekend can be found here or by calling 0404 41647.

Rackhouse Pilfer in Dublin barn dance for MS Ireland, 4 Oct. 2013

Thanks to Ray O'Brien for forwarding news and images from Norabeth Hogan, organiser of the Kenilworth Barnbuster to be held at Kenilworth Bowling Club, Rathmines, Dublin 6, on Friday 4 October. The evening includes finger food; spot prizes and raffle; prizes for best outfit and for whoever can ride the Bucking Bronco for longest; and music by the high-energy Sligo band Rackhouse Pilfer. The band got a standing ovation for their Marquee set at last weekend's Omagh festival - and a video of their closing number fully explains why. It can be seen on their Facebook page or on YouTube (where links to other Omagh videos can be found).

The Kenilworth Barnbuster is a fundraiser for MS Ireland, helping all sufferers from multiple sclerosis. Please note that tickets must be bought in advance; all details are on the poster image above (click for an enlarged view).

The Wiyos (USA) in Ireland, 25-29 Sept. 2013

Thanks to Sharon Loughrin for the news that the innovative US old-time band The Wiyos (Michael Farkas, Teddy Weber, and Sauerkraut Seth Travins) are beginning their tour in Ireland later this month at the Red Room.

This has not yet appeared on the band's online tour schedule; however, on the schedule you will find location maps for venues and other information. The Wiyos will be playing in Britain (2-10 Oct.) after their dates in Ireland, which are as follows:

Wed. 25th: The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Thurs. 26th: Raheen Country Hotel, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, 8.00 p.m.
Fri. 27th: The Lodge in Mallow, Ballyellis, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m.
Sat. 28th: Balor Arts Centre, Main St., Ballybofey, Co. Donegal, 8.00 p.m.
Sun. 29th: The Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, 8.00 p.m.

News digest #32: update

Events this month [This section, as originally published, has become so thoroughly obsolete in the course of seven days that it has been scrapped so as not to mislead readers. Please refer direct to the BIB calendar, pending the issue of a new extract. BIB editor, 10.9.13]

Other news

The schedule of events at the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin, updated to 4 Oct. 2013, can be seen here. Of particular interest to BIB readers is the show by Session Americana on 27 Sept. Details of events already scheduled for later dates can be seen on the website of the Centre, 'Ireland's biggest little venue'.

********************

Loudon Temple of the UK Brookfield Knights agency writes on the outstanding neo-old-time duo:

Hi, folks - we are delighted to announce that Cahalen Morrison & Eli West will be returning for a string of dates in the UK and Ireland in the period 1-18 May next year. It would be appreciated if those who have previously expressed interest would please let us know what dates they might have in that period; and anyone else who would like to include them in programming, please confirm what dates might be available.

Contact Brookfield Knights by e-mail.

********************
Vincent Cross, New York representative of the Irish bluegrass diaspora, is now on Facebook.

********************
For all admirers of Ireland's premier neo-old-time band: a couple of weeks ago the US news/features blog The Bluegrass Situation published a substantial feature about I Draw Slow by Andrew Iden, entitled 'I Draw Slow: an Irish bluegrass band strikes a chord in America'. Read the whole feature here.

Stompin' Dave Allen in Ireland, 11-13 Oct. 2013

Thanks to John Roberts of Barking Spider Promotions for the news that Stompin' Dave Allen, one of the leading artists on the old-time music scene in Britain, will be playing the following shows in Ireland in mid October, all but one of them in Cork city:

Fri. 11th: Colfer's, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford

Sat. 12th: Cork Folk Festival
9.30 p.m: An Spailpin Fánach, supporting I Draw Slow
10.00 p.m.-2.00 a.m.: Festival Club at the Imperial Hotel, also featuring Seamus Begley & Jim Murray, Matthew (Mattu) Noone & Tommy Hayes, Arundo & the Boat Band, plus trad Irish session with Cuas (Méabh Ní Bheaglaoich, Liam Stapleton, and Matt Griffin)

Sun. 13th: Cork Folk Festival
11.45 p.m.: Crane Lane Theatre; end of Festival party, with Hot Guitars

Stompin' Dave plays and sings bluegrass, old-time, and rural blues on banjo, fiddle, guitar, piano - plus his trademark flatfoot dancing. He has twice won the no. 1 banjo award from FOAOTMAD, and has been runner-up in FOAOTMAD's dance contest. In the past ten years he has performed at events including the Glastonbury Festival, the Great Dorset Steam Fair, and the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival, and has consistently been rebooked. Maverick magazine has described him as 'one of the world’s greatest performers'.

He can be seen on YouTube with fiddle here and here, with banjo, and with guitar. The senior drama critic of the UK's Daily Telegraph (not always the most sympathetic paper for Americana music) wrote of him as 'a fresh new talent who completely blows you away... an utter delight... a formidable musician and a true original'.

If you are interested in presenting Stompin' Dave on a future tour - perhaps early in 2014 - contact

John Roberts
BARKING SPIDER PROMOTIONS (U.K. & Eire)
Cluain Beag
Allykeolaun
Kylebrack, nr Loughrea
Co. Galway
Tel. +353 (0)909 749813
Mobile +353 (0)871 330954
E-mail

Alan Jackson, The bluegrass album, and Carnegie Hall

Thanks to Roger Ryan of the Country Music Association of Ireland for the news that country music superstar and singer/songwriter Alan Jackson will perform in concert at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York on 28 October at 8.00 p.m. The show will feature songs from his The bluegrass album, to be released on 24 September and now available for pre-order from the AJ website. Eight of the fourteen songs on the album are his own compositions.

At Carnegie Hall he will be joined by the prominent bluegrass musicians whom regular guitarist Scott Coney assembled for the album: Sammy Shelor (banjo), Adam Steffey (mandolin), Tim Crouch (fiddle), Rob Ickes (reso-guitar), and Tim Dishman (bass), with Ronnie Bowman and Don Rigsby contributing harmony vocals.

In the past week Bluegrass Today has published two major features on the collaboration: an article by John Goad on the show at the Station Inn, Nashville, to launch the album, and an interview by John Lawless with Adam Steffey on how enjoyable the experience of working with Jackson was, and how positive the results are. Our favourite Adam Steffey quote about the album:

I know that we have people in our music who are superstars at being annoyed by anything different, but I think bluegrass fans will really like it.

Alec Somerville clawhammer banjo workshop at Moniaive, 28 Sept. 2013: update

Thanks to Alec Somerville (see the BIB post of 15 Sept. 2012 for an outline of Alec's past achievements) for the news that - as last year - he will be giving a clawhammer banjo workshop as part of the 5th Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival to be held in Moniaive, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, at the end of this month. This year's Moniaive festival - the 'Wee European World of Bluegrass Festival' - takes place on the weekend 27-29 September; Alec's workshop will be on the afternoon of Saturday 28 Sept.

The organiser, C. Paul 'Dobroman' Lyttle, a regular attender at Omagh festivals, has always included a strong contingent from Ireland on the bill. This year's programme includes the Broken Strings Band from east Ulster, the Watery Hill Boys from Drogheda, Co. Louth, and the phenomenal young band Cup o' Joe, who must have impressed anyone who heard them in jams or public performance at Omagh this past weekend.

Update: Paul has just circulated the following announcement:

Hello Bluegrassers,

Just to let you know Alec Somerville will be making a welcome comeback to MMBF this year where he will be teaching clawhammer banjo.

Read all about this amazing gentleman and realise that you will be in the presence of one of the very best when you meet him. Keep pickin', Paul