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'.

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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.

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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.

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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.