The Revelers - Cajun supergroup available for 28-29 Mar. 2014

Thanks to Loudon Temple of the UK Brookfield Knights agency for the news that the Revelers, a Cajun 'supergroup' from Lafayette, Louisiana, will be in these islands in March; and that one of the Irish venues that had agreed to take them can now no longer do so. This means that this highly regarded six-piece band will be in Ireland, with their latest album, and available for booking on Friday 28 March and Saturday 29 March.

The Revelers were formed by a conjunction of the founding members of the Red Stick Ramblers and the Pine Leaf Boys. Last year Kirsty Fitzsimons of the Ubangi Stomp Club and Dublin City FM considered their debut album 'gorgeous – full of joy from start to finish'. Any event organisers or venue operators in Ireland who would like to grab one of those two dates should contact Brookfield Knights. Loudon says:

It's not too late and we will have full-colour posters and flyers over-printed and sent to you within 48 hours.

Jimmy Quinn

Seamus McElroy sends this news from Belfast:

The well renowned 5-string banjo player and bluegrass legend from Belfast, Jimmy Quinn, suffered a major stroke on Tuesday 26 February. He is in the coronary care unit in Lagan Valley Hospital in critical condition. Jimmy turned 79 in January and has always been the life and soul of any session (so long as it was bluegrass!). Your thoughts and prayers will be appreciated.

The photo above, taken by Sharon Loughrin in the spring of 2012, shows Jimmy between Tony Curran (left, with banjo) and Geordie Macadam (right). On the same occasion Sharon recorded this video, showing Jimmy and his left-handed, black-faced Mastertone leading a session among Geordie and many other members of the Ulster scene.

Update 7.00 p.m.: We are sorry to receive - from Seamus, and from Colin Henry (whose resonator guitar can be seen on the right of the photo) - the news that Jimmy passed away quietly during the past night.

Southern Welfare in Kilcolgan, Co. Galway, 11-13 Apr. 2014

More good news from Bluegrass in Ireland - Waterford-based band Southern Welfare will be resident in Kilcolgan, Co. Galway, from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 April for a special bluegrass music weekend. Southern Welfare's Tony Wall (banjo, guitar, vocals) is quoted as saying: 'This is possibly one of the best places to play bluegrass in Ireland, with so many people really interested in the music.'

The BIB strongly suspects that Peter Larkin is behind all this and that Rafterys Rest will be the venue - in any case, good news for bluegrass fans in the West.

'Bluegrass in Ireland' - one year old today!

The BIB and its editor heartily congratulate Ray O'Brien and his Facebook page 'Bluegrass in Ireland'. Yesterday (Sunday) Ray announced that today will mark the first completed year of his page's life as 'an open resource for bluegrass activity in Ireland'. Though he knows now the blood, toil, tears, and sweat that go into keeping up such a service, he has found it 'a total joy to work on' and looks forward to years more of the same. That's the spirit, Ray!

If there's one shortcoming in the Facebook format, it is that some of a post's most important content may not be visible to the reader at first sight. So the BIB takes the liberty of drawing attention, and adding bold type, to Ray's closing request:

If I could ask just one thing of you all for the future, is that you keep us up to date with all the bluegrass/old-time ongoings in your area; and remember, you all own this page, and your contributions make this page what it is.

Many happy returns, 'Bluegrass in Ireland'!

Sarah Savoy brings Cajun music with attitude back to Ireland

Thanls to Nigel Martyn and his Old Flattop agency for good news for fans of Cajun music: Sarah Savoy, 'The Queen of White Trash Cajun', kicks off her Irish tour in Belfast's Sunflower on Friday 28 Feb. 2014 with Michel Lemare, Thierry Lecoq, and Manolo Gonzales as the four-piece 'Sarah Savoy's Hell Raisin' Hayride'.

Born into one of the most distinguished families of Cajun music, Sarah (after a rebellious teenage period in punk rock and a false start as a business executive) rejoined and accompanied the Savoy Family Band at a folk festival in France. There she met David Rolland and they started the band 'Sarah Savoy and the Francadians', whose tour in Ireland two years ago included such events as the Shannonside Winter Music Weekend and John Murphy's Americana Weekend at Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford. The Francadians toured throughout Europe and recorded four albums, mixing country, rockabilly, rock'n' roll, and punk attitude into their music, whilst retaining a traditional Cajun sound.

Sarah has since earned the titles 'Queen of White Trash Cajun' from FROOTS magazine and 'Princess of Cajun' from a Greek blues magazine. The schedule for the band's present tour is:

Fri. 28th Feb.: The Sunflower, Belfast
Sat. 1st Mar.: Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Limavady, Co. Londonderry
Sun. 2nd: Colfer's, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford
Mon. 3rd: Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork
Tues. 4th: Mill Bar, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare
Wed. 5th: Whelan's (upstairs), Dublin 2
Thurs. 6th: St John's Arts Centre, Listowel, Co. Kerry
Fri. 7th: Barry's Public House, Grange, Co. Sligo
Sat. 8th: Leap Castle, Roscrea, Co. Tpperary
Sun. 9th: Matt Molloy's, Westport, Co. Mayo

Nigel Martyn
23 Lowwood Park
Belfast BT15 4BB
Tel : +44 (0)28 90 580 793
Mobile : +44 (0)7545 020938
Skype name : nigelmartyn
www.oldflattop.com

The Broken Circle Breakdown - update

The BIB editor reports:

Went with Carol and Tim to the Pavilion, Dun Laoghaire, on Monday to see the award-winning bluegrass-themed film The Broken Circle Breakdown, by Flemish director Felix van Groeningen. A good house, though no one we knew was there.

There's no need to say anything about the film except that what's on the Access Cinema website about it is not hype. It is funny, moving, and harrowing. Anyone who likes bluegrass should be able to live with that.

Screenings in Ireland began on 30 Jan. (see the BIB for 28 Jan., since when all dates of showings have been on the BIB calendar). The rest of the schedule is as follows:

Mon. 24 Feb. Athenry Film Club, Athenry, Co. Galway, 8.15 p.m.
Tues. 25 Feb. Fermanagh Film For All, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, 8.00 p.m.
Tues. 25 Feb. Clonakilty Film Club, Co. Cork, 9.00 p.m.
Wed. 26 Feb. Rockabill Film Society, Skerries, Co. Dublin, 8.30 p.m.
Thurs. 6 Mar. Sailearna Film Club, 8.15 p.m.
Mon. 10 Mar. East Cork Cinema Club, Great Island Community Centre, Orelia Terrace, Cobh, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m.
Mon. 10 Mar. Sulan Film Society, Briery Gap Cultural Centre, Main St., Macroom, Co. Cork, 8.30 p.m.
Wed. 12 Mar. Abbey Centre, Tirconaill St., Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, 8.00 p.m.
Mon. 17 Mar. Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co. Wicklow, 8.00 p.m.
Tues. 18 Mar. Kilkenny Film Club, Set Theatre, Kilkenny city, 8.00 p.m.
Wed. 19 Mar. Dunamaise Arts Centre, Church St., Portlaoise, Co. Laois, 8.00 p.m.
Mon. 24 Mar. Naas Film Club, Moat Theatre, Naas, Co. Kildare, 8.00 p.m.
Tues. 25 Mar. Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, 8.00 p.m.
Tues. 25 Mar. Cinemax, the Quay, Bantry, Co. Cork, 8.30 p.m.
Thurs. 3 Apr. Cork Cine Club, St John's Central College, Cork city, 8.00 p.m.
Fri. 4 Apr. Newcastle West Film Club, the Desmond Complex, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick, 8.00 p.m.
Tues. 8 Apr. Tuar Ard Arts Centre, Moate, Co. Westmeath, 8.00 p.m.
Tues. 15 Apr. Droichead Arts Centre, Stockwell St., Drogheda, Co. Louth, 8.00 p.m.
Thurs. 17 Apr. Tech Amergin Community Arts and Education Centre, Waterville, Co. Kerry, 8.00 p.m.
Wed. 7 May Source Arts Centre, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, 8.00 p.m.

Muriel Andersen available for bookings in Oct. 2014

Thanks to Ray O'Brien for passing on the news that Muriel Anderson (USA) (above: photo by Chuck Winans) will be available for bookings here this October, according to Glenn Blackman of WBA Entertainment, Inc. The BIB last posted news on her on 10 Sept. 2012, when she was one of the artists taking part in the Inishowen Guitar Festival.

In 1989 she became the first woman to win the National Finger Style Guitar Championship at the prestigious Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, and bluegrass and old-time are among the many musical genres she loves, as shown in this YouTube video of her imitating the instruments of a bluegrass band on a medley of 'Old Joe Clark', 'Angeline', and 'Foggy Mountain breakdown', with a little bit of 'Lonesome road blues' at the end. She has performed with many other leading guitarists.

For more info and bookings, contact Glenn by e-mail.

Minnie and the Illywhackers in Dublin THIS FRIDAY

Following the news in the last post from Gerry Fitzpatrick, here's news of Gerry's 'other band', the eclectic Minnie & the Illywhackers. They will be playing at the Chancery Lane Cafe, Dublin 8, on Friday 21 February, starting at 8.30 p.m. Admission is €10; this is a new, intimate, fifty-seater venue so advance booking is recommended. Gerry adds that:

Minnie and the Illywhackers are a ukulele swing band centred around the vocal talents of Angie McLaughlin. The band are influenced by early jazz, country, and blues, and create a speak-easy supper-club feel that would well be at home in early last century cabaret. Their instrumentation includes ukulele, mandolin, double bass, cornet, fiddle, and guitar. Their set is comprised of original songs, augmented by forgotten classics of the pre-rock and roll era.

McLaughlin is joined by veterans of the Dublin music-scene and fellow Sick and Indigent Song Club members Shane McGrath, Gerry Fitzpatrick, Sheila Sullivan, Christian Volkmann, and Carl O’Byrne.

In 2012 Minnie and the Illywhackers spent the summer recording their debut album with renowned producer Stephen Shannon. The band have been delighting audiences all over Ireland from Dublin’s Sugar Club and Whelan’s to West-Cork’s Copper Mining Museum and have been busy on the festival circuit (including Body and Soul and Knockanstockan).

You can hear and see them on YouTube in the Green Screen Session series.

Cabin Sessions in Dundrum, Dublin, 27 Feb. 2014

Gerry Fitzpatrick announces the first show of 2014 in the Cabin Sessions series, 'Acoustic Music at its Finest', at Uncle Tom's Cabin in south Dublin (not far from Dundrum Luas station in the city direction):

The next ediiton of The Cabin Sessions will be on Thursday Feb 27th. The Cabin Crew (Spats Davenport, Con Butler, Gerry Fitzpatrick, Cathy McEvoy, Christian Volkmann) with guests Jasper Rua (contemporary guitar), Ciara O'Connor (contemporary), Lyna Lucas and the Natural Born Heathens (alt.country). 9.30-11.30 p,m. amd FREE!

If you or someone you know would like to perform at the Cabin Sessions, let Gerry know by e-mail. The Sessions are particularly interested in featuring local musicians and singers.

Dangem Bluegrass Get-Together, 22 Feb. 2014

An important addition to the slice of calendar we published on Sunday - thanks to Dangem Bluegrass for their latest e-newsletter, announcing that anyone who enjoys bluegrass music is welcome to the monthly Dangem Bluegrass jam session and banjo lessons, which will be held next from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon this coming Saturday, 22 Feb. 2014.

Arrangements as per usual: the venue is the Lagan Valley Island Civic Centre in Lisburn, Co. Antrim, BT27 4RL (028 9250 9292), and the schedule is

10.00-10.30 Warmup
10.30-11.00(ish) Break out time for beginners
Rest of players jam time
11.00(ish) to 12.00(ish) All back together

Derek Lockhart of Dangem says:

Bring along your banjos, guitars, mandolins, fiddles, dobros, and bass, or just come along and enjoy us make music. Look forward to seeing as many of you who can attend.

More info from Derek - e-mail.

Accommodation in Westport for the 8th Folk and Bluegrass Festival: update

No, you won't have to put your sleeping-bag down on this specially-marked-out piece of ground. Thanks to Ray O'Brien for forwarding this message from Uri Kohen (seen above), the festival founder and producer:

Coming to Westport for the Festival?

We’ve been talking to some of the festival’s biggest supporters and they’ve put together some great weekend accommodation deals. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, we reckon you’d be hard-pressed to find better.

Sincere thanks to the Harbour Mill Apartments, Clew Bay Hotel, and the Wyatt Hotel for their unflinching support over the years.

Follow the link for more info.

Update 19 Feb.: There is now an accommodation guide on the Westport Festival website here.

Old friends in a new format - Grazztrio

Catalan banjo maestro Lluís Gómez and the Barcelona Bluegrass Band are already well known in Ireland from appearances at successive Johnny Keenan Banjo Festivals, where their spectacular, imaginative, and passionate picking made them firm favourites with audiences.

Now Lluís, Oriol Gonzàlez (mandolin), and Maribel Rivero (bass) have formed a new group, Grazztrio. This month they released a CD, Three sheets to the wind, using the bluegrass instruments to embody their wide range of musical influences in twelve original compositions. A video of them performing the five-and-a-half minute 'Funky thumb' can be seen on Bluegrass Today or on YouTube, where Grazztrio have seven other videos on their own YouTube channel.

Lluís, Oriol, and Maribel would be glad to bring their new group to Ireland to play at festivals, in arts centres, pubs, or any other suitable location. Promoters and event organisers can contact Lluís through his website or by e-mail.

Three sheets to the wind is now available on the Internet at iTunes and Cd Baby, and has already received glowing reviews from the USA:

Europe has been a good home to bluegrass music for several decades now, with great musicians and bands emerging in the UK, the Czech Republic, and Italy, among others. We now have a bright new light coming from Spain with the instrumental trio Grazz. Grazz has the energy and creative spark that is often reminiscent of Tony Trischka's Skyline group at its best: complex lines and interplay often driven by the energetic, edgy banjo of Lluis Gomez. But what makes Grazz most unique is the fact that they're playing their own tunes on the improbable combination of banjo, mandolin, and bass.

What should be a limiting trio format seems freeing to these folks, as they push the possibilities and change up the textures to keep things fresh and unique. 'Caraman' is a great example of the array of sounds here; changing textures is the name of the game as the lead role is passed around from bass to banjo and mandolin then back to bass and mandolin before Gomez drives the tune into a new tempo. On 'No Se', the occasional bowed bass of Maribel Rivero doubles the mandolin melody before trading off with some complex banjo lines. And then there's the simply beautiful 'Alta Mar', showcasing the range of expressiveness in Oriol Gonzalez's mandolin.

If you wonder what innovations will come out of bluegrass over the next few decades, turn to groups like Grazz - they've got the creative spark and desire to push the envelope, and with this CD they've certainly proven they're worth keeping an eye on in the future. (Matt Flinner)

Grazztrio gives a fun and fascinating view of the string band, as viewed through an Iberian prism. The trio offers a freedom and a looseness that is compelling, drawing the listener in to recognise that this is mesmerising music that is well arranged and expertly executed. (Jake Schepps)

Grazztrio also some has really nice T-shirts (above), offering a special package (T-shirt + CD) for €16 plus shipment.

Events in the next ten days

Taken from the BIB calendar (please also refer to the 'Weekly sessions' section of the calendar). NB: we've just become aware through the Open House Festival website that today (Sun. 16th) the Belfast Sacred Harp group holds a singing session at Newtownbreda (St John’s) Presbyterian Church Hall, 374-8 Ormeau Road, Belfast, from 7.30 to 9.30 p.m. Admission free (suggested donation £1).

Further in the future, for anyone who may be in Kentucky in June: the International Bluegrass Music Museum (IBMM) has just announced the very impressive lineup for its ROMP festival (26-8 June); full details on the ROMP website.

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Sun. 16th: Stray Birds (USA), Whelan's, Dublin 2
The Broken Circle Breakdown (film), Galway Film Society, Town Hall Theatre, Galway city, 8.15 p.m.
Belfast Sacred Harp, Newtownbreda (St John’s) Presbyterian Church Hall, 374-8 Ormeau Rd, Belfast, 7.30-9.30 p.m., adm. free (suggested donation £1)

Mon. 17th: The Broken Circle Breakdown (film), Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, 8.00 p.m.

Tues. 18th: The Broken Circle Breakdown (film), Ramor Film Club, Ramor Theatre, Virginia, Co. Cavan, 8.00 p.m.

Sat. 22nd: Dangem Bluegrass monthly Bluegrass Get-Together, Lisburn Island Arts Centre, Co. Antrim, 10.00 a.m. to noon

Mon. 24th: The Broken Circle Breakdown (film), Athenry Film Club, Athenry, Co. Galway, 8.15 p.m.

Tues. 25th: The Broken Circle Breakdown (film),  Fermanagh Film For All, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, 8.00 p.m.; also at Clonakilty Film Club, Co. Cork, 9.00 p.m.

Wed. 26th: The Broken Circle Breakdown (film), Rockabill Film Society, Skerries, Co. Dublin, 8.30 p.m.

Thurs. 27th: The Cabin Sessions, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Dundrum, Dublin 14: the Cabin Crew [Spats Davenport (gtr), Con Butler (bs), Gerry Fitzpatrick (dob), Cathy McEvoy (f), Christian Volkmann (hca)] with special guests Jasper Rua (contemporary guitar), Ciara O'Connor (contemporary folk), Lynda Lucas & the Natural Born Heathens (Americana); 9.30-11.30 p.m., adm. free

Special C.'s star-studded John Denver tribute

Compass Records announce that the next album by the Special Consensus (USA) will be a tribute to the late John Denver, in which the band will be joined by friends from the top ranks of bluegrass music.

The Special C. have toured regularly in Ireland since 1995 (most recently in January 2013), and have made many friends and fans here over the years. Their 2012 release Scratch Gravel Road was nominated for a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album.

Country boy: a bluegrass tribute to John Denver is scheduled for release on 25 March 2014, and is produced by Compass Records co-founder Alison Brown, who plays banjo on one track along with Special C. leader Greg Cahill. Other guest artists include Dale Ann Bradley, Jason Carter, Mike Cleveland, John Cowan, Rob Ickes, Jim Lauderdale, Claire Lynch, Peter Rowan, Buddy Spicher, and Rhonda Vincent. The album can be pre-ordered from Compass; the first 100 pre-orders will receive a signed copy.

For more details, read this article by John Lawless on Bluegrass Today, including Greg's account of how the project was conceived, and a really lovely video of the Special C., with Claire Lynch and Rob Ickes, performing the Denver song 'Wild Montana skies' round a single mike.

PS: While you're on Bluegrass Today, visit here for another very appealing video of top musicians in action.

Open Mic Night at South Dublin Arts Centre, 28 Feb. 2014

A further performance opportunity for pickers in the Dublin area - RUA RED, aka the South Dublin Arts Centre in Tallaght, announces:

Our next Open Mic Night is coming up this February 28th and we need you! Get in touch with us and let us know what you can do. Drop an e-mail or give us a call on 01-451 5860.

Lunchtime jam in Dublin streets? (and we don't mean traffic)

Thanks to Ray O'Brien and 'Bluegrass In Ireland' for sharing this news: Karl Deeter, guitarist and singer with Dublin's Tin Box Company, offers this suggestion to

[...] any musicians who may be available in Dublin city for a regular bit of busking (around lunchtime in the day).

I thought it might be nice to get some street performance going with a few pickers, nice way to meet and jam as the weather picks up in spring.

Karl can be contacted through his Facebook page.

More on Jim Lauderdale

The BIB editor writes:

After posting on Monday the news of the forthcoming appearance by Jim Lauderdale at Whelan's in Dublin on 3 March, I happened to notice that Jim's latest album, Old time angels, receives a Highlight review in the February 2014 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine. As this strongly underlines the significance of the Whelan's show for bluegrass enthusiasts, I added it to the original post yesterday morning.

For anyone who read the post the first time it appeared, before this addition, here's the album cover and this link to the review, by Bill Wagner.

I Draw Slow - new single/video and album

I Draw Slow, Dublin's 'neo-old-time' band, have released the first single, 'Valentine', from their upcoming album, White Wave Chapel on the US Pinecastle label.

A video for the song, shot at the Hacienda Bar in Dublin and starring Irish actor Aidan Gillen alongside Louise Holden and the band, can be seen below and on the websites of the band and the label. Vigilant viewers may catch a glimpse or two of the rear view of Bill Whelan, Godfather of old-time music in Ireland. The single is now available to radio via AirPlay Direct; the album is due for release here this month and in North America on 8 July 2014.

Pinecastle Records rereleased I Draw Slow's debut CD Red hills in 2012; it wound up in the Top Ten of many lists that year. They have since made several US tours, and have two further tours lined up for 2014, playing such prestigious festivals as Grey Fox, Merlefest, Rockygrass, and Pickathon.



The distinguished history of Pinecastle Records can be read here.

Stray Birds this week; Jim Lauderdale next month; and MerleFest news

The Stray Birds (photo: Jake Jacobson)

The Stray Birds (see photo above) from Pennsylvania are a three-piece band who present American folk music with hard-edged trio vocals, Monroesque mandolin work, and lyrical clawhammer banjo and fiddle. Their music can be sampled on YouTube, and their schedule is:

Tues. 11 Feb.: The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Wed. 12 Feb.: The Black Box, Belfast, 7.00 p.m.
Thurs. 13 Feb.: Raheen House Hotel, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary (Clonmel World Music series)
Fri. 14 Feb.: The Lodge, Mallow, Co. Cork
Sat. 15 Feb.: Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Sun. 16 Feb.: Whelan's Upstairs, Wexford St., Dublin 2

The final show is presented by Musiclee.ie, who announce: 'A sold-out show at Celtic Connections is a sign that the news has crossed the Atlantic. Advance booking for their first Dublin concert is recommended.' The show at Whelan's begins at 8.30 p.m.; admission is €15 (€13 if reserved in advance).

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Thanks to Ray O'Brien for forwarding news from Paul Foley of the Ubangi Stomp Club in Dublin, which will present Grammy-award-winning songwriter and performing artist Jim Lauderdale at the same venue, Upstairs at Whelan's, on 3 March. Tickets €12 euro, available in advance from WAV tickets.

As the Ubangi release points out, Jim Lauderdale is one of the most respected artists working on the bluegrass, country, and Americana music scenes; to bluegrassers he is especially well known for his close collaborations on record with Dr Ralph Stanley, and his latest album, Old time angels, received a 'Highlight' review in the Feb. 2014 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited. He will be in Ireland for the 10th Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival (28 Feb.-9 Mar.) No other gigs in Ireland are mentioned on his online schedule, so this is a rare opportunity to see him performing live. A sample of his work can be seen on YouTube.

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Thanks to Niall Toner for forwarding the latest e-newsletter from MerleFest, announcing that Merle Haggard and Ricky Skaggs will be on the bill. Full details are also given of the judges (including Niall) for the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest; the panel will be headed by Jim Lauderdale, and the final round of judging will take place at MerleFest, as already mentioned on the BIB on 5 Feb. Read the full e-newsletter here.

Zoe Muth - available in Nov. 2014

The Brookfield Knights agency announces that Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers (USA) are expected to launch a new album in the coming spring. They are already fully booked for a tour in these islands in Oct./Nov., so Brookfield Knights have arranged a further ten days' tour. The band will thus be available from 3 Nov. to 12 Nov. 2014.

The BIB published info on Zoe Muth and the band on 10 Jan. 2012 and 26 Jan. 2012, when they were about to appear on Clonmel World Music after making an impact at the 2012 Celtic Connections festival. Video footage of them at Celtic Connections can be seen on the BBC website.

In 2012 the BIB wrote: 'This is an alt.country band including electric guitar, electric bass, and drums, but with a lot of lead mandolin and some bluegrass-compatible songs'. In fact, the band's sound now seems pretty firmly in the classic country genre, meaning that much of their repertoire is bluegrass-compatible, while Zoe Muth herself is being compared to Emmylou Harris and Gillian Welch. BIB readers may well be interested. Anyone wishing to put the band on should contact Brookfield Knights.

Events in the next week

Taken from the BIB calendar; note tonight in Armagh the last date in the current tour by the Nation & Blackwell Band, and in Dublin a show by the Dublin Bluegrass Collective (see the poster, right, for their weekly Tuesday sessions) at the revived Tumbleweed Love Sessions in the Cobblestone.

Sat. 8th: Nation & Blackwell Bluegrass Band (USA), Marketplace Theatre, Armagh city, Co. Armagh
Dublin Bluegrass Collective at Tumbleweed Love Sessions, the Cobblestone, Smithfield, Dublin, from 8.30 p.m.

Sun. 9th: Well Enough Alone, the Kilkenny Shop, Nassau St., Dublin, 2.15-4.15 p.m.; the Grand Social (Saucy Sundays showcase night), 6.30-7.15 p.m.

Tues. 11th: Stray Birds (USA), the Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone

Wed. 12th: Stray Birds (USA), the Black Box, Belfast, 7.00 p.m.

Thurs. 13th: Stray Birds (USA), Raheen House Hotel, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
The Broken Circle Breakdown (film), Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin, 8.30 p.m.

Fri. 14th: Stray Birds (USA), the Lodge, Mallow, Co. Cork

Fri. 14th-Sun. 16th: FOAOTMAD old-time music festival, Gainsborough, Lincs., England

Sat. 15th: Stray Birds (USA), Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Prison Love, Whelan's, Wexford St., Dublin 2; doors 8.00 p.m., show 9.00 p.m.; entry €10 (includes access to Whelan's late bar and club)

Sun. 16th: Stray Birds (USA), Whelan's, Dublin 2
The Broken Circle Breakdown (film), Galway Film Society, Town Hall Theatre, Galway city, 8.15 p.m.

No day of rest for Well Enough Alone

Well Enough Alone: (l-r) Martin McWhorter, Niall Hughes, Hugh Taggart, Luke Coffey

Hugh Taggart of Well Enough Alone sends details of the band's busy day in Dublin this coming Sunday (9 Feb.):

We'll be playing our Sunday residency in the foodhall upstairs of the Kilkenny Shop on Nassau Street from 2.15 till 4.15. We'll then be making our way over to the Grand Social (just over the north side of the Ha'penny Bridge) to play at Saucy Sundays showcase night for a 40-minute set starting at 6.30. It's free into both. Come on out and enjoy some uplifting bluegrass music this Sunday.

Prison Love at Whelan's, Dublin 2, 15 Feb. 2014

Thanks to Mark 'Marko' O'Mahony (second from left above) for this news:

Howdy Folks,

Prison Love bring their barnstorming bluegrass, outrageous old-time, and confounding cajun music to the luxurious upstairs stage of Whelan's next Saturday, 15 Feb.

Expect the relentless tempo of David Holden’s mandolin, aching melodies of Adrian Hart's fiddle, Paul Mulcahy's flat-picking guitar and banjo, driving rhythm of Konrad Liddy's dog-house bass, and the raucous vocals of Mark O’Mahony.

This is the finest musical moonshine this side of the big pond. Doesn't matter if you're dancing or listening, come aboard and take a swig of some real-deal American roots music.

Where: Whelan's, Wexford St., Dublin 2
When: 15 Feb. (Doors 8.00 p.m.; show 9.00 p.m.)
Entry: €10 (Includes access to Whelans late bar and club)

Hope to see you there!

Detached notes

The Sacred Harp Singers of Dublin announce:

Sacred Harp Dublin have moved! As of this evening [Friday 8 Feb.] we will be holding our weekly singing in a hall at the back of the Franciscan Friary on Cook St., Dublin 8. The entrance is through a grey door in a wall, on your left if you were walking towards town - roughly number 80 but it's not marked.

The new room has lovely acoustics as well as tea- and coffee-making facilities, so we are really looking forward to getting settled in. The time is still 7.00 to 9.00 every Friday evening, and we have some loaner books available. If you have any trouble finding the room, just give me a call on 0872355978 and I'll come and let you in!

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Clawhammer-banjo maestro Michael Miles (USA), who toured Ireland last spring, will be taking part in a tribute to the late Pete Seeger, to be broadcast tomorrow night (Sat. 8 Feb.) on WFMT at 8.00 p.m. Chicago time, and also streaming live on WFMT.com. Next month, Michael will be giving a free mini-concert in Chicago and signing his new book, Folk songs for clawhammer banjo. Full details are on Michael's latest e-newsletter.

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Thanks to Ray O'Brien for forwarding two news items from his Bluegrass in Ireland Facebook page: first, Derek Copley of the Greasy Coat Stringband announces that there is a weekly old-time jam in Dublin, which has been running since September every Monday from 9.00 p.m. at the Thomas House, Thomas St., Dublin 8.

Second, Ger O'Donnell recorded two sets of the High Plains Tradition show at Bruff, Co. Limerick, on 21 Jan., and put the recording on SoundCloud. You can reach it through this link to Ray's Facebook.

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For everyone who's enjoyed the Nation & Blackwell Band tour (which doesn't end till after their show tomorrow night): Susan Nation has sent Bluegrass Today plenty of photos, a video of them at Leap Castle, and a report that makes it clear how much they've enjoyed their time over here. The feelings are reciprocated!

The Isaacs in Northern Ireland, 24-6 Mar. 2014

The Isaacs (USA), unquestionably one of the most outstanding gospel groups in bluegrass music, will be visiting Europe late next month for a brief tour, comprising three dates in Northern Ireland followed by three in the Netherlands.

The Ulster tour dates, as shown on the Isaacs' online schedule, are as follows. Thanks to Sharon Loughrin of Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, for information on the concert venues. Dates for the Netherlands are shown on the European Bluegrass Blog.

Mon. 24th Mar.: Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, 7.00 p.m.
Tues. 25th: Craigavon Civic Centre, Craigavon, Co. Armagh, 7.00 p.m.
Wed. 26th: The Spires Centre, Belfast, 7.00 p.m.

John Lowell Band in Ireland, 13-21 May 2014

The John Lowell Band: (l-r) John Lowell, Julie Elkins, Tom Murphy
Thanks to Tom Murphy - mandolinist with the John Lowell Band, a four-piece contemporary bluegrass group based in Montana - for the news that after touring Germany this coming May, the band hopes to be playing in Ireland in the time-frame 13-21 May 2014.

The John Lowell Band's shows in Germany include playing on the 12th International Bühl Bluegrass Festival (2-3 May). Tom adds:

We’d really love to play some music in Ireland for a week or so before heading back to the US. My friend John Lowell is a guitarist and singer/songwriter from Montana. Most recently, he has toured Germany and the UK with the Growling Old Men, a duo he created with his buddy Ben Winship. He's also taught at the Sore Fingers Music Camp for several years in England. Our other two companions have also toured the world playing music, and have been featured on the cover of several music magazines. Julie Elkins on banjo and vocals was in John's band Kane’s River; Ben Somers on bass (and tenor sax) is a name you’ll likely know from his work with Dizzee Rascal, Seal, Dr John and more. In addition, he is an honorary Growling Old Man and joined them on their tour last year.

We’d need rooms and a PA provided, with the opportunity to make enough to make the stop worthwhile. I'm really looking forward to seeing Ireland for the first time. My grandmother came to the States in 1902, and I'm excited to have the opportunity to finally meet my Irish relatives.

You can hear the powerful and imaginative music of the John Lowell Band on a couple of YouTube videos of a recent show, here and here. To make it possible to hear them live in Ireland, contact John Lowell (e-mail, website) or Tom Murphy (e-mail, website).

Niall Toner to judge at MerleFest songwriting contest

Niall Toner, who received the European Bluegrass Personality 2012 award a year ago, will be one of the panel of judges at this year's 22nd Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Other members of the panel, chaired by Jim Lauderdale, are Charles Humphrey III (bass-player for the Steep Canyon Rangers) and Darrell Scott.

The panel will conduct the first round of judging in Nashville, and the final round at MerleFest 2014, to be held at Wilkesboro, North Carolina, on 24-7 April, where Niall is also scheduled to play several sets. More details are on the MerleFest website. The deadline for entry in the contest is just two weeks from now - 19 February 2014.

Helping PineCone - the second round!

See the BIB for 22 January if you need the background to this saga. Now read on:

PineCone (the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music, which brings many fine musicians from North Carolina to the annual Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival in the Ulster American Folk Park at Omagh, Co. Tyrone) needs our support - and just a click of the mouse is all it costs us.

PineCone is among the NC non-profit organisations that are in the running to receive a 'technology makeover'. The two organisations with the highest number of votes will receive new office and network equipment worth a combined value of $35,000 from Milner, Inc.

The clicks we gave in January helped to bring PineCone through to the second and final round of voting. We can now keep backing PineCone by voting for it - just once in 24 hours, but this can be done every day from now up to and including Sunday 16 Feb. We can also help by spreading the word, and by Liking and sharing the voting site on Facebook, Twitter, and favourite social media sites.

String band updates

Following on Sunday's post about the Quebecois trio De Temps Antan who played here recently, the Brookfield Knights agency announce that the time-frames for booking the trio on their return trip this coming autumn will be:

Ireland, dates available: 23 October to 2 November 2014

England, Wales, and Scotland, dates available: 20-30 November 2014

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And while we're dealing with string bands from outside the strictly bluegrass and 'old-time' areas - the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre at Naul, Co. Dublin, will be presenting this coming Saturday (8 Feb.) the Sligo-based quintet NoCrows who play music from a wide range of genres on violins, cello, bass, guitar, mandolin, and more. The Centre warns on its event page that the last three NoCrows performances at Naul were completely sold out, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Kathy Barwick and Pete Siegfried in Ireland, May 2014

We posted last week the news from Bluegrass Today that multi-instrumentalist and singer Kathy Barwick (USA), who toured here in 2013 with Gary Ferguson, has received the Northern California Bluegrass Award for Best Dobro Player.

Thanks to acclaimed bluegrass writer Jon Hartley Fox for this further good news:

Kathy Barwick had such a good time touring Ireland this summer with Gary Ferguson that she's decided to do it again next summer, this time with her regular musical partner of several years, Pete Siegfried, a great singer and mandolin player from here in California. 

Barwick & Siegfried combine elements of bluegrass, folk, and old-time country music 'brother duets' into a compelling and highly entertaining Americana fusion showcasing Pete’s exceptional lead vocals, Kathy’s amazing guitar work, and their sterling duet harmonies.

Thanks to Jon also for links to the new Barwick & Siegfried ReverbNation site, where their music can be heard and seen, and to Kathy’s website. Barwick & Siegfried, the 'Mountain Laurel Duet', will be performing at the following venues in May:

Thurs. 15th: Sunflower Folk Club, Belfast
Mon. 19th: Ballymore Acoustic Gigs, Murphy's, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare
Wed. 21st: Mill Theatre, Dundrum, Dublin
Fri. 23rd: Tech Amergin, Waterville, Co. Kerry

Jon Hartley Fox has been writing on bluegrass and other arts for over thirty years. His latest book, King of the Queen City: the story of King Records, is a major source for the recent Stanley Brothers biography by David. W. Johnson.

Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra in Ireland, 8-14 Mar. 2014; update

Two splendid traditional bluegrass bands from the States have already been touring here since mid January (and the Nation & Blackwell Band don't play their final show till this coming Saturday), and other forms of Americana are now on the way. Thanks to The Grand Social venue at 35 Liffey St., Dublin 1, for the news that Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra, 'the UK's finest purveyors of Western Swing, Ragtime & Hokum Blues', will be playing there on Saturday 8 March. Doors open at 8.00 p.m.; admission is €10 (and in advance online). Support will be by Saint John the Gambler.

Out of the growing UK scene of bands with early American music influences, I'd say Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra are most likely to be the gem. (Pokey LaFarge)

Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra are a six-piece (guitars, mandolin, harmonica, accordion, upright bass, drums) band from Newcastle upon Tyne who have been supporting Pokey LaFarge on tours, and playing on BBC radio and at many festivals and venues in these islands. Note: as regards 'western swing', their sound is not that of the Bob Wills band, but it's full of beans nonetheless. You can hear it on SoundCloud, their website, and on YouTube - for instance, here and here. They are also on Facebook.

Update 6 Feb.: The Grand Social show is the second of a tour in Ireland. Thanks to G Promo PR for the added details, shown below:

Fri. 7th Mar.: The Bridge Tavern, Wicklow, Co. Wicklow
Sat. 8th: The Grand Social, Dublin city
Sun. 9th: Crane Lane Theatre, Cork city
Tues. 11th: The Weigh Inn, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Wed. 12th: The Atlantic Bar, Portrush, Co. Londonderry
Thurs. 13th: The Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Fri. 14th: The Goat’s Toe, Bangor, Co. Down

More from Brookfield Knights - and the Red Room

Hot on the heels of this afternoon's news from the Brookfield Knights agency about the Hot Seats comes another message from BK's Loudon Temple about the recent very successful tour in these islands by the 'Quebecois powerhouse trio' De Temps Antan, whose sold-out shows included the Celtic Connections festival finale and a capacity crowd at the Black Box in Belfast. A Belfast Telegraph review of the Black Box show can be seen here.

A very similar effect, on a more intimate scale, was felt at Ireland's premier house-concert venue, the Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, where the trio played on Tuesday 28 January. Plenty of confirmation can be found on the Red Room's Facebook page - which now has a new cover photo (see above). The next guests at the Red Room are the Pennsylvania trio, The Stray Birds, on Tuesday 11 February (see the BIB for 1 January for more about them).

Loudon Temple announces that De Temps Antan are due back in Europe at the end of October and will be available for dates in these islands from 2 to 23 November, possibly till 30 November if there is enough demand. Anyone interested in booking them should contact Brookfield Knights.

Hot Seats - dates available in summer 2014

We posted news back in August and October 2013 about plans for a new tour by the Hot Seats (above) from Virginia in these islands in late July and early August 2014. The Hot Seats, presenting 'old-time music with attitude' (Washington Post), have previously made their mark at British events such as Celtic Connections, the Shetland Folk Festival, Didmarton Bluegrass Festival, Leicester Summer Sundae, Maverick Festival, Speyfest, the Edinburgh Fringe, and HebCeltFest, and they won a Herald Angel - the biggest accolade available - for a sell-out seven-night run in the Famous Spiegeltent at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. A YouTube video, made during a low-key house concert for a friend, can be seen here.

Thanks to the Brookfield Knights agency, who now announce that the Hot Seats are already booked for the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre at Naul, Co. Dublin, on Saturday 2 August, and for the Bluegrass Picnic in the Park at Bangor, Co. Down, on Sunday 3 August (part of the Open House Festival summer holiday season). This means the following dates in Ireland are available:

Mon. 28 July: FREE
Tues. 29: FREE
Wed. 30: FREE
Thurs. 31: FREE
Fri. Aug. 1: FREE

Brookfield Knights say: 'Please let us know if you'd like to grab a slice of the action.'