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