Moron Brothers: an extra date in Sixmilebridge, 2 Oct. 2014

Thanks to Jennie of the Sixmilebridge Folk Club (SMB) in Co. Clare, for the news that the Club are pleased to present the Moron Brothers (above) from Kentucky, USA, in Gleeson's Bar, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare, at 9.00 p.m. on Thursday 2 October. Entry is free, and a great night of music, songs, and stories is promised.

The Moron Brothers were among the leading acts at last weekend's Bunratty Banjo Festival. Photos from the Festival are being posted on the Club's Facebook page, and Festival attenders are invited to let the Club know what they think of the festival, on Facebook or by e-mail. The BIB will in the very near future publish an account of the weekend by Des Butler, with plenty of Des's photos.

Woodbine announce a retrospective album

Woodbine announce today on their Facebook page the release of a new album this year. Woodbine: the story 2002-2013 features twenty-four tracks taken from their three previous albums, spanning the life of the band since its formation in 2002. The cover art (left) shows successive configurations of the band during those twelve years.

I Draw Slow - new video and US tour dates

Thanks to Pinecastle Records for the latest news of Dublin's I Draw Slow (above). Tomorrow they open an autumn tour in the US with a performance in Raleigh, NC, on the first day of this year's IBMA World of Bluegrass. Their full schedule in the US is given as:

30 Sept. The Architect Bar and Social House, Raleigh, NC, 11.00 p.m.
2 Oct. Albino Skunk Festival, Greer, SC, 7.10 p.m.
3 Oct. Wide Open Bluegrass Festival, Raleigh, NC, 5.15 p.m.
4 Oct. The Old Theater, Oriental, NC, 7.00 p.m.
5 Oct. The Rooster's Wife, Aberdeen, NC, 6.00 p.m.

The Pinecastle release says:

I Draw Slow is hot on the heels of their latest release, White Wave Chapel, released in July in the US. They are winning the hearts of fans and growing their audience each time they come stateside.

The latest video from the album is 'Souvenirs'. Conceived after a visit to Dublin's Natural History Museum, 'Souvenirs' is a reflection about the inanimate objects people tend to collect during the course of a relationship. 'They're the things that mark points that you would like to remember', says Louise Holden. 'But now the relationship is over and they are left with this stuff, these little souvenirs.'

The opportunity arose to film the video inside the Natural History Museum with Irish Film and Television Award-winning director Ronan Fox. The Museum provides a tranquil backdrop for the stripped-down brother-and-sister duet.

KingBlue takes the stage, 1 Nov. 2014: update

KingBlue: (l-r) Mel Corry, Caolan 'Chief' Derby,
Clem O'Brien, Sean McKerr

Following on from the BIB post of 20 September: the eagerly awaited debut appearance of KingBlue will be at the Pikers Lodge Hotel, Lough Gowna, Co. Cavan, on Saturday 1 November at 9.30 p.m.

The band announced the gig on their Facebook page, adding 'Y'all Come!' Note that the Pikers Lodge is a 21-bedroom hotel - the Lough Gowna area draws many visiting anglers.

Update: the poster image below has now appeared on the KingBlue Facebook page.

Rackhouse Pilfer at Carter Vintage Guitars

Congratulations on a high-achieving year to Sligo's Rackhouse Pilfer, who announced on Friday (26 Sept.) that they are taking two weeks' rest after a busy season of festivals and gigs. However, their engines will barely cool off before shows resume on 3 October, with sixteen performances scheduled for that month alone. Their August included return visits to two of the biggest bluegrass events in Europe: the La Roche Bluegrass Festival on the edge of the French Alps, and the Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival at Omagh, Co. Tyrone.

While they were in Nashville recording their album Love and havoc, released earlier this year, several performance videos of them were shot and can be seen on the YouTube channel of Carter Vintage Guitars - along with many fine videos of first-class instruments being given workouts by such pickers as Mike Compton, Charlie Cushman, Adam Steffey, and David Grisman. Carter Vintage Guitars, 'Nashville's friendliest guitar store', was featured in the latest issue (no. 32) of the Fretboard Journal.

From the horse's mouth - Bruff Bluegrass Festival, 3-5 Oct. 2014

Following our original post on Wednesday (24 Sept.), headed by this photo of Clem O'Brien, a full lineup and other details for this year's Bruff Bluegrass Music Festival in Bruff, Co. Limerick, is now on the Festival blog.

The programme will include the Morning Star Rose; the Big Mock Wedding will be held in Clancy's Yard on Saturday night; and on Sunday entertainments on the street will include the Donkey Derby and the High Nellie Flying Column from Cappamore and Kilkenny. Bands taking part are:

Down and Out Bluegrass Band (Belfast)
Tin Box Company (Dublin)
Rocky Top String Band (Westport, Co. Mayo)
Well Enough Alone (Dublin)
Harpers Hollow Bluegrass Band (Lisburn/Belfast, Co. Antrim)
Clem O'Brien Band (Ballylinan, Co. Laois)
Southern Bluegrass Union (Mallow, Co. Cork)

Furnace Mountain in Ireland, 28 Oct.-9 Nov.; and Embracing the Queen's Festival

Thanks to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for a reminder that the autumn schedule in their Moving on Music programme includes five shows in Northern Ireland by the Virginia string band Furnace Mountain (above), who are also playing at least seven earlier shows in the rest of the island - see their page on Music Network for more details.

Furnace Mountain comprises Aimee Curl (bass, vocals), Danny Knicely (mandolin, vocals, fiddle), Dave Van Deventer (fiddle, vocals), and Morgan Morrison (bouzouki, vocals). Their full schedule in Ireland, as shown at present online, is:

Tues. 28th Oct.: Music Network, Sugar Club, Dublin 2
Wed. 29th: unbooked
Thurs. 30th: Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co. Wicklow
Fri. 31st: Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Sat. 1st Nov.: Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Sun. 2nd: Clifden Arts Society, Station House Theatre, Clifden, Co. Galway
Mon. 3rd: Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Tues. 4th: Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
Wed. 5th: Town Hall, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim
Thurs. 6th: Council Chambers, Bangor, Co. Down
Fri. 7th: Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick, Co. Down
Sat. 8th: Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre, Armagh city
Sun. 9th: Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

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In the past two weeks the BIB has mentioned appearances by the Old Crow Medicine Show and Muriel Anderson in Ireland next month. As part of their tours, each of these acts is performing in Belfast as part of the Belfast Festival at Queen's (16 Oct.-1 Nov.).

This e-newsletter from the Festival organising team draws attention to its Embrace feature:

a new, innovative and exciting programme of participatory & creative learning activities. Embrace has something for everyone with more than twenty different workshops, talks and master-classes allowing audiences the chance to get 'up close and personal' with world-class artists, at little or no cost!

The e-newsletter has more details, plus links for downloading the Festival programme and booking tickets.

Matt Cooper

The BIB has received from Tim Rogers and Sean McKerr the sad news that Matt Cooper of Dublin passed away on Friday night (19 Sept.) after a hard battle with cancer. The funeral mass will be held at 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday 24 September at his local church, the church of St Philip the Apostle, Mountview Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15.

Matt was a self-effacing man whose talents and character should have been more widely known, and we hope the BIB will be able to publish accounts from those who knew him well. As a very slight acknowledgment of Matt's worth, he was an accomplished luthier who built, repaired, and set up instruments to a very high standard for musicians including Niall Toner and Tim Rogers. His son Charlie, one of the most talented among younger musicians to have emerged on the scene here, is expert on all the bluegrass instruments. The BIB's condolences go to Charlie and to all Matt's family.

Enter the King - KingBlue

A big picture to introduce some big news. Two weeks ago the BIB mentioned rumours that 'a new hard-driving bluegrass band of well known pickers in Ireland is soon to be announced'. The wait is now over, and the news is seismic! Earlier today Clem O'Brien announced on Facebook the formation of KingBlue, composed of Sean McKerr, Mel Corry, Caolan 'Chief' Derby, and Clem himself. Clem writes:

I am proud and happy to announce my participation in a brand new bluegrass band, KingBlue. I know Sean and Mel as long as I have been playing this music and have always respected them as musicians. The Chief I only met recently but was knocked out by his ability at Ardara this year.

Recent get-togethers and rehearsals was like putting on an old pair of boots and it feels good to be back playing hard-driving bluegrass after so long. I look forward to seeing old friends, both at home and abroad, in 2015 and beyond.

Thanks to Ray O'Brien for making us aware of the news, which broke on Facebook and is already being well acclaimed there. Without having heard a note from this band yet, the BIB unreservedly recommends them to any festival organiser, venue operator, or music lover who is looking for solid, undiluted bluegrass. We can't do better to underline the significance of this momentous event than quote the 'About' section of the new band's own Facebook page:

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KingBlue is a new bluegrass band in the traditional vein, bringing together some stalwarts of the Irish bluegrass scene over the last twenty years.

Biography

Clem O’Brien, regarded by many as the country’s premier bluegrass vocalist and guitarist, has played this music at the highest level for over twenty years. He came to prominence as a bluegrass musician with the Kildare-based Flint Hill Boys and has toured as a featured artist with the world-renowned Chieftains. More recently Clem has been part of the Niall Toner Band. Clem also maintains his own band, the Clem O’Brien Band, and will continue to appear with both bands.

Sean McKerr has been playing mandolin for twenty years and is widely regarded as a Bill Monroe stylist. His driving rhythms give a distinctive edge to the band. He has played with such diverse bands as the Dusty Millers, the Mean Eyed Cats, the Freightliners, and has recently completed a British tour with Nashville-based Sharon Cort & New River Ranch featuring banjo legend Butch Robins. Sean recently featured as the bass player in the World International Bluegrass band at the IBMA convention in Nashville.

Mel Corry is also a veteran of the Dusty Millers Bluegrass Band and the Mean Eyed Cats, and earlier this year toured with New York-based Buddy Merriam & Backroads. Mel plays the 5–string banjo in the hard-driving style of Earl Scruggs and J.D. Crowe; he also shares the lead singing duties with Clem. Mel and Sean are both founder members of the popular Tennessee Hennessees and will continue to perform with the Ten Hens as well as KingBlue.

Caolan Derby, known as 'Chief' to those close to him, holds down the bass duties in KingBlue. His expertise as a bass player defies his youth and he plays with a variety of styles from aggressive rockabilly to slow waltzes. Chief brings a youthful dynamism to the band and plays bass in his own rock band.

KingBlue play a style of bluegrass firmly rooted in the classic tradition of Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, the Stanley Brothers, and Jimmy Martin, peppered with original songs and tunes. Their show is fast-paced and professional.

Working close: (l-r) Mel Corry, Caolan Derby, Clem O'Brien, and Sean McKerr

Muriel Anderson in Ireland, 14-19 Oct. 2014

Thanks to Brendan O'Regan in Arklow, Co. Wicklow, for the news that the renowned guitarist Muriel Anderson, now based in Nashville, TN, will open a brief tour in Ireland next month with a concert in Brendan's Arklow Roots Music series at the Arklow Bay Hotel on Tuesday 14 October at 8.30 p.m. Tickets are €15/ €12. Brendan adds:

Muriel has been praised by the likes of Chet Atkins and Les Paul, has played with Tommy Emmanuel and Beth Nielsen Chapman, and not only plays but teaches guitar as well. Fans will want to see her playing the amazing harp-guitar! Her wonderful 'Bluegrass medley' on YouTube should excite some interest.

The complete set of dates for Muriel Anderson in Ireland (following several engagements in Britain) is:

Tues. 14th: Arklow Bay Hotel, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, 8.30 p.m., €15/ €12 (Arklow Roots Music)
Thurs. 16th: Garter Lane Arts Centre, O’Connell St., Waterford city, 8.00 p.m.
Fri. 17th: Triskel Arts Centre, Tobin St., Cork city, 8.00 p.m., €12/€14
Sun. 19th: Strand Arts Centre, 152-154 Holywood Rd, Belfast, 8.00 p.m. (part of Belfast Festival at Queen's)

Banjo Babes 2015 calendar/CD - deadline imminent

Thanks to John Lawless of Bluegrass Today for the news that the deadline for entries for the Banjo Babes 2015 calendar is now less than a week away - 26 Sept. 2014. The Calendar's Facebook page says:

Applications due September 26th! Be a part of the world's most comprehensive annual anthology of lady banjo artists! And have a little fun with us. All are welcome! Open to all professional/semi-professional lady banjo artists - all ages (18+), banjo styles, nations, etc. welcome!

For aspiring participants - an application form is here. The calendar is accompanied by a CD. The image above shows the 2014 calendar; the BIB mentioned the original project on 11 Aug. 2013.

We also drew attention a few days later to the original Bluegrass Banjo Babe, Roni Stoneman, who would certainly be eligible and (we suspect) not averse to the 'little fun' aspect of the project. At any rate, here's a new version of the flyer for Roni's latest release, as announced on the BIB a week ago. Her new single 'The day the banjo dies' came out on Tuesday 16 September.

Red Molly in Ireland, 8-15 Oct. 2014

The UK agency G Promo PR announces that Red Molly (USA; above) will be on tour in Ireland and Britain from 8 to 25 October inclusive in support of The red album, which has won wide acclaim. Red Molly consists of Laurie MacAllister (bass, banjo), Abbie Gardner (dobro, banjo), and Molly Venter (guitar). The shows in Ireland are as listed on the BIB calendar and on the BIB post for 6 September,

Videos of Red Molly in performance include 'Sing to me' and 'Willow tree', and there's more on YouTube. More tour information and bio details are on Ray O'Brien's 'Bluegrass in Ireland' Facebook page.

And hotter yet....

Thanks again to Ray O'Brien (it's a busy day over at 'Bluegrass in Ireland') for yet more news of events on the scene here. First, Richie Foley of Lands End and the Niall Toner Band has sent in the news that Lands End (photo above) will play two dates in Ireland this weekend:

Fri. 19th: The Crane Bar, Sea Rd, Galway city
Sat. 20th: JJ Harlows, The Square, Roscommon town

A video of Lands End playing two years ago at St Mary's Collegiate Church, Youghal, Co. Cork, can be seen on Ray's Facebook.

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Secondly, the Grand Social (35 Lower Liffey St., Dublin 1) will present the Hackensaw Boys (USA) on Thursday this week (18 Sept.); doors open at 8.00 p.m. Tickets are €12 and can be bought online. Support will be by the Kicking Bird roots band. More about the Hackensaw Boys and their other dates in Ireland is on the BIB for 12 September.

The scene is heating up!

The BIB editor reports:

Recently I've been telling inquirers that the bluegrass scene in Ireland seems to be coming along nicely, with new young bands being formed, and so on. It appears that I seriously understated the situation.

Thanks, therefore, to Ray O'Brien and his invaluable Bluegrass in Ireland Facebook page for three pieces of news just in today. To take them in the order in which Ray published them:

(1) Count Me In will be playing at the Fire Station, Holywood, Co. Down, on Friday 19 Sept. from 8.30 p.m., as a further part of Belfast Culture Night. Don't form the wrong impression from the 'milling crowd' image at the head of their Facebook page; in action, this is a solid and powerful band that unites a wide range of talents.

(2) The Corner Boys, from the band-prolific Sligo area, describe themselves as a six-piece acoustic band playing bluegrass, country, blues, and original music. They consist of Gerry Grennan (dobro, vocals), Brian Mulligan (bass, vocals), Brendan Emmett (mandolin, vocals), Joe Hanley (lead guitar), JB (guitar, vocals), and Vinny Casey (drums). Yes, drums; this doesn't prevent them from looking and sounding the right stuff. A neat promotional video of them doing 'Nine pound hammer' can be seen on Ray's Facebook.

(3) The Chancery Inn, on the corner of Inns Quay and Charles St. West, Dublin 7, will host a Texas Swing and Bluegrass night every Wednesday from 9.00 p.m. Admission is free. A video from the Chancery Inn's own YouTube channel, filmed at last week's session, shows Marko Gavic (USA) on lead guitar, John Denby on mandolin, and Niall of Well Enough Alone on bass, knocking out 'Beaumont rag' to an enthusiastic crowd.

Music at Naul up to 21 Dec. 2014

Thanks to the Séamus Ennis Arts Centre in Naul, Co. Dublin, a good friend to bluegrass and related music in the Dublin region, for their latest e-newsletter, giving details of coming events at the Centre up to 1 October. The Centre's autumn/ winter brochure is now available and can be downloaded here.

The Centre's online list of coming music events, up to 21 December, includes shows by singer/songwriter Greg Trooper (USA) on 24 Oct., De Temps Antan (CAN) on 1 Nov., and We Banjo 3 (who have American tunes in their repertoire) on 14 Nov.

And fiddlers should be interested in hearing Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and Dan Trueman on the 27th of this month: the Centre's notes translate 'Laghdú', the title of their debut album, as 'a lessening, a decrease, a reduction', but the BIB would prefer something like 'a cutting back'. Sometimes less is more.

Busy weekend for the Down and Outs, 19-20 Sept. 2014

Thanks to John Denby, mandolinist of the Belfast-based Down and Out Bluegrass Band (above), for the news that the Down & Outs will be playing in the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast this Friday (19 Sept.) - at the Duke of York, 7-11 Commercial Court, from 7.00 p.m., and the Dark Horse on Hill St. from 9.30 to 10.30 p.m. - for Belfast Culture Night.

The following evening (Saturday 20 Sept.) the band will be playing at The Becks, Garristown, Co. Meath, at 9.30 p.m. Location and road directions will follow.

Music under the Mountains, 19-21 Sept. 2014

Thanks to Paul McEvoy and the Red Hat Acoustic Music Club at Naas, Co. Kildare, for making us aware of this year's Music under the Mountains, which will be held from Friday 19 Sept. to Sunday 21 Sept. in Hollywood, Co. Wicklow, with concerts on all three nights.

Though the primary focus is on Irish traditional music, this year's lineup includes Saturday and Sunday sessions by a Breton ensemble playing music from Brittany. And if you have any doubt that the MUTM team are serious about mountain music, see this photo -

- taken at last year's 'Music on the Mountain' walk to the top of nearby Church Mountain (1,785 ft). The event was so successful that it will be repeated this coming Saturday at noon.

Other features that should appeal to BIB readers: on Sunday at 11.00 a.m. a mandolin workshop will be given by Dublin maestro Paul Kelly (left), who spent some years with the Sackville String Band (NB: the Wikipedia biography of Paul has some errors about Sackville lineup and chronology). And on Sunday night the final concert of this year's MUTM will be given by Donegal's Henry Girls.

A weekend ticket giving admission to all events is €40. Full details are on the Music under the Mountains website and its Facebook page. Music under the Mountains is a non-profit organisation.

Roni Stoneman - up to tempo as always

No one who saw or heard the legendary Roni Stoneman, 'First Lady of the Banjo', perform in Ireland last year will have forgotten the experience. A twelve-minute YouTube video, taken last month at the 2014 Old Fiddlers' Convention in Galax, VA (ancestral Stoneman territory), shows that nothing has slowed her down since then. Though it's an informal session, Roni is giving it all she's got both before and after Superglueing her picks on.

Thanks to Roni's husband Tom Connor for this pre-release flyer of her new single CD recording - a song written especially for her by Nashville songwriter Ronnie Buff. This CD will be available from Tuesday 16 Sept. 2014, and a new album is coming soon. Contact Tom by e-mail for more info on both.

The song title, 'The day the banjo dies', is ominous, but we can be sure that's not going to happen if Roni has anything to do with it.

Hackensaw Boys coming next week

Next Tuesday (16 Sept. 2014) the neo-old-time Hackensaw Boys (USA) begin a tour in Europe with six shows in Ireland:

Tues. 16th: Crane Lane Theatre, Cork city
Wed. 17th: Crane Lane Theatre, Cork city
Thurs. 18th: The Grand Social, Dublin 1
Fri. 19th: Culturlann, Derry city
Sat. 20th: Clonakilty International Guitar Festival, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
Sun. 21st: Clonakilty International Guitar Festival, Clonakilty, Co. Cork

They will follow this with shows in Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands, where they have strong connections. More details, links to venue websites, and online booking facilities are on their website.

The Hackensaw Boys, originally all from Charlottesville, VA, derived their name from the actions of 'hacking' on a mandolin and 'sawing' on a fiddle. They have been touring for more than a decade on both sides of the Atlantic, have recorded several critically acclaimed albums, have shared tours and stages with many bands, and in 2003 were honoured to serve as backing band to the late Charlie Louvin on a nationwide tour. The Boys have a lot on YouTube, including 'Ruby Pearl', 'F.D.R.', Sun's work undone', 'Dance around', and 'Ol' Nick'.

FOAOTMAD November old-time workshops

Thanks to the FOAOTMAD news blog for details of this year's old-time workshops (28-30 Nov.) in England. Everyone who was knocked out by the fiddling of Aaron Jonah Lewis when he was in Ireland earlier this year, with Tumbling Bones and the Corn Potato String Band, now has a chance of a weekend's fiddle instruction from him, not to mention old-time banjo instruction from Luke Richardson. Full details are on the FOAOTMAD blog, on the poster image (click to enlarge), and on this pdf image.

Vincent Cross sends September news from New York

Thanks to Vincent Cross in New York for his September Global Newsletter, which includes a report on his recent solo tour of Australia; details of this year's Parkslope Jamboree (27 Sept.) in Brooklyn; and a feature on New-York-based bluegrass singer/songwriter Jen Larson (photo) and her guitars in his 'Tools of the trade' series. Videos on all three subjects are in the newsletter. Vincent writes:

I'm still buzzing after my recent return from my first solo tour of Australia. The warm response from the many folks that put me up, fed me, and pointed me to the next gig was overwhelming. I cannot wait to return! Thanks to everyone who made it possible.

The Parkslope Jamboree, now in its fifteenth year, is part educational, part performance, bringing together explorers of the sources of traditional music, contemporary songwriters and performers seeking inspiration, and people who want to pick, or to learn how to pick. Vincent will give an introductory roots-writing workshop from 1.50 to 3.00 p.m., as well as performing in the concert series at 6.00 p.m.

The video in the Jen Larson feature shows her singing her song 'Fourth man in the fire' with a band comprising Michael Daves (guitar), Noam Pikelny (banjo), Barry Mitterhoff (mandolin), Brittany Haas (fiddle) and Paul Kowert (bass).

Ken Harris - British bluegrass pioneer from Co. Down

The Down County Boys c.1965: (l-r) Mike Rodgers, Martin Hollis, 
Ken Harris, Mac (bass), Andy Smith

Ron Stevens of the Acme Band and the Heart of England Bluegrass Venue sends the sad news that Ken Harris (b. 1935), one of the foremost pioneers of bluegrass in Britain, died a week ago on 4 September 2014.

Ken was a founder member of Britain's longest-lived and most award-winning bluegrass band, the Down County Boys. He can be seen as the moving spirit in forming the DCB: he was lead singer, guitar player, and spokesman on stage; he had founded the Swanswell Tavern country music club where they made their debut in January 1965; and he certainly gave rise to the band's name, as he came from the Co. Down end of the Belfast area, and moved to Coventry with his wife in the 1950s.

The photo above, showing Ken fronting the Down County Boys in a very early configuration, comes from the online account of the band's earliest days by Mike Rodgers, the original DCB mandolinist. In April 1970 they were the first band from Britain (and third from outside the USA) to appear on the cover of Bluegrass Unlimited. The DCB went on to become the premier bluegrass band in Britain, winning the title of Best British Bluegrass Band more often than any other group, and are still going strong.

Ken's funeral will be at 2.00 p.m. in St James's church, Bulkington, on Tuesday 16 September, and afterwards at the Heart of England Crematorium. All those attending are invited to return to the War Memorial Club at Bulkington. The family have requested only family flowers, but donations can be made to Headway or the Coventry Myton Hospice where Ken has a memorial page with provision for direct donations.

Coming to Ireland from France

The BIB has just heard from Simon Guy, who lives in Montpellier, France. Simon has played guitar for twelve of his twenty-one years, and intends to come to Ireland this year - probably in early October - for the purposes of cultural exchange, playing music, improving his English, and perhaps forming a band.

Simon is hoping to make contact with other young bluegrass musicians, to locate regular jam sessions, and (in short) to join a good bluegrass community. While the BIB is making its own suggestions to him, anyone who wishes to contact Simon in advance of his arrival can do so by e-mail.

Remembering Monroe on his anniversary

Thanks to Niall Toner for this report on the Niall Toner Band's Carlow concert on 6 Sept. (see the BIB for 4 Sept.), and for the photo, showing the NTB (l-r: Richie Foley, Dick Gladney, Niall Toner jr, Niall sr, Johnny Gleeson) performing 'William Smith Monroe':

I am delighted to say that we had a full house at the Milford Room on Saturday night last, where we remembered Bill Monroe with renditions of 'The Master's resting place', 'Bill Monroe's mandolin', and 'William Smith Monroe'. September 6th was as near as I could book an anniversary gig...

The Father of Bluegrass was born on 13 Sept. 1911 and died on 9 Sept. 1996.  Niall's original composition 'William Smith Monroe' broke airplay records when it was released in the Monroe centennial year, 2011.

Quote of the month

I'm hiring you to help me sound good and, by that, I mean no upstaging and no overly flashy licks. Keep it basic and try to play backup fills that fit what I'm singing. Do that, and I will do all I can to sell you to the public when it's your turn to move in front of the mic.

Advice given (Aug. 1954) by Mac Wiseman to his new banjo player, Don Bryant, as quoted in Don Bryant's article on Mac Wiseman in the Sept. 2014 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited. Some of us could still profit from that advice...

John Mitchell

On Friday 5 September Sharon Loughrin posted this tribute to a remarkable man on her Facebook page:

Sad news that our bluegrass family has lost a great character this morning. John Mitchell was the embodiment of the phrase 'a man of many talents', not only playing but making instruments, wood carving, writing poetry (the most beautiful handwriting I've ever seen), the spookiest of card tricks!! - the list goes on. We'll treasure the items he gifted us and the memories of the craic with him in The Red Room, Cookstown; our only regret is that we only knew him for a few short years. Peace at last for John after a long fight.

A supergroup in formation?

A respected member of the bluegrass scene in Ireland tells us of

... strong rumours going about that a new hard-driving bluegrass band of well known pickers in Ireland is soon to be announced.

This kind of rumour, of course, is bound to annoy those bands who firmly believe that such a band already exists, and it's ours, thank you very much. It will also annoy those of us who have not been asked to join.

Nonetheless, the BIB can't help being interested. Does anyone know the substance, if any, that lies behind these rumours?

Clonmel World Music programme for autumn 2014

All the acts on Gerry Lawless's Clonmel World Music programme for autumn 2014 should interest BIB readers. A month from now Red Molly (USA; above) will be playing for Clonmel World Music at its home venue, Raheen House Hotel, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, at 8.00 p.m. on Friday 10 October. Red Molly consists of Laurie MacAllister (bass, banjo), Abbie Gardner (dobro, banjo), and Molly Venter (guitar), and they'll be in Ireland for eight days before going on to play nine shows in Britain. Their complete Irish tour schedule is:

Wed. 8th: Bronte Music Club, Rathfriland, Co. Down, 8.00 p.m.
Thurs. 9th: Island Arts Centre, Lisburn, Co. Antrim, 8.00 p.m.
Fri. 10th: Clonmel World Music, Raheen House Hotel, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, 8.00 p.m.
Sat. 11th: Whitehorse Inn, Ballincollig, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m.
Sun. 12th: Venue Theatre, Ratoath, Co. Meath, 8.00 p.m.
Mon. 13th: Balor Arts Centre. Ballybofey, Co. Donegal, 8.00 p.m.
Wed. 15th: Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo town, Co. Sligo, 8.00 p.m.

At the end of October, the French-Canadian 'powerhouse trio' De Temps Antan (André Brunet, fiddle; Pierre-Luc Dupuis, accordion; Éric Beaudry, guitar), who got rave reviews when they played here in January, will be back in these islands from 24 Oct. to 2 Nov. inclusive, and playing at Clonmel World Music on Thurs. 30 Oct. At present no details of the tour are on their online schedule.

Finally, on Thurs. 20 Nov. Chatham County Line (USA) will be playing at Clonmel World Music in one of only two dates in Ireland during a tour of Europe (14-23 Nov.) that includes Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Britain. The previous night (Wed. 19 Nov.) they will be at the Button Factory in Dublin. Special guests on the tour will be the North Carolina duo Mandolin Orange.

Chatham County Line consist of Dave Wilson (guitar), John Teer (mandolin, fiddle), Chandler Hold (banjo), and Greg Readling (bass) who have been together for ten years and have released seven albums. Clonmel World Music says of them:

Chatham County Line have an ongoing commitment to classic string band instrumentation. While their acoustic lineup informs their performances, it places no limitations on the band’s formidable songwriting talent. This is a band we have been after for five years; we can’t recommend them highly enough.

Roots Music Weekend at Buttevant, Co. Cork, 19-21 Sept. - and Buddy Mondlock & Mike Lindauer in Ireland, 18-24 Sept. 2014

Thanks again to John Nyhan for the news that a Roots Music Weekend will be held in Buttevant, Co. Cork, from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st Sept. 2014. The venues will be O'Neill's bar, McCarthy's bar, and the Mercy Centre Hall.

Pub schedule:

Fri. 19th
O'Neill's, 10.00 p.m. Banjaxed Bluegrass Duo
McCarthy's, 10.00 p.m. Open folk session (all welcome)

Sat. 20th
O'Neill's, 2.30 p.m. Stories, songs, poetry (all welcome)
O'Neill's, 10.00 p.m. Gordon and Rosie (old-time/folk/bluegrass)
McCarthy's, 10.00 p.m. Pat and Ricky Kelleher (old-time/folk/bluegrass)

Sun. 21st
O'Neill's, 9.30 p.m. Stuart, Mick, John (folk/blues and beyond)
McCarthy's, 9.30 p.m. Southern Bluegrass Union

Concert: on Sat. 20th at 8.00 p.m. Buddy Mondlock and Mike Lindauer from Nashville, with support act folksinger/guitarist Breege Phelan, will be in concert in the Mercy Centre Hall. Booking and enquiries: tel. 087 7921771.
Enquiries for any of the above: tel. 087 7921771 or 086 1764251.

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Singer/songwriter Buddy Mondlock, together with bassist Mike Lindauer, begins on Sun. 7 Sept. a tour of these islands, with a special expedition to Ireland managed by John Smith Music Tours. Buddy writes on his website:

... Mike Lindauer (my trusty bassist and singing partner) and I have been traveling to Ireland for nearly twenty years now. I’ve completely fallen in love with the beauty of the place - the nature, the music and especially the people! And every time I announce the tour I always get a bunch of e-mails back saying things like 'Need a roadie?' or 'Wow, I’ve always wanted to go. Got any room left in your suitcase?' I’m happy to say that this coming autumn you can come with me!

The full Buddy Mondlock/Mike Lindauer schedule in Ireland is as follows. More details, including venue website links and location maps, are on Buddy's online calendar.

Thurs. 18th: Coughlan's Live, Douglas St., Cork city, 9.00 p.m.

Fri. 19th: Tarred and Feathered Folk Session, Grange Woodbine Community Centre, Raheny Rd, Dublin 5, 9.30 p.m.; +353 862757707. €15; for advance tickets contact Liam Boylan (086 2757707; e-mail)

Sat. 20th: The Mercy Centre Hall, Main St., Buttevant, Co. Cork, 8.15 p.m.; 087 7921771

Sun. 21st: DC Music Club, 20 Camden Row, Dublin 2, 8.30 p.m. €13 advance; €15 door

Mon. 22nd: Mick Murphy's Bar, Main St., Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, 8.00 p.m. Also playing: UK clawhammer banjoist Dan Walsh.

Wed. 24th: The Sessions at Central Arts, Central Hall, 123a Parade Quay, Waterford city, 8.30 p.m. €12

NTB in concert in Carlow (6 Sept. 2014) and on RTÉ

The NTB in Reception at the RTÉ Radio Centre, Donnybrook, Dublin 4: (l-r) Johnny Gleeson, Richie Foley, Niall Toner, Dick Gladney

Thanks to Niall Toner for this news:

The Niall Toner Band, featuring Johnny Gleeson on dobro, Richie Foley on mandolin, and Dick Gladney on bass, are performing at the Milford Room in the Seven Oaks Hotel in Carlow on Saturday night, 6 September. Doors 8.30 p.m., and advance booking at hotel reception, 059-9131308 (almost sold-out!) This concert is being recorded by RTÉ Radio 1 for broadcast in the 'In concert' series, which goes out on Sunday nights, and will also be made available as a podcast, worldwide.

The Moron Brothers (USA) in Ireland, late Sept. 2014

Thanks to John Nyhan of Co. Cork for news of the forthcoming visit by the Moron Brothers of central Kentucky, Lardo (Mike Carr) and Burley (Mike Hammond), about whom much more can be seen on the BIB post for 25 May 2014. This is the Brothers' first trip to Ireland, and it will be an all-too-short tour, just for one week at the end of this month. The complete schedule is as follows:

Fri. 26th: Creamery Bar (upstairs), Bunratty, Co. Clare, 9.00 p.m. (part of 2nd Bunratty Banjo Pickers Festival)

Sat. 27th: Kilkishen Cultural Centre, Kilkishen, Co. Clare, 8.00 p,m.
(supported by Gordon and Rosie, old-time/folk and bluegrass)

Sun. 28th: The Barn, Bunratty Folk Park, 4.00 p.m. (part of 2nd Bunratty Banjo Pickers Festival)

Enquiries for all of the above: tel. 086 8464509.

Mon. 29th: Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork, 8.15 p.m. Booking and enquiries: tel. 087 7921771

Read, watch, and listen to more of Lardo and Burley on their website and here.

Bunratty Banjo PIckers Festival, 26-8 Sept. 2014 - and more

Thanks to Brendan Walsh and his organising team at the Sixmilebridge Folk Club in Co. Clare for fliers and other details of the Bunratty Banjo Pickers Festival in just over three weeks' time (26-8 Sept. 2014), and the next Shannonside Winter Music Weekend in four and a half months' time (15-19 Jan. 2015).

The lineup for Bunratty can be seen here. For BIB readers the main attractions are the Moron Brothers from Kentucky (see the BIB for 25 May 2014); Limerick's own Banjaxed Bluegrass Band (who are now listed as having three fiddlers); and the Bog Standard String Band, a misleading name for Tim Rogers and Ben Keogh of the old Rough Deal String Band, combined with Derek Copley and Ais Conway Keogh of the Greasy Coat String Band. And there's plenty more in the genres of gypsy swing, traditional, folk, and roots music. The schedule of events in all venues can be seen here.

The spread of genres in the January programme is even wider, and the bluegrass enthusiast can count on seeing the Special Consensus (USA), Niall Toner, and the Down and Out Bluegrass Band there. More details will appear on the BIB soon.

A historic bluegrass site - ripe for restoration?

Art Menius is an honours history graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a prolific bluegrass writer, and a major administrator in bluegrass and other arts - among many other accomplishments, he was the first executive director of the IBMA and a member of its board; was board member and president of the Old-Time Music Group, publishers of the Old-Time Herald; and is currently a board member of the Folk Alliance International.

On Sunday last, Art posted on his blog 'A visit to a lost bluegrass music temple' - the deserted, vandalised, and overgrown remains of Blue Grass Park in North Carolina, established as a festival venue in 1969 by the legendary promoter Carlton Haney (1928-2011). The photo above - by Art's wife, bluegrass photographer Becky Johnson - gives a distant view of the stage:

Where thousands saw New Grass Revival for the first time, where Tony Rice jumped ship from Bluegrass Alliance to J.D. Crowe, where Carlton told the Blue Grass Story, where Bill Vernon and Fred Bartenstein emceed, looked like a burned out mobile home.

Art's account has become the most popular post ever to appear on his blog. It includes more photos and some rewarding links to material relating to the early days of bluegrass festivals - together with the hope that Blue Grass Park may be restored and live again as a venue and a tourist attraction for the area. Read it here.

Willie Watson in Ireland, 10-13 Sept. 2014: update

Thanks to Tom Stapleton for an update of his gig list, first posted on the BIB on 1 June 2014. Tom announces that Willie Watson (USA), formerly of Old Crow Medicine Show, will be playing at Leap Castle, near Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, on Saturday 13 September. The capacity is 60, so book by phoning or texting Tom at 087 2238040.

The Leap Castle show is the last chance to see Willie Watson on this tour, which begins tomorrow with six shows in Britain. His four dates in Ireland are:

Wed. 10th Sept.: The Button Factory, Curved St., Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Thurs. 11th: Coughlan's Live, 7 Douglas St., Cork city (Hotpress Venue of the Year)
Fri. 12th: Cleere's, 28 Parliament St., Kilkenny city; capacity seated 70.
Sat. 13th: Leap Castle; capacity 60.

More details, including venue 'phone numbers and links for online booking, are on Willie Watson's website. Willie, who plays guitar, banjo, and harmonica, can be seen on YouTube playing 'Rock salt and nails' and 'Mexican cowboy' (both are also on his website). His old band, the Old Crow Medicine Show, will be in Ireland for two shows in about seven weeks' time.

Update 13 Sept.: Thanks to Left of the Dial for pointing out that Leap Castle, four miles from Roscrea and on the border between Co. Offaly and Co. Tipperary, is in fact in Offaly - not Tipperary, as we stated at first. See comment below.

Whitetop Mountain Band in Ireland and Britain, 5-28 Sept. 2014

The Whitetop Mountain Band: (l-r): Jackson Cunningham, Martha Spencer, Chris Testerman, Debbie Bramer, Emily Spencer

Thanks to Martha Spencer of the Whitetop Mountain Band for more news of the band's three-week tour of these islands, beginning this coming Friday at Naul, Co. Dublin. The full schedule is:

Fri. 5th: Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Fingal, Co. Dublin; +353 (0)1 8020898
Sat. 6th: The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone; +44 7747 120659
Sun. 7th: Roadside Tavern, Kincora Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare; +353 (0)65 707 4084
Tues. 9th: St John’s Theatre, The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry; +353 (0)68 22566
Thurs. 11th: The B Bar, Barbican Theatre, Castle St., Plymouth, Devon PL1 2NJ; +01752 242021
Fri. 12th-Sun. 14th: Cornish Bluegrass Festival, Hendra Holiday Park, Newquay, Cornwall; +44 1637 875778
Mon. 15th: The Bell Inn, 103 Walcot St., Bath BA1 5BW; +01225 460426
Tues. 16th: Burnett’s Hill Chapel, Martletwy, Pembrokeshire SA67 8AX; + 01646-651725
Thurs. 18th: St Ives September Festival, the Western Hotel, Gabriel St, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 2LU; +44 1736 795277
Fri. 19th: The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers, Swanage, Dorset; +01929 439229
Sat. 20th: Bluegrass Plus Club, Ninfield Memorial Hall, Ninfield, nr Battle, East Sussex TN33 9EE; 01424 893390
Sun. 21st: The Green Note, 106 Parkway, London NW1 7AN; +44 20 7485 9899
Tues. 23rd: Anchor Inn, 52 Abbey St, Faversham, Kent ME13 7BP; + 01795 536471
Wed. 24th: Musically Monstrous Productions, Three Horseshoes, Chinnor Road, Towersey OX39 3QY; tickets
Fri. 26th-Sun. 28th: Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival, Moniaive, Scotland; + 01848 200272 or 07740 856047

Martha also sends the following bio material:

The Whitetop Mountain Band is a family-based band from the highest mountains of Virginia. Whitetop, VA, is an area rich in the old time music tradition; this band has deep roots in mountain music. The members have done much to preserve the Whitetop region’s style of old-time fiddling and banjo picking and are legendary musicians and teachers of the style.

At the same time, Whitetop Mountain Band shows are very versatile and entertaining, containing everything from fiddle/banjo instrumentals to powerful solos and harmony vocals on blues, classic country, honkytonk, traditional bluegrass numbers, old-timey ballads, originals, and four-part mountain gospel songs. Shows also include flatfoot dancing. The band is well known for their high energy and charisma on stage.

The Whitetop Mountain Band is one of the most popular dance bands of the Appalachian Mountains. They have a great following at square dances all over Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky at venues like the Carter Family Fold. The band has also performed at all sorts of venues throughout the United States from festivals to concerts, competitions, and colleges. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Folklife Festival, World Music Institute in NYC, Carter Family Festival, Dock Boggs Festival, World Fair, Virginia Arts Festival, Floydfest, Ola Belle Reed Festival, and Merlefest are a few of the many festivals the band has performed at. They were featured on the NCTA Crooked Road Music tour of California, Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho in October 2007 and the East Coast tour of MD, VA, PA, NJ, WV and D.C. in 2010. The band members have toured overseas in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. WTMB has also taught and been master musicians/dancers for workshops and classes in fiddle, banjo, guitar, vocals, and dance all over the US. Some of these include Swannanoa Gathering in Asheville, NC, Cowan Creek Music School, KY, Mountain Music School in Big Stone Gap, and Mt Rogers Combined School.

The band currently has recordings on Mountain Roads Recordings, Arhoolie Record Label, and Virginia Foundation of the Humanities. The band members have also been recorded by June Appal and Heritage and on fiddle compilations for Rounder Records.

The Whitetop Mountain Band has been featured in many books, magazines, and TV/radio shows about Appalachian music such as The guide to the Crooked Road, A Hotbed of Musicians, Strings of Life, In Good Keeping, Country Music Television, Travel Channel, PBS, Old Time Herald, and many TV news and radio programs.

Lineup for 2014 tour
Emily Spencer (banjo, vocals), Martha Spencer (guitar, fiddle, vocals), Jackson Cunningham (mandolin, vocals), Debbie Bramer (bass), Chris Testerman (fiddle)

The Whitetop Mountain Band is still carried on today by Thornton Spencer on fiddle, and Emily Spencer on banjo and vocals. Their daughter Martha Spencer plays with the band as well. She is a multi-instrumentalist (guitar, banjo, fiddle, bass, vocals) and dancer. She has taken part in many Master flatfoot dancing workshops and performances also. Jackson Cunningham, plays mandolin, guitar, and vocals in the band. Jackson has also played music since early childhood. He grew up in a musical family as well and has performed in several bluegrass and old time groups from the West Coast to the East. He also has sung in duet and trio groups as well and has recordings out on the VFH label. Jackson also plays clawhammer banjo and harmonica. Debbie Bramer, originally from Michigan, moved to Fancy Gap, Virginia in the early 90s. Debbie plays bass and dances in the band. Debbie has been a member of several clogging teams and been active in many dance workshops and competitions. Chris Testerman grew up in Whitetop and learned fiddle from Emily Spencer while attending Mount Rogers school.