Co. Armagh at IBMA WOB

Picking in front of the statue of Sir Walter Raleigh in the centre of
Raleigh, NC; the canopy is formed from Deering banjo parts

The International Committee of IBMA has issued this news of bands and organisations from outside the USA taking part in the coming World of Bluegrass (29 Sept.-3 Oct.) at Raleigh, NC. The programme includes (like last year) a seminar on touring and gigging abroad, with a panel including Greg Cahill of the Special Consensus and Chris Keenan, organiser of the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festivals.

Also like last year, the Tír na nÓg bar at 218 S. Blount St., Raleigh, which regularly hosts Irish traditional music and dance throughout the year, is one of the main performance venues during WOB. Cup O' Joe from Co. Armagh will be playing there at 8.00 p.m. on Thursday 1 Oct., and again at 10.00 p.m. the following day, as well as playing at the Pour House at noon on Thursday (we hope they have Everett Lilly's 'Over the hills to the Poorhouse' in the set list).

Also playing at WOB, and at the Tír na nÓg for a ninety-minute slot beginning at 6.00 p.m. on Friday, will be an international band led by Jan Johannson, master fiddler from Sweden and long-time resident in the US. One member of the band will be Sean McKerr (right) of KingBlue, veteran of many past WOBs and of a previous World International Blue Grass Band led by Butch Robins.

Sean reports that he is 'looking forward to just having a good time' (which, as the photo suggests, he's well able to do), and hopes to send a few photos from the gig.