US visitors early in the new year

L-r: Greg Blake, Jeff Scroggins, Tristan Scroggins

Following on from the BIB post of 24 Nov., John Nyhan sends an interim report on the tour by Jeff Scroggins & Colorado (above) in Ireland after they appear as headliners of the bluegrass section of January's Shannonside Winter Music Festival in Sixmilebridge and Bunratty, Co. Clare. Dates for the tour are now finalised, and full details will be released very soon. John adds:

I got their new CD - it is wonderful. I also got Greg Blake's solo CD. It is also fabulous... what a singer. They are eagerly awaited by those who saw them last May. Martin Gilmore and Nick Amodeo [below] will also be great. Nick, as well as a great mandolin player, is a superb Telecaster player. It was a highlight the last time. Martin sang some great classic country and swing.

The two American groups will appear together in the main bluegrass concert of the festival, at 3.00 p.m. on Sunday 24 Jan. 2016 in Durty Nelly's, Bunratty.

The Martin Gilmore Trio that toured here in May: (l-r) Ian Haegele (bass, vocals), Martin Gilmore (guitar, banjo, vocals), Nick Amodeo (mandolin, guitar, vocals)