'Old Drake' at the Cobblestone, 24 Apr. 2016

Following on from the BIB post of a few days ago, thanks to Derek Copley for this extra good news:

A rare and special night of old-time music is coming to Dublin and the Cobblestone Back Room on Sunday 24 April. Under the banner of 'Old Drake', listeners will be treated to 'Traditional Stringband Music from Virginia', an essential concert for any fans of old-time music here in Ireland. Please see the poster for details.

It will be €10 and doors are at 8.00 p.m., with the gig to begin at 8.30 p.m., with a support slot from the Greasy Coat Stringband, the Dublin-based trio who perform authentic old-time fiddle-and-banjo music. With other special guests joining the main act on the night, it must be reiterated that this is essential viewing, so be sure not to miss this one!

As an added bonus, the main guests for the evening will be hosting old-time FIDDLE and MANDOLIN WORKSHOPS at 7.00 p.m. Monday evening at the Thomas House on Thomas St., Dublin 8. For those interested, please get in touch with Derek at copirl@yahoo.com or 087 2726007 to reserve a place (to give us an idea of numbers and space required). These workshops will be followed by the regular old-time jam at the Thomas House from just after 8.00 p.m. as usual.

I Draw Slow, Old Hannah, and more in Dublin, 3 Apr. 2016

Dublin's I Draw Slow and Sligo's Old Hannah, plus Lisa O'Neill, Mundy, and guests, will be taking part in a concert in aid of the Seanad Éireann campaign of Alice Mary Higgins. The show will be held at the Grand Social, 35 Lower Liffey St., Dublin 1, at 8.00 p.m. this coming Sunday (3 April). Tickets are €15.

I Draw Slow have just adopted an atmospheric new cover photo for their Facebook (below).

Stitzenburg comes to Tennessee via the Omagh festival

Jürgen Biller

Steve Gulley and Rural Rhythm Records have jointly launched a new series of recordings called 'Wide Open at the Curve', designed to showcase deserving artists who are not yet prominent, with an emphasis on those from 'the heart of the mountains'.

Features on this series appeared on Cybergrass and the Prescription Bluegrass Blog earlier this month, and more recently on Bluegrass Today. Two tracks are now available as advance downloads from the album East Tennessee sunrise by banjoist Stuart Wyrick - and one of them is 'Stitzenburg breakdown'. Bluegrass fans in Ireland may recognise this as a composition by Jürgen Biller from Stuttgart, Germany, who has played it over here many times as a member of 4 Wheel Drive (NL/D/B).

Stuart heard Jürgen play the breakdown when both of them were taking part in the 2014 Bluegrass Music Festival at the Ulster American Folk Park at Omagh, Co. Tyrone, and he liked it so much he learned it and played it on his album. Jürgen is mentioned by name as the source of the tune in Cybergrass, Prescription Bluegrass, and the Rural Rhythm press release; there are no writer credits on the iTunes download page. The BIB hopes this particular 'rip roarin' banjo tune' gets due recognition as coming from 'the heart of the mountains' - between the Jura and the Black Forest, that is.

Learn 5-string banjo at Andersonstown Music School!

Thanks to Tony Curran, longtime stalwart of the bluegrass scene in Ulster, for the news that the Andersonstown Traditional & Contemporary Music School (ATCMS) in Belfast offers instruction in 5-string banjo among its many instrumental and vocal programmes.

The 5-string course is taught by Tony, one of the most experienced 5-string players in the north, who has stood in for Howard Walker both as instructor at the monthly DanGem Bluegrass Get-Togethers in Lisburn and as banjo-player for the Down and Out Bluegrass Band.

Tony sends these images from the latest ATCMS brochure, which can also be downloaded as a PDF document. More details can be seen on the ATCMS website and Facebook. He adds: 'To the best of my knowledge, this is the only music school in Northern Ireland to offer tuition on 5-string banjo.'

The BIB applauds Tony, and hopes the ATCMS will receive the support it deserves for offering this course.

Old-time treats in Dublin, TODAY and TONIGHT

Erynn Marshall & Carl Jones (Jackson & Moser Photography)

Thanks to Derek Copley of the Greasy Coat Stringband for the news that the old-time duo Erynn Marshall & Carl Jones from Virginia are now in Ireland, and are likely to be

... popping in to play with the great Bill Whelan at his jam today in the Cobblestone (depending on what time they get back from Mayo)

... on their way to England, where they will be teaching all next week at the Sore Fingers annual workshop. The additional good news is that they'll be back in Ireland next month (more details will be on the BIB very soon); so this afternoon serves as an appetiser for their return. If you can't make it, plenty of their music can be heard on YouTube: here they are in the old-time fiddle competition at Galax, VA. Derek adds:

To add to the iconic Saturday old-time jam, myself and Aisling [i.e. the Greasy Coats in their duo configuration] will be hosting the 7.30 p.m. session in the Cobblestone this evening, packed full of more old-time sounds.

Strongly recommended to all fans of old-time music.

Learning the mountain dulcimer

Nearly a year ago, the BIB reported a FOAOTMAD inquiry about players of the mountain dulcimer in these islands. On that occasion Ryan Crowell sent in a comment: he would love to hear from anyone who might be playing the dulcimer near him in Galway, as he was hoping to learn. Yesterday Wendy Connolly's 'Bluegrass in Ireland' Facebook carried a post on the dulcimer, to which Ryan responded that he is still looking for anyone in/near Galway city to learn this instrument with.

The BIB draws attention to The dulcimer book by Jean Ritchie (1922-2015), the person most responsible for the revival and spread of dulcimer playing. First published in 1963, this book has gone through later editions and is still the starting place for the traditional playing style and repertoire of the instrument.

'Mean Mary' tours Ulster, 15-26 Apr. 2016

Thanks to Richard Leeman of the Down and Out Bluegrass Band, who has just posted this news on the Belfast Bluegrass Facebook:

... today we welcomed another follower to the Facebook page by the name of Mary James [above]. Mary is probably more familiar to some of you by the name 'Mean Mary', and is someone who I have watched many, many times on YouTube. Mary is a fantastic banjo, fiddle and guitar player from Alabama and, as luck would have it, will soon be coming to Northern Ireland touring her new album Sweet.

Richard's post includes a link to a YouTube sample of Mary's banjo-picking AND the full list of her dates in the North, which begin a series of shows in these islands that continues up to 25 May. Full details, with links to venue websites, location maps, and online ticket booking facilities, are on Mary's online tour schedule and also on her Facebook. The Ulster dates shown there are:

Fri. 15th: Charlemont Arms Hotel, 57-65 Upper English St., Armagh city, BT61 7LB, 8.00 p.m., £12

Sat. 16th: The Meeting Place, Poyntzpass Community Centre, 16-18 Church St., Poyntzpass, Co. Armagh BT35 6SW, 8.00 p.m., £10

Mon. 18th: The Old Courthouse, 7 Main St., Markethill, Co. Armagh BT60 1PH, 8.00 p.m., £10

Sun. 24th: Enler Delta Blues Club, Comber Rec., Park Way, Comber, Belfast BT23 5, 07866687177; 8.00 p.m., £10

Tues. 26th: Royal Hotel, Coagh St., Cookstown, Co. Tyrone BT80 8NG, 8.00 p.m., £12

Mile Twelve - a little bit of back story

The BIB editor writes: When we learned a few days ago about the coming tour by Mile Twelve (USA), who will be playing at the 3rd Mountain Roots Music Weekend, a feeling began to grow that one person in particular was behind this. We were right - John Nyhan, the prime suspect, tells all as follows:

The reason that Mile Twelve are coming is as a result of the following.

Nate Sabat [above], the bass player, was the stand-in bass player with Jeff Scroggins when they were here for a few days last May. He is a great bass player and an excellent singer. He also had a great attitude: he requested would it be possible for his own band, based in Boston, to tour Ireland. I informed him that it may be possible. He had such a good attitude I didn't say no. Then when Tom Mindte was here we had much discussion about touring bands, and as he always has some young musicians with him, we came to the agreement that it is very important that young bands should be promoted as they are the future of bluegrass.

There you have it. Mile Twelve were the obvious band to book. They have got great reviews from Tony Trischka and Darol Anger. You couldn't get much better people to review them. Also Rick Faris was jamming with them at the IBMA and gave them great praise: 'Great fiddle and banjo playing'. Then Jeff Scroggins and band went to see them in the Cantab Lounge in Cambridge, Mass. (as JS&C played in Mass. when they left Ireland), and said they were great and played to a full house where they got a great response.

I will send you the full details of their tour as soon as I can. I am finalising a few things. In May they will be doing a few libraries and they have yet to be finalised. In Cork during the month of May there is a festival that is called the Bealtaine Festival. This is coordinated by the arts officer in the city and county council. Most of the events are held in libraries. I have been very involved in that festival over the years. Mile Twelve will be playing some libraries as part of that festival. I have also some schools organised, also a house concert - of course, these are not open to the public.

They have a CD [above], which has original and classic material. Even though they are all in their twenties, they have a great sound and have been described as a fresh voice in bluegrass. Great arrangements with a definite bluegrass sound. I have also been told that they are very enthusiastic. What more can be said?

One other thing: they are graduates of Berklee School of Music. Also Catherine 'BB' Bowness [left], the banjo player, played as a teenager with Long Road Home, Martin Gilmore's bluegrass band. The bluegrass world is a small place.

Updates: Roni Stoneman visit / Great banjos on the market

On 18 Mar. the BIB posted news of the complete schedule for the visit to Ireland by Roni Stoneman, First Lady of Banjo, two months from now, including the information: 'Roni and her husband Tom Connor will be accompanied on this trip by guitarist and singer Bill Biber.'

Tom now sends, with deep regret and disappointment, the news that Bill will be unable to come on the tour, as his mother is suffering from serious illness and will need his constant attention. This, however, will not affect the schedule or Roni's performances. Tom can be contacted by e-mail.

*

On 7 Mar. the BIB published details of two top-quality banjos which Silvio Ferretti of Red Wine has for sale. Silvio has now made MP3 recordings of both these banjos, together with an MP3 for comparison purposes of 'Goldie', his late '30s original flathead style-75. All were recorded through a Neumann TLM-103 straight into Silvio's Mac via an Alesis i02 digital interface and Adobe Soundbooth. E-mail the BIB editor if you want to hear them.

Mile Twelve (USA) in Ireland, 18 Apr.-7 May 2016: UPDATE

As just mentioned on the BIB, Mile Twelve, the rising young bluegrass band from Boston, Mass., will be taking part in the Teacht Thar Sáile Folk Club's 3rd Mountain Roots Music Weekend - held on the May bank holiday weekend.

Mile Twelve (also on Facebook) are shown above: (l-r) Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (fiddle), Nate Sabat (bass), Evan Murphy (guitar), and Catherine 'BB' Bowness (banjo). Plenty of performance videos of the band can be seen on their website and elsewhere on YouTube. See also the Blue Hat, Yeah! YouTube channel - the present band plus Matt Witler (mandolin). Their online tour schedule shows the following dates, with links to venue websites and online booking facilities.

Mon. 18th: The Mill Bar, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare
Wed. 20th: St John's Theatre, Listowel, Co. Kerry
Thurs. 21st: Colfer's Pub, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford
Fri. 22nd: Coast Guard Cultural Centre, Tramore, Co. Waterford
Sat. 23rd: Tigh An Cheoil, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
Sun. 24th: Griffin's Garden Centre, Dripsey, Co. Cork
Mon. 25th: Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork
Wed. 27th: The Market House, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare
Thurs. 28th: Nosh and Coffee, Cork city
Fri. 29th: Mountain Roots Music Weekend, Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry
Sat. 30th: Mountain Roots Music Weekend, Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry

May
Sun. 1st: Mountain Roots Music Weekend, Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry
Mon. 2nd: Mannion's Bar, Balla*, Co. Mayo
Fri. 6th: Thomas Fitzgerald Centre, Bruff, Co. Limerick
Sat. 7th: Rory Gallagher Music Library, Grand Parade, Cork city

*The online schedule says 'Castlebar', but the link leads to Chris Mannion's celebrated bar in Balla, the base for the annual Balla Bluegrass Festival.

UPDATE 7 Apr.: The full schedule for the tour, with many additional details and corrections, can now be seen here.

3rd Mountain Roots Music Weekend in Cahirsiveen, 29 Apr.-2 May 2016

Thanks to Celine of the Teacht Thar Sáile Folk Club in Co. Kerry for news of the Club's 3rd Mountain Roots Music Weekend, which will take place in Cahirsiveen, Co. Kerry, on the May bank holiday weekend (29 Apr.-2 May 2016).

This year's lineup includes two well known Cork bands, the Dizzy Blues Band and Two Time Polka; several local acts, still to be announced; and an exciting young bluegrass band from New England, the Boston-based Mile Twelve (below), who will be playing at several prestigious bluegrass festivals in the USA in the course of this year.

Mile Twelve (also on Facebook) will be playing at Cahirsiveen near the end of a two-and-a-half week tour of Ireland, beginning four weeks from now. Full details of their schedule will appear on the BIB very soon.

Details of the 3rd Mountain Roots Music Weekend are on the Club's website and Facebook.

Broken Strings and Cup O' Joe at Brontë Music Club, 26 Mar. 2016

Thanks to Sharon Loughrin for the news that the Broken String Band (above) from Belfast and Cup O' Joe from Co. Armagh will be playing a joint show on Sat. 26 Mar. at the Brontë Music Club, Rathfriland, Co. Down. Time and ticket details will be appearing on the Club's website.

The Cabin Sessions, Dundrum, 31 Mar. 2016

Gerry Fitzpatrick, organiser of the Cabin Sessions series, 'Acoustic Music at its Finest', announces:

We're back again with you on Thursday 31 Mar. In addition to the usual Cabin Crew we'll have special guests Shane Hennessy (contemporary), Pat Burgess (Americana), and Kate Dineen (contemporary folk). Hope to see you there!

The Sessions are held on the last Thursday of every month at Uncle Tom's Cabin in Dundrum, south Dublin (not far from Dundrum Luas station, in the city direction). Shows run from 9.30 to 11.30 p.m. and admission is 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.

Howard Walker teaches banjo at Lisburn tomorrow

DanGem Bluegrass in Craigavon, Co. Armagh, announce that Howard Walker will be on hand to give banjo instruction to beginners at this month's Bluegrass Get-Together, which is due to be held tomorrow (Saturday 19 Mar.) because of Easter coming early this year. Howard is shown above (centre) as a member of the Down and Out Bluegrass Band. More details are on the latest DanGem e-newsletter, the DanGem website, or the BIB for 10 Mar..

Roni Stoneman in Ireland, May-June 2016

As announced by the BIB on 10 Jan. and 11 Jan., the First Lady of Bluegrass Banjo, Roni Stoneman (USA), will return to Ireland in just over two months' time, and the month-long tour schedule is now essentially complete.

Basically a friendly visit, it includes more shows than on her previous trip in 2013, allowing bluegrass enthusiasts in all four provinces more than one chance of seeing, hearing, and meeting this legendary musician and entertainer. Plans are also afoot for video interviews with her, including a production designed for BBC NI TV.

Roni and her husband Tom Connor will be accompanied on this trip by guitarist and singer Bill Biber - from Long Island, NY, and now based in Nashville, TN.* Tom designed the poster image (above) and is ready to produce customised versions of it for any individual venue. Contact Tom by e-mail.

*Update 21 Mar.: We learn with regret that Bill will be unable to come on the tour, as his mother's health will require his constant presence.

The schedule is:

May
Thurs. 26th: Guest spot, The Cabin Sessions, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Dundrum, Dublin 14, adm. free

Sat. 28th: In concert, Clarinbridge Parish Hall, Co. Galway (as main event of 4th Clarinbridge Banjo Gathering), 9.00 p.m.

June
Fri. 3rd: In concert, Seamus Ennis Arts Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin, 8.30 p.m.

Sat. 4th: Guest spot, Carberry's (Tí Chairbre), 11 North Strand, Drogheda, Co. Louth

Fri. 10th-Sun. 12th: Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Westport, Co. Mayo: in concert, Matt Molloy's yard bar, Sun. 12th, Bridge St., 5.00 p.m.

Fri. 17th: In concert, 'Bluegrass Evening', Halfway House Hotel, Ballygally, Co. Antrim (presented by the Cairncastle Ulster Scots Cultural Group; all welcome)

Sun. 19th: In concert, the Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, 8.30 p.m., £10

Thurs. 23rd: In concert, St John's Theatre, Listowel, Co. Kerry (with Hank Wedel and Ray Barron)

Sat. 25th: Private party at Rockies GAA Club, Blackrock, Cork city

Mon. 27th: Charlies, 2 Union Quay, Cork city (with Hank Wedel and Ray Barron)

Further details of times and admission will be posted as soon as they become available. Meanwhile, thanks to Uri Kohen, director of the Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, for sending a treat that was posted on Facebook recently by Jeff Burke (formerly of Jeff & Vida) - a clip from TV of the Stonemans c.1967, playing 'Cripple Creek', showing Roni with her sister Donna (mandolin), brothers Van (guitar) and Jimmy (bass), and Jerry Monday (dobro).

The E-5 Band (USA): in Ireland 20-30 Oct. 2016

The E-5 Band: (l-r) Emily Cantrell, Al Cantrell, Al Goll,
Holly Tashian, Barry Tashian

Thanks to Roger Ryan for the good news that Barry and Holly Tashian and the E-5 Band (also known as 'the Eclectic Five'), comprising some of the most widely experienced players in the fields of bluegrass and related music, will be on tour in Ireland from Thursday 20 Oct. to Sunday 30 Oct. The schedule, which is almost complete, includes:

Fri. 21st: St John's Theatre, Listowel, Co. Kerry
Sat. 22nd: The Rockies Club, Church Rd, Blackrock, Cork
Sat. 29th-Sun. 30th: Balla Bluegrass Festival, Balla, Co. Mayo

They will also be doing an IMRO Showcase in Dublin. Thanks to Roger also for the following release:

Barry and Holly and the Eclectic Five offer what promises to be an evening of extraordinary music and merriment.

Barry and Holly Tashian (guitar, upright bass, and vocals) have toured worldwide and made numerous appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, 'A Prairie Home Companion', and many other international radio and television programs. Their songs have been recorded by Kenny Rogers, Solomon Burke, Daniel O’Donnell, and others. In 1966 Barry and his band The Remains opened for the Beatles’ last American tour. From 1980 to 1989 Barry toured and recorded with Emmylou Harris’s Hot Band. Since 1972 Barry and Holly have recorded seven award-winning albums for Rounder Records, Copper Creek, and Strictly Country.

Al and Emily Cantrell (guitar, fiddle, and vocals) have been featured on Mountain Stage, Riders Radio Theater, Folk Sampler, eTown, and River City Folk, as well as numerous other nationally syndicated radio programs. Their four critically acclaimed albums are on radio playlists worldwide and include the talents of Béla Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Tim O'Brien, and Riders in the Sky. Robert Redford hand-picked them to play old-time music on-screen in his hit movie A river runs through it. 'She sings like an angel, he plays like the devil.' - The Tennessean.

Al Goll (Dobro) is an adjunct professor of Dobro at Belmont Academy of Music, and a regular performer and contributor at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. He has toured extensively throughout the US and Europe playing country, bluegrass, and Hawaiian music. He last performed at the Frist Center with Al Nobriga.

Betse & Clarke in Ireland, late Aug.-Sept. 2016: UPDATE

The Missouri-based Wilders made a big impression in Ireland a few years back with their high-powered blend of old-time, early bluegrass, and honky-tonk country music. The energy that went into that combination is now pushing out in new directions, and we can look forward to hearing the exuberant music of Betse Ellis in Ireland later this year.

The new group Betse & Clarke combines Betse's spirited and ebullient old-time fiddling and singing with Clarke Wyatt's precise, thoughtful three-finger-style banjo playing, and the duo (Betse writes) 'is picking up a lot of steam after playing for about a year'. A six-track digital EP sold to fans at live shows since last summer, with no other publicity, was chosen by the Kansas City Star’s music critic as a favorite local album of 2015.

A full-length album is coming out this spring. Meanwhile, sixteen videos of their music can be seen and heard on YouTube and Facebook, and some are also on the website. As their bio says:

Together, Betse & Clarke give every listener something to appreciate. They perform traditional tunes learned from cherished sources, creative arrangements of familiar and forgotten songs, and original compositions. You can expect to hear something new that preserves the spirit of tradition.

Betse & Clarke are planning to tour Ireland in late August and up till 9 September. Event organisers and promoters who are interested (and so they should be) can contact them through the website or by e-mail.

Update 16 Mar.: Betse & Clarke will be part of this year's Bluegrass Music Festival at the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone (2-4 Sept. 2016).

Locust Honey at Naul, 26 Mar. 2016

Following the BIB post of 5 Mar., the Séamus Ennis Arts Centre at Naul, Co. Dublin, a good friend to bluegrass and related music, announces that Locust Honey (USA) - Chloe Edmonton, Meredith Watson, and John Miller - will be playing at the Centre on Saturday 26 March.

Full details, including a performance video (by an earlier, all-female configuration of the group) and online booking facilities, are on the relevant event page of the Centre's website. Dates for the rest of their tour, which begins next Monday at McCann's in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, are on the BIB calendar. Events at the Centre up to 26 Mar. can be seen here.

Upcoming Woodbine shows: Update

Tony O'Brien reports that Woodbine (above) will be playing three shows on three successive days of the 19th Kilkenny Roots Festival:

Fri. 29 Apr.: Club House Hotel, Patrick St., 10.00 p.m.
Sat. 30 Apr.: Hotel Kilkenny, College Rd, 4.00 p.m.
Sun. 1 May: Springhill Court Hotel, Waterford Rd, 10.00 p.m.

The highly talented Lands End will also be part of the Festival, playing on Sunday 1 May at the Pumphouse, 4.00 p.m., and at Breathnach's, 10.00 p.m. All these gigs are part of the Festival's Music Trail, and admission is free.

Three weeks later, Woodbine will be playing two shows at one of their favourite venues, Bob's Bar, Durrow, Co. Laois: on Sat. 21 May (9.00 p.m.) and Sun. 22 May (5.00 p.m.). Bob's Bar, beside the River Erkina at the north end of Durrow, is also the focal point for rallies of the traditional 'High Nelly' upright bicycles, and anyone interested in local history should visit its unique museum.

Details of a further Woodbine booking for Sat. 4 June are being confirmed. All in all, the band should be well warmed up to host the first Woodbine Bluegrass Jamboree at Athy, Co. Kildare, on 8-9 July.

Michael J. Miles: spring 2016 news

Thanks to clawhammer banjo maestro Michael J. Miles (USA) for his latest e-newsletter, headed by news of his latest CD, Bob Dylan for clawhammer banjo, which can be ordered from cdbaby. A sample can be heard on the newsletter.

Michael's other activities include directing and performing the music for the Robert Myers play Unmanned, about drone weapons; a concert with Turkish master musician Erkan Ogur; the world premiere of 'Chicago street suite' for 25 guitars and bass; classes at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago; and much more. Read the full newsletter here.

Niall Toner: catching up and overtaking

A week ago (6 Mar.) Niall Toner brought his blog up to date with a post on

*Songwriting: material for the next album is being written in cooperation with Dick Gladney, Johnny Gleeson, Richie Foley, Keith Sewell, and others - including Paddy Kiernan, with whom Niall has written a song telling the story of the last wolf in Ireland.

*Progress on the New Decade TV documentary on Niall's musical life includes an interview with Ciaran O'Connor and a live shoot of the Niall Toner Band. The NTB also recorded recently for Carlow TV the Niall/Keith Sewell composition 'Way of a wanderer' - watch them rehearsing it on YouTube.

*Fifty or so bluegrass fans will be going with Niall to the bluegrass heartlands this coming autumn; see the BIB for 11 Feb..

*And Niall's 'Roots Freeway' show on RTÉ Radio 1 will be back on the air on Saturday 4 June for another season.

Furthermore, yesterday (13 Mar.) Niall posted on his blog the complete lyrics of a new song about his 1944 Gibson Army & Navy L-3 guitar. Read the full details of both posts on his blog.

Book your accommodation for this year's Westport festival!

Thanks to the Westport festival organisers for this poster and statement:

The organising team of the 10th Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival are delighted to announce that the lineup is now completed. Announcement of the breakdown of the programme will be issued soon, alongside the launch of the festival's new website. Tickets will be available on line in early April.

We are aware that accommodation in the town is getting scarce, and we highly recommend to book as soon as possible; check out this link for a few recommendations. Get all the info and updates at the festival's Facebook page, and feel free to contact Uri (festival producer) with any question at uri@westportfolkandbluegrass.com.

Looking forward to see all folk and bluegrass fans in Westport this June!

BIB editor's note: Earlier today the team added sixteen photos to the Westport Festival Facebook, showing all the venues, including some shots taken during sessions in previous years.

Next DanGem Bluegrass Get-Together on Sat. 19 Mar. 2016

DanGem Bluegrass in Craigavon, Co. Armagh (with the largest range of banjos for sale on this island), announce in their latest e-newsletter that because of the date of Easter this year this month's Bluegrass Get-Together, incorporating jam session and instruction, will be held a week early, on Saturday 19 Mar., at the usual place and time (the Lagan Valley Island Civic Centre, Lisburn, Co. Antrim BT27 4RL, from 9.30/10.00 a.m. to noon) and with the usual schedule:

10.00-10.30 Warm-up
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

*

The DanGem Get-Together combines a jam session for those who are already active pickers, with the opportunity to learn for those who are beginners or just want to listen. DanGem add: 'Bring along your banjos, guitars, mandolins, fiddles, dobros, and bass, or just come along and enjoy. Look forward to seeing as many of you who can attend.' A location map for the Centre is on Dangem's website.

New album from Josh Williams

Anyone who can remember Josh Williams over here as a lanky teenage mandolin player with the Special Consensus will be glad to know that his fifth album is about to be released on Rounder Records in just over two weeks' time (25 Mar.).

Josh's own talents are augmented by material from high-ranking songwriters and contributions from distinguished guest musicians. Read more about the project on Bluegrass Today.

Woody Pines at Naul, 12 Mar. 2016

Following the BIB post of 5 Mar., the Séamus Ennis Arts Centre at Naul, Co. Dublin, a good friend to bluegrass and related music, announces that Woody Pines (USA) will be playing at the Centre this coming Saturday (12 Mar.). Billy Joe Shaver describes them as: 'the best band I ever heard in my life I swear... I’m their biggest fan now!'

Full details, including a promotional video on the group and online booking facilities, are on the relevant event page of the Centre's website. Dates for the rest of their tour, which begins tonight with a sold-out show at the Red Room, Cookstown, are on the BIB calendar. Events at the Centre up to St Patrick's weekend can be seen here.

Red Hat Acoustic Music Club at Naas, 11 Mar. 2016

Thanks to Paul and Anne McEvoy, organisers of the Red Hat Acoustic Music Club, for the news that the Club's next meeting will be held this coming Friday (11 Mar.).

The Red Hat meets on the second Friday of every month at the Harbour Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare. Music starts around 8.30 p.m.; a donation of €3.00 covers coffee/ tea and sandwiches at the interval.

Great banjos on the market

Our good friend Silvio Ferretti, Red Wine's great banjo-player, is also a master luthier (see his Scorpion Music website): his Scorpion banjo bridges are widely held in high regard.*

Silvio has two top-class banjos available for sale, both of which he's happy to use on stage. Red Wine will be at this year's Westport festival (10-12 June), so he sends this information as it would make sense to bring one over for a prospective buyer. Sound files should soon be available, making it possible to compare these instruments with an original flathead. Silvio can be contacted by e-mail.

The first (above) is 'Blackie', a Gibson-prewar-parts-combination with a neck made by Silvio and a few new parts, as he describes below:

1) 'Blackie': based on a 1931 TB-1 rim and hardware (including armrest), Blaylock Bear Tracks flathead tone ring, chrome-plated flange from '40s -100 Gibson, straight maple Scorpion neck w/ Brazilian rosewood fingerboard (RB-75 pattern), '30s Epiphone resonator made by Gibson in style-3/75, painted dark brown though (matching neck colour of course), Krishot tuners w/ Gotoh 5th, Prucha Presto. Price is €4000 with a new Guardian HSC. Blackie has the strings at 5/64" with a .640" bridge (no buzzes, I love it) but it can take an 11/16" bridge and have the strings a little under 1/8" at the 12th fret.


2) Crowe Model Gold Star (G20JD), 1984 [above]. I bought it new in 1986, sold it and rebought it a couple or three times, bought it three years ago and I thought it was for good as it's a beast, and in great condition; but I have to part with it. Price is €3000 with a new SKB HSC. The Gold Star has two original tuners (plus the 5th) with the original MOP buttons, and Keiths on the 2nd and 3rd string. As you can maybe see... Neck is set (as originally was) for a 5/8", string height is 7/64"-1/8" at the 12th fret with it.

*See e.g. the BIB for 30 Apr. 2009.

A new look at banjo history

Thanks to Bluegrass Today for this feature on a book published this month by Harvard University Press: The banjo: America's African instrument (ISBN 9780674047846).

The author, Laurent Dubois, is a professor at Duke University, NC; a banjo-player; and an authority on the history of the Caribbean region. The book comprises eight chapters; the first four cover the period before the minstrel shows - the point at which, for many people, banjo history begins.

Topics include the significance of the banjo in slave society, and the fact that it seems to have developed only in areas of British and French colonisation. The price is $29.95/ £22.95/ €27.00 - not excessive for a 384-page hardback with twenty half-tone plates.

Woody Pines and Locust Honey in Ireland this month: more dates [UPDATE]

Ireland's doing well for visiting American groups so far this year, and it can be a puzzle to keep track of tour schedules - so thanks to Sharon Loughrin of the Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, for this news which adds to and corrects the BIB calendar:

We're looking forward to a third visit from Woody Pines this coming Wednesday [9 Mar.] to the Red Room; seats were fully booked within two hours of our text message/Facebook announcement! Other dates are as follows: Crusoe's, Castlerock, Thurs. 10th; Balor Arts Centre, Ballybofey, Fri. 11th; Séamus Ennis Centre, Naul, Sat. 12th; High Tide Club, Bearhaven, Cork, Sun. 13th.

After that we have Locust Honey [below] on Tues. 22nd March for some Appalachian and old-time music (John Miller of Foxhunt /Hackensaw Boys will be playing bass along with Meredith Watson and Chloe Edmonstone). They also play McCann's Bar, Omagh, on 21st; Roisin Dubh, Galway, on 23rd; St John's Theatre, Listowel, 24th; and Séamus Ennis Centre on Sat. 26th.

BIB editor's note: Locust Honey's website also shows the following dates: JJ Harlow's, Roscommon town, Sun. 27th; The Greyhound, Kilkee, Co. Clare, Mon. 28th; and Sixmilebridge Folk Club, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare, Tues. 29th.

Update 8 Mar.: Acclaim from reviewers for Locust Honey's shows can be seen on the European Bluegrass Blog.

Roni Stoneman headlines 4th Clarinbridge Banjo Gathering, 28 May 2016

As announced by the BIB on 11 Jan., the First Lady of Bluegrass Banjo, Roni Stoneman (USA), will return to Ireland towards the end of May for a month-long visit with more shows than in 2013, giving bluegrass enthusiasts throughout Ireland a chance to see, hear, and meet this legendary musician and entertainer.

One of the earliest dates will be Saturday 28 May, when Roni appears as headliner for the main evening concert of the 4th Clarinbridge Banjo Gathering (28-9 May) in Co. Galway. Thanks to Tom Cussen of Clareen Banjos, Ireland's premier banjo-maker, for this news:

The Clarinbridge Banjo Gathering and Clarinbridge Arts Group are delighted to welcome Roni Stoneman to perform a concert which will be held in Clarinbridge Parish Hall. Doors open at 8.30 p.m. Concert to start at 9.00 p.m. sharp, with supporting acts (details later). Roni Stoneman will be on stage at 10.00 p.m. for 45-50 minutes. We hope to provide a good ambience with tables and chairs in a candlelight setting.

Further programme details of the 4th Clarinbridge Banjo Gathering will be appearing on the BIB in due course. All dates for the tour are now on the BIB calendar, and the complete schedule will be posted on the BIB in the next few days. Roni will be accompanied on stage by guitarist and singer Bill Biber - from Long Island, NY, and now based in Nashville, TN.

Rounding out the collection

Thanks to Bluegrass Today for the news that Rounder Records are celebrating forty-five years in business by re-releasing a mass of outstanding music from their back catalogue on twenty-one albums in the form of digital downloads.

These releases extend further back in bluegrass history than Rounder's own foundation, as they include the reissue album of the Stanley Brothers' earliest 78 rpm recordings (1947-1952) on the Rich-R-Tone label. John Lawless of Bluegrass Today writes:

Some of these reissues are compilations, which make for an easy way to grab a representative sampling of an artist’s work, while the others are essential parts of any serious bluegrass record library. It’s hard to imagine leaving any of them off your list.

A further batch of re-releases is scheduled for August. Meanwhile, the Rounder website offers a free download of fifteen favourite tracks (not from this batch) as part of the celebration.