Brent Cobb (USA) in Whelan's, 4 Sept. 2018

Whelan's of Wexford St., Dublin 2, announce that country-rock singer/ songwriter Brent Cobb, now based in Nashville, TN, will be playing in their main venue, with support, next Tuesday (4 Sept.) - the first show in a two-week European tour. Tickets are €22.90 inc. booking fee.

Cobb's music is not bluegrass, but the attitude and background of his songs, based on growing up in rural Georgia, share common territory with bluegrass. He writes: '... these songs are about the places I’m from, the places I’ve visited, and the people who’ve taken me there. My family is all over these songs'; and he sings: 'Honky-tonk’s the trick, get a guitar and grab a pick / Let the old tunes possess you, and play.' Bill Monroe might have approved that last line.

Benefit show for Eileen Carson

Three months ago the BIB carried the news that Eileen Carson, leader of the magnificent Footworks dance team and also wife of Mark Schatz, had been diagnosed with an aggressive pancreatic cancer, which means both large medical expenses and loss of performing income for both of them. To help the Schatzes, Laura Ruth Lewis and other friends set up a GoFundMe website with an original target of $50,000, since raised to $75,000, of which over $69,000 has so far been donated. Laura reported earlier this week:

Eileen continues to endure chemo treatments and will be getting an update from her doctors this week. The treatments have made her ill, but Eileen's spunk and humor are still in place! If you'd like to lend your support, make a donation or drop an encouraging word through the GoFundMe campaign, and mark Sept. 16 on your calendar for the 'Eileen Carson Benefit featuring Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Tony Trischka, Footworks, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer' at the Hamilton in Washington, DC.

More details are on Bluegrass Today.

More from We Banjo 3

We Banjo 3 announce:

Thank you all for launching our video to the #1 trending spot on CMT.com so quickly that they had to make a new link!!! Your enthusiasm broke the CMT website and crushed that link.

Please note that viewers outside of the US may not be able to access CMT content. If so the video will be available Friday 31st on our Facebook and YouTube pages.

The video of 'Light in the sky' can be watched on YouTube here.

Kings of Celtgrass on CMT

Sunrise at Harpeth River State Park, TN

We Banjo 3, originators of 'Celtgrass', are coming to the end of a summer US tour in support of their new album Haven, which (as reported on the BIB on 10 Aug.) debuted at #2 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart behind the Punch Brothers.

Their latest e-newsletter announces that their new video 'Light in the sky' is having its debut on Country Music Television (CMT) today, Thursday 30 August. You will be able to see the video on its release via this link, and you can also vote to keep the video on the CMT website. More details on the e-newsletter.

Forthcoming shows by We Banjo 3, including their autumn US tour, are shown on their website and Facebook.

'Minstrels, migrants and mountains' at Moniaive

The 10th Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival (also on Facebook) will be taking place a month from now (28-30 Sept.) in Moniaive, south-west Scotland, a village rich in festivals. There's a well established link with the bluegrass scene here: the organiser (and radio presenter), C. Paul 'Dobroman' Lyttle, is a regular attender at Omagh festivals, and bands from Ireland have often played at Moniaive in the past.

This year's lineup is (as usual) a strong one, headed by Midnight Run (USA), with several acts already known to audiences in Ireland, and Belfast's own Broken String Band. And William Duddy, active member of our bluegrass / old-time community, will, in his own words, 'be making a modest contribution by way of an illustrated presentation on one of my pet topics [see image above]'.

William's presentation, entitled 'Minstrels, migrants and mountains: the origins of oldtime music', will take place at St Ninian's parish church, Moniaive, at 3.00 p.m. on Saturday 29 September.

What do I see?

The BIB editor writes:

No, this isn't an ad, and I'm completely unqualified to comment on the content of Dr Juliet Bressan's book Menopause: the drug-free way; but BIB readers will understand why I found the cover design arresting.

I appreciate that the artist had to make some compromises, but it seems a pity that the fifth-string peg was left out, especially when the hand positions are shown so well. Still, this representation of the banjo as a symbol of well-being and a therapeutic tool (and drug-free into the bargain) is bound to bring it wider acceptance in society.

Michael J. Miles: autumn 2018 newsletter

In his latest e-newsletter, Michael J. Miles (USA) - the man who showed that Bach could be beautifully played on the clawhammer banjo - draws attention to the approach of the centenary of Pete Seeger's birth:

Pete was born in 1919, so we're stepping into his 100-year-long shadow. Were it not for Pete's encouragement, I wouldn't have devoted my musical world to the banjo. Throughout the year, I'll be doing my one-man show, 'From Senegal to Seeger', as well as a special one-time-only show in Chicago called '100 years of protest!' on Pete's birthday weekend [3-4 May].

Other news is on Michael's duo act with flautist Lloyd Brodnax King as the Other Brothers, and other performances; progress with his ongoing Mississippi Suite; teaching at music camps; and more. Every newsletter from Michael includes free tablatures for banjo and guitar. Links and more details are here.

Two Time Polka: gigs in September 2018

Ray Barron of Two Time Polka announces:

Here are our September gigs:

Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival, Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Sat. 1st: Main stage, start 10.15 p.m.
Sun. 2nd: Main stage, 2 x 45-min. sets between 12.30 and 5.30 p.m.

IMNDA concert fundraiser
Fri. 7th: Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island, Cork. Start 8.30-9.15 p.m. Followed by De Dannan. Tickets €25, available from O'Donovan's Hotel, Clonakilty; Pro Musica, Cork; Credit Union, Mitchelstown.

Dunfanaghy Jazz & Blues Festival
Fri. 14th: The Shibeen at the Oyster Bar, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal. Start 11.30 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 074 9136039
Sat. 15th: Roonies, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal. Start 9.00 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 074 9136101

Sat. 22nd: Che do Bheatha Festival, O'Mara's Bar, Kilkee, Co. Clare. Start 10.30 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 065 9056286

The next mail will include details of our October gigs at the Cork Folk Festival and Cork Jazz Festival.

Regards,
Ray & TTP

The Allen Family Reunion (CAN): coming home to Omagh this weekend

The Allen Family Reunion: (l-r) John P. Allen, Paul Hickling,
Beverley Allen, Julie Allen, Joe Allen

The Allen Family Reunion bluegrass band, based in London, Ontario, will be playing on all three days of the coming weekend at the 27th Annual Bluegrass Music Festival in the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone. It will be a special event for them, as the family originally came from Omagh; they emigrated in 1849 to Canada and since then have farmed in Lambeth, Ontario.

The original Allen Family Reunion was formed in 1980 on the family homestead, and still includes three of the founder members: Juno-Award-winning musician John P. Allen (fiddle, mandolin), his sister Julie (bass), and his brother Joe (banjo). John is a member of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame group Prairie Oyster, and has played with a long list of Canadian music icons over the past forty years. His daughter Beverly (autoharp, lead vocals) and his nephew Paul Hickling (guitar, lead vocals) — the sixth generation of Allens on the family farm - complete the present Allen Family Reunion.

Beverley and Paul wrote the song 'Lonely and blue' (combining bluegrass instrumentation with a pop-song structure), which has just been released and will appear on the new Allen Family Reunion album, Strawberry social. The band is excited about the forthcoming launch of the album in concert at the Aeolian Hall, London, Ontario, on 14 September. Strawberry social uses bluegrass standards, as well as originals, to tell stories of life in the country. Paul says:

Growing up on the farm, music was something I was constantly exposed to. My grandpa was always an entertainer, and was a big influence on this album.

You can hear the new single 'Lonely and blue' on YouTube. Thanks to Paul Hickling for information and photos; for requests and more info, contact Paul by 'phone (+1 519-872-6842) or e-mail.

Marisa Anderson (USA) in Belfast, 30 Aug. 2018

Thanks to Moving On Music for the news that guitarist Marisa Anderson, from the western USA, will be playing at the Black Box, Belfast, this coming Thursday (30 Aug.). Doors open at 7.45 p.m. and tickets (£14/ £10) can be booked online via Moving On Music or her tour schedule. This is the first date in a tour that continues in Britain and Switzerland.

Yes, she was classically trained and plays electric guitars (including lap steel), but anyone who likes Doc Watson's fingerpicking - and older country and blues guitar styles - will find a lot to enjoy in her music. Listen to 'Hesitation Theme and Variation Blues' as a sample. Belfast fans of the music should note that this show coincides with the Whiskey Deaf duet (USA) playing at the Sunflower Folk Club.

Jessie & the Gents (CH) available for bookings

Jessie & the Gents: (l-r) Rainer Hagmann, Rick Noorlander,

Jessie Hardegger, Putzie Mayr, Geri Zumbrunn

Thanks to Jessica 'Jessie' Hardegger of the Swiss bluegrass band Jessie & the Gents for the news that the band are planning a tour in Ireland and are looking for locations to play.

The five-piece quartet consists of Jessie Hardegger (vocals, mandolin), Rick Noorlander (vocals, guitar), Geri Zumbrunn (vocals, bass), Rainer Hagmann (fiddle), and Putzie Mayr (vocals, dobro), delivering '100% handmade music'. Their debut album, Jessie & the Gents: On the rise (cover art, right), was released in autumn 2017 and is available on iTunes and Spotify.

In May 2018 they won first prize in the Swiss Country Music Awards and received the Best Song award with 'I ain't gonna ride with you', which you can see and hear on YouTube as well as on their website. They have also performed on the main stage at the great La Roche Bluegrass Festival (below). Their bio states:

The joy and the fire felt by this acoustic crew clearly shines through in the music. 'Back to the basics' is the order of the day. They perform originals, as well as songs from Alison Krauss, Norah Jones, and others, simply executed but played with much love and enthusiasm, and to a very high standard.

Jessie & the Gents can be contacted through their website, by e-mail, or by 'phone (+41 79 399 09 12).

Lonesome Ace Stringband in Ireland, 30 Jan.-6 Feb. 2019

On 7 July the BIB announced a coming treat for old-time-music enthusiasts in Ireland: the Lonesome Ace Stringband (CAN) will be playing seven dates in this island at the end of January and beginning of February 2019, the first five dates to be presented by the NI agency Moving On Music. The Aces (above, l-r: Chris Coole, banjo; John Showman, fiddle; Max Heinemann, bass) have all played in Ireland previously: in 2009 they toured as members of the Foggy Hogtown Boys bluegrass band.

The dates (not confirmed at the time of our July post) are now announced on the Brookfield Knights agency website, as shown below. The Lonesome Aces will then be moving on to play four dates in Britain.

Wed. 30th Jan.: The Old Courthouse, Antrim town
Thurs. 31st: Derry city (venue TBC)

Fri. 1st Feb.: Strule Arts Centre, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Sat. 2nd: Portico, Portaferry, Co. Down
Sun. 3rd: Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast
Mon. 4th: Rest day
Tues. 5th: Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Wed. 6th: Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny city

Gold Tone summer sale now on

Gold Tone Musical Instruments announce their summer sale, with savings on blemished or overstocked instruments, amounting in some cases to hundreds of dollars - there is, for instance, a particularly good price on a BC-350 old-time banjo. This sale, which runs to the end of August, is of most direct interest to people in the USA, but if you have friends there it might be possible to get a bargain. Details are here.

Sacred Harp Dublin in Culture Night, 21 Sept. 2018

Sacred Harp Dublin announce:

We are very happy to be part of Culture Night 2018. We invite you to join us, to listen or participate. Loaner books will be available. All voices are welcome, all levels of experience are welcome.

Culture Night at the Friary Centre, Cook St., Dublin 7, will be on Friday 21 September. Sacred Harp Dublin will be singing there from 7.00 to 9.00 p.m.

Ballymore Acoustic Gigs autumn schedule

Ballymore Acoustic Gigs (BAG) announce their autumn 2018 schedule of roots, folk, and indie acts from home and abroad, presented on Monday nights in Mick Murphy's bar (right), Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare. All gigs start at 9.00 p.m. sharp; doors open at 8.30 p.m. Admission €12, unless otherwise indicated. The shows listed are:

Sept. 3rd: The 4 Of Us €15
Sept. 10th: Melissa Greener (USA)
Sept. 17th: Donal Clancy
Sept. 24th: Ed Romanoff (USA) with Clive Barnes
Oct. 1st: The Remedy Club
Oct. 8th: Shane Joyce/ Tim V. Smyth (double bill)
Oct. 15th: John Statz (USA)
Oct. 22nd: Kris Drever €15; plus special guest John Blek

This season begins the eighth year of shows presented by BAG. See also last Saturday's BAG post on the importance of word-of-mouth and other contacts in keeping live acoustic music shows - and venues - in existence.

Cabin Sessions on vacation in August

Gerry Fitzpatrick, organiser of the Cabin Sessions series - 'Acoustic Music at its Finest' - in Dundrum, south Dublin, announces:

Hey Y'all

Hope y'all enjoying your summer. Just a reminder that the Cabin Sessions will be taking a break for August and we'll be back with you in September. If you feel the need for some great music in August you couldn't do better than going to see Hugh Buckley and Dave Whyte - two of Ireland's best jazz guitarists, who will be playing upstairs in Neary's each Thursday from 8.30 to 10.30 p.m., and admission is free!

Red Wine unharmed

Amidst the appalling news of the bridge disaster in Genoa, one reassurance for bluegrass fans is that our friends Red Wine, for whom Genoa is their home city, have not been harmed.

'Roots Freeway' covers festivals; NTB at IBMA

Niall Toner (left) sends this welcome news and the new photo at bottom:

'Roots Freeway' on Saturday night next (18 Aug.) at 11.00 p.m. on RTE Radio 1, will feature the full lineups for both Dunmore East and UAFP [Ulster American Folk Park], with tunes and songs from most of the featured artists on both festivals.

Also, the Niall Toner Band are attending IBMA in Raleigh, NC, this year, doing several showcases featuring their all-original songs and tunes, and recording our new album in Nashville during the first two weeks in October. Updates as we go...

The NTB at St Enda's, Rathfarnham, Dublin: (l-r) Gerry 

Madden, Dick Gladney, Niall Toner, Johnny Gleeson

Woodbine: major festivals and more

Thanks to Tony O'Brien for the latest Woodbine news:

Woodbine will play the Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival on the weekend 23-26 August, and have been added to the Omagh lineup for their 27th Bluegrass Festival (31 August-2 September).

We will also play Finn's Ale House, Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary, on Sunday 16 September at 8.30 p.m. We are also on the 'yet to be announced' 10th Balla Bluegrass (26-29 October).

Isaac Callender: bluegrass renaissance man from Montana

In the BIB post of three days ago, John Nyhan mentioned that in their forthcoming tour of Ireland (24 Aug.-9 Sept.) the Brothers Parker Bluegrass Band (USA) would include on guitar and vocals Isaac Callender (left), who had been to Ireland before, playing bass with Jeff Scroggins & Colorado - on their tour here at the start of 2016. It transpires that as a result, it was Isaac's idea for the Brothers Parker to come to Ireland.

Isaac was so self-effacing as a bassist that to read even a bare outline of his accomplishments is a dumbfounding experience. As well as bass and guitar, he plays banjo, mandolin, and fiddle (the latter to national and Grand Masters contest standards); builds and repairs instruments; plays as soloist and sideman with groups throughout North America and Europe; teaches at camps, workshops, and festivals; publishes tune books (including bluegrass, old-time, Irish, Scottish, and Canadian fiddle tunes, as well as books of fiddle tunes for guitar); and makes acclaimed records. Artists he has played with include the April Verch Band, Bobby Hicks, John Reischman, Tony Trischka, Tommy Emmanuel, Caleb Klauder, and Peter Rowan.

Isaac was born in Great Falls, Montana, began playing violin at the age of 3, and switched to fiddle at 7. His later career includes playing and touring abroad with the 133rd Army Band; playing swing and country rock; leading several bands; and managing the Pendleton Music Company store in Oregon. In addition, he acts as manager of Jeff Scroggins & Colorado. More detail can be found on his website.

George B. McCeney

The BIB learns with great regret of the death of George McCeney (79) of Laurel, Maryland, almost midway between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore - a good location for a life devoted to bluegrass music. Among his many contributions to the music, he served on the board of directors of the International Bluegrass Music Museum and was one of the founders of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine. His death comes almost a year after that of Pete Kuykendall, editor of BU for half a century, also at the age of 79.

More details are in John Lawless's article on Bluegrass Today, where there is also a link to Richard Thompson's interview with him, five and a quarter years ago. This is strongly recommended for conveying the flavour of George McCeney's character.

Happy memories of the summer

With the two biggest annual bluegrass events of this island coming later this month, here's a reminder of the good times of two months ago: a photo from the jam session in Blouser's that opened this year's Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival. The head nearest the camera belongs to Brendan Butler, whose Trio hosted the session. At the upper right, the BIB editor is convinced he's come to the right place. This fine photo comes from the Westport Festival Facebook, where there are many more reminders of the weekend.

Ulster American Folk Park ready for three-day lineup of international and local bluegrass talent

The Henry Family Band join the lineup of this year’s Ulster American
Folk Park Bluegrass Festival: (l-r) James, Olivia, Colin, Janet

Thanks to Gillian Grattan for this press release on the 27th Annual Bluegrass Festival at the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone:

The toe-tapping rhythms of mandolins, fiddles, and guitars will be heard at the Ulster American Folk Park later this month as it tunes up for the 27th Annual Bluegrass Music Festival. Taking place from Friday 31 August to Sunday 2 September, the Festival will bring award-winning American, Canadian, and European bands to Omagh, as well as acclaimed acts from across Ireland.

Headliners include International Bluegrass Music Awards multiple nominees Darin & Brooke Aldridge - one of the hottest young acts in acoustic music in the US – as well as traditional music veterans Mike Compton & Joe Newberry and English band Old Baby Mackerel.

Other big names from the US include Demolition String Band, multi-talented duo Fellow Pynins, and Oregon's Whiskey Deaf, while the Festival kicks off on the Friday with the Ontario band Allen Family Reunion which originally formed in 1980. Now reunited and joined by the original band members’ grown up children they have created a blend of fresh sounding yet traditional music.

Belgian band Old Salt Collective and English newcomers Midnight Skyracer, an all-female five-piece bluegrass band, whose youngest member is Armagh native Tabitha Agnew, and Glastonbury veterans Two Time Polka will join the non-stop music marathon of live acts performing across the Folk Park over the weekend.

Local acts will also take to the stage during the three day festival including Co, Down troupe the Henry Family Band. This foursome is at the forefront of the bluegrass and roots music scene across Ireland, featuring the stellar voice of Janet Henry and the Dobro flourishes of husband Colin, accompanied by their highly talented children James and Olivia.

Co. Armagh band Northern Exposure, which has been a pillar of the bluegrass scene in Ulster for over 20 years, joins the lineup on Saturday ahead of Co. Down favourite Geordie McAdam, while the Broken String Band, also from Co. Down, is back to delight fans for another year. Talented singers from Fermanagh and Omagh make up the Bluegrass Festival Choir which will perform on Saturday evening.

Visitors can also wander around the Folk Park’s exhibit buildings and bring their own fiddle or banjo for a jam session in the Pickin’ Patch in the Pennsylvania Barn, or join Mike Compton and Joe Newberry in the McConversation in the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies to learn more about their musical lives on Saturday.

This year’s festival concludes on Sunday with an atmospheric Spirit of Bluegrass Concert featuring Darin & Brooke Aldridge in the unique setting of the Folk Park’s eighteenth-century Old Meeting House.

Richard Hurst, Visitor Services Manager at the Ulster American Folk Park, said: 'The Bluegrass Music Festival at the Ulster American Folk Park is an event like no other in Northern Ireland’s calendar of family entertainment. The three days of music set against a backdrop of Ulster American history make this late summer festival a unique experience for all our visitors.

'Nominated for Best International Festival at the 2017 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, the event is a fantastic weekend break or day out for newcomers, families and devout music fans of all ages.'

He added: 'I hope that this year will bring even more new visitors to the Ulster American Folk Park and a new generation of bluegrass fans to our event.'

This year’s Bluegrass Music Festival is supported by funding from Tourism NI and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.

Aine Kearney, Business Support and Events Director, Tourism NI, said: 'Tourism NI is pleased to support the Bluegrass Music Festival and - now in its twenty-seventh year - this is a well established event, attracting both local and international visitors. Events such as the Bluegrass Festival are firmly established within our tourism fabric, adding value to the positive perceptions and profile of our destination, and have been recognised as having an important role in contributing to the economy.'

Chairman of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Howard Thornton said: 'The Bluegrass Music Festival at the Ulster American Folk Park is one of the most popular festivals of its type in Europe. Folk Park organisers, such as Richard Hurst, ensure that the festival patrons have been regularly exposed to the best exponents of bluegrass music from across the globe and consequently the festival has always attracted large crowds to the Ulster American Folk Park and to the district. It has also been a hugely significant contributor to the local economy over the years, and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is once again delighted to be a festival sponsor.'

The Festival kicks off on Friday 31 August, with performers from 2.00 p.m. until late. On Saturday music will start at 12.30 p.m. and continue until midnight. Sunday’s programme will run from 12.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. For further information on the Festival and to book online, visit www.nmni.com/uafp or call Telephone Ticket Hotline on 028 8224 3292.

Camping facilities are available. Performance areas include Downtown Country Stage, Tattyreagh Self-Drive Stage, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council Stage, Signal Signs Stage, and the Silverbirch Main Stage. Additional venues include the Pickin’ Patch (Pennsylvania Barn), the Old Meeting House, and the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies.

Band bios
Old Baby Mackerel (England): They play good, old-fashioned songs about whisky, murder, and railroads played at 500 bpm. Expect furiously fast, knee-slapping bluegrass, mixing skilful musicianship, five-part harmonies, and raucous, over-the-top hillbilly antics. Band lineup: Six Toe Sam (banjo), Wheel-Barrow Bill (bass), Pastor Willie McFiddle (fiddle), Little Wesley Williams (guitar), Wild Tim-on-the-Plains (mandolin)

Darin & Brooke Aldridge (USA): The duo has placed several tracks at the top of the charts on Americana/Roots, SiriusXM, Bluegrass and Gospel charts. They have received multiple nominations from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPGBMA) and Inspirational Country Music (ICM). Darin and Brooke combine rich harmonies with musicianship to create the unmistakable sound that has made them one of the hottest young acts in acoustic music.

Mike Compton & Joe Newberry (USA): Masters of old-time mandolin and banjo and guitar who dig deep into early country music and blues. Mike Compton is a Grammy award winner and IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year nominee and was a sideman for the great John Hartford for several years. Known far and wide for his banjo playing, Joe Newberry is also a prizewinning guitarist, songwriter and singer.

Old Salt Collective (Belgium): The eleven musicians pull their influences from the streets of New Orleans up through Appalachia to the folk revival of the North Eastern States, to the many sounds from old Europe where the band currently resides in Ghent, Belgium.

Demolition String Band (USA): They juggle banjo, mandolin, and guitars while weaving rustic, taut harmony vocals with tall tales and truth, joy and heartbreak, despair and redemption. Band lineup: Elena Skye and Boo Reiners

Fellow Pynins (USA): a duo creating spine-tingling songs with their spell-binding harmonies and musicianship. Band lineup: Ian Van Ornum (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Dani Aubert (banjo, bouzouki, vocals)

The Henry Family Band (Co. Down) – The married couple from County Down are at the forefront of the bluegrass and roots music scene across the island of Ireland featuring the stellar voice of Janet Henry and the Dobro flourishes of husband Colin accompanied by their children James and Olivia. They are long-time partners of the Festival.

Allen Family Reunion (Canada): opening the Festival weekend and hailing from Ontario, Canada, high-quality and fresh-sounding traditional bluegrass standards. Band lineup: John P. Allen, Joe Allen, Julie Allen, Paul Hickling, Bev Allen

Midnight Skyracer (UK): a new all-female five-piece bluegrass band playing hard-driving traditional and modern classics, lesser-known songs, and a few originals featuring an all-star line-up of some of the UK and Ireland's top instrumentalists and singers. Band lineup: Leanne Thorose (vocals, mandolin), Tabitha Agnew (vocals, banjo), Laura Carrivick (vocals, fiddle, dobro), Charlotte Carrivick (vocals, guitar), Eleanor Wilkie (vocals, double bass)

Two Time Polka (Co. Cork): veterans of Glastonbury, Electric Picnic, and Omagh Bluegrass Festival. They play Cajun rhythms, punchy vocals and brilliant musicianship combines with a swing-sound that defies toes to tap and makes dancing infectious.

Whiskey Deaf (USA): from Portland, Oregon, playing traditional bluegrass, old-time, and early country music. Band lineup: Annie Staninec (fiddle), John Kael (guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass).

Tabitha Agnew: Tabitha is the youngest member of Midnight Skyracer and member of acclaimed NI bluegrass band Cup O’ Joe. Not only is she an incredibly talented banjo player, but she also has a beautiful, delicate singing voice. Tabitha can usually be heard performing with her two brothers in the Northern Ireland based band Cup O' Joe, with whom she has performed all over the world, including being the only UK band to ever perform on the IBMA World of Bluegrass Youth Stage in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Northern Exposure: The Co. Armagh band have been pillars of the bluegrass scene in Ulster for over twenty years. With a sound embracing modern and traditional forms of bluegrass, they are regularly in the lineup at the Ulster American Folk Park International Bluegrass Festival. The band's core consists of the twin brothers Patsy Toman (lead vocals, guitar) and Peter Toman (double bass, vocals) with Pete's son Jonathan (5-string banjo, guitar).

Additional events
Sat. 1st Sept. The McConversation, featuring Mike Compton & Joe Newberry
1.00–2.00 p.m., Mellon Centre for Migration Studies
A unique opportunity to sit for an hour in the company of Mike Compton & Joe Newberry. Asking the questions will be our festival compere of twenty years standing, Frank Galligan.

CLOSING EVENT
Sun. 2nd Sept. Spirit of Bluegrass Concert featuring Darin & Brooke Aldridge 6.30– 8.00 p.m., Old World Meeting House
The Festival draws to a close in the 18th-century-style Meeting House with its thatched roof and boxed pew seats where Darin & Brooke Aldridge and their multi-talented band will share their deeply rooted respect for the bluegrass gospel music tradition.
Ticketed event £15; booking essential

Full lineup Friday–Sunday
Headliners
Fri. 31 Aug. Old Salt Collective (Belgium)
Sat. 1 Sept. Darin & Brooke Aldridge (USA)
Sun. 2 Sept. Compton & Newberry (USA)

Demolition String Band (USA)
Fellow Pynins (USA)
Whiskey Deaf (USA)
Allen Family Reunion (Canada)
Midnight Skyracer (England)
Old Baby Mackerel (England)
Two Time Polka (Co. Cork)
Northern Exposure (Armagh)
Broken String Band (Co. Down)
Geordie McAdam (Co. Down)
The Henrys (Co. Down)
Bluegrass Festival Choir (Fermanagh & Omagh)

Opening times, ticket prices and accommodation
Fri. 31 Aug. 2.00–11.30 p.m., Sat. 1 Sept., 12.30-11.30 p.m., Sun. 2 Sept., 12.30–6.30 p.m.
Tickets from £15 to £48; camping facilities available
Bookings: www.nmni.com/Whats-on or call 028 8224 3292

Corn Potato String Band in Britain, 17 Aug.-3 Sept. 2018

The Corn Potato String Band (USA), who have astonished and entertained audiences over here on several previous tours, will begin this coming Friday a fourteen-show tour of Britain, lasting till Monday 3 September. No dates in Ireland, unfortunately; the complete schedule is on the 'Live' part of their website.

Sacred Harp Dublin to celebrate Isaac Watts Day, 24 Nov. 2018

Sacred Harp Dublin will be celebrating Isaac Watts Day with a singing on Saturday 24 November from 14.00 to 17.30, in the Robert Emmet Community Development Centre on Usher St., Dublin 8. Sacred Harp Dublin announce:

Come join us to celebrate 'The Godfather of English Hymnody'. Afterwards we will raise a glass to Isaac in a local hostelry (to be confirmed). All welcome, no experience necessary, and loaner books will be available.

Isaac Watts (1674-1748) is credited with writing some 750 hymns. The celebration this year will be on the day before the 270th anniversary of his death.

Brothers Parker Bluegrass Band (USA) in Ireland, 24 Aug.-9 Sept. 2018

Thanks to the inexhaustible John Nyhan for these details, poster image, and tour schedule:

The Brothers Parker Bluegrass Band are a five-piece bluegrass band from Montana, USA. They cover classic and contemporary bluegrass, country, and gospel.

The band features John and Billy Parker (hence the name Brothers Parker), Billy on mandolin and vocals and John on bass and vocals. They both have forty years' experience playing bluegrass music.

Isaac Callender, a multi-instrumentalist, will be making his second appearance in Ireland. He previously toured with Jeff Scroggins & Colorado, with whom he played bass. With the Brothers Parker he will be on guitar and vocals. He may also showcase on other instruments.

Tyler James, on banjo and vocals, is an award-winning banjo player, winning first place at the Rockygrass Banjo Championship in Colorado, the Arizona State Banjo Championship, and the Huck Finn Bluegrass Festival Banjo Championship.

Louise Steinway, on fiddle and vocals, completes the lineup. She has played for over twenty years with her family band.

AUGUST 2018

Fri. 24th-Sun. 26th: Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford; tel. 087 256 2899
Mon. 27th: Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork, 8.15 p.m.; tel. 087 792 1771
Wed. 29th: Merry's Bar and Restaurant (upstairs), Lower Main St., Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, 8.30 p.m.; tel. 087 064 0542
Thurs. 30th: Fleming's Bar, Scartaglen, Co. Kerry, 9.00 p.m.; tel. 087 781 4781
Fri. 31st: Spailpin Fanach Bar (upstairs), 29 South Main St., Cork city, 9.00 p.m.; tel. 087 792 1771

SEPTEMBER 2018

Sat. 1st: E. J. Morrissey's Pub, Dublin St., Carlow town, Co. Carlow, 10.00 p.m.; tel. 086 257 6343
Sun. 2nd: Glen Theatre, Banteer Co. Cork, 8.30 p.m.; tel. 087 792 1771
Mon. 3rd: Steamboat Music Shop, Steamboat Quay, Limerick city, 8.00 p.m.; [phone number deleted 21.8.21]
Tues. 4th: Clonmel Folk Club, Town Hall, Parnell St., Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, 8.00 p.m.; tel. 085 850 2289
Wed. 5th: St John's Theatre, The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, 8.00 p.m.; tel. 068 22 566
Fri. 7th: The Merry Monk Bar and Restaurant, Kilalla Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo, 9.00 p.m.; tel. 087 255 7188
Sat. 8th: The Beehive Bar, Main St., Ardara, Co. Donegal, 9.00 p.m.; tel. 087 690 0714
Sun. 9th: Mannion's Bar, Balla, Co. Mayo, 9.00 p.m.; tel. 087 229 6018

For further enquiries on any of the above, tel. 087 792 1771 or e-mail.

BIB editor's note: John adds: 'No shortage of bluegrass on the way.'

IBMA Momentum Award nominations for Midnight Skyracer, Tabitha Agnew

Midnight Skyracer (photo: Allan Wilkinson)

The five-piece all-woman bluegrass band Midnight Skyracer (UK) have been nominated for a Momentum Award in the 29th International Bluegrass Music Awards, and their banjo-player Tabitha Agnew (left) from Co. Armagh has also been nominated in the Instrumentalist section of the Momentum Awards. Full details of the nominations are in this Bluegrass Today feature by John Lawless.

The IBMA says: 'The Momentum Awards are given in recognition of an outstanding year by emerging bluegrass professionals and those who mentor them.' Midnight Skyracer and Tabitha are the only nominees from outside North America. The band's achievements this year include the release of their debut album Fire (given a Highlight review in the June issue of Bluegrass Unlimited) and a tour of Germany in May. The BIB's warm congratulations are added to the pile they've already received (see their Facebook). They are now considering how to get to IBMA's World of Bluegrass next month.

Kings of Celtgrass right behind Kings of Chambergrass

We Banjo 3 (above) announce in their latest e-newsletter that their new album Haven 'debuted at #2 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart behind super group Punch Brothers. This is our first time to chart on the bluegrass chart and we're absolutely thrilled with #2.'

We Banjo 3 are now under way in a summer tour of the mid-western USA extending into early September, with three dates in Canada. In October they'll be moving into the western states, and in the first three months of 2019 they'll be all over - the South, West, Mid-West, and East Coast. More details are on the e-newsletter.

The Punch Brothers will be performing at the National Concert Hall in Dublin on Monday 19 November this year.

Punch Brothers: feeling the hot breath of the Celtic Tiger?

Red Wine at 40: Venite a festeggiare con noi!

Our friends Red Wine (I) will be celebrating forty years of the band's continuous existence with their Tenth Bluegrass Party, to begin at 9.00 p.m. on Saturday 17 November at the Teatro Della Tosse, Piazza Renato Negri 4, 16123 Genova (Genoa), where they'll present their new CD Carolina red (recorded this past February in North Carolina and produced by Jens Kruger), together with guest artists.

A major feature on the band appears on Bluegrass Today in Lee Zimmerman's 'Bluegrass beyond borders' series, based largely on the words of Silvio Ferretti, Red Wine's banjo-player and founder-member. The feature includes a video (also on YouTube) of Red Wine singing 'Some day you will', written by the late Liz Meyer, with Martino Coppo playing his Giacomel mandola and Silvio playing clawhammer banjo.

The Often Herd come first at La Roche

The contemporary bluegrass band The Often Herd, based in Newcastle (UK), previously performed under the name 'The Kentucky Cow Tippers', and in June 2015 this configuration toured Ireland, playing at venues including the Red Room in Cookstown, the Cowboys and Heroes Festival in Drumcora, and the Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival.

Last autumn, after they had reformed as the Often Herd (Rupert Hughes, guitar, vocals; Evan Davies, mandolin, vocals; Niles Krieger, fiddle, vocals; Sam Quintana, bass), the BIB published news of the Kickstarter campaign they launched to fund their debut EP. That was successful, and the latest step in their progress came last weekend when they came first of eight contestants in the prestigious European Bluegrass Band competition at the La Roche Bluegrass Festival on the edge of the French Alps.

Second and third in the contest were Red Herring (NL) (with Loes van Schaijk, author of a splendid book about bluegrass in the Netherlands, on bass) and The Fretworkers (NOR). A feature by John Lawless on Bluegrass Today includes a photo of the presentation, which is also on the European Bluegrass Music Association Facebook.

Demolition String Band (USA) in Ireland, 23 Aug.-2 Sept. 2018

Thanks to Uri Kohen for this news of the latest tour presented by the Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival:

Elena Skye and Boo Reiners, better known as the Demolition String Band (NY, USA), return to Ireland for the fifth time. The duo will play a string of gigs over the last weekend of August, including a number of performances at the Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival and the Omagh Bluegrass Festival, where they will be joined by Irish bass player Sammy Rohan (better known for playing with Hickory Wind).

Fuelled by a shared passion for classic country, rock ‘n roll, bluegrass, and mountain music, singer/ songwriter/mandolinist Elena Skye and multi-instrumentalist Boo Reiners have led their NYC-based Demolition String Band for almost two decades, marking their journey with numerous albums and countless miles on the road in the USA and Europe.

Their Woody Guthrie song collaboration 'Go Coney Island, roll on the sand' (words by Woody Guthrie, music by Elena Skye) was featured on the 2014 Grammy-nominated My name is New York: Ramblin’ around Woody Guthrie’s town, which featured song collaborations with Billy Bragg, Wilco, and Del McCoury.

The full tour dates, as shown in the image below, are:

Thurs. 23rd: Matt Molloy's, Bridge St., Westport, Co. Mayo
Fri. 24th: Moy River B&B, Sligo, Co. Sligo
Sat. 25th: 24th Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival, Co. Waterford
Sun. 26th: 24th Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival, Co. Waterford
Mon. 27th: The Sky and the Ground, 112 South Main St., Wexford town, 8.00 p.m.
Tues. 28th: Finn's Bar, Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary
Wed. 29th: Bridge Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Thurs. 30th: Matt Molloy's, Bridge St., Westport, Co. Mayo
Fri. 31st: 27th Annual Bluegrass Music Festival, Ulster American Folk Park, Castletown, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Sat. 1st Sept.: 27th Annual Bluegrass Music Festival, Ulster American Folk Park, Castletown, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Sun. 2nd: 27th Annual Bluegrass Music Festival, Ulster American Folk Park, Castletown, Omagh, Co. Tyrone

Cup O' Joe on 'Hame'

Congratulations to Cup O' Joe (Ben, Reuben, and Tabitha Agnew) on their appearance in tonight's issue of the BBC2 TV series 'Hame', concentrating on Scottish and Ulster Scots traditions in the Markethill and Hamiltonsbawn districts of Co. Atmagh.

In between features on the revival of Scottish country dancing, the Lambeg drum, and the Markethill Fiddle Orchestra, Cup O' Joe played 'Billy in the low ground' and 'A land where we'll never grow old', and were interviewed on the common ground of Ulster and American traditions by Mark Thomson, who drew attention to their growing place on the international bluegrass scene.

Banjo history from the Bitter Southerner

The BIB editor writes:

The Bitter Southerner online magazine (now five* years old) has just published 'So you think you know the banjo?', an article by Jenna Strucko designed to correct misconceptions about the origins of the banjo and its music, and their relationship to the image of the South.

The article is based on interviews with the members of the Carolina Chocolate Drops (below: photo by Whitney Neal), all of whom came to the band from different backgrounds. There are plenty of audio links giving the musicians' views in their own voices. Strucko writes: 'In all honesty, this project may have affected me more deeply than any other I've had the chance to work on. [...] I felt more aware and challenged than ever, but also exhilarated and inspired.'

Worth reading? Yes! Our only quibble comes near the beginning, where it's alleged that Taylor Swift 'has unapologetically traded in her five-string'. All the images we've seen of her with a 'banjo' show what looks like a 6-string Deering banjo-guitar, played with a plectrum. But no hard feelings - the last words of the article are 'the banjo is the friendliest of all instruments'.

*'Three' appeared erroneously when this post was first published, owing to misreading on our part.

Belfast Bluegrass Session, 7 Aug. 2018

As tomorrow is the first Tuesday of the month, the monthly Belfast Bluegrass Session will be held as usual upstairs at the Errigle Inn, 312-320 Ormeau Rd, Belfast BT7 2GE, from 9.00 p.m.

At the time of writing, there is no apprehension of interference from the broadcasting of major sports events (cf. last month).

Traditional bluegrass releases from the Mother Country

The Po' Ramblin' Boys from North Carolina, who, we hope, will be touring Ireland next year, have just released their first single for Rounder Records, and the song is 'Next train south', recorded by Dub Crouch, Norman Ford, & the Bluegrass Rounders in 1974. You can hear the Boys' new recording on Friday's feature by John Lawless.

(Robert 'Dub' Crouch died at the beginning of last year: see this obituary on Bluegrass Today by C.J. Lewandowski, the Po' Ramblin' Boys' mandolinist.)

*

Lorraine Jordan, who appeared with the Garrett Newton Band at last year's Ardara festival, is releasing a CD, True grass, with her own band and some very special guests. A video for the release party, with the title song as sound track, is on a Bluegrass Today feature, and also on YouTube.

*

And if you need still more of bluegrass the way it sounded in the '50s and '60s, go to the young Nashville-based band High Fidelity (also on Facebook), who released their 14-track Rebel album Hills and home on Friday last. A video of one track, 'The hills of home', can be seen on YouTube; more details are on the Rebel press release.

Darin and Brooke Aldridge and the memory of 9/11

More news on Bluegrass Today of Darin and Brooke Aldridge (USA), who are headliners at this year's 27th Annual Bluegrass Festival in the Ulster American Folk Park near Omagh, Co. Tyrone, on Saturday and Sunday, 1-2 September. The BT feature, by David Morris, describes their experiences at the Pennsylvania chapel commemorating one episode in the events of 11 September 2001, and includes a video of Brooke singing 'Sacred Lamb' to Darin's guitar accompaniment.

Longtime Omagh attenders will remember the shock of 9/11, coming directly after that year's Omagh festival, and the anxiety and confusion that hindered American performers in returning home.

BBN: the new issue

The BIB editor writes:

The latest issue (no. 84, summer 2018) of British Bluegrass News, the journal of the British Bluegrass Music Association (BBMA), has just reached me and (as always) it combines high production values, loads of information, and well-balanced content. The cover alone would brighten anyone's day! There are several features on artists who've played in Ireland recently - G-runs 'n Roses (CZ), Jeff Scroggins & Colorado, and the Price Sisters - and a substantial festival report ends with praise for the Hot Rock Pilgrims, who shared the concert stage with G-runs 'n Roses at Westport in June.

BBN has plenty of news from the Mother Country: the cover feature is an interview with Rhonda Vincent by Chris A. Courogen, fully as good as you'd find in Bluegrass Unlimited or on Bluegrass Today; the series on Virginia luthiers concludes with Wayne Henderson; a travel journal chronicles a trip to IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2017; and many of the excellent reviews are of US records. Brian Dowdell has this to say of the latest album from the Special Consensus (who'll be here early in 2019):

This is one of the finest from Greg Cahill and Special Consensus. Every concert of theirs that I attend I think I don't need another of their albums, but every concert I buy one!

That being said, BBN is a model for any journal of a national bluegrass association. The BBMA has a team of a doxen officers and twenty-nine area representatives, including Sharon Loughrin for Northern Ireland.

An atmosphere full of spirit

Thanks to Ronnie Norton for permission to use this photo, taken at the concert given last Sunday (29 July) by Raymond McLain, the Price Sisters, and the Woodsheep at the Pearse Lyons Whiskey Distillery on James St., Dublin - an impressive venue. Ronnie's photo, showing the ensemble playing in the choir loft, has already appeared on the Price Sisters' Facebook, where there are now other photos taken by the Woodsheep. This one shows how high the musicians were above the audience; though for the concert finale they came down so that everyone could join in a moving 'Will the circle be unbroken'.

I Draw Slow in Whelan's Trad & Folk Festival 2018

Dublin's I Draw Slow (who played a sold-out last concert of their summer US tour last Sunday in Colorado) are scheduled to play at Whelan's of Wexford St., Dublin 2, on this coming Saturday (4 Aug.) as part of Whelan's Trad & Folk Festival 2018, which will last four days in all (2-5 Aug.); all events are free. Over twenty acts on three stages will be appearing, some of which have yet to be announced; so keep an eye on the Whelan's website.

I Draw Slow's return from Colorado to Dublin will be broken in La Roche-sur-Foron, France, where they will be performing tomorrow (2 Aug.), the second day of the great free-admission La Roche Bluegrass Festival.

In two weeks' time (17-19 Aug.) Whelan's will be holding this year's Dublin Blues, Roots, & Brass Festival, in which Mules & Men will be taking part.