Danny Burns, North country

As in every year, Bluegrass Unlimited magazine devotes this year's March issue to instruments - luthiers, dealers, accessories (e.g. the English G7th capo company). Murphy Henry's 'General store' pages also mention that 'The debut album, North country, from Ireland native Danny Burns is a collaborative album filled with appearances by icons such as Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, and Dan Tyminski.'

Danny Burns (above left; also on Facebook) comes from a Garrison, Co. Fermanagh, family, was raised in Donegal, has developed his music over years in the USA, and uses the instrumentation of a bluegrass band to present it. Plenty of it can be heard on YouTube, including the band's own YouTube channel. Jerry Douglas is quoted on his website as saying:

Danny Burns is an excellent songwriter, performer, guitar player, husband and father, and other things that I’m sure I’m not aware of. One thing I do know is that he is tenacious. This is one great record that you’re holding in your hands, and if it hadn’t been for Danny’s tenacity, this moment would not be happening. Do yourself a favour. Go home, play this recording, and hear the reason that Danny is right in his quest for your audience.

Pete Seeger commemorated - and more

Clawhammer banjo maestro Michael J. Miles (USA) will be celebrating the centenary of the birth of Pete Seeger on Saturday 4 May with '100 years of protest!', a concert at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. The show will also feature the premiere of Michael's 'Mississippi River suite'.

A new book, Banjo lesson goldmine, published by Hal Leonard, comprises fifty clawhammer lessons by Michael and fifty bluegrass lessons by Greg Cahill of the Special Consensus. It will be available from Michael's online store from 15 March. Much more info is on his latest e-newsletter.

Frankie Lane and Paul Kelly at BAG, 4 Mar. 2019

Ballymore Acoustic Gigs (BAG) announce:

Frankie Lane and Paul Kelly have been making music together, on and off, for more years than they probably care to remember. They have been a part of, or played with, the best of Irish music outfits since the early 1980s, most notably the Fleadh Cowboys, and have shared stages and studios with some of the greatest international performing and recording artists.

Singer/ songwriter/ guitarist/ dobro-playing Frankie and multi-instrumentalist (fiddle/ mandolin/ banjo) Paul play BAG at Mick Murphy's, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, Monday 4 March 2019. Doors open 8.30 p.m.; gig 9.00 p.m. sharp. Admission €15 at the door.

Gold Tone: warehouse sale, new catalogue, old wood bridges

Gold Tone Musical Instruments announce a Warehouse Clearance Sale, with reductions on B-list stock and instruments with minor blemishes. Their new catalogue is available, and can be viewed here.

There is also a limited edition of a new 'B-Ball' 5-string bridge, made from the wood of an eighty-year-old basketball court and available in 5/8" and 7/16" (sic) heights, which Gold Tone consider 'the best-sounding banjo bridge ever!' Details are on the latest Gold Tone e-newsletter.

Mile Twelve news update

Following the news on the BIB for 9 Feb., Irish friends and fans of Boston's Mile Twelve (above) will be glad of the substantial new feature by John Lawless about the band and their forthcoming album (due out on 29 Mar.) on Bluegrass Today.

The article states: 'They are gearing up now for tour of England and Ireland next month, which will give them about twelve days overseas', and guitarist Evan Murphy is quoted as saying: 'David [Benedict, mandolinist] loves going over to that area since his fiancé lives in Northern Ireland.' However, as the BIB wrote on 9 Feb., the band's online tour schedule shows dates only in Britain from 14 to 24 March, with no indication there (or on the website of the True North agency, organising the tour) of any dates in Ireland.

Update 8 Mar.: The statement that the tour includes Ireland has since been dropped.

Horsenecks: new duo album on the way

The Horsenecks (USA/UK) made a powerful impression here two years ago in a five-piece band format with their successful mix of "hard-hitting and heartfelt old-time and classic bluegrass music", so it's good to learn from the FOAOTMAD news blog that a new Horsenecks album is in preparation. This album, however, will feature the core Horsenecks duo of Gabrielle Macrae and Barry Southern (photo). Gabrielle writes:

We'll be recording traditional old-time tunes as fiddle-banjo duets with clawhammer and three-finger, rare songs, some ballads, and a few of our originals in the Old Time genre. We're going in as a duo this time, so it will be a bit of a departure from our previous two albums, which were recorded with a full band. We're really excited about the momentum we've felt around this project [...]

To help raise the funds to cover recording, mixing, mastering, and printing costs, the Horsenecks have set up a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, which has so far raised half of the $3,500 flexible goal (the campaign will receive all funds raised even if the target is not hit). For more information, Gabrielle can be contacted through the Horsenecks website.

Mac Wiseman, 23 May 1925-24 Feb. 2019 (update)

We learn with great regret from Bluegrass Today of the death of one of the giants of bluegrass music, Malcolm Bell 'Mac' Wiseman, earlier today. John Lawless provides an excellent brief obituary.

Mac was inducted into the SPBGMA Preservation Hall of Greats in 1987, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 1993, and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2014. His remarkable life is told up to 2015 in the book Mac Wiseman: All my memories fit for print, as told to Walt Trott, reviewed by Dick Bowden on Bluegrass Today. A further overview by John Lawless of his career appeared on Bluegrass Today three years ago.

The question posed on the BIB in April 2017 - what Irish musicians backed up Mac on a performance (date unknown) that he gave in Ireland? - remains unanswered.

Update 28 Feb.: 'Remembering Mac Wiseman', an appreciation of his life by Peter Cooper, has been published online by the IBMA. Mac's funeral took place yesterday in Nashville.

Sacred Harp Dublin to sing in Rome, 1-2 June 2019

Sacred Harp Singers of Dublin announce that on the June bank holiday weekend (1-2 June 2019) they will be in Rome (yes, the capital of Italy) for a singing trip. The proposed schedule comprises singing from 13.30 to 17.30 on both days, with a group dinner on Saturday, and Sunday morning free for personal activities. It should be possible to combine this with flights from and back to Dublin within the two days - details are on the Sacred Harp Dublin website. Venue and location will be announced shortly.

Everyone will be responsible for booking their own travel and accommodation and bringing their own copy of The Sacred Harp. Anyone who does not own a copy should contact the organisers. Sacred Harp Dublin add:

We would be delighted to have non-Dublin singers join us, if they are not planning to head to the undoubtedly excellent Oslo All Day [yes, the capital of Norway].

Fine times at Lisdoonvarna

The BIB editor reports:

For most of today and the rest of the weekend I expect to be at the Second Annual Irish Old Time Appalachian Music Gathering, focused on the Roadside Tavern at Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare, and am looking forward to the company of many others who like old-time music.

Full details are available on the Gathering's web page or Facebook. Thanks to Andrew Lambert and Bob Denton for organising the whole event. Please keep sending in news, but don't expect it to appear before Sunday evening at the earliest.

Crossover Festival news

Thanks again to T.J. Screene (pillar of Bluegrass Camp Ireland, the Atlantic String Band, and the weekly bluegrass jams in central Dublin) for drawing our attention to the Crossover Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Festival in England, which this year will be held on 3-6 May.

As reported on the BIB on 4 Dec., the headliners at Crossover 2019 will be Ron Block and Tony Furtado, and other acts will include Midnight Skyracer, the UK band in which Tabitha Agnew of Co. Armagh plays banjo. The latest news is that Block and Furtado will be giving master classes in bluegrass banjo and slide guitar respectively, and Tabitha Agnew will give a bluegrass banjo workshop - one of the fifteen workshops on offer, all of which are included in the basic ticket price.

Crossover's e-newsletter includes a video of 'Deep Elem blues' by the Galway-based Hubert Murray Band, which can also be seen on YouTube.

New album from Chatham County Line (USA)

Chatham County Line from North Carolina, who've been welcome visitors here more than once in the past, are about to release a new thirteen-track album, Sharing the covers, comprising 'hit songs from other artists whose music left a mark on the band', to quote John Lawless's feature on Bluegrass Today. A video of their version of the Louvin Brothers' 'My baby's gone' (with tasty banjo work) can be seen on YouTube or on Bluegrass Today.

Stelling Staghorn - for sale

The BIB has received no further message from whoever wrote in search of a Stelling Staghorn banjo (see the BIB of 11 Feb.), but thanks to Brendan Emmett for this response:

I have a Stelling Staghorn dated October 1st, 1976 - serial number 198. Bought from Fretted Instruments in Birmingham, Alabama, a long time ago 😁. It has two Keith tuners and a Fishman pickup and sounds wonderful, and a new TKL case - old one fell apart. I am looking for €3,500 which I think is a fair price. If anybody shows interest I will be happy to e-mail them.

Will anyone interested please e-mail the BIB editor; the message will be passed direct to Brendan.

Grits & Gravy Stringband to play at 3rd Richmond Old Time Music Gathering (GB)

We learn from the FOAOTMAD news blog that the Cork-based Grits & Gravy Stringband (Ian Knepper and Caolán Keogh, fiddles; Ben Keogh, banjo; Camilla Monroe, guitar; Síona Knepper, double bass) will be on the bill at the 3rd Richmond Old Time Music Gathering, to be held in Richmond, Surrey, England, on 19-20 April. The Gathering's own Facebook announces:

Our headliners are the amazing Richie Stearns and Rosie Newton from Ithaca, New York. We're thrilled that Grits & Gravy Stringband from Cork, Ireland, the Old Time Rags, and the Outlaw Sisters are also joining our fabulous lineup.

There will be concerts and square dances on both evenings. In the daytime there will be workshops, sessions, slow jams, singarounds, open mics, and delicious food. We will announce the full timetable here as soon as possible. Everything takes place in the lovely riverside setting of Richmond, with Kew Gardens and Richmond Park within easy walking distance.

On the debit side, it now seems definite that Richie & Rosie will not be fitting Ireland into their coming tour, as previously offered by the Brookfield Knights agency (see the BIB for 3 Nov.). Their full dates in Britain are on their online calendar.

Jeff Scroggins at coffee

Jeff Scroggins & Colorado (USA) have become frequent and welcome visitors to Ireland in the last few years. For their many friends and admirers over here who want to know more about Jeff himself than even his website biography reveals, a long, detailed interview with him appeared yesterday on Bluegrass Today in Richard Thompson's 'Having a coffee with...' series.

Jeff tours internationally with the band and has a keen appreciation of food ('you would be crazy to be in Europe and not eat some of the amazing food there'), so his views on keeping fit and healthy on the road are valuable. He mentions 'Touring and performing in Ireland' among his favourite bluegrass memories - but not, for some reason, the Full Irish Breakfast.

Clara Delfina and Haakon Oyen (USA) available for Dublin area, 6/11 June 2019

Haakon Oyen & Clara Delfina

Thanks to old-time and country singer and multi-instrumentalist Clara Delfina from Virginia (who with Haakon Oyen will be performing at this June's Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival) for the news that while in Ireland the duo would like to find a gig in the Dublin area on either Thursday 6 June or Tuesday 11 June. If you can offer or suggest a booking for those dates, please contact Clara by e-mail.

Old Time News, the journal of the UK's FOAOTMAD, says: 'You can hear the authentic old-time musical heritage in Clara Delfina’s playing and singing... Clara is an inspiringly traditional artist and yet also fashionably creative.' Haakon, a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and buck dancer from North Carolina. is a member of Clara's Broken Barrel Stringband, whose dynamic album Mayday was released last May and can be heard here. More biographical detail, together with links to websites, Facebook, and YouTube, are on their electronic press kit.

François Vola (F/ USA): Back to bluegrass

The BIB editor reports:

Thanks to guitarist François Vola (F/ USA) for news of his new album Back to bluegrass, released in Dec. 2018 and comprising all original material. He is joined by top-flight American musicians - Darol Anger (fiddle), Matt Flinner (banjo), and Emory Lester (mandolin), together with Laurent Paris on tenor vocals and bass. Leading Continental musicians contribute to several tracks, including Belgium's Thierry Schoysman, who visited (and jammed in) Dublin last month.

In addition to being well known to US guitar wizards such as Tony and Wyatt Rice, Dan Crary, and Steve Kauffman, François is the godson of Louis Vola (bass player with Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli) and his albums include a bluegrass one (1983) with Byron Berline and John Hickman and an acoustic jazz CD (1997) with Emory Lester and Babik Reinhardt (Django's son).

The common ground shared by bluegrass and acoustic string jazz is also being explored by (for instance) Cup O' Joe, so anyone who likes their music should be interested in this album. More of François Vola's music can be heard on his YouTube channel.

13th Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival (7-9 June): tickets now on sale

Thanks to Uri Kohen, head of the Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival organising team, for this news:

Tickets for the 13th Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival are now out and can be got via the Festival's website.

There are four different ticket options: one for each of the main concerts (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) and one a combo Friday-and-Saturday ticket. Note that there are no full weekend tickets, and the Sunday main concert is sold separately.

Tickets for the two workshops (Songwriting with McKay & Leigh and clawhammer banjo with Montana Hobbs), Kids Concert (Kids Classics), and the Mystery Gig are sold on the door on the day only. All other gigs and sessions are FREE.

As in previous years, tickets are for individual concerts and not for the festival as a whole. It is important to book tickets in advance, as they are already selling fast.

Looking forward to see you all in Westport, Co. Mayo, 7-9 June!

6th Cahersiveen Mountain Roots Music Weekend, 3-6 May 2019

Thanks to Céline Kavanagh for the latest release from the Cahersiveen Mountain Roots Music Weekend organising team:

Cahersiveen Mountain Roots Music Weekend is back again for its annual May Weekend feast of live music. Town will be alive with a variety of roots music performances and sessions... it’s getting better by the year, so check out the web or Facebook to see for yourself.

Acts listed on the website include the Cork Singers Club, Two Time Polka, the Dizzy Blues Band, Hank Wedel, Mules & Men, Ger Wolfe, Whistle, Mitch Depew & David Prat, John Nyhan, and Mick Power.

BAND 2019, 21-23 June: Year of the Guitar

Thanks to the organising team of the third BAND (Bluegrass And Nashville Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal) Festival for their latest announcement:

We are busy putting together a wonderful lineup for BAND 2019, with bluegrass bands and Nashville-inspired bands, some old friends, and some looking forward to playing for the first time in Dunfanaghy. In honour of the large number of incredibly talented, international guitarists who have accepted our invitation, and who will be travelling from countries far and wide, we have decided to nominate BAND 2019 as The Year of the Guitar!

Lineup announcements are coming soon! Keep an eye on our website and Facebook!

A video of highlights of BAND 2018 and its multi-national lineup can be seen here. You can sign up for e-mail updates about BAND 2019 here.

Barwick & Siegfried (USA) return to Ireland in May

Following on from the BIB post of 24 Dec. 2018, thanks to Jon Hartley Fox (author of King of the Queen City: the story of King Records, and of much more on music and the arts) for this release:

The acclaimed American acoustic roots duo Barwick & Siegfried will be returning to Ireland in May for its third tour of the island. The duo of Kathy Barwick (guitar, vocals) and Pete Siegfried (mandolin, vocals) blends bluegrass, old-time country music, and folk into an engaging Americana fusion showcasing Pete’s exceptional lead vocals, Kathy’s amazing guitar work, and their sterling duet harmonies. Hailed by Bluegrass Unlimited as 'two like-minded lovers of song who’ve found musical gold in their pairing', the duo perfectly captures the power of two — two musicians, two voices, and two instruments — harnessed to a singular artistic vision.

The duo is touring in support of its third album, Stones and gravel, an honest, assured, and eminently tuneful album that showcases the magical blend of this celebrated duo from Grass Valley, California. Bluegrass Breakdown lauds Pete’s 'expansive tenor voice that can tell a story, croon a love song, and bring a tear to the eye, all in one song' and Kathy’s ability 'to make one guitar sound as strong as a band'.

Tour dates include:

Sat. 11th May: The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Tues. 14th: McLynn’s, Old Market St., Sligo town
Thurs. 16th: House concert, Dorney Bridge, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh
Mon. 20th: Ballymore Acoustic Gigs, Mick Murphy’s, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare
Tues. 21st: The Mill Theatre, Dundrum, Dublin 14

The duo could add another show to the tour, on May 12, 13, or 17, if the situation warrants. Anyone interested in hosting a house concert or a pub show on those dates, please contact Jon Hartley Fox at jonfoxgv@yahoo.com. For more information and music clips, please see www.barwickandsiegfried.net.

A mystery solved

Many thanks to Tim (surname unknown) for solving a mystery that's been with the BIB for twenty months. In May 2017 Jim Purtell in the USA wrote in, asking whether anyone could locate a mural he had seen on the side of a pub somewhere in Co. Cork, based on the cover art (left) of the album Old & in the way - the name of one of the songs and also of the band, composed of Jerry Garcia (banjo), Vassar Clements (fiddle), David Grisman (mandolin, vocals), John Kahn (bass), and Peter Rowan (guitar, vocals).

Tim writes:

I first saw this mural back in 1996 whilst on a family holiday when I was about 15, so it's been there a while. We were just driving past and didn't get a chance to go in, but on a cycling trip in 2005, made a point to go and check it out and grab a pint of the black stuff! It was a really lovely rustic pub back then and has since been scrubbed up a bit...

It's called Vincent Coughlan Bar & Restaurant and is in Ballydehob, Co. Cork. Found some pics here. Have a great day!

Thanks again, Tim; we're delighted to have this information. BIB readers can find the best view of the mural near the end of the bar's photo gallery - it reproduces just the figures of the musicians, without the background or lettering of the original artwork. In 2009 (Google Street View) the words 'MURPHY's IRISH STOUT' appeared round the figures. See the BIB for 30 May 2017 for links to more about the album and band.

Tickets now on sale for Kristy Cox and Sideline tours

Thanks to Dave Byrne jr for this major announcement from the mygrassisblue.com team:

We’ve finally put the tickets on sale for both our Kristy Cox and Sideline tours this year, due to commence in eighty-six and a hundred and forty-five days respectively.

Tickets for all gigs are available through online purchase via the website (http://mygrassisblue.com/). Tickets can also be purchased through retail locations nationwide for select gigs as highlighted on the website.

Of course tickets are also available through established regional venue ticketing channels and may also be available for purchase at the door. That said, we do recommend advance purchase to avoid disappointment, especially for the final performance of both tours in the intimate setting of Dublin’s Unitarian Church.

Full tour schedules are on the BIB calendar and the mygrassisblue.com website.

Del McCoury - a life in bluegrass

On 2 Feb. the BIB mentioned the major article by Richard Thompson that had appeared the previous day on Bluegrass Today to mark the eightieth birthday of Del McCoury. We remarked that it 'includes many tributes to Del by friends and colleagues, and serves also as a comprehensive history of his career in bluegrass'.

Richard has now followed this up with a further major article, 'Del McCoury - a 60 year career overview', an even more systematic chronicle of Del's career, with a discography and two performance videos. Not to be missed.

Watch again on TG4

TG4 Súil Eile announces that the first episode of the 'Celtic Connections' music series is now available to watch here on TG4's online streaming service. It includes Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards (USA; photo), whose tour of Ireland last month culminated with the 27 Jan. concert at Dublin Castle with Jerry Douglas and Teddy Thompson as part of Tradfest.

News on the Staghorn front

The BIB editor writes:

If whoever is looking for a Stelling Staghorn banjo (see the BIB for 11 Feb.) will get in touch with me by e-mail, I now have some information.

The Petersens - back in Branson, MO

John Lawless reports in Bluegrass Today on the Petersens (USA) and their recently completed third tour of Ireland, from which it's clear that all went well. Their banjo player Ellen Petersen is quoted:

Our favorite parts of Ireland are the people and their love of music. People listen very intentionally to the music and take everything to heart. Everyone is also very hospitable and feels like family.

Read more on Bluegrass Today, where the band has a promotional video and some photos from the tour in these islands. More photos (one by Ronnie Norton) are on their Facebook.

Springtime in the Black Forest (continued)

Following the BIB post of 21 Jan. on the 17th International Bühl Bluegrass Festival (Fri. 17-Sat. 18 May 2019) in Germany, thanks to Matthias Buschert, Bühl city press officer, for these photos of two of the acts on the lineup: the Henhouse Prowlers (USA; above), who have toured Ireland several times, and Dieselknecht (D; below left) from Dortmund. These two bands will be in concert on Friday night (17 May) in a programme designed for a younger generation of listeners - the members of Dieselknecht were in heavy metal and punk rock before turning to their present course. For the high-powered US acts on the main Saturday programme, see the Festival web page, where a flyer can be downloaded.

Stelling Staghorn wanted - by whom?

The BIB editor writes:

The following anonymous message has just been received in the form of a comment on the BIB's headnote:

I am trying to find someone that has a Stelling Staghorn
if you know of anyone can you give me a number or email mail thank you

I can't reply, unfortunately, because when a message comes as a comment it bears no address. This is why the BIB's headnote says 'Send in news or queries by e-mail, please; we can't send a direct reply to a comment on a post.'

There must be at least one Staghorn somewhere in this island; but an owner might be reluctant to have contact data given out to an anonymous enquirer. So please - if you're the person looking for a Staghorn, send me by e-mail your name and address; and then anyone who may have one can get in touch with you about it.

Travelin' McCourys win bluegrass Grammy award

The BIB editor writes:

In the 2019 Grammy awards, the winners in category 48 ('Best Bluegrass Album') are the Travelin' McCourys for their album under the same name. Congratulations to the Travelin' McCourys - and to the other nominees, including of course our friends of Special Consensus, who over the past three weeks have almost certainly done the most travelin'.

On Friday 8 Feb. the last show of the Special C.'s tour in these islands was at the Seamus Ennis Arts Centre at Naul, Co. Dublin. They'd had a rough ferry crossing from Holyhead that day after two weeks' touring in Ireland and nine days in Britain, yet their Naul performance was as full of perfectly controlled energy and easy humour as if they had just warmed up after a good rest. Does it really have to be two years till they return?

Update: The winners in category 51 ('Best Folk Album') are the Punch Brothers for their album All ashore.

We Banjo 3 - a short break from triumph

We Banjo 3, the originators of 'Celtgrass', announce that twelve of the shows in their 'Roots to rise' tour in the USA (see the BIB for 9 Jan.) have been completely sold out. They are returning to Ireland for two weeks' rest before the US tour resumes at the end of February - and three shows in March are already booked out. Much more detail is on their latest e-newsletter.

Photos suggest that Enda Scahill may at times be using a full-scale plectrum banjo - i.e. like a regular banjo but without the fifth string. In any case, We Banjo 3's banjos come from Tom Cussen of Clareen Banjos in Co. Galway (see the band's 'Equipment' web page). Tom also makes 5-strings.

The Cabin Session, Dundrum, 28 Feb. 2019

Gerry Fitzpatrick, organiser of the Cabin Sessions series, announces the second Session of 2019:

Hey Y'all,

Back again with you on Thursday 28 Feb. Our guests are the Netchords, Ciaran Moran, and Marion McEvoy. 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.

Kilkenny Roots Festival (3-6 May): headliners announced

The organising team of the Smithwick's Kilkenny Roots Festival announce that all headline acts are now on the schedule, and tickets can be booked online for all their concerts. No bluegrass or old-time acts come in this category, but Patty Griffin from Austin, TX, will be in concert at the Watergate Theatre on Sunday 5 May at 7.00 p.m., and Dori Freeman from Galax, VA, will be at different venues after lunchtime on both Sunday 5 and Monday 6 May.

More details are on the Festival website. Details of the Music Trail part of the Festival are awaited.

New album coming from Mile Twelve (USA)

Following the news on the BIB for 17 Jan., friends and fans of Boston's Mile Twelve (above) will be glad to learn of the band's new album City on a hill, scheduled for release at the end of next month. The album, produced by Bryan Sutton and engineered by Ben Surratt, can be pre-ordered here. A video, made by Bill Filipiak, of Mile Twelve playing 'City that drowned' (a single from the album, and now on sale) can be seen on Bluegrass Today and YouTube.

Mile Twelve's online tour schedule shows that they will be in Britain from 14 to 24 March, but unfortunately not spending any time over here.

A Dublin welcome remembered

On Bluegrass Today Dave Berry continues his 'California report' series with an interview with Kate Brislin (left), old-time and bluegrass instrumentalist and singer, who has performed over here with her husband Jody Stecher and (much earlier) with the Blue Flame Stringband.

It's an informative interview, and one question Dave Berry puts is: 'What shows events or venues that you have played are most memorable for you and why?' Kate Brislin replies:

I really loved playing in Dublin, Ireland, with Jody, and in Nova Scotia at a music festival. In both situations, the audience cheered when the harmony came in on the chorus!! It doesn’t get much better than that in terms of feeling appreciated!

La Fuente American Traditional Music Week in Spain, 4-11 May 2019

Kate Lissauer announces this year's La Fuente Music Week (4-11 May 2019) - 'an intimate holiday week of learning and fun', with classes in fiddle, banjo, guitar, ukulele, and community duet singing, taught by Beverley Smith (photo), Lucy Ray, Kate herself, Rose Ardron, Johnny Whelan, Sooz Clare, and Matt Stead. She adds: 'Don't worry about Brexit! They promised you wouldn't need a visa!' - and that applies all the more to participants from Ireland. All necessary details are on the website, or you can contact Kate directly by e-mail.

John Blek at Ballymore Eustace, 11 Feb. 2019

Ballymore Acoustic Gigs announce that John Blek will be playing on Monday 11 February at Mick Murphy's Bar, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare. Doors 8.30 p.m.; showtime 9.00 p.m. sharp; admission €12.

John Blek, based in Cork, is a singer/ songwriter and fingerstyle guitarist, influenced by the music of Ireland, England, and America. 'Blackwater', from his new album Thistle & thorn, can be heard here. It's not hard to imagine his songs being recorded by the more folk-oriented type of bluegrass band, and his guitar work is even more compatible.

Red Hat Acoustic Music Club at Naas, Fri. 8 Feb. 2019

Thanks to Paul and Anne McEvoy, organisers of the Red Hat Acoustic Music Club, for a reminder that the Club's second meeting of 2019 will be held this coming Friday (8 Feb.).

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.

Sideline (USA) celebrate their #1

Sideline (USA) - who mygrassisblue.com will be bringing to Ireland two months after the tour by Kristy Cox (AUS) and her band - are celebrating the success of their album Front and center, and especially the chart-topping lead single 'Thunder Dan', which took the #1 spot as most played song of 2018 on Bluegrass Today's radio charts (see the BIB for 2 Jan.).

The album is their first on the Mountain Home Music Company label, which has an impressive artists roster. More details are on the latest Mountain Home e-newsletter. A complete schedule for Sideline's tour (9-14 July 2019) is on the BIB for 25 Jan.. The dates are on the BIB calendar, and also (together with much more about the band) on the mygrassisblue.com blog.

Kristy Cox (AUS) in Ireland, 11-19 May 2019

Thanks to the mygrassisblue.com team for details of the tour of Ireland this coming May by the outstanding Australian bluegrass and country singer Kristy Cox and her band (see the BIB for 22 Nov. 2018). The tour poster (above) promises 'youthful energy-infused and chart-toppin' bluegrass with an award-winning Aussie twist', and on Kristy's record so far that's exactly what to expect. Dave Byrne jr of mygrassisblue.com announces:

Tickets for all gigs will be going on sale in mid February on the tour page of the website, where we highlight Kristy’s bio, list her career highlights, sample a track from her lauded 2018 release Ricochet, and present a few videos giving insights into Kristy and her music.

The full schedule for the tour is:

Sat. 11th May: St Patrick's Gateway Centre, Waterford city
Sun. 12th: Glen Theatre, Banteer, Co. Cork
Mon. 13th: Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork
Tues. 14th: St James's Church, Dingle, Co. Kerry
Wed. 15th: St John's Theatre, Listowel, Co. Kerry
Thurs. 16th: Nenagh Arts Centre, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
Fri. 17th: Ballina Arts Centre, Ballina, Co. Mayo
Sat. 18th: Ramor Theatre, Virginia, Co. Cavan
Sun. 19th: Unitarian Church, Stephen's Green, Dublin 2

Po' Ramblin' Boys at 9th Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival (21-23 June 2019)

The BIB editor writes:

The organising team of the 9th Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival 2019 announce the first international top acts of this year's lineup: the Po' Ramblin' Boys (photo above) from Tennessee, and the Hackensaw Boys from Virginia. The Po' Ramblin' Boys - who at this time last year we were hoping to see in Ireland - are described as:

,,, passionate ambassadors of bluegrass. Authentic, and with the manic energy of a train barrelling through the landscape at top speed. The Po' Ramblin Boys’ infectious music makes you sit up immediately. They’re 'the real deal' according to American critics, and that is why they have received the 2018 Emerging Artist of the Year Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association. [...] The band rarely comes to Europe: they will only play twice in the Netherlands, so don’t miss this opportunity to go back to the origins of bluegrass and experience their music which they make with the same drive, heart, spirit, and enthusiasm as the first-generation bluegrass bands.

The dates of the Rotterdam festival (21-23 June 2019) are not on the Boys' online tour schedule, but now we know they'll be on this side of the Atlantic in late June. Could that possibly mean... ?

The Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival (also on Facebook) is a free three-day international music festival held at the historic Pijnackerplein in the ‘Het Oude Noorden’ neighbourhood of Rotterdam-Noord. It revolves around uplifting, moving, and authentic bluegrass music, but also features workshops, art, comics, and crossover performances.

SPBGMA honours visitors to Ireland

They're not actually being honoured simply for visiting Ireland; but the list of award winners at the past weekend's convention of the Society for the Preservation of Blue Grass Music in America (SPBGMA) includes several bluegrass artists who have performed in this island on one or more occasions.

Josh Williams, who came over as a teenage mandolinist in Special Consensus some years back, is Guitar Performer of the Year; Dale Ann Bradley is Female Vocalist of the Year; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver are both Vocal Group of the Year and Entertainers of the Year; and Frank D. Ray has been inducted into the SPBGMA Preservation Hall of Greats. The Lonesome River Band, past performers at the Omagh festival, played during the awards ceremony but without their leader and banjo-player Sammy Shelor, who is having a pacemaker fitted. Thanks to Bluegrass Today for the news.

This coming July, Ireland will be visited by another SPBGMA award-winner, Alecia Nugent, several times Female Vocalist of the Year, who will be performing with her band at the Woodbine Bluegrass Jamboree (12-13 July), at the Ardara Bluegrass festival (19-21 July) and on other dates.

Lonesome Ace Stringband exceed expectations

L-r: Max Heineman, Chris Coole, John Showman
(photo: Jen Squires)

Thanks to Sharon Loughrin of the Red Room at Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, for this report on the Lonesome Ace Stringband (CAN), now halfway through their current tour:

We went to see the boys in Strule Theatre, Omagh, last night. They were even better than I expected - fabulous playing, lovely vocals, their own material was as good as the traditional numbers, the stories behind their songs were told well, really entertaining.

I couldn't fault the band in any way. The only disappointment was the poor turnout, for this calibre of musicianship and in an area with such a bluegrass following. Fans of bluegrass and old-time missed what has got to be one of the very best bands I've heard.

And the best night is yet to come! We're looking forward so much to having them play the Red Room on Tuesday night.

BIB editor's note: We hope the Red Room leaves the Aces with recharged energy for the following night at the Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny city (see the BIB for 30 Jan.).