Uri Kohen and Westport festival featured on Bluegrass Situation

With the Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival now only a week away, the Bluegrass Situation (the US-based 'hub for all things roots') published two days ago a major feature and interview by Emma John - 'Uri Kohen unites a world of music at Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival in Ireland' as part of a summer campaign of

celebrating the festival makers – the men and women who put their time, their finances, and their sanity on the line to bring us the music we love.

It's an excellent interview for information about Uri himself, his musical background, what brought him to Westport; the genesis, growth, and character of the Festival; and the accessibility (and stamina) of bluegrass and old-time artists. Several fine photos from Westport's ample collection are included, plus a video (also on YouTube) from the launch party on 11 May. And there are some memorable quotes. Pay special attention to the very last paragraph.

Update 6 June: The BIB apologises to all for putting 'Bluegrass Standard' in the title when this post first appeared, instead of 'Bluegrass Situation'.

'Crash course in the blues' from Sideline (USA)

Sideline: (l-r) Bailey Coe, Jason Moore, Skip Cherryholmes, Troy Boone, Steve Dilling, Daniel Greeson (photo: Kelly Hammonds)

The Mountain Home Music Company announce in their latest e-newsletter that 'Crash course in the blues'. the latest single recorded by Sideline, is released today. The song, a Steve Wariner composition, is delivered by Sideline as 'a fast-paced, blues-rock inspired ballad'.

Update 1 June: The release has now been featured on Bluegrass Today, with an audio clip.

Sideline will be playing in Ireland from 9 July to 14 July, with the tour fully organised by the Mygrassisblue.com agency. Full details of the band and the tour are on the Mygrassisblue.com website, which also has online booking facilities. All dates are on the BIB calendar.

Bands wanted for Durty Nelly's, Bunratty, 4-5 July 2019

The BIB has just received a message to say that bluegrass bands are wanted to play at the world-famous Durty Nelly's at Bunratty, Co. Clare, on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 July, marking American Independence Day.

Durty Nelly's has been an important and welcoming venue in the many splendid musical events organised in previous years in that area by the Sixmilebridge Folk Club. Bands who are interested in performing there on 4-5 July should contact Durty Nelly's through its website contact page or Facebook.

BAND Box launch and dress rehearsal, 1 June 2019

Following on from the BIB news on 18 May, the organising team of the BAND (Bluegrass And Nashville Dunfanaghy) festival (21-3 June 2019) in Co. Donegal announce that there will be an official launch and dress rehearsal of the new stage in the BAND Box at Roonie's, Dunfanaghy, the venue for this year's special ticketed sessions, this coming Saturday (1 June). Local musicians will launch the new stage, and there will be raffles, pints, and tunes.

Tickets for the special 'Year of the Guitar' sessions can be booked here. Videos from last year's BAND Festival can be seen on Facebook.

Hot news from the Red Room (and Chance McCoy tour dates)

The photo, taken almost exactly a year ago, says a lot about the character of the Red Room, Co. Tyrone, the premier house-concert venue in this island. Sharon Loughrin reports:

If you could put our next few dates on the blog it would be much appreciated. We have Leigh & McKay on Sun. 2 June, Big Chimney Barn Dance on Monday 10 June, and Chance McCoy (Old Crow Medicine Show) on Monday 17 June.

*

Chance McCoy, formerly with the Old Crow Medicine Show on fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, and vocals, will play the Red Room as his last show in Ireland. His European tour began last week with six shows in the Netherlands; this coming weekend he will be on the Fire in the Mountain festival in Wales; and later in June and July he will play more dates in England, the Nether-lands, and Finland. His dates in Ireland, as shown on the poster image, are:

Wed. 12th June: Whelan's Upstairs, Wexford St., Dublin 2
Thurs. 13th: The White Horse, Ballincollig, Co. Cork
Fri. 14th: The American Bar, 65 Dock St., Belfast
Sat. 15th: The Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Sun. 16th: Roisin Dubh, Galway city
Mon. 17th: The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone

Lonesome Ace Stringband (CAN) in Britain, 6-22 Sept. 2019

Thanks to the FOAOTMAD news blog for the news that Early Bird tickets (£55) for the Sweet Sunny South old-time festival in southern England will only be available up to 31 May; from 1 June a full weekend ticket will be £65. The festival (6-8 Sept.) features concerts, workshops, picking sessions, and dancing, with camping facilities.

The lineup is headed by the powerful Lonesome Ace Stringband, who toured here in January and February this year. Their tour in Britain lasts from 6 to 22 September - unfortunately, with no sign of any time in Ireland.

A step aside

The BIB editor writes:

In general the BIB avoids even mentioning music other than bluegrass and old-time, but the acoustic-rock singer/ songwriter Ryan Sheridan from Monaghan will be playing at Whelan's in Dublin this coming Saturday (1 June). Tickets are €21.50. Whelan's supply a link to the official video of his song 'Jigsaw'. A listener to contemporary bluegrass (and I don't mean 'grassicana') shouldn't find it hard to imagine this and others of his songs with bluegrass instrumentation.

The Bluegrass Standard for mobile or desktop

The Bluegrass Standard online magazine (also on Facebook; see the BIB for 6 Feb. 2018), launched by Keith Barnacastle in June 2017, now offers special editions tailored for mobile and desktop devices. It also has an online catalogue of back issues, which readers can easily search for coverage of their favourite artists. And subscription is free! Full details are on the Bluegrass Standard's latest e-newsletter.

Update 28 May: This news, first published a month ago, is now updated with the issue of volume 3, no. 6, which has the Earls of Leicester on the cover and much more inside. The Bluegrass Standard's new e-newsletter includes a world map showing the extent of the readership, to which the British Empire at its height might have given best.

Big Chimney Barn Dance tour, 5-17 June

Thanks once again to Uri Kohen for this poster image (left) with the tour details for Big Chimney Barn Dance (USA), old-time string band from Alaska. Like the Local Honeys, they will be playing at the Fire in the Mountain festival in Wales on the weekend before the Westport festival; will then play the Riverside Cafe at Skibbereen, Co. Cork, on Wed. 5 June; and after Westport will play the following dates:

Mon. 10th: The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Wed. 12th-Thurs. 13th: John Berry's Pub, Dingle, Co. Kerry (with Eilis Kennedy)
Fri. 14th: Levis's Corner House, Ballydehob, Co. Cork
Sat. 15th-Mon. 17th: Doolin Folk Festival, Doolin, Co. Clare

Big Chimney Barn Dance (below) are prominent members of Alaska's vibrant acoustic music scene: Jason Norris (fiddle, mandolin), Danny Consenstein (fiddle), Rion Schmidt (5-string banjo), Nate Williamson (guitar), Carter Bancroft (fiddle, mandolin), and Garren Volper (upright bass).

Westport bands on tour in Ireland

Several of the acts from abroad in the impressive lineup of the 13th Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival will be playing other dates in Ireland. Uri Kohen, founder and chief organiser of the Festival, announces on Facebook:

The amazing McKay & Leigh (USA) return to Ireland for the third time. They will play a number of gigs before heading to the 13th Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival. Catch them in a venue near you:

Fri. 31st May: Levis' Bar, Ballydehob, Co. Cork
Sat. 1st June: Bridge Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Sun. 2nd: The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Mon. 3rd: Sessions in the House, Derry city
Tues. 4th: Finns Bar, Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary
Thurs. 6th: The White Horse, Ballincollig, Co. Cork

The Local Honeys (USA), who were touring here in February, will play in Wales before coming over for these dates before Westport:

Mon. 3rd June: White Horse Sessions, Ballincollig, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m.
Wed. 5th: Harmony singing workshop, Castledawson, Co. Londonderry, 11.00 a.m.
Thurs. 6th: The Rusty Spur, Claudy, Co. Londonderry, 8.00 p.m.

*

As part of their 'The Escape Tour: Volume 1', Jessica Pearson & the East Wind (CAN) will be playing several dates in Britain, as well as Westport and the following dates in Ireland:

Mon. 10th June: Wiley Fox, Dublin
Wed. 12th: Pier Head Hotel, Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo
Thurs. 13th: The American Bar, Belfast
Fri. 14th: The Cobblestone, Dublin

*

And Red Herring (NL) will be playing the American Bar, 65 Dock St, Belfast, on Wed. 6th, and Groucho's at Richhill, Co. Armagh, on Thurs. 7th, before Westport, together with five other dates in Britain.

Westport 2019 - under two weeks away

Thanks to the festival organising team at Westport for the new poster image and their announcement:

The 13th Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival is taking place in Westport, Co. Mayo, in just under two weeks.

The festival will stage more then twenty-five concerts, gigs, sessions, workshops, as well as a kids' concert, square dance, luthiers showcase, and one mystery gig.

Tickets for the main events are available through the festival's website. The organising committee is looking forward to welcome the entire bluegrass family to Westport on 7 June.

JigJam on the bill for Winfield, Sept. 2019 (and other Irish connections)

JigJam: (l-r) Jamie McKeogh, Gavin Strappe,

Cathal Guinan, Daithi Melia

Following on our JigJam news of 16 May, thanks to Rex Flottman of the Walnut Valley Association (WVA) in Winfield, Kansas, for the news that the Tullamore band (above) will be playing at this year's Walnut Valley Festival (18-22 Sept. 2019). Rex points out that Celtic music has been a part of previous Winfield festivals (the Co. Clare trio Socks in the Frying Pan are current fan favourites), and JigJam will be bringing their distinctive 'I-Grass' style; he also mentions their high energy on stage, their coming album Phoenix, and the single 'Tullamore to Boston'.

The many artists also on this year's lineup include several previous visitors to Ireland: our old friends the Special Consensus, Chris Jones & the Night Drivers, Betse & Clarke (as part of the Short Round String Band), and Winfield’s own Barry Patton, 'just back from winning an international bones-playing competition in Ireland'.

The WVA was formed in 1972 to produce the Walnut Valley National Guitar Flat-Picking Championships Festival, extended over the years to include National Championships for other bluegrass and old-time instruments. The festival is held every year on the third weekend in September. In 1999 it received the first IBMA Bluegrass Event of the Year award ever presented. 'Most of all', its website says,

the Festival is a homecoming. And a homecoming not just because of the music and how folks act, but a coming home to a place in the soul and the heart with a spirit of celebration.

Instrument repair in Dublin

The BIB editor writes:

When I was playing with Woodbine, refretting and other servicing on the Mastertone was carried out by Enda Donnelly to my complete satisfaction. A further refret job has been long overdue, and as Enda was no longer available I approached Some Neck Guitars (also on Facebook) at 5 Aungier St., Dublin 2, who specialise in used high-grade vintage and modern instruments, and in the repair and restoration of all acoustic and electric stringed instruments.

It was a good move. Some Neck were sympathetic and pleasant to deal with, the Mastertone got a warm welcome, and renewal of the full twenty-two frets was carried out within a week, at the same rate per fret as I'd paid in the past. I recommend Some Neck to anyone needing repair work on an instrument. Their present stock of acoustic instruments, by the way, includes this and similarly interesting items.

Last night: Jim Hurst and Rick Shea in Dublin

The BIB editor reports:

It's not often that one's ideas of what can be done with an instrument are shaken up, but this happened last night through going to hear Jim Hurst (USA) at the DC Music Club. As Jim had invited songwriter Rick Shea (USA) - with whom he played two double gigs earlier this week - to come along, the audience could hear two singer-guitarists, both stunning in their very different individual ways, and both with a complete command of their sound.

Rick Shea's flat-pick playing, like his singing, has a relaxed power, clarity, and fully controlled dynamics - very satisfying. As for Jim Hurst (IBMA Guitar Performer 2001, 2002) the BIB post of Monday (20 May) quoted John Nyhan: 'If you think of the guitar playing of Chet Atkins, Doc Watson, and Jerry Reed you get Jim Hurst.' If anything, this sells Jim short. His set included tunes by Atkins, Watson, and Reed, but everything that came out of him was Hurst, and that needs to be heard to be believed. I would have liked to hear him play banjo; his medley in open G tuning hinted at what an original banjo player he can be.

Tonight (Thursday 23 May) Jim will be playing at the Spirit Store, Dundalk, and subsequently at the Red Room in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone (Friday), finishing this tour at the American Bar, 65 Dock St., Belfast (Saturday).

Tonight at 8.00 p.m. Rick Shea is playing at the American Bar, Belfast, and tomorrow (Friday) night he will be back in Dublin, playing at the Vintage Room, Workman’s Club, 10 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2, from 8.00 p.m.

David Freeman at 80

Yesterday was the 80th birthday of David Freeman, founder of County Records and County Sales, and a major force in the spread of old-time music and bluegrass since the 1960s. It was marked by a major feature on Bluegrass Today by Richard Thompson, 'Happy 80th to Dave Freeman!', including tributes from many leading figures in the bluegrass world. The image (left) shows the plaque marking his induction into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 2002.

Ample details of his career are given in the feature and in his Hall of Fame memoir by Fred Bartenstein. The latter includes the following words on the start of County Sales: 'His first customers were in the British Isles, readers of the magazine Country News and Views.' As BIB readers may be aware, the two editors of the magazine were Charles Newman of Lowestoft, Suffolk, and Rodney McElrea of Omagh, Co. Tyrone - both now, regrettably, deceased.

No excuse

The BIB editor writes:

I have no excuse: when the news came that The Vanguards (GB) would be playing at the Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival launch party on 11 May, I did wonder 'Are they just coming over for that one event?', and their website schedule appeared to say 'Yes!'

I should have looked at their Facebook. It said 'We're very, very pleased to announce that we'll be doing our first international tour in Ireland, from May 11th to 17th! Come see us, we'd love to say howdy! A big thanks to Uri Kohen for essentially doing all of the hard work to set this up, we're beyond excited to come and play for the fine folks over there!'

As the poster image shows, after the launch party the Vanguards played in Ballaghaderreen, Borrisoleigh, Cork city, Ballincollig, and Ballydehob. Congratulations to them and all who got to their shows, and apologies to all who would have gone if the BIB had carried the news.

Boogiemen+Tim Knol at Rotterdam, 21 June

Our report a month ago, that the lineup for the 9th Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival 2019 (21-23 June) is complete, was a little premature. We can now amend that, and also amplify the post of 13 May, entitled 'What are the Boogiemen up to?'

The festival organising team announce that the headliners for Friday night (21 June) will be the Blue Grass Boogiemen (NL) with Tim Knol, Dutch singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Tim and the Boogiemen have formed a fruitful collaboration, resulting in the album Happy hour, released earlier this year.

Appalachian reckoning

The Bitter Southerner online magazine published yesterday its 'Summer reading roundup' of eighteen 'essential books from the South, by the South, and about the South'. Chuck Reece, the BS editor, contributes a review of a book intended as a necessary corrective to the picture of Appalachia given in J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly elegy (2016).

The book, Appalachian reckoning: a region responds to Hillbilly elegy, is edited by Anthony Harkins and Meredith McCarroll and comprises 'over forty essays and poems that bring the real Appalachia to life'. Published in March this year, it is available through Amazon.co.uk.

Cup O' Joe tour Britain, June-July 2019

Co. Armagh's Cup O' Joe (Ben, Reuben, and Tabitha Agnew) announce on their Facebook that they will be on tour in England and Wales, playing eleven shows between 28 June and 8 July inclusive:

We're so excited to get back on the road at the end of next month for a UK tour! Not only will we have new material but we'll also be bringing the wonderful David Benedict (Tabitha's very soon to be husband) on tour with us too! We would love to see YOU or any folks you might know in these areas... we'd so appreciate you sharing this! Check out www.cupojoemusic.com/shows for details and ticket info!

Congratulations to the band AND to Tabitha and David (mandolinist of Mile Twelve (USA), who recently released his solo album The golden angle).

More treats for Dublin fans this week

Dublin-based fans of bluegrass and related music can enjoy concerts by award-winning US musicians on two successive nights this week, starting tonight. Gerry Fitzpatrick, organiser of the monthly Cabin Sessions in Dundrum, announces:

Proud to introduce Northern Californian duo Barwick & Siegfried who bring you an evening of American folk music at the Mill Theatre on Tuesday 21 May. Doors 7.30 p.m. Supported by 'The Fret Pickers' [Pat Killalea and Cathal Cusack]. Tickets now on sale at this link.

Kathy Barwick and Pete Siegfried are both stalwarts of the Northern California Bluegrass Association. See the BIB of 16 Feb. for more details. The Mill Theatre show, which concludes their present tour of Ireland, will start at 8.00 p.m. in the theatre's Studio, and tickets are €14.

Paul Lee, organiser of the DC Music Club at 20 Camden Row, Dublin 2, will be presenting Jim Hurst (USA) at the Club tomorrow night (Wednesday 22 May) at 8.30 p.m. Tickets are €13 booked in advance, or €15 on the door. The Musiclee.ie website announces:

'Jim Hurst is one of the most versatile and tasteful guitar players I know. Whether he's flailing the rhythm for an old-time fiddle tune, laying down a funky groove, or finger-picking a beautiful ballad, his playing is both impeccable and creative. Accompanying this instrumental virtuosity is a rich and expressive voice with a surprising range' (Mark Schatz). His highly sought-after talent has led to side projects with bluegrass greats such as Claire Lynch and David Grisman. But his solo show and his Jim Hurst Trio, which allows his personal style and unique creativity to come through in spades, is what keeps his audiences mesmerized.

Jim's tour continues after Wednesday in Dundalk, Cookstown, and Belfast; see the BIB calendar for details.

*

And on Friday 24 May at the DC Music Club Musiclee.ie is presenting Dublin's Americana icons Frankie Lane and Paul Kelly, supported by three of the city's finest younger bluegrass musicians: Niall Hughes, Hugh Taggart, and John Denby.

Jim Hurst and Rick Shea double bills, tonight and tomorrow night

Thanks to John Nyhan for this reminder of two shows played as double gigs by Jim Hurst (above; USA) and Rick Shea (below; USA), plus a look back to artists touring in the past month:

Mon. 20th: Merry's Bar and Restaurant, Lower Main St., Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, 8.00 p.m.
Tues. 21st : The Coachman, Parnell St., Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, 8.00 p.m.

John adds:

If you think of the guitar playing of Chet Atkins, Doc Watson, and Jerry Reed you get Jim Hurst. Jim is also a great singer. He can also be described as a thorough gentleman. Rick Shea is a fine Americana /country singer and guitarist. He is also a great guy. This show promises to be a powerhouse of guitar playing with great vocals.

[...] Also Greg Blake's tour was an incredible success. He was just amazing. The Scroggdogs were also great - great energy with great musicianship and excellent vocals.

Eileen Carson and Mark Schatz: news update

A year ago it was reported that Eileen Carson, leader of the Footworks dance team and wife of award-winning bassist Mark Schatz, had been diagnosed with aggressive pancreatic cancer. To help the couple against medical expenses and loss of performing income, a GoFundMe site with an initial target of $50,000 (later raised to $75,000) was set up.

Last week it was announced that surgery and chemotherapy have been unable to stop the cancer's progress, and that the medical goal now is to alleviate the symptoms. The response of Mark and Eileen to this news has been more positive than many of us could imagine; details can be read on Laura Ruth Lewis's GoFundme update. With continuing and mounting expenses, the GoFundMe target has been raised to $100,000, of which nearly $90,000 has already been donated.

Update 6 June: Donations have now exceeded $100,000.

Thomas Goldsmith on Earl Scruggs - out this autumn

Thanks to Richard Thompson for the news on Bluegrass Today that in autumn this year the University of Illinois Press will be publishing Thomas Goldsmith's Earl Scruggs and Foggy Mountain Breakdown: the making of an American classic in their 'Music in American Life' series, with 184 pages and thirteen monochrome photos. The US prices appear as $99.00 (cloth-bound) and $19.95 (paper), and the release date as October 2019.

The book can be pre-ordered on Amazon.co.uk (where the release date appears as 30 Sept.) with guaranteed prices of £76.40 and £14.99 and free shipping within the UK (but unfortunately, at present, no shipping to Ireland)*. The contents go much further than FMB itself: read Bluegrass Today for more detail and an audio link to the original 1949 recording. No jacket image is yet available.

*Update 9 Aug.: Amazon.co.uk will now ship to Ireland; see this new BIB post.

Kristy Cox (AUS): final show of tour TODAY in Dublin

The award-winning Kristy Cox, top-line bluegrass and country singer from Australia, will bring her band to Dublin today (Sunday 19 May) for the final show in their debut tour of Ireland, organised by the mygrassisblue.com agency team.

Kristy and her band will be playing at the Unitarian Church, St Stephen's Green, central Dublin. Doors open at 7.00 p.m. and the show will start at 8.00. The mygrassisblue.com Facebook has plenty of pictures and video footage from earlier shows and events in the tour, which began on 11 May.

Mygrassisblue.com deserves our thanks and support for this tour and the others planned for this year, to bring bluegrass artists of this calibre to Ireland; full details of coming tours are on their website. The next will be the tour by Sideline (USA) in July.

Special sessions at BAND Festival 2019

The organising team of the BAND (Bluegrass And Nashville Dunfanaghy) festival in Co. Donegal announce that in addition to over forty free events during the weekend (21-24 June 2019) there will be three special ticketed performances celebrating the 'Year of the Guitar', all to be held in the BAND Box at Roonies, Dunfanaghy:

Fri. 21 June: Cathryn Craig and Brian Willoughby, 7.30-9.00 p.m.
Sat. 22nd: Early session, 4.00 p.m.: Shawn Jones and Stephen Inglis
Sat. 22nd: Late session, 6.00 p.m.: Porter McClister and Tanya McCole

Read more about these shows on the Special Performances page of the BAND website, where tickets can be bought online.

Midnight Run on Bluegrass Today

The hard-core young Tennessee band Midnight Run played (thanks to John Nyhan) eight dates in Ireland last autumn, had a good time, and made a very welcome contribution to the weekly Dublin bluegrass jam before flying home.

Yesterday (16 May) a feature on the band by John Lawless appeared on Bluegrass Today, describing them as 'ready to take a run at the professional touring market'. The feature includes two videos from live performances by Midnight Run, which can also be seen on YouTube: 'Don't let the door hit you on your way out' and 'Petticoat Junction'.

Gold Tone sale of B-list instruments

Gold Tone Musical Instruments announce a sale with 50% reductions on B-list stock: instruments with minor blemishes, mostly having no effect on playability or sound. All instruments will come with new strings, set up by Gold Tone's in-house luthiers for low action without string buzz. The downside of the lower price is that the buyer pays shipping costs; so as the Gold Tone depot is in Florida, readers outside the USA may need a friend there who is willing to bring over an instrument. Full details are on the latest Gold Tone e-newsletter.

JigJam release 'Someday' tomorrow (17 May 2019)

At the beginning of May Tullamore's JigJam came home from an eleven-day tour in Australia, and at the end of May they'll be returning to the USA to resume touring. Tomorrow (17 May) was to have been the release date of their new album Phoenix; instead, the first single, 'Someday', will be released tomorrow, and the album a month later, as the band explain here.

'Someday' will be available worldwide from Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and all the usual outlets from 9.00 a.m. tomorrow. Spotify fans can follow the band on that medium. Phoenix can still be pre-ordered here. See JigJam's tour schedule for new dates that are being added.

A foretaste of Westport 2019

Blue Summit: (l-r) Sullivan Tuttle, A.J. Lee, Jesse
Fichman, Chad Bowen

Bluegrass Today has published Dave Berry's report on the Parkfield Bluegrass Festival last weekend in California, with many of his evocative photos. The headliners were our old friends the Special Consensus, and the ample lineup included Blue Summit (USA), who are part of this year's Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival (7-9 June). Westport is their final engagement in a tour of these islands with their new album Like I used to, starting on 30 May.

Blue Summit were very successful in this year's Northern California Bluegrass Society awards, winning the Best Bluegrass Band title, while A.J. Lee was Best Female Vocalist and Best Mandolin Player, and Sullivan Tuttle was Best Male Vocalist and Best Guitar Player. Sullivan's elder sister is the celebrated Molly Tuttle, and both of them, together with A.J., were in the family band The Tuttles with A.J. Lee.

As a foretaste of Blue Summit, Dave Berry's report includes a video of them (with friends) at Parkfield, which is also on YouTube. More videos are on A.J. Lee's YouTube channel.

Greg Blake in open-air concert

Greg Blake (above), the powerful lead singer and guitarist of Jeff Scroggins & Colorado as well as his own Greg Blake Band and Real Country, ended his three-week solo tour of Ireland with three private concerts. Thanks to Roger Ryan of the Country Music Association of Ireland for the following photos of one that he hosted, lasting till after nightfall. Roger writes:

Here are some pics from a Pickin' Party which we staged at my home on Saturday last [11 May]. Greg Blake put on a mighty performance for my friends and neighbours. The general reaction was: 'When are we having the next one?'

4th Woodbine Bluegrass Jamboree, 12-13 July 2019: full lineup and programme

Thanks to Tony O'Brien for the news that the complete lineup for the 2019 Woodbine Bluegrass Jamboree (12-13 July) features Alecia Nugent and her band (USA; see details here), the Watery Hill Boys, Woodbine, Gerry Madden, and Clem O'Brien. Full details are on the band's website here and on the Jamboree's Facebook. The two evening concerts begin at 8.30 p.m. in the GAA Centre, Dublin Rd, Athy, Co. Kildare.

As Tony points out, this will mark twenty-nine unbroken years of annual bluegrass events in Athy, and the hosts are looking forward to seeing all their old friends again and making lots of new ones.

Woodbine: (l-r) Liam Wright, Nicola Kennedy, 

Martin Cooney, Tony O'Brien

More continental delights

Thanks again to Matthias Buschert, press officer of the city of Bühl in south-west Germany, for this reminder that the 17th International Bühl Bluegrass Festival this coming weekend is not confined to the concert hall: the photo shows the open-air stage in the Johannesplatz, where two bands from the programme perform for the general public. The complete lineup and schedule can be downloaded from the Festival website.

Two Time Polka on the Continent in summer

Following the news issued on 27 April of Two Time Polka's gigs in May and June, Ray Barron sends a reminder that the band will be playing two festivals on the Continent this summer.

On 25 and 26 May Two Time Polka will be performing on the main stage at ZydecoZity, a festival specialising in Cajun and Zydeco music, in Raamsdonksveer, the Netherlands. A month later (27, 29, 30 June) they will play at one of the biggest folk festivals in Southern Europe - Folkest at Spilimbergo, on the edge of the Italian Alps. This year's Folkest is the forty-first, running from 20 June to 22 July.

What are the Boogiemen up to?

It's been far too long since the Blue Grass Boogiemen (NL) last played in Ireland, and their many friends and fans here may be wondering how things are with them. The easiest way to find out is through Bluegrass Today, where Lee Zimmerman posted a feature on them last week. There are ample direct quotations from Arnold Lasseur (mandolin, fiddle, vocals), and a video of the Boogiemen performing live on Dutch TV in December 2012, which can also be seen on YouTube. More recent videos are on their own YouTube channel.

Molsky's Mountain Drifters: updated UK schedule

Following the BIB post of 22 Apr., thanks again to Audrey Molsky for an updated, augmented schedule of the UK tour later this month by Molsky's Mountain Drifters (also on Facebook) with their new album Closing the gap. The revised schedule is:

Fri. 24th May: Rosehall Village Hall, Lairg, Sutherland, Scotland
Sat. 25th: Arisaig Americana Music Festival, Astley Hall, Arisaig, Invernessshire, Scotland
Mon. 27th: Workshops, Edinburgh, Scotland
Tues. 28th: House concert, Edinburgh, Scotland
Wed. 29th: Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, Wales
Thurs. 30th: St Mary's Music Hall, Walthamstow, north London
Fri. 31st: Fire in the Mountain Festival, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales
Sat. 1st June: The Pound Arts Centre, Corsham, Wiltshire, England

*

Pharis and Jason Romero (CAN), fine old-time musicians and luthiers, are also touring the UK, from 15 to 21 May; details are on their online schedule. Alas, no dates in Ireland for them either.

Caludo (CH) in Ireland, 24 July-3 Aug. 2019

Caludo: (l-r) Stefan Behler, Catie Jo Pidel, Vincent Zurkinden

Our Swiss friend Stefan Behler, who has toured Ireland several times with Mala & Fyrmoon (CH), sends this tour schedule and bio material for the new trio Caludo (also on Facebook and Youtube), who will be here in two months' time:

Wed. 24th July: Ryan's Bar, Kilkenny city
Thurs. 25th: Sin É, Cork city
Fri. 26th: Crowley’s Bar, Kenmare, Co. Kerry
Mon. 29th: Matt Molloy's (Yard Bar), Bridge St., Westport, Co. Mayo
Thurs. 1st Aug.: Sunflower Folk Club, Belfast
Fri. 2nd: Nancy’s Bar, Ardara, Co. Donegal
Sat. 3rd: JJ Harlows Bar, Roscommon town

Caludo is a new folk trio from Zurich, Switzerland. Their song material is a mix of mostly originals, both vocal and instrumental, and some new takes on old favourites in the bluegrass and old-time realm. Look up their tour schedule, they may also open up their musical suitcase in your town. A colourful graffiti of stories about astronauts, relocations, sweets, unchosen roads and a lot more. Go see them!

Stefan (vocals, guitar) was raised in northern Germany, where he learned bluegrass music by listening to a distant FM radio station in Hamburg. He began to play 5-string banjo at the age of 15. No teachers, no internet... just instructional books and records. He finally met like-minded musicians, and trained his musical skills at jams and bluegrass concerts.

Catie Jo (vocals, fiddle) is currently a master's student in Zurich, but she originally comes from Minnesota, where she grew up in a rich bluegrass community. She has played the fiddle since she was 9, and her playing has been featured across the US at various concerts and festivals, as well as a number of appearances on the popular radio show 'A Prairie Home Companion'.

Vincent (vocals, bass) spent part of his childhood in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. He has played bass with various folk, rock, and pop bands. Vincent composes thoughtful and entertaining songs in English, French, and also Greek – and he does not give in before a new song is well arranged!

Editorial intermission

The BIB editor will be out of the editorial chair for a few days, starting tomorrow (Thursday 9 May); so please keep sending in news, but don't expect it to appear before Monday 13 May at the earliest.

Kristy Cox live on Radio Kerry TONIGHT

Thanks to Dave Byrne of mygrassisblue.com for this news: the award-winning Kristy Cox, top-line bluegrass and country singer from Australia, will be on Radio Kerry’s ‘Sounds Country’ live from Nashville tonight at 8.15 p.m.

Kristy and her band will begin their tour of Ireland three days from now, at St Patrick's Gateway Centre, Waterford city, on Saturday 11 May, and two of the subsequent dates (14 and 15 May) will be in Kerry. All dates are on the BIB calendar and the mygrassisblue.com website. Check the mygrassisblue.com Facebook, too, for news of any further broadcasts or other media events.