Grass doesn't make the cut

The Bitter Southerner (BS) online magazine sends this greeting:

To learn a culture, three actions are required: 1) Listen to its music. 2) Read its writers. 3) Listen to the stories of its everyday people. Our end-of-year roundups let you do all three. Southern culture broadened and deepened this year, and we want to keep you informed.

We also wanted to wish you a happy New Year.

The BS assists action 1) with its seventh annual list of 'our region’s best records' - that is, the thirty best Southern albums of 2019 - and the BIB notes with regret that no bluegrass album qualifies for inclusion. The nearest is #22, Allison Moorer's Blood. #4, though, is Songs of our native daughters (Smithsonian Folkways SFW40232), 'made by four black women with accordions and banjos' - Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell, with production, engineering, and mixing by Dirk Powell.

PS: Bluegrass Today has just published its 'Top 30 bluegrass songs for 2019'.

The Sons of Navarone and Table for Two in Ireland, Jan. 2020

L-r: Yves Aerts, Thierry Schoysman, Guido Bos, Paul van Vlodrop

Belgium's The Sons of Navarone have already won awards in Europe and established a place among festival favourites in Britain, and it's about time they were known over here. Like the premier Belgian band Rawhide (who played at Omagh a few years back), their live shows are marked by instrumental brilliance, strong vocal harmonies, and wit. US mandolin maestro Mike Marshall calls their album Nobody's business 'a wonderful CD'; his liner notes (which can be read on the Sons' website) say everything necessary about their sound on record.

The Sons will be performing here very soon at the 21st Shannonside Winter Music Festival in Bunratty and Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare. The Festival is their sole scheduled appearance in Ireland; but there will be five opportunities to see and hear them, as they'll be playing the following gigs:

Sat. 18th Jan.
1.00 p.m. Castle Main Guard, Bunratty castle
4.00 p.m. McGregor's, Sixmilebridge
11.00 p.m. Bunratty Manor Hotel

Sun. 19th:
3.00 p.m. Sixmilebridge GAA Hall, concert with Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA)
5.00 p.m. O Gliasain's (Gleeson's) music venue, Sixmilebridge

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Table for Two (below) is a fine bluegrass duo composed of two multi-instrumentalists and singers: Thierry Schoysman (who plays banjo with Rawhide and mandolin with the Sons of Navarone) and Signe Borch from Denmark. (Thierry and Signe have visited Ireland in the past two Januaries and were guests of honour at a memorable jam in 2019; see the BIB for 20 Jan.) They have an engaging video teaser on YouTube; a video of their 'I'm blue and lonesome too' was shot at the 2019 La Roche festival in France. A sample of what they can do with two mandolins can be seen here.

Table for Two are playing support to Seth Mulder & Midnight Run at the following shows after the Shannonside festival:

Mon. 20th Jan.: Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m.
Sat. 25th: Heart and Home Bluegrass Festival, Ballydehob, Co. Cork; Festival Headline Concert, Community Hall, 7.00 p.m.
Sun. 26th: Glen Theatre, Banteer, Co. Cork, 8.30 p.m.

For the full Irish tour schedule for Seth Mulder & Midnight Run, see the BIB for 20 Dec. 2019.

Signe Borch, Thierry Schoysman

An appeal from Oldtime Central

The editors of Oldtime Central (OTC) announce:

We hope you've been enjoying the holiday season! We're taking the week off, and will have weekly articles and videos again starting in January.

We need your help! An anonymous donor has pledged $5000 for a dollar-for-dollar donation-matching campaign until the end of the year, and we only have 5 days [now 3] before it's over! We'd love to make the most of this opportunity, and this money could go a long way towards helping to support our work. Lots of you have given so far, and we really appreciate it. However, to date we're only at 32% of what we need to reach our goal, and at this rate we won't make it. Would you consider giving to Oldtime Central and helping us give back to the Oldtime community?

As you know, Oldtime Central is now a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit. That means that all of your donations are tax-deductible, so more of your money can go to supporting Oldtime Central's mission and programming.

Links for donations are on the OTC newsletter.

Woodbine open a new year at Rathdowney, 1 Jan. 2020

Thanks to Tony O'Brien of Woodbine for this news:

Woodbine start their nineteenth year as a band with their now Annual New Year's night (1 Jan.) gig in Touhy's Bar, Rathdowney, Co. Laois, at 9.30 p.m. We will be playing as a three-piece (Nicola, Liam, and myself) with possibly a couple of guest artists.

Holiday greetings from Walnut Valley, KS

Thanks to Rex Flottman and the Walnut Valley Association in Winfield, Kansas, home of the Walnut Valley National Guitar Flat-Picking Championships Festival since 1972, for this holiday greeting. The BIB particularly likes the central wreath decoration, evoking the ties worn by Flatt & Scruggs, the Stanley Brothers, and other classic bluegrass artists.

Nu-Blu (USA) added to Encounter Ireland Tours

BIB readers who saw Nu-Blu (left) from Siler City, NC, when they were on tour here in October in a trio configuration (see the BIB for 1 Oct.) will be glad to know that they will be back in autumn 2020 - this time as hosts, guides, and entertainers for visitors to Ireland as part of the Encounter Ireland Tours programme, in which the Deering Banjo Company are involved.

Nu-Blu (also on Facebook) will be giving concerts and workshops to Encounter Ireland tourists during 14-23 September. Booking by 1 Jan. 2020, under an Early Bird offer, means a reduced deposit of only $300. Full details are here.

Curly Seckler

Today is the centenary of the birth of John Ray 'Curly' Seckler of China Grove, NC, who died two days after his 98th birthday (see the BIB for 28 Dec. 2017). Curly was one of the earliest members of the first generation of bluegrass musicians, playing professionally before the music had been given its present name.

In his long career he was the quintessential bluegrass sideman, a prolific songwriter, and (for years after the death of Lester Flatt) leader of the Nashville Grass. His ancestors, like those of many others in the Appalachian region, were of German origin; his great-great-great-grandfather reached North Carolina from Pennsylvania in the late eighteenth century.

Because of the length, breadth, and depth of his experience, Penny Parsons' biography of him, Foggy Mountain troubadour: the life and music of Curly Seckler (2016) is packed with information about the innumerable musicians and others with whom he came in contact. In the space of just three pages, for instance, you can learn what grew in the woodwork of Lester Flatt's station wagon; how close Lester came to pulling a gun on Charlie Monroe; and how Curly was the first person to get Jim & Jesse McReynolds to wear neckties. On the final page, Marty Stuart is quoted as considering Curly 'the greatest tenor singer of all time, and one of the greatest men that ever walked. An honourable man. A just and good man.'

Update 27 Dec.: See also a remarkable analytical study of Curly's career by Richard Thompson on Bluegrass Today.

Christmas greetings from the BIB

The Bluegrass Ireland Blog sends good wishes for a joyful and peaceful Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year to all its readers, to all lovers of bluegrass and kindred musics, and to all people of goodwill everywhere.

The BIB's most seasonal offering is this link to the 27 Mar. 1963 recording by Bill Monroe's band of 'Santa Claus', led by Bill Keith (see the BIB for 20 Dec.) on banjo.

Christmas greetings from Brookfield Knights

The UK's Brookfield Knights agency team send Christmas greetings, 'wishing one and all a joy-filled Christmas and a New Year filled with eager anticipation and delights'.

Brookfield Knights also send a note of the bands on their artists' roster who have earned the position of 'festival favourites' and are available for 2020 bookings. Among the familiar names of US acts are Belfast's Wookalily.

Greetings (and other things) for banjo players

The Deering Banjo Company send Christmas greetings including a personal video message from Greg, Janet, and Jamie Deering (also on YouTube), with Greg playing Christmas carols.

Thanks also to the Gold Tone Music Group for the above image, which comes with the announcement that to allow everyone to spend time with family at Christmas, they will be closed for business from 24 December till 1 January. The message includes a video of 'Santa never brings me a banjo' (also on YouTube).

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Ome Banjos of Colorado announce reductions of 10 to 50 per cent off select items in their online store; and Nechville Instruments offer $100 off their Warpdrive banjo pickup system till 31 Dec.

'My Grass Is Blue' streaming on The Bluegrass Jamboree from 2 Jan. 2020

Thanks to Dave Byrne Jr of mygrassisblue.com for this welcome news for the new year:

Listen up y’all! Starting 2 January, we’ll have our very own show - 'My Grass Is Blue' - on The Bluegrass Jamboree, our favourite online streaming bluegrass service.

Hosted by Dad - Dave Sr, the brains if not the brawn behind mygrassisblue.com - and broadcasting every Thursday from 10.00 p.m. to midnight (starting 2 January 2020), the show will be our mix of the very best in bluegrass with a sprinkling of traditional country, the good kind of country. As the show matures we hope to have plenty of artist interviews, soundbites, and insights from the touring road.

Initially the show will be recorded but there’s an option to broadcast live in the near future. Outside of the studio, we’ll also have a 'listen back' feature on the website with an archive of all 'My Grass Is Blue' show broadcasts, while we’ll also be previewing and highlighting show contents via our social media channels either side of the official broadcast.

From his first DJ shift in 1981 through to today, Dad has broadcast on a selection of independent regional, local, and internet-based radio stations in Ireland, all the while showcasing his passion, not to mention his enviable record collection and encyclopaedic knowledge of the country and bluegrass genre. He’s delighted to be bringing his personal mix of bluegrass, traditional country, and insights to the Bluegrass Jamboree audience.

So yes, do listen up y’all! From 10.00 p.m. every Thursday starting 2 January, only on The Bluegrass Jamboree, or via their iOs App Store or Android Google Play apps, an awesome listen-anywhere feature provided by the Bluegrass Jamboree.

The BIB unreservedly wishes to be associated with the tribute to Dave Byrne Sr for his four decades (so far) of work for bluegrass and traditional country over the airwaves.

Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA) in Ireland, 15 Jan.-2 Feb. 2020

Thanks to the indispensable John Nyhan for this news and his comments:

Seth Mulder & Midnight Run from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA, are making their second visit to Ireland. On their previous visit they proved extremely popular with their high energy and passion for classic bluegrass and country. Anyone who wants to hear traditional bluegrass and country should not miss this band. They reminded me of the Johnson Mountain Boys. The band features:

• Seth Mulder (mandolin, vocals) - He sounds like a young Dudley Connell.
• Colton Powers (banjo, vocals) - A great Scruggs-style player with a fantastic stage presence.
• Ben Watlington (guitar, vocals) - A fine flatpicker, with a great voice for bluegrass and country.
• Cody Bauer (fiddle) - He has been described as more like Michael Cleveland than Bobby Hicks. That's some praise.
• Max Etling (bass, vocals) - A rock-steady bass player who performs with great enthusiasm.

John has also organised the following tour schedule:

January 2020

Wed. 15th: Campbell's Tavern, Headford, Co. Galway, 9.00 p.m. Tel. 093 35454

Fri. 17th-Sun. 19th: Shannonside Winter Music Festival, Sixmilebridge and Bunratty, Co. Clare, various times. The Sons of Navarone (bluegrass band from Belgium) will also be playing at the Festival.

Mon. 20th: Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m. Supported by Table for Two (Belgium/ Denmark). Tel. 087 792 1771

Tues. 21st: Merry's Bar and Restaurant, Lower Main St., Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, 8.00 p.m. Tel. 087 064 0542

Wed. 22nd: The Coachman, Parnell St., Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, 8.00 p.m. Tel. 085 850 2289

Thurs. 23rd: St John's Theatre, The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, 8.00 p.m. Tel. 068 22566

Fri. 24th: Coastguard Cultural Centre, Love Lane, Tramore, Co. Waterford, 8.00 p.m. Tel. 051 391 656

Sat. 25th: Heart and Home Bluegrass Festival, Ballydehob, Co. Cork; Festival Headline Concert, Community Hall, 7.00 p.m. Supported by Table for Two (Belgium/ Denmark).

The Festival takes place from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th and will include the Grove Band (UK) and Long Way Home (NL/US)

Sun. 26th: Glen Theatre, Banteer, Co. Cork, 8.30 p.m. Supported by Table for Two (Belgium/ Denmark). Tel. 087 792 1771

Mon. 27th: Rory Gallagher Music Library, Grand Parade, Cork city, 1.00 p.m. Tel. 021 492 4907

Tues. 28th: Mallow Library, Thomas Davis St., Mallow, Co. Cork, 1.00 p.m. Tel. 022 21821

Tuohy's Bar, Pound St., Rathdowney, Co. Laois, 9.00 p.m. Tel. 087 967 5752

Wed. 29th: The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, 8.30 p.m. Tel. 0044 7736 837 779

Thurs. 30th: Dorney Bridge, Ballinamallard, Co. Fermanagh, 8.15 p.m. Tel. 0044 7716 267 625

February 2020

Sat. !st: St Senan's Church of Ireland, Ardrum, Inniscarra, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m. Tel. 087 792 1771

Sun. 2nd: Horan's Bar & Restaurant, Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, 4.00 p.m. Tel. 059 648 1733

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

BIB editor's note: Seth Mulder & Midnight Run will be playing nine dates in Britain after their tour here. More info on the Sons of Navarone and Table for Two will follow in another post.

Chatham County Line (USA) at Kilkenny Roots Festival 2020

Smithwicks Kilkenny Roots Festival announce their selection of 'Christmas stocking fillers' - tickets can be booked for three of the acts taking part in the coming year's event (Fri. 1 May-Mon. 4 May 2020), of which the one most likely to attract BIB readers is North Carolina's Chatham County Line, who have toured here several times in the past with a more traditional format than their present one.

Since banjoist Chandler Hall retired from the band, Chatham County Line has consisted of a core trio (Dave Wilson, guitar, harmonica, vocals; John Teer, mandolin, fiddle, vocals; Greg Reading, bass, pedal steel, piano, vocals) plus a drummer. At Kilkenny they are scheduled to play on Sunday 3 May from 3.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. at the Set Theatre, John St., and on Monday 4 May from 4.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. at Cleeres Bar & Theatre, Parliament St. Tickets for both these gigs can now be booked online. It is not yet known whether CCL will be playing other shows in Ireland.

Chatham County Line: the core trio

Bill Keith (update)

Today would have been the eightieth birthday of William Bradford 'Bill' Keith - second only to Earl Scruggs as most influential 5-string bluegrass banjo player of the late twentieth century - who died on 23 October 2015.

Accounts of his life can be found in John Lawless's assessment on Bluegrass Today; the BIB's own post of 25 Oct. 2015; two major features on Bluegrass Today by Richard Thompson, appearing almost exactly four years ago (21 and 22 Dec. 2015); and Gary Reid's biographical article on Keith for the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.

Neil Rosenberg's book Blue grass generation (2018) describes (among many other things) the electrifying impact of Bill Keith's playing on hearers while he was a member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys. Frank Robinson reports that Keith's playing of consecutive notes across different strings is said to have influenced Chet Atkins. A forthcoming biography of Bill Keith by Bob Carlin is eagerly awaited.

Update 21 Dec.: A valuable memoir by Bill's longtime friend Jim Rooney, incorporating a reminiscence by Bill Evans, can be read here.

A Christmas greeting from mygrassisblue.com

Well, we made it through year one. Our inaugural year of 2019 will always be special. It was a busy and ofttimes challenging year as we sought to find our feet, something made easier by establishing valued relationships via collaborations with established members of the bluegrass community here in Ireland. So we’d like to take this opportunity to offer up a heartfelt 'thank you' to all of those who worked with us in 2019 for the benefit of bluegrass promotion in Ireland, and we’d like to extend to you all best wishes for festive and fun Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

We look forward to more of the same in 2020 and beyond.

Keep your grass blue. Always.

Dave Jnr. and all the crew at mygrassisblue.com

The latest BBN

The winter 2019 issue (no. 88) of British Bluegrass News, the magazine of the British Bluegrass Music Association (BBMA), is now out; as always, it's designed and produced to high standards, profusely illustrated with excellent photos, and full of solid content; and as usual, there are items relevant to events on the scene here.

This issue's cover story is on Lunch Special, who toured here briefly during October and will be back for this year's Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival. The records reviewed include Space guitars, the debut album by Pet Yeti, who will also be at Westport. The festival is mentioned in passing in an article by Maria Wallace of True North Music, who took the IBMA's Leadership Bluegrass (LBG) course partly on the advice of LBG alumnus Uri Kohen. And a map of music teachers in these islands shows Hubert Murray (guitar) in Tullamore.

On a more sombre note, two separate articles lament the disappearance of long-established festivals (Britain has lost five in the last three years) and the consequent loss of opportunities for bands.

Christmas greetings from Woodbine

Tony O'Brien and Woodbine send this seasonal message:

Woodbine wish all their friends a very Happy Christmas and Bright New Year. Thanks for the continued support during 2019, and we hope to see you all in 2020 with a changed programme of Bluegrass, Acoustic Country, Americana, and Folk.

Bluegrass Omagh 2020, 22-4 May: tickets on sale online (update)

National Museums of Northern Ireland have clearly given up sending information to people who ask for it, but if you happen to look every now and again at the Ulster American Folk Park pages, you'll already be aware that tickets are on sale online for this year's bluegrass festival at the Park, on the new springtime dates of Friday 22 May to Sunday 24 May.

The price of a weekend pass appears as £12.75 - which seems a real bargain*, as a Friday ticket is shown as £17.00, a Saturday ticket is £21.25, and a Sunday ticket £17.00. A child's ticket on each day is £5.10. No price is shown at present for the 'Spirit of Bluegrass' gospel concert on Sunday evening. Artists taking part include Appalachian Roadshow, A.J. Lee & Blue Summit, Jonathan Byrd & the Pick Up Cowboys, the Honey Dewdrops, Zoe & Cloyd (all USA), Kristy Cox (AUS), the Niall Toner Band, and the Jaywalkers (GB).

All these prices include an Earlybird discount of 15% 'if you buy before 31st December 2019', although the website also says 'Earlybird tickets are currently on sale until the 31 January.' The best course is clearly to book as soon as possible.

*Update 9 Jan. 2020: It was too good to be true. When one comes to book it, a weekend pass is £42.50, or £85.00 for a family.

3rd Annual Irish Old Time Appalachian Music Gathering, 21-23 Feb. 2020

Thanks to Andrew Lambert, co-organiser (with Bob Denton) of 'Irish Old Time', for this poster image and news of the 3rd Annual Irish Old Time Appalachian Music Gathering, to be held again in Lisdoonvarna on 21-23 Feb. 2020. Active preparations are in progress, and Andrew reports (with bold type added by the BIB):

It’ll be more like the first year in terms of things going on.

We are bringing over Clay Buckner, fiddler with the famed Red Clay Ramblers – he’ll lead sessions and do a workshop or two.. We also plan to bring in an experienced caller (from the UK) who will do a dance workshop. We are also planning to feature some shape-note singing, and a workshop on that.

More details are to come. Andrew adds:

PS: played last night down in Cork with Ian & Sheena Knepper and the crew – at a fine pub called Fionnbarra. Great time had by all!

Update 18 Dec.: In place of the poster image that first appeared on this post, Bob Denton sends a revise (above) showing some of the Gathering's activities.

Deering Banjos news

The Deering Banjo Company announces on its blog that Jamie Deering (above, centre), daughter of the co-founders Greg and Janet Deering, has been appointed to the position of CEO of the company. Jamie is uniquely well qualified, having been involved since childhood at every level of the processes of making, developing, and promoting Deering instruments. Her father comments:

While Janet and I have accomplished a lot in 44 years, Jamie, if anything, has more horsepower and is smarter than we are. [...] Deering Banjo Company will see a wonderful and expanded banjo world with Jamie as our CEO.

Many congratulations to Jamie have been posted on the Deering blog; one of the earliest is from Pat Kelleher of Dripsey, Co. Cork. As well as contributing to the BIB a tribute to Pete Seeger on the centenary of his birth (3 May), Pat has taken part in the previous annual Banjo Events at the Eagle Music Shop in England, and will no doubt be at the 2020 Event on 7 March. The photo below shows him with a Deering John Hartford banjo and Jens Kruger.

A reminder from the NCH

The National Concert Hall in Dublin sends a reminder of the highlights of its January 2020 season, including the concert that Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn, 'the king and queen of the banjo', will be playing there at 8.00 p.m. on Tuesday 21 January. The NCH release states:

On stage, Fleck & Washburn will perform pieces from their Grammy-winning self-titled debut as well as their new record, Echo in the valley (Rounder 2017). With one eye on using the banjo to showcase America’s rich heritage and the other pulling the noble instrument from its most familiar arena into new and unique realms, Bela & Abigail meet in the mean, head-on, to present music that feels wildly innovative and familiar at the same time. Whether at home, on stage or on record, their deep bond, combined with the way their distinct musical personalities and banjo styles interact, makes theirs a picking partnership unlike any other on the planet.

More detail, including a link to a 37-minute video interview (also on YouTube), and online booking facilities are on the NCH website.

Abreast of the times

Traditional bluegrass music remains responsive to the changing modes of life, and the Band of Ruhks (USA), who topped the bill at a recent Omagh festival, have accordingly come out with 'My old tattoo', released on video last Friday as the second single from their latest album, Authentic. The video (showing the whole band in a tattoo parlour, with Don Rigsby undergoing the actual treatment) can be seen on YouTube or in John Lawless's feature on Bluegrass Today.

Old Time Central: new items, new support

The mid-December update on Old Time Central (OTC) includes the following new items from the last two weeks:

What is Oldtime, Anyway? Heresy and Orthodoxy

Meredith McIntosh: Interview and Tunes

Sally Ann, the Gal I Like: Fiddle Lesson with Craig Judelman

Fiddlin': An Interview with the Makers

The editors also announce that OTC is finally registered as a 501(c)3 non-profit organisation, so that donations are tax-deductible (this presumably applies to US taxpayers). Added to which, an anonymous donor has agreed to match any donations that OTC receives over the next fifteen days, up to $US 5,000! Links for donations are on the OTC newsletter.

14th Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, 5-7 June 2020

Thanks to Uri Kohen, leader of the Westport organising team, for this news:

Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival will return to Westport, Co. Mayo, for the fourteenth time on the weekend of 5-7 June 2020.

The Festival always prides itself on introducing new acts to the Irish and international bluegrass lovers and creating a programme which will suit lovers of all types of bluegrass and American old-time music.

The Festival will see the return of some of its most exciting events such as the Gospel Hour, the Red Room Mystery Gig, and the Square Dance, as well as the many gigs, concerts, sessions, and workshops.

The Festival organisers have just announced some of the acts which will travel from overseas. For many of them, it will be their first ever Irish performances. More acts are to be announced, and tickets will go on sale early in the new year. The acts that have been announced so far are:

The Kody Norris Show (Tennessee, USA)

Erynn Marshal & Carl Jones (Virginia, USA)

SLO County Stumblers (California, USA)

Cornmaiz String Band (Kentucky, USA)

Johnny & the Yooahoos (Bavaria, Germany)

Pet Yeti (NI / GB)

The Jumper Cables (CZ)

Lunch Special (GB)

Dave Kline & the Mountain Folk Band (Pennsylvania, USA)

No Oil Paintings (NI)

Correction: When this post was first published, the Kody Norris Show were shown as being from Kentucky - in reality, they are from Mountain City, Tennessee.

Lamar Grier, 15 Apr. 1938-10 Dec. 2019

The BIB learns with regret of the death of Lamar Grier, a notable member of the important bluegrass scene in Washington, DC, during the mid and late twentieth century, and banjo player for (among many others) Bill Monroe & his Blue Grass Boys in the mid 1960s. While with Monroe he took part in a 1966 UK tour which included a very successful show in the Royal Albert Hall in London. He is the father of guitar maestro David Grier. More details are on a major feature by Richard Thompson on Bluegrass Today, including a video (also on YouTube) of the Blue Grass Boys playing 'Crossing the Cumberlands', led by the very distinctive voice of Grier's banjo.

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The Washington area and its importance in bluegrass history are the subject of Capital bluegrass: hillbilly music meets Washington, D.C. by Kip Lornell, scheduled for publication next month by Oxford University Press at $45.00. In 376 pages with 40 photographs, the book includes chapters on the Country Gentlemen, the Seldom Scene, and Bluegrass Unlimited magazine, products of the capital city area which became major influences on bluegrass music worldwide.

A major milepost overlooked - and celebrated

The BIB editor writes:

Apologies to everyone for overlooking a major anniversary in bluegrass history which was staring me in the face.

Seventy years and a day ago, on 11 December 1949, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Curly Seckler, Benny Sims, and Howard Watts entered a recording studio in Cincinnati, Ohio, for the band's third recording session for the Mercury label. The eight numbers they cut included their first recorded instrumental:  'Foggy Mountain Breakdown', which was released on 78 rpm the following March and went on to become an icon of bluegrass music, with effects that reverberated through mainstream culture.

Fortunately, this event has been appropriately celebrated. Two months ago the University of Illinois Press published Thomas Goldsmith's Earl Scruggs and Foggy Mountain Breakdown: the making of an American classic in their 'Music in American Life' series. Two chapters, totalling twenty-two pages, are devoted to how the tune works and how it was recorded; but as well as this close focus, 'Foggy Mountain Breakdown' serves as the pivotal point for a detailed survey of Scruggs's life, musical career, and legacy.

PS: Thanks to Frank Robinson for access to Neil Rosenberg's discography of Flatt & Scruggs, published in the Journal of Country Music.

Last Red Hat of 2019

Thanks to Paul and Anne McEvoy, organisers of the Red Hat Acoustic Music Club, for a reminder that the Club's twelfth and final meeting of 2019 will be held this coming Friday (13 December). Paul and Anne wish all Club habitués a merry Christmas, and look forward to seeing them on Friday.

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.

Danny Burns in Ireland, 29 Dec. 2019-Feb. 2020

Thanks to Whelan's of Wexford St., Dublin 2, for the news that on Thursday 2 Jan. 2020, Danny Burns (left; also on Facebook) will be playing in their Upstairs venue, with support. Ample information is provided on the Whelan's blog. The show in Whelan's will in fact be the last in a brief tour in Ireland that opens a European tour for Danny Burns. His online tour schedule shows the following dates:

• Sun. 29th Dec.: St Luke’s, Cork city, with the Hot House Flowers
• Mon. 30th: Dolan's Warehouse, Limerick city
• Wed. 1st Jan.: Grand Central Bar, Derry city
• Thurs. 2nd: Whelan's, Dublin 2

After five shows in the south of France at Americana festivals in Nice and Cannes, he then returns to Ireland for these dates:

• Fri. 17th Jan.: The American Bar, Belfast
• Fri. 24th: with Robin James Hurt, Workman's Club, Wellington Quay, Dublin, TBC
• Sat. 25th: Iontas Arts & Community Resource Centre, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan
• Fri. 21st-Sat. 22nd Feb.: Ted Fest, Galway city

The BIB mentioned early this year that Danny Burns's 2018 debut album, North country, had been reported in Bluegrass Unlimited magazine (BU), and the June 2019 issue of BU included a review by Bill Foster, ending: '... all good songs that feature Burns’ strong lead, and the accompanying musicians make the overall project a fine listening experience'. The accompanying musicians included superpickers such as Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, and Dan Tyminski.

Danny Burns comes from a Fermanagh family, was raised in Donegal, has developed his music over years in the USA, and uses bluegrass instrumentation to present it. Plenty of it can be heard on YouTube, including the band's own YouTube channel. Jerry Douglas is quoted 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.

WoodSongs: the irish connections

Exactly three weeks ago, folksinger Michael Johnathon’s WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, based in Lexington, KY, celebrated its 1,000th show, as reported by John Lawless on Bluegrass Today.

Several items in the feature will resonate with readers in Ireland: for a start, the word 'WoodSong' first came into Michael Johnathon's head while he was in the workshop of the late musician and luthier Homer C. Ledford, whose Cabin Creek Band topped the bill at early Athy bluegrass festivals in the 1990s. Johnathon's composition 'Colista's jam' (named after Homer's wife) can be heard on the BT feature or on YouTube.

In July 2013 WoodSongs came to Dublin for shows 722 and 723; a 58-minute video of 722, 'Bluegrass from Ireland', featuring Niall Toner, Tom Hanway, We Banjo 3, Cup O' Joe, Evan Lyons, and Lands End, can be seen on YouTube. And as might be expected, many of the distinguished US artists who have played on WoodSongs shows in Lexington have also performed in Ireland at one time or another. Read more on Bluegrass Today.

The EBMA newsletter is back!

The European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA) announces its December 2019 newsletter, with this table of contents:

- Changes in EBMA memberships
- La Roche band competition 2019
- EBMA's interview with Missy Raines at La Roche
- Adiaha’s 2019 Bluegrass Camp - Pick your passion
- Bluegrass Jamboree 2019
- Sore Fingers 2020 - 25th Anniversary Week
- Bluegrass Festival Freiolsheim

- and includes a reminder that standard EBMA membership is FREE till the end of March 2020. The Freiolsheim festival report, by the way, includes an account of the headliners, the Sons of Navarone, who will be touring here in January together with performing at the 21st Shannonside Winter Music Festival.

Much more is on the newsletter. Check out the completely remodelled EBMA website as well.

'Whiskey and wine' and 'Vampyre' on video from Wookalily

Wookalily announce that their latest album EᐯƎR⅄TᕼING IS ИOЯMAL EXCEPT THE LITTLE THINGS INSIDE MY HEAD, released two months ago (see the BIB for 26 Sept.), is being very well received by reviewers and radio presenters.

Two songs from the album, 'Whiskey and wine' (written by Lyndsay Crothers) and 'Vampyre' (written by Clair McGreevy and Stephen O'Hagan) have now been released on video. The first can be seen on the Sessions in the House Facebook and also heard on Bandcamp, while 'Vampyre' is on YouTube. Adele, Clair, Louise, Lyndsay, and Sharon add:

We hope you enjoy watching and listening, apologies if 'Whiskey and wine' worms its way into your ears forever, as long as it's not down the old gregory peck forever. lol! Be careful out there and #dontdrinkanddrive!!! We want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support and wish you a truly wonderful Christmas.

News from the Mother Country (update)

Mountain Song Productions announce that the third edition of Béla Fleck's Blue Ridge Banjo Camp will be held, as before, at the Brevard Music Center in Brevard, NC, on 19-23 August 2020. Applications to enrol can be sent in between 8 Jan. and 6 Mar. 2020. Details of the teaching faculty and a video of highlights from the 2018 Camp can be seen via this e-newsletter.

Ryan Cavanaugh, who will be an instructor at the 2020 Camp, can also be heard talking about his development as a player in a two-part podcast on the Deering Banjos blog.

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The mountain minor movie is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray and can be ordered through the website. Reviews, reports, and other information are on the latest e-newsletter; you can keep up to date with The mountain minor's progress by subscribing to its newsletter through the website.

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Bluegrass Today sends welcome news about the concerts given by the Earls of Leicester in February 2018 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN, of which a twenty-three-track album, Live at the CMA Theater (right), is available in CD, vinyl, and download formats.

The new good news is that a 68-minute video of the concerts, intercut with brief interviews, can now be watched on YouTube (or via the BT feature). As John Lawless writes, 'It’s pure joy to watch these guys at work [...]. And a fine way to introduce the music of Flatt & Scruggs to a new generation of music lovers.'

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Update: The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum will hold its annual ROMP (River Of Music Party) festival at Yellow Creek Park, Owensboro, KY, on 24-27 June 2020, with Chris Thile at the top of the bill. More details are on the ROMP website.

We Banjo 3: spreading the word

We Banjo 3, founders of Celtgrass, are offering a free copy of the poster (right) for their 2020 'Rise & Shine' tour to anyone who buys a ticket to one of the shows on the tour before the end of 2019. The poster was designed by Abbey Ley of Austin, TX.

'Rise & shine' is their winter/ spring tour of the USA - thirty-three shows, organised in two legs: 11-25 Jan. and 21 Feb.-21 Mar. A full list of the dates is on their online schedule. The band aim at selling out all the dates, and are encouraging a vigorous use of social media to spread the word.

In October, We Banjo 3 recorded videos at the Reverb Studios in Chicago: one of them playing two tunes as a band, and another of the members individually explaining tips, tricks, and other things about their music and their instruments. For banjo-players - your editor's suspicions expressed on 17 Oct. are only partly justified. Enda Scahill is not playing a standard plectrum banjo but a custom-built 4-string instrument with a similar-length neck from Nechville, tuned in the same intervals as a tenor but a whole tone deeper. The videos can be seen on Reverb's YouTube channel.

We Banjo 3 are currently in Japan, winding up a tour there. More details are on the band's latest e-newsletter.