And finally...

The BIB editor (retired) writes:

My warmest thanks to Tony O'Brien and Uri Kohen for the way in which they have marked my retirement on their respective Facebooks, and to all members of our community, in Ireland and the wider bluegrass world, who have added their own comments. All your words are greatly appreciated, and I feel fully repaid for any effort that may have gone into the BIB over the past eighteen years.

Finally, it seems appropriate to repeat the thanks I gave when the BIB was launched on 21 Nov. 2005 - to Alice Toner who built the BIB for me and set it in working order, and to Eamonn Quigley for his cordial assistance.

© Richard Hawkins

Late delivery

The BIB editor (retired) writes:

On 31 Aug. it was announced that news that came in during my absence (14-19 Sept.) would be dealt with on my return. Here it is:

Dark Shadow Recording announce that Chicago's Henhouse Prowlers, Bluegrass Ambassadors to the world, and headliners of the bluegrass section of the 2022 Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, released on Friday 15 Sept. their latest album, Lead and iron, comprising eleven tracks, all written or co-written by Prowler members. Full details are on the Dark Shadow press release.

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South London's The Vanguards (Jack Baker, mandolin; Alex Clarke, guitar; Chris Lord, banjo; Laura Nailor, fiddle; and Pete Thomas, bass) are interviewed by Lee Zimmerman in 'England’s Vanguards take their name seriously', the latest in his 'Bluegrass beyond borders' series on Bluegrass Today. The feature includes two videos and an audio track. The Vanguards played at the 2017 Westport festival, and followed this with a 2019 tour of Ireland centred on the festival's launch party. Chris Lord is also editor of British Bluegrass News, to which Jack Baker contributes the regular 'Tab corner', which always includes solid helpings of bluegrass history.

*

More bluegrass history: the good things in the Bluegrass Unlimited weekly newsletter no. 149 include an invaluable article from BU archives on Ola Belle Reed by Rhonda Strickland, published in the June 1983 issue under the title 'Preserving traditional music without killing it'.

*

Rick Faris, singer, songwriter, recording artist, and luthier, who toured Ireland several times during his eleven years on mandolin and guitar with the Special Consensus, will be moving his Faris Guitar Co. to an 1800-sq.-ft workshop at the Kentucky Guitar Works in Owensboro, Ky, More details and a statement from Rick are in John Lawless's feature on Bluegrass Today.

*

East Nash Grass (USA; see the BIB for 7 Apr.), who have not yet visited Ireland, are young musicians who embody well-established bluegrass practices: individually they've all played in different bands, and as a band they've held down a long residency at a particular venue - in their case, weekly at Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge in Madison, TN. On the Bluegrass Situation (BGS) Thomas Cassell interviews the ENG's James Kee (mandolin) and Cory Walker (banjo) about the experience of their residency, their rapport with audiences, their new album, and more. The interview includes three videos - one of them a two-hour live performance at Dee's.

© Richard Hawkins

Quote of the month

My mother was classically trained, but she could play anything on piano by ear, and my father sang with her. But for them music was not about formal classical music. It was about gathering with friends in your own home and sharing music until the early morning hours. Music was about improvisation, laughter, and friends. I learned early on that you could do it yourself, and that it’s natural for music to be created and shared right in your own home.

Alice Gerrard, quoted by Louisa Branscomb on Bluegrass Today, 11 Sept. 2013

Sounding the Well of Souls (4)

The BIB editor writes:

A substantial part of Well of souls is dedicated to showing the development of the cultures of black enslaved people in the New World. It is a task for which Gaddy feels her being white may disqualify her, but which she sees as a necessary reparation for the ways in which those cultures have been ignored or misrepresented in the past.

In this overall cultural survey, the banjo at times falls out of sight and hearing. As regards sight, the publishers could have partly remedied this. They chose, however, to print illustrations on the same paper as the text; this works well enough with line drawings and diagrams, but much less so with monochrome reproductions of paintings, where clarity is easily lost. As regards hearing, it does appear that though the banjo was a recognised part of ritual and sacred activity, it was not indispensable. But for those who want to hear music of a kind that was played on the banjo long before white musicians took it up, some of the earliest documenation of the instrument includes transcriptions of music played in Jamaica in the 1680s, and these pieces can be heard on the Musical Passage website, which presents them in their historical background.

© Richard Hawkins

Inaugural International Pavilion at IBMA WOB 2023

The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) announce that this year's IBMA World Of Bluegrass in Raleigh, NC, will present for the first time an International Pavilion, featuring bands from South Korea, Slovakia, Canada, Australia, Norway, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and the USA. The sponsoring bodies are Bluegrass in La Roche, Dark Shadow Recording, Bluegrass Ambassadors, and Ear Trumpet Labs. The full lineup (which includes several names familiar to bluegrassers in Ireland) can be read here.

© Richard Hawkins

One for the audience

Playing in bars is traditionally part of the bluegrass life. Doing it in this country can carry the additional burden that - even more than in the USA - a solidly bluegrass repertoire is likely to be unfamiliar to the audience, and making the connection between band and audience is consequently that much harder. One possible way round the problem is shown by the recent single release from Pinecastle Records by Robert Hale - a remake of the Stonewall Jackson hit 'I washed my hands in muddy water', which (like many country songs) works perfectly well as bluegrass and will be familiar to country music fans. The recording can be heard on John Lawless's feature on Bluegrass Today.

© Richard Hawkins

Nickel Creek (and more) at Bristol Rhythm & Roots

For those who saw Nickel Creek at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, on 30 August - and also for those who didn't but wish they had - Bluegrass Today has many dramatic and evocative photos of them, taken by Bryce LaFoon at the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion in Bristol, TN/VA, last weekend. Other artists in the photo gallery include Sierra Hull, Marty Stuart, and their bands.

© Richard Hawkins

Michael J. Miles - finding banjo chords all over the neck

The Deering Banjo Company announce episode 4 of Michael J. Miles's online clawhammer banjo workshop. In this 36-minute episode Michael, together with Deering's David Bandrowski, shows thirty-seven ways to play G, C, and D triad chords. The episode can now be seen on YouTube.

Deering also draw attention to an instruction book by Joseph Weidlich, Round Peak clawhammer banjo: traditional Appalachian fiddle tunes from Surry Count, NC, available from Deering for $19.99; and to their Vega Vintage Star banjo, at $2,599.

© Richard Hawkins

'Get lost' instrumental from Wyatt Ellis

The Morris Public Relations press release explains how the title was chosen for 'Get lost', the instrumental composed and recorded by the phenomenal 14-year-old Wyatt Ellis (above, centre) of east Tennessee. The official music video can be heard on John Lawless's feature on Bluegrass Today and on YouTube.

The musicians on the recording, shown in the image above, include two visitors to Ireland: Michael Cleveland (second from right) and Mike Bub (extreme right), whom you may have seen when he was in Galway in 1994 with Del McCoury; or more recently, playing bass in the Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms Country Band or in the Dublin bluegrass jam session of 29 Aug.

© Richard Hawkins

Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival needs your help!

Dear friends and fans,

Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival has been running for the past 17 years and it has played an integral part in preserving and promoting folk, bluegrass, and American old-time music in Ireland.

Over the years we have been able to gradually increase the calibre of our acts, present new acts for the Irish audience, and grow the festival’s offering, while maintaining the original format and ticket prices.

We have proven to be a large contributor to the local economy and have offered platforms to local, national, and international acts.

The growing cost of running the festival has proven to be challenging, and for the first time ever, we are looking for your help and support to ensure the future and continuous growth of the quality of the festival.

We would really appreciate anything you can afford to donate, so we can continue to showcase the best of folk, bluegrass, and old-time music, and of course, so we can welcome you all back to our beautiful little town on the west coast of Ireland!

Thanks in advance,

Uri and team

To donate, click the link below:
CanYouHelpWestportFolk&BluegrassFestival?

or scan the QR code:

Two Time Polka: September-October gigs

Ray Barron of Two Time Polka sends news of the band's forthcoming gigs:

Sun. 17th Sept.: Crane Lane Theatre, Cork city, midnight-2.00 a.m., adm. free

Fri. 22nd: Culture Night, Old Market Bar, Bandon, Co. Cork, 9.45-11.15 p/m., adm. free (but a ticket is required for entry. Booking link - FREE tickets)

Sat. 23rd: Blue Haven, Kinsale, Co. Cork, 10 p.m.-midnight, adm. free

Sun. 1st Oct.: Crane Lane Theatre, Cork city, midnight-2.00 a.m., adm. free (part of Cork Folk Festival)

Sun. 8th: ZydecoSwamp, Molenstraat 58a, Raamsdonk, the Netherlands, 7.00-8.30 p.m. Doors 2.30 p.m.. adm. €7.50

Our next mail will include details of our gigs at the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. Check our website for all gig details.

Regards & thanks,

Ray & TTP

© Richard Hawkins

Watery Hill Boys at The Moorings, Bellanaleck, 16 Sept. 2023

Thanks to JIm MacArdle of the Watery Hill Boys of Drogheda, Co. Louth, for the news that the band will be playing at The Moorings (also on Facebook), 156 Derrylin Rd, Bellanaleck, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh BT92 2BA, from 8.00 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. this coming Saturday, 16 September.

The Moorings is an award-winning restaurant on the shores of Lough Erne, where the Watery Hill Boys played earlier this year (see the BIB for 24 Apr. 2023) in memory of John Watson.

© Richard Hawkins

Sounding the Well of Souls (3)

The BIB editor writes:

Two of the main themes of Well of souls are: (1) the banjo is essentially a 'spiritual device', an expression of the fundamental presence of religion in all aspects of traditional African cultures; (2) however, it would not have come into being without the transatlantic slave trade and the circumstances of slavery in the Americas.

At the risk of over-simplifying, one can say that the banjo functioned as a spiritual device by summoning or evoking spirits through the medium of rhythm. Decoration on some of the earliest instruments suggest that they were marked as 'sacred' objects; but quite apart from external markings, the whole instrument can be seen as a 'cosmogram', the intersection of the earthly and spiritual planes.

On point (2) Gaddy states clearly in her preface: 'The banjo did not exist before it was created by the hands of enslaved people in the New World. [...] "The banjo is African" is often repeated [...] But it is not true: the banjo is a uniquely American instrument, crafted by people of African descent. It is structurally different from any African instrument.' (BIB editor's note: That last sentence does not refer to the many structural changes that have been made since the instrument got into white hands, and which can be said to make the modern banjo thoroughly 'colonised'.)

© Richard Hawkins

More photos, from the Earl Scruggs Music Festival via the BGS

The staff of the Bluegrass Situation (BGS) online magazine present, under the title 'See photos from the Earl Scruggs Music Festival at the Tryon International Equestrian Center', a load of excellent shots by several photographers, taken at last weekend's Earl Scruggs Music Festival in Mill Spring, NC. The many artists shown include Tony Trischka (right), supreme player, composer, teacher, and communicator on all things banjo and bluegrass, whom many here will remember from his performances and workshops at the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festivals in Longford. He organised for the festival an Earl Scruggs Revue Tribute Band. The photo above is by Greg Heisler. Next year's Earl Scruggs Music Festival is scheduled for 30 Aug.-1 Sept. 2024.

© Richard Hawkins

'We'll all drink money' from Balsam Range

Events on the scene in the Mother Country are amply covered by the US bluegrass media, so the BIB doesn't usually draw attention to them if there is no clear connection with this island. However, Balsam Range are an outstanding band by any standards, and their latest single. 'We'll all drink money', happens to be about unscrupulous property development, which may strike a chord or two with pickers and audiences over here.

More details are on the Mountain Home Music Company press release, and the song can be heard on SoundCloud and on John Lawless's feature on Bluegrass Today.

© Richard Hawkins

Views and news of past visitors to Ireland

First, the views. In photo features from US festivals that have appeared on Bluegrass Today over the past week, you can see numerous excellent pictures of (among other leading figures in bluegrass) the Del McCoury Band (or the Travelin' McCourys plus Del), and the Henhouse Prowlers; the Lonesome River Band, Dailey & Vincent, and A.J. Lee & Blue Summi; Kenny & Amanda Smith; and Michael Cleveland and Brooke & Darin Aldridget.

North Carolina's Steep Canyon Rangers (right) announce the release of their latest album, Morning shift. Their press release states: 'So much about our music has been about staying focused and under control, but what stands out on this recording are the moments where there was no choice but to get outside of yourself and go on instinct.' They are releasing it this weekend at the 17th Annual Mountain Song Festival in Brevard, NC.

Update: Nancy Posey reviews Morning shift favourably on No Depression, including three videos of songs from the album in the review.

© Richard Hawkins

Special C. to kick off IBMA WOB 2023

The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) announce that this year's IBMA World Of Bluegrass in Raleigh, NC, will open on Tuesday 26 September ('Sept 27' in the image above is a typo) with a Kickoff Party hosted by our old friends the Special Consensus, who have since 1995 visited Ireland more than any other bluegrass band in the world. The IBMA press release states:

Join Special Consensus, along with some special guests, for a special kickoff event at IBMA World of Bluegrass on Tuesday, September 26th at the Lincoln Theatre. Special Consensus has received six IBMA awards, as well as two GRAMMY nominations. We all know Special C likes to make things fun, so don’t miss this party as a great start to the week of music. And who knows, it might even be someone’s birthday!

© Richard Hawkins

'Mother Jones in Heaven' goes on the road again

US singer, songwriter, activist, and organiser Si Kahn announces in his latest e-newsletter that his one-woman musical play 'Mother Jones in Heaven' will be taking to the road next week, beginning in West Virginia, with Vivian Nesbitt in the title role and music by John Dillon on guitar. Full details, together with news of Si's other campaigns, are in the e-newsletter.

As the BIB noted on 24 July 2014, Mary Harris 'Mother' Jones (1837-1930), born in Cork city, emigrated to North America with her family as a teenager, married there, and (after major personal misfortunes) devoted herself to labour organisation and agitation, being very active in the Industrial Workers of the World, the United Mine Workers, and the Socialist Party of America. In 1902 an opposing lawyer labelled her 'the most dangerous woman in America'. Much of her work was done in the mining districts of Appalachia. She has been commemorated in many songs, including one by Andy Irvine.

© Richard Hawkins

Michael J. Miles newsletter

Michael J. Miles (USA) announces in his latest e-newsletter that the concert for the release of his new album American Bach revisited will be on 17 Sept., after which he will be travelling

to Prague and Berlin and Kothen, Germany - the town where Bach lived when at age 35, as the newly widowed single father of four, he wrote the cello suites and the violin partitas! I just have to drink some of the water there!

Two videos are on the newsletter, together with a link to the new album and full details of Michael's workshop schedules for clawhammer banjo and fingerstyle guitar.

© Richard Hawkins

'Charlotte' - new single from Cedar Hill (update)

Mountain Fever Records announce a new single from Cedar Hill, the fine traditional-oriented band from the Ozark region who have made many friends and fans in Ireland from past appearances at Omagh and other venues. The song, 'Charlotte', features Frank Ray (mandolin, harmony vocal), Patti LaFleur (upright bass), Pete Brown (fiddle, harmony vocal), D.J. Shumate (banjo), and Dalton Harper guitar, lead vocal). Mountain Fever remark:

Cedar Hill’s long-time success is no doubt due to the talents of Frank Ray. His impressive career includes his induction into the SPBGMA Hall of Greats in 2019, the MerleFest Bluegrass Songwriter Award in 2018, the National Traditional Country Music Association’s (NTCMA) Lifetime Achievement Award in September 2018, and his induction into the NTCMA Hall of Fame in 2008.

Update: The song can now be heard in John Lawless's feature on Bluegrass Today.

© Richard Hawkins

Martha Spencer and Archer Broughton in UK

The FOAOTMAD news blog, organ of the UK's old-time music and dance association, carries news of a show on 21 Sept. in Narberth, Wales, by the duo of Martha Spencer (right) and Archer Broughton. As appears from Martha's online tour schedule, this show will be part of a tour of the UK starting on 14 Sept. at the Green Note in London and culminating on 23 Sept. at the Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival in Scotland.

Martha toured Ireland nine years ago as a teenage singer, dancer, and musician with the Whitetop Mountain Band of Virginia, and is now forging an active career as a solo performer and in other combinations.

© Richard Hawkins

September 2023 BU

The September 2023 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine has Bobby Osborne on the cover, and much of the contents of the issue is devoted to aspects of Bobby's life and career. Bill Conger contributes a six-page biographical article; Nancy Posey writes on C.J. Lewandowski of the Po' Ramblin' Boys and the work of preserving Bobby's legacy; and Scott Napier recalls episodes in his thirty years' friendship with Bobby. The December issue of BU will have a similar focus on Jesse McReynolds.

Other articles in the September issue include Cathy Fink on the songwriting of Ola Belle Reed; the song 'Kentucky morning' written by Darrell Scott and recorded by Bobby Osborne; Sandy Hatley on the work of John Holder as a premier bluegrass soundman; Bill Conger again, with an article on Ashby Frank; and the tale of restoring a badly damaged 1922 Gibson A-2 mandolin. The review section includes Mike England's review of the album The UK & Ireland dobro celebration, which includes the work of Johnny Gleeson, Colin Henry, and Ted Ponsonby.

© Richard Hawkins

Distant brothers from Gary Ferguson and Colin Henry

Thanks to Gary Ferguson (USA), acclaimed songwriter and veteran of a dozen tours of Ireland, for news of the latest fruit of a close and long-lasting collaboration that began at the 2007 Athy bluegrass festival. The story of the musical partnership of Gary and Colin Henry of Belfast is told in detail in the liner notes by Bob Allen for their forthcoming album Distant brothers (scheduled for release on 25 September 2023), which can be read in full on Gary's website.

As Gary explains, 'Colin and I are the "distant brothers" [...] Personality-wise, we just hit it off from the beginning. And right then, I knew something was clicking between us musically.' Similarly, Colin found that when he began playing Gary's songs, 'I was hearing myself play what I wanted to hear myself play. That just doesn’t happen too often straight off the bat.'

Gary subsequently discovered, mainly through Colin, a pool of eminently talented Irish musicians, resulting in the 2021 album Ferguson’s farewell: the Irish connection. In their continuing contacts across the Atlantic, the 'brothers' built up a stock of shared music that went to form their first album. Full details of the distinguished personnel (US and Irish) on the eleven tracks are here; and a single from the album, 'Chasing a dream', composed by Gary, can be heard and bought on BandCamp.

© Richard Hawkins

A bluegrass journey: Woodbine 2002-2023

Woodbine's original lineup (l-r: Tony, Mel, Paddy, Liam)
Dunmore East, 2002

BIB editor's note: Woodbine played their final official gig a week ago at this year's Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival. Many thanks to Tony O'Brien for this chronicle of a band that has been at the heart of bluegrass in Ireland for twenty-one years.

The bluegrass journey of Woodbine began in 2002 when the lineup of Tony O'Brien, Liam Wright, Mel Corry, and Paddy Chanders played Athy, Dunmore East, amd Omagh bluegrass festivals. Mel was only ever in for the three fests and Paddy was in college, so by 2003 Nicola O'Brien was introduced on bass and vocals. The band recorded an album as a trio in ’04 and Paddy returned on mandolin.

Woodbine built up a very loyal fan base over the next four years. Their second album was recorded in 2007 and included a couple of original songs written by Tony. By 2008 Paddy was involved in different genres of music and it was decided to change the lineup with longtime friend Richard Hawkins coming in on banjo to replace Paddy. Richard retired from the band in 2017 and was replaced by Martin Cooney. After COVID, from 2021 the core of the band was back to Tony, Liam, and Nicola with various guests joining for gigs. The band recorded a third album in 2009 that included a banjo breakdown, ’Smokin’ Woodbine’, written by Richard.

Woodbine have played all the Irish bluegrass and bluegrass-related festivals, plus gigs in every corner of Ireland over the years. They were invited to play a special St Patrick’s day concert in Stormont in 2009, and played live on Ryan Tubridy’s RTE radio programme and Marty Whelan’s radio programme on Lyric FM.

The band have had the honour of many guests joining them on stage for some gigs:

• Various instruments: Clem O'Brien
• Mandolin: Gerry Madden, John Denby, Joe Meehan, Jan Michielsen, Darren Lawrence, Tom Corbett, Roger Green, Sean McKerr, Tom Mindte, Skip Gorman
• Banjo: Tom Hanway, John Brunschwyler, Evan Lyons, James Henry, Hugh McLean
• Dobro: Johnny Gleeson, P.J. Power, Colin Henry, Tom Poole
• Fiddle: Dessie Crerand, Charlie Arkins, George Kaye, Brian Thurber
• Bass: Beth Lawrence

It's been a great pleasure to share the stage with you all, thank you. Woodbine have had a wonderful journey and a big thank you goes to all our families, our many friends, festival and gig promoters for making it all possible.

From all in Woodbine, thanks for creating great memories.

The heart of Woodbine (l-r): Liam, Nicola, Tony

© Tony O'Brien

Songs sung to Sharp - from Martin Simpson and Thomm Jutz

Thanks to John Lawless on Bluegrass Today for news of a project that should be a classic for anyone interested in the links between the folk music of these islands and Appalachia. Topic Records, the venerable UK folk music record company, will release four weeks from today (29 Sept.) the album Nothing but Green Willow: the songs of Mary Sands and Jane Gentry.

English folk singer Martin Simpson and German-born, Nashville-based singer/songwriter Thomm Jutz combine in their settings of some of the songs that Cecil Sharp and Maud Karpeles collected in the Appalachians in 1916-18, the first instalment being published as English folk songs from the Southern Appalachians (1917). A video of a song from the album, 'Edwin in the lowlands low', sung by Tim O'Brien, is on Bluegrass Today and on YouTube. The first single released by Topic, however, is of Cara Dillon singing 'Come all you fair and tender ladies', which can be heard on the Topic website and on YouTube. In another Topic video from YouTube, Simpson and Jutz talk about the origins of the project.

It should be recognised that Sharp and Karpeles went to Appalachia because Olive Dame Campbell, who had already been collecting songs there, was able to show Sharp evidence that the mountain people had the old songs that he was looking for. Her name is on the title page of the 1917 collection, as it includes songs she had collected. The BIB has published several posts concerning Cecil Sharp, which can be found by clicking on the label 'Cecil Sharp' at the foot of this post.

© Richard Hawkins