Calendar 2024-5

This extension to the BIB calendar includes some items that were entered before the editor's retirement in September 2023, together with some that have been since been added for the benefit of anyone who might still be looking up the BIB calendar. The comments at the end all belong to the pre-retirement period.


JANUARY 2024

Sat. 13th: Earl Scruggs 100th Birthday Celebration, Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN: Bela Fleck, Jim Mills, Charlie Cushman, Gina Britt, Tony Trischka, Alison Brown, Earls of Leicester, Del McCoury, Sam Bush, Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan, Justin Moses. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Thurs. 18th-Sun. 4th: Celtic Connections festival, Glasgow, Scotland; programme includes Chris Thile, Molly Tuttle, Sarah Jarosz, Kaia Kater, Natalie Haas, Alison Brown, Tim O'Brien, Béla Fleck & ‘My Bluegrass Heart’, Transatlantic Sessions, many more

Wed. 24th-Sun. 28th: TradFest 2024, Temple Bar district, Dublin 2; artists include Alison Brown, Aoife O'Donovan, Kaia Kater, Shane Hennessy, more TBA


FEBRUARY 2024

Fri. 2nd-Sun. 4th: Ardara Bluegrass Festival, Ardara, Co. Donegal: East Nash Grass (USA), other acts TBA; tickets from Pat McGill, 087 6900 714


MARCH 2024

Sat. 16th: New single and video, 'Across the pond' from JigJam

Sat. 16th: Two Time Polka, outdoor, Blarney, Co. Cork. from midday

Sun. 17th: Two Time Polka, Crane Lane Theatre, Phoenix St., Cork city, 2.00 p.m.; Canty’s Bar, Pembroke St., Cork city, 7.30 p.m.

Fri. 22nd: Bela Fleck on Deering Live

Wed. 27th: JigJam on Deering Live (watch on YouTube

Sat. 30th: I Draw Slow with support, Whelan's Main Venue, Dublin 2; tickets


APRIL 2004

Sun. 7th: Two Time Polka, Crane Lane Theatre, Phoenix St, Cork city, from midnight

Mon. 15th: Two Time Polka release new CD Border radio

Thurs. 25th-Sat. 4th May: Joachim Cooder with Rayna Gellert (fiddle), tour of Ireland: Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast, 25th; Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart, 26th; Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, 27th; Dolans Upstairs, Limerick, 28th; Matt Molloy's, Westport, 29th; Campbell's, Headford, 30th; Whelan's main venue, Wexford St., Dublin, May 1st, 8.00-10.45 p.m., €30.00; Cyprus Avenue, cork, May 2nd; Connolly's. Leap, May 3rd; Kilkenny Roots Festival, 4th May
.

MAY 2024

Fri. 3rd-Sat. 4th: 20th International Bühl Bluegrass-Festival, Bühl/Baden, Germany

Fri. 3rd-Mon. 6th: Bluegrass Omagh 2024, Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone; Nothin' Fancy (USA), Thomas Cassell (USA), Milkeaters (CZ), Rookie Riot (SE), Pilgrim St (IRL)

Fri. 3rd-Mon. 6th: 26th Kilkenny Roots Festival

Sat. 4th: Two Time Polka, The Left Bank, The Parade, Kilkenny city, 4.00 p.m.; Billy Byrnes, John St. Upper, Kilkenny city. 10.00 p.m. (part of 26th Kilkenny Roots Festival)

Sun. 5th: Two Time Polka, The Shebeen Bar, New Market St., Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry, 11.00 p.m., €10 (part of Cahersiveen Mountain Roots Music Festival)

Sat. 18th: Two Time Polka, Cherrytree Bar, Walkinstown, Dublin, 9.00 p.m., tickets

Sun. 19th: Two Time Polka, The Nest, Coughlans Bar, Douglas St. Cork, 6.00 p.m., tickets

Fri. 31st: Two Time Polka, Harley Tent, Killarney, Co. Kerry, 9.30 p.m. (part of Bikefest)


JUNE 2024

Sun. 2nd: Two Time Polka, River Stage, Clashmore, Co. Waterford, 3.30 p.m. (part of Strings & Things Festival)

Mon. 3rd: Over the Moon (Canadian roots/country duo), Bridge Hotel Arklow, 8.30 p.m. Donations basis. Reserve at Eventbrite

Fri. 7th: Two Time Polka, Lighthouse Bar, Allihies, Co. Cork, 10.00 p.m. (part of Michael Dwyer Festival)

Fri. 7th-Sun. 9th: 18th Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Westport, Co. Mayo: Martha Spencer & the Wonderland Country Band (USA), The Wayfarers (USA), Remedy Tree (USA), Pauline Scanlon (IRL), Zoe & Cloyd (USA), East Tennessee State University Bluegrass Band (USA), Big Chimney Barn-Dance (USA), Hackney Hill Pickers (UK), The Folly Brothers (UK), Late for the Train (USA), The Lois & Clark Expedition (USA), The Rocky Top String Band (IRL), Tim Rogers (IRL)

Sun. 9th: Two Time Polka, Crane Lane Theatre, Pembroke St., Cork city, midnight

Thurs. 13th: Jake Blount, Mussenden Temple, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry

Fri. 14th: Jake Blount, Market Place Theatre, Armagh city

Sat. 15th: Jake Blount, Strule Arts Centre, Omagh, Co. Tyrone

Sun. 16th: Jake Blount, Black Box, Belfast, 7.00 p.m.

Sat. 22nd: Mike Mitchell Bluegrass Band (USA), Seamus Ennis Arts Centre, Naul. Co. Dublin, 8.30 p.m., €30

Sun. 23rd: Mike Mitchell Bluegrass Band (USA), St John's Theatre, Listowel, Co. Kerry, 8.00 p.m., €20

Mon. 24th: Mike Mitchell Bluegrass Band (USA), Schoolyard Theatre, Charleville, Co. Cork

Tues. 25th: Mike Mitchell Bluegrass Band (USA), Colfer's, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford

Wed. 26th: Mike Mitchell Bluegrass Band (USA), Bob's Bar, Durrow, Co. Laois

Fri. 28th-Sun. 30th: Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; very distinguished lineup


JULY 2024

Fri. 19th: Gary Ferguson (USA), Johnny Gleeson, and Colin Henry, The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone; +44 7979 742843; e-mail

Sat/ 20th: Gary Ferguson (USA), Johnny Gleeson, and Colin Henry, The Moorings, Bellanaleck, Co. Fermanagh; +44 28 6634 8679, e-mail

Sun. 21st: Gary Ferguson (USA), Johnny Gleeson, and Colin Henry, Little Whelan's, Dublin 2; +353 (0)1 478 0766 e-mail

Mon. 22nd: Gary Ferguson (USA), Johnny Gleeson, and Colin Henry, Ballymore Acoustic Gigs, Hollywood, Co. Wicklow; e-mail

Tues. 23rd: Gary Ferguson (USA), Johnny Gleeson, and Colin Henry, Athy Arts Centre, Athy, Co. KIldare; +353 87 057 6713; e-mail

Wed. 24th: Gary Ferguson (USA), Johnny Gleeson, and Colin Henry, St John's Theatre, Listowel, Co. Kerry; +353 68 22566, e-mail

Thurs. 25th: Gary Ferguson (USA), Johnny Gleeson, and Colin Henry, Mallow Arts Festival, Co. Cork; e-mail

Fri. 26th: Gary Ferguson (USA), Johnny Gleeson, and Colin Henry, Phil Murphy Weekend, Colfer's, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford; e-mail

Wed. 31st: Jerry Douglas (USA), Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, 8.00 p.m.; tickets (€31 + booking fee)

Mon. 29th: Jack Garton & Kathleen Nisbet (Viper Central, CAN), Bridge Hotel, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, 8.30 p.m.; info and reservations at Eventbrite

Wed. 31st-Sun. 4th Aug.: Bluegrass in La Roche, La Roche-sur-Foron, Haute Savoie, France; full schedule


AUGUST 2024

Fri. 2nd: Two Time Polka, Red Ned's Bar, Ogle St., Artmagh city, 9.30 p.m. (part of 7 Hills Blues Festival)

Sat. 3rd: Two Time Polka, O’Connell St. stage, Waterford city, 4.30 p.m. (part of Waterford Spaoi)

Sun. 4th: Two Time Polka, outside the Library, Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry, 3.00 p.m. (part of Cahersiveen Music & Arts Festival)

Sun. 4th. Two Time Polka, main stage, Killarney, Co. Kerry, 7.00 p.m. (part of Eats & Beats Music Food & Arts Festival)

Sun. 11th: Two Time Polka, from midnight, Crane Lane Theatre, Cork city

Sat. 17th: Two Time Polka, main stage, Ostend, Belgium, 8.45 p.m. (part of Paulusfeesten)

Fri. 30th-Sat. 1st Sept.: Earl Scruggs Music Festival, Mill Spring, North Carolina, USA


SEPTEMBER 2024

Fri. 6th-Sun. 8th: Glasgow Mandolin Retreat, Glasgow, Scotland (see also Bluegrass Today)

Wed. 11th: Three Rennessee Tenors (USA), St John's Theatre & Arts Centre, Listowel, Co. Kerry
Thurs. 12th: Three Rennessee Tenors (USA), Abymill Theatre, Fethard, Co. Tipperary (a Clonmel World Music presentation)

Fri. 13th: Three Rennessee Tenors (USA), Séamus Ennis Arts Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin

Sat. 14th: Three Rennessee Tenors (USA), Balor Arts Centre, Ballbofey, Co. Donegal

Sun. 15th: Three Rennessee Tenors (USA), Townhall Arts Centre, Cavan, Co. Cavan

Tues. 24th-Sat. 28th: IBMA World Of Bluegrass, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA


OCTOBER 2024

Mon. 7th: Niall Toner and Andrea Booth in concert, Bridge Hotel, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, 8.30 p.m., reservations (donation basis) on Eventbrite or by e-mail (An Arklow Roots Music production)

Fri. 18th: Campbell Jensen (USA), Levis' Bar, Ballydehob, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m.

Sat. 19th: Campbell Jensen (USA), Bridge Street, Tim Clifford, Killorglin, Co. Kerry, 9.00 p.m.

Sun. 20th: Campbell Jensen (USA), Colfers Pub, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford, 8.00 p.m.

Thurs. 24th: Campbell Jensen (USA), Fitzroy Presbyterian Church, Belfast, 7.30 p.m.

Fri. 25th: Campbell Jensen (USA), Sligo Live 2024, Sligo town, 8.00 p.m.

Fri. 25th: Two Time Polka, Hamlets, Kinsale, 6.00-8.00 p.m. (part of Guinness Cork Jazz Festival)

Sat. 26th: Campbell Jensen (USA), Clew Bay Hotel, Westport, Co. Mayo, 8.00 p.m., €20 (part of Westival)

Sat. 26th: Two Time Polka, Blue Haven, Kinsale, 4.00-6.00 p.m. (part of Guinness Cork Jazz Festival)

Sun. 27th: Two Time Polka, Briar Rose, Douglas, 9.30-11.30 p.m. (part of Guinness Cork Jazz Festival)

Mon. 28th: Two Time Polka, Briar Rose, Douglas, 6.00-8.00 p.m. (part of Guinness Cork Jazz Festival)


NOVEMBER 2024

Sun. 3rd: Two Time Polka, Crane Lane Theatre, Cork city, midnight-2.00 a.m.

Thurs. 7th-Sat. 8th: Industrial Strength Bluegrass Festival, Wilmington, OH, USA (IBMA Event of the Year 2022 and 2024)

Wed. 13th: Julian Lage (USA), Belfast Empire Music Hall, 7.30-10.00 p.m.; tickets

Fri. 15th: Julian Lage (USA), Whelan's, Dublin 2: early and late shows both SOLD OUT

Thurs. 28th: Eilidh Patterson, Bridge Hotel, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, 8.30 p.m.; support by Aaron Murphy and emily O'Rourke; reservations; donations basis


JANUARY 2025

Thurs. 16th-Sun. 2nd Feb.: Celtic Connections festival, Glasgow, Scotland: artists include Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves, Cahalen Morrison, Tim O'Brien & Jan Fabricius, Lyle Lovett & his Acoustic Group, Hawktail & Väsen, Willie Watson, Hayseed Dixie, Transatlantic Sessions

Fri. 17th: Special Consensus (USA), Séamus Ennis Arts Centre & Café, Naul, Co. Dublin, 8.00 p.m.

Sat. 18th: Special Consensus (USA), Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo town, 8.00 p.m.

Sun. 19th: Special Consensus (USA), Matt Molloy's, Westport, Co. Mayo, 9.00 p.m.

Tues. 21st: Special Consensus (USA), Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, 8.00 p.m.

Wed. 22nd: Special Consensus (USA), Black Box, Belfast, 1.00 p.m.

Thurs. 23rd: Special Consensus (USA), Court House, Bangor, Co. Down, 8.00 p.m.

Thurs. 23rd: 'Peggy Seeger in conversation', Áras Chrónáin Irish Cultural Centre, Clondalkin, Co. Dublin, 8.00 p.m., €19.99 (part of TradFest)

Thurs. 23rd: Tim O'Brien (USA), Belfast

Fri. 24th: Special Consensus (USA), Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Limavady, Co. Londonderry, 8.00 p.m.

Sat. 25th: Special Consensus (USA), Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre, Armagh city, 8.00 p.m.

Sat. 25th: Tim O'Brien (USA), Omagh, Co. Tyrone

[Sun. 26th - Thurs. 30th: Special C. dates in Britain]

Thurs. 30th: Tim O'Brien (USA), Sligo town

Fri. 31st: Special Consensus (USA), Colfers Pub, Carrig On Bannow, Co. Wexford, 9.00 p.m.

Fri. 31st: Tim O'Brien (USA), Dublin city


FEBRUARY 2025

Sat. 1st: Special Consensus (USA), Abymill Theatre, Fethard, Co. Tipperary, 8.00 p.m.

Sun. 2nd: Special Consensus (USA), The Beehive. Ardara, Co. Donegal, 7.00 p.m.

Tues. 4th: Special Consensus (USA), Campbell's Tavern, Headford, Co. Galway, 7.00 p.m.

Wed. 5th: Special Consensus (USA), Glen Theatre, Banteer, Co. Cork, 7.00 p.m.

Thurs. 6th: Special Consensus (USA), Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth, 8.00 p.m.

Fri. 7th: Special Consensus (USA), Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal,7.00 p.m.

Sat. 8th: Special Consensus (USA), Newcastle Community Cinema (NCC), Newcastle, Co. Down, 8.00 p.m.

Sun. 9th: Special Consensus (USA), Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, 8.00 p.m.

Thurs. 27th-Sun. 2 Mar.: European Bluegrass Summit 2025, Prague, Czech Republic


APRIL 2025

Mon. 14th-Sun. 20th: Sore Fingers Summer School, Kingham Hill School, Oxon., England


MAY 2025

Wed. 28th-Sun. 1st June: Bryan Sutton's Blue Ridge Guitar Camp, Brevard, NC


JULY 2025
Thurs. 17th-Sat. 19th: Industrial Strength Bluegrass Summer Fest, Xenia, OH, USA (IBMA Event of the Year 2022 and 2024)