Calendar 2020-21

The calendar is frequently updated, and past events are transferred to the separate calendar archive post. All events in the Irish bluegrass festival season for which we have dates can be found below. Some items of country music news, prepared by the Country Music Association of Ireland, can be seen here.

A few important and/or accessible events outside Ireland are also listed. For a fuller listing of events in the UK, see the calendar pages on the BBMA website and FOAOTMAD website. A select list of festivals in Europe is on the EBMA website.

Bands and event/venue organisers: if your session or event is not shown here, contact the editor. Punters: please note that tour schedules often have to be changed, so before you go to a show, please check that the date and place are still the same as when you first noted it down.

Regular fortnightly or monthly events are shown on the main calendar at the appropriate dates. To avoid overloading the calendar, here is a list of gigs and sessions held EVERY WEEK:

IMPORTANT: During COVID-19 restrictions it should be assumed that all performance venues will be closed.

Monday: Lee Valley String Band, Corner House, Coburg St., Cork city
Blue Light Smugglers, The Blue Light, Barnacullia Rd, Dublin 18

Tuesday: Dublin Bluegrass circle jam session, Sin E Bar, Ormond Quay, Dublin, 8.00 p.m. to closing time

Wednesday:Bluegrass & old-time gig/session (Broken Strings band), Balloo House, Killinchy, Co. Down, 9.00 p.m.; 'phone 028 9754 1210
The Sundown Sessions, The Raven Bar, 100 South Main St, Cork city: Rattlesnake County (broad mix of bluegrass, country, folk, Americana), from 9.30 p.m., open to all

Thursday: Tin Box Company bluegrass gig at Delaney's (Knocklyon Inn), Knocklyon, Dublin, 9.00 p.m. Contact Martin Kavanagh (087-2504505)
Knotty Pine String Band, Sally O’Brien's, John St., Omagh, Co. Tyrone, 10.00 p.m.; all players welcome, adm. free
Sacred Harp singing session, Unitarian Church, Princes St., Cork city, 7.00-9.00 p.m.; all welcome
Two Time Polka, The Poor Relation, Parnell Place, Cork, 9.30 p.m., adm. free; 021 4949049 (from 10 Oct. 2019, except for 31 Oct.)

Friday: Bluegrass session [may contain Irish music!], Cryan's Bar, Bridge St., Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, after 9.00 p.m.
Watery Hill Boys, Carberry's, North Strand, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Sacred Harp singing session, Franciscan Friary, Cook St., Dublin 8 ; 7.00-9.00 p.m.; admission free, all welcome
Ox Mountain Session (old-time), Tricky McGarrigle's, O'Connell St., Sligo, 5.30-8.00 p.m.

Saturday: Old-time music session: Bill Whelan, Ben Keogh, & friends, The Cobblestone, Smithfield, Dublin, 4.30-7.00 p.m. (established for many years!)
'Bluegrass and Beyond' session, Ellie May's, Dunadry, Co. Antrim, 3.00-6.00 p.m.

Sunday: Well Enough Alone, Kilkenny Shop restaurant, Nassau St., Dublin 2, 2.15-4.15 p.m.
Mules & Men, Leeson Lounge, 148 Leeson St. Upper, Dublin 4, 6.00 p.m.
Lee Valley String Band, Corner House, Coburg St., Cork city, 7.30/8.00 p.m. onwards
Tim Rogers & the Clew Bay Critters, McGing's, High St., Westport, Co. Mayo, 10.00 p.m.
Old-time music session: Upcounty String Ticklers (Kevin Beggan, Adam Shapiro, Stewart MacPhail), Cliffs of Moher Hotel in Liscannor, Co. Clare, 1.00-3.00 p.m., 17 Mar. to end Oct./ early Nov.

If you first heard about an event from the Bluegrass Ireland Blog, we'll appreciate it if you tell the organisers that.


JANUARY 2020

Wed. 1st: Danny Burns, Grand Central Bar, Derry city
Woodbine (trio configuration), Touhy's Bar, Rathdowney, Co. Laois, 9.30 p.m.

Thurs. 2nd: Danny Burns, Whelan's, Wexford St., Dublin 2
First weekly 'My Grass Is Blue' show, hosted by Dave Byrne Sr, on The Bluegrass Jamboree online streaming bluegrass service

Fri. 3rd: Bluegrass/ Americana open session, 'Juniors' (Byrne's), Rathdangan, Co. Wicklow, 9.30 p.m.

Sat. 4th: Niall Toner's 'Roots Freeway' begins new season on RTÉ Radio 1 (weekly, 11.00 p.m.)

Fri. 10th: Red Hat Acoustic Music Club, Harbour Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare, from 8.30 p.m.

Wed. 15th: Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA), Campbell's Tavern, Headford, Co. Galway, 9.00 p.m.; 093 35454

Wed. 15th-Sun. 19th: Whelan's Ones to Watch 2020 festival, Whelan's, Wexford St., Dublin 2

Thurs. 16th-Mon. 20th: 21st Shannonside Winter Music Festival, Bunratty and Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare; Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA), Sons of Navarone (BE), many more; programme

Thurs. 16th-Sun. 2nd Feb.: Celtic Connections festival, Glasgow: programme; brochure; Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Peggy Seeger, Local Honeys, Sierra Hull, Dirk Powell, Joe Newberry & April Verch, many more

Fri. 17th: The Local Honeys (USA), The Grand Social, 35 Lower Liffey St., Dublin 1, 8.00 p.m.
Danny Burns, The American Bar, Belfast

Mon. 20th: Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA), Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m., supported by Table for Two (Belgium/ Denmark); 087 792 1771

Tues. 21st: Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, 8.00 p.m.; tickets from €27.50
Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA), Merry's Bar and Restaurant, Lower Main St., Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, 8.00 p.m.; 087 064 0542
Howard Staton 'Cedric Rainwater' Watts died, 1970

Wed. 22nd: Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA), The Coachman, Parnell St., Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, 8.00 p.m.; 085 850 2289

Wed. 22nd-Sun. 26th: Tradfest 2020, Temple Bar, Dublin 2: Della Mae, Ron Block & Damien O'Kane, many more; full programme

Thurs. 23rd: Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA), St John's Theatre, The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, 8.00 p.m.; 068 22566
Cup O' Joe, the Black Box, Belfast, 1.00 p.m., £8.00 (part of 15th Out to Lunch Festival)

Fri. 24th: Ron Block (USA) and Damien O'Kane, Lost Lane, Dublin, 8.00 p.m. (part of Tradfest 2020)
Danny Burns, with Robin James Hurt, Workman's Club, Wellington Quay, Dublin
Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA), Coastguard Cultural Centre, Love Lane, Tramore, Co. Waterford, 8.00 p.m.; 051 391 656
Greenshine, the Asgard Theatre, 34/35 Lower Main St., Arklow, Co. Wicklow, Y14 K7W8, 8.00 p.m., €15; booking online
Two Time Polka, The Irish Whip Bar, Main St., Ballydehob, Co. Cork, 10.00 p.m., adm. free; 028 37191 (part of Heart and Home Bluegrass Festival)

Fri. 24th-Sun. 26th: Heart and Home Bluegrass Festival, Ballydehob, Co. Cork; the Grove Band (UK), Long Way Home (NL/US); Sat. 25th, Festival Headline Concert, Community Hall, 7.00 p.m.; Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA), supported by Table for Two (Belgium/ Denmark)

Sat. 25th: Mules & Men, Harbour Bar, Bray, Co. Wicklow, 3.00 p.m., adm. free (part of Banjo & Bovril Trad & Folk Festival)
Danny Burns, Iontas Arts & Community Resource Centre, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan
Two Time Polka, The Irish Whip Bar, Main St., Ballydehob, Co. Cork, 10.00 p.m., adm. free; 028 37191 (part of Heart and Home Bluegrass Festival)

Sun. 26th: Della Mae (USA), Lost Lane, Dublin, 8.00 p.m. (part of Tradfest 2020)
Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA), Glen Theatre, Banteer, Co. Cork, 8.30 p.m.; supported by Table for Two (Belgium/ Denmark); 087 792 1771
Hubert Murray and Dave Hawkins host new monthly bluegrass session, Eugene Kelly's Lounge, Convent Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly 7GH5+3G, 4.00-7.00 p.m.; all pickers welcome
Janet Dowd, Colin Henry, and David Bell on 'Hame', BBC2 NI TV, 10.00 p.m.

Mon. 27th: Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA), Rory Gallagher Music Library, Grand Parade, Cork city, 1.00 p.m.; 021 492 4907

Tues. 28th: Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA), Mallow Library, Thomas Davis St., Mallow, Co. Cork, 1.00 p.m.; 022 21821; Tuohy's Bar, Pound St., Rathdowney, Co. Laois, 9.00 p.m.; 087 967 5752
Danny Burns, Town Hall Theatre, Galway city

Wed. 29th: Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA), The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, 8.30 p.m.; 0044 7736 837 779
Cup O' Joe, Groucho's Cafe Bar, Richhill, Co. Armagh, 7.00 p.m.

Thurs. 30th: Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA), Dorney Bridge, Ballinamallard, Co. Fermanagh, 8.15 p.m.; 0044 7716 267 625

Thurs. 30th-Sun. 2nd Feb.: SPBGMA 46th Annual Bluegrass Music Awards and 37th National Convention and Band Championship, Nashville, TN; Niall Toner Band, many more


FEBRUARY 2020

Sat. !st: Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA), St Senan's Church of Ireland, Ardrum, Inniscarra, Co. Cork, 8.00 p.m.; 087 792 1771

Sun. 2nd: Seth Mulder & Midnight Run (USA), Horan's Bar & Restaurant, Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, 4.00 p.m.; 059 648 1733

Tues. 4th: Local Honeys (USA), Whelan's, Wexford St., Dublin 2, €15

Wed. 5th: Local Honeys (USA), Matt Molloy's, Bridge St., Westport, Co. Mayo

Fri. 7th: Local Honeys (USA), Imbolc International Arts Festival, Derry city, with Rioghnach Connolly and band
Bluegrass/ Americana open session, 'Juniors' (Byrne's), Rathdangan, Co. Wicklow, 9.30 p.m.

Sat. 8th: Local Honeys (USA), Draiocht, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 (aupporting Sharon Shannon)

Wed. 12th: Harley 'Red' Allen born, 1930

Thurs. 13th: Danny Burns, Strule Arts Centre, Omagh, Co. Tyrone
Grits & Gravy Stringband, Burnetts Hill Chapel, Marletwy, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA67 8AX, 7.30 p.m., £12; 01646 621530 / 01646 651725

Fri. 14th: Red Hat Acoustic Music Club, Harbour Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare, from 8.30 p.m.

Fri. 14th-Mon. 17th: 26th Gainsborough Old Time Festival, Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. DN21 2ST, England; lineup includes Grits & Gravy Stringband (IRL), many more

Tues. 18th: The Dead South (CAN), Vicar Street, Dublin [SOLD OUT]

Wed. 19th: The Dead South (CAN), Ulster Hall, Belfast, £25

Fri. 21st-Sat. 22nd: Danny Burns, Ted Fest, Inishmore, Co. Galway

Fri. 21st-Sun. 23rd: Third Annual Irish Old-Time Appalachian Music Gathering, Roadside Tavern, Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare; Clay Buckner (USA) to lead sessions and fiddle workshops; Sacred Harp introduction session

Sun. 23rd: Tullamore Bluegrass Session, Eugene Kelly's, Convent Road, Tullamore 7GH5+3G, 4.00-7.00 p.m.; all pickers welcome

Thurs. 27th-Mon. 2 Mar.: Tenth Ireland Sacred Harp Convention, Cork city


MARCH 2020

Thurs. 5th: Hayseed Dixie (USA), Whelan’s, Wexford St., Dublin 2, €21

Fri. 6th: Hayseed Dixie (USA), Empire Music Hall, 42 Botanic Ave., Belfast, 8.30 p.m., £19.50
Bluegrass/ Americana open session, 'Juniors' (Byrne's), Rathdangan, Co. Wicklow, 9.30 p.m.

Fri. 6th-Sat. 7th: 5th Barcelona Bluegrass Camp, Centre Civic La Sedeta, Barcelona, Spain

Sat. 7th: Deering Banjo 2020 Event, North Light Gallery, Brooke’s Mill, Armitage Bridge, Huddersfield HD4 7NR, Yorkshire, England; tickets from £22
Hayseed Dixie (USA), Roisin Dubh, Galway city, doors 20:00, €22.50

Sun. 8th: Wookalily launch new single 'Whiskey and wine', Sunflower Bar, Belfast, with Accomplice Moon, Bläk Byrd, Si; 3.00-6.00 p.m.; tickets £5.00 online

Wed. 11th: Steve Martin (USA) and Martin Short (CAN), 'The Funniest Show In Town At The Moment', plus Steep Canyon Rangers (USA), 3 Arena, Dublin, 8.00 p.m.; tickets

Thurs. 12th: Steve Martin (USA) and Martin Short (CAN), 'The Funniest Show In Town At The Moment', plus Steep Canyon Rangers (USA), SSE Arena, Belfast, 8.00 p.m.; tickets [CANCELLED]

Fri. 13th: Red Hat Acoustic Music Club, Harbour Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare, from 8.30 p.m. [CANCELLED]

Fri. 20th: Mules & Men release new single, ‘John Keavney’ (official video) plus two other tracks from album Roscommon County Line

Fri. 20th-Sun. 22nd: #StayAtHomeFestival (on Instagram): April Verch, Tatiana Hargreaves, Laura Cortese, many more

Thurs. 26th: John Lewis Starling (the Seldom Scene) born, 1940

Sat. 28th: Gerry Grennan Celebration Night online concert, part 1, shown on Facebook (Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo)

Sun. 29th: Gerry Grennan Celebration Night online concert, part 2, shown on Facebook (Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo)
Tullamore Bluegrass Session, Eugene Kelly's, Convent Road, Tullamore 7GH5+3G, 4.00-7.00 p.m.; all pickers welcome


APRIL 2020
Mon. 13th-Fri. 17th: 25th Sore Fingers bluegrass/ old-time instruction week, Kingham Hill School, Oxfordshire, England - projected reschedule to 14-20 Dec.

Thurs. 23rd-Sun. 26th: 33rd MerleFest, Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro, NC CANCELLED

Sat. 25th: We Banjo 3, Town Hall Theatre, Westport, Co. Mayo, doors 7.30 p.m., show 8.00; €22 [POSTPONED to 12 Nov. 2020]

Sun. 26th: Tullamore Bluegrass Session, Eugene Kelly's, Convent Road, Tullamore 7GH5+3G, 4.00-7.00 p.m.; all pickers welcome


MAY 2020

Fri. 1st: Bluegrass/ Americana open session, 'Juniors' (Byrne's), Rathdangan, Co. Wicklow, 9.30 p.m.

Fri. 1st-Sun. 3rd: Cahersiveen Mountain Roots Music, Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry [CANCELLED]

Fri. 1st-Mon. 4th: 23rd Smithwicks Kilkenny Roots Festival, Kilkenny city [CANCELLED]

Wed. 6th-Sun. 17th: Tour by 10 String Symphony (USA) [POSTPONED to May 2021]

Thurs. 7th-Sun. 10th: Baltimore Fiddle Fair, Baltimore, Co. Cork: Skillet Licorice (USA), many more [CANCELLED]

Thurs. 7th-Sun. 10th: Crossover Festival, Chetwynd Deer Park, Newport, Shropshire, England [CANCELLED]

Fri. 8th: Red Hat Acoustic Music Club, Harbour Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare, from 8.30 p.m.

Sat. 9th-Sat. 16th: Old Time Music Week, La Fuente, Andalusia, southern Spain: fiddle, banjo, guitar, duet singing, and more taught by Dave Bing, Beverly Smith, Johnny Whelan, Kate Lissauer, others TBC

Fri. 15th-Sat. 16th: 18th International Bühl Bluegrass Festival, Bühl, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; Blue Grass Boogiemen (NL), Hackensaw Boys (USA), Cousin Hatfield (NL), Munich String Band (D), Old Salt (B), Chatham County Line (USA), Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands (USA) POSTPONED to 14-15 May 2021

Sat. 16th: Concert commemorating Pete Stanley (1937-2020), Cecil Sharp House, London; details TBA

Wed. 20th-Thurs. 28th: Foghorn Stringband (USA) tour in Ireland CANCELLED

Fri. 22nd-Sun. 24th: 29th Annual Bluegrass Festival, Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone: Appalachian Roadshow, A.J. Lee & Blue Summit, Jonathan Byrd & the Pick Up Cowboys, Honey Dewdrops, Zoe & Cloyd (all USA), Niall Toner Band, Jaywalkers (GB), more TBA CANCELLED (see 14-15 May 2021)

Tues. 26th: Lance Leroy born, 1930

Sun. 31st: Tullamore Bluegrass Session, Eugene Kelly's, Convent Road, Tullamore 7GH5+3G, 4.00-7.00 p.m.; all pickers welcome


JUNE 2020

Thurs. 4th-Mon. 8th: 4th BAND Festival (Bluegrass And Nashville Dunfanaghy), Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal CANCELLED

Fri. 5th: Bluegrass/ Americana open session, 'Juniors' (Byrne's), Rathdangan, Co. Wicklow, 9.30 p.m.

Fri. 5th-Sun. 7th: Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Westport, Co. Mayo: Kody Norris Show (USA), Erynn Marshal & Carl Jones (USA), SLO County Stumblers (USA), Cornmaiz String Band (USA), Johnny & the Yooahoos (D), Pet Yeti (NI/GB), Jumper Cables (CZ), Lunch Special (GB), Dave Kline & the Mountain Folk Band (USA), No Oil Paintings (NI) CANCELLED

Fri. 12th: Red Hat Acoustic Music Club, Harbour Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare, from 8.30 p.m.

Sat. 20th: Blanche Pauline 'Mom' Lewis (the Lewis Family) born, 1910

Sun. 28th: Tullamore Bluegrass Session, Eugene Kelly's, Convent Road, Tullamore 7GH5+3G, 4.00-7.00 p.m.; all pickers welcome


JULY 2020

Sat. 4th: Sacred Harp Singers of Dublin, National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Dublin CANCELLED

Fri. 10th: Red Hat Acoustic Music Club, Harbour Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare, from 8.30 p.m.

Fri. 17th-Sun. 19th: 13th Ardara Bluegrass Festival, Ardara, Co. Donegal [CANCELLED]

Wed. 29th-Sun. 2nd Aug.: La Roche Bluegrass Festival, La Roche-sur-Foron, Hautes Alpes, France; European band contest [CANCELLED]


AUGUST 2020

Sun. 2nd: Mitch Jayne (the Dillards) died, 2010

Fri. 14th: Red Hat Acoustic Music Club, Harbour Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare, from 8.30 p.m.

Thurs. 20th: Tom Hanway born, 1961

Sat. 22nd-Sun. 23rd: 10th Cork Sacred Harp All Day Singing [CANCELLED]

Sat. 29th-Sun. 30th: 26th Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford; contact Mick Daly, 00353 (0)51 878832; e-mail [POSTPONED to 27-9 Aug. 2021]


SEPTEMBER 2020

Fri. 4th-Sat. 5th: First Earl Scruggs Music Festival, Tryon International Equestrian Center, Mill Spring, NC: Marty Stuart & his Fabulous Superlatives, Jerry Douglas, Alison Brown, Dom Flemons, Radney Foster, Barefoot Movement, Darin and Brooke Aldridge, Po' Ramblin' Boys, Unspoken Tradition, Chatham County Line, Jim Lauderdale, Earls of Leicester, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder [POSTPONED to 3-4 Sept. 1921]

Fri. 4th-Sun. 6th: Didmarton Bluegrass Festival, Kemble Airfield, Glos., England POSTPONED to 2021

Fri. 11th: Red Hat Acoustic Music Club, Harbour Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare, from 8.30 p.m.

Wed. 16th: Roger Bush (the Kentucky Colonels) born, 1940

Sat. 19th: Leroy Mack McNees (the Kentucky Colonels) born, 1940

Tues. 29th-Sat. 3rd Oct.: International Bluegrass Music Association World of Bluegrass - VIRTUAL EVENT


OCTOBER 2020

Fri. 23rd-Mon. 26th: Balla Bluegrass Festival, Balla, Co. Mayo [CANCELLED]


NOVEMBER 2020

Sat. 7th: Alvin Pleasant Carter died, 1960


DECEMBER 2020

Tues. 8th: Earl Scruggs first plays at the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, as a member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, 1945


JANUARY 2021

Fri. 8th: Red Hat Acoustic Music Club, virtual meeting

Thurs. 28th: mygrassisblue.com present an Album Release Feature on www.thebluegrassjamboree.com, 10.00 p.m.-midnight GMT; Alan Bibey & Grasstowne, Hitchhiking to California


JUNE 20-21

Fri. 11th-Sun. 13th: 14th Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Westport, Co. Mayo; details TBA


AUGUST 2021

Thurs. 26th-Sun. 29th: 26th Dunmore East Bluegrass Festival, Co. Waterford; details TBA


SEPTEMBER 2021

Fri. 24th-Sun. 26th: 12th Moniaive Michaelmas Bluegrass Festival, Moniaive, Ayrshire, Scotland; Nu-Blu (USA), Jeff Scroggins & the Scroggdogs (USA), more; see website