Bluegrass Brothers: December in Dublin

Aran Sheehan and Patrick Simpson of the Bluegrass Brothers report that the band have three Dublin shows in December before retiring to an exotic location for rest and rehearsal for their 2010 schedule. The dates are:

Sun. 6th Le Cirk, Dame St., Dublin 2, 6.00 p.m. (as regulars on the Jack of Diamonds Sessions: see the Sessions poster, left)
Thurs. 10th Shebeen Chic, 4 George's St., Dublin 2, 9.00 p.m.
Sun. 13th Le Cirk, Dame St., Dublin 2, 6.00 p.m. (Jack of Diamonds Session)

Jim Rooney and Friends at Naul, 28 Nov.

L-r: Mick Daly, Jim Rooney, Arty McGlynn

Thanks to Patrick Simpson, who reports:

Just a short note to let you know the concert in the Seamus Ennis Centre, The Naul, was fantastic!... A really warm and welcoming night, with country blues, Irish jigs, and bluegrass music. They even threw in a Rolling Stones rock n' roll song! Pure class!! Here's a short video of Jim singing Bill Monroe's classic 'Sittin' on top of the world'.

Jim Rooney received the Americana Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in Nashville in September 2009 for his work as a record producer. His many other achievements include the first musical biography of Bill Monroe.

Numerically strongest band: a new contender

The Lee Valley String Band and Prison Love have some serious competition in the quest for the band that can put most musicians on stage. The young Dutch band Tangarine & Friends operate with an established strength of seven; the above press photo shows eight.

More about Tangarine & Friends is on the European Bluegrass Blog; you can sample the music on their website.

Chocolate Drops: so near and yet so far

Thanks to UKBluegrass.com for the news that the Carolina Chocolate Drops, leaders of the revival in black old-time string-band music, will be playing eight dates in Britain early in 2010, beginning on 26 January as part of the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, with the remaining seven dates in England. Their new CD, Genuine negro jig, will be released on Nonesuch Records on 25 January in the UK and 23 February in the US.

Unfortunately, though there appears to be a gap of over two weeks between the last English date and their next show in the US, there seem to be no plans for them to play in Ireland again on this trip...

4WD at Omagh 2009

Thanks to Jan Michielsen of 4 Wheel Drive (D/NL/B) for these photos of 4WD at this September's Omagh festival. Above, a fine chiaroscuro-laden shot of the band at full power in the Ship Gallery: Joost van Es (fiddle), Jurgen Biller (banjo), Alfred Bonk (bass), Ulli Sieker (mandolin), Jan (guitar).


Keeping Ulster Street tidy


In Newtownstewart: Riley Baugus playing clawhammer banjo


Ibid.: Jolanda Peters, Dirk Powell, Jan, Caleb Klauder

Jan's grandson Mirko can be seen on YouTube in the latest spectacular from Cheap Aldi Camera Productions.

Update 1 Dec.: Thanks to Jan also for correcting our initial guesswork on the location of the last two photos.

Kimmie Rhodes in Ireland, 30-31 Jan. 2010

G Promo PR, who include some bluegrass-related acts among their clients, announce that Texas singer/songwriter Kimmie Rhodes will be touring these islands from 21 January to 31 January 2010, starting with the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow. The last two dates on her schedule are in Ireland:

Sat. 30th Jan. Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo town; €15, 8.00 p.m.; + 353 (0) 71 916 1518
Sun. 31 Jan. Flowerfield Arts Centre, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry; £10, 7.15 p.m.; +44 (0)2870 831400

Kimmie Rhodes, who played five dates in Ireland in May, also has a MySpace site.

Hunter Robertson at Sweet Sunny South 2010

Hunter Robertson (whose new album of old-time music with Casey Joe Abair was reported on the BIB on 10 Sept. 2009) reports that he will be playing and teaching clawhammer banjo at the Sweet Sunny South old-time music festival in Hastings, England, next year (10-12 Sept. 2010) and is looking for gigs around it. He'll also be in the UK and Ireland in April 2010, and a gig then too would be a possibility.

Contact Hunter through his website or by e-mail. Take time to check out his website - the 'Banjo tips' page, for instance, has loads of good advice and several video lessons on clawhammer and old-time finger-picking.

Michael J. Miles CDs at $12

The latest newsletter from Michael J. Miles of Chicago announces that his CDs are on sale till 22 December at $12.00 each. They are strongly recommended for anyone who wants to hear the wide range of fine and moving music - from blues to Bach - that can be made using clawhammer-banjo technique.

Gibson and hardwood importation

Thanks to Patrick Simpson of the Bluegrass Brothers for drawing our attention to the news that the Gibson company are helping US authorities with their inquiries concerning a possible violation by the company of legislation against importing certain hardwoods.

As reported on the original Bluegrass Blog yesterday, the company's bluegrass division is not affected by the investigation. Read more here.

Allen Shelton, 1936-2009

Allen Shelton, 1969 (photo: Fred Robbins)

Thanks to Richard F Thompson of the BBMA for forwarding the sad news of the death of Allen Shelton, one of the most influential and innovative among bluegrass banjo-players of the 1950s and 1960s.

Beginning full-time music at the age of 16 with Jim Eanes, Shelton became known for his big smile and his original approach: the 'bounce' in his playing, his choice of unusual material such as 'Lady of Spain', playing 'Home sweet home' in D using Scruggs tuners, devising a means of getting a 'pedal-steel' sound from the banjo, and the modulations in his own compositions. His 'Banjo bounce' can be heard on YouTube. In addition to the bow-tie arch-top RB-250 he used for most of his career, he played latterly a dobro-banjo with the band of Jim & Jesse McReynolds.

More details are on the original Bluegrass Blog.

NTB news

As announced in the immediately preceding post, Niall Toner (left) will be presenting the first of a new series of 'Roots Freeway' on RTE Radio 1 at 11.00 p.m. on Saturday 5 Dec., with a Gibson SG Zoot Suit guitar as the prize in a competition to mark the occasion. Niall reports:

Although there is no all-bluegrass radio show on our national radio station, 'Roots Freeway' and its presenter are firm 'grass fans, as you know, and I will certainly be including plenty of that stuff during the new run. 'Roots Freeway' will replace Sandy Harsch's 'Country Time' for December, January, and February, when Sandy will return for another three-month slot with 'Country Time'.

On another subject, the recent NTB gigs with Peggy Seeger and Charlie McGettigan were a great sucess. The Unitarian Church in Stephen's Green was a tough sell, but on the night there was a great turnout, and a superbly well-behaved listening crowd enjoyed the show. The following night we repeated the same deal in the Docks Arts Centre in Carrick-on-Shannon. It's a superb venue, and the show was sold out well in advance. The organisers said that they could have sold a second show, but Peggy was due to travel back to the US the following morning. I'm sure we will be back there in 2010!

Gibson guitar as prize on 'Roots Freeway'

Niall Toner returns to RTE Radio One on Saturday 5 December at 11.00 p.m. to present a new series of 'Roots Freeway', with an eclectic mix of Blues, Old Timey, Folk, Ragtime, Acoustic Singer-Songwriter, Americana and Roots Music.

To celebrate Niall's return to the airwaves, the Gibson Company are offering a very special prize of a Gibson Zoot Suit SG Guitar to one lucky listener on Roots Freeway. Further details of this spectacular guitar can be seen here.

The competition begins on Saturday 5 December and entries can be made by text to 51551 during the programme, by e-mail any time, and by mail to Roots Freeway Gibson Zoot Suit SG Competition, RTE Radio One, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.

The competition is based on three simple questions:

1 What is the meaning of the slang word 'Zoot'?
2 Where was the original Gibson factory in the USA?
3 Name one world-famous player of a Gibson SG guitar?

All entries must include a contact number and a full postal address, and the closing date is 15 January 2010. The winner will be announced on Roots Freeway on Saturday 16 January 2010.

Further information from Producer Aidan Butler at 01-2082407
Presenter Niall Toner at 087-2877299

Tony Trischka School of Banjo

The Tony Trischka School of Banjo makes it possible for pickers anywhere in the world to register ($60 for three months) for online lessons at beginning, intermediate, or advanced level from one of the greatest living banjoists.

The website already has over 160 video lessons, and more are being added - clawhammer lessons from Bob Carlin are coming soon. In addition, a student can get personal banjo instruction by sending Tony Trischka a video via the site and receiving his response.

The many features of the site are well worth checking out - for instance, the link to 'The banjo project'. Thanks to Lilly Pavlak for forwarding news of the TTSB.

Deering banjos: special prices from Dangem

The Dangem Bluegrass Banjo company of Craigavon, Co. Armagh, announces that great Christmas savings are possible from now till 14 December 2009 for buyers of Deering banjos. You can save £300 on each of these Deering models:

Sierra (photo left) was £1,650.00; Deering roll-back price £1,350.00

Deluxe was £1,799.00; Deering roll-back price £1,499.00

Golden Era was £2,369.00; Deering roll-back price £2,069.00

Contact Dangem through their website or by 'phone (+44 07521 464125).

John Deere tractors on Rural TV

Rural TV asks: 'Do you love tractors? Do you use tractors? Want to know more? Well, here's your chance to question the experts from John Deere about the new 5 Series prior to RURAL TV Live on Monday 7 December @ 8.00 p.m. (GMT).' You can submit your questions now by this link.

We hope the music played throughout the programme will be 'John Deere tractor' and other tracks from the album of that name released in 2002 by Larry Sparks, IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year for 2004 and 2005. Two good photos of Larry Sparks with a John Deere machine can be seen on his website's album of old photos.

The text of a Flatpicking Guitar Magazine article on Larry Sparks, including notes on his guitar style, can be read here.

Bluegrass session at Thomas St., Dublin

Following Aran Sheehan's report of 29 October on the new jam session every Wednesday in Nash's pub, Thomas St., Dublin - thanks to Barney Bowes, who sends:

Some pics from Wednesday's pick at Nash's pub, Thomas St.; some hot pickers too. All are welcome - old-time too. Spread the word! If you have a banjo, mando, guitar, fiddle, bass, dobro, or sing, and like this kind of music, then check it out. For more info contact Barney Bowes (0861031541). See you there!


The photos show Barney (fiddle, guitar), members of Well Enough Alone and the Bluegrass Brothers, and something of the atmosphere of Nash's.

Bluegrass Brothers at the Shed and on MySpace

Patrick Simpson of the Bluegrass Brothers (above, left, with Aran Sheehan) reports:

Just thought I would let you know of some new tracks we've put up on our MySpace page. Hope you enjoy them. We are set to play The Shed on Friday 27 November 2009 from 8.00 p.m. onwards.

The Brothers' audio tracks on MySpace include 'Freeborn man', 'Shady Grove', 'Folsom Prison blues', 'Jerusalem Ridge', and 'Love please come home'. For newcomers to The Shed, see its website: 'a workshop space and venue in the city center, off Bolton Street, Dublin 1 (behind the Kings Inns Pub)'.

Phil Rosenthal and Naomi Sommers in Britain and Ireland, 2010

Phil Rosenthal (USA) and his daughter Naomi Sommers (above), who performed at this year's EWOB Festival in the Netherlands, are preparing a tour in these islands for September 2010.

Phil, who was lead singer and guitar player for the Seldom Scene from 1977 to 1986, has since run the award-winning American Melody record label. His latest CD is A treasury of bluegrass & country songs, and Naomi's is Gentle as the sun. Phil says:

Our tour is being booked by Grapevine Music. If you know of anyone who might want to add another date to our tour, please have them contact them.

Dangem Get-Together at Lisburn, 28 Nov. 2009

The Dangem Bluegrass Banjo company, supporters of the Omagh festival, continue their monthly series of bluegrass get-togethers at the Civic Centre in Lisburn, Co. Antrim. This month the Centre has been booked for Saturday 28 November, from 9.30 a.m. to 12.00 noon. All are welcome; a small fee for the hire of the room will be charged, about £3.00 each.

Full directions on getting to the Centre from north or south are on the front page of the Dangem website. The many other features of the website include a page where bands can post promotional material. Bands listed at present include the Knotty Pine String Band, Northern Exposure, and the Broken Strings Band.

Three Legends at Leap Castle, 27 Nov. 2009

Thanks to Tom Stapleton for this news of a show at Leap Castle, near Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, to add to the news of the same trio playing at Naul, Co. Dublin, the following night (does anyone know of other dates they will be playing?):

Last of the Leap Castle sessions for 2009 on Friday 27 November with the Three Legends - Jim Rooney (singer, songwriter, producer), Arty McGlynn (everyone's favourite guitarist), and Mick Daly (banjo, guitar, and one of my favourite singers).

Tickets limited to 50. Bring your own refreshment.

Tom Stapleton
The Music Store
Roscrea
Republic of Ireland
tel. 353 (0)505 23481

A band's memories of La Roche 2009

The Skillet Lickers (l-r: Mick Dunne, Jim MacArdle, Dick McGarry) playing the 'Fringe' at a cafe in the centre of La Roche

Thanks to Jim MacArdle and the Skillet Lickers band from Drogheda, who send this account of a memorable (and historic) bluegrass event abroad this summer (see also the BIB post of 16 Aug.):

Our decision to go to the La Roche Bluegrass Festival at a relatively late stage had much to do with the dismal Irish weather, so we found their website, and from our first contacts by e-mail the thoroughly professional approach of the festival organisers shone through.

We flew in to Geneva; a short car ride took us over the border to the medieval French town of La Roche-sur-Foron, a picturesque venue for a large and wonderfully run free festival – 38 groups appearing on the Main Stage (with the unbelievable backdrop of Mont Blanc), what appeared to be no end of musicians playing all over the town, Fringe starting Wednesday, Opening Concert on Thursday in nearby Saint-Pierre-en-Faucigny, Main Stage starting on Friday and continuing until late on Sunday evening – phew!

We arrived on the Tuesday [27 July] and had the privilege of opening the festival fringe, playing outside one of the many café-bars in the town at 6.00 p.m. on Wednesday, and played two more one-hour gigs by Friday evening, the nice thing being that this included a wonderful après-gig meal and a taste of the local amber nectar. There were plenty of picking sessions all round the town at almost every hour of the day and night, musicians from Russia and eastern Europe as well a strong contingent of French players, with the Django legacy sitting easily with straight bluegrass and old-timey.

All musicians were accommodated in the local school, a short distance from the town centre, and in the beautiful weather we went to bed and woke up to the wonderful sound of bluegrass 24/7. The Main Stage concerts were notable for the musical excellence of every act, 12 bands in the competition including Sunnyside, who blew us all away in Dunmore East last year. American headliners Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain showed us that their meteoric rise in the bluegrass world has been thoroughly deserved with a stunning performance of virtuosity and youthful exuberance.

The organisation of the festival was thoroughly professional, with chairman Christopher Howard-Williams and his 200 volunteers who provided wonderful food, transport, and assistance of every kind and made the festival the most musician-friendly event we have ever had the privilege to attend.

Flying Cracker Barrel in Nashville

There are a lot of reasons for liking Cracker Barrel Old Country Store diners in the US - the proportion of good bluegrass and hard-core country among their CD stock is only one of them.

Cracker Barrel recently set up a temporary (7-12 Nov.) Old Country Store retail shop in central downtown Nashville, with a country music theme to feature the company's new Alan Jackson Collection. The country superstar made a personal appearance on Tuesday 10 November. A group of Irish fans had a chance to get souvenirs, autographs, and their picture taken with Alan Jackson, who says: 'I grew up in the South, so Cracker Barrel has been a part of my family since I was a young man.' Thanks to Roger Ryan of the Country Music Association of Ireland for this news.

Kickstarting the Complex

The Cobblestone, leading venue for acoustic music in central Dublin, announces a special fundraising event at Vicar Street this coming Sunday evening (see poster, left) to launch the Complex, a new open-plan live arts space in Smithfield Square for theatre, run by a professional theatre artists in association with local residents to benefit Smithfield, a part of Dublin which is both deteriorating under economic pressures and has the highest density of mixed cultures among its population.

Many local businesses have donated services and gifts to the Complex; the show is to raise the cost of equipment for the basic infrastructure to get it up and running, when capital funding for the arts from state sources is currently frozen. The organisers affirm:

This is an empowering enterprise where artists are changing the fate of building development, something that would never have existed before the crash. Just one night will get it started.

Tickets @ €28 available from Ticketmaster; tel. 0818719300.

Bruff Bluegrass Festival 2010

We're delighted to publish the following news from Bruff, Co. Limerick:

The dates have been set for the 2nd Bruff Bluegrass Festival 2010. The committee have decided to stick with the first weekend of October following such a successful 1st in 2009.

2010 falls on the weekend of Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd, and Sunday 3rd October, and we are planning to build on the achievements of our '09 success. Details of artists will be published as soon as confirmations are made.

For any further information contact Michael Hehir by e-mail; mobile 086-0638874.

Bluegrass Brothers at Le Cirk, 8 Nov.: on video

Thanks to Phantompicker for a comment to the previous post on the Bluegrass Brothers' appearance at the Jack of Diamonds Session in Le Cirk, Dublin, a week ago - drawing attention to the fact that a video of the band playing 'Honky tonk night-time man' can now be seen on MySpace. For those of us who overlook the comments on posts: this one deserves to be noticed.

Clem O'Brien: guitars for sale

Clem O'Brien is selling two Furch guitars: a D62 and a D34 Vintage Bluegrass. Clem reports:

The D62 [right] has Adirondack (red) spruce top with pre-war style scalloped braces, Bolivian rosewood back and sides, a '30s style Tor-Tis pickguard made by Bob Greven, fossilised ivory bridge pins, bone nut and saddle, Schaller tuners, full gloss finish, and comes in a Hiscox Pro Series case.

The D34 Vintage Bluegrass [left] has an Alpine spruce top (modified with an enlarged soundhole and further scalloping of the x-brace on the bass side of the top), Indian rosewood back and sides, grained ivoiroid binding on the body and neck, bone nut/saddle/bridge pins, stripe pattern Tor-Tis pickguard made by Bob Greven, Gotoh Waverly-type tuners, 'vintage' matt finish, and comes in a Gator case.

Both guitars are fitted with L.R. Baggs iBeam pickups and each will include an L.R. Baggs Paracoustic D.I. outboard preamp. I am looking for €800 each.

Contact Clem by e-mail.

Pinecastle Records news

Pinecastle Records announces that the Josh Williams Band will be among the headliners at the 53rd annual Telethon of Stars in Paducah, KY, this weekend.

Josh (left), whom many here will remember from more than one tour by the Special Consensus, in which he was then mandolin player, received the Guitar Player of the Year award at the IBMA awards last month, for the second year running.

The Special C. themselves are doing well for Pinecastle: according to the Bluegrass Unlimited national survey, two tracks from their latest CD, Signs (released earlier this year) are at #8 ('Gone to Carolina') and #17 ('Signs') on the charts, and moving up. Signs itself is #10 among the top 15 albums.

BBC interviews with Steve Martin: UPDATE

Thanks again to Sharon Loughrin, who reports:

If you're a fan check out this link for a short interview with Steve Martin on BBC, and also a further link from there to a few minutes of radio interview, where he briefly discusses the history of bluegrass music and how he got involved. Hope you enjoy! Credit for this info goes to the forum on the UKBluegrass blog; one of their contributors has got it on the chat page.

BBC2 TV is showing Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers again tonight, and you can read about the collaboration as seen from the SCR's viewpoint in the current issue of Bluegrass Unlimited.

Update 14 Nov.: Video footage from the 13 Nov. showing is online here; thanks to the BBMA's November e-newsletter for the information. A Daily Telegraph report on the Festival Hall concert can be seen here.

Banjo Roots

Thanks to FOAOTMAD, there is now a new link on the right-hand side of the BIB, about two-thirds down the list of links: Banjo Roots, a MySpace site set up by the Banjo Roots Network, hosted by Shlomo Pestcoe and Greg C. Adams as one of a series of linked sites that explore the earliest phases of banjo development from the roots in West Africa.

Banjo Roots is already a useful reference work for early banjo history, and the Network is intended to assist future cooperation among researchers. Among the many good things on the MySpace site are a video showing Scott Didlake (1948-94), founder of the revival in gourd banjo making, with Mike Seeger and others. This video was shot by the late Theo Lissenberg, bass player and lead singer with 4 Wheel Drive, at the 1992 Tennessee Banjo Institute; was edited by the Swedish banjo historian Ulf Jagfors; and can also be seen on Ulf Jagfors's YouTube channel.

Cat Malojian at the Cobblestone, Dublin, 21 Nov. 2009

Cat Malojian: Jonathan Toman, Rachel Toman, Steve Scullion

Thanks to Jonathan Toman for the news that Cat Malojian will be playing at the Cobblestone, 77 King St., Smithfield, Dublin, on Saturday 21 November at 9.00 p.m., supported by Baz McSherry. The band's latest press release gives their bio:

Cat Malojian are singer-songwriter Stevie Scullion along with multi-instrumentalist siblings Jonny and Rachel Toman. The music they make is melodic and fresh while hinting at sounds from a bygone era. They are building a solid fanbase in Ireland and beyond.

With the release of two albums and two EPs to widespread critical acclaim, radio and TV appearances, and a steady stream of gigs (including high-profile support slots such as John Martyn and Arlo Guthrie), Cat Malojian have spent the last few years carving out their own niche in the Irish music scene, adding such names as Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol) to their list of fans along the way! The title track from Life rolls on was used for a Vodafone radio advertising campaign in Feb. ‘07.

Hot Press magazine said of their first album: '... it’s the kind of thing that if it was made by Alison Krauss would win Grammys', and other reviews have been just as positive. Their full recorded output to date is Life rolls on (EP), June 2006; We're alright (EP), Apr. 2007; Cat Malojian (album), June 2008, and The dawn chorus, Sept. 2009. As well as its website, the band has a blog and is on BandCamp and MySpace.

Ten Hens at Pomeroy, Sat. 14 Nov. 2009

Sean McKerr reports that the Tennessee Hennessees will be playing Hayden's Bar in Pomeroy, Co. Tyrone, this Saturday at 9.00 p.m.

Cathal and Steven Hayden deserve thanks for their support of bluegrass in a really top trad venue. Sean adds:

I will be on bass and Paul Hull will be playing with us on guitar and vocals.

Irish presence at ResoSummit 2009

As you can see from today's post on the original Bluegrass Blog, the third annual ResoSummit was held in Nashville from Thursday 5 Nov. to Sunday 8 Nov. 2009, with eleven distinguished teachers headed by the multi-award-winning Rob Ickes, together with the presence of luthiers Paul Beard and Tim Scheerhorn. Over 100 resonator-guitar players attended 'from all over the United States', to quote Rob Ickes, 'as well as Germany, Israel, Ireland, and the U.K., and at every level from beginner to very advanced'.

Who was there from Ireland? Well, look closely at the group photo on the BB post - near the front on the right-hand side is Dublin's own Gerry Fitzpatrick of the Sick and Indigent Song Club. The S&ISC will be headlining at the Mill Bar, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare, this coming Saturday (14 November) to launch the programme for the Winter Music Weekend 2010 festival.

Update 12 Nov.: A bass-player's equivalent for the ResoSummit is being planned for January 2010 in Roanoke, VA; see the Bluegrass Blog.

Bluegrass Brothers at Le Cirk, 8 Nov.

Thanks to Aran Sheehan for these photos of the Bluegrass Brothers - Patrick Simpson (guitar), Aran Sheehan (mandolin), Tom 'Badbelly' Hanway (banjo), and Camille Charpanoud (fiddle/dobro) - at Le Cirk, Dame Street, Dublin, on Sunday night (8 November)

Steve Martin and SCR on BBC2 TV: TONIGHT

Thanks to Sharon Loughrin and to Denis Patrick for separately sending the news that Steve Martin will appear on the 'Later... with Jools Holland' show on BBC2 TV tonight and Friday night, backed by the Steep Canyon Rangers from North Carolina, who made a big impact at the Omagh festival a couple of years ago (above). The combination of the world-famous comedian, comic actor, film director, and banjo player with the award-winning bluegrass band is packing in audiences on a current tour, and played last night at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Sharon adds:

It's late to sit up for what will probably only be a five-minute slot, but it's rare to get a bit of bluegrass on national TV.... I would be more than happy just to see them [the SCR] again after their great performances at Omagh. Attached is a photo taken at Omagh in 2007.

According to the BBC website, this show (series 35, episode 9) will be shown to Northern Ireland viewers tonight at 11.20, and repeated on Friday 13 Nov. at 11.35 p.m. Check these links if you receive the English, Scottish, or Welsh transmissions from BBC2. As Sharon points out, the show can be viewed on BBCiplayer for up to a week after.

Steve Martin's new CD of banjo tunes, The crow, received six nominations for the 2009 IBMA awards, and won two awards - liner notes and graphic design, for both of which he was personally responsible. The Steep Canyon Rangers feature on the cover of the November 2009 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine.

Leadership Bluegrass 2010 deadline: 13 November

Trisha Tubbs of IBMA reports:

Leadership Bluegrass 2010 applications are due next Friday, 13 November! If you know people who you think should apply, please tell them about LBG and that the application deadline is 13 November. They can learn more about LBG and download the application form here.

Be sure to let them know that because only twenty-five people are in each year's program and that there are far more applications than spaces, that they may need to apply several times and shouldn't be discouraged if it takes awhile for them to get into the program. (Some folks have had to apply over four times before they could get in).

New CD from Lou Reid & Carolina

The BIB editor makes a personal recommendation:

One of my favourite US bands to see and hear live is Lou Reid & Carolina; the excitement they clearly feel in what they're doing is very infectious, and if you add to that their tight, solid rhythm, fierce instrumental work, intense harmonies, and great choice of material, there's nothing not to like.

I recommend sampling the many videos on their YouTube channel, where you can see and hear Lou not only with Carolina but with the Seldom Scene, Longview, and guests such as Bobby Hicks.

If you're convinced, Lou Reid & Carolina have a new CD on Rural Rhythm, My own set of rules. You can check other up-to-date news on the band here.

Jack of Diamonds Session in Dublin, 8 Nov.

Aran Sheehan reports:

This Sunday the Jack of Diamonds Session is looking to be like a real stonker of a night!

All the bands listed below, plus the Bluegrass Brothers [see BIB post of 28 Sept.], will be doing an extra special set of Rock and Soul bluegrass music with very special guest Tom 'Badbelly' Hanway from 9.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.

Entry is free... really!!!! A real positive vibe in a great venue [Le Cirk, Dame St., Dublin 2, near the George's St. corner] that is fast becoming a mecca for up-and-coming bluegrass/roots/acoustic artists. (Well, that's upstairs, and in the basement it's a jazz/reggae/funk club) If you have a sound that you feel needs to be heard, then get in touch and we will see what we can do for you.

Captain Magic (That Groovy Busking Band from Temple Bar)
The Cujo Family
Beef Supreme
Well Enough Alone
The Bluegrass Brothers featuring Tom 'Badbelly' Hanway
Nico Fitz a...nd the Dirty Beggars
The Pocket Aces
Brian Keary

It's gonna be a great gig, so come by: listen to some great music, have a beer or two...

STOP PRESS: Aran adds -

Okay, we now also have Camille, a really hot bluegrass fiddle and dobro player from Paris, joining us on Sunday.

Well Enough Alone at the Cobblestone: UPDATE

Well Enough Alone: (l-r) Harrison Cargill, Ben Goodbody, Martin McWhorter, Hugh Dean Taggart

Dublin-based band Well Enough Alone have an important change of schedule to announce: their Back Room show at the Cobblestone, 77 King Street, Smithfield, Dublin 7, together with the Cotton Picking Rodeo Clowns and the Lazy Band, has been moved to Saturday 28 November at 9.00 p.m., instead of tomorrow (7 Nov.) as originally announced. Well Enough Alone report:

If you still want to come out and see us this weekend - you can come see us open for Homebrew at Slattery's in Rathmines.

Little Ass Birds launch new EP, 17 Dec.

Thanks to Conor Doyle of the Little Ass Birds for the news that the Birds are launching an EP CD on Thursday 17 December in the Cobblestone, Smithfield. Doors open at 8.00 p.m. It holds four tracks: two original songs ('Lullaby for Gene' and 'Moonshine') and two old-time tunes ('Elzic's farewell' and 'Shortnin' bread').

The Little Ass Birds are Charleen Hurtubise (vocals, mandolin), Geoff Gallagher (vocals, guitar), Conor Doyle (mandolin, fiddle, guitar, backing vocals, harmonies), Ben Doyle (double bass, tenor banjo, vocals, guitar) and Cathal McGeown (fiddle). Check out the sound clips, videos, and photos on their MySpace site.

Peggy Seeger with NTB and Charlie McGettigan

The news has been on the BIB calendar for a while, but Niall Toner sends a salutary reminder:

NTB, Peggy Seeger, and Charlie McGettigan are playing the Unitarian Church on Stephen's Green, Dublin, on this Wednesday night, doors 8.30 p.m.; and the following night, Thursday, at the Dock Arts Centre in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim. Doors also 8.30 p.m.

BIB editor's note: Peggy Seeger's first ten-inch LP on Topic Records is probably the main reason why I got involved with this music, and her versions of 'Cumberland Gap' and 'Shady Grove' are still, for me, the way these tunes should be played.

Black Crown String Band for Britain and Ireland in 2010

The Black Crown String Band from California have brought out a new CD and are preparing a tour of Britain and Ireland for September and October 2010. They can be booked through the Brookfield Knights agency.

The band, whose members come from varied backgrounds in bluegrass, old-time, and even classical music, consists of John McKelvy (guitar, lead vocals), Tim Hicks (mandolin, harmony vocals), Elise Engleberg (fiddle), Matt Knoth (banjo), and Rob Mellberg (bass).