The invasion has begun

Within ten hours of the publishing of this post, the Special Consensus (USA) will have landed to begin the first 2011 tour here by a US band; their tour includes the first festival of the year, the Shannonside Winter Music Weekend. But there's plenty more where they come from...

Many thanks to Arnie and Sharon Loughrin for news of a lot of forthcoming activity in the first half of this year, particularly visits from powerful US old-time outfits: the Fox Hunt later this month, the Water Tower Bucket Boys in March, and both the Wilders and the Foghorn Trio (Stephen 'Sammy' Lind, fiddle; Caleb Klauder, mandolin; Nadine Landry, guitar, bass) in May.

Further details of the Water Tower Bucket Boys and Wilders tours are awaited. Meanwhile, here are the dates for the Fox Hunt tour. On all shows except the last (30 Jan.) they will be with the Henry Girls.

Thurs. 20 Jan. Abbey Centre, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, 8.00 p.m. (as part of Ballyshannon Folk Festival)
Fri. 21 Jan. McGrory’s, Culdaff, Co. Donegal, 8.30 p.m.
Sat. 22 Jan. Nesbitt Arms, Ardara, Co. Donegal, 8.00 p.m.
Sun. 23 Jan. The Black Box, Belfast, 1.00 p.m. (Out to Lunch Festival)
Thurs. 27 Jan. Raheen House Hotel, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, 8.00 p.m. (Clonmel World Music season opener)
Fri. 28 Jan. Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin, 8.00 p.m.
Sat. 29 Jan Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, 8.00 p.m.
Sun. 30 Jan. Sandinos, Derry city, 9.00 p.m.

And here are the dates for the Foghorn Trio:

Thurs. 5-Sun. 8 May Baltimore Fiddle Fair, Baltimore, Co. Cork
Mon. 9 May St John’s Theatre, Listowel, Co. Kerry, 8:00 p.m.
Thurs. 12 May Linenhall, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, 8:00 p.m.
Fri. 13 May Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, 8:00 p.m.
Sat. 14 May Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin, 8:30 p.m. Adm. €16. +353 (0)1 802 0898.