Kathy Barwick - in Dublin workshop and on record

L-r: Gerry Crowe, Kathy Barwick, Cathal Cusack

Kathy Barwick (resident in Sacramento, CA) plays bluegrass, Irish music, folk, and blues on dobro, guitar, bass, banjo, and mandolin, on all of which she is also an instructor and session musician. She was taught guitar by Steve Pottier. In June this year Dublin pickers had the opportunity of attending a workshop given by her, organised by guitarist Cathal Cusack and hosted by Gerry Crowe at his Perfect Pitch music shop at 35 Exchequer St., Dublin 2. Thanks to Cathal for these photos showing Kathy with him and Gerry (above) and with all the workshop attenders (below).


Thanks also to Cathal for drawing our attention to Kathy's rewarding CD, In my life. It opens with her guitar version of Earl Scruggs's 'Nashville blues'; and though it's not a bluegrass album, the musicians taking part come mainly from the West Coast bluegrass community. Some of them (Roland White, Mary Gibbons) have already played in Ireland; others we hope to see and hear some time soon, such as John Reischman. A Fretboard Journal video about Reischman and his Lloyd Loar Gibson mandolin can be seen here.

The album's many delights include warm, tasteful versions of Irish tunes and a splendid and too-seldom-heard Maybelle Carter song, 'My native home', in two-part harmony. It can be bought directly from the Kathy Barwick website.