Video treasury at 'I Dig Bluegrass!'

Thanks to Wendy Connolly and 'Bluegrass in Ireland' for passing on news from David Slone, who runs the I Dig Bluegrass! website, devoted to videos of live performances of bluegrass and old-time music at festivals, concerts, and other events in Kentucky. There's a strong and natural emphasis on performers from Kentucky, but outstanding artists from elsewhere, such as Ralph Stanley or IIIrd Tyme Out, are also included.

I Dig Bluegrass! at present carries the staggering total of 1,787 videos, shot at over twenty venues; many more are being processed for uploading, and yet more will be added in time. The website is well organised so that viewers can search by artist name, band name, festival name, etc. David adds:

I love traditional bluegrass music as well as some contemporary stuff. I also get into old-time traditional music. [...] The music you will find here is wide-ranging but it is all live and real.

Bluegrass in this country has been connected with Kentucky for a long time - thanks to institutional links, a succession of Kentucky artists appeared at the early Athy Bluegrass Festivals, notably Homer Ledford & the Cabin Creek Band. The late Homer C. Ledford, a legendary luthier and musician in central Kentucky, made many friends in Ireland; and yes - the videos on I Dig Bluegrass! include many from the commemorative Homer Ledford Concert Series. Videos can also be seen on the I Dig Bluegrass Facebook.