The Bluegrass Ireland Blog

The editor officially retired from bluegrass blogging as from 15 February 2013. The most active medium on bluegrass in Ireland is now Ray O'Brien's 'Bluegrass in Ireland' Facebook page. The BIB calendar, its most central function, remains active and occasional news digests are published. Send in news for the calendar by e-mail, and please add a copy to Ray O'Brien.

The resources already on the BIB, including archives and links, remain accessible and may be improved for the convenience of readers. The BIB's background and purpose are explained here, and tips on using it are here. To reach both, click on the 'Welcome' label below.

Visiting string bands - courtesy of Brookfield Knights

Thanks to Loudun Temple of the Brookfield Knights agency in the UK for the news that the Chicago-based string band Elephant Revival is the latest addition to the Brookfield Knights artists roster, bringing the present total to twenty-eight acts. A look at the roster will reveal a lot of names already familiar from appearances in Ireland - most recently, Cahalen Morrison and Eli West.

US string bands on the BK roster who are already scheduled to tour in Ireland this year include Woody Pines (24-29 May) from Asheville, North Carolina, Hillfolk Noir (20-23 June) from Boise, Idaho, and the Locust Honey String Band (23-27 Oct.) from Swannanoa, North Carolina. The Stray Birds from Pennsylvania are due to tour these islands at the end of January and early February 2014.

Having listened to audio samples on their BK page, the editor would be glad to see and hear a visit from Pharis and Jason Romero from British Columbia. This, of course, has nothing to do with their being also makers of custom banjos.

No need to play that banjo alone

Dangem Bluegrass announce in their latest e-newsletter:

No need to play that banjo alone. Join us at one of the following events:

Beginners only 5-string
The Spectrum Centre, 331, Shankill Rd, Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT13 3AA, 028 9050 4555
Friday 24 May 7.00-9.00 p.m.
(this is for Beginners Only)
Or
The next Dangem get-together
Lagan Valley Island Arts Centre, Lisburn BT27 4RL, 028 9250 9292
Saturday 25 May 2013 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon
Bring along your banjos, guitars, mandolins, fiddles, dobros, and bass or just come along and enjoy
Itinerary: 10.00-10.30 warm up
10.30-11.00-ish Break out time; rest of players jam time
11.00 to 12.00 noon All back together
Look forward to seeing as many of you who can attend.
Also
The Belfast Sessions
Tuesday 4 June 8.30 p.m. to who knows.
The Errigle Inn, 312-320, Ormeau Rd, Belfast, Co. Antrim BT7 2GE, 028 9064 1410
Email: info@errigle.com

Dangem Bluegrass, 101 Belfast Rd, Magheralin, Craigavon, Co. Armagh, BT67 rp UK

Hard Station at JJ Smyth's, Dublin, 28 May 2013

Thanks to Ray O'Brien for forwarding the latest news on Hard Station, Ireland's newest, hard-driving bluegrass band, composed of musicians with years of solid experience: above (l-r), Johnny Gleeson (dobro), Vinny Baker (guitar), Roy Brennan (double bass), and  Joe Meehan (mandolin).

The Dublin bluegrass community can hear Hard Station when they play at JJ Smyth's, 12 Aungier St., Dublin 2, on Tuesday 28 May, the venue's 'Dublin Guitar Night'. Doors 8.00 p.m. (music 8.30 p.m.), €10.

Niall Toner: new book on songwriting to be launched 8 June 2013

Singer, songwriter, bandleader, and broadcaster Niall Toner (above), recipient of the EBMA's European Bluegrass Personality of the Year 2012 award, will launch his new book The nuts and bolts of songwriting on Saturday 8 June at 4.30 p.m. in Borris House, Co. Carlow.

The launch will take place as part of the Borris House Festival of Writing and Ideas, which itself is part of the Carlow Arts Festival. Other speakers on this day in Borris include Martin Amis, Paolo Tullio, Paul Murray, Olivia O'Leary, John Boyne, and others. Liam O Maonlai will perform that evening.

Niall will give the audience a live demonstration of his teachings, and then talk about his career as a musician with actress Caitríona Ní Mhurchú. Tickets (€10) can be booked here. Copies of the new book will be available immediately after the event.

World Fiddle Day - TODAY!

Today is the first World Fiddle Day - that is (among many other things), a day dedicated to the instrument that the Father of Bluegrass considered central to his music.

The editor will employ some of the methods recommended on the World Fiddle Day website to celebrate the occasion - viz. getting out a neglected fiddle and playing it, and also listening to some of the great players of the past, such as the magnificent Ed Haley and Paul Warren. Thanks to Caoimhin Mac Aoidh of Donegal for bringing this concept to fruition.

Win tickets to Westport and Athy festivals

Thanks to Ray O'Brien for news of some very worthwhile prizes to be won, thanks to the organisers of two of our main festivals. Go to Ray's Bluegrass in Ireland Facebook page to enter for your chance of winning! Ray writes:

A big thank you to Uri Kohen of the Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival for 2 tickets to the main event to be held on Saturday June 15th in the Wyatt Hotel, Westport, which we are currently running on the page. So get the LIKES AND SHARES in to be in with your chance of winning this lovely prize.

Next week (W/C 20th May) we will be running another fantastic competition, courtesy of Tony O'Brien of the acclaimed Athy Bluegrass Festival which is now in its 23rd year. Tony has kindly given us 2 full weekend festival passes to all the concerts which will be held over the weekend in the GAA Centre in Athy this year.

Thanks again to the two guys for this and I wish them both every success with both their festivals this year. Below are links to each competition:

Currently running from 13th-20th - Westport main concert - 2 tickets

Upcoming next week preview - 20th May-27th May - Athy Bluegrass Festival - 2 full weekend festival passes

Berea in Bruff, 21 May 2013 - and more tour dates

Thanks to Ray O'Brien for forwarding this news from Biddy Hayes:

The Berea Bluegrass Band from Kentucky will play the Church of Ireland in Bruff, Co. Limerick, on Tuesday next (21st May) at 8.00 p.m. On a lightning tour of Ireland, do not miss it. Featuring vocalist Ashley Long.

Thanks to Sharon Loughrin for these details of the rest of the tour, as received from the band themselves:

Hey Berea Bluegrass friends, far and near! We're real EXCITED to post our upcoming tour dates for the latest incarnation of the Berea College Bluegrass Band's visit to our favorite country on earth, Éire!!! We land in Shannon on May 11th and are off to the Baltimore Fiddle Fair! HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY!

Sat. 11th-Sun. 12th: Fiddle Fair, Baltimore, Co. Cork
Mon. 13th: Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork (double gig with Beppe Gambetta)
Tues. 14th: Session in Buttevant, Co. Cork
Wed. 15th The Mine Museum, Allihies, Co. Cork
Thurs. 16th: Mill Bar, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare
Fri. 17th: Sean Malone's, Milltown Malbay, Co. Clare
Sat. 18th: Connolly's Bar, Kinvara, Co. Galway
Sun. 19th: Mannion's Bar, Balla, Co. Mayo
Mon. 20th: Session, Carrigaline, Co. Cork
Tues. 21st: Bruff, Co. Limerick
Wed. 22nd: Dolan's Bar, Limerick city
Thurs. 23rd: St John's Theatre, Listowel, Co. Kerry
Fri. 24th-Sun. 26th: Ballyhooly Arts Festival, Ballyhooly, Co. Cork

Tumbling Bones in Ireland, 17 May-16 June 2013

Thanks to Ray O'Brien for forwarding news of the tour schedule of Tumbling Bones (USA). More details (including links to videos and music downloads) are on Ray's 'Bluegrass in Ireland' Facebook page, but here are the dates in the month-long tour, which begins tonight:

Fri. 17th: Killary Sessions on the Killary Fjord, Galway. Ship departs from Nancy’s Point, Leenane, Co. Galway. Doors 6.30 p.m.; tickets €10 at door or call 1800 415151
Sat. 18th: Mullarkey's at Foyle's Hotel, Clifden, Co. Galway, 9.30 p.m., adm. free
Tues. 21st: The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, 8.30 p.m., £10; bookings/more info, call Sharon at 07747120659
Fri. 24th: Kenny's, Main St., Lahinch, Co. Clare, 9.30 p.m., adm. free
Sat. 25th: Patrick's Bar, 6 Market St., Ennis, Co. Clare, 9.30 p.m., adm. free
Sun. 26th: Roadside Tavern, Doolin Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare, 9.30 p.m., adm. free
Fri. 31st: Beehive Bar, Main St., Ardara, Co. Donegal, 9.30 p.m., adm. free

Sun. 2nd June: Aras Eanna Arts Centre, Inis Oirr, Árainn, Co. Galway, 8.30 p.m., €10/€5 for students and OAPs
Wed. 5th: Whelan's Upstairs, Wexford St., Dublin 2; doors 8.00 p.m., Greasy Coat Stringband as support act; €15/€13
Fri. 7th: Athy GAA Centre, Dublin Rd, Athy, Co. Kildare; doors 8.00 p.m., starts 9.00 p.m.; €10 door charge, Woodbine as support act
Tues. 11th: McCarthy’s, Goat St., Dingle, Co. Kerry; starts 9.30 p.m., €10 pay at door or reserve at 066-9151205
Wed. 12th: Old Oak pub, 113 Oliver Plunkett St., Cork city; starts 10.30 p.m., adm. free
Fri. 14th: Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival: Atlantic Coast Hotel, The Quay, Westport, Co. Mayo; starts 9.30 p.m., adm. free
Sat. 15th: Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival: Clew Bay Hotel, James St., Westport, Co. Mayo, 1.00 p.m., adm. free
Sun. 16th: Mannion's, Main St., Balla, Co. Mayo; 9.30 p.m., adm. free

Award-winning band for Omagh 2013

The premier Belgian bluegrass band Rawhide will be taking part in the 22nd Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival at the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone (30 Aug.-1 Sept. 2013).

Rawhide have performed at every European World of Bluegrass (EWOB) Festival in the Netherlands since 1998. This year the EWOB committee awarded them the Liz Meyer European Innovation of Bluegrass Music Award in recognition of their long-running success in bringing bluegrass music to a wider audience, coupled with their unique approach blending vocal and instrumental proficiency, imagination, creativity, showmanship, and humour.

Rawhide are probably the cleverest bluegrass band the BIB editor has seen. Like other bands in Belgium, they are benefiting from the recent phenomenal success of the film The Broken Circle Breakdown, which has been showing in sold-out cinemas on the Continent.

News digest #18

Events in the next ten days (taken from the BIB calendar; please check also the 'Weekly sessions' section of the calendar); dates added since this post was first published are shown in red

Thurs. 16th: Beppe Gambetta (I), The Crane, Sea Rd, Galway city

Fri. 17th: Bluegrass Slow Jam, Walton's New School of Music, George's St., Dublin 2, 6.30-8.00 p.m. 
Beppe Gambetta (I), McGarrigles, 11 O'Connell St., Sligo town
Tumbling Bones (USA), Killary Sessions on the Killary Fjord, Galway. Ship departs from Nancy’s Point, Leenane, Co. Galway. Doors 6.30 p.m.; tickets €10 at door or call 1800 415151

Sat. 18th: World Fiddle Day
Beppe Gambetta (I), The Stables, Dominick St., Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Two Time Polka, Roots Music Festival Weekend, The White Horse, West Village, Ballincollig, Co. Cork. Kickoff 11.00 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 021 4871388
Tumbling Bones (USA), Mullarkey's at Foyle's Hotel, Clifden, Co. Galway, 9.30 p.m., adm. free

Sun. 19th: Rackhouse Pilfer, Whelan's Front Bar, 25 Wexford St., Dublin 2, 7.00 p.m.

Tues. 21st: Berea Bluegrass Band (USA), Church of Ireland, Bruff, Co. Limerick, 8.00 p.m.
Tumbling Bones (USA), The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, 8.30 p.m., £10; bookings/more info, call Sharon at 07747120659

Fri. 24th: Tumbling Bones (USA), Kenny's, Main St., Lahinch, Co. Clare, 9.30 p.m., adm. free
Beppe Gambetta (I), Market House Theatre, Main St., Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare
Woody Pines (USA), Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow
Two Time Polka, The Blue Haven, Pearse St., Kinsale, Co. Cork. Kickoff 10.00 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 021 4772209
Rackhouse Pilfer with Sandy Kelly, Rockies Club, Church Road, Cork city, 9.30 p.m., adm. free

Sat. 25th: Tumbling Bones (USA), Patrick's Bar, 6 Market St., Ennis, Co. Clare, 9.30 p.m., adm. free
Beppe Gambetta (I), Glen Theatre, Banteer, Co. Cork
Woody Pines (USA), Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin
Two Time Polka, Ballyhooly Arts Festival: The Old Forge Yard, Ballyhooly, Co. Cork. Kickoff 9.30 p.m. Adm. free. Open-air.

Sun. 26th Tumbling Bones (USA), Roadside Tavern, Doolin Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare, 9.30 p.m., adm. free
Beppe Gambetta (I), Colfers, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford
Woody Pines (USA), Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim
Rackhouse Pilfer, Whelan's Front Bar, 25 Wexford St., Dublin 2, 7.00 p.m.

Other news

Niall Toner's Onwards & upwards and I Draw Slow's Redhills are among the eight Pinecastle albums eligible for nomination as Album of the Year in this year's IBMA awards. Niall has also, through Make Welcome Entertainment (his agents in the USA), asked voters to consider supporting him as Emerging Artist of the Year and his song 'William Smith Monroe' as Song of the Year.

The updated schedule of events up to 9 June at the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre at Naul, Co. Dublin, can be seen here. BIB readers should note the Woody Pines show on 25 May (see calendar above).

Terence Cosgrave announces: 'Muletrain are no longer playing on a weekly basis in the Kozy pub in Dun Laoghaire on Thursday nights. We are taking a break and may be back in the autumn.'

Two Time Polka: May gigs

Ray Barron of Two Time Polka reports:

Sat. 18th: Roots Music Festival Weekend, The White Horse, West Village, Ballincollig, Co. Cork. Kickoff 11.00 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 021 4871388

Fri. 24th: The Blue Haven, Pearse St., Kinsale, Co. Cork. Kickoff 10.00 p.m. Adm. free. Tel. 021 4772209

Sat. 25th: Ballyhooly Arts Festival: The Old Forge Yard, Ballyhooly, Co. Cork. Kickoff 9.30 p.m. Adm. free. Open-air.

Regards,
Ray and TTP

This news arrived during the editor's absence, and originally included data for TTP's Cork show on 10 May.

Roni Stoneman at the Purty Loft, 2 June 2013

As first announced on the BIB on 23 Nov. 2012, the First Lady of Banjo, Roni Stoneman of the legendary Stoneman family, will be in Ireland from 30 May to 20 June on a friendly visit. She will be making some select performance appearances, notably at the 7th Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival (14-16 June) in Co. Mayo. A full schedule will be published as soon as possible.

Her first show on stage (thanks to Paul Lee and his Musiclee.ie agency) will be on Sunday 2 June at the  Purty Loft in Old Dunleary, between Monkstown and Dun Laoghaire, near where the west pier meets the mainland. Roni will be accompanied by Hugh Taggart (guitar) and John Denby (mandolin), two of the hottest young pickers on the bluegrass scene here.

Doors will open at 8.30 p.m.; tickets are €13.00/€10.00, and can be booked online, where more details are available. This has the hallmarks of a historic occasion for bluegrass music in Dublin.

News digest #17

Events in the next two weeks (taken from the BIB calendar; please check also the 'Weekly sessions' section of the calendar); dates added since this post was first published are shown in red

Thurs. 2nd: Skip Gorman and Ron Kane (USA), Crane Bar, Galway city

Fri. 3rd: Tin Box Company, Langton's, Kilkenny city, 10.00 p.m. 

Fri. 3rd-Mon. 6th: Kilkenny Roots Festival; many Americana acts including Woodbine and the Tin Box Company

Sat. 4th: Woodbine, Clubhouse Hotel, Kilkenny city, 10.00 p.m.
11th International Bühl Bluegrass Festival, Bühl/Baden, Germany (4 US bands)

Sun. 5th: Tin Box Company, Biddy Early's, Kilkenny city, 4.00 p.m.
Woodbine, Springhill Hotel, Kilkenny city, 10.00 p.m.
Tin Box Company, Egan's, Kilkenny city, 10.00 p.m.

Wed. 8th-Mon. 20th: George Harper & John Tomlin (USA) on tour in Ireland

Thurs. 9th-Sun. 12th: 22nd Baltimore Fiddle Fair, Baltimore, Co. Cork: Casey Driessen, Bruce Molsky, Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole, many more

Thurs. 9th-Sat. 11th: 16th European World of Bluegrass Festival, Voorthuizen, the Netherlands

Fri. 10th: Red Hat Acoustic Music Club, Harbour Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare: Anna & Orla Greaves, Ray McGee, Mick Dunne, Paul McEvoy, guests; musicians and listeners welcome; €3 donation
I Draw Slow, the Lodge, Mallow, Co. Cork, 9.00 p.m.; tickets 087/2445541 (presented by AliveOMusic)

Sat. 11th: Skip Gorman and Ron Kane (USA), Cuckoo's Nest, McGirl's, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim
Beppe Gambetta (I), Bog Lane Theatre, Mostrim Rd, Ballymahon, Co. Longford

Sun. 12th: Beppe Gambetta (I), Whelan's, 25 Wexford St., Dublin 2

Mon. 13th: Beppe Gambetta (I), The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork

Other news

The editor now has a new e-mail address. Please note this and use it in all future correspondence.

Just to complicate matters further, the editor will be away from the computer from 3 May till 14 May inclusive; any news received in that time will not appear till 15 May.

Thanks to Ray O'Brien for forwarding news of the I Draw Slow show at Mallow on 10 May, and the Tin Box Company dates at Kilkenny (see above).

Sacred Harp Dublin have a new website up and running, so stay tuned for any upcoming events/Sacred Harp Dublin news.

Woody Pines in Ireland, 24-9 May 2013

As Loudon Temple of the Brookfield Knights agency in Britain announced last summer, the band Woody Pines, based in Asheville, North Carolina, are making a month-long tour in these islands, ending on 2 June 2013.

Announcing themselves as playing 'viper jazz, ragtime, and country blues', in April 2012 Woody Pines played a short but successful tour in Ireland, beginning with the Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, and including Clonmel World Music in Co. Tipperary, where their shows were sold-out. The shows on this year's tour are as listed on their online schedule:

Fri. 24th May: Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow
Sat. 25th: Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin
Sun. 26th: The Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim
Mon. 27th: The Atlantic Bar, Portrush, Co. Londonderry
Tues. 28th: The Red Room, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Wed. 29th: Balor Arts Centre, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal

Detached notes

Thanks to Ray O'Brien's Bluegrass Ireland Facebook for the news that the Weigh Inn Bar at Omagh, Co. Tyrone, will be glad to hear from any band whose tour includes the north of Ireland, and who are looking for a Tuesday night gig. The Weigh Inn runs a Tuesday Night Music Club, and has a few free Tuesday nights during the summer months. You can contact the Weigh Inn by e-mail.

The Daily Telegraph (UK) issue of 26 April includes a large feature by Rob Hughes on the latest project by Steve Martin - Love has come for you, to be released tomorrow (Monday 29 April) by Rounder Records. Martin, who shares the singing and songwriting with Edie Brickell, says: 'I feel like these are the banjo songs I've always been waiting to write.' The accompanying photo (unfortunately cropped in the online version) shows the Deering which is now his main onstage banjo. Read the whole article here.

George Jones, 1931-2013

George Jones (b. 12 Sept. 1931), one of the true giants of country music, died yesterday. Both his singing style and his material influenced many bluegrass musicians, notably the Stanley Brothers.

Ralph Stanley has recalled that he and his brother Carter went to see a George Jones show and were so taken by his song 'The window up above' that (with his permission) they recorded it before he had done so himself. Thirty years ago, interviewed by Pete Wernick, Ralph named George Jones as his favourite country singer: 'it seems like he's just got all in his voice that everybody else has got a little of'.*

Tributes to George Jones by Dr Stanley and other leading bluegrass figures can be read on Bluegrass Today, which will publish more on the subject. Meanwhile, Ray O'Brien has marked the occasion on his Bluegrass in Ireland Facebook with a video of George Jones singing 'Amazing grace'.

* David W. Johnson, Lonesome melodies: the lives and music of the Stanley Brothers (2013), p. 184; Tony Trischka and Pete Wernick, Masters of the 5-string banjo (1988), p. 103.

Beppe Gambetta: new CD and tour in Ireland, 11-26 May 2013

Thanks to Federica for this information on the forthcoming tour by Italian guitar maestro Beppe Gambetta in Ireland, marking the release of his new CD, The American Album, on Gadfly Records (USA). Beppe is looking forward to coming back to Ireland and sends a 'Ciao!' to his friends here. More news from him is on the European Bluegrass Blog. Confirmed dates for the tour schedule are:

Sat. 11th May The Bog Lane Theatre, Mostrim Rd, Ballymahon, Co. Longford
Sun. 12th Whelan's, 25 Wexford St., Dublin 2
Mon. 13th The Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork
Thurs. 16th The Crane, Sea Rd, Galway city
Fri. 17th McGarrigles, 11 O'Connell St., Sligo town
Sat. 18th The Stables, Dominick St., Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Fri. 24th Market House Theatre, Main St., Milltown Malbay, Co. Clare
Sat. 25th Glen Theatre, Banteer, Co. Cork
Sun. 26th Colfers, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford

John Weingart, host for more than 33 1/3 years of 'Music You Can’t Hear On The Radio' on WPRB-FM and WPRB.COM in Princeton, New Jersey, is also Associate Director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. He contributes this assessment of the album:

********************
If this American Album is your introduction to Beppe Gambetta, you’re about to learn why musicians around the world count him among today’s absolute best acoustic guitarists.

One ingredient is technical skill and virtuosity. Like only a few of the other great players, Beppe’s guitar is often recognizable whether the tune is unbelievably fast or hauntingly slow. Another is his deep feeling and respect for the traditions of folk music - not just the tunes and songs themselves, but also the lives of the people who made them and the role of music in fostering and shaping cross-cultural communication and community.

But amazing technique and a rich understanding of the past would not have been sufficient to elevate Beppe to the top tier of world musicians. What he also brings is something magical and harder to describe. It is a unique vision and fearless creativity through which he explores and evolves new layers of musical territory and technique without ever losing a firm footing in his roots.

You hear it on this album from the opening track - a magnificent new piece Beppe composed that could be the soundtrack for a wonderful movie - to the last which is the reimagining of a tune we all know that was written 75 years ago by a Louisiana Governor.

In between, there is a new interpretation of an Earl Scruggs tune many music fans including Beppe first heard on the Will The Circle Be Unbroken album in the 1970s, and also a little-known and beautiful melody by Norman Blake. There are medleys honoring the Delmore Brothers and and the influential bluegrass guitarists Charlie Waller, Don Reno and George Shuffler. There is an old-timey song rescued from obscurity and a Canadian fiddle tune brought perhaps for the first time to the guitar. And there is more including another of Beppe’s new compositions – this one inspired by a visiting chipmunk who was apparently an Olympic sprinter in training.

As you listen, you may notice yet another important tradition at play here – that of the concept album. While each song and tune is clearly magnificent and quite capable of dazzling on its own, the whole is somehow even more than the sum of its parts.

I should mention, I suppose, that Beppe’s roots are not entirely American. Having been born and raised in Genoa, which remains his home for part of each year, Italian traditions also infuse his work. The poetry and spice they add to this aptly-named American Album may be more subtle than on his others, but they are a welcome reminder that great music truly is a universal language ready to enrich our lives.

Cahalen Morrison and Eli West at Whelan's, Dublin, 26 Apr. 2013

Thanks to Musiclee.ie for this release on this show, which comes with a 'Highly Recommended' label:

Cahalen Morrison and Eli West [YouTube link]
Whelans Upstairs, Wexford St., Dublin 2
Friday 26 Apr., 8.30 p.m. start.
€16 (€14 reserved in advance)

When Cahalen Morrison & Eli West released their stunning debut album, The holy coming of the storm it met with instantaneous reaction on both sides of the Atlantic.

The duo are back on this side of the Atlantic promoting their stunning new album, Our Lady of the Tall Trees which once more has attracted much praise and ended up at the Number 3 slot on the Americana UK Top Ten releases of 2012 list.

'Beautiful rootsy Americana' – Time Out
'Music that the world needs!' - Tim O'Brien
'Quite extraordinary' - Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2
'Really, really terrific' – Mike Harding BBC

Other dates in the tour are on the BIB calendar.

Lands End: shows in Galway and Cork, 13-16 June 2013

Thanks to Ray O'Brien of Bluegrass in Ireland Facebook for forwarding news from Richie Foley, mandolinist with Lands End, who are beginning their second year on the circuit and will be touring in Britain next month.

The band will be playing several dates in Ireland this June, as shown on the poster image above, and their new EP is due out next month. Richie also includes this link to a YouTube video of the band in performance.

A town called Normal - new CD from Vincent Cross

Many thanks to Vincent Cross, Ireland's bluegrass representative in New York, who writes:

It's with great pleasure that I reach out to you with some news.

The last two years I've been focused on recording a new album, and it's now available for purchase at iTunes, Amazon, and CDbaby. A recent review by Lucid Culture indicates the musical diversity, yet it still sits firmly in the bluegrass roots category, in my humble opinion.

Vincent adds that he will be more than happy to send a CD or dropbox tracks to any blogger interested in reviewing the album.

News digest #16

Events in the next week (taken from the BIB calendar; please check also the 'Weekly sessions' section of the calendar) 

Tues. 23rd: Skip Gorman and Ron Kane (USA), plus Maeve Toner and Friends (launch of CD, Just for the record), upstairs in Stag's Head, Dame Court, Dublin 2 

Thurs. 25th: Skip Gorman and Ron Kane (USA), Coughlan's, Cork city 
Cahalen Morrison & Eli West (USA), Black Box, Belfast, 8.00 p.m.
The Cabin Sessions, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Dundrum, Dublin: the McGrane Family, Con Butler (bass), Gerry Fitzpatrick (dobro),Cathy McEvoy (fiddle); special guests Tim & Richard Hawkins and Cathal Cusack (old-time), Mongoose (contemporary folk), Taylor's Lane (contemporary);  9.30-11.30 p.m., adm. free

Fri. 26th: Skip Gorman and Ron Kane (USA), Tea Rooms, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary

Cahalen Morrison & Eli West (USA), Whelan's, Dublin 2, 8.00 p.m.
Banjo lessons (beginners only), Spectrum Centre, 331 Shankill Rd, Belfast, Co. Antrim BT13 3AA, 028 9050 4555, 7.00 p.m.-9.00 p.m.

Sat. 27th: Dangem Bluegrass Get-Together, jam session, and banjo lessons, Lagan Valley Island Arts Centre, Lisburn BT27 4RL, 028 9250 9292, 9.30 a.m.-12.00 noon
Cahalen Morrison & Eli West (USA), Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, 8.00 p.m.
Tim Rogers workshop, 'American fiddle tunes - techniques, repertoire, and sources', McGing's Bar, High St., Westport, Co. Mayo, 12.00-2.00 p.m.; pre-booking essential; 'phone (087 9897038) or e-mail

Sun. 28th: Cahalen Morrison & Eli West (USA), Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo, 8.00 p.m.

Other news

The updated schedule of events up to 10 May 2013 at the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre at Naul, Co. Dublin, can be read here.

Homespun Tapes' latest sale is on instructional material aimed at musicians wishing to improve their technique and get more value out of their practice time. Select DVDs in this category can be bought at a 20% discount if the order is placed before the end of tomorrow, 24 April.

7th Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival, 14-16 June 2013

Thanks to festival organiser Uri Kohen for the official press release on the 7th Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival (14-16 June 2013), together with this link to a short film about the festival:

Over the weekend of June 14-16, national and international folk and bluegrass acts will be playing loads of free gigs in venues throughout Westport, Co. Mayo. The bustling, beautiful seaside town will be hopping to the sound of banjos and fiddles, hooting to Appalachian harmonies, and swaying to soulful folk songs, as the local bars and hotels give themselves over once again to the Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival.

This year, the festival – now in its seventh year – will feature over 14 acts from different parts of the world, performing in nine different venues around the town.

As the event is all about the music and fun, most of the gigs are FREE – only two are pay-in affairs: the main Saturday-night show (June 15), which will feature The Whileaways (Galway), Kidnap Alice (London, UK), and the Bluegrass Boogiemen (Utrecht, NL) [photo above], and the all-new Sunday-night show featuring John Spillane.

So who’s playing, and where?

Things start kicking early on Friday night with Woodbine (Athy), who will play an early-bird session in Blousers pub at 6.00 p.m. No less than five different gigs will take place around the town at 9.30 p.m. – The Rocky Top String Band (Westport, formerly the MacEvillys) will play in the Clew Bay Hotel for the festival’s official opening; Tumbling Bones (Portland, Maine, USA) will play in the Atlantic Coast Hotel; McGing’s pub will host Jukebox Gypsy (UK/Ireland); Eilidh Patterson (Derry) will play in Cobblers Bar; while The Jester will take Tin Box Company (Dublin).

Saturday’s entertainment begins with a lunchtime gig at the Clew Bay Hotel with the legendary Roni Stoneman (Nashville, USA) [photo right] with support from Tumbling Bones. For those who love to learn, acclaimed fiddle, banjo, and mandolin player Tim Rogers (Westport) will host a workshop in the festival’s main artery, the Wyatt Hotel, at 2.00 p.m.

Later that afternoon, at 3.00 p.m., the Big Ass Bluegrass Session – an established festival highlight – will take place. This involves most of the festival acts converging in McGing’s pub on High Street for a big ol’ session – and everyone is welcome to join in. This year’s session will be led by Woodbine. Also at 3.30 p.m., fans will have another chance to catch Eilidh Patterson, this time in the Pantry and Corkscrew restaurant, which will put together a special menu to fill the belly and fuel the soul. A great afternoon of folk, country, and bluegrass music, flowing wine and fabulous food.

The Saturday evening early-bird 6.00 p.m. gig will see an old-time session with Tim Rogers & the Clew Bay Critters in Cobblers Bar.

That night it’s the big gig. The mojo show. THE WESTPORT FOLK AND BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL MAIN EVENT. For four hours – maybe more – the walls of the Wyatt Hotel will reverberate with the sumptuously spirited sounds of The Whileaways (Galway, Ireland), Kidnap Alice (London, UK) [photo above], and The Bluegrass Boogiemen (Utrecht, NL). Doors open at 8.30 p.m., admission is €15.

Sunday’s proceedings start early, at 12.30 p.m., when music lovers looking for a lunchtime fix can head to the Clew Bay Hotel for a special performance by festival favourites The Molly Hicks from Galway.

That afternoon, Tim Rogers and friends gather at 2.30 p.m. in Blousers Bar for an out-with-a-bang session. In what is now becoming a veritable festival of conviviality in its own right, a host of musicians come together to wind down, drink up,  and sing out three days of top-class folk and kick-ass bluegrass.

But this year, it doesn’t end there. In a new addition to the festival line-up, there’ll be a Sunday night gig, with the inimitable Corkman John Spillane playing the inaugural concert. The gig takes place in Matt Molloy’s Yard Bar at 9.00 p.m. – and a special guest, to be announced closer to the date, will also play on the night. Admission is €10.

For further information, contact Uri Kohen ('phone 087 757 0958 or e-mail), go to Facebook, or visit the Festival website.