Welcome to the Bluegrass Ireland Blog

If you're visiting the BIB for the first time, details of its background and purpose can be found here, and tips on using it are here. The easiest way to reach both is to click on the 'Welcome' label at the bottom of this post. The calendar is the main point of the BIB.

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


Riley Baugus playing clawhammer banjo in Reilly's, Ulster Street


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.

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.

Events at the Séamus Ennis Centre, Naul

The Séamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin, as well as being a good friend to bluegrass in the Dublin area, presents other forms of music, film, and drama. The Centre's programme up to 2 January 2010 can be seen here, including the 28 Nov. show by the legendary Jim Rooney (USA) with the almost equally legendary Mick Daly and Arty McGlynn.

All performances are presented at the Centre, with doors open at 7.30 p.m. and the performance at 8.30 p.m., unless otherwise stated. Full details are on the Centre's website. For more information, contact the Centre by phone (+353 (01) 8020898) or e-mail.

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.