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Kathy Kallick Band in Europe, May 2010: update

Thanks to Peter Thompson, who reports:

The Kathy Kallick Band is delighted to be returning to Europe very soon! They've just released a new CD, titled Between the hollow & the high-rise, and will be playing songs and tunes from it - as well as from Kathy's earlier releases with her band and Good Ol' Persons, bluegrass and country classics, and a few surprises. They're looking forward to seeing and playing music for old friends and new ones from 6 May to 22 May 2010.

Band members include:
Kathy Kallick: guitar, vocals
Dan Booth: bass, vocals
Greg Booth: dobro, banjo, vocals
Annie Staninec: fiddle, vocals
plus special guest Martino Coppo: mandolin, vocals [in place of Tom Bekeny as shown on the CD cover]

Information/sound samples on SonicBids
KKB website
'Wildflowers' on YouTube

HOT BLUEGRASS & COOL ORIGINALS!

Thurs. 6 May Tisvildelejecafeen, Tisvildeleje, Denmark
Fri. 7 May Karens Minde Kulturhus, Copenhagen, Denmark
Sat. 8 May Spring Bluegrass Festival, Willisau, Switzerland
Sun. 9 May Offener Treffpunkt, Binningen (near Basel), Switzerland; presented by Bluegrass in Basel
Mon. 10 May Roch’événements, La Roche-sur-Foron, Haute Savoie, France
Tues. 11 May Hotel Gasthof zur Post, Leipheim/Donau, Germany
Wed. 12 May Fritz-Henbler-Haus, Dortmund, Germany
Thurs. 13 May Valthermond, the Netherlands; c/o Barry Deen (e-mail)
Fri. 14 May European World Of Bluegrass Festival, Voorthuizen, the Netherlands
NOTE: KKB members also playing with other bands during the weekend.
Tues. 18 May Hoofddorp, the Netherlands; c/o Pieter Groenveld (e-mail)
Wed. 19 May M.J.C. de Saint Saulve, Saint Saulve, France; TBC
Thurs. 20 May Aubinges, France; c/o François Galland (e-mail)
Fri. 21 May Preaux, France; c/o Etienne Lobry (e-mail)
Sat. 22 May Arleuf, France; c/o François Galland (e-mail)

British Bluegrass News #52

British Bluegrass News #52 (spring 2010) has been posted out to members of the British Bluegrass Music Association (BBMA).

At 48 pages, it is 9% larger than the 'bumper' winter issue and packed with solid content, including an overview of festivals in Britain in 2010, and an interview by Rick Townend with Lilly Drumeva (Bulgaria), who has recently joined the BBMA.

The issue also includes features on bluegrass cruises, the late Jack Cooke, and 'The art of practising' by Steve Kaufman. Hannah Johnson of the Toy Hearts reveals her ‘Favourites’, and 'The story behind the song' looks at ‘No school bus in heaven’. All this plus the regular 'What’s on', tour details, CD and book reviews, 'Light in the window', 'SmallTalk', and nine area reports.

This issue is the fourth to appear with Richard F. Thompson as editor-in-chief. British Bluegrass News is published by the BBMA, which was founded in 1990. To join the BBMA, contact the Membership Team, Clare and David Rozzell, by e-mail. You can also join online through the BBMA website.

For further information about the BBMA and the BBN e-newsletter, contact Richard F. Thompson, Press Relations, 14 Lime Grove, Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, WS13 6ER; 'phone +44 (0)1543 252683; e-mail.

Danilo Cartia Band in Rome, 29 Apr. 2010: update

The Danilo Cartia Band (Danilo Cartia, vocals, 5-string banjo, guitar; Andrea Moneta vocals, Chapman stick; Michele Anselmi, vocals, dobro; Luca Dominici, vocals, guitar; special guest Max Giua, percussion) will be playing at 22:00 on Thursday 29 April 2010 at 'Fonclea', Via Crescenzio 82 Rome, Italy - one of the most famous venues for live music in the city. Admission is free. A date not to be missed!

Danilo Cartia: Website
MySpace
Facebook: Danilo Cartia
e-mail
ph. / fax +39 06 8273332
mob. +39 339 6908450

Band personnel data have been updated since the original post on the EBB on 20 April.

Sharon Cort Band: 'Kiss the Banjo' tour in Europe, May-June 2010: UPDATE

The Sharon Cort Band on an earlier tour: Bill Keith, Jeff Wisor, Sharon, Ernie Sykes, and Butch Baldassari in Basel (photo: Lilly Pavlak)

The Sharon Cort Band will begin their 'Kiss the Banjo' tour with their first appearance as guest artists at the European World of Bluegrass Festival (13-15 May 2010) in Voorthuizen, NL. They follow this with over a month of shows in France, Switzerland, Ireland, and elsewhere in Europe.

Sharon is known for her powerful, sensitive vocals, her original songs, and her top-notch band members. On this trip the Sharon Cort Band will include Sean McKerr (Ireland; bass), Tom Corbett (USA; mandolin), and Jean Marie Redon (France; banjo). Fiddler Aaron Till (USA) will join the band for a few dates.

Previous tours by the SCB have included the largest country music festival in France, Country Rendez-Vous at Craponne, and a 2007 national television appearance in Paris on 'Magic TV', with founding members of the classic French band Bluegrass Long Distance. Tour dates at present are:

May 14 EWOB Festival, Voorthuizen, NL
May 16 Stichting Boet'n Deure, Poolshoogte, Bosw, Meelkerlaan 5, Staatsbossen van Oodorn, NL; tel: +0031 (0) 599 850361
May 22 Country Festival TBA Paris, France
May 25 Midleton Folk CLub, McDaid's, Midleton, Co. Cork, Ireland
May 26 Treacy’s, Ballincollig, Co. Cork, Ireland
May 28 Corrigans, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan, Ireland
June 1 House concert, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland
June 3 Country & Bluegrass Festival, Montgeron, France
June 4 Country Western Festival, Montigny sur Lioge, France
June 18 Col Des Roches Festival, Hotel Jet d’Eau, Le Col 15 2400 Le Locle, Switzerland; tel. +41 32 931 46 66

Sharon Cort website; MySpace; e-mail

Read the full press release on the tour here. For further information, contact Terry Harkleroad, Mitero Entertainment, +1-888-301-3529; e-mail.

Blue Dew concert schedule 2010-11

Blue Dew (NL), whose unique style combines bluegrass and Irish traditional music, announce their concert schedule for 2010-2011:

Sun. 30 May 2010 Muziek op De Welle, Markelo
'Little whisky child', 14:30-16:00. More info here.

Sat. 11 Sept. 2010 Buitengewoon Buitenconcert, Wekerom
'Little whisky child' & CD launch; begins 20:00. More info TBA.

Sat. 25 Sept. 2010 De Oude Remise, Nieuweschans
'Little whisky child'; begins 20:30; admission €12.50 advance booking, €15 at the door. More info here.

Sat. 6 Nov. 2010 Theater Prismare, Enschede
'Little whisky child'; begins 20:00; admission €10. More info here.

Sat. 20 Nov. 2010 Kronkeltheater, Slagharen
'Little whisky child'; begins 20:00. More info TBA.

Fri. 26 Nov. 2010 Deventer Schouwburg
'Little whisky child'; begins 20:00. More info here.

Sat. 11 Dec. 2010 Capellenborgtheater, Wijhe
'Little whisky child'; begins 20:15. More info here.

Thurs. 3 Mar. 2011 Theater Globe, Hilversum
'Tales for the ever-young'. More info here.

Fri. 9 Apr. 2011 Theater Carrousel, Ommen
'Little whisky child'; begins 20:00. More info here.

Sat. 21 May 2011 Theater Idea, Soest
'Little whisky child'; begins 20:00. More info here.

There is still space in our schedule for appearances in Jan.-June 2011.

Blue Dew can be booked through the StudioKLEINkunst agency. If you are interested in the performance 'The long journey home', the story-programme 'Roasted barley', the programme for those aged 6 and over 'Tales for the ever-young', or the new performance 'Little whisky child', contact:

Marius Klein
Burg. Tonckensstraat 12
7921 KC Zuidwolde (dr)
Tel: +31 (0)6 26552185
e-mail

A joy to see you again and may joy be with you all!

Bluegrass Trivia Board Game: Now Available in Europe

Bluegrass Routes

In March, we reported the release of this very professionally produced board game. The first such trivia board game for bluegrass lovers, this game is also an educational adventure into the bluegrass world -- fun for beginner and expert bluegrass fans.

To our current knowledge, it is exclusively available in Europe only from Strictly Country (Rienk Janssen) in Holland. You may see more details, photos and ordering information by clicking on the SC link.

Bring your game to the European World of Bluegrass [EWOB] May 13-15 in Voorthuizen, The Netherlands and test your skills with other bluegrass music fans and artists!

Radio playlists

Kabel 87.5 MHz - Omroep Venray - Ether 90.2 MHz:
Peelgrass Country Programme playlist 2648 (25 Apr. 2010)
PeelGrass is now also broadcast on Huissentv (the Netherlands). The programme supports the European World of Bluegrass Festival.

Radio Vrolek, 107.7 MHz; local cable 105.5 MHz; Information TV-channel 2:
Country Music Round-up playlists, Tues. 19.00-20.00, Sat. 12.00-13.00

Radio Free FM Ulm, UKW 102.6:
Americana playlists* 321 (5 Apr. 2010) and 322 (12 Apr. 2010)
Antistatic Country Time playlist 22 Feb. 2010

* Programmes in this series are broadcast live on Radio Free FM and Countrymusic24.com and will be repeated on Countrymusic24.com on Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. (European Continental time) in future, instead of Tuesdays at 5.30 p.m. as heretofore.
Antistatic Country Time can be heard on Radio Free FM's live streaming Digital Audio Lounge.

Mountain Heart booked for Johnny Keenan Festival, 23-6 Sept. 2010

Mountain Heart at IBMA: Barry Abernathy (banjo) and Jim Van Cleve (fiddle) in foreground

Thanks to Chris Keenan for news of the lineup for this year's Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival at Longford town, Ireland (23-26 September 2010). Mountain Heart are included, from the A list of modern US bluegrass bands.

The schedule (blending Irish traditional, bluegrass, and folk music) includes Rodney Crowell, Iris Dement, Mountain Heart, Brian Kennedy, Gerry O'Connor, Chris Meehan & his Redneck Friends, the Niall Toner Band, We Banjo 3 (featuring Enda Scahill & Leon Hunt), Shaskeen, Rig the Jig, Tupelo, Bending the Strings, and the George Harper Band. Other acts are TBC.

Tickets and weekend passes go on sale at Ticketmaster next week. Information on tickets and weekend passes is also available at the Festival website or by ringing 087-281-7825.

Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival
23-26 September 2010, Longford, Ireland
Celebrating Irish Traditional, American Bluegrass, and Folk Music
ph: 087-281-7825
international: +353-87-281-7825

The 'Keith Unit' in Paris, 1984

Thanks to Thierry Lecoq of Blue Railroad Train (F) for this colour photo of the 'Keith Unit' (USA) in Montmartre, Paris, during a tour of France in the summer of 1984. From left to right: Tony Rice (guitar), Bill Amatneek (bass), Bill Keith (banjo), David Grisman (mandolin), Darol Anger (fiddle).

A monochrome reproduction of this photo appeared in Bluegrass Unlimited magazine, xxxii, no. 6 (December 1997), illustrating 'Paris remembers', an article by Bill Amatneek about his memories of the trip. The 'Keith Unit' were in France while the fortieth anniversary of the 1944 liberation was being celebrated; and the article tells how the Americans, in search of tortoiseshell picks, were received by one Parisian music-shop owner. Look it up!

IBMM's ROMP 2010 - and more

The Ambassador Program for the International Bluegrass Music Museum (IBMM) in Owensboro, KY, was announced on the European Bluegrass Blog on 23 November 2009 - a welcome initiative by the Museum in reaching out to partner with bluegrass associations all over the world.

Thanks to Garian Vigil, coordinator of the Ambassador Program for the IBMM, for news on the program and on the IBMM's River Of Music Party (ROMP) this year (23-6 June 2010). Garian recaps on how the program works:

Your association will appoint or elect a person who is willing and enthusiastic about being an Ambassador from your association to the International Bluegrass Music Museum. This Museum Ambassador will work with the Bluegrass Museum to trade news for our respective newsletters and work on special projects. We are also inviting the Ambassador to attend a yearly meeting of Ambassadors at ROMP in Owensboro each year. ROMP is our biggest fund-raising event and it takes place the fourth weekend of June. I would like to stress that attending ROMP is encouraged, but not required for participation in the program.

Ambassadors will receive a complimentary IBMM membership, a VIP ROMP pass (which includes VIP access to all events, backstage privileges, meals with Artists/Pioneers), and an Ambassadors t-shirt. The museum will arrange low-cost lodging for your Ambassador's stay at ROMP, getting in on our artists’ rates (typically $54/night + tax). There is also free camping at ROMP for the adventurous types.

We’re very excited to inform you about this year's ROMP (River of Music Party) held 23-26 June in Owensboro. We have a great lineup that includes Doc Watson, Pete Wernick, Mac Martin & the Dixie Travelers, Claire Lynch, Jack Hicks & Summertown Road, Michael Cleveland, Dailey & Vincent, G2, Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, Acousticure, Roland White, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Danny Paisley & Southern Grass, the Isaacs, John Cowan Band, Packway Handle Band and many more! Advance weekend passes are available for the low price of $75 for adults and $50 for IBMM members. Get a 4-day family pass for only $150. And there’s FREE camping!

As well as two #1 European Bluegrass Bands, G2 (Sweden) and Acousticure (Hungary), the lineup includes the New Appleseed Band from Japan. Full details of ROMP 2010 are on the Museum's website and on the ROMP 2010 flyer, which can be seen here.

************

Gabrielle Gray, the IBMM's Executive Director, writes:

If you’re a visual artist and want to submit a work of art to potentially be included in the upcoming Bill Monroe Centennial Art Exhibit here at the Bluegrass Museum in Owensboro, KY, please go to our website and read the short list of rules and download the application form. The deadline for submissions is 15 May. This is a juried exhibit and will be excellent.

Everyone else, please come see this exhibit. It kicks off the first of the Centennial events by opening this year at ROMP on 23 June 2010.

This Friday (23 April 2010) at 7.00 p.m. Central Standard Time, Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, who have made several tours in Europe, will be giving a concert at the IBMM for its benefit. The band, who have been the force behind this series of concerts in support of the Museum, will also have a CD release party at this time, introducing the first-ever CD made at the Museum. Tickets ($10) include a wine and cheese reception.

Advance booking for 8th International Bühl Bluegrass Festival

Thanks to Rüdiger Schmitt of Kleinkunst im Schütte-Keller in 'Bluegrass City Bühl', Germany, for the news that advance bookings of tickets for the 8th International Bühl Bluegrass Festival (14-15 May 2010) can be made online, by telephone (+49 07223/93-1616; weekdays 10:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:00; Saturday 10:00-12:00), or from Kleinkunst im Schütte-Keller. The full Festival programme can be seen here (outside and inside).

Ticket prices are:

Friday 14 May
Advance booking: €16
At the door: €18

Saturday 15 May
Advance booking: €25
At the door: €27

Festival Pass
Advance booking: €38
At the door: €40

Rüdiger Schmitt
Kleinkunst im Schütte-Keller e.V.
Blumenstr. 5
77815 Bühl / Baden

Ticket hotline 07223 / 250076
www.bluegrass-buehl.de
www.schuettekeller.de
schuettekeller@web.de

Deadline approaches for IBMA Songwriter Showcase 2010

Nancy Cardwell, the IBMA's Special Projects Director, writes:

Just a reminder that 1 May is the deadline to submit a song (plus lyric sheet and contact info) for consideration for the IBMA Songwriter Showcase at World of Bluegrass this fall. Veteran as well as novice songwriters are encouraged to send in an original bluegrass song that hasn't been cut by a well-known group already.

THIS MEANS YOU, SONGWRITERS! Let's make the 2010 IBMA songwriter showcase the best, ever!

Complete info is here.

Stefano Santangelo & Andy Glandt tour, 9-18 Apr. 2010

The tour by Andy Glandt (D) and Stefano Santangelo (I) announced on the EBB on 2 April is now complete, and Andy reports:

Hi folks,

I just want to inform you that I finished a very nice tour with the Italian multi-instrumentalist Stefano Santangelo. We played seven great concerts and had a lot of fun. On my Facebook site you can see two photos. Best wishes,

Andy Glandt

Musician and songwriter: www.andy.glandt.com
www.sousabanjo.com
www.myspace.com/andyglandt
www.myspace.com/duobarnstorm
www.youtube.com/singingbanjoman
www.youtube.com/sousabanjo

Writer: www.new-ebooks.de

+49-3641-331001
+49-172-941-3523

USA Roots Music News, Apr. 2010

Thanks to Rainer Zellner for the Music Contact agency's April 2010 newsletter for USA folk, roots, acoustic country, and bluegrass music, with the major tours currently scheduled for this year:

UNCLE EARL: Neo-Old-Time All-Girl Band

29 Apr. franz k, 72762 Reutlingen, 20:30
30 Apr. Wodan Halle, 79098 Freiburg, 20:30
1 May Jegelscheune, 90530 Wendelstein, 20:00
2 May KFZ, Marburg, 20:00
3 May Clubheim, 89269 Voehringen-Illerberg
6 May KULT, 97996 Niederstetten, 20:00
7 May Club Bastion, 73230 Kirchheim/T., 21:00
8 May Schweizer Landwirtschaftsmuseum Burgrain, CH-6248 Alberswil (bei Willisau), Switzerland, 20:00
9 May Ev. Kirche, 56335 Neuhäusel, 17:00
10 May Neue Welt, 85049 Ingolstadt, 20:30
11 May Haus International, 87435 Kempten, 20:00
12 May Kulturforum, 90762 Fürth, 20:00
14 May Bürgerhaus, 77815 Bühl, 20:00
15-16 May Karl May Fest, 01445 Radebeul
17 May AmVietheater, 07616 Beulbar (with Fox Tower Bluegrass Band), 19:30
19 May Café Castaneda, 34516 Vöhl-Harbshausen, 20:00
20 May Ratssaal, 28816 Stuhr, 20:00
21 May Tanzschule Schrock-Opitz, 26789 Leer, 20:00
22 May Jazztime Open Air Festival, 31141 Hildesheim, 16:00
23 May Hamawe Roots Festival, B-6760 Virton, Belgium, 20:30

THE WILDERS: Bluegrass meets Rockabilly

29 Sept. Ratssaal, 28816 Stuhr
30 Sept. Kulturfabrik Löseke, 31137 Hildesheim
2 Oct. Country Festival, Grindelwald, Switzerland, 20:30
3 Oct. Four Corners, Untermeitingen, TBC
9 Oct. Albert Einstein Forum, 41564 Kaarst, 20:00
10 Oct. Kulturforum, Lauf, TBC
13 Oct. Reithalle, Offenburg, 20:00
14 Oct. franz k, 72762 Reutlingen, 20:00
15 Oct. Schwarzer Hasen, 88239 Wangen, 20:00
16 Oct. El Lokal, Zurich, Switzerland

2nd BLUEGRASS JAMBOREE! - FESTIVAL OF BLUEGRASS AND AMERICANA MUSIC 2010
Sponsored by byte.fm, Akustik Gitarre, No Fences, Bear Family Records

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (USA): Traditional hardcore bluegrass
Jeff and Vida (USA): Acoustic Americana
Shotgun Party (USA): New Western Swing

3 Dec. franz k, 72762 Reutlingen, 20:00
5 Dec. Amerikahaus, 80333 Munich (München)
6 Dec. ParkTheater im Kurhaus Göggingen, 86199 Augsburg
9 Dec. Gut Varrel, 28816 Stuhr
10 Dec. Kulturfabrik Löseke, Hildesheim, 20:00
11 Dec. Theater, Lutherstadt-Eisleben, 18:00
14 Dec. Haus der Kultur, 84478 Waldkraiburg, 20:00
16 Dec. Lokschuppen, 89522 Heidenheim, 20:00
18 Dec. Kammgarn, CH-8200 Schaffhausen, Switzerland

*For your calendar*
14-15 May Bühl 8th Internationales Bühl Bluegrass Festival 2010
13-15 May NL-Voorthuizen The European World of Bluegrass Festival
22-23 May 48268 Greven Greven Grass Bluegrass Festival

Radio
'Hillbilly Boogie' on Free Radio Tübingen can now be heard worldwide on the Web every Friday, 21-23:00; repeated the following Saturday morning (03.00-05.00). Call in: +49 7071 760 204. Tell your friends!

MUSIC CONTACT Rainer Zellner
Roots Music Booking and Production
Saarstrasse 8, D-72070 Tübingen, Germany
+49 (0) 7073 2250; fax +49 (0) 7073 2134; e-mail; twitter: mandomaniac

Production Office: Kirsten Spiegl +49 (0) 7073-913588 (13:30-18:30); e-mail
Website: Press: text and photos; Media downloads

International Record Store Day: April 17

Saturday, April 17 is Independent Record Store Day ...all over the world!

The goal is to attract people to the "Indie" (independent) music retailers -- not the commercial chain stores. Since bluegrass music, and acoustic music in general, is primarily an indie genre you will be supporting the artists, labels and your local independent store.

Click on the title of this article and it will take you to a map of countries. Click on your country and a list of indie store retailers will appear.

There are free giveaways at participating stores, as well as exclusive giveaways (free downloads, etc) on the recordstoreday.com website.

If your local independent store doesn't have bluegrass or your favorite acoustic music genre on their shelves, this is your chance to ask them "Why not?" Perhaps you can introduce the owners/managers to an artist that their customers might enjoy?

As they wrote in their press release email, "No better time to get out to your local indie music store and show them some love!"

Bluegrass im Elsass

Thanks to Serge Rieger for news of the bluegrass band which he leads in Alsace (Elsass). The personnel includes Joel Espesset (mandolin) from Kehl, Heiner Raulff (banjo, dobro), also from Kehl, Théo Sauer (dobro, banjo) from Lampersloch, Serge's son Virgil (bass, vocals), and Serge himself (guitar, vocals). Two tracks recorded by the band can be heard on their website. Contact Serge by e-mail.

The band knows the German bluegrass world well through the Bühl bluegrass festival, the musicians from Night Run and Blue Side of Town, and the Treffen (meetings) in Lindelbrunn (run by Hese Schröder) and in Freiolsheim (by Jürgen Krämer). The band's concerts take place close to the German border. Serge writes:

In 2010 we will organise for the second time a meeting in Kutzenhausen (Alsace). Last year there were about ten musicians and there was heavy jamming, for a very interested audience and an excellent Flammenkuchen [an Alsatian speciality]!

This year the Kutzenhausen meeting is on 1 August. The band's schedule at present is as follows:

24 Apr. Foyer St Louis, Robertsau, Strasbourg
25 Apr. à Schwabwiller (14:00-17:00), moulin
15 May Plan d'eau de Reischshoffen
16 May Ecurie du lac, Retschwiller
21 May Pauses musicales de Haguenau
22 May A la lueur des notes, Kutzenhausen
21 June Fête de la musique EPAHD, Haguenau
4 July Jardin d'Irma Betschdorf
23/25 July Jardin musical Haguenau
1 Aug. Bluegrass in Kutzenhausen

Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three in Europe, Aug.-Sept. 2010

Thanks to the UK organisation FOAOTMAD for the news that the 'urban old-time' band Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three (USA) will be playing thirty-one shows in six European countries from 7 August to 13 September 2010, including the Tønder Festival in Denmark, where the bill will also include Hot Rize and Red Knuckles & the Trail Blazers (USA).

Full details are given on the band's tour schedule. Their website quotes Paul van Gelder, of American Radio in the Netherlands, as saying of their CD Riverboat soul: 'One of the best records I’ve heard since 2008! The sheer joy it reflects overwhelmed me.'

Europe in Laurie Lewis's April newsletter

The April 2010 e-mail newsletter from Laurie Lewis gives much space to her tour with Tom Rozum in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy last month, with photos of snowy trees in Sachsenheim and sunlight in Portofino (left), and descriptions of seeing art and architecture in Rome and (under the guidance of Red Wine) buying chocolates in Genoa (Genova).

The newsletter also includes a performance schedule for April and details of summer instruction camps in May, June, and July.

4th Banjo Camp Munich, 1-3 October 2010

Rüdiger Helbig at the 2009 Camp (photo: Volker Lesch)

Thanks to Michael Pugh (USA; resident in Munich) for news that the 4th Banjo Camp Munich will be held on 1-3 October 2010 
at the Aktivhotel Aschau/Chiemgau. With the subtitle 'Pick-Your-Passion-Camp', it offers classes in banjo, guitar, dobro, mandolin, clawhammer banjo, and songwriting.

Full details, including an impressive lineup of tutors, are on the Banjo Camp website, where an application form can be downloaded. The closing date for applications is 26 July 2010.

Strakonice Jamboree 2010 programme

Preparing the stage in the castle courtyard, Strakonice 2008 (photo: Lilly Pavlak)

Petr Kulik announces that the programme is now complete for this year's Jamboree (28-29 May 2010) at Strakonice in the Czech Republic - the biggest bluegrass festival in central Europe, presented by the town's cultural centre. Full details of the programme can be seen here.

News from the New Acoustic Gallery

Oliver Waitze reports from the New Acoustic Gallery in Solingen, Germany, following the Frankfurter Musikmesse 2010:

Goods now in stock include the new Kruger Brothers CD Forever and a day (right); the Carlos CP-1A SLY pickup (€299); the Schertler Dyn-B banjo pickup (€299); the Deering Woodsongs Campfire long-neck banjo (€1499 including case); the Deering Goodtime Classic banjo (€649); the Kentucky KM 1500 F-style mandolin (€2490); and Blueridge BR60 and BR40 12-string guitars.

Info hotline: Tel. Oliver Waitze (+49 0212/2474007); e-mail; website

2nd GrevenGrass Festival, 22-3 May 2010

The GrevenGrass organising team send their latest newsletter, with just over a month left till the Festival reunites the 'bluegrass family' in Greven, north Germany:

We are well prepared for the second GrevenGrass Festival. We engaged a bunch of brilliant musicians and advertised the event even beyond the borders of our region. Now we look forward to the reunion. We like to add some more useful things to the wonderful ambience you had in the camp and in the stage area, to give you some fine Pentecost days.

* Following an advice which Jörg gave us, we will offer 'childcare' for some times, so parents will get some useful time to enjoy the festival.
* We will offer a 'baker’s shop', starting on Friday, where you can order Brötchen, bread, and cake for the next morning.
* Our Top-Service will be cooled bottled beer. You can even buy a complete box of beer at out Camp-Bar. Cheers!
* In the morning (as well as in the later times) you can buy freshly brewed coffee in the special GrevenGrass-Mug.
* Last year somebody asked for tables and benches to be borrowed. If anyone likes such a service, we could organise it - just give us your feedback.

The camp will officially start on Friday; if someone likes to come the day before, please give an advise to Ulli. The sanitary facilities beyond the indoor swimming pool are open during daytime; however, electrical current and water in the camp will be available only as of Friday.

In between the afternoon and evening stage program we will have the 'open stage' again. If you like to perform on the open stage, you are welcome. The open stage is sponsored by the Warstein Brewery; each musician will get a Warstein Pils sixpack. Please inform us in time!

Thomas will charge the 2010 fee for GrevenGrass members using the debit entry. Some of you gave an additional contribution. Thank you for showing solidarity. If you like to give us an extra contribution, here is our bank account:

GrevenGrass e.V.
Kreissparkasse Steinfurt
Kto.-Nr. 72258478
BLZ: 403 510 60

Maybe you like to join the GrevenGrass association or to recommend someone else to join; you can download the application sheet for the membership, available on our homepage. See you at Pentecost! We are counting the days...
_________________________________________________
GrevenGrass Bluegrass Festival 2010 • Pfingsten (Pentecost) 22. + 23.05.2010 • 48268 Greven • Emsstrand •

Tom Nechville in Europe, autumn 2010

Banjo guru Tom Nechville sends this message to his friends in Europe:

Greetings Friends!

I'm hoping that we can get together sometime this August or September, when I will be travelling to your part of the banjo universe...

I plan to drive from Frankfurt to the Netherlands and Belgium (19-21 Aug.), then continue south and east across France to Switzerland (22-25 Aug.), and then up to Strasbourg for a visit with my in-laws. From 28 to 31 Aug. I'm hoping to jam with friends around Milan, Italy, before heading to Didmarton Festival in England (the first weekend in September). I will also be at Cornwall Bluegrass Fest, 16-18 September. Although my plans haven't been finalised yet, I may be exploring a bit of Scotland or Scandinavia between these two UK festivals. Let me know if you have any ideas for banjo workshops, demonstrations, jams, store visits, wine tastings, or whatever you might suggest.

Let's stay in touch so we can hopefully connect with each other this summer!

Tom Nechville
e-mail
website
Feel free to call if I don't reply promptly:
Office +1 952-888-9710
Cell +1 612-275-6602

Tom's website also includes details of armrests, bridges, and other goodies including the Turbo Module Electric Banjo insert.

BBMA e-newsletter #9

Thanks to Richard F Thompson, editor of British Bluegrass News, the magazine of the British Bluegrass Music Association, for the news that BBN has issued the ninth (April 2010) in its series of e-newsletters to BBMA members, carrying news that breaks between issues of the quarterly magazine.

The 13-page newsletter, which can be read here, has a further improved format and includes many items of bluegrass news outside Britain, leading with a feature on the 13th EWOB Festival (13-15 May 2010). The lineup for the Willisau festival in Switzerland and the new Lilly Drumeva CD are reported, and a new one-day bluegrass event in England, the Appleby Bluegrass Day, is announced for 30 August 2010.

Those interested in joining the BBMA can do so by contacting the Membership Team, Clare and David Rozzell, 26 Martin Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO3 6JZ; e-mail.

Mandolin news from Spain: update

Photo: Lilian Guzman

Roberto Ruiz Cubero from Spain reports that he and his brother, as the mandolin-and-guitar duo of Spanish music Los Hermanos Cubero (The Cubero Brothers), have won the Premio Europeo Nueva Creación de Folklore Agapito Marazuela award, which recognises innovation in the field of traditional music.

The tunes with which they won the award were two covers from Spanish music legend Agapito Marazuela and their own original tune 'Jota para Bill Monroe' ('Jota for Bill Monroe'), a 50/50 mix between bluegrass and Spanish folk. A Jota is a Spanish rhythm dance in 6/8.

You can hear the tunes on MySpace; for more information about the award, a Spanish newspaper report can be read here. The tunes are also available from the Cubero Brothers in mp3 format.

Update 12 April: See also today's Bluegrass Blog, where a one-minute clip of the 'Jota para Bill Monroe' can be heard.

Sally Gray will be missed...

Sally Govers Gray passed away on 5 April 2010.
It was an unexpected loss.
It is always sad to report the loss of a friend... especially someone so humble, funny, friendly and gracious as bass player Tom Gray's wife, Sally.

If you knew Tom, you also knew his wife, Sally. You rarely saw one without the other. If ever there was a couple who truly enjoyed being together, it was Tom and Sally Gray. Sally was not just a musicians's wife. She was very active behind the scenes for many years. Among Sally's many contributions to bluegrass music she was the editor of Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine in the early 1960s. Sally, along with Nancy Duffey (wife of mandolin player John Duffey), was part of the 'glue' that held the Seldom Scene band together for decades. Sally & Nancy were the dedicated merchandise saleswomen and road managers for The Scene. It was not unusual to see Sally hastily selling Seldom Scene T-shirts out of the back of the car at the end of a show, as the boys changed their shirts and prepared to drive off to the next festival as quickly as they could.

Sally made literally hundreds of friends on the European continent as she toured with Tom through the years. She especially loved spending time with the music fans here. Her last trip to Europe was in May/June 2009 as Tom toured with JB's Band. Sally told me that particular trip was "so precious" to her. She was so grateful to be able to make the trip, meeting old and new friends.

Sally Gray was a fine human being, and as gentle a soul as one may ever have the pleasure of knowing. In closing, and with sincere thanks to bass player and family friend Missy Raines, we now offer Tom's open letter to you all:

Dear Friends,

Please excuse me for using this mass-communication media of email to tell my sad news.

Yesterday [Monday, 5 April 2010] I lost my wife Sally, my dear partner in life. She passed away in the operating room while they were trying to correct her heart problems. I won't go into the bloody details of how it happened. As you probably know, she has suffered for years with a heart that sometimes would beat in strange rhythms. She has been hospitalized four times this year with congestive heart failure.

We had a very happy life together for 47 years. Sally is the inspiration for the wonderful sense of humor that our three children carry on today.

The funeral plans are now complete:

On Saturday, April 10 from 2:00 - 4:00pm EST, there will be a visitation at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Blvd. West, Silver Spring, Maryland 20901.

On Sunday, April 11 at 3:00pm EST, there will be a funeral service at Palisades Community Church, 5200 Cathedral Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016. A social gathering follows immediately in the hall downstairs from the sanctuary.

Interment will be at a private ceremony the next day at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Yours truly,
Tom Gray

Brand new European bluegrass radio show on WorldWideBluegrass.com

Ernie Evans (guitar player in Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike) along with his wife Debi have started a new radio show on WorldWideBluegrass.com called "The Evans' Midnight Round-up/Good Morning, Europe!" They want to focus on European bluegrass and are trying to get more pickers to stop by the chat room. The show airs from midnight to 2 am on Wednesday morning United States Eastern Standard Time. Most in Europe will be getting ready for work at that time, won't we? If there's any way you could stop by the chatroom to talk to folks during their show, it would be great publicity for us and their show! Just let Ernie know ahead of time when you'll be able to log on and he'll get the word out all over the internet so people know to watch for you.

Ernie & Debi's e-mail address for more information.
Facebook: Ernie & Debi's radio page.

News for the European Bluegrass Blog...

... can be posted to any member of the team of contributors listed on the right of the EBB during the period 4-10 April, except Richard Hawkins, who will be attending Sore Fingers Week in England during that period, on the bluegrass banjo course taught by Alan Munde.

Any news that you would normally send to Richard can be sent to the blog e-mail address shown at the top of the EBB. Please make sure that everything you wish to send is included in the text of the e-mail, as attachments do not come through this link.

Happy Easter from the MSQ

Hi, Folks !

HAPPY EASTER by Mideando String Quintet

We'll play at the EWOB Festival in the Netherlands and at La Roche Bluegrass Festival in France... we hope to meet you.

Have a nice spring,

MSQ

8th International Bühl Bluegrass Festival - press conference, 21 Apr. 2010

Thanks to Wolfgang Mark of the press office of the city of Bühl, in Baden, south-west Germany, for the news that a press conference on the 8th International Bühl Bluegrass Festival (14-15 May 2010) will be held at 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday 21 April 2010 in the Rathaus I, Alter Trausaal, Hauptstraße 47, 77815 Bühl.

Hans Striebel, mayor of the city, Wolfgang Jokerst of the Bühl culture department, Walter Fuchs, festival director, and Rüdiger Schmitt of Kleinkunst im Schüttekeller will be present to give all information on the Festival.

If you will be attending as a media representative, or wish to receive the press package, contact Wolfgang Mark at the above address; tel. +49 (0) 72 23) 9 35-2 82, fax -2 89; e-mail. A press release (in German) and copies of the Festival programme (outside and inside) are available.

Bands taking part this year include Uncle Earl (USA), the Midnight Ramblers (USA), G2 Bluegrass Band (S), the Sons of Navarone (BE), and 4 Wheel Drive (BE/D/NL), who will perform both with James Talley (USA) and with Jolanda Peters (NL).

Bluegrass Stuff, Rawhide at Coastline Event, 4-6 June 2010

The lineup for this year's Coastline Bluegrass Music Event in north Wales is headed by two leading bands from continental Europe - Bluegrass Stuff (I) (shown above) and Rawhide (BE). Also on the schedule are Baker's Fabulous Boys, one of the UK's most entertaining bands, together with the Feet First and Wicked Soles troupes of Appalachian cloggers.

The Event also includes extended workshops, an Open Mic, picking sessions (of course), and camping. A full weekend ticket is £38 (camping; £34 without camping); for children under 16 accompanied by a fee-paying adult, admission is free.

This year's Event will be held from Friday 4 June to Sunday 6 June 2010 at Plas Uchaf Farm, near Llandudno Junction, Conwy, north Wales. Full details are on the Coastline Bluegrass Music Event website.

Stefano Santangelo & Andy Glandt tour, 9-18 Apr. 2010

A tour in Germany by Andy Glandt (D) and Stefano Santangelo (I) will begin a week from now.

They have a lot in common: both have been making music since the '70s. Both perform solo or with bands. Both have experiences with organising festivals; both of them have been touring Europe and the US. Both like to entertain the audience with their music and routines, and both have been talking again and again about doing a tour together.

And now it's the time: in spring of 2010 Stefano from Padua (Padova) in northern Italy and Andy from the Jena, Thüringen region of Germany, are going on a tour together. The audience is to expect a mix of Italian folk music with a touch of jazz; other styles from Australia, Italy, Germany, America, Mexico, and other places will be connected. Fast instrumental solos will follow ballads and the audience will be required to join in from time to time...

Don't miss! Full details of the tour schedule are here.

Foghorn Stringband in Europe, April-May 2010

At the end of this month the Foghorn Stringband (USA), leaders of the vigorous old-time music scene in Portland, Oregon, will begin their 'Scotland, Denmark, Sweden and back to Scotland tour!!' (as it appears on their MySpace site).

The tour is anchored at each end by the 30th Shetland Folk Festival (29 April-2 May) and the 27th Orkney Folk Festival (27-30 May). No details of the intervening shows are available at present.

International crisis looms

In retaliation against criticisms from the European Union of measures taken by the Irish government to meet the economic crisis, it was announced today in Dublin that the award-winning European bluegrass band 4 Wheel Drive will be detained indefinitely in Ireland - where they are beginning a tour - till good relations with the EU can be restored.

A spokesman for the band said: 'This is a very serious matter, and cannot be settled in a hurry. It needs a full international inquiry, and perhaps a meeting of the G8 heads of government. Meanwhile, we'll just have to stay here drinking Guinness.'