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.

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!

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

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

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.

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.'

Latest news on G2 from the Bluegrass Blog

Read the Bluegrass Blog for the latest news on the G2 Bluegrass Band from Sweden, #1 European Bluegrass Band 2007 - especially the appreciative comments by John Lawless on the music from their new album, Untapped routes. One track from the album, the song 'Still standing', was released today as a digital single and can be bought on Klicktrack and heard on their website.

Read also how the band are searching for a base in the Nashville area for their forthcoming US tour.

Red Wine Bluegrass Party # 2

Thanks to Martino Coppo, who reports:

Red Wine Bluegrass Party #2 on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 March was another big hit!

For two nights the air of our hometown, Genoa (Genova), was filled with the sound of banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, and with the beautiful vocal harmonies of our special guests, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum.

The show was divided in two sets: in the first one Red Wine played alone, and then invited Laurie & Tom for a few more songs together. After a short intermission, Laurie & Tom opened the second set with a beautiful a cappella hunting number, and then played several songs as a duo, switching from guitar to mandolin to mandola to fiddle to twin fiddles! They invited back Red Wine on stage to end up the show with more numbers together. What a thrill to play and sing with such great musicians!

The encore saw a surprise visit on stage from our guest friends Beppe Gambetta (on Friday) and Lowell Levinger alias 'Banana' (on Friday and Saturday), for a rendition of 'The Old St. Sabbath' and 'My old Kentucky home'.

Everybody left the the Theatre of Gioventu' happy and with a lot of great memories, and we've already started working on the Red Wine Bluegrass Party #3 for 2011!

Danny Sheerin to showcase at EWOB Festival, 15 May 2010

One of the pleasures of the European World of Bluegrass Festival at Voorthuizen in the Netherlands is seeing familiar faces; another is seeing new acts; and a third is seeing a familiar face in an new setting.

Danny Sheerin (pictured left), singer and guitarist with the Irish band Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens, is scheduled to appear in a band showcase at 17:30 on Saturday 15 May 2010. This is not Danny's first time at the EWOB Festival, as Carmel & the Ravens showcased there in 2005, won the #1 European Bluegrass Band award, and went on to represent Europe at the IBMA's World of Bluegrass in 2006.

Danny has a website of his own under construction. Full details of the EWOB 2010 programme can be seen here.

Danilo Cartia Band schedule, 26-8 Mar. 2010

The Danilo Cartia Band will be playing on 26 March 2010 at the Cantine Blues, Via della Batteria Nomentana 66, Rome, and on 27 March at the Stage Pub, Via dell’Olmetta, Formello (RM), north of Rome.

Admission is free to both these shows and to the latest Rome Bluegrass Jam, which will be held on 28 March back in Rome at the Cantine Blues.

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

Benefit concert for Albert Schweitzer hospital

Thanks to Lilly Pavlak, who reports from Bülach, Switzerland:

The Swiss old-time/bluegrass band Big Stone [see photos above and below] organised a benefit concert for the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambarene, Africa. It took place in the very well attended catholic church centre in Bülach last Friday, 19 March.

Big Stone with the gentleman who worked in the hospital

In the middle of the program, a gentleman who was working in Lambarene for years sang together with the band Johny Cash's 'Folsom Prison Blues'. After a break, another Swiss band, the Blue Valley Drifters, came on stage and played another set.

Blue Valley Drifters

It was a beautiful evening and I hope that good money came together to help... thanks to Big Stone! It would be nice, if more bands will follow this great idea.

The parish priest with little Iwanka from Ukraine

Last year in January they held there also a concert to pay the hospital bills for a little girl from Ukraine, named Iwanka. As we could see her at the concert this time too, she is getting much better now. She is waiting for the next operation, living here with her Swiss foster-family.

New Acoustic Gallery: Mar. 2010 newsletter

The Krüger Brothers return to the New Acoustic Gallery at Solingen on Wednesday 31 March 2010 for the only German concert in their European tour, bringing with them their brand new CD and a percussionist. A foretaste of their music can be seen and heard on YouTube. Tickets are €30 in advance, €35 at the door. For all tickets to NAG events, telephone Oliver Waitze at +49 0212/2474007.

Also in the NAG's 2010 concert series, Mike Marshall & Caterina Lichtenberg will give a concert of duets for mandolin and mandocello on 11 September. Tickets: €25 in advance €30 at the door.

The Trio Vibracao (Oliver Waitze, acoustic guitar; Jesper Rübner, mandolin; Max Schaaf, bass) will be in concert at the NAG on 13 Nov. 2010 at 8.00 p.m. Tickets: €15 in advance, €18 at the door.

New instruments have recently come into the NAG, including the Eastman MD 515 LA F-style mandolin (€950); Marc Beneteau baritone (€6490) and concert standard guitars (€4490: special price for a month!); Prucha 'Diamond Point Custom' 5-string banjo (€3890); and Migliorini & Pozzi guitars from Italy - classical (€4690) and steel string (€5490). In the next weeks, Oskar Graf cutaways are expected in.

Oliver Waitze's 'Flatpicking bis Gypsy Swing Workshop' will be held from 31 July to 7 August 2010 in Tuscany, Italy. Info and questions: tel. +49 0212/2474007.

New Acoustic Gallery
Neuenhofer Str. 122
42657 Solingen, Germany
e-mail

Steppin’ Stone plays Bühlertal, 17 Apr. 2010

Thanks to Walter Fuchs, organiser of the annual Bühl International Bluegrass Festival, who reports:

The excellent French bluegrass band Steppin’ Stone plays at the Gewölbekeller in Bühlertal, near Bühl/Baden, Germany. Steppin’ Stone is a trio with Jean Paul Distel (guitar, dobro), Pascal Spitz (vocals, guitar, banjo), and Laurence Gondet (vocals, bass).

The concert takes place Saturday 17 April 2010, at 8.00 p.m. Info and tickets: +49-7223-9967-0.

Danilo Cartia Band at Velletri, 21 Mar. 2010

The Danilo Cartia Band (I) will be playing at 10.00 p.m. on Sunday 21 March at 'Bibenda', Via Appia sud, 28 - Km 42, 900 Velletri (Rm). Admission free.

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

Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum, and Red Wine at Interlaken, 13 Mar. 2010

Thanks to Lilly Pavlak for a report and photos of the concert on 13 March by Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum, and Red Wine at Interlaken, Switzerland.

Concert promoter Martina Ruhmann

Many more photos from the show are here, and Lilly's full report of the concert can be read here.

4 Wheel Drive in Ireland, 2-9 Apr. 2010

A fine photo of Jurgen Biller (banjo) and Joost van Es (fiddle) of 4 Wheel Drive is the illustration for a flyer issued by the Ulster American Folk Park at Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

4 Wheel Drive, with Jolanda Peters (vocals), will be 'in residence' at the Folk Park throughout its Easter Celebrations programme, which will run from 10.00 a.m. on Saturday 3 April to 5.00 p.m. on Tuesday 6 April, under the title 'A Spring Fair Day'. The band are no strangers to the Folk Park, having often played there during previous editions of the annual Appalachian and Bluegrass Music Festival.

In addition, 4 Wheel Drive will be playing several other dates in Ireland (2-9 April); full details are on the Bluegrass Ireland Blog. The tour is coordinated by Andrew Peters of the Bronte Music Club in Rathfriland, Co. Down.

Danilo Cartia Band at Rignano Flaminio, 17 Mar. 2010

The Danilo Cartia Band (I) will be playing at 'Blue Frets' on 17 March 2010 (St Patrick's day) at 22:00, in St James’s Irish Pub, Via Flaminia Km 39.100, in the town of Rignano Flaminio, north of Rome on the SS3 (Via Flaminia).

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

Sophia Johnson at Irish National Guitar Festival

The Irish National Guitar Festival, featuring many genres of music, will be held at Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland, from Wednesday 7 April to Sunday 11 April 2010. Among the guitarists taking part is Sophia Johnson (right; photo by Jeff G Photography) of the Toy Hearts bluegrass band (UK): Sophia will be playing twice daily in the Yamaha Clinic slot on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the Festival. More details are on the Festival programme.

Also taking part in the Festival will be Tom Hanway & his Bluegrass Pals. Tom (USA; resident in Ireland since 2003) was on banjo with Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens when they received the award of #1 European Bluegrass Band at the EWOB Festival in 2005.

Lovin' you on CD Baby and YouTube: update

Lilly Drumeva writes from Bulgaria:

Dear friends,

My new album Lovin’you is now available on the internet through CD Baby.

You may watch a video on YouTube of the song 'If I needed you', duet with Jakub Racek (CZ).

Lilly Drumeva
Lilly of the West
e-mail
M: +359 888 660 990

Update 12 Mar.: Erio Meili of the Sao Paulo Bluegrass Music Association in Brazil sends his translation from Portuguese into English of a short original review of Lovin' you, written by Quesia Nunes, singer for the Brazilian band Bluegrass 4 union (MySpace):

I enjoyed the CD overall. It is the first time I am listening to a CD of that singer, and enjoyed it very much. Her smooth voice timbre is pleasant, and the choice of repertoire has a very good taste! I found the tracks in Bulgarian being different and bold!... and it shows the pride from her roots. The music that I liked most on the CD was 'Red clay halo'... and also the Bill Monroe song 'Cry, cry darlin''. I think it's wonderful to hear bluegrass from other regions of the world. Each country and interpreter is giving its touch. I loved the CD and I will recommend it to bluegrass lovers... and I will do more follow up on Lilly Drumeva's career.

The original review by Quesia Nunes can be read here.

Kudos for Acousticure

Congratulations to Acousticure from Hungary, current #1 European Bluegrass Band, whose CD Bluegrass van (Gryllus Records GCD 073) has been reviewed in the March 2010 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine. The reviewer, Bill Conger, writes:

This acoustic quartet demonstrates the worldwide influence of bluegrass music. Labeled a Hungarian bluegrass band, I really would not have known these guys were from across the pond... tight vocals and superb chops... make this album a must have for your collection.

Another European reference in the same issue of BU: David McCarty's article on Chuck Ogsbury of Ome Banjos mentions the 'eighty-year-old Swedish woodworker' in Ogsbury's home town of Louisville, KY, who helped him get started in building banjos. Perhaps Swedish bluegrassers should identify and commemorate this craftsman as a Bluegrass Pioneer?

Lineup for 11th Spring Bluegrass Festival, Willisau

Paolo Dettwiler reports:

The talent committee of the Spring Bluegrass Festival in Willisau, Switzerland, have announced the lineup for their 11th edition on 8 May 2010.

The festival takes place on two stages and presents a colourful variety of musical styles focusing on bluegrass music.

Uncle Earl (USA)
Kathy Kallick Band (USA)
Red Grass (CAN)
Sacred Sounds of Grass (D)
Bluegrass Cwrkot (CZ)
Viper Central (CAN)
MoonRise (CH)

For further information, see the festival website or contact me directly by e-mail.

Karl May Festtage 2010

Thanks to the organisers of the 19th Karl May Festtage (14-16 May 2010) in Radebeul, Germany, for the news that this year's event includes a Bluegrass and Country Festival, with Uncle Earl (left) at the head of the lineup. The schedule includes:

Sat./Sun. Uncle Earl (USA)
Sat./Sun. Wade Fernandez (USA)
Sat./Sun. Zydeco Annie & Swamp Cats (D)
Sat. Jimmy Bozeman & the Lazy Pigs (USA, CZ, D)
Sat. The Road Brothers (D)

MC: Herbert Graedtke

For more information, see the Karl May Festtage website and/or contact

Amt für Kultur und Tourismus
Altkötzschenbroda 21
01445 Radebeul
Tel: +49 (0)351 8311 624 bzw. 0176 9697 8258
Fax: +49 (0)351 8311633

Toy Hearts: March 2010 newsletter

Thanks to Sophia Johnson of the Toy Hearts (UK) for the four-page March 2010 issue of the band's magazine-format, fully illustrated newsletter, which includes the big news that their third album, Femme fatale, is scheduled for release in June 2010 with distribution from a record label. The Toy Hearts will be touring in the UK and Europe during the summer in connection with the new album before their next trip to the US.

Other features include the band's endorsement of BlueChip picks (also featured in the March 2010 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine); Hannah's new Collings mandolin; and many photos from the Bluegrass Jamboree tour in December, and from the Femme fatale recording sessions. The list of forthcoming appearances on page 4 includes the Picnic Festival at Namur, Belgium (3-5 September 2010).

View the Toy Hearts' March newsletter here.

New CD from Blackjack

Blackjack at Bühl, 6 Feb. 2010, during the 2nd European Bluegrass Summit (photo: Lilly Pavlak)

Thanks to Ondra Plucha for the news that Blackjack (CZ) will begin recording a new CD next week for release at the beginning of May. It will be available at the EWOB Festival 2010 in Voorthuizen, NL.

The album features the lineup (Ondra Plucha, guitar; Martin Kubec, banjo; Slavek Podhrasky, mandolin; Richard Podhrasky, bass) which Blackjack have kept for ten years, plus Ondra Kozak on fiddle. Ondra, who plays guitar with Kreni and the Petr Brandejs Band, took part in Blackjack's previous CD and has became a steady guest of the band. Karel Zacal (dobro player of Kreni and also producer of Coner resonator guitars) plays dobro on some cuts. The material of the recording is based on forgotten songs from 1950s bluegrass, as usual with Blackjack. Along with previous recordings, it will be available at Blackjack's live shows or from their website.

Blackjack will perform this year at the EWOB Festival in Voorthuizen, NL on 14 May (they received an Audience Popularity Award there last year); at the Banjo Jamboree festival in Caslav, CZ, on 18-19 June; at the Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland on 3-5 September; and hopefully as well for the first time at the La Roche Bluegrass Festival in France on 29 July-1 August.

Contact: Ondra Plucha
Vaclava Trojana 1483/3
104 00 Praha 10
Czech Republic
e-mail
Website | MySpace

Bluegrass in the Netherlands

Rienk Janssen reports:

The 17th Annual Picking Party on 16 January in Leiden was a great success. Pictures are to be found here, here, and here. On YouTube you can find some video fragments.

In Valthermond, on 27 March, there will be another picking party, called Northern Picking, with a lot of sessions, and possibly a banjo workshop by Bruno van Hoek.

The weekend of 20-22 August the third 'Ins Blaue Hinein' instructional program will be held in the German Eifel mountains, hosted by Paul van Vlodrop, Peter Broekhuijsen, Bruno van Hoek and Elly Beurskens. E-mail: Paul van Vlodrop, Elly Beurskens.

The Stroatklinkers will go for a short tour to England in May.

Danilo Cartia Band at Auditorium Due Pini, 11 Mar. 2010

The Danilo Cartia Band (I), led by banjoist Danilo Cartia, will be playing at 9.00 p.m. on Thursday 11 March in the Auditorium Due Pini, Via Zandonai, in north-west Rome. Admission: €10.

The Auditorium Due Pini presents a varied musical programme - other acts listed in the poster (left) are in the fields of flamenco, tango, mariachi, and the music of Simon & Garfunkel.

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

EWOB Festival programme now online

The main stage programme for this year's European World of Bluegrass (EWOB) Festival (13-15 May 2010) at 't Trefpunt, Voorthuizen, the Netherlands, can now be seen on the EWOB Festival website.

Thirty-six bands from thirteen European countries will be performing, together with two acts from Canada and four from the USA. The evening concerts on the three successive days of the Festival will be closed by Hungry Hill (Canada), the Kathy Kallick Band (USA; see photo above), and Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa (USA).

Businesses already registered to take part in the Trade Show section of the Festival include Boetzkes Snaarinstrumenten, Martin’s Musikkiste, the New Acoustic Gallery, Prucha Bluegrass Instruments, Runesson Handmade Guitars, Strictly Country, and Wim van de Weg's Used and Vintage Instruments. The workshop schedule and other events at 't Trefpunt will be announced shortly.

4 Wheel Drive at Toogenblik, 5 Mar. 2010

Bluegrass in Belgium announces:

Don't miss Four Wheel Drive in concert at Toogenblik this Friday.
Four Wheel Drive is one of Europe's top bluegrass bands.
And Toogenblik is the greatest place to enjoy acoustic music.

Friday 5 March at 20:30
Toogenblik
Cortenbachstraat 11
1130 Haren-Brussel
Belgium

The Grascals at Albisgütli, 26 Feb. 2010

Thanks to Lilly Pavlak for taking these and other photos at the 26th International Country Music Festival at the Schützenhaus Albisgütli, Zurich, Switzerland, during the concert on Friday 26 Feb. 2010 - the first of two special Bluegrass Nights, headlined by the Grascals (USA), during the 38-day festival. On 27 Feb. the supporting band was the Bluegrass Family (CH).

The Challenge, a young band from Switzerland; other photos of the show are on their website

The Grascals

More photos by Lilly can be seen here, including individual shots of the Grascals.

Danilo Cartia band in Rome, 11 Mar. 2010

The Danilo Cartia Band will be playing on Thursday 11 March 2010 at the Auditorium Due Pini, Via Zandonai 2, Rome (Vigna Clara)

For forthcoming appearances by the Danilo Cartia Band, see the EBB post of 16 Feb. Danilo Cartia and Rome Bluegrass Jam are also presenting the concert by Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum on 16 Mar.

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

Bordergrass - a new festival in England, 30 Apr.-1 May

Thanks to FOAOTMAD, the UK old-time music association, for passing on this news:

Sue Edwards of UK Autoharps informs of a new music festival: the 2010 Bordergrass Music Festival, held Friday 30 April-Saturday 1 May. This is at Hopelands Hall in the village of Weobley, Herefordshire, famous for its picturesque setting, and the centre of the ‘Black and White’ villages in the area.

There are evening concerts both days, and also free workshops on the Saturday afternoon with Mike Fenton, who is bringing 35 autoharps for new players to try. There are also workshops from Sarah McQuaid on DADGAD (Irish) Guitar and Old Time Band from the New Prohibition Band.

The Friday concert line up is the New Essex Bluegrass Band, Sarah McQuaid, the New Prohibition Band, Mike Fenton, and the Toy Hearts. The Saturday concert is the same lineup apart from the Toy Hearts, but also includes Hilary James & Simon Mayor [see photo above], and the Carrivick Sisters.

Details re camping and caravans, ticket prices, etc., are on this website, or phone +44 (0)1544 327936.

This new festival is a varied one, a blend of old-time, bluegrass, and folk, with a great lineup for the concerts, so do have a look at the website for full information.

Didmarton announce headline bands from the US

The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band (photo: Tim Benko)

Thanks to the organisers of the Didmarton Bluegrass Festival in England, for this news:

The 2010 festival is scheduled for 2-5 September, at the usual location, Kemble Airfield, and will feature the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band (Jody Stecher, Keith Little, and Paul Knight), the Claire Lynch Band, and Jack Lawrence, all from the US.

The UK lineup is no less prestigious with local heroes Bill Smarme & the Business, the Scoville Units, Salmagundi, the Thunderbridge Bluegrass Boys, the Slowdown Boys, and a lot more to be confirmed.

Concerts will take place on two stages, with the main stage programme starting on Friday at lunchtime. The festival is also in negotiations with a top folk act for a separately billed concert on the evening of Thursday 2 September.

All the usual activities - dance, instrumental seminars, tuition tent - will be on the programme and we have placed our order for sunshine!

Tickets are on sale and a booking form is available on the website, where you can also keep up with the latest news.

Please also consider joining our festival forum if you want to make suggestions and comments about the event, it's your event too! There's a link on the website.

Details of the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band can be seen here.

Rome Bluegrass Jam, Sun. 28 Feb. 2010

The Danilo Cartia Band announces that the next 'Rome Bluegrass Jam'/'Bluegrass Jam Roma' will be held on Sunday 28 Feb. 2010 from 22:00 in the Cantine Blues, Via della Batteria Nomentana 66/68, Rome, Italy. Admission free.

'Rome Bluegrass Jam' is the country music event in Rome that brings together the best country and folk musicians around the capital, to make this kind of music and its history more widely known.

For forthcoming appearances by the Danilo Cartia Band, see the EBB post of 16 Feb..

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

Lilly of the West joined by famous Irish musicians to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Sofia, Bulgaria

Lilly of the West will perform at the Sofia City Art Gallery on 16 March, joined by Paul O'Shaughnessy (fiddle) and Larry Egan (accordion) as special guests from Ireland. Paul O’Shaughnessy has been a member of the legendary folk band Altan for several years. Larry Egan is featured on the acclaimed Kitchen recordings.

Lilly of the West will feature Lilly Drumeva (vocal, guitar, fiddle); Yasen Vasilev (guitar); Svoboda Bozduganova (upright bass); Michail Shishkov (piano, dobro guitar).

The concert is part of the Sofia Municipality Chamber Concert series. For further information please see Upcoming Events on the Irish Embassy website or contact Lilly Drumeva by e-mail. Lilly's original announcement (with band photo and St Patrick's Day decorations) can be read here.

Red Wine Bluegrass Party # 2 on 19-20 March 2010

Martino Coppo, lead singer and mandolinist of Red Wine (Italy), writes:

Dear Friends,

Attached please find all the information for 'The Red Wine Bluegrass Party #2', which will take place at Teatro della Gioventù in Genoa (Genova), Friday 19 and Saturday 20 March, 9.00 p.m., with special guests from San Francisco Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum!

Take a look at the newly designed website -

Ticket sales: online and

Theater and booking office hours
(from Tuesday to Saturday 4.30-7.00 p.m.
Sunday 3.00-6.30 p.m. and during shows)
Via Cesarea 16, 16121 Genoa
P +39 010 8936326
F +39 010 5848721
e-mail

We'll wait you there!

Martino

Red Wine Website
Facebook
MySpace

Bluegrass Jamboree! in Basle - in pictures

Thanks to Paolo Dettwiler for this news:

The website of regional bluegrass association 'Bluegrass in Basel' has been updated to include a nice gallery of photos, taken by Beat Schmid of Switzerland, of the Bluegrass Jamboree 2009 festivities which took in place in Basel on Sunday 13 December 2009 - the only show in Switzerland of Rainer Zellner's tour. Tentative plans are to have the Jamboree back in December 2010. And here's the link.

Sample photo above: mandolin climax at the finale, with Hannah Johnson (UK), Rainer Zellner, Carl Jones (USA), Mike Guggino (USA)

Danilo Cartia Band schedule, Feb.-Mar. 2010

The Danilo Cartia Band (Italy), led by banjoist Danilo Cartia, will be playing at 22:00 on 18 Feb. 2010 at the Cantine Blues, Via della Batteria Nomentana, 66/68 Rome. Admission free. Info: 349/6694810.

Other upcoming dates on the band's schedule include:

26 Feb. Teatro Spaziozero, Via delle Regioni, 10 Cisterna di Latina (LT), 21:00
28 Feb. Bluegrass Jam, Cantine Blues, Via della Batteria Nomentana, 66/68, Rome, 22:00. Info: 349/6694810
11 Mar. Auditorium 'Due Pini', Via Zandonai, 2 Rome, 21:00
21 Mar. Bibenda Cafè, Via Appia sud, 28 - Km 42900, Velletri, 22:00
27 Mar. The Stage Pub, Via degli Olmetti, Formello (RM), 22:00
28 Mar. Bluegrass Jam, Cantine Blues, Via della Batteria Nomentana, 66/68 Rome, 22:00

Danilo Cartia website
MySpace
Facebook
ph. / fax +39 06 8273332
mob. +39 339 6908450

New banjo DVD from Jens Kruger

As announced today on the Bluegrass Blog, Homespun Tapes have just released a new banjo instruction method, Jens Kruger’s banjo method for beginners, subtitled An easy and joyful way to start picking. Homespun says:

His is a completely different approach to learning to play the banjo: it’s liberating, inspiring, and will allow anyone to make music in minutes.

This is available from Homespun as a DVD or by direct download, and also from Amazon.

The Kruger Brothers will also be touring Europe in late March 2010. According to their schedule page (where more details are given), the dates are as follows:

Sat. 20 Mar. Eagle Music Shop Event, West Yorkshire, UK
Wed. 24 Mar. Tell Schauspielhaus, Altdorf UR, Switzerland
Fri. 26 Mar. Stadtcasino, Basel, Switzerland
Sat. 27 Mar. Yehudi Menuhin Forum, Bern, Switzerland
Sun. 28 Mar. Tonhalle, Kammermusiksaal, Zürich, Switzerland
Tues. 30 Mar. Prague, CZ; details TBA
Wed. 31 Mar. Bratislava, Slovakia; details TBA

Sons of Navarone UK tour February 2010

Richard F Thompson of the BBMA forwards this news:

You are invited to an evening of bluegrass music with the Sons of Navarone, one of Europe’s top bands.

This Belgium-based bluegrass band have been in existence since 2001 and since then they have successfully taken part and left their mark in many parts of the European music scene. These guys stand for WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). Well played acoustic bluegrass music, with outstanding close harmony singing that has become their trademark.

The tour starts off with a private concert at RAF Headley Court – the Armed Forces Medical Rehabilitation Centre - and then moves on to:

Tues. 16 Feb. Sutton Scotney Village Hall, Winchester, Hampshire
Wed. 17 Feb. The Castle Inn, Swansea Road, Pontlliw, Swansea
Thurs. 18 Feb. The Grove Inn, Back Row, David Street, Leeds
Fri. 19 Feb. Wellington Arts Centre, Eight Acre Lane, Wellington, Somerset (with Thunderbridge Bluegrass Boys)

The Sons put on a great show with their interactive rapport with the audience and their onstage humour keeps the audience sharp and on the edge of their seats. As well as traditional and contemporary bluegrass, the SONS also perform songs from other musical genres but giving them their own special bluegrass arrangements.

Full details on the Sons' website.

Unique Americana fusion band planning 2011 European tour

Thanks to Adrian Trbovich of the Turbo Pro Project for this information about an upcoming tour next year.


The Turbo Pro Project, a cutting-edge act that features a banjo player and DJ, is planning a 2011 tour of Switzerland, Germany, and possibly France. They are open to festivals, house concerts, and other venues. Solicitations are welcome from venues and promoters. For more information visit the Project website.

All inquiries can be submitted to Adrian by e-mail.

Ivor Ottley to move from Ireland to Sweden

Ace fiddler Ivor Ottley - originally from England but resident in western Ireland for the past seven years - is expected to move from Ireland to Sweden in the near future. His last performance in Ireland is likely to be in two weeks' time, as a member of Gone to Grass (see photo; Ivor is on the extreme left), during the Kinvara Area Music Collective's annual Mardi Gras celebration, which this year will take place on Saturday 13 February at the Kinvara Community Centre, Co. Galway.

Thanks to Pete Lamb (organiser of the Galway Americana Festival) for this news. Pete is in the centre of the above photo.

Sue Thompson and the Brandejs Band

A unique band put together (so far) just for this summer is called Sue Thompson and the Brandejs Band. The Band consists of a guitarist and vocalist (and a vocal teacher!) Sue Thompson (USA), Petr and Pavel Brandejs (banjo, bass), and a multi-instrumentalist, Ondra Kozák (all CZ).

The group is now accepting dates for the period of May–July 2010. So far they are booked at the Banjo Jamboree (the Czech Republic) and Risor Bluegrass Workshop and Festival in Norway. For booking and more info, contact Petr Brandejs by e-mail.

Durango: new Coal Porters CD

The Coal Porters (UK), who claim to be the world’s first alternative bluegrass band, launched their latest album, Durango (Prima Records, distributed in the UK by Proper and in the USA by Burnside) with a party at the Arts Theatre Club, in London’s West End, on 25 January.

Durango is the Coal Porters’ ninth album – although the band’s been through a number of incarnations since it was formed in Los Angeles back in the late 'eighties. The new album was recorded in the southern Colorado town bearing the same name and was produced by the legendary Ed Stasium, who has worked with the Ramones, Talking Heads, Gladys Knight, and Mick Jagger.

Naturally, their set was almost completely made up from tracks on the new album, with the foot-stomping 'Roadkill breakdown', the very moving 'Permanent twilight' and 'No more chains' being highlights among their own original material along with a cover of the Undertones’ 'Teenage kicks'.

Currently the Coal Porters are Sid Griffin (mandolin, harmonica, autoharp and vocals), Neil Robert Herd (guitar, sporran and vocals), Andrew Stafford (bass), Carly Frey (fiddle), and Dick Smith (banjo).

Among other dates on their schedule, the Coal Porters will head the bill at this year's Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival in Ireland at the end of June.

UK concert for Haiti earthquake relief

The Sutton Acoustic Music Club in southern England announces a concert to raise funds for relief in Haiti. Half the programme will be bluegrass, and prominent bands and musicians from the British bluegrass scene will take part.

The concert will be held in the Good Shepherd Hall, Station Approach, Tadworth, Surrey, on Sunday 28 February 2010. The lineup is:

A Band like Alice (Bluegrass) TBC
The Andy Smythe Band (Folk and Americana)
Biggin Hillbillies (Bluegrass)
Monroe's Revenge (Bluegrass) TBC
Acoustic Astronauts (Americana)
International Men of Mystery (South American and Folk)
The Grasshoppers (Bluegrass and Americana)
Butt of Lewis (Folk)

Also featured are Bob Winquist (fiddle) & Mike Aston (mandolin), Geoff Chapman (singer/ guitarist), and Fr Michael Elfred (guitar), priest in charge of the church.

The concert begins at 7.00 p.m. and continues to 11.00 p.m. Admission is £10 on the door; donation boxes are also available, and there will be a raffle. All collections and ticketing are arranged by the church. For further info, contact Mike of the Acoustic Astronauts (+44 (0)7545326534).

Thanks to Richard F. Thompson of the BBMA for forwarding this news.

Belgium: concerts and other news

Les Impertinents (photo: Véronique Marchand)

Bluegrass in Belgium reports:

Dear friends

The Sons of Navarone give a free concert in Tervuren on Sunday 31 January at 20:00. The number of seats is limited, so you only get in by making a reservation by e-mail.

The Sons will also do a five-day tour in the UK in February. Details on their website. It seems the Sons are in great shape (except for one who has the 'flu and sounds more like a Snot of Navarone). They are on the cover of British Bluegrass News and will also be on the cover of the next issue of Bluegrass Europe magazine.

Belgium celebrates the arrival of a new bluegrassy band! Les Impertinents - with all except one member of the legendary Gold Rush.

Two American and one Dutch bluegrass bands are visiting Belgium soon: the Grascals, Hayseed Dixie, and 4 Wheel Drive. Check all details on the calendar of Bluegrass in Belgium.