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

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. 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. Preliminary dates for the present tour are:

May 14 EWOB, 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 25-31 Ireland dates TBD
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.

Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum in Rome, 16 March 2010

Danilo Cartia & Rome Bluegrass Jam present Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum on Tuesday 16 March 2010 at 22:00 in the Cantine Blues, Via della Batteria Nomentana N.66, Rome, Italy.

As shown on the European Bluegrass Blog on 1 March, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum are a week into their current tour in Europe. Today (Sunday 14 March) they head the lineup for the Bluegrass Jamboree at the Amigdala Theatre, Viale Lombardia 31, 20056 Trezzo sull'Adda (between Milan and Bergamo); and on 19-20 March they will be special guests at the 2nd Red Wine Blue Grass Party at the Teatro della Gioventù, Via Cesarea, 16121 Genoa (Genova).

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

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

Crooked Still in Europe, Mar. 2010: update

The tour schedule for Crooked Still (USA) which was published six weeks ago on the European Bluegrass Blog should have been twice as long.

Before the band (leaders in the field of 'alternative bluegrass') begin their dates in the UK and Sweden, they will be making five appearances in the Republic of Ireland, beginning on 15 March. This includes a slot on one of the longest-running programmes on the national TV station. Full details are on the Bluegrass Ireland Blog.

Tony Furtado plays in England, Sat. 10 Apr. 2010

Graham Buckley informs us that after his session teaching at Sore Fingers Week (5-9 April), Tony Furtado (USA) (left) will be performing his only UK gig on this visit at the Verge, Cheshire Ring, 72 Manchester Road, Hyde, Cheshire SK14 2BJ, on Saturday 10 April at 8.30 p.m.

Tickets at £10 are available from the venue or on Ticketline. Door price is £12. Tony played this venue in November last year and wished to do a repeat gig there. Enquiries: telephone +44 07802 293 854/0161 368 8769, or e-mail Graham Buckley.

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

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

Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum in Europe, March 2010

(photo: Hali McGrath)

Following the news posted on the EBB on 27 January, Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum (USA) are scheduled to play a total of eight shows in Germany, Italy, and Switzerland this month. As a duo, they will be playing

Fri. 5 Mar. Hotel zur Post, 89340 Leipheim, Germany, 20:00
Sat. 6 Mar. Rathaus, 71171 Murr, Germany, 20:00
Tues. 16 Mar. Cantine Blues, Via della Batteria Nomentana 66/68, Rome, Italy, 22:00

In all the following shows, they will be playing with Red Wine (I). Laurie & Tom add:

We are happy to have been chose by this great band to help them celebrate their anniversary, and play a few other concerts besides!

Fri. 12 Mar. Folk Club, Turin (Torino), Italy, 21:30
Sat. 13 Mar. Weisse Berge und Blaues Grass, WSI, Kammistrasse 11, Interlaken, Switzerland

Sun. 14 Mar.: Bluegrass Jamboree, Amigdala Theatre, Viale Lombardia 31, 20056 Trezzo sull'Adda (between Milan and Bergamo), Italy. As the poster (left) shows, the lineup includes Once in a While (Milan) and Bononia Grass (Bologna/Genoa). Doors open at 19:00 and the show starts at 20:00. Admission is €15; a 'Country Barbeque), for an extra €10, can be booked in advance at 331 966 3821. Thanks to Paolo Ercoli of Bononia Grass, who sends us the information of this great event.

Fri. 19-Sat. 20 Mar.: 2nd Red Wine Bluegrass Party, Teatro della Gioventù, Via Cesarea, 16121 Genoa (Genova), Italy, 21:00. Tel. 0108936326; fax 0105848721 (see the EBB for 23 Feb. 2010).

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

Krüger Brothers at the New Acoustic Gallery, 31 Mar. 2010

The famous Krüger Brothers return to the New Acoustic Gallery at Solingen on Wednesday 31 March 2010 for the only German concert in their forthcoming European tour, bringing with them their brand new CD and a percussionist.

Please note that only seventy (70) seats are available at the NAG; first come, first served... To book tickets (€30 in advance, €35 at the door), telephone Oliver Waitze at +49 0212/2474007.

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

This concert replaces the Bratislava show for 31 Mar. which was announced on the EBB on 9 February.

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)

Beppe Gambetta Acoustic Nights, May 2010

Italian guitar wizard Beppe Gambetta has scheduled a series of Acoustic Nights 10 'Il decennale!', to take place in Italy in early May 2010. The concerts will feature Patty Larkin (USA), Mike Marshall (USA), Tony McManus (Scotland), Bruce Molsky (USA), and Darrell Scott (USA). The dates are:

Tues. 4 May Maison Musique, Turin (Torino), Italy, 21:00

Thurs. 6 May-Sun. 9 May Teatro della Corte, Genoa (Genova), Italy: 20:30 (6, 7, 8 May) and 16:00 (9 May)

More details, including links for online booking, are here.

Beppe Gambetta website
MySpace
YouTube

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 Acoustic Gallery newsletter, Feb. 2010

The New Acoustic Gallery (NAG) in Solingen, Germany, invites readers of its February newsletter to say what artists they wish to see at the Gallery, and in what styles of music: 'Bluegrass? Jazz? Swing? Happyfeetjamgrass?'

Events already scheduled for 2010 include a concert by the Trio Vibracao on 13 November and a mandolin workshop with Jesper R. from 12 to 14 November. The NAG will have a presence at two major festivals: the European World of Bluegrass at Voorthuizen, the Netherlands (13-15 May) and the Eurofestival Zupfmusik in Bruchsal (3-5 June).

New products in the NAG include mandolins (right) by the Canadian luthier Michael Heiden (as used by John Reischmann); K & K pickups for guitar, banjo, and mandolin; tuners, metronomes, armrests, tailpieces, capos, and picks; books ranging from The Beatles for banjo to Jim Mills's Gibson Mastertone banjo book; and CDs by Mike Marshall and others.

For more details, see the NAG website or contact

Oliver Waitze
New Acoustic Gallery
Neuenhofer Str. 122
42657 Solingen
Germany
+49 (0)212/2474007
e-mail

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

Crooked Still in Europe, 21-27 Mar. 2010

Thanks to FOAOTMAD for the news that alternative bluegrass band Crooked Still have a few dates this side of the Atlantic in March - five in England, and the last in Sweden:

Sun. 21 Mar. St Bedes's, Chorley, Lancashire
Mon. 22 Mar. St Bonaventure's Club, Bristol
Tues. 23 Mar. The Borderline, London
Wed. 24 Mar. The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
Thurs. 25 Mar. City Memorial Hall, Sheffield
Sat. 27 Mar. Folk Music Gala 2010, Uppsala, Sweden

More details are on the band's website.

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.

1st Inishowen International Guitar Festival, 5-7 Feb. 2010

The schedule for Beppe Gambetta's forthcoming tour in Ireland, as given by the European Bluegrass Blog on 4 January, has now been supplemented and updated. Full details can be seen on the Old Flattop website of Nigel Martyn, organiser of the tour.

Beppe Gambetta's final shows in the tour will be as part of the 1st Inishowen International Guitar Festival at Culdaff, Co. Donegal, Ireland (5-7 February), where he will be the leading bluegrass exponent among many prominent guitarists from Ireland, the rest of Europe, and the USA.

Nigel Martyn is also organising a tour in Ireland during the 'EWOB period' by Uncle Monk (USA), a progressive old-time duo formed by Tommy Ramone and Claudia Tienan. More details are on the Old Flattop website and on the Bluegrass Ireland Blog for 21 January.

Uncle Earl / Fox Tower concert, 17 May 2010

Thanks to Andy Glandt (D) for the news that the Fox Tower Bluegrass Band have organised the following concert:

Monday 17 May 2010
Uncle Earl (USA) & Fox Tower Bluegrass Band (D)
AmVieh-Theater, 07616 Beulbar, Germany (near Jena), 7.30 p.m.

This concert can be added to the list of Uncle Earl tour dates previously shown on the European Bluegrass Blog.

May 2010: Worldwide Month of Bluegrass

The EBMA is now collecting dates of all bluegrass events happening in May 2010, and offers to feature any festivals in or near this period on the back of this year's EWOB Month T-shirt. Please send in information to the EBMA by e-mail.

The 2010 EWOB logotype will be available for download to be used on flyers for your events shortly. As usual, the EBMA will present an information booth at the EWOB Festival in Voorthuizen, the Netherlands (13-15 May 2010), which is organised under the auspices of EBMA by the EWOB Voorthuizen committee.

Kathy Kallick Band in Europe, May 2010

The Kathy Kallick Band bring their brand of 'hot bluegrass & cool originals' to Europe in May 2010. Kathy previously toured Europe four times with the Good Ol' Persons and twice with the Kathy Kallick Band.

Confirmed bookings to date - with (they hope) more to follow - include:
May 7: Copenhagen, Denmark
May 8: Willisau, Switzerland
May 9: Binningen, Switzerland
May 12: Dortmund, Germany
May 13: near Voorthuizen, Netherlands
May 14-15: European World Of Bluegrass
May 18: Hoofddorp, Netherlands
May 20: Vierzon, France

For this tour, Kathy is joined by band members Dan Booth (bass, vocals), Greg Booth (dobro, banjo, vocals), and Annie Staninec (fiddle), plus special guest Helmut Mitteregger (mandolin, vocals).

The band performs Kathy's song 'Wildflowers' on 30 Aug. 2009 here. The band's electronic press kit (with five tracks from their forthcoming album) is here.

Thank you & please don't hesitate to contact me for additional information -
Peter Thompson (e-mail)

Coming events in Norway

Ila Auto

Dagfinn Pedersen, EBMA board member, reports from the Norwegian Bluegrass Music Association that no fewer than five bands are currently about to release, or are working on, new CDs. The hard-working Ila Auto, whose debut CD won the Norwegian Best Country Album 2006 award, will release their third CD - predominantly original material, all in Norwegian - on 18 January, on the Universal Records label, with full national TV and radio promotion package.

Risør Bluegrass Festival (15-17 July 2010) is receiving the first significant financial support from central or local authorities in its nine years of existence. The festival website will soon open for enrolment in the workshop (for all bluegrass instruments, plus harmony singing and clawhammer banjo). EBMA members travelling to Risør from outside Norway will be eligible for a 50% discount. Dagfinn's full report, which will appear in the next Bluegrass Europe, can also be read here.

New from Denmark

Spencer Sorenson reports on behalf of Bluegrass Music Denmark (BMD):

Bluegrass Music in Denmark has just completed a successful year, in which ten concerts were presented in Copenhagen. Highlights of the year were the visits of Special Consensus (USA) in October and our annual multi-concert, or Bluegrass Night. This year there were three groups – Bluegrass Boulevard from Denmark, an overdue reunion with Monogram from the Czech Republic, and the first-time visit of the Sons of Navarone. Through the year we had bands from the US, Sweden, and Czech Republic as well as some of our local Danish bands.

Our spring program is in place, and we are presenting concerts by Cold Mountain Band from Sweden; G-Runs 'n Roses from the Czech Republic; John Lowell and John Moore from the USA; Grassride from Sweden; Bluedolls, a new band from Denmark; Kathy Kallick from the USA; and a double concert with Special Blend and the Copenhagen Mountain Boys.

Danish bluegrass was well represented at the IBMA Congress in Nashville this fall, as a group of about a half dozen took the trip across the Atlantic. All came home very pleased with the trip and ready to enjoy more bluegrass. They recommend a trip to IBMA for all bluegrass fans.

Our new website (in Danish) has improved communications with our members, and proved to be a popular addition to our services.

Contact Spencer Sorenson by e-mail.

Hayseed Dixie in Europe, 2010

The notorious Hayseed Dixie (USA) will soon begin their 'Killer grass' tour, to mark the release of their new album Killer grass. The tour is planned to run from the middle of February to around the end of October.

At present the band's itinerary lists dates in the following countries:

Ireland (18-22 Feb.)
Scotland (24 Feb.-1 March)
England (2-22 Mar.)
Spain (25-27 Mar.)
Italy (30-31 Mar.)
Switzerland (1-4 Apr.)
Austria (5-6 Apr.)
Germany (7-18 Apr.)
Denmark (20-23 Apr.)
Sweden (24 Apr., 10 May)
Norway (25 Apr.-1 May)
Finland (4-8 May)
Luxemburg (12 May)
Netherlands (13-16 May)
Belgium (17 May)
England and Wales (19-27 May)

More details of locations are on the band's website.

The bluegrass year ahead in France

Christopher Howard-Williams of the France Bluegrass Musique Association reports:

I start by wishing you all a very happy new year. Let's hope bluegrass in general, and the European scene in particular, enjoy a prosperous and fruitful year. I will see some of you at Bühl.

The south-west region of France, around Toulouse-Bordeaux, has become very active recently with a new association created in 2009 called 'Bluegrass en Gascogne', based in Mirande (home of an important country music festival). They are organising their second bluegrass jam weekend on 30-31 January near Rodez, hosted in the home of a musician who can sleep ten guests. For more information on this meet and on the association, please e-mail Georges Baret.

In the same region a new bluegrass band called Mama Dalton and the Bluegrass Boys is playing a gig near Toulouse on 15 January. I say 'new', but one of the musicians played with Spasmodic Bluegrass Convulsion, famous for being the driving force behind the Toulouse Bluegrass Festival in the early 1980s.

Meanwhile, don't forget if you are in Paris to visit the Saturday afternoon jams at AEGC. These take place every Saturday during school term time in the west of Paris at Garennes-Colombes.

The line-up for the Craponne Country Rendezvous is complete and includes three excellent bluegrass acts: the Grascals, Bradley, Gulley, and Fox, and the Quebe Sisters. Craponne is France's other major country music festival, hosting almost exclusively US bands (mainly from Texas). The festival is always one week before La Roche Bluegrass Festival, always showcases some good bluegrass, and has a fine campsite where FBMA squat a large area. The two festivals enjoy a special relationship and have brought bands over on exclusive partnerships for the past three years (Hickory Project, 3 Fox Drive, Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain) and again in 2010 (Bradley, Gulley, Fox). You may like to take in both festivals with a week's holiday in between (a three-hour drive): Craponne 23-25 July; La Roche 29 July-1 August.

France Bluegrass Musique Association
+33 450 03 42 04
(Mobile) +33 647 714 435
E-mail Christopher Howard-Williams
145 rue de la Croix
F - 74800 La Roche-sur-Foron

Bluegrass in the Netherlands, 2010

Rienk Janssen (with thanks to Adri Richter) reports:

On 16 January Leiden's Annual Picky Party will be held, organized by Adri Richter and Geert van Schoonderwoerd den Bezemer. This is an invitation only event, but it does not hurt if anybody who would like to go there contacts Adri by e-mail to see if there is still room...

Apart from the abundant jam sessions, there will be stage shows by the Lovables, Except-2, Lucy & the Man, Robert Allen Trio, Babes in the Grass, André Hendriks, New Lowland, Emmy & the Bluegrass Pals, Lazy Tater, Rocks & Ivy, Cajun Craze, Bont & Bluegrass, Heavy Clay, Whiskey Rose, and Brock & his Bluegrass Bunch.

Dolly, I Beg Your Pardon has a program of workshops and concerts for schools, elementary as well as high-school level.

Peter de Moor has renamed his Fiddle Tunes website, with a cool search option to browse through (up to now) 2,600 tunes.

The Northern Picking Party in Valthermond will be held on 27 March (invitation only; e-mail).

On Sunday 6 June this year's Boet'n Deure Muzikale Landdag will take place in Odoorn. Bands who would like to perform can apply by e-mail.

The 28th edition of the Big Bear Festival in Zuidlaren will be on 24 May - for more info e-mail Rienk Janssen.

New Acoustic Gallery newsletter, Jan. 2010

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery (NAG) sends the Gallery's January newsletter and all good wishes for a healthy and prosperous new year.

Mike Marshall's mandolin workshop will be held at the NAG on Sunday 17 January 2010 from 13:00 to c.17:00. Marshall has been a pioneer of acoustic music making for over thirty years, playing bluegrass, jazz, blues, Brazilian, and other music, and is the founder of the Mandolin Symposium Camp in Santa Cruz, California. The workshop will range from how to hold the instrument to playing solo Bach. Admission: €60.

A report by Martina Ruhmann of the concert in the NAG by Trio Vibracao on 31 Oct. 2009 can be read on the NAG website.

Oliver Waitze's 'Flatpicking bis Gypsyswing' workshop will be held from 31 July to 7 Aug. 2010 at the Albergo Poderino San Cristoforo, near Volterra in the heart of Tuscany, Italy. More info is available here or direct from Oliver Waitze via his own website or by 'phone (+49 0212/2474007).

New items coming into the NAG's stock of instruments include Oskar Graf guitars, a baritone guitar by Marc Beneteau, an AJL Gypsy guitar x-O 503, a Nechville Eclipse Banjo, and a Collings CW Dreadnought. Read the whole NAG newsletter here.

Oliver Waitze
New Acoustic Gallery
Neuenhofer Str. 122
42657 Solingen, Germany
Tel.: +49 0212/2474007
e-mail

Grascals in Europe, Feb. 2010

Thanks to Thierry Schoysman of Bluegrass in Belgium for the news that the multi-award-winning Grascals (USA) will be playing the following concerts in Europe at the end of February:

26-27 Feb. Schützenhaus Albisgütli, Uetlibergstrasse 341, 8045 Zurich, Switzerland (as part of the 26th Internationales Country Music Festival (29 Jan.-21 Mar. 2010))

28 Feb. Handelsbeurs, Kammerstraat 19, Ghent, Belgium

More details are on the Grascals' tour schedule.

Beppe Gambetta in Ireland, 28 Jan.-6 Feb.

World-class acoustic guitarist Beppe Gambetta will be playing seven shows in Ireland at the end of this month and in early February. The complete schedule, as it stands on his website, is as follows:

Jan. 28 Out To Lunch Festival, Black Box, 18-22 Hill Street, Belfast, +44 2890 232403
Jan. 29 Séamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Fingal, Co. Dublin, +353 1 802 0898
Jan. 31 Colfers Bluegrass and Americana Weekend, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford, +353 51 561159
Feb. 1 Kilworth Village Arts Centre, Kilworth, Co. Cork, +353 87 792 1771
Feb. 4 The Crane, Sea Road, Galway, +353 91 587419
Feb. 5-6 Culdaff Inishowen Guitar Festival, McGrory's, Culdaff, Inishowen, Co. Donegal, +353 (0)74 937 9104

Gibson Brothers (USA) to perform exclusively at Oldenburg State Theater Sun, 11th April 2010

Picture: Eric & Leigh GibsonDC Bluegrass Union Fall ConcertNovember 2009Photo by Kendall Barrett

As an exclusive arrangement, the Gibson Brothers (USA) have been invited by the organisers (advised and supported by Oldenburg's own Klaus Grotelüschen, owner of Hillbillie Guesthouse) to play the beautiful State Theater in Oldenburg, Germany, on Sunday, 11th April, 7.30 pm. It is their first time in Europe.

"To say they've got the classic brother duet thing down is an understatement; they own it" says Michael Eck of "No Depression".

Tickets may be ordered from mid-February at the theater directly.
Ticket hotline phone +49 (0)441 22 25-111, fax + 49 (0)441 22 25-221
open from Mon - Fri 10am to 6pm, Sat 10am through 1pm,
e-Mail: kasse@oldenburg.staatstheater.de

Bluegrass Jamboree! in Basle, 13 Dec. 2009

Steep Canyon Rangers

Thanks to Lilly Pavlak for news and photos of Rainer Zellner's Bluegrass Jamboree! Festival of Bluegrass & Americana Music 2009 at Basle (the standard English spelling), Switzerland, on 13 December, presented by Bluegrass in Basel (the standard German spelling).

Rainer's Music Contact agency created the first travelling festival in central Europe: three bands, a tour bus with driver, and a soundman, on a sixteen-day tour. The Basle concert, at 5.00 p.m. in the Halle QuerFeld, was the only one outside Germany. The old-time duo Beverly Smith & Carl Jones (USA),


with fiddle, banjo, guitars, and mandolin, opened the first set, followed by the British bluegrass/swing band Toy Hearts,

Toy Hearts: Sophia Johnson, Hannah Johnson, Steve Amadeo, Stewart Johnson

and finally by the award-winning Steep Canyon Rangers (USA), who took the audience by storm.

The final onstage jam: promoter Rainer Zellner (centre, at back of stage) joins in on mandolin

Guitar player Luca Bartolini (right), formerly with Red Wine and now with Bononia Grass, who came all the way from Genoa for the show, was invited to take part in the finale.

Roberto Dalla Vecchia: December e-newsletter

Guitarist Roberto Dalla Vecchia reports:

I've been really blessed this year, and my travels have taken me to some wonderful new places here in Europe and also to US. I performed to large crowds and intimate audiences; familiar faces and new friends. Highlights of the year are my tour with guitar wizard Mark Cosgrove, sharing the stage with guitar greats David Bromberg, Frank Vignola, Muriel Anderson, Jacques Stotzem, saying goodbye to Stefano's bibs ... wow what a year!

Roberto's latest album, Unknown legends, is being well received; another favourable review has appeared on Minor 7th online magazine. This month's issue of the German magazine Akustik Gitarre includes an interview with Roberto, and his tune 'Surprised' is included on the companion CD.

In a special Christmas sale, all Roberto Dalla Vecchia CDs can be bought on CD Baby at $9.95 during the month of December. The offer is good until 31 December while supplies last. As a free seasonal gift, a simple arrangement of the classic Christmas carol 'Silent night', arranged for solo acoustic guitar, can be downloaded as an mp3 and with tablature from here. Non-players who like listening to Christmas music should download the mp3 file labelled 'long version'. Most of Roberto's music is available at iTunes, or as downloadable mp3s at Amazon.

In January active booking will begin for dates in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland for Roberto's June 2010 tour with Mark Cosgrove. Anyone in these countries who would like priority consideration for a concert in home, school, or venue, or who just has questions about the process, should contact Roberto by e-mail. Video footage from a house concert in the USA by the Cosgrove/dalla Vecchia combination can be seen on YouTube.

Roberto (who can be followed on Facebook) concludes:

I wish each and every one of you the best of holiday seasons, and here's to a wonderfully happiness-filled 2010. Thank you for being there, and for supporting music and the arts.

Transatlantic Sessions tour, February 2010

Following the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, Scotland, early in the new year, artists from the Transatlantic Sessions part of the festival will make a short tour in England and Ireland. The package consists of Shetland fiddle maestro Aly Bain and dobro legend Jerry Douglas, Nickel Creek vocalist/fiddler Sara Watkins, O brother where art thou? soundtrack star Dan Tyminski (aka the voice of George Clooney), Eddi Reader, Tim O’Brien, Darrell Scott, Karen Matheson (Capercaillie), Bruce Molsky, and Cara Dillon.

The dates in the Transatlantic Sessions tour are:

Tues. 2 Feb. Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, England
Wed. 3 Feb. The Sage, Gateshead, England
Thurs. 4 Feb. Belfast Waterfront, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Fri. 5 Feb. Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham, England
Sat. 6 Feb. Royal Festival Hall, South Bank Centre, London, England

Bruce Molsky is scheduled to play in Norway later in February: at the Rauland Music Festival (17-21 Feb.), and TBA dates with Ånon Egeland (22-3 Feb.) and with Annbjørg Lien (25-8 Feb.).

Mismountain Boys December newsletter

In the latest newsletter from the Mismountain Boys of Bergamo, Italy, you can read a review of their latest CD, Spaghetti Western Cafe, by Fabrizio Poggi from Folk Bulletin magazine; buy the mp3 of their single 'Jingle Bells (Suna Campanèll)' with a donation to the Red Cross; see photos from their Eurobrasserie live concert on 14 November; and check on their upcoming shows.

The Mismountain Boys are Roberto 'The Hook' Braiato (mandolin, guitar, background vocals), Remo 'Mr Cadillac' Ceriotti (5-string banjo, dobro), Franco 'The Captain' Fanizzi (guitar, lead vocals), Fabio 'Cowboy Smile' Bestetti (upright bass, background vocals), Italo 'Babayou' Gualandris (accordion, vocals), Isabella 'Belle Starr' Saradini (vocals, guitar, and Tista 'West Point Records' Rota (drums and percussion).

The band are also on Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube.

Beppe Gambetta at the New Acoustic Gallery, 6 Dec. 2009

World-class guitarist Beppe Gambetta will present his new CD, Rendez-vous, in a solo concert at the New Acoustic Gallery in Solingen, Germany, on Sunday 6 December, beginning at 8.00 p.m.

Beppe Gambetta, 'with Italian roots in his blood and American music in his heart', has created Rendez-vous as a series of duets with the guitarists he most admires. Tickets for the concert are €18 VV - €22 AK - €14 for students and pensioners. The hotline for booking is +49 0212/2474007.

New Acoustic Gallery
Oliver Waitze
Neuenhofer Str. 122
42657 Solingen (Höhscheid)
Germany
Tel. +49 0212/2474007
e-mail

Lilly of the West concert at the Bulgarian national radio

L-r: Rumen Boyadjiev, Lilly Drumeva, Svoboda Bozduganova

Lilly Drumeva reports from Bulgaria:

25 November 2009 was a memorable evening for musicians and fans at the Bulgarian national radio in Sofia. It was a special concert, recorded live at the beautiful Studio 1 Hall, and packed with more than 250 people. Recordings will be archived in the 'golden Bulgarian radio fund' to be played on special occasions. Lilly of the West performed a mix of country, bluegrass, western swing, blues, and some original material.

The band featured Lilly Drumeva (vocal), Yasen Vasilev (guitar), Ivan Penchev (fiddle), and Svoboda Bozduganova (upright bass), with guests Rayko Pepelanov (guitar), Michail Shihskov (dobro, piano) and Rumen Boyadjiev (drums). The concert finished on a high note with 'My window faces the south', on which everyone played a solo, followed by Leonard Cohen’s 'Hallelujah' as an encore. Guests were treated to a glass of wine and snacks after the show.

The encore, 'Hallelujah', can be seen on YouTube.

New Acoustic Gallery news

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery (NAG) in Solingen, Germany, announces two main events remaining on the NAG's 2009 schedule:

(1) A flatpicking guitar workshop by Oliver Waitze on 21 November 2009, from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

This workshop is for everyone who wants to improve their plectrum playing. All levels of players are welcome! Fields coveredwill include bluegrass fiddle tunes, rhythm, melody, right-hand exercises, Lester Flatt G-runs, endings, crosspicking in the styles of Clarence White & Tony Rice, lead picking, gourmet licks a la Tony Rice, scales... and previews of new publications. Admission: €90.

(2) A solo concert by Beppe Gambetta on 6 December, beginning at 8.00 p.m. He will be presenting his new CD Rendez-vous, of which he says:

... I'm trying to break the borders of the flatpicking technique in a creative way, experimenting new 'full sounding' solutions to obtain a sort of a 'plectrum-fingerstyle' sound in an unusual synthesis.

Admission: 18 € VV; 22 € AK; 14 € ermäßigt. For more info and bookings, contact Oliver Waitze
Tel.: +49 0212/2474007
e-mail

Oliver Waitze and his setting of 'President Garfield's hornpipe' are also featured in Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, xiv, no. 1 (Nov./Dec. 2009) and the NAG itself is featured in the current issue of Folker magazine. Read more on the NAG online newsletter.

Video trailer for Bluegrass Jamboree!

Bluegrass Jamboree! Festival of Bluegrass and Americana Music 2009 - which will bring the Steep Canyon Rangers (USA), Beverly Smith & Carl Jones (USA), and the Toy Hearts (GB) to sixteen venues in Germany and Switzerland between 5 and 20 December 2009 - now has a new video trailer, including photos of all three acts.

The trailer can be watched on the Jamboree's own website, on YouTube, or on Ruth Ellen Gruber's Sauerkraut Cowboys blog.

Beppe Gambetta on tour, 12 Nov.-20 Dec.

Thanks to Hans-Bernd Sick, who sends the schedule of a tour in Germany, Austria, and Belgium by guitarist Beppe Gambetta, beginning next week. The tour will introduce Beppe Gambetta's latest CD, Collection, just released on Peter Fingers's Acoustic Music Records label.

Dates and locations are shown below; all events are solo concerts unless otherwise stated. Full details, including websites, addresses, and contact data, can be seen here.

12 Nov. Acoustic Corner Erik Berthold, Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, 20:00
13 Nov. Bräustüberl, Maisach, Germany, 20:00
14 Nov. Schütte Keller, Bühl, Germany, 20:00
15 Nov. Phoenix Irish Pub, Lauffen, Germany, 20:00
17 Nov. Clubheim, Vöhringen-Illerberg, Germany, 20:00
18 Nov. Folkladen, Munich, Germany; workshop, 18:00-21:00
19 Nov. Freysitz, Hallein, Austria, 20:00
20 Nov. Haus der Kultur, Waldkraiburg, Germany, 20:00
24 Nov. Gitarrissimo, Oberhausen, Germany, 20:00
25 Nov. Kanapee, Hanover, Germany, 20:00
26 Nov. Petruskirche, Berlin-Lichterfelde, Germany, 20:00
27 Nov. Hamburger Gitarrentage, Hamburg, Germany, 20:30
28-29 Nov. Hamburger Gitarrentage, Hamburg, Germany: workshop
1 Dec. Prisma Folk-Club, Pforzheim, Germany, 20:15
4 Dec. Toogenblik, Brussels, Belgium, 20:00
5 Dec. Talbahnhof, Eschweiler, Germany, 20:00
6 Dec. New Acoustic Gallery, Solingen, Germany,, 20:00
7 Dec. Neue Welt, Ingolstadt, Germany, 20:30
19 Dec. Städtische Musikschule, Ladenburg, Germany (hosted by GLL/GRÜNE Ladenburg)
20 Dec. Bermuda Halle, Bochum, Germany (Große Nacht der akustischen Gitarren), 18:00

A busy autumn for Lilly of the West

Lilly in the recording studio

Lilly Drumeva reports:

October was a busy month for Lilly of the West. The band worked with guest musicians from the UK (Mike Black), USA (Daniel Beaulaurier), Hungary (Zsolt Pintér and Géza Kremnitzky of Acousticure), and the Czech Republic (Jakub Racek of Monogram). The events featured concerts, jam sessions, and appearances on national radio and TV.

A full report, with photos, on the special reception at the Hungarian embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, for the Hungarian National day on 21 October (see the EBB for 23 Oct.) can be seen on the Lilly of the West website.

Recordings have been finalised for Lilly Drumeva’s new album, Lovin’ you. Scheduled for release in January 2010, it will contain sixteen tracks recorded in two sessions, in Sofia with Lilly of the West and in Prague with Monogram. The repertoire is traditional bluegrass, swing, country ballads, Bulgarian folk songs, an original song by Lilly, and two duets with Jakub Racek. Jakub visited Bulgaria at the end of October to co-produce Lilly’s album. A video clip was made to one of the duet songs; it will be featured on the album in multimedia format. More info and photos are here.

On 25 November 2009 Lilly of the West will perform live at the Bulgarian National Radio. The concert will be recorded in Studio 1 for the Golden Radio Fund and may be released on CD in 2010. The band will close the season with a Christmas concert on 10 December at the Czech Cultural Center in Sofia. Special guests are invited, among them Mr Martin Klepetko, Czech ambassador in Bulgaria. All info here.

Hungarian national day: a special celebration in Sofia, Bulgaria

Zsolt Pintér (HU), Svoboda Bozduganova (BG), Géza Kremnitzky (HU), Lilly Drumeva (BG), Yasen Vasilev (BG)

Lilly Drumeva reports:

Lilly of the West teamed up with Hungarian musicians to perform in Sofia, Bulgaria, to celebrate the Hungarian national day. The concert took place on Wednesday 21 October 2009, at the beautiful renaissance building of the Hungarian embassy in Sofia. Guests were welcomed by the Hungarian ambassador Mrs Judit Lang; the evening continued with a concert by Lilly of the West, featuring Lilly Drumeva (guitar, vocals), Svoboda Bozduganova (upright bass), and Yasen Vasilev (guitar). They were joined by special guests from Hungary: Zsolt Pintér (vocals, guitar, fiddle, mandolin) and Géza Kremnitzky (vocals, mandolin), members of Acousticure, #1 European Bluegrass Band 2008.

The concert featured a mix of bluegrass, country, and blues, together with Bulgarian and Hungarian folk music. There were also some duets with Lilly & Zsolt; the highlight of the evening was a Hungarian pop song, 'The girl with the pearl hair' ('Gyöngyhajú lány'), which Lilly, Zsolt, and Géza sang in Bulgarian and Hungarian, joined by the audience. The concert was followed by a reception and an excellent buffet of Hungarian cuisine.

The night before, Tuesday 20 October, Lilly of the West, Zsolt, and Géza performed at the Tea House, one of Sofia’s popular music venues. Rehearsals became jam sessions in Lilly’s house, followed by Hungarian meals cooked by 'master chefs' Pintér and Kremnitzky.

All in all, a wonderful time spent together, celebrating music and Hungarian culture in Sofia. Another proof, how bluegrass music brings people together and how bluegrass musicians can be excellent ambassadors for their country.

Read Lilly's full report, with many more photos, here.

Trio Vibracao in concert at the NAG, 31 Oct. 2009

The Trio Vibracao with guest Don Stiernberg

The Trio Vibracao (Oliver Waitze, acoustic guitars; Jesper Rübner-Petersen, mandolin; Max Schaaf, bass) will be playing in concert at the New Acoustic Gallery - 'Home of fine acoustic concerts' - in Solingen, Germany, on 31 October 2009, beginning at 8.00 p.m.

Admission is €18 VV, €22 AK, €14 Erm. As seats are limited to 75, reservations should be made as early as possible by telephoning Oliver Waitze at the NAG (contact details below).

Vibracao’s mastery of guitar, mandolin, violin, and acoustic bass, and their ability to swing gracefully between jazz, Dawg music, bluegrass, and Brazilian Choro is rare in the world of instrumentalists. Videos of the Trio in action (as well as other artists who have played at the NAG) can be seen on YouTube.

New Acoustic Gallery
Neuenhofer Str. 122
42657 Solingen (Höhscheid)/Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)212/2474007

Peter Rowan in Europe, November 2009

Singer, songwriter, and former Blue Grass Boy Peter Rowan will make a short tour in Britain during mid and late November 2009 before heading the bill at the Vilnius Bluegrass Festival in Lithuania. Confirmed dates are:

12-14 Nov. Thomas Fraser Memorial Festival, Utterabrake, Hamnavoe, Burra, Shetland ZE2 9LB
17 Nov. Roots Around the World, Chichester, West Sussex; venue TBC; +44 (0)1243 789786 / 774641
18 Nov. Green Note, 106 Parkway, London NW1 7AN; +44 (0)20 7485 9899
19 Nov. Bournemouth Folk Club, Centre Stage, Queens Road, Bournemouth BH2 6BE; +44 7811 369062
20-21 Nov. Vilnius Bluegrass Festival, Vilnius, Lithuania

Special Consensus in Europe, 16-25 Oct. 2009

Beginning next week, the Special Consensus (USA) make another welcome trip to Europe, during which they will be playing in Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, all within the space of ten days. Their full schedule is:

Fri. 16 Oct. Karens Minde Kulturhus, Wagnersvej, 192450 Copenhagen, Denmark DK 2450, 8.00 p.m.
Sat. 17 Oct. Voldgade 1, 4800 Nykobing F., Denmark, 8.00 p.m.
Sun. 18 Oct. Mosebacke torg 3, Stockholm, Sweden, 7.00 p.m.
Mon. 19 Oct. Storan, Kungsparken 1, Gothenburg, Sweden, 8.00 p.m.
Tues. 20 Oct. 't Veurhof, Zuiderdiep 71, Valthermond, Netherlands, 8.00 p.m.; phone + 31 (0)599 661997 for more information
Wed. 21 Oct. Partycentrum 'De Vriendschap', Wadway/Wognum, the Netherlands, 8.00 p.m.
Thurs. 22 Oct. Bluegrass in Basel, Living Room Concert, Bruhlstrasse 47, 4415 Lausen, Switzerland, 7.00 p.m.
Fri. 23 Oct. KultUhrBeiz dolder2, Tom Albatros Luley, Zurcherstrasse 26, Feuerthalen, Switzerland CH-8245, 8.00 p.m.; phone +41-52-659 29 90
Sat. 24 Oct. Gemeindehaus, Apostelplatz 1, 44805 Bochum-Harpen, Germany, 8.00 p.m.
Sun. 25 Oct. Hall Theater Jicine, Prague, Czech Republic, 6.00 p.m. [not 8.00 p.m. as originally shown here]

More details are on the band's tour schedule. This will be the first opportunity for European audiences to see the Special C. with Ryan Roberts from Canada on guitar and vocals in place of Justin Carbone (on right in above photo).

Update 12 October: Justin Carbone and Troy Engle are now co-owners of Unplugged Demos, a service providing bluegrass and acoustic demos for songwriters. Single song demos begin at $199 for a five-piece band with lead and harmony vocals. Further details are on their website.

Workshop and concert at the New Acoustic Gallery

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery in Solingen, Germany, reports on the forthcoming Mandolin Weekend Workshop (30 October-1 November 2009) given by Jesper Rübner-Petersen.

The course, which is open to all levels, begins on Friday 30 October (18:00-22:00) and continues through Saturday (10:00-17:00) and Sunday (10:30-15:00). Themes covered during the workshop will include bluegrass, old-time, Irish, blues, and swing tunes; the sound of David Grisman (tunes, solos, and tricks); and improvisation, including gipsy jazz. The cost of entry is €150 (concessions €120).

This includes a Saturday evening concert (20:00) by the Trio Vibracao - Oliver Waitze (acoustic guitars), Jesper Rübner-Petersen (mandolin), and Max Schaaf (bass). The concert is also open to up to 75 people: admission €18 VV; €22 AK; Erm. €14. The Trio can be seen and heard on YouTube playing David Grisman's 'Tipsy gypsy medley'.

The Workshop Weekend will be limited to fifteen participants. For reservations and further info on workshop and concert, contact:

Oliver Waitze
New Acoustic Gallery
Neuenhofer Str. 122
42657 Solingen (Höhscheid)
Tel.: +49 0212/2474007
e-mail

Le Cri du Coyote report on La Roche Bluegrass Festival 2009

Many thanks to Jacques Brémond, editor of Le Cri du Coyote, the French magazine on American Music, for kindly passing on the detailed article by Dominique Fosse (who also wrote the booklet "18 ans de Bluegrass"), including many pictures and detailed description of Dominiques personal impression of each band, published in the latest issue of the magazine.
If you are interested, you can subscribe to Le Cri du Coyote by contacting Jacques directly:

Le Cri du Coyote
BP 48
26170 Buis-les-Baronnies
France

cricoyote@orange.fr

Sons of Navarone: late 2009 schedule

Make no mistake - the above photo by Ann Janssen shows the Sons of Navarone (BE), playing 'El Cumbanchero' at the Cultural Centre, Leopoldsburg, Belgium, on 27 September. Guido Bos (bass) reports:

We entertained almost 400 people and it was great. They loved the show, were very responsive, and we got a lot of encouraging comments afterwards. The Sons will play in a few other cultural centres in the near future:

2 Oct. CC De Wouwer, Ravels, during the Sundowner’s Special
16 Oct. Music Club N9, Eeklo (full show)
5 Nov. CC De Werft, Geel (with the Cowboy Angels and Lais)
6 Nov. CC Leieland, Ooigem (full show)

20 Nov. Copenhagen, Denmark
We are looking for a second venue for 21 November on our way back. People interested to put us up somewhere in North Germany can always get in contact with us.

4 Dec. Brasserie s'Gravenmolen, Grimbergen
30 Dec. Christmas concert, De Panne

Gorenstraat 32
3290 Deurne (Diest)
Belgium
Tel: +32 13 55 31 21
GSM: +32 485 73 86 71
e-mail

Béla Fleck & the Flecktones in Europe, 3-6 Nov. 2009

Béla Fleck & the Flecktones will be playing a brief European tour at the beginning of November 2009, with two dates in Ireland and two in Spain.

In addition to the show in Dublin on Wednesday 4 November shown on their website, they will be playing the previous night (Tuesday 3 November) in the University Concert Hall, Limerick, according to fliers distributed at the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival this weekend. For further info on this show, ring 087-281-7825; box office 061-331549.

After the Dublin show, the band will travel to Spain to play in Barcelona (5 November) and Cartagena (6 November). For more details, see their website.

New Acoustic Gallery news

NAG mandolin workshop attenders, 2007

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery in Solingen, Germany, reports that a weekend mandolin workshop, led by Jesper Rübner-Petersen, will be held from 30 October to 1 November 2009. The numbers that can take part are limited, so anyone interested should enrol as soon as possible. Cost: €165. The themes will include bluegrass, fiddle tunes, rhythm, double stops, scales... For booking or further info contact Oliver Waitze at the NAG by telephone (+49 (0)212/2474007) or e-mail.

Oliver himself will conduct a Flatpicking Guitar Workshop on 21 November 2009 from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. This is for anyone who wants to improve their plectrum playing, and all levels are welcome. The scope ranges from bluegrass, fiddle tunes and variations, rhythm, scales, swing, melody, right-hand exercises, Lester Flatt G-runs, endings, to lead picking and crosspicking in the styles of Clarence White and Tony Rice. Contact data as above.

Concerts at the NAG

31 Oct., 8.00 p.m.: Swing with the Trio Vibracao (Oliver Waitze, Jesper Ruebner Petersen, Max Schaaf). €18 VV; €22 AK.


6 Dec., 8.00 p.m.: Beppe Gambetta. €18 VV; €22 AK. Includes new CD presentation, Rendez vous. 'One of the true live master innovators of the acoustic guitar'.