Suzanne and Jim on YouTube

Suzanne and Jim (USA), whom many will remember from their appearances at the EWOB Festival and elsewhere in Europe during 2007, send Glorious Ground Hog Day greetings to their friends, together with the news that they can be seen playing 'Si bheag, si mhor' here - the first upload on their own YouTube channel.

EWOB CDs get warm welcome

Liz Meyer of Stricly Country Records reports that Bob Mitchell, respected music critic and radio presenter in Louisville, KY, has given the new 2-CD set 10 years of European World of Bluegrass (SCR-66) a warm welcome: '... it is fabulous! You should feel very proud - you can be sure it will get a lot of air play.'

The CD European World of Bluegrass 2007 (SCR-65) has been reviewed in the new issue of Bluegrass Now magazine by David Dees, who concludes:

When someone begins to worry about the future of bluegrass, they should play this CD. And there are two very good reasons for American bluegrass bands to listen to this disc: 1) to discover some very good new songs, and 2) to hear how good their competition has become!

Read the full review here. Info on all the EWOB CDs is here. Liz sums up with reference to 10 years:

We finally have the perfect vehicle to show the world that European bands can play really great bluegrass!

EWOB 2007 CD details now on line

Thierry Schoysman of Bluegrass in Belgium reports that full details of the European World of Bluegrass 2007 CD (Strictly Country Records SCR-65) are now available here, together with those of the other nine European World of Bluegrass CDs, all produced by Liz Meyer.

Details include all song titles, author and publisher credits, band personnel and contact data ('phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and website links).

Happy birthday, Rawhide

Waitin' for a train: Rawhide on their trip to Denmark

Rawhide, Belgium's senior bluegrass band and the only band to have played at every European World of Bluegrass Festival, celebrates its thirtieth anniversary with a concert and party (admission free) on Thursday 4 October 2007 at the Kunstcentrum Kaleidoscoop, Molenstraat 50, 2640 Mortsel, Antwerp, Belgium, starting at 8.00 p.m. As many previous band members as possible will be there. A flyer can be downloaded from the band's website.

Further steps towards a European Union of bluegrass: Rawhide played in Denmark at the Fredericia Bluegrass Festival in May. Photos of the trip can be seen here. The band reports:

We had a great time, not only doing the gig itself, but also because we ran into some old friends. Late night jam sessions were the obvious result. Anytime Denmark calls us, we'll be on our way!

NEW: Some of that feeling is now available to all - Rawhide is launching a DVD, Live in Denmark, showing the unique atmosphere that the band creates on stage. It includes an uncut one-hour show from the Fredericia Festival, and as bonus a 25-minute set at EWOB 2007, plus an original tune recorded in 1993. For further details see here.

EBMA looks to the future

The EBMA Board with guests (left to right): Dagfinn Pedersen, Rienk Janssen, Angelika Torrie, Paolo Dettwiler, Lilly Drumeva, Petr Brandejs, Michael Zumstein, Richard Hawkins, Jon Weisberger, Richard Hurst. Photo by Nancy Cardwell.

At the sixth EBMA General Membership Assembly on Thursday 17 May at the EWOB Festival, Voorthuizen, the Netherlands, the EBMA Board was re-elected for the next legal year of the association (1 July 2007-30 June 2008). The present chairman, Paolo Dettwiler, will resign in June 2008 to concentrate on other bluegrass-related projects. Two further Board members will be proposed in 2008 for election by EBMA active members. The association now has 355 paying members and an annual budget of around €8,000. A small surplus in 2006 will be set aside for future projects.

At the EBMA Open Meeting on Friday 18 May, reports from members throughout Europe showed a general impression that bluegrass is clearly on the rise, with several new festivals and growing attendance numbers. The presence of Nancy Cardwell and Jon Weisberger as official IBMA representatives underlined the importance of the tenth EWOB.

Also on Friday 18 May, the Board met to review its current projects and goals for the next year, and welcomed as guests Nancy Cardwell (IBMA), Jon Weisberger (IBMA), Dagfinn Pedersen (Norwegian Bluegrass Music Association), and Richard Hurst (Ulster American Folk Park). The EBMA will maintain a presence at IBMA World of Bluegrass, and will also continue to host the International Suite there. A new edition of EBMA's European Bluegrass Directory will appear in 2008.

The board will meet at the 16th Annual Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival at the Ulster American Folk Park, Northern Ireland, with an agenda including the development of Bluegrass Europe magazine and an increase of EBMA's youth activities.

Read more in the current issue of Bluegrass Europe.

Youth in bluegrass

The Bluegrass Blog has just posted an item on youth in bluegrass. It includes a link to a story on UKBluegrass.com about the English band Miles Apart, all of whose members are 18 years old and met at the Sore Fingers Week instruction camp.

Miles Apart consists of John Breese (banjo), Michael Giverin (mandolin/ vocals), Kieran Mooney (double bass), and the twin sisters Charlotte (mandolin/ guitar/ vocals) and Laura Carrivick (fiddle/ dobro/ vocals), who took part in the Tenth EWOB Festival at Voorthuizen in May.

The EBMA's youth officer, Liz Meesters, is interested in any bluegrass activity involving young people in Europe. Contact Liz by e-mail.

Winner of Deering banjo

Jo Oost and his Little Wonder

The European World of Bluegrass Festival organising committee reports on the result of the EWOB 2007 raffle:

The Deering Vega Little Wonder banjo has been won by Jo Oost from 't Haantje, NL. The winning ticket number was 00329.

British accounts of the EWOB Festival

The Carrivick Sisters, Charlotte and Laura (UK), performed at the 10th EWOB Festival in Voorthuizen, the Netherlands, and received a warm welcome. The sisters - who between them play guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, and lap steel - have recorded their impressions of the Festival in an illustrated article on UKBluegrass.com. Some quotes:

One main difference we noticed between festivals in England and EWOB was that the average age of players at EWOB appeared to be significantly lower, which shows that the bluegrass scene in Europe is definitely getting bigger.

The sound for the entire festival was absolutely fantastic, both from the performer’s point of view and for the audience.

All together, it was a great festival and we would highly recommend it to anyone...

The New Essex Bluegrass Band, on their fourth visit to the EWOB Festival, also recounted their very positive experiences to UKBluegrass.com; read them here. One quote:

Let it be said loud and clear, 'Europe’s finest bluegrass bands are as tight and driving - with soaring, high-lonesome harmonies - as the finest acts from America.'

Bid on eBay for a Rawhide concert

Bluegrass in Belgium reports:

A bluegrass concert by Rawhide in your own living room on 23 September? That's possible now for almost nothing ['an apple and an egg' is the Flemish equivalent]. You can bid now on eBay for this unique bluegrass experience via this link.

Rawhide won the #3 Audience Popularity Award at the European World of Bluegrass Festival in the Netherlands in 2006 and 2007, and also won a special award this year as the only band to appear at all ten EWOB Festivals.

European World of Bluegrass 2007

A list of all events that form part of the EBMA's European World of Bluegrass (EWOB) 2007 is available through a link on the main page of the EBMA website. You will need Adobe Acrobat to read the list, which can be downloaded as pdf files.

A list of EWOB events from 21 May to 30 June is posted below.

A report on the awards at the 10th EWOB Festival at Voorthuizen, the Netherlands, can be seen here. For other information on the Festival, see its website and/or the EWOB pages on the EBMA website.

EWOB events, 21 May-30 June

A full list of all EWOB events, continually updated, is on the main page of the EBMA website.

May 20-21-22
NL ODOORN, Theehuis Poolshoogte in de Staatsbossen, Boswachter Meelkerweg, +31 599 662134, boetndeure@hotmail.com, Boet’n Deure Festival: Sunday, 14:00 - Peter O Ruby with All Bells & Whistles (CZ)
Monday, 19:00 - Water Flow (NL-SK)
Tuesday, 19:00 - Suzanne & Jim (USA), Kristen Grainger & Dan Wetzel (USA)

Monday, May 21
D 49565 BRAMSCHE, Universum, Grosse Strasse 38, +49 5481 81746, mmalcher@gmx.de; Looping Brothers Festival: Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass (USA); Si Kahn (USA), Looping Brothers (D)
D ULM, andy@andyowens.com, Andy Owens & Druha Trava (USA-CZ)
D VÖHRINGEN, Illertal Cowboys, brambus@smile.ch: Still on the Hill (USA)
NL BUITENPOST, nursing home for the elderly, 14:30 (not open to the public): Suzanne & Jim (USA)

Tuesday, May 22
CZ CHEB, andy@andyowens.com, Andy Owens & Druha Trava (USA-CZ)
D VILLINGEN-SCHWENNINGEN, Scheuer, brambus@smile.ch: Still on the Hill (USA)
NL 9062 EJ OENTSJERK, Stania State, Rengersweg 98/B, 19:30, +31 58 2562736; Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass (USA), Si Kahn (USA)

May 23–4
NL 2131 BC HOOFDDORP, Het Oude Raadhuis, Hoofdweg 675, +31 23 5563707, scr@pietergroenveld.com; Bluegrass Festival Hoofddorp: Wed., 20.30 - Si Kahn (USA), Kristen Grainger & Dan Wetzel of True North (USA); Thurs., 20.30 - Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass (USA)

Wednesday, May 23
CH CHUR, Werkstatt, brambus@smile.ch, Still on the Hill (USA)
CZ PRAHA, andy@andyowens.com Andy Owens & Druha Trava (USA-CZ)
D 59439 HOLZWICKEDE, Haus Opherdicke, 20:00, www.musiccontact.com, The Wilders (USA)
NL 2381 ZOETERWOUDE, Café de Meester, Zuidbuurtseweg 57, info@scharpff.nl; 9th MIDWOB Mini Bluegrass Festival: Except-2 (NL) (TBC), Moscow Balalaika (RUS) (TBC), Blue Grass Boogiemen (NL)
NL ZUIDWOLDE, Klein-kunsttheater, +31 528 321950, +31 6 26552185, www.freewebs.com/stichtingfermate: Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass (USA), Suzanne & Jim (USA), Willem Noordstrand (NL)

Thursday, May 24
CH BERN, Mahogany Hall, brambus@smile.ch, Still on the Hill (USA)
CZ PLZEN, andy@andyowens.com Andy Owens & Druha Trava (USA-CZ)
D 89032 ULM, Zeltfestival, 20:00, www.musiccontact.com, The Wilders (USA)

May 25–6
CZ STRAKONICE, Jamboree 2007: Flashback (CZ), Relief (CZ), - Radim Zenkl Quartet (USA), Eliska & Friends (CZ), Light Cavalry (CZ), Modrotisk (CZ), Robert Krestan a Druha Trava with Andy Owens (CZ/USA), Wejlet (CZ), Country Cocktail (CZ), Kvintet (CZ), Carrabina (CZ), Wyrton (CZ), Lunackove (CZ), Album (CZ), BG Company (CZ), Vabank Unit (CZ), Poutnici (CZ), Monogram (CZ), Blue Gate (CZ), Nova Sekce (CZ), Petr Kus & Famy (CZ), COP (CZ), Semtex (CZ), Petr Brandejs Band (CZ), & others
DK FREDERICIA, Det Bruunske Pakhus, +45 72106710, 5th Bluegrass Festival: Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass (USA), Blue Railroad Train (F), Rawhide (B), & others

May 25–8
UK GAINSBOROUGH, Friends Of American Old Time Music And Dance, Spring Camp

Friday, May 25
CH STÄFA, Rössli, brambus@smile.ch, Still on the Hill (USA)
D 41564 KAARST, Albert Einstein Forum, 20:00, www.musiccontact.com: The Wilders (USA)
NL 7876 AD VALTHERMOND, ‘t Veurof, Zuiderdiep 71, +31 591 513103: Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass (USA)

Saturday, May 26
CZ KOSTELEC, afternoon, andy@andyowens.com, Andy Owens & Druha Trava (USA-CZ)
CZ ROSTIN, evening, andy@andyowens.com, Andy Owens & Druha Trava (USA-CZ)
NL 3286 LS KLAASWAAL, Newland, Rijksstraatweg 30 - 21:00, +31 186 571312: Hillbilly Boogiemen (NL)
NL WESTERBROEK, Scheepswerf Leeuwerke, 20:00: De Stroatklinkers (NL)

Sunday, May 27
B 6760 ETHE/VIRTON, Farm Roiseux at Hamawé, decoseb@swing.be, Hamawé Roots Festival: The Wilders (USA), Ugly Buggy Boys (B), Oak City Jazzband (B), The Straps (B)
CZ ZLIN, andy@andyowens.com, Andy Owens & Druha Trava, USA-CZ
NL ASSEN, Radio Drenthe, Podium 30, programma by Lukas Koops and Egbert Meijers (not open to the public) t.g.v. 25th Big Bear Festival, 10:00-12:00: Suzanne & Jim (USA)
NL 1715 GZ WADWAY/SPANBROEK, Café de Vriendschap, Wadway 22, +31 229 571448: Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass (USA)
NL ZWOLLE, De Verhalenboot, Thorbeckegracht, 15:00: Roasted Barley, Blue Dew (NL)

Monday, May 28
CZ POZLOVICE, andy@andyowens.com, Andy Owens & Druha Trava (USA-CZ)
NL 9471 KA ZUIDLAREN, De Kimme op terrein Dennenoord, 13:00, +31 599 312663, rienk.janssen@planet.nl, 25th Big Bear Festival: Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass (USA), The Wilders (USA), Suzanne & Jim (USA), De Stroatklinkers (NL)

Tuesday, May 29
CZ BRNO, andy@andyowens.com, Andy Owens & Druha Trava (USA-CZ)
CZ TISNOV, andy@andyowens.com, Andy Owens & Druha Trava (USA-CZ)

May 31–June 3
IT ALTISSIMO (VI), 3rd Roberto Dalla Vecchia Acoustic Guitar Workshop

Thursday, June 14
CH BASEL, 2nd Bluegrass in Basel Festival: Blue Railroad Train (F), 4 Wheel Drive (NL), Larry Wilder & the Stumptown Stars (USA)

June 28–30
SK TRNAVA, DobroFest 2007: Diabolske Husle a Henrich Novak (SK), Todd Livingston Band (USA), Pascal Mesnier (F), Tony Balloco’s Dobro Mafia (IT-D), Czas na Grass (PL), Grasscountry (SK), Waterflow (NL-SK), Big Daddy Wilson & Mississippi Gravediggers (USA), Fragment (SK-CZ), Petr Kus a Famy (CZ), & others

EWOB 2007 Festival awards

On Saturday 19 May, third and final night of the EBMA's European World of Bluegrass 2007 Festival, the following awards were made.

European Bluegrass Band 2007:

#1 G2 (Sweden)

#2 Meantime (Slovakia)

#3 Kreni (Czech Republic)

G2* will hold the title of #1 European Bluegrass Band for the next twelve months, and will represent Europe at the IBMA's World of Bluegrass in Nashville, TN, in 2008.


Audience Popularity Award:

#1 4 Wheel Drive (Netherlands)

#2 G2 (Sweden)

#3 Rawhide (Belgium)

Rawhide also received a special award as the only band to have performed at all ten European World of Bluegrass Festivals.

*The Bluegrass Blog noted G2 as a band to watch in September 2006, when they had been together for less than a year.

Europe in Bluegrass Now

The 'Band to watch' feature in the May 2007 issue of Bluegrass Now magazine is devoted to the Ebony Hillbillies, whose banjo and dulcimer player, Norris Bennett, is a regular feature of EWOB Festivals and other bluegrass/old-time events in Europe. The same issue includes:

* a feature by Mary McWay Seaman on Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens, #1 European Bluegrass Band 2005, focused on the band's appearance at the IBMA's World of Bluegrass 2006 in Nashville;

*a large 'Eurograss' column by Petra Jones, covering festivals, concerts, and CD releases by European bands; and

*an article by the IBMA's Nancy Cardwell on Andy Owens and his close association with Druha Trava. Nancy, together with IBMA colleagues Jon Weisberger and Fred Bartenstein, will be attending the EWOB 2007 Festival at Voorthuizen, the Netherlands.

EBMA's European Month of Bluegrass 2007 to starttoday

TriRhena Bluegrass in Basel, Switzerland, as the first concert shown in the EWOB guide tonight 24th April opens up the very extended European Month of Bluegrass. We are looking forward to welcome bands from the three countries touching boarders in Basel: MoonFire representing Switzerland, The Common Cryers from France and Blue Side of Town running for Germany. This is also the place, where the first EWOB T-Shirts and raffle tickets 2007 will be sold! Make sure to get yours at one of these numerous events, too!

Tour Schedule: Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass

A full schedule of the European tour of Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass is available online at the link below. The tour was jointly coordinated by Strictly Country Records (Pieter Groenveld) and A.R.T. Promotions (Angelika Torrie). Don't miss this exceptional band on their tour through Switzerland, Sweden, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

Link

The first 10 days of EWOB month

This is just a (literally!) small impression of the first ten days of EWOB month 2007. The complete guide is available online at www.ebma.org. And in fact, dates span a period of 24 April to 29 June - what a long month.

Why not have EWOB month all year long ;-)

See you here - or there - or there!

Forty-two bands to shine at 10th annual festival

EBMA press release

Award-winning festival starts again on Thursday, May 17th

Voorthuizen, the Netherlands – On May 17, 18 and 19 the tenth European World of Bluegrass (EWOB) Festival will take place in the Dutch village of Voorthuizen... At the festival forty-two bands from thirteen different European countries, and the USA, will perform on stage. Also there will be workshops, a trade show, a children’s programme, and of course people can ‘jam’ together to their heart’s desire...

Read the complete text of this release on the EBMA website.

Looping Brothers Bluegrass Festival on May 21

The Looping Brothers Bluegrass Festival will take place on Monday, May 21, 2007 at the Universum in Bramsche, Germany. Artists scheduled to appear include the Looping Brothers, Si Kahn and Dan Paisley & The Southern Grass. The event is part of EBMA's 10^th European World of Bluegrass series of concerts and festivals during the bluegrass music month of May. For more information contact Mathias Malcher.

Bluegrass in Basel: Programme for 2007

Regional bluegrass association Bluegrass in Basel has announced their programme for 2007. It features performances by The Jeanette Williams Band on March14, TriRhena Bluegrass with bands from the three countries surrounding Basel, Switzerland on April 24 (part of EWOB), the Second Bluegrass In Basel Festival (also part of EWOB) with the Stumptown Stars (USA) and others on June 14 and Chris Stuart & Backcountry (USA) on November 22.

Last call for EWOB Guide 2007

Rienk Janssen, the EBMA's European World of Bluegrass coordinator, reports:

Between now and 15 March we will put together the Guide to the 10th European World of Bluegrass. Please send any information that you would like to see published in it, as soon as possible!

1: Bluegrass (-related) events in May, in Europe: (give date - country - town - venue - time - contact information - performer(s)). These will be listed, free of charge. Any event counts, from festivals to small house concerts. All EWOB-related festivals will also be listed on the EWOB 2007 T-shirts.

2: Advertisements: advertise your event (also if it is later in the year), your business, etc. Rates for ads in black/white, based on originals ready to print, are

Full page (A4) €180.00
Half page (A5) €110.00
Quarter page (A6) €60.00

Rates for colour ads (limited availability) are double the above. Within the EU, add 19% VAT.

3: Sponsoring: we will accept sponsoring any time, but if you want the publicity, we should know about it now!

Post material to EWOB, p/a Postbus 32, 9540 AA, Vlagtwedde, NL; telephone (+31) 0599 312663; e-mail

Becoming part of EWOB 2007

A message from Rienk Janssen, coordinator of the EBMA's European World of Bluegrass (EWOB):

The EBMA coordinates the annual European World of Bluegrass month, in 2007 for the tenth time. This is a series of concerts and festivals all over Europe, hanging loosely together under the EWOB umbrella. Being part of the EWOB does not bring any obligations - we just help each other in getting a bit more publicity. We publish the events in the EWOB Guide 2007 and on our websites, and we hope the participating events will use the EWOB logo (above) in their own publicity.

May is Bluegrass Month, and almost all EWOB-related events are in that month, but every now and then we include a few spilling over into April or June. We also have a special offer for festivals that take part for the first time. They will get a ¼ page ad for free (black/white) in the EWOB Guide. We would need all information by 1 March.

Wishing you success,
Kind regards,
Rienk Janssen

Please note that any bluegrass-related event - a festival, concert, session, broadcast - can be a part of EWOB. For advertising rates and any other details, e-mail Rienk here.

Bluegrass in Germany? Find it here

Bernd and Gunda Steller, from the Frankfurt area of Germany, are very active supporters of bluegrass and other forms of music. Singer / songwriter Liz Meyer encountered them at nearly all her shows while touring Germany - they had often travelled further than anyone else to be present. After going to the Netherlands to see Liz with Nugget, they began attending the EBMA's EWOB festivals.

In 2005 they established a website, listing dates, times, and places of festivals and concerts all over Germany and extending into Switzerland and the Netherlands, with comprehensive details of the artists taking part, and links to associations, promoters, publishers, and music suppliers. It's a labour of love and a valuable reference resource for bluegrass music lovers. Liz Meyer says: 'Fans like Bernd and Gunda are golden.'

Contact Bernd and Gunda Steller by e-mail if you have news to add to their website.

Lineup for EWOB Festival 2007 Announced

The EWOB Committee Voorthuizen, in cooperation with EBMA, has announced the lineup for this year's EWOB Festival on May 17-19, 2007. The details of the schedule are still being worked on, but they will be published in the Official EWOB Guide 2007, issued in conjunction with Strictly Country/BLUEGRASS EUROPE/ Bluegrass Bühne magazines (free to subscribers).

European Bands
Acousticure, Album, Astro & de Vries, Blackjack, Blueland, Blue Mountain Boys, Blue Railroad Train, Blue Side of Town, Bononia Grass, Carrivick Sisters, Except-2, 4Wheel Drive, Funny Grass, G-runs & Roses, G-2 Bluegrass Band, High on Grass, JB’s Band, Jiri Kralik & the Rowdy Rascals, Jussi Syren & the Groundbreakers, Kralick & Glandt, Kreni, Lilly Drumeva, Lonesome Mountaineers, Looping Brothers, Meantime, Mideando String Quintet, New Lowland, Petr Brandejs Band, Portrait, Quartier Français, Rawhide, Red Wine, Roberto Dalla Vecchia, Rolls Boys, Sons of Navarone, Waterflow

Guest Bands from the USA
Andy Owens & Druha Trava, Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass, Si Kahn, Suzanne & Jim, Tangleweed, True North

Deadline for US trip to EWOB 2007

Kevin Lynch, of the Connecticut Bluegrass Music Association, the IBMA, and U-H Radio Bluegrass (now in its 37th year), reports for the benefit of our readers in North America:

Just one last note to those interested in making the trip to the IBMA-award-winning 10th Annual European World of Bluegrass three-day event in the Netherlands:

1) The trip is 14-20 May 2007 and will include additional excursions built
around the EWOB events.

2) The absolute DEADLINE for reservations/deposits is Monday, 26 February 2007.

I am going as an unofficial guide and assisting my travel agent sister, who has booked this tour as a bluegrass fan, at cost. She has arranged this not-for-profit tour partly as promotion for future trips through her travel agency, but also because of her love of the music.

This bluegrass group trip to the Netherlands has two main goals:

1) To promote international bluegrass, primarily through the EWOB events in this case.

2) To offer bluegrass fans in North America a chance to take this trip at a much lower expense than one could ever arrange on their own.

For details of the First-Ever European World of Bluegrass Group Tour (May 2007) and also of the IBMA 'Fan Fest' Bluegrass Road Trip (October 2007), see here.

Wanted: material(s) representing 10 years of EWOB

In honour of the upcoming celebration of ten years of the European World of Bluegrass (EWOB) events, its highlight being the EWOB Festival 2007 in Voorthuizen, the Netherlands (17-19 May), the committee would like to invite anyone who has attended in the past to send information to be considered for publication in a special Tenth Anniversary program.

We are seeking all kinds of material: photos, newspaper articles, funny anecdotes, your personal experiences, your favourite band(s), your favourite song or tune, what were your band's experiences at various EWOB events, etc. In short – feel free to send anything you care to share with bluegrass fans everywhere. Maybe you will see your contribution in the special 'Tenth Anniversary Edition' paper to be distributed during EWOB 2007.

Our deadline for receipt of your material(s) is 1 March 2007. Please send your information via e-mail (or regular mail) to

Adri Richter
Rodenburgstraat 4
2381 BG
The Netherlands

Please note: Materials cannot be returned. Clear, clean copies and/or scans of photos/articles, etc. are acceptable. Thank you all in advance for your support.

For US readers: Come experience the 10th anniversary EWOB events in person! Be part of the first ever European World of Bluegrass Group Tour in May 2007. See here for details.

European World of Bluegrass 2007

The European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA) is getting ready for the 10th Anniversary EWOB in 2007.

The European World of Bluegrass is a month (May) -long series of concerts and festivals, all over Europe, highlighted by the EWOB Festival in Voorthuizen, the Netherlands, on May 17-19. This is the meeting place for musicians, fans, promoters, agents, record companies, instrument makers and dealers, etc., with - apart from a lot of music - a trade show, workshops, meetings, seminars, and more.

At the Voorthuizen convention approximately forty European bands will perform on stage, and they are eligible for the #1 European Bluegrass Band award and the Audience Popularity award. Up to the end of November we have received over eighty applications from European bands to take part, and our selection & programming committee has started their difficult task of putting together the best festival program, and keeping everybody involved as happy as possible.

Every year we have a limited number of bands from the USA joining us (and for this tenth anniversary we have some very good ones in mind), but the focus is on European bluegrass.

In the meantime the #1 European Bluegrass Band award winner of the 2006 EWOB - Mideando String Quintet from Italy - are preparing their trip to the IBMA World of Bluegrass in Nashville, later in 2007, where they will show why they were chosen as the best, and also will represent the European bluegrass music scene to the rest of the world.

Any bluegrass-music-related event in Europe in the month of May 2007 can be part of the European World of Bluegrass. There are no obligations, nor does it cost anything. The only things we need to know are the details (date, place, performers, etc.), so we can put the correct information in the EWOB Guide and on our website. In return we ask the participating events to use the EWOB 2007 logo in their publicity, and maybe tell their audience a little bit about the EWOB and the EBMA.

Anybody who is interested may contact us here.

Rienk Janssen, EWOB coordinator for the EBMA

See and hear bluegrass in Europe (and more)

For readers in the USA, Kevin Lynch, of the Connecticut Bluegrass Music Association and U-H Radio Bluegrass on WWUH Radio, reports:

Announcing a first-ever group tour to Europe for the 10th European World of Bluegrass (EWOB) event held in the Netherlands. This event and its organizers have been awarded honors by the International Bluegrass Music Association for their decades of international bluegrass promotion.

It's their tenth anniversary and the headliner from the USA will be Rounder Records recording artists, Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass. Up to two other artists from the USA will appear, plus 40+ other groups from all over the globe!

In addition to the EWOB event, the tour includes two nights in historic Amsterdam (incl. a wine-&-cheese evening canal cruise of the city). See the details at this link.

Fully escorted tour runs May 14 - 20, 2007. Group participants limited to 20 people. Flights need to be booked well in advance in order to get the lowest prices. You are welcomed to arrange any time frame for your return and/or departure flights... spend as much time as you wish while you're there.

Disclaimer: This trip has been organized by my sister Kim (an independent travel agent). She is offering this initial Bluegrass Tour to EWOB at cost. We won't see these prices again.

See you in Amsterdam...

Be part of bluegrass history

30 December 2007

Pieter Groenveld and Liz Meyer of Strictly Country Records /Strictly Music, the Netherlands, have a New Year's request for all friends of European bluegrass:

Would you like to be part of bluegrass history? Put your name on this very special European World of Bluegrass CD!* We need sponsors to help finance a wonderful double-CD compilation from 10 years of EWOB. Liz has been working on the project morning to night for weeks, and the mastering studio is booked for early January.

Strictly Country Records’ annual EWOB CD series: a labor of love

The EWOB CDs are the biggest commitment Liz and I have made to giving something back that can make a difference in the music world. The annual EWOB CDs are not subsidised by EBMA, because it takes all of EBMA's resources to sponsor the EWOB Festival every year, and to send the #1 European Bluegrass Band to IBMA's World of Bluegrass in Nashville. (This year the EWOB Festival's organising committee celebrated EWOB's 10th birthday by sending an EWOB 2007 CD to each of the 154 musicians who played the EWOB 2007 Festival; but they can't afford to do this every year.) The annual EWOB CDs are a heavy commitment of time and money for a tiny label that can produce a maximum of four CDs annually - and the EWOB CDs require twice the time and energy of a normal artist CD with normal sales potential.

Any record label depends on artist sales at shows to break even on a CD, but there are +/- 25 bands on each EWOB CD. Many of the best bands come from economies where CDs are cheap, and they can't afford to invest in EWOB CDs to sell. We sell a few dozen here and there, but the annual EWOB CD is primarily a promotional vehicle for European bluegrass, the bands, and EWOB. Most of them are given away to DJs and press.

Some years when we've been hard-pressed financially, we’ve considered skipping the EWOB CD. But it's not the sort of project you can just do some years, so we've made it a permanent commitment. It means so much to the bands to have the possibility of taking their music beyond the borders of their remote homelands; and having this outlet inspires them to work really hard to prepare for the next EWOB. It's gratifying to see the growth and progress that we help stimulate with this work. You can't imagine how satisfying it feels for a European band to be played on US radio, in the homeland of bluegrass music!

For ten years, the EWOB CDs have been virtually the only effective promotional vehicle for the genre/bands/event. There are a couple of EWOB/EBMA websites (some being rebuilt this month) and a magazine, but these are relatively inert formats. Too few people see European bluegrass magazines, and it’s difficult to get people to look at websites! The EWOB CDs let people around the world actually hear the music. That's crucial. EWOB CDs make it possible for European bands to show what they can do, standing proudly alongside the finest American artists. And we are creating a beautiful historical archive of the development of this music in Europe.

This double album, 10 years of EWOB, is our most significant contribution yet, and will be an important vehicle for a whole generation of bands from a continent with a wealth of great musicians. The promotional value of the 10 years of EWOB compilation for European bluegrass and EWOB will outweigh the first ten years of EWOB CDs combined. While major music publications may not even blink at ‘yet another festival CD’, something as unexpected as ten years of European bluegrass (especially with its excellent guest-artist credentials) might just catch that editor's eye. This project gives us an opportunity to gain a level of radio and press exposure for EWOB that won’t be possible again until EWOB’s 20th anniversary. This kind of attention can help attract corporate sponsors for EWOB.

On 10 years of EWOB, the double CD, fourteen US & Canadian guests will lend their good names and great tracks alongside thirty-four of Europe’s finest. Rounder is kindly allowing us the use of performances by Claire Lynch and Danny Paisley, and is even considering helping with radio mailing. US & Canadian guests on this project include:

Bill Clifton & Pick of the Crop
The Chapmans
Chris Jones & the Night Drivers
Claire Lynch Band
Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass
Hickory Project
Hunger Mountain Boys
John Reischman & the Jaybirds
Kate Mackenzie Band
Laurie Lewis & her Bluegrass Pals
Liz Meyer with Nugget
Mike Stevens & Raymond Mclain
Randy Waller & the Country Gentlemen
Sally Jones & the Sidewinders

All of the #1 European Bluegrass Bands are included in this collection, too.
[1998: There were no band awards in the first year.]
1999: Nugget (Austria)
2000: Relief (Czech Republic)
2001: Petr Brandejs Band (Czech Republic)
2002: 4 Wheel Drive (The Netherlands)
2003: Nugget (Austria/ Czech Republic)
2004: Fragment (Slovak & Czech Republics)
2005: Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens (Ireland)
2006: Mideando String Quintet (Italy)
2007: G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden)

Other European bands selected for the 10 years of EWOB compilation include:

Album
Blackjack
Blue Cartel
Blueland
Bononia Grass
Downhill
Fifty Fingers
Footprints
Goodwill
Jiri Kralik & the Rowdy Rascals
Kreni
Lonesome Mountaineers
Looping Brothers
Louvat Brothers
Meantime
Monogram
Rawhide
Red Wine
Roll’s Boys
Skyland
Springfield
Stroatklinkers
Sunny Side
Jussi Syren & the Groundbreakers
Tomas Pesko Band
Zbynek Buresz with Chris Jones & the Czech Drivers

EWOB is helping nurture bluegrass bands and foster the growth of bluegrass events all over Europe. This also generates more tour possibilities for US bands, and further musical exchanges. Moving in the other direction is far more challenging, however. European bands dream of touring the USA, and some of these bands are immensely talented. It may be hard to imagine music we think of as so distinctly American being played by foreign musicians with exotic and occasionally unpronounceable names. Nothing breaks down those walls faster than hearing great bluegrass played by European bands! A handful of exceptional groups like the Kruger Brothers, Druha Trava, Red Wine, and Fragment have worked long and hard in the States to overcome these obstacles and win respect for European pickers - and we have lots more where they came from who deserve our support. With the EWOB CDs, we are able to help at least twenty European bands get radio airplay in the USA and around the world every year.

Be part of bluegrass history! You can help European bluegrass bands make their mark, and help EWOB grow. Add your name to our list of sponsors for the 10 years of EWOB CD.* All contributions are welcome! (Contact Pieter by e-mail.)

Please forward this message to other folks who might like to participate in this project. We’re grateful for your help. Thanks for your time, and best wishes for the New Year!

Warm regards,

Pieter Groenveld & Liz Meyer, Strictly Country Records /Strictly Music, the Netherlands

*Contributions are welcome at any time, but your name can be added to the 10 years of EWOB CD booklet only until 20 January 2008. Later sponsors can be listed in the EWOB 2008 CD booklet.

SCR Productions
PO Box 628
2130 AP Hoofddorp
The Netherlands
Tel. +31 (0)297 347 101
Fax +31 (0)297 347 488
SCR@PieterGroenveld.com
http://www.StrictlyCountryRecords.com