Roberto dalla Vecchia: CD and concert news

Roberto Dalla Vecchia ('Flatpicking Guitar with Italian Gusto') has been working on his new CD Unknown legends, due for release on 28 November 2008. It celebrates, in Roberto's words, 'all the people around the world working hard everyday to make this world a better place. They will never make the news and they don't really care about that.'

Other musicians on the CD are Stefano Versolato (upright bass), Henrich Novak (dobro), Paolo Bressan (whistles and bombo), and Giovanni Costantini (cello). Photos from the recording studio can be seen here, and all the tracks can be heard here. Roberto will be doing workshops about the CD in the next few months, talking about the whole process of recording an acoustic guitar CD: choice of tunes, arrangements, recording studio set up, etc.

You can practice your Italian on an interview with Roberto on the popular blog 'Vicenza Popolare'. Roberto's free tab page will soon be updated, and he invites requests for tunes to be tabbed.

His concert and workshop schedule is as follows:

Sat. 20 Dec. 2008: Teatro Sociale, Cittadella (PD), Italy: concert 21:00

Fri. 9 Jan. 2009: Akustik Gitarre Forum, Hallein, Austria; concert

Fri. 23 Jan. and Sat. 24 Jan. 2009: Soldiers' Theatre, Vicenza, Italy; concert 19:30 (both nights)

Sat. 31 Jan. 2009: UnpluGGed Chitarre, Milan, Italy; workshop

Sat. 28 Mar. 2009: 5 vicenzAcustica, Vicenza, Italy

Mon. 6 Apr.-Sat. 11 Apr. 2009: 24th Acoustic Music International Workshop, Virton, Belgium

Roberto's link of the month is of special interest to guitar players in Europe as it offers a digital subscription to the magazine for about half the price of a hard-copy subscription, without postage problems, etc.; also the link includes downloadable instructional books and 'backup tracks' as audio mp3 files.

Drop Roberto a line or sign the Message Board when you call at his website.

Guitar workshop date now 22 Nov. 2008

The Flatpicking Workshop with Oliver Waitze (above), originally scheduled for 29 November 2008 at the New Acoustic Gallery in Solingen, Germany, has been brought forward to 22 November 2008. Tel.: +49 0212/2474007.

The fee for taking part is €90 (maximum of ten participants). The workshop begins at 10:00 and ends at 17:00. It's designed for everyone who wants to learn, or improve their knowledge of, plectrum playing, and all levels of ability are welcome. The content includes bluegrass, fiddle tunes, cross-picking, G-runs, Lester Flatt runs, rhythm with bass, Django-style rhythm, Tony Rice style, Clarence White style...

The new flatpicking books Master technique and Flatpicker's tunebook will also be available.

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

Petr Brandejs: Workshop and DVD news

More than 100 students and fourteen instructors took part in the 13th annual Petr Brandejs Band workshop on 17-19 October in Male Svatonovice, Czech Republic. All the bluegrass instruments and vocals, plus old-time banjo, were taught. The faculty included the best virtuosos and capable teachers from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. A few Hungarians also took part - one of whom received (and accepted) an unexpected marriage proposal from her Slovak boyfriend on stage during the sold-out Saturday night show!

All the students were provided with a DVD full of photos, materials, and recordings prepared by the teachers. Also the unique two-and-a-half-hour Saturday show with all the instructors jamming on stage is available on a profi-made DVD. A TV short show (in Czech) can be found here. Petr Brandejs is already working on the next workshop, to be held in Novy Jicin (CZ) in March 2009, and another in Risør, Norway, in July.

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

Petr Brandejs's educational DVD Czech five-string banjo hits is scheduled for release in November 2008 by the G+W company, which also released his previous succesful Czech version of How to play five-string banjo (more than 2,000 copies sold). It contains fourteen songs best known in the Czech Republic associated with the five-string banjo. Most of them are country and bluegrass hits made popular with Czech lyrics. The breaks are described in great detail, along with a tab booklet. Contact:

Petr Brandejs
Bludovice 137, 74101 Nový Jičín
Czech Republic
Mobile: +420 777 122 569
e-mail

Places free in Mandolin Weekend Workshop

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery, Neuenhofer Str. 122, 42657 Solingen, Germany, invites intrepid mandolinists to jump on the Mando Express - two places are free in the Mandolin Weekend Workshop with J.P. Rübner which is just about to begin. Telephone: +49 0212/2474007.

Third Spainmusic Old-Time Week, 10-17 May 2009

Thanks to the British old-time music association FOAOTMAD for the news that after two successful years so far, the third Spainmusic Old-Time Week will be held from Sunday 10 May to Sunday 17 May 2009. The complete list of teachers will include the Bing Brothers from West Virginia, Tim (banjo) and Dave (fiddle), together with Kate Lissauer, John Whelan, and Peter Dunn, who offer one-on-one support to beginners, and workshops in backup guitar and singing with your instrument.

The venue is in the Andalusian mountains, north of Almeria, in south-east Spain. Full details, as given by Kate Lissauer, are here.

New Acoustic Gallery Newsletter, October 2008

The Duo (Trio) Vibracao will hold a CD presentation concert on 25 October 2008 in the Forum Produktdesign, Solingen, Germany. Their CD A jazzy note, released during the summer, has been getting a very good reaction and a lot of airplay.

On 24-6 October 2008 Jesper Rübner will give a Mandolin Weekend Workshop on themes including bluegrass, fiddle tunes, and improvisation, for all levels of players. Numbers attending are limited to fifteen, and enrolment for the course costs €175, which includes an evening concert on 25 October with the Trio Vibracao (Jesper Rübner, Oliver Waitze, Max Schaaf).

Spencer Bohren will also be giving a concert on 9 November 2008 (VVk €10, AK €12). For more info, contact

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

Half a Turn teaches bluegrass

Half a Turn (Bruno van Hoek, Elly Beurskens, Peter Broekhuijsen, Paul van Vlodrop)

Elly Beurskens of the Dutch band Half a Turn reports that last August the band organised a workshop-weekend in the Eifel region of Germany - total immersion in bluegrass for 48 hours, with fourteen 'students' taking part. The schedule included classes in banjo, mandolin, guitar, harmony singing, and the vital matter of band cooperation and dynamics, together with individual tuition, jamming, and an evening concert.

The intense Eifel weekend was so successful that the band plans to repeat it every year, and to give similar tuition in the Netherlands and neighbouring countries. A specimen comment by one of the participants:

The workshop on band cooperation made us listen to our own band in a very different way: we now know how to evolve from a 'fun band' to a 'good band'.

For more detail, see the full text of Elly's report in the next issue of Bluegrass Europe, or contact Half a Turn by e-mail.

Nechville on the move

A message from Tom Nechville, banjo-player, -maker, and innovator:

Hello, my dear European friends,

I am going to be at the Cornish Bluegrass Association Bluegrass Festival next week in Newquay, England; then I'll be at the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival in Longford, Ireland. I hope to see a few of you at those events. I have several new banjo ideas to show you and more things are coming in the near future. Please visit my website for recent news.

I am writing now to plant seeds for next summer. My daughter Leslie is getting married in France to a nice guy named Lionel Schmitt. Jane and I hope to combine some music business and fun with the trip. I want to remind you that I like to play, and I do banjo workshops. I teach banjo playing styles, and also teach banjo setup, design, and construction. Maybe we could put on a demonstration together or team up to do a special event sometime next July or August. Let's stay in touch.

I bet you would know someone who is interested in my new lightweight banjos. The example shown is one of many new configurations that I am experimenting with, and I am looking for your opinions. If you or anyone you know is interested in something unique and special from Nechville, or you are interested in becoming an associated player/rep., I'l like to talk to you. Special direct pricing is available on my newest series of custom banjo ideas. You can contact me directly, or contact one of my associates listed here for more information.

Richard Webster or Leon Hunt in UK
Oliver Waitze at New Acoustic Gallery in Solingen, Germany
Lluis Gomez in Barcelona, Spain
Marco Centemeri

2nd Munich Banjo-Camp, 7-9 November 2008

John Dowling sees a way ahead for the banjo

Adiaha Bürkmiller reports:

The 1st Munich Banjo-Camp took place in November 2007 with Rüdiger Helbig (D) and Ross Nickerson (USA). It was a great success and all students loved to find such a camp in Europe.

This year's 2nd Munich Banjo-Camp will take place from 7 to 9 November 2008 (it's already a three-day-camp). As we already have twenty-four sign-ups and think to get over thirty-five banjo-students for this year's camp, we have recruited Rüdiger Helbig again, John Dowling (GB), and Charles Wood (USA). For next year we are in contact with Alan Munde, Jens Kruger, and Bill Keith! The feedback that I've got during the last month tell me that the people are very thankful for this kind of offer in the bluegrass scene of Europe.

To register for the Münchner Banjo-Camp, or for more info, contact:

Adiaha Bürkmiller
Organisation
Steinbach 29
D-84567 Perach am Inn
Tel: 0176-23 64 07 02
e-mail

Dobro workshop in France?

Rob Ickes reports that Three Ring Circle (Rob Ickes, dobro; Andy Leftwich, mandolin; Dave Pomeroy, bass) will be performing in Lunel, France, as part of the Mandolines de Lunel 2008 festival. The festival will be held from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November.

Rob Ickes has won the IBMA Dobro Player of the Year Award nine times since 1996. Anyone interested in a dobro workshop in France, which would be scheduled during the latter part of October, should contact Rob by e-mail.

Bluegrass in the Alps, 25 July-3 August

A reminder that the Bluegrass in the Alps festival, including concert performances and instrument workshops given by the Lonesome Road Band (USA) will be held from 25 July to 3 August 2008.

Registration is still open. More details are given on the festival website and on the European Bluegrass Blog posts of 2 June and 29 June.

Forum Lesachtal
Lexer Werner
Strajach 11
A-9651 St Jakob/Lesachtal
Austria
e-mail

Lonesome Road Band in Austria, July-Aug.

J. Larry Keith of the Lonesome Road Band writes:

Greetings to everyone in the European bluegrass community! I have visited your web-page this morning and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of activity of bands performing. The Lonesome Road Band is scheduled to arrive in Austria on 26 July (with some luck from US Air) and can't wait to perform there! We were so welcomed by our Austrian friends last year that we immediately started to plan our 2008 before we returned to the United States. This year's plan has been coordinated with great help from Werner Lexer. A series of workshops and concerts will start on 28 July [see the EBB post of 2 June] and concerts by Lonesome Road to follow.

Some conflicts within our band has forced us to change the line-up this year and we will introduce Brandon Couch on mandolin/vocals to the European bluegrass family. He is a talented young man from South Carolina, USA, and has agreed to fill in for our friend Paul Eaton for this season. Paul will be back with us in September. We would love the opportunity to meet bluegrass fans and have a chance to share our music and friendship with ya'. Looking forward to seeing you all!

For information or contact in Austria,please e-mail Bernd Scheumann. This family will have our complete itinerary and booking information. All the best from our families!

Pictures from Coastline Bluegrass Music event

Jens Koch of G2, with banjo

The Third Coastline Bluegrass Music Event took place last weekend at Plas Uchaf Farm, near Llandudno Junction, North Wales. You can now see here dozens of photos taken at the Event, showing lots of people enjoying themselves in fine weather at a beautiful location - together with G2 Bluegrass Band, the Sons of Navarone, and Longway.

Thanks and congratulations to the organisers of the Event, which also has a MySpace site.


The Conwy estuary: end of a perfect day

Bluegrass in the Alps, 25 July–3 August

Lonesome Road Band at Lesachtal Valley in 2007

From 25 July to 3 August the association 'Forum Lesachtal' hosts the first Lesachtal Valley festival Bluegrass in the Alps. The valley is located in the very south of Austria, at the interface of Germanic, Slavic, and Romanic cultural areas. Therefore it is predestined for interacting of different people, cultures, and musical styles.

Bluegrass in the Alps offers a fascinating punch of workshops and concerts with the American top bluegrass ensemble Lonesome Road Band. The famous guitar player John Keith attended Dolly Parton for four years in the US. Banjo player Charles Wood, award-winning national banjo champion, was already a guest of David Letterman.

Bluegrass workshops:

Workshop banjo/country music/bluegrass – theory and exercises – with banjo champion Charles Wood, North Carolina, USA
Workshop guitar/country music/bluegrass – theory and exercises – with star guitarist John Keith, North Carolina, USA

Workshop from Monday 28 July to Sunday 3 August: €240
Workshop from Friday 1 August to Sunday 3 August: €140

The workshops take place at Volksmusik-Akademie in Liesing/Lesachtal, respectively at 9-12 a. m. and 2-5 p.m.

Pay participation fee (from Austria): Account number: 16.386
Bank code number: 39364 (Raiffeisenbank Kötschach-Mauthen)

Pay participation fee (from abroad): IBAN: AT 18 3936 4000 001 6386
BIC: RZKTAT2K364 (Raiffeisenbank Kötschach-Mauthen)

Accommodation:
Single room bed and breakfast: €25 per day and person
Double room bed and breakfast: €20 per day and person
Lunch or dinner: €9 per meal and person

Applications: E-mail to Forum Lesachtal. Applications are valid with the assignment of the participation fee. No refunding of the participation fee!

Saturday 2nd August, 8.00 p.m.
Concert by the US bluegrass ensemble Lonesome Road Band

Contact and information:
Werner Lexer
Strajach 11
9951 St Jakob
Austria
Tel.: +43 664 28 30 282
e-mail

This information can be read in German here, or in both English and German on the festival website.

News from the New Acoustic Gallery

Duo Vibracao's CD A jazzy note will be released on Peter Finger's label Acoustic Music Records on 20 June 2008. It includes swing manouche, jazz, choro, and new acoustic music. The Duo consists of Oliver Waitze (acoustic guitars) and Jesper Rübner-Petersen (mandolin), with Max Schaaf of the Joschua Stephan Trio as special guest on acoustic bass.

You can preorder now (€18 inc. P & P) from Oliver Waitze by e-mail or telephone: +49 0212/2474007.


After three years Pierre Bensusan returns to the New Acoustic Gallery with a concert (€25) on 26 September followed by a two-day workshop (€195) on 27-8 September. Only 75 tickets are available for the concert, so advance booking is recommended.

Other workshops at the NAG include a workshop on fingerstyle blues and jazz by Felix Schell (5-6 September) and a weekend mandolin workshop by Jesper Rübner (24-26 October). For more info, contact:

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

Seventh Al Ras Festival, 14 June 2008

The organisers of the Seventh Al Ras Festival at Mollet del Valles, Barcelona, Spain, report:

Here at Al Ras we would like to dedicate this year's festival, our seventh, to all the musicians who introduced us to bluegrass and old-time music here in our land by organising concerts and jam sessions and by teaching the rising generations to play such little-known instruments as the banjo, mandolin, and traditional fiddle – without them, Al Ras would not be possible. A number of those pioneers will be joining us at the festival this year: Gabe Ramirez, Sedo García, Javier Sanchez, Ricky Araiza, Toni Giménez, Agustin Zubiaga, Heribert Rodenas, Maria Ricart, & Angel Matesanz. Our thanks to you all, and keep on pickin´!

14:00 Lunch
15:00 Jams
16:00 Workshop: Mandolin with Tom Corbett
17:00 Workshop: Banjo Old-Time with Sedo García, Gabriel Ramirez, & David Prat

18:00 Concerts
Gabe & Kathy
Tin Horn Hank
Lluís Gómez Bluegrass Band (Ricky Araiza, Joan Pau Comellas, Tom Corbett, Oriol Saña & Maribel Sánchez)
Autopista-6
Toni Giménez (Homenatge a John Denver)
Barcelona Ceilidh Band
Sedo & Adrià García
R.C Brothers

00:00 Final Jam

Banjo workshop in Belgium

Sharon Lombardi of Blue Railroad Train reports:

This year, between 24 and 29 March 2008, the Acoustic Music International Workshop was held in Virton, Belgium, for the 23rd year.

As usual, this workshop was entirely devoted to acoustic instruments, such as guitar, fiddle, double-bass and harmonica. As far as the bluegrass part was concerned, we came close to a full bluegrass band. Not only could you attend Roberto Dalla Vecchia’s guitar workshop, Jean-Marie Redon’s banjo workshop, or Jesper Rübner-Petersen’s mandolin workshop, but also the brand-new resophonic guitar workshop, taught by Henrich Novak.

Almost one hundred and thirty students came from all over Europe and even the United States and spent a week attending workshops, concerts and even jamming. It was the seventh year that Jean-Marie Redon led the banjo workshop. It was so popular that it was full only a few days after registration had started.

The next workshop is scheduled for the first week of April 2009 and you can register from January 2009. Follow this link.


In the top photo, Jean-Marie Redon is to the right of centre, in light jacket. The lower photo is included for those who prefer banjo players to remain anonymous.

Second Münchner Banjo Camp, 7-9 Nov.

After the success of the first Camp last year, the Second Münchner Banjo Camp will be presented in November 2008 at Carl-Duisberg-Straße 2a, 82208 Unterhaching b. München. The teachers will be Rüdiger Helbig (D) and John Dowling (GB).

Students can take a three-day course (€270), beginning on Friday 7 November with an intensive afternoon class with Rüdiger Helbig, or a two-day course (€180) on Saturday and Sunday, 8-9 November. The camp includes a concert on Saturday night by Rüdiger Helbig & Huckleberry 5 in the Weyhalla near Munich. For further details see the Camp website or contact Adiaha Bürkmiller, tel. 0176-23 64 07 02; e-mail.

Instrument workshops at the New Acoustic Gallery

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery in Solingen ('Home of Acoustic Music'), Germany, sends the Gallery's 2008 workshop schedule:

5-6 May: Blues and fingerstyle jazz guitar
Instructor: Felix Schell
Includes: Bossa Nova, swing, R&B, gypsy jazz, melodies, accompanying chords, intros, endings, improvisation, solo arrangements, various techniques...
Fee: €120

27–28 September: Fingerstyle DADGAD
Instructor: Pierre Bensusan
Includes: work on the following pieces - 'L’Alchimiste', 'Hymne 11', 'The day after the feast', tappings, harp effects, stretching chords, jazz and modal scales...
Fee: €195

24–26 October: Bluegrass mandolin weekend workshop
Instructor: Jesper Rübner-Petersen
Includes: Backup, fiddle tunes, bluegrass double stops...
Fee: €175

29 November: Flatpicking master technique
Instructor: Oliver Waitze
Includes: Crosspicking in the styles of Tony Rice & Clarence White, melodies, fiddle tunes, gourmet licks a la Tony Rice, right-hand exercises, typical bluegrass rhythm...
Fee: €90

All workshops are held at the New Acoustic Gallery, Solingen.
For details contact Oliver Waitze: tel. 0212/2474007; e-mail; website.

Roberto dalla Vecchia: news

Roberto Dalla Vecchia ('Flatpicking Guitar with Italian Gusto') has relaunched his website with new design and new content. Suggestions for further improvements are welcome!

All Roberto's CDs and tab books can now be bought online in the US via Marv's Music website, run by Marv Sobolesky. And his Grateful CD can now be bought in MP3 format via CDBaby.com as one zip download including the MP3s (suitable for any MP3 player) and a JPG of the album art, for $9.95. His upcoming concerts and workshops include:

Mon. 24-Sat. 29 Mar.: Flatpicking guitar workshop (which still has one vacancy), 23rd International Workshop of Acoustic Music, Virton, Belgium.

Fri. 4 Apr.: vicenzAcustica 4, with special guests Paolo Bonfanti and Chris Newman in concert, Astra Theatre, Vicenza, Italy; 21:00. +39 0444 505183. Tickets €14.00 in advance, €16.00 at the door.

Fri. 23-Sat. 24 May: 11th International Acoustic Guitar Meeting, Fortezza Firmafede, Sarzana (La Spezia), Italy; includes Roberto in concert, 21:00 on Friday, and the Italian Flatpickers Convention on Saturday.

Fri. 30 May-Mon. 2 June: Acoustic Guitar Workshop 4, Recoaro T., Italy, +39 0444 505183. For all levels of players; two vacancies still available.

Beppe Gambetta: news bulletin

In his latest newsletter Beppe Gambetta introduces a new videoclip based on his red shoes. Also included are:

* dates for his tours in North America (21 March-12 April, 4-22 June, 18 Sept.-25 Oct.) and Europe (22 May-1 June, 31 July-2 August);
*a long list of Beppe's favourite eating places in different countries;
*news of his 16th Annual Residential Workshop at Ambroz in the Slovenian Alps (3-10 August), with special guest Steve Kaufman, and of his next recording project; and
* links to several other videos, including 1985 footage of Red Wine when he was their guitarist.

Read more here.

Bill Evans and Megan Lynch in Europe, 14-28 March

Bill Evans and Megan Lynch will be teaching banjo and fiddle respectively at the annual Sore Fingers Week in England from 24 to 28 March. They will also be playing as a duo on two dates in Ireland (14, 15 March), three in England (16, 17, 20 March), and two in Scotland (21, 22 March). Full details are on their joint MySpace site.

Old-time music TWO weeks in Spain

An earlier post announced that the Spain Music Week would be held for the second year running in Casa Nueva Luna, near Almeria, Andalucia, hosted by old-time master musicians Dave Bing and Kate Lissauer.

The first week (3-10 May) is now overbooked, and applications are invited for a second week (10-17 May) on the same terms. For full details and contact data, see our original post.

Second old-time music week in Spain, 3-10 May

FOAOTMAD (Friends Of American Old Time Music And Dance) announces that Dave Bing (of the Gandydancer string band of West Virginia) and Kate Lissauer (of the UK-based Buffalo Gals band) are hosting the 2nd Spain Music Week (3-10 May 2008) in Casa Nueva Luna, a restored farmhouse in the El Fonte valley of the Andalucian mountains of south-east Spain. The organisers say:

This is a holiday for fiddle- and banjo- players and anyone, playing another instrument or not, who wants to be around fiddles and banjos for a week of shared adventure, musical and otherwise.

Dave Bing and Kate Lissauer will each offer classes on both instruments. Workshops will focus on traditional fiddle and banjo style, technique and repertoire, as well as on encouraging all participants to play together formally and informally. Some individual assistance for beginners and for those wanting to learn other instruments will be available. Out-of-class time is spent on hiking, swimming, climbing, photography, eating, partying, jamming, daytrips to the beach or mountaintop, or to places of cultural or historic interest, and night trips to the taverna.

The price for the week is £475, which includes room and full board of delicious home-cooked vegetarian and omnivorous fare, tuition, and use of all facilities. Travel is not included, but we will assist with organising transport to and from Almeria airport. Places are strictly limited, so we encourage early booking.
For further details or assistance with booking and other transport issues, contact Kate Lissauer by e-mail; tel. +44 (0)1373 474 110; or post to Kate Lissauer, 5 Christchurch Street West, Frome, Somerset BA11 1EH, UK.

Scholarships available for Transatlantic Bluegrass School

An earlier post on the European Bluegrass Blog announced the Transatlantic Bluegrass School, to be held 7-11 May 2008 in Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales (UK). Instructors include Bobby Hicks (fiddle), Kenny Smith (flatpick guitar), Amanda Smith (vocals), Emory Lester (mandolin), Ross Nickerson (5-string banjo), and Mike Bub (string bass).

Nadine Highfield of Transatlantic Bluegrass reports: 'We have established a scholarship program, which will offer free tuition to younger bluegrass musicians who might otherwise not be able to participate. This has been developed in an effort to encourage the development and appreciation of bluegrass music in musicians between 16 and 25 years of age... Bluegrass music will only thrive if we continue to encourage and support young musicians with a serious interest in playing and performing. We are delighted to be able to use this program to extend access to those dedicated individuals who will become our next generation of fine bluegrass musicians.'

Full terms and conditions, together with an application form, are available here.

Bobby Hicks in Europe, May 2008

As mentioned earlier on the European Bluegrass Blog, legendary fiddler Bobby Hicks will be teaching the fiddle course at the Transatlantic Bluegrass School in Newport, Wales, from 7 May to 11 May.

This is a rare opportunity for Europeans to hear, meet, and learn from a supreme bluegrass fiddler, who is considering extending his trip to other parts of Europe. If you have a booking to suggest around that period, please contact Cathy Hicks by e-mail.

Petr Brandejs Band news

This information from Petr Brandejs expands, corrects, and replaces the EBB post of 19 October:

The 13th annual autumn weekend workshop of the Petr Brandejs Band and friends was held in Male Svatonovice, Czech Republic, on 12-14 October. There were 90 participants and 12 instructors from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and USA. The crowd at the sold-out Saturday 'teachers' show' was more than 250 people. Video footage with Czech commentary, shot for NTv (Nase Televize), can be seen here.

More pictures will soon be on the Petr Brandejs Band website (English version available), where you can now see photos from earlier workshops.

The next PBB workshop will take place in Novy Jicin, CZ on 8-10 February 2008. More info is here.

In July, Petr Brandejs is going to work closely with Dagfinn Pedersen and do a similar workshop in Norway again.

The PBB is almost ready to record their 5th CD again with its original, traditional, English and Czech material.

And just in case - the Petr Brandejs Band dates:

14 December: Country Club Alabama, Karvina, CZ
20 December: Concert for students, Novy Jicin, CZ
9 February 2008: Kino Artefakt, Novy Jicin, 19:00
1 March 2008: Bluegrass na Blatech, Guest House Diana

For further information contact:
Petr Brandejs
Bludovice 137
74101 Nový Jičín
e-mail
mob.: +420 777 122 569
Skype name: brandejspetr

First Munich Banjo Camp successful

The instructors provide a friendly atmosphere

The first Munich 5-String Banjo Camp, held on Saturday 3 November and Sunday 4 November and hosted by Rüdiger Helbig (D) and Ross Nickerson (USA), was a great success. The sixteen pickers attending the intense two-day workshop came from all parts of Germany, as well as from Switzerland and Austria. A second Banjo Camp is already planned for 8-9 November 2008.

Messages from satisfied students can be read here. A full account will appear in the next Bluegrass Bühne. For more information contact Adiaha Bürkmiller; tel. 0176-23 64 07 02; e-mail.


Classwork in progress

Sore Fingers Week in UK, 24-28 March 2008

The thirteenth Sore Fingers Week will be held from Monday 24 March to Friday 28 March 2008 at Kingham Hill School, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England. The US instructors for intermediate and advanced courses are:

Guitar: Scott Nygaard
Singing: Keith Little
Songwriting: John Lowell
Dobro: Sally Van Meter
Fiddle: Megan Lynch
Bass: Danny Thompson
Autoharp: Mike Fenton
Old-time fiddle: Thomas Bailey

Sore Fingers are currently in communication with Ron Block (banjo), John Reischman (mandolin), and Joe Newberry (old-time banjo).

Beginners' courses will be taught by UK instructors:

Banjo: John Dowling
Mandolin: Dan Norton
Fiddle: James Dewdney
Guitar and bass: TBA

The residential course (five full days' tuition, six nights' accommodation, and three meals a day, with several accommodation options) finishes with the annually renowned tutor concert. For more information see the Sore Fingers website or call John Wirtz or Moira Wirtz at +44 (0)1373 813590.

Read John Wirtz's press release here.

Transatlantic Bluegrass School brings top US musicians to Wales

The first Transatlantic Bluegrass School will be held on 7-11 May 2008 in Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales, giving bluegrass musicians in Europe an opportunity to learn from the very best contemporary and traditional musicians and vocalists. The instructors are:

Fiddle: Bobby Hicks
Flatpick guitar: Kenny Smith
Vocals: Amanda Smith
Mandolin: Emory Lester
String bass: Mike Bub
Banjo: Ross Nickerson

The residential course begins with a reception on the evening of 7 May, followed by four days of bluegrass music classes, elective workshops, and two faculty concerts. The total cost for all activities is £195. Demand is expected to exceed available spaces for the course, so early registration is suggested. For further information about the course, location, and tutors, visit the school’s website.

For further information, please contact:
Nadine Highfield, Transatlantic Bluegrass School
Telephone:
01239 881334 (within the UK),
011 44 1239 881334 (from the US)
e-mail

Read Nadine's full press release here.

Banjo workshop in Munich, 3-4 November 2007

Update (October 20, 2007): Adiaha Bürkmiller informs us that, while most workshop tickets are gone, there are a (very) few left. Contact her at the address below to secure your place on this banjo journey.

A bluegrass workshop for 5-string banjo will be held at Unterhaching in south Munich (München), Germany, on Saturday 3 November and Sunday 4 November 2007. The teachers are Rüdiger Helbig (D) and Ross Nickerson (USA). Rüdiger and his band, the Huckleberry Five, were the cover feature in the June-July 2007 issue of Bluegrass Europe.

The cost of the workshop, with snacks and coffee, is €180. With single room for one night and breakfast, the cost is €250. There is also a 'Bluegrass Evening' on Saturday, with the Huckleberry Five in Weyarn/OBB.

The programme includes:
· Right- and left-hand techniques
· Backup playing
· Practice habits and priorities
· Scruggs style and Keith style
· Up-the-neck work
· Jamming with others
· Rhythm and timing
· Playing in different keys and tunings
· Playing by ear and learning to play without tablature

Contact Adiaha Bürkmiller: tel. +49 (0)176-23640702; e-mail. The workshop flyer can be seen here.

Ross Nickerson, author of the Banjo encyclopedia and many other teaching aids, will also be giving workshops in Amsterdam, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen between 7 and 13 November.

Beppe Gambetta: schedule 2007-8

Guitarist Beppe Gambetta has a busy schedule during the next three months, with four solo concerts and a residential master class in Italy during 17-20 October and 13-14 December.

He will also be playing nineteen solo concerts (as well as an 'Italian Guitar Night' with Franco Morone) and conducting three workshops during the 'Gitarre zweier welten' tour in Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, and Austria between Thursday 15 November and Saturday 8 December. Full details are on his website.

16th Beppe Gambetta International Workshop, 3-10 August 2008

Beppe Gambetta thanks all those who took part in the 2007 Workshop in Ambroz (Slovenia), which seems to have been one of the best yet. In response to the comments of students, further changes and improvements will be made in 2008. The program will be conducted by Beppe and Steve Kaufman (USA), and the two classes, each of fifteen students, will have alternate lessons from both teachers. Classes will be held only in the mornings, with afternoons being devoted to jamming and socialising. All details will be posted on the workshop website, which will soon be open to receive subscriptions.

Bluegrass workshops in Norway

The Risor Bluegrass Festival includes a three-day workshop in all the bluegrass instruments, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the festival week. This year there were more than sixty students, ranging from the young and inexperienced to well qualified band musicians.

The festival works together with Petr Brandejs from the Czech Republic in order to make this one of the best bluegrass workshop around. Petr is well known for the excellent bluegrass workshops he has organized in his homeland the last twelve years, and he brings with him some of the best European bluegrass musicians and instructors to the workshop.

Risor Bluegrass Workshops will take place again in the middle of July 2008. If you are interested, check the festival website for info. Program and workshop details should be available sometime in November 2007, and you need to sign up through the website in order to reserve your place for next year. Contact Dagfinn Pedersen by e-mail.

Transatlantic Bluegrass School, 7-11 May 2008

Transatlantic Bluegrass, the forum set up by Bluegrass Wales, announces a new five-day bluegrass school - Transatlantic Bluegrass School, to be held on 7-11 May 2008, during the early part of next year's European World of Bluegrass Month, in the beautiful coastal village of Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK.

Instructors already confirmed for the course include Kenny Smith (guitar), Amanda Smith (singing), Ross Nickerson (banjo), and Mike Bub (bass). Enrolment is limited to 20 students for each course. Total cost: £195. Full details are on the Transatlantic Bluegrass website.

New Acoustic Gallery: concerts and workshops

Oliver Waitze reports that the following events will be held later this year at the New Acoustic Gallery, Solingen, Germany:

Concerts

27 October: Oliver Waitze & Duo Vibracao
18 November: Sara K.
30 November: Beppe Gambetta

Workshops:

26-28 October: Mandolin weekend workshop with Jesper Rübner
Themes: Bluegrass, Improvisation

17 November: Flatpicking guitar workshop with Oliver Waitze
'Master technique for everyone'

And in May 2008: Banjo workshop with the legendary Bill Keith

For information on all these events, contact
Oliver Waitze
New Acoustic Gallery
Neuenhofer Str. 122
D - 42657 Solingen
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)212/2474007
Fax: +49 (0)212/2474288
e-mail

Roberto Dalla Vecchia: news

Roberto Dalla Vecchia, who now has his own MySpace site, will be touring the US with guitar wizard Mark Cosgrove in the coming fall. The schedule is still being completed (see below), so anyone who can propose a new date should contact Roberto.

Thurs. 6 Sept.: Roberto Dalla Vecchia in concert, 21:15; Acoustic Franciacorta 2007, Chiesa di S. Maria in Zenighe, Colombaro di Corte Franca (BS); info tel. +39 329 4504500

Fri. 21/ Mon. 24 Sept.: Roberto Dalla Vecchia Manne design clinics, Meet Fair, Milan, Italy

Sat. 17 Nov.: Roberto Dalla Vecchia and Mark Cosgrove in concert, 8:00 p.m., the Palace Theater, Maryville TN, USA; info tel. +1 865 983 3330

Sat. 24 Nov.: Roberto Dalla Vecchia workshop, 3:00 p.m.; Roberto Dalla Vecchia,Mark Cosgrove, and Rolly Brown in concert, 9:00 p.m.; 2007 Bucks County Guitar Summit, Lahaska, PA, USA

Sat. 1 Dec.: Roberto Dalla Vecchia workshop, 3:00 p.m.; Roberto Dalla Vecchia and Mark Cosgrove in concert, 8:00 p.m.; Hope Grange, Winlock, WA, USA; info tel. +1 360 785 4932; e-mail

Sun. 2 Dec.: Roberto Dalla Vecchia and Mark Cosgrove in concert, 3:00 p.m.; Scotts Mills, OR, USA; info tel. +1 503 873 9611

The four-day acoustic guitar workshop in Altissimo (VI) in June was a success. Photos can be seen here. Roberto also reports on his new Mannedesign DSR model guitar; on the UK-based internet radio and music community website Last.FM, one of the world's largest social music platforms, which enables users to create their own playlists; and on another acoustic-guitar-oriented website, FingerstyleWorld, with links to players, luthiers, events, etc.

Banjo Revolutionary in Europe, Sept. 2007

Tom Nechville of the Nechville Banjo Company reports:

Last summer I made a tour of Europe and attended festivals, jams, and workshops as a banjo designer, player, and professional repair and set-up man. I am planning a return trip to Europe in early September 2007. I am looking for festivals, or places to perform banjo workshops. If you have any events or suggestions during this time, I may be available.

Best regards,

Tom Nechville
9700 Humboldt Ave S.
Bloomington, MN 55431
Phone +1 952-888-9710
Fax +1 952-884-4500
E-mail

Banjo Revolution - Rev it up!

An article by David McCarty, 'Nechville banjos: serving the denizens of Planet Banjo', appeared in the March 2007 issue of Bluegrass Unlimited.

New Acoustic Gallery news

Oliver Waitze of the New Acoustic Gallery in Solingen, Germany, will give a guitar flatpicking workshop from 9.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. at the Banjoree 2007 in Hagen on 9 June 2007.

Concerts at the New Acoustic Gallery in 2007 include

27 October: Duo Vibracão

18 November: Sara K.

30 November: Beppe Gambetta

Two new events are scheduled for the New Acoustic Gallery in 2008: a concert by the Krüger Brothers in April 2008, and a banjo workshop in May 2008 with the living legend Bill Keith.

If you wish to receive the NAG newsletter, contact:

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

Roberto Dalla Vecchia: May-June gigs

Saturday 5 May: Roberto Dalla Vecchia in concert at 21:00, Sala Polifunzionale, Rahula Guitar Festival, Campoformido (UD), Italy

Saturday 12 May: Roberto Dalla Vecchia and Martino Coppo in concert at 21:00, Musicantando, Piazza S. Giovanni Battista, Madone (BG), Italy. Infoline: tel. +39 035 4997006

Sunday 13 May: Roberto Dalla Vecchia workshop at 15:00, Circolo musico-culturale, Auditorium Comunale, Il Cenacolo, Villa Estense (PD), Italy. Online Info: tel. +39 335 549 4108

Friday 18 May: Roberto Dalla Vecchia in concert (also guitar workshop, 12:00-13:00), 10th EWOB Festival, Voorthuizen, the Netherlands

Thursday 31 May–Sunday 3 June: 3rd Acoustic Guitar Workshop, Altissimo (VI), Italy; online info and registration

Saturday 30 June: Roberto Dalla Vecchia in concert with Paolo Sereno, Gabriele Posenato, and Dario Fornara at 21:00, Chitarre per Sognare, Anfiteatro Comunale, Colognola ai Colli (VR), Italy. Info: tel. +39 045 7651934

Contact Roberto Dalla Vecchia by e-mail

Concert & workshop for young bands in Berlin, 4-6 May

Friedrich Barniske of the Hot String Quintet of Berlin reports: 'We are looking for two bands (3-5 musicians), one from Ireland, one from Poland or the Czech Republic - both from the acoustic music scene. Age should be 18-27 years; there should be female and male musicians in the groups. We will pay travel costs, accommodation, and food, but no fee. Also we will show the visitors a bit of the town and will visit some other interesting concert together.'

The bands involved should arrive in Berlin on Friday 4 May at lunchtime; the program will include a concert, and a workshop on the following day, returning home on Sunday 6 May in the early afternoon. The venue for concert & workshop is the cultural youth club CAFÉ LIETZE in Berlin-Charlottenburg.

This project is organised by the Amt für Jugendarbeit Kirchenkreis Charlottenburg, as part of YOUrope07, a program of the Confederation of German Youth Organisations, financed by the national youth plan for more participation by young people. Contact Friedrich Barniske by e-mail, telephone +49-30-8560 4818, or post:

Friedrich Barniske
Knobelsdorffstr. 72
14059 Berlin
Germany

Banjoree 2007, 8-10 June

Veit Döhler, Andreas Benkhofer, and Reinhard Gress report that the schedule is complete for Banjoree 2007, to be held at the ESW, Hagen, Germany, on 8-10 June. Workshops in all styles of 5-string banjo playing will be presented, together with two additional guitar workshops, open-ended sessions, sale booths, and a session concert on Saturday.

Accommodation will be prepared. You can register online by filling out the form provided, and clicking on 'submit'! Workshop places are limited, and will be assigned on a 'first come, first served' basis. If a workshop is over-subscribed by the end of April, the organisers will try to offer an additional one in that field.

You can also register for Banjoree 2007 without attending a workshop. If you only want to jam, exchange your newest musical ideas, or simply meet other musicians, you need only register for accommodation and - if desired - meals. Accommodation, like workshops, should be booked before the end of April.

For further details, see the Banjoree website, which is being continually updated.

15th Annual London Fiddle Convention

The 15th Annual London Fiddle Convention takes place on Sunday 25 February at Cecil Sharp House (2 Regents Park Road, London NW1 7AY).

Workshops 2.00 p.m, 4.00 p.m.
Open session in the bar, 5.30 p.m.
Fiddle competition, 6.00 p.m. - the winner to have a slot in the concert.
Evening concert, 8.00 p.m. - includes American bluegrass, English and Irish, blues, gypsy, and jazz, Norwegian Hardanger fiddle, Indian music, and more.

Day pass (all events) £22/£17. £10/£7 for one workshop, £16/12 for two workshops. Concert £10/£7.

Information: +44 (0)20 8930 8467 or +44 (0)20 8340 7760