Bluegrass

Mark Houser is releasing a new single to radio on Tuesday. It’s the title track to his 2012 Rural Rhythm album, Uneven Road, which we reviewed earlier this year. This appealing singer and songwriter is supported here by A-list pickers. Cory Walker played banjo, Barry [...]

Thanks to Steve Louvat, Laurent Eeckhout, and Pascal Similon for this news:Dear friends, musicians and music lovers,Eighth Mazy Bluegrass, Irish & Old-Time Jam next Friday (31 May 2013)A reminder:Goal: to offer a friendly meeting place for fans of Bluegrass, Irish, Old time music and more globally, for fans of acoustic music who wish to share musical moments between players or listeners.When: these musical meetings are scheduled to the last Friday of each month. So the next jam will happen on Friday 31 May 2013.Where: at the wonderful Zy’coop place, 9a rue de l’usine, 5032 Mazy.Opening hours: Doors open at 19:30Jam from 20:00 to 21:30Open stage from 21:30 to 21:50Concert from 22:00 to 23:00: http://www.bluegrassjam.be/122331831Last jam for the road…Who: fans of bluegrass, Irish, and old-time acoustic music, with their instrument or not, beginners or advanced… cheerfulness required!What: The purpose of the jam is to let the musicians propose tunes to each other, spontaneously, following the feeling of the moment. However, to allow to everybody to be comfortable, we will suggest every month five 'standard' pieces of the style which will be certainly played!This 31/05/2013 :Roanoke (G) Mason's Apron (A) Ground speed (G) Back up & push (C) Cripple Creek (A) More details on our website!Rate:Take part to the jam for a symbolic coin of €2!!!Thank the musicians performing the concert of the evening according to your appreciation by participating in the hat...Organising team: Steve Louvat, Laurent Eeckhout (Picnic Festival)and Pascal Similon from 'l’Atelier Guy Ness'Thanks to all volunteers for their help.Become friends on Facebook now.Looking forward to meet you there numerous,Musically yours,Steve, Laurent, & Pascal

I am making an attempt at playing ‘catch up;’ over the past month, I have received several wonderful albums from various labels, and just haven’t had the opportunity to focus on my writing to give them the attention they warrant. Receiving even less time have been the albums I’ve purchased over an even longer period of time. I spent this morning listening to Peter Rowan’s terrific new album, The Old School. One has to love Peter Rowan, not only for what he has done in the past, but for the music he has continued to create as he has slowly become a ‘senior’ member of the bluegrass community. From where I sit, there are few more esoteric characters within bluegrass than Rowan, and no matter what he does, he does it well. My review of The Old School has been posted over at Fervor Coulee Bluegrass within the Country Standard Time site, right about here. Since I received the album from Compass last month, I’ve likely given it ten or twelve listens, and it just keeps getting better with each play- it is remarkable at how cohesive the album feels, and sounds, given how many hands (and voices) were involved in its execution. Another winner from Compass Records. As always, thanks for visiting Fervor Coulee. I appreciate you sticking with me. Donald

"Ballad of Jed Clampett," as played by Earl Scruggs.

Irish songwriter Niall Toner has written a book about his chosen profession, set for a June 8 launch at The Borris House Festival of Writing and Ideas, held during the Carlow Arts Festival in County Carlow, in the southeast of Ireland. The Nuts and Bolts of [...]

Every now and then, two artists come together and form a collaboration that fans are sure to remember for years to come. With their debut release, Reborn, Mark Newton and Steve Thomas have likely earned themselves a spot in that category. This twelve-song collection is [...]

Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote Crossing the Bar in 1889, three years before he died. The poem describes his placid and accepting attitude toward death. Although he followed this work with subsequent poems, he requested that Crossing the Bar appear as the final poem in all [...]

Thanks to Loudun Temple of the Brookfield Knights agency in the UK for the news that the Chicago-based string band Elephant Revival is the latest addition to the Brookfield Knights artists roster, bringing the present total to twenty-eight acts. A look at the roster will reveal a lot of names already familiar from appearances in Ireland - most recently, Cahalen Morrison and Eli West.US string bands on the BK roster who are already scheduled to tour in Ireland this year include Woody Pines (24-29 May) from Asheville, North Carolina, Hillfolk Noir (20-23 June) from Boise, Idaho, and the Locust Honey String Band (23-27 Oct.) from Swannanoa, North Carolina. The Stray Birds from Pennsylvania are due to tour these islands at the end of January and early February 2014.Having listened to audio samples on their BK page, the editor would be glad to see and hear a visit from Pharis and Jason Romero from British Columbia. This, of course, has nothing to do with their being also makers of custom banjos.

Dangem Bluegrass announce in their latest e-newsletter:No need to play that banjo alone. Join us at one of the following events:Beginners only 5-stringThe Spectrum Centre, 331, Shankill Rd, Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT13 3AA, 028 9050 4555Friday 24 May 7.00-9.00 p.m. (this is for Beginners Only)OrThe next Dangem get-togetherLagan Valley Island Arts Centre, Lisburn BT27 4RL, 028 9250 9292Saturday 25 May 2013 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon Bring along your banjos, guitars, mandolins, fiddles, dobros, and bass or just come along and enjoyItinerary: 10.00-10.30 warm up10.30-11.00-ish Break out time; rest of players jam time11.00 to 12.00 noon All back togetherLook forward to seeing as many of you who can attend.AlsoThe Belfast SessionsTuesday 4 June 8.30 p.m. to who knows.The Errigle Inn, 312-320, Ormeau Rd, Belfast, Co. Antrim BT7 2GE, 028 9064 1410Email: info@errigle.comDangem Bluegrass, 101 Belfast Rd, Magheralin, Craigavon, Co. Armagh, BT67 rp UK

With the retirement of Richard Hawkins, originator and manager of The Bluegrass Ireland Blog, the task of keeping the enthusiastic Irish bluegrass scene informed online has fallen to Ray O’Brien, who keeps things up to date with the Bluegrass In Ireland Facebook group. Ray invites everyone [...]