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The legendary EARL SCRUGGS comes to Ireland!!

Earl Scruggs (C) John Cutliffe 2004Bluegrass has been popular in Ireland for many years. The banjo too has been a very popular instrument in traditional music in Ireland, albeit the tenor variety. In more recent years there have been a few Irish musicians who have taken up the 5 string banjo and done some wonderful things with it and Irish music. So the stong links between the music of the Appalachian mountains and our own music live on, so it is only fitting that a living legend like Earl Scruggs should play his first ever Irish gig as a tribute to one of our own. The Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival announced they have secured  the  the legendary  EARL SCRUGGS, as the headlining act at their forthcoming event in Longford in September.

The festival is  "A Celebration of Irish Traditional and American Bluegrass Music"  and  each year uniquely combines top musicians of the world in both genres, bringing together the Irish and American traditional musical cultures . The festival consists of street & pub sessions, concerts, and masterclass workshops.

This poses a unique opportunity to see this great legend in concert, for his exclusive,  first ever appearance in Ireland on Saturday 25 September, during the 3rd annual Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival. He brings with him a band, comprising the top musicians of Nashville and his concert is certain to be the most noted musical event of the year in Ireland. I have seen Earl 4 times in the last couple of years and he lives up to his legend. His band is made up of some of the finest players ever to come out of America and this is certainly a chance to hear a true original.
Earl is not the only genuine article flying over for the weekend though. Also on the bill there are some people who you may not yet have heard but undoubtedly should not miss. Riley Baugus and Ira Bernstein who will give you a taste of those North Carolina hills that will have you packing a rucksack for a walk on the Appalachian Trail. Dirk Powell too is on the bill and is in my opinion one of the most talented musician in any genre of music. Dirk will be teaming up with Christine Balfa for the weekend but expect to see many of these American artists sitting in on Irish sessions too as they have done so many times in the past. On the Irish side there is the amazing Gerry O'Connor whose Myriad CD is till one of my all time favorites. Gerry's occasional partner is 4 Men and a Dog, Cathal Hayden is also playing with Mairtin O'Connor and Michael O'Domhnaill which should be an amazing session.
Sadly I will be on the road with Altan right up until the day the festival starts so I will trust all of you to get there and enjoy yourselves on my behalf.

More artists appearing this year include:
MATT MOLLOY & JOHN CARTY
PADDY KEENAN & TOMMY O'SULLIVAN
TONY TRISCHKA TRIO (featuring DAVID GRIER) (usa)
PETE WERNICK's LIVE FIVE (usa)

GERRY "Banjo" O'CONNOR
LEROY TROY (usa)
DIRK POWELL & CHRISTINE BALFA (usa)
IRA BERNSTEIN & RILEY BAUGUS (usa)
NIALL TONER BAND
ENDA SCAHILL
CATHAL HAYDEN / MAIRTIN O'CONNOR / MICHEAL O'DOMHNAILL

VINNIE KILDUFF & STEVE COONEY
JEFF & VIDA BAND (usa)
ANNAPOLIS BLUEGRASS COALITION (usa)
 . ..and many more.


Nightly concert tickets are now on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets, and online at:  www.ticketmaster.ie
Festival weekend concert passes and workshop passes are available at The Lost Chord, Earl St, Longford.  (043-49907) or via the festival website   www.johnnykeenan.com .

FULL LINEUP and schedule details available through the Johnny Keenan website: www.johnnykeenan.com  or by calling the information line: 087-281-7825 (from outside Ireland: 353-87-281-7825)

 

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