Official Publication of the Country Music Association Of Ireland

Official Publication of the Country Music Association Of Ireland.     April 2012.
( Founded January 1969. )



Earl Scruggs, one half of the duo Flatt and Scruggs, banjo pioneer and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, died on Wednesday March 28th in a Nashville,  hospital. He was 88. Scruggs’ son Gary told the Associated Press that his father died of natural causes. Born in Shelby, N.C., Scruggs first gained prominence in the 1940s as a member of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. While with Monroe, Scruggs popularised the syncopated, three-finger style of banjo playing that would subsequently become known as the “Scruggs style.” Scruggs paired with fellow Monroe band member Lester Flatt later in the decade to form Flatt and Scruggs. Though the group won a Grammy Award in 1969 for Scruggs’ instrumental “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” the group is probably best known to a general audience for “The Ballad of Jed Clampett,” which became the theme song for the sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies. The duo appeared numerous times on the series. Flatt and Scruggs were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985. Scruggs would go on to win a second Grammy in 2002, for a 2001 version of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” recorded with an ensemble that included comedian Steve Martin, Vince Gill,  Albert Lee, Paul Shaffer, Leon Russdell and Marty Stuart.
Following her recent tour here, Georgette Jones will return to Ireland on April 16th to receive an Award for Best Visiting Country Artist at The Leinster Entertainment Awards at The Killashee House Hotel Naas. Georgette, daughter of George Jones and Tammy Wynette is now becoming a regular and popular visitor to Ireland.
Lisa Mc Hugh is celebrating her first year on the road and has released a new single, a duet with Daniel O’Donnell called I’ll be Home with Bells On.On tonight April 5th.
Cork based Cajun Band Two time Polka, will launch their new cd at Counihan’s Bar, Pembroke St, Cork. The event kicks off at 9pm and admission is free. The Band also has a busy schedule of dates lined up including
  Murph’s Bar, Tramore, Co. Waterford, on Sat next April 7th,The Bayview Bar, Kilcrohane, Co. Cork, on Mon. April 9th. On April 11th the Band will embark on a tour of England which includes dates in Cheshire, Wolverhampton, Leicester and Newcastle.
The following artists will be appearing at the Hot Country Awards Concert on Wednesday May 2nd ,
at The Hazel Hotel Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, Mike Denver, Nathan Carter, Trudi Lalor, Shaun Loughrey, Benn Sisters, Declan Nerney, Simon Peters, Lisa McHugh, Derek Ryan, Robert Mizzell, Jason Travers, Jason McGilligan, Paddy O’Brien, Thomas Maguire & Fhion Ennis, The Indians, John Farry, John McNicholl, Shawn Cuddy, Louise Morrissey, Jimmy Buckley, Gerry Guthrie, Patrick Feeney, TR Dallas, Foster & Allen, The Wee Amigos, Seamus Moore, and Gene Stuart. Backing Band The Conquerors: and some more suprise guests. Special guest will be James Drury star of the hit TVseries ‘The Virginian’.Entrance €25 per person. Tickets will be available from this Hotel Reception and also on line at www.hotcountryshowcase.com Doors open 7 pm Show start 8pm Sharp.
In spite of his determination to spend more time on his Tennessee farm with his family, one of country music’s most beloved entertainers, Don Williams, has come out of retirement to record his first album in eight years. And he’s celebrating the occasion with some musically-minded friends. The new project ‘And So It Goes,’ is set for release on June 19 on Sugar Hill Records and  will feature special guests Alison Krauss and Vince Gill, along with Keith Urban who was on hand when Don received the ASCAP Golden Note award last year.
Don has also embarked on a world wide tour which includes the following Irish dates, April 19th: The Hub, Kilkenny, April 20th, T.F.Royal, Castlebar, April 21st, The Waterfront, Belfast and back to Dublin on April 22nd for a show at the Olympia Theatre. Irish artists Colm Kirwan, who is currently based in Nashville, will share the bill with Don on all dates.
Live From Nashville Part 2, is the title of Daniel O’Donnell’s latest DVD release which also includes a bonus cd. Filmed at the famous Ryman Auditorium, Nashville,  this DVD is the second part to Daniel’s 3 hour sell-out show and which features his special guests, long-term singing partner Mary Duff and Country legend, Charley Pride.Uplifting, jaunty and full of country favourites, ‘Live From Nashville-Part 2’, features favourites chosen by Daniel. Songs such as ‘Your Cheatin’ Heart’, ‘He’ll Have To Go’ and ‘Crystal Chandeliers’, sit alongside the country ‘Green Grass To Bluegrass Medley’ and old favourites such as ‘Stand By Me’ and ‘I Just Want To Dance With You’.  Also included in this package is a 23-track ‘Live From Nashville’ concert highlights CD, which features songs from across the entire concert. With Daniel undertaking a less grueling touring schedule than he has done over the last 30 years, ‘Live From Nashville–Part 2’ is the perfect way to ensure that fans catch Daniel in a live surrounding in 2012. I was present at this show and it was really great to see an Irish artist performing on this hallowed stage to a full house crowd.
This year’s Caithness Country Music Festival, held at the Indoor
Riding Centre in Falkirk, Caithness Scotland, runs from April 6th to 8th and features, among others, Moe Bandy, Johnny Rodriguez, Joey & Rory, Jerry Kilgore, C’est La Vie, Lisa McHugh, Manson Grant & The Dynamos, The Jacks, Nashville Union and The Chicken Pickers. Check out the festival website www.nncmc.co.uk or contact Christine Gray on 01847 892410 teengray@hotmail.com
Another tour under the title “Ladies Of Country” takes place in May, originally set to star the late Billie Jo Spears, but now featuring Jeannie C. Riley, Sandy Kelly and Sarah Jory. The dates are listed below, and it appears that on the May 12th to 17th shows there will be a tribute to Billie Jo with the addition to the line-up of Lynn Anderson and Ann Williamson. This news is not entirely clear, so it would be advisable to check with the individual venues. May 4th Great Northern Hotel, Bundoran, Co. Donegal and May 5th & 6th Fairways Hotel, Dundalk.
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his year’s Americana International Festival at the Newark Showground in Nottinghamshire, runs from July 5th to 9th and among the many country performers are Gene Watson, George Hamilton IV & V, Confederate Railroad, Ray Campi, Eve Selis, The Bayou Brothers, C’est La Vie, Donna Wylde, Lazy Dog, Hayden Thompson and The Doggone Honkabilly Band. Check out the website www.americana-international.co.uk or email Jackson events@hotmail.com Tel: 01159 390595.
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he 1st International Bluegrass Festival will be held in the Grand Hotel, Tramore, Co. Waterford, over the June bank holiday weekend (Fri. 1 June-Mon. 4 June 2012), with six bands, eighteen shows, an all-star jam on Sunday night, and all-day and evening sessions on Monday with the bands. The hotel has a special three-night offer for the period of the festival. The lineup so far comprises Southern Welfare, the Down And Out Bluegrass Band, Bending The Strings, the The Kentucky Cow Tippers,(UK) and Woodbine.
This year’s Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival  from 20-23 Sept. will be held in the new location of Tullamore, Co. Offaly, the festival organisers, Chris Keenan and Kathy Casey, have issued a guide to accommodation and camping facilities in Tullamore, linked to other tourism services. Read the complete e-newsletter  for full details.
The Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork, will be the venue for a Bank Holiday weekend Country Music Festival from May 4th to 6th which is sure to be a sell-out. The organisers have lined up some of the top names on the Irish scene including Mike Denver, Robert Mizzell, Louise Morrissey, Larry Cunningham, Trudi Lalor, John Hogan, Gary Gamble and Tom Healy. The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, has put together a great lineup of talent for the St. Patrick’s weekend Dancing Festival which takes place from March 16th to 18th, and features Mike Denver, Louise Morrissey, Patrick Feeney, Mick Flavin, Trudi Lalor, John Hogan, Patrick O’Sullivan, Morrissey & Daniels and T.R.Dallas.Special rates for accomodation and entertainment are available at 062-63773.
To celebrate his 25th year on the road with his band Paddy O’Brien has released a new single entitled The Old Account. This will be followed by a new album called A Little Bit more, which will feature a great mix of country and Irish songs. The album will be officially launched at the Hazel Tree, Mallow, on Monday April 16th and Paddy will be joined by Robert Mizzell & his band, Jason Travers, Patrick O’Sullivan, Catriona O’Donovan and more to be added. On Feb. 17th Paddy  released a new dvd entitled From The Beginning, which is one hour and twenty five minutes long and is a musical journey charting Paddy’s life from childhood to the present day. It was launched on the opening night of Paddy’s 18th Annual Get Together at Lawlors Hotel, Dungarvan, Co.Waterford, which ran from Feb 17 to 19.
Albert Lee has included the following Irish dates in his forthcoming tour, May 23. The Forum, Waterford, May 24. St. John’s Theatre, Listowel, Co.Kerry, May 25. The Park Hotel, Clonmel, Co.Tipp, and May 26. Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co.Wicklow.
This year’s CMA Music Fest and Fan Fair will take place in Nashville from June 7 to 10 but of course these are the main events only and there will be lots of other events and activities happening all over Nashville for the entire week. It’s a great week to be in Nashville to savour the atmosphere, the music, and the weather. Here are the headliners that have been announced so far for the main venue LP Field, and you can bet there will be lots more added before showtime. Dierks Bentley, Brantley Gilbert, Alan Jackson, Scotty McCreery and Blake Shelton are set to rock LP Field at the 2012 CMA Music Festival with previously announced Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band.

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