Bluegrass Oscar connection
We received a note from our friend Richard Hawkins who runs the Bluegrass Ireland Blog, and posts at the European Bluegrass Blog, about a bluegrass connection to last weekend’s Academy Awards presentation in Los Angeles. Richard pointed out that one of the writers of the award for Music (Song), Glen Hansard, is a former member of Ireland’s Niall Toner Band.
Toner is a longtime singer and songwriter in Ireland who Hawkins describes as the godfather of Irish bluegrass.
Hansard and fellow songwriter and Marketa Irglova won for the song Falling Slowly from the movie, Once. You can see a live performance video of the song on the Fox Searchlight web site.
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Here's some encouraging news from our new friend, Richard Hawkins, editor of Bluegrass Ireland, the newsletter of The Irish Bluegrass Music Club.
The Bluegrass Ireland Blog is hereby officially launched at www.bluegrassireland.blogspot.com. The text of the last issue of Bluegrass Ireland newsletter...
We received a note recently from Niall Toner, who hosts Roots Freeway on RTE Radio One in Dublin, Ireland. His show runs on Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. (GMT/WET) and features a mix of bluegrass, old time, traditional country and blues. It is also available online via live streaming from the Radio One web site.
Niall...
This post is a contribution from Niall Toner, a popular bluegrass singer, songwriter and radio personality in Ireland. His reports from IBMA '07 will air on Ireland's RTE Radio One on 12/26-27 at 1:00 p.m. (EST).
Season's Greetings, and good wishes from Ireland.
A Christmas memory for the blog:...
Irish bluegrass affeniato Niall Toner, mandolin and guitar player with the Niall Toner Band, interviewed Bela Fleck during a recent trip the banjo player took to Ireland. The interview is set to be broadcast on RTE Radio 1, on which Niall regularly hosts a show.
The show containing this interview...
Our friends at the European Bluegrass Music Association have launched their own blog, The European Bluegrass Blog.
It is intended to replace the EBMA's email newsletter, and will be updated regularly with news of interest to the European bluegrass community. Bands, festivals, concerts, workshops and,...
Niall Toner has sent along a copy of his latest CD with his band, NTB3, their 3rd CD of Toner's original music.
Whereas prior releases have featured the Irish singer/songwriter in a bluegrass band setting, this new project is closer to an old time or traditional country sound. Toner is on guitar more...
We just received a note from our friend Richard Hawkins, who operates The Bluegrass Ireland Blog, and also contributes to The European Bluegrass Blog. He wanted to let us know of the upcoming attempt to set the Guinness Book banjo speed record by Johnny Butten, a young British banjo picker. His record...
One of Ireland's most prominent bluegrass artists is Niall Toner, and he is set to release his third CD of original music later this month. Niall tells us that the new project features ten songs and two instrumentals, and will be on the Avalon Records label.
He also invites everyone to visit the Niall...
Richard Hawkins, who is involved in the publication of both the Bluegrass Ireland Blog and the European Bluegrass Blog, dropped us a note about a piece he recently cross-posted on both of those sites.
The post contains advice for non-US bands who would like to have a presence at the annual IBMA World...
Our friend Richard Hawkins over at The Bluegrass Ireland Blog is reporting that Crooked Still, the innovative Boston-based string band, is heading back to Ireland for a follow-up tour later this month. They made quite an impact when they visited last year, and have ten dates set for this tour between...
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Thanks, John, for mentioning Glen Hansard. One other bluegrass connection for Glen and Marketa…
They’ll be performing at this year’s Telluride Bluegrass. Both as a duo (The Swell Season) and in Glen’s band The Frames. They’ll be sharing the stage with Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Punch Brothers, etc etc.
You must