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.


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...
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,...
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