They say that everyone has a photographic memory….
….seems like mine doesn’t have any film!
Bluegrass & MORE.....
Here are just a few snippets of news to pass on before the Scottish Bluegrass Association takes on the compiling and editorial roles for Bluegrass & MORE…..
To ensure that you continue to receive Bluegrass & MORE - if you haven’t yet RE-SUBSCRIBED…please do so by sending an email to
secretary_at_scottishbluegrass_dot_com with ‘ADD Bluegrass & MORE’ in the subject line…to ensure that you continue receiving Bluegrass & MORE news &updates. secretary_at_scottishbluegrass_dot_com is also the email address to send any news or information you would like included in the e-newsletter.Meanwhile…
this will be my last e-news letter - so make certain you receive the next Bluegrass & MORE from the Scottish Bluegrass Association…..Richard Holland kindly emailed a reminder that the ‘pick’ at the Golden Lion in Winchester - takes place on the last TUESDAY of the month….so that means THIS Tuesday….30th JUNE. Richard says “I'll be there for 8.30pm - if you need more details please give me a ring! 01962 886581.”
For folks north of the Watford Gap….There will be NO event taking place at the High Lane Bluegrass and American Old-Time Music Venue on the usual first Friday of the month in July (3rd), as they are having a summer break (because organiser, Tom Travis, wants to go to the Conway Bluegrass Festival). The High Lane Bluegrass and American Old-Time Music Venue will re-open on Friday 7th August with the Jaywalkers - finalists in the 2009 BBC Young Musician Of The Year Awards. The Jaywalkers play an eclectic mix of music, from a bluegrass base. For more information, please contact Tom via
Tombluegrass_at_aol_dot_comSincere thanks go out to Rick Townend ,who has been a regular source of information regarding happenings in England’s south-east region…..Rick has kindly sent the following updates;
Regular Sessions and Events: Bluegrass and Old-Time Music in SE England
Every Monday – Bluegrass at The Hemingford, 158 Hemingford Rd N1 1DF
(junct. with Offord Rd – near Caledonian Rd bus stops; very near rail station)
Tel 020 8340 4683 Caspar Cronk
Every Monday - Session from 8.30pm at
The 'Foresters' (ex All Inn One), 53 Perry Vale (nr Forest Hill Station), London
SE23 2NE - Gus
Second Thursday every month (not August) - Foghorn Leghorn host a bluegrass and roots night at the
Betsey Trotwood, 56 Farringdon Road, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 3BL - www.myspace.com/foghornleghornboysRick also has an e-newletter relating to events in his area. To subscribe, please email him via
richard_at_stjulians_dot_co_dot_ukBrian, Nick, Martin & Jules - alias the Thunderbridge Bluegrass Boys emailed “We've got lots happening at the mo, and that's not just the gigs. We also have some great new songs we've been trying out, and a rather lovely new website ready for launch fairly soon. The new songs are going well, and if any of you saw us at the recent Midsummer Madness shindig at Appley, near Wellington on June 21st, you'll know how we love to try 'em out on the locals, before we launch 'em to the world! There's a rather pleasing review in this month's Maverick Magazine - always at the forefront of the UK country, roots, bluegrass & Americana scene. A certain Dave Brassington gave us a jolly good write up for May's Bluegrass Night at The Tacchi-Morris with our US friends, Gold Heart. I won't bother to re-write it all here, but do please track down a copy online or at any of the larger WHSmiths.
www.maverick-country.com A big thanks to Dave Brassington, whoever he is, for the review! There's some new tracks on our myspace page too, which we recorded some months ago to help someone try out their new studio kit. (Thanks Steve Kidd) All a bit of fun really, but it's just amazing what sounds one can get from just one mike in the middle of a really, really old barn! Check 'em out for yourselves at www.myspace.com/thunderbridgebluegrass. Anyway, thanks to the folk of Appley for being new song Guinea Pigs this time around, and on with the gig list for July.......2nd July - River Cottage Canteen, Axminster. OK, so we all know Hugh F-W's pledge to get everyone eating proper - now we're doing a joint venture to make sure you all listen to the right music whilst eating all those home-grown pork chops et al. We think this is a really good venue for us, so book early - it's a popular place! We ain't eatin' no slugs though, Hugh!
3rd July - Stoke Rivers Church, near Bratton Fleming, North Devon. Now here's one to test your SatNav. A tiny hamlet in the middle of nowhere but with a cracking little church where Nick did a little solo thing last year. Tickets are from 01598 710451 and include a ploughman's (a ploughman's what, exactly....?!) All the proceeds go to the church repair fund, naturally, and the music starts at 7.30pm. A great sound in there, too. The press release says there's 200 seats, but I'm told the church only seats 80. No jokes about estate agents and exaggerating figures please......a-hem.....Book early or else God will get ya!
4th - 5th July - Tresco Cider Fest, Isles Of Scilly. We're quite excited about this one, what with the helicopter and all - very rock 'n' roll! There's little chance that any of you reading this will be able to make it but hey! Cider, bluegrass, fishing. What more could you want? If anyone from this mailing list does make it, we'll buy you a pint. Just quote promo code
4M3M23M5M76MGMIGTITITIGKTHUNDERBRIDGEFREECIDERPINTONTRESCOOFFERGKHKYI787Y8GIGHKFGMBVMBMVMFJGDM4934939WKDKDK///RKR9494939DFLFO on arrival and the pint's yours. Book early though - there's not THAT much cider!
9th July - The Rock Dough Pizza Co. North St, Wellington. This is the new venture by local foodie and singstress Sarah Cunningham. Formerly Mama Stone's and Cunningham's before that, Thunderbridge are no strangers to the venue having played there numerous times before. Please come along and support the local businesses - no-one's having a great time of it these days, so good luck to Sarah for giving it another go....
11th July - Banwell, Weston Super Mare. This is a private do, so not much to say really. Apart from "Beans, Campfires and INJUNS!"
16th July - Milverton School - Educational Showcase. This is where we do our bit for the community and try to show little 'uns how important music is to us all. Another private do, but we're keen to do more of these, hence the telling-the-masses inclusion in this email. If we can do something at a school near you, let us know. But book us early - there's only limited funding available for hillbillies.
17th July - Rule 7, Wellington. Back on home turf for this one, in the High Street and down in the cellar. A great little venue for what's sure to be a hot and sewaty one - get there early. Free admission we think.
EARLY NOTICE - Sunday 2nd August sees us return to the bandstand in Wellington Park - this was a cracker last year with folks coming form all over the south west to share our picnic - let's do it again, hey? Early afternoon 'till about 5pm. Pray for sunshine!
That's about it - I think I've crammed wnough into this one for now!
Have a great July and, as always, we'll see you Out There.” For more about this excellent band - please visit
www.thunderbridgebluegrass.comAND….. MORE
Dave Sampson
says “My little BOOZER dot Com is in the process of setting up a live music ‘What’s On Guide’ for all types of music ie. Folk Jazz Pop Blues Country Blue Grass Rock taking place in Pubs and Clubs . I am not quite ready to go live on this but if people who want to have their gigs publicised could email me saying who they are and where they come from I will keep them informed of the new service.” See www.mylittleboozer.com - or email gigguide_at_wurzelbush_dot_co_dot_ukOrganiser of the Stokes Bay Festival due to take place near Gosport, Hampshire at the end of July - are delighted that
Portsmouth Magistrates Court have approved the Consent Order allowing this year's Stokes Bay Festival to go-ahead as planned. Festival organisers had already reached an agreement with the police who had originally objected to the Festival licence….and a last-ditch attempt by Gosport Council to undermine that agreement was thrown-out. This removes the last barrier to the Festival and means it will go-ahead as planned over a full five days from Wednesday 29 July to Sunday 2 August with music continuing until 11pm every night and the Festival site remaining open until 12 midnight every night (campsite open 24 hours). Festival Organisers state “There will be none of the petty restrictions that hampered last year's Festival. It will again be one of the safest and friendliest festivals around. Acts confirmed include The Zutons; The Proclaimers; Oysterband; Seth Lakeman; The SAS Band (Spike's All-Stars featuring Paul Young, Fish, Tom Robinson and other special surprise guests); The Saw Doctors; Lunasa; Edward II; Steve Knightley (Show of Hands); Blazin' Fiddles; Adrian Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds and many more. Tickets are selling fast - please see the website http://www.stokesbayfestival.co.uk for full details on the line-up, other attractions and how to buy tickets online, by phone or post.”I would again like to thank everyone for so kindly sending such warm messages regarding my decision to wind down my involvement with Bluegrass & MORE. You have all been so kind and supportive over the years - and your
‘hands of friendship’ truly are sincerely appreciated.I trust that your kindness will also be extended to the committee of the Scottish Bluegrass Association
secretary_at_scottishbluegrass_dot_com - and that you will send them a similar mountain of information to enable them to continue to provide you with …. Bluegrass & MORE….!My most sincere thanks to everyone who has taken time out to send lovely emails, cards and make telephone calls regarding my ‘stepping down’ from Bluegrass & MORE. The warmth & friendship extended has been wonderful - and my family and I truly appreciate your kindness….and the words THANK YOU can never express exactly how we feel.
Kindest regards and many thanks once again - Dee.