Letters to The Editor Dec 2000
 Dear
Derek,Just a note to say thanks for all the news mags in the past. I'm sorry to read in the September Editorial the hard copy is folding, but I can well understand your reasons. I'm not on the Internet and don't even have a computer, and I won't for some 6 years or so when our baby daughter needs these facilities. But thanks again for a good job well done. Yours, Bill Turnbull, Mold, Flintshire, North wales. Thanks, Bill. Well, by the time your daughter needs one we'll all be doing it by direct thought transfer anyhow! But in the meantime I'm sure you'll find someone very close by who is dying to show you how to do it... Ed. Dear Derek, I am so glad you have that picture of the Stumblebums with that mandolin in the September issue. It was the last time it will ever be played. My utilitarian one-dollar case, that my wife designed, of a thrift-shop suitcase and foam lining was left cocked open during the rain, a month later I pulled a very-warped 1915 modified Gibson out. Really cool work there chaps, on the Sept edition. Julio Guerra Write to (who, being bespectacled, is AKA 'Julio Inglasses'...) Dear Derek, I checked your website recently and was impressed at the activity in your area. But what really impressed me is that most of these performers are seemingly not making a living at it but are playing for the love of playing music. That's exactly what I mean when I say "the business needs the music more than the music needs the business. My best, Bill Littleton, 2508 Pleasant Green, Nashville, Tennessee. billandconnie@juno.com Bill is Editor (and everything else!) of a monthly regional publication for Bluegrassers called thebridgeworks (sic), at $15 pa. It's purpose is to keep "us old friends together". Ed. Dear Derek, Your notification of the use of my article (at last!) catches me in, of all places, South Africa. I am on University Sabbatical here, and going through banjo and Bluegrass withdrawal. Because of packing for cool and warm weather, and all my books, I didn't bring my Gold Tone travel banjo. This was a mistake! They use 5-string banjos in some of the Afrikaaner music, along with button accordion and bass (not the fish). Commercials with fast cars and chicken(!) restaurants also use computer generated banjo sounds.  During
August 19-21, I was in Newcastle, U.K. as an external reviewer for a Ph.D.
There wasn't enough time to visit the U.K. Bluegrass scene as I had to leave
immediately for South Africa. It has been quite an adventure. My experiences
have included (exclusive of work) a blown tire in Nowhere, Africa (at least
it felt like Nowhere, Africa); a walk through a squatter's camp in Soweto;
a visit to a game park.I have included a picture of the blown tire and a
few of my neighbors here in SA. I
may be in the U.K. in Newcastle on 29 November through 2 December. The details
are in the works. I would love to meet brother and sister Bluegrassers, if
there is time and the trip develops as planned.Regards, Ron Cohen, Golden, CO, USA Hi Derek, As a bluegrass player of sorts on Tyneside its nice to be able to access a site that keeps me in touch with the wider national scene. Can I say how much I apreciate your endeavours in producing the NWBN magazine and hope you continue to produce it in future. I do get down to the Liverpool area fairly frequently and may yet attend an event in your area. Regards -- Jim Simpson (G4GFV), Whickham, Tyneside UK We'll all look forward to that, Jim - and if you're stuck there's a place to get your head down... Derek. Dear Editor, Very nice site! I have a bluegrass show on the net at www.krvn.com Saturdays, 9 to midnight. If anyone has any albums to send to me I will give them air play. My show is also on other stations in the US plus I have a gospel show too. Any stations over there in the UK need bluegrass? Tell them to contact me. Big Al Weekley, Lexington, Nebraska. Write to Al
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