• Here are some details regarding the Kathy Chiavola concert, Friday 13 April 2001, in aid of Kidney Cancer UK (KCUK) at the Heart of England Bluegrass Venue, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, starting at 8.30pm. For many years Kathy worked with virtuoso fiddle player Randy Howard, who died of kidney cancer at the age of 38 in June 1999. For further information and a location map visit Heart of England Bluegrass Venue Tickets cost £6.50 (free admission for children under 16) and may be ordered directly from KCUK. Please use the Contact Us form at http://www.kcuk.org or 'phone 024 76 470584. Anything you can do to promote the event would be most welcome.
    I like your idea of people making a donation to KCUK if they can't make it. The donations address is KCUK, 11 Hathaway Road, Tile Hill Village, Coventry, UK.
  Best wishes, Mike Arscott, KCUK
• James C Burnett (Jim Banjo) died on Saturday, 24th February at 10.20pm. Jim was a staunch supporter of Bluegrass in the UK, well known as one of the original "Rochdale Mafia" at the Edale Festivals of the 1980's. He did much to promote bluegrass locally and many players in the north-west have Jim to thank for their successes. A master craftsman, banjo player, gentleman and friend, he will be sadly missed. (report by John 'JK' Keegan)
• The Andy Townend Award 2001 is announced - see Shorts in this issue.
• The Sunday Live Music at Planet:Earth Centre, Todmorden, has had to close. JK said "Sadly, most sessions had no support and the rest were little better. We had fun giving it a go, but we can't exist on fun." Read a series of reports
• Matt and Val Ditchburn are off to Lorient Brittany, playing Bluegrass with their band Terre Cacheé (Hidden Ground). The line-up is: Val Ditchburn (bass), Matt Ditchburn (mandolin), Richard Thrift (guitar) and Eugene O'Brian (banjo). Matt said "Last year we played at the Interceltique Festival; on that occasion we played Celtic Music but this time we intend to introduce the Bretanges to Bluegrass!" They have the support of the Lorient Culture and Tourist Department. Matt adds: "PS We need a fiddle player for August." Write to | Amazing article about Matt by Val
• John Sheldon (of East Calder, West Lothian) one-time Chairman of the BBMA, reports that he is in process of founding a Scottish National Association within a European context; organising a newsletter and convening a meeting to arrange office bearers. They already have a Webmaster and website, a national festival and a mailing list of over 200 supporters. Membership will be free initially and the association will be funded by sponsorship and advertising. There are also good existing links with media and Radio and arrangements are in hand for the release of a compilation CD for air play and publicity. The Association's title is not yet agreed but will be announced soon. (I suggest SBA, pronounced "ScoBA", with a long "o" - Ed.)
   
  John said "There are strong links between Bill Monroe and Scotland, as outlined in his biography and as he confirmed to me in conversations. After hundreds of years and a political struggle we now have revived a Scottish Parliament and the return of our Stone of Destiny (upon which the ancient Kings of Scotland were crowned). So the time is right - we are a nation once again and must have our own national bluegrass association!"
• A CD celebrating and featuring fifteen years of the Guildtown Festval is due for release by the SBA – all profits will be donated to the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro Kentucky with the proviso that a display features the development of Bluegrass Music in Scotland / UK
  The CD will be launched at an open SBA meeting to be held at Guildtown Festival which takes place on 10/11/12 August 2001, six miles north of Perth on the A93.
• Photo: Down County Boys with Geoff Bowers on mandolin
  In January this year Geoff Bowers regretfully resigned from the eternal Down County Boys. This followed a season of much hectic travel and some enjoyable times. Geoff wishes the band well and is now looking for an outlet for his questionable (sic) various talents nearer home.
    The DCBs had been a 5-piece until their principal singer and mandolin player, Jim Hirons, left in late 1998. The remaining members between them picked up the lead vocals and guitarist Guy Rogers moved over to mandolin. So after 3 years of looking for a mando player Geoff was invited to join the band around April 2000: a very worthwhile addition to any band because he plays all the instruments very well and sings to boot! But now the DCBs are back to looking for a mandolin picker....
  Click for the article with Geoff playing in the band.
• A newly formed organisation for all Autoharp enthusiasts has been formed and is looking for members from anywhere. Nadine White, their Secretary, can be contacted at 52, Abingdon Road, Drayton, Abingdon, Oxfordshire. OX14 4HP. Phone 01235 531559 Write to nadine@ifwtec.com (how did that get in here???)
• BBC Radio 2 kick-started 2001 by broadcasting an hour long interview with Ricky Skaggs, promoting his latest work on the Big Mon album. Thanks to Nick Baraclough for the most interesting interview. An 'alternative' Big Mon CD review
• George Hamilton the Fourth recently passed through Uckfield, E' Sussex on his annual tour of English church performances. During the show George played tribute to Bill Clifton and the fact that Bill had put Bluegrass on the map in England. He then played and sang Little Whitewashed Chimney, I'm using my Bible for a Roadmap (No Petrol Shortage on the way), I am a Pilgrim and I Saw the Light. He also recounted times spent on the David Allen show.
• Bill Price, 66, mandolin and guitar player and former Blue Grass Boy died at home in Indian Trail N.C., from liver cancer. His first of two stints as a BlueGrass Boy came when he replaced Jimmy Martin in 1954. He then joined Jimmy's band on Mandolin but in 1955 went his own way forming Country Pardners, and made two recordings with RCA. Two of his children and his first wife Betty also died of the disease.
• Geoff Bowers reports: "A mutual friend in Nottingham has passed away - Roy 'Sonny Ford' Seymour. Some of your readers may also be interested to know this, as Sonny was a very well-known figure around Nottingham playing guitar with Dave Brailsford - aka Dave Ford on fiddle. They played for square dances and at some very salubrious venues around here.
     Sonny was a great Jack Elliott fan and at one large concert at the Co-op Arts Theatre, did the support for Jack himself. Jack was late and Sonny kept on playing till the man himself walked down the centre isle and onto the stage. He said, "As I came into the theatre I thought I heard Jack Elliott a-singin' an' a-playin' in here!" This was met by rapturous applause for Sonny who told me in recent years that it had been the happiest episode of his performing life."
• Walter Bails of the Bails Bros fame died on 27th November. One of his last projects was his involvement with the Grassroots to Bluegrass video collection. Bill Clifton said "the Bails brothers were gentlemen. I loved the songs they did, the words had so much feeling. Like, Will the Angels have a Sweetheart. No more info at this point.

European News

• Foxtower news (German band) - see 'Letters'
• From 2nd to 7th of April, the 16th international workshop of acoustic music will take place in Virton in the Gaume. Each year, this workshop draws many musicians of all ages and from all Europe. There will be workshops for flat-picking guitar - Beppe Gambetta (I), rhythm guitar - André Vandomber (B); blues harmonica - with Thierry Crommen (B); voice - Philmarie (B); american mandolin : with Jesper Rübner-Petersen (DK), new teacher in this workshop. Details: Jean-Marie Giltaire, Président.
  Write to Jean-Marie  http://musique.educweb.com/
• (There's more Euro-news, but I don't know what it is...)