British News (space to spare... free...)
For reasons beyond my control I can't maintain these pages for a few weeks - sorry!

• Julie Cross reports "Dulaman have reached the semi finals in the BBC Young Folk Awards. They will be competing for a place in the finals in London. They are going to Kendal early in October for a weekend, where they participate in a concert in front of the judges. They have 8 mins to strut their stuff..... We wait with baited breath." Visit Dulaman
• Julie Cross' Lakemore (ex-Faddilly) weekend is to be repeated in August: New Lakemore venue
• Ken Scott, better known as 'Calico Jack', died on 20th April 20001 from cancer, after a long illness, during which he was always very active. Colorful Ken has promoted bluegrass and other types of music for as long as I have known him (1983) and will be very sadly missed by many. His greatest activity has been the annual Calico Jack Music Weekend. which will continue as usual.
• MANDOLIN wanted: Jimmy Powells, of  Cramlington, Northumberland, UK, is looking for a mandolin - Gibson F4 pre 1920 preferred. Please contact 01670-734547 Write to Jimmy
• The 15th Guildtown Bluegrass Music Festival, a smaller-scale event organised by The Scottish Bluegrass Association (ScoBA) on 10th to 12th August 2001 near Perth in Perthshire, Scotland, will feature 50 Fingers, (Czechia), Copper Creek recording stars Jones & Leva (USA; CD review) plus a number of British bands.
• THE 9TH ANNUAL CM TRADE FAIR BRISTOL
  The 9th Annual CM Trade Fair Takes place Sunday 26th and Monday 27th August at Fry Club & Conference Centre, Cadburys, Keynsham, Bristol Sun 10am-11pm Mon, 10am 8pm. Free To Everyone. Acts are invited to come along to perform to an audience of club owners, promoters and festival organisers plus the public with a view to getting bookings and selling their merchandise.
     The aim is also to help promote songwriters who have a talent to write but perhaps do not want to sing, so come along and meet artistes with a view to them performing some of your songs. This is a very large venue with plenty of parking for cars and coaches. The days are completely Free to exhibitors and the public and hot and cold food will be available along with several bars all day and evening. Western stalls are NOT catered for, only exhibitors from fan clubs of the artistes and anything appertaining to the country music industry, but Line Dancing WILL be catered for. Contact Jim Silverthorn, 11 Frys Hill, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 4QJ Tel 0117 967 1067

European News

• 4 Wheel Drive in Europe
  One of Europe's finest bluegrass bands 4 Wheel Drive has been busy travelling all across Europe this past summer. The band performed in Belgium, Germany, Wales, Ireland but also in Norway and 2 weeks ago in Lithuania for no less then 40.000 people who really seemed to like the band and their music. The event was extremely well organized in a huge football stadium. Reviews were raving and it's most likely that Joost van Es (fiddle, vocals), Hendrik Ahrend (vocals, upright bass), Paul van Vlodrop (mandoline, vocals) Jürgen Biller (banjo) and Jan Michielsen (guitar, vocals) will return to the Baltic States as there are also invitations from Letland (Latvia) and Russia in the pocket.
  
  4 Wheel Drive is participating in a CMS Productions initiative where 4 of the acts that CMS is managing and booking (Savannah, Ruud Hermans, Sandra Vanreys and of course 4 Wheel Drive) will perform music all in one show and with each other. The recenlty organized Floralia Festival in Oosterhout, Holland was a try out for 10.000 people who were really taken by suprise with the variety and virtuosity of this fast moving show. A standin ovation was well deserved. The combination electric country with acoustic music was less strange then a lot of people seem to think. Ruud Hermans and Sandra Vanreys sang in both segments and proved to be capable of singing great country and equally great bluegrass. One daily paper suggested to go into the Dutch theaters with this splendid show. The reporter could not know that this is exactly what the plan is.....!
     Needless to say this entire package of artists will be offered to the various major festivals in Europe. It's a winning combination for sure!!!!!
  For details Write to Cor Sanne