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Edale Missed Dear Derek, I would like to congratulate Steve Read and friends for starting off the Edale Bluegrass Festival over 20 years ago and Tom Travis for taking over when Steve resigned and continuing to run this international event. I was very sorry to hear that the festival isn't to take place this year. My first visit was in 1979 and I haven't missed one since. Without doubt it has been a cornerstone of my life in Bluegrass. I'm sure there are many others who feel the same. So thanks to Tom and best wishes with any future events planned. He has my continued support. Chris Moreton, Usk.
Hot-Tab News (or Hot Tab-News?) I thought you might be interested in advance notice of books of official tablature transcriptions that we are releasing soon at AcuTab. Have we got a lot in store for this year! Here is a list of what new material is due, and when.
Much to look forward to! Maybe you could mention it in your newsletter?. John Lawless, AcuTab, Roanoke, USA. As you can see, it's done, John! Thanks for the info.
John Duffey missed I was shocked to hear about John Duffey's death, at the age of only 62. I'd always loved his mandolin playing, which had that extra air of excitement - you never knew quite what he was going to play next. He's certainly in my Top 5 of all-time mandolin greats, in spite of the fact that he didn't rate himself particularly as an instrumentalist and never wanted to talk much about his playing. It's a sad loss. John Baldry, Crawley
Cool 5th String Capo. I had a chance to sit down with Alan O'Bryant a couple of years ago for an hour or so. He's a very approachable guy, and I reckon about as good a player as any at the present time and a real banjo tinkerer. He showed me a trick for capoing the 5th string that requires neither railroad spikes (my choice for the last quarter-century or so) nor a regular 5th string capo. He claimed to have learned it from (the late) Jerry Garcia. What they had done was to undercut the fret wire on the 6th, 7th, 8th, & 9th frets by about 3/16", using a very fine-edged (jeweler's) saw, leaving a gap between the bottom of the fret wire and the fingerboard just wide enough to slide the 5th string under (12 thou). So that if you were playing in B, you'd slide the 5th string under the 8th fret, thereby capoing it at the 9th fret, and so on. A very simple and elegant solution!. Michael Moore P.O. Box 43, Mercer Island, WA 98040 USA Write to: modre@forest.net. This looks like a great idea - if anyone tries it please write in and share your findings. But try it on an old banjo! Might it pull the frets out?
I'm not sure about this one.... I'm just knocked out with the stuff you've sent and may the bird of paradise fly up your nose! What a great idea to send back issues and midi-files over the Internet. Terrific - thanks. The back issues reinforce the good things my wife and I said over the current issue and we are considering migrating to the North West in order to truly qualify for the coverage. Glyn has received the recent issue and is well impressed. Thanks from him too. Thanks again. Geoff' Bowers, Nottingham Write to Geoff
"Richard Greene and The Grass Is Greener" I just got a fax from Eddie Barcan of the Cambridge Folk Festival, who expressed an interest in having the band play this year's festival, July 24-27. An aid to securing that would be some side gigs in other parts of the country. Do you or your readers have any suggestions? Thanks for your help. Sincerely, Jim D'Ville, Oregon, USA. Write to Dville@pioneer.net If interested please contact Jim directly, preferably by Write to. And thanks for the offer of a visit in Oregon, Jim!
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