• Dan Quinton, the man who books for the Barbican, tells Tom Travis that he has booked the following bands to appear at The Barbican, London, on April 11th:
    * The Nashville Bluegrass band
    * The Country Gentlemen
    * J.D.Crowe and The New South.
  Tom’s comment: “WOW!” The concert will be part of the “Re-Invent America” week - presumably there will be Country Music events also.
  Bev Williams is arranging a coach trip to the Barbican Bluegrass Concert mentioned above. If you are interested phone Bev on 01706-632396 for prices, etc.
  
• Our own NW band White Lightning has had a change of personnel - following the departure of fiddler Haydn John their long-time fiddle layer Mark Cardwell has returned.
  
• A Band Like Alice (ABLA) recently made an 8-track demo promotional recording. They are presently engaged in mixing more tracks for what is likely to become the full CD project sponsored by the BBMA. The other band to win BBMA backing, Townsend’s Special Bluegrass Service has sent the DAT tracks to the CD firm and the recording should be out early January. The BBMA has advanced the bands £1000 loan each, to be repaid from the first profits. After all expenses are paid, the final profits will be shared equally between the BBMA and the bands.
  
• Pete Wraith reports that Sugar Hill Records, PO Box 55300 Durham, North Carolina, NC27717-5300 will send you a free mail order catalog if you send them a post card.
  
• The American Banjo Fraternity (keeping alive interest in the classic five-string banjo, its music and composers) has published a neat 1998 calendar heralding in the ABJ 50th anniversary. It has great period B&W pictures of turn of the century and later classic banjo virtuosos, with biographies and birthdates of prominent players and composers. Calendars: $7 postpaid (USA; probably $10 to the UK). Send a check/cheque to ABF to Mary Smith, 636 Pelis Road, Newark, NY 14513-9014.
  
• Janet Davis has the new 1998 Bluegrass Calendar on sale for $9.99. Great gift item! See it at http://www.janetdavismusic.com/specials.html
  
• We thank star contributor Ian Reynolds for sending articles and reviews for this issue. Ian has been and still is under a lot of stress - his wife Jane is very ill. We wish her a speedy recovery and a happier 1998 to both of them.
  
• 1997 was the “Doc” Watson Year! In September Bill Clinton presented him with the Congressional Medal of Art in a ceremony at the White House and the ‘National Honors at Kennedy Center’ Washington, D.C. has honoured him. The University of North Carolina awarded “Doc” the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters. So now it’s Dr. “Doc”!
  
• Tony Furtado and his band are staying near Edale with Carmen Turner, as a base for their tour in January. If you want to book them they have two nights spare on the 26th and 27th Jan. They will drive up to 1½ hours from Carmen’s house. Tel Carmen: 01433-651771.
  
• Tim O’Brien will be on tour in the UK with Darrel Scott in April.
  
• The first edition of Bluegrass Europe, a new magazine from the Swiss BG Music Club, will be out soon. For a free copy send your name and address to Oberfeldstrasse 3A, CH-4113 Pratteln, Switzerland.
  
• Was There One in Your Stocking?  The 50th anniversary edition of the Stanleytone Banjo, built to Ralph Stanley's specifications, complete with the arch top head and a hand painted picture of Ralph on the resonator, is now available. They are built with accuracy to produce the rapid, keen sound that Ralph Stanley is noted for. The banjo has an archtop head and is made by Frank Neat, reputed to make one of the best necks around. Only 50 of the 50th anniversary models were made and reportedly only 40 of the 40th anniversary models. The “50th” model is gold plated (including the co-ordinator rods). The metal is fully engraved, including the tension hoop. The fingerboard is ebony and has abalone inlays. From a report by Kmartin652@aol.com
  
• Jack Hatfield (mandolin / banjo; USA) is in Ireland and England in the first part of July. The act is all original acoustic country-folk. Jack will be backing up Michael Reno Harrell. (Michael has a couple of gold records for songs that have been recorded and a CD in the can with backup musicians like Jerry Douglas, Pat Flynn, Brent Truitt, and Stewart Duncan).
  
  If anybody in the UK, Ireland, or nearby has any leads for Bluegrass pickup gigs, festivals, or workshops, or would like to host a workshop (Jack: banjo, Michael: song writing), let him know. The trip could be expanded for good gigs up to late August. Anyone who can help or knows any promoters, please contact Jack at: Hatfield Music, 325 Laurelwood Dr., Pigeon Forge, TN 37863. Write to Jack: hatfield@tdsnet.com   Internet: www.hatfieldmusic.com
  
• "Frets" 1998 new catalogue is out in 2 parts - (a) CDs, and (b) everything else. They’re small, comprehensive and easy to follow.
  
• The ACME Band are booked to play at the Saltburn Folk Festival (new venue for the Redcar Festival) 1st w/e of August.

Updated 23rd Jan 1999