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PETER ROWAN BLUEGRASS BAND (USA)
To fully detail the vast background of Peter Rowan would take more space than this page affords. He has clearly dedicated his life to defying boundaries in his musical exploration. Peter was hired in the 1960's as singer and rhythm guitarist with Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys... followed by a stint with David Grisman in the Boston folk-rock band Earth Opera. In the 70's he formed The Rowan Brothers with siblings Chris and Lorin, which has been followed by projects with fellow Bluegrass Boy Richard Greene, Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, etc. As a songwriter, Peter's tunes have been recorded by such artists as the New Riders of the Purple Sage, George Strait, Michael Martin Murphy, Ricky Skaggs, Desert Rose Band, Janie Fricke and many others. |
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TONY TRISCHKA Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular (USA)
Grammy nominee Tony Trischka makes a welcome return this year to the Banjo Festival. Tony is one of the world's most innovative banjo players. Throughout his thirty year career, Tony has defied boundaries and explored a wide variety of genres commonly considered out-of-bounds for the banjo. He's been a key figure in opening the banjo and acoustic music in general to wider influences. We are delighted that Tony is bringing his award-winning Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular to Longford! |
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ALTAN (Ireland)
- bio to follow - |
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GERRY O'CONNOR (Ireland)
Gerry O'Connor has brought the banjo to places no other player had tread before. He has travelled the world - physically and musically - experimenting with everything from Irish to bluegrass to African and Asian, and back to Irish. Both as a soloist and as a member of the highly acclaimed Four Men and a Dog, Gerry has truly traced the banjo's journey through the world of music. |
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BARNEY McKENNA (Ireland)
Barney McKenna plays the tenor banjo, mandolin, and melodeon. But he is revered as the elder stateman of the Irish tenor banjo, and has been a member of legendary Irish ballad group THE DUBLINERS since 1962. |
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DOLORES KEANE (Ireland)
- bio to follow - |
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TOM RUSSELL (USA)
"Tom Russell is an original, a brilliant songwriter with a restless
curiosity and an almost violent imagination."
-Annie Proulx, Pulitzer Prize winning author:
The Shipping News and "Brokeback Mountain"
Born in Los Angeles, Tom now makes his home on the border of El Paso-Juarez in the grand state of Texas. He's an 'artist' in the true sense of the word - a singer, guitarist, songwriter, painter, producer. |
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DON RIGSBY (USA)
From remote Isonville, Ky., to an international following in Bluegrass music, Don Rigsby has remained true to his mountain roots and made his own marks as a powerful tenor and distinctive mandolin player. Don emerged onto the national scene as a member of the Bluegrass Cardinals, played with JD Crowe and the New South, and was a member of the award-winning Lonesome River Band. The two-time Grammy nominee and two-time SPGBMA Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year shared two IBMA awards while performing with Longview and sang on a Grammy-winning album by rocker John Fogerty. |
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AT THE RACKET (Ireland)
- bio to follow - |
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PETE & JOAN WERNICK (USA)
Pete Wernick, "Dr. Banjo", is renowned worldwide for his accomplishments and contributions to bluegrass music. Known for his banjo playing with Hot Rize, and his singer-guitarist wife Joan present one of the West's most engaging country duets. Joan's clear, soulful singing and Pete's masterful picking bring life to a diverse repertoire including traditional bluegrass, vocal duets, and blazing instrumentals. Joan, also known to music fans as "Nondi", has sung with various groups in Colorado and hosted a bluegrass radio program on KGNU Boulder since 1978. Her natural sparkle and the couple's on-stage repartee adds an extra dimension to their duet performances. Bluegrass Now magazine says, "Joan's singing is guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of any bluegrass traditionalist." |
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CARTER BROTHERS BAND (USA)
Intrepid world travelers...bringers of brief moments of happiness...blood relatives of The Carter Family...creators of their own brand of "groovinappalacianfolkrockfunkedupbluegrassgypsybluesmusic". Returning this year with their full band in tow, Tim and Danny Carter have become favoured performers of many Irish venues... |
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THOM MOORE & SEAMIE O'DOWD (USA & Ireland)
Originally from the USA, singer/songwriter Thom Moore (ex Pumpkinhead and Midnight Well) has made Ireland his home since 1971. Songs such as Gorgeous & Bright, and particularly Cavan Girl have helped Thom carve out a special place in music lovers hearts in Ireland. Here, he teams up
with...
Seamie O'Dowd...' Irish musician/singer and exponent of folk/blues/acoustic rock'. Sligo native Seamie, is a former member of Dervish, and has also worked with Mairtin O'Connor, Chieftain Matt Molloy, Liam O'Flynn, Mary McPartlan, Rick Epping, Waterboy Steve Wickham....etc. etc. etc.! |
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LLUIS GOMEZ QUARTET (Spain)
Lluis Gomez Quartet....featuring Lluis Gomez on 5-string banjo, Ricky Araiza on guitar, Joan Pau Comellas on harmonica & Maribel Sanchez on upright bass. Bluegrass music, from the Catalan region of Spain! |
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NIALL TONER BAND (Ireland)
Niall Toner, Clem O'Brien and Dick Gladney have been performing and writing together now for the past six years. During this time they have recorded and released two all-original, all-acoustic CDs.
Niall's songs have been recorded by Albert Lee, Bill Wyman, The Special Consensus and most notably by the Nashville Bluegrass Band. Niall also presents the Roots Freeway on RTE Radio One every Tuesday evening, bringing a wide range of Bluegrass, Old Time Traditional and contemporary singer-songwriters and blues singers to a wide audience.
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HUNGRY HILL (Canada/USA)
Hungry Hill is a contemporary, acoustic bluegrass unit, with a focus on original material. Based in northwestern Canada, the band consist of five seasoned musicians with a desire to create a fresh sound, while staying true to the roots of bluegrass and old-time music. |
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ROSS NICKERSON (USA)
Reknowned five-string banjo master Ross Nickerson has been playing professionally since the age of 17. He is the author of Mel Bay's 'The Banjo Encyclopedia', and 'Bluegrass Banjo from A to Z'.
He has been a member of numerous successful bands, and has been performing and teaching for many years internationally. Ross comes to the festival as a tutor, and as a performer as part of Canadian bluegrass outfit Hungry Hill. |
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RANCH HOUSE FAVORITES (Netherlands)
While contemporary country music seems to be dominated by the linedance-craze, true Americana still exists... it's called the RANCH HOUSE FAVORITES. Formed in 1992 and influenced by the
great western swing bands of the 1940's and 1950's, this 5-piece outfit strives to achieve a sound that is at once authentic and timeless. if you're in the mood for a sentimental journey to the days when legendary
artists like singing cowboy Roy Rogers, hillbilly troubadours Hank Williams and Ernest Tubb, Bill Monroe and king of western swing Bob Wills painted the American musical landscape, it's about time you checked out this rockin' Dutch band. All dressed up in their western-style suits with matching ten-gallon hats and razor-sharp
cowboyboots, they really know how to get your place rocking with their soul-stirrin' tearjerkers, hard-boppin' breakdowns and breath-takin'
harmonies. |
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ROUGH DEAL STRING BAND (Ireland)
The music they play came from many sources, but they all come from the band's love of and passion for old-time stringband music. Rough Deal String Band are always a always a welcome addition to the festival lineup. |
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WOODBINE (Ireland)
- bio to follow - |
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