...From our European correspondent, Jos van der Lelie.
Saturday May 31st, at the European World Of Bluegrass festival in Voorthuizen, The Netherlands, Swedish band Dunderhead was elected number 1 European Bluegrass Band for 2014, as voted by all participating bands and a professional jury.
I have just returned to Ireland after showcasing my own material in Raleigh, NC, at IBMA. I also got to hear about a hundred other bands, and my head is still ringing in the key of “G”, after hearing so many versions of “Goldrush” and “Clinch Mountain Backstep”.
Wonderful and all as these Classic Bluegrass tunes are, it's refreshing to get to listen to a Bluegrass CD that is comprised of fifteen original songs, in a great variety of different keys, and sung by a man in what could be fairly described as a 'non-Bluegrass' voice.
Prescription Bluegrass has learned that a very popular bluegrass site for fans in the United Kingdom is undergoing some serious redesign.
A message from the host explains:
Pete Wernick (Dr. Banjo) introduced his Bluegrass Jam Camp to Europe March 22-24, with twenty-four pickers from seven countries converging for three days on the Hotel Svornost in Prague, Czech Republic.
Having taught camps throughout the U.S. since 1980, Wernick saw this first Jam Camp in Europe as a forward step for bluegrass teaching.
German Band Announces New CD with Animated Video
Covered Grass’ latest CD, “Toogaroo” contains 13 original songs by singer Corina Aurin and banjoist Volker Fisher. The producers must have been thinking outside of the box and literally jumping out of the box to make sure the video will grab your attention and introduce you to one of Europe’s finest. --- Watch Video – Click Read Or Comment Link! ---
When we’ve seen a lot of recent news about festivals folding or long-running Jams ceasing to continue, it’s nice to see a story about an annual Jam that is becoming a mini-festival.
From Germany, Dieter Stoll sends us news and photos from the third "Bluegrass im Klosterhof"
APPLY BEFORE DECEMBER 15 !!!
Good news for all who are racing against the clock to finish your recordings!
If you haven’t been able to send in your application but are still planning to apply for the European World of Bluegrass festival 2013 make sure not to miss the extended deadline of December 15!
They’d love to welcome you in Voorthuizen, the Netherlands on May 9-10-11 2013!
Visit the EWOB Facebook page to download the application form!
OPINION FROM PRESCRIPTION BLUEGRASS EDITOR AND RADIO HOST, BRIAN MCNEAL
This past week marks another turning point in the history of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s annual conferences. As previously announced, 2012 is to be the final year for the World of Bluegrass conference in Music City, USA (Nashville), so it is a real tall feather in newly appointed Director Nancy Cardwell’s cap that the Nashville run is going out as the best conference in recent years.
In no small way, three European acts are responsible for helping the overall “High-Tide” momentum. Ireland’s Niall Toner and I Draw Slow along with Germany’s Covered Grass each did what they do to best and set the bar of excellence up several notches.
The German Bluegrass band Covered Grass has made such an impression on so many new fans all over the world with their smash-hit video “Goodnight John Boy” a tribute song written by the band for the Walton’s TV Show characters that they garnered an unprecedented invitation from the original cast of the show to perform their song live in Los Angeles this month before the assembled cast, spouses, friends and fans of the show at the 40th anniversary Gala Celebration.
Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa’s recent tour of Holland, Scotland and Norway (July 2012) produced some wonderful photos which Wayne sent to us to share. Notice Wayne’s special guests in photo #1 (with Vince Gill and Bobby Bare) Wayne says the shot was taken in Norway. The Glacier was in Briksdahl - Norway, beautiful country side there. The old church photos were taken at the Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland.
The Czech Bluegrass Project : An Evening of Czech and Slovak Bluegrass Music is to be featured at the Down Home in Johnson City, TN. The crowd will enjoy an unexpected turn on bluegrass music, and be part of a documentary film!
This one-of-a kind concert will present Czech Bluegrass music on August 8th, 2012 from the band: Druha Trava, The Greenhorns...and more!
Gute Nacht John-Boy – TRANSLATION – “Good Night John Boy”
Yes it’s German and yes they’re singing about John Boy Walton and the whole Walton TV Gang.
Covered Grass, a hot bluegrass band from Germany has just posted a new video on their website in time to draw attention to themselves before their American debut at the IBMA’s World Of Bluegrass next month in Nashville. The video is well done and uses a professional approach - interweaving original scenes from the TV Show with performance shots of the band. VIDEO POSTED BELOW – CLICK HERE
This bluegrass tribute to the famous TV-series from the early 1970s is an original written and performed by Covered Grass. "The Waltons" ran weekly on German television and the goodnight ritual at the end of each episode was the inspiration for this song.
Covered Grass will appear at World Of Bluegrass Week in Nashville from Sept. 24th – Sept. 30th 2012. Business conference showcase 24th of Sept. 08:15 p.m.
The song "Goodnight John-Boy" will appear on the upcoming album "Toogaroo" from Covered Grass. Visit the band’s Facebook Page to be updated about it.
If you speak or read German, visit the band’s homepage: www.covered-grass.de
Once again, Nadine Landry writes for the band. We thank her and the entire band for sharing their escapades with us over the last several weeks. This last post includes two more great videos as well.
Well, the Foghorn Europe tour has been over for a two weeks or so, but we feel like sharing our last week in Switzerland with y'all!
Carrying the torch for Americana music in her native Bulgaria, Lilly Drumeva releases her brand new music video for the lovely, "Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring," performed with her band Lilly of the West.
Lilly has long been one of the leading Americana, country and bluegrass music personalities in Bulgaria. Through her work as a musician, as well as her role hosting weekly country radio and television shows, she has worked to expand American music's borders and bring its core sounds to a whole new audience.
Watch "Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring" , the latest music video from their new album Swings and Heartaches. [ Click Read More for Video]
The Foghorn String Band’s Nadine Landry writes this Guest Blogger Post from Ireland. This is a post written on May 14 at the end of Fiddle Fair in Baltimore Co. Cork
Greetings from Baltimore in West Cork!
It's Monday and I'm sitting outside our house looking at the ocean with Sherkin island in the distance. Since our arrival here on Wednesday night, we have been blessed not only with gorgeous weather but with possibly the best festival to ever exist: Fiddle Fair. Organized by Declan McCarthy and his family, the festival was celebrating its 20th anniversary and it was amazing! Caliber of musicianship and kindness was out of this world. Foghorn Stringband has played the festival a bunch of time and was actually the first place to play in Ireland back in 2003. Afternoon sessions in the square, concerts in the castle, main concerts in the marquis every night followed by very late wicked sessions till the wee hours! [Videos below]
Pinecastle Records is pleased to announce that it has signed I Draw Slow. Their upcoming album Redhills will be released August 7th, 2012. Customers who pre-order Redhills from the Pinecastle website will also receive a free digital copy (available here) delivered on the release date. In addition, customers will also receive the single "Goldmine" instantly after their purchase.
I Draw Slow is a five piece string band playing original music in the American folk tradition, but with an Irish influence. All five members have played in old time and bluegrass bands around Ireland, Europe and the US over the last decade. Siblings Dave (guitar) and Louise (vocals) Holden have been writing together for two decades, starting on Dublin, Ireland’s touring circuit with a funk band.
Mike Scott Announces Israel and European Tour
Acclaimed entertainer, musician and songwriter, Mike Scott is proud to announce his third tour of Israel. 
Mike Scott & The Nashville Band will set out for an eight day tour May 2-8, 2012 that includes a headlining performance at the Jacob’s Ladder 36th Annual Spring Festival at the Nof Ginnosar Hotel in Magda, Israel on May 3-5, 2012. The festival is located on the shores of The Sea of Galilee” and is Israel’s “Largest Family Festival” showcasing talent from around the world.
Mike and his band will be the only performers from the United States and are honored to represent our country at this festival.
July 8-23, 2012, Mike will begin a European tour with his longtime friend and fellow musician and singer-songwriter, Wayne Taylor. Mike will perform along with Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa as a Featured Artist for two weeks with performances in Norway, Germany, The Netherlands, and Scotland.
The 4th European Bluegrass Summit will be held on the weekend 2-4 March 2012, hosted by the city of Bühl in southwest Germany.
The Summit was first held at Bühl in 2009 as an initiative by the International Committee of the IBMA, and has been held since then under the auspices of the European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA). This year's schedule includes the EBMA annual general members' meeting.
Della Mae is currently on tour with the Bluegrass Jamboree in Germany, Switzerland and The Czech Republic. The group’s Celia Woodsmith has been updating us with periodic reports and files this report from Prague. To read her earlier posts, click on the links at the bottom of this post.
Prague in 1 hour at 6am? I’m not saying it was totally satisfactory, but it helped to scratch the itch. All five of the Della Mae women woke up at 5:30 and walked down to, and over the Charles Footbridge, which was built in 1359. People were walking to work in the pre-dawn chilly air and the spires and domes of the downtown historical area were backlit against the horizon. Now I know why so many people told me that I would absolutely love Prague- I have to go back when I have at least 5 days to spare.
The show in Prague was wonderful, probably the biggest crowd yet. It will never cease to amaze me that there is a devoted crowd of bluegrass lovers in the seemingly most random parts of the world.
Currently we are driving from the Black Forest region to Schaffhausen, Switzerland to play at the Kammgarn. As we drive through the countryside we are passing a land filled with plowed fields in various stages of growing. Werner tells me that it’s mostly Corn, Lettuce, Rye and Wheat this time of year.