Bluegrass Goes to Scotland

[davedove]

On CMT's Total Access, they had a show where Alison Krauss and Union Station were doing a tour of the British Isles. When they are in Edinburgh, you see a couple of kilts on men standing outside the castle and such. The bass player tried on some kilts in a shop and bought himself a souvenier kilt. He bought a camo kilt (which he didn't know existed) and said he's going to try to be man enough to wear it duck hunting.

[Andrew Breecher]

I knew I loved Alison Krauss and Union Station for a reason! It's because they're so cool!

I just can't stand to watch CMT, because they have commercials every two songs. It's not even worth it to sit there for six minutes of music, and then three minutes of adverts.

Andrew.

[sav]

A Bluegrass musician myself (I play banjo every friday night at Arrow Horse Bluegrass, Gettysburg, PA) it's good to hear other bluegrass musicians trying the kilt!

[davedove]

A Bluegrass musician myself (I play banjo every friday night at Arrow Horse Bluegrass, Gettysburg, PA) it's good to hear other bluegrass musicians trying the kilt!

I'll have to come up and check that out some Friday. After the holidays though, I'm busy for a while. I like listening to Bluegrass.

[chasem]

I'm not a fan of bluegrass at all. However, being a musician, I appreciate the music, and what it has done for other genres. I'm like that with just about any genre I don't like [rap being the exception, but that's another story].

That being said, I have to appreciate it even more, since I live about 30 minutes or so from the birthplace of Bill Monroe, the man credited with inventing bluegrass.

[Andrew Breecher]

I like playing along to bluegrass on my guitar, but I'm not even close to being able to solo. My fingers aren't that fast.

There's a club in Cambridge that has a bluegrass show every week, that I try to check out when I can.

Andrew.

[beerbecue]

Bluegrass goes to Scotland?

I was under the impression that bluegrass grew out of music from, in part, Scottish immigrants???

Wouldn't that mean bluegrass goes home??

[cajunscot]

One of the largest bluegrass festivals in the UK takes place in Londonderry in Ulster -- and the Ulster-Scots will be the first to claim responsibilty for American bluegrass and country music! ;)

One of the members of my MA committee tells the story of when the band of the Argylls came to Nashville one year, they almost literaly bought out the country music section of a local music store!

Cheers,

Todd

[davedove]

Bluegrass goes to Scotland?

I was under the impression that bluegrass grew out of music from, in part, Scottish immigrants???

Wouldn't that mean bluegrass goes home??

Right you are! Bluegrass developed from the Appalachian mountain music, which grew out of songs brought over by the Scottish and Irish immigrants who settled in that area.

Many songs now done as bluegrass are hundreds of years old and were originally played in the British Isles, especially Ireland. Some changes have occurred; songs that were originally jigs are now played as reels, but the basic tunes are the same.

Songs are also traveling in the other direction. Songs that are American in origin are now being played alongside traditional music. One of the Chieftains said he was suprised one day upon hearing Dolly Parton's "Jolene" played by a traditional Irish band.

[millar]

A Bluegrass musician myself (I play banjo every friday night at Arrow Horse Bluegrass, Gettysburg, PA) it's good to hear other bluegrass musicians trying the kilt!

Sav
Man, what don't you do? You play the pipes you go to school you find guys wearing kilts in WalMart, you fight crime and then you find time to play bluegrass. I'm tired just thinking about it.
Cheers,
Jim