Camptown Races and Lagerphone

It was the annual cider party this weekend and the Uke of Cornwall and I didn't know what to do with our hangovers and all the beer bottle tops that were left so, inspired by the Groanbox Boys' Freedom Boot, we decided to make out own lagerphone. We pinned the bottletops in pairs to a broomshank and hey presto instant ju-ju stick!

Wabash Cannonball

I've been working on Wabash Cannonball this week on ukulele and banjo with the Uke of Cornwall , so if we get some audio or video we'll get it on.

Meanwhile, this is the tab that we've been working from, as always, Tangier Sound. They are the ukulele chords and lyrics, and below are the banjo chords.

Uke of Cornwall and NBB - Boil em Cabbage

Me and the Uke of Cornwall knocking out Boil em Cabbage Down!

Blues Bend - Slight Return

Went back over the old blues exercise I was doing while ago, incorporating some drop-thumb, hammer-ons and bends.

Rachel Harrington and Zac Borden

Saw Rachel Harrington and Zac Borden at In The Dock, Thirsk last night, they were great. Rachel has an amazing voice and Zac played some fantastic mandolin during a set were they played their own songs and a couple of covers. Great night, catch em if you can.

http://www.msplinks.com/http://www.rachelharrington.net/
http://www.zakborden.com/

Worried Man Blues

Had another go at singing and playing.

Worried Man Blues


The tab's from Pat Costello's Outlaws and Scalawags Songbook

Thumbs up from the Big Man and Irish Pub Songs for the 5-String Banjo

I've been using this site to pull together banjo related stuff that I've found on the web, and increasingly I've been using Patrick Costello's website and online resources through Tangier Sound(see links) and You Tube. So I thought it was about time that I contacted them and checked that it's OK, after all it's their hard work that produces most of the tablature that I've been linking to and posting on Northern Banjo Boy.

Patrick and Dear Old Dad dropped me a line to to say it's OK!
Thanks guys, and just to let you know, I'll be ordering a copy of - Irish Pub Songs For The 5-String Banjo by Kelly Griner, which is available for $15.95 as a download. You'll find it here

A Whole Lotta Cabbage

I've been playing Boil 'em Cabbage Down a lot recently as an exercise to improve my drop thumbing technique, and I was trawling through Patrick Costello's Tangier Sound archive for the Daily Frail and I've pulled together his various tabs for Boil 'em.

Another Singing Wreck

Had another go at singing and playing Wreck of Old '97.

You know what they say, no pain no gain, but I think it's better - maybe not!


MC Clawhammer and Carlos the Jakal played at an open-mike night last night - How'd you get on fellas?

Rachel Harrington: Summer's Gone

Here's some video of Rachel Harrington who's playing In the Dock at the Old Courthouse, Thirsk on 22nd May. The Song is Summer's Gone from her debut album The Bootlegger's Daughter.

Rosin the Beau

Working on the 3/4 time tune Rosin the Beau from Patrick Costello's How and Tao of Old Time Banjo. Here's the tab and the Daily Frail for Rosin the Beau. The link will take you to Patrick excellent blog which contains loads of great stuff for banjo.
Daily Frail 14/6/2007

Gourd Banjo

The banjo is gnarly enough, but the gourd banjo is something else.