New Strings!

After 18 months I finally got around to getting some new strings for my banjo. I've been playing with the ones that it came with and they'd got a bit like old rusty cables (literally), but the new ones are... well, fine and shiny and light and they sound great.

Spanish Fandango


Cripple Creek

Middlesbrough Calling

Deer Shed Festival

Deer Shed is a baby festival waiting to be born next year. It's the offspring of In The Dock, gigs hosted at The Old Courthouse, Thirsk, North Yorks. I've offered to join the gang and help out organising and delivering, and hopefully we can get something good going in rural North Yorkshire. God knows we need it! but as you can see from the photos the festival has two key things going for it; a fantastic site and Kate and Oliver from In The Dock who are busy building up a roster of musicians such as Boo Hewardine, the Groanbox Boys and others who may feature on the lineup.
If you want to see how things progress drop into the Deer Shed Blog and keep a couple of days free for 17th July 2010!

Ragtime Annie II

Had another bash at Ragtime Annie courtesy of Patrick Costello.

London Calling

Wes' message from New York via London got me messing around with London Calling.
It's an easy chord progression (Em/C intro, Em/C/G verse, Em/G/D chorus) and kinda suits the banjo in G.
Still trying to find the best way to play it (if any) and here's two - one picking and one strumming.

London Calling (pickin)


London Calling (strumming)


And here's the boys doing it properly

In The Dock Autumn Gigs

Kate and Oliver from In The Dock write:

Hi All
Hope you’re all enjoying the Summer. We’ve been busy booking 3 shows for the Autumn and we’re very excited to announce our first show on Saturday 10th October as J Tillman of the Fleet Foxes performing works from his new solo album. We’re honoured that he’s agreed to call into The Old Courthouse, Thirsk in between shows in Glasgow, Manchester and London.

Tickets can be bought from our website – www.inthedock.net, or reply to this email or call us.

The two other shows are equally as brilliant and worth noting in the diary:

Friday 6th November – Double bill of Chris Helme and The Lost Brothers

Friday 11th December – Danny Schmidt and Carrie Elkin

We hope to see you in the Autumn.

Kind regards

Kate & Oliver

New York Calling - via London!

Wes from New York writes:

Hi

I'm a TangierSound/Daily Frail fan from New York. I've always liked your videos and now I'm in London for a couple of weeks and thought I'd say hello.

I've been playing (or trying to play) for just a few months. It started by accident and has become an obsession. Back in May I emailed Dear Old Dad asking to interview him for an article I was writing. The next thing I knew he was putting a banjo (the S-5 prototype) in the mail to me and signing me up for the retreat that was coming up in Crisfield. After that I couldn't put the thing down.

All best, Wes

Rollin' in my Sweet Baby's Arms

More porch music gold from Lewdite.