Former Blue Grass Boy Curtis Blackwell has announced plans to tour Ireland in June 2012. The tour will include eleven shows in twelve days, most of which it appears are being held in community Arts Centres. (It’s wonderful to see how Ireland values traditional music in its arts programs.)
A member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame, Blackwell succeeded Peter Rowan as guitarist and vocalist for Bill Monroe in 1967. After his tenure with Monroe, Blackwell formed his own group, the Dixie Bluegrass Boys and has performed throughout the nation, with the southeast as his home base.
Joining Blackwell on the tour will be a group of veteran performers, Chuck and Susan Nation, and Jim Pankey. A multi-instrumentalist and past Louisiana State Fiddle Champion, Chuck Nation’s impressive resume includes having been a member of the historic group, The Bluegrass Alliance.
Jim Pankey has a 35-year career as a performer and teacher of bluegrass and old-time banjo styles, and is a past Tennessee and Georgia State Banjo Champion. Pankey is also a regular contributor to Banjo Newsletter and is an artist endorser of Recording King Banjos.
More details on the Ireland tour can be found online.
