Here’s another report from Greg Cahill, who is in Ireland with Special Consensus.
We are having a great tour – played a show in a castle in Roscrea, Ireland and the huge Winterfest in Sixmilebridge, Ireland.
Sean Ryan, who with his wife Aine owns the historical Leap Castle, is a master piper and he treated us to a private concert (and dinner) after our show. This was quite an honor for us, as Sean is legendary in Ireland. We played tunes with him the last time we played at the castle and compared notes on a few tunes after he played for us this time.
The festival in Sixmilebridge features many genres of music, and it is quite inspiring to walk through the halls and pass traditional Irish singers, bagpipers, gypsy jazz bands, Brazilian musicians, Irish session players, etc. The people all greatly appreciated bluegrass music from America.
We did not sleep much after Winterfest, as we had to depart the hotel by 4:00 a.m. to get to the ferry to England in time to make the crossing, drive a few hours to Bristol, and play a show. But had a good sleep after our show in Swansea, South Wales, last night and are now heading to Rainford Junction, England, for our show tonight. If we continue to make good time, we will take a slight detour into Liverpool to have a photo or two taken at the site of the Cavern, the famous first club home of the Beatles.
Three more shows in England after tonight and then we ferry back to Ireland for three shows before heading home on January 28. By then we will have played 20 shows in 19 days and will be ready to get home to see our families.
