The current April/May edition of Bluegrass Europe magazine boasts a number of milestones.
Bluegrass Europe was founded and first published by Paolo Dettwiler who continued as the editor until the February/March 2011 edition, after which he retired. The magazine debuted with the April/May 1998 edition.
In 2002 Bluegrass Europe became the official journal of the European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA).
For several years, the magazine was published in conjunction with Bluegrass Buehne – the German bluegrass magazine – and the Dutch Strictly Country magazine [started and published by current IBMA board member Rienk Janssen]. They were a three-in-one magazine, published bi-monthly. The last combined issue was issue #78, published February/March 2011. Rienk also ceased publishing Strictly Country in February 2011.
For Paolo and Rienk it means a well-deserved retirement from editing a magazine, though both will be staying involved in bluegrass matters. The EBMA has retained the title but is now publishing it quarterly. The new editor is Angelika Torrie, a 2011 Leadership Bluegrass graduate.
The first edition in the new solo format is numbered #79, which includes a cover feature about the French band Bluegrass 43, written by Christopher Howard-Williams, with Philippe Ochin.
Also, there’s an article Building Bridges … Banjos by Dan Sreebny.
I have contributed a feature on bluegrass ambassador Greg Cahill, who will be in Europe next month with the Special Consensus, an interview with British bluegrass DJ Lynne Butler, Bill Monroe – The Centennial Year, a brief career overview to mark Charlie Louvin’s passing and a couple of book reviews.
The magazine contains a European Festival and Concert Calendar, and European and International News. It runs to 40 pages with many having full color pictures and/or adverts.
You can find all pertinent details on the EBMA site.
