IRISH STEEL FESTIVAL

[Donny Johnston]

Thanks Graham, ( ZB Player ) I appreciate the comments about the Blanton tone, it is special, I also have a ZB and a Fender 400, but when I sit down at the Blanton it feels like I'm back home at my Mothers.

[Donny Johnston]

Thank you, appreciate the comments about my tone, I think it's more the guitar than me. Donny

[Donny Johnston]

ANYONE STARTED REHEARSING FOR THIS YEARS SHOW

[Paul Brennan]

I'm always learning new tunes Donny. Most of them never get played beyond my music room unfortunately. I haven't even begun to think about this year's show yet. Anyway I play a lot more fiddle than steel in public. There's a very active Irish traditional music around where I live. You have to be constantly learning tunes in order to stay with the pack. There's some great Scottish fiddle tunes that we play a lot here as well. Speaking of which here's a great video I discovered a few months back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2peDIVa9Wg

It's very interesting to compare the Irish, Scottish and bluegrass styles. It's great fun attempting to play these tunes on the steel Very educational too. Did you ever here Doug Jernigans' version of the second tune - Leather Britches?

[Peter Nylund]

Any idea who will be performing this year?
Donny, the barbeque season is almost here! (hint)
regards,
Peter

[STEDDIE EDDIE]

wow! absolutely fabulous! i used to try and watch Aly Bain with my late Dad [a great traditional accordian player]on tv, sunday mornings, some years ago, good to see this, thank you,

[Ted Nesbitt]

Peter
Ive been told that the headliner this year is a guy called Bob Adams...... could be very interesting eh!

[STEDDIE EDDIE]

and he is rumoured to be playing on the back neck,

[Donny Johnston]

Bob Adams like me, is not a pretty sight on the back neck. Peter give me a weeks notice if you're coming for a barbie,
I'll need to buy a cow. Unfortunately my health has not been what it should be, so I sold the ZB and the Fender 400, I still have the Blanton but it will have to go also, Mr Adams has it at the moment doing a bit of tidying up before I advertise it. I have bought a 600 series Williams, 5 on the floor and 5 levers, haven't gigged it yet but looking forward to it. I also heard that Ted Nesbitt is playing this year, and Willie Gamble, it will be another series of Celtic Connections. Can't wait, Regards to all, Donny.