Events
NEW TRADITIONAL MUSIC CLASS FOR BEGINNERS
In response to popular demand, Community Music Crew will be starting a new trad music class for beginners this month.
The class is aimed at adults who are taking up a melody instrument and wish to learn a few tunes, and to play with other people. It is not suitable for complete beginners, but if you can play one or two tunes, or even just a scale, this class should suit you. There is no need to read music, although sheet music will be available. You will need your own instrument!
The class will teach a tune per week, building into sets of tunes commonly played in local sessions. The pace will be slow, and the atmosphere relaxed.
The class will take place upstairs in the Western Hotel, Prospect Hill, on Thursday evenings from 6.30 to 7.30, and costs a recession-busting €5. It will be followed immediately by the Dusty Banjos Learners Session, which now has a starting time of 7.30pm. It
For further information, contact Heather or Mary at 095-44845, or visit the Dusty Banjos website at www.dustybanjos.com.
NEW DUSTYS SESSION FOR CLIFDEN
The new Dustys session in Clifden, started on Tuesday, Feb 16th. The session will run from 7.30-9.30pm, and will take place in The Bens music shop on Bridge St. As with other Dustys sessions, it's aimed at adults who would like to get back to music, or take up an instrument, and are a bit shy about playing with other people. We'll be teaching some tunes and getting used to playing in a group setting. The session is suitable for all melody instruments, and costs €5 only. Contact us for further details at (095) 44845.
2nd Cleggan Music Weekend
We had a fantastic weekend in Cleggan last year, with over 30 musicians each night. (Pics are up on the website, thanks Maurice! Many thanks to Hubert, Michael J, Sara & Brendan, & Nicoline for photos).
We're currently organising the second Dustys music weekend in Cleggan, we'll have lots more info shortly including B&B info. But just for the diaries, it's a week earlier this year due to unavoidable circumstances, and will be over the weekend of June 18 - 20.
More soon...
Not Just Musicians...
The Dustys are a talented lot, up to all sorts of things! If you have a business, an event, a gig, or anything else that you'd like people to know about, let us know and we'll include it here.
Classy Cards: If you're after these for yor nearest & dearest, Heather's Cleggan Cards are now on sale in Galway in Charlie Byrne's bookshop and at the Black Cat Gallery (next to the Tribune office on Market St). They're big, beautiful, blank for your message, and brilliant for framing! Suitable for all occasions.
Delicious Home Baking: Concertina player Fionnuala Gallagher is now trading at the Claregalway Sunday Market in Claregalway Corporate Park.
It’s open from 10 to 5 each Sunday, all year round. Big variety of stalls (approx 60) from Baby Creams to Big Noisy drills and food stalls in between. Still the same delicious goodies and some new yummies available from Little Bakehouse! Free Face Painting, Free Bouncy Castle (for kids!).
Beidh fáilte mór romhat!
Kevin Boatman's handyman business has a new name and a website. Check out www.Jock of All Trades.com
And Mary Curtin has been busy on www.GalwayTransport.info - "Galway’s public transport information site" . It's got route maps for city bus services, and various other useful maps too (shopping centres, industrial estates etc)
CHANGE TO First Saturday Sessions
Dustys have a monthly session on the first Saturday of each month in Arus na nGael, Dominick Street, starting at 10pm.
The March session has been cancelled, and our next Arus session will be on Saturday 3rd April. Please spread the word, as some people a good travel distance to this one.
Weekly Sessions in Murty Rabbitt's
The weekly session in Murty Rabbitts pub on Forster St, (across from the tourist office) is moving temporarily to a Wednesday night. This will be until April 15th.
Sean is taking over this session, as the driving in & out to Cleggan is just too much. But we'll be sending plenty of Dustys along, & if we're staying in town we'll be along for sure! We wish him the very best of luck.
You can see photos on this site -( thanks Heather!)
Sessions are on Wednesday nights at 9.30. All are welcome as always.. Bring your friends!
****NO SESSION ON PADDY'S DAY!!!
CD NEWS
Our CD was launched on Monday, 23rd November in the Crane bar, rousingly kicked off with the help of popular local musician Johnny O'Halloran.
Although a good few people were unable to get in due to the flooding and road closures, over 40 musicians managed to make it and we had a great night of tunes and songs.
Thanks a million to Maurice for filming on the night, and to Heather and Dani who took photos. The video, and photos, are up now on the website, so have a look!
And thanks again Johnny, you got our fingers moving!
*Tracks from the CD can be listened to on the Resources page of our website.
DUSTYS ON YOUTUBE
Maurice has put 2 great videos of Dustys playing at the Crane on YouTube, so have a look! Just type in "Dusty Banjos". Don't forget to rate them while you're at it, preferably with 5 stars!
Dusty Banjos documentary
In 2007, Dusty Banjos along with ID Films and the Galway Film Centre completed a short documentary on the group.
The film was shown (with other community films) in Feb '08 in the Town Hall Theatre, Galway.We had a mighty session afterwards in the bar, very enjoyable! (See the Photos section for some great pics - thanks Michael!) It was shown again in July '08 as part of the 20th Galway Film Fleadh.
DVDs of the film are available, contact us if you'd like one. The film is now also available for download...click here for the videos page.
Sean agus Nua Gigs
Dusty Banjos are delighted to have a track on the fantastic 'Sean agus Nua' CD, launched in Galway in May 2007.
Click here for the Sean agus Nua web site.
Dusty Banjos 2008 - a busy year!
Dustys had another busy year in 2008. Some of the highlights...
January: * First Saturday Session starts off the year with over 20 musicians.
February: * Learning Week ’08 performance in Galway Arts Centre.
*Screening of our documentary on Dusty Banjos in the Town Hall Theatre, followed by a massive session afterwards.
March: *Start of our new session in Murty Rabbitt’s.
*Paddy’s Day session in the Arus.
May: *Dustys go to Prague for a long weekend of music and craic.
*We launch our website in the Crane, with solo performances from Dustys members and a huge session.
*Dustys play with other groups in St Nicholas’ church as part of an international music night organised by the Sean agus Nua project.
June: *June Music Weekend! Dustys and friends from Hamburg enjoy a great Friday night of music in Cleggan, Co Galway. Followed by a “Hamburg Session” in the Crane on Saturday, as part of the Galway Sessions ‘08, and tunes in Ti Neachtain on Sunday as part of the Solstice Street Festival
*Dusty Banjos Ennis finishes up after 2 years.
July: *Our documentary is shown in the Town Hall Theatre as part of the 20th Galway Film Fleadh.
August: * Dustys take part in 2 nights of international music in Arus na nGael for Sean agus Nua.
September: * Our 6th birthday party in the Crane bar, with more solo performances & a giant session.
*Schull Weekend: Dustys go to West Cork for the weekend, playing at a local fundraiser.
*Dusty Banjos Beag members get promoted and a new Dustys Beag begins.
October: *The 7th Hamburg Hooley, tunes in Hamburg and Lubeck with our German friends.
* Videos of the 6th birthday performances and session go up on our website.
*Rehearsing gets underway towards our CD recording next January.
December: *Our Xmas party in Arus na nGael, a fundraiser for COPE Galway.
2007
January
* Dusty members start a new Monday session in Richardsons.
February
*
Dusty Banjos Beag, a new session for beginners, is launched in Richardsons.
* Members of Dustys & friends record a track for the Galway CD “Sean agus Nua – Eagsulacht”
March
*Paddy’s Day! Dustys & friends play the usual session in Ti Ghearoid, Oranmore.
*Start of new Wednesday session with Mary, Sean & Dustys in Richardsons.
May
*Launch of the CD “Sean agus Nua” in Victoria Hotel.
*The 5th Hamburg Hooley.. weekend of tunes & craic with our friends in Hamburg, Germany.
June
*The Inishboffin Weekend!
*Dustys Ennis 1st birthday party.
August
*Dustys play at the Sean agus Nua outdoor gig at the Galway Museum.
*Dustys play a session for Brod ’07 (Galway Pride) celebrations in Arus na nGael.
*Dusty Banjos, with ID Films & Galway Film Centre, start filming a documentary on the group.
September
*Dustys 5th birthday – mighty celebrations in the Crane bar, with around 50 musicians taking to the stage.
*Our website 'www.dustybanjos.com' goes online : )
October
*The 6th Hamburg Hooley – tunes with German musicians in Hamburg, Kiel & Lubeck.
*Dustys Ennis Halloween party.
November
*Start of First Saturday Sessions in Arus na nGael.
December
*Dustys Ennis Christmas party.
*Dustys play at the Access Music Project fundraiser in Eyre Square Centre, &
in Monroe’s Tavern.
*Dustys Galway Christmas party.
