News and Events
DUSTY BANJOS ONLINE SHOP NOW OPEN
Great news for people wanting to get hold of our CDs, book etc - all our products are now for sale online using PayPal. Just go to the "Shop" page to see what's available.
SUMMER BREAK FOR CLASS AND DUSTYS
We're breaking with tradition this year and taking a summer holiday!
Due to a variety of factors, we've decided to take a break from the class and Dustys for July and August. But we'll be back as usual on Thurs 9th September. We'll see you all then, and have a great summer!
Don't be anywhere except in Galway for Dustys 8th birthday celebrations on Monday 27th September in the Crane bar!
More later....
The Dustys session in Clifden is also taking a summer break. We'll be back in September, watch this space for dates.
2nd CLEGGAN MUSIC WEEKEND
Thanks to everyone who came along to the fantastic 2nd DUSTY BANJOS CLEGGAN MUSIC WEEKEND.
We had over 50 musicians playing over the 3 sessions, and it was a most enjoyable weekend all round. It was especially lovely to have friends from France, Germany & Sweden visiting, not to mention the many other people who travelled a long way. So thanks all of you, hope you enjoyed it!
Thanks also to Newman's and Olivers pubs for great nights, and to the local people and businesses for supporting us.
We were too busy to take photos, so if any of you have same we'd love to get our hands on them for the website. So please send 'em in - on a CD if you can!
Here's to the next one...
Oliver's Saturday night trad session in Cleggan with Heather & Mary is back, and will be on Wednesdays and some Saturdays throughout the summer (not 1st Sats). Dates for July are the 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th (Weds) & 10th, &17th (Sat) . Musicians welcome!
August dates are currently 4, 11, 18, 25 (Weds) & 14, 21 (Sat). Check here for any changes!
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 next session will be on Saturday 7th August. All are welcome!
Weekly Sessions in Murty Rabbitt's
The weekly session in Murty Rabbitts pub on Forster St, (across from the tourist office) is back to Thursday nights.
Sean has taken 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!
You can see photos on this site -( thanks Heather!)
Sessions are on Thursday nights at 9.30. All are welcome as always.. Bring your friends!
CD LAUNCH
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 Shop page of our website.
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 something special for yor nearest & dearest, Heather's Cleggan Cards are now on sale in Galway at the Black Cat Gallery (next to the Tribune office on Market St), in Judy Greene Pottery, at Charlie Byrne's bookshop and in Fr Griffin Rd Post Office. 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 for all your handyman needs.
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). Check it out!
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 2009 - a busy year!
Dustys had another busy year in 2009. Some of the highlights...
January: *A great start to the year, with 20 musicians playing in the Arus for the First Saturday Session.
*Dustys moves to its new home in the Western Hotel.
*The recording of our CD “Live at the Crane” takes place, with 48 musicians playing.
February: *Dustys receives a grant from the Arts Council for €5000 towards the making of our CD.
*Studio work on the CD continues.
March: * Dustys play sessions for Seachtain na nGaeilge & Paddy’s Day in the Arus.
May: *Session for the Volvo Ocean Race.
*Our CD is at the mastering stage, and the artwork in progress.
June: * The Cleggan Music Weekend! Dustys and friends enjoy a great weekend of music and sunshine in Cleggan, Co Galway.
*Dustys play for the Galway Sessions.
July: *Weekly sessions with Heather & Mary in Olivers, Cleggan begin.
*Our CD is being produced and packaged.
August: *Dustys CD is finished at last; we gather in the Crane to hear it for the first time. Needless to say, it sounds fantastic!
September: *Our 7th birthday party in the Crane bar.
*Dustys play in the hospital as part of Galway Culture Night.
*And also for the Oyster Festival.
October: *Schull Weekend: Dustys return to West Cork for the weekend, playing at a local fundraiser.
*Our CD has been sent to loads of radio stations, and has got great airplay.
November: *Our CD is launched in the Crane by Johnny O’Halloran.
The November newsletter is a double-sized edition packed with info about the recording from start to finish.
December: *Dustys Xmas party in the Arus rounds up the year.
2008
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.
