Gold Heart with Jens Koch (banjo) at a school performance arranged by the SBA

John Sheldon reports that the Scottish Bluegrass Association have just completed a ten-date UK tour for Gold Heart (USA) [see the EBB post for 14 April], who sold out at each of ten venues. Jens Koch of G2 (Sweden) played banjo with the band. A special high point of the tour was Gold Heart performing a 'bluegrass in the schools' concert (see photo above) on the SBA youth programme. Arrangements are now being completed for five mid-May dates in the UK for Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands (USA).

The SBA's annual Guildtown Bluegrass Festival (31 July-3 August 2009) is now teamed up with Southern Fried, a festival of Americana and roots music in nearby Perth, east central Scotland. The headline band at Guildtown are the Midnight Ramblers (USA), another brilliant young band. For more information on the Scottish scene, check out the SBA website.

Update 8 May: a video from the Goldheart tour, and a report by the band on their 'awesomely insane' (in a good way) experiences, can now be seen on the original Bluegrass Blog.

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Bill Monroe's Historic Visit to Scotland in 1975

(click on the photo for the full story)

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Dave Logan's Historic 80's Gigs at Navaar House Penicuik

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A selection of Guildtown Bluegrass Festival Highlights 1987 - 1995

Stoney Creek, Guildtown 1987	Old Hickory, Guildtown 1987	Acme String Band, Guildtown 1988	Runaway String Band, Guildtown 1988	Okefenokee, Guildtown 1988
Jumbo String Band, Guildtown 1988	Suburban Edge, Guildtown 1988	Johnny Plank & The Planktones, Guildtown 1989	The Rainy City Bluegrass Band, Guildtown 1989	Jalapeno Pickers, Guildtown 1990
Goldrush, Guildtown, 1990	Generation Gap, Guildtown 1991	The Moonshiners, Guildtown 1991	The Tom Travis Band, Guildtown 1991	Banjo Bill, Guildtown 1991
Steven McLuskey, Alive & Pickin' Guildtown 1991	Midnight Special, Guildtown 1993	Goldrush, Guildtown 1993	Arthur & Co., Guildtown 1993	Rob Mairs, Guildtown 1993
The Moonshiners, Guildtown 1993	Brian Curtis, Guildtown 1993	Dick & Ray, Guildtown 1993	Ray & Kate 1993	Goldrush, Guildtown 1994
Kimmel Rosenstein & Co., Guildtown 1994	Guildtown 1995 Poster	Newkirk & Bell, Guildtown 1995	Dave Logan, Guildtown MC	The late Russell Cooper Guildtown Organiser 1997 -2000

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A selection of SBA highlights including sponsored bands & performers

Big Mon & Wayne Taylor	Ralph Stanley's presentation	Earl at Johnny Keenan Banjo Fest	Bill Monroe in Rosine	All Bells &Whistles
Andy meets his banjo hero Dick Smith	Andy Owens	Bill Evans and Megan Fiddlestar	Bluegrass Patriots at Howden Park	Craig Duncan & Friends
Fifty Fingers	Gold Heart on Tour	Gold Heart at Nottingham	Goldrush 2009	Goldrush 2008
John 2007	Guildtown 2009	Jamie Shows us how it's done	EWOB Bluegrass pioneer award	Josh Williams
Red, Murphy & Family	Frank Wakefield	Special C at Howden Park	Peter Rowan at The Beinn Inn	Bob with his Hero Steve Kaufman
Beverly Smith & Carl Jones	Mike Craig's Scottish Bluegrass Pioneer Award	The Isaccs	Foghorn String Band	Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands
Lonesome Mountaineers	Rolls Boys	The Midnight Ramblers	The Bluegrass Patriots	Chris Stuart Band
Laurie & Tom	Dan Crary & Beppe Gambetta	The Bills	Dan Levenson	Country Cocktail
Ivan Rosenberg	Ken Orrick & Lost Highway	The Musselwhites	Jim & Jennie & The Pine Tops	Junior & George from Appalachian Mist
Home Made Jam	New England Bluegrass Band	Orrin Star	Relief	Rob Ickes
Sharon Cort & New River Ranch	Sons & Brothers	Svatka Stepankova of Fifty Fingers	Bluegrass Brothers	Jimmy Gaudreau & Moondi Klein
Thunderbridge Bluegrass Boys	Laura Boosinger & Josh Goforth	Bakers Fabulous Boys	Ken Perlman	No Speed Limit
Buddy Merriam & Backroads	Pete & Joan Wernick	White Top Mountain Band	Noam Pikelny	The Stockwell Brothers
Fox Tower Bluegrass Band	Deep River Band	Rick Townend	The Crooked Jades	Biggin Hillbillies
New Essex Bluegrass Band	Bruce Molsky