Old Faded Glory, who'll be at the festival, have apparently been playing since the sixties. They are Barry Murphy, John O'Connell and Tony Wetjen - I've got a feeling I saw Barry Murphy do a folk club back in the sixties. Has anyone seen these guys or know what they're like?. I'm really looking forward to the Rough Deal String Band. For me, these guys are the best thing in these islands for Old Time music. Bill Whelan's banjo playing is about perfect - driving non-repetitive clawhammer that lifts the band up. Tim Rogers' fiddle playing is the real thing, while Ben Keogh sings beautifully and holds them together with great flatpicking. I'm slightly biased, I suppose - I did a five day workshop with Bill Whelan at Sore Fingers last Easter, and was thoroughly impressed with the depth of his banjo knowledge. Apparently he's also the Bass player on a lot of De Dannaan (sp?) records.

Cheers