www.rte.ie/radio1/rootsfreeway

The month of May has been designated International Bluegrass month and the RTÉ Radio 1 Music Collection is marking it with a host of music programmes celebrating Bluegrass and its musicians.

Monday’s In Concert series features two-part shows The Paperboys and Alison Krauss during the month. The Paperboys are a Canadian group whose influences range from Bluegrass to Mexicana and our own Irish traditional music. Alison Krauss in concert was recorded in The National Stadium in 1996 and has never been broadcast before. Alison and her band Union Station show us why she is the queen of Bluegrass music.

Every Tuesday during May, Roots Freeway with presenter Niall Toner will have a history of Bluegrass feature and interviews from his recent visit to Nashville and the International Bluegrass Music Awards week.

Thursday night’s RTÉ Radio 1 Music Collection also features Bluegrass music. Niall Toner introduces us to Bluegrass banjo legend Bella Fleck and mandolin player Chris Thile who, with his band Punch Brothers, has brought Bluegrass to a new level. Presenter Sandy Harsch talks to singer, musician, producer, composer and living legend Ricky Scaggs. The final programme features leading voices in Bluegrass today, Steve Kaufman and Greg Cahill.

International Bluegrass month on RTÉ Radio 1 will finish with a live Roots Freeway session featuring the Niall Toner Band, Brayvista, American singer songwriter Stephen Fearing and seven piece string band Prison Love on Tuesday 27 May and 3 June. Tickets for this event will be available from http://www.rte.ie/radio1/rootsfreeway/.

For more information on this event tune into International Bluegrass Month during May on RTÉ Radio 1.

Tune into RTÉ Radio 1 Music Collection during May 2008.

RTÉ Radio 1 Music Collection - in Concert, Monday, 9.02pm

RTÉ Radio 1 Music Collection - Roots Freeway, Tuesdays, 9.02pm

RTÉ Radio 1 Music Collection - Bluegrass Specials, Thursdays, 9.02pm

RTÉ Radio 1 Music Collection presents International Bluegrass month is produced by Aidan Butler.
For further information please contact: Denise Sammon, RTÉ Radio Press and Publicity Office, 01- 208 2215, Denise.sammon@rte.ie

Issued by RTÉ Radio
Date: 1 May 2008