Chord Finder

You want to know how to shape a special chord on your instrument? Well, let's have a look at the chord finder at
http://4stringchords.com/
You specify the tuning and there you go.

ABC Convert-A-Matic

This is a fine online converter. Just paste ABC-Files into it and you'll get notation or midi files out of it.
http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html

Zoukfest Raffle

Zoukfest takes place from June 10th to 16th,2007 at the College of Santa Fe, New Mexico. You'll find all the info you need at
www.zoukfest.com
Every year there's a chance to win a bouzouki. This year there are two bouzoukis to be won. First a Herb Taylor Flattop Bouzouki, here are two videos on which Roger Landes plays this great instrument:



The second Bouzouki is a G.D. Armstrong Resophonic Bouzouki, looks and sounds like a Dobro-Zouk and played with slide by Chipper Thompson:



Until now I don't have any information about classes. I'm so sorry, that I can't go there.

Improvising Melodic Accompaniments

Kieron, a musician from China http://www.chinatogalway.com has published an article written by Chris Smith about this topic on his website:
http://www.chinatogalway.com/Bouzouki%20style%20countermelodies.htm

By the way, his website is a goldmine if you are looking for informatin about Andy Irvine or Planxty. Have a look!

Chris Smith published a book called: Celtic Backup for All Instrumentalists. His website:
http://coyotebanjo.com/

String tension calculator

If you want to experiment with new sets of strings it will be useful to have the advantages of a string calculator. I found one specialized in Bouzouki tunings at Greenmanhumming:
http://www.greenmanhumming.com/html/StringCalc/Multistringcalc.html

There are two applets available: easy and expert.

Dervish Live Videos

It took some time, but here are two live Videos from one of my favourite Groups, Dervish.

Aaron Jones, Claire Mann and Tom McConville

A video shot in Hexham, Feb. 2007 in which you can see Aaron's new Bouzouki made by NkForster. He posted the videos to show his fantastic instrument. Look at his website:
http://www.nkforsterguitars.com/

Here is a blog article about Aarons bouzouki:
http://nkforsterguitars.blogspot.com/2007/02/new-aaron-jones-model-3-bouzouki.html

Here's another one:



and another one, a great song called: Across the western ocean:

Andy Irvine - Mother Jones

A live recording made in October 2006 in Germany. Andy was performing solo in a small village called Steinfeld. It was very hard to find the location. Andy told, he had the same problem, too.

This song is a tribute to Mother Jones, the "angel of the miners". More info:
http://www.kentlaw.edu/ilhs/majones.htm






A German review of the concert:
http://www.hjk-steinfeld.de/index.php?id=233

Roger Landes - Radio Interview

Roger Landes is a well-known american Bouzouki player. He began playing the instrument in 1981. He co-founded the Celtic band Scartaglen.
Recordings:
Dragon Reels (1997)
The Janissary Stomp (2001)
House to House (2004)

On his website you'll find more information and a 30 minute radio interview.
http://www.rogerlandes.com/

Link to interview:
http://www.rogerlandes.com/audio/art_of_the_song.mp3

Alec Finn, Jackie Daly & Frankie Gavin

'The Monaghan Jig' played by this three fantastic musicians.

The Bothy Band - Pretty Peg - Donal Lunny

A great video from 1976. The Bothy Band were performing Pretty Peg and Craig's Pipes.

Musicians:
Paddy Keenan - Uilleann Pipes
Micheal O Dhomhnaill - Guitar
Triona Ni Dhomhnaill - Vocals
Donal Lunny - Bouzouki
Kevin Burke - Fiddle
Matt Molloy - Flute



Bothy Band Links:
http://www.folkworld.de/30/e/bothy.html

Bothy Band Lyrics:

http://www.folkworld.de/30/e/bothy.html

De Dannan, 2 Bouzoukis, Johnny Moynihan and Alec Finn

Here's an old video live recording at the Embankment 1976. 4 minutes pure pleasure.




Information links:

De Dannan
http://www.ceolas.org/artists/De_Dannan.html

Johnny Moynihan
http://www.iol.ie/~ronolan/moynihan.html

Interview with Alec Finn
http://www.xs4all.nl/~hspeek/bouzouki/alec_finn.html

Julie Fowlis, once again

Oh, I love her voice and music. Her new album will be out in about three weeks. Two songs can be heard on http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=61669776. Have a listen and buy the album, when it's out.

Sinead & Nuala Hayes with Tobias Kurig & Rolf Wagels

The bouzouki player on this video is Tobias Kurig (http://www.shanachie.de/). He is member in the bands Shanachie and Deirin Dé (http://www.deirinde.de/).

Here's another one:

Bonedoggie and Friends - Black Betty

Black Betty on Irish Bouzouki. Ok, not irish folk, but definitely worth hearing. Video is a bit dark.



I did not find any information about the musicians on the web. If you know anything, please write a few lines in the comments.
One anonymus reader gave me the address of Bone Doggies Site at Myspacecom:
http://www.myspace.com/bonedoggiejohnnyt
American Blues on a Irish Bouzouki. You gotta give it a listen!

Barry Kerr & Rubén Bada

Rubén Bada was born in Avilés, in the northern coast of Asturies, and raised in the Cape Peñes area, where the Asturian language and culture are still healthy and alive. Ruben got his hands on his first guitar at the age of 14 having experimented with many instruments from the age of eight including the Trombone!. After listening to some Bothy Band and Llan de Cubel tapes, he realized that the traditional music he had listened to since child (in Asturies there is a piper everywhere...) could be taken further and that strings (guitar and bouzouki) could be a key ingredient. After a couple of years learning Asturian tunes and discovering Irish music, he got his first bouzouki, a Greek one borrowed from a friend and it was at this time that he began to learn the fiddle. Rubén started his recording career in 1998 with the band Xéliba with whom he recorded two albums. Soon after he became a highly demanded studio musician and producer, working as a band member or in the studio with Asturian acts such as Anabel Santiago, Mari luz Cristobal, N'arba, Corquieu, Dixebra, Llacín Pipe Band, Ú?, Toli Morilla...touring all over Europe. In 2004 Rubén moved to Belfast, and soon he became part of the local music scene. Currently, Rubén is playing with the bands "DRD", and John Mcsherry and Dónal O'Connor's "At First Light". In February 2006, Rubén was awarded "Best Instrumentalist" in the Asturian Music Awards. (info from hit website at myspace.com, http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=85613553)

Barry Kerr: Originally from the southern shores of Lough Neagh, but now working and living in Belfast, Barry Kerr is regarded as one of the outstanding traditional musicians of his generation. Barry is rapidly establishing himself as fine painter and sculptor through numerous sell-out exhibitions. (from his website: http://www.barrykerr.com)