St Saviour's Parish Church, Craigavon - 17th Annual Evening of Music & Praise - Friday 11th Feb 2011 @ 8.00pm

This is our next diary date, taking Ulster-Scots flavoured gospel music to County Armagh! Also taking part are soloists George Walker (Lurgan) and Phillis Corrigan (Armagh), with a group called Accordion Sounds (who we think are made up from members of the excellent Pride of the Birches Accordion Band). Pastor Simon Richardson of Craigavon Baptist Church will be there too. Supper is provided. As Joe Murphy says, Craigavon is the land of "magic roundabouts", and the church is just off roundabout no. 3. Here's the church website.

Where we're playing in 2016

Here's a list of the places where you can see us during 2016. Look forward to seeing you!

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Forthcoming dates in 2016:

• Wednesday 14 September
Faith Mission Tent, Killaughey (near the Windmill, Millisle)

• Saturday 1 October 2016

Burnside Orange Hall, Templepatrick

• Saturday 8 October 2016

Gideons Conference, Antrim

• Friday 21 October 2016

Dromore High School, with Justified and Revival

• Friday 4  November 2016

With Warren Smyth, Harrison's Greyabbey

• Sat 12 and Sun 13 November 2016

New Prestwick Baptist Church, Ayrshire

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Previous dates in 2016:

• Sunday 10 January 2016

Dromore Independent Methodist

• Friday 15 January 2016

Orange Community Awards, Lagan Valley Island Centre

• Saturday 6 February 2016

Comber Baptist Church - Burns Night

• Thursday 25 February 2016

Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church, Newtownards

• Sunday 13 March 2016

Dromore Presbyterian Church, Coolyvenny Road, Coleraine.

• Friday 8th April

Ballywalter Presbyterian Church

• Wednesday 13 April  Thursday 14 April

People's Hall, Portavogie

• Saturday 14 May 2016
New Prestwick Baptist Church, Ayrshire

• Sunday 22 May 2016

Lisburn Independent Methodist

• Sunday 5 June (afternoon)

Saintfield Orange Hall

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Previous dates in 2015:

(36 in total )

• Friday 16th January 2015

St Hildas, Seymour Hill, Dunmurry

• Sunday 18th January 2015

Kilkeel Baptist Church

• Friday 30th January 2015

Orange Community Awards, Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn

• Saturday 31st January 2015

Dunseverick Baptist Church

• Sunday 1st February 2015

New Dawn, Broughshane Community Centre

• Friday 13th February 2015

St Saviour's Church of Ireland, Craigavon. With Stonewall.

• Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd February 2015

Brucefield Church of Scotland, Whitburn, West Lothian

• Sunday 1st March 2015

Millisle Presbyterian Church

• Saturday 7th March 2015

Edenderry Orange Hall, Portadown

• Thursday 12th March 2015

Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church, Newtownards

• Friday 20th March 2015

Burnavon Theatre, with Kathryn Mitchell and other artists, fundraiser for Roma charity

• Friday 27th March 2015

Killyleagh Baptist Church

• Thursday 9th & Friday 10th April 2015

People's Hall, Portavogie

• Saturday 18th April 2015

Greyabbey Village Hall, with Portavogie Pipe Band

• Tuesday 12th May 2015

Loughbrickland Black Evangelical Fellowship

• Sunday 17th May 2015

Killyleagh Baptist Church

• Saturday 23rd May 2015

Embrace Comber

• Sunday 28th June 2015

Annalong Orange Hall

• Wednesday 1st July 2015

Culcavey Gospel Hall annual praise marquee event

• Sunday 6th September 2015

Knocknamuckley Parish Church (near Portadown)

• Friday 25 September 2015

Knocknagoney Hall

• Friday 2 October

Millisle Presbyterian Church concert

• Sunday 4 October 2015

Brooklands Gospel Centre, Dundonald

• Saturday 10 October 2015

Greenisland Church of the Nazarene

• Wednesday 28 October 2015

Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh (with other artists). 

• Sunday 1 November 2015

Peoples Hall, Portavogie

• Sunday 8 November 2015

Ballysillan Independent Methodist

• Saturday 28 November 2015

Lisburn CWU Hall

• Sunday 29 November 2015

2nd Randalstown Presbyterian

• Thursday 3 December 2015

Dunmurry Free Presbyterian Church

• Sunday 6 December 2015

Branagh Memorial Hall, East Belfast

• Sunday 20 December 2015

Portavogie Presbyterian Church

• Sunday 27 December 2015

Iron Hall, Belfast

• Thursday 31 December 2015

Loughbrickland, with Simple Faith

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Previous dates in 2014:

(38 in total)

• Sunday 19th January 2014

Mount Zion Community Church, Lisburn

• Saturday 25th January 2014

Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey

• Sunday 26th January 2014

Killicomaine Baptist Church, Portadown

• Saturday 1st February 2014

Gilnahirk Presbyterian Church, with Gilnahirk Pipe Band and Risin Stour

• Thursday 6th February 2014

Newtownards Elim Centre

• Friday 14th February 2014

St Saviour's Parish Church, Craigavon

• Saturday 1st March 2014

Maranatha Hall, Carrowdore

• Sunday 2nd March 2014

'The Shed' Mission Weekend, 25 Killyberry Lane, Bellaghy, BT45 8LN

• Friday 7th March 2014

with Warren Smyth at Harrison's, Greyabbey

• Sunday 23rd March 2014

Dromore Presbyterian Church, Coolyvenny Road, Coleraine.

Fields of Life fundraiser evening

• Wednesday 9th April 2014

The People's Hall, Portavogie

• Sunday 20 April 2014

Mountain Lodge, Darkley, Co Armagh, 3pm and 7.15pm

• Friday 25th April 2014

McKee's Country Store and Restaurant

• Thursday 15th May 2014

with Simple Faith, Stonewall, Kingdom Bound and Maria Gilpin. Fields of Life fundraiser concert

• Sunday 1st June 2014

Saintfield Orange Hall

• Friday 13th June 2014, 8pm

Londonderry Free Presbyterian Church, with Calvary Male Voice Choir (Magherafelt) and Karla Gregg

• Saturday 21st June 2014

Grace Baptist Church, Belfast (with Charles Ross from Tennessee)

• Thursday 26th June 2014

Clones, Co Monaghan

• Thursday 10th July 2014

Ards Arts Centre

• Saturday 12th July 2014

Newtownards 12th Demonstration

• Friday 15th August 2014

Private BBQ function, Portadown

• Saturday 16th August 2014

GospelFest, afternoon set

• Friday 22nd August 2014

Portstewart Town Hall

• Sunday 31st August 2014

Iron Hall, Belfast

• Sunday 14th Sept 2014

Coleraine Independent Methodist

• Friday 19th September 2014

Londonderry; details to be confirmed

• Saturday 27th September 2014

Killicomaine Baptist Church, Portadown

• Monday 6th October 2014

1st Rathfriland Presbyterian Church

• Saturday 11th October 2014

Bangor Abbey

• Sunday 26th October 2014

Abbots Cross Congregational Church

• Saturday 1st November 2014

CWU Ballynahinch

• Wednesday 5th November 2014

Ballywalter Presbyterian Church PW evening

• Saturday 8th November 2014

Whitby Gospel Music Convention 'Winter Warmer' event

• Friday 14th November 2014

Mullabrack Church of Ireland, Co Armagh

With Stonewall and Kathryn Mitchell

• Saturday 15th November 2014

Granshaw Presbyterian Church

• Sunday 30th November 2014

Monkstown Baptist Church

• Saturday 6th December 2014

Carrowdore Community Centre

• Sunday 14th December 2014

Newtownards Baptist Church

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Previous dates in 2013:

(32 in total)

• Friday 25th January
Burns Night, Carrowdore Community Centre

• Saturday 2nd February
Edenderry Orange Hall, Portadown (with Clive Elliott)

• Saturday 9th February
Brooklands Gospel Centre, Dundonald

• Saturday 16th February
Burnside Orange Hall, near Templepatrick

• Thursday 21st February
Strean Presbyterian Church, Newtownards

• Friday 22nd February
2nd Presbyterian Church, Randalstown

• Friday 8th March
Edengrove Presbyterian Church, Ballynahinch

• Saturday 23rd March
The Word, Ballygowan, Hillsborough (postponed due to snow)

• Friday 29th March
Cairnalbana Presbyterian Church, Co Antrim (postponed)

• Tuesday 9th April + Thursday 11th April
Portavogie Bible Week, People's Hall

• Friday 26th April
McKee's Country Store, Craigantlet (with Fred Greenfield and Karla Gregg)

• Saturday 27th April
Castlereagh Presbyterian Church (with The Colorado Band)

• Saturday 11th May
Calvary Baptist Church, Dee Street, Belfast (with Pathway Quartet and Marilyn Mills)

• Friday 14th June
Ballymena / Broughshane

• Saturday 29th June
The Game and Country Fair, Shanes Castle, Randalstown
(With 2nd Randalstown Presbyterian Church)

• Sunday 7th July
Donaghadee Methodist Church, 3pm

• Wednesday 14th August
Killinchy Parish Hall

• Sunday 1st September
Kilkeel Baptist Church, evening service

• Friday 6th September
Killultagh Orange Hall, Ballinderry

• Saturday 7th September
Broadisland Gathering, Ballycarry

• Sunday 22nd September
Lurgan Baptist Church, evening service

• Saturday 5th October
Private booking

• Friday 18th October
Donaghadee Methodist

• Sunday 27th October
Monkstown Baptist Church

• Friday 1st - Sunday 3rd November
Private booking

• Saturday 9th November
Whitby Gospel Music evening, Whitby, Yorkshire

• Saturday 16th November
Glenmachan Church of God anniversary concert

• Monday 18th November
Castlereagh Presbyterian Church

• Friday 29th November
Kirkistown Orange Hall

• Saturday 30th November
Tandragee Presbyterian Church

• Saturday 21st December
Victoria Evangelical Hall, Carrickfergus

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Previous dates in 2012:

(28 in total)

• Friday 27th January
Burns Night, Willowfield Parish Church, East Belfast

• Saturday 4th February
Edenderry Orange Hall, Portadown

• Monday 13th February
Donaghadee Methodist Church

• Saturday 18th February
CWU Lisburn

• Thursday 23rd February
Armagh Market Place Theatre, with Stonewall

• Friday 2nd March
Burnavon Theatre, Cookstown, with Live Issue, Kathryn Mitchell, Paul Irwin and the 1147ers

• Saturday 10th March
Kirlish, Co Tyrone

• Sunday 11th March
Richview Street Presbyterian, Belfast

• Saturday 17th March
Ballyrashane Presbyterian Church, near Coleraine

• Sunday 1st, Monday 2nd, Tuesday 3rd & Wed 4th April
The People's Hall, Portavogie

• Sunday 29th April
Grove Baptist Church

• Sunday 20th May
2nd Newtownards Presbyterian Church

• Saturday 26th May
'The Shelter', Portballintrae

• Sunday 3rd June
Kilkeel Baptist Church

• Saturday 9th June
Magherafelt (venue tbc)

• Friday 10th August
Ballymoney Town Hall, details to follow

• Friday 17th August
Portstewart Town Hall, details to follow

• Thursday 13th September
Killinchy Parish Church, with Stonewall

• Saturday 29th September
Stormont Estate

• Saturday 13th October
Bangor Abbey

• Saturday 20th October
Private engagement

• Friday 2nd November
Newtownards concert, info tbc

• Sunday 4 November 2012
Portavogie Presbyterian Church, 6.30pm

• Sunday 2 December 2012
Iron Hall, Belfast

• Thursday 6 December 2012
Dunmurry Free Presbyterian Church

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Previous dates in 2011:

(26 in total)
• Sunday 9th January
Ballynahinch Congregational Church

• Saturday 22nd January
Queen's Hall, Newtownards

• Tuesday 25th January
Willowfield Parish Church Burns Night event

• Friday 11 February
St Saviour's Church of Ireland, Craigavon
(with soloists George Walker and Phillis Corrigan, and Accordion Sounds)

• Sunday 13 February
Brooklands Gospel Centre, Dundonald

• Sunday 20 February (morning)
Mount Zion Community Church, Lisburn

• Sunday 6th March
Richview St Presbyterian Church, Donegall Road, Belfast

• Saturday 12th March
Olivet Hall, East Belfast, 3pm

• Saturday 26th March
Burnavon Theatre, Cookstown. With our friends Live Issue, Kathryn Mitchell, Paul Irwin and the 1147ers.

• Sunday 10th April
Kilkeel Baptist Church

• Saturday 28th May
'The Shelter', Portballintrae, with Revelation

• Saturday 4th June
Glastry Methodist Church

• Sunday 26th June, 8.15pm
Tent Mission, Newtownards, Co Down

• Tuesday 12th July
Demonstration field, Comber, Co Down

• Sunday 28th August
People's Hall, Portavogie

• Thursday 1st September
Broadisland Gathering, Ballycarry, County Antrim

• Saturday 10th September
Tullyallen & Mountnorris Presbyterian Church - cd launch event

• Saturday 24th September
Lisnafillan Mission Hall, Galgorm, Ballymena

• Friday 7 October
Donegore Presbyterian Church harvest evening

• Tuesday 11 October
Loughbrickland Black Evangelical Fellowship.

• Saturday 22 October
Gransha Presbyterian Church (near the La Mon House Hotel)

• Sunday 6th November
Knocknamuckley Church of Ireland (near Portadown), evening service

• Saturday 12th November
Lisburn concert, venue to be confirmed

• Thursday 1st December
Craigavon Civic Centre

• Saturday 3rd December
Spectrum Centre, Shankill Road

• Sunday 4th December
Iron Hall, Belfast


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Previous dates in 2010:

(34 in total)

• Thursday 14th January
Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church, Newtownards

• Saturday 30th January
The Cottage Meeting, Newtownards

• Friday 12th February
Ballee High School, Ballymena. More details to follow!

• Saturday 20th February
Burnside Orange Hall, near Templepatrick (with the Calvary Quartet)

• Sunday 7th March
Richview Presbyterian Church, Donegall Road, Belfast

• Thursday 11th March
Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle, Belfast

• Sunday 21st March
Willowfield Parish Church, Belfast - 10am service

• Sunday 28th March
Carrowdore Mission Hall evening service, 7pm

• Friday 7th May
McKee's Country Store, Craigantlet, 7.30pm NEW CD LAUNCH - An evening of "Soda Farls and Redemption Songs". Free entry. Cup of tea and soda bread for everybody, copies of Redemption Songs at the door - come ready to sing!

• Sunday 9th May
Brooklands Gospel Centre

• Saturday 15th May
Mountnorris Presbyterian Church Hall, near Markethill, Co. Armagh. Other artists are Colin Elliott (Live Issue), William Sayers and Tammy Qua

• Thursday 27th May
Portavogie Primary School - Ulster-Scots evening

• Sunday 6th June
Mount Zion Community Church, Lisburn, 7pm

• Sunday 13th June
Saintfield Orange Hall, 7pm. Special evening service

• Thursday 24th June
Bushmills Orange Hall, Co. Antrim. Also performing will be Mark Carmichael, Parker Donnelly, and the McIiwaine Family. Starts at 8.00pm

• Wednesday 7th July
Culcavey Hall, Lisburn. Also performing will be Sam Jenkins and Soul Purpose. Starts at 8.00pm

• Saturday 31st July & Sunday 1st August
Cairncastle Ulster-Scots Folk Festival, Co Antrim. Saturday evening soirée at 7.30pm, we might also take part in the Sunday afternoon praise service at 2.30pm

• Sunday 15th August
Brooklands Gospel Centre

• Friday 20th August
Portstewart Town Hall. With "Justified" and Martin Moore. Phone John Morrison 7086 8437

• Saturday 21st August
"GospelFest", Donacloney, Co Down with Live Issue and Iris Evans

• Sunday 29th August
The People's Hall, Portavogie, 8.15pm

• Friday 3rd September, 8.00pm
Burnside Presbyterian Church, Portstewart. Also performing will be Eaden Accordion Orchestra, Corner Stone, Nigel Davison and Soul Purpose.

• Thursday 16th September
Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church, Newtownards

• Saturday 18th September, 3.00pm
Disabled Christian Fellowship event, Bangor. Contact Albert Brown 9146 3984

• Saturday 25th September
Ballygowan Presbyterian Church, with Risin Stour. Contact John Hanna 9752 8325

• Saturday 2nd October
First Comber Presbyterian, Men on a Mission Ethiopia fundraising evening. Tickets £6 each, contact Gary Jackson on 07708 709232

• Sunday 3rd October
Ballywalter Orange Hall mission, preacher Trevor Bennett

• Sunday 10th October
Ballywalter Orange Hall mission, preacher Trevor Bennett

• Friday 15th October
‘An Evening of Ulster Scots Music and Crack’ part of Newtownards Ulster-Scots Festival Week. Venue is the Old Town Hall Newtownards. Hosted by David Anderson MVO, MBE. Also performing will be Lord Londonderry’s Own CLB Band, Wilbert Magill and the Newtownards Orange Male Voice Choir . There will also be a talk on Asha Koran School in India by Billy Curry. A retiring offering will be collected in aid of the School. Entry £5.00.

• Saturday 16th October, 7.45pm
Knocknamuckley Parish Church Hall, Co Armagh. Harvest Supper evening

• Friday 22nd October
Private function for Westbourne Presbyterian Church, Belfast.

• Saturday 6th November, 7.00pm
Carrowdore Mission Hall, monthly rally evening.

• Tuesday 9th November, 8.00pm
2nd Presbyterian Church, Newtownards.

• Sunday 28th November, 7.00pm
First Rathfriland Presbyterian Church.

• Sunday 5th December, 7.00pm
Iron Hall, Belfast.

• Thursday 16th December, 7.00pm
Carol Service, Ballywalter Orange Hall.

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Previous dates in 2009:

(28 in total)

• Sunday 22 February
Willowfield Parish Church, Belfast

• Thursday 26th February
Greenwell Street Presbyterian Church, Newtownards

• Sunday 1st March
Richview Street Presbyterian Church, Donegall Road, Belfast

• Saturday 21st March
Stranocum Alternative St Patrick's Night, Stranocum Orange Hall

• Friday 27th March
Wilbert Magill book launch evening, The Old Town Hall, Newtownards

• Saturday 28th March & Sunday 29th March
Killicomaine Baptist Church, Portadown

• Sunday 12th April
Disraeli Street Mission Hall, Woodvale Road, Belfast

• Saturday 25th April
1859 Revival Commemoration Evening, Hillstown Orange Hall, Randalstown

• Thursday 30th April
1859 Revival Commemoration Evening, Ferniskey Orange Hall, Ballymena

• Sunday 17th May
Willowfield Parish Church, Belfast

• Sunday 24th May
Brooklands Gospel Centre, Dundonald

• Sunday 23rd August
Killaughey Mission Hall

• Monday 24th August
Millisle Baptist Church mission week (with the Calvary Quartet)

• Sunday 20th September
Brooklands Gospel Centre, Dundonald

• Sunday 27th September
Iron Hall, Belfast

• Sunday 4th October
Larne Mission Hall

• Friday 9th October
Coleraine Town Hall with William Sayers, Soul Purpose (Portglenone) and Mwamba Children's Choir (Uganda). Compère William Knox

• Saturday 10th October
Bangor Abbey, Ulster-Scots Evening with the Michelle Johnston Highland Dancers

• Sunday 18th October
Willowfield Parish Church, Belfast - 10am service

• Friday 13th November
Crossgar Ulster Praise Night; Crossgar War Memorial Hall, 8pm with Crossgar Young Defenders, Raffrey Pipe Band, Tamlaughtmore Silver Band and Carryduff Accordion Band

• Saturday 14th November
Carryduff Presbyterian Church Ulster-Scots Night with Risin' Stour, the Clan Davidson Highland Dancers, and compere Norman McBriar. Ticket only; for details contact Hugh Munro on 028 9081 2361

• Friday 20th November
Killelagh COI concert event; Killygullib Orange Hall; 8pm Country, Gospel and Ulster-Scots concert (with Kenny Archer, Jacqueline Prentice, Quinn Memorial Pipe Band, Killymuck Accordion Band) Ticket only; for details contact John Lynd on 07837 623656

• Saturday 21st November
Uganda Praise event, St James’ Parish Church Hall, Moore Street, Aughnacloy. With Pride of The Birches Accordion Band and Clover Watt. For further details contact William Price: 07709053447

• Sunday 29th November
Ballykeel Presbyterian Church, Ballymena - special early evening service beginning at 5.30pm

• Monday 30th November
Castlereagh Borough Council St Andrew's Night Castlereagh Civic Centre, 6pm - 10pm

• Saturday 5th December
Newtownards Baptist Church with the Calvary Quartet

• Sunday 6th December
Maranatha Mission Hall, Carrowdore

• Sunday 20th December
Carryduff Gospel Hall

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Previous dates in 2008:

• Sunday 26 July
Brooklands Gospel Centre, Dundonald

• Sunday 4 October
Maranatha Hall, Carrowdore

• Saturday 11 October
Bangor Abbey Ulster-Scots Night

• Saturday 6 December
Maranatha Hall, Carrowdore

• Sunday 7 December
Branagh Memorial Church, Belfast

• Tuesday 23 December
Private function, Bushmills, Co Antrim

• Sunday 28 December
Maranatha Hall, Carrowdore

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Castlereagh St Andrews Night - Mon 30th Nov!

Here's a cutting from the current Castlereagh Borough Council Arts Programme! Should be a good night - but to reassure you all there's no way Graeme and I will be wearing kilts! (click to enlarge).

Also appearing are Noel McMaster, Brenda Stewart and the Bright Lights Highland Dancers - and a few others still being lined up.

Tickets cost £3 (or £1.50 for groups of 5 or more people) and can be booked via telephone 028 9049 4566 or email ConorMaguire@castlereagh.gov.uk

New songs!

We've been trying out a lot of new songs lately at recent performances - which as usual means old songs and hymns that are so old most people have forgotten about them. At the moment the list includes:

Haven of Rest (by Henry Gilmour of Londonderry, around 1890)
What Will the Profit Be? (by the Monroe Brothers)
What's the News? (the anthem of the 1859 Ulster Revival)
Victory in Jesus (by EM Bartlett, 1939)
Nearer My God to Thee (1841 - famous as the hymn that the band played as the Titanic sank)
All the Way My Saviour Leads Me (1875 - tune "Ulster" written by Robert Lowry)
I've a Soul to be Saved (an old Sunday School song)
Say Will You be Ready (another old Sunday School song)
Three crosses standing (another old Sunday School song)
O Christ what Burdens bowed Thy head (melody "Consolation/Ulster" by Ira D Sankey, circa 1888)
He's the One
We are Never Never Weary (1885, by Ulster emigrant William Kirkpatrick)
On the Sea of Galilee (the Carter Family)
Sunshine in the Shadows (the Carter Family)
Dwelling in Beulah Land
Brand from the Burning
The Sands of Time are Sinking (inspired by Samuel Rutherford)
Still Sweeter Every Day
And a good few more!

Demos are being recorded at the moment and are sounding good. All being well the free download MP3s will be posted here soon - as and when we get them finished.
.

The Blue Sky Boys {1936 - 1948 / 1962 - 1975}

[We play the Blue Sky Boys' song It's G.L.O.R.Y. to Know I'm S.A.V.E.D.. They first recorded it in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday 5 February 1940]


THE BLUE SKY BOYS were Earl Bolick (1919 - 1998) and Bill Bolick (1917 - 2008) from the town of East Hickory, North Carolina. Their ancestors had emigrated from Germany to America and the family was of Lutheran heritage, but were members of a Church of God (Anderson, Indiana branch) congregation. The brothers learned hymns from their father from hymnals such as "Reformation Glory".

• Signed to RCA Victor records in 1936
• First recording 16 June 1936 (10 tracks, the first of which was I'm Just Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail)
• Recorded 100 tracks from 1936 - 1941
• They served in the US Army from 1941 - 1946
• Stopped recording in 1948 and retired from music in 1951

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REFERENCES:
“…we did practically all the numbers with the mandolin and guitar…” (ref. Bluegrass p 34)

“…intricate yet simple harmonies, their perfectly matching voices, and their unadorned mandolin and guitar instrumental backing set them off from the competition, so much so that two generations of subsequent duet singers echo them, some without realizing it…”
(Ref. Answers.com entry)

“…This hillbilly brother act was a major influence on both the Louvins and the Everly Brothers, playing guitar and mandolin-backed mountain songs with simple harmonies. Their perfectly matched voices blended together with seamless beauty, creating a gut-wrenchingly forlorn sound…” (Ref. www.Real.com entry)

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DISCOGRAPHY:
Partial Blue Sky Boys discography available in Country Music Records, a Discography 1921 - 1942 by Tony Russell, p 113-114

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BUY:
• The Sunny Side of Life 5 CD box set with book (123 tracks)
• Blue Sky Boys music on Amazon.co.uk

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VISIT:
• Slipcue.com article and discography
• Independent newspaper obituary for Bill Bolick
• Wikipedia entry

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WATCH:
Two Youtube clips: Down on the Banks of the Ohio and No Disappointment in Heaven:

The Monroe Brothers {1936 - 1938}

[We play the Monroe Brothers' song What Would the Profit Be. They first recorded it in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday 15 February 1937]


THE MONROE BROTHERS were Charlie Monroe (1903 – 1975) and Bill Monroe (1911 – 1996) from the town of Rosine, Kentucky. They were arguably the most important of all of the guitar/mandolin brother duet acts of the 20th century.

They were raised in the rural Baptist and Methodist churches (ref. Bluegrass p 28) and began playing semi professionally in 1929.

• Signed to RCA Victor records in 1936
• First recording 17 February 1936 (10 tracks, the first of which was My Long Journey Home)
• Recorded 60 tracks for Victor Bluebird records
• Last recording 28 January 1938 (10 tracks, the last of which was When Our Lord Shall Come Again)
• Hit single What Would You Give in Exchange For Your Soul? (Bluebird B-6309)
• Disbanded 1938
• Bill went on to form Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys in 1945, inventing the new musical style called bluegrass.

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REFERENCES:
“…Until the mid 1960s Monroe used only guitar and mandolin accompaniment on religious songs… all emphasis was placed on the total performance of the song in a reverent and ritualistic way; this is the hymn, it’s treated seriously…”
(ref. Bluegrass p 236-237)

“…music sprang from ancient Scots-Irish culture transplanted to the Appalachians, where it blossomed as a traditional folk art…”
(Ref. Can’t You Hear Me Callin p 4)

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DISCOGRAPHY:
Full Monroe Brothers discography available in Country Music Records, a Discography 1921 - 1942 by Tony Russell, p 632-633

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BUY:
• Monroe Brothers music on Amazon.co.uk
• Rounder Records Volume I "What Would You Give in Exchange for Your Soul?
• Rounder Records Volume II "Just a Song of Old Kentucky"




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WATCH:
Here are three YouTube clips of Bill Monroe: his intro sequence from the classic 1994 film High Lonesome / in his later years playing the tune My Last Days on Earth / a short history video about his life:







As the Mac Wiseman voiceover on the first clip says (at about 5.20) "...Across the South - Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, descendants of Scotch-Irish settlers played songs brought from across the sea. Old tunes like Soldier's Joy, Fair and Tender Ladies and Billy in the Low Ground rang through Appalachia as they had done for centuries in the British Isles..."

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VISIT:
• http://www.billmonroe.com



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The McCravy Brothers {1925 - 1935}

[ Graeme and I learned the two McCravy Brothers songs below while we were at Carrowdore Mission Hall Sunday School during the 1970s and 1980s. These were on an old 78 that belonged to our Aunt Rhoda. I can remember performing these at the Christmas "Social" and prizegiving ]


THE McCRAVY BROTHERS - Frank and James McCravy - were from Laurens, South Carolina. Their father was the local sheriff. It had also been the home of President Andrew Johnson, 17th President of the USA and one of the many Presidents of Ulster-Scots descent.

They began singing shortly after Jim graduated from Furman University - Frank also served for two years in the General Assembly of South Carolina. In their 1933 book "Album of Fireside Songs" it says "...they offer sentimental modern spirituals and semi-religious songs. They sing no 'Hot' tunes or 'Low-Down stuff'...".

• First recording February 1925 for Okeh Records (6 tracks, the first of which was One of God's Days)
• Recorded hundreds of tracks, often under pseudonyms such as the Lonesome Pine Twins, Austin Brothers, Al & Joe Blackburn, Cox & Campbell and The Mack Brothers
• Stopped recording in 1935 (last track was My Mother's Evening Prayer, Jan 29 1935)

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DISCOGRAPHY:
Partial McCravy Brothers discography available in Country Music Records, a Discography 1921 - 1942 by Tony Russell, p 531-538

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BUY:
• Old Time Harmony Singing 21 track CD from Venerable Music
• Mountain Gospel 4 CD box set (includes 4 McCravy Brothers songs) from Amazon.co.uk

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WATCH/LISTEN:

The Glorious Gospel Train (October 1931 - Decca 18040):


Does this Train go to Heaven? (October 1931 - Decca 18040):

The original Low Country Boys - CDs

If you have either of these CDs - Gran Time Comin (2005) and Sangs O Bairns an Hame (2006), then you'll be familiar with our music already. You may even have seen us in concert or on TV over the years, or in many of the YouTube videos that are still online. Mark and Graeme were the "frontmen" and lead vocalists of the original Low Country Boys, but we left around December 2007. We are no longer with the Low Country Boys. Some folks have gone to see the current Low Country Boys line-up expecting us to be there - we apologise for any confusion and perhaps disappointment.

However, if you liked our vocal style and the guitar/mandolin sound, and the bluegrass gospel Ulster-Scots and Ulster-American influence, then you'll like what we now do as "The Thompson Brothers". Stay in touch!