Tim O’Brien embarks on a tour of northern England and Scotland today, starting with a gig in Newcastle. Several dates in Scotland then follow, including stops in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness.

Tim is one of the most popular figures in bluegrass, though his music stretches into many other genres including celtic and folk. He has just released a new album, Chameleon, which is a genuine solo project featuring only Tim and his favourite instruments.

For more info about the tour, please visit our band pages.

Acoustic trio Brother Mule have released a new CD called Jawbone. The group is currently touring the UK and features Ben Winship on mandolin and bouzouki, Brian Wicklund on fiddle and Eric Thorin on bass.

The new album shows off their unique mix of bluegrass, old-time, swing and funk with traditional songs and tunes, a John Hartford cover and lots of original material.

Jawbone can be bought via CDBaby.com where you can also hear samples. For a list of the band’s remaining gigs in the UK please see their band page.

Following the roaring success of the opening night in April, the London Bluegrass Club will play host to another of the UK’s top bands, The Toy Hearts, on Tuesday May 20th.

The Birmingham-based group play a mix of bluegrass, western swing and country and are enjoying a very successful year having toured in Texas and represented the UK at EWOB in the Netherlands.

The club is held in the Cellar Bar at the Spice of Life pub, Soho on the third Tuesday of each month. Doors open at 7.30pm with the band due on stage at 8.00pm. Tickets are available on the door priced £7 (£5 concessions).

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will be appearing on BBC Two’s Later…with Jools Holland this Friday (May 9th) at 11.35pm. A preview from the upcoming show can be seen on the Later website.

The duo are currently on a sold-out tour of UK arenas promoting their critically acclaimed album Raising Sand. For more info please visit our band pages.

Beverly Smith and Carl Jones are touring England and Wales this month and will be playing 12 gigs across the whole country including stops in Pembrokeshire, Norfolk, Devon and Newcastle.

The old-time duo play “just about anything with strings” coupled with enchanting vocal harmonies. Their set is based around traditional American music, including songs by the Carter Family, plus plenty of original material.

For a full list of dates and venues please visit their band page.

The Wharf Bluegrass Weekend takes place later this month and boasts an impressive line-up including headliners Brother Mule (pictured) from the USA.

British bands on the bill include Rabbi John, Roots and Galoots, Chill Until Blue and Black Mountain Bluegrass.

There will be workshops for instruments and singing and Appalachian cloggers Step On Board will be performing with their band Thirsty Work.

It all takes place at the Wharf Inn, Holt Fleet near Worcester between May 9th and 11th. Tickets are available on the gate and cost £25 for the whole weekend, including camping. More information can be found on our forum and in our festival guide. Driving directions can be obtained through our festival map.

Chatham County Line of North Carolina have begun a tour of Europe in support of their fourth album IV which was released in March. As well as dates in Scandinavia and Ireland they will be playing six dates in the UK including London, Paisley and Leicester.

They describe themselves as “a raucous acoustic band” and mix hard-driving single-mic bluegrass with contemporary sounds. For full details of their upcoming dates please visit their band page.

UPDATE: During their time in the UK the band will be performing on the BBC’s Later with Jools Holland show. This programme will probably be broadcast on May 16th.

A new monthly bluegrass event starts next month in Cardiff. The Boomswinger Bluegrass Club will be based at the Mackintosh Institute in Roath, and kicks off on Friday 9th May with a concert featuring Southern Tenant Folk Union.

The club continues thereafter on the first Friday of each month, with the Toy Hearts booked for Friday 6th June. It also plans to host touring American acts in the future.

Tickets can be purchased from the Spice of Life, 1 Inverness Place, Cardiff, or contact jburke3@btinternet.com for further details.

The Down County Boys will be playing at the High Lane Bluegrass and Old-Time American Music Venue in Stockport on May 2nd. The award-winning band are one of the most popular bluegrass acts in England and have been around - in various line-ups - since the 1960s.

Support comes from The Britannia Bluegrass Band from Liverpool, and the venue’s organiser Tom Travis will also be taking to the stage.

The club is held at the High Lane Conservative Club, Buxton Road, Stockport on the first Friday of every month. Doors open at 7.30pm and tickets cost £8. For more information, please contact Tom Travis on 01457 861789.

Following its successful UK debut opening in Bristol, Fat Shirley’s: A Trailer Park Opera heads to Bath for two nights next month.

The “bluegrass opera” by Tom Brown and David Crawford of Georgia, takes place at the Mission Theatre in Bath on the 2nd and 3rd of May.

The company also hopes to stage the musical further afield later this year. For further information check out Fat Shirley’s myspace and for tickets see the Mission Theatre website.