Some of the best and biggest names in American Bluegrass music,
including

performers from Nashville's famed "Grand Ole Opry" will be gathering
in the small

Pembrokeshire coastal village of Newport in 2008. They will be there
not just to

perform, but to teach the music that they themselves have done so much
to popularise.

Widely regarded as being among the foremost exponents of their
individual

instruments, they are equally regarded for their dedication and skill
as tutors. The

intensive residential course begins with a reception the evening of
May 7, followed by

four days of bluegrass music classes, elective workshops, and two
faculty concerts.



Teaching the fiddle styles for which he is world famous is Bobby
Hicks. In a career

spanning 50 years, Bobby Hicks has carved out a reputation as one of
the true

pioneers of the bluegrass and country fiddle. From his early days with
Bill Monroe

and the Bluegrass Boys, where he cut a number of tracks that are today
considered

classics, to his work with Ricky Skaggs and other projects, Hicks has
a reputation

second-to-none among fans of the fiddle. Teaching flatpick guitar is
the multi-award

winning Kenny Smith, formerly of the Lonesome River Band, and now with
the

Kenny and Amanda Smith Band. Taking the vocal instruction class is
Amanda Smith,

also of the Kenny and Amanda Smith Band and currently nominated with
the band for

a Grammy award and for Female Bluegrass Vocalist of the Year by the
SPBGMA.



On mandolin, one of foremost exponents of bluegrass and acoustic
mandolin, Emory

Lester, will be leading the class, and on double bass, Mike Bub, well
known

to many as the long-standing bassist with the Del McCoury Band, and
recently

performing with the awarded winning Dale Ann Bradley Band, will be
showing

students exactly how to set down and drive the rhythms upon which a
bluegrass band

depends so much. Teaching bluegrass banjo is Ross Nickerson, who will
be familiar

to many banjo enthusiasts as not only an outstanding musician, but
also as author of one

of the very best instruction guides in print on the subject, "The
Banjo Encyclopedia".





The total cost for the course, elective workshops, faculty concerts
and all other activities

is £195. Demand is expected to exceed available spaces for the course,
so early

registration is suggested. The booking form with additional details is
available on the school’s

website at www.transatlanticbluegrasss.com.



You can see a photo gallery of Newport, Pembrokeshire and hear the
instructors at

www.myspace.com/transatlanticbluegrass.