Matching Ties-Duo, 2/15/08 Kulturscheune Schwanstetten, Germany

Here we are playing for the 4th time for our friends Harry Behr and family and all the folks at the KIS eV. in Schwanstetten, south of Nuremberg, Germany. This time we played in Leerstetten at their beutifully renovated barn/concert hall. The audience and the hospitality were great. Thanks a lot.

Death of Dave Bell, fellow musician and friend

We are very sad to report that our dear friend and bodhran player Scotsman Dave Bell passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 22nd, 2008 in Munich. Dave played bodhran, percussions, spoons and bones on the most recent Matching Ties CD "Across the Sea" and toured with us in our "Irish Quartet" with Colm O'Tuama from Dublin on tin whistles and Irish Flute, or played with Trevor and I as trio. Although Dave was fighting diabetes for some years, he always managed to be friendly and caring. We enjoyed his great sense of humor and adept conversation. Dave showed up spontaneously to play on many of our Munich gigs ,and was a key figure in the Monday night Irish folk sessions as well as in his duo "Hijinx" with Colm in Munich pubs. Our condolences to his girlfriend Bernadette. We loved him and will miss him sorely. So long Dave. Keep beating that bodhran in that big folk band in sky.