Beijing Banjo: Abigail Washburn and Bela Fleck

Bluegrass and the PLA

From up and coming Beijing impresario Jon Campbell:

The Return of the Travelling Daughter: Abigail Washburn Brings her Banjo Back to Beijing

Those of you around last November might recall the brief Chinese-spiced bluegrass and old-time invasion of a four-piece outfit lead by banjo player and singer-songwriter (and former Beijing resident) Abigail Washburn. Those of you who weren’t may have heard of her imminent arrival. On this, her second China tour in just over a year, she’s backed up by a new full-length album (Song of the Traveling Daughter, on Nettwerk Records,) and a flurry of American (and Chinese) media attention

Her original take on traditional folk and old-time American music has an added twist: A melding of the musical and linguistic traditions of the Middle Kingdom. Two songs on her solo debut are original compositions with Chinese lyrics including the title track, a riff on the classic Meng Jiao poem 游子吟 (‘Song of the Traveling Son’).

This year, she’ll be appearing with very special guest, eight-time Grammy winner Bela Fleck for a limited number of shows; at all four shows, Abigail will be joined by fiddler Casey Driessen (who also came last year) and cellist Ben Sollee.

Gig schedule and links:

Friday, November 18

With Iz

South Gate Space

4 Jiuxianqiao Lu (798 Art District south gate) 6437 9737

RMB50 (40 for students)

8.30pm

Soundcheck/rehearsal w/Iz: 3.30pm

Saturday, November 19

With Hangai

Yu gong yi shan

1 Gongti Beilu (at rear of Gongti Parking Lot) 6415 0687

RMB50

9.30pm

Soundcheck/rehearsal w/Hanggai 4.30

Wednesday, November 23

4pm

Master’s Class/performance

Midi School of Modern Music

Rui wang fen, Haidian District 6259 0101/0007/0008

RMB30 (Midi Students free)

Pick-up at 2.30

Thursday, November 24th

Icehouse

53 Donganmen Dajie Xipei Lou, Next to Huafu International Hotel

6522 1389

RMB 50

9:30 pm

Saturday November 26

Peking University Hall (South side of library); www.pku-hall.com, 6275 2279, 6275 8452

RMB20-150

For tickets: Piaowutong or 6406 8888/9999;

Fusheng Record Shop SE corner of Ping’anli intersection (Ping’an Dadao and Xinjiekou): 6613 6182;

Yu Gong Yi Shan, 1 Gongti Beilu (north end of parking lot opposite north gate Workers’ Stadium): 6415 0687