Banjo player and singer Abigail Washburn returns! October 30, 2005

Bilingual banjo player, singer-songwriter and Nettwerk recording artist, Abigail Washburn, returns, this year featuring very special guest, Béla Fleck, as well as a pair of some of the best musicians from the United States. Abigail returns to China for the second time in a year with a new full-length album in tow.

Joining Abigail on her second China tour:

A multiple-Grammy nominee and winner across a range of categories, Béla Fleck is by far the biggest name in banjo, and indeed, in music in general. His reputation is built upon his ability to bring the instrument into genres beyond the traditional, which sees him venture into ? and beyond ? jazz, classical, world and folk music. In each show after Nov 22nd, Béla will be featured playing a set of his own solo banjo material.

Fiddler Casey Driessen joined Abigail on her last visit to China. He has played and recorded with a range of artists including Steve Earle, Béla Fleck, Tim O?Brien, Wisechild, John Mayer, Blue Merle and a host of others. His solo album will be released on Sugar Hill Records in the new year.

Although classically trained, cellist Ben Sollee is taking his instrument to a new level, combining jazz and folk into a groove-oriented style. In his travels with blues artist Otis Taylor, Ben as played with Buddy Guy, John Hammond and more. Ben?s cello can be heard on Abigail?s Song of the Travelling Daughter as well as on his own solo debut.

Local folk acts Iz (Kazakh) and Hangai (Mongolian) will join the band on Nov 18 and 19, respectively, and will not only open the shows but play in cross-cultural jam sessions. Iz will likely also join the band on Nov 26.

Friday, Nov 18
With Special Guests:
Iz
9pm (doors 8.30pm)
RMB50 (40 with student ID)
South Gate Space
4 Jiuxianqiao Lu (798 Art District south gate) 6437 9737

Saturday, Nov 19
With Special Guests
Hangai
9.30pm (doors 9pm)
RMB50
Yu gong yi shan
1 Gongti Beilu (at rear of Gongti Parking Lot) 6415 0687

Featuring Béla Fleck
Wednesday, Nov 23
Master?s Class/performance, 4pm
RMB30 (free for Midi Students)
Midi School of Modern Music
Rui wang fen, Haidian District, 6259 0101/0007/0008

Featuring Béla Fleck
Saturday November 26
7pm
RMB20-150
Peking University Hall (South side of library)
Tickets available at www.cpats.com or 6406 8888, 6406 9999
Info: www.pku-hall.com, 6275 2279, 6275 8452

SHANGHAI
Featuring Bela Fleck
Cotton Club
8 Fuxing Xi Lu
021 6437 7110

See www.ygtwo.com/abigailwashburn for the latest info