The very talented Stevie Dunne shared his banjo style techniques to a full capacity of inspired banjo enthusiasts at the Belfast Trad Banjo workshop in June 2016. Great tunes & tips to take with us after 4 hours of pure banjo mastery….cheers Stevie

Each year the Belfast Trad Society host a banjo workshop among others held at the crescent arts centre. This year we hosted Stevie Dunne who’s style and repertoire are strongly influenced by Ulster role models such as Cathal Hayden, Martin Hayes and Josephine Keegan. As a follow up to the class I have included some audio samples and video recordings from the workshop, many thanks to Phil and Kevin for that. 

This is a selection of the audio recordings taken from Stevie’s tenor banjo workshop on Sat 11th June 2016. I have some video which will be loaded up soon.

Recording 1.

Recording 2.

Recording 3.

Recording 4.

Recording 5.

Recording 6.

Recording 7.

Recording 7. (slowed down)

Recording 8.

Recording 9.

Recording 9. (slowed down)

Recording 10.

Recording 11.

This is a video taken from the Banjoy workshop in Germany in March 2016

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First selection of audio from workshop

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This banjo appeared on the internet some time ago as being for sale in the USA. The then owner said he had had it valued by a luthier at $3000, which was mainly attributable to its rarity. It subsequently was sold for considerably less. Later it appeared on Bernunzio Brothers (New York) web site from whom it was purchased from the seller, who carried out the necessary remedial work and upgrade.

Inquiry on the web says that Epiphone banjos did not bear the name ‘Epiphone’ on the peghead until the early twenty’s, but there is no doubt whatsoever that this banjo was built well before 1920. A bit of a conundrum here I think.

The seller has inquired of a number of players and dealers, and no one has ever come across a similar banjo, therefore it’s reasonable to conclude that it is bordering on the unique, if not entirely unique, which undoubtedly must add to the value. Here is an image of the original patented design on 27th November 1917

I am selling this banjo on behalf of the owner, please contact me for any further information. Priced to sell £650 Reduced to £525

Details:

• YEAR:  1915/16
• BUILT BY:  ANASTOSIOS STRATHOPOULO (GREEK LUTHIER,NEW YORK)
• WOOD:  MAPLE & EBONY – ELEVEN PLY MAPLE/EBONY NECK
• UNIQUE TONE RING – PATENT APPLIED FOR C.1916
• STRAIGHT NECK WITH GOOD FRETS
• NEW GEARED TUNERS
• NEW TENSION HOOKS
• NEW RENAISSANCE HEAD
• WEIGHT:  4.8 LBS
• ASKING PRICE:  £650 ONO
• COMES WITH VINTAGE CASE (IN SERVICEABLE CONDITION)