The country clubs are well known in the world where musicians and fans of this music meet with reproductive an live music. It is not  so known in our country. Personally, I know only two. It is in Bratislava Country club & Shop J.O.E. and in Kosice Country club DIERA where we played many times with the band and where I got known Robert-Robin Nemeth. As a person Robin is very interesting, musician, enterpreneur but the most a person whom everything goes around or at least things which has to do something with the country and bluegrass music especially in the East. I would like to report an interview which I have done in the end of last year in Bratislava festival  COUNTRY ‘ 95 when Robin was here with his band The Second Faces.

J: Robin. You are known basically as a protagonist of bluegrass in the Eastern Slovakia but just few know that you are also the owner and founder of the first country club in Slovakia which is called DIERA resided in Kosice. Something which is rather common in the world but in our country rather news. But at the same time I know many people which had a dream like this but until today it was not realized. What exactly is your country club about?
 R: The club has been running for three years and its main scope besides having good food and drinks there is a music production of country whether disco or live. We are thinking for the future to widen our scope such as playing songs made-to-order for the customers in the form of their own choice. Basically we are three partners. The others take care of food, supply and etc. . I take care of music production and everything what is related to the music. In order to the program following bands have performed in our club like Fragment, Bluegrass Album, Alan Mikusek, The Second Faces, Part B and etc. .

J: So actually the whole Slovak first class. But how was the idea originated to create such a thing ?
R: Few years ago I started to deal with bluegrass music, it was tramp’ s time. Once I was invited to the bluegrass band and one day I decided to quit my job. It wasn’ t much money and as I had some idea about the bluegrass music I wanted to establish such a club where would such young people meet and even listen to this music. Also bring the bands so the young people which had no place to play got a space and scene. In fact, we as a band Part B, if it wasn’ t country club DIERA wouldn’ t exist today. What was tying up together was that we had a place to play in. The second reason was to get new information for young bands and musicians from more experienced bands which are performing so often there. Contact, advices and etc. .  The idea was risen 80% in my head together with a friend of mine Matej and later we took up one more friend. Also for the reason of financial coverage but mainly for growing up and being friends together. They support me in my sphere and I them in other.

J: We could say that DIERA has become a country and bluegrass center in Kosice and even in the East, hasn’ t she ?
R: It looks as it is getting well. Before there weren’ t coming people as I wanted and expected besides my friends. But as time was passing by old musicians like Veslari, Cervici started to come, they reserve tables and everything starts to come to life with a live music as I wanted. Beyond this there is a hard work and patience.
 

J: What can be seen and heard in your club ? Are you focused only on bluegrass ?
R: I would say, it is pretty wide-spread scale. The country and tramp music is played there.
 
J: Essencially, you are the key person in the East of music scene therefore  you are the most suitable to answer my question. Formerly the East was a center of country and bluegrass. It has dissapeared for some time. Today I know there are again good bands. How do you feel about it ?  What is going on in your place ?
R: Thanks to you and boys from Fragment, BG Album and others I think that you have helped us to start up it again. There is a big interest shown among young people and not only in Kosice. Musicians from surrounds meet here like from Poprad, Spisska and Presov. Beginning musicians come here. There is a little shyness but even though it is better and better. From time to time new bands come to practise and as long as it is good can play. So it is coming to life.

J:Have you thought of organizing some concerts somewhere else or festival ? I have knowledge of few festivals hold in past which took place in the East focused on this music.
R: I was thinking to organize it beyond DIERA. It is the same old problem. If you want to do something, you need finance. Therefore, I want to establish a bluegrass club whom DIERA would help. We want to support it by having an agency and have an opportunity to get sponsors and bands not as a physical person. The regulation is already written and now we are solving the matter of registration and legislation.

J: Let me turn to something different. Bluegrass Workshop. Thing well known in Czech for several years but news in Slovakia. The idea of organizing it in the Slovak Republic was risen in your head 2 years ago. I am going to ask you simple question. Why ?
R: Look, I like this music and definitely instrumentally, but relating to materials we are further from the center. We wanted you to teach us and to show us something and it did go further.
J: Two sessions were done. How do you find it? Have they brought expected effects?
R: Certainly, yes. It is a big change. Everyone plays differently. Before everybody thought who can play the Blackberry Blossom is a master of the world. It isn’ t true. And just these workshops show the style of play to young musicians why this way not the other, dynamics, harmony, notes and the people start to understand it.

J: And what about the future ?
R: I have successfully arranged one beautiful place, camp in Vysny Ruzin, which is a barrage near to Kosice where would workshop take place the first week of July from Friday to Friday and end with the festival. It depends on how much money I will be able to get from sponsors. I can’ t manage myself and DIERA. I would teach as before all instruments, voice, vocal, a little of theory, work with band itself, work with microphone. We want to widen it with followings: work in the studio, equipment and respectively invite some constructor of instruments to advise from the other side than musical. So someone for example would advise the musicians under what criteria should the instrument be chosen when once bought. The plans are wonderful and if we get sponsors will be also realized.

Robert-Robin Nemeth was interviewed by Jan Bratinka - Zvonky (Bells) - 1997

                                                                             Robert Nemeth
                                                                          Country club DIERA
                                                                          Postova # 14, Kosice
                                                                          Tel. : +421 95 6220551