Cybergrass
New "Fiddle/Sticks" Video: Casey Driessen and Futureman
Roy “Futureman” Wooten is a five time GRAMMY Award-winning percussionist, and founding member of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. The inventor of the Drumitar and the RoyEl, he has reached unprecedented heights within the possibilities of percussion and composition. Whether playing traditional drums with a jazz combo, conducting his own symphony, or performing with the Flecktones, Futureman continues to reinvent and fascinate audiences and peers alike with each recent development in his mysterious world of creation.
There is a true kinship between Casey and Futureman: two musicians who found a great love for an instrument, but also an insatiable need for creativity and innovation. Over two days in the fall of 2012 Casey and Futureman jammed, listened, and talked. What unfolds are warm, otherworldly musical collaborations, and moments when the fiddle truly becomes a percussion instrument: when Futureman plays the RoyEl (a melodic MIDI controlled instrument with guitar picks for keys and the sound of a piano), Casey must become the pulse.
Futureman talks about growing up with a musical family, opening for Curtis Mayfield with his brothers as kids, playing on boxes, the history of his name, and receiving a call from celebrated jazz drummer Max Roach. The session ends with Casey and Futureman sitting across from each other, 3 miked fiddles in the middle, inside of a recording space known as the Infinity Room. Futureman plays a loose and funky melody on Casey's fiddles with bamboo sticks, while Casey holds down the rhythm. With no corners for sound to bounce, both musicians play to each other, but also to the epic reverb that the room creates.
Fiddler Casey Driessen is a bold genre crosser who listens for inspiration from Tennessee to Tibet. A GRAMMY nominee, Casey regularly tours as a solo performer & with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. He has released two albums and his new fiddle/percussion video project, Fiddle/Sticks, successfully raised $15,000 via Kickstarter in June 2012.
Tags: Casey DriessenFuturemanRoy WootenBela FleckFiddle/SticksCD ReleaseThe Fabulous Bagasse Boyz put Folgers in their Cup
Once upon a time, many years ago in the early 1950's, in four very divergent parts of the country, four lovely young ladies each gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. These mothers were filled with joy and hope for the future for their young offspring. But in 2002, these mothers' hopes were dashed when the grown boyz converged together to form an alliance. There was much consternation from all corners as this axis of goobers became The Fabulous Bagasse Boyz. Hans "Fritz" Mayers on banjo and mandolin, Willi Sager on bass, Anthony Rushing on fiddle and Rex Hall on guitar came together with the sole purpose of humiliating the musical world with their slip-shod musicianship and annoying arrangements. This was their destiny.
The Boyz have released a couple of albums and one, Not 'Yer Daddy's Bluegrass released in 2010, had one particulary catching song on it, "Day After Day" that has something to do wity getting up early, watching the chickens looking for something to do and, drinking that first cup of java.
Fast forward to 2013. The Boyz are still at it and now have Folgers in their cups. The Fabulous Bagasse Boyz have a new video out. Every year, Folgers Coffee has a jingle contest. To enter, you write a 60 to 90 second piece that includes the Folgers theme "... the best part of waking up, is Folgers in your cup...", then you shoot a video for submission. To see the Boyz entry go to their web site, BagasseBoyz.com, (Click "OFF" on the music in the upper right corner), click on Videos and then on TFBB Folgers Jingle.
The Boyz say, "We hope you enjoy it. It's a little different than our last video."
The Fabulous Bagasse Boyz are just fun to listen to. They've produced some fun bluegrass music that isn't over-polished and is more down-home style. The kind of bluegrass music I enjoy. Don't take the Boyz too seriously or you just might hurt yourself. In fact, it is time to get serious and throw all seriousness aside. This is the kind of music your mama told you about and told you to avoid so, you know its just what you've looking for.
http://www.cybergrass.com/Images/FabulousBagasseBoyz0212.jpg
Rocky Mountain Tour Ahead for Eric Lambert & Friends May 3-19
Rockin’ Americana stringband Eric Lambert & Friends (ELF) return to colorful Colorado for a packed two-week Rocky Mountain Tour from May 3-19. The emerging trio, led by acclaimed guitarist, songwriter, and music educator Eric Lambert, along with friends Dan Rogers on bass, and Pat Fiddle on mandolin and fiddle, will be traveling peak-to-peak across much of the state from Fort Collins to Durango with many great stops along the way.
ELF shared their original music experience with the Front Range last November and are looking forward to returning and revisiting some of the venues they played, in addition to fresh locations they’ve been wanting to check out. Then they head west into the mountains for new towns and music-loving fans.
“I can't wait to visit all of my friends and fans in Colorado and share what ELF has been working on the past five months,” said Dan Rogers. “The last time we came through we were welcomed with open arms and had such a great response that we knew we needed to come back as soon as possible.”
Changes have occurred in the band, and they are more committed to than ever to progressing and delivering a good time, every time. “We are now a three-piece band,” said Eric Lambert. “Musically we have grown immeasurably since our last visit to Colorado.”
“Since we last visited Colorado, Lukas Simpson left the band, so we have invested a lot of time in developing our sound as a trio,” Dan shared. “I'm very happy with how tight we've gotten. I think we all feel confident in ourselves and each other to keep the groove solid and bodies moving,” he said.
“We love playing music for the beautiful people of Colorado,” Eric said with a smile. “We plan to break out some new music and see a lot of old friends in Nederland, Denver, Fort Collins, and Boulder. I’m also looking forward to playing some new towns, such as Carbondale, Durango, and Grand Junction,” he concluded.
Home to legendary music festivals such as Rockygrass and Telluride, and new-grass bands such as Leftover Salmon and Yonder Mountain String Band, the state’s progressive views make it a great place for ELF to share their unique sound and experience. “Colorado seems to be at one of the epicenters of the Americana/Folk/Bluegrass scene, and we look forward to sharing our original music and take on traditional tunes in such a thriving music scene,” said Dan. “Eric's precise flatpicking style, Pat's brilliant work on the mandolin and fiddle, and my approach to playing the bass makes for a pretty impressive sound and altogether great time.”
From Chicago, IL, Eric Lambert & Friends are burning up the Americana scene and quickly becoming known for their interactive, improvisational music and high energy performances. The talented ensemble enjoys musical conversations among each other, creating a unique and inspiring experience. They are sweeping audiences off their feet, and bringing happiness and good times to everyone in their path through their rockin’ original music.
Learn more at www.ericlambert.com
ELF’s Rocky Mountain Tour 2013 Dates:
- May 3 Swing Station - LaPorte, CO
- May 4 Twisted Pine Brewery - Boulder, CO
- May 5 Whistler's Café - Nederland, CO
- May 6 Sancho's Broken Arrow - Denver, CO
- May 8 Barkley Ballroom - Frisco, CO
- May 9 The Black Nugget - Carbondale, CO
- May 10 Cruisers - Grand Junction, CO
- May 11 Derailed Saloon - Durango, CO
- May 12 Dolores River Brewery - Dolores, CO
- May 14 Tommyknocker Tavern - Creede, CO
- May 15 Front Range BBQ - Colorado Springs, CO
- May 16 City Star Brewing Company - Berthoud, CO
- May 17 Avogadro's Number - Fort Collins, CO
- May 18 Quixote's True Blue - Denver, CO
- May 19 Elevation Beer Company - Poncha Springs, CO
*Elevation’s One Year Anniversary Celebration
Tags: Eric LambertEric Lambert & FriendsTourEventBluegrass Brothers Bring Bluegrass Music to Carter Fold April 13
Hiltons, VA -- The Bluegrass Brothers are a high energy bluegrass band. Playing traditional style bluegrass, they grew up in bluegrass music families in Virginia. One of the finest bluegrass shows in the country, they perform from coast to coast in a soulful, heartfelt manner. In high demand on the festival circuit, they’re on the road more than they are home. SPBGMA named them instrumental group of the year in 2010. Members of the band are Victor Dowdy, Steven Dowdy, Kevin Prater, Chris Hart, and Cason Ogden. Saturday, April 13th, 2013 the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert by theThe Bluegrass Brothers. Visit www.CarterFamilyFold.org for more details.
Victor has been playing bluegrass music since he was seventeen years old. Starting out with the Back Creek Boys, he later joined the Meadow Creek Express Band and learned to love old time music. In 1989, he began playing with his brother, Robert. His son, Steve, would later join the group. Victor won the Virginia State Championship on bass fiddle five times, and male vocal honors three times.
Steven Dowdy plays guitar and does lead and harmony vocals for the group. Singing since he was three, he began playing bass at age seven. He picked up the guitar at age sixteen, Steve also plays mandolin. He’s played with several bands – Lock, Stock, and Barrell, Burn Ride, and Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice. He founded Southern Comfort with brother Donald and was an original member of the Locust Mountain Boys along with his dad. Steve joined the Bluegrass Brothers nine years ago.
Kevin Prater is the banjo player for the Bluegrass Brothers. He does lead and harmony vocals as well. Active in bluegrass music for over thirty years, he played banjo for the Elkhorn Grass and bass for the Timmy Cline Band. Moving back to the banjo, he joined Jerry Williamson and Redwing. Working with the James King Band, Kevin played mandolin and traveled the world. He also worked with Melvin Goins and Third Generation.
Chris Hart plays dobro for the Bluegrass Brothers. Performing from the time he was ten, Chris met Josh Graves in 1984 at a bluegrass festival and their friendship would last until Josh passed in 2006. He’s played with Josh Graves and Kenny Baker as well as with Mike Auldridge. Winning many dobro contests, Chris has been with Country Fried Grass, In the Tradition, Maury River Bluegrass Band, and others.
The newest member of the Bluegrass Brothers band is Cason Ogden. He plays mandolin for the group. If you like traditional bluegrass, you don’t want to miss the Bluegrass Brothers at the Carter Family Fold. Bring along your family and friends – and your dancing shoes! For additional information on the Bluegrass Brothers, visit their web site at http://TheBluegrassBrothers.com/
Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information on the center, go to http://www.carterfamilyfold.org. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at http://www.carterfoldshow.com.
Carter Music Center is part of the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. You can visit the Crooked Road Music Trail site at http://thecrookedroad.org. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information on Saturday’s concert, contact the Mountain Music Museum at 276-645-0035. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054.
Tags: The Bluegrass BrothersCarter Family FoldThe Crooked RoadConcertEventHammertowne's New Album Coming Soon!
Coming from the "Cradle of Bluegrass Music", as the foothills of Eastern Kentucky are called, This five man group of Dave Carroll, Chaston Carroll, Doug Burchett, Brent Pack, and Scott Tackett came together while working on a solo project for Scott Tackett. Not new to the pro circuit, they all have experience with Dave Evans, Ernie Thacker, New River Line and other groups. The group also garnered the 2012 National Bluegrass B.O.R.N. Award. The band expecting their debut album to be released this coming week according to Dave Carroll.
Hammertowne will be in Wheelersburg, Ohio this friday to celebrate the release of their new Mountain Fever Records project and to celebrate their 2012 BORN Award. The band hopes to have a couple pretty impressive special guests, Dave Evans and Larry Cordle!
Hammertowne has, in a few short months, gained national attention by winning the B.O.R.N. Award for 2012, from National Bluegrass, signed a record contract with Mountain Fever Records, and has released their first single to national radio stations across the country, “Cherokee Maiden”.
These guys have all of the right ingredients to be very successful, and it is easy to understand the promotion within the structure of Deep River Management. Hammertowne will join other successful bands in Deep River such as Shannon Slaughter & County Clare, The Rigneys, Constant Change, Mountain Faith, Darren Beachley Band, & Travers Chandler & Avery County.
In Most Cases, much forethought, planning, and sometimes recruiting, goes into forming a musical unit. But not in this case. This group of musicians gathered in a studio as session players on a solo effort, and something special transpired.
After the stop button had been hit on the first take of the first song, several seconds of complete silence filled the place, until finally from the control room came... "WOW." The energy and musical compatability was so strong, that the fellows decided they wanted to... Take it outside! Thus... Hammertowne was born!
With these guys, its simply all about the music, and having more fun on stage than should be legal. They truly love playing the music that they play, and truly love the people they are playing it with.
For more information on Hammertowne, check out their website at http://www.Hammertowne.com/
The Wrecked Fretts will move into Deep Creek Promotions as the latest band on the roster. John Lockaby, co-owner of Deep River, said “The moment that I was introduced to this band, I knew they had something different than most bluegrass bands, but it was still bluegrass. I felt like our plate was full with the bands that we already have on board, but could not pass on the opportunity that this band brings to our family. Take a listen and I believe you will agree.”
To learn more about these bands, visit http://www.deeprivermgmt.com/ and http://www.mountainfever.com/
Tags: HammertowneMountain Fever RecordsCD ReleaseAward Winning Fiddler Michael Cleveland Offers Fiddle Lessons
Michael Cleveland, the International Bluegrass Music Association's 9-Time Fiddle Player of the Year, is embarking on a new venture and is now offering fiddle lessons for intermediate and advanced players. The master musician will be teaching via Skype which is a free video calling application.
To take part of this great opportunity, interested students will need a computer with a microphone, speakers, a camera, and a high-speed internet connection. (For information about Skype, visit this link.) A one-hour lesson is only $60 and students are welcome to record the lesson -- video and/or audio -- for their own use.
Here's how to schedule a lesson:
- Email Mike to let him know you'd like to schedule a lesson. In your email include the days and times that are best for you, your time zone, and a telephone number. Also let him know if there is anything in particular you'd like to work on during the lesson.
- Purchase the lesson via PayPal by Clicking this link.
After you order a lesson via PayPal, Mike will contact you by email or phone to set up a convenient time. If you have any questions just Email Mike.
Tags: Michael ClevelandFiddleEducationRoads Well Traveled is Very Well Done!
Award winning hall of famer and bluegrass music legend Doyle Lawson & Quicksliver have released another outstanding album, Roads Well Traveled. What I love about this album is the fullness of the music. The music doesn't come across as lacking anything. This album not only has that full Doyle Lawson sound, it also has a great collection of songs. This is why Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver have such a huge following.
Roads Well Traveled fittingly kicks off with "Dixie Road" and follows with stories of life, love and more. Whether it is the loss of a loved one after 60 years, remembering an old friend, the gift of life, or one's heritage, this album has it all bundled together with that rich Lawson sound.
There is also original material on the album that rounds it out well. “By The Waters of the Clinch” and “It’s Hard to Be Forgotten” highlight the band's superb songwriting ability. The band's innovations in the realm of bluegrass and gospel music are broad and wide and cover the genre with a fine brush. Roads Well Traveled is obviously a rainbow that evolved from this outstanding artist.
The band has been around for ages and has gone through many iterations and Roads Well Traveled shows how this is obviously one of the best combinations Doyle has put together. This compilation of 11 outstanding tracks proves how Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver just keep getting better and better. Make no mistake, Doyle Lawson and his band are well tuned and exhibit pure precision in their execution.
The new album is available now through a variety of outlets and is definitely a keeper! You know if it's from Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, its going to be great. Roads Well Traveled is even better.
Tags: Doyle Lawson & QuicksilverRoads Well TraveledReviewCD ReleaseSteve Martin, Steep Canyon Rangers, Edie Brickell at Peace Center May 30
Performing selections from their new album Love Has Come for You, releasing on April 23, 2013, these new musical partners combine Martin's expressive five-string banjo work with Brickell's heart-tugging vocals and detail-rich lyrics. Joining this dynamic duo are the esteemed bluegrass combo, the Steep Canyon Rangers, with whom Martin has recorded and toured extensively.
Steve is currently in the fifth decade of a uniquely varied and accomplished career in which he's excelled as a comedian, actor, author and playwright, and Grammy-winning banjoist and composer. His fellow Texas native Edie Brickell initially burst onto the national scene in the late 1980s fronting the New Bohemians, and has since solidified her reputation as a uniquely compelling singer and songwriter.
The Martin-Brickell album Love Has Come for You was produced by studio legend Peter Asher (James Taylor, Elvis Costello, Linda Ronstadt) and features notable players including rising-star bassist Esperanza Spalding, veteran studio guitarist Waddy Wachtel and Nickel Creek alumni Sara and Sean Watkins. The album also features the esteemed bluegrass combo the Steep Canyon Rangers with whom Martin recorded his latest Grammy® nominated album Rare Bird Alert with and has toured extensively.
Tickets and additional information may be found on the Peace Center website.
Tags: Steve MartinSteep Canyon RangersEdie BrickellPeace CenterEventNewest Addition to the Darin and Brooke Aldridge Band Family
The newest addition to the Darin and Brooke Aldridge band family is Romy Elizabeth Haley, born March 1, 2013 weighing in at 7 lb. 6 oz. and measuring 20.75 inches long.
Becky Buller, proud new mother and fiddle player for Darin and Brooke Aldridge, is doing very well and so is dad, Jeff Haley. Even if they're not getting much sleep these days.
"Jeff and I are so very blessed," said Buller, "She's a beautiful, amazing little thing, already so alert and inquisitive about the world around her. We're just praying that God will help us be good parents to her."
Darin says "Brooke and I are absolutely thrilled and are available to babysit at anytime." Buller is a highly acclaimed musician, singer, and songwriter in her own right and joined Darin and Brooke Aldridge earlier this year.
Just a month old and already a star!
Tags: Darin & Brooke AldridgeBecky BullerJeff HaleyBand AnnouncementSteve Martin and Edie Brickell Release Debut Album
The album features deeply evocative songs such as “When You Get to Asheville,” “Sarah Jane and the Iron Mountain Baby,” “Remember Me This Way,” “Fighter,” as well as the haunting title track. Each tune offers playful, resonant character studies, conveying a wealth of imagery, emotion and musical ideas within spacious, mostly acoustic arrangements and irresistibly accessible tunes.
“This is the kind of music that I’ve always wanted to make, but I never knew how until now,” Brickell states, adding, “I just fell in love with all of these songs, because they all represent something that’s true.”
Produced by studio legend Peter Asher (James Taylor, Elvis Costello, Linda Ronstadt) Love Has Come For You also features notable players including rising-star bassist Esperanza Spalding, veteran studio guitarist Waddy Wachtel and Nickel Creek alumni Sara and Sean Watkins. The album also features the esteemed bluegrass combo the Steep Canyon Rangers with whom Martin recorded his latest Grammy® nominated album Rare Bird Alert with and has toured extensively.
Steve Martin is currently in the fifth decade of a uniquely varied and accomplished career in which he’s excelled as a comedian, actor, author and playwright, and as a Grammy-winning, boundary-pushing bluegrass banjoist and composer. Martin’s debut album The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo won a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album in 2009. Since bursting onto the national scene in the late 80’s, Edie Brickell has carved out an iconoclastic solo career that’s solidified her reputation as a uniquely compelling singer and a songwriter of rare insight.
“I think that the goal of any collaboration should be to come up with something that each individual wouldn’t have come up with on their own, and I think that we’ve done that here,”
“The banjo can be so evocative when it’s used sparingly, and that was in the back of my mind as we were writing,” says Martin. “It’s the way I’ve longed to play and hear the banjo, rather than it being present at every moment. In these songs, the point is to tell the story and get out.” - Steve Martin
The new release is available for pre ordering now at their music store and there are exclusive offerings also. The new album is avaible as a Vinyl+Digital bundle, CD+Digital bundle and even available in the high-quality 180 gram vinyl. The first 100 deluxe pre-orders include a signed lithograph!a href=
Tags: Steve MartinEdie BrickellLove Has Come For YouRounder RecordsCD ReleaseJohn Reischman Walks the Path Back Home with New Album
Chris Thile has been playing John's tune "Itzbin Reel" (on which they duet) since he was just 8 years old! And Eli West spent his college years obsessing over John's albums. This is John Reischman's first new solo album in 13 years (he's known for his work leading the red-hot Canadian bluegrass band John Reischman & The Jaybirds) and it's a return to his love of bluegrass music and his quest for the perfect tone from the bluegrass mandolin.
John Reischman is one of the premier mandolinists of his generation. He’s a master instrumentalist capable of swinging between re-inventions of traditional old-time tunes, deconstructions from the bluegrass repertoire, and compelling original tunes. He’s also a powerful bandleader, touring his band the Jaybirds all over Canada and the United States. But most of all, he’s an understated visionary, the kind of master craftsman whose music is virtuosic without ever being flashy and who is renowned for his impeccable taste and tone as an artist. John Reischman embodies the true spirit of bluegrass in the 21st century.
Check out this gorgeous video of John Reischman with the Jaybirds. It was filmed by Matt Miles of Fretboard Journal out on the Gulf Islands off the coast of British Columbia.
John Reischman & the Jaybirds - SaltSpring from Matt Miles on Vimeo.
Walk Along John is John Reischman’s first solo instrumental album in thirteen years, and it’s a triumphant return to form. It’s also a celebration of his seminal influence in the world of bluegrass and “new acoustic music,” a movement he contributed to with Tony Rice in the 1980s.
A new generation of musicians has now grown up playing his tunes at jams and obsessing over his recordings. Chris Thile of The Punch Brothers joins John on the opening tune “Itzbin Reel,” an early composition of John’s that Chris has been playing since the age of 8. Eli West, from Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, listened endlessly to John’s recordings while studying in college and guests on the album as well. Other next gen star players on the album include Sam Grisman and Mike Barnett from the young grasscore band The Deadly Gentlemen, and Canadian clawhammer banjo king Chris Coole.
Old friends return as well, from renowned old-time fiddler Bruce Molsky to innovative banjo genius Tony Trischka and star bluegrass guitarist Kenny Smith, not to mention members of John’s band The Jaybirds. But the real focus of the album is John’s musicianship, both as an artist and as a composer. His compositions, many of which have become jamming standards, run the gamut from the old-timey “Little Pine Siskin” to the bluesy (in the Dock Boggs sense) “Gold Mountain Blues,” the eerily modal “Ice on the Dogwater,” the blazing Bill Monroe tribute tune “Joe Ahr’s Dream,” and the softly gentle waltzes “Anisa’s Lullaby” and “A Prairie Jewel.”
John’s compositions shine here because he has the subtle ability to draw out the true heart of the melody. He does this through his lifelong obsession with obtaining the purest tones from his mandolin playing. It’s the same quest that drove Monroe to the roots of the music looking for “ancient tones,” and it’s a quest shared by other great mandolinists. Coupled with his renowned sense of musical taste, John Reischman is able to redefine the sound of bluegrass mandolin without ever veering away from the traditions at its core.
Walk Along John plumbs the deepest level of John Reischman's talent. His years of touring, guesting, and inspiring have given his music a weight that few other artists have attained. After 35 years of playing at the forefront of the American bluegrass tradition, it should come as no surprise that he still has a lot to say. The album is available on CD Baby now. Chris Thile has been playing John
Tags: John ReischmanChris ThileBruce MolskyWalk Along JohnCD ReleaseACMA Blue Ridge Acoustic Uprising April 12-13
The Appalachian Cultural Music Association will present the Blue Ridge Acoustic Uprising in Wytheville, VA at the Wytheville Meeting Center adjacent to Wytheville Community College on April 12th and 13th and musicians, fans of bluegrass, old time and Americana music are invited to attend.
This gathering titled “ACMA’s Blue Ridge Acoustic Uprising” will be an event that brings together and recognizes the music and musicians who play what has been coined as “The Galax Sound”. Karl Cooler, an ACMA member, who came up with this descriptive “Galax Sound” title says, “Our region is saturated with tremendous talent who create a unique musical experience. The ‘Blue Ridge Acoustic Uprising’ will be a unique convention to bring together old time, bluegrass and Americana musicians in a way that no other gathering does.”
The regions of Southwestern Virginia, East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia have been the core for the development of bluegrass, old time and many Americana forms of music. Johnny Williams of Danville, Virginia, chairman of the committee organizing this event, says, “Our event will be unique to other musical gatherings especially noting that we will be ‘formally’ recognizing ‘old time’ musicians and their music.
Other than the Galax Fiddler’s Convention held annually there is no ‘official’ recognition of the talents and accomplishments of old time musicians past and present. The ACMA through the Blue Ridge Acoustic Uprising will recognize and promote old time music and musicians as well as bluegrass and other acoustic forms of Americana Music.”
At the event April 12 & 13, 2013 there will be jam sessions, awards, workshops, children’s activities, musical vendors, and a main stage for registered bands to perform and showcase for promoters, record label executives and fans of the music. Plans also include unveilings of artifacts to be placed in the ACMA’s “Mountain Music Museum” to recognize pioneers who created and cultivated these forms of music.
The musicians being honored and recognized this year are Donna Stoneman, the “First Lady of Bluegrass Mandolin” who is originally from Galax, VA, the McPeak Brothers from Wytheville, VA and the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers from Roan Mountain, TN. There will be plenty of room for dancers too. The event will offer a 24 by 24 foot dance floor in the main concert area for flatfoot and clog dancers. Food will be available at the venue as well.
Tickets are available at the door and at the website www.acousticuprising.org Information on scheduling as well as motel accommodations available at the website also. Campers are welcome.
The ACMA is a non-profit 501c3 organization which operates the Mountain Music Museum and Pickin Porch in Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee. www.mountainmusicmuseum.org and www.pickinporch.org
Tags: Blue Ridge Acoustic UprisingAppalachian Cultural Music AssociationACMAEventDurango Bluegrass Meltdown Gets Hot April 19-21
The Annual Durango Bluegrass Meltdown celebrating the coming of warmer weather into the high country and melting the snow for the spring runoff is about to get underway for 2013. As the weather heats up, so does the bluegrass music for this exciting event. Since 1995, the Meltdown features three unique and intimate main stages, the super jam, a Durango style barn dance, the Celtdown for the closet Celtoids ad music flowing out of doorways from bars, coffee houses, restaurants and even just on the streets and sidewalks.
This year will feature top bluegrass artists as well as regional and local artists. Visitors can capture the music of the New Reeltime Travelers, Larry Gillis & Hard Driving Swampgrass, James Reams and the Barnstormers with Blaine Sprouse, Bluegrass 101, Jeff Scroggins & Colorado, Long Road Home, Steel Pennies, Kantankerous, Sand Sheff Trio, Colorado College Bluegrass Ensemble, Bar D Wranglers, Waiting on Trial, Wild Mountain ramblers, The Six Dollar String Band, The Robin Davis Unit, Sweetwater String Band, Bluegrass Cadillac, Missionary Ridge, The Scrugglers, Blue Moon Ramblers, Sugar Creek, Mudflaps, Running Out of Road, Chokecherry Jam, The Flume Canyon Boys, Porchlight Revue, Whispers of the North, and a lot of groups that attend and just jam the three days & nights away.
The event is centered at the Henry Strater Theaztre but you can find the music all over town. The Durango Arts Center is a multi-use venue and will be one of the festival venues. The home of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad that runs regular trips, the railroad museum will be hosting events also. The Durango Elks Lodge is another Meltdown venue. Motels, and other venues will also be hosting artists throughout the long weekend.
For a special event, Friday from 10 AM to 3 PM, you can board the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge train for the Railroad Bluegrass Express. Trains and Bluegrass Music have gone hand in hand since the genre was created and to be aboard a 100% coal burning narrow gauge train that runs the canyon and its magnificent views is a real treat. So, board “The Bluegrass Express!” and ride in the comfort of one of their Premium-class cars behind a real steam locomotive on the train to Cascade Canyon while listening to live bluegrass music! Two bands will rotate among the 3 cars reserved just for Bluegrass Express guests. They will also play for all passengers during the 45-minute layover at Cascade Canyon. Once you get back to Durango there will be a FREE concert in the D&SNG Museum from 5pm-7pm to officially kick off the start of the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown.
There will be showcases, super jams, a Sunday Gospel show, workshops and more to do. Prepare for a bluegrass adventure that's a whole lot more fun than just sitting and watching a show. The Melt starts April 19th. For all the details, visit www.DurangoMeltdown.com
Tags: Durango MeltdownBluegrass FestivalNew Reeltime TravelersLarry Gillis & Hard Driving SwampgrassJames Reams and the Barnstormers with Blaine SprouseBluegrass 101Jeff Scroggins & ColoradoEventWin Tickets & Lodging to Sold-Out Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Telluride, CO -- The best weekend of the year will be here in no time. For 40 years, Festivarians have been flocking to Telluride's Town Park during the Summer Solstice to pay tribute to one of the greatest forms of American roots music: Bluegrass Music. 13,000 foot peaks, sunshine, Killer Flank Steaks, free Workshops, campsite hoedowns, happy people, ice cold New Belgium brews, late night NightGrass parties, and 4 days of the best acoustic adventures in the country.
Haven’t been to Telluride? The town was founded in 1858 after gold and silver were discovered, Butch Cassidy robbed his first bank here, Nikola Tesla selected the site to build the world’s first power plant, hippies re-settled these lands in the 60’s, skiing arrived in the 70’s, real estate agents invaded in the 80’s, Tom Cruise, Oprah and Oliver Stone call it vacation, and Tim McGraw even wrote a song about it... and on the Summer Soltice, this small mountain town kicks off one of the most-anticipated festival lineups in the nation.
With the lineup additions of Mumford and Sons, The String Cheese Incident, Dispatch, Leftover Salmon, Feist and many more amazing musicians, this year's 40th anniversary fest undoubtedly sold-out in record time. In minutes, actually. Weren't able to get tickets or lodging? Telluride.com is here to help.
Telluride.com is giving away two, 4-day passes and 4 nights lodging at the Aspen Street Inn to one lucky winner for the sold-out 40th Telluride Bluegrass Festival, June 20-23, 2013:
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Telluride.com is owned and operated by Telluride Alpine Lodging - the longest-standing, locally-owned and operated lodging company in the Telluride region. Offering a wide selection of hotel rooms, vacation homes and condominium rentals in both town & Mountain Village, Telluride.com is the only place to look to find the perfect Telluride vacation rental.
Tags: Telluride Bluegrass FestivalBluegrass FestivalEventJunior Sisk & Ramblers Choice to Host CD Release Party
Nashville, Tennessee - Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice will celebrate the release of their upcoming CD from Rebel Records, The Story of the Day that I Died, with a party at Two by Two in Rocky Mount, VA, on Sunday, April 7. The event starts at 3 p.m., and tickets are $10.00 (children under 10 are free).
The Story of the Day that I Died was released on March 12, 2013, and the world premiere was held on Sirius XM's Bluegrass Junction in February. The CD's title track was written by Ashby Frank of The Likely Culprits and hit the radio airwaves in November.
"We are so proud of this album and can't wait to celebrate its release with our fans," said Junior Sisk. "We're also grateful to Two by Two BBQ for letting us hold the party at their restaurant."
Sponsored by Two by Two BBQ, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice are the official ambassadors of the Historic Jonesborough Bluegrass Series and proud endorsers of D'Addario Strings, Planet Waves, Cedar Creek Cases, The Gray Mandolin Shop, Frank's Fiddles, the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, The Wounded Warrior Project, Blue Chip Picks, Arthur Conner Fiddles, Hatfield Banjos, Harrison straps and Grey Eagle mandolins. Learn more about Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice by visiting www.JuniorSiskandRamblersChoice.com.
Make Welcome Entertainment provides management and publicity services for bluegrass, roots and country artists. With offices in Nashville, Tennessee and Washington, DC, Make Welcome is well positioned to focus on the details so artists can focus on making great music. To learn more about Make Welcome Entertainment, call 1-800-838-6087 or visit www.MakeWelcome.com
Tags: Junior Sisk & Ramblers ChoiceStory of the Day That I DiedMake Welcome EntertainmentCD Release PartyPeter Rowan Delves into his Bluegrass Legacy with Monroe-Inspired Originals
Nashville, TN -- “The Old School is a big school. It is where the tributaries of the river came from,” says bluegrass legend and GRAMMY-winner Peter Rowan of his new album The Old School. Influenced by his experience with the dynamic and enigmatic father of bluegrass Bill Monroe and written with the “bluegrass code” in mind, the now 70-year-old Rowan recorded the album with an intergenerational cast of players. Old masters such as Bobby Osborne and Del McCoury sat shoulder to shoulder with younger players including The Traveling McCourys, Michael Cleveland, Bryan Sutton and more, everyone playing and singing in a circle and recording old school style. It was an apt way to capture the raw spirit of bluegrass music and, for Rowan, the album became the perfect vehicle through which to explore the complex musical strands of the bluegrass tapestry.
Rowan's ambition going into the project was to assemble an elite cast of players and singers to represent the music's core as well as its broader range of influences. The all-star roster that came together included musicians who were members of the Bluegrass Boys, some of whom were Bill Monroe's contemporaries, as well as subsequent generations of torchbearers and groundbreakers whose talents continue to shape and define bluegrass music. The complete Old School class includes Del McCoury, Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds, JD Crowe, Buddy Spicher, Jason Carter, Bryan Sutton, Michael Cleveland, the Traveling McCourys, Stuart Duncan, Dennis Crouch, Jeremy Garrett, Don Rigsby, Chris Henry and the members of the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band.
The album's opening title track “Keepin' it Between the Lines," played in fine, hard driving style by The Traveling McCourys and Michael Cleveland, frames the concept for the album with a motto from life on the road with Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys. “Vassar Clements was telling me about all these historical moments he was witness to when he was with Bill Monroe and I asked him what it was like being on the road with Bill. He said ‘you’d drive all night, shave in cold water, raise your hand up high and smile.’ It was the old Opry ethic – you want to make the people feel really good.” That feel good style of bluegrass is well represented on two other Rowan originals: “That’s All She Wrote,” featuring Del McCoury's inimitable tenor vocals and the clever, mid tempo “Drop the Bone" featuring harmony from Ronnie McCoury.
Honest family harmony is another thread of 'The Old School', rooted in the gospel quartets the Monroe Brothers learned growing up and the brother harmony tradition furthered by duos like the Osborne Brothers, Jim and Jesse and the Stanley Brothers. Rowan himself grew up in Boston in a very musical family singing many of those classic songs in a trio with his brothers. That tradition is well represented on "My Savior is Calling Me," with Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds and Jason Carter. It's a gospel quartet with a lyric twist: Rowan explains, “Most of the time the idea is that you’re calling on your savior so He grants you salvation, but I think you reach that point when the object of your faith is manifesting to you, actually calling you.”
“The Old School is in the songwriting too. Bluegrass music is about some pretty powerful songs. Bill threw the glove down for writing songs - always a sense for ‘top this!’” laughs Rowan, himself praised for his tongue-in-cheek lyricism and vivid imagery. Indeed the song “Letter From Beyond” was charmed by the spirit of Monroe. The song, featuring Rowan and McCoury - two of Monroe's best lead singers - is a message from beyond the grave to a still-living lover and meant to be a companion to the Monroe-Rowan classic “Walls of Time.” “It was almost like I was getting a message from beyond. It was the spirit of the song and of Bill; it was just the kind of song he would’ve written. Both Del and I come from that place where the song comes from – it’s the bluegrass.”
Bluegrass music was also shaped by the folk and “homespun” influences and perhaps no one did more to bring that culture to the national stage than the late guitarist Doc Watson. Rowan wrote “Doc Watson Morning” the night after Doc passed away in May 2012. “We all felt the loss and we all did pick up our guitars and try to invoke the spirit of Doc. You’re playing your guitar and thinking of the man.” The song features Watson-style flat-picking from Bryan Sutton interspersed between Rowan's touching telling of Doc Watson's story.
Years spent playing with The Bluegrass Boys and driving Monroe's bus allowed Rowan a first hand view into the origins and elements of bluegrass as they stood in the mind of its creator. Monroe taught Rowan about rhythmic styles that needed to be “brought along,” styles that Monroe picked up from his Uncle Pen, from Uncle Pen’s African-American fiddler friend Arnold Schultz and on Monroe’s own trips to New Orleans, styles like stop time, the stomp and the slow drag. ““Ragged Old Dream” is a little bit of a slow drag. It has a little bump, stomp feel to it, but its really what they were calling ‘ragging’ the time,” explains Rowan ever the pedagogue about the bluesy track, “They’re intentionally playing way back on the beat. Bluegrass is tricky because the beat is found by speeding everything up. So I thought it would be nice to play the time in more of its original form."
In many ways The Old School was a vehicle for Rowan to bring his musical history and experiences full circle. In the mid 1960s, the Civil Rights movement was in full swing. At the time when folk singer Odetta sang “O Freedom” at the famous march on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, Rowan was moving from town to town with Bill Monroe, through the heart of southern communities in the throes of desegregation, including Birmingham, Knoxville and Nashville. It was fitting then that Rowan would choose to sing his version of “O Freedom” a cappella in Wightman Chappell at the Scarritt-Bennett Center, Nashville, Tennessee – the same location where Martin Luther King Jr. spoke during the Civil Rights movement. “History was moving fast and I was with Bill Monroe back then. Because of the segregation, I didn’t know if I could stay in Nashville. This is a way to bring it full circle. I wanted to do “O Freedom” because that was the rallying cry of the Freedom Singers. The Freedom Singers originated in Nashville and Martin Luther King spoke at that Chapel. It seemed to be optimistic; it was bringing it back around, like The Old School. Civil rights, integration, it’s all part of it.”
As his finale, Rowan channels an old WSM radio broadcast with a closing tag from legendary Opry broadcaster Eddie Stubbs to end the show. In the middle of the reprise of “Keepin It Between The Lines,” Stubbs signs off, reminding listeners: “Remember to love your neighbor. Be patient. Be kind. And keep it between the lines." Cameo vocal lines from a few surprise guests reiterate the bluegrass motto – pick it clean and play it true. It's the bluegrass code, handed down through the years from Bill Monroe to his disciples and interpreters, in turn to their followers and emulators and captured here for future generations of bluegrass musicians that will surely find grounding and inspiration in Peter Rowan's Old School.
Jason Davis Releases New Single “Bootleg John” from Upcoming Project
Willis, VA -- Mountain Fever Records releases the new single “Bootleg John” to radio today from the as-yet-to-be-titled new solo project from sideman and Junior Sisk banjo player, Jason Davis. Guests on this new album and the core rhythm section include Kevin McKinnon on guitar and mandolin, Kameron Keller on bass, and Justen Haynes and Ron Stewart who split the fiddle work. Some of Davis’ favorite singers in bluegrass are also featured including Greg Luck, Shawn Lane, Steve Gulley, Junior Sisk, Jason and Justin Tomlin, Dwight McCall, Daniel Salyer and Eli Johnston.
“I basically went in with the idea of cutting the kind of bluegrass album and feel that I enjoy playing,” Davis said. “It's been 6 years or so since I cut my last record. It just felt like the time to do another one. I was lucky to get some great new songs from great writers like Daniel Salyer and Kyle Burnette. There's also a lot of really obscure stuff on here that people probably haven't heard in a long time,” he adds.
Jason is embraced as a talented cultivator of the banjo by fans and other musicians. Former IBMA Dobro Player of the year, Phil Leadbetter, says "I've had the opportunity to play with many great banjo players in my career, but Jason Davis takes a backseat to no-one. His timing, tone, taste and drive is what all banjo players hope to achieve, but not many ever do.”
Davis began playing banjo around age 10. He was inspired when his uncle Thomas Davis began taking him to local bluegrass festivals. He got his first gig at age 14 with Michelle Nixon and Drive. Three years and two records later, he joined the Kenny and Amanda Smith Band, where he helped record the Grammy-nominated album, Tell Someone. Next came a stint with BlueRidge, then a three-year tour with Alan Bibey as a founding member of GrassTowne, where he cut two records.
In 2008, Jason recorded a solo album, Steppin Out, which became a finalist for the IBMA Instrumental Album of the Year. Jason lists Flatt & Scruggs, JD Crowe, Terry Baucom, Sammy Shelor and Tom Adams as his biggest influences. He is now touring with Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice. p
Tags: Jason DavisMountain Fever RecordsBootleg JohnCD ReleaseThe Hillbilly Opry to Become a Crooked Road Venue
Abingdon, VA -- When someone speaks of a “Phoenix rising” it is usually in reference to good things that rise from the ashes like the fabled bird of Greek mythology. In the case of the McGuire Family Campgrounds in Dublin, this is an image that is literally true. When Mike and Sharon McGuire and their son Jason and daughter Jennifer found the campground in 1995, its one building, a convenience store, was mostly a burned out building. Now almost 18 years and a lot of hard work later, McGuire’s has a busy RV campground, a restaurant, and the Hillbilly Opry, a wonderful Saturday night music experience that is the newest Affiliated Venue of The Crooked Road.
On Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 pm, representatives of The Hillbilly Opry will be presented with a banner acknowledging this venue’s recent inclusion as a Crooked Road Affiliated Venue. As an Affiliated Venue, The Hillbilly Opry will be represented in Crooked Road publicity and promotional materials as a family and community oriented place where visitors can experience authentic traditional music of the region.
The Hillbilly Opry started in 1996, when Mike McGuire and his son Jason realized there was a lot of interest in the bluegrass music of the region but not many places close to Dublin where people could bring their families to enjoy an evening of entertainment together.
“Dad and I had been playing music for friends and neighbors for several months in a part of the original building that hadn’t burned down, so when we started building the restaurant, we decided to include a performance venue that also has plenty of space and a great floor for the dancers who come. We have line dancers, flatfooters, buck dancers, even Irish step dancers here on occasion.” says Jason.
“Our focus is on providing high quality shows from our stage with some of the region’s best musicians. The music and instruments are bluegrass oriented, but we strive to have something for everybody. In addition to bluegrass, people are just as likely to hear an Eagles song, a Jimmy Buffett tune, or a Merle Haggard song,” says Jason. “I guarantee before the three hours of entertainment is up, everyone there will have heard some of their favorite songs, and they may come away with a new appreciation of just how much this region’s traditional music has influenced artists like the Eagles or the Hag.”
The Hillbilly Opry music goes from 7:30 to 10:30 pm every Saturday night year round. Admission is $6 per person for three hours of entertainment. “We have always worked to keep our event affordable so families will have a great place to spend time together that is alcohol and smoke free.” Jason says. The Campground is located at exit 101 off I-81at 4925 State Park Rd., just a mile from the entrance to Claytor Lake State Park.
The Affiliated Venues and Festivals of The Crooked Road are places where the best traditional music of the region is heard and includes annual festivals and weekly or monthly jams and concerts. A complete listing of the Affiliated Venues and Festivals and the nine Major Venues of The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail can be found at www.thecrookedroad.org.
The Crooked Road’s mission is to support economic development in Southwest Virginia by celebrating and preserving this Appalachian region's unique musical and cultural heritage. The Trail itself covers 330 miles and connects Rocky Mount in Franklin County to Breaks Interstate Park in Dickenson and Buchanan Counties.
Tags: Hillbilly OpryThe Crooked RoadVenueEventStrings and Sol 2013 Bluegrass Bands Announced
After a hugely successful first year, Cloud 9 Adventures today announces the second installment of Strings & Sol, the newest music destination event in the Cloud 9 family, which also includes Mayan Holidaze, Jam Cruise, Holy Ship! and Panic en la Playa. Strings & Sol - set on the white sand beaches of Puerto Morelos on the Riviera Maya, Mexico - runs December 11 - 15, 2013. This unique adventure brings together some of today’s best progressive bluegrass bands for a rollicking string-music vacation like no other.
Live performances during the event’s 4 days and nights include Yonder Mountain String Band (with three performances, one of which will be during sunset), Railroad Earth and Leftover Salmon (who will each have one closing show and one additional performance), Keller Williams with The Travelin’ McCourys, and Greensky Bluegrass (with two performances each). Visit www.stringsandsol.com for more information.
The beautiful locale and luxurious accommodations at the Now Sapphire resort brings the energy of the new American bluegrass story to new heights for Strings & Sol 2013. Located on the pristine beaches of picturesque fishing village Puerto Morelos - approximately 25 minutes south of the Cancun Airport on the Mayan Riviera - Now Sapphire is a first-class, all-inclusive resort that boasts spacious suites, an incredible on-site spa, gourmet restaurants, beachfront palapas, and of course, stunning ocean views. Strings & Sol offers music fans a genuine luxury vacation featuring days relaxing on the beach with friends and nights listening to their favorite bands perform in paradise.
The all-inclusive luxury lodging packages for Now Sapphire are available to just over 1000 lucky fans. Check in starts at 3pm on December 11, 2013 and the bluegrass kicks off that night.
All packages go on sale to the general public beginning April 17 at 12:00 PM EST at www.stringsandsol.com. There will be a pre-sale for returning Strings & Sol guests on April 16.
Just over 400 rooms at Now Sapphire will be available for booking. Pricing for the all-inclusive resort starts at $1,099 for triple occupancy rooms per person, $1199 for double occupancy rooms per person, with ocean view rooms starting at $1499 per person. A limited number of rooms are available for families who wish to bring their children, with a complete Kid’s program offered by the resort.
Look for announcements to come including artist hosted activities, ways of giving back to the community with Positive Legacy and more!
For fans who wish to extend their stay, Cloud 9 Adventures is offering a special discounted rate for the nights before and after the event, so come early and stay late. Guests can add an additional three nights to their stay before the event and one night after the event for $189.00 a night per person.* These rates are available for December 8, 9, 10, & 15, 2013. For more information and to book a room, please visit www.stringsandsol.com.
*Pre / Post night rates are based on double occupancy. Presidential Suites are subject to different rates and must be booked with Cloud 9 over the phone, based on availability. Strings & Sol is a Cloud 9 Adventure www.cloud9adventures.com
Tags: Strings & SolYonder Mountain String BandRailroad Earth and Leftover SalmonKeller WilliamsThe Travelin' McCourysGreensky BluegrassFestivalEventJunior Sisk & Ramblers Choice Benefit for Madison Rescue Squad
Madison, Virginia: Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice will play at the Madison County High School on Friday, April 5, to benefit the Madison Rescue Squad. The show starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $15, and tickets can be purchased at Jones Auto Parts in Madison or contact Steve Grayson at 540-948-6914 or 540-820-7307.
"I am excited to perform at Madison County High School and happy to share my music with others especially while aiding a good cause," said Junior Sisk.
Sponsored by Two by Two BBQ, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice are the official ambassadors of the Historic Jonesborough Bluegrass Series and proud endorsers of D'Addario Strings, Planet Waves, Cedar Creek Cases, The Gray Mandolin Shop, Frank's Fiddles, the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, The Wounded Warrior Project, Blue Chip Picks, Arthur Conner Fiddles, Yates Banjos and Grey Eagle mandolins.
The band's new album from Rebel Records, The Story of the Day that I Died, will be released on March 12, 2013. Learn more about Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice by visiting www.JuniorSiskandRamblersChoice.com. For booking information, contact Roe Entertainment at www.RoeEntertainment.com.
Make Welcome Entertainment provides management and publicity services for bluegrass, roots and country artists. With offices in Nashville, Tennessee and Washington, DC, Make Welcome is well positioned to focus on the details so artists can focus on making great music. To learn more about Make Welcome Entertainment, call 1-800-838-6087 or visit www.MakeWelcome.com
Tags: Junior Sisk & Ramblers ChoiceMake Welcome EntertainmentBenefitConcert