North County Bluegrass & Folk Club

Wilkesboro, NC -- When MerleFest, presented by Lowe’s and slated for April 25-28, 2013, kicks off on Thursday afternoon, it will be a bittersweet moment. The four-day event, an annual homecoming of musicians and music fans, will once again take place on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. But for the first time in its 26 years, MerleFest will take place without beloved music icon Doc Watson, who passed away on May 29, 2012.

“From the beginning, Doc Watson has been the artistic center of this festival,” says Ted Hagaman, director of the festival. “So for MerleFest 2013, we will come together as a family to pay special tribute to the man and the musician who meant so much to us all.”

In fact, one of the most talked-about events of the festival will surely be Saturday evening’s Celebration Jam. The Jam will be hosted by Sam Bush and will feature many of Doc’s closest musician friends as they tell stories and play some of Doc’s favorites tunes. The Jam’s core band will consist of Sam Bush (mandolin/fiddle), Jeff Little (piano), T. Michael Coleman (bass), Jack Lawrence (guitar), Bryan Sutton (guitar) and David Holt (banjo.)

“No matter if it was Carnegie Hall in New York City, a packed theater in Tokyo, Japan, a venue in Southern France, or on a flatbed truck somewhere in Georgia, Doc was always just Doc,” said Coleman. “No pretense, no inflated ego, and no set list. He invited the audience into his living room, and they felt right at home.”

“Doc personified the 3 T’s: tone, taste and timing. Getting to play alongside him at the past 25 MerleFests has been a true privilege and a lesson in how it’s done,” agreed Bush. “He was a musical mentor and a really good friend to me. It’s an honor to have known Doc, RosaLee and Merle.”

Additionally, the life and music of Doc Watson will be honored in other ways during the festival:

A special section in the MerleFest program (20,000 copies to be given free) will pay tribute to Doc, with quotes and remembrances from fellow artists and friends;

Video vignettes throughout the festival of Doc, which will include videos of him performing, talking about his family, telling stories, etc.;

Throughout the weekend, artists will be reminiscing about Doc and the impact he had on them;

A new display will be introduced in Lowe’s Hall with a bust of Doc and memorabilia of his life and career; and

A student emergency fund in Doc Watson’s honor will be announced at Wilkes Community College. This fund will be used for student emergency needs, to allow students to continue their education.

“Although I learned from many of the old timers, Doc was the main musical mentor in my life,” said Holt. “I was always struck by his ability to bring an older style of music to a modern audience. As a musician he deeply influenced my sense of timing and tone. I marveled at the way the fingers of his right hand danced on the strings. He never just plodded through a tune, but rather brought it completely to life every time he played it.”

Tickets for MerleFest 2013 can be purchased at www.merlefest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. An early bird ticket discount is available through March 10, 2013. Additional details about this year’s festival lineup and other MerleFest information can also be found at the website.

MerleFest, considered one of the premier music festivals in the country, is an annual homecoming of musicians and music fans held on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of the late Eddy Merle Watson, son of American music legend Doc Watson who passed away May 29, 2012. MerleFest is a celebration of “traditional plus” music, a unique mix of music based on the traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including bluegrass and old-time music, and expanded to include Americana, country, blues, rock and many other styles. The festival hosts over 90 artists, performing on 14 stages during the course of the four-day event. The annual event has become the primary fundraiser for the WCC Endowment Corporation, funding scholarships, capital projects and other educational needs.li

Tags: MerlefestDoc WatsonMusic FestivalEventTribute

Nashville, TN -- Pinecastle Records has released the first single, “Old McDonald Sold the Farm" from the upcoming album, Reborn by Newton & Thomas releasing April 30. The lively song was written by Kenny Boudrea, Darryl Landry, and Ryan Roberts and will certainly to appeal to a wide range of listeners with its timely subject regarding the struggles with farm and ranch owners.

With the two banded together, the "sideman" becomes a "frontman," and the "frontman" becomes a "partner." Both men are native Virginians who both struck out seperately in the music business decades ago, with both having completely different experiences. Now that both of their paths have converged, they are eager to blend their various musical flavors together to share with bluegrass and Americana fans everywhere. They are joined by bass player Matt Wallace who rounds out the trio that will be touring the country.

“I love the new single Old McDonald Sold the Farm. The first time I played it, I said to myself this is a #1 song and that is how I introduced it on show Saturday. It has been a while since I received something that wowed me this much,”
- Mike Wuerstle, Bluegrass Crossroads on WXLV, The Bluegrass Horizon on WDVR/WPNJ/W220AG

Although Mark Newton and Steve Thomas recently joined together to take their impressive live shows on the road and launch their first national album release as Newton & Thomas, they are certainly no strangers to the music community. Both have achieved great success throughout their careers with a Grammy nomination, a CMA nomination and multiple IBMA awards.

Reborn is a great mix of music that will certainly appeal to a wide range of audiences. Fans can pre-order the album now at Pinecastle Records and receive an instant download of the new single, plus a digital and physical copy of Reborn on the release date. Pre-orders are also available at Amazon, iTunes and more.

Mark Newton was born into a musical family and he became interested in bluegrass and county music at the early age of six after his family moved to Fredricksburg, VA. In 1983 Newton teamed up with Rickie and Ronnie Simpkins and Sammy Shelor to form the Virginia Squires, a band which would go on to record five albums. Newton then went on to perform with the Tony Rice Unit and The Seldom Scene. In 1997 Newton teamed up with Bill Emerson and recorded A Foot in the Past, A Foot in the Future for Pinecastle Records, solidifying his Pinecastle pedigree. Newton is especially proud of his project, Follow Me Back to the Fold, which is a tribute to women in bluegrass that won IBMA's "Recorded Event of the Year" in 2001. His most recent album, Hillbilly Hemingway, was nominated for an IBMA award in 2007.

At an early age Steve Thomas started playing in his father's Gospel band with members of their church. That early experience and an influential championship fiddle player propelled him on to play with the Roanoke Youth Symphony, after which he cut his chops with Roanoke area bands East Virginia Grass and The New Grass Revue. Thomas has won best fiddler awards at numerous championships as well as being an award winning mandolin player. Thomas teamed up with Tim Austin to form the Lonesome River Band as well as stints playing with Del McCoury, Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys, The Whites, The Osborne Brothers, not to mention country stars like Aaron Tippin, Brooks and Dunn, LeeAnn Womack, Kenny Chesney, John Michael Montgomery, Ronnie Bowman, and Lorrie Morgan.

For more information on Newton & Thomas, please visit http://NewtonandThomas.com and join them on their new Facebook page.

Charlottesville, VA -- Don Rigsby’s life-long passion for the music of Dr. Ralph Stanley comes to full boil in his forthcoming album from Rebel Records, Doctor’s Orders: A Tribute to Ralph Stanley. (Stanley has been referred to as Dr. Ralph Stanley since receiving his honorary doctorate in music from Lincoln Memorial University in 1976.) For his third Rebel release, Rigsby chose to pay homage to Stanley with Doctor’s Orders, so named because Stanley helped choose the track listing from Rigsby’s master list of five dozen Ralph Stanley and Stanley Brothers recordings. “I wanted people to see my roots for what they are,” says Rigsby about his decision to make a tribute album. “I want the world to know that Ralph’s music is what makes me tick.”

Except for “The Mountain Doctor” (which Rigsby co-wrote with Larry Cordle, of “Murder on Music Row” fame), all the songs on the new album are ones Stanley recorded throughout his 67-year (and counting) career. Some are rare gems the Old Master seldom or never performed in his stage shows.

“I’m so proud of the tribute record that Don Rigsby has done for me. He has recorded some of my favorite material and brought new life to each song.”
-Ralph Stanley

Barely out of the cradle when he became enthralled by the high mournful sounds issuing from his brother’s 8-track tape player, Rigsby was a mature six years old the day he met Stanley at a show in Ashland, Kentucky. It remains the musical highlight of his life. 39 years after that first, life-changing Ralph Stanley concert, Don Rigsby is no longer a star-struck kid who fumbled over his words in the presence of his idol, but a man who knows just how lucky he is to have one of bluegrass music’s most legendary figures in his corner.

Adding zest to the project are appearances by Stanley and former Clinch Mountain Boys Larry Sparks, Ricky Skaggs, Charlie Sizemore and Steve Sparkman. Stanley’s lead guitarist, James Alan Shelton, plays on many of the 14 selections, as do such other prize-winning pickers as Ron Stewart and Barry Bales. Since Rigsby has been singing these songs for nearly four decades, it’s natural that the recording session was as smooth as Kentucky bourbon: most of his vocals on Doctor’s Orders were scratch vocals, nearly all of the arrangements were recorded live, and the initial tracks were laid down in just two days.

“I’m beyond honored and blessed that my mentor and biggest musical influence is also one of my closest friends. At this point in my career, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than honor him.”
-Don Rigsby

Don Rigsby is a two-time Grammy nominee and two-time winner of the SPBGMA’s Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year award. He has performed and/or recorded with The Bluegrass Cardinals, J. D. Crowe & The New South, Lonesome River Band, Longview and Midnight Call. His credits also include five solo albums and two IBMA awards for producing Larry Sparks’ comeback album, 40. A graduate of Morehead State University, Rigsby was the first full-time director of that school’s Kentucky Center for Traditional Music.

The first single from the album, "The Mountain Doctor," will be made available for digital purchase as a special pre-album promotion next Tuesday, April 2 via iTunes, Amazon and other online retailers. The physical and online versions of the full album will be released May 21.

Tags: Don RigsbyDr. Ralph StanleyDoctor’s Orders: A Tribute to Ralph StanleyCD Release

Nashville, TN -- Rural Rhythm Records is proud to announce today’s new Bluegrass album, The Back Forty, by Marty Raybon & Full Circle. Marty co-wrote five of the tracks including the first single, “That Janie Baker,” that is currently charting on Bluegrass Today’s Weekly Top 20. Fans will want to view the two recently released videos where the Grammy Award Winning artist talks about each song from the album and his 40th Anniversary as an Entertainer.

Marty is thrilled with the new bluegrass album release and gives credit for his musical style to his Dad who was a fiddle player who performed at bluegrass and country music festivals and events during Marty’s early years. Marty and his brothers actually began their careers as the American Bluegrass Express in the ‘70s.

Marty just filmed an upcoming album promo video, which will be available soon, where he discusses each track that appears on The Back Forty and talks about this year’s upcoming 40th Year Celebration. The album includes the following tracks by some mighty fine songwriters:

1. "That Janie Baker" – Marty Raybon, John Fountain
2. "She’s Just An Old Love Turned Memory" – John Schweers
3. "The Late Night Cry Of The Whippoorwill" – Randall Hylton, Paul Craft, Brenda Harrington, Kermit Teague
4. "Slowly (I’m Falling)" – Webb Pierce, Tommy Hill
5. "Look For Me (For I Will Be There Too)" – Charles (Rusty) Goodman
6. "The Big Burnsville Jail" – Marty Raybon, Thom Case, and Michael Bonagura
7. "A Little More Sawdust On The Floor" – Marty Raybon and John Fountain
8. "Only You, Only You" – Marty Raybon, John Fountain
9. "Hurt Me All The Time" – Raymond Maynard, Nelson Terry Skinner,and Lee Larry Wallace
10. "Mountain Love" – Marty Raybon, Jerry Salley

The Back Forty takes us back to Marty’s Bluegrass music roots with his signature vocals and tight harmonies provided by his band Full Circle: Tim Raybon, Chris Wade, Zach Rambo, with special guests Tim Crouch, Daniel Grindstaff, John Bradley, Aaron Ramsey, Scott Napier and Tim Laughlin. The exciting new project also helps celebrate Marty's 40 Years of Entertaining fans worldwide.

The album contains five new songs co-written by Marty including the new barn burner single “That Janie Baker” by Marty Raybon and John Fountain which has received rave reviews. Terry Herd of Bluegrass Today and Bluegrass Radio Network says, "That Janie Baker" is one of those songs you find yourself singing along with, even before you know the words.” The single is now out to radio and also available at AirPlayDirect.com.

Marty Raybon & Full Circle are now on tour, so for more information on the album and tour dates, please visit MartyRaybon.com, Facebook and Twitter.

The Back Forty is now available at Amazon, iTunes, Rural Rhythm Records and more fine retail outlets. Radio can hear the entire album and download it April 1 at AirPlay Direct.

Tags: Marty Raybon & Full CircleThe Back FortyCD Release

Nashville, TN -- Imagine you could roll back time and hang out with the incomparable Doc Watson and his family at every stage of the clan’s musical evolution. Imagine listening to Doc’s mother sing her work songs, hearing stories about how his son Merle learned to play the guitar and seeing Doc blossom from his rural North Carolina roots into a world-renowned, multiple Grammy winner.

Well, thanks to the devoted labors of Doc Watson’s only daughter, Nancy Watson, along with a little input from Doc—one can have that intimate experience via the new and meticulously comprehensive 4-CD set, Milestones: Legends of the Doc Watson Clan.

“I’m so happy that my project is finally seeing the light of day,” commented Nancy Watson. “ I’m looking forward to inviting everyone to be part of the family for a bit.” Created, conceived and compiled by Nancy Watson and produced by Roy Andrade, a member of the Bluegrass and Old Time Country Music Studies faculty at East Tennessee State University, the set boasts 94 unreleased songs and stories by Doc and other family members—plus collages of more than 500 Watson family photos.

“This set is a broad and personal offering from within the Watson family itself and is presented with such care,” Andrade adds. “It is both eclectic and traditional, and presents Doc Watson as he has never been heard before, but also features other members of the Watson Family. It is a pleasure to help Nancy see this through.”

The collection is not a repackaging of earlier releases. These are home recordings spanning from 1954 – 2007. It is music and commentary, most of it recorded for personal entertainment, that was previously unavailable outside the Watson family.

These are just a few of the gems:

• Doc, his brother Arnold and their mother Annie: “When I See Jesus” (1964).
• Annie Watson: “The Churning Song” (1969)
• Doc’s one-man band versions of “Boil Them Cabbage Down” and “Nine Pound Hammer” (1964)
• Doc and wife Rosa Lee: “I Wish I Was A Single Girl Again” (1967)
• Doc and Nancy: “Let The Rest Of The World Go By” (2006)
• Doc: “The Twelfth Of Never” (1974)
• Doc on electric guitars and bass: “Stardust” (1955
• Doc, Rosa Lee and son Merle recall how “Merle Learns Guitar” (1984)
• Doc and Merle: “Spanish Fandango” (1964)
• Gaither Carlton – “Keep Your Lamps A-Burning” (1969)
• Doc Watson – “Carolina Cabin” a Watson original (2006)
• Doc Watson – “Twilight On The Trail” (1954)

The album is jointly annotated by Andrade, who, in addition to his academic achievements was a founding member of Reeltime Travelers, and the renowned musician and scholar Jody Stecher.

Milestones: Legends of The Doc Watson Clan is on Open Records and set for release in April 30.

Tags: Doc WatsonDoc Watson Family MilestonesMilestones: Legends of the Doc Watson ClanCD Release

Nashville, TN -- March 25, 2013 -- Don Rigsby’s life-long passion for the music of Dr. Ralph Stanley comes to full boil in his forthcoming album from Rebel Records, Doctor’s Orders: A Tribute to Ralph Stanley. Rigsby salutes his chief inspiration with this new album which includes bluegrass and mountain music legend Ralph Stanley and the clinch Mountain Boys alumni as guest artists.

Stanley has been referred to as Dr. Ralph Stanley since receiving his honorary doctorate in music from Lincoln Memorial University in 1976.

“I’m so proud of the tribute record that Don Rigsby has done for me,” says Stanley. “He has recorded some of my favorite material and brought new life to each song.”

Except for “The Mountain Doctor” (which Rigsby co-wrote with Larry Cordle, of “Murder on Music Row” fame), all the songs on the new album are ones Stanley recorded throughout his 67-year (and counting) career. Some are rare gems the Old Master seldom or never performed in his stage shows.

Adding zest to the project are appearances by Stanley and former Clinch Mountain Boys Larry Sparks, Ricky Skaggs, Charlie Sizemore and Steve Sparkman. Stanley’s lead guitarist, James Alan Shelton, plays on many of the 14 selections, as do such other prize-winning pickers as Ron Stewart and Barry Bales. Rigsby produced the album.

Barely out of the cradle when he became enthralled by the high mournful sounds issuing from his brother’s 8-track tape player, Rigsby was a mature six years old the day he met Stanley at a show in Ashland, Kentucky. It remains the musical highlight of his life.

Rigsby is a two-time Grammy nominee and two-time winner of the SPBGMA’s Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year awards. He has performed and/or recorded with The Bluegrass Cardinals, J. D. Crowe & The New South, Lonesome River Band, Longview and Midnight Call. His credits also include five solo albums and two IBMA awards for producing Larry Sparks’ comeback album, 40. A graduate of Morehead State University, Rigsby was the first full-time director of that school’s Kentucky Center for Traditional Music.

The first single from the album, “The Mountain Doctor,” will be made available for digital purchase as a special pre-album promotion next Tuesday, April 2 via iTunes, Amazon, eMusic and other digital outlets. The full album Doctor’s Orders: A Tribute to Ralph Stanley will be released May 21.

Tags: Don RibsbyDr. Ralph StanleyDoctor’s Orders: A Tribute to Ralph StanleyThe Mountain DoctorCD Release

April Verch will release her latest project, Bright Like Gold April 2nd. This latest release features music that covers her broad range of styles from bluegrass to classic country. There are some wonderful guest artists contributing to the album also.

April Verch has never sounded more comfortable in her skin than she does now, in the second decade of her career as an internationally touring Canadian fiddler, step dancer and singer-songwriter. Her ninth album, Bright Like Gold, captures a woman who’s fleshed out her identity and is in full command of her gifts, a woman who’s grown from a prodigy into an enduring artist—one of music’s most unforgiving public transitions—with grace and grit to spare.

The April Verch Band—rounded out by bassist and clawhammer banjo player Cody Walters and guitarist Hayes Griffin, who has a Masters in jazz improv from the New England Conservatory—is an energetic, virtuosic, tradition-celebrating outfit, not to mention one that’s not soon forgotten when they depart the stage. It doesn’t hurt that the thrilling grand finale involves Verch fiddling and step dancing—and often executing two entirely different intricate rhythmic patterns—at once.

Something else that’s downright impressive is the range of material Verch, Walters and Griffin inhabit on the new album. She’s so fluent in folk traditions—the Canadian ones she was born into and the American ones she later found her way to—that old fiddle tunes like those featured in the Canadian medley “Dusty Miller,” “Fiddle Fingers” and “Grizzly Bear” and the Appalachian medley “Edward in the Treetop,” “Yellow Jacket” and “Quit That Tickling Me” sound positively reinvigorated. Originals like her instrumental waltz “Morris & Boris” and country courting number “The Only One” are clearly made to last.

What makes the latter song even more special is that Bluegrass Hall of Famer Mac Wiseman’s voice is on it, and he’s not the only guest of note. Premier old-time fiddler Bruce Molsky joins Verch for some handsome dual fiddling on “Evening Star Waltz,” and bluegrass banjo icon Sammy Shelor appears on “Davy Davy” and “Folding Down the Sheets.” Griffin’s “Foolish Heart” offers a playful take on western swing, Walters' “Raven In the Hemlock” unfurls melodic surprises and Verch’s “Broken” and “Sorry” have real emotional heft. The fact that she also chose to include “No Other Would Do”—the only song her dad’s ever written—perfectly completes the musical circle.

Verch, leader of this self-assured ensemble, is claiming her power as an artist and a woman, and taking charge of her recording process. Produced by Verch, Walters, Griffin, and their engineer Chris Rosser, Bright Like Gold is, quite literally, the album of Verch’s life.

It’s a wonder to behold Verch pulling off those pristine double-time triplets with her feet, and the myriad other ways she’s made good on the promise she showed at a tender age by becoming an artist in touch with roots and in her element. She won't be the one to mention her championship titles to you, or even the fact that she represented Canada's fiddling tradition by performing in the Opening Ceremonies at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

“The accolades are important and noteworthy and special to me,” she says, “but what I think is most impressive to me is that I’ve been doing this full time since 2000. We make a living playing music that we love and it touches other people. I feel like we’re extremely lucky to do that, but also I work really hard, not just at the music, but at every aspect of our career, to make that happen. That we find a way to make it work, and have had that kind of longevity, that's impressive to me.”

Tags: April VerchBright Like GoldFiddleCD Release

Sarah Jarosz has as rich a skill set as anybody in acoustic and bluegrass music... She plays- not just one instrument, but enough of them to be a one-woman string band! She sings in supple tones that transcend the boundaries between folk and pop. And, she writes- old-timey ballads and modern singer-songwriter ruminations alike.

Sarah released her debut, Song Up In Her Head, on Sugar Hill Records the year she graduated from high school. This young talent already has earned a Grammy nomination and performed on "Austin City Limits" and "A Prairie Home Companion," as well as at prestigious music festivals like Bonnaroo and Telluride.

Sarah Jarosz’s music — from her own original material to her exquisite interpretations of songs by others — seems to exist outside any frame of reference, managing to weave time-honored tradition with a bold, adventurous spirit of discovery and independence. Growing up in Wimberley, Texas, Sarah, a singer from an early age,was 9 years old when she received a mandolin for Christmas.

Spurred on by a weekly jam session near her hometown, she worked tirelessly to learn the instrument, picking up clawhammer banjo and guitar along the way. Shortly after turning 11, Sarah traveled to her first bluegrass gathering outside of Texas, the respected Rockygrass Festival in Lyons, Colorado, and over the next several years she earned a reputation as something of a young phenom, traveling the festival circuit and channeling the traditions of her musical elders while aspiring to the creative heights of her heroes as well.

In the summer of 2007, after her debut set at Colorado's Telluride Bluegrass Festival, she was approached by Gary Paczosa, A&R representative for roots label Sugar Hill Records. He expressed his admiration and invited her to Nashville to cut some songs. She accepted, and from those early sessions a professional relationship blossomed. They corresponded over the next year, and at the age of 16 she signed her contract with Sugar Hill and spent her senior year of high school cutting her debut album, Song Up In Her Head.

See for yourself why she's become one of the hottest young stars in bluegrass music today. This performance is part of The Place for Everyone series. Tickets: $10, $25, $35 and are available at the Peace Center web site.

Tags: Sarah JaroszPeace CenterConcertEvent

Hiltons, VA -- Raymond McLain has been performing at Carter Family shows since Janette Carter first began presenting concerts in the old A.P. Carter Grocery in 1974 – first with his family, the McLain Family Band – and later with ETSU when he was head of the ETSU Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music program. Saturday, March 30th, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert of bluegrass music by Raymond McLain and the Morehead State University Traditional Music Ensemble. Admission to the concert is $8 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free.

Raymond is currently the Director of the Kentucky Center for Traditional Music at Morehead State University. He also performs, produces, and records. Raymond serves on the Carter Music Center’s board of directors in addition to serving as the Artistic Director at the Fold. Raymond’s father served on the Music Center’s board from the time it was created in 1979. When his father died, Raymond agreed to occupy the board seat his dad once held. The long and loving friendship between the McLain and Carter families dates back nearly 40 years to the early 1970s.

Raymond’s 40 plus years of entertaining have taken him to performances in all 50 states and 62 foreign countries, including a tour as a musical ambassador of the U.S. State Department. For 21 years with the McLain Family Band, Raymond performed at hundreds of thousands of festivals and concerts internationally and as a soloist in appearances with over 230 orchestras. Raymond was with Jim & Jesse’s Virginia Boys for ten years. He currently performs with Canadian harmonica whiz, Mike Stevens. In fact, the duo just performed at the Fold a few weeks ago. Through the years, the McLains have produced dozens of CDs and records.

Performing with Raymond will be students from the Morehead State University Traditional Music program. Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina have traditionally produced some of the finest country, bluegrass, and old time musicians in the world. Carter Music Center strives to preserve not only the music of the mountains but the traditions of the mountains as well. Come out and support the next generation of mountain musicians. There will be lots of fiddle tunes, outstanding harmony, haunting instrumentals, and lots of fun for all ages. Bring your dancing shoes, and bring along your friends for a memorable night of Appalachian music and dance. To learn more about the KY Center for Traditional Arts go to http://www2.moreheadstate.edu/kctm/ on line.

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 recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054.

Tags: Raymond McLainMorehead State University Traditional Music EnsembleCarter Family FoldConcertEvent

Lyons, CO -- The evening of Friday, March 29th, the Wildflower we begin their 2013 musical journey on Planet Bluegrass dancegrass-style with the CD release party for Whitewater Ramble. From high-octane bluegrass to wondrous songwriters to a just-announced finale show featuring bluegrass music virtuosos Rob Ickes & Jim Hurst, these 6 intimate evenings promise a magical introduction to the Wildflower festivarian summer.

Tickets are available for all of these upcoming shows (with no service fees, of course) at shop.bluegrass.com, 800-624-2422, or in-person at The Stone Cup in Lyons. Join us for beer and wine, some relaxed time on the Planet Bluegrass Ranch, and the rich acoustics of the indoor Wildflower Pavilion.

Described as “High-Octane Rocky Mountain DanceGrass”, Whitewater Ramble (WWR) uses a simple recipe to craft it’s sound: start with bluegrass instrumentation, add drums, and finish with a boundary-less approach to grassing-up everything from disco house grooves to roots to Americana. The Colorado-bred quintet combines the elements of mandolin, fiddle, acoustic guitar, upright bass, drums and vocals to explore the musical boundaries of multiple genres and to fuel their own mixture of original music and innovative cover song interpretations. Whether playing an intimate encore, acoustic and unplugged in the crowd, or surfing on top of the upright bass, Whitewater Ramble delivers a powerful and memorable live performance.

Currently on tour behind their second studio release Roots & Groove (produced by Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth), the band continues their growth as songwriters and musicians while earning legions of new fans and expanding their touring reach.

Based in Fort Collins, CO, WWR has performed and headlined on every major stage across the Rocky Mountain Region. A diverse festival resume has helped bring WWR to stages at events like the Northwest String Summit, Wakarusa, Yonder Mountain’s Harvest Festival, Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival, 80/35 Festival, Nedfest, Bohemian Nights NewWestFest, The Wildflower Pavilion at RockyGrass, Copper Mountain Sunsation, Desert Rocks Music Festival, Love Your Mother Earth Music Festival, Keystone Bluegrass and Brews, The Denver People’s Fair, South Park Music Festival, Westword’s Music Showcase, numerous Brew Festivals, and their own annual two day music and camping festival, Ramble on the River. With over 800+ performances under their belt, the group has truly established themselves as one of the hardest working groups in the jam scene today.

Tags: WildflowerPlanet BluegrassSpring Concert SeriesConcertWhitewater RambleEvent

Jim VanCleve, founding member of Mountain Heart (fiddle) contracted Dengue Fever from mosquito bites he got from a recent trip to St. Croix and his body is over worked and not fighting the illness properly. Since returning he has suffered extremely high fever (105), severe headaches and body pain in his muscles and joints and a terrible rash over his upper body, all associated with this tropical disease.

Jim was admitted to a Nashville hospital to control his fever and other treatment. He may require a blood transfusion today because his white blood count had dropped to a very dangerous low. His immediate family is with him and they along with the entire Mountain Heart team are confident he will bounce back strong soon but we are asking for everyone's prayers as he gets past this rough time.

While in the hospital, his temperature has been controlled with Tylenol but is still bouncing up and down. The family is hoping that a blood transfusion won't be required but his white count is very low. Readers may follow the postings on his Facebook Page and here.

Dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles. In a small proportion of cases the disease develops into the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs.

At 31, fiddler Jim Van Cleve has already achieved more than many musicians do in a lifetime, and with the release of his solo debut, No Apologies, the dynamic youngster has taken a bold step forward. Producing, arranging, performing, and sharing in the writing credits for more than half of the CD's eleven selections, Jim has created a collection of unusual depth and breadth that can only enhance his reputation as one of the leading musicians of his generation.

Mountain Heart is the band that has been fearlessly revolutionizing the way acoustic music can be presented and played. Widely known throughout the music industry for constantly redefining the cutting edge, the band has gained legions of fans both as a result of their superlative musicianship, and more notably, their incomparably exciting live performances.

Tags: Jim VanCleveMountain HeartHealth

River Falls, WI -- The River Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau is pleased to announce the lineup for the Third Annual Bluegrass and Roots Festival April 5-7 in downtown River Falls, Wisconsin. The three days of live Bluegrass, Roots, Cajun, and Americana music will include headliners The Greencards on Friday night and Pert’ Near Sandstone on Saturday night. Other artists include Brian Wicklund and the Barley Jacks, The Ditch Lilies, The Boys n’ The Barrels and the High 48’s. Banjo, guitar and fiddle workshops and jam sessions included.

The River Falls Roots & Bluegrass Festival is also home to the Upper Midwest Flatpicking Guitar Championship. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finalists with a Grand Prize including Larrivee D-50 (valued at $2,800)! In addition to the flatpicking contest the festival will feature a Singer/Songwriter Competition which promises to be an exciting competition among the best of the best. Prizes will also be awarded for the top three artists.

Ticket prices: Friday $25.00; Saturday $25.00, Friday and Saturday two-day pass $40.00. Purchase tickets at RiverFallsBluegrass.com. Stay for the weekend in select River Falls’ hotels and receive one FREE ticket to that evening’s performance. Complete schedule and more information can be found online at www.RiverFallsBluegrass.com or call the River Falls Chamber of Commerce at 715-425-2533. Complete music festival lineup follows

Please note: Items in bold are the Main Stage performances and require a ticket to enter. 
Visit RiverFallsBluegrass.com and click on the Get Tickets tab for more information.

Friday, April 5th 2013 

Time

Artist/Activity

Venue*

4:30-7:30 pm

Everett Smithson

Johnnie's Bar

6:00-9:00 pm

Brian Wicklund 

Coaches 

8:30-9:15 pm

Chris Silver 

Juniors Bar/Grill

9:30- 11:00 pm

The Greencards 

Juniors Bar/Grill

10:00 - 2:00am

Dead Horses 

Shooter's Bar

Saturday, April 6th 2013 

Time

Artist/Activity

Venue*

8:00-11:00 am

Rush River Ramblers

Southfork Cafe

8:30-10:30 am

Open Jam

Riverview Hotel

10:00-11:00 am

Banjo Workshop

Brickhouse Music

11:00-12:00 pm

Ukulele Workshop

Brickhouse Music

11:00-12:30 pm

Open Mic

Dish & Spoon Cafe

11:00-1:30 pm

Flatpick Guitar Competition

Juniors Bar/Grill

1:00-2:00 pm

Mandolin Workshop

Yo-Joe's

2:00-3:00

Percussion Petting Zoo

Brickhouse Music

2:00-4:00 pm 

"Attic Treasures Appraisal"- bring your treasure for an appraisal or just stop by to watch.

Riverwalk Art and Antiques

2:00-5:00 pm

Jumbo Ya Ya 

Bo's N Mine 

2:30-4:30 pm

Singer/Songwriter Competition 

Juniors Bar/Grill 

2:30-4:30 pm

Open Jam

Family Fresh

3:30-6:30 pm

Ditch Lilies 

Mainstreeters 

5:00-8:00 pm 

Platte Valley Boys

Lazy River Saloon

8:00-8:45 pm

The Goldblooms 

Juniors Bar/Grill

9:00-10:30 pm

Pert 'Near Sandstone

Juniors Bar/Grill

10:30-1:00 am

Boys n the Barrels

Corner Saloon

Sunday April 7th 2013

Time

Artist/Activity

Venue*

11:30-2:30pm 

High 48's  

West Wind Supper Club

Tags: Bluegrass & Roots FestivalRiver FallsThe GreencardsWorkshopsFestivalEvent

Nashville, TN -- The CMA Foundation donated $1.2 million to benefit music education programs for Nashville’s 81,000 public school students from 2012 CMA Music Festival through the Keep the Music Playing campaign at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center Tuesday night.

The announcement raises CMA’s Keep the Music Playing support of music education in Metro Schools from $5.3 million to more than $6.5 million. This money has been used to build music labs and purchase instruments and supplies for ALL 144 Metro Nashville Public Schools through a partnership with the Nashville Public Education Foundation.

“Providing instruments for every Metro school is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “When we started this program in 2006, instruments in Metro band programs were more than 30 years old – if they were lucky enough to have them at all. Seeing what this program has accomplished on behalf of our artists is extremely gratifying. Keep the Music Playing is making a difference by helping to make quality music education a reality for our children.”

In 2006, the CMA Artist Relations Committee established the Keep the Music Playing program to give back to the community on behalf of the hundreds of Country artists who perform and make appearances at CMA Music Festival each year for free.

The announcement of the 2012 CMA Music Festival donation was made at a reception prior to the Fourth Annual CMA Keep the Music Playing All Stars Concert at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The All Stars Concert honors the best elementary, middle, and high school performance groups selected from Metro Schools.

CMA Award nominee Scotty McCreery hosted the concert and was on hand for the donation announcement, which was attended by band directors and music teachers from Metro Schools, as well as representatives from The CMA Foundation, CMA Board of Directors, Music City Music Council, and Nashville Public Education Foundation.

Famous for winning American Idol before he graduated high school, McCreery understands firsthand the importance of music education. In addition to hosting the CMA All Stars Concert, McCreery performed “The River” (made famous by Garth Brooks) with students from Sylvan Park Elementary School.

“When I was in high school in North Carolina, I was very involved in the school’s music program which provided the foundation that inspired my music career today,” said McCreery. “And as a proud performer at the past two CMA Music Festivals, it’s an honor to represent CMA’s Keep the Music Playing, a program that gives back to schools in such a big way. Hosting the All Stars Concert and performing with the students of Sylvan Park Elementary has been an unforgettable experience and I’m glad I was able to share the stage with such talented young people.”

McCreery was American Idol's youngest male winner in 2011, as well as the show's first Country male star. His first studio album, Clear As Day, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and Top Country Albums charts, making him the youngest male in history to open at the top of the all-genre chart with a debut release. The project also garnered the highest sales of any Country solo album released in 2011, held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart for six weeks and earned Platinum status in just 13 weeks. His hits include “The Trouble With Girls,” “Water Tower Town,” and “I Love You This Big.” His first headlining tour, “Weekend Roadtrip,” kicked off on Feb. 14.

In the midst of a budding career, McCreery is also pursuing an undergraduate degree at N.C. State University. He grew up singing in church in the Raleigh satellite community of Garner, N.C. He led a praise-and-worship group called Audience of One. He also sang with an advanced high-school chorale group called Die Meistersingers. It required him to sight-read music, perform classical pieces, and compete with similar groups on a national level.

“Putting instruments in the hands of children is one of the most important initiatives undertaken by The CMA Foundation,” said Kitty Moon Emery, Chair of The CMA Foundation Board of Directors. “Supporting music education is an investment in the future of our city and our industry. It is an honor to nurture these young performers and provide them with the resources and opportunities they need and to advance their skills and achieve their dreams.”

CMA created the nonprofit (501C3) CMA Foundation in 2011. The Foundation exists to provide financial support to worthwhile causes that are important to CMA and the Country Music community. The group places special emphasis on serving the needs of CMA’s core constituents and nonprofit organizations with initiatives that preserve the legacy of the format, support music education, and respond to other needs identified by CMA.

In addition to Emery, the Mayor of Nashville, the honorable Karl Dean; Nashville Public Education Foundation Board Chair Michael Carter, Sr.; and Director of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Dr. Jesse Register attended the announcement.

During the program, Michael Weidman, Chevrolet National Promotions Manager, presented a new Chevrolet Traverse, which will be used to pick up and deliver instruments for the Keep the Music Playing-funded instrument repair facility for Metro Schools; which means repaired instruments will get back into the hands of students faster.

“Chevrolet supports America’s youth and understands the value and role music can play in the lives of students,” Weidman said. “We are proud to support such a worthwhile cause and remain committed to our outstanding partnership with the Country Music Association and Keep the Music Playing."

Studies show students who participate in the arts are more likely to graduate. Metro’s performing arts students have a 96 percent graduation rate compared to 78.4 percent for the general population. Sixty percent of Metro students are involved in music education classes – including 100 percent of elementary school students.

The music programs keep the students engaged in high school, but the musical training also provides access to potential college scholarships so these students can further their education and earn degrees.

All Stars are selected by Metro Nashville Public Schools Coordinator of Performing Arts Dr. Nola Jones and include Antioch High School Wind Ensemble, Croft Middle Design Center Advanced Orchestra, Meigs Academic Magnet Wind Ensemble, the Nashville School of the Arts Festival Choir, Oliver Middle School Wind Ensemble, and Sylvan Park Elementary School.

“In Metro Schools, we’re providing every student with the foundation to excel in higher education, work and life. Music education is an essential part of that,” said Register. “Keep the Music Playing has provided musical instruments to our students who come from 130 nations around the world. With musical instruments in their hands, students share a common language and opportunity to transform their lives.”

With this announcement, the total figure for the Keep the Music Playing program is $7.6 million. This figure includes a $1 million endowment gift for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “Words & Music” program, which assists language arts and music teachers with classroom instruction in the basics of songwriting; support of the 2012 W.O. Smith summer camp program; and a recent instrument donation to P.S. 103 in the Bronx, NY.

2013 CMA Music Festival will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 6-9. Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, and Carrie Underwood have already been announced as performers, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets are available now, call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378); visit CMAfest.com; or visit Ticketmaster.com to buy online or charge by phone at (800) 745-3000. Ticket prices start at $115 for Upper Level General Admission.

For the latest information about tickets and artists appearing at 2013 CMA Music Festival, and more, visit CMAfest.com. Sign up for CMA Exclusive, the official eNewsletter of Country Music, where fans get connected to Country and receive exciting updates about your favorite artists, contests, giveaways, and more.

Tags: CMA FoundationCMAKeep The Music PlayingEducation

Marion, VA- The award winning and high energy bluegrass band the Grascals will headline the Song of the Mountains public television concert taping on Saturday, April 6th at the Lincoln Theatre in Marion, VA. Also on the concert with the Grascals will be the old time music of the Whitetop Mountain Band along with two bluegrass gospel bands, the Easter Brothers and Jonathan Buckner and Chosen Road.

The Grascals are among the most beloved and acclaimed bands on today’s bluegrass scene, having won SPBGMA’s Bluegrass Band of the Year award in 2010, the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Emerging Artist of the Year award in 2005 and earning its Entertainer of the Year honor in both 2006 and 2007. For those who know them, the quick emergence of the group came as no surprise, for these are musicians whose roots and crossed paths reach back over more than two decades in bluegrass ensembles like the Osborne Brothers, Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, the Sidemen and New Tradition.

Their roots can also be traced back to Nashville’s larger musical community, where The Grascals have been able to draw on legends like Bobby Osborne, George Jones, Vince Gill, The Jordanaires, Steve Warner, Lloyd Green, Paul Craft and others for songs and for performances in the studio, on stage (including multiple guest appearances on the Grand Ole Opry), and for national television appearances, including on The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, CBS’s Early Show and Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends.

The Whitetop Mountain Band is a family-based band from the highest mountains of Virginia. Whitetop is an area rich in the old time music tradition, and this band has deep roots in mountain music. The band’s members have worked tirelessly to preserve the Whitetop region’s style of old time fiddling and banjo picking and are legendary musicians and teachers of the style. Their shows are very versatile and entertaining; they contain everything from fiddle and banjo instrumentals to powerful solos and harmony vocals on blues, classic country, honky tonk, traditional bluegrass numbers, old timey ballads, originals, and four-part mountain gospel songs. Shows also include flat foot dancing. The band is well-known for their high energy and charisma on stage.

From the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina to the west coast and all points in between, the American people are being treated to a special blend of music by The Easter Brothers. This trio of men -- who actually are brothers -- are helping forge a new frontier in gospel music for their unique style. Some call their style of singing Southern Gospel. Others have termed it traditional country gospel. Whatever name you choose to call it, you will have to agree it is music in it's purest form. Music with feeling, depth, sensitivity and backed with a solid message. There is a special magical feeling one gets when listening to the Easter Brothers sing. You are transformed as you listen to their clear style of singing back to the days of simpler times and purity in thinking. Perhaps this is what stands out most in their music, it is clear, pure and simple, not complex by musical arrangements that confuse the intent of the songs; but good, honest simplicity. Their fabulous harmony, augmented by the purity of their instruments is further enhanced by the clear cut message of faith and inspiration that mark their songs.

Jonathan Buckner and Chosen Road is an exciting young bluegrass and acoustic gospel music ensemble which was incepted in July of 2009 and immediately signed with Poor Mountain Records. The group has released four projects with Poor Mountain and their latest release “Expectations” is seeing great success on the airways. Chosen Road travels full time and keeps an extensive tour schedule holding approximately two - hundred and fifty dates per year. The ensemble travels the east coast sharing their form of bluegrass and acoustic gospel music to audiences in a variety of venues including churches, theaters, festivals, and fairs. Jonathan Buckner and Chosen Road’s unique sound is guaranteed to please fans of all musical genres and leave them wanting more.

This Song of the Mountains concert on April 6th begins at 7:00 pm. Ticket information is available at www.songofthemountains.org or by calling 276-783-6093. Song of the Mountains is hosted by Tim White. Song of the Mountains is underwritten for public television by TEDS, the General Francis Marion Hotel in Marion, VA, The Appalachian Cultural Music Association and the Mountain Music Museum in Bristol, TN, Blue Ridge Country 98.1 fm, The Bank of Marion, Emory & Henry College, Bryant Label Co. of Blountville, TN. Special support from the Town of Marion, VA. Also Song of the Mountains appreciates all the support received from their faithful supporters who contribute dollars to keep this concert series funded and on public television across America.

Memberships and Song of the Mountains merchandise are available at the website and your purchases help support the concert series. Donations are accepted at the website as well. Underwriting opportunities are available by contacting Song of the Mountains through our website. Song of the Mountains/The Lincoln Theatre is a non-profit organization.

Tags: The GrascalsSong of the MountainsWhitetop Mountain BandEaster BrothersJonathan Buckner & Chosen RoadPBSConcertEvent

Abingdon, VA -- Hurley, Virginia is in Buchanan County, an area rich in coal resources. It is also rich in traditional music, including Gospel, Old-time and Bluegrass. Twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, musicians of the area congregate for the Verner Blankenship Park Music Jam to share the music that has been handed down for generations in this mountainous region.

On Thursday, March 28 at 6 pm, representatives of the Jam will be presented with a banner acknowledging this venue’s recent inclusion as a Crooked Road Affiliated Venue. As an Affiliated Venue, the Jam will be represented in Crooked Road publicity and promotional materials as a place where visitors can experience authentic traditional music.

Named for a respected coal miner from the community, Verner Blankenship Park is a great location for the Jam. While the fiddlers bow and the banjoists pluck in the enclosed gazebo, kids, family members and visitors can enjoy the Park’s playgrounds or a meal in one of the picnic shelters. The music goes steady for several hours each time, and visitors are more than welcome to pull out their own instruments and add to the music. Verner Blankenship Park is located at 7447 Lester’s Fork Rd. in Hurley, Virginia.

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. For additional information about The Crooked Road, call 276-492-2409 or visit www.TheCrookedRoad.org. For more information about the Verner Blankenship Park Music Jam, call (276) 566-7172.

Tags: The Crooked RoadCrooked RoadVenueVirginia

Dreadnoughts Unlimited has raised funds and provided financial aid to Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Kamps since 2001. Scholarship recipients have attended sessions in flatpicking and fingerstyle guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, or bass. The qualifications for a financial aid are that a person be wanting to learn and improve his or her musical skills, but needs financial aid in order to attend kamp. Recipients must agree to attend the entire week of kamp and participate in classes. More information on the kamp can be found at http://www.flatpik.com/Steve-Kaufman-Acoustic-Kamp

Dreadnought Unlimited announced, "We are currently accepting applications for scholarships to kamp this coming June. The Dreadnought Unlimited website is currently being moved, so the old URL may not work. it is http://www.duscholar.home.mchsi.com

"The best way to get an application form is to send an email or a private message on facebook. My facebook address is https://www.facebook.com/harry.moore.7543 and my email address is dreadnoughtsunlimited@gmail.com The apps are available in plain text or Word form should you want to submit them via email. I can also provide a pdf should you want to use snail mail."

Note: Applications received by March 29 will receive priority consideration. The scholarships will be awarded by April 10. Kamp sessions are June 9-15 and June 16-22.

Thanks for your continued support of Dreadnoughts Unlimited - like us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dreadnoughts-Unlimited-Scholarships/66745...

Tags: Dreadnoughts UnlimitedSteve Kaufman Acoustic KampsEducation

Boston MA, March 19, 2013. Berklee College of Music president Roger Brown will present Carole King, Willie Nelson, and Annie Lennox with honorary doctor of music degrees at Berklee's commencement ceremony, Saturday, May 11, at the 7,000-seat Agganis Arena at Boston University. Commencement speaker Annie Lennox will address more than 900 Berklee graduates, their parents, and invited guests.

This year's honorary doctorate recipients are being recognized for their achievements and influence in music, and for their enduring contributions to American and international culture. Past recipients include Duke Ellington (the first, in 1971), Dizzy Gillespie, Smokey Robinson, Steven Tyler, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Juan Luis Guerra, Loretta Lynn, Paco de Lucía, David Bowie, the Edge, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Chaka Khan, Bonnie Raitt, George Clinton, Alison Krauss, Kenneth Gamble, and Leon Huff.

On commencement eve, as is Berklee's tradition, students will pay tribute to the honorees by performing music associated with their careers at the Agganis. The concert and ceremony are not open to the public.

Carole King, a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is the most successful female songwriter in pop music history. King penned dozens of hit songs in the 1960’s with then-husband Gerry Goffin, including “One Fine Day,” “The Loco-Motion,” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” It was 1971’s Tapestry that took her to the pinnacle. Tapestry won three key Grammy Awards—record, song and album of the year—a first for a female artist, sold more than 25 million copies, and remained the best-selling album by a female artist for 25 years. She has amassed three additional platinum and seven gold albums. King reunited with James Taylor – who hit #1 with her song “You’ve Got a Friend” – for Live at the Troubadour, resulting in a 2010 world tour and documentary. More than 400 of her compositions have been recorded, by over 1,000 artists, resulting in 100 hit singles. King is also actively involved with environmental organizations in support of forest wilderness preservation. She released her memoir, A Natural Woman, in 2012.

Willie Nelson has earned every conceivable award as a musician in his six-decade, 200-plus album career. He has also amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor and activist. The iconic Texan is the creative genius behind historic recordings like “Crazy,” “Red Headed Stranger,” and “Stardust.” In 2010, he released Country Music, produced by T Bone Burnett. The album received a Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album. Nelson’s 2011 albums included Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles and Remember Me Vol. 1. In 2012, Heroes, his first album for Legacy Recordings, spent five weeks at #1 on the Americana Radio Chart. His book Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Die hit the Top 10 on The New York Times Best Sellers list. Written in his inimitable, homespun voice, the book is a deeply personal look into the heart and soul of a unique man and one of the greatest artists of our time. Let's Face The Music And Dance, an album of deep pop country classics performed by Nelson and Family, comes out in April.

Annie Lennox, singer, songwriter, activist, and one of the finest musical voices of our time, is celebrated as an innovator and icon. Born in Scotland, she studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she met Dave Stewart and formed Eurythmics. The duo sold over 75 million albums, with over 20 international hits. In 1990, Lennox’s solo debut, Diva, entered the UK charts at #1, selling 6 million copies worldwide. Lennox is an Ambassador for UNAIDS, Oxfam, Amnesty International and The British Red Cross. After witnessing the plight of women and children struggling with HIV in South Africa, she founded the SING campaign to help prevent the spread of the virus. Her accolades include 8 BRIT Awards, 10 Grammy nominations and 4 Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, an Academy Award, the American Music Awards Lifetime Achievement, Billboard's Century Award, the Nobel Peace Laureates ‘Woman of Peace’ Award, and a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ from the ‘Inspiration Awards’ for women. In 2011 she was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in recognition of her humanitarian work.

Berklee College of Music, for over 65 years, has evolved to support its belief that the best way to prepare students for careers in music is through contemporary music education. The college was the first in the U.S. to teach jazz, the popular music of the time. It incorporated rock n’ roll in the 1960s, created the world's first degree programs in film scoring, music synthesis, and songwriting, and, in recent years, added world music, hip-hop, electronica, and video game music to its curriculum. With a diverse student body representing over 80 countries, a music industry "who’s who" of alumni that have received 229 Grammy Awards, Berklee is the world’s premier learning lab for the music of today – and tomorrow.

Tags: Berklee College of MusicHonorary DoctorateCarole KingWillie NelsonAnnie LennoxAwardEducation

Nashville, TN -- 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. 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 ChoiceStory of the Day That I DiedCD Release PartyEvent

Nashville, TN -- Nu-Blu kicks off their 10th Anniversary year with the launch of a brand new website and a national tour that will take them across the country performing at major festivals, concert halls, and more. The band will soon announce details of an upcoming album, but are continuing the celebration of their latest album, Nail by Nail

“Martha and Mary,” written by Becky Buller and Nancy Cardwell, is the first single release from Nail by Nail released on Pinecastle Records. The song appears at #2 on this month’s Singing News Magazine Top Song Chart for the second month in a row, climbs higher on Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine’s Top 30 Bluegrass Song Chart, and previously debuted at #8 on Bluegrass Today’s Weekly Top 20.

Nu-Blu is also proud to announce their lead vocalist and bassist, Carolyn Routh, graduated from the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Leadership Bluegrass 2013. Leadership Bluegrass is an intensive, three-day program focused on interactive learning and networking experiences that invite participants to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the bluegrass music industry, along with leadership development issues. Leadership Bluegrass 2013 was hosted at BMI, and Bone McAllester Norton PLLC in Nashville, Tennessee earlier this month.

By mixing their original songs along with traditional material, and incorporating songs from other generes, Nu-Blu creates a unique and driving blend of music which has been attracting fans and new audiences across the country.

Through the years, Nu-Blu has worked hard to develop a group that would give the listener a diverse experience. By mixing their original songs along with traditional material, and even incorporating songs from other genres, the group has certainly created a unique and driving blend of music that keeps audiences coming back for more.

Nu-Blu was founded by husband and wife team, Carolyn and Daniel Routh. Carolyn, on bass, provides her trademark lead vocals with impressive clarity and vocal range and Daniel, on guitar, brings his songwriting and vocal talents to the group. The two young guns, Levi Austin (banjo and vocals) and Austin Koener (mandolin) fill out the ranks providing the band with a solid and talented backbone.

For more information on Nu-Blu including tour dates, music and band members, Daniel Routh, Carolyn, Routh, Levi Austin and Austin Koerner, please visit their new website at http://Nu-Blu.com/

Tags: Nu-BluNail By NailTour10th Anniversary

Four years after leaving the US Navy's Country Current to lead his own powerful roots ensemble, Frank Solivan and his hot band Dirty Kitchen, have lots to celebrate, including 3 WAMMIE's, a nomination for IBMA's Emerging Artist of the Year, and a new record deal with Compass Records

With their highly anticipated album On the Edge hitting the streets on April 30th, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen can't wait for their hometown community to be the first to get a copy of On the Edge! Frank's planned some very special celebratory events for their hometown fans he doesn't want you to miss including Frank's own Dirty Kitchen Experience, his first ever Cooking Class, and a free Sunset Show on the lawn at Hill Center.

Don't miss out on the chance to raise a glass with Frank, Dirty Kitchen and their Family of Fans and Friends.

"No sophomore slump here: On the Edge, the follow-up to Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen’s vibrant, self-titled debut record, finds the quartet serving up a musical feast... the band is poised to have a breakout year in 2013 when the acoustic music world gets an earful of the tight harmonies, strong songwriting, and deft picking found On the Edge."
– Juli Thanki, Engine 145

On The Edge showcases one of the most exciting and dynamic new bands in bluegrass, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen. With virtuoso guests Tim O’Brien, Rob Ickes and vocalist Megan McCormick joining Solivan’s skilled team of pickers, the album's 10 tracks virtually jump off of the CD as the band applies the muscle of traditional bluegrass and finesse of newgrass to material that reaches across the bluegrass and Americana spectrums. Frank Solivan’s tenor vocals soar over virtuosic picking provided by banjoist Mike Munford, guitarist Chris Luquette and bassist Danny Booth. With the release of On The Edge Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen are poised to become one of the most sought after bands in bluegrass.

Tags: Frank Solivan & Dirty KitchenOn The EdgeCD ReleaseCD Release PartyCompass Records