With collective stints with Alison Krauss & Union Station (Adam Steffey, John Bowman), J.D. Crowe & The New South (Ron Stewart, John Bowman, Harold Nixon), Blue Moon Rising (Keith Garrett and Harold Nixon), The Isaacs (John Bowman) and most recently The Dan Tyminski Band (Steffey and Stewart), this quintet starts out with an impressive rap sheet. The group will feature Steffey on mandolin, Stewart on banjo, Bowman on fiddle, Harold Nixon on bass and Keith Garrett on guitar. With multiple award winning instrumentalists in the group, expect Stewart to lay down the banjo for the fiddle occasionally, and Bowman to pick up on the guitar during occasional numbers.  It’s a rare treat to have several strong lead vocalists in the same group, and The Boxcars will benefit from dynamic vocal performances by Garrett, Bowman, Stewart, and Steffey’s distinctive baritone. The group will draw from a wealth of original material as both Garrett and Stewart are strong songwriters.

“Ron and I had been talking about this for some time”, comments Steffey. “We got together with several configurations and landed on one that really clicks.   Keith Garrett is such a powerhouse vocalist, and I’ve known John Bowman since we were kids, and have played a lot of music together.

Ron Stewart adds, “Adam and I had talked about picking together for a while, and we knew Harold Nixon was our first choice for bassman, and when John and Keith came on board, it was magic from the first note! I’m as excited about this band as anything I’ve ever done, both musically and personally, and I can’t wait to get in the studio and on the road!”

Early on Sunday morning December 6, 2009 flames destroyed the home of Rita and Bob Forrester on the A.P. Carter Highway near Hiltons, Virginia. Rita and her son Tyler escaped the flames but Bob did not make it out alive. Rita’s oldest son Justin, who lives nearby is safe as well. Everything the family owned was lost in the fire including both of the family automobiles.

Rita is the granddaughter of A.P. Carter and her mother was the late Janette Carter who founded the Carter Family Fold in the 1970s. Rita is the director of the Carter Family Fold which promotes and preserves bluegrass and old time music on the grounds where the original Carter Family lived and raised their families.

Your prayers and support are desperately needed immediately to uplift and help the Forrester family at this time. An account has been set up by friends and supporters for your donations. Please do not delay in sending a financial contribution as soon as you can. No amount is too small in this time of need for this family. Please send contributions to:
 
The Rita Janette Forrester Fund
c/o BB&T Bank
110 Gateway Plaza
Gate City, Virginia 24251
 
Also a fundraising concert is in the plans in the near future to help with this worthy cause. Information will be shown here as concert plans develop.
Please continue to Support the Carter Family Fold www.carterfamilyfold.org

Condolences can be mailed to Rita Forrester in care of the Carter Family Fold,

P.O. Box 111
Hiltons VA 24258

Jimmy Kittle, whose son has Cystic Fibrosis, started a “Pickin’ On Cystic Fibrosis” bluegrass festival in southeast Michigan three years ago, and in 2010 it will become a three-day event. He’s in need of touring bands interested in performing. The event takes place Sept. 16-18, 2010 in Milan, Michigan (just south of Detroit and north of Toledo, Ohio). Read more…

As the year draws to a close and the holidays quickly approach, award-winning Rounder Records duo Dailey & Vincent find themselves in the Christmas spirit.  

Rural Rhythm Records is very proud to announce the new single, “Merry Go Round” by BRAND NEW STRINGS. The song is from their upcoming album, “NO STRINGS ATTACHED” set for release Feb 9, 2010. Read more…

Best Bluegrass Album (Vocal or Instrumental)

Could We Get Any Closer?Jim Lauderdale [Sky Crunch Records]

The Crow / New Songs For The Five-String Banjo Steve Martin [Rounder] Read more…

Williams & Clark Expedition recently announced that Bobby Clark is leaving the band to join Jerry Butler and The Blu-J’s. Williams & Clark Expedition will officially become The Expedition Show.

Roe Entertainment, a bluegrass and american roots music booking agency, has relocated its office to Maryville, TN.  Jim Roe of Roe Entertainment feels this move is necessary to put himself closer to an abundance of bluegrass events. Roe says “Events that used to take me 4 to 7 hours to get to, I can now travel to and attend in a couple hours. Read more…

Join Charlie Daniels and his guests, The Grascals, Kathy Mattea, Aaron Tippin, Dan Tyminski, and Evelyn and Suzanne Cox for a down-home pickin’ Christmas, on A Twin Pines Christmas.

The show will air again on GAC on 12/24 10am and 4pm (EST).