MerleFest

March 21st, 2010
No Comments

MerleFest 2010, presented by Lowe’s, is proud to announce the additions of Dierks Bentley featuring the Travelin’ McCourys and Joey + Rory to the lineup Read more…

Filled Under: Bluegrass News

Becky Shlegel’s New Release

March 21st, 2010
No Comments

Lilly Ray/IGO Records’ recording artist Becky Schlegel is moving forward with her new single, “Colorado Line.”  The debut release from her upcoming CD, DANDELION Read more…

Filled Under: Bluegrass News

IBMA Leadership Graduates

March 21st, 2010
No Comments

Phil Bankester; The Bankester Family, Genuine Human Productions; Carbondale, Ill.
Carol Beaugard; WFDU-FM, WAMU’s Bluegrass Country; Chester, N.Y.
Kissy Black; Lotos Nile; Nashville, Tenn.
Linda Bonner; Grassland Elementary; Brentwood, Tenn.
Thomas J. Brown; Spatial Effects, Songwriter/Playwright, SEBA; Dalton, Ga.
Megan Brugger; Classic Country Radio, Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival; Xenia, Ohio
Denis Chadbourn; Bluegrass Music Association Central Canada, Nipissing Bluegrass Association, C-Denny Band; Rutherglen, Ontario, Canada
Karl S. Cooler; Mountain Roads Recordings; Bristol, Tenn.
Lachlan Davidson; Davidson Brothers; Doncaster East, Victoria, Australia
R. Avery Ellisman; Non-profit Management & Resource Development; Encinitas, Calif.
Doris Gray; Colorado Bluegrass Music Society; Boulder, Colo.
Chris Keenan; Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival; Co. Roscommon, Ireland
Thad Keim; Compass Records Group; Nashville, Tenn.
Joan Kornblith; Voice of America; Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Larson; Straight Drive; Brooklyn, N.Y.
William D. Lewis, PineCone – the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music; Raleigh, N.C.
Patty Mitchell; Artist; Nashville, Tenn.

Jess Norburg; IBMA; Nashville, Tenn.
Gretchen Priest-May; The Musical Heritage Center of Middle Tennessee; Pegram, Tenn.
Michael Ramsey; Red, White and Bluegrass Festival; Morganton, N.C.
Gary Reid; Bluegrass Productions of Virginia, LLC; Roanoke, Va.
Jessica Smith; Bassist/Singer/Songwriter; Boulder, Colo.
Jean Spivey; Old Settler’s Music Festival; Austin, Texas
Andrew Stokes; McLachlan Management International; Nashville, Tenn.
Donna Ulisse; Donna Ulisse & the Poor Mountain Boys, Hadley Music Group; Nashville, Tenn.

Filled Under: Bluegrass News

Doyle Lawson’s New Gospel Release

March 21st, 2010
No Comments
 

Doyle Lawson

With the success of his last release, Help is on the Way, which included the first ever Bluegrass Gospel #1 on the Singing News Southern Gospel Charts, Doyle is back with a new album Read more…

Filled Under: Bluegrass News, New Releases

Audie Blaylock

March 21st, 2010
No Comments

Audie Blaylock and Redline hit the fast lane with a brand new album, “Cryin’ Heart Blues” releasing Read more…

Filled Under: Bluegrass News, New Releases

Nashville Selected to Host Folk Festival

March 21st, 2010
No Comments

The National Council for the Traditional Arts announced with Mayor Karl Dean and Compass Records Group that Nashville has been selected as the host city for the National Folk Festival in 2011, 2012 and 2013. 

 
The “National” is the oldest and longest-running multi-ethnic traditional arts festival in the nation. This moveable exposition of traditional music and culture will be presented in downtown Nashville for three consecutive years, with the final year in Nashville marking the Festival’s 75th anniversary. Nashville won this honor in a competitive process involving 40 cities across the nation.
 
“No city in the United States can match the raw talent, creativity, and long history of making music like we have here in Nashville. You combine that with our growing international diversity and growing recognition and appreciation for the arts, and you have a city that is well primed to host the National Folk Festival and to create an event of a caliber worthy of serving as the celebration of its 75th anniversary,” Mayor Dean said.
 
The National Folk Festival effort in Nashville will involve the entire community and bring together many diverse groups to work toward the common goal of building the festival. An estimated 800 volunteers will work with festival planners, city employees and community leaders, creating an event that will bring the region numerous benefits.
 
The festival is expected to draw upwards of 80,000 attendees in its first year, increasing to over 150,000 by year three and is expected to have an estimated $10-15 million in economic impact per year. The National’s stay is also intended to lay the groundwork for a new annual festival that will continue in Nashville after the National moves on in 2014.
 
For over 70 years, the National Folk Festival has provided a way for people to embrace the cultural traditions that define us as Americans. This three-day free, public outdoor event celebrates the roots, richness and variety of American culture through music, dance, traditional craft, storytelling, food and more. 
 
With downtown Nashville as the backdrop, audiences can expect a diverse array of continuous music and dance performances by the finest traditional artists from all parts of the Nation, a Tennessee Folklife Area with craft demonstrations, exhibits and stage presentations focused on the heritage of the region and state, a Family Area, regional and ethnic food courts, and a festival marketplace offering fine handmade regional crafts.
 
The festival will shine a light not only on the traditional roots of music that has made Middle Tennessee world famous, but also on the musical and cultural traditions of immigrant groups new to Nashville and the region, with the goal of reflecting the increasingly multi-cultural character of the city, state and nation. 
 
Nashville’s National Folk Festival will be operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and will be produced in partnership with the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville, and the Compass Records Group. A fundraising effort to support the festival is underway and both corporate and private sponsorship are being sought.
 
For more details, visit www.NashvilleNFF.org, www.nationalfolkfestival.com, send an email to friendsofthefestival@NashvilleNFF.org or call the Compass Records Group at (615) 320-7672.
Filled Under: Bluegrass News

Bill Emerson’s Honor and New Release

March 21st, 2010
No Comments

Bill Emerson is celebrating two major events this month.  On Friday, March 27, Emerson will be honored with the very first Read more…

Filled Under: Bluegrass News, New Releases

Rebel Records New Release of Mining Songs

March 21st, 2010
No Comments

Rebel Records of Virginia has added a new album of mining songs to its growing series of budget-priced compilations. Read more…

Filled Under: Bluegrass News, New Releases

Steep Canyon Rangers’ Second Tour With Steve Martin

March 14th, 2010
1 Comment

Once again Steve Martin has tapped the award-winning bluegrass group the Steep Canyon Rangers to tour with him in support of his Grammy®-winning Rounder Records release, The Crow:  New Songs for the Five-String Banjo.  The Banjo Tour will begin on April 19th in Detroit and is expected to continue into October, with performances scheduled at the New Orleans JazzFest, MerleFest and Bonnaroo.

 
“I am very excited to begin my banjo tour with the Steep Canyon Rangers,” commented Martin.  “It has been a long time dream of mine to travel around the country with a bunch of guys.”
 
Woody Platt of the Steep Canyon Rangers commented, “We had an incredible time touring with Steve in the fall.  He’s a consummate professional who thrills the crowd every night and is so gracious about introducing us and our music to new audiences.”
 
For their part, the Rangers also earned rave reviews while on tour with Martin in the fall, during which they had an opportunity to perform songs from their fourth studio album for Rebel Records, Deep in the Shade. The tour included performances at the 20th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Show, the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Carnegie Hall, the Ryman Auditorium, Royal Festival Hall in London, and other venues in cities including Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, Washington, Toronto, Chicago, Denver and Santa Fe. The Rangers also performed with Martin on The Late Show with David Letterman, The View, NPR’s World Café, and the BBC’s Later . . . with Jools Holland.
Filled Under: Bluegrass News

Bean Blossom Jamboree Foundation Benefit Concert

March 14th, 2010
No Comments

 The Bean Blossom Jamboree Foundation has announced the details of the upcoming BBJF Read more…

Filled Under: Bluegrass News
« Previous Posts