The stellar reviews continue to come in as Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen release their first self-titled debut album. With the album currently in heavy rotation on Sirius/XM Radio’s Bluegrass Junction, and the band still on the road playing a heavy schedule of tour and festival dates, FS&DK are quickly gaining a name for themselves as an act of solid musicianship, sound songwriting, spot on vocals and an enthusiastic live show.
Their ever expanding pot of new ideas also has the band offering a house concert experience unlike others on the circuit with their The Dirty Kitchen Experience: Dinner with the Band. As a gourmet cook and lover of fine food and even finer music, Solivan & Co. not only serve up an evening gumbo of top-notch musical talent, but Solivan treats the evening’s guests to a carefully created, full course pre-show feast. With a solid program in place for marketing the Dirty Kitchen Experience, fans of the band’s music are finding that an evening with FS&DK is more than just an earful of well-crafted tunes. It’s a full tilt experience that hits all of the senses because Frank believes that music and food are the two greatest ways to bring people together.
Good Home Grown Music welcome two new staff members Publishing Assistant, Emily Rich and graphic art designer, Rebekah Long.
Emily graduated from Lee University in Cleveland, TN in 2008 and has moved back to her hometown of Franklin to pursue a career in the music industry.
Rebekah traveled with ”The Little Roy & Lizzy Long Show” and most recently with “Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike”. She was featured on The Old Family Table off the Daughters of Bluegrass CD “Bluegrass Bouquet”. Rebekah graduated from Glenville State College in Glenville, WV with the world’s first Bachelor of Arts in Music -Bluegrass.
Jerry Douglas and Sharon & Cheryl White to Host 21st International Bluegrass Music Awards
Nashville, Tenn.Award-winning artists Jerry Douglas and Cheryl & Sharon White of The Whites will co-host the 21th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, September 30, at 7:30 p.m. at Nashvilles historic Ryman Auditorium.
The International Bluegrass Music Museum (IBMM) will open its Bill Monroe Exhibit Read more…
John Wynn, builder of Wynn mandolins and banjos and the banjo player/band leader along with his wife, Betty Read more…
In early February 2010, one of the leading bluegrass recording companies, Pinecastle Records, closed its doors due to an unfortunate series of events. Owner Col. Tom Riggs began to have serious health issues. The Riggs’ family made the decision to close the label and focus on the Colonel’s health. Artists were caught in limbo and their product was quickly going out of print. A prominent player in the bluegrass industry suddenly went silent.
When a physician, entrepreneur, lover of bluegrass music, and friend of the Riggs’ family, Dr. Lonnie Lassiter, heard of Pinecastle closing, he immediately began taking the steps that would ultimately lead to him purchasing the label from the Riggs’ family. As of August 1, 2010, Dr. Lassiter took ownership of the company. His first decision was to tap two of the company’s former executives, both with around five years of experience with the previous company, to head up the new venture. Ethan Burkhardt was named the company’s Vice President of Operations and Matt Hood its Vice President of Public Relations.
Son of Col. Tom Riggs, Cort Riggs sends his wishes:
AcuTab’s latest DVD project, Bluegrass Jamming Essentials, offers instruction, information Read more…
Mountain Roads Recordings of Bristol, TN announced that they have signed the VW Boys to a recording contract. The VW Boys’ show is a unique blend of talent consisting of music, magic and comedy, a complete variety show. Audiences of all ages enjoy the VW Boys show; the VW Boys perform a wide range of shows from Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN to openings for comedic greats such as Jerry Clower and Don Knotts.
The group is composed of:
Tim White from Blountville, TN who many of you know as the host of the popular PBS Series, Song Of The Mountains, originating in Marion, VA and the syndicated radio show, The Tim White Bluegrass Show. Tim has been a bluegrass musician for over thirty-years and is a fine banjo player and an excellent song-writer.
Dave Vaught is from Bristol, TN and has been a professional entertainer for seventeen years. Dave has made five television appearances including HBO and Show Time. While Dave is well known for his skills as a magician, he is also a fine guitar player with five albums to his credit. Dave’s musical career includes stints with Ronnie Millsap, Gary Morris, Sylvia, Jerry Reed, and Charlie Pride. Dave contributes much to the group with his skills as lead guitar player, harmony singer, comedian, and magician.
The newest member of the group is, “Fat Albert” Blackburn from Marion, Virginia. Albert was a founding member of the popular band, “Fescue” which has been in existence since 1970. He is a natural fit for the VW Boys, he loves a good joke and is a fabulous musician, singer and entertainer.
The VW Boys blend several different aspects of entertainment in their show. As banjo picker and singer Tim White says, ” We entertain folks for an hour or so and help them forget their problems for a little while”. A good portion of the VW Boys show is audience participation and the VW Boys have a way of going beyond the edge of the stage to really get an audience involved in the show. The VW Boys came together when musician Tim White and magician Dave Vaught worked together on a few shows. Dave would do a magic show and Tim’s band would follow Dave’s show with a Bluegrass concert and this worked very well. Both immediately came up with the idea to combine the two shows and the VW Boys was formed.
The VW Boys show fits any situation from conventions, fairs, festivals, clubs and private parties. The show is good clean humor and music; the VW Boys pride themselves on keeping a very professional show in front of every audience. As Dave Vaught says, “The VW Boys have over 75 years of combined experience in showmanship between the three of us.” Music, Magic and Comedy, a great combination.
Karl Cooler of Mountain Roads Recordings said that, “The music business is rapidly changing and we are always searching for ways to broaden the appeal of bluegrass and old-time music. The VW Boys represent one significant way we can achieve this goal and we’re extremely proud to have them join our family of artists. Many times people come to their shows expecting to be entertained by the magic and comedy and leave with a new appreciation for bluegrass music. These guys are great entertainers along with being great pickers and singers. I’d say we have the best of four worlds with the VW Boys…pickers, singers, magicians and comedians. Don’t think that they don’t put out great bluegrass music just because they joke around. Their new CD with us is expected to be released in the early spring of 2011.”
Rounder Records is pleased to announce country music star and Grand Ole Opry member Joe Diffie’s return to bluegrass music with Homecoming: Read more…
Hot Rize, “one of bluegrass’s best and most historically significant quartets” (Nashville Scene), has reunited for their first US tour in over a decade, including recent high-profile performances at Bonnaroo Read more…
