The Lehigh Valley area has never been at a loss for bluegrass music.

The Lehigh Valley area has never been at a loss for bluegrass music.
Most prominent through the years has been the three-day Appalachian Fiddle & Bluegrass Association Bluegrass Festival, set for its 22nd year in August at Mountain View Park on East Mountain Road near Wind Gap. The Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg holds Winterfest in association with the Pocono Bluegrass & Folk Society..
And over the years there were the Americana Bluegrass festival at the America On Wheels museum in Allentown, the Lehigh Valley Bluegrass Jam at Cementon Park in Whitehall Township and the luegrass Festival by the River in Northampton.
Now there’s another entry in the fiddle fest fray.
The Lehigh Valley Bluegrass Festival, a first-time event, is scheduled to bring more than 22 performances over three days, July 23-25, to Schnecksville Fairgrounds, along Route 309..
Among the performers will be Darren Beachley and the Legends of the Potomac, Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass, Dick Saylor, Santara Wind, Lykens Valley Bluegrass Band, Blue Roots, Thunder Creek, Dan Hubbard, Aimless Pursuit, Homespun Bluegrass, Remington Ryde, Louie Setzer and Country Grass.
Read more...

MERLEFEST PREVIEW: Five questions with Tony Rice

Tony Rice, a native of Danville, and a Rockingham County, N.C., resident, is known as one of bluegrass’ top instrumentalists and singers.
He is a headliner at the 23rd annual Merlefest, which starts Thursday and runs through Sunday on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, N.C., and features more than 100 artists performing on 15 stages.
Merlefest 2010, was founded in 1988 in memory of Eddy Merle Watson as a fundraiser for Wilkes Community College and a celebration of “traditional plus” music.
Rice talked recently while in Illinois preparing for a show with his band, the Tony Rice Unit, at the Chicago Old Town School of Folk Music.
QUESTION: For the past 22 years you have played acoustic flatpicked guitar and harmonized with bluegrass legends Bela Fleck, Sam Bush and Alison Krauss and Union Station, just to name a few, at Merlefest. What keeps you coming back to Wilkes County year after year?
ANSWER: I always look forward to Merlefest especially the years that it is low key for me like this year. My friends keep me coming back. There’s always good music and good camaraderie. I’ve played or recorded with just about everybody that plays at Merlefest. It’s just become a part of my life.
QUESTION: What is the magic of Merlefest? The answer and more found here...

Traditional Ties, 05/02/10, Playlist

Contact info for new adds:

Cherryholmes - http://cherryholmes.musiccitynetworks.com/ - http://skaggsfamilyrecords.com/
Nate Grower - http://www.pxrec.com/p2_Patuxent_Bluegrass-Nate_Grower.htm


Air Time /  Artist Name / Song Title / Album Name / Label /  Duration


10:00 PM / Kenny Baker / Jerusalem Ridge (Theme) / Plays Bill Monroe / County / 2:00

10:02 PM / Cherryholmes / Live It / Common Threads / Skaggs / 3:43

10:07 PM / Nate Grower / Why Did You Wander / Nate Grower / Patuxent / 2:40

10:10 PM / Darren Beachley / Jenny / Take Off / Patuxent / 4:59

10:15 PM / Brandon Rickman / I Take the Backroads / Young Man Old Soul / Rural Rhythm / 3:21

10:18 PM / Josh Williams / Polka on the Banjo / Down Home / Pinecastle / 2:44

10:21 PM / Claire Lynch / My Florida Sunshine / Wharcha You Gonna Do /  Rounder /  3:00

10:24 PM /  Dailey & Vincent / Flowers on the Wall / Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers /  Cracker Barrel / 2:24

10:26 PM / Nate Grower / Fire on the Mountain / Nate Grower / Patuxent / 2:12

10:30 PM / Cherryholmes / Standing / Common Threads / Skaggs / 3:06

10:33 PM / Larry Stephenson / You'll See Jesus / 20th Anniversary / Pinecastle / 3:00

10:36 PM / Don Rigsby / This World Is Not My Home / Voice of God  / Rebel / 3:47

10:40 PM / Paul Williams / The Lord Still Lives in theis Old House / Just a Little Closer Home / Rebel / 3:15

10:44 PM / Donna Ulisse / Caney Creek to Cannan Land / Holy Waters / Hadley / 2:58

10:48  / Nate Grower / I've Just Seen the Rock of Ages / Nate Grower / Patuxent /  4:59

10:54 PM / Doyle Lawson / In Your Arms / Light on My Feet, Ready to Fly / Horizon / 4:18

10:55 PM / Brand New Strings / Living Water / No Strings Attached / Rural Rhyrhm / 2:07

11:00 PM / True Bluegrass / With Care from Someone (Theme) / True Bluegrass 1979 / True Bluegrass / 2:00

11:02 PM / Cherryholmes / The Harder I Fall / Common Threads / Skaggs / 2:43

11:06 PM / Cherryholmes / Making Pretend / Common Threads / Skaggs / 3:14

11:11 PM / Cherryholmes / I Am Your Conscience / Common Threads / Skaggs / 3:14

11:16 PM / Cherryholmes / Tattoo on a Smudge / Common Threads / Skaggs / 2:42

11:19 PM / Adam Steffey / Warm Kentucky Sunshine / One More for the Road  /Sugar Hill / 3:40

11:23 PM / Bill Emerson / The Midnight Train / Southern / Rural Rhythm / 2:57

11:26 PM / Del McCoury / Hello Lonely / Family Circle / McCoury Music / 3:25

11:29 PM / Nate Grower / New Fall Reel / Nate Grower / Patuxent / 3:10

11:33 PM /  Lou Reid / Amanda Lynn / My Own Set of Rules / Rural Rhythm / 3:29

11:37 PM / Audie Blaylock / Cryin' Heart Blues / Cryin' Heart Blues / Rural Rhythm / 2:13

11:39 PM / The Grascals / The Last Train to Clarksville / The Famous Lefty Flynn's / Rounder / 2:59

11:42 PM / Nate Grower / Kansas City Kitty / Nate Grower / Patuxent / 3:57

11:47 PM / Gibson Brothers / Jerrico / Ring the Bell / Compass / 3:43

11:50 PM / Joe Mullins / Smoke Along the Track / Rebel / 2:59

11:53 PM / Darin & Brooke Aldridge / I Thought I'd Seen It All / Darin & Brooke Aldridge / Mountain Home / 2:31

11:56 PM / Nate Grower / Whistling Rufus / Nate Grower / Patuxent / 3:43

JOHN TROUT, WYEP FM, PITTSBURGH, PA. tties91@hotmail.com


'TRADITIONAL TIES'- NEW RELEASE BLUEGRASS WITH FEATURES. 91.3 WYEP, http://www.wyep.org/  10:00 PM Eastern Time (U.S.) Sundays. Streaming Audio

1608 JEFFERSON ST, LATROBE PA, 15650 -2940
'TRADITIONAL TIES' - 25 YEARS IN 201
Link to Traditional Ties web pages:

http://wyep.org/traditionalties   

NEWS FROM REBEL RECORDS

Big Country Bluegrass signs on


New Junior Sisk project to be released June 8th


Rebel Artists appearing on Bluegrass Junction's "Track-By-Track"


Brad Folk joins David Davis & The Warrior River Boys
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rebel Records is proud to announce the recent signing of traditional bluegrass masters Big Country Bluegrass. The band just finished recording their label debut which is expected to be released in early Fall.
Band leader Tommy Sells formed the group with his wife Teresa in the late 1980's in the area surrounding Galax, Virginia, long known as a hotbed for bluegrass and old-time music. In the ensuing decades they patiently worked their way from competition circuit to festival mainstages, releasing several albums along the way. Today Big Country Bluegrass maintains a reputation as one of the few bands that captures "the feel, spirit and sound of the originals in their prime" (Bluegrass Unlimited, Dec. 2007). The band's current lineup features Tommy on mandolin, Teresa on guitar and vocals, Lynnwood Lunsford on banjo and vocals, Johnny Williams on guitar and vocals, Alan Mastin on bass and Jeff Michael on fiddle and the majority of lead vocals.
The band has a busy schedule ahead of them this summer, performing at a number of major festivals across the eastern half of the U.S. including Bean Blossom, Gettysburg, Delaware Valley and the Rhythm & Roots Reunion.
For more information and tour dates, please visit http://www.bigcountrybluegrass.com/

__________________________________________________________________

After scoring big in 2009 with Blue Side of the Blue Ridge, a widely lauded album that announced the rebirth of his band Ramblers Choice, Junior Sisk's second Rebel Records release, Heartaches and Dreams, hits stores June 8th.
From the rattling Tom T. & Dixie Hall-penned opener (and first single) "Train Without A Track" to the closing remake of a Bill Monroe gospel classic, “Let The Light Shine Down,” Heartaches and Dreams rolls with some of the hardest-edged, most soulful bluegrass being made today. Nine of the CD's 12 songs are originals, with fresh compositions from both Junior and cousin Tim Massey as well as new contributions by fellow colleagues working in the same traditional vein like Bill Castle, Matt Jones and Daniel Salyer. The band also resurrects a gem from recent IBMA Hall of Famers the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers as well as one from the rich catalog of the McPeak Brothers.
Heartaches and Dreams was recorded at Wes Easter's Eastwood Studio in Cana, Virginia and marks the debut of Ramblers Choice's newest member - mandolin player Jason Tomlin. Jason also provides tenor vocals on many of the songs.

For more on Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, please visit http://www.juniorsiskandramblerschoice.com/
___________________________________________________________
Several Rebel artists will be sitting down with Sirius-XM's Kyle Cantrell on his Track-By-Track program this Spring. First out of the gate is Joe Mullins, who will be discussing songs from his debut Rebel release Rambler's Call. The show will air on Bluegrass Junction (Sirius channel 65 or XM channel 14) on Wednesday, May 5th at 9:00am EST with rebroadcasts on Thursday, May 6th at 9:00pm EST and Sunday, May 9th at 11:00am EST.
Don Rigsby and Junior Sisk also have visits planned to discuss their new and upcoming projects, so stay tuned...

__________________________________________________________________
David Davis & The Warrior River Boys are excited to announce that Bradford Lee Folk has taken over the guitar duties in the band. Many bluegrass fans will remember Brad as the frontman for Open Road, one of the pioneering groups in the explosion of young string bands during the past decade. Brad retired from the stage for a few years, running a successful music club in Colorado while he was away. However, he soon caught the bluegrass bug again and jumped at the chance to play with David, one of his musical heroes.
"David's music really moves me, it always has. Trust me, when people get a listen to this group things are really gonna happen, there's no doubt in my mind!"
David is excited to have Brad in the fold as well: "I never got the chance to work with Open Road, but I certainly appreciated Brad and all of Open Road’s recorded music and their commitment to furthering real music to bluegrass audiences. Brad’s addition fits like a glove. He brings a ton of talent and positive energy, on and off stage! A kindred spirit!"

A burning passion: Fire Chief Amesqua makes beautiful mandolins

STEVEN ELBOW

The Capital Times
selbow@madison.com


When Madison Fire Chief Debra Amesqua took up the mandolin a few years back, she wanted a quality instrument, specifically a 1923 or 1924 Lloyd Loar Gibson F-5 archtop.
She couldn’t find one for under $125,000, so she changed her plans. She transformed her basement into a shop, bought a mandolin kit from supplier StewMac and replicated the F-5 piece by piece.
Now Amesqua is working on her sixth instrument and plans to keep churning them out, one by one, for the foreseeable future. She doesn’t do it for the money. With about 200 hours invested in each instrument, untold thousands of dollars on tools, hundreds of dollars for just the wood for a single mandolin, she’s not likely to break even anytime soon. The most she’s fetched for one of her works of musical art is $3,500.
“I don’t have to make any money on it,” she says. “I’d be starving to death if I did.”
But if one wants to know why she does it, one just has to observe her child-like enthusiasm as she moves from machine to machine, and the loving caresses she lavishes on her latest creation, a honey brown beauty with a stunning tiger-striped sugar maple grain.
“That’s a spectacular back on this instrument. That is absolutely gorgeous,” she beams.
She gives it a strum, and it’s obvious from the deep, resonant twang that this is no off-the-shelf model.
It takes a lot of work. Amesqua sees it as a defining endeavor that intertwines her love of music with her considerable technical talents.
She enjoys playing her creations, seeking out venues such as bluegrass festivals and jamming with a group that plays traditional Irish tunes on Wednesdays at Brocach pub on the Capitol Square. But she calls those musicians “way out of my league.”
“I’m a builder, not a player,” she insists. Read full story...

St. Joseph's House of Hospitality - 12th Annual Benefit Concert

Here are some photos of Friday's St Joseph's HoH  benefit concert.

                            The Allegheny Drifters                                

                                                  Mac Martin & the Dixie Travelers

M & M Express

Mon River Ramblers

                                                                                    
                                                                    Fern Hollow Boys

Grascals take their brand of bluegrass to the big stage

On a nice night, it’s an easy walk.
Leaving the cozy Station Inn, it’s a couple blocks north on 12th Avenue, then east on Broadway for a half mile, down to the Bridgestone Arena. For most people, it takes about 10 minutes. For much-awarded bluegrass band The Grascals, it took about six years.
“We’ve had good experiences in front of country audiences,” said Grascal Terry Eldredge, whose band plays a bluegrass set at Friday, April 23’s Rowdy Friends tour stop at the arena. Formed by musicians who played regularly at The Station Inn, The Grascals will share tonight’s bill with Hank Williams Jr., Jamey Johnson and Eric Church.
“Country fans love it, because it’s high-octane music most of the time. It gets them out of their seats and dancing and having a good time.
A tribute to two genres

Characterized by acoustic instrumentation, close harmonies and instrumental virtuosity, bluegrass music isn’t new to large stages: In the new millennium, Ricky Skaggs has opened shows on a massive Dixie Chicks arena tour, Ralph Stanley was featured on the Grammy Awards and the Grascals have logged time opening for Dolly Parton.
But The Grascals, who have twice won the International Bluegrass Music Association’s top entertainer prize, have been unusually successful in moving between the sometimes-insular bluegrass world and the commercial country industry. More in the Tennessean...

Album Review: Dailey & Vincent – Singing From The Heart

Juli Thanki

This gospel release has been in the works for some time. Before Jamie and Darrin were Dailey and Vincent, sensational bluegrass duo, they joined forces to benefit Tennessee Bible College. The result is Singing From the Heart. While gospel albums are nothing new in bluegrass music, this one’s a little different: it’s all a cappella quartet singing.
Joined by a roster of guest stars that includes Molly Skaggs (the daughter of Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White) and Doyle Lawson, Dailey and Vincent deliver a dozen instantly recognizable gospel songs ranging from “Amazing Grace” to “The Old Rugged Cross.” While the source material isn’t exactly new, these folks make it interesting. At first it’s a little jarring to not hear expertly played bluegrass instruments in the background. But that feeling quickly vanishes, as the pair—and their stellar guests—can easily captivate a listener with just their voices singing in perfect harmony. The highlight of the album is “Don’t You Wanna Go to Heaven,” a staple of Dailey and Vincent’s live performances. Insanely catchy and extremely well sung, it’ll stick in just about anyone’s head, religious or not. Full review here.

High Marks for Steep Canyon: The Asheville natives have come up in the music world playing behind Steve Martin

By Lisa O'Donnell | Journal Reporter
April 22, 2010

The Steep Canyon Rangers spent years laboring over their instruments, honing their live shows, building up a national audience and sweating over four studio recordings.

The effort has reaped some handsome returns. In bluegrass circles, the quintet from Asheville has emerged as one of the genre's hottest acts, racking up awards and critical praise and playing some of the most hallowed stages in music.

But in the larger world, the Rangers are best known as a backup band, a term that conjures up images of faceless musicians playing in the shadows while the eyes of the audience are fixed on the main act.

In the Rangers' case, the decision to back up Steve Martin while he tours the country in support of his banjo album, The Crow, was a no-brainer. The gravy train rarely stops for bluegrass bands.

"It's a good identity," said Woody Platt, who sings and plays guitar for the Rangers. "There could be worse things."

Indeed, playing with Martin has given the band the kind of exposure rarely bestowed upon bluegrass musicians. In the last year, they have joined Martin for segments on The Late Show with David Letterman, The View and Later… with Jools Holland, a popular British music show, and played such venues as Carnegie Hall in New York.

Next week, the band will reach another milestone when it plays the Watson stage at MerleFest with Martin on May 1 at 7:30 p.m. In addition, the Rangers will play solo shows on Friday and Saturday.

During the set with Martin, the Rangers are only too happy to cede the spotlight.

"When we play with Steve, we feel like a band," Platt said. "He gives us credit and introduces who we are and lots of times, features us in his show. It's a pretty great thing."

The Rangers have played MerleFest before and are familiar with the special vibe that permeates the Wilkes Community College during the four-day festival.

"We cherish the opportunity whenever we play MerleFest," said Platt, talking by phone from his home in Brevard.

Nothing in Platt's upbringing suggested that he would one day play MerleFest or any other venue for that matter. Bluegrass is dotted with prodigies, such as Ricky Skaggs and Sam Bush, who were seemingly born with a bow in hand. More...

Snyder Family Band to play MerleFest

 By VIKKI BROUGHTON HODGES
The Dispatch
In the case of the Snyder Family Band, the family that plays together stays together.

And the Lexington band will soon be playing together for three days, April 29-May 1, at the largest "traditional-plus" music festival in America, MerleFest, a four-day-long event in Wilkesboro founded in 1988 that now annually attracts more than 85,000 fans to 14 stages of primarily bluegrass and old-time music. The festival is hosted by guitar great Doc Watson and is named for his late son, Eddy Merle Watson.
Want to hear?• The Snyder Family Band will be in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Jersey Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Lexington as part of a fundraiser for the Linwood Lions Club. Tickets for the dessert social and concert are $5. They will also perform at Memorial United Methodist Church in Thomasville at 7 p.m. May 22.

They will be at MerleFest on April 29-May 1 at the welcome stage at the entrance to the festival and will also play a set on the plaza stage and at the 'pickin' place.'

The Snyder Family Band, featuring musical prodigies Zeb Snyder, 14, and Samantha Snyder, 11, joined by their father, Bud Snyder, will perform at the welcome stage of the huge festival, where people arrive at the event entrance and purchase tickets. They will also perform a set on the plaza stage and the "pickin' place" during the festival and sign their new CD, "Comin' On Strong," at the autograph tent, said mom Laine Snyder, who occasionally joins the family on stage for a three-part harmony when not looking after the youngest family member, Owen, 4, who also occasionally joins in the family fun.
The family is thrilled to be playing at a festival with people like Doc Watson and many others they admire.
"It's quite an honor because it's by invitation only," said Bud, who plays upright bass.
They were asked to play by John Adair, artistic director for MerleFest, who has heard them play at The Cook Shack, a bluegrass music venue in China Grove.
"It's exciting because all of my heroes have played there - Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush and the list goes on and on,'' said Zeb, who primarily plays guitar but also mandolin and banjo and sings.
Samantha, who sings and plays fiddle, said she's looking forward to hearing Dailey and Vincent, one of her favorites. Read more...

Traditional Ties, 04/25/10, Playlist

Darrin Beachley & Legends of the Patomac -   http://www.legendsofthepotomac.com/fr_home.cfm - http://www.pxrec.com/

Donna Ulisse -  http://www.donnaulisse.com/ - http://www.hadleymusicgroup.com/

Air Time /  Artist Name /  Song Title / Album Name / Label /  Duration

10:00 PM /  Kenny Baker /  Jerusalem Ridge (Theme) /  Plays Bill Monroe / County / 2:00

10:02 PM / Darren Beachley / Last Ride / Take Off / Patuxent / 3:01

10:06 PM / Joe Mullins / Rmbler's Call / Rambler's Call / Rebel / 3:06

10:09 PM / Gibson Brothers / Forever Has No End / Ring the Bell / Compass / 3:48

10:13 PM / NewFound Road / Try to Be / Same Old Place / Rounder / 2:28

10:17 PM / Lonesome Highway /  Hoping You Will Change Your Mind / The Highway Called  / Lonesome Highway / 2:30

10:20 PM /  Tommy Webb /  Teardrop Inn /  Heartland / Ru ral Rhythm / 3:30

10:23 PM /  Chris Jones / Cloud of Dust / Cloud of Dust /  GSM / 2:57

10:26 PM / Darren Beachley / Quicksand / Take Off / Patuxent / 2:42

10:30 PM / Donna Ulisse Caney Creek to Cannan Land Holy Waters Hadley 2:58

10:34 PM / Donna Ulisse / Holy Waters / Holy Waters / Hadley / 3:31

10:37 PM / Donna Ulisse /  Who Will Sing for Me / Holy Waters / Hadley / 3:12

10:41 PM / Donna Ulisse / New Day in Heaven / Holy Waters / Hadley / 3:25

10:45 PM / Doyle Lawson / It's a Mighty Hard Road to Travel / Light on My Feet, Ready to Fly / Horizon / 2:38

10:48 PM / Paul Williams / The Best Time of My Life / Just a Little Closer Home / Rebel / 3:14

10:51 PM / Don Rigsby / He Put the Breeze in Me / Voice of God / Rebel / 3:42

10:55 PM / Dailey & Vincent / The Old Rugged Cross / Singing from the Heart / Rounder / 4:12

11:00 PM / True Bluegrass / With Care from Someone (Theme) / True Bluegrass 1979 / True Bluegrass  / 2:00

11:02 PM / Darren Beachley / You'll Forget / Take Off / Patuxent / 3:34

11:07 PM / Darren Beachley / How Could I Love You So Much / Take Off / Patuxent / 3:34

11:12 PM / Darren Beachley / You Could Always Come Back / Take Off  /Patuxent / 3:59

11:15 PM / Darren Beachley / Lightning Rod  /Take Off / Patuxent  / 3:29

11:21 PM / Chris Warner / Lickity Split / Goin' to the Dance / Patuxent / 2:33

11:24 PM / David Parmley / Three Silver Dollars / Three Silver Dollars / Pinecastle / 2:52

11:27 PM / Brand New Strings / Wheels / No Strings Attached  / Rural Rhyrhm  / 2:40

11:29 PM / The Grasscals / Son of a Sawmill Man / The Famous Lefty Flynn's / Rounder / 2:33

11:33 PM / Randy Kohrs / Time and Time Again / Quicksand  / Rural Rhythm / 2:16

11:35 PM / Southern Rail / Mr. Beford's Barn / On the Road from Appomaattox / Railway / 4:50

11:40 PM / Larry Stephenson / Shelly's Winter Love / 20th Anniversary / Pinecastle / 3:07

11:43 PM / Dale Ann Bradley / I Won't Back Down / Don't Turn Your Back / Compass / 2:05

11:46 PM / Audie Blaylock / Matches / Cryin' Heart Blues / Rural Rhythm / 2:52

11:49 PM /  Sawmill Road / As Far As Love Goes / Fire on the Kettle / SMR / 2:58

11:52 PM / Grass Cats / Life of the Blues / A Good Way to Get the Blues / New Time / 2:54

11:55 PM / Snyder Family Band / Bill Cheatham / Comin' on Strong / Mountain Roads / 4:43

JOHN TROUT, WYEP FM, PITTSBURGH, PA. tties91@hotmail.com

'TRADITIONAL TIES'- NEW Release BLUEGRASS WITH FEATURES. 91.3 WYEP, http://www.wyep.org 10:00 PM Eastern Time (U.S.) Sundays. Streaming Audio

1608 JEFFERSON ST, LATROBE PA, 15650 -2940
'TRADITIONAL TIES' - 25 YEARS IN 2010
Link to Traditional Ties web pages:

http://wyep.org/traditionalties

Peter Rowan signs with Compass Records, Alison Brown to produce new album.

Compass Records is thrilled to announce the signing of Peter Rowan, the famed bluegrass singer-songwriter, GRAMMY Award winner and five-time GRAMMY Award nominee. Work will soon begin on a new release from the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band with Alison Brown, GRAMMY Award-winning banjoist and Compass Records co-founder, producing. Rowan’s career has spanned over five decades, from his early years playing under bluegrass patriarch Bill Monroe, to his ground-breaking stint with Jerry Garcia in Old & In the Way and his subsequent breakout as both a solo performer and bandleader.

Through his continuous stream of original recordings, collaborative projects and constant touring, he has a devoted international fanbase, including Compass Records’ co-founders Alison Brown & Garry West. Brown says "I can’t think of another person in bluegrass with such a varied history: Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, Seatrain, Old & In the Way, not to mention the breadth of the solo material he’s written and recorded. We’re excited to have Peter as part of the Compass family, and with this new record I’m really excited to be working with Peter to shine a light on his bluegrass roots." The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band includes Rowan (guitar, vocals), Keith Little (banjo, vocals), Paul Knight (bass, vocals) and Jody Stecher (mandolin, vocals).


Upcoming dates:

April 24 -
The Station InnNashville, TN
April 28 - Music City Roots
Nashville, TN
April 30 - May 1 - Merlefest
Wilkesboro, NC
May 8 - Great American Music Hall
San Francisco, CA
*as a guest with Poor Man’s Whiskey
May 21 - 24 - Fur Peace Ranch
Pomeroy, OH
May 27 - Harrisburg Midtown Art Center
Harrisburg, PA
For Peter Rowan’s complete list of tour dates, click here.

DelFest keeps on giving

May concerts a boon to area businesses; event foundation donates to several local charities

Kevin Spradlin
Cumberland Times-News
An aspen poplar tree’s leaves will tremble in even a hint of a breeze. The crowd at DelFest, however, will not shake.
Despite heavy thunderstorms during the Memorial Day weekend bluegrass extravaganza in 2009 that leveled campers’ tents, an estimated 20,000 people from 42 states made the best of it at the Allegany County Fairgrounds and enjoyed music by headliner Del McCoury and the Del McCoury band.
This year’s show begins May 27. Barb Buehl, tourism director for Allegany County, said the music festival is driven by a rare class of people that seeks to add to, and not take from, the local community.
“They’re not looking for what incentives they can get out of us,” she said.
In September, the DelFest Foundation distributed several thousand dollars to the Western Maryland Food Bank, the Salvation Army, Associated Charities and Allegany Health Right. The money came from revenue derived from concession sales at booths operated by volunteers and direct contributions from festivalgoers.
Buehl said local businesses, including restaurants, bars, hotels and gas stations, benefited from the event last year.
“They knew something big was in town,” Buehl said. More...

Blue Knob Bluegrass & BBQ

It has benn widely reported that the Mountain Vista Bluegrass Festival is canceled for this year. That is true as far as it goes.

However, the neighboring Blue Knob All Seasons Resort has scheduled a Bluegrass and BBQ event for the usual Blue Knob weekend, June 11 & 12. http://www.blueknob.com/summer/events.php

I have no other information at this time, except that Blue Shades will be playing the event, According to Brad they don't know any more at this time.

If anyone can forward me more complete info, I will post it here. tties91@hotmail.com

Former Nickel Creek member tours solo

By Jennifer Popiel • For Go! Magazine •


EASTON — Sara Watkins, former band member of Grammy award-winning acoustic trio Nickel Creek, is debuting her new self-titled album now through June and will be in concert at the Nightcat in Easton on Monday.
The 27-year-old singer-songwriter has flirted with the idea of working on solo projects for quite a while. Former Led Zepplin bassist John Paul Jones first encouraged Watkins to make a record of her own when they met on tour in 2004; he continued to be persistent with her and told her that if he did not allow her to produce an album for her, he would never speak to her again
Flattered that Jones was so excited to work with her, the moment to produce an album finally came to fruition when Nickel Creek went on an “indefinite” hiatus.
The timing was perfect because Watkins was ready to begin working on solo projects, and Jones made the transition so much easier for her she said in alleviating the search for a good producer.
Transitioning solo has been a change of pace with more ups than downs, according to Watkins.
“At first I was a little nervous about it, especially having to make a lot of my own decisions, whereas before I could rely heavily on my bandmates,” she said.
Watkins is gracious for being able to brainstorm ideas with other players she is acquainted with in the community. Full story...

Bluegrass reunion; Port visit brings back memories of Gibson Brothers' early days

Visit brings back memories of Gibson Brothers' early days

By Anne Easter Smith
Special to The Daily News

I very nearly let out a whoop when I heard The Gibson Brothers were booked for the April show at FINCH (Fridays in Newburyport Coffee House) based at the First Religious Society.
They're not only a phenomenal bluegrass band — with five No. 1 albums, including last year's "Ring the Bell," on Bluegrass Unlimited magazine's radio airplay chart to their credit — but the Gibson brothers have been part of my life for the past two decades.
Twenty years ago, I was the features editor at the daily newspaper in Plattsburgh, N.Y. —- yes, the small town across Lake Champlain from Burlington, Vt., that no one has heard of — and in my spare time, I warbled a folk song or two in bars, restaurants or anywhere else that would pay me.
I was a regular at Plattsburgh's answer to FINCH, and one magical night at the Unitarian church's coffeehouse, two shy, teenage boys settled themselves on chairs in front of the audience to test their mettle at an open mike.
They introduced themselves as Eric and Leigh Gibson from a dairy farm in Ellenburg Depot, N.Y., a four-corners, aka small, town about 15 miles from Plattsburgh where, Leigh Gibson will tell you, "pumping gas and going for ice cream" were what passed for excitement in their youth.
That night during the brothers' two songs, featuring perfect sibling harmonies and dexterous finger-picking on guitar and banjo, we all sat spellbound, gobsmacked and thrilled by the music. When the hall erupted in deafening applause, the Gibson brothers were — to put it mildly — as gobsmacked as we were. Eric Gibson even blushed!
It did not take long for the North Country to take notice of the two talented musicians. A seasoned, local guitarist named Junior Barber offered to mentor them, then joined them and suggested that his young son, Mike, come onboard as a stand-up bass player, too. Soon, the band was a favorite at bluegrass festivals and summer concerts in the Adirondacks.
While they pursued their degrees at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, the brothers, who are about a year apart in age, continued to either play music or help their dad on the farm when they weren't studying. Indeed, Leigh Gibson even put his academic career on hold when his father was sickly and unable to handle the cows by himself. Eric Gibson's song, "Farm of Yesterday" on the "Ring the Bell" album, speaks to how the brothers were influenced by their father's livelihood. More...

Traditional Ties, 03/18/10, Playlist

Contact info for new adds:
Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers - http://www.myclassiccountry.com/RadioRamblers.htm - http://www.rebelrecords.com/
Paul Williams & the Victory Trio - http://www.myspace.com/paulwilliamsandthevictorytrio - http://www.rebelrecords.com/
Air Time / Artist Name /  Song Title /  Album Name /  Label  /  Duration

10:00 PM /  Kenny Baker /  Jerusalem Ridge (Theme) /  Plays Bill Monroe /  County /  2:00

10:02 PM /  Joe Mullins /  Another Day, Another Dollar /  Rambler's Call /  Rebel  / 2:37

10:06 PM /  Audie Blaylock /  Talk to Your Heart /  Cryin' Heart Blues /  Rural Rhythm /  3:48

10:09 PM  / The Grascals /  The Famous Lefty Flynn's /  The Famous Lefty Flynn's / Rounder /  2:52

10:12 PM  /  Wayne Taylor / Dirt Roads / Wayne Taylor & Appaloosa / Raincoe / 3:15
10:16 PM /  The Chapmans /  Jenny Dear / Grown Up / Compass / 4:30

10:21 PM / Rhonda Vincent /  Last Time Loving You /  Destination Life /  Rounder /  2:49

10:24 PM /  Dailey & Vincent / Do You Know You Are My Sunshine / Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler  / Cracker Barrel  /  2:21

10:26 PM / Alan Munde / Brown County Breakdown / Made to Last  /Munde's Child / 3:45

10:31 PM / Paul Williams / Living the Right Life Now / Just a Little Closer Home / Rebel / 2:19

10:35 PM / Paul Williams / Anywhere Is Home / Just a Little Closer Home / Rebel / 3:02

10:39 PM / Paul Williams / He Answered My Plea / Just a Little Closer Home / Rebel  / 1:28

10:41 PM / Paul Williams / Only God's Son / Just a Little Closer Home / Rebel / 3:07

10:45 PM / Joe Mullins / Heaven's Green Shore / Rambler's Call / Rebel  / 3:12

10:49 PM / Doyle Lawson / Mountain View Missionary Baptist Church /  Light on My Feet, Ready to Fly / Horizon  /3:48

10:52 PM / Donna Ulisse / The Key / Walk This Mountain Down  / Hadley  / 3:48

10:55 PM / Greenbrier / Workin' On a Building / The Back of the Book / Greenbrier / 3:40

11:00 PM / True Bluegrass / With Care from Someone (Theme) / True Bluegrass 1979 / True Bluegrass  / 2:00

11:02 PM / Joe Mullins / Boston Jail / Rambler's Call / Rebel / 3:25

11:05 PM / Joe Mullins / Farmer's Blues / Rambler's Call / Rebel  / 3:41

11:10 PM / Joe Mullins / Charlotte Breakdown / Rambler's Call / Rebel /  2:31

11:14 PM / Joe Mullins / Rambler's Call  /Rambler's Call / Rebel / 3:06

11:18 PM / Chris Warner / Heartbreak / Goin' to the Dance / Patuxent / 2:49

11:20 PM /  Butler - Wade / Movin' On / Haulin' Grass / Blue Circle / 2:49

11:23 PM / Gibson Brothers / Farm of Yesterday  / Ring the Bell / Compass / 3:34

11:27 PM / Lou Reid / Left Handed Dreamer / My Own Set of Rules / Rural Rhythm / 2:29

11:30 PM / Claire Lynch / Barbed Wire Boys / Whatcha You Gonna Do / Rounder / 3:36

11:34 PM / Adam Steffey / Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends / One More for the Road / Sugar Hill / 4:04

11:38 PM / Del McCoury / Hello Lonely / Family Circle / McCoury Music / 3:25

11:41 PM / Special Consensus / I'll Go to My Grave Lovin' You / Signs / Pinecastle / 3:25

11:46 PM / Lizzy Long & Little Roy Lewis  / Sit Down and Cry / Streight from the Heart / Vine  / 2:38

11:49 PM / Bill Emerson / I Don't Care Anymore / Southern / Rural Rhyrhm / 2:25

11:51 PM / Brand New Strings / High On a Hilltop / No Strings Attached / Rural Rhythm / 3:05

11:54 PM / Randy Kohrs / Devil of the Trail  / Quicksand / Rural Rhyrhm / 2:46

11:57 PM / NewFound Road / Piledriver / Same Old Place / Rounder / 2:40

JOHN TROUT, WYEP FM, PITTSBURGH, PA. tties91@hotmail.com

'TRADITIONAL TIES'- NEW RELEASE BLUEGRASS WITH FEATURES. 91.3 WYEP, http://www.wyep.org 10:00 PM Eastern Time (U.S.) Sundays. Streaming Audio

1608 JEFFERSON ST, LATROBE PA, 15650 -2940

Traditional Ties, 25 Years in 2110

Link to Traditional Ties web pages:

http://wyep.org/traditionalties

Steve Martin Preps Follow-Up To Grammy-Winning 2009 AlbumSteve Martin Preps Follow-Up To Grammy-Winning 2009 Album

Buoyed by the Grammy Award-winning success of his 2009 album "The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo," Steve Martin ready to record another one.
Martin tells Billboard.com that he and his touring group, the Steep Canyon Rangers, are planning to hit the studio in August with producer Tony Trischka, with a tentative early 2011 release. "I have most of the songs," Martin reports. "I have 11 songs, and I think we need 12 or 13 -- and I'm very happy with them." He says the new album will be "a little more bluegrassy" than "The Crow" and that he's expecting "to economize on it a little bit," with fewer guests and remote recording sessions than its predecessor.
The album will once again be comprised of all original material, Martin confirms. "There's no point for me not to do orginal compositions," he says. "What do I do -- cover somebody else's song? That's ricidulous. They could get a better singer to do it. The only contribution I cold make, really, is in the writing. And sometimes I think I'm at the limit, 'I can't write another song!,' and then I go on vacation and pick up the banjo and write two songs." Read more at Billboard.com/

Concord Music Group Acquires Celebrated American Roots Label Rounder Records

Acquisition Firmly Establishes the Combined Entity as the World’s Preeminent Independent Music Company

April 14, 2010 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time
LOS ANGELES--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--The Concord Music Group today announced the acquisition of storied Massachusetts-based independent music label Rounder Records. Rounder, celebrating its 40th year as the world’s leading American roots music label, is a major force in a broad range of musical genres including bluegrass, Americana, singer-songwriter, Cajun & Zydeco and children’s music. Rounder possesses an extraordinary recorded catalog and current artist roster including bluegrass superstar Alison Krauss, singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter, banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck, actor/musician Steve Martin, jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux, the iconic Robert Plant, notable children’s artist/activist Raffi and country legend Willie Nelson, to name just a few. The acquisition of Rounder and its essential collection of over 3,000 masters combined with Concord Music Group’s rich catalog of more than 10,000 master recordings strengthens Concord’s status as one of the world’s most significant independent record companies, with a leadership position in multiple genres.
“We’ve always been the little label that could, and our new affiliation with Concord – another fiercely independent organization that shares our core values -- ensures that we can remain true to our central calling: discovering and nurturing quality musical talent.”

Rounder’s creative and marketing functions will continue to be based in Boston and its owners and founders Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton Levy will remain active with the company in a creative and advisory capacity. The company’s senior management will also remain in place: John Virant will continue as the President of Rounder; Sheri Sands will stay on as General Manager. Operating synergies will be achieved by combining the sales, administrative and support functions of the two companies.
Rounder, founded in 1970 by Cambridge folkies, Irwin, Nowlin, and Leighton Levy, has been at the center of nearly all of the American roots revivals that have reshaped the music world in the last 40 years. The self-titled 1975 record by J.D. Crowe and the New South (featuring future stars Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice and Jerry Douglas) revitalized bluegrass and inspired such modern superstars as Rounder’s own Alison Krauss, who is the most decorated female artist in the history of the Grammy® Awards and has also sold over eight million albums and DVDs. Her collaboration with Led Zeppelin front-man Robert Plant on the album Raising Sand emerged as one of 2007’s major critical and word-of-mouth sales success stories. The album was RIAA certified platinum in early 2008 and won five Grammy® Awards including Album and Record of the Year in 2009. An unequaled leader in the preservation and re-release of precious historic recordings, Rounder has brought the music of Jelly Roll Morton, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and Mississippi John Hurt back to vibrant life. In addition, their dazzling work on the epic anthologies from the Library of Congress and the Alan Lomax Collection has been universally respected and admired.
Glen Barros, President and CEO of the Concord Music Group, said, “The combination of Concord and Rounder makes so much sense on a creative, strategic and cultural level. With the addition of Rounder, Concord is gaining a magnificent catalog of recordings, the opportunity to work with more of the world’s most amazing artists and a company filled with some great people. Plus, Rounder’s uncompromising commitment to authenticity and intense independent spirit is perfectly in line with everything that Concord is about.”
Norman Lear, Concord Music Group Chairman and co-owner added, “We couldn’t be more honored to join together with Rounder in our collective mission to deliver great, timeless music.”
Marian Leighton Levy, co-Rounder Founder, concurs and adds, “For us, it’s always been about the music. We have long been aware of Concord’s commitment to great catalogue labels within a vibrant and contemporary independent context, and feel the Concord Records Group provides not only a great home for our music and artists, but also a stronger and more secure position going forward.”
John Virant, President of Rounder, said, “We’ve always been the little label that could, and our new affiliation with Concord – another fiercely independent organization that shares our core values -- ensures that we can remain true to our central calling: discovering and nurturing quality musical talent.”
About Concord Music Group:
Concord Music Group is one of the largest independent record and music publishing companies in the world and is owner of a rich and historically significant catalog of recordings. Concord Music Group’s legendary family of labels include Concord Records, Concord Jazz, Fantasy, Stax, Milestone, Riverside, Specialty, Telarc, Peak, Heads Up, Prestige and several others. They include titles from some of the most admired and enduring names in music, including Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Isaac Hayes, Little Richard, Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson, Rosemary Clooney, George Shearing and Mel Torme. The group’s current roster of world-class artists includes George Benson, Chick Corea, Kurt Elling, Will Downing, Kenny G, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Sergio Mendes, Esperanza Spalding, Macy Gray, Angie Stone and many more. In 2007, Concord partnered with Starbucks Entertainment to form Hear Music, an innovative record label rooted in quality, authenticity and passion. Hear Music works directly with artists, both emerging and established, to bring quality music to the widest possible audience, in both Starbucks locations and music retailers worldwide. Hear Music releases include records from Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Elvis Costello and Playing For Change.

Coleman Station Bluegrass Festival Announces 2010 Lineup

Coleman Station Bluegrass Festival July 23, 24, 2010
Freidens (Somerset County) PA

From the Custer's 

"We're excited to present another quality festival.

The 2010 lineup is outstanding and we're happy to announce ticket prices will stay the same!
As you know, we offer quality entertainment in a beautiful setting which the whole family can enjoy
so be sure to tell your friends and neighbors about our festival. Word of mouth is our best advertising".

Secheduled to appear:
Nothin' Fancy, David Parmely & Continental Divide,  Jay Armsworthy & Eastern Tradition, Cody Norris & the Watauga Boys, Blue Shades, Mountain Therapy (host band,) Bluestone festering Chris Warner, Black Diamond, Coal Mountain Ramblers and a Coleman Station tradition the Custer Family & Kids.

Check out the Coleman Station web site for complete details.

Bands gather at Paramount Center to pay tribute to bluegrass legend

BY TOM NETHERLAND
SPECIAL TO THE HERALD COURIER

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Just a little man with a mountainous legacy.
Friends and neighbors, that’s Ralph Stanley.
Sixty-three years after he first played in Bristol with his late brother, Carter, Stanley was honored in a tribute Sunday afternoon at the Paramount Center here.
Presented by the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance to benefit the Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center in Clintwood, Va., the show featured a mix of country, bluegrass and gospel music with a dash of Hollywood tossed in, too.
Call it a tribute to a titan.
Stanley’s 17-year-old grandson, Nathan Stanley, organized, emceed, and sang a pack of fine songs.
“I want to make this an annual thing, paying tribute to my papaw, Dr. Ralph Stanley,” Nathan said. More...

Bluegrass performers Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum at Old Town Center on April 17 @ 7:00PM

Will headline after the Water to Wine Festival from 3-7PM
Sedona AZ - One of the great country, bluegrass vocalists of our time, Laurie Lewis, will be joined by mandolin/guitarist Tom Rozum to headline the Second Annual Water to Wine Festival at Old Town Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 17th. The festival that features 6 Verde Valley Vintners with wine tasting, entertainment and an expert wine panel will happen from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum will take the theater stage at OTCA at 7:00 PM. Join us for this great spring day in Old Town Cottonwood. Now, more details about the concert.

Legend is not always loud. Particularly in the beneath-the-radar sub streams of American folk music and bluegrass, it is bestowed more by whispered word-of-mouth, over years and decades, than by the hurried hype and ballyhoo of the pop mainstream. You can't measure Laurie Lewis's 30-year career with the usual commercial yardsticks. A stirring vocalist, gifted songwriter, champion fiddler, and topnotch bandleader, she has won a Grammy, for "True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe," in 1997, and twice been named Female Vocalist of the Year by the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Associatin
When you go:

What: Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum

When: Saturday, April 17th at 7:00PM

Where: Old Town Center for the Arts, 5th and Main in Old Town Cottonwood

Cost: $18 advance $22 door, $18 Seniors

Info: (928) 634-0940 http://www.http//oldtowncenter.org

If you listen down the back roads of acoustic Americana, however, you'll soon realize this soft-spoken, sweet-singing California fiddler, singer and songwriter is something very special. With nearly 20 solo, duo, and band albums to her credit, she has just released Blossoms, on Spruce and Maple Music, a winning collection of originals and covers that explores new territory while remaining true to her beloved Americana roots. More...

Blaylock brings energy to bluegrass show

Published: Saturday, April 10, 2010 4:12 AM CDT

Telegraph staff reports
The Country Bluegrass Show lineup continues to provide some of the best talent in the industry and the 10th anniversary edition is certainly proof of that fact.
Audie Blaylock and his band, Redline, will perform at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 22, and also 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, April 23. This will be their first time on the North Platte stage.
In a region where top bluegrass musicians rarely perform, for those planning to attend the 10th annual festival in North Platte might benefit from an introduction. So here is the biography from Audie's Web site.
Audie Blaylock and Redline self-produced an album on Rural Rhythm Records in 2009 and this group of musicians brings a high level of energy to their live shows. With Matthew Wallace on bass and vocals, Evan Ward on banjo and vocals, and Patrick McAvinue on fiddle, this group has no shortage of talent.
Multi-Grammy Award winner Carl Jackson wrote in the liner notes "...This new project by Audie Blaylock and Redline is not only 'bluegrass' ... its GREAT bluegrass... no argument... end of discussion!!! I was blown away by the professionalism of Audie's performance at IBMA Fanfest this past year and this album further confirms that he is a force to be reckoned with in the world of bluegrass music for years to come."
Four-time IBMA Guitar Player of the year candidate Blaylock has performed with some of bluegrass music's most distinguished acts over the years including the great Jimmy Martin and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage as well as doing session work that earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album and an IBMA nomination for Recorded Event of the Year for "A Tribute to Jimmy Martin: The King of Bluegrass."
This group project included Blaylock on guitar and vocals along with a stellar lineup of musicians including former Sunny Mountain Boys J.D. Crowe, Paul Williams, and Kenny Ingram. He has also performed with the legendary Red Allen, The Lynn Morris Band and songwriting great Harley Allen. Audie Blaylock and Redline had the honor of being nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association's Emerging Artist of the Year award in both 2005 and 2006. Read more...

Rare Jerry Garcia Recordings at David Grisman’s Acoustic Oasis

David Grisman, who has released his music for 20 years through his Acoustic Disc label, has created the new website http://acousticoasis.com/. According to Grisman, the site features “new and previously unreleased projects that are now available to you as high-quality digital downloads, exclusively through this site. All projects include downloadable graphics (CD covers, tray cards and labels) and cost is less than most other download sites.”


Acoustic Oasis’s initial offerings include extended versions of Acoustic Disc projects like the 170-minute Extra Large Pizza Tapes with Grisman, Jerry Garcia, as well as Tony Rice Bluegrass Quintet recordings, educational materials and out- of-print albums like jazzmaster Don Stiernberg’s Mandolin Restaurant. The website also features new Oasis recording by Josh Pinkham and Texas swing legend Jerry Thomasson.

Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby picked for $1.5M grant

By Julie Rose

A museum to honor bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs and his hometown of Shelby, North Carolina has received a $1.5 million grant from the federal government.

With unemployment of more than 15 percent and textile jobs in decline, Cleveland County could use an economic boost. A community group called Destination Cleveland County is hoping banjo music will do the trick.
The Earl Scruggs Center for Songs and Stories of the Carolina Foothills got a big vote of confidence this week from the U.S. Department of Commerce with a $1.5 million economic development grant. That's one of the larger grants given by the Economic Development Administration and the single largest donation to the Earl Scruggs Center so far.
Destination Cleveland County Executive Director Emily Epley says the entire project will cost about $6 million. Fundraising is now two-thirds complete. The group plans to renovate the old county courthouse in downtown Shelby and have exhibits featuring Scruggs as an archetype of the industry and musical innovation for which Cleveland County is known. Read on...

Musicians salute legend Ralph Stanley

TOM NETHERLAND

SPECIAL TO THE HERALD COURIER

Published: April 8, 2010

Make way for the king of mountain music.
Ralph Stanley.
Nearly 64 years after he and brother Carter debuted on the “Farm and Fun Time Show” on WCYB in Bristol, Va., as the Stanley Brothers, Stanley will be honored with a tribute in Bristol.
“He’s one hell of a man,” said Ben “Cooter” Jones, who will appear at the show.
Scheduled for April 11, the BCMA presents “A Tribute to Ralph Stanley” at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol, Tenn. Conceived by Stanley’s grandson, Nathan Stanley, the show will benefit the Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center in Clintwood, Va.
“I knew the museum was having some hard times,” Nathan Stanley said last week. “So, I thought it was the least I could do for my papaw.”
Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys headline. Son Ralph Stanley II, grandson Nathan Stanley, Stella Parton, Paul Williams and the Victory Trio, Ben “Cooter” Jones, Grand Ole Opry star Jack Greene and Tim Stafford round out the bill. Read more...

Traditional Ties, 04/11/10, Playlist

Contact info for new adds:
Audie Blaylock - http://www.audieblaylock.com/ - http://ruralrhythm.com/web/
Doyle Lawson - http://www.doylelawson.com/ - http://www.crossroadsmusic.com/

Air Time, Artist Name, Song Title, Album Name, Label, Duration

10:00 PM, Kenny Baker, Jerusalem Ridge (Theme), Plays Bill Monroe, County, 2:00

10:02 PM, Audie Blaylock, Cryin' Heart Blues, Cryin' Heart Blues, Rural Rhyrhm, 2:13

10:05 PM, The Grasscals, The Last Train to Clarksville, The Famous Lefty Fynn's,  Rounder, 2:59

10:08 PM, Darren Beachley, Love You Don't Know, Cannot Hurt You, CD Single, Patuxent,, 4:08

10:12 PM Jim Lloyd You Can't Plant an Onion Upside Down, Songs from My Attic, Mountain Roads, 2:56

10:17 PM, Steep Canyon Rangers, Have Mercy, Deep in the Shade, Rebel, 3:12

10:20 PM, Grasstowne, Heartbreak Express, The Other Side of Towne, Pinecastle, 2:53

10:23 PM, Claire Lynch, My Florida Sunshine, Whatcha You Gonna Do, Rounder, 3:00

10:26 PM, Adam Steffey, Deep Rough,, One More for the Road Sugar Hill, 2:57

10:30 PM, Doyle Lawson, Light on My Feet, Ready to Fly, Light on My Feet, Ready to Fly, Horizon, 2:33

10:34 PM, Doyle Lawson, In Your Arms, Light on My Feet, Ready to Fly, Horizon, 4:18

10:39 PM, Doyle Lawson, Teddy Bear Revival, Light on My Feet, Ready to Fly, Horizon, 3:26

10:43 PM, Doyle Lawson, Zion Medley, Light on My Feet, Ready to Fly, Horizon, 4:33

10:48 PM, Audie Blaylock, He Is Near, Cryin' Heart Blues, Rural Rhythm, 3:12

10:51 PM, NewFound Road ,I Am the Man Thomas, Same Old Place, Rounder, 2:59

10:54 PM, Paul Williams, Living the Right Life Now, Just a Little Closer Home, Rebel, 2:19

10:56 PM, Don Rigsby, One Prayer Away, Voice of God, Rebel, 2:29

11:00 PM, True Bluegrass, With Care from Someone (Theme,) True Bluegrass 1979, True Bluegrass, 2:00

11:02 PM, Audie Blaylock, All I Can Do Is Pretend, Cryin' Heart Blues, Rural Rhythm, 3:43

11:06 PM, Audie Blaylock, Matches, Cryin' Heart Blues, Rural Rhythm, 2:52

11:09 PM, Audie Blaylock, Troubles 'round My Door, Cryin' Heart Blues, Rural Rhythm, 1:43

11:12 PM, Audie Blaylock, Rummie's Run, Cryin' Heart Blues, Rebel, 2:36

11:15 PM, Ruth & Max Bloomquist, Daddy Was an Old Man, Turn Back a Page, Ruby, 3:25

11:18 PM, Brand New Strings, Merry Go Round, No Strings Attached, Rural Rhythm, 2:00

11:20 PM, Special Consensus, Too Late Now, Signs, Pinecastle, 3:43

11:24 PM, Snyder Family Band, Faded Love, Comin' on Strong, Mountain Roads, 4:13

11:29 PM, Del McCoury, I Remember You, Family Circle, McCoury Music, 2:27

11:31 PM, Randy Kohrs, More About John Henry, Quicksand, Rural Rhythm, 3:36

11:35 PM, Big Country Bluegrass, The Boys in Hats and Ties, Single, TBA ,2:25

11:37 PM, The Allegheny Drifters, Mind Your Own Business, Can't Wait, The Allegheny Drifters, 3:09

11:43 PM, Johnny Williams, Last Day of Galax, Last Day of Galax, Mountain Roads, 5:00

11:48 PM, Dailey & Vincent, Flowers on the Wall, Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers, Cracker Barrel, 2:24

11:50 PM, The Chapmans, Love's Gonna Live Here, Grown Up, Compass, 2:58

11:53 PM, Chris Warner, Goin' to the Dance, Goin' to the Dance ,Patuxent, 3:17

11:57 PM, Blue Shades, Catawa, Chasing Dreams, Blue Shades, 2:39


JOHN TROUT, WYEP FM, PITTSBURGH, PA. tties91@hotmail.com

'TRADITIONAL TIES'- NEW REL - EASE BLUEGRASS WITH FEATURES. 91.3 WYEP, http://www.wyep.org 10:00 PM Eastern Time (U.S.) Sundays. Streaming Audio

1608 JEFFERSON ST, LATROBE PA, 15650 -2940
'TRADITIONAL TIES' - 25 YEARS IN 2010
Link to Traditional Ties web pages:

http://wyep.org/traditionalties

Darin And Brooke to Host Their Own Festival

Thursday, Apr 8 2010
Will MacDonald

With their career on the climb, the timing just seem right for Darin & Brooke Aldridge to have their own music festival and to invite some of the musicians they’ve played with over the years to join them for a weekend of family friendly entertainment.
On Friday and Saturday, the Cherryville couple will host the Darin & Brook Aldridge Bluegrass Festival that will feature guests artists J D Crowe & The New South, Balsam Range, Harris Brothers, Unspoken Tradition, New Plowed Ground, Closer Walk and the Catawba Valley Music Revival Youth Band.

“This is the first one that Brooke and I have done,” said Darin, of the festival that takes place on Coot Williams Road, north of Cherryville. “I think it’s just a good thing for the community.” More...

RIP - Sally Gray

We have received word that Sally Gray, wife of bassist Tom Gray passed away yesterday (Monday.)

We express our sincere sympathy to Tom and his family.

Arrangements:
Visitation Saturday April 10, 2 - 4 PM, Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Blvd. West, Silver Springs MD. 20901

Funeral service - Sunday 3:00 PM, Palisades Community Church, 5200 Cathedral Ave. NW, Washington DC.

Interment private.

CHRIS AUSTIN SONGWRITING CONTEST, HOSTED BY MERLEFEST, ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2010

WILKESBORO, N.C. (April 6, 2010)—Finalists have been selected for the 18th annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, hosted by MerleFest 2010, presented by Lowe's and scheduled for April 29-May 2 on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
Writers of the following twelve songs, selected from over 1,044 entries, will compete on the Austin Stage at MerleFest on Friday, April 30, at 2:00 p.m. This year’s on-site judges are Laurelyn Dossett, Wyatt Durrette, and Rory Feek.
Bluegrass
“New Love” by Josh Pickett; Cana, VA

“Whisper Sweet Goodbyes” by Jo Ellen Doering; Los Angeles, CA

“Carolina Dust” by Brink Brinkman; Pickerington, OH



Gospel
“On the Winning Side” by David Tew; Turkey, NC

“Amen” by Jo Ellen Doering; Los Angeles, CA

“I Had A Little Talk With Jesus” by Richard Henry; Houston, TX



Country
“You Opened My Eyes” by Mark Wayne Glasmire; Arlington, TX

“It Ain't Over” by Julianne Ankley; Fort Gratiot, MI

“Alive” by Lisa Torres; Antioch, TN



General
“Rush” by Liz Longley; Downingtown, PA

“Get It Right” by Shay Lovette; Purlear, NC

“Opening” by Chris Ayer; McLean, VA


The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest is a unique opportunity for aspiring writers to have their original songs heard and judged by a panel of Nashville music industry professionals, under the direction of this year’s volunteer contest chairperson, Grammy®-winning singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale. Judging is based on a song’s originality, lyrics, melody and overall commercial potential. The following were judges for the first round of competition during which the finalists were selected:
Donica Christensen - Director of Artist and Media Relations, Sugar Hill Records

Patrick Clifford – Vice President A&R, Ten Ten Music Group

Jimmy Fortune - Singer/songwriter and member of Country Music Hall of Fame and Gospel Music Hall of Fame as tenor singer for the Statler Brothers

Whitney Holmes - Americana Music Association

Sara Johnson - Senior Director of Creative Services, Bug Music Nashville

Tony Lawson - Programmer, WDVX Radio

Kendell Marvel - Songwriter

Todd Mayo - Executive Producer, Music City Roots

Shannon McCombs - Radio producer and air personality

Roger Murrah - Songwriter and Sr. Vice President, Bug Music Nashville; member of Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame

Nathan Nicholson - Creative Director, NTN Music Publishing

John Pennell - Songwriter

Ed Williams – Director of Creative Services, Bug Music Nashville
First place winners in each category receive: a performance on the Cabin Stage at MerleFest on April 30, a Big Baby Taylor guitar, a check for $300, two boxes of D’Addario strings and one-year subscriptions to both Acoustic Guitar and American Songwriter magazines. Second and third place winners in each category receive performance slots on the Friday night Songwriters Coffeehouse, as well as cash prizes, D’Addario strings and subscriptions to Acoustic Guitar and American Songwriter. In addition, for the first time in the history of the contest, the finalists will have the invaluable experience of a group mentor session with Jim Lauderdale
Previous winners of the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest include Gillian Welch, Tift Merritt, Michael Reno Harrell, Adrienne Young, Martha Scanlan, David Via and Johnny Williams.
Net proceeds from the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest support the Wilkes Community College Chris Austin Memorial Scholarship. Since its inception the scholarship has awarded over $ 30,300 to 69 deserving students. The 2009-2010 Chris Austin Memorial Scholarship recipients are Ian Tucker Francis and Dustin Rubio-Serrano.
About Chris Austin:

Chris Austin, from Boone, North Carolina, worked as a sideman for Ricky Skaggs for three years, singing and playing guitar, banjo, mandolin and fiddle. During that time he was discovered by executives at Warner Bros. Nashville, who offered him a recording contract. While releasing singles including “Blues Stay Away From Me,” “I Know There’s a Heart in There Somewhere” and “Out of Step,” Austin also developed his songwriting skills, as evidenced in “Same Ol’ Love,” recorded by Skaggs in 1991. On March 16, 1991, Austin’s life was cut tragically short when the private plane carrying him and six other members of Reba McEntire’s band, as well as her tour manager, crashed in the mountains near San Diego. Pete Fisher, then of Warnersongs and currently general manager of the Grand Ole Opry, and Kari Estrin, then MerleFest consultant and Pickin’ for Merle video associate producer, initiated the songwriting contest to honor Austin’s memory.



About MerleFest:

MerleFest 2010, presented by Lowe’s, will celebrate its 23rd year from April 29 – May 2, 2010 on the campus of Wilkes Community College. Over 100 acts will perform on 15 stages during the course of the event. A complete list of confirmed performers is available at http://www.merlefest.org. MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of Eddy Merle Watson as a fundraiser for Wilkes Community College and a celebration of “traditional plus” music.

Updated 18:45, 4/6

York hopes Governor's Arts Awards event leads to big changes

The celebration almost was canceled. But on Thursday, York is the center of the Pennsylvania arts world

By ERIN McCRACKEN
Daily Record/Sunday News

At 12:30 p.m. Aug. 14, music blared from speakers on Continental Square in York.
Traffic and business stopped. People watched about 100 dancers perform in the street.
After the song came the message: York would host the 2009 Governor's Awards for the Arts.
Judge Marjorie Rendell had made the announcement months earlier, and the flash mob built community interest.
But a few hours later, Gayle Cluck, arts in education director at the Cultural Alliance, received a phone call. The governor's awards, originally scheduled for Oct. 1, were indefinitely postponed.
The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts -- the state organization that selects the host city and nominees, produces the ceremony and covers 20 percent of the cost -- had other issues to deal with. The state budget impasse forced it to cut back its staff and, at one point during negotiations, the council itself faced elimination.Without the council, the governor's awards would end.The bad news struck York hard, Cluck said.

But the budget passed Oct. 9. The council remained intact and began to regroup. Plans and fundraising efforts for the governor's awards, which had been put on hold for months, picked up where they left off. And on Thursday, York will become the cultural capitol of Pennsylvania for a day -- artists, celebrities, politicians and community members will gather downtown for the governor's awards. Read more...

He Arose - Blue Moon Rising

Bluegrass in Their Blood

Rhonda Vincent, one of bluegrass music's brightest stars, recently stepped out of the spotlight and played mandolin for a band of upstarts.
"I had the greatest time of my life," Vincent says from a recording studio in Nashville, Tenn. "I had such a wonderful time, just being a sideman -- loading in merchandise, carrying in instruments and loading back out and traveling in a van."
Vincent, who will perform Saturday with her band, the Rage, along with Nash Street, Nothin Fancy, Jesse McReynolds and Bobby Osborne at American Music Theatre, wasn't doing the grunt work for just anybody. She journeyed from her home in Missouri to Chicago to play with her two daughters, Sally, 21, and Tensel, 23, who have their own bluegrass band, the Next Big Thing.
Vincent, who reigned as the International Bluegrass Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year from 2000 through 2006, says she was caught by surprise when her daughters decided to follow her into the music business
She said neither seemed to care much about music while they were growing up.
"They had absolutely no interest," says Vincent, 47, who talks just about as fast as she plays. "It was what their mom did. They played sports, they played basketball, softball. They could sing but I had to beg them to sing a song with me."
That changed when her daughters both decided to attend East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn., and then enrolled in the school's music program.
"Sally calls me and says, 'Mom, I've had an epiphany; there's bluegrass in my blood,'" Vincent recalls.Full story.

Brand New Strings CD Release Party

National touring bluegrass band, BRAND NEW STRINGS have announced details of their upcoming CD Release Party for their new Rural Rhythm Records album, NO STRINGS ATTACHED. The Knoxville area event begins at 7:00 pm on April 23, 2010 at the Carter High School Auditorium, 210 North Carter School Road, Strawberry Plains, TN. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or the band’s website. Proceeds will benefit the Carter Elementary P.T.O. The party will feature Brand New Strings members, Randall Massengill, Mike Ramsey, Tim Tipton, Stuart Wyrick, Matt Leadbetter and Preston Schmidt with special guests: Steve Gulley (Grasstowne and the band’s CD producer); Keith Garrett (The Boxcars); Chris West and Brandon Bostic (Blue Moon Rising); Jim Millsaps (Knoxville Grass); Mike Bentley (Cumberland Gap Connection) and many more surprises throughout the evening.
"Brand New Strings plays hardcore bluegrass for the hardcore fan. These are exciting, fresh, songs played and sung by superbly talented musicians and singers in a take-no-prisoners, no apologies, strictly bluegrass style. This is bluegrass the way it ought to be!” says SIRIUS-XM Radio Host, Kyle Cantrell who will host the band on his upcoming Track by Track. The show debuts April 14 at 11:00 AM EST with rebroadcasts on the April 15 (9:00 PM EST) and April 18 (11:00 AM EST).
The CD Release Party is sponsored by WDVX Radio, D’Addario, Ciderville Music, Lakota Leathers, On Board Research Corporation, Rural Rhythm Records, Hope River Entertainment, Chota Outfitters with numerous door prizes being given away during the evening. The band is currently on tour promoting their new album including tonight’s sold out performance at Tennessee Shines: Live from the Bijou in Knoxville, TN. Although the show is sold out fans can tune in to hear the broadcast live online at www.WDVX.com, from 7:00p to 9:00p EST with host Jim Lauderdale.
For more information on BRAND NEW STRINGS, their new CD and tour information, please visit http://www.brandnewstringsband.com/, - http://ruralrhythm.com/ or http://www.hoperiverentertainment.com/