Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper Welcome Charlie Cushman

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper is proud to announce the addition of banjo master Charlie Cushman to the band. Cushman will take on full-time banjo duties with the IBMA's 4-time Instrumental Group of the Year effective immediately.

When speaking of the cream of the crop banjo players in present day, Charlie Cushman is a household name among the most elite. Raised on the 5-string banjo from a very early age, Cushman cut his teeth on the music of Don Reno and Earl Scruggs and over the years has become one of the most respected musicians of his time. At age 14 he was a regular performer on The Carl Tipton Show, where he also learned guitar and upright bass. In the early 1980's, Cushman received his first real taste of life on the road as a full-time musician while working with James Monroe and the Midnight Ramblers, Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys and country music icon Mel Tillis and the Statesiders. He then stayed closer to home while working full-time for Nashville's music-themed park, Opryland USA the last half of that decade. In 1990, Cushman began working with fellow banjo player, comedian Mike Snider, where he stayed for 14 years playing bass and then moving to guitar. During that tenure, Cushman found himself performing on the Grand Ole Opry regularly in addition to road dates. The last few years have found him staying very busy as an in-demand session player having recorded on projects for prominent artists such as Marty Stuart, Merle Haggard, Rhonda Vincent, Tim O'Brien and Vince Gill, a relationship that eventually led to an unprecedented tour with Gill in support of his Grammy winning project These Days.


Over the years, Michael Cleveland and Charlie Cushman have shared the stage many times. Cushman was Cleveland's banjo player of choice for his solo project Let'er Go Boys. The admiration between these two artists is heartwarming. "I first met Charlie in 1999 when we played with Jeff White at the Station Inn," states Cleveland. "I knew after that gig that I'd played with one of the best. To have Charlie join the band is a dream come true." Charlie Cushman is equally excited. "I’m so proud and honored to finally get to work with Michael and his band and I’m glad that this opportunity has finally lined up for us." Cushman continues, "We have a spark with each other musically and I’m more excited about this than anything else I've done in quite a while."


This musical pairing will have definitely come full circle when this new configuration of Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper offers their first public performance on the very stage the two first performed together, the world famous Station Inn in Nashville, TN on Friday, February 18th. The multi-award winning group will be performing some new music from the band's upcoming Rounder Records CD, Fired Up, due for release in early spring. Michael Cleveland sums it up best, "It is going to be a blast to play and learn from one of the true professionals in the business! I feel like everything is finally coming together the way I've always hoped."


For more information on Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, please visit http://flamekeeperband.com/.

He's not fiddlin' around

Michael Cleveland uses instrument to lead bluegrass band

By Erik Rolfsen, The Province May 10, 2010

Michael Cleveland doesn't know exactly what it is about a searing fiddle solo that whips audiences into a froth, but he remembers the first time he experienced it.

He was a preschooler tagging along with his grandparents at a bluegrass jam in his native Indiana when he heard one of the local fiddlers launch into "Orange Blossom Special."

"Once I heard that, I just had to do it or die," says Cleveland, now 29 and appearing Thursday night at Vancouver's St. James Hall with his band, Flamekeeper.

Cleveland has been known at various times as a child prodigy and a great blind fiddler. Now he is known simply as leader of the hottest instrumental band in bluegrass.

At last year's International Bluegrass Music Association awards, he was named fiddle player of the year for the seventh time in eight years. His mandolin player, Jesse Brock, and bass player Marshall Wilborn also won in their categories. Guitarist Tom Adams and 19-year-old banjo whiz Jessie Baker round out the band, whose version of Bill Monroe's "Jerusalem Ridge" from 2008's Leavin' Town won instrumental performance of the year.

Cleveland first arrived on the bluegrass scene as part of a young supergroup put together by banjo great Pete Wernick for the 1993 IBMA convention. Wernick wanted to prove to doubters that the future of bluegrass was in good hands. That band included mandolinist Chris Thile, who went on to gain fame with Nickel Creek, and current Ricky Skaggs sideman Cody Kilby.Read 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...

Michael Cleveland Coming to Romney WV

5th Annual Springfest Bluegrass Concert

Springfest to feature five time "Fiddle Player of the Year" Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper along with former "Male Vocalist of the Year," Bradley Walker. Opening will be local favorites Apppalachia.

The 5th Annuel Springfest Bluegrass Concert will be held at Hampshire High School on April 4, 2009. Doors will open for the Matinee at 12:00 and it will begin at 12:30pm and end at 4:30. The evening show will begin at 5:30 and end at 10:00 pm. Tickets are $20 for reserved and $15 general admission. Refreshments will be served during intermission in the gym, there will be hotdogs, soups, cakes, brownies and drinks.


The Schedule
12:00 Doors Open
12:30 Appalachia
1:00 - 2:15 Bradley Walker
1 Hour Break
3:15 - 4:30 Michael Cleveland

Second Show:
5:30 - 6:00 Appalachia
6:30 - 7:45 Bradley Walker
1 Hour Break
8:45 - 10:00 Michael Cleveland
You can contact Martin Cecil at304-492-4036 or Ron Miller at 301-707-1078 or Paul Roomsburg at 304-671-8388 for more information.
Bradley Walker
The Nashville Scene called Bradley Walker "arguably the best unsigned singer in bluegrass" in 2003, and while that's no longer true today, it's only because he's no longer unsigned. Releasing his Carl Jackson-produced Rounder Records debut, Highway Of Dreams, in 2006, Walker celebrated with a featured show that fall at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium and a national TV appearance on Jerry Lewis' renowned MDA Telethon that stunned audiences with his rich, country-flavored baritone voice. Born with a form of muscular dystrophy, Bradley's determination first won him fans among bluegrass' most prominent artist - Illrd Tyme Out and the Lonesome River Band among them - and earned him guest appearances on stage and television with them before he launched his solo career. Since then, he's become a favorite of fans across the country for his intimate delivery, winning sense of humor, unmistakable sincerity and pure artistry.
2007 IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year
"...inspirational and heartbreaking, a choice that would make Lefty Frizzel proud." - Brian Mansfield, USA Today
"It has been many years since I have been moved by a debut album the way I am moved by Highway of Dreams" - Robert K. Oermann, Music Row, 2006
"...Walker is a powerhouse...he gets it right every time - Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly, 2006
"...wowing audiences everywhere...Walker seems poised to go as far as he wants." -Chris Neal, Country Weekly, 2007

Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper
Rounder Recording Artist

Award-winning fiddler Michael Cleveland brings dynamic traditional
bluegrass to the stage with his band, Flamekeeper, in a show that will
leave the audience talking. A five-time winner of the International
Bluegrass Music Association's Fiddle Player of the Year award, Mike and
his talented band present a program of tight vocal trios and duos,
blistering instrumentals, and fiddle-and-banjo duets that echo the
first-generation stars of bluegrass. The show is rounded out with Mike's
dry wit and the band's sense of fun.
Considered one of the premier bluegrass fiddlers of his generation,
Mike picked up a fiddle at age four, and his talent was recognized early.
In 1993 he was chosen to be part of the Bluegrass Youth All Stars at the
IBMA’s award show. Later that year Mike made his Grand Ole Opry
debut as a guest of Alison Krauss. His list of guest appearances over the
years is a who's who of bluegrass legends including Bill Monroe, Jim
and Jesse, Ralph Stanley, Mac Wiseman, Doc Watson, Larry Sparks,
Doyle Lawson, and J.D. Crowe.
After high school Mike briefly toured with then-named Dale Ann
Bradley and Coon Creek before joining Rhonda Vincent and The Rage
in 2000. At the 2001 IBMA awards, Mike took his first Fiddle Player of
the Year award, and shared the title of Entertainer of the Year with
Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. In 2002 Mike rejoined The Dale Ann
Bradley Band. That year he won the Fiddle Player of the Year award and
again in 2004.
Mike's first project as a Rounder recording artist, “Flame Keeper,” was
released in February 2002 and was chosen the IBMA’s Instrumental
Album of the Year. In 2004, Mike shared the Instrumental Album of the
Year award with Tom Adams for “Tom Adams and Michael Cleveland
Live at the Ragged Edge,” an album of fiddle and banjo duets. In 2006,
2007, and 2008 Mike took home his fourth and fifth and sixth Fiddle
Player of the Year awards.
Today Mike is a sought-after guest and has performed recently with
Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, The Mark Newton Band, J.D. Crowe and the
New South, Audie Blaylock and Redline, Melvin Goins and Windy
Mountain and The Wildwood Valley Boys. He is also an active studio
musician, and his credits include the 2005 GRAMMY®-nominated “A
Tribute to Jimmy Martin: The King of Bluegrass” and a 2003 GRAMMY®
winner, Jimmy Sturr's “Let's Polka 'Round.”

Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper

New Pictures!
With the addition of Darrell Webb on guitar and Jessie Baker on banjo, it was time for brand new Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper photos and we are pleased to present the new official band photo, here. Shots were also taken of each of the Flamekeeper members and all will be posted to the band's website shortly.

Great Things In Store For The New Year!

We look for great things to take place in the coming year for Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper! The band plans on returning to the studio as soon as possible to begin work on their 2nd band project for Rounder Records. The guys will also be traveling the roads extensively covering all parts of the country and beyond. From Tacoma, WA to Canada, Flamekeeper is sure to be performing in a town near you. Here's where they will be in the coming months:
January 2nd The Players Pub-Jeff White & Friends Bloomington, IN (Michael Only)
January 3rd The Station Inn-Jeff White & Friends Nashville, TN (Michael Only)
January 8th, 9th, 15th Pickin' A Bluegrass All-Star Jam Various Cities (Michael Only)
February 14th Joe Val Bluegrass Festival Framingham, MA
February 20th-21st Wintergrass Tacoma, WA
February 22nd Mid-Winter Bluegrass Festival Denver, CO

Complete Performance Schedule

Now We Know Where Darrell Webb Landed

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper Anounce Newest Member

Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper are proud to announce the addition of Darrell Webb to the band.

Darrell will be taking on lead vocal and guitar duties with IBMA's 2-time Instrumental Group Of The Year. Raised in a West Virginia home rich with the sounds of hard core traditional bluegrass, Darrell discovered his talents as a musician at the age of 8 with the mandolin, and later picking up the guitar, banjo, and virtually every known bluegrass instrument during the frequent jam sessions hosted by his father.

His professional music career started at 19, when Darrell filled the mandolin position for the Lonesome River Band at the departure of Dan Tyminski who joined Alison Krauss & Union Station. At the age of 21, he joined bluegrass veteran J. D. Crowe. Darrell's music career led him on the path to bluegrass stardom during his most recent accomplishment as guitarist for Rhonda Vincent & the Rage.
Along the way, Darrell's unique voice and musicianship caught the attention of Dolly Parton who invited him to record with her on "Halos and Horns"; where he played mandolin and sang harmony for the entire project. He appeared with Dolly again on her patriotic project titled “For God And Country”.
"I'm very excited about this!" stated Webb. "Me and Michael [Cleveland] have been jamming together for years and we never dreamed we'd be able to play in a band together." Michael Cleveland shares in Darrell's excitement. "We had the opportunity to play together again at a recent event and things just fell into place," stated Cleveland. "He is a great talent and we are thrilled to have him in the band!"Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, fronted by IBMA's 6-time Fiddle Player Of The Year, also consists of Jesse Brock on mandolin, Marshall Wilborn on bass and Jessie Baker on banjo. Darrell Webb will make his debut with the band on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry on Friday, December 26th.

According to my scorecard, that leaves Todd Rakestraw and Kenny Ingram between bands.

Anybody know where they might end up? Would you like to guess?