Nashville, TN -- Award-winning siblings The Roys make their Ryman Auditorium debut on July 5 as part of the legendary venue's six-week series, Springer Mountain Farms' Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman. The Red, White And Bluegrass Music Show includes The Roys, The Gibson Brothers and Steep Canyon Rangers, and the music kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the Show are on sale now and are only $26.50. Fans that arrive early can enjoy Pickin' On The Plaza festivities which is free of charge and begins at 6 p.m. For more information, go to www.Ryman.com or www.TheRoysOnline.com
The Johnny Possum Ban is currently finalizing their gigs for their visit to the USA from September 27th to October 13th. They have been twice before and received great feedback and now after releasing their 5th CD the band is returning. The band already has some great gigs lined up and they are still looking for a few more to keep them occupied and out of trouble.
Silver Spring, MD -- Local singer/songwriter/recording artist Dave Sharp has released a new CD, Rural Roots, on Odessa Records. The genre is best classified as “Americana” in the tradition of The Band, the Nitty Gritty Dirty Band, and the early Eagles. Songs on the album are a combination of bluegrass, country, rockabilly, 60s rock, and blues. Sharp is joined on five tracks by renowned fiddle/mandolin player, Rickie Simpkins, who tours and records with Emmylou Harris, the Tony Rice Unit, and several other bluegrass bands. Simpkins also helped a great deal with final mixing of the bluegrass tunes. Additional musical support is provided by keyboardist/singer, Jon Carroll, founding member of the Starland Vocal Band in the 70s, who currently tours and records with Mary Chapin Carpenter and other nationally known artists. The album contains two originals and 12 covers. Sharp plays all guitars, organ/keyboards, and harmonica on the CD.
Hiltons, VA -- Carrying on an old Alabama family tradition, David Davis and the Warrior River Boys offer audiences an opportunity to see a musician who has carried on his family’s musical heritage dating back to the 1930s. Warrior River frontman mandolinist David Davis nurtures his roots with integrity, tonal depth, and prose. Directly linked to the origins of bluegrass music, David Davis’ love of bluegrass grew organically. Back in the 30s, his father and two uncles played and sung in the brother style traditions of early country music. Uncle Cleo joined The Father of Bluegrass Music, Bill Monroe, as the very first Blue Grass Boy in 1938. David’s father went off to WW II and lost his right hand in a mortar accident. While his Dad’s dream of making music may have been shattered, he never lost his love and devotion to the music. It was a devotion he passed down to David who would carry his father’s love of bluegrass with him always. Saturday, June 30, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert of bluegrass music by the Warrior River Boys. Admission to the concert is $7 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free.
American Media Group and their production partners debuted their brand new television creations, Bluegrass Road and SoundStage with Mike and Brian in early 2012. The bluegrass music program reaches millions of viewers on both national and international networks. Bluegrass Road features many top major names of Bluegrass Gospel and even introduces up and coming artists.
published by Bob Cherry on Sun, 06/17/2012 - 01:43
The "What Is Bluegrass Anyway" (WIBA) arguments flare up every now and again and they've come to light again recently. What constitutes a bluegrass song? What makes a festival a bluegrass festival? What is bluegrass music? The questions and, their entertaining and conflicting answers are always a mobius strip of circular argument. Part of it is fun but there is a serious side as well.
Smithville, Tennessee -- The 2012 Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival will be held on the square in downtown Smithville on Friday, July 6th and Saturday, July 7th commencing at 9:00 a.m. both days. This well-respected bluegrass festival, celebrating its 41st year, is committed to preserving Appalachian music, dance and craft – a mission that is apparently being accomplished judging from the thousands of spectators that come to the event from every state in the U.S. as well as many visitors from abroad. Over 150 craft booths filled with handmade creations, plus a variety of food vendors, will fill the streets surrounding the courthouse this year.
On June 14 in 1994, Bill Monroe and Alison Krauss took to the very stage where Bluegrass was born to kick off the first Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman. The tradition started by The Father of Bluegrass continues this summer with an impressive lineup of who’s who in the Bluegrass genre. Tickets are $26.50 per show, on sale now and available here. /a
By Joe Ross
Tony Williamson’s Lloyd Loar Mandolins (Mandolin Central MCP0065) is the ultimate and quintessential mandolin tasting. Featuring solo performances by Tony Williamson, the CD has a baker’s dozen of the world’s finest mandolins, most signed and dated by the legendary acoustical engineer Lloyd Loar. Brilliant craftsmen built these instruments in the Gibson factory of Kalamazoo, Michigan, in a two-year period beginning December 1922, except for two which were shipped out a few years later with no signatures.
Marion, VA- The Award Winning Song of the Mountains Concert Series will present a fundraising concert at the historic Lincoln Theatre in Marion, Virginia on Saturday, June 30th at 7:00 pm. “Our concert series is in our eighth season of tapings”, says Tim White the executive coordinator and host. “We are a non-profit organization and we are always searching for funding to keep our concert series on public television across America.” says White. “We receive absolutely no funding from PBS as some people might think. We really depend on the support of bluegrass, old time, gospel, classic country and Americana music fans to step forward and make donations anytime they can. We hope many will come to our exciting fundraising concert on June 30th and enjoy a wonderful show.”
Pick, Keller's 18th album and his debut with the first family of bluegrass music, The Travelin' McCourys, is a wonderful mixture of Keller's easy-going style and the Travelin' McCourys' precise mastery of Bluegrass. It is string picking rooted in Americana's heart; exploding with energy and passion.
The Ultimate Guitar Strummit and The Bass Strummit workshops would like to announce their faculty/staff for this year's two days of workshops on November 3 & 4 in Roanoke, VA. On guitar, acoustic and bluegrass guitar legend Tony Rice, Wyatt Rice, Tim Stafford, John Miller, and Bull Harman. Bass will feature Mike Bub, Todd Phillips, and Mike Conner as workshop hosts.
It's Here! The release of Give Me the Banjo on DVD with bonus content including several things that had to be cut from the PBS program: Uncle Dave, 4string jazz, a visit with Ralph Stanley, and performances by Taj, Riley Baugus and Rhiannon Giddens and a whole lot more.
After years of touring, recording, songwriting, and being asked the question, "when are you finally going to record a solo record?", Josh and an incredible team has done just that. They have just released Letting Go backed by some of the finest bluegrass artists performing today.
Nashville, TN -- Rural Rhythm Records is proud to announce the June 19, 2012 album release, Hard Country, by bluegrass music artists Audie Blaylock & Redline. Produced by Audie Blaylock, Hard Country is mixed with the cheating and heartbreak songs and that fiery hard-driving instrumental work that Audie Blaylock & Redline have become known for while performing their high energy live shows. Musicians on the album include: Audie Blaylock, Jesse Brock, Patrick McAvinue, Russ Carson, and Jason Moore.
Nashville, TN -- Award-winning siblings The Roys make their Ryman Auditorium debut on July 5 as part of the legendary venue's six-week series, Springer Mountain Farms' Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman. The Red, White And Bluegrass Music Show includes The Roys, The Gibson Brothers and Steep Canyon Rangers, and the music kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the Show are on sale now and are only $26.50. Fans that arrive early can enjoy Pickin' On The Plaza festivities which is free of charge and begins at 6 p.m. For more information, go to 
The Johnny Possum Ban is currently finalizing their gigs for their visit to the USA from September 27th to October 13th. They have been twice before and received great feedback and now after releasing their 5th CD the band is returning. The band already has some great gigs lined up and they are still looking for a few more to keep them occupied and out of trouble.
Silver Spring, MD -- Local singer/songwriter/recording artist Dave Sharp has released a new CD, Rural Roots, on Odessa Records. The genre is best classified as “Americana” in the tradition of The Band, the Nitty Gritty Dirty Band, and the early Eagles. Songs on the album are a combination of bluegrass, country, rockabilly, 60s rock, and blues. Sharp is joined on five tracks by renowned fiddle/mandolin player, Rickie Simpkins, who tours and records with Emmylou Harris, the Tony Rice Unit, and several other bluegrass bands. Simpkins also helped a great deal with final mixing of the bluegrass tunes. Additional musical support is provided by keyboardist/singer, Jon Carroll, founding member of the Starland Vocal Band in the 70s, who currently tours and records with Mary Chapin Carpenter and other nationally known artists. The album contains two originals and 12 covers. Sharp plays all guitars, organ/keyboards, and harmonica on the CD.
Hiltons, VA -- Carrying on an old Alabama family tradition, David Davis and the Warrior River Boys offer audiences an opportunity to see a musician who has carried on his family’s musical heritage dating back to the 1930s. Warrior River frontman mandolinist David Davis nurtures his roots with integrity, tonal depth, and prose. Directly linked to the origins of bluegrass music, David Davis’ love of bluegrass grew organically. Back in the 30s, his father and two uncles played and sung in the brother style traditions of early country music. Uncle Cleo joined The Father of Bluegrass Music, Bill Monroe, as the very first Blue Grass Boy in 1938. David’s father went off to WW II and lost his right hand in a mortar accident. While his Dad’s dream of making music may have been shattered, he never lost his love and devotion to the music. It was a devotion he passed down to David who would carry his father’s love of bluegrass with him always. Saturday, June 30, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert of bluegrass music by the Warrior River Boys. Admission to the concert is $7 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free.
American Media Group and their production partners debuted their brand new television creations, Bluegrass Road and SoundStage with Mike and Brian in early 2012. The bluegrass music program reaches millions of viewers on both national and international networks. Bluegrass Road features many top major names of Bluegrass Gospel and even introduces up and coming artists. 
The "What Is Bluegrass Anyway" (WIBA) arguments flare up every now and again and they've come to light again recently. What constitutes a bluegrass song? What makes a festival a bluegrass festival? What is bluegrass music? The questions and, their entertaining and conflicting answers are always a mobius strip of circular argument. Part of it is fun but there is a serious side as well.
Smithville, Tennessee -- The 2012 Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival will be held on the square in downtown Smithville on Friday, July 6th and Saturday, July 7th commencing at 9:00 a.m. both days. This well-respected bluegrass festival, celebrating its 41st year, is committed to preserving Appalachian music, dance and craft – a mission that is apparently being accomplished judging from the thousands of spectators that come to the event from every state in the U.S. as well as many visitors from abroad. Over 150 craft booths filled with handmade creations, plus a variety of food vendors, will fill the streets surrounding the courthouse this year.
On June 14 in 1994, Bill Monroe and Alison Krauss took to the very stage where Bluegrass was born to kick off the first Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman. The tradition started by The Father of Bluegrass continues this summer with an impressive lineup of who’s who in the Bluegrass genre. Tickets are $26.50 per show, on sale now and 
By Joe Ross
Marion, VA- The Award Winning Song of the Mountains Concert Series will present a fundraising concert at the historic Lincoln Theatre in Marion, Virginia on Saturday, June 30th at 7:00 pm. “Our concert series is in our eighth season of tapings”, says Tim White the executive coordinator and host. “We are a non-profit organization and we are always searching for funding to keep our concert series on public television across America.” says White. “We receive absolutely no funding from PBS as some people might think. We really depend on the support of bluegrass, old time, gospel, classic country and Americana music fans to step forward and make donations anytime they can. We hope many will come to our exciting fundraising concert on June 30th and enjoy a wonderful show.”
Pick, Keller's 18th album and his debut with the first family of bluegrass music, The Travelin' McCourys, is a wonderful mixture of Keller's easy-going style and the Travelin' McCourys' precise mastery of Bluegrass. It is string picking rooted in Americana's heart; exploding with energy and passion.
The Ultimate Guitar Strummit and The Bass Strummit workshops would like to announce their faculty/staff for this year's two days of workshops on November 3 & 4 in Roanoke, VA. On guitar, acoustic and bluegrass guitar legend Tony Rice, Wyatt Rice, Tim Stafford, John Miller, and Bull Harman. Bass will feature Mike Bub, Todd Phillips, and Mike Conner as workshop hosts.
It's Here! The release of Give Me the Banjo on DVD with bonus content including several things that had to be cut from the PBS program: Uncle Dave, 4string jazz, a visit with Ralph Stanley, and performances by Taj, Riley Baugus and Rhiannon Giddens and a whole lot more.
After years of touring, recording, songwriting, and being asked the question, "when are you finally going to record a solo record?", Josh and an incredible team has done just that. They have just released Letting Go backed by some of the finest bluegrass artists performing today.
Nashville, TN -- Rural Rhythm Records is proud to announce the June 19, 2012 album release, Hard Country, by bluegrass music artists Audie Blaylock & Redline. Produced by Audie Blaylock, Hard Country is mixed with the cheating and heartbreak songs and that fiery hard-driving instrumental work that Audie Blaylock & Redline have become known for while performing their high energy live shows. Musicians on the album include: Audie Blaylock, Jesse Brock, Patrick McAvinue, Russ Carson, and Jason Moore.