Birthplace of Country Music Museum To Be a Reality!

At at press conference this morning the Birthplace of Country Music announced that fundraising for the Birthplace of Country Music Museum is now complete and construction will begin on the former Goodpasture Motors building, located on the corners of Moore and Cumberland Streets in Historic Downtown Bristol, VA,  the first of November. 

The expected completion date for the project is August 2014, just in time for fans coming to the twin cities for the summer race at Bristol Motor Speedway and Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion.

Birthplace of Country Music Alliance will also begin re-branding efforts, and will go by their registered trademark "Birthplace of Country Music". 

EXCLUSIVE–Valerie Smith Biographical Book Coming Soon!

For those who’ve been telling Valerie Smith that she ought to write a book,  …she’s been listening and she’s been writing.

For those who only know the “Musical Side” of Valerie Smith, stand by to be surprised!

Prescription Bluegrass is honored that Valerie has chosen our blog as not only the vehicle to launch the news but also the place for you to read “excerpts-in-progress.”  

“The Potato Cellar” is going to be the name of the book and Valerie says even that’s biographical.  It comes from her real-life adventures from growing up on her family’s farm.      READ EXCERPT BELOW!

Tumbling Bones Release New Single–FREE to the public!

We got a note from Tumbling Bones’ guitar man Pete Winne asking us to share the news of the band’s new single and the fact that they’re offering it as a FREE DOWNLOAD to the public.

The song is called “Golden Gates of Heaven” and was written  by New York City folk musician Feral Foster.

Clink the  link below  and get an immediate download of “Golden Gates of Heaven” in your choice of MP3-320, FLAC, or just about any other format you could possibly desire.

FREE Fiddle Lesson–Gift from Prescription Bluegrass and Red Desert Violin

Prescription Bluegrass and Red Desert Violin are excited to announce an absolutely FREE beginning fiddle lesson for bluegrass fans.

“We realize that many folks may have wanted to learn a bluegrass instrument for quite some time but have been intimidated by myths about the difficulty of learning,” said Brian McNeal, host of the Prescription Bluegrass radio program.

Using the teaching model of “Make It and Take It”, Red Desert Violin's on-line instructor, Lora Staples, says with just this first 30 minute lesson, you should be able to play a respectable version of “Boil Them Cabbage Down” a well-known bluegrass and old-time standard. With her teaching style, she is confident students can just “Grab it and Go” - "Instant Gratification!"

“If you could learn that in 30 minutes, just imagine what you could learn with a little more time and practice,” says Ms Staples.

BLUEGRASS NATION LAUNCHES TODAY!

IBMA has announced the official launch of Bluegrass Nation. Sign up today and create your own personal page and profile at Bluegrass Nation for FREE at www.bluegrassnation.org/signup

Bluegrass Nation

• www.bluegrassnation.org/signup  • www.facebook.com/BluegrassNation

BLUEGRASS NATION is a network and content platform connecting artists, businesses and fans. A nerve center for bluegrass news, media and information with Facebook and Twitter connectivity. A new twist on IBMA’s mission to grow the bluegrass audience and support artistry

German Bluegrass Song Reaches “The Waltons”

One of the most successful bluegrass bands in Europe was invited to Hollywood to play there on the 40th Anniversary gala dinner of the television series "The Waltons". Now the band needs six airline tickets from Nashville to Los Angeles.

Do you still remember…? Every Sunday evening the Walton family visited our living rooms and brought us both simple stories about typewriters and youthful runaways, as well as catastrophes such as the crash of the Hindenburg. All as seen through the eyes of the oddest son and author, John-Boy.

Elisabeth, Jim-Bob, Erin, Ben , Mary-Ellen, Jason and, of course, John-Boy became our brothers and sisters. The easy-going narrations of the individual episodes made indelible impressions on the memories of a whole generation of TV kids!

Free Webinar to Help You Understand and Work Better with the Media!

What bluegrass band doesn’t work with or need the media’s attention at sometime or numerous times during their lifetime.  

This webinar, though not specifically aimed at musicians, came to our attention and since it’s being offered at no cost we felt it worth passing on to you*.

Scott Stratten of UnMarketing has the cure for the common pitch. It's called UnPitching: a set of media relations rules that will make even the most jaded journalist sit up and listen to your story.

Museum Leads the Charge for Bluegrass Expansion

The International Bluegrass Music Museum is not short on ideas to bring the bluegrass genre and all it’s infectious attributes to more of the masses.

They talk about a Bluegrass Opry — a bluegrass version of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry — on Saturday nights during the fall, winter and spring.

They talk about a three-night-a-week bluegrass musical production every summer.

They’re working on plans for a national bluegrass disc jockey convention, expanding the local “Bluegrass in the Schools” program statewide, creating a music film festival and promoting concerts by the roots and branches of bluegrass including blues, gospel, Cajun, jazz and Americana.

Americana Festival Announces Schedule

Building on last year’s increase in attendance the Americana Music Association is making this 10th anniversary of the yearly event the best yet.

This year’s tribute showcase performance will honor the recently deceased pioneer of the genre, Levon Helm. The winner of the 2010 and 2012′s Best Americana Album GRAMMY Helm will be honored by an as-yet unannounced bill in a performance titled “This Wheel’s on Fire: A Tribute to Levon Helm.”

Click Here for the full schedule of artists and venues for the Americana Music Conference 2012

Far West Showcase Application Deadline Tonight!

We received this note from the folks at Far West, the western chapter of the National Folk Alliance,

Today is the last day to submit your application for one of the 12 coveted Official Showcase slots at FAR-West's 2012 Conference to be held in October in Irvine, CA.
All details are right here.
http://www.far-west.org/official-showcases-2012.html
Don't miss out on a slot because you didn't apply.
Deadline is midnight tonight, Pacific Time.

Official Showcase slots at FAR-West 2012,  will be October 18-21, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Irvine, CA.

Six artists will be featured in 20-minute slots on Friday night, and six artists on Saturday night.

New Help For Songwriters from AirPlay Direct and Songsinc!

AirPlay Direct Collaborates with Songsinc to Continue Creating and Inspiring Musicians

AirPlay Direct, a leader in digital distribution of content to radio and music programmers and supervisors around the globe, is pleased to announce their multi-faceted partnership with Songsinc. 

Through this partnership, Songsinc members will be given the opportunity to expose their music worldwide with AirPlay Direct’s services and AirPlay Direct members will have access to Songinc’s multiple opportunities including collaboration, mentoring, music supervision placements and monetizing one’s music tracks.

SoundCloud reaches 10 Million Users!

SoundCloud is now being enjoyed by 10 million sound creators around the world!  10 Million Thank You’s are just a bit over the top for individual attention, but SoundClound’s founders Alex and Eric have created a special Story Wheel to say thank you to each of the “SoundClouders”.   Click Here

SoundCloud is the world’s leading social sound platform where anyone can create sounds and share them everywhere.

Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Renfro Valley, partners with Red Barn Radio.

The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Renfro Valley is celebrates its 10^th anniversary beginning in 2012. During this anniversary year, the Hall of Fame is partnering with Red Barn Radio(also celebrating its tenth season) to bring to the public and airwaves, interviews with some of its Hall of Fame inductees.

On Wednesday January 4^th, the first of these “partnerships” will be presented. From the 2002 Induction Class, Red Barn Radio will present Tom T. and “Miss” Dixie Hall.

Robert Lawson, Executive Director of the Hall of Fame and Museum says, “The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum provides Kentuckians, young and old, with a coherent picture of their musical past. It is an important part of our legacy to them. Twelve “Pioneers” of Kentucky music were inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum on February 28, 2002, and we will have with us on Red Barn Radio, from that first group of inductees Tom T. Hall.”

IBMA’s Dan Hays Moves to Head Up the Franklin Theatre.

The Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County  Tennessee this morning announced that Dan Hays, Executive Director since 1990 of the International Bluegrass Music Association in Nashville, is to become the new Director for the Franklin Theatre.

Heritage Foundation President Cyril Stewart said in a press release that the four-month executive search process was purposely intensive. “We owed it to our community to be very deliberate about finding the right person to lead the Franklin Theatre,” Stewart said. “We feel strongly that Dan Hays is the ideal choice and the theatre will build on its already phenomenal trajectory under his leadership.”

Bluegrass Comedy Team Makes Musical Statement about Christmas Trees!

This song was written and performed by bluegrass comedy duo" The Moron Brothers" during Kentucky's fight against the "holiday tree". It is meant to inspire to those across the country in a similar fight.

Editorial - Website Content

Some Thoughts on. . .
Updating your Webpage – Cancel Automatic Audio !

I can't really say just how many seminars, webinars or on-line tutorials I've been to or seen in the last several years on building and maintaining web pages. The one thing that stands out as common among all of them is the use of automatic audio and video players that begin playing as soon as the page loads. The second thing that remains a constant among all of them is the negative impact such players have on your viewership statistics.


The thinking is that the auto-play mode was once a clever gimmick to get a message across. However the time for this feature has come and long ago passed its point of usefulness. What's worse is that now that it's not useful it actually becomes harmful to your cause.

Read More

On The Phone With Heather Berry!

Heather Berry talks with Brian McNeal about her new Christmas CD and a lot more!

Prescription Bluegrass Gives Listeners an Early Christmas Present – Thanks To Heather Berry!

Too early for Christmas music on the radio you say?   Well, not when you hear Heather Berry’s New CD “Have a Merry Berry Christmas” featuring 10 holiday songs that are soon to be favorites.

Recently signed with Mountain Fever Records, Heather lost no time getting into the studio and cutting 10 tracks just in time for release to radio stations and retail sales outlets.

Heather and Mountain Fever Records’ Mark Hodges jumped through some recording studio hoops to get us an advance copy so that the Prescription Bluegrass Radio audience can be the first in the world to hear a selected cut.  Hodges wrote in his email to us “…outside of Heather and Tony, myself and the mastering engineer, oh yes, and my mom and dad, you are the first one to hear it.”


The featured song to be exclusively heard on Prescription Bluegrass the week of November 5-11 will be the Irving Berlin Christmas Classic and world-wide favorite, “White Christmas”, first performed by and made popular by the late Bing Crosby.       Click Here to find out where to listen

Pete Wernick's 28th Anniversary Winter Banjo Camps set for January 2012

The original “banjo camp”, the first event billed as such, was in 1984. Since then, renowned banjo player and teacher, Pete “Dr. Banjo” Wernick has conducted 86 banjo camps, teaching over 1500 students from almost every state and many foreign countries. January, 2012 he will extend this string at the Boulder Inn in Boulder, Colorado. Each of the three “full-immersion” weeks is geared to different experience levels. For complete information, visit www.DrBanjo.com.

“I am always excited to offer a 6-day program, plenty of time to have fun and get lasting results," says Wernick. "Full immersion in a focused situation helps create breakthroughs, in both novice and advanced players. Everyone gets feedback from me and individualized help.”

Jan 2-7, 2012: Basic Skills. A "safe" situation for inexperienced and closet players. Includes: creating basic solos, worked-out and improvised, backup pointers, beating timing problems, practice tips and standard licks. All Pete’s camps include lots of jamming, with everyone participating.

Jan. 9-14, 2012: Intermediate. For pickers who can create a solo and have jamming experience. Focus is on good timing and tone, creating 'believable' solos, practicing for maximum progress, gaining speed, knowing the neck, backup approaches and techniques.

Jan. 16-21, 2012: Advanced. For pickers with experience in performing bands, the emphasis is on "the pro sound"--timing, tone, bringing out the best in each song, backup and lead, expanding creative choices for both left and right hands, and performance skills. The week includes a one-on-one session with Pete and a class performance with Pete January 20, in support of the Banjo Camp Scholarship fund.

Through the generosity of Stelling Banjo and others, Pete offers scholarships to deserving Advanced players who would otherwise have difficulty affording the camp. Scholarships have an application deadline of December 10. More information: http://www.drbanjo.com/camps-banjofaq.php#scholarships.

“I can’t thank you enough for your expertise and wonderful teaching skills! You’ve helped me ‘see the light’, it was a (banjo) life-changing experience! My banjo playing is gonna rock!”  -- A.H., Maryland / Advanced Camp, 2011
“I have learned an immense amount of info and am already rolling away.”  -- George Smith, Wyoming / Intermediate Camp, 2010
“Pete has an uncanny ability to zero in on areas each picker needs to work on."  -- D.S., Wisconsin

Spring Creek Announces The End after Seven-Year Run!

In a message to their fans, friends, families, Creek Freaks, Festivarians, supporters and promoters, Taylor Sims writes:

       I am writing you all to say that after seven amazing years of playing wonderful music with my best friends and musical comrades, Spring Creek will be saying good-bye at the end of the 2012 festival season.

      We have had a great run and played all over the country for some of the finest folks I will surely ever know. While we are looking back on fond memories we will carry with us for the rest of our lives, we are also looking ahead to a bright and promising future for all involved.

LINE UP ANNOUNCED FOR 4TH ANNUAL CAROLINA ROAD HOMECOMING BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

Marty Raybon, Karl Shiflett, and Don Rigsby Among Artists Added to Line Up for Bluegrass Festival in Burlington, NC November 11-12

The 4th Annual Carolina Road Homecoming Bluegrass Festival is thrilled to announce the line up for this year's event that will be held Veteran's day weekend, November 11-12 at the Ramada Inn in Burlington, NC. 

Bluegrass fans will enjoy tunes from the best pickers and grinners in the industry including Marty Raybon, Al Batten and The Bluegrass Reunion, Danny Stanley and The Bluegrass Gents, Karl Shiflett and Big Country, David Davis and The Warrior River Boys, Rye Holler Boys, Grass Cats, Dean Osborne, Vince Combs and Shadetree Grass, Jesse Alexander Band, Don Rigsby and Midnight Call, and David Parmley and Continental Divide.