Brooke Aldridge Yodels Her Way Into Your Heart!

Now Brooke can rightly take her place on the yodeling thrown, along with Patsy and Suzy, (See Video Below). 

While the new single from husband and wife team Darin and Brooke Aldridge isn’t breaking new ground, it certainly is making some old bluegrass fans aware of some of their hidden talents and generating some new fans among the cowboy and western audience.

Groups along the US/Mexico border (Titan Valley Warheads, Out of the Blue, Summerdog  and more) have been blending bluegrass with western and cowboy melodies for more than 5 decades.   Tim O’Brien’s Alter-Ego group Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers pay tribute to Patsy Montana in a tongue-n-cheek way and Michael Martin Murphey brought the cowboy/bluegrass chuck wagon to national attention with two record-breaking and award winning  “Buckaroo Bluegrass CDs two years running.

ROMP Festival Breaks Attendance and Sales Records!

Officials at the International Bluegrass Museum say the crowd at this year's Bluegrass Roots & Branches Festival (ROMP) broke all previous records, with 13,693 tickets sold to 8,807 people, not including children, over the event's 3-day run at the end of June.

Museum Director Gabrielle Gray

International Bluegrass Museum Director Gabrielle Gray reported that total attendance including children was at around 15,000.

The festival, which is sponsored by the bluegrass museum, was the largest of the 27 bluegrass festivals Owensboro has hosted since 1985.

The previous record was 9,500 tickets sold for the International Bluegrass Music Association Fan Fest at English Park in 1995.

Rural Rhythm Is On The Move!

Rural Rhythm Records has confirmed the decision to move the company headquarters from the Los Angeles area to Nashville is official and the packing has begun.

The bluegrass record label has been owned an run by the Passamano family since 1987 and has been operated from the west coast.  No firm details of where the office will be located in Nashville has yet been announced but the PR firm, Hope River Entertainment, said more information will be forth-coming in a few weeks.  

Sammy Passamano III responded to our inquiry with, "We are starting to feel the move now as the phones are ringing like crazy and we still have a tone of packing to get done."

The family plans on being in Tennessee by  the 18th of July.

Town Mountain Heads West!

Since the May 10th release date of Steady Operator Town Mountain has been busy, and it's about to get even more hectic for the quintet from Asheville, NC. The band is heading west for a string of 19 concert dates this July beginning with The Station Inn tonight before moving on to Coloroado, Oregon, Montana etc. They'll be back in the Southeast in August.

Their full tour schedule can be found here (under "Calendar"). If they'll be in your neck of the woods anytime soon you owe it to yourself to go out and see their live show. If you can't make it, check out Steady Operator, now available from Pinecastle Records.

Here are some things folks have been saying about Town Mountain lately:

Josh Slone to be presented with Best Classic Bluegrass Album of the Year award for “Josh Slone and CoalTown”

Bob Everhart, President of The Rural Roots Music Commission announced that Josh Slone & CoalTown have been selected to receive the Best Classic Bluegrass Album of the Year award for their self-titled new album released earlier this year on Rural Rhythm Records. 

This honor will be presented to Josh on Wednesday, August 31, at 11:30am at the 36th Annual Oldtime Country Bluegrass Festival held at The Plymouth County Fairgrounds in LeMars, Iowa.
  
Josh Slone, with his signature deep country and bluesy vocals along with the tightly blended harmonies of CoalTown have certainly caught the attention of industry leaders, including the Rural Roots Music Commission. According to one panelist, "this particular CD is a unique blend of bluegrass mixed with country and mountain soul." "Exactly what the Commission is looking for," added Bob Everhart.

Uncle Billy Dunbar, host of a popular bluegrass radio show in Iowa, agrees saying, "The boys from CoalTown sing about what they know. It is true roots music from the coal mines of Kentucky, and the valleys and mountains, singing about love, sweat, and tears. They sing and pick the real sounds of country folk."

1st Gillian Welch CD in Eight Years Released This Week!

After a too-long abstinence from recording to suit her ravenous fans, Gillian Welch with singing partner David Rawlings have released  "The Harvest and the Harrow"

_________

The Harrow & the Harvest, her first album in eight long years, is perfectly timed to coincide with the tenth anniversary of O Brother.  Retreating from the full-band sound of 2003’s Soul Journey, these new songs are defiantly spare and spectral, featuring mostly the dueling guitars and voices of Welch and longtime partner Dave Rawlings.  

Their playing sounds tighter and more intuitive than ever, opening up songs like “Down Along the Dixie Line” and “The Way It Will Be” and setting their elegant guitar lines—picked more often than strummed—at eloquently cross purposes.

 The Harrow & The Harvest was recorded at her own Woodland Sound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, and was produced by guitarist and collaborator David Rawlings.

The Harrow & The Harvest Track Listing:

1. Scarlet Town
2. Dark Turn Of Mind
3. The Way It Will Be
4. The Way It Goes
5. Tennessee
6. Down Along The Dixie Line
7. Six White Horses
8. Hard Times
9. Silver Dagger
10. The Way The Whole Thing Ends

Brandon Rickman Now Contracted with Mountain Music Entertainment!

Singer and Songwriter Brandon Rickman signs with Mountain Music Entertainment for Exclusive Artist Representation.

Mountain Music Entertainment proudly announces exclusive booking representation of singer and songwriter Brandon Rickman. The partnership became official the week of June 1^st though Rickman and Mountain Music Entertainment have been working together since March 2011. Mountain Music Entertainment will provide exclusive representation for Brandon Rickman during solo performances. Rickman will remain as the lead singer and guitarist for the Lonesome River Band.


Rickman is best known for his lead vocals with the Lonesome River Band and his songwriting efforts on songs like "I Bought Her a Dog"

Bluegrass Artists Make NPR Listener's Best-of-the-Year (so far) List

Thousands of votes poured in from NPR Music listeners in their poll for the best music of the year (so far).

Three notable bluegrass artists/bands made the list of the top 100 according to NPR (National Public Radio) fans.

...Allison Krauss       Abigail Washburn     ...... Sarah Jarosz..........

New CD from Dan Crary is Here!

DAN CRARY AND THUNDERATION have just finished “Perfect Storm,” 

One of  Flatpicking Guitar's Prime Movers in his Blue Night Records debut!

This is Dan’s first release with Blue Night Records. The “Thunderation” team was composed of Steve Spurgin (bass, vocals), Don Stiernberg (mandolin, harmony vocals), John Reischman (mandolin), Keith Little (mandolin, banjo, harmony vocals), and budding stars Luke Dewhirst (banjo, harmony vocal) and Martin Stevens (fiddle, harmony vocal).  Blue Night Records is thrilled to offer “Perfect Storm” through the conventional outlets and download sites, and honored to have Elderly Instruments (www.elderly.com) filling orders before its July 1, 2011 official release date.

Blockbuster First Week For Online Music Academy!

Academy of Bluegrass Has Good First Week Turnout!

Banjo, mandolin, fiddle, guitar and bass players from around the world have been signing up in impressive numbers during a blockbuster first week for the new ArtistWorks Academy of Bluegrass online. Students from countries including the USA, Canada, Scotland, India, Greece, Norway, England, Germany, Italy and Spain have been flocking to the online music school where they can get One-to-One individualized instruction and personal feedback from a roster of award-winning Bluegrass luminaries. Within the bluegrass community the Academy has been seen as a huge step forward for the teaching of the genre online and helping to spread the music around the globe.

New Staff Recognized At Mountain Music Entertainment!

All too often, the folks who work "Behind-The-Scenes" in bluegrass are left in the background so it was nice to see Mountain Music Entertainment include two such folk in their recent newsletter.  The people who help make the people we all get to see, hear and love are no less important.

Proudly Offering....New Staff for Mountain Music Entertainment

Laura Jane Ford has joined the staff as Office Manager and Agent. She hails from East TN and is currently pursuing her degree in Bluegrass, Country, and Old-Time Music from East Tennessee State University.

Stacy Claude currently works with Mountain Music Entertainment as an Agent representing Grasstowne, The Rodney Dillard Band, and Ralph Stanley II. Stacy is from Georgia and nationally tours with her band Dehlia Low.

Mountain Music Entertainment Website

Della Mae Reveals "Guests" on Upcoming CD

Della Mae's first full-length CD "I Built This Heart" is becoming, if not already, a much anticipated and eagerly sought after CD.  

The ladies have been teasing fans for months with the concept of some "very special" guests artists appearing on the project.

Finally, they've revealed the names in a special promotional video created for their Kickstarter campaign. And the guests are....

Alison Brown: Banjo / Laurie Lewis: Vocal / Brittany Haas (Croooked Still): Fiddle / Emma Beaton (Joy Kills Sorrow): Vocals

~ SAMPLE SOME OF THE NEW SONGS HERE ~

The album will honor both Celia's father, and the life of the late Hazel Dickens, a pioneering woman in the world of bluegrass. All of the material on our new album has been written by women and features special guests Alison Brown on banjo, Laurie Lewis and Emma Beaton (Joy Kills Sorrow) on vocal harmonies, Brittany Haas (Crooked Still) on twin fiddles, and Courtney Hartman on guitar (who you'll see making guest appearances with us all summer)!

Powerhouse vocalist Celia Woodsmith, National Fiddle Champion Kimber Ludiker, impeccable mandolinist Jenni Lyn Gardner, and seasoned bassist Amanda Kowalski are in the studio with Nashville engineer Erick Jaskowiak and producer Austin Nevins of Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band.

Total cost of the project is estimated at $16 Grand and the ladies have until July 23rd to reach their goal.  The way the Kickstarter rules are set, if they don't reach the goal by that date, donors will not be obligated to pay their donation and the group will not receive any funding from the campaign.

Della Mae Website

Kickstarter page

Award-Winning Artist C.W. Mundy Records Bluegrass CD!

Award-Winning Artist C.W. Mundy's "Road Trip" Set For August Release On Moon Surf Records Label

World-renowned painter, C.W. Mundy, is expanding his artistic scope through his debut CD, Road Trip.  The 16-track recording of all-original music (and artwork, of course) features Mundy's banjo skills, as well as those in musical composition.  It is scheduled to drop August 2^nd, 2011, on his newly-created label, Moon Surf Records.   
     

 ~  SAMPLE THE SONGS ~

New Bankester Family Single Features Grascals' Jamie Johnson

We heard from Phil Bankester, who says:

"Our third CD simply titled 'The Bankesters' is finally done. The song "My Love Will Follow You", written by Dennis Duff, features Jamie Johnson of The Grascals singing with Emily and Melissa. The entire CD which also features 'Blow Out the Candle, Laura' by Tom T. and Dixie Hall, will be available soon.

www.bankesters.com/

New Video Has Fun With Cedar Hill's "Doors Song"

Cedar Hill's "I've Got A Thing About Doors" 

opens the door for Puns & New Video!

Miss  Dixie Hall says this video is A"Door"able and that's just the beginning of the punsters.  The list of witty sayings about this video is going to be endless.

Already there's more than couple dozen industry professionals who've chimed in with kudos.  However we're surprised that no Knock-Knock lines popped up yet. Watch the video and see if you can come up with a few.

Video Comments: 

New Flamekeeper Lineup To Be Announced Soon!

We heard from Michael Cleveland, the reigning and 4-time IBMA Instrumental Artist of the Year, regarding the current status of Flamekeeper!

"I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the support over the last few months.  Change is never easy but it is something you can always count on.  I've had a lot of fun the pickin' with some of the best musicians around and I wanted take a minute and say thanks to Dave Harvey, David Peterson, Andy Todd, Ron Shuffler, Chris Harris, Glenn Gibson and Jeff Guernsey for being ready and willing to jump in and help me out.  Also, I want to thank Charlie Cushman for all his help with scheduling players and with auditioning the new members.

Bluegrass Business is Good! Telluride Festival Officially SOLD OUT!

We've just been informed that this year's Telluride Bluegrass Festival, the 38th Annual - (June 16-19, 2011) - is now "Officially" completely sold-out.  This is the earliest Telluride sell-out since the early '90s.

Back in early April we had some advance warnings a "Sell-Out" was extremely likely when Brian Eyster of Planet Bluegrass, primary organizer for the event, confirmed at that time that the festival had sold all its four-day passes, all its camping passes and all its limited single-day passes for Friday, June 17, Saturday, June 18, and Sunday, June 19.

At that time, the only tickets still available are the $65 single-day passes for Thursday, June 16.

Michelle Nixon Signs with Mountain Fever!

Mountain Fever Records is very proud to announce they have signed long-time bluegrass favorite, Michelle Nixon & Drive to their label and will release their debut CD, A Place I Belong on July 12th.  The first single, "Your Kind Of Love" is being released to radio programmers today. 

Michelle Nixon is no stranger to the stage when it comes to soulful singing.  

Listen To Song- Click Here

1/2 PRICE BLUE MOON MOUNTAIN BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL TICKETS!

Prestonsburg Bluegrass Festival will Offer

Ticket Special for a Limited Time:

$50 for 5 Day Passes and 

$75 for 5 Day Camping Passes

JUNE 13th-19th

O Brother Two - Commemorates 10th Anniversary!

O BROTHER,
WHERE ART THOU?
2001 GRAMMY® 
Album Of The Year

Celebrates 10th Anniversary 
With Expanded Two-CD Deluxe Edition 

NEW BONUS DISC INCLUDES 13 PREVIOUSLY 
UNRELEASED RECORDINGS  

LOS ANGELES, June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- It has been a decade since one of the most unlikely successes in music history was released. O Brother, Where Art Thou? is one of the 10 top-selling soundtracks of all time (according to the RIAA), the No. 1-selling soundtrack and the 17th biggest album of the 21st Century, with more than nine million albums sold.