Covered Grass Journals Their First Two Days in Nashville!

GUEST BLOG POST #2 AND MORE PICTURES FROM COVERED GRASS’ VOLKER FISHER

Saturday, 22nd - Lost in Nashville.

First day in town - taking the downtown Nashville sight-seeing tour and having a look at the Convention Center - the place to be Monday night. Everyone of us try to realize where we are, who we are, where we go and what time it is.

Corina is still fighting with the flu and I'm gettin' nervous if she could sing the next day at Valerie Smith's "Dare To Be Different".

The weather is perfect - blue skies and all the kind and friendly people here makes us feel welcome. Downtown feels like an input overkill to me - too much people and too much points of interest.

Covered Grass in America–Guest Blog from Banjoist Volker Fisher

Germany’s Covered Grass is in the United States this week, invited by the IBMA to showcase for the World of Bluegrass annual conference.  Additionally, the band will travel to Los Angeles for a surprise performance at the Waltons (TV SHOW) 40th Anniversary Celebration.   The band has graciously agreed to write about their adventures and allow us to post them here as guest blogger articles.  

The group’s banjoist, Volker Fisher writes today….

"Trains, planes, automobiles" - my favorite Steve Martin movie was the first thing that comes in my mind while I was taking the a shower at the Guest House Inn Suites in Nashville. We left Engelskirchen (our hometown) at 06:30 am. - headin' to Cologne Central Station, pickin' up the train to Frankfurt International Airport. But first...., the train was delayed for 40min. - of course! No worries at last - the train speeds up to 200 miles per hour (!!!) and caught up the delay.

Travelin’ McCourys Provide Free Concert For Bluegrass Week Kick-Off!

A free concert with the bluegrass group The Travelin’ McCourys & Friends will take place Sunday, Sept. 23rd from 4:30-6:00 p.m. at Cumberland Park, 592 South 1st Street in Nashville.

The concert will kick off IBMA’s World of Bluegrass Week, Sept. 24-30, at the Nashville Convention Center and the Ryman Auditorium, and a public celebration of September as “Worldwide Bluegrass Music Month.”

Correction Notice–Covered Grass Still Needs Help With Fundraiser!

We heard from Covered Grass that a unfortunate error was made in recent reports indicating that their fundraising efforts to journey to California for the Waltons’ 40th anniversary surprise had been reached.

We’ve now learned from their spokesperson that they are still in need of more help. They have a legitimate campaign donation site in Germany with StartNext.

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!

IBMA Counts Down to World of Bluegrass

IBMA Executive Director Nancy Cardwell is counting the weeks and listing the reasons to attend Bluegrass’ Annual Convention and what some have termed the “Super Bowl” of Bluegrass!

REASON #8 Music City Memories.

Only EIGHT weeks now until World of Bluegrass! And this will be the last year -- for at least a while -- that the city of Nashville hosts the World of Bluegrass. Starting in 2013, WOB will be held in Raleigh, NC.

IBMA Counts Down to “World Of Bluegrass”

 

EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS END TODAY!

IBMA Interim Director, Nancy Cardwell writes. . .

It’s just NINE weeks until World of Bluegrass in Nashville!

Reason #9: Promoting Your Bluegrass Brand   If you’re a merchandiser, luthier or vendor with the perfect product or service or event for the bluegrass community, please take a look at some of the companies who are sponsoring World of Bluegrass this year. 

It’s a pretty impressive lineup, isn’t it?  

BlackBerry Jam Festival to Feature Mark Newton’s Stillhouse Band

FRANKLIN, TN - Franklin's Boyd Mill Farm, home to the 9th Annual  BlackBerry Jam Music Festival on June 23rd is presented by Franklin Synergy Bank and ClickPrints.  The festival is ready once again to bring musicians from several states together, with a focus on homegrown talent from Middle Tennessee, to help raise money for the Hard Bargain Association and Hands on Nashville.

This year marks the 9th year of the jam, and joining the cast  is Mark Newton, longtime bluegrass favorite and the IBMA’s (International Bluegrass Music Association) 2002 Emerging Artist of the Year. Originally from Virginia, the Middle Tennessee based musician, producer and writer is sure to delight fans of acoustic music as he brings his unique sound to the stage. He’ll be performing along with Steve Thomas and his own Stillhouse Band.

Grascal’s Johnson Among Celebs Stepping Up For Children

Bluegrass and Country Stars, and Athletes Support “Waiting For Wishes”

Celebrity waiters, including Jamie Johnson of The Grascals, donned waiters jackets to serve diners, sign autographs and accept donations at the 11th annual Waiting for Wishes celebrity waiters dinner at The Palm Restaurant in Nashville.

Former Tennessee Titan Kevin Carter, along with Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts, hosted the event.

Jamie Johnson took the stage with young cancer patient, Ansley McLaurin, to share a song with the crowd.

Nashville’s Famous Station Inn Moves Into Some Living Rooms

LIVE FROM THE STATION INN DEBUTS ON NECAT NETWORK

Producers of Music City Roots Partner with Local Cable to Present Music from Historic Venue

It’ll be only in Nashville for now but as things go, this may be only the precursor to another nationally televised music show.

The producers of Music City Roots have partnered with the NECAT Network to bring Live from the Station Inn into the living rooms of Nashville cable viewers.

Beginning Sunday March 11, at 8:00pm CST, viewers can experience each week the music that happens inside the World Famous Station Inn, the legendary music venue. Executive Producers Todd Mayo and John Walker have assembled a team to film select shows with the goal of merging old-school broadcast tradition with new-school technology to export Nashville’s authentic musical culture to the world… starting in Nashville.

New Faces and New Home Base for Rockin’ Acoustic Circus

Rockin’ Acoustic Circus – New Faces, New Home, Exciting Direction • 

Rockin’ Acoustic Circus announces they’re “setting up shop” in Nashville with some new faces and their “doors open for business.”

“With hearts in traditional music and heads in the 21st century, this progressive acoustic group is pointing toward an exciting direction for music. “

Sharing their passion with impressive musical prowess and boundary pushing style, they strongly anticipate the appeal to an even wider audience, presenting a new vibe of original work, and enjoying a rare friendship and musical bond identified in this unique chemistry of individuals.

73rd National Folk Festival this Labor Day Weekend!

The National Folk Festival is coming to Nashville Labor Day weekend Sep 2 – 4 and we hope you can join us.  “The National” is the oldest festival of its kind in the United States and features a musically diverse programming that will knock your socks off.  And it’s FREE.
Bluegrass music will be well represented this year by 3 time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year Dale Ann Bradley. 
She will be on hand all weekend celebrating the release of her new album Somewhere South of Crazy.  The Country Music Hall of Fame is programming the Folklife Area of the festival which this year will feature a special workshop with Bluegrass Boys Roland White, Curtis McPeake, Bobby Hicks, and Tom Ewing. Watch Video

Gibson Guitar Factory Invaded by Federal Agents!

Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar Corp., has responded to the August 24 raid of Gibson facilities in Nashville and Memphis by the Federal Government. In a press release, Juszkiewicz said: 

...“Gibson is innocent and will fight to protect its rights. Gibson has complied with foreign laws and believes it is innocent of ANY wrong doing. We will fight aggressively to prove our innocence.”...

Federal agents, acting more like Nazi Storm Troopers, descended on the Gibson Guitar Company Wednesday, raiding factories and offices in Memphis and Nashville, seizing several pallets of wood, electronic files and guitars. Strangely though, the Feds ignored Gibson's plant in Bozeman, MT.

The Feds have no comment, but Gibson's chairman and CEO, Henry Juszkiewicz, defended his company's manufacturing policies, accusing the Justice Department of bullying the company. "The wood the government seized Wednesday is from a Forest Stewardship Council certified supplier," he said, suggesting the Feds are over-aggressive in their enforcement of overly broad laws to make the company cry uncle.


Gibson was forced to cease manufacturing operations and sent workers home for the day while armed agents executed the search warrants. “Agents seized wood that was Forest Stewardship Council controlled,” Juszkiewicz said. “Gibson has a long history of supporting sustainable and responsible sources of wood and has worked diligently with entities such as the Rainforest Alliance and Greenpeace to secure FSC-certified supplies. The wood seized on August 24 satisfied FSC standards.”

Songwriters: Cordle, Jackson and Salley Combine for Benefit!

Grammy Winning Group of Songwriters / Producers Announce a Benefit Concert at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe to Support the SADS Foundation

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Renowned Nashville-based songwriters/producers Cordle, Jackson & Salley (also known as Larry Cordle, Carl Jackson, and Jerry Salley) will band together on August 18, 2011, to host a benefit concert on behalf of the Fore A Good Kaas Foundation  to support the SADS Foundation.

Sam Bush to Host 22nd International Bluegrass Music Awards!

Award-winning artist, band leader, songwriter and mandolin monster Sam Bush will host the 22nd annual International Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, September 29, at 7:30 p.m. at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.

“It is my pleasure to return as the host for the 2011 IBMA Awards,” Bush says.  “As a bluegrass fan and fellow Kentuckian, it’s especially important to me in the 100th year anniversary of Bill Monroe’s birth.  I look forward to spending the evening with the nominees and the winners, as this is their special night.” 

Grammy Award winning multi-instrumentalist Sam Bush doesn’t seem old enough to be a musical legend.  He’s not…but he is.  Alternately known as the “King of Telluride” and the “Father of Newgrass,” Bush has been honored with numerous awards from IBMA and the Americana Music Association.  It’s especially fitting that Bush, one of bluegrass music’s premier mandolin players, will host the IBMA Awards the year of the Bill Monroe Centennial. Bill Monroe, known as the Father of Bluegrass Music, would have turned 100 on September 13, 2011. The realm of his influence is vast and his accomplishments are many, but like Sam Bush three decades later, one thing Monroe did was ride the small, uniquely shaped, eight-stringed mandolin like a rocket into a new realm of musical expression the world had never heard before 

... “I’m proud to be part of a natural progression in music. And I hope to still be playing 30 years from now.”...

Recognitions like the Lifetime Achievement Award from the AMA for Bush in 2009 have been “overwhelming and humbling,” he says, but honors are not what drive him.  “I didn't  get into music to win awards,” he says. “I’m just now starting to get somewhere. I love to play and the older I get the more I love it. And I love new things.”