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.

Clock Is Ticking on PBS Show

LAST CHANCE TO HELP IS NOW!

Tim White, host of the PBS series, Song of the Mountains  has sent a last plea for help.

In his message, White says, “We are in our final week of our "Kickstarter" campaign and are only at 25% of our goal to help keep our concert series funded and on public television. If you have already pledged we "thank you". If you have meant to pledge and have forgotten please go to our website and click on the lime green Kickstarter logo and pledge immediately.”

Kickstarter campaign goals must be fully met in order for the project to get any of the pledges received so far.   If the goal is not met or exceeded by the deadline, Kickstarter.com does not charge any of the credit cards of potential donors and the project is lost.

To help out with a donation, click here or contact Tim White at:

Tim White
Executive Coordinator & Host
Song of the Mountains
P.O. Box 750
Blountville, TN 37617

13th Annual San Francisco Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival Kicks Off This Weekend

The eclectic blend of events booked for the 13th annual San Francisco Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival (SFBOT) will raise up a bluegrass ruckus, create some old-time fun and guarantee some “fandango fun” through music performances, dances and workshops.

The 10-day festival runs from Feb. 10-19 and comprises more than 30 shows at numerous small clubs around the Bay Area featuring some of the most talented musicians on the Americana and Roots music scene today.

Highlights of this year’s festival includes Bay Area favorites such as The Brothers Comatose, The Crooked Jades, Earl White String Band and the Kathy Kallick Quartet.

Also featured are out-of-town bands; Foghorn Stringband, Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, and making their SFBOT debut, The Deadly Gentlemen (epic folk and grasscore out of Boston!).

Freeman and Williams Set Date for Release Party!

Freeman and Williams self-titled CD  Released February 7th; -  Release Party Set for Saturday February 11th at Heartwood in Abingdon, VA

Freeman & Williams, a new fresh sound from award-winning veteran performers, Jeanette Williams, Johnny Williams and Scott Freeman. This trio comes together with an arsenal of talent... all are accomplished musicians, vocalists and songwriters and bring these talents together to create magical sounds that move from old-time straight through bluegrass to old-time country music. Each artist brings tremendous talent to the table but when combined, the result is incredible.

The group has completed their first recording for Mountain Roads Recordings, a self-titled release, Freeman & Williams hits stores today, February 7th, 2012. This album will showcase the group with original creations along with some well-known favorites and some not so well known classics.

Come join the CD Release Party on Saturday February 11, 2012 beginning at 6pm at Heartwood in Abingdon, Virginia. Heartwood, home of The Crooked Road, presents a perfect place to feature this great group and the music they make.

"Close Kin" Gets "Excellent" Review

...You’ll be hard pressed to choose just which one of the 29 individuals in this multi-generational cast is your favorite...

Prescription Bluegrass CD Reviewer W.J. Hallock gives Mountain Roads Recordings "Close Kin - A Reunion of Bluegrass and Old-Time Music"  a twenty-gun salute or more correctly, a 29-Gun Salute since there are 29 different artists on the project.

Read the full Review Here!