X-Train Back On Top

The Down-Under Tour is over for Arizona’s X-Train and the group’s Mark Miracle, who’s been Guest-Blogging for us on the road and from the bush, now gives us the final wrap!  Thanks to Mark and happy holidays to all of our new Aussie and New Zealander readers!

X TRAIN HAS LEFT THE BUILDING!!! 

  The 2011 X Train Australia / New Zealand Tour is now over. We spent our final days at the Melaney Banjo Camp - hosted by Ross Nickerson and other local banjo heroes. A great time was had by all and now there are about 60+ banjo students all the wiser regarding banjo…um, stuff.

X Train played a 2-set show and a few impromptu sessions throughout the weekend and made a ton of new friends to boot. On one of our days off, we went for a drive through the small town of Melaney and sampled the local bakeries, coffee shops and art galleries.

X-Train Says Goodbye to New Zealanders!

Guest Blogger Mark Miracle with X-Train Writes:

Our last gig in New Zealand is now in the books…bummer.

What a great country. We played in Dunedin, a university town just south of the 45th parallel, at an old church that is now a pub (!) which was situated on the outskirts of a large park.

A lot of the churches and other municipal buildings have been turned into restaurants, pubs and other businesses. They are old landmarks and I think it's cool that they are still being used to further businesses.

Anyway, as with all of our gigs here, the place was packed and the kind folks were eager to give us a hoot n' holler throughout the show! These people love their music and seemed to appreciate our style of bluegrass.

X Train has been dropping a few new tunes into the set lists and they have been sounding real good.

Aussies Love X-Train’s Brand of Bluegrass!

Harrietville - it's Australian for Bluegrass!

Arizona’s X-Train, now on their first International Tour in Australia and New Zealand have WOW’d their first audience.   The band’s Mark Miracle has also been busy at the laptop keyboard and sends his first “Guest Blogger” Report from Harrietville.

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"X-Train" is now touring Australia and New Zealand from Nov 15 - Dec 15. This is the band's first tour since becoming a unit and what a great way to kick things off. "X Train" is Ross Nickerson (banjo/vocals), Peter McLaughlin (guitar/vocals), Bob Dennoncourt (bass/vocals) and Mark Miracle (mandolin/vocals) - with guests appearing frequently. Ross and Bob have been here prior to this tour but this is Peter and Marks first visit to both regions.

Pickin' In The Pines 2011 Announces Headliners

David Grisman & Sam Bush

Two of Bluegrass' biggest names scheduled to appear in Flagstaff, AZ

The Pickin' In The Pines Bluegrass and Acoustic Music Festival has announced their Main Stage Headline acts along with a few more who have been firmed up for 2011.


Bluegrass Legends Sam Bush and David Grisman top the list of quality bluegrass and acoustic entertainment for the 6th annual Flagstaff Pickin' In The Pines which will take place on September 16, 17 & 18, 2011.

Year 6 promises to be a blockbuster with both mandolin heros Sam Bush and David Grisman.   Bush and Grisman have carried the torch of modern string music into our generation, forever influencing its flavor and style. How could we get so lucky to have them both on our stage for year 6?  -Julie Sulllivan,  Pickin' In The Pines Talent Director

 Newgrasser Sam Bush will be making his first appearance at Pickin' In The Pines but has played to Flagstaff audiences as recently as September of last year.  His home state of Kentucky recently passed legislation declaring Bowling Green the Birthplace of Newgrass and Bush himself the Father of Newgrass. The bill passed through both the Kentucky state house and state senate without a single NO vote.

Grisman will be returning to Pickin' In The Pines. He brought his "Bluegrass Review" to the festival in 2007. This time around he'll be showcasing the David Grisman Sextet. 

The Complete Lineup so far - More announcements forthcoming:

• Sam Bush 
• David Grisman Sextet 
• Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper
• The HillBenders 
• The Blue Canyon Boys 
• Honey Don’t 
• X Train 
• Burnett Family Bluegrass
• Jack Webb New Orleans Jazz Band
• Mars Hillbillies

More to be announced.

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Sam Bush Interview                              David Grisman Interview

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Check out the Pickin' In The Pines Youtube channel with over 140 videos  Pickin' in the Pines channel on Youtube

There have been several terrific photographers roaming around past festival. Here's a sampling of the images taken by Kyra Oellig, Kate Watters "Flagstaff Rob" Dutton, and Missing Frame Photography. Maybe you're in one! (Click on the caption icon -- the little box on at the left -- to see who's who.) 

If you can't see the slide show above, you can visit our Picasa gallery

Pickin' In The Pines Website