Butch Baldassari sent along a note to let let people know about a mandolin workshop he’s holding November 11, 2006 in the Nashville area. There will be workshops for beginners, intermediate and advanced players. The workshops will be held at the Smyrna Assembly just ten minutes south of Nashville. The registration deadline is November 1st and the cost is $30 for beginners and $40 for intermediate and advanced workshops.
Butch is accepting payment via Paypal to smyrnagc@comcast.net or you can pay by check. Checks should be made out to Butch Baldassari and mailed to:
Hal Loflin
107 Brookfield Court
Smyrna, TN 37167
Beginner Workshop: 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. Focus will be on basic technique, picking patterns, easy tunes and songs, along with getting started playing with others in a slow jam type setting. Handouts will be in music and tablature (0-2 years experience).
Intermediate to Advanced Workshop: 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. Material for this workshop will require students to have a repertoire of fiddle tunes, along with breaks to songs. Additionally music from Bill Monroe’s 16 Gems book and CD will be covered (minimum 3 years experience required).
As reported earlier this morning, BlueHighways TV has gone broadband, cutting a deal with Narrowstep to deliver content online. At the time that post was published the BlueHighways TV website had not been updated with the Narrowstep information. It has now.
Just visit their homepage and click on the Narrowstep or BHTV-Virtual logos right in the middle of the top portion of the page. You’ll be taken strait to the channel player. I’m watching it right now while I type this post. The footage is of great quality, I’m on a Mac so the video opened in Quicktime and I was able to watch it full screen. It began streaming immediately and I was watching it within 10 seconds with not one stutter or hesitation, very impressive. I think the video is provided in WMV format for Windows users.
I’m watching Reno’s Old Time Music Festival now, but the other content they provide will be of interest to some in the bluegrass community I’m sure.
TV on the internet, and it’s bluegrass! I love it.
posted by Brance on 10.25.06 @ 11:57 am Tag: BlueHighways TV
BlueHighways TV has just announced a deal with Narrowstep to deliver BlueHighways TV online via Narrowstep’s telvOS system. The channel is scheduled to launch today October 25, 2006. To access the new channel simply visit BlueHighwaysTV.com and click on the Narrowstep icon. The icon isn’t on the site yet, but should be soon. The programming is available free of charge.
BlueHighways TV’s original content is comprised of unique programs that reflect the diversity and spirit of our nation. Viewers can choose from roots music offerings, including bluegrass, gospel and traditional country, as well as entertaining programs about the neighborhoods, art, festivals and celebrations that, interwoven together, define America’s vivid culture and character. Original programming series to be available at the premiere of the virtual network include:
Due West
Best of Reno’s Old Time Music Festival
Branson Jam
Gospel Sampler
Storytellers Theater
Network Samplers
Stan Hitchcock, chairman and CEO of BlueHighways TV had this to say about the deal with Narrowstep. (more…)
posted by John on 10.25.06 @ 10:12 am Tag: Washburn
Washburn Guitars is proud to note that their D10S guitar was honored earlier this month during the prestigious Music Industry Association Awards in London. The MIA is a British musical products trade association, roughly equivalent to NAAM, which started as US music trade association, but no has a more international scope.
The MIA Awards celebrate the best selling, most reliable or simply new and innovative products and retail strategies in the UK. Washburn’s D10S won in the Acoustic Guitar category.
Ian Cullen, Marketing Director for Washburn’s UK distributor (Sound Technology PLC) was understandably upbeat at the news.
“We’re very excited to win this award which comes on the back of a record-breaking year for Washburn in the UK. The D10S has consistently been our top-selling acoustic guitar and we’re delighted it has been recognized by the MIA in this way.”
You can find out more about the D10S, and all of Washburn’s acoustic guitars on their web site.
We just received a note from the guys over at Fretboard Journal to let us know that the November 2006 issue, their fourth - it’s a quarterly publication, will begin mailing to subscribers and stores later this week. The cover story this issue is a lengthy tribute piece to John Hartford. I spoke with Jason at IBMA last month and he gave me a little teaser then, about this story. They’ve managed to find some very rare photographs that have never been published before, many of which were taken by legendary photographer Jim McGuire. The story also features quotes from John’s son Jamie Hartford, as well as David Bromberg and others.
In addition to the cover story, this issue also contains:
An in-depth interview with jazz guitarist Bill Frisell conducted by sometimes collaborator (and banjo player extraordinaire) Danny Barnes
An interview with mandolinist Radim Zenkl on the Czech “tramp” scene, the early help he got from Grisman, his playing technique and more
An interview with R&B guitar legend Steve Cropper on his early days at Stax Records, including all-new photographs
A visit to some of Minnesota’s finest guitar builders, including Charles Hoffman, Jim Olson, Michael Keller and Brian Applegate
A huge photo essay of the PRS Guitars factory, a tale of playing the banjo on the Gong Show and a whole lot more.
If you’ve already subscribed, check your mailbox. Otherwise you can find it at your favorite guitar dealer, at finer music stores, Borders, Barnes & Noble and select newsstands throughout the U.S.
If you’ve been following Wichita Rutherford’s video podcasts lately, you know that Wichita’s last attempt to impersonate Ricky Skaggs was met with disapproval by his card playing buddies from Three Ring Circle. He said he was done trying and there would be no more videos, but now he’s making one last attempt. He just couldn’t help himself. I guess he wanted to succeed as badly as I wanted him to. Visit his blog to watch it and be sure to let him know how you think he did. Sometimes those guys he plays cards with can be a little over critical.
I meant to post about this yesterday as John did, but got caught up working on a Ron Stewart DVD, more about that soon. Here are my thoughts about Saturday’s performance.
I was as impressed as John was with the concert. The technical mastery these guys display is truly astonishing. And what’s more, the music is thoroughly enjoyable. Chris has a knack for selecting great songs a la, Wayside (Back In Time), Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground, O Santo De Polvora, not to mention the classic Brakeman’s Blues. His own compositions are equally impressive in their own right.
In all fairness, Track 12, Heart In A Cage, has been a topic of discussion amongst bluegrass fans both on this site and elsewhere due to the profanity contained in the opening line of the first verse. The song is a rock tune that, as Chris said from stage, makes a great bluegrass song. But take heed, he does perform the song with offending word included. Chris did warn the audience beforehand that it was coming, giving ample time for a person to decide to use the restroom or get a drink of water during the tune. (more…)
The CD won’t be officially released until November 7, but Mark and producer Carl Jackson will join XM’s Kyle Cantrell at 3:00 p.m. from XM’s studio at The Country Music Hall Of Fame in Nashville.
They will play all 12 tracks from the CD, and discuss the songs and the recording during the show.
This first broadcast of the show can be heard on XM Channel 14 on Wednesday, October 25 at 3:00 p.m. If you miss it then, look for re-airings this Sunday at 3:00 p.m., and several more next month after the CD is released.
Mountain Heart guitarist Clay Jones will be online with Gracie Muldoon later today, during her Muldoon In The Afternoon show on WorldWideBluegrass.com. The show airs Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 1:00-3:00 p.m. (eastern), and Clay will be on with Gracie this afternoon, starting at 1:30.
Listen online via either a broadband or dial up stream.
Brance and I had the opportunity this past weekend to catch Chris Thile and his How To Grow A Band show in concert at The Jefferson Center in Roanoke, VA. As the band name implies, they are on tour in support of Chris’ new release, How To Grow A Woman From The Ground.
Band members were the same as the CD: Thile on mandolin, Noam Pikelny on banjo, Chris Eldridge on guitar, Gabe Witcher on fiddle and Greg Garrison on bass. Chris handled the great bulk of the lead singing, and all band members sang harmony parts.
Over the course of the program, they performed each of the 14 songs from the CD, along with a few of Chris’ from other projects, and ones chosen to highlight the various members of the band. For instance, Gabe Witcher sang his bluesy version of The Band’s Ophelia, and Chris Eldridge offered up a grassy Don’t Give Your Heart To A Rambler.
The primary focus, of course, was on Thile and the songs from the new release. In addition to being perhaps the most technically gifted mandolinist to ever play American string music, he is also a natural entertainer and a gutsy vocalist. And by gutsy, I don’t mean a gritty, smoky-voiced singer - I mean an artist willing to take tremendous risks in styling the vocals for a song.
It takes a lot of confidence, and a sense of adventure to hop back and forth between natural and falsetto voice with such abandon, and Thile seems to have what it takes. It also takes an ability to find humor in the effort, and that part of watching this stellar young artist is as enjoyable for me as are his striking feats of fretboard acrobatics.
The song choices, and the arrangements were adventurous as well. Some of our readers could get stuck on the classic, “but that’s not bluegrass” mantra, and it would be a great shame if they did. (more…)
posted by Brance on 10.23.06 @ 10:24 am Tag: Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss in a Santa Suit? It could happen. Well probably not, but she will be aboard the 2006 Santa Train, The Santa Special. The train will be traveling a 110-mile route between Kingsport, TN and Pikeville, KY, stopping in 14 towns along the way. At each stop gifts, candies and toys will be givend to needy children. In total the project will be distributing 15 tons of gifts.
In addition to gifts, toys, and candy, a $5000 scholarship is awarded each year to a high school senior along the route.
Each year, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the Santa Train runs it’s route accompanied by a celebrity. This year the date is Saturday, November 18, 2006 and the celebrity is Alison Krauss. Alison’s musical roots are firmly planted in Appalachia making her a perfect fit for the project.
Over the weekend I came across a post on Ron Block’s website stating that overdubs are almost complete on what appears to be a new solo project from Ron.
Overdubs continue in my basement studio. I’m looking to finish all my parts (acoustic and electric guitars, vocals, editing) by the time AKUS goes on the road for the first half of November. In late November I’ll finish up with fiddle and viola (Alison), lap steel/dobro (Jerry Douglas), some mandolin overdubs by Adam Steffey that we weren’t able to get to in August, and harmony vocals by various folks. I’ll also be doing preliminary mixing (mostly just volume rides). I’m looking to have Gary Paczosa mix by the end of December and have the record released by mid to late April.
Some of the people involved in making the recording:
We got a note from Candi Sawyer at The Bluegrass Guide, asking for recipe submissions from bluegrass bands, fans, promoters and anyone else associated with the music. She said that she has wanted to include a Bluegrass Cookbook in their annual festival listings for some time, and even started several years ago, only to be taken ill before she was able to get it done.
She is ready to try again for the 2007 edition, and asks that anyone who has a recipe they would like to share in The Bluegrass Guide please contact her by email. Submissions can be in one of several common categories:
Appetizers & Beverages
Soups & Salads
Vegetables & Side Dishes
Main Dishes
Breads & Rolls
Desserts
Cookies & Candies
Candi asks that you send information about how you are affiliated with bluegrass music in your email, and show an ingredients list, followed by directions for your recipes. All submissions will be credited, and she suggests that bands and promoters can get a nice plug by having a recipe published in the 2007 issue.
This coming Tuesday (10/24), you can join 5 string banjo innovator and entrepreneur Bill Keith as he is interviewed on WorldWideBluegrass.com by Becky Taylor. Her show, Out-Of-The-Box, is cybercast live over the internet from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. (EDT), and it isn’t clear from the WWB site whether Bill will be online with Becky that whole time, or join the program at some point during that window.
WWB also maintains a Chat Room for listeners and fans, and Becky invites everyone - banjo pickers in particular - to log in during the show and suggest questions and follow ups for Bill. Becky is a banjo player herself, and promises to make this an interview of, by and for five stringers.
There is no fee or registration required to join the WWB chat. The only restriction is the number of users which the software will allow on simultaneously.
IBMA 2006 Emerging Artist of the Year, Steep Canyon Rangers, will be featured on BluegrassCountry.org this afternoon. If you live in the DC area you can listen in high def on WAMU 88.5 channel 3. If not, you can listen online by visiting their website at www.bluegrasscountry.org.
How much hard work goes into becoming an IBMA Emerging Artist? Hear the Steep Canyon Rangers talk about their music with Host Bob Webster during a special program which debuts this week on WAMU’s Bluegrass Country.
Showtimes listed below are in your local time zone. The magic of the digital age!
Saturday, October 21 - 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 22 - 11:40 p.m.
Monday, October 23 - 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 24 - 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 25 - 6:00 a.m.
Thursday, October 26 - 11:40 a.m.
Friday, October 27 - 9:00 p.m.
UPDATED 11/9: The dates indicated for Carrie’s Studio Special when this was first posted were incorrect, owing to mistaken information being provided to us. The dates shown below have been edited, and are correct.
Saturday, November 18 - 11:00 am
Sunday, November 19 - 6:00 pm
Monday, November 20 - 8:00 pm
Tuesday, November 21 - 12:00 midnight
Thursday, November 23 - 3:00 pm
This weekend The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating their 81st Birthday, and they have some great bluegrass on both the Friday and Saturday night shows.
Later tonight, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder with special guest Earl Scruggs will perform twice on the WSM radio show. They’ll be on in the 8:30-9:00 and 10:30-11:00 p.m. slots (EDT). The Whites will be featured in those same segments.
On Saturday’s show, The Del McCoury band will be on in the 9:30-10:00 p.m. and 12:30-1:00 a.m. slots. Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press will be on in the midnight to 12:30 slot.
You can hear the Opry program live over the air (650 AM out of Nashville) or via online streaming, between 8:00 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. (EDT) on Friday, and between 7:30 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. on Saturday evening.
WSM also maintains an audio archive which includes both the Friday and Saturday Opry broadcasts. It seems that they only archive part of each Opry show, but you can access what they have on the WSMonline site.
Today marks the 36th anniversary of the first two album releases by Rounder Records. Rounder 0001 - George Pegram and Rounder 0002 - The Spark Gap Wonder Boys were both released on October 20th, 1970.
In the following 36 years Rounder has released over 3,500 records and is still owned by the original three founders.
This episode of The GrassCast features an interview with Michael Cleveland. Michael was nominated for several awards at the recent IBMA and won two of them. The interview was recorded before the awards show so he didn’t know he was going to win. He did win Fiddle Player of the Year for the fourth time and also won Instrumental Album of the Year for his most recent CD, Let ‘Er Go Boys.
Michael and I discuss the awards nominations, the Flamekeeper band, Michael’s history with the fiddle and learning bluegrass. Michael also engages in a very interesting discussion of learning to play tastefully. It’s great stuff and should be of interest to any aspiring fiddle players or Michael Cleveland fans.
Michael also makes mention of the Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend coming up in November where he’ll be serving as a fiddle instructor.
While this site is built on the open source weblog system Wordpress, along with a number of third party plugins, it has been heavily modified and appended to suit our needs, including but not limited to the user interface, contact form, commenting system, user registration system, and a whole bunch of administration features behind the scenes.
The design, layout, polls, and everything else were developed and programmed by Brance Gillihan with invaluable aid, consultation, and input from Rodger Gillihan and John Lawless.
The ad management interface and tracking system is built on the open source program phpAdsNew.
Butch Baldassari sent along a note to let let people know about a mandolin workshop he’s holding November 11, 2006 in the Nashville area. There will be workshops for beginners, intermediate and advanced players. The workshops will be held at the Smyrna Assembly just ten minutes south of Nashville. The registration deadline is November 1st and the cost is $30 for beginners and $40 for intermediate and advanced workshops.
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This coming Tuesday (10/24), you can join 5 string banjo innovator and entrepreneur Bill Keith as he is interviewed on 
This weekend The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating their 81st Birthday, and they have some great bluegrass on both the Friday and Saturday night shows.
