Merlefest 2007 is over and the reports are that it was a spectacular festival. I’ve heard several people recount for me the highlights of this year’s event. But my friend Scott Rouse, a Nashville based producer, had what must have been the coolest experience of the festival this year. Scott spent Thursday afternoon with Doc Watson and Elvis Costello.

He and Doc hung out in my hotel room and laughed and told stories for a little over 30 minutes. They both had a great time. Elvis’ “cool” is for real. what an awesome guy. He was relaxed and there to listen to whatever Doc wanted to say and talk about. Doc told stories from his childhood and so did Elvis. They talked about their wives and the festival and even food. Afterwards when Elvis left Doc said “That Elvis Costello is a good boy. I really like him. Yeah, he’ll do.”

Scott’s dad, Jim Rouse, was there with them and took the picture.

Elvis Costello at Merlefest? I wondered how that went over, but Scott assured me it was a hit.

Elvis did an awesome show and was welcomed with open arms into the Bluegrass world when he let go with some of his biggest tunes done acoustically. Sam Bush on mandolin, Byron House on bass etc. Its hard to go wrong there. His show floored the crowd.

His respect and love for Bluegrass runs deep. He, for real, loves it. The British really understand the importance of the history of bluegrass and music in general. They get all up in it. Take John Paul Jones for instance. He spent a couple of nights at the Carter family’s home. He’s read the book twice and the Carter family is one of the first things he wants to talk about when you talk to him. He’s totally obsessed with absorbing and learning all he can about our music. And it isn’t just the non de-script, overall view type info most people get from just learning a little bit about bluegrass and its history. He can go DEEP into where our music came from. There’s a guy, who was in one of the biggest rock bands of all time, and he is totally humbled by Mother Maybelle. It really makes you think about how important our heroes really are, not only to us, but to the most potent musicians in the world.

Yes, bluegrass may be a smaller genre in the larger music world, but it’s important. It’s important to us, and it’s important to musicians in other genres as well. And if you like good music, I guess you almost have to like Doc Watson!

CMT.com is reporting that McCoury Music has signed an exclusion distribution deal with RED Distribution.

McCoury Music was formed to release the recordings of bluegrass superstar Del McCoury when he left Rounder Records in 2003. They are also set to release the new CD from Larry Sparks, The Last Suit You Wear, tomorrow (5/1), and will release an acoustic project from Merle Haggard later this year.

RED is owned by Sony/BMG, and is considered to be the dominant distributor in the US for independent labels. Formed initially to distribute the recordings of smaller, independent heavy metal labels in 1979, but have since expanded to include music from a great many popular genres.

McCoury Music seems to be their first truly bluegrass label, though they also distribute the projects from SCI Fidelity, the String Cheese Incident label that has expanded to include several other artists as well.

The RED Distribution web site is currently being redesigned, but you can find them on MYSpace in the meantime.

The Road Headin’ Home, the first recording from Grasstowne, can now be ordered from the band’s web site.

The new CD won’t be officially released until June on Pinecastle Records, but the band has copies now for immediate shipping. Radio promos were mailed last week, so you should start hearing more from this new release before long.

Grasstowne was formed late in 2006 when Alan Bibey, Steve Gulley and Phil Leadbetter decided to pool their resources (and talents) to form a new venture. Jason Davis is on banjo, with Jamey Booher on bass.

Audio samples for all 13 tracks can be found on the Grasstowne site as well.

Rounder Records has announced the signing of The Steeldrivers to the Rounder label. The band is based in Nashville, TN and composed of the following musicians.

• Mike Henderson – mandolin
• Chris Stapleton – guitar
• Richard Bailey – banjo
• Mike Fleming – bass
• Tammy Rogers – fiddle

Several members of the band have impressive resumes that read like a who’s-who of bluegrass and classic country. Not only that, but the song writing skills of this bunch of pickers is impressive as well. I’m told the band’s debut album is currently being mixed and contains all new original songs.

The Steeldrivers are booked by Roe Entertainment and more information about the band members, along with a tour schedule, can be found on the band’s website.