This past week in Nashville a number of bluegrass and country acts came together to participate in the taping of the next Gaither Homecoming DVD. This time around it’s country and bluegrass gospel music throughout.

Of course, all the performances are centered on the common theme of faith that runs through both the country and bluegrass genres, creating the overlap into the gospel world inhabited by Gaither.

From the seasoned hall-of-famers and pioneers to the young up-and-comers, most every singer in attendance learned to sing in church, and it is those enduring truths to which they keep coming back.

Here’s the list of artists who were present for the taping.

Vince Gill, George Jones, Marty Stuart, Ralph Stanley, Dailey & Vincent, Jimmy Fortune, Buddy Greene, Jason Crabb, The Isaacs, Gordon Mote, Doyle Lawson & QuicksilverRhonda Vincent, The Booth Brothers, Cherryholmes, Jeff and Sheri Easter, Larry Sparks and The Lonesome Ramblers, The Grascals, Lisa Daggs, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Ben Speer, The Collingsworth Family, and The Gaither Vocal Band.

That’s quite a lineup and should be a great product for those looking to get their hands on some bluegrass gospel music in DVD form.

The Country-Bluegrass Homecoming is scheduled for release on both VHS and DVD sometime in mid to late 2008. In the meantime, the Gaither website was just updated to include a photo gallery of images taken both out front, backstage, and behind the scenes during the taping. A quick perusal revealed pictures of The Grascals, Dailey & Vincent, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Cherryholmes, Vince Gill, Ralph Stanley, and many more.

Don’t forget that our own John Lawless will be interviewed this morning on the Lonesome Pine RFD show, carried on WFDU 89.1 FM.

The show broadcasts from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, and serves the New York City metro market. John will be on with WFDU’s Carol Beaugard and Steve Lutke at approximately 10:15 a.m. (EST) to discuss his activities in the bluegrass world – including, of course, The Bluegrass Blog.

If you live beyond the reach of the WFDU broadcast signal, you can catch the show live via audio streaming at www.wfdu.fm.

Lonesome Pine RFD is also aired as a rebroadcast on BluegrassCountry.org. Carol said that she would include John’s interview in an edition of her show there as well.

The Associated Press is reporting that James Monroe, son of the Father of Bluegrass Music, is selling the concert hall he has been running near the Kentucky/Tennessee state line, about 40 miles north of Nashville.

The son of the late bluegrass legend Bill Monroe is selling the music hall he opened two years ago near the Tennessee state line, saying the duties of running the venue conflicted with his own musical career.

“We’ve had two incredible concert seasons with sellout crowds for such artists as Gene Watson, Lorrie Morgan, Vern Gosdin, Jimmy Dickens and Bill Anderson. It’s really succeeded beyond my expectations,” James Monroe, a bluegrass musician, said in a statement.

Read the full AP piece online.

Pete Wernick tells us that he has one scholarship yet to be awarded for his Advanced Banjo Camp in Colorado January 21-26, 2008.

The scholarship is intended for players who might otherwise not have the resources to attend Pete’s camps, and covers the cost of tuition only. Four have been awarded already, with three going to teen pickers from Utah, Kentucky, and Massachusetts.

Pete hosts a number of banjo camps every year, each oriented towards the needs of players at specific skill levels. The Advanced Camp is geared to motivated players in performing bands, and focuses on execution, performance, and creative approaches within the bluegrass format. Pete says that it’s the only banjo camp of its kind, and class size is limited to 15.

To apply for the sole remaining scholarship spot, contact Pete by email. Accommodations and airport shuttle, if needed, are approximately $400.