Mountain Heart has been selected to perform the National Anthem before the NASCAR TUMS Fast Relief 500 race at Martinsville Speedway on October 25. This is a major event is southwestern VA and throughout the racing world, which will be broadcast live on ABC Sports.

The race starts at 1:30 p.m. (EDT), with ABC coverage beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Manager Brian Smith told us that this was an appearance that took a lot of work to secure, and the guys are very excited about the opportunity.

“We are still discussing the arrangement but everyone will appear even if they don’t all sing. It will be a big homecoming for Josh Shilling, who hails from nearby and cut his teeth in that music market.”

This will be a big day for bluegrass music and sports. October 25 will also find Rhonda Vincent singing the anthem before the NFL’s Chiefs-Chargers game in Kansas City.

Way to go Mountain Heart and Rhonda – more please!

It seems like only yesterday that we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of bluegrass music, marked by the first Grand Ole Opry performance in 1946 by the “Original Blue Grass Band:” Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, Chubby Wise and Cedric Rainwater (Howard Watts). 60 years seems like both a long time, and the merest sliver in the larger scheme of things.

Well, now we have Rounder Records with a big anniversary of their own, choosing Monday, October 12 to commemorate 40 years in business. They have been recording bluegrass, roots, alternative and Americana music since 1970. A special concert at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House will be filmed for a later broadcast on PBS stations during 2010.

The show will feature performances by Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Béla Fleck, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Irma Thomas, Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas along with host (and performer) Minnie Driver. A portion of the proceeds from Monday’s concert will go to the NARAS Grammy In The Schools Programs.

From a recent Rounder press release…

Rounder Records was founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton Levy and Bill Nowlin.  With only their passionate enthusiasm for American roots music lighting the way, the three Boston area college students cast their lot into the perilous music industry. “Before founding Rounder, we were basically music fans,” says Rounder Records co-founder Ken Irwin. “None of us,” echoes co-conspirator Bill Nowlin, “had any record industry experience whatsoever.”

“I doubt that ‘industry experience’ is a term we would have comprehended at the time we started Rounder!” interjects the third member of the Rounder triumvirate, Marian Leighton.

Ticket information can be found online.

Video has been posted of Steve Martin and Steep Canyon Rangers performing last night (10/5) on The Late Show with David Letterman.

The song is Saga Of The Old West, one Martin wrote, which is included on his current banjo CD, The Crow. He also performed it with the Rangers on the IBMA Awards Show last Thursday night in Nashville.

The two acts are on tour for the next six weeks or so, with dates across the US, plus stops in Canada and the UK. Find the tour info online.

Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers will be musical guests on tonight’s (10/5) edition of The Late Show with David Letterman. The show airs on CBS at 11:35 p.m. (ET/PT).

They are on tour together throughout October to promote Martin’s banjo CD, The Crow, plus the new Rebel release from SCR, Deep In The Shade, which hits tomorrow (10/6).

They will also be featured on Tuesday’s edition of The View, which airs on ABC at 11:00 a.m. (ET – 10:00 a.m. PT/CT).

You can find the show dates for Martin and The Rangers online.