Fiddler Mike Hartgrove is rejoining Lonesome River Band starting in January ‘08. Mike had been a member of LRB for three years before leaving to work with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver in 2005, his second stint with that group. He had been a founding member of IIIrd Tyme Out with whom he toured and recorded for 11 years, and had also worked with The Bluegrass Cardinals.

Mike takes the spot vacated by resonator guitarist Matt Leadbetter, who is leaving to be closer to his young family, taking a job in Pigeon Forge, TN. See update 12/10.

LRB banjo picker and band leader Sammy Shelor tells us that the band is headed back into the studio in February to start work on a new CD project. Sammy is considering offers from record labels and expects to announce more about that by springtime.