Sam Bush will be doing three west coast dates this month with jam band sensation, Yonder Mountain String Band. It should be a jammin’ good time.

The shows are:

• 4/16 – Eureka, CA
• 4/17 – Eugene, OR
• 4/18 – Seattle, WA

You can find more details about these dates on the official YMSB web site – including four shows this week in California with fiddle magician Darol Anger.

Anonymous 4 is quite probably unknown to many bluegrass fans. The reason for the anonymity (sorry, I couldn’t help it) stems from the fact that the group is not bluegrass. It’s composed of four, imagine that, women who normally sing a capella versions of medieval music.

Recently however, the group has released a CD that focuses on American Folk music, spirituals, and hymns. The CD is entitled Gloryland. The ladies made the decision to include some instrumentation on this CD and called on the talents of fiddler (and mandolinist) Darol Anger and guitarist Scott Nygaard. With the accompaniment of these two masterful musicians, the women tackle such songs as Wayfaring Stranger and Just Over In The Gloryland.

Making no attempt to adopt the vocal stylings with which these tunes are normally performed, the ladies come strait at them with a classical approach. The resulting blend of bluegrass instrumentation and classical vocals is quite interesting.

If you’re interested in hearing what this combo sounds like, tomorrow is your chance. The group, accompanied by Nygaard and Anger, will be performing for the American Public Media Thanksgiving Special.

The program will be carried on many public radio stations. You can find a radio station near you on this page.

You can also listen online if you want. I’m not sure if this program, which is currently available, is the same one which will be broadcast tomorrow.

You can also hear clips from the CD at Anonymous4.com and myspace.com/theanonymous4.

Compass Records has launched a YouTube channel to promote the many fine artists who record for the label. They intend to feature music videos, concert footage and even funny moments with Compass artists.

The first video is a live performance from this May’s StringNation festival in Camden, NJ featuring Darol Anger’s Republic Of Strings.

The Compass folks ask that anyone with video that might be suitable for their YouTube channel to please contact them so that it can be included.

Enjoy Republic Of Strings’ version of Duck River Song below.

The latest release from Mike Marshall & Darol Anger, Woodshop, is released today on Adventure Music.

In addition to Anger on violins and Marshall on mandolins and guitar, the new project also features Phil Aaberg on piano, Aaron Johnston on percussion, and the round robin of Todd Phillips, Michael Manring and Todd Sickafoose on bass.

The premise of this recording, the first by this pair since 2002, was to revisit the format from their popular 1985 release, Chiaroscuro. All the music is instrumental, and was written by Anger or Marshall. It is far more structured than their free form duo shows, with multiple overdubs and a focus on sonic purity in their visions for this new music.

We weren’t able to find much info on the Adventure Music, Mike Marshall or Darol Anger sites, but Amazon has a complete set of audio clips with online ordering enabled.