Katy Daley, the 2009 IBMA Broadcaster of the Year, will have some help in the studio for her show this Thursday on WAMU’s Bluegrasss Country. Darren Beachley and Mark Delaney (Darren Beachley & Legends Of The Potomac) will be on hand from 8:00-10:00 a.m. (10/22) to assist in the 2009 Fall Membership Campaign.

Darren said that both he and Mark grew up with WAMU’s bluegrass programming, and spent countless hours listening to Katy, Gary Henderson, Lee Micheal Demsey and Ray Davis when they were learning to play.

“Mark and I are really excited about the opportunity to sit down with Katy and help do the work that needs to be done to keep bluegrass alive and kickin’. For us to be able to be in the studio, for an institution that’s meant so much to us and bluegrass music over the years, is a real treat.

I remember as a kid when they would be doing the membership drives… WAMU would do what they called a winter bluegrass festival, and it was wonderful stuff from all Gospel, to trivia, to live shows. It was a great time, and Mark and I are very honored to play a part this year.”

WAMU’s Bluegrass Country broadcasts 24/7 live online, and like many public radio (and television) outlets, dedicates some time each year to fundraising. This is their time for 2009, and they invite anyone who enjoys their free bluegrass programming to consider making a donation. As they say on their site…

It costs about $450,000 a year to run WAMU’s Bluegrass Country. We pay for music streaming, features, additions to our library, and acquisition of outstanding programs.

Katy mentioned that they have also been thankful for on-air help from Eric Gibson, Alan Munde, Kevin Church and Paul Williams during this campaign. Eddie Dean, Ralph Stanley’s co-writer on Man of Constant Sorrow: My Life and Times, will be on with Lee Michael Demsey on Thursday (10/22), and Mark Schatz is scheduled for Friday (10/23).

We recognize how tedious it can be to listen to fund drives, but think for a moment about the poor on-air personalities who have to do the begging. If you can help, be assured that it will greatly appreciated.

And not just WAMU’s Bluegrass Country! We encourage our readers to consider supporting any and all broadcasters who keep bluegrass on the air. Make donations if you can to public radio, and mention bluegrass shows when you patronize the advertisers of commercial shows and  stations.

For a change, I was able to stay for all three main stage acts at Wednesday’s (9/30) lunchtime showcase, and I saw some very strong performances.

Darren Beachley & Legends Of The Potomac were up first. That may sound like a fairly grandiose name for a new band, but with former Seldom Sceners Tom Gray on bass, Mike Auldridge on resonator guitar, and former Bluegrass Cardinal Norman Wright on mandolin and tenor vocals, the name fits.

Their set featured music from an upcoming CD on Patuxent Records, with Darren Beachley (former member of Quicksilver) on guitar and lead vocals and Mark Delaney on banjo.

No matter how well they played or how solid the material they chose, nothing could overshadow getting to hear Wright’s soaring tenor on stage again! His voice was clear and strong and anyone who cherished his recordings with the Cardinals had to be immediately swept up in the sound – as I surely was.

The name also fits given that their style calls to mind what could be described as the Washington, DC bluegrass sound. Both The Country Gentlemen and Seldom Scene emerged from that community in the 1960s and ’70s, and Darren and the Legends carry it forward just fine.

Next up was G2, a young bluegrass band from Sweden. Wonder what a Swedish bluegrass band sounds like?

Well with these guys, it sounds exactly like it does in Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky or Tennessee. Their style is modern, but it’s clear that all five of them have intently studied the music, and they play it with a confidence and authority you might not expect from a young European band.

Almost all of their music is written by guitarist Christoffer Olsson, who also handles the lead vocals. As resonator guitarist Tobias Strömberg mentioned during the set, “It’s hard to believe all those big words come out of such a little man.” Olsson’s songs are thoughtful and original, avoiding the sort of stereotypes that can plague artists who work in a style that is foreign to their culture.

But all of these musicians could go to work for Doyle Lawson. Mandolinist Erik Igelström has obviously mastered his instrument, but plays with a highly individual style. Bass player Jimmy Sunnebrandt, like most of the band, grew up with a father who played country and bluegrass fiddle. Erik told a story about Jimmy as a tyke going with his father to shows, where he would sit in the front row reading Donald Duck comics until his dad would call him up to play a tune with them on fiddle. After he was finished, he would return to his seat and his reading.

Banjo picker Jens Koch really stands out, and is among the very best young, traditional bluegrass banjo players in any country. He works effortlessly in the JD Crowe/Ron Stewart idiom, and I can see him becoming one of the tops on his instrument in the next few years. Strömberg was impressive as well. (more…)

Mastershield Records has released a new CD from Darren Beachley, which consists of songs previously released in limited circulation.

As the title, Sad Songs and Sunday Mornings, suggests, the album is a mix of sacred and secular material. Tracks include I Love You To The Moon And Back, Daddy’s Chair and Lovin’ Ain’t Been Easy On My Mind, along with Darren’s versions of a number of Gospel favorites.

The CD isn’t showing up yet on either the Mastershield or Darren Beachley sites, but you can surely pick one up at any of Darren’s shows with his new group, Legends Of The Potomac.

Also coming soon from Mastershield are a live CD from The Abrams Brothers and a new Country Gentlemen tribute project from Bill Yates.

Only a few weeks after receiving notification that Darren Beachley had left Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver to form his own band, Beachley has signed a recording contract with Patuxent Records.

Beachley joined forces with Mike Auldridge, Tom Gray, Norman Wright and Mark Delaney to form Darren Beachley & Legends of the Potomac not too long ago and has stated that the band has been working at rehearsals on establishing a varied repertoire. Now it is hardly a surprise that good things are happening, and quickly, for the band.

Beachley is understandably excited by the opportunity …

"You take all the experience that is in this band and really the possibilities are endless. We cannot wait to get in the studio and start recording.

As far as what will be on the recording, we have a few surprises up our sleeve that will reach across the aisle, as they like to say here in D.C."

For these Washington D.C area natives, working with Patuxent makes a lot of sense.

"We have all known Tom Mindte for years. He’s a great guy and he understands bluegrass music. And we really wanted to keep the whole thing here in D.C., with all of the rich bluegrass history that’s here."

Tracking is expected to begin in July.

Darren Beachley & Legends of the Potomac not only understand the rich bluegrass history of the area, they also helped to shape it. The band boasts highly influential former members of both the Country Gentlemen and the Seldom Scene.

In addition his upcoming project with the Legends, Darren will be re-releasing his first two solo projects, Remembrances and I Love You To The Moon and Back on MasterShield Records. The title track on the latter album will also be released as a single on Prime Cuts of Bluegrass.

"It’s a great song, written by some of my favorite people, Tom T. and Dixie Hall; and Larry McPeake."