The guys stopped by the WAMU studios in Washington DC on their way to perform at the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival this past Thursday. Katy says they recorded an hour’s worth of live music and conversation, which will be broadcast this morning a 9:00 a.m.

“We talked about IBMA nominations and Jesse Baker’s solo project Yessir! on Patuxent. Everybody had a chance to shine so there were songs from Marshall Wilborn and Tom Adams, too.  Of course, Michael and Jesse Brock stunned the studio audience with their (instrumental performance of the year) nominated Jerusalem Ridge.”

Listen in at 9:00 to hear their visit on WAMU’s Bluegrass Country. It can be heard worldwide on www.bluegrasscountry.org and in the Washington area on HD Radio WAMU-88.5 Channel Two, and on 105FiveFM.

Tom and Michael have a long musical association going back to Adams’ time as a crackerjack, award-winning banjo player. The two of them worked together with Rhonda Vincent & The Rage in 2000, and with Dale Ann Bradley in 2002. They also released a live duet album of banjo/fiddle duets (Live at the Ragged Edge) in 2004.

That project was recorded in 2002, just before Tom began to experience the frustrating symptoms of what would later be diagnosed as focal dystonia, a neurological disorder that left him unable to reliably perform on the banjo to his high standards of excellence. Tom had started his musical life as a guitarist, and starting in 2008, returned to working in bluegrass, but now on guitar where the dystonia had no effect on his right hand movement. He had been playing of late with Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie.

Adams has a great respect for Cleveland and is delighted to be joining Flamekeeper…

“Mike is absolutely one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met — what an incredible musician! I thoroughly enjoyed playing with Mike in the past, and I’m very excited about working with him again. He’s got a terrific band and I am glad to become a part of it.”

This move also reunites Tom with Marshall Wilborn, with whom he worked in The Johnson Mountain Boys and the Lynn Morris Band. The current Flamekeeper lineup features Cleveland on fiddle, Adams on guitar, Wilborn on bass, Jesse Brock on mandolin and Jessie Baker on banjo.

Tom will join the band starting with their August 7 show at Bluegrass In The Park in Henderson, KY.  You can find their complete tour schedule online.

UPDATE 7/24: When we first published this story, we mentioned that Tom would be playing guitar with Flamekeeper, but didn’t note that he will also be the new lead singer as well.

Matt Leadbetter will be on resonator guitar, Owen Piatt on banjo and Jeremy Aarwood on bass. Darrell tells us that he will either play mandolin or guitar himself, depending on who he chooses to complete the group.

He tells us that after stints with Lonesome River Band, JD Crowe & The New South, Wildfire, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage and Flamekeeper, the time is right for him to lead his own band.

“I’m going to do my own thing from here on out. I’ve waited long enough, and I’m really going to work hard and do my best to try make it happen on my own.

You don’t ever know until you try.”

Flamekeeper has not yet chosen a replacement for Darrell, and has Jeff White playing guitar on an interim basis until a new hire comes on board. Webb leaves with nothing but respect for Michael and all the guys in Flamekeeper.

“I wish the band the best of luck but right now I have a lot of goals I want to accomplish. My fans can look forward to seeing The Darrell Webb Band out and about soon. I am excited about the new things that are in store for me right now.”

Darrell’s web site is being updated now, and new information should be available there in a few weeks. In the meantime, he is eager to communicate with anyone about his new endeavor, and can be reached by email at mandocaster2005@hotmail.com.

His energies right now are dedicated to his first effort at festival promotion with Coalfest 2009 (July 17-19) in Pilgrims Knob, VA, where he serves as co-director.

The event is free and open to the public if you are in Nashville, and the rest of us can listen live online.

In addition to Michael on fiddle, Flamekeeper consists of Jesse Brock on mandolin, Darrell Webb on guitar, Marshall Wilborn on bass and  Jessie Baker on banjo.

It features the guys tearing it up on a version of the Bill Monroe classic, Big Mon. The lighting isn’t fabulous, but the music is just fine.

Their publicist, Kimberly Williams, was on hand and got a couple of photos of the band, as well as a bit of backstage video. She tells us that the guys whipped the crowd up with their versions of Goodbye Ole Pal and The Old Brown County Barn.

They also had a chance to snap a picture with Opry announcer and bluegrass legend Eddie Stubbs backstage during their post-Christmas Opry visit.

Current band members include Michael Cleveland on fiddle, Jesse Brock on mandolin, Jessie Baker on banjo, Marshall Wilborn on bass and Darrell Webb on guitar.

Here’s Flamekeeper backstage warming up…

Darrell has spent many years touring with top level bluegrass bands, including stints with Lonesome River Band, J.D. Crowe & The New South and Wildfire before taking Josh Williams’ place with Rhonda in October of 2007.

He will start with Flamekeeper on December 26 for a show on The Grand Ole Opry, joining founding members Michael Cleveland on fiddle and Jesse Brock on mandolin, with Marshall Wilborn on bass, and second-newest member Jessie Baker on banjo. Jessie joined the band at the end of September, an experienced pro himself while still in his teens.

You can check the Flamekeeper tour schedule online to look for a chance to catch their new lineup when they perform near you.

UPDATE 5:45 p.m.  We just got a note from Darrell about his move to Flamekeeper…

“I am really excited about this new gig with Michael. I have picked and jammed with Mike for years and I never dreamed I’d ever get to be in a band with him. He is one the most incredible musicians that I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing music with, a true professional and one of the nicest people I’ve ever been around.

When I heard that he was looking for someone I called him immediately, because I knew he played the same kind of music that I think just suits me to a tee. I knew had to do something real quick because I have a family home to support.

I am so looking forward to a great new beginning as a member of the Flamekeeper band. It consists of some of my favorite musicians and singers that I have ever heard. I am also a big fan of Jessie Brock, Marshall Wilborn, Mike Cleveland, and Jessie Baker.

I know it’s gonna be a blast getting to pick with all the guys in the band.”

An astute observer may have noticed a new face in the crowd as the band took the stage. Jessie Baker joined the band recently on banjo and began touring with the group at the end of September. Originally from Indiana, Baker now lives in Georgetown, KY.

Still in his teens, Jessie has a full resume already. He’s played with Wildfire, The Wildwood Valley Boys, The Karl Shiflett and Big Country Show, and his family’s band, The Baker Boys. He has also done fill in dates with many other bluegrass bands.

They are scheduled during the 9:00-9:30 p.m. segment (EDT).

Michael will also appear this morning with Katy Daley on WAMU’s Bluegrass Country online at 9:45 a.m. to talk about the new CD.

Catch tonight’s Friday Opry over the air at WSM 650 AM, broadcasting from Nashville, on XM channel 11 (XM Nashville), or via live streaming at wsmonline.com.

Michael tells us that the band has a new web site that went live this morning, with a new web address to boot. You should look for them online now at www.flamekeeperband.com, where you’ll find online ordering and news updates about the band and the new CD.

There are no audio samples up yet from Leavin’ Town, but Mike says they will be up there soon.

He also shared a few thoughts about the new CD, and the band’s comings and goings this year.

“The album has quite a few original tunes on it, along with some great older tunes that you don’t hear played every day. Some tunes that we are really excited about are Kickin’ Back, I’m Riding This Train and Farewell For A Little While. Kickin’ Back is a blistering mandolin instrumental written by Jesse Brock. Folks this one really moves on down the line. I’m Riding This Train is a vocal number written by Todd Rakestraw. Farewell For A Little While is a song written by Chris Stuart. The inspiration for this song came from the words written on the headstone of Carter Stanley’s grave.

We’re also excited about the 2008 tour schedule. We just got back from an incredible eight day tour of the Yukon and Alaska. We are also looking forward to a trip to Ireland for the Appalachian and Bluegrass Festival on September 5 – 7. The following day, September 8th, we’ll be in Runcorn, Cheshire, UK.

We look forward to seeing our west coast friends at the festival in Plymouth, CA on September 19 – 20.

Thanks everyone, for your support. We hope to see you soon at the shows and festivals.”

Presumably, they will include material from their upcoming Rounder release, due out in late July.

Blue Plate Special is broadcast on WDVX-FM 102.9 in Knoxville, TN – and via live streaming online. The audio is not archived, so be sure to listen in online at noon (EDT).

Old time string band The Pea Ridge Ramblers will also be featured on today’s show.

The band will join hosts Carol Beaugard and Steve Lutke on Lonesome Pine RFD from 11:00 a.m. until noon (EST). WFDU’s broadcast signal covers the New York City metro area, and is also available live via audio streaming at www.wfdu.fm.

Carol tells us that this live studio performance with Flamekeeper will also be replayed next week during the Open Mic program on BluegrassCountry.org. The show broadcasts on their 24/7 cyber signal on Mondays at 5:00 a.m., Thursdays at 3:00 a.m., Fridays at 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 6:00 a.m. (all times ET).

I had been expecting this announcement since last week, as the new band photo (to the right) was on display at the Roe Entertainment booth in the IBMA exhibit hall during the recently-concluded World Of Bluegrass trade show – even though Marshall was not with the band when I saw them perform.

Marshall has an impressive resume, having been a part of several notable bands over the course of his career. These include The Johnson Mountain Boys and The Lynn Morris Band, as well as a stint with Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys. His addition to the Flamekeeper roster will provide another successful notch on his belt.

Rakestraw has been performing with Timberline Drive, and was an original member of Alison Krauss & Union Station, back in the day. Three of his songs (Gentle River, I’m Alone Again, Lord Don’t Forsake Me) were included on her early releases.

No word yet on Audie’s future plans. We’ll post when we hear more.

All the Canadian dates are listed on the band’s tour schedule page online.

On another Michael Cleveland note: The April issue of Strings Magazine has a brief feature on Michael. It is the back page Encore column by Robert L. Doerschuk.

The April issue will be on newsstands soon, and the Strings web site will update when the cover date arrives. Many articles from each issue are posted online. The piece they did on Jason Carter in the March issue can now be read online.

These were taken from the stage, and are mostly close up, portrait shots of bluegrass artists like JD Crowe & The New South, Kenny & Amanda Smith, The Grascals, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, The Isaacs and others.

You can find these images on Tom’s site, Gold Coast galleries, where he has also posted photos taken at a number of bluegrass events, and where you can purchase his portraits online.

With six artists now the roster I suspect Jim Roe is going to be busy acquiring bookings for next year. Hopefully he’ll keep all his artists busy as well. If you are an event producer and would like more information you can visit Roe Entertainment on line at www.roeentertainment.net or via the info below.

Contact Information:

Jim Roe
Roe Entertainment
PO Box 128186
Nashville, TN 37212

Office: 615-770-2622 ext 10
E-mail: roeent@bellsouth.net

Listen now:

This episode of The GrassCast features an interview with Michael Cleveland. Michael was nominated for several awards at the recent IBMA and won two of them. The interview was recorded before the awards show so he didn’t know he was going to win. He did win Fiddle Player of the Year for the fourth time and also won Instrumental Album of the Year for his most recent CD, Let ‘Er Go Boys.

Michael and I discuss the awards nominations, the Flamekeeper band, Michael’s history with the fiddle and learning bluegrass. Michael also engages in a very interesting discussion of learning to play tastefully. It’s great stuff and should be of interest to any aspiring fiddle players or Michael Cleveland fans.

Michael also makes mention of the Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend coming up in November where he’ll be serving as a fiddle instructor.

Direct Download: ep49_michael_cleveland.mp3 (It’s a big one – 18MB)

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Additional links:

mikecleveland.com
audioblaylock.com
myspace.com/audieblaylock

Photos by Tami Roth © 2006

Jeremy Garrett	Chris Pandolfi	Andy Hall	Chris Eldridge
Jesse Cobb	Chris Pandolfi	Downhill Bluegrass Band	Frankie Nagle
Audie Blaylock	Michael Cleveland	The Lovell Sisters	Rhonda Vincent
Donica Christensen	Daughters of Bluegrass	Becky Buller	Dale Ann Bradley

The new CD from Dale Ann Bradley, Catch Tomorrow, surely falls into this category. Even in a long career filled with stellar recordings, this new project really catches the ear.

Many observers have noted that with as pure a voice as Dale Ann possess, and such a knack for choosing material suited for its strengths, she must only lack the support of a top notch band, and a record label willing and able to promote her, to see some legitimate success in this business.

The bands she has had for several years, and like so many in bluegrass, the membership is ever changing. Catch Tomorrow features primarily the members who contributed this past few years, like Michael Cleveland, Jesse Brock and Pete Kelly now departed, with Brock moving to Europe to marry and make music, and Cleveland and Kelly forming Michael’s new Flamekeeper band with Audie Blaylock. She now has vets Deanie Richardson and Scott Napier on the road with her and long-time bassist Vicki Simmons, and a new banjo hire is anticipated shortly.

With Catch Tomorrow, her debut collaboration with Compass Records, there is hope that the business partnership side of the equation is in place as well. This new release was produced by Compass founder and President, Alison Brown, who also contributes her banjo on several tracks. Dale Ann gives great credit to Brown for help with song selection and arranging, and it could be argued that this is the most cohesive and start-to-finish strong project from Bradley to date.

Much of the strongest material comes from Dale Ann herself, with autobiographical touches on songs like Run Rufus Run and Grandma’s Gift that tell as much about the world she grew up in as it does the actual characters in the stories. There is also a simply marvelous country-style duet with Marty Rabon on the old Dolly and Porter song, Holding On To Nothing, and a sparse and moving Gospel duet with Larry Sparks on Pass Me Not.

Dale Ann’s web site offers a few audio samples from the new release, and a pre-order option exists. It isn’t clear whether the orders can be shipped right away, or will arrive after the release date, but they are being accepted online now.

We have a terrific interview with Dale Ann which will be the subject of an upcoming episode of The GrassCast. It will be available here on The Bluegrass Blog and to all GrassCast subscribers closer to the official release date for the new CD (October 10). She talks at some length about her early days performing in Renfro Valley, KY and with The Coon Creek Girls as well as her more recent musical endeavors.

Be sure to keep an eye out for that GrassCast, and the release of Catch Tomorrow.