Jeremy Garrett will join Katy Daley on Friday morning (5/8) at 9:00 a.m. (EDT) on WAMU’s Bluegrass Country to talk about his brand new Sugar Hill solo project, I Am A Stranger.

The CD features Garrett on fiddle and lead vocals, accompanied by his fellow Infamous Stringdusters and other special guest artists on 11 tracks, many of them Garrett originals.

I Am A Stranger is available from The Infamous Stringdusters’ online store, and in iTunes.

Catch him with Katy Friday morning at www.bluegrasscountry.org, where they stream bluegrass music 24/7 online.

Sugar Hill Records has announced a number of new albums set for release during the spring and summer of 2009.

Already this year, they have a solo project from The Infamous Stringdusters’ Jeremy Garrett, I Am A Stranger, which hit on March 31. Next week, they have a new CD from The Greencards, Fascination, with a number of others on deck.

Here’s a partial 2009 Sugar Hill release schedule (with more to be announced soon):

• 5/19: Chris Pandolfi – Looking Glass
• 6/16: Sarah Jarosz – Song Up In Her Head
• 7/14: Bryan Sutton and Friends – Almost Live

Sugar Hill will release a new solo project from Jeremy Garrett of The Infamous Stringdusters on March 31.

I Am A Stranger features Garrett on fiddle and vocals supported by his Stringduster brethren and a host of other top bluegrass pickers and singers. The songs include ones Jeremy has penned, several from his favorite writers, and a few that have stayed with him over the years.

He explains further in the liner notes…

“As far back as I can remember, music has been a huge part of my life and I always try to make a mental note when I hear a song that I really like. Some of these songs are from what I have collected through the years, some are my own thoughts, and some are written by personal friends who I respect, admire, and learn from. It really all starts with a song…”

Jeremy shared a few thoughts with us about two of the grassier tracks, sampled here for your enjoyment.

Echoes Of Goodbye – Listen now:   

Julie Elkins (banjo), Dennis Crouch (bass),  Jake Stargel (guitar), Shawn Lane (mandolin), Jamie Daily (tenor vocal), Josh Williams (baritone vocal)

“I was looking for a hard driving bluegrass song with harmonies that could be suspended in the tradition of Bill Monroe, that hadn’t been done to death.  It seemed like every one that I really liked had already been recorded, so I decided to write one.”

End Of The Line -  Listen now:   

Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Andy Hall (resonator guitar), Andy Falco (guitar), Jesse Cobb (mandolin), Travis Book (bass), John Pennell and Jeff White (writers)

“I definitely wanted to get my fellow band mates, The Infamous Stringdusters, on some songs on this record! These guys are not only fun to tour with, they are some of my favorite musicians on the planet. This song was one that stood out as a number that had strong ‚ÄòDuster potential.”

You can hear the title track, written by Jeremy and his dad Glen, and Hank Thompson’s honky tonk country ballad, Today, on MySpace.

Pre-orders for I Am A Stranger can be placed from The Infamous Stringdusters’ web site, and downloads will be available from iTunes and Amazon on April 14. Jeremy will have copies of the CD at his shows, but primary distribution will be digital.

Chris Pandolfi isn’t the only member of The Infamous Stringdusters hard at work on a new solo project. Fiddler and vocalist Jeremy Garrett is recording this fall as well.

Jeremy is running into the same problem as Chris trying to finish up… the band’s intense touring schedule.

“I have a variety of artists and material on the project, including The ‘Dusters, Abigail Washburn, Mike Compton, Mike Bub, Shawn Lane, Julie Elkins, and more – including some surprise and probably surprising guests. I really put a lot of thought into choosing musicians who I thought would be great at representing the different musical styles for the material I chose.

If all goes well, I’ll be finished with the record around the first of December. I’m not sure what a release date will be yet, but I’ll be sure to let you know.”

Jeremy’s album will also come out on Sugar Hill.