Junior had a show nearby and spoke at some length with music reporter Tad Dickens about his latest CD, Blue Side Of The Blue Ridge, and the 2009 IBMA Awards, where Junior had several nominations.

You can hear the entire 20 minute interview at Roanoke.com.

The album celebrates the contributions of Galyean, a legendary performer from western North Carolina who had worked with The Stanley Brothers, Hylo Brown and Charlie Monroe. All of the songs are ones Galyean has written, performed by such stellar Virginia/North Carolina artists as Junior Sisk, Terry Baucom, Johnny Williams, Jimmy Haley and Rick Allred.

Cullen was discovered in 1965 at the storied Fincastle bluegrass festival, where he won the banjo competition with a spirited rendition of Midnight Ramble. That ‘65 live audio is included as on the tracks on the new CD. He had been recorded before in 1984, with Bobby Harrison on the Folkways album, Old Time Bluegrass from the Virginia-North Carolina Border.

Judith Burnette of WBRF tells us that Cullen’s son Mickey Galyean will be with her in the studio during the 8:00 p.m. hour while they highlight the music from Born Into Bluegrass. Mickey performs with his own bluegrass band, Rich In Tradition.

“I’m hoping Cullen will be well enough to join us in celebration, as well. He has been in the nursing home for the last several weeks for rehab. He had a serious bladder infection and was hospitalized a couple of times because of that.  He wasn’t very mobile before this illness, and was even less so after the hospital stays.  Mickey told me he has been able to walk from the bed to the bathroom, and from a wheelchair to his bed so that is an improvement.”

Cullen was able to be in the studio for some of the recording of this project. He plays his banjo and sings baritone on Bluegrass Time, he sings baritone on Days of Grey and Black, Judy Lou and Blue Ridge Mountains.”

WBRF broadcasts at 98.1 FM from Galax, and can be heard over a wide area in Virginia, North Carolina Tennessee and West Virginia. They also simulcast online at www.blueridgecountry98.com.

Born Into Bluegrass – The Songs of Cullen Galyean is scheduled for release on October 1.

That completes a new lineup with Timmy Massey on bass, Darrell Wilkerson on banjo, Billy Hawks on fiddle and Sisk on guitar and lead vocals.

Junior also mentioned that he plans to take the band into the studio in October, with expectations of a March 2010 release.

Should be a good’n.

A series of rambles about CDs by bluegrassmercury, part 2…

A big bundle of CDs has landed on my desk in the recent past. They include those by Danny Paisley, the Infamous Stringdusters, Williams & Clark Expedition, Kenny & Amanda Smith Band, Daughters Of Bluegrass, High Windy, Gold Heart, Cherryholmes, Earl Scruggs, The Mashville Brigade, Crowe Brothers, Ralph Stanley II, Longview, Big Country Bluegrass.

The Daughters Of Bluegrass Bluegrass Bouquet (Blue Circle BCR 017) is an epic collection of some considerable magnitude, comprising 17 cuts and featuring over 50 ‚Äòdaughters.’ The first track, Proud To Be A Daughter of Bluegrass alone there are 20 ladies singing, 4 shouters and 6 pickers.

Those familiar with the Blue Circle label and the Good Home Grown Music group will recognise that this album is the product of Tom T Hall and our own Miss Dixie Hall. She’s a Boldmere, Birmingham girl! The duo penned all songs and most of the recording was done at the Hall’s home studio in Franklyn, Tennessee.

The quality of songs and singers is remarkably and consistently high, with many stand-out tracks (There Ought to Be) More to Love than This [sung by Lisa Ray]; I’m Gonna Love You Now [Frances Mooney]; Nobody Home [Lorraine Jordan]; the a cappella Go Up on the Mountain and Wait [with five-part harmonies]; I Made of a Flower Today and Scenes from an Old Country Graveyard, both with an old-time country feel; another with a gospel edge Take Me With You [Beth Lawrence]; Desmoranda [Valerie Smith]; Carolina State of Mind [Gina Britt]; and Everybody Got a Light [Beth Stevens]. In addition to the opening song, three others feature multiple lead vocalists. Overall, the ladies have produced an excellent album.

The latest album from Ralph Stanley II This One Is II (Lonesome Day Records 013) sees him striking out for a wider market than that which encapsulates the strict bluegrass fan. Stanley has a deeper voice than the late lamented Keith Whitley, but the similarities are very definitely there, just as they are with his uncle, Carter Stanley.

II, as he is known, has gathered together a bunch of top studio buddies; Tim Crouch (fiddle and guitar), Cody Kilby (guitar), Randy Kohrs (resophonic guitar), Harold Nixon (bass), Adam Steffey (mandolin) and Ron Stewart (banjo, utilised sparingly). Jim Lauderdale, Steve Gulley, Darrin Vincent, Marty Raybon and Dale Ann Bradley all provide some harmonic assistance.

Beginning with a Garth Brooks song, Cold Shoulder, II has included a Elton John song (Georgia) and one by Townes van Zandt (the beautifully melodious "Loretta") and another by Lyle Lovett (a driving bluegrass treatment of "L A County"). Also, in the ‚Äòcountry’ pigeon-hole are They Say I’ll Never Go Home, Honky Tonk Way and If This Old Guitar Could Talk. Train Songs is up-tempo offering from the pen of the ubiquitous Tom T Hall. Saving the very best for comment to the last there is the killer Moms Are the Reason Wild Flowers Grow and the equally heart-rendering Carter, the Fred Eaglesmith tribute to Carter Stanley. File under ‚ÄòGreat Music.’

Junior Sisk has had chequered career in bluegrass, writing for the Lonesome River Band in the early 1990s, working with Wyatt Rice & Santa Cruz, Lost & Found and BlueRidge have bracketed an earlier incarnation of the band he now fronts, Ramblers Choice.

Blue Side Of The Blue Ridge (Rebel 1825) fills a void that spans too many years. Sisk, now based in Ferrum, Virginia, has lived most of his life in the Blue Ridge Mountains and it colours his music. Accompanying him here is Sisk’s cousin Tim Massey (bass, vocals), Chris Harris (mandolin, harmony vocals), Billy Hawks (fiddle) and Darrell Wilkerson (banjo), while guest Wyatt Rice brought along his guitar for the sessions.

Sisk is steeped in traditional bluegrass, so much so that How Could I Explain was very nearly on Danny Paisley’s recent album. From the banjo kick-off on the first cut, The Wolf Is At The Door the music drives along at a fair lick. Other highlights are the title track, You Let the Dog off the Chain, Leaving Baker County, Dust On the Bible, I Did The Leaving For You and The Man In The Moon. Massey is the perfect foil for Sisk’s high lonesome, bluesy vocals. Massey sings lead on the two songs that he wrote without diluting the intensity of the rest of the album.

Cherryholmes have continued with the numbering system for their latest album; number III in this instance, with a subtitle Don’t Believe (Skaggs Family 6989020202). I have to admit to be slow getting into Cherryholmes, but that was my loss, although I have caught up with them now.

The family band is growing and developing further with each CD, not surprisingly as four of the members mature as people as well as musicians and, as usual, there is a lot of original material from them. Cia Cherryholmes provided seven of the 11 songs in this collection. The Sailing Man is exceptional with the up-tempo Don’t Believe, I Can Only Love You (So Much), with Cia herself singing lead vocals, and My Love For You Grows, sung by Skip, not far behind. Mum Sandy’s King As A Babe Comes Down is given an otherworldly sound with droning fiddle, whistle and accordion to accompany her vocals. BJ provided a couple of instrumentals; the hot Sumatra and the lovely medley Mansker Spree/O’Coughlin’s Reel, with its twin fiddles, and exercises his vocal chops on Bleeding. Molly, the youngest at 15, wrote and sang the funky Goodbye. The odd one out, so to speak, is Devil In Disguise, penned by Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman. It is easy to appreciate why this group won the IBMA Entertainer of the Year award in 2005.

Mountain Roads Recordings is a new label – founded in Bristol, Virginia, at the beginning of 2008. Big Country Bluegrass, so called after the Jimmy Martin instrumental, was the first band to sign up with them, having previously been part of the Hay Holler stable.

Mention of Jimmy Martin and Hay Holler will immediately give two good clues as to what listeners to Open For Business (MRR-BC-001) can expect; authentic hard-driving bluegrass. Big Country Bluegrass are Tommy Sells (mandolin), Teresa Sells (guitar and vocals), Jeff Michael (fiddle, lead guitar and vocals), Johnny Williams (rhythm guitar and vocals), Lynwood Lunsford (banjo and vocals) and Alan Mastin (bass).

The first track, High Alleghenies, has Jeff Michael singing lead along with Teresa Sells (high baritone) and Johnny Williams (tenor), thus showcasing the beautiful harmonies and drive of this group. Michael’s unique lead vocals can be heard also on Ghost Of A Love, Weary Traveler, I’ll Never Dream No More My Darling and Old Time Preacher Man, among others. Williams assumes the role of lead vocalist on Nashville Jail and Just Another Broken Heart, while Teresa Sells does likewise on I’ve Lost You and I Guess I’ll Go On Dreaming.

Open For Business is a combination of old standards, traditional favourites and two new songs, one by that prolific song-writing couple Tom T. and Miss Dixie Hall.

One CD that has been getting regular play in this household is Signs (Pinecastle 1169) from Special Consensus.

Signs consists of a dozen very impressive songs in all, including some of the best love songs collected on one album in a long time. Ashby Franks’ title song cleverly alludes to the interpretations of messages from the opposite gender. A timeless issue. Franks also penned My Heart Breaks Again. While Justin Carbone’s collaboration with Becky Buller, the excellent mid-tempo Gone To Carolina and his Lonesome Lesson Learned also demonstrate that Special Consensus has two excellent songwriters in its midst.

Franks sings lead on six songs, his voice being equally well suited to Jake Landers’ Mountain Girl, a song from the Statler Brothers’ repertoire, I’ll Go To My Grave Lovin’ You, and another country-style song Footprints. Carbone sings lead on four, both those noted as penned by him plus Leaving This Old Town, and the traditional sacred song What A Beautiful Day. David Thomas, the third lead vocalist heard here, does a fine job on the funky, swinging Talkin’ About It Just Don’t Get It Done. Cahill helped to pen the topically titled Snowball Breakdown. The CD, which is due for general release on 24 March, is a cert for lots of airplay and perhaps some recognition by those that decide to whom the industry’s awards go.

Gold Heart will be touring the UK shortly and, even though they are predominantly very young , they have already released two CDs. Never Let Go is their latest. On this album the band comprises the three Gold sister, Analise, Jocelyn and Shelby, plus studio guests Alan Bartram (bass), Thomas Wywrot (banjo), Andy Hall (Dobro®), Brandon Godman (second fiddle) and producer Justin Carbone.

Typical of this day and age, most of the songs are written by the band members, with Jocelyn Gold providing the bulk of them; writing seven on her own and collaborating on three others. Back To Virginia, Lonely Rain, the a cappella trio Walk On The Water and Hear Me Cry are outstanding compositions. The latter was a finalist in the Chris Austin Songwriting Competition at MerleFest last year.

The depth of maturity in those songs is quite staggering. What is more, it extends to Shelby’s Forever Tennessee and Thank You Darlin’. She wasn’t even a teenager when she penned either song. Not to be outdone, eldest sister Analise contributes the reflective Memories Of My Past and has co-writer credit for Walk On The Water. Most arrangements are up-tempo, but for a change of pace the slower Daylight Breaks and the afore-mentioned Hear Me Cry offer a change from the norm.

All the girls share the vocal responsibilities and solo or in harmony they excel. The performances on Never Let Go are polished with traditional grounding overlaid with youthful vigour and sensibilities.

The Dry Branch Fire Squad’s Echoes Of The Mountains (Rounder 0574) is the first studio recordings in about eight years and it is most welcome. The current line-up comprises Brian Aldridge (guitar, mandolin and vocals), Tom Boyd (banjo, Dobro ¬Æ and vocals), Dan Russell (bass, banjo and vocals) and Ron Thomason (mandolin, guitar, claw hammer banjo, percussion and vocals).

The opening Dixie Cowboy starts up-tempo with Michael Cleveland prominent, before the tempo slows at the end. It is the first of three western songs, the others being Rider On A Orphan Train and Seven Spanish Angels. They reflect delightfully the life style that Colorado resident Thomason enjoys at the moment. His rendition of Echo Mountain achieves his aim of presenting it as a metaphor for all folks who have friends of a different species with a subtle shift of emphasis from the babe to the faithful hound.

Aldridge and Boyd share the vocal responsibilities on Stormy Waters as they reprise the Jimmy Martin duet with Paul Williams in great fashion. Boyd’s other showcase is a solo rendition of Little Joe. Elsewhere there is an a cappella quartet – Power In The Blood; old-time – O Captain! My Captain, a Thomason solo with just clawhammer banjo for accompaniment; soul – Sam Cooke‚Äòs Bring It Home To Me with Thomason’s rustic voice accompanied by a doo-wop style vocal backing; and a touch of dry humour – (You Got To Pray To The Lord) When You See Those Flying Saucers.

How can one objectively review The Hangman (Pinecastle 1167) by Ernie Thacker when, by all accounts, he is extremely fortunate to be alive after a horrendous road accident in April 2006 and a series of critical surgical operations and needs the use of a wheelchair?

Thacker is possibly best known for a brief spell with the Clinch Mountain Boys, although he has had a stop-start career as leader of his own band Route 23 for some years. In addition to Thacker (guitar and vocals) is his brother Matt (bass guitar and tenor vocals), Dick Roach (banjo and baritone vocals) and Brandon Shupping (mandolin) along with guest fiddle player John Rigsby.

Fast tempos dominate for the first three songs, and indeed throughout. The slower Friday Once Again prompts comparison with Keith Whitley’s country offerings. The evocative Keith How Many, written by Melvin Burns and Ernie Thacker, is as powerful a tribute as Fred Eaglesmith’s Carter (mentioned earlier).

There aren’t as many songs from the band members as is normal these days – excellent exceptions are the title song and the Gospel Church Upon The Hill. All the Thacker brothers have a hand in writing these. However, is a good sprinkling of fresh songs with Bill Castle’s The Ballad Of Charlie Dill, Dave Carroll’s Detroit City Chill, and Word Of Mouth from Salvatore Guido and Paul Kelly. Covers include This Drinkin’ Will Kill Me from Dwight Yoakam, I Wish You Knew, Sunday Morning Coming Down and the traditional Rollin’ On These Rubber Wheels. Thacker’s past defines his future.

A variation of this edition of ‘Light In The Window" has been published in British Bluegrass News.

More next time
…………………

John says that his future plans are in flux, but it’s clear that someone will get a strong guitar and tenor man out of the deal.

For the short term, Miller is working with Jesse Brock (mandolinist with Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper) on a new Gospel project for singer/songwriter Rick Lang. John and Jesse are both producing and playing on the CD, Look To The Light, which will feature 14 Lang originals and co-writes.

Rick’s songs have been recorded by a number of prominent bluegrass artists, including Lonesome River band, IIIrd Tyme Out, Front Range and Paul Adkins.

Assisting will be Ron Stewart on banjo and fiddle, Wyatt Rice on guitar, and Mike Cleveland on fiddle. Additional vocals will be provided by Junior Sisk, Russell Moore, Jeff Parker and Dale Ann Bradley.

Should be a good’n.

He will be helping Judith select the music, and tells us that listeners can expect a solid dose of the traditional bluegrass that floats his boat.

“You can bet you’ll hear a lot of Stanley Brothers and the Johnson Mountain Boys. I don’t know whether they are prepared for the songs I’m gonna lay on em!”

Judith says you can also expect to hear music from his latest CD, Blue Side Of The Blue Ridge, with Junior Sisk and Rambler’s Choice.

The show broadcasts from Galax, VA at 98.1 FM, and via live streaming online.

Junior has just announced that John Miller will be joining the band in that capacity. John may be more well known as a guitarist rather than a mandolin player, but he is equally talented on either instrument. Perhaps even more than his instrumental prowess, John is known for his soaring tenor vocals. Hearing him and Junior together should be quite a treat.

John has toured and recorded with a number of highly regarded bluegrass artists, most recently with Frank Solivan II & Dirty Kitchen, with whom I saw him perform at IBMA in October.

Here’s a word from Junior concerning the change in the band.

We are exited to announce the newest edition to our band. John Miller from Christiansburg, VA will be taking the place of Chris Harris on mandolin and vocals. He is a great talent as well as a great guy. We are looking forward to 2009 and many years to come. I would like to thank all the guys who sought interest in the band and took time to come pick with us. I didn’t realize how many talented musicians and singers were this close to me. I would like to wish them all a prosperous career in the business. Anyone looking for such a musician don’t hesitate to give me a shout and I’ll pass along these guys.

Junior is specifically looking for someone with a strong traditional bent, who can both play mandolin and sing tenor. A close proximity to Roanoke, VA would be preferred.

The band has about 40 dates already booked for 2009, and plans are underway to head back in the studio something in 2009 to begin work on a new recording project.

I caught a bit of the Songwriter Showcase hosted by Ron Block and Sierra Hull during the afternoon. The duo performed one of Sierra’s own compositions for the assemblage, before introducing Cia Cherryholmes to oversee hosting duties. Due to a pressing business appointment I was unable to stay longer to check out the young songwriters who were taking the stage as John and I left. So many great songs, so little time…

I made it to only one “official” showcase Tuesday evening, and that was to hear Junior Sisk & Rambler’s Choice. Junior has been one of my favorite singers for years. I love the material he writes, and the soul that comes through in his vocals. I just had to hear him at least once while I was here. This was my first time hearing the new band live. They sounded great with Junior leading the way.

Later than evening as I meandered the halls, I attempted to find a way into the room for a bit of a listen to Dailey & Vincent. It seems I wasn’t the first to have that idea! The crowd was spilling over about 10 feet into the hall. I managed to make it almost to door frame before reaching such a density of listeners that I could proceed no further and just snapped off a photo over the top of the crowd.

I later listened as G2 visited with fans in the hall before proceeding to present their brand of Swedish influenced bluegrass. It was a great set, featuring original material that sounds as if it originated in the Appalachian Mountains rather than Northern Europe. Absolutely amazing that a group of young guys that far from the home of the music have grown into a bluegrass band deserving of being heard at any festival here in the heart of bluegrass country.

I was excited for an opportunity to hear my friend Frank Solivan perform with his band Dirty Kitchen. I’ve been hearing about this band for some time. I’ve heard most of the principles at various times in the past, but never as a unit. Frank recently announced his departure from the Navy Band to pursue his own musical endeavors, judging by what I heard Tuesday night, his future is bright.

I also managed to put an ear to the sets of Gold Heart, Liberty Pike, and David Peterson before retiring for the night. IBMA, there’s nowhere else like it!

I was able to attend last Friday’s (7/25) show where I enjoyed music of Grasstowne, Jimmy Bowen & Santa Fe, The Bluegrass Brothers and Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys – and was flat blown away by my first live experience of Dailey & Vincent!

Jenny Slaughter, the official FiddleFest photographer, shared a number of images she captured at the festival, which we share with our readers forthwith.

Several years later when I moved to Virginia I began to meet, and even work with, some of the men I had looked to as heros of my bluegrass world. I met Junior when he was singing with Alan Bibey, Terry Baucom and Blueridge. Pleasantly, I discovered that not only was Junior one of my favorite singers, he became one of my favorite people as well. As genuine as anyone I ever met, Junior doesn’t put on airs at all. He is who he is, unapologetically, and that’s a good thing, because he’s good people.

When Blueridge disbanded so Bibey could join Grasstowne, I hoped Junior would quickly find a musical home so I could continue to enjoy his singing and songwriting. He seemed to drop off the radar though. Here in Southwest Virginia though, if you knew the right people you heard rumors that Junior was quietly putting something of his own together. Soon the whispers said Rambler’s Choice was back.

The rumors are no longer whispered in secret, it’s common knowledge now. Rambler’s Choice will release their first Rebel Records CD on June 24, 2008. The CD is titled Blue Side of the Blue Ridge . It includes both traditional and original material in twelve tracks.

I had a chance to visit with Junior the other day and ask him about the reformation of the band. I asked him how he came to put the band back together rather than just looking for a gig in an existing band.

Well after the breakup of BlueRidge, I just about decided to wait and go with another band already established, but I like to do the old stuff nobody does anymore and the new stuff done the traditional way. And with joining another band it meant learning another collection of songs that might not be my style. Darrell Wilkerson was the first to call and said if I decided to start my own band he would like to pick with me. So that got me thinking about it. I knew Timmy Massey wasn’t working with a band at the time and thought maybe we could do the Ramblers Choice thing again. He agreed. Darrell said he knew a good mandolin player Chris Harris from Eden that was interested in picking with a band. We got together and it just clicked! Now we needed a fiddle player. I called Billy Hawks and he soon joined up with us. And I get to do the songs that fit my style.

Timmy is Junior’s cousin and was a founding member of the original Rambler’s Choice. Hearing the two of them together again will bring a smile to the face of anyone who remembers the original.

Getting a group of guys together who love to pick and calling it a band, is one thing. Convincing a label and festival promoters is something else entirely. I asked Junior what the first steps where to getting the band off the ground and recording a CD.

I recorded a demo of three songs at Dale Perry’s to send to record labels to see if anybody would be interested in me. Rebel had the most interest in it and wanted to talk. We met at IBMA and it just clicked too! I am very excited with the help and support from the Rebel folks, All of them!

I then thought of Ronnie Bowman to produce the record for me since he has worked with me before on the Wyatt Rice and Santa Cruz project. He agreed to produce it and wanted Wyatt to engineer for him. I thought how cool! Two of my favorite friends on earth are gonna do my record for me.

About that recording? How did it go down? Where did you track?

We recorded at Ronnie’s house. It was laid back with no pressure.We had most of the material already worked up. But when it came down to the last couple of days we decided some of the material wasn’t strong enough or didn’t fit the project. We started to panic a little until Ronnie let us listen to some of his new songs,. WOW… we have been saved! And the rest is history.

Having worked with Wyatt myself more than once, I can attest that he is a man who knows what the instruments are supposed to sound like, and how to get the tone out of them. This record proves that.

Speaking of the CD, I asked Junior which tune(s) were his favorites on this recording.

My favorite tune on the project is one of Ronnie’s songs called Little bit of this, Little bit of that. It wasn’t exactly what I normally would sing, but I just loved it! And I think it came out good. It is the first release from the project.

My other fav is I Did The Leaving For You. Its a payback song written by Ashby Frank.

Ronnie’s tune is, in fact, a great song. The melody is pleasant, the lyrics are engaging, the instrumental hook is memorable, and Junior’s singing is heart felt, just as I expected it to be.

I think my favorite may be Junior’s second choice. Ashby Frank’s I Did The Leaving For You is a great leaving song, but it’s not leaving, it’s kicking out! I particularly enjoyed the opening line of the chorus.

I called your momma so you’d have a place to stay

The entire CD is pure, unadulterated Bluegrass. If you are a fan of hard driving, fast paced bluegrass with soulful singing, this CD is one you need to own. All the required songs are here, a moonshine song, a leaving song, a hard luck song, a gospel song, and more. This is the way we do bluegrass here in Southwest Virginia.

Junior had one last comment he wanted to share regarding the band.

I just wanted to mention I am now playing with the best bunch of guys a fella could hope for. It’s tough to try to start a new band and get enough work to keep them. I am doing my own booking and just hope I can afford to keep doing what I love to do for a long time to come. I feel there is a place in the music biz for the kind of music we love to play.

As far as I’m concerned, he’s absolutely correct. I love Junior’s singing, and this new CD is getting a lot of play in my iTunes. Rambler’s Choice is back, and that should make fans of traditional bluegrass music very happy.

Just today, it has been announced that Junior Sisk & Ramblers’ Choice have signed with Rebel Records. The Ferrum, VA based band consists of Sisk on guitar & lead vocals, Tim Massey on bass, Darrell Wilkerson on banjo, Chris Harris on mandolin, and Billy Hawks on fiddle.

Both band and label are excited by the pairing. Says Sisk…

“I’ve always wanted to record for Rebel. Now I feel like I’ve found a home.”

The straight-ahead, traditional bluegrass favored by the band is a perfect fit for Rebel who specializes in just that. Mark Freeman of Rebel says…

“Junior is a strong singer with a solid band and we’re looking forward to working with them.”

The upcoming album, produced by Ronnie Bowman and tentatively titled Blue Side Of The Blue Ridge, is scheduled for a mid-summer release.

It appeared as if Eddie Stubbs sat in one place for the entire day doing live interviews and broadcasts for WSM. At some point I stumbled across Byron House and Cody Kilby out in the hall working up a tune. Moving the other direction down the hall I spotted Chris Jones deep in conversation. Then I heard Don Rigsby & Midnight Call throwing down on some hard driving bluegrass.

Eddie Stubbs	Byron & Cody	Chris Jones	Don Rigsby

I headed back toward the PineCastle showcase room and caught a jam in hall with Carl Jackson and some others. I finally did make to the PineCastle room which is where I spent the remainder of my evening. The first act I saw was the John Cowan Band. John was great as usual. I spent some time talking with Barry Scott in hall and then went back in and sat down to watch John Cowan and Ronnie McCoury accompany Pat Flynn on a set.

Carl Jackson	John Cowan Band		Ronnie McCoury

After that Blueridge took the stage. I may be a little biased since these guys are friends of mine, but I say with all honesty that it was the best performance I saw last night. The group as a whole is just incredible, they are tight and rehearsed, they know their arrangements, and the material is wonderful. In addition to all that, Alan Bibey is simply one of the best mandolin players in the business and Junior Sisk has got to be the most soulful singer I know. When he sings a song, you believe him. It’s always a great performance, but it’s also completely heartfelt. They really are a great traditional band, though Alan is certainly capable of so much on the mandolin that I hate to qualify him that way. If you can’t tell, I like these guys’ music. Check them out when you get a chance.

BlueRidge	Alan & Junior	Alan Johnson	Alan Bibey

That’s it for now, but we have more photos of the event from contributing photographers and we’ll try and get some more galleries up soon.