Kati Penn just wrote in to let us know about a couple new additions to her band.

She has added Jimmy Redden on the 5-string banjo. Born in Soddy Daisy, TN, Jimmy has been playing the banjo since he was 10. In 2004 he embarked on the journey of becoming a professional bluegrass musician, playing with the band Fisher and Company. He then covered for Steve Dilling of IIIrd Tyme Out when Steve had hand surgery in 2005. Jimmy got to perform on The Grand Ole Opry during that time. He played with the Anita Fisher Band for 3.5 years before joining the Katie Penn Band. Jimmy currently lives in Chattanooga, TN.

The other addition is Nick Powell on bass and vocals. Also living in Chattanooga, Nick is a native of Young Harris, GA. An avid bluegrass fan, Nick is also an accomplished mandolin and guitar player who picked up his first instrument at the ripe young age of 5. At age 12 he began performing as part of his family’s band, The Powell Family. His previous bluegrass experience includes performing with the Marksmen Quartet and the Anita Fisher Band.

More information about all the band members is available on Kati’s MySpace page.

Kati tells us the new CD, produced by Rob Ickes, is to be released soon. We’ll let you know when we have news of that.

There have been a couple new additions to The Kati Penn Band over the last couple of months. We missed them, but Kati wrote in to let us know about them.

Back in December, James Kee joined the band on mandolin. James hails from Chattanooga, TN and has played with many bands in that area, and with The Anita Fischer Band.

Then early last month, in January, Ken Shackelford was added to the lineup as bass player. Ken is from Tyner, KY.

I’m not clear if these new band members are included on the recording currently underway, or not. Kati’s website does list the CD as nearly completion. It’s being produced by Rob Ickes and the plan is to release the disc sometime early summer 2008.

We’ve caught word of a few other new projects expected at some point in 2008.

Kati Penn is working now on a new project with Blue Highway’s Rob Ickes producing. She is planning a mid-2008 release.

Starting soon on a new album is Revonda Roberts & Harvest Wind, hoping to follow-up the success they saw with their Ancient Days CD,  which garnered a 2007 Dove Award Nomination.

Also tracking this fall/winter are The Infamous Stringdusters, with plans to turn over a final master to Sugar Hill early in ‘08. When I saw them earlier this year, there were a number of new songs in the show which they mentioned had been recently written by band members, all of which would be excellent candidates for inclusion on a new release.

No word yet on a release date for the second ‘Dusters CD.

2008 is shaping up as a powerful year for new bluegrass releases.