Bluegrass fans have loved Dave Evans for years, both for his soulful banjo playing, sing and songwriting, and for his determination in the face of  overwhelming obstacles. Evans had worked with a number of seminal bluegrass bands, including Earl Taylor, Red Allen, The Boys from Indiana, and the Goins Brothers, but it was his time with Larry Sparks starting in 1972 that led to his prominence as a picker and singer.

He started his own group in 1978 (River Bend), toured widely, and recorded 5 albums for Rebel Records. Things went bad after a dozen or so years, when Evans was charged with assault, for which he was convicted, and served a 10 year sentence. After doing his time, Evans returned to music and has spoken very little about the episode that changed his life.

But that is about to change. New York filmmaker Matthew J. Pellowski and Red Line Studios have secured the rights to produce a documentary on Evans. Last of the Breed:  The Dave Evans Story will start production later this year, and cover his life from childhood to the present, leaving no detail behind.

The film’s promotion describes it thusly…

“Our film will document this amazing true story of one man’s prediction of his own destiny and seeing it through despite juggling the many hurdles life can throw at you. We will interview key people from Dave’s childhood and early years, as well as prominent Country and Bluegrass musicians that have played with, or been inspired by Dave’s career. Our film will at all opportunities incorporate as much of Dave’s music as possible to help narrate our story through not just voice over and interview, but in song.”

Pellowski says that he first became interested in Dave when he licensed one of Evans’ songs for use in another film, Eyes of the Mothman in 2009.

“Throughout the process of licensing his music for our film, our friendship grew and we discussed documenting what might be the final album of his career. Those talks led to longer discussions of past stories of shows, record deals, and the triumphs and tribulations of his career in music. We started to realize together that his story must be told – should be told – because it can inspire others and is a true epic of love, passion, regret, music, success, and lessons learned in life.”

Rebel Records is on board, agreeing to  make recordings of Dave’s music available to the producers royalty-free, and New York arts foundation Fractured Atlas is assisting with fundraising.

Producer Anastasia Konstantinou admits that money is still an issue for the project, and while she is pleased with the initial reaction to their efforts, she recognizes that they still have a mountain to climb.

“The blue grass community is a close knit group of friends and family and we’re happy to see so much support for our film.

We’re still raising money right now and seeking additional sponsors, investors and any assistance we can to get this film 100% off the ground. We’re also hopeful to attach a celebrity voice to the project and are seeking an appropriate representative such as actor and blue grass musician Steve Martin, Alison Krauss, fellow Kentuckian George Clooney or even Oscar winner Jeff Bridges of recent Crazy Heart fame.”

Last of the Breed has a fan page on Facebook. Nothing yet on IMDB.

Larry Sparks has had a number of celebrated bands during his career, even recording recently with star-studded lineups. For many die-hard Sparks fans, however, the band that worked with Larry in the 1990s is considered to be one of his best. This lineup had Larry on guitar, Larry’s son D. Sparks on bass, David Harvey on mandolin and Barry Crabtree on banjo.

Nearly 18 years after they last performed together, this congregation got together again this past weekend at Ralph Stanley’s festival in Coeburn, VA. We understand that they played some of Sparks’ newer material but made sure to reach back for favorites like Face In The Crowd, Blue Mountain Memories, Tennessee 1949, and Kentucky Girl.

Our correspondent on the scene tells us that the performances sounded just like the records, and Barry even remembered Kentucky Chimes! Sorry I missed that one – it was a one-time event.

Here are a couple more photos from the reunion.

Rebel Records has announced that the latest in their Vault Series, Dark As A Dungeon – Songs Of The Mines, will be released at the end of March. The CD will include mining songs from 14 Rebel artists including Blue Highway, Seldom Scene, Larry Sparks, The Country Gentlemen in the mix.

The Vault Series is Rebel’s budget-minded reissue inventory, offering material from their deep bluegrass catalog. Some of these tracks date back 25 years or more, some are fairly new, and one track has never been previously released.

Frank Godbey gives a taste of the theme this project presents in the conclusion to his liner notes.

“Through these songs we can picture the world’s largest shovel overseeing an open-pit landscape, imagine trying to peer through the darkness at the bottom of a deep shaft where daylight never reaches, visualize wives and sweethearts waiting at a mine’s entrance for news of loved ones trapped below, and listen to labored breathing caused by black lung disease—is it any wonder that people sing about the hardships and hazards associated with mining?

Despite the tragic nature of many of these songs, the impact is enhanced immeasurably by their quiet yet undeniable eloquence.   These performances give us powerful glimpses into the lives and innermost feelings of miners and their families.”

Perhaps some of these are familiar?

• Green Rolling Hills – Bill Harrell & The Virginians
• A Miner’s Life – The Country Gentlemen
• Paradise – Seldom Scene
• Call The Captain – Steep Canyon Rangers
• Dream Of A Miner’s Child – Whitley & Skaggs
• Black Dust Fever - Wildwood Valley Boys
• In Those Mines – Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike
• Daddy’s Dinner Bucket – Ralph Stanley II
• Digging In The Ground – Larry Sparks
• Coaltown Saturday Night – Randall Hylton
• The River Ran Black – David Davis & The Warrior River Boys
• West Virginia’s Last Hand Loader – Blue Highway
• The Hermit Miner – Perfect Strangers
• Dark As A Dungeon – James Alan Shelton

Dark As A Dungeon – Songs Of The Mines is set for a March 30 release.

A number of CDs we have discussed recently on The Bluegrass Blog have hit this past few weeks.

The sophomore release from Grasstowne, The Other Side Of Towne, came out on October 6. As visible as these guys have been since they formed in December of 2006, it seems a bit odd that this is only their second CD. Perhaps that is because these guys had all been involved in top-tier bluegrass bands for so many years beforehand.

Grasstowne features Alan Bibey on mandolin, Steve Gulley on guitar, Phil Leadbetter on resonator guitar, Jason Davis on banjo and Dale Perry on bass. All contribute vocally, with Gulley and Bibey doing the lead singing.

You can hear several audio samples (and read some comments from Alan Bibey) in our August preview, and samples from all 14 tracks can be found on the Grasstowne site and in iTunes.

Larry Sparks’ I Just Want To Thank You Lord was released on October 20, the official debut of Rural Rhythm Christian, a new division of the popular California-based label. Though previously released in 2001 to very limited distribution, the tracks have been remastered and this music will be new to the great majority of Sparks fans far and wide.

This music is classic Sparks – unpretentious, unadorned and, frankly, unequaled. Larry’s singing and guitar are in fine form with stellar contributions from Josh McMurray on banjo, Scott Napier on mandolin and Matthew Madden on bass. The sparse arrangements perfectly suit the gravity of the material, and I would rank I Just Want To Thank You Lord with the very best work of his long and remarkable career.

Here’s a taste of the title track, a Sparks original composition.

I Just Want To Thank You Lord – Listen Now    

What a gem. The full track also includes a poignant recitation.

Look for I Just Want To Thank You Lord wherever you purchase CDs online. The digital release will be on November 17.

Del McCoury may be slowing down his tour schedule, but not his recorded output. After releasing a 4 CD set of newly-recorded music earlier this year (Celebrating 50 Years of Del McCoury), Del is back with another new album, Family Circle (October 20), featuring his crack band.

McCoury has developed a trademark sound recording music from outside of bluegrass – often way outside – but performing it with the approach and sensibility of a traditional bluegrass band. Unsurprisingly, this new project follows that recipe to a “T,” and the result is yet another thoroughly enjoyable visit with Del and the boys.

Powerful and artful accompaniment is provided by Ronnie McCoury on mandolin, Rob McCoury on banjo, Jason Carter on fiddle and Alan Bartram on bass.

You can hear full audio from all 14 tracks in our earlier preview, and samples in iTunes.