FiddleFest is an annual bluegrass festival located quite near my home in Roanoke, VA. It’s held the last weekend of July each year on the bucolic campus of Hollins University, just north of Roanoke.

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.

Where No One Stands Alone is Paul Williams’ seventh album for Rebel Records; all have been in the bluegrass Gospel style. That has been Williams’ chosen path for several years now, since retiring from his day job. He has been well rewarded for his endeavours with several awards from SPBGMA and nominations for IBMA awards. He deserves the roses.This latest CD consists of 14 tracks in all, five of which were written by Williams (credited as Paul Humphrey, as usual), a couple arranged by him and the balance, including Joe Isaacs’ classic I Pressed Through The Crowd, from various other sources.

Vocally, all but two songs is a trio, with Williams (mandolin, and lead or tenor) accompanied by Kelly McCord (guitar and lead or tenor) and Rodney Worley (fiddle, guitar and baritone). The variations are found with Could That Be Jesus?, a duet with McCord taking the lead to Williams’ tenor, and the a cappella quartet Thank You Jesus, which incorporates Kevin Bowen, singing bass, underpinning Williams’ high lead, McCord’s low-tenor and Worley’s baritone. Matt Wallace makes sure that the rhythm section is solid throughout.

There are many great performances here and more are recognisable as one listens again and again . The quintet is assured from the beginning with The Other Side Of Jordan and continues with A Long Time Ago, where the subject has salvation at an early time in his life and exists thereafter with a certainty about his final destination. Beautiful Heaven and When We’re Living On The Other Side are both characterised by yet more stellar lead vocals, great close harmony singing, a soaring ending and neat flat-pick guitar from Worley. The latter has McCord singing lead and intricate vocal interplay, and both are excellent songs written by Williams.

I’m Getting Anxious begins with a spoken introduction showing that there is still scope for something different here and there.

A Dusty Pair Of Sandals, written by Linda King, urges a steadfastness in spiritual belief. “Don’t let trials and tribulations make you doubt, when great troubles overtake you, don’t give in and don’t give out.” Jesus will be there for you. Williams and co., with McCord singing lead, capture the associated tension very well.

Writer Ernie Groves questions the churches’ solidarity with its original mission in Modernize Churches, asking for a return to the old time way. That Same Road uses the length of a highway as an analogy for a life of struggle without God, suggesting that the road is longer if you have been too far from God.

Another stellar performance can be heard in Could That Be Jesus?, with its almost pleading refrain asking for His presence to assist in the crossing of the spiritual waters. The collection ends with a driving rendition of I Know My Lord Is Going To Lead Me Out.

Everybody describes Paul Williams as a “gentleman;” he lives his life by his beliefs and that comes out in his writing and his singing. Listening to Where No One Stands Alone leaves no doubt about his strong convictions and his prowess as a musician.

Audio samples can be found in iTunes.

The Gospel Music Association has announced the nominees for the 2008 Dove Awards, and their bluegrass categories are chock full of familiar names.

The awards will be announced at the 39th Annual Dove Awards on April 23 in Nashville, TN.

The Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year nominees are:

• He’s In Control from Austins Bridge by Austins Bridge; Justin Rivers, Mike Kofahl, John Ramsey (writers); Daywind Records
• I Will Find You Again from Lifetimes by Little Roy Lewis, Earl Scruggs, Lizzy Long; Wayne Haun, Joel Lindsey, Cindi Ballard (writers); Vine Records
• Love Will Be Enough from Salt of the Earth by Ricky Skaggs & The Whites; Janis Ian, Paul Overstreet (writers); Skaggs Family Records
• Salt of the Earth from Salt of the Earth by Ricky Skaggs & The Whites; Jim Rushing, Ronald Scaife (writers); Skaggs Family Records
• The Key To Heaven from Flyin’ High by The Lewis Family; Caleb Collins, Lyn Rowell (writers); Vine Records

In the Bluegrass Album of the Year category, we have:

• God’s Masterpiece – The Marksmen; Mark Wheeler (producer); Rural Rhythm Records
• Lifetimes – Little Roy Lewis, Earl Scruggs, Lizzy Long; Wayne Haun, Kevin Ward (producer); Vine Records
• Salt Of The Earth - Ricky Skaggs & The Whites; Ricky Skaggs & The Whites (producer); Skaggs Family Records
• Tell Someone - Kenny & Amanda Smith Band; Kenny & Amanda Smith Band (producer); Rebel Records
• Where No One Stands Alone – Paul Williams & The Victory Trio; Paul Williams (producer); Rebel Records

Congratulations and best of luck to them all!

This Christmas memory comes from Paul Williams, one of bluegrass music’s true legends – both as a songwriter and a tenor singer.

The year was 1957, November… I had just gone to work for Jimmy Martin in Detroit, Michigan. I had been released from active duty in the U.S. Air Force in October, and received a phone call from “The King” to come and work for him.

That Christmas, 1957, Jimmy asked me to go with him and his family to Sneedville, TN to spend Christmas. It had only been about seven weeks since I had been home with my parents, so I accepted Jimmy’s offer and went along with him. I got to meet his family – his brothers and sisters, his mother and his step-father.

It was a snowy time, cold, and I noticed how much these folks enjoyed being together, exchanging gifts, great food and so much joy all around. That’s what prompted me to write a Christmas song that we later recorded. Old Fashioned Christmas was a big seller, very popular on the radio and juke boxes. It still brings in a few royalties today, and that will be fifty years ago come 2008.

Five years later I married Jimmy’s youngest sister and we celebrated our 45th anniversary this past year.

God has truly Blessed our lives. We have one son, four granddaughters, and a wonderful daughter-in-law. Merry Christmas to everybody.