The promoters of the Gathering Of The Vibes festival have come up with a clever way to get you to tune in for their live webcast tonight (4/2) when they announce this year’s lineup.

After the announcements, they will run a video of a live performance at The Gathering in 2004 by The Masters Of Bluegrass: Bryn Bright, Sam Bush, Vassar Clements, Peter Rowan, Gordon Stone, and Tony Trischka.

The webcast begins at 8:00 p.m. (EDT) on the festival website.

The 2009 fest runs July 23-26 in Bridgeport, CT.

In advance of his appearance this Saturday (1/10) at Don Quixote’s International Music Hall (Felton, CA), the Santa Cruz Good Time Weekly wrote about man-of-many-disciplines Peter Rowan.

In an article entitled Peter Rowan saw bluegrass born, the writer drew attention to Rowan’s website, where the former Blue Grass Boy comments on the present state of the music.

“To play bluegrass right”, Rowan claims on his website, “you’ve got to learn it from someone like Bill Monroe, who has it in his genes. Bill’s a very strong leader. He wouldn’t stand for any messing with his music. After he goes, very few people will be able to do anything but a fast or slow tune. Bluegrass isn’t a dance style anymore. All the old steps are being forgotten. I liked it because it had blues and ballads, and when Bill Monroe played the mandolin, fire came out.”

The main part of the story reminds readers of Rowan’s chequered career in the music business. You can readthe full article online.

The Peter Rowan & Tony Rice Quartet has undergone a couple changes recently. In addition to Rowan & Rice, the quartet formerly consisted of mandolinist Sharon Gilchrist and bassist Bryn Davies.

Both ladies have recently moved on to other pursuits and accordingly, Rowan & Rice have brought two new pickers onboard to fill the vacancies.

Joining the quartet on mandolin, and I presume fiddle, is Ricky Simpkins. Simpkins has played with Rice for many years in The Tony Rice Unit, and it seems natural that he would called on for this gig.

Multi-award winning bassist Mike Bub has been called in to hold down the low notes. Mike is well known throughout the bluegrass world for the years he spent in the Del McCoury Band. Bub is a busy man these days. He has been touring with Dale Ann Bradley, and keeping himself busy with other pursuits as well.

Yes, I am playing with the R&R Quartet and Dale Ann Bradley. So far there have been very few conflicts on dates. I am also doing a couple of music camps this year including the Transatlantic Blugrasss School in Wales, UK , Rockygrass Academy and the Augusta Heritage Workshop in Elkins, WVA. Oh yeah, I am also working with a fellow named Jimmy Stewart here in Nashville who years ago played dobro and fiddle with Doyle Lawson. He has been a utility player for Brooks and Dunn for about 12 years and will have a record out on Warner Brothers this year. Oh and one more….still working with songwriters Verlon Thompson and Shawn Camp. We have been doing the Station Inn for about the past year with Chris Henry and hope to get something on CD soon.

In addition to all his musical jobs, Bub is also busy being a dad to his three year old son, a job he relishes.

Riley is the joy of our life. He’s already aspiring to be a musician, pilot, race car driver, railroad engineer and lady killer.

Commenting on the quartets recent performance at the Birchmere, the Washington Post had this to say concerning the new band members.

The quartet’s lineup remains first-rate, with Simpkins and Bub providing smoothly integrated accompaniment and soulful vocal shadings.

I’m sure they’re correct. Bub and Simpkins are long time favorites of mine on their respective instruments. I’m looking forward to the chance to hear them in this context.

Homespun Video is set to release a new instructional DVD this week featuring Peter Rowan and Tony Rice. Entitled Peter Rowan and Tony Rice Teach Songs, Guitar and Musicianship, the DVD runs 110 minutes with Rowan Rice teaching a half dozen songs from the repertoire of their live shows.

Rowan shows ideas designed to help an rhythm guitarist accompany a vocalist, while Rice describes more advanced concepts. Songs taught include You Were There For Me, Dustbowl Children, Let the Harvest Go to Seed, Angel Island, Come Back to Old Santa Fe and Panama Red. The DVD also features a performance of Rowan’s classic song, Midnight Moonlight.

It is scheduled for release on January 4. Find more details on the Homespun Video site.