This is the fourth in our series of 2009 Red Carpet videos. These were filmed immediately prior to the IBMA Award Show.

This one features Katy Daley interviewing Phil Leadbetter of Grasstowne.

We’ve all seen coverage of the 4oth anniversary of the NASA moon landing this past few days. Those of us old enough to remember have even had the chance to play the “where were you when…” game.

The Times Dispatch of Richmond, VA had extensive reporting yesterday recalling the moon landing and the many people required to make it happen. Times Dispatch photographer and multi-media content creator Dean Hoffmeyer put together a slide show with audio for their web site, which includes a familiar voice.

“Did you know that Phil Leadbetter has collected NASA memorabilia since he was a kid? I knew he would be a good person to turn to on the 40th anniversary of the moon landing.

Also recorded is Col. James Beard, USAF retired, who volunteered for the astronaut program, but was one of the hundreds (maybe thousands) who were eliminated in the selection process. Beard is also a bluegrass lover.”

Who knew? Check out the slide show here.

Dean does side work as a free lance photographer in the bluegrass world, with a number of album covers to his credit. We are proud to note that he will be part of our 2009 IBMA coverage here on The Bluegrass Blog.

Phil Leadbetter sent along this brief report about Grasstowne’s recent Canadian tour, along with some photos of the guys taking in the sights.

Grasstowne headed to Canada for concerts in the Yukon on June 7-19. The band played concerts in the towns of Teslin, Dawson City, White Horse as well as The 3 day Kluane Bluegrass Festival in Haines Junction that featured bands such as Dailey and Vincent and Dale Ann Bradley. Grasstowne also preformed a concert in Haines, Alaska.

The band made lots of new fans and friends during the tour and got to enjoy lots of first time events such as panning for gold, a helicopter ride over a huge glacier and also several fishing excursions in the Yukon.

This was certainly one of the best trips we have ever had a chance to be part of. It has been an awesome time.

I heard recently from Grasstowne mando man Alan Bibey, who reports that tracking for their next CD is complete. They are in the process of mixing now, and hope to have the project delivered to Pinecastle Records shortly.

The album is tentatively titled The Other Side Of Towne, and no release date has yet been announced.

Their debut project, The Road Headin’ Home, was recorded only a few weeks after the band was formed in December of 2006, and Al says that they cherished having the chance to mull carefully over the songs they might choose for this one.

“We did have a lot more time put in on finding the right combination of songs this time, and had to cut a lot of great tunes out to get down to the 14 that are on the project.”

Bibey ran down some of the material for us…

“We’re lucky to have co-songwriter of the year Steve Gulley in the band and have three tunes from him. Lifting Up The Cross is a great Gospel tune he wrote with Ken Mellons and we have included two other tunes he wrote with his writing partner Tim Stafford. Everyone know what great writer these guys are.

We were also fortunate to have 4 tunes from Wayne Winkle (my former Blueridge bandmate) and Craig Market, a couple they co-wrote and a couple on their on. The title track is one of Wayne’s.  We have one a cappella Gospel number on the CD written by Michael Bentley that’s brand new, but really sounds old and my dear friend Terry Baucom is singing bass on that one. I also co-wrote one song called Pay Your Dues with Ronnie Bowman and Shawn Lane, and wrote another couple tunes including a new instrumental called Tobaccoville Road that I hope the folks will like.”

Grasstowne consists of Bibey on mandolin and vocals, Gulley on guitar and vocals, Phil Leadbetter on resonator guitar, Jason Davis on banjo and Travis Greer on bass. Stuart Duncan also adds fiddle to the new CD.