Rebel Records is on the hunt for someone to fill a position in their Radio Publicity & Promotion department. The position requires excellent communication and computer skills and a love for Bluegrass and/or Old-Time Music. Applicants must reside in central Virginia.

Interested candidates are requested to send a digital resume to them by email, or by postal mail to:

I caught up with Mark Freeman of Rebel Records recently, and he shared some information about their release schedule for 2009.

We mentioned last week that they would have a new Lost and Found CD in March, and Mark tells us that they will also have a Barry Scott Gospel project, the debut from Spring Creek and a new album from David Davis & the Warrior River Boys between April and May.

“That will quickly be followed by Don Rigsby’s first Gospel recording for Rebel sometime in June. I’m confidant Paul Williams will have a new album ready for this year, as he always does.

And that’s just the new projects… we have a few reissues and compilations planned as well. I’m confident that the John Duffey collection we’ve been promising for the past few years will see the light of day sometime this Spring; we’ll also have a Mac Wiseman CD on our Vault Masters Series coming out around that time too.

A collection tentatively titled Drive Time Bluegrass will be the first release of the year on our budget-priced 8000 Series – that will probably drop sometime early Summer. There are also plans for a second Larry Sparks Gospel compilation, a retrospective on Benny & Valle Cain, and a repackaged McPeak Brothers collection as well.”

That’s a lot to be looking forward to from Rebel this year. Hat’s off to them for continuing to release both new music, and compilations from tehir extensive collection of classic bluegrass.

Rebel Records has announced the signing of Colorado’s Spring Creek, which they note marks the first time the Virginia label has contracted with a band based west of the Mississippi.

It may also mark the first time a new band hits the national scene composed entirely of players who studied bluegrass music at South Plains College under the tutelage of Alan Munde and Joe Carr.

Spring Creek is made up of Jessica Smith on bass, Chris Elliott on banjo, Alex Johnstone on mandolin and fiddle, and Tyalor Sims on guitar. All four members contribute vocally, trading off on lead and harmony. They write much of the material they record and perform, and feature a good bit of duet singing.

The band will be at IBMA at the end of this month performing on a variety of showcase stages, and will be in the studio later this fall getting started on their debut CD for Rebel. A Spring 2009 release is anticipated.

You can hear hear audio samples from current releases on the band’s web site or MySpace page.

When BlueRidge split in early 2007, Alan Bibey and Jason Davis became part of the newly formed Grasstowne, and Alan Johnson joined Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Junior Sisk, their soulful lead singer, reassembled his old group, and they have been in the studio over the winter completing a new album.

Just today, it has been announced that Junior Sisk & Ramblers’ Choice have signed with Rebel Records. The Ferrum, VA based band consists of Sisk on guitar & lead vocals, Tim Massey on bass, Darrell Wilkerson on banjo, Chris Harris on mandolin, and Billy Hawks on fiddle.

Both band and label are excited by the pairing. Says Sisk…

“I’ve always wanted to record for Rebel. Now I feel like I’ve found a home.”

The straight-ahead, traditional bluegrass favored by the band is a perfect fit for Rebel who specializes in just that. Mark Freeman of Rebel says…

“Junior is a strong singer with a solid band and we’re looking forward to working with them.”

The upcoming album, produced by Ronnie Bowman and tentatively titled Blue Side Of The Blue Ridge, is scheduled for a mid-summer release.