With the annual IBMA World Of Bluegrass convention coming up (9/29-10/2), a number of instructional workshops have been scheduled in Nashville during that same time frame. Students of bluegrass instruments can take advantage of these opportunities during their visit, especially those who will travel some distance to Nashville for IBMA.

The week just prior to the IBMA events will see a workshop offered by FiddleStar Camps. It will run September 25-28 just outside of Nashville and will feature instruction from several renowned bluegrass artists.

This one includes 6 time National Fiddle Champion Megan B. Lynch, Lonesome River Band bassist and harmony singer Mike Anglin, Sam Bush guitarist and singer Stephen Mougin, former Sunny Mountain Boy bassist and harmony singer Kip Martin, and Lonesome River Band mandolin player and high lead singer Andy Ball. There will be formal instrument classes, jams and jam classes, Nashville field trips, band scrambles, many more activities, and tons of fun!!

Full details can be found on the FiddleStar site.

During IBMA week, both Herschel Sizemore and Roland White will offer mandolin workshops at Big Joe’s Guitarworks in Nashville. Roland’s workshop will be on October 2 running from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., and Herschel’s on October 3 will offer two sessions, 10:00-1:00 and 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Registration to these mandolin workshops is limited to 20 students each, so interested participants are urged to contact Big Joe right away to secure a spot.

On the evening of September 8, 2007, downtown Owensboro Kentucky will be ringing with the sounds of bluegrass mandolin played in the traditional style of Bill Monroe. The International Bluegrass Music Museum is hosting their annual Monroe-style Mandolin Camp, and September 8th is the faculty concert.

Faculty at this year’s event include Frank Wakefield (Greenbriar Boys), Mike Compton (Nashville Bluegrass Band), Roland White (Kentucky Colonels, Blue Grass Boys), Skip Gorman (Rabbit in a Log) and David Long (Little Country Giants). These mandolin experts will be joined for the evening by former Blue Grass Boy guitar player and lead singer, Tom Ewing.

The concert will take place at The Owensboro Symphony Academy, just steps from the IBMM. Tickets for the show can be purchased for $20 at the door, or by calling 888-692-2656.

We failed to mention this when it was announced recently, but in case any readers don’t know about it, here it is.

The International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, KY is moving forward with plans for it’s second Monroe-Style Mandolin Camp. The museum held this camp last year and it was quite successful.

This year the dates for the camp are September 7-9, 2007.

The focus, of course, is the mandolin style of Bill Monroe. Accordingly, the museum is bringing in some of the best authorities on Monroe’s mandolin playing around. Instructors include: Frank Wakefield, Mike Compton, Roland White, Skip Gorman and David Long.

These prestigious yet accessible ambassadors of Monroe-sytle mandolin will present classes and workshops examining issues related to the development and execution of Monroe’s mandolin style, songwriting, musical influences, and other “Billisms.” Topics include specific eras in the evolution of Monroe’s style, right hand technique, and the blues, fiddle, and church music that helped to shape Monroe’s musical expression.

In addition to the instructional aspects of the camps, the faculty will perform a concert on September 8th with special guest Tom Ewing. Tom Ewing is a former Bluegrass Boy and will play guitar and sing. Tickets for the concert are available for $15 at the door, but Camp registrants get premium seats as part of the registration package.

Registration cost is $500 and includes all classes, mid-day meals each day, 2 nights of hotel rooms, the concert, a group picture and a road trip to Rosine, KY.

Registration is limited to 45 individuals on a first come first serve basis. To make your reservations call the museum at 1-888-692-2656 or visit bluegrass-museum.org.

This Tuesday and Wednesday nights will see quite a gathering of bluegrass talent at Nashville’s legendary Station Inn, assembled to benefit the Autism Society of Middle Tennessee. Their goal is to help raise awareness of this serious neurological condition, as well as donations for the work of the ASMT.

April 10 will feature performances by The Grascals, Ronnie Bowman & Friends, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Steel Drivers, The Roland White Band, and Chris Jones & The Nightdrivers. The following night will see Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, Jerry Salley & Breakin’ New Ground, The Mark Newton Band, Cordle, Salley and Carl Jackson, The Mashville Brigade and a special surprise appearance by one of bluegrass music’s top acts on stage at The Station Inn.

This benefit was organized by two Nashville veterans, both of whose lives have been touched by youngsters with autism. Journalist and musician Jon Weisberger (who also serves on the IBMA Board) has a son with the disorder, and singer/songwriter Jerry Salley has a neice who suffers from autism.

April is promoted as Autism Awareness Month, and Nashville has long hosted a similar benefit each April at The Bluebird Cafe. Weisberger and Salley approached The Station Inn about hosting a bluegrass event as a benefit, and it was the club that suggested that they take two nights.

Admission is based on a $20 suggested donation, and the shows will begin each night at 8:00 p.m. (CDT).

Readers outside of Nashville can contribute to the Autism Society of Middle Tennessee online.

Ry Cooder is an artist who has been impossible to peg.

One project may be an affectionate, audiophile reexamination of 1920’s American jazz, and the next a recreation of 1950s dance music. He has recently emerged as a champion of Cuban and Chicano music, and is recognized by guitarists worldwide as among the instrument’s most skillful and creative practitioners.

His newest project, due this month (3/07) from Nonesuch Records, has him recording with a number of prominent old time, bluegrass and Celtic musicians. Mandolinist Roland White, banjo players Mike and Pete Seeger, and piper Paddy Maloney appear as guest artists.

My Name Is Buddy, is an allegorical concept piece, with animal characters Buddy Red Cat, Lefty Mouse and Reverend Tom Toad voicing Cooder’s dark vision of life among rural workers in the “American west of yesteryear.”

The CD also includes short stories Cooder composed for each song, illustrated by noted Texas muralist, Vincent Valdez. Depending on your political leaning, the stories may find you nodding in agreement, or rolling your eyes, but the music and production on My Name Is Buddy are up to Cooder’s high standards.

There are a few audio samples available on the Nonesuch site, with samples from each track at Amazon.com.

Each year, the Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend holds a faculty concert on the Saturday night of their three day instructional event. It is the only part of the weekend which is open to the general public (not registered to attend the 3 day workshop) and is always a highlight, both for the students and the local bluegrass community.

The concert will be held this year on Saturday, November 11 at 7:30 at the Holiday Inn Roanoke, the site for all the Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend activities.

The format is a loose, relaxed jam-like setting, where the many artists are grouped in a variety of configurations - either solo, duo or in groups - with a good mix of vocal and instrumental music. Both the performers and the audience always enjoy the fun, “no pressure” environment as well as the chance to witness or be a part something as potentially spontaneous as this.

The musicians will sometimes not even choose the song they will perform until a few minutes before they go on stage, a sign both of their high level of skill and professionalism, and the sort of fun they have with this show.

Performing on the RBW faculty concert this year are Eddie Adcock, George Shuffler, Roland White, Craig Smith, Don Rigsby, BlueRidge, Jack Lawrence, Bull Harman, Herschel Sizemore, David McLaughlin, Acoustic Endeavors and many others - plus a number of unannounced surprise guests.

Maps and driving directions can be found on the Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend web site.

Information on the 2006 Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend is now available on the RBW web site. The event will be held November 10-12 in Roanoke, VA and offers three days of intensive instruction in the fine points of playing bluegrass music.

This year’s faculty includes the members of BlueRidge, along with first time instructors Eddie Adcock and George Shuffler, plus returning favorites Kenny Baker, Jack Lawrence, Allen Shelton and Roland White.

The biggest news for RBW ‘06 is the inclusion this year of classes and workshops in bluegrass singing. Both individual vocal tips and workshop instruction in bluegrass harmony will be offered throughout the weekend, spearheaded by noted singer and vocal instructor Don Rigsby.

The 2006 faculty includes both legendary bluegrass pioneers and actively touring artists.

Once again, Gibson Original Acoustic Instruments will be donating a new instrument to be offered in a raffle to fund the RBW Scholarship for deserving young bluegrass students. Four full scholarships (tuition and accommodations) will be awarded to outstanding bluegrass musicians between the ages of 13-24, selected based on demonstrated ability through an application process.

This year, a new RB-250 banjo will be raffled, with chances to win sold at $10. Find all the details about the raffle and the scholarship on the RBW site.