Ron Block will be the featured guest on Friday’s (12/12) edition of Lonesome Pine RFD on WFDU-FM.

He will join host Carol Beaugard from 11:00 a.m. until noon to talk about his new AcuTab banjo instructional DVD, A Fresh Look At Bluegrass Banjo, and his work with Alison Krauss & Union Station. Carol will also play some of Ron’s many recordings during the hour.

The show is broadcast from 9:00 a.m. to noon (EDT) on 89.1 FM in the NYC area, and streamed live online at WFDU.fm.

Banjo players have been clamoring for instructional materials from Ron Block for years, but his busy schedule with Alison Krauss & Union Station has prevented him from dedicating the time to it. Until now…

His first banjo instructional DVD will be released by AcuTab next week, offering more than three and a half hours of discussion, demonstration and detailed instruction from this multi-Grammy and IBMA award winning banjo picker.

Entitled Ron Block – A Fresh Look At Bluegrass Banjo, the package includes two DVDs and a printed tab booklet. Ron starts by analyzing his style, and particular aspects that stand out like tone production, his use of bends and chokes, how he arranges solos, and improvisation. He also covers his practice routine, showing drills and exercises he uses to stay in shape and move forward as a banjo player.

Seven of Ron’s most requested solos are taught in detail, including six he has recorded with Union Station – Cluck Old Hen, Tiny Broken Heart, Man Of Constant Sorrow, I’ll Remember You Love In My Prayers, Everytime You Say Goodbye, Bright Sunny South, and My Poor Old Heart. He also teaches his complex and challenging solo for Smashville, from Sierra Hull’s Secrets CD.

AcuTab has prepared a YouTube trailer to give a flavor of what is included on the DVDs.

The Ron Block banjo DVD will begin shipping on December 8, and there is a special offer for the first 300 orders placed directly with AcuTab. They will receive an autographed copy of the DVD, and two free sets of Huber banjo strings.

You can find more details at acutab.com.

Ron plans to create several more instructional DVDs with AcuTab over the next few years, including additional projects for both banjo and guitar.

AcuTab will release instructional videos in 2009 for Jim Van Cleve, Sierra Hull, Ron Stewart and JD Crowe. You can request notification when they are available by visiting the AcuTab site.

Sierra Hull was the featured guest on this past weekend’s edition of Bluegrass Breakdown, hosted by Dave Higgs on Nashville Public Radio.

She was joined in the studio by Cory Walker (banjo, resonator guitar), Ron Block (guitar, banjo) and Beth Lawrence on bass, with Sierra handling the mandolin and lead vocal chores. They pick through a number of songs from her debut CD, Secrets, and chat with Dave about Sierra and her music.

As we have mentioned time and again, Sierra is already firmly established as one of bluegrass music’s finest mandolinists at 17 years old. She is just now emerging as a singer, songwriter and bandleader, and folks who have not had the chance to catch her live can get an idea of her ability and professionalism via live radio.

Audio for past editions of Bluegrass Breakdown are generally available online for two weeks after each program airs, so be sure to give this one a listen before it’s gone.

Tuesday night at IBMA I found myself wandering around on the lower two levels of the convention center during the After Hours Showcases. I heard a bunch of great music, and got to visit with a number of friends I hadn’t seen since this time last year.

I caught a bit of the Songwriter Showcase hosted by Ron Block and Sierra Hull during the afternoon. The duo performed one of Sierra’s own compositions for the assemblage, before introducing Cia Cherryholmes to oversee hosting duties. Due to a pressing business appointment I was unable to stay longer to check out the young songwriters who were taking the stage as John and I left. So many great songs, so little time…

I made it to only one “official” showcase Tuesday evening, and that was to hear Junior Sisk & Rambler’s Choice. Junior has been one of my favorite singers for years. I love the material he writes, and the soul that comes through in his vocals. I just had to hear him at least once while I was here. This was my first time hearing the new band live. They sounded great with Junior leading the way.

Later than evening as I meandered the halls, I attempted to find a way into the room for a bit of a listen to Dailey & Vincent. It seems I wasn’t the first to have that idea! The crowd was spilling over about 10 feet into the hall. I managed to make it almost to door frame before reaching such a density of listeners that I could proceed no further and just snapped off a photo over the top of the crowd.

I later listened as G2 visited with fans in the hall before proceeding to present their brand of Swedish influenced bluegrass. It was a great set, featuring original material that sounds as if it originated in the Appalachian Mountains rather than Northern Europe. Absolutely amazing that a group of young guys that far from the home of the music have grown into a bluegrass band deserving of being heard at any festival here in the heart of bluegrass country.

I was excited for an opportunity to hear my friend Frank Solivan perform with his band Dirty Kitchen. I’ve been hearing about this band for some time. I’ve heard most of the principles at various times in the past, but never as a unit. Frank recently announced his departure from the Navy Band to pursue his own musical endeavors, judging by what I heard Tuesday night, his future is bright.

I also managed to put an ear to the sets of Gold Heart, Liberty Pike, and David Peterson before retiring for the night. IBMA, there’s nowhere else like it!