Ross Nickerson is well known as a banjo instructor. His Banjo Encyclopedia book and multiple DVDs have been used by thousands of students of our beloved 5 string, and his camps and workshops are well attended all over the US (and the 7 seas).

You would expect such a prolific teacher to also be a fine player, and that he is, but so much time is dedicated to offering lessons and running his online business (BanjoTeacher.com) that Ross only rarely has the chance to record.

A new CD has just been released, featuring 14 bluegrass instrumental favorites, with the non-banjo playing members of Blue Highway serving as his rhythm section. He chose as the title, Let’s Kick Some Ass, a phrase he has used to motivate himself for years.

“It’s an expression I’ve used to get the band pumped up before a show. ‘Let’s go out and kick some ass.’ I play my best when my adrenalin is flowing, the same way it did when I played athletics when I was younger. That is really where that comes from I think…football practice. It’s meant to be upbeat and fun, and to say, ‘we are going to get after these songs with everything we have and hold nothing back.’ “

The songs should be familiar to most bluegrass or banjo music fans, coming from the repertoire of Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Flatt & Scruggs… and the Gershwin Brothers.

“I wanted the CD to be very up beat. I tried to chose material that I felt we could really dig in to, songs that were straight forward and flowed easily. Many of the songs I knew we would all be familiar with and could play with experience on first take. Although I did cut two originals, and the band played those on the first try every bit as strong as the material they were already familiar with.

From a practical standpoint we cut 14 songs in two days without any rehearsal. That was another thing that I thought would help the overall sound of the CD, a more live approach, not too perfected or watered down. By cutting the songs in the first few takes I think you have a better chance at a CD that feels fresh and sounds real.” (more…)

The Bluegrass Blog would like to wish a happy Independence Day to all our US readers – with a hearty “no hard feelings” to our friends in England.

To help put everyone in a festive mood, here’s a video of Ross Nickerson performing a medley of patriotic songs on the five string banjo.

The Transatlantic Bluegrass School, scheduled for May 7-11, 2008 in the Welsh town of Pembrokeshire, has announced the formation of a  scholarship program for young students, aged 16-25, based on financial need.

The scholarship awards will cover the full tuition costs, and are available for banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin or vocal. Applicants must submit essays describing their musical background, financial situation and their interests and aspirations in bluegrass music.

The management of the school describes the program as follows:

The purpose of these scholarships is to encourage the development and appreciation of bluegrass music and musicianship in the 16 to 25 year age group, and especially to facilitate participation in learning activities by those who without benefit of a scholarship would find it difficult to fund attendance personally.

Instructors at the ‘08 school will include Bobby Hicks on fiddle, Kenny Smith on guitar, Amanda Smith on vocals, Emory Lester on mandolin, Ross Nickerson on banjo, and Mike Bub on bass.

Applications must be received by March 21, 2008. Full details and necessary forms can be found online.

Spring 2008 will find a bevy of top American bluegrass musicians heading to Wales to serve as instructors at the Transatlantic Bluegrass School. The school will be held starting on May 7 in the scenic coastal village of Newport, Pembrokeshire and are designed for students who have passed the most beginning stages of learning to play their instruments.

The faculty includes Ross Nickerson on banjo, Mike Bub on bass, Bobby Hicks on fiddle, Kenny Smith on guitar, Emory Lester on mandolin and Amanda Smith on vocals.

Class sessions will be held both morning and afternoon from May 8-11. Only 20 students will be enrolled for each class, so anyone interested in participating is encouraged to register right away.