There are a number of big events we are looking forward to attending at IBMA this week, outside of the wealth of activity on the official schedule.

We have video interviews set up with Del McCoury and Sam Bush to talk about their upcoming CDs.

The Grascals have scheduled a major announcement for Monday afternoon. No leaks about what they are up to, but we’ll have something on it as soon as possible.

Mountain Heart has a very ambitious schedule for the week. On Tuesday evening they have a private showcase set up that is expected to draw a great deal of attention. The band has written and worked up some new material that they will be performing before an invitation-only group of label folks on Tuesday, and we’ll be there to report on the show.

If you have seen Mountain Heart of late, you may have noticed that their edgy, in-your-face style has become even more so, with vocalist/guitarist Josh Shilling occasionally slipping behind an electric keyboard for some bluesy, rocking numbers.

Here’s an example…

Then on Wednesday evening, they will host a 10th anniversary jam from 11:45 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. (CDT) in the Fisk Rooms at the Renaissance Hotel. Cindy Baucom will MC as Mountain Heart will pick and sing with a most impressive lineup of guest performers.

This event is open to any IBMA registrants. We hope to capture some video of the show, and speak to some of the performers.

Also on Wednesday, Rural Rhythm and Sugar Hill Records are hosting private showcases, and we are planning to spend time there as well. Both will serve to highlight their fine artists, who we hope to interview and shoot – videowise, that is.

Rural Rhythm’s showcase is expected to feature Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, IIIrd Tyme Out, Audie Blaylock & Redline and Michael Martin Murphey. They will also share details about their involvement with a major east coast festival. Kyle Cantrell will MC.

Those are just a few of the IBMA events we’ll be covering over the next few days. Whew… better bank some sleep!

Gold Heart is another of the official IBMA showcase acts invited to perform at the 2009 World Of Bluegrass. They will perform on the Monday night event at 8:30 p.m., following the Keynote address from Pete Fisher of The Grand Ole Opry.

The band is a youthful sister act, featuring the three Gold sisters, Alanlise on mandolin, Jocelyn on guitar and Shelby on fiddle. All three write and sing, and the group tours with papa Gold (Trent) on bass and Russ Carson on banjo.

Their new CD, My Sisters And Me, recently-released on Rural Rhythm, highlights their many talents. All but 3 of the 12 tracks are Gold sisters originals, and these skillful young ladies sound like studio pros – which they are, with two previous releases as Gold Heart.

We had the chance to discuss the new album with all three of them this week, and the interview shows just how thoughtful and serious the Gold sisters are about their music. Read it all (and hear several audio samples) after the jump.

Our first question involved the differences they have seen working with a label versus releasing self-produced projects.

“Wow! It is so cool! The Passamano family and Rural Rhythm Records are great people to work with. They have put a lot of confidence in us, believing that our project would be a success. We felt we couldn’t go wrong with Rural Rhythm Records and it was a true honor to sign on with them. It’s business, but it is also a relationship between families. They are very close knit and so are we.

Ironing out details has never been a problem and My Sisters And Me has been one  smooth experience from start to finish. We’re really, really happy and look forward to working with Rural Rhythm on future projects. We are truly blessed!

Just four years ago we were trying to figure out how to hold our instruments correctly and now we’re on the same label as Mountain Heart, Lonesome River Band, and IIIrd Tyme Out!  (No pressure here!)” (more…)

We told you last fall about the new theme song for the IBMA Awards Show, The Road From Rosine, which debuted in October ‘07 at the show in Nashville.

The song was written by Mountain Heart fiddler Jim VanCleve at the request of the Awards Show producers, Terry Herd and Cindy Sinclair, and recorded for the show by the folks at Rural Rhythm Records for the occasion. At the time, it was indicated that the song might be included on a future VanCleve solo project, but it was not available for online listening or purchase.

Well, it is now. Rural Rhythm has released The Road From Rosine as a single on iTunes. The track features Van Cleve on fiddle, Ron Stewart on banjo, Clay Hess on guitar, Andy Hall on dobro, Adam Steffey on mandolin and Jason Moore on bass.

Visit the iTunes Music Store to give it a listen or get the download for yourself.