Last month we gave notice of the series of Bluegrass Nights concerts at The Ryman Auditorium during the summer months.

Ahead of his appearance with IIIrd Tyme Out this coming Thursday (July 10) Russell Moore reflects on what the venue means to him …..

“When I think about the history of bluegrass music, specifically its earliest years, one of the first things I think about is when Bill Monroe performed for the first time at the Ryman Auditorium on the Grand Ole Opry. For many, many years after that, I believe Mr. Monroe and his ‘Blue Grass Boys’ appearances, as well as other bluegrass bands appearances on the Opry, such as Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, were a major inspiration for the rising number of people who listened to or attended the Opry shows and for the Opry’s popularity, as well as Bluegrass music’s popularity. To have knowledge of these things and to ultimately have the opportunity to perform on the same stage and in the same building where these events occurred is about enough to make the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I never think about the RymanOpry’s early years and the ’stars’ who were a part of it is a treat for anyone who is a Country or Bluegrass music fan! The Ryman Auditorium is a grand building with a grand history and I’m always honored when able to perform there.”

Appearing with IIIrd Tyme Out on 7/10 are Rhonda Vincent & The Rage and Dailey & Vincent.

Americanaroots.com posted a Q&A type interview with Russell Moore of IIIrd Tyme Out yesterday.

During the course of the interview they discuss the new Rounder release Footprints: A IIIrd Tyme Out Collection, the song selection for that compilation, recent band member changes and what it’s like trying to keep a band together over the years, Russell’s duet with Rhonda Vincent on her new CD, IIIrd Tyme Out’s plans for 2008, and Russell’s listening recommendations for new bluegrass fans.

At one point the interviewer asks Russell if he plans to continue touring when he is Ralph Stanley’s age. Russell responds saying that he does hope to do so, and then gives his reason.

…as a performer and as a singer that’s what I enjoy doing and that hasn’t changed from going from being a sideman to being the owner of a band, that part never changes even though everything else around you does.

That’s what makes bluegrass great folks, the love and passion poured into the music by the musicians over the course of their lifetime.

Thanks Russell, and the rest of you, for making this music worth listening to!

Rhonda Vincent’s latest CD, Good Thing Going, is officially released today on Rounder Records.

Like her previous bluegrass projects, this one features a number of new Vincent-penned songs and is co-produced by Rhonda and Darrin Vincent. She is joined on three tracks by her crack stage band, The Rage, with the remainder of the tracks featuring ace studio musicians Ron Stewart (banjo), Bryan Sutton (guitar), Darrin Vincent (bass) and Stuart Duncan (fiddle).

Notable guest artists this time out include country mega-star Keith Urban, who adds harmony vocals on The Water Is Wide, and Russell Moore who duets with Rhonda on I Give All My Love To You. Mandolin legend Jesse McReynolds adds his unique crosspicking style to Just One Of A Kind and harmony vocals are provided on several tracks from Becky Issacs and Kathy Chiavola.

Fans of Rhonda’s live shows with The Rage will surely get a kick out of her version of the Jimmy Martin classic, Hit Parade Of Love and Rhonda’s new composition, Bluegrass Saturday Night.

Audio samples can be found on Rounder’s site, or in iTunes.

The holliday season is upon us once again and it’s time for a new bluegrass Christmas CD. Christmas Grass Vol. 3 is great addition to the iTunes collection. I personally enjoy Christmas music very much, especially when it’s this well done.

The subtitle for the CD is Featuring 3 Fox Drive and Friends. That should give you a clue as to the quality of singing on this recording. Astral is the only word I can come up with that comes close. Kim, Barb, and Joel Fox provide the harmonies all through the CD, and they are certainly out of this world. The Fox family members (3 Fox Drive) also handle lead vocal duties on good number of tunes, including O Holy Night, White Christmas, and others. Their version of O Holy Night is easily one of the best I’ve ever heard.

The instrumental performances on this recording are fantastic. Tasteful, mature playing is exhibited throughout by such illuminaries as Darrin Vincent, Byron House, Bryan Sutton, Cody Kilby, Adam Steffey, Aubrey Haynie, Joe CaverLee, Rob Ickes, Joel Fox and Eric Darken.

In addition to the instrumental guests, the singing of the Fox Family is augmented by a few noteworthy guest vocalists as well. (more…)

And the band news just keeps swirling…

We just got a note from Russell Moore of IIIrd Tyme Out with the news that Ray Deaton, original member, bass player and singer - and primary booking agent for the band - will be leaving at the end of 2007. Russell said that the band will take their customary month of December vacation - though somewhat truncated this year - and reemerge in January with the new bass player in tow.

Ray is leaving to work full time with The Anita Fisher Band, with whom he has been performing on a part time basis. Anita and Ray are engaged to be married, and it seemed that this move was inevitable. They have completed a Gospel recording that is expected to be released in May 2007.

Russell said that Ray gave his notice a few weeks ago, and that he is sorry to see his friend and band mate leave.

“Ray has been standing beside me on stage for over twenty years and he will be missed by myself and all the other members of IIIrd Tyme Out. We look forward to the rest of this year’s show dates, where our friends and fans can expect to hear the songs they’ve come to know and love over the past fifteen years. We all wish Ray the best in the future and in everything he does. The rest of us are committed to continuing on and look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead, and to sharing those opportunities with everyone across the country.”

Russell also mentioned that they are hard at work completing the edits for their live concert DVD, and hope to have it ready for the table this spring.

Here’s an update on the status of the concert DVD of IIIrd Tyme Out’s Round III at the Mac. When the CD was released last August, we posted that the DVD was expected to be released not long afterwards.

The August ‘05 performance at the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonburg, KY - site of two previous IIIrd Tyme Out live recordings - was captured for both audio and video release. After experiencing several delays, the band has obtained the services of a new video production company to complete the editing and DVD mastering, and expects to see the finished DVD within a matter of weeks.

Russell Moore added this note on the band’s web site:

“I want to mention that neither Keith Caudill (director at the MAC) nor any of the staff at the Mountain Arts Center were responsible for the delay in the production of this DVD. They have always been, and continue to be, our friends and a joy to work with!”

We’ll be sure to update here when the DVD is available.