Comedian Steve Martin had the opportunity on Tuesday night (11/10) to demonstrate to a British audience that he is a serious musician, and according to Wednesday’s review of his performance in the Guardian national newspaper he succeeded.

Martin was on British TV (BBC2) on Tuesday night also. He performed on Later Live, and will be on Later…with Jools Holland on Friday (13th) at 11.35 p.m. Video from that appearance will be available online.

Here is a taste of the Guardian review…

Dressed in a grey suit and tie, with his white hair and glasses, Martin looked like a doctor who was about to make an unpleasant prognosis. But instead he began with a barrage of self-deprecating jokes. Once he started playing, it became clear that he could hold his own against his impressive acoustic band, the Steep Canyon Rangers, both through his mastery of the claw-hammer banjo style, and – perhaps more surprisingly – his ability to write strong and varied material influenced by anyone from Scruggs to Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass.

The full review can be found on the broadsheet’s web site.

Here’s another tidbit concerning Steve Martin.

If you’ve ever wanted to be a music video producer, now’s your chance. Steve wants a music video for his tune Wally on the Run, so he’s holding a contest. You can create your own video to his song and enter to win $1000.

Since the song was written about Steve’s dog Wally, the video must contain one, or more, dogs. You can visit the contest page at DailyMotion.com for more details, and to watch some of the current entries. You’ll also find a link there to a page on Steve’s site where the track Wally on the Run may be downloaded for free during the contest timeframe.

The contest ends December 1, 2009, when Steve will choose the winner. 1st place will receive a cash prize of $1000, and presumably some promotion as the winner. 2nd place will receive $0.99.

Below is a short video from Steve explaining the contest.

Speaking of Steve Martin (see previous post), here’s another in our series of 2009 Red Carpet videos. These were filmed immediately prior to the IBMA Award Show.

This particular video features Doug McKelway interviewing John McEueun, who was instrumental in the production of Steve Martin’s newest CD, The Crow.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that Steve Martin will co-host this year’s (82nd) Academy Awards (otherwise known as the Oscars).

Martin has been getting a lot of press recently for his banjo playing. He was involved with the 2009 IBMA Awards Show in Nashville, performing with the Steep Canyon Rangers. He has also performed on the most prominent of TV’s late night talk shows.

It is unclear at this point if Steve will break out his banjo at the Academy Awards, but his co-host Alec Baldwin is certainly feeling the pressure.

“I don’t play the banjo but I’m thrilled to be hosting the Oscars – it’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Baldwin.

The announcement on the Academy’s website includes the following in their brief bio about Steve.

He is currently touring with the bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers in support of his latest album “The Crow:  New Songs for the Five String Banjo.”

Perhaps Steve should receive an official appointment as a bluegrass ambassador?