Strong Enough marks the debut from Beth Stevens & Edge, though her voice will be a familiar one to a great many bluegrass fans. Beth sang for many years with her sister April and her parents as The Stevens Family, before the girls ventured out as The Stevens Sisters.

Her new CD showcases Beth’s strong voice, both as a lead vocalist and in duet with Steve Gulley and Dale Ann Bradley, and her dad Doug Stevens. The material is a nice mix of modern bluegrass and Gospel music, brilliantly performed by Edge and a crack studio band featuring Scott Vestal on banjo, Matt Leadbetter on resonator guitar, Jesse Cobb on mandolin, and Steve Thomas on fiddle. Beth also plays banjo, as she does in their live shows.

She shared a few thoughts with us about the new project…

“Strong Enough is a true representation of the music that I love. It allowed me the freedom to sing and arrange the songs the way I wanted the fans to hear them. The best thing about the album is simply it’s given me and my band EDGE the opportunity to showcase what we can do along with the help and support of some of the people that I have wanted to work with for years like Scott Vestal, who made recording this project one on the best musical experiences for me. I hope the fans enjoy the CD.”

New this fall from The Churchmen is I’ll Be Long Gone, the third on Pinecastle for this North Carolina Gospel bluegrass outfit. It contains primarily original material, written by David Guthrie, who sings the high leads and plays guitar with the group. A few old favorites, like Take Me In The Lifeboat and Rocked On The Deep are included as well.

The band is made up of founding members Gerald Harbour on mandolin, Keith Clark on bass, and Freddy Rakes on banjo, with Tim Smith on fiddle and Guthrie on guitar. Dale Perry plays the banjo on the new recording.

Tim is a veteran bluegrass musician, having served as a member of The Bluegrass Cardinals. He has 1st place trophies from both Galax and Union Grove, and recording credits with such bluegrass luminaries as James King, The Country Gentlemen, and Jim Eanes on his resume.

Smith also has a pair of solo fiddle projects available, Plain and Simple (1999) and The Lonesome Blueridge (2001).

The Churchmen roster now includes David Guthrie (guitar and vocals), Freddy Rakes (banjo and vocals), Gerald Harbour (mandolin and vocals), Keith Clark (bass and vocals), and Smith (fiddle and vocals).

Find a list of their upcoming performace dates online.

BLUEGRASS RECORDED SONG OF THE YEAR
(Song, Album, Artist, Writer, Label)

• “Did You Forget God Today”; Long List of Heartaches; Grascals; Aubrey Holt; Rounder Records
• “Bedside Prayer”; Traveling Through; The Churchmen; Steve Martin; Pinecastle Records
• “He Lives In Me”; He Lives In Me; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver; Frances P. Simpson; Horizon Records
• “If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again”; Bluegrass Gospel Time; Dave Moody; Arr by Dave Moody, Mallie B. Music; Lamon Records
• “My Cross”; Flyin’ High; Lewis Family; Wayne Haun; Vine Records
• “We Know Where He Is”; The Promised Land; Del McCoury Band; Shawn Camp; McCoury Music

BLUEGRASS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
(Album, Artist, Producer(s), Label)

• Acoustic Hymns Volume 1; Cumberland Quartet; Wayne Haun, Depp Britt, Kevin Ward; Vine Records
• Ancient Of Days; Harvest Wind; Dave Moody; Lamon Records
• Flyin’ High; Lewis Family; Wayne Haun; Kevin Ward; Mountain Home
• He Lives In Me; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver; Doyle Lawson; Horizon Records
• The Promised Land; Del McCoury Band; Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury; McCoury Music

The 38th Annual Dove Awards will be presented on Wednesday, April 25, 2007. The show will be held at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN at 8PM CST. It won’t be broadcast in national syndication until the month of May.

You can find the complete listing of nominees, more info, and show tickets at www.doveawards.com

While they welcome David to The Churchmen family, the band also shared some kind words for departing member, Charlie Oakley.

The Churchmen like to say thanks to Charlie Oakley who was with the band during 2006. Charlie is a great blessing to our group and we really regret that his work schedule will no longer allow him to continue as a full time member of the band.

The current edition of The Churchmen is now Freddy Rakes (banjo/vocals), Gerald Harbour (mandolin/vocals,) Keith Clark (bass/vocals), Ricky Keen (dobro) and Guthrie (guitar/vocals).

Check their schedule online to find a chance to see them in your part of the world.

The Village Singers, long-time Gospel favorites, have a new CD, He Put The Color In The Rose. Pinecastle indicates that The Village Singers are the best selling artists they have ever had on the label. Anyone who doubts that the album might have a bluegrass feel should know that Sonny Osborne produced it. He may have retired from traveling with The Osborne Brothers, but it’s great to see that he hasn’t completely retired from active participation in the music.

Also new is Traveling Through, from The Churchmen. This CD release marks their 16th year as a band, and their first with new members Charlie Oakley on vocals and guitar and Ricky Keen on resonator guitar.

The last of the new releases is from BlueRidge. Getting Ready is both the band’s debut on Pinecastle after several successful projects for other labels, and their first all-Gospel release. The material includes both new and classic Gospel songs, and Sonya Issacs is featured as a guest vocalist.

Speaking of BlueRidge: their newly-redesigned web site should come on line quite soon, including their first functional online store. Also, be on the lookout for details on a guitar giveaway, co-sponsored by Pinecastle and Saga Music’s Blue Ridge Guitars to coincide with the release of the new CD.

Audio samples for each CD can be found on its corresponding web site.

The Churchmen are pleased to announce that Charlie Oakley has joined the band and will begin touring with them. Charlie will be recognized by most bluegrass fans in the North Carolina area as he has been no stranger to the stage. [Editor's Note: Charlie has played with Roxboro NC bands The Burress Family and the New Classic Grass, and also with Jay Kaczor & the Bluegrass Connection.] Charlie will be playing guitar along with Ricky Keen on Dobro, Freddy Rakes on banjo, Keith Clark on bass and Gerald Harbour on mandolin.

In addition to the new band member, The Churchmen are also releasing a new CD on Pinecastle Records this March. The CD contains 12 songs, 10 of which are originals composed by Paul Williams, Jay Adams, Danny Bowers and Steven Martin, a former member of the band.

Says Gerald,

We think this will become a favorite among Churchmen fans. It is the best material and arrangements that we’ve ever had. We are anxious to get the project in hand and start performing the new material.

You can catch The Churchmen with their new songs, and new line up, by checking their website for tour info.