Make that two headstocks…

We heard from Alan Bibey this weekend with an update about the twin mandolin CD he is recording with Wayne Benson. This project has been a long time in coming, with these two top pickers getting together whenever they can – which isn’t very often given their busy schedules. Alan travels with Grasstowne and Wayne with IIIrd Tyme Out, so down time comes at a premium.

Al told us that they are using the end-of-the-year break to get some more tracking done. The finished project will be split between full band tracks and just two mandolins. He expects that 3 or 4 will include vocals.

“We have about 1/3 of the tracks done now. These are mostly original tunes Wayne and I wrote or co-wrote together, but there will be one Monroe tune (Old Dangerfield). The only tune we did this go round that wasn’t original was Crazy Creek. I used to twin this with Mike Hartgrove in the early IIIrd Tyme Out days.”

They had originally hoped to have this album finished and released during 2009, but their respective band commitments made that impossible. Al won’t suggest a likely release date, but said that he is pleased with what they are getting.

“I’m really happy with how it’s coming out. We have many different styles on this recording and we’re cutting it mostly live, trying to capture that energy you only get in that situation.

Plus, there’s nothing like the sound of old instruments together…  A LOT of fun!”

Should be a good’n.

IIIrd Tyme Out banjo man Steve Dilling has assembled a group of friends and musical compatriots for yet another brief December all-star tour. They will do three shows starting tomorrow in the southeastern US.

Steve says that it has become a end-of-the-year tradition, and something he looks forward to as the holidays draw near.

“The line up includes me on banjo, Ron Stewart on fiddle, Darrell Webb on guitar, Wayne Benson on mandolin, and John Wade on bass.

This is something that we have done for the last four years in December. It is really a lot of fun to play with these guys. Most of the material is stuff that is on each member’s solo recordings, as well as a few standards.”

If you live close to any of these shows, it should be a fun evening of good music.

Thursday, December 3 – 8:00 p.m.
The Berkeley Cafe
Raleigh, NC

Friday, December 4 – 8:00 p.m.
Old Mill Restaurant
Lebanon, VA

Saturday, December 5 – 7:00 p.m.
Rattlesnake Ridge Community Center
Grayson, KY

Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out are loading up the bus this morning and heading out on a two week tour that will take them from their home base in Georgia out to the west coast and back again.

Banjo picker Steve Dilling has agreed to send us updates and photos along the way, which we will publish here as often as they come in. Should be fun.

The tour will find them in Tennessee, Arkansas, California, Nevada, Colorado and Idaho doing a mix of club shows and concerts along the way.

• Fri April 3 – The Down Home,  Johnson City, TN
• Sat April 4 – GoodFolk Productions,  Fayetteville, AR
• Tues April 7 – Freight and Salvage,  Berkeley, CA
• Wed April 8 – The Maverick Saloon,  Santa Ynez, CA
• Thur April 9 – Don Quixote’s Music Hall,  Felton, CA
• Fri April 10 – Trinity Alps Performing Arts Center,  Weaverville, CA
• Sat April 11 – Willits High School,  Willits, CA
• Mon, April 13 – Brewery Arts Center,  Carson City, NV
• Tues April 14 – Special Event Center, Boise St. University Boise, ID
• Wed April 15 – The Swing Station,  Laporte, CO
• Fri April 17 – XM/Sirius Radio Special Taping,  Nashville, TN
• Sat April 18 – The Grand Theater,  Cartersville, GA

You can find more details on any of these tour stops on the IIIrd Tyme Out web site, including afternoon workshops for banjo and mandolin before the Boise State University show in Idaho on 4/14.

Steve Dilling and Wayne Benson will lead the workshops, and attendees get a free ticket to the concert that night.