Later this afternoon, XM satellite Radio’s Bluegrass Junction will offer a track-by-track play through of the new release from Williams & Clark Expedition, Brand New Set Of Blues.

The show, which launches at 3:00 p.m. (EDT) on July 30, will feature the band members in studio with host Kyle Cantrell, discussing the various tracks as you hear them played in sequence.

The band consists of Blake Williams on banjo, Bobby Clark on mandolin, Wayne Southwards on lead vocals and guitar, and and Kimberly Williams on bass and lead vocals.

Catch the Williams & Clark show over this next during one of these scheduled broadcasts (all times eastern):

• July 30 - 3:00 p.m.
• August 2 - 4:00 p.m.
• August 5 - 7:00 a.m.
• August 7 - 6:00 p.m.

Find Bluegrass Junction at XM 14.

Williams & Clark Expedition will drop in on Katy Daley this morning at 9:00 a.m. to talk about their new CD, Brand New Set Of Blues.

Katy’s radio shows airs on WAMU’s BluegrassCountry streaming live online 24/7, and on HD Radio 88.5-2 in the Washington, DC market. They will spin a few tracks and chat with Katy about the songs.

Williams & Clark Expedition, the Franklin, Kentucky-based quartet, has announced the forthcoming release of their latest CD, Brand New Set Of Blues, due on May 15.

The band comprises a former member of Lester Flatt’s Nashville Grass and a Blue Grass Boy for 10 years, banjo-player Blake Williams, award-winning mandolin player Bobby Clark, Wayne Southwards (lead vocals and guitar) and Kimberly Williams (lead vocals and bass). All four had strong credentials working in the country music and bluegrass fields before joining forces in 2002.

Brand New Set Of Blues is the band’s fifth album; it features 13 songs, 10 of which are originals written by members of the band, plus a bonus comedy track.

Kimberly Williams provides some background information …….

“Our band is an equal partnership among the four of us so when it comes time to pick songs for the project, we work as a democracy. We each bring material that we think would be a good fit for the band and then we all have to agree on what we think is the best. Obviously we strive to put as much of our own material that is original to our band members as possible but that doesn’t mean that just because one of us wrote it, that it will get recorded. It has to be really good and we each hold ourselves and each other accountable to that.

We always pick a traditional bluegrass tune that is not being overdone and record it to keep close to our bluegrass roots. On this project we recorded the Stanleys’ Ridin’ That Midnight Train. We also make sure we have a couple of good gospel tunes on it as well. We have two on this project, Marching, written by Blake, and Travelin’ Heaven’s Road, a real barn-burner that he and I wrote together. Bobby Clark and Blake each contribute an instrumental to the project, too. [namely Jalapeño Quickstep and Highlands Ramble].

I was personally afforded a great opportunity with this project by having Claire Lynch come in and sing on a song I recorded written by Blake and Wayne called Heaven On Earth. That was a dream come true for me to be able to sing with one of my musical heroes! Our buddy Kevin Shultz of Midnight Flight pitched a song to us that he and a friend wrote and it just fit perfectly for this project. Wayne sings it and it is called Lifetime Of Love. (more…)

Williams and Clark Expedition will be featured guests on Sirius Satellie Radio’s Channel 65 on Friday (6/8) at 7:00 p.m. (EDT). They will join host Chris Jones for an interview, and one would presume, some music from their current, self-titled CD.

Award for a group or individual, new to the national bluegrass scene, which has made considerable advances artistically and/or commercially during the eligibility period. The band or individual should be performing under its/his/her name on a regular basis and not have more than two previous finalist nominations for this award. (Award to each group member or individual):

The nominees for Emerging Artist Of The Year for 2005 are:

Review past recipients of this award.