Bluegrass

It's time for beach reading, and Crime of Privilege by Walter Walker (Ballantine Books, 2013, 432 pages, $26.00) surely fills the bill as he provides a reasonably compelling but un-challenging piece of roman à clef involving a thinly disguised Kennedy-like family living on Cape Cod, Massachusetts and in Palm Beach, Florida committing unpardonable crimes and then using their power and

Producer Stephen Mougin has been working in the studio with The Rigneys for their next album this week. Being a harsh taskmaster, he also prevailed upon the band members (Mom, Dad, and two sons) to record some of their impressions during the process. This final installment of their tracking [...]

Multi-award-winning bass player Missy Raines has long been one of bluegrass music's most beloved musicians, but on New Frontier, set for release on August 27th, she explores the next step in her musical vision, redefining herself as a charismatic lead vocalist on a set of songs penned by Pierce Pettis, Sarah Siskind, Ed Snodderly, Zach Bevill and Raines herself. This Seven Time IBMA Bass Player of the Year artist finds her voice on these new tracks. Drawing inspiration from indie rock and acoustic jazz as well as Americana and newgrass, Raines shapes a distinctive sonic landscape around the cool grooves of The New Hip (guitarist/co-producer Ethan Ballinger, mandolinist Jarrod Walker, drummer Josh Fox and Raines' distinctive upright bass), joined by special guests including Sam Bush, The Farewell Drifters' Zach Bevill and former New Hip percussionist Robert Crawford. “If you allow it” says Missy Raines, “music can take people and let them be seen from the inside out. It’s a way of letting people see who you are without having to sit there and talk about yourself. For instance, the title tune contains the sort of changes that life often forces upon you, expressed musically. When I was writing the tune, I was thinking, ‘this all makes really musical sense except this one half-step change here.’ That’s what throws you off. For me that’s what I’ve been through. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen, something comes up and surprises you.” But the real standout here is Raines' emotive alto—It's an unexpected pleasure; smooth in delivery and surprising in context, it is also the defining element of New Frontier. Missy Raines is offering a free download of the title track “New Frontier,” inviting listeners to experience her new sonic vision first hand. Raines’ groundbreaking, adventurous musical career as one of the pre-eminent female bass players began with an unexpected surprise from her father. “My father had been playing a washtub that he’d made himself and then decided impulsively (without consulting my mother) to buy a bass. I was already playing the piano and guitar by then, but when you’re ten or eleven years old and there is a new instrument in the house…well, I couldn’t stay away from it. That’s the bass I still have and play today.”free download of the title track Tags: Missy RainesNew FrontierCD ReleaseCompass Records

Bluegrass music artists Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers have announced that they have been invited to perform on the Grand Ole Opry for the very first time on Saturday, July 27th! The band says, "We are beyond excited about this dream of a lifetime for our band and are planning additional events over the course of the weekend that we'll be announcing as details are finalized." If you happen to live in the Southern Ohio area and would like to make a weekend out of it, the Xenia Adult Recreation and Services Center is taking a bus tour to Opryland. Leaving on July 27th and returning the 28th, this round trip will be filled with activities. On Saturday see Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, and Sunday visit Studio B, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. For more details call Rosemary at 937-376-0282 or visit http://www.ngunn.net/seniorcenter/. To purchase your tickets for the Grand Ole Opry on July 27th, visit www.Opry.com. If you can't make The Opry, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers will be the special guests of Reno's Old Time Music that will air on RFD TV July 13th at 7:00pm EDT. Joe and the boys taped the show back in April and not only played songs from their hit CD They're Playing My Song, but also interviewed with the show's host, Ronnie Reno. The show will rebroadcast July 14th at 2:30am EDT and July 16th at 5:00pm EDT. Recording is almost complete on an exciting new CD you can look for later this year from Rebel Records. Joe and Junior Sisk have spent the past few months in the studio and have a powerful collection of songs recorded! "Junior and I have been friends for several years and think a lot alike when choosing and arranging traditional Bluegrass tunes," says Joe. "He invited me to sing with him for one tune on his last CD, and we had so much fun singing together we spent this past winter arranging a special collection of songs we think folks will love!" The project is in still in production but stay tuned for all the details from Joe Mullins and Junior Sisk. Tags: Joe Mullins and the Radio RamblersGrand Ole OpryEventReno's Old Time Music

Asheville, NC -- Leftover Salmon is pleased to announce their 2013 Fall Tour! The band will be traveling throughout the northeast starting this September with stops in Morgantown, Philadelphia, Providence, Boston, Portland, Burlington, Brooklyn and a special show presented by Relix at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester NY before heading over to The Fresh Grass Bluegrass Festival in Massachusetts. Towards the end of October, LoS will be heading down south starting in Arkansas and another appearance on the esteemed Nashville’s Music City Roots radio show before looping through the southeast - Atlanta, Charlotte, Wilmington, two nights in Charleston, and Carborro - and and back up north again to Washington DC and Richmond. The band lands in the midwest for several shows to close out the tour with shows in Ann Arbor, Des Moines, Madison, Chicago and Lincoln. LoS Fan Club ticketing will go on-sale Thursday, June 20th. Stay tuned for further dates and other refreshing Leftover Salmon summer news to be announced. Be sure to tune in to LiveSalmon.com for LIVE-streams of all shows (provided there is access to an Internet connection) and downloads of live performances within a few days of the show. “This is one fish that has only gotten better with age. Fiery solos and elements of country, bluegrass, jazz and jam rock combine into a heady mix of feel-good tunes -- and some that carry a hefty message, as well,” --CMT Leftover Salmon Fall 2013 Tour Dates Sep-11 Wed - Morgantown, WV - Metropolitan Theatre Sep-12 Thu - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer * Sep-13 Fri - Providence, RI - Fete * Sep-14 Sat - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club * Sep-17 Tue - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall Sep-18 Wed - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Sep-19 Thu - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl Sep-20 Fri - Port Chester, NY - Capitol Theatre Presented by Relix * w/ Infamous Stringdusters Sep-21 Sat - North Adams, MA - Freshgrass Bluegrass Festival Oct-29 Tue - Fayetteville, AR - George's Majestic Lounge Oct-30 Wed - Nashville, TN - Music City Roots Oct-31 Thu - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse Nov-01 Fri - Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre Nov-02 Sat - Wilmington, NC - Greenfield Lake Amphitheater Nov-05 Tue - Charleston, SC - The Pour House Nov-06 Wed - Charleston, SC - The Pour House Nov-07 Thu - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle Nov-08 Fri - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club Nov-09 Sat - Richmond, VA - The National Nov-10 Sun - Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall Nov-12 Tue - Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark Nov-13 Wed - Des Moines, IA - Wooly's Nov-14 Thu - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre Nov-15 Fri - Chicago, IL - The Vic Theatre Nov-17 Sun - Lincoln, NE - Bourbon Theatre * co-bill with Assembly of Dust For more information and complete tour dates please visit: www.LeftoverSalmon.com Tags: Leftover SalmonFall TourTourAssembly of DustThe Infamous StringdustersEvent

Napa, CA – ArtistWorks, the leading interactive lifestyle social learning platform, and Banjo Hangout present a free online workshop featuring world-renowned banjo master Tony Trischka. Tony Trischka plays live, teaches, and answers questions for banjo lovers in this hour long live workshop. The workshop takes place online June 25th at 6PM Pacific Daylight Time. Banjo enthusiasts will be treated to impromptu performances, techniques and tips for banjo players, and Q&A with the twice Grammy nominated Trischka. It’s a full hour of all things banjo in a fun, interactive and casual environment. Tony Trischka made 15 solo albums in his storied career. In addition to his solo work, he has played with artists such as Peter Rowan, The Zac Brown Band, The Allman Brothers, David Grisman and countless others. He’s received multiple IBMA awards and a Grammy nomination. He produced Steve Martin's highly acclaimed Rare Bird Alert, which was nominated for Bluegrass Album of the Year. Trischka was the musical director for the documentary "Give Me the Banjo," which aired on PBS in 2011. In addition to his decades-long performing career, Trischka has spent the past four years pioneering a new way to teach banjo at the ArtistWorks Online Banjo School with Tony Trischka. The “Tony Trischka Live” Event, along with a contest to give away a Deering Goodtime Banjo, are both part of a four-year anniversary celebration for the school. At the Academy of Bluegrass, students can learn from Tony’s complete library of online video lessons, tabs and backing tracks. They can use ArtistWorks Video Exchange™ Feedback Platform to submit practice videos and get personalized video responses from Tony with feedback and additional exercises. These Video Exchanges are paired together, combined with the lessons and made available for all students to see and learn from. “Tony Trischka Banjo Live” will stream live at http://AcademyofBluegrass.com and at http://www.banjohangout.org. To sign up for the event and receive an event reminder, click here. Tags: Tony TrischkaArtistWorksBanjo HangoutTony Trischka LiveBluegrass AcademyEducation

Dailey & Vincent Brothers of the Highway Rounder Records 5 stars (out of 5) By Aaron Keith Harris Dailey & Vincent started at the top with their 2008 self-titled debut, and their string of great recordings continues with Brothers of the Highway, an 11-track mix of familiar old-school tunes, a couple of original compositions from Dailey, and a few guest star pickers to occasionally supplement the regular lineup of Dailey on guitar, Darrin Vincent on bass, Jeff Parker on mandolin, Jessie Baker on banjo, and B.J. Cherryholmes on fiddle. “Steel Drivin’ Man,” a new take on an old topic penned by Dailey and featuring Bryan Sutton on guitar and Andy Leftwich on fiddle, is a dream for bluegrass deejays in search of a new track to kick things off with. It’s really fast, has lots of dynamic range, and carries the soaring Osborne Brothers-style harmonies that Dailey & Vincent has perfected, making it one of the duo’s very best recorded tracks. “Back to Jackson County” is Dailey’s other new song on another familiar bluegrass theme—longing for home. It’s fresh and fun, avoiding the false sentiment that often make these songs fail with Dailey’s sunny personality buoyed by the lively band. The well-known country/bluegrass material—including Bill Monroe’s mournful “Close By,” Wilma Lee Cooper’s break-up tune “Tomorrow I’ll Be Gone,” Pete Goble and Leroy Drumm’s rustically nostalgic “Back to Hancock County”—is perfect for a group that specializes in making the classics sound modern without watering them down. Two covers are especially inspired: Porter Wagoner’s “Howdy Neighbor Howdy,” which perfectly meshes with the group’s genial presence on stage and in studio, and “When I Stop Dreaming,” the best-loved Louvin Brothers duet that I can say—without blaspheming—is every bit as good as the original. Not better, but just as good. No kidding. Gospel aficionados will be pleased by “Won’t it Be Wonderful There,” another seamless blend of the bluegrass and Southern gospel styles, with the group’s remarkable bass singer Christian Davis in full effect. “Where Have You Been,” written by Kathy Mattea, is the sort of tear-jerking acoustic ballad that I just don’t care for no matter who writes or sings them, but hearing Dailey shifting styles and backed by a string section was interesting enough for me to not deduct points. Which brings me to the title track, a truck driving song previously recorded by George Strait. It has all the features of “Steel Drivin’ Man” but with what I immediately thought was the best song about truck driving I’d ever heard (I hadn’t heard Strait’s version, but my grandfather was a longtime truck driver, and I just realized am typing this review in the exact spot in the room in which he died a few years ago). No use me describing this remarkable song—and album—any more, just get it and hit the road with the best bluegrass band going blasting through your open windows.

Rienk Janssen, of Strictly Country record sales, sends this news:Op 29 & 30 juni a.s. is het eerste Vlaamse bluegrass festival:Low Country Bluegrass Festival in de Parochiezaal in Oelegem (Venusstraat 10), Belgie.Meer informatieOp de eerste dag (zaterdag 29 juni) ben ik daar met de SCR stand, met veel country & bluegrass CDs en LPs. Ook informatie over de EBMA is daar dan verkrijgbaar.Als je het al niet van plan was, is dit misschien een extra reden om dit festival te bezoeken!On June 29 & 30, the first Flemish bluegrass festival will take place:Low Country Bluegrass Festival in the Parochiezaal of Oelegem (Venusstraat 10), Belgium.More informationOn the first day (Saturday June 29) I plan to be there with the SCR booth, with a lot of country and bluegrass CDs and LPs. Information about the EBMA will also be available.If you did not already plan to go there, this is maybe an extra reason to do so!Rienk Janssen - SCRPostbus 329540 AA Vlagtwedde, NL(+31) 0599 312663E-mail

We heard this morning from Tennessee banjo picker Daniel Grindstaff, who has worked of late with Marty Raybon and Bobby Osborne. He shared some happy news from he and his wife, Kristen. “Daniel Finn Grindstaff arrived June 14th, right on his due date! Finn was 8lb, [...]

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