Tue, 05/08/2012 - 4:26 pm

We are thrilled to announce Peter Rowan will be joining The Mosier Brothers for a series of select shows! Peter Rowan has played in Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys, with Jerry Garcia and David Grisman in the supergroup Old & In The Way, and with Tony Rice and a host of other acclaimed musicians throughout his storied career. Now, the Grammy winner joins The Mosier Brothers, the Atlanta band that evolved from the psychedelic hick-hop jamgrass band, Blueground Undergrass.

Rowan says, “I am always ready to collaborate with Jeff Mosier and his fine musicians, to explore the musical tree of Americana-bluegrass roots. We might even find some new branches on the old tree! We can harvest new fruit from old roots!”

Jeff Mosier and Peter Rowan met in 1985 on Mosier's radio show in Atlanta. Since 1998 they have shared the stage together many times including Suwannee Springfest and Magnolia Festival in Live Oak, Florida. Rowan has always been a key figure in The Mosier Brothers career giving them what Mosier calls “the inspiration to fly between the extremes of traditional and progressive bluegrass music styles, even entering into psychedelic jamgrass and rock.”

The Mosier Brothers, originally from Bristol, Tennessee, have always maintained their "brother sound" amid their various configurations. The solid band sound that Rowan had heard from them over the years, along with their collective stage experience, eclectic musical taste, and genre bending tendencies, created the perfect creative soil in which to forge ahead with a project which both Mosier and Rowan had been thinking about for years. Johnny Mosier's ability to switch-hit between playing bluegrass with flatpick style guitar, to rock, swing, and jazz on electric guitar, along with Jeff’s unique ability to compose "pick and jam" rock songs on the banjo, are the true ingredients of the "Mosier sound."

Veterans of the jamband and jamgrass scenes, The Mosier Brothers have been entertaining audiences for over 30 years (longer if you consider pickin’ on the front porch with their family), first with the bluegrass band Good Medicine for 23 years. In the late 1980’s, Jeff Mosier got his first experience playing Rock on the cutting edge of the newly developing jamband scene as a founding member of Col. Bruce Hampton’s Aquarium Rescue Unit, the band that gave him the stage name "Rev." In 1994 he toured with Phish and tutored them in the ways of bluegrass. The Phish Companion writes "Perhaps no guest artist has had as great an influence on the band's music as the Rev. Jeff Mosier...". The brothers re-joined in 1998 in Jeff Mosier’s first nationally known brainchild, Blueground Undergrass, one of the earliest bands to merge bluegrass instruments and traditional tunes with the magnetic energy of Rock n Roll. Then, in 2010, they formed The Mosier Brothers which more finely blends the traditional bluegrass sound of Good Medicine and the jamming of Blueground Undergrass into a more song-driven Americana roots rock unit, all while remaining an eclectic endeavor.

For these "Roots and Branches" shows, Peter Rowan and The Mosier Brothers will be performing an A-Z retrospective of Rowan’s musical career. The band will take the audience on a musical journey that builds throughout the evening, starting with the traditional bluegrass of Rowan's days with Bill Monroe in the 1960’s, then leading into the progressive bluegrass years of Old and In The Way, Crucial Country, and The Free Mexican Air Force. The result: a night of life-affirming songs with rich melodies and harmonies, all led by the compelling stories of Peter Rowan that will serve as the backdrop for each musical number. Of that, Mosier says, "I think people really want and need to hear ‘songs’ now more than ever, and more importantly, the stories that inspired them.”

Mosier continues, “We can go anywhere Peter wants to go musically with this show, because his career helped mold our own musical taste. He's been such a major influence on us. He’s like our Bill Monroe and Beatles all in one. The Monroe generation of players spawned the Rowan generation, and the Rowan generation spawned the Mosier generation, no doubt."

Johnny Mosier adds, "After years of enjoying Rowan’s music from the audience, to actually perform with him on stage is a true joy and career high for me.”

Peter Rowan and The Mosier Brothers will be both acoustic and electric for each performance, as will their band of Kris Dale on bass, Edward Hunter on fiddle, and Will Groth on drums. The Rowan/Mosier recipe will give the songs a new spin while keeping the original flavor, in what promises to be one of the tastiest of musical collaborations.

Peter Rowan and The Mosier Brothers Present "Roots and Branches"

An eclectic A-Z musical journey of songs and stories from the life of Peter Rowan

Wednesday, June 13th   Riverbend Festival  Chattanooga, TN

Thursday, June 14th   Pisgah Brewing   Black Mountain, NC

Friday, June 15th  The Pour House  Charleston, SC

Saturday, June 16th  The Handlebar  Greenville, SC

Wed, 08/22/2012 - 5:34 pm

Asheville NC’s Town Mountain kicks off a Fall Tour surrounding the release of their fourth album, “Leave the Bottle.”  The album is officially released on September 4th, 2012 through Pinecastle Records.“Centered around strong, soulful vocals, and poised to stay put,” says Woody Platt of the Steep Canyon Rangers, “Town Mountain are true to bluegrass in all the right ways and this new project keeps them firmly connected to the traditions of the genre, while also allowing them to reach out into the broad horizon of string band music. Leave the Bottle comes highly recommended.” Always contributing to the evolution of the bluegrass form, they toss influences as varied as surf-rock, gospel, and honky-tonk country into their field of play.One listen to their instantly memorable songs, and it’s plain to see why Grammy-winner Mike Bub would align with the group to produce Leave the Bottle. Banjo player extraordinaire and longtime member of the Sam Bush Band, Scott Vestal, also joined the team by engineering the new album, which was recorded at Digital Underground Studio in Nashville, TN.Thanks to their relatable, unforgettable lyrics along with their arresting stage presence and swagger, Town Mountain manages to rise above the seemingly bottomless canyon of bluegrass bands touring today and, inevitably, they will be traveling close to you sometime soon.Town Mountain’s “Leave the Bottle” Fall TourThu, Sept 6th - Seattle, WA - “The Spotlight” House ConcertFri, Sept 7th - Portland, OR - Mississippi Pizza PubSat & Sun, Sept 8-9th - Sisters, OR - Sisters Folk FestivalTue, Sept 11th - Seattle, WA -The Tractor TavernSat, Sept 15th - Asheville, NC - Brewgrass Festival w/ The Traveling McCoury’sSun, Sept 16th - Chimney Rock State Park, NC - Music on the Mountain concert seriesFri, Sept 21st - Lexington, NC - High Rock OutfittersSat, Sept 22th  McMinnville, TN - Bluegrass UndergroundMon, Sept 24th  Knoxville, TN - Tennessee ShinesFri, Oct 5th - Awendaw, SC - Awendaw GreenWed, Oct 24th - Lexington, KY - Red Barn Radio HourWed, Oct 24th - Lexington, KY - Willie’s Locally KnownThur, Oct 25th - Evansville, IN - Doc’sSat, Oct 27th - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk MusicSun, Oct 28th - Barnhart, MO -Oak Tree Concerts

Thu, 08/23/2012 - 3:04 pm

Have you Herd? Donna the Buffalo will be traveling the country this fall and winter! Sounding better than ever, they have been in the studio this spring and summer working on a 10th album and will be performing new songs, along with the old favorites, up and down the East coast before heading out West for the first time in a couple of years. Donna the Buffalo is Jeb Puryear on guitar and vocals; Tara Nevins on fiddle, guitar, accordion, scrubboard and vocals; keyboardist Dave McCracken; bassist Kyle Spark; and drummer Mark Raudabaugh.

Donna the Buffalo's feel-good, groove-oriented, danceable and often socially conscious music all began over twenty years ago with roots in old time fiddle music that evolved into a soulful electric Americana mix infused with elements of cajun/ zydeco, rock, folk, reggae, and country. The band is known for touring the country and remaining fiercely independent as one of the industry’s most diverse roots-music bands and has "earned a reputation as one of the most respected, eclectic and hardest-working acts today," praises Encore.

They embark on an almost non-stop tour through the end of 2012 starting at Rhythm and Roots in Rhode Island followed by shows in Pennsylvania, The Dark Star Jubilee in Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont this September before heading back down to North Carolina for their fall Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival in early October. Then they trek back up to West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland before returning to Live Oak, Florida for Magnolia Fest in late October.

They’ll be bringing The Herd out West starting with shows in Alabama, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before a host of shows throughout California the first week of November. They complete the West Coast tour in Eugene, Portland, and Seattle and and then make their way back East.

Donna The Buffalo cap off the year celebrating in Florida with shows in Ft. Lauderdale and a three night New Year’s Eve run at Skipper’s in Tampa!  Stay tuned to their facebook and twitter pages for updates, photos, and videos throughout the tour!

Donna The Buffalo on Tour Fall & Winter 2012:

Fri 8/31   Charlestown, RI   Rhythm and Roots Festival

Sat 9/1   Friendsville, PA   Choconut Inn

Sun 9/2   Thornville, OH  Dark Star Jubilee

Fri 9/21   Stanhope, NJ   Stanhope House

Sat 9/22   Baldwinsville, NY  Paper Mill Island *w/ Keller Williams

Sun 9/23   Williamsville, NY   Club Infinity

Thu 9/27   Collinsville, CT  Live @ Bridge Street Live

Fri 9/28   Saratoga Springs, NY  The Putnam Den

Sat 9/29 Burlington, VT  Higher Ground Showcase Lounge

Thu-Sun 10/4-7   Pittsboro, NC Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival

Thu 10/11   Towsen, MD   Recher Theater

Fri 10/12   Jim Thorpe, PA   Mauch Chunk Opera House

Sat 10/13   Morgantown, WV  123 Pleasant Street

Sat-Sun  10/20-21   Live Oak, FL   Magnolia Fest

Tue 10/23   Mobile, AL   Alabama Music Box

Sat 10/27   Austin, TX   Lambert's

Mon 10/29   Albuquerque, NM   The Dirty Bourbon Dance Hall

Tue 10/30   Flagstaff, AZ   Orpheum Theatre

Thu 11/1  San Diego, CA   Winston’s

Fri 11/2   Pioneertown, CA   Pappy and Harriet’s

Sat 11/3   San Francisco, CA Slim’s

Sun 11/4   Santa Cruz, CA   Moe’s Alley

Mon 11/5   Mill Valley, CA   Sweetwater Music Hall

Wed 11/7   Sebastopol, CA   Hopmonk Tavern

Thu 11/8   Eugene, OR   WOW Hall

Fri 11/9   Portland, OR   Doug Fir Lounge

Sat 11/10   Seattle, WA   Tractor Tavern

Fri 11/23   Jamestown, NY  Crystal Ballroom *w/ Big Leg Emma

Sat 11/24   Pittsburgh, PA   The Rex Theater

Sat 12/1   Winston-Salem, NC   Ziggy's

Wed 12/21   Rochester, NY   Water Street Music Hall *w/ Sim Redmond

Fri 12/28   Ft. Lauderdale   Revolution

Sat- Mon 12/29-31   Tampa, FL  Skipper’s Smokehouse

Tue, 09/04/2012 - 9:48 am

Leftover Salmon is happy to announce a two night run at the Boulder Theater on Friday and Saturday, November 23rd - 24th to celebrate Thanksgiving weekend! NPR’s Mountain Stage heralded Colorado’s Leftover Salmon as “one of the most beloved acts on America's summer-festival circuit” as they’ve returned from an eight year hiatus touring with their new album Aquatic Hitchhiker [released May 22 on LoS Records]. Exploring new new sonic territory, AOL’s The Boot listed Aquatic Hitchhiker as one of the best Americana albums of this year.

Members of the Leftover Salmon fan-club can purchase advance tickets for the Thanksgiving shows on Friday, September 7, 2012 at 10am MST online. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, September 14th at 10am MST through www.bouldertheater.com and at the Boulder Theater box office.

There ain’t no place they’d rather be letting loose for Thanksgiving weekend than with friends, fans, and family right back where it all started back in 1989 when they emerged on the scene as one of the first bluegrass bands to add drums and tour rock & roll bars, helping Salmon become a pillar of the jam band scene and unwitting architects of the jam grass genre.

Leftover Salmon kicked off the 2012 season by hosting an epic block party in downtown Denver, releasing a behind-the-scenes documentary “Salmonlandia,” touring relentlessly and scoring a spot as Discovery Channel’s first-ever house band on “After the Catch,” the post-show special for the Emmy-winning series “The Deadliest Catch.”  

Now they are gearing up for their Fall tour which kicks off October 2nd and sees several familiar stops along the way, some of which the band has not visited in over a decade. The tour rolls through the Northeast, Southeast & Midwest with festival stops at The Festy Experience & Yonder Mountain String Band’s Harvest Music Festival at Mulberry Mountain and String & Sol in Tulum, Mexico.

Looking back over the past 25 years of rootsy, string-based music, the impact of Leftover Salmon is impossible to deny. Today, Leftover Salmon is: Vince Herman (vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin); Drew Emmitt (vocals, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, mandola, fiddle); Andy Thorn (vocals, acoustic and electric banjo, National guitar); Greg Garrison (vocals, acoustic and electric bass, acoustic guitar); Jose Martinez (drums, percussion).

WATCH “Gulf of Mexico” Live from LoS’s CD Release show on Sante Fe Dr In Denver

Leftover Salmon Tour Dates

10/02 - Millvale, PA  - Mr.Smalls Theatre
10/03 - Bethlehem, PA - MusikFest Cafe’
10/04 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
10/05 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
10/06 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
10/07 - Nelson County, VA - The Festy Experience
10/09 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre
10/10 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel
10/11 - Birmingham, AL - Workplay
10/12-13 - Ozark, AR – Harvest Music Festival
10/16 - Covington, KY - Madison Theater
10/17 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
10/18 - Urbana, IL - The Canopy Club
10/19 - Ames, IA - DG’s Tap House
10/20 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
10/21 - Lincoln, NE - Bourbon Theatre
11/23-24/2012 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater
12/12-16 - Tulum, Mexico - Strings & Sol
12/27 - Indianapolis, IN  -  Vogue Theatre
12/28-29 - St.Louis, MO -  Old Rock House
12/31 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre

Tue, 10/02/2012 - 5:40 pm

Leftover Salmon is kicking off the start of their Fall Tour tonight at Mr. Smalls in Pittsburgh, PA and would like to announce that Special Guest Liz Berlin of Rusted Root will be opening the show! After that they’ve got lots of great shows coming up, including two more camping festivals before this festival season comes to a close, a return to the Boulder Theater for two night to celebrate Thanksgiving weekend, Strings and Sol in Tulum, Mexico in December, and for New Year’s Eve they will be heating up the Midwest with a four-night run! There are lots of stops along this tour that the band has not traveled to in many years, plus they will be armed with their New Album 'Aquatic Hitchhiker'!We are also excited that fiddler extraordinaire Jason Carter (Del McCoury Band, Travelin' McCourys & who also performed on the new album) will be the featured guest for both the Athens, GA show at the Georgia Theatre on October 9th and the following day at The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC.The New Years shows are going to be a blast and even more so with the news that The Lee Boys will be opening up for Leftover Salmon on ALL 4 NIGHTS of this run! The Lee Boys will be touring behind their new release 'Testify' on Evil Teen Records co-owned by Warren Haynes. Guests on the record include Warren & Jimmy Herring, amongst others. This New Years Run is sure to be one full of energy!Check out the complete tour schedule below. We look forward to seeing you out there on the road!Please be in tune to their Facebook Page as they will be posting frequent updates on their wall from the road! www.facebook.com/leftoversalmon

Wed, 10/17/2012 - 11:51 am

Donna The Buffalo kicks off for their Fall tour this weekend starting with the last festival of the season at Magnolia Fest in Live Oak, Florida! Then the band makes their way to the west coast for the first time in a few years with stops in Mobile, New Orleans, Austin, Albuquerque and Flagstaff before few shows in southern California. Then they head north and link up with David Gans for four shows in the Bay Area after which they make their way to Eugene and Portland and finish up the tour in Seattle before heading back east.

Donna the Buffalo is answering The Herd’s call to come south with a seven-day New Years Eve run in South Florida which includes a night at Revolution in Ft Lauderdale, three nights at Skippers in Tampa and three nights at the Green Parrot in Key West.

Finally, there is a buffalo named Donna! DtB has launched a campaign to help relocate over 140 wild bison from a private ranch in Montana to their native lands on the Wyoming Wind River Reservation. The band presented the following idea to the National Wildlife Federation and they loved it! It costs just $50.00 to move one of these bison back to its native land. What DtB proposed is a "SAVE THE BUFFALO" campaign where if you donate $50.00 you will essentially "ADOPT A BUFFALO" and the bison will be NAMED AFTER YOU! (Or your child, or loved one, anyone you want actually). Donna The Buffalo started the campaign and have now saved and adopted a buffalo... and named it Donna. They are calling on The Herd for support as well. More information here.

SEE a duo live and unplugged session of Tara and Jeb with Honest Tune performing “All Aboard”
LISTEN to an interview with Tara Nevins about the upcoming album, their fall tour, the Grassroots festivals & more
WATCH a documentary made by the fans: “Have Buffalo, Will Travel”

Donna the Buffalo on Tour

Sat-Sun  10/20-21  Live Oak, FL  MagnoliaFest
Tue 10/23   Mobile, AL   Alabama Music Box
Wed 10/24  New Orleans, LA  One Eyed Jacks
Sat 10/27   Austin, TX   Lambert's
Mon 10/29   Albuquerque, NM   The Dirty Bourbon Dance Hall
Tue 10/30   Flagstaff, AZ   Orpheum Theatre *w/ Sihasin (Jeneda and Clayson of Blackfire)
Wed 10/31  Los Angeles, CA  The Mint
Thu 11/1  San Diego, CA   Winston’s
Fri 11/2   Pioneertown, CA - Pappy and Harriet’s
Sat 11/3   San Francisco, CA Slim’s *w/ David Gans
Sun 11/4   Santa Cruz, CA   Moe’s Alley *w/ David Gans
Mon 11/5  Mill Valley, CA   Sweetwater Music Hall *w/ David Gans
Wed 11/7   Sebastopol, CA   Hopmonk Tavern *w/ David Gans
Thu 11/8   Eugene, OR   WOW Hall
Fri 11/9   Portland, OR   Doug Fir Lounge
Sat 11/10   Seattle, WA   Tractor Tavern
Fri 11/23   Jamestown, NY  Crystal Ballroom
Sat 11/24   Pittsburgh, PA   The Rex Theater *w/ Tiger Maple Stringband!
Thu 11/29   Towsen, MD   Recher Theater
Sat 12/1   Winston-Salem, NC   Ziggy's
Wed 12/21   Rochester, NY   Water Street Music Hall *w/ Sim Redmond
Fri 12/28   Ft. Lauderdale, FL  Revolution
Sat- Mon 12/29-31   Tampa, FL  Skipper’s Smokehouse
Wed-Fri, 1/ 2-4, 2012  Key West, FL  Green Parrot

Fri, 10/26/2012 - 10:59 am

Leftover Salmon is happy to welcome some very special guests for Thanksgiving weekend at Boulder Theater. On 11/23 Jason Carter (of The Del McCoury Band) will join the band. On 11/24 Andy Hall (of The Infamous Stringdusters) will be in the house! Looking forward to a special weekend...

The guys had such a fabulous time on the Fall tour and thank all the fans, tapers and photographers that came out and all of the wonderful venues along the way. Keep checking the facebook page for more photos, show reviews, and other fun news!

--

Tour Dates:

11/23 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater *w/ Jason Carter
11/24 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater *w/ Andy Hall
12/12-16 - Tulum, Mexico - Strings & Sol
12/27 - Indianapolis, IN  -  Vogue Theatre * w/ The Lee Boys
12/28-29 - St. Louis, MO -  Old Rock House * w/ The Lee Boys
12/31 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre * w/ The Lee Boys

Fri, 10/26/2012 - 2:18 pm

Donna the Buffalo are on an extensive tour across the country and back. Having started in Florida at MagnoliaFest, they have made their way through the south and are on the way to Austin, TX where they will be playing Lambert’s this Saturday, October 27th. The travel on to Albuquerque and Flagstaff, and then into LA to celebrate Halloween at The Mint before San Diego and Pioneertown.

Early November brings the band into the Bay Area for four shows with David Gans-- San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Mill Valley. Then they loop around the Northwest into Eugene, Portland and Seattle before heading back East.

Tara Nevins branches off from DtB for a bit  in early December and has gathered a fine group of musicians to perform with her in the South. She has announced December 5th at Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta, GA and Friday, December 7th at The Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC.  More information will be coming soon. Stay tuned...

NEW DtB DATES--  In mid-December Donna the Buffalo heads back out on the road to play Kent, OH (12/13), Columbus, OH (12/14), Chicago, IL with Steve Dawson (12/15), Philadephia (12/20) and is playing and “End of the World” Party at The Water Street Music Hall in Rochester, NY with Sim Redmond Band

Well.. The World must go on... and so does the tour.... Donna the Buffalo is answering The Herd’s call to come back to Florida with eight-day New Year’s Eve run which includes a night at Revolution in Ft Lauderdale (12/28), three nights at Skippers in Tampa (12/29-31) and three nights at the Green Parrot in Key West (1/2-4/13), and the NEWLY ADDED show at The Plaza ‘Live’ in Orlando, FL on January 5th.

Donna the Buffalo Roam the Country

Sat 10/27   Austin, TX   Lambert's
Mon 10/29   Albuquerque, NM   The Dirty Bourbon Dance Hall
Tue 10/30   Flagstaff, AZ   Orpheum Theatre
Wed 10/31  Los Angeles, CA  The Mint
Thu 11/1  San Diego, CA   Winston’s
Fri 11/2   Pioneertown, CA - Pappy and Harriet’s
Sat 11/3   San Francisco, CA Slim’s *w/ David Gans
Sun 11/4   Santa Cruz, CA   Moe’s Alley *w/ David Gans
Mon 11/5  Mill Valley, CA   Sweetwater Music Hall *w/ David Gans
Wed 11/7   Sebastopol, CA   Hopmonk Tavern *w/ David Gans
Thu 11/8   Eugene, OR   WOW Hall
Fri 11/9   Portland, OR   Doug Fir Lounge
Sat 11/10   Seattle, WA   Tractor Tavern
Fri 11/23   Jamestown, NY  Crystal Ballroom
Sat 11/24   Pittsburgh, PA The Rex Theater
Thu 11/29   Towsen, MD  Recher Theater
*Fri 11/30   Floyd, VA   Sun Music Hall
Sat 12/1   Winston-Salem, NC   Ziggy's
Wed 12/5   TARA NEVINS Atlanta, GA   Smith’s Olde Bar
Fri 12/7   TARA NEVINS ASheville, NC   The Grey Eagle
*Thu 12/13   Kent, OH   Kent Stage
*Fri 12/14   Columbus, OH   Woodlands Tavern
*Sat 12/15   Chicago, IL   City Winery *w/ Steve Dawson
*Thu 12/20   Philadelphia, PA   The Blockley
Wed 12/21   Rochester, NY   Water Street Music Hall *w/ Sim Redmond
Fri 12/28   Ft. Lauderdale, FL   Revolution
Sat- Mon 12/29-31   Tampa, FL  Skipper’s Smokehouse
Wed-Fri, 1/2-4/13  Key West, FL  Green Parrot
*Sat 1/5/13   Orlando, FL   The Plaza “Live”

Wed, 11/14/2012 - 2:03 pm

We are happy to announce that Leftover Salmon swims westbound for 2013 Winter Tour! The tour sees stops throughout the West, Southern California, Southwest, and back through some of the Mountain West’s favorite ski towns.

LOS Fan Club Ticketing on sale 11/15 at 10am (MST) for the Winter Tour.

To get you in the groove, LoS has made available a free download of the soundboard recording for the entire show from the Georgia Theater this Fall. Jason Carter (Del McCoury Band, Travelin’ McCourys) sat in on fiddle the entire show and David Lowery (Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven) played a few songs during the second set. It is available here.

For more information, tickets and future dates visit our tour page.

Leftover Salmon on Tour:

Wed 2/13/13 Missoula, MT  Wilma Theater         
Thu 2/14/13 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory       
Fri 2/15/13 Seattle, WA  Neptune Theatre     
Sat 2/16/13 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom       
Sun 2/17/13 Arcata, CA  Arcata Theater         
Mon 2/18/13 Crystal Bay, NV  Crystal Bay Club & Casino   
Wed 2/20/13 San Francisco, CA  Great American Music Hall  
Thu 2/21/13 West Hollywood, CA  House of Blues          
Fri 2/22/13 Solana Beach, CA  Belly Up         
Sat 2/23/13 Flagstaff, AZ   Orpheum Theater    
Sun 2/24/13 Tuscon, AZ  Rialto Theatre           
Tue 2/26/13 – 2/27/13  Telluride, CO  Sheridan Opera House        
Thu 2/28/13  Aspen, CO  Belly Up         
Fri 3/1/13  Park City, UT  Park City Live           
Sat 3/2/13  Boise, ID  Knitting Factory       
Sun 3/3/13  Jackson, WY  Pink Garter Theatre

Fri, 11/16/2012 - 9:19 am

American roots traditionalist Tara Nevins will be touring this winter in the southeast for select shows, in between her other gigs with Donna the Buffalo. She will be performing songs from her latest solo release, Wood and Stone, on Sugar Hills Records which hit in the Top 20 on the Americana Music Chart in 2011.Joining Nevins for this tour are Riley Baugus (Banjo), Mike Compton (Mandolin), Pete Finney (pedal steel & electric guitar), David Grier (Acoustic Guitar), Todd Phillips (bass), Mark Raudabaugh (Donna the Buffalo’s  Drummer), and Amber-Dawn Rische (harmony vocals & 2nd fiddle). Find out more about them here.Fans of Nevins from her 21-year tenure with Donna the Buffalo are familiar with her versatile talents; she shares the vocal and songwriting responsibilities for the band and is a stellar musician on fiddle, guitar, and accordion. (She plays a mean scrubboard too.) Prior to DTB, Nevins was a founding member of the all-female, old time/Cajun band The Heartbeats.Wood and Stone was produced by Larry Campbell at the Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY and showcases Nevins’ ever-evolving repertoire as she journeys both back to her own “roots” and head-long into new territory. Featured guests on the album include Levon Helm, Jim Lauderdale, Allison Moorer, Teresa Williams, The Heartbeats, along with the core band of Larry Campbell, Justin Guip, and Byron Isaacs.CMT says, “With the wonderful fiddle groove and vividly written lyrics, Nevins gives a glimpse into her roots. Stepping out for a rare solo record (beyond her beloved band, Donna the Buffalo), she meshes her Cajun influences, unique voice, drums and steel guitars for an intriguing look at her heritage.”“Two surprises on the album are “Stars Fell on Alabama,” in which Nevins turns the ‘30s jazz standard into a bleak, gothic soundscape, and “Tennessee River,” an even more desolate turn recalling the best of Lucinda Williams,“ writes Lonesome Road Review.

Tue, 11/20/2012 - 12:10 pm

In this eclectic album, Shannon and Barrett take turns singing lead, backing each other on harmony vocals, and playing various instrumentations with Shannon on ukulele, banjo and Barrett on electric and acoustic guitars, upright bass, and piano. Recorded in Asheville’s Echo Mountain Recording Studio with a team of talented friends and musicians from the Asheville area including Legendary drummer Jeff Sipe (Aquarium Rescue Unit, Leftover Salmon) and master multi-instrumentalist Mike Ashworth fas the core rhythm section. Justin Ray and Jacob Rodriguez took a break from touring with Michael Buble to contribute on trumpet and saxophone. Virtuoso bluegrass fiddlers Nate Leath and Nicky Sanders (Steep Canyon Rangers) adds violins to Melissa Hyman’s cello lines while Michael Libramento, of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, plays keyboards.

In recording Bring it on Home, the Shannon and Barrett looked to songs that inspire them, and hope to pass that inspiration on.

1) Bring It On Home To Me (Sam Cooke)
2) Moonglow (Delange, Mills, Hudson)
3) You Can Close Your Eyes (James Taylor)
4) Duncan (Paul Simon)
5) I Get Ideas (When We Are Dancing)  (Sanders, Cochran
6) Louise (Paul Siebel)
7) Sway (Molina, Ruiz, Gimbel)
8) Bird On The Wire (Leonard Cohen)l
9) Corcovado (Quiet Nights) (A.C. Jobim, Gene Lees)
10) Green Grass (Tom Waits, Kathleen Brennan)
11) I’ll Be Your Lover, Too (Van Morrison)
12) You Are My Sunshine (Jimmie Davis)

Tue, 12/04/2012 - 10:23 am

Leftover Salmon is excited to support SEVA’s 35th Anniversary Benefit Concert at the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma, CA on Tuesday, February 19th, 2013. This event features Wavy Gravy as the Host, Hot Buttered Rum, David Nelson Band, and members of Leftover Salmon. Doors are at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm.

Since 1978 Seva Foundation has been a leading innovator in the delivery of vital eye care and diabetes prevention services to the worlds most vulnerable – including women, children and indigenous peoples.

Of the worlds 45 million blind, four out of five could see again if only they had access to adequate care.  Seva’s Sight Programs have restored vision to more than 3 million people in 12 countries by providing affordable cataract surgeries. Seva’s Native American Community Health Program has supported hundreds of grassroots wellness projects in native communities where health disparities disproportionately affect vulnerable, low-income people and are largely preventable. Please visit www.seva.org for more information about their work.

SEVA Foundation’s 35 Anniversary Benefit Concert @ Mystic Theatre
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Featuring: Wavy Gravy (Host), Hot Buttered Rum, David Nelson Band & Members of Leftover Salmon
Doors 7:00pm/Show: 8:00pm
23 Petaluma Blvd North, Petaluma, CA 94952
General Admission Tickets are $30, VIP $100, 21+
Buy them online at www.ticketweb.com
or at the Mystic Theatre Box office (707) 765-2121.
 
Leftover Salmon on Tour:

Wed- Sun 12/12-16/12  Tulum, Mexico - Strings & Sol
Thu 12/27/12  Indianapolis, IN  -  Vogue Theatre * w/ The Lee Boys
Fri-Sat 12/28-29 /12 St. Louis, MO -  Old Rock House * w/ The Lee Boys
Mon 12/31/12 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre * w/ The Lee Boys
Wed 2/13/13 Missoula, MT  Wilma Theater         
Thu 2/14/13 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory       
Fri 2/15/13 Seattle, WA  Neptune Theatre     
Sat 2/16/13 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom       
Sun 2/17/13 Arcata, CA  Arcata Theater         
Mon 2/18/13 Crystal Bay, NV  Crystal Bay Club & Casino   
Tues 2/19/13  Petaluma, CA  Mystic Theatre SEVA Benefit *w/ members of LoS
Wed 2/20/13 San Francisco, CA  Great American Music Hall  
Thu 2/21/13 West Hollywood, CA  House of Blues          
Fri 2/22/13 Solana Beach, CA  Belly Up         
Sat 2/23/13 Flagstaff, AZ   Orpheum Theater    
Sun 2/24/13 Tuscon, AZ  Rialto Theatre           
Tue 2/26/13 – 2/27/13  Telluride, CO  Sheridan Opera House        
Thu 2/28/13  Aspen, CO  Belly Up         
Fri 3/1/13  Park City, UT  Park City Live           
Sat 3/2/13  Boise, ID  Knitting Factory       
Sun 3/3/13  Jackson, WY  Pink Garter Theatre
Fri- Sat 3/22-23/2013  Live Oak, FL  Suwanee Springfest
Sun 4/14/2013  Steamboat Springs, CO  Steamboat Ski Resort - Bud Light Rocks the Boat Free Concert Series

Wed, 12/12/2012 - 6:48 pm

John Driskell Hopkins has walked the musical path for the last 20 years. As a bass player, guitar player, singer and songwriter for several bands of the rock variety, Hopkins rooted himself in the Atlanta, GA music scene in 1995, producing records and touring with his band Brighter Shade and later becoming a founding member of the Zac Brown Band to this day. Now he has teamed up with North Carolina bluegrass band, Balsam Range, to record a new album, Daylight, which debuted at the Southern Ground Music and Food Festival in Charleston, SC in October 2012. Daylight was independently produced and is set for national release on January 22, 2013 and features an array of special guests.A lifelong fan of bluegrass and gospel music, John became an instant fan of Balsam Range, an award-winning and unstoppable 5-piece hailing from Haywood County, North Carolina. As John’s plans for a solo record took shape, he realized that BR’s authentic style and approach could bring his songs new life, and a vision for his record became clear.Over the course of a year, the collective made use of their sparse days off the road and arranged to pow-wow and track basics at John’s home studio in Atlanta, GA or at Crossroads Studio in Arden, NC, eventually bringing the songs to form. John utilized the Zac Brown Band’s amazing new Southern Ground Studios in Nashville, TN for the final engineering and mixing, and in the middle of September 2012, the album was completed.John is thrilled to have included several special guests on the album, including Zac Brown on “I Will Lay Me Down,” a sweet and sacred song; Levi Lowrey on “How Could I?” a song co-written by the two, and the heavenly Joey Feek of Joey + Rory on the autobiographical “Bye Baby Goodbye.” And of the musicians featured on Daylight, John could not have done better: the unmatched Jerry Douglas opens the record with dobro on “Runaway Train,” and Tony Trischka brings his banjo mastery to the title-track, “Daylight,” a longtime song in Hopkins’ repertoire about breaking through life’s troubles into brighter times.Of singing on stage with BR, John says “Being on stage with Balsam Range is like body-surfing in warm butter-cream icing with hillbilly cherubs. Smooth…..” Balsam Range is Buddy Melton (fiddle, vocals), Darren Nicholson (Mandolin, vocals), Marc Pruett (Banjo, Vocals), Caleb Smith (guitar, vocals), and Tim Surrett (bass, dobro, vocals).  If you’re a Zac Brown Band fan, you’ll hear a couple familiar songs, though most tracks are newly penned with BR’s talent and magic in mind, and a couple songs are some of John’s oldest tunes, written with his band of many years, Brighter Shade, and beautifully reworked for this special new project.Hopkins met Zac Brown in 1998 at an open mic hosted by Hopkins. Over the next several years, they remained friends and with Hopkins lending a production hand, they released the first Zac Brown record, “Home Grown,” in 2004.Hopkins became a founding member of the Zac Brown Band in 2005 and has enjoyed engineering and songwriting credits on hit songs such as “Toes,” “It’s Not OK,” and “Sic Em On A Chicken,” from the multi-platinum selling record “The Foundation,” as well as “Nothing,” “I Play The Road,” and “Settle Me Down,” from the platinum selling record, “You Get What You Give.”As the ZBB continues to garner critical and public success through Grammy, CMA, and ACM Awards, Hopkins continues to share the spotlight on stage with his band of fellow songwriters and friends and is excited to share his collaboration with Balsam Range with the world.For more about John Driskell Hopkins and Daylight, visit www.JohnDriskellHopkins.com.

Fri, 01/11/2013 - 11:17 am

Donna the Buffalo will be touring throughout the East this Winter and into the Spring. This February marks their appearance at the 2nd annual Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival in Miami (the 4th in a family of GrassRoots Festivals hosted by Donna the Buffalo). In March, Donna the Buffalo returns, for the 17th year in a row, to Suwannee Springfest in Live Oak Florida!

Festival highlights include the 10th Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival, MerleFest, Camp Jam in the Pines in New Jersey, the Blue Ridge BBQ Festival in NC. They will also be returning, for the 22nd year in a row, to the Great Blue Heron Festival in New York in July.

Donna the Buffalo’s music is rooted in old-time fiddle music that evolved into a soulful electric Americana mix infused with elements of Cajun/zydeco, rock, folk, reggae and country. They have been working on a 10th album which will be released this spring through Sugar Hill Records with the dynamic songwriting tandem of vocalists Jeb Puryear on guitar and vocals; Tara Nevins on fiddle, guitar, accordion, scrubboard and vocals; keyboardist Dave McCracken; bassist Kyle Spark; and drummer Mark Raudabaugh. More information about the album is forthcoming.

Stay tuned for more tour dates to be announced!

Donna the Buffalo Upcoming Shows

Fri 1/18/13 Floyd, VA Sun Music Hall
Sat 1/19/13 Charlottesville, VA Jefferson Theater
Sun 1/20/13 Saxapahaw, NC Haw River Ballroom
Thu 2/7/13 Saranac Lake, NY Waterhole Music Lounge
Fri 2/8/13 Northampton, MA Pearl Street *with Paint supporting!
Sat 2/9/13 Natick, MA Center for the Arts in Natick
Sun 2/10/13 Fall River, MA Narrows Center for the Arts
Thu-Sun 2/21-24/13 Miami, FL Virginia Key Grassroots
Thu 2/28/13 Charlotte, NC Neighborhood Theatre
Fri 3/1/13 Greensboro, NC Blind Tiger
Sat 3/2/13 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
Fri 3/22/13 Charleston, SC Pour House
Sat-Sun 3/23-24/13 Live Oak, FL Suwannee Springfest
Fri 4/12/13 Buffalo, NY The Tralf
Sat 4/13/13 Grand Rapids, MI The Intersection
Thu-Sun 4/18-21/13 Silk Hope, NC Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival
Fri 4/26-28/13 N Wilkesboro, NC MerleFest
Fri 5/3/13 Atlanta, GA Terminal West
Sat 5/4/13 St Pete, FL Jannus Landing
Sun 5/5/13 Jacksonville Beach, FL Freebird Cafe
Fri 5/10/13 Pittsburgh, PA Rex Theatre
Sat 5/11/13 Falls Church, VA State Theatre
Fri 5/17/13 Syracuse, NY Wescott Theater
Sat 5/18/13 Monroeville, NJ Camp Jam in the Pines
Sun 5/19/13 New York, NY City Winery
Sat 6/15/13 Tryon, NC Blue Ridge BBQ and Music Festival
Sat-Sun 7/6-7/13 Sherman, NY The Great Blue Heron Festival

More shows tba at www.donnathebuffalo.com

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 4:03 pm

Town Mountain is touring around their fourth album, Leave the Bottle, which was released September 4th, 2012 on Pinecastle Records and was produced by Grammy award-winner Mike Bub (Del McCoury Band) and engineered by banjoist extraordinaire Scott Vestal (Sam Bush Band) at his own Digital Underground Studio in Nashville, TN. After debuting at #4 on the Bluegrass Today Radio Chart on release week, Leave the Bottle has been generating rave reviews and serious airtime from bluegrass fans across the country. The album went on to be listed as #6 Best Bluegrass Album of 2012 by Pop Matters, and WNCW listeners voted it #19 in the Top 100 albums of 2012 and #7 in regional bands for the WNC area. Town Mountain is Robert Greer on vocals and guitar, Jesse Langlais on banjo and vocals, Phil Barker on mandolin and vocals, Bobby Britt on fiddle, and Jake Hopping on upright bass.

Town Mountain on Tour:
Fri 1/18/13 Asheville, NC The Isis Music Hall *MANNA Food Bank Benefit w/ Sanctum Sully
Sat 1/19/13 Knoxville, TN Barley’s Taproom
Tue 1/29/13 Tampa, FL Skippers Smokehouse
Wed 1/30/13
Fort Worth, FL  The Acoustic Trail Sundowner Series in The Lagoon Bar

Thu-Mon 2/1-4/13  Miami, FL to the Bahamas Mountain Song at Sea
Fri 2/8/13 Lexington, NC High Rock Outfitters
Wed 2/13/13 Washington, DC Club Heaven and Hell *w/ Big Chimney
Fri 2/15/13 Framingham, MA Joe Val Bluegrass Festival
Sat 2/16/13 Chester, NJ Bernie’s Hillside Lounge
Fri 3/1/13 Charleston, SC The Charleston Music Hall *w/ Cumberland Gap
Fri 3/15/13  Charleston, WV The Boulevard Tavern
Sun 3/17/13  Amity, PA Rinky Dinks Roadhouse
Fri 3/29/13  Asheville, NC The Grey Eagle *w/ The Foghorn Stringband and Brad Folk & The Bluegrass Playboys
Sat 3/30/13  Knoxville, TN The Laurel Theatre *w/ The Foghorn Stringband
Fri 4/12/13  Greer, SC Spring Skunk Music Festival
Sat 4/13/13  Columbia, SC River Rocks Festival
Fri 5/31/13  Bean Blossom, IN John Hartford Memorial Festival
Sat 6/8/13  Lexington, KY Festival of the Bluegrass

Stay tuned for more dates TBA at www.TownMountain.net

Tue, 01/22/2013 - 10:48 am

John Driskell Hopkins has walked the musical path for the last 20 years. As a bass player, guitar player, singer and songwriter for several bands of the rock variety, Hopkins rooted himself in the Atlanta, GA music scene in 1995, producing records and touring with his band Brighter Shade and later becoming a founding member of the Zac Brown Band to this day. Now he has teamed up with North Carolina-based band and Mountain Home Recording artists, Balsam Range, to record and independently produce a new album, Daylight, set for national release on January 22nd.

John is thrilled to have included several special guests on the album, including Zac Brown on “I Will Lay Me Down,” a sweet and sacred song; Levi Lowrey on “How Could I?” a song co-written by the two, and the heavenly Joey Feek of Joey + Rory on the autobiographical “Bye Baby Goodbye.” And of the musicians featured on Daylight, John could not have done better: the unmatched Jerry Douglas opens the record with dobro on “Runaway Train,” and Tony Trischka brings his banjo mastery to the title-track, “Daylight,” a longtime song in Hopkins’ repertoire about breaking through life’s troubles into brighter times.

Of performing with with BR, John says “Being on stage with Balsam Range is like body-surfing in warm butter-cream icing with hillbilly cherubs. Smooth…” Balsam Range is Buddy Melton (fiddle, vocals), Darren Nicholson (Mandolin, vocals), Marc Pruett (Banjo, Vocals), Caleb Smith (guitar, vocals), and Tim Surrett (bass, dobro, vocals).

Balsam Range’s Marc Pruett says, “John Hopkins is a serious student of all kinds of music, and I think it comes through well in the songs he writes. He really runs the gambit from soft, Gospel-sounding acoustic, to hard, driving rock-swing things. John is a ‘power singer,’ and man he can deliver.”

If you’re a Zac Brown Band fan, you’ll hear a couple familiar songs, though most tracks are newly penned with BR’s talent and magic in mind, and a couple songs are some of John’s oldest tunes, written with his band of many years, Brighter Shade, and beautifully reworked for this special new project.

Thu, 01/31/2013 - 6:27 pm

John Driskell Hopkins and Balsam Range are excited to perform at The Grand Ole Opry on Friday, March 8th! “I’m doubly honored to be able to play my own songs in one of the greatest music venues in the world,” says Hopkins. They will be performing music from Daylight, which was was independently released on Jan 22nd and will also be performing at select shows throughout the year.

Hopkins, widely known as a founding member and bass player for the Zac Brown Band, has been performing music for 20+ years. After hearing Balsam Range on Sirius XM one day, Hopkins, a lover of roots music of all varieties, called them up to see about accompanying him on his original tunes in a new album and a new musical bond was formed with outstanding results in Daylight.

Of performing with with BR, John says “Being on stage with Balsam Range is like body-surfing in warm butter-cream icing with hillbilly cherubs. Smooth…” Balsam Range is Buddy Melton (fiddle, vocals), Darren Nicholson (Mandolin, vocals), Marc Pruett (Banjo, Vocals), Caleb Smith (guitar, vocals), and Tim Surrett (bass, dobro, vocals).

John Driskell Hopkins and Balsam Range Performances:

Fri 2/1 Asheville, NC Isis Music Hall

Thu 2/14 Nashville, TN The Basement

Fri 3/8  Nashville, TN The Grand Ole Opry

Sat 3/9 Knoxville, TN The Shed

Thu, 3/14 Athens GA The Melting Point

Thu, 02/07/2013 - 12:01 pm

Leftover Salmon is pleased to announce 2013 Spring Tour! Highlights include Suwannee Springfest, three intimate evenings at the Bluebird Theater in Denver, a trip to Texas for Old Settler’s Music Festival and the Houston International Festival, and a special run of shows in the southeast. The tour closes at the Howlin’ Wolf in New Orleans during Jazzfest!

LOS Fan Ticketing for the Spring 2013 goes on sale February 7th at 10:00am MST.

LoS’s New Years Run is now available for download. And Strings & Sol (Tulum, Mexcio) is available NOW for FREE!

Mountain Stage will be rebroadcasting Leftover Salmon's performance from April 2012; it will hit the airwaves February 8th. Be sure to tune in! Air times vary by station, please check your local listings.

Leftover Salmon Spring Tour Dates
Fri-Sat, March 22-23 Live Oak, FL - Suwannee Springfest
Thu- Sat, March 28-30 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
Sat, April 13 Fort Collins, CO - Aggie Theatre
Sun, April 14 Steamboat Springs, CO - Gondola Plaza (Free Show)
Sat April 20 Driftwood, TX - Old Settler’s Music Festival
Sun, April 21 Houston, TX - Houston International Airport
Tue, April 23 Jackson, MS - Duling Hall
Wed, April 24 Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre
Thu, April 25 Chattanooga, TN - Track 29
Fri, April 26 Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall
Sat, April 27 New Orleans, LA - Howlin' Wolf

Sat, 03/02/2013 - 12:16 pm

Leftover Salmon is pleased to announce that the Brooklyn's genre-bending funk ensemble, The Pimps of Joytime, have been added to a few shows this April on the 2013 Spring Tour and will be joining LoS in Athens, Chattanooga, and Memphis.LoS tour highlights include Suwannee Springfest, three intimate evenings at the Bluebird Theater in Denver, a trip to Texas for Old Settler’s Music Festival and the Houston International Festival, and a special run of shows in the southeast. The tour closes at the Howlin’ Wolf in New Orleans during Jazzfest!   Leftover Salmon Spring Tour DatesFri-Sat, March 22-23 Live Oak, FL - Suwannee SpringfestThu- Sat, March 28-30 Denver, CO - Bluebird TheaterSat, April 13 Fort Collins, CO - Aggie TheatreSun, April 14 Steamboat Springs, CO - Gondola Plaza (Free Show)Sat April 20 Driftwood, TX - Old Settler’s Music FestivalSun, April 21 Houston, TX - Houston International AirportTue, April 23 Jackson, MS - Duling HallWed, April 24 Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre *w/ The Pimps of JoytimeThu, April 25 Chattanooga, TN - Track 29 *w/ The Pimps of JoytimeFri, April 26 Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall *w/ The Pimps of JoytimeSat, April 27 New Orleans, LA - Howlin' Wolf For complete tour dates please visit: www.LeftoverSalmon.com

Thu, 03/07/2013 - 4:57 pm

John Driskell Hopkins & Balsam Range Debut at the Grand Ole Opry March 8th Performing Music from Their Independently Released Album DAYLIGHT.

"...what a great sound for John! I'm excited for people to hear him in this raw and broken-down format, his unique voice front and center!"
--Oliver Wood (of the Wood Brothers)


"It's been a long time since I've been in the thick of it, swattin' it out with a bonafide Bluegrass band with power vocals coming from a fellow with a pedigree like John Driskell Hopkins possesses. I don't see anything but clear sailing for this song [Runaway Train]."
--Jerry Douglas


"John Hopkins' new album, Daylight, has rich vocals and excellent pickers that are wrapped around well-crafted songs. What's not to love?"
--Jim Lauderdale

John Driskell Hopkins & Balsam Range Performances:

Fri 3/8  Nashville, TN  WSM 9am

Fri 3/8  Nashville, TN The Grand Ole Opry 7pm

Sat 3/9 Knoxville, TN WDVX 1:30pm

Sat 3/9 Knoxville, TN The Shed

Thu 3/14 Athens GA The Melting Point

www.JohnDriskellHopkins.com

Tue, 03/19/2013 - 10:57 am

Portland, Oregon-based Ashleigh Flynn celebrates her latest CD, A Million Stars. Set for national release on May 14, 2013, Flynn’s fourth studio effort on her own Home Perm Records, is produced by Chris Funk, her longtime friend and musical collaborator, best-known as the Decemberists’ multi-instrumentalist. The record features Todd Snider and many of Portland’s most talented musicians including, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee-Drizos, Nate Query, John Moen, Annalisa Tornfelt, and the Stolen Sweets singers, among others.A Million Stars continues the inspired narrative Flynn began on earlier records with tales deeply rooted in the American experience. The most profound seed of inspiration for the new record was a watercolor painted by her young niece depicting a cowgirl atop her horse under a starry desert sky. Who was this girl so confidently astride her mount? Calamity Jane? Surely there were others like her? Discovering the painting led her on a quest to learn more about the women of the westward expansion, unnamed heroes that history had largely overlooked.The album’s twelve tracks represent true blue Americana featuring a bit of folk, blues, country and rock. The title cut, “A Million Stars”, chronicles the story of Cattle Annie and Little Britches, two cowgirls who rode the outlaw trails in the late 1800s, disguised as men, so as to gain entrée onto the frontier, a place not seen fit for a woman. “See That Light”, a seemingly fun little blues ditty but with a strong message, features Todd Snider, Flynn’s musical mentor, who plays the voice of reason and, in his sermon to those who might judge certain types of love unlike their own, warns of the resulting harm caused by such hypocrisy. Other highlights include a bluegrass tune “Dirty Hands and Dirty Feet”, a vintage jazz tune about Portland’s own “Prohibition Rose”, and “A Little Low”, a memorial to one of her friends, Nancy Bergeson – Assistant US Federal Defender who was murdered, and whose murder is still unsolved. “Walk Awhile”, recorded live at Search Party West, features party goers on parts of the chorus adding a fun and unique element.Ashleigh Flynn grew up in Kentucky and cut her teeth on local bluegrass music. She arrived on the national scene in 2008 with the release of her third record, American Dream. A prolific songwriter, Flynn is also an electrifying performer blessed with unbridled charisma. She has released two prior full-length studio records Chokecherry (2002) and Ashleigh Flynn, self-titled (1999) and a live record, Sneakin’ Out with Ashleigh Flynn (2005).Based on the merits of American Dream, Flynn has performed at many a music festival including Bonnaroo, Bumbershoot, Falcon Ridge Folk, High Sierra, Gamble Rogers, Sisters Folk, and most recently the 30A Songwriters Festival in Florida. She has also traveled the globe, peddling her wares, and regularly warming tours for Todd Snider and Nanci Griffith, as well as opening shows for John Hiatt, Shawn Colvin, and Band of Heathens, among others. American Dream landed Flynn spots on many national & internationally syndicated radio programs that celebrate Americana music, including Mountain Stage, WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, and NPR.Ashleigh Flynn Pre-Album Release Tour:3/19 Millvale, PA - Mr. Small's Funhouse *3/20 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom & Tavern *3/21 Buffalo, NY - Tralf Music Hall *3/22 Ithaca, NY - The Haunt *3/23 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club *3/24 Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall **supporting Todd Snider Album Release Tour Dates tba.For more information, please visit: www.ashleighflynn.com

Fri, 03/29/2013 - 3:34 pm

Leftover Salmon is happy to announce LiveSalmon.com, your source for fresh performances. Concert downloads will be available at www.livesalmon.com usually within a few days of the live performance. All shows from the Winter Tour are now available for download.Winter Tour Compilation - Free Download!As a special treat, Leftover Salmon is offering a Winter Tour Compilation Download for FREE! Click HereLive StreamingLeftover Salmon will also be streaming all shows LIVE from www.livesalmon.com, provided there is access to an Internet connection. Show streaming starts tonight (3/28) LIVE from the Bluebird Theater for LoS’s 3-night run. Be sure to tune in!Leftover Salmon Spring Tour DatesThu- Sat, March 28-30 Denver, CO - Bluebird TheaterSat, April 13 Fort Collins, CO - Aggie TheatreSun, April 14 Steamboat Springs, CO - Gondola Square (Free Show) *w/ Head for the HillsSat April 20 Driftwood, TX - Old Settler’s Music FestivalSun, April 21 Houston, TX - Houston International AirportTue, April 23 Jackson, MS - Duling HallWed, April 24 Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre *w/ The Pimps of JoytimeThu, April 25 Chattanooga, TN - Track 29 *w/ The Pimps of JoytimeFri, April 26 Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall *w/ The Pimps of JoytimeSat, April 27 New Orleans, LA - Howlin' WolfFESTIIIIVAAAALLL! Summer is right around the corner and Leftover Salmon is serving up a full plate of prime time festival appearances all over the country including DelFest, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, All Good Music Festival, Northwest String Summit & many more!For complete tour dates please visit: www.LeftoverSalmon.com

Wed, 04/24/2013 - 1:56 pm

Head for the Hills is pleased to announce the upcoming release of their third studio album, Blue Ruin, on July 9, 2013. They are in the midst of their Spring Tour in which they opened for both Yonder Mountain String Band and Leftover Salmon. They’ll perform two nights at The Bluebird Theater this weekend in Denver then travel up the west coast. This summer brings them to a variety of festivals including RockyGrass, Northwest String Summit, 4 Peaks Music Festival, Salmonstock, and the return of their music festival, Pickin' on the Poudre at the historic Mishawaka Amphitheatre, where they’ll be performing music from the new release... think Meta-fictional sea shanties, pop-infused newgrass murder ballads and urbane lyricism, twang and punch.

On Blue Ruin, Head for the Hills fuses bluegrass, jazz, hip-hop and indie rock into songs inspired by love and misery and comic books. It was recorded and mixed in Fort Collins, Colorado at Swingfingers Studios with ace engineer and banjoist Aaron Youngberg (Hit and Run, Martha Scanlan, Cahalen Morrison and Eli West). Blue Ruin features guest musicians: resophonic guitarist Andy Hall (The Infamous Stringdusters), cellist Kathleen Starr, electric pianist James Thomas, trumpeter Gabe Mervine (The Motet), vocalist Erin Youngberg (Uncle Earl), and Youngberg on banjo and pedal steel. Head For The Hills is Adam Kinghorn on guitar, Michael Chappell on mandolin, Joe Lessard on fiddle, and Matt Loewen bass.

For a sneak peak at the album, watch this fun Blue Ruin Preview Video and stream the song “Take Me Back.”

Renowned screen print artist Timothy Doyle (NASA, Lucas Films, Muse, The Black Keys, The Campaign to Re-Elect Barack Obama) created the stunning cover art, which brings to life themes and characters from within the record. Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer David Glasser rounds out the production team.

Stay tuned for more about the new release on the band’s website and social networks.  More information can be found about Blue Ruin at www.headforthehillsmusic.com/blueruin.

H4TH Tour Dates

Wed 4/24  - Midtown Ballroom - Bend, OR *

Fri-Sat 4/26-27  – Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO

Tue 4/30 - Mystic Hot Springs - Monroe, UT

Wed 5/1 - Sail Inn - Tempe, AZ

Thu 5/2 - The Green Room - Flagstaff, AZ

Fri 5/3 - The Mint - Los Angeles, CA

Sat 5/4 - Winston's - San Diego, CA

Sun 5/5 – Ramona Bluegrass Festival – Ramona, CA

Tue 5/7 – SoHo – Santa Barbara, CA

Wed 5/8 – Moe’s Alley – Santa Cruz, CA

Thu 5/9 – Harlows – Sacramento, CA

Fri 5/10 – Hopmonk Tavern – Novato, CA

Sat 5/11 – Crystal Bay Club & Casino – Crystal Bay, NV

Sat 5/18 - Mishawaka Amphitheatre - Pickin' on the Poudre - Bellvue, CO

Fri 6/21 - 4 Peaks Music Festival - Bend, OR ^

Sun 7/7 - Bluegrass in Paradise - Crested Butte, CO -

Thu-Sun 7/18-21 Northwest String Summit – North Plains, OR #

Sun 7/28 – RockyGrass – Lyons, CO ~

Fri 8/2-4 - Salmonstock - Ninilchik, AK /

* = with special guests Drew Emmitt Trio, Mosey West

^ = with Greensky Bluegrass, March 4th Marching Band and more

- = with Sam Bush Band, Drew Emmitt & The Paradise All Star Band-Featuring Sam Bush, Aoife O'Donovan, and more

# =  with Yonder Mountain String Band, Leftover Salmon, David Grisman Bluegrass Experience and more

~ = with Del McCoury Band, Jerry Douglas & Friends, Carolina Chocolate Drops and more

/ = with Trampled By Turtles, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge and more

 

For tickets and tour information – click here.

Thu, 04/25/2013 - 3:46 pm

The Honeycutters are thrilled to announce the launch of their Kickstarter campaign on Thursday, April 25, 2013 for a Spring 2014 album release! The band is fronted by vocalist and songwriter, Amanda Anne Platt and lead guitarist/ producer Peter James and includes Tal Taylor on mandolin, bassist Rick Cooper and Josh Milligan on drums.The Kickstarter campaign launches during this weekend’s MerleFest, where The Honeycutters are set to perform, and will run for forty days. The goal is set to raise $28,000, which will be earmarked for recording; the mixing & mastering of the album at the prestigious Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville; album packaging design; album pressing; distribution; publicity and radio promotion. Supporters will receive an assortment of special gifts for pledging to the campaign including a day at the studio w/ The Honeycutters; handwritten lyrics booklets to accompany the album; house concerts featuring The Honeycutters; an invitation to a either a guitar workshop w/ Peter James or a songwriting workshop w/ Amanda Anne Platt; a special edition poster; pre-release copies of the album; stickers; digital downloads and more.  “We love playing music, being on the road, and meeting the people that make our lives as musicians possible,” Platt says. “We're hoping that the release of this next record will afford us a greater opportunity for doing what we love--we want to bring more Honeycutters music into the world!”Last year marked a successful year for The Honeycutters, with the release of their second album, When Bitter Met Sweet, which was also fan funded. The album released at MerleFest and was one of the top ten selling albums at MerleFest 2012. The band went on to sell out the Grey Eagle in Asheville for their official CD release party, and they performed at Strawberry Music Fest in California. Highlights for the band in 2012 included opening for Guy Clark in Nashville, TN and for Jim Lauderdale in New York City.When Bitter Met Sweet remained on the Americana Radio Chart for 11 weeks after its June release where it reached #23. It  landed at #94 in the top 100 Americana releases for 2012 and placed #4 in WNCW's Top 100 Albums of the same year. Regionally, it was the #2 record, right behind The Avett Brothers’ The Carpenter. Asheville’s Mountain Xpress reader’s poll selected The Honeycutters as “Best Local Americana Country Band” for the second year running. The group’s first release, Irene (2009) also received positive accolades like placing #32 on WNCW’s Top 100 Chart and a listing on Iaan Hughes’ No Depression Podcast’s Top Twenty of 2009.The Honeycutters are currently featured in CMT’s Concrete Country series where they perform three original songs live in the heart of Downtown Nashville.Watch it here.For a free download of a sampler of The Honeycutters’ music, visit NoiseTrade.The Honeycutters on Tour:Fri & Sat 4/26-27/13 MerleFest - Wilkesboro, NCFri & Sat 5/17-18/13 Isis Music Hall - Asheville, NCWed 5/29 The Berkeley Cafe - Raleigh, NC *w/ Zoe Muth & The Lost High RollersThu 5/30 US National Whitewater Center - Charlotte, NCSat 6/1 Nelsonville Music Fest - Nelsonville, OHWed 6/5 Old St Francis Theater, Bend OR *Thu 6/6 Kennedy School - Portland, OR *Fri 6/7 Hotel Oregon - McMinnville, OR *Sat 6/8 Treehouse Cafe - Bainbridge Island, WASun 6/9 Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR *TUe 6/11 Oly Club Centralia - WA *Wed 6/12 Edgefield - Troutdale, OR *Thu 6/13 Sand Trap - Gearhart, OR *Fri 6/14 Grand Lodge - Forest Grove, OR *Sat 6/15 Conor Byrne Pub - Seattle, WASun 6/16 Green Frog Acoustic Cafe - Bellingham, WAThu 6/27 Western Carolina U’s Summer Concert Series - Cullowhee, NCFri 6/28 High Rock Outfitters - Lexington, NCSat 6/29 Amanda Anne Platt solo opening for Jill Andrews (Barley's Knoxville, ticketed show)Wed 7/10 Eddies' Attic - Decatur, GA w/ Rebecca PronskySat 7/20 Magnolia Music and Medicine Show - Eastman GASat 8/10 Dead On The Creek Music Festival - Willits CAFri 8/23 Summer Tracks Series - Tryon NCSun 8/25 Music On The Lake, Blue Ridge Community College - Flat Rock, NC (  (duo show)Sat 9/7 Bluegrass & Old Time Music Festival -  - Harmony PA*as part of McMenamins Great American Northwest Music Tour

Thu, 05/02/2013 - 2:15 pm

Portland, Oregon-based Ashleigh Flynn celebrates her latest CD, A Million Stars. Set for national release on May 14, 2013, Flynn’s fourth studio effort on her own Home Perm Records, is produced by Chris Funk, her longtime friend and musical collaborator, best-known as the Decemberists’ multi-instrumentalist. The record features Todd Snider and many of Portland’s most talented musicians including, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee-Drizos, Nate Query, John Moen, Annalisa Tornfelt, and the Stolen Sweets singers, among others.Click For a Free Download of “Prohibition Rose”“This song is about Portland’s own most infamous bootlegger during prohibition, who happened to be a woman… known also for opium distribution, and shanghaiing unsuspecting patrons.” --Ashleigh Flynn“Prohibition Rose” Lyrics:Prohibition Rose,, knows what she knows,From her hips to her toes - beneath her petticoat!All day and into night, sailors while their time awayIn her opium dens spending all their paySwilling her booze as they wait… From Old Town to Old Shanghai,the boys wake up under another sky!They know how and they can’t ask whyWhen they wake from sleep in their bare feetShackled on a ship to the Far East. Stumptown’s fairest queen, aDenizen of the underground scene.Rosie’s got the guile to get you a little high.But not drop of hooch aroundWhen the cops bust in like a pack of hounds.Just Rosie readin’ from her bible –With all the Whiskey stashed underneath her skirt… From Old Town to Old Shanghai…

Thu, 05/09/2013 - 9:50 am

John Cloyd Miller won first place in the 21st annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest in the bluegrass category at MerleFest 2013. Miller is a vocalist, guitarist and mandolin player for the Asheville-based band, Red June, a nationally touring acoustic Americana trio that includes his wife, fiddler and vocalist Natalya Weinstein, and multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Will Straughan. The winning song, “Cloud of Dust,” appears on Red June’s 2012 release, Beauty Will Come.

“'Cloud of Dust' highlights the frustrations and resolve of a young man during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s,” John says, “This song tells the story of what happens when we abuse our land.” Red June kicked off 2013 with the release of a music video for the song which features powerful archival footage from the Dust Bowl.

Acclaimed NC traditional musician, Riley Baugus, says, “John's music reminds me of being in the Blue Ridge Mountains, high on a hill all alone and hearing the sound of the mountains coming from all around and filling your soul with the feeling that everything is just right in that place. His voice is strong and pure and harkens back to a time when there was no need for electronic enhancement and tuning adjustments. In short, John is the real thing and is just incredible.

The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest offers songwriters the opportunity to have their original songs heard by a panel of professional songwriters and others from the Nashville music industry. The 2013 winners were chosen from more than 700 entries. Winners in the Bluegrass category included 1st Place - John Cloyd Miller’s "Cloud of Dust" (Asheville, NC); 2nd Place - Todd Grebe’s "Master of My Destiny" (Nashville, Tenn.); and 3rd Place - Aaron Burdett’s "Magpie (Saluda, NC). Previous winners of the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest include Gillian Welch, Tift Merritt, Michael Reno Harrell, Adrienne Young, Martha Scanlan, David Via and Johnny Williams.

"The talent this year was amazing!" says Laurie Brintle-Jarvis, coordinator of the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. "They gave an inspirational performance on the Cabin Stage on Friday evening, sharing their talents and enthusiasm with the crowd.” For more details about the contest, visit merlefest.org/ChrisAustinSongwritingContest.

In 2012, Red June made their MerleFest debut, performing at the 25th anniversary festival. Later that year they released their second full-length album, Beauty Will Come, and performed at numerous shows and festivals across the country including Music City Roots, Suwannee Springfest, Beartrap Summer Festival, and Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival. The band was selected for an official showcase at The Station Inn in Nashville at the Americana Music Association conference, and was featured in the October 2012 issue of Southern Living magazine with Douglas Rogers writing, “Bands like Old Crow Medicine Show, The Avett Brothers, and Red June have recently put the sounds of Appalachia back on the map.”

A native of Hickory, NC, Miller’s musical background includes deep roots in bluegrass. A self-taught musician, he grew up listening to his grandfather, legendary bluegrass fiddler and NC Folk Heritage Award winner, Jim Shumate. After graduating from Appalachian State University, Miller moved to Utah and joined the bluegrass band Lo-Fi Breakdown. Eventually the band relocated to Asheville, NC, and continued to perform until early 2009. Around that same time, Miller, Weinstein, and Straughan formed Red June (named after an heirloom apple variety), a group that emphasizes songwriting while combining elements of bluegrass, old-time, country and American roots music.

Beauty Will Come by Red June just may be the most stunningly gorgeous country album in years. Everything about it: from the exquisite three-part harmonies and acoustic loveliness of the mandolin, fiddle, guitar and upright bass...This is the epitome of Americana...” says Mike Greenblatt with Rant'n'Roll Aquarian Weekly.

Fri, 05/10/2013 - 3:16 pm

Town Mountain is ready and reelin’ to travel the country this spring and summer! They will have stops in the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Kentucky, Colorado, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Washington and Oregon. Notable events include performance at the Leftover Salmon’s Bluegrass Throwdown, John Hartford Memorial Festival, ROMP, The Hampton Taphouse Festival, The Festival of Bluegrass, RapidGrass and much more!Stay tuned for a new music videos coming your way from Town Mountain this season, including a track from Leave the Bottle [Pinecastle Records 2012]. They will be launching a new covers series that will kick off with their version of Bruce Springsteen's “I’m on Fire”. This will premiere on The Bluegrass Situation this June (www.thebluegrasssituation.com).Based in Asheville, NC, Town Mountain is Phil Barker on mandolin and vocals, Robert Greer on lead vocals and guitar guitar, Jesse Langlais on banjo and vocals, Bobby Britt on fiddle, and newest member Jake Hopping rounds them out with his rock-solid bass. One listen to their instantly memorable songs, and it’s plain to see why Grammy-winner Mike Bub would align with the group to produce Leave the Bottle as well as 2011’s Steady Operator.“I’m not sure what the definition of bluegrass would be in words alone, but if that definition was set to music, it would probably sound something like Town Mountain’s Leave the Bottle... I could go on,” says Bluegrass Today’s David Morris, “There are no duds, and no filler songs on this project. But you get the point. This, my friends, is how bluegrass is supposed to sound.”Leave the Bottle effortlessly covers a wide array of styles in the stringband spectrum featuring the stellar in-house songwriting that has become the band’s trademark. There’s the barroom swagger and honky tonk edge of tracks like “Up the Ladder and the title track “Leave the Bottle”, the Jimmy Martin style bounce and confidence of “Lawdog” and “Lookin’ in the Mirror”, the Irish flavor of Bobby Britt’s “Four Miles”, and the laid back John Hartford style groove of “Greenbud on the Flower” among others. But no matter the style, the band’s delivery gives every tune a true and honest feel.Town Mountain On Tour Spring and Early Summer Tour DatesFri 5/10 Chapel Hill, NC Merritt’sSat 5/11 Harrisonburg, VA The Clementine CafeFri 5/17 Bloomingdale, GA Randy Wood GuitarsSat 5/18 Panola, SC Birdfest at Pineland Farms   Sun 5/26  Black Mountain, NC Pisgah Brewing w/ Leftover Salmon’s Bluegrass Throwdown with Elephant Revival & DangermuffinFri 5/31 Bean Blossom, IN John Hartford Memorial FestivalSat 6/1 Carbondale, IL The Hangar 9Sun 6/2 Chicago, IL The Red Line TapMon 6/3 Urbana, IL The Iron PostTue 6/4 Lancaster, WI House ConcertWed 6/5 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon w/ Horseshoes and Hand GrenadesThu 6/6 Bangor WI Leo and Leona's w/ Horseshoes & Hand Grenades and Cactus BlossomsFri 6/7 Cincinnati, OH THe Crow’s NestSat 6/8 Lexington, KY Festival of the BluegrassThu 6/13 Lexington, NC High Rock OutfittersFri 6/14 Tryon, NC Blue Ridge BBQ & Music FestivalThu 6/20 Salem, VA Private EventFri 6/21 Raleigh, NC The Pour House Music HallSat 6/22 Hampton, VA Hampton Taphouse Festival & After-PartySun 6/23 Norfolk, VA Town Mountain BBQ Picnic @ Norfolk TaphouseWed 6/26 Lexington, KY Willie's Locally Known w/ Tyler Childers and the High WallFri 6/28 Owensboro, KY ROMP: Bluegrass Roots & Branches FestivalSat 6/29 Belvidere,TN Circle E Guest Ranch 2nd Annual Bluegrass FestivalThu 7/4 Gold Hill, CO The Gold Hill InnFri 7/5 Fort Collins, CO Acoustic Bridge Musical PotluckSat 7/6  Idaho Springs, CO Clear Creek RapidGrass Bluegrass FestivalThu Thu 7/11 Charlotte, NC Whitewater River Jam at US National Whitewater CenterFri 7/12 Fairfax, VA Fairfax County Summer Entertainment Series at Royal Lake ParkSat 7/13 Gardners, PA Bluegrass On The GrassSun 7/14 Mount Solon, VA Red Wing Roots Music FestivalTue 7/23 Bellingham, WA The Green FrogThu 7/25 Seattle, WA Tractor TavernFri 7/26 Skamania, WA Columbia Gorge Bluegrass FestivalSun 7/28 Eugene, OR Sam Bond's GarageFri 8/2 Saxapahaw, NC Haw River Ballroom w/ Big Fat GapPlease visit www.TownMountain.net for more information and further tour dates.

Thu, 05/16/2013 - 11:55 am

More energized and focused than ever before in their near 25-year career, roots-music troubadours Donna the Buffalo will debut their first studio album in five years, Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday, on June 18 via Sugar Hill Records. The follow up to 2008’s acclaimed Silverlined, which reached the Top 10 on the Americana charts, Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday—the group’s 10th studio album—proves the band as a consistent steward of Americana music, their signature sound—traditional mountain music infused with elements of Cajun, rock, folk, reggae and country—an eclectic and extraordinary melting pot of such.In creating the new album, founding members and songwriter-vocalists Jeb Puryear (vocals, guitar) and Tara Nevins (vocals, guitar, fiddle, accordion, scrubboard)—joined by band members David McCracken (Hammond organ, clavinet), Kyle Spark (bass) and Mark Raudabaugh (drums)—convened in a rustic church in Enfield, New York, along with co-producer and fellow upstate New Yorker, Robert Hunter (Branford Marsalis). The building overflowed with vibe, and the music poured out as the group recorded take after live take to old-school analog tape, with as few overdubs as possible. What resulted are the 14 organic and authentic tracks that make up Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday.“We tried to do the record and keep in tact the things people love about us,” says Puryear. “We’re really excited to start sharing Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday,” adds Nevins, “because making this record was a very personal process that was also a lot of fun.”The album will be worked at Americana and AAA radio this spring and summer, with the emphasis track being “I See How You Are,” a tune penned by Nevins. In addition, the band will be touring heavily throughout the remainder of the year to promote Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday. Festival dates include MerleFest, The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance, Nashville’s Dancin’ In the District, Strangecreek Music Festival, Blue Ridge BBQ and Music Festival, The Great Blue Heron Festival, Red Ants Pants Festival, Targhee Bluegrass Fest, Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival and MagnoliaFest, among many others.Donna the Buffalo on TourThu 5/16 Edinboro, PA - Edinboro Art & Music FestivalFri 5/17 Syracuse, NY - Wescott TheaterSat 5/18 Monroeville, NJ - Camp Jam in the PinesSun 5/19 New York, NY - City WinerySun 5/26 Greenfield, MA - Strangecreek Music FestivalThu 6/13 Nashville, TN - Nashville Dancin' - Riverfront ParkFri 6/14 Raleigh, NC - Southland BallroomSat 6/15 Tryon, NC - Blue Ridge BBQ and Music FestivalThu 6/20 Natick, MA - Natick Center for the ArtsFri 6/21 Naples, NY - Inspire WinerySat 6/22 Woodstock, NY - Bearsville TheaterSat-Sun 7/5-7/7 Sherman, NY - The Great Blue Heron FestivalFri 7/12 Rochester, NY - Rochester Public Market’s Bands on the BricksSat 7/13 Shirley, MA - The Bull Run Concert SeriesSun 7/14 Norfolk, CT - Infinity HallThu-Sun 7/18-21 Trumansburg, NY - Finger Lakes GrassRoots FestivalFri 7/26 White Sulphur Springs, MT - Red Ants PantsSat 7/27 Spokane, WA - The CenterSun 7/28 Seattle, WA - The TractorMon 7/29 Portland, OR - Doug Fir LoungeTue 7/30 Eugene, OR - WOW HallThu 8/1 Los Angeles - The MintFri 8/2 Pioneertown, CA - Pappy and HarrietsSat 8/3 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music HallSun 8/4 Santa Cruz, CA - Moe's AlleyMon 8/5 Chico, CA - The Big Room @ The Sierra NevadaThu 8/8 Park City, UT - Newpark Town CenterFri 8/9 Denver, CO - Oriental TheatreSat 8/10 Alta, WY - Targhee Bluegrass Fest at Grand TargheeSat 8/31 Friendsville, PA - The Choconut InnTue 9/3 Bijou Theater - Knoxville, TNSat 9/14 Floyd VA - Chateau MossisetteSun 9/15 Annapolis, MD - Rams Head TavernSat-Sun 10/19-20 Live Oak, FL - MagnoliaFest

Thu, 05/23/2013 - 12:01 pm

Head for the Hills is pleased to announce their third studio album, Blue Ruin, slated for release on July 9th, 2013. Blue Ruin, sees the Colorado quartet fusing bluegrass, jazz, hip-hop and indie rock into songs inspired by love and misery and comic books. Think Meta-fictional sea shanties, pop-infused newgrass murder ballads and urbane lyricism, twang and punch. Featuring twelve new original songs marked by moving narratives and stellar musicianship, Blue Ruin showcases the quartet's contemporary take on acoustic music; embracing the bluegrass pedigree while looking forward.Head for the Hills is Adam Kinghorn on Guitar and vocals, Joe Lessard on violin and vocals, Matt Loewen on upright bass and vocals and Mike Chappell on acoustic and electric mandolins. The quartet has been bringing their music to audiences from Telluride Bluegrass Festival to South by Southwest and a multitude of stages in between since 2004. The band has issued two studio records and one live, have been featured on NPR Ideastream and eTown, co-released a beer with Fort Collins, CO beloved Odell Brewing Company in May 2013 and charted on the CMJ Top 200 (Head for the Hills, 2010).Recorded and mixed in Fort Collins, Colorado at Swingfingers Studios with ace engineer and banjoist Aaron Youngberg (Martha Scanlan, Cahalen Morrison and Eli West), Blue Ruin features contributions from Andy Hall (The Infamous Stringdusters), James Thomas, Gabe Mervine (The Motet), and more. Renowned screen print artist Timothy Doyle (Muse, The Black Keys, Lucas Films, NASA) created the stunning cover art and Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer David Glasser rounds out the production team. This is Head for the Hills at their most artistically fulfilled: self-produced and in top form. Blue Ruin is more than just a “bluegrass” record—it’s a Head for the Hills record.For a sneak peak of the album, watch this fun Blue Ruin Preview Video and stream the song “Take Me Back.”Blue Ruin Track Listing1. Take Me Back2. Never Does3. Blue Ruin4. Priscilla the Chinchilla5. Look at You Now6. Wish You Well7. Lover's Scorn8. Dependency Co.9. Bosun Ridley10. Breakfast Noir11. Scrap Metal12. Light the WayH4TH Tour DatesThis year they have opened for Yonder Mountain String Band, Leftover Salmon at a variety of venues and hosted their own sold out music festival - Pickin' on the Poudre at the historic Mishawaka Amphitheatre (Bellvue, CO). The summer brings them to RockyGrass, Northwest String Summit, 4 Peaks Music Festival, Salmonstock and more.For the most up-to-date list of tour dates click here.

Wed, 06/05/2013 - 2:00 pm

Hard Drivin’ Carolina String Band, Town Mountain, is touring with their fourth album, Leave the Bottle [Pinecastle 2012]. Based in Asheville, NC, Town Mountain is Robert Greer on vocals and guitar, Jesse Langlais on banjo and vocals, Phil Barker on mandolin and vocals, Bobby Britt on fiddle, and Jake Hopping on upright bass.Want to know what it is like to be on the road with Town Mountain? Arthur Hancock writes about his experience traveling with the band on The Bluegrass Situation. He says, “What I’ve come to learn by spending time with the band is that they share a deep reverence for the players and singers that are the foundation of bluegrass music. Although sometimes late at night driving back from a gig ‘Purple Rain’ might come on the iPod, most of the time you’d be more likely to hear The Gillis Brothers, early Stanleys, or a live recording of Town Mountain that they are poring over in pursuit of their craft.”The Bluegrass Situation also premiered the band’s official backstage video of their version of Bruce Springsteen's “I’m On Fire” in the same post. Read the article and see the video here → http://bit.ly/132c2bSThis video is the first installment of the new “Town Mountain Covers Series” hosted by The Bluegrass Situation. They’ll do two or three more cover songs of their choice and then let the audience chime in with suggestions on what cover song they would like to hear Town Mountain do. Stay tuned to The Bluegrass Situation for more details as the festival season unfolds!“I’m On Fire,” is a song that has been in Town Mountain’s repertoire for years and was recorded on their 2008 album Heroes & Heretics; the band has continued to play and develop their version at live shows. After a nice mention about their version of the “I’m On Fire” in Pop Matters [2012] and a shout out from Dale Earnhardt Jr to check out the song when he took over the National Guard’s twitter account in November of 2012, it has resurfaced into the public eye. A YouTube video with the track, which simply shows Heroes & Heretics’s album cover, has garnered 100,000+ views. We are happy to present an official backstage video of the band performing the song."They pick and sing with a passion you don't find much these days, it's refreshing and real good.  Put the cd in the truck, hit the parkway or some other good riding road, roll the windows down, and play it loud. PS. Watch out for the lawdog," says John Roten of WPEK/WMXF.All of the members of Town Mountain are songwriters and bring original tunes to the band’s sound. One notable song, “Lawdog,” is a song from the road that opens a cappella and is sung and written by Barker in the manner of Jimmy Martin; it is relatable to anyone that inevitably gets pulled over while trying to make good time traveling. Juli Thanks writes, Phil Barker’s ‘Lawdog’ sounds like an unearthed classic, and the group’s tight harmonies alone make this record a treat for any bluegrass fan.” She listed Leave the Bottle on the Top 20 Bluegrass Albums of 2012 by Engine 145 and said, “This is one up and coming band you’ll want to keep an eye on in 2013 and beyond.”WATCH Town Mountain perform “Lawdog” live on WAMU’s Bluegrass Country-->  http://bit.ly/14f5p8UTown Mountain is chasin’ the horizon this summer and heading to a town near you from the east to the west, from the deep south to close to the Canadian border.For more information about Town Mountain and their current tour dates, please visit TownMountain.net and facebook.com/TownMountain.

Tue, 06/18/2013 - 2:16 pm

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,”  --CMTLeftover Salmon Fall 2013 Tour DatesSep-11 Wed - Morgantown, WV - Metropolitan TheatreSep-12  Thu - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer *co-bill with Assembly of DustSep-13  Fri - Providence, RI - Fete *co-bill with Assembly of DustSep-14  Sat - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club  *co-bill with Assembly of Dust          Sep-17  Tue - Portland, ME - Port City Music HallSep-18  Wed - Burlington, VT - Higher GroundSep-19  Thu - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl  Sep-20  Fri - Port Chester, NY - Capitol Theatre              Presented by Relix *with Assembly of Dust & Infamous StringdustersSep-21  Sat - North Adams, MA - Freshgrass Bluegrass FestivalOct-29  Tue - Fayetteville, AR - George's Majestic LoungeOct-30  Wed - Nashville, TN - Music City RootsOct-31  Thu - Atlanta, GA - Variety PlayhouseNov-01  Fri - Charlotte, NC - Visulite TheatreNov-02  Sat - Wilmington, NC - Greenfield Lake Amphitheater        Nov-05  Tue - Charleston, SC - The Pour HouseNov-06  Wed - Charleston, SC - The Pour HouseNov-07  Thu - Carrboro, NC - Cat's CradleNov-08  Fri - Washington, DC - 9:30 ClubNov-09  Sat - Richmond, VA - The NationalNov-10  Sun - Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall         Nov-12  Tue - Ann Arbor, MI - The ArkNov-13  Wed - Des Moines, IA - Wooly'sNov-14  Thu - Madison, WI - Majestic TheatreNov-15  Fri - Chicago, IL - The Vic TheatreNov-17  Sun - Lincoln, NE - Bourbon Theatre

Thu, 06/27/2013 - 9:22 am

Ashleigh Flynn’s song "See That Light" is an anti-bullying tune, in which the storyteller is a young kid in love with her or his best friend until they realize that’s not allowed. Todd Snider plays the preacher with a talking blues part in which he appeals to folks to smarten up, to get along... and to leave gay kids alone.To celebrate the Supreme Court rulings in favor of gay rights, the Equal Rights Campaign and in honor of June being Gay Pride month, Ashleigh Flynn is offering “See That Light” featuring Todd Snider as a free download to listen to and share with your friends --> http://bit.ly/176N2a1Ashleigh says, “Seems there is a rising tide of acceptance among the majority of Americans towards equal rights for all citizens regardless of sexual orientation. Bring it on. Wash away the irrational phobia. I am extremely hopeful that my GF and I will be able to enjoy the same rights as heterosexual couples. We have been together for ten years.When Ashleigh set out to work on her new album A Million Stars; her song “See That Light” came to her as a simple little ditty as she stared at the moon rising up over the Columbia River. She calls it “a tribute to faith in love because from my vantage that’s the most important thing we know amidst all the mystery of life and death. It just so happened that I was likely singing it to a gal.” With that notion, she realized that her little ditty had more of a message, so she wrote the part she could hear Todd saying “Now Brothers and Sisters… let’s leave those gay kids alone. Let them love each other. They aren’t hurting anyone…”Todd says, “I knew this song before Ashleigh recorded it, from touring together, and was honored to be asked to be part of her record and especially in a way that would give me opportunity to stand publicly for the gay community.”“The album is full of stories of powerful women, including those from the American Western Frontier and a cover of Ma Rainey’s gay and proud ‘Prove it On Me Blues.’”-Kathy Belge, LesbianLife at About.com“Ashleigh Flynn takes history and sticks it in a song. On A Million Stars, Ashleigh introduces us to heroines and lawless ladies... Todd Snider takes on the role of the ‘voice of reason’ in ‘See the Light’, reminding us from on high that the bible is for each of us to hear our own versions of stories and maybe we just need to lighten up and love a little.”--Danny McCloskey, The Alternate Root“But it was her own ‘See the Light,’ from her most recent record, A Million Stars that made the night's point. On the record, Todd Snider gets to do the speechifying for tolerance. Thursday night, it was Flynn: And another thing, let's leave them gay kids alone; let 'em love each other they ain't hurtin' anybody; in fact, it's the fear mongers that's hurtin' them;and then, they hurt themselves”--Ryan White, Oregon LiveAshleigh Flynn For more information and tour dates, please visit: www.ashleighflynn.com

Thu, 06/27/2013 - 1:46 pm

More energized and focused than ever before in their near 25-year career, roots-music troubadours Donna the Buffalo released their first studio album in five years, Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday, Tuesday, June 18, 2013 via Sugar Hill Records. The album debuted at #20 on the Americana Music Charts, and this past week rose to #10! Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday—the group’s 10th studio album—proves the band as a consistent steward of Americana music, their signature sound—traditional mountain music infused with elements of Cajun, rock, folk, reggae and country—an eclectic and extraordinary melting pot of such.Donna the Buffalo has a hefty tour lined up for the Summer season which includes a few weeks on the West Coast. They start off at the Red Ants Pants Festival in Montana on July 26th and travel over throughout the Northwest before heading down for shows at the Mint in LA and Pappy and Harriet's in Pioneertown. Saturday, August 8th marks their return to The Great American Music Hall followed by shows in Santa Cruz and Chico and then on to Utah for shows in Monroe and Park City. They pop over to Colorado for a show in Denver and then the tour ends at the Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival in Wisconsin. The band will be performing the songs from the new album, mixed in with older favorites, live across the country this summer.Donna the Buffalo West Coast Summer Tour:Fri 7/26 White Sulphur Springs, MT - Red Ants Pants FestivalSat 7/27 Spokane, WA - The CenterSun 7/28 Seattle, WA - The TractorMon 7/29 Portland, OR - Doug Fir LoungeTue 7/30 Eugene, OR - WOW HallThu 8/1 Los Angeles - The MintFri 8/2 Pioneertown, CA - Pappy and HarrietsSat 8/3 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music HallSun 8/4 Santa Cruz, CA - Moe's AlleyMon 8/5 Chico, CA - The Big Room @ The Sierra NevadaWed 8/7 Monroe, UT - Mystic Hot SpringsThu 8/8 Park City, UT - Newpark Town CenterFri 8/9 Denver, CO - Oriental TheatreSat 8/10-11 Alta, WY - Targhee Bluegrass Fest at Grand Targhee

Tue, 07/09/2013 - 12:14 pm

Head for the Hills is pleased to announce their third studio album, Blue Ruin, releases July 9th, 2013. Blue Ruin sees the Colorado quartet fusing bluegrass, jazz, hip-hop and indie rock into songs inspired by love and misery and comic books. Think Meta-fictional sea shanties, pop-infused newgrass murder ballads and urbane lyricism, twang and punch. Featuring twelve new original songs marked by moving narratives and stellar musicianship, Blue Ruin showcases the quartet's contemporary take on acoustic music; embracing the bluegrass pedigree while looking forward.Head for the Hills is Adam Kinghorn on Guitar and vocals, Joe Lessard on violin and vocals, Matt Loewen on upright bass and vocals and Mike Chappell on acoustic and electric mandolins.Recorded and mixed in Fort Collins, Colorado at Swingfingers Studios with ace engineer and banjoist Aaron Youngberg (Martha Scanlan, Cahalen Morrison and Eli West), Blue Ruin features contributions from Andy Hall (The Infamous Stringdusters), James Thomas, Gabe Mervine (The Motet), and more. Renowned screen print artist Timothy Doyle (Muse, The Black Keys, Lucas Films, NASA) created the stunning cover art and Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer David Glasser rounds out the production team. This is Head for the Hills at their most artistically fulfilled: self-produced and in top form. Blue Ruin is more than just a “bluegrass” record—it’s a Head for the Hills record.Stay tuned for more about the new release on the band’s website and social networks. www.headforthehillsmusic.com. For the most up-to-date list of tour dates click here.Blue Ruin is Now Available on:iTunes & Amazon

Wed, 07/10/2013 - 3:31 pm

Breckenridge Brewery of Colorado has a big fish on the line. The brewery recently announced it has teamed up with Colorado bluegrass band Leftover Salmon to deliver new music to fans exclusively through Breckenridge beers. Leftover Salmon will debut four original songs from July to October, and they will be pre-released exclusively through Breckenridge Brewery’s 12-pack Sampler Packs. Song download codes will be provided on four collector’s item Artist Series coasters packaged within Sampler Packs.“These new Leftover Salmon songs are inspired by Breckenridge Brewery’s Fine Colorado Ales, the Colorado lifestyle, and the beauty that Colorado has to offer,” said Breckenridge Brewery’s Marketing Director Todd Thibault. “It makes perfect sense to package these songs with our beers and give folks the full Colorado experience!”National touring act Leftover Salmon was formed in Colorado in 1989. The slamgrass pioneers created one of the first bluegrass bands to add drums and tour rock & roll bars, helping it become a pillar of the jam band scene and an unwitting architect of the jam grass genre.Each of four song downloads will be released alongside an Artist Series coaster, specially created by four well-known artists from the “Rock Art” community and packaged inside Breckenridge Brewery’s 12-pack Sampler Packs. Gary Houston, Jeff Wood, Nate Duval and Tyler Stout each crafted their artwork with inspiration from Leftover Salmon’s music and Breckenridge Brewery’s beers. In addition to the coasters, each artist is printing a limited run of 100 screen print posters. The posters will be available through select giveaways on social media and at special events across the country.The Artist Series song download coasters will begin shipping in specially marked Breckenridge Brewery 12-pack Sampler Packs in July. Sampler Pack purchasers will not only receive 12 bottles of Breckenridge beer, but also an Artist Series coaster, a free song download and a chance to win prizes – every download that is retrieved enters that person in a drawing. The grand prize is a trip for two to Colorado for a VIP experience at Leftover Salmon’s Thanksgiving shows, with a behind-the-scenes Breckenridge Brewery tour and a band meet-and-greet. Other prizes include a band-autographed acoustic guitar made by Andrew White Guitars, which builds Vince Herman his guitars; a set of four Artist Series coaster posters, framed and signed by the band; and much more.The first Leftover Salmon download song available this month is “High Country.” The song was recorded between March 25 and April 4, 2013 at Mighty Fine Productions in Denver. It was produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos; engineered by Mario Casilio; and mixed and mastered by Dave McNair. The song features Joey Porter on organ.“I wrote this song while on a hike in the Collegiate Peaks wilderness,” remembers Leftover Salmon band member Andy Thorn. “It was such a beautiful day up there I just started singing, ‘I wanna be in the high country all day,’ and having fun making up verses about it. By the time we got back to the cabin and grabbed a guitar it was basically finished!”Gary Houston of Voodoo Catbox created the accompanying artwork. Houston is based in Portland, OR and specializes in scratch board illustrations, which he appreciates as being hands-on and organic. He also screen prints, and scratch board lends itself to this process very well.“When I was approached to work on this project, my initial thoughts were of outdoors, summer and water, and the idea that water is such a pivotal point in making beer,” reflected Houston. “I wanted the image to have a mystical quality… Mountains, trees, churning water and salmon with spawning on their minds, in a mystical setting.” For more details of Houston’s image and inspiration, click here.This summer and fall Breckenridge Brewery is planning promotions in select bars throughout the country that coincide with Leftover Salmon’s tour stops. The events will not only provide fans a chance to collect the Artist Series song download coasters and limited edition Artist Series posters, but also will include special appearances by Leftover Salmon. Dates and cities will be posted online.“Imagine having the opportunity to drink a beer with some of the best musicians to come out of Colorado, pick up a free song download and an autographed limited edition poster,” concluded Thibault. “I can’t think of a better way to spend a summer evening.”For fans who are not able to receive song download coasters, 'High Country' will be released via iTunes on August 6th as will the other songs at later dates.For more information visit www.breckbrew.com or follow on Facebook.

Mon, 07/15/2013 - 11:03 am

Mandolinist, vocalist and songwriter Jeff Austin is unstoppable. He is celebrated for his fleet fingers and penchant for improvisation on stage, but those qualities also speak volumes about how he chooses to live. Austin has cultivated his natural musical abilities and allowed himself to be driven by his boldest instincts. In this way, he has been able to build positive, exciting momentum around his life’s greatest passion.

While not on the road with Yonder Mountain String Band, Austin is joining forces with The Here and Now, featuring banjoist Danny Barnes and Larry & Jenny Keel on guitar and bass. They will be embarking on special late summer tour starting in the midwest near Chicago and looping through Bloomington, IN; Troy, OH; and Louisville and then heading south into Birmingham and St Louis before heading over to Tulsa. The tour lands for their final show of the run in Guthrie, Oklahoma with their second appearance as part of a Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road Stopover.

Take a look at Jeff’s new website JeffAustin.com and download a free EP of Jeff Austin & The Here and Now.

Jeff Austin & The Here and Now on Tour:

8/28 Wed - Durty Nellie's - Palatine, IL

8/29 Thu - The Bluebird - Bloomington, IN

8/30 Fri - Troy Memorial Stadium - Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road - Troy, OH

8/31 Sat - Troy Memorial Stadium - Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road - Troy, OH

9/1 Sun - Diamonds in Upper Highlands- Louisville, KY

9/2 Mon - Avondale Brewing Co. - Birmingham, AL

9/4 Wed - Old Rock House - St. Louis, MO

9/5 Thu - The Shrine - Tulsa, OK *Austin & Barnes duo show

9/6-7 Fri - Cottonwood Flats - Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road - Guthrie, OK

9/7 Sat - Cottonwood Flats - Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road - Guthrie, OK

More about Jeff Austin

Jeff Austin’s enthusiasm for the vast, vibrant world of music was rooted in him as early as he can remember: “I was always raised very musically. My mom always had music playing; she always sang.” It’s no surprise then that Austin himself grew up singing too. From beginning to end of his years in grade school just outside of Chicago, he sang in classes, choirs, and musicals, allowing his musical influences to lead him where they may. “I started listening to Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings,” Austin says. “And then the Beatles, that turned into Bob Dylan, and then the Grateful Dead and Phish.”

Austin continued this fearless course of action, attending University of Cincinnati and majoring in Musical Theatre, until he stumbled upon a crossroads that threatened to derail all of his plans. “I remember standing in front of the Grateful Dead three weeks before I dropped out of college and thinking, ‘there’s so much more to this music thing than being educated and being told what you are,’” Austin explains. “You can take what you think is your value and throw it at a crowd of people, and they will throw it back to you. The beauty is that nothing is black and white. It’s all grey; it’s interpreted at the moment.” Austin goes on to illustrate what this meant for his future: “At the time, I was auditioning for Broadway and off-Broadway shows. I walked away from everything I was set up to do because I realized that I just wanted to be in a band.”

Serendipitously, he met banjoist Dave Johnston around the same time. He encouraged Austin to try the mandolin so as to join his band The Bluegrassholes, so Jeff learned how to play the only way he knew how – with music: “I would listen to Not for Kids Only, which is a record of kids’ songs that Garcia/Grisman put out, nothing too fast. I would listen over and over and over and find the notes on my mandolin.” Picking up an instrument for the first time was exhilarating for Austin. “I never took lessons,” he admits. “I just threw myself in that world. I’ve always kind of learned in the line of fire.” The line of fire inspired Austin to be better, so he kept coming back. “For the better part of 3 years, I jammed night after night with these guys. There’s something about the pace, the speed, the aggressiveness, the chasing of the beat.” Austin was hooked.

In 1998, Austin and Johnston relocated to Nederland, Colorado. While working at a bar called the Verve, Austin met Adam Aijala and Ben Kaufmann, with whom he and Johnston would form the Yonder Mountain String Band. Together, the four musicians have created a wild, high-energy niche among the bluegrass legends of old and the up and coming jam band scene. Over fifteen years, Yonder Mountain String Band have built an intensely loyal fan base by playing festivals and venues across the nation, sharing the stage with legends like Jon Fishman, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzman, Earl Scruggs, Pete Thomas, and Jimmy Herring, and releasing five studio albums and five live recordings.

“My time with Yonder has taught me what is possible,” Austin says. “It has shown me that if you work hard at it and you believe in it and there’s a part of you that’s meant to do it, it will happen. It’s clichéd, but it’s true.”

It is with this rich personal history at his back that propels Austin into a new creative direction as he prepares to step into the spotlight as a solo artist. On his forthcoming debut project, Austin’s songwriting remains rooted in Americana inspiration and the frantic energy of the jam genre but also, reaches even further weaving in more mainstream themes, reminiscent of his co-write contribution “Fiddlin’ Around,” that was featured on the 2010 Grammy nominated Dierks Bentley album, Up on the Ridge. While the upcoming, untitled solo effort is still a work in progress, it can already be summed up succinctly as Austin’s love letter to storytelling. “I love writing a three-minute song with a hook that would grab a five-hundred-pound marlin as much as I like writing something that goes, ‘okay, after the bridge, it’s going to open up and just go wide.’”

Indeed, “wide” is what Jeff Austin is all about. He wants new and different, complex and interesting. He wants everything the music world has to offer, and he’s willing to work hard to get it.

For more information, please visit JeffAustin.com or Facebook.com/JeffAustinOfficial.

Fri, 08/16/2013 - 11:11 am

Bringing new meaning to the practice of catch and release, Breckenridge Brewery of Colorado and bluegrass band Leftover Salmon have caught up with each other to launch the second release in a series of four original songs. The new music is being pre-released exclusively within Breckenridge Brewery’s 12-pack Sampler Packs through October. Each of four song download codes is provided on Artist Series coasters, specially created by four well-known artists from the “Rock Art” community and packaged inside the Sampler Packs.The second song available is “Thornpipe,” which Andy Thorn wrote years ago, but he believed it was missing something. While attending the Old Settler’s Music Festival in Austin in April, the group hooked up with Casey Driessen who added the missing component – sounds from his fiddle. Sound engineer Mario Casillio was able to set up a makeshift studio in the back of the band’s bus, and as Thorn remembers, “Casey was kind enough to spend a bit of his afternoon laying down some hot fiddlin’.”“In music you've got your hornpipes and your jigs, but this tune is a ‘Thornpipe,’” continued Thorn. “It’s a pretty simple banjo tune with a few twists and turns to have fun with.” Renowned poster artist Jeff Wood of Zen Mystic Studio created the artwork for “Thornpipe.”“My art is heavily steeped in psychedelia, so when approached about the LoS Breckenridge coaster project, swirling images started dancing through my head,” said Wood. “‘Thornpipe’ is a great bluegrass tune and I envisioned a group of salmon forming a mandala spinning inside a ring of thorns. Mandalas have been used through the ages as a meditation and contemplation tool for the artist and the viewer. My hopes were that when one looks at the coaster image they will become lost in the image and, with beer in hand, it will take them to a more peaceful Colorado state of mind.”The second Artist Series song download coasters will begin shipping in specially marked Breckenridge Brewery 12-pack Sampler Packs in mid-August. Every download that is retrieved enters that person in a drawing. The grand prize is a trip for two to Colorado for a VIP experience at Leftover Salmon’s Thanksgiving shows, with a behind-the-scenes Breckenridge Brewery tour and a band meet-and-greet. Other prizes include a band-autographed acoustic guitar made by Andrew White Guitars, which builds Vince Herman his guitars; a set of four Artist Series coaster posters, framed and signed by the band; and weekly online poster giveaways.Gary Houston, Jeff Wood, Nate Duval and Tyler Stout each crafted their artwork with inspiration from Leftover Salmon’s new music and Breckenridge Brewery’s beers. In addition to the coasters, each artist is printing a limited run of 100 screen print posters that are numbered and signed. The posters are available through weekly giveaways on both Breckenridge Brewery’s and Leftover Salmon’s Facebook and Instagram pages. They also will be given away at special events in select bars in cities where the band is touring.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 4:03 pm

Mandolinist, vocalist and songwriter Jeff Austin is on tour this summer with various friends while not on the road with Yonder Mountain String Band. This weekend Jeff Austin & Friends (Allie Kral, Danny Barnes and Eric Thorin) play Friday August 23rd in Jackson Hole, WY and Sunday, August 25th at NedFest in Colorado.As Jeff heads towards the eastern part of the country, he will join forces with The Here and Now, featuring banjoist Danny Barnes and Larry & Jenny Keel on guitar and bass. This special late summer tour starts in the midwest near Chicago and loops through The Midwest before heading heading south and then over to over to Oklahoma.More details have emerged for Jeff Austin & The Here and Now’s sets at the Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road Troy Stopover Downtown Street Festival in Ohio with a daytime set on the Market Street Stage and late-night set at Elks Lodge on Friday, August 30th and a late-night set on Saturday, August 31st at the Market Street Stage.Take a look at JeffAustin.com for further information and to download a free EP of Jeff Austin & The Here and Now.Jeff Austin on Tour:Jeff Austin & FriendsFeaturing Allie Kral, Danny Barnes and Eric Thorin8/23 Fri - Jackson Hole Live - Jackson Hole, WY*8/25 Sun - NedFest - Nederland, Co*Jeff Austin and The Here & NowThe Here & Now Features Danny Barnes and Larry and Jenny Keel8/28 Wed - Durty Nellie's - Palatine, IL8/29 Thu - The Bluebird - Bloomington, IN8/30 Fri - Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road Troy Stopover Downtown Street Festival     - Troy, OH - 4:30pm-5:30pm @ Market Street Stage & 11:45pm-2:00am @ Elks Lodge8/31 Sat - Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road Troy Stopover Downtown Street Festival     - Troy, OH - 12:00am-1:00am @ Market Street Stage9/1 Sun - Diamonds in Upper Highlands- Louisville, KY9/2 Mon - Avondale Brewing Co. - Birmingham, AL9/4 Wed - Old Rock House - St. Louis, MO9/5 Thu - The Shrine - Tulsa, OK *Austin & Barnes duo show9/6 Fri - Cottonwood Flats - Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road - Guthrie, OK9/7 Sat - Cottonwood Flats - Mumford and Sons Gentlemen of the Road - Guthrie, OK

Wed, 10/16/2013 - 11:01 am

Jose' Martinez, our beloved drummer of the past 12+ years and dear friend, has decided to retire from the road and is currently living and performing in Seattle, WA. We wish Jose' all the best with his future.With that, we are happy to welcome the young and talented drummer, Alwyn Robinson, into the Leftover Salmon family. Alwyn has been playing with the band for the past few months and the fit couldn’t be better; it’s time to make it official. "Alwyn not only fills Jose’ Martinez's shoes but his incredible chops and ears are going to propel the next era of Salmon’s growth.” says Vince Herman, “Look out."Born in 1989 and raised in Marshall, TX, Alwyn Robinson began performing music at the age of three under the guidance of his father and two older brothers. He studied classical percussion as well as marching percussion from his early years through college, and began playing drum set with local bands in Marshall around fourteen. While studying at Texas Tech University and CU Boulder, he performed in various musical ensembles and studied a broad range of musical styles, from classical percussion to steel drum music. Currently living in Colorado, he is teaching and performing with numerous ensembles, including playing with musicians/groups such as: Ron Miles, Organization, Megan Burtt, Ayo Awosika  and Ayo Awosika amongst others.**Leftover Salmon Releases Their Fourth Single “Two Highways” through Breckenridge Brewery of Colorado.Drew Emmitt says, “I got the idea for “Two Highways” going down the road in the tour bus on Salmon tour. It's my attempt to describe the two worlds of being on tour and being home with the family, two very different places that each have a very strong pull on my life and are both equally inspiring and challenging in their own ways.” 

Tue, 11/05/2013 - 5:57 pm

Leftover Salmon is thrilled to welcome special guest Bill Payne (of Little Feat) to their Thanksgiving shows at the Boulder Theater and to the New Year's shows at Park City Live in Utah and the Neptune Theatre in Seattle, WA. Fruition will also join the festivities in Seattle. Leftover Salmon is looking forward to these holiday shows and playing the new tunes they released through Breckenridge Brewery this year.

Stay tuned to the band’s social networks throughout the tour for special contests and parties through LoS and Breckenridge Brewery. All shows will be webstreamed live, pending a solid internet connection, and sets will be available for download within a few days of the show on LiveSalmon.com

Leftover Salmon emerged on the scene in Boulder, CO in 1989 as one of the first bluegrass bands to add drums and tour rock & roll bars, helping Salmon become a pillar of the jam band scene and unwitting architects of the jam grass genre. “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,” said CMT.

Today, Leftover Salmon is: Vince Herman (vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin); Drew Emmitt (vocals, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, mandola, fiddle); Andy Thorn (vocals, acoustic and electric banjo, National guitar); Greg Garrison (vocals, acoustic and electric bass, acoustic guitar); Alwyn Robinson (drums, percussion).

Leftover Salmon on Tour

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 16  Sat - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
Nov 17  Sun - Lincoln, NE - Bourbon Theatre
Nov 29-30  Fri-Sat - Boulder, CO - The Boulder Theater *
Dec 11-15 Wed-Sun Puerto Morelos, Mexico - Strings and Sol
Dec 28-29 Sat-Sun - Park City, UT- Park City Live *
Dec 30-31 Mon-Tue - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre *+
Jan 3-4, 2014 Fri-Sat - Girdwood, AK- Alyeska Resort
Jan 8-9, 2014 Wed-Thu - Kihei, Maui, HI- Stella Blues
Jan 10, 2014 Fri - Paia, Maui, HI - Charley's
Jan 11, 2014 Sat - Makawao, Maui, HI - Casanova
 
* = with special guest Bill Payne (of Little Feat)
+ = with special guests Fruition
& w/ Jon Stickly Trio
% w/ Swear and Shake
# w/ Bawn in the Mash
^ w/ Big Wu
@ w/ Old Shoe
 
For more information, please visit: www.LeftoverSalmon.com
Thu, 11/21/2013 - 1:00 pm

Roots-music troubadours Donna the Buffalo are excited to release a music video for the song “Working On That” written by DtB co-founder Jeb Puryear for their new album Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday. Donna the Buffalo has been making socially conscious music for the last 25 years. Of this song, Puryear states, "There is a growing cross section of good people, crossing all lines of race, border, religion and economics that will triumph. Their triumph will have no loser, for the victory is peace."

Directed by Craig Aspen, of The Believers, “Working On  That” by Donna the Buffalo features world champion hoop dancer Moontee Sinquah and his sons Sampson and Scott and was filmed in Nashville, TN and Trumansburg, NY. Though the hoop dance is a story-telling dance, it serves more than an entertainment purpose. The hoops themselves (which are hand-made by the artists themselves out of thin piping and colorful tape and ribbons) symbolize the great circle of life, an important concept in most Native American traditions, and most earth-based religious traditions around the world. The hoop dance is also a dance of healing, and is believed to have originated with medicine men, who would pass the hoops over a patient to identify a disease, and then pass them over themselves to cure it. 

“Working On That” is their second video from, Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday [Sugar Hill Records], which is the group’s 10th studio album and proves the band as a consistent steward of Americana music, with their signature sound of traditional mountain music infused with elements of Cajun, rock, folk, reggae and country in an eclectic and extraordinary melting pot of such.  Donna the Buffalo is founding members and songwriter-vocalists Jeb Puryear (vocals, guitar) and Tara Nevins (vocals, guitar, fiddle, accordion, scrubboard) along with David McCracken (Hammond organ, clavinet), Kyle Spark (bass) and Mark Raudabaugh (drums).

Donna The Buffalo on Tour:

Fri 11/29 - Jamestown, NY - Herman Kent Post 777 American Legion

Sat 11/30 - Jim Thorpe, PA - Mauch Chunk Opera House

Thu 12/5 - Bayshore, NY - YMCA Boulton Center

Fri 12/6 - Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for the Arts

Sat 12/7 - Northampton, MA - Pearl Street

Sun 12/8 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Casino - Wolf Den

Thu 12/12 - Harrisonburg, VA - Clementine Café

Fri 12/13 - Wilmington, NC Ziggy's By The Sea

Sat 12/14 - Winston-Salem, NC - Ziggy's

Fri 12/20 - Ardmore, PA - Ardmore Music Hall

Sat 12/21 - Washington, DC - Howard Theater

Tue 12/31/13 - Tampa, FL - Skipper’s Smokehouse

Thu-Sat 1/2-4/14 - Key West, FL - The Green Parrot

Sun 1/5/14 - Deland, FL - Cafe Davinci

Tue 1/14/13 - Charlotte, NC - Amos' Southend*

Wed 1/15/14 - Charleston, SC - The Music Farm*

Fri 1/17/14 - Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theater

Sat 1/18/14 -  Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel

Tue 1/21/14 - Englewood, NY - Bergen County Performing Arts Center*

Thu 1/2/14 - Kent, OH - Kent Stage*

Fri 1/24/14 - Columbus, OH - Woodlands Park Street Saloon*

Sat 1/25/14 - Chicago, IL - Concord Music Hall*

Thu-Sun 2/20-23 - Miami, Fl -  Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival

Sat-Sun 3/22-23 - Live Oak, FL - Suwannee Springfest

Thu 3/27 - Boulder, CO - eTown Hall

Fri 3/28 Denver, CO - Oriental Theatre

Sat 3/29 - Albuquerque, NM - South Broadway Cultural Center

Sun 3/30 - Phoenix, AZ - McDowell Mountain Music Festival

Thu-Fri 4/10-11- Driftwood, TX - Old Settlers Festival

Thu-Sun 4/17-20 - Silk Hope, NC - Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival

Fri-Sun 4/25-27 - Wilkesboro, NC - MerleFest

Sat-Sun 7/5-6 - Sherman, NY - Great Blue Heron Music Festival      

Fri-Sat 7/11-12 - Harbour Springs, MI - Blissfest Festival Farm

Thu-Sun 7/17-20 - Trumansburg, NY - Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival

Sat 7/26 - Floyd, VA - FloydFest

*with Rusted Root

Fri, 12/06/2013 - 9:20 am

Mandolinist, vocalist and songwriter Jeff Austin is joining forces with The Here and Now, featuring banjoist Danny Barnes and Larry & Jenny Keel on guitar and bass for several shows in the MidWest in early March 2014.The tour kicks off at the Cabooze in Minneapolis, before heading over to Milwaukee to the Miramar and then along to Chicago’s City Winery. The final show of the run lands them at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 6th, 2014 at 12 pm CST.Mandolinist, vocalist and songwriter Jeff Austin is unstoppable. He is celebrated for his fleet fingers and penchant for improvisation on stage, but those qualities also speak volumes about how he chooses to live. Austin has cultivated his natural musical abilities and allowed himself to be driven by his boldest instincts. In this way, he has been able to build positive, exciting momentum around his life’s greatest passion. While not on the road with Yonder Mountain String Band, Austin is joining forces with The Here and Now and other special projects.Please visit JeffAustin.com for more information and to download a free EP of Jeff Austin & The Here and Now. You can also keep up to date with Jeff on facebook.com/JeffAustinOfficial and twitter.com/Jeffreyaustin10.Jeff Austin & The Here and Now on TourWed 3/5/14 - Cabooze - Minneapolis, MNThu 3/6/14 - Miramar Theater - Milwaukee, WI*Fri 3/7/14 - City Winery - Chicago, IL* (early and late show)Sat 3/8/14 - Bell's Brewery - Kalamazoo, MI*w. Horseshoes and Hand Grenades supporting

Tue, 01/21/2014 - 2:40 pm

Leftover Salmon is excited to announce their 2014 Spring Tour. In late March, LoS will kick off the tour with two nights at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, CA, followed by two nights at the Crystal Bay Club in Nevada, an evening at the Belly Up in Solana Beach, and two nights at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico. The beginning of April brings LoS into Minnesota and Wisconsin for a few shows and the tour closes with another double header at the Aggie Theatre in Fort Collins, CO.LoS Fan Club ticketing will go on-sale on Thursday, January 23rd at 10am MST. 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.Leftover Salmon is Vince Herman (vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin); Drew Emmitt (vocals, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, mandola, fiddle); Andy Thorn (vocals, acoustic and electric banjo, National guitar); Greg Garrison (vocals, acoustic and electric bass, acoustic guitar); Alwyn Robinson (drums, percussion).For more information and complete tour dates please visit: www.LeftoverSalmon.com

Fri, 02/07/2014 - 1:09 pm

Leftover Salmon is thrilled to announce that on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 their 2004  album, Leftover Salmon, will be available digitally for the first time on all major digital outlets. "The self-titled work was a collaboration with producer-friend Bill Payne of Little Feat. Mature yet playful, graceful yet dirty, it became apparent that Leftover Salmon was poised for out-and-out domination" writes Scott Caffrey (2005). When asked how they came to choose Little Feat member Bill Payne as Leftover Salmon’s producer by Mike Greenhaus (2004), Drew Emmit summed up up the beginning of what was to become a long-term friendship and collaboration:When we had our benefit concerts for Mark Vann when he was ill, [Little Feat's] Paul Barrere and Bill Payne came out for those shows and played all five nights. We really formed a connection with them then and they were very supportive. Their presence was amazing and playing music with them was amazing after being such big Little Feat fans. So when we were trying to figure out producers for this record we were just trying to think of who would be really good organizationally—who would really bring all of this together. When Vince and I had gone out to the 25th Anniversary of Little Feat concert with Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Jackson Browne, and Billy Bob Thornton, Bill Payne was the driving force in keeping it all together. So we had this vision of him: not only do we love his music, but he is really great at bringing different sounds together. He plays a particularly beautiful solo on "Whispering Waters"—-it makes me feel like I am at the ocean.To celebrate the digital release of the album, Leftover Salmon is offering a free stream and download of the track "Whispering Waters" featuring Bill Payne: http://bit.ly/LOSWhisperingWaters.In true Salmon form, they’ll be performing songs from the album at shows mixed in with other old Leftover favorites, songs from their 2012 release Aquatic Hitchhiker, as well as new tunes release last year through Breckenridge Brewery. Bill Payne meets up with LoS halfway through their Powder Daze Winter Tour at the WinterWonderGrass Festival in Avon, CO this February and then travels on with LoS for shows in Jackson, WY and Victor, ID, then two nights in Big Sky, MT with the tour ending in Missoula. Leftover Salmon will pick back up for their early spring tour starting in late March.Looking back over the past 25 years of rootsy, string-based music, the impact of Leftover Salmon is impossible to deny. Today, Leftover Salmon is: Vince Herman (vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin); Drew Emmitt (vocals, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, mandola, fiddle); Andy Thorn (vocals, acoustic and electric banjo, National guitar); Greg Garrison (vocals, acoustic and electric bass, acoustic guitar); Alwyn Robinson (drums, percussion).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.Leftover Salmon on Tour2/12 Wed - Crested Butte Center for the Arts  - Crested Butte, CO2/13 Thu - Crested Butte Center for the Arts  - Crested Butte, CO2/14 Fri - Animas City Theatre - Durango, CO2/15 Sat - Animas City Theatre - Durango, CO2/16 Sun - Telluride Conference Center - Telluride, CO2/21 Fri - WinterWonderGrass Festival - Avon, CO*3/13 Thu - Pink Garter Theatre - Jackson, WY*3/14 Fri - Knotty Pine - Victor, ID*3/15 Sat - Whiskey Jacks - Big Sky, MT*3/16 Sun - Whiskey Jacks - Big Sky, MT*3/17 Mon - The Top Hat - Missoula, MT*3/26 Wed - Terrapin Crossroads - San Rafael, CA3/27 Thu -  Terrapin Crossroads - San Rafael, CA3/28 Fri - Crystal Bay Club- Crystal Bay, NV3/29 Sat - Crystal Bay Club- Crystal Bay, NV3/30 Sun - Belly Up - Solana Beach, CA   3/31 Mon - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Chico, CA   4/01 Tue - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Chico, CA4/03 Thu - Papa Charlies - Lutsen, MN4/04 Fri - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN4/05 Sat - Majestic Theatre - Madison, WI4/18 Fri - Aggie Theatre - Ft. Collins, CO4/19 Sat - Aggie Theatre - Ft. Collins, CO5/30 Fri - Blackstock Music Festival - Blackstock, SC*6/13-15 Fri-Sun - Snowmass Mammoth Fest - Snowmass, CO6/19-22 Thu-Sun - Telluride Bluegrass Festival - Telluride, CO*9/11-14 Thu-Sun - Phases of the Moon Music & Art Festival - Danville, IL** Featuring special guest Bill Payne of Little Feat

Wed, 02/12/2014 - 10:22 am

Jeff Austin & The Here and Now (featuring banjoist Danny Barnes and Larry & Jenny Keel) are thrilled to announce the audio release of a soundboard recording of last August’s show at The Elk's Lodge in Troy, OH as part of the Gentleman of the Road Festival. The download is available for FREE at www.JeffAustin.com.Check out Jeff's recap of the show:Late in the evening of August 30th, 2013… or, was it early in the morning of August 31st? Danny Barnes, Larry Keel, Jenny Keel and myself were led into the Elk's Lodge of Troy, Ohio to play a late night show for a packed room of folks who had spent their day in the blazing late summer sun…enjoying themselves to the fullest. We wondered if they had anything left in the tank… By God, did they ever. Through the sweat, the endless toasts, the folks who faded in the heat of the crowded room… I hope you enjoy a few hours of bluegrass fun between me and some of my dearest friends. Late night from Troy… no holding back now, folks.Live From The Elk’s Lodge Track List:1. Bluegrass Breakdown2. Angel With The Golden Hair3. The Wedding Song4. The Mountain Song5. Red Haired Boy6. On and On7. Shit Creek8. Kentucky Mandolin9. Groundhog10. Groundspeed11. Death Trip > Loser > Death Trip12. Isotope13. Jesse James14. Foggy Mountain Special15. Sitting Alone in the Moonlight > Foggy Mountain Breakdown > Rag Doll16. Rattler17. Bone18. Crow Black Children19. Wheel HossThey link up again for several shows in the Midwest in early March 2014 kicking off at the Cabooze in Minneapolis, before heading over to Milwaukee to the Miramar and then along to Chicago’s City Winery. The final show of the run lands them at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo.Starting in early May, Jeff will pick back up on tour with Danny Barnes (vocals), Eric Thorin (bass and vocals), and Ross Martin (guitar and vocals). They will be touring together throughout the year and also heading into the studio this March with a number of other friends, heroes and mentors to record an album.Jeff Austin & The Here and Now on Tour3/5 - Cabooze - Minneapolis, MN*3/6 - Miramar Theater - Milwaukee, WI*3/7 - City Winery (early and late show) - Chicago, IL*3/8 - Bell's Brewery - Kalamazoo, MI*5/8 - Terminal West - Atlanta, GA +5/9 - Pour House - Charleston, SC +5/10 - Aiken Bluegrass Festival - Aiken, SC +6/6 - Riverbend Festival _ Chattanooga, TN +6/7 - Blue Plum Music Festival - Johnson City, TN +8/8 - Targhee Bluegrass Festival - Targhee, WY8/22 - Nedfest - Nederland, CO* - w/ The Keels and Danny Barnes, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades supports+ - w/ new band line-up - Danny Barnes, Ross Martin and Eric Thorin

Thu, 02/20/2014 - 2:59 pm

After five days on the Caribbean for the Mountain Song at Sea, Town Mountain has their land legs back. They arrived back to Asheville just in time for the biggest snowstorm of the year.. quite the drastic change from the bluegrass cruise. Now we're on the heels of spring, and man doesn't it feel good. Town Mountain will play couple of shows this winter in Virginia before heading over to Bellingham, WA to kick off festival season early at Wintergrass, an incredible festival where the people are sick-and-tired of the cold so they pretend it’s summertime and hold up in a hotel for a long weekend and pick, watch bands and celebrate the fact that spring is oh-so-near.  2014 is going to be Town Mountain’s busiest and best year yet; their schedule is bursting with music festivals and club shows throughout the country throughout the year. They celebrate spring’s arrival at Suwannee Springfest in Live Oak, FL. As the season progresses other festivals they will perform at include Durango Bluegrass MeltDown (CO), MerleFest (NC), Aiken Bluegrass Festival (SC), Lake Eden Arts Festival, Graves Mountain Festival (VA), Appalachian Uprising (OH), California Bluegrass Association Father's Day Festival, and Bean Blossom (IN) before landing in Alaska for the Nome Midnight Sun Folk Fest to close out the season. They will pick back up in early July for summer shows including performances at RockyGrass (CO), Targhee Bluegrass Festival (WY) and more still yet to be announced. The sound of the award-winning group Town Mountain can best be described as traditional bluegrass, albeit with a rough-hewn side to it that is not too slick or glossy. They are a band of the here-and-now, yet they have a groove that is based on the bluesy and swinging sounds explored by the first generation of bluegrass pioneers of the last century. Town Mountain is Robert Greer on vocals and guitar, Jesse Langlais on banjo and vocals, Bobby Britt on fiddle, Phil Barker on mandolin and vocals, and new addition to the band, Rob Parks on bass. The band plans on recording a new album in late 2014.They've got lots of great new original material that they're eager to play, and of course playing all the hits too. Keep your eyes on townmountain.net, facebook.com/TownMountain and twitter.com/TownMountain for full tour details and other fun news from the road.Town Mountain on Tour 2014:Winter TourFri 2/21 Hampton, VA - Hampton TaphouseSat 2/22 Berryville, VA - Bluegrass and BBQ at Barns of Rose HillWed 2/26 Bellingham, WA - The Green FrogThu-Sat 2/27- 3/1 Bellevue, WA - WintergrassSpring TourFri-Sat 3/20-21 Live Oak, FL - Suwannee SpringfestThu 3/27 Greenville, SC - Independent Public AlehouseFri 3/28 Asheville, NC - Isis Music HallSat 3/29 Charlotte, NC - Puckett's Farm EquipmentThu 4/10 Denver, CO - Cervantes’ Other SideFri 4/11 Salida, CO - SteamPlant Event CenterSat 4/12 Durango, CO - Durango Bluegrass MeltDownWed 4/23 Nashville, TN - Music City RootsSat 4/26 Wilkesboro, NC - MerleFestFri-Sat 5/9-10 Aiken, SC - Aiken Bluegrass FestivalSun 5/11 Black Mountain, NC - Lake Eden Arts FestivalFri 5/16 Charleston, SC - Palmetto Brewing Loading Dock Music SeriesSat 5/17 Panola, SC - BirdfestFri 5/30 Raleigh, NC - Southland BallroomSat 5/31 Syria, VA - Graves Mountain Festival of MusicSun 6/1 Washington, DC - American Roots Music Series at Hill CenterFri 6/6 Scottown, OH - Appalachian UprisingMon 6/9 Lexington, KY - Best of BluegrassThu-Fri 6/12-13 Grass Valley, CA - California Bluegrass Association Father's Day FestivalTue 6/17 Bean Blossom, IN - Bean Blossom Bluegrass FestivalFri-Sat 6/20-21  Nome, AK - Nome Midnight Sun Folk FestSummer TourSat 7/5 Robbinsville, NC - Appalachian Evenings at Stecoah ValleySat-Sun 7/12-13 Frankfort, IL - Frankfort Bluegrass on the Green FestivalSat 7/26 Lyons, CO - 42nd RockyGrass FestivalFri 8/1 Parsons, WV - Pickin' In Parsons Bluegrass FestivalSat 8/2 Lorton, VA - Workhouse Arts Center at LortonFri 8/8 Alta, WY - Targhee Bluegrass FestivalSat-Sun 8/9-10 Spokane, WA - Blue Waters Bluegrass FestivalTue 8/12 Republic, WA - Republic Brewing CompanyWed 8/13 Seattle, WA - Tractor TavernSat 8/16 Amsterdam, NY - Riverlink Park Summer Concert Series 2014Fri-Sat 9/12-13 Flagstaff, AZ - Pickin' in the Pines Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Festival 

Tue, 02/25/2014 - 2:56 pm

Levi Lowrey is thrilled to release his self-titled album today, February 25, 2014, through Southern Ground Artists. The album is available exclusively for download on iTunes and physical copies can be purchased at Levi’s online store and live shows. Noisetrade is offering an exclusive behind the scenes look at the making of the album. To watch the video, and pick up free downloads of three tracks off the album (“Picket Fences”, “December Thirty-One”, and “Urge For Leaving"); please visit here.Showcasing all original material, with the exception of one cover, the album features Lowrey collaborating with an impressive list of guest musicians that includes Clay Cook (Zac Brown Band), fiddler Ross Holmes (Mumford & Sons/Cadillac Sky), Oliver Wood (The Wood Brothers) and acclaimed performer, producer and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Mac McAnally. This new project was executive produced by Zac Brown along with co-producers Matt Mangano and Clay Cook. It was recorded from start to finish in just two weeks at Southern Ground Studios in Nashville, TN.True to his reputation as a talented writer, Lowrey penned four of the fifteen songs by himself on the self-titled album and co-wrote the other ten original tracks. Each new story song offers brutally honest insights about life culled from his adventures in the real world. Lowrey is a happily married man who home schools his two children with his wife while working as a successful musician. On the other hand, he is a constant observer of the rough sides of life and he is not afraid to branch out and explore subjects that others might find too uncomfortable for casual conversation.“You know, I haven’t written about my wife’s health struggles with Hodgkin's Lymphoma yet, but there are elements of it that kind of snuck their way into the songs anyway, especially on ‘December Thirty-One,’” Lowrey says. “There’s the realization that a change for the better can happen at any second or any minute. There is a hopeful sort of desperation the whole record displays.”As evidence of this optimism, Lowrey isn’t one to complain or even ponder why he might be experiencing hardships that others don’t have to endure. Instead, he channels his energies, his frustrations and his talent into his craft.“I think that this earth and its struggles are to build character; we have to be thankful for that,” Lowrey states. “The song ‘Long Way Home’ says right up front, ‘I’ve wasted hours praying for rain, and I cursed the clouds when they finally came.’ We pray for blessings in our lives, but we’re unwilling to go through the storms before we get there.”

Wed, 03/05/2014 - 9:54 am

Suwannee Springfest celebrates its 18th year at the magnificent Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL on March 20-23rd. Festivalgoers can enjoy four days of camping and live music, arts and crafts, and a selection of great foods. Suwannee Springfest consistently features some of the world’s finest performers in Roots Rock, Bluegrass & Newgrass, Acoustic Blues, Singer/Songwriter, Cajun/Zydeco, New & Traditional Folk and other forms of American Roots music. Tickets are on sale in advance and at the gate.Suwannee Springfest is excited to welcome to the 2014 stages The Avett Brothers, Del McCoury Band, Punch Brothers, Sam Bush Band, Jason Isbell, Southern Soul Assembly (JJ Grey, Anders Osborne, Luther Dickinson and Marc Broussard), Travelin McCoury Jam, Steep Canyon Rangers, Donna The Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, Greensky Bluegrass, Floodwood, Town Mountain, Willie Sugarcapps, The Duhks, Aoife O'Donovan, The Honeycutters, David Gans, Rumpke Mountain Boys, The Whiskey Gentry, Henhouse Prowlers and many more. The full schedule of events is now available online at suwanneespringfest.com/lineup/schedule.This energetic and family friendly musical celebration is a gem of a festival with a great lineup, spring weather and a stunning natural setting. Tickets for Suwannee Springfest are on sale in advance for $170 ($190 at the gate) inclusive of all taxes and fees, and include 4 days of primitive camping and music. Kids under 12 are invited to join for free. Fans can also upgrade their experience with VIP tickets for $300. For RV hook ups, cabin rentals and golf cart rentals, please call SOSMP at (386)-364-1683. For further information and tickets, please visit www.suwaneespringfest.comSuwannee Springfest 2014 LineupThe Avett Brothers Del McCoury BandPunch Brothers Sam Bush BandSouthern Soul Assembly (JJ Grey, Anders Osborne, Luther Dickinson and Marc Broussard)Jason IsbellTravelin McCoury Jam Steep Canyon RangersJim Lauderdale Greensky BluegrassWillie Sugarcapps The Duhks Aoife O'Donovan Floodwood Ralph Roddenbery Rumpke Mountain Boys David GansThe Honeycutters Town Mountain Grandpa's Cough Medicine Whetherman Canary in the Coalmine The Royal Tinfoil Holy Ghost Tent RevivalLove CanonGrant Peeples The StacksSloppy Joe Uproot HootenannyBig Cosmo Habanero Honeys TammerlinThe New 76ers JacksonVegas Quartermoon James Justin & CoRosco Bandana SOSOS The Whiskey GentryBibb City RamblersTwo Foot LevelHenhouse Prowlers Come Back Alice Gypsy Wind Nook & Cranny Beartoe Mickey Abraham's Acoustic Ensemble Artists at Large: Jeff Mosier, Bobby Miller, Jon Stickley, Lyndsey Pruett and Steve Pruett

Tue, 04/01/2014 - 4:29 pm

Leftover Salmon is happy to announce additional dates for their 2014 Spring Tour. They are also thrilled that Bill Payne of Little Feat will be joining the band for the majority of the run. Tonight, April 1, LoS plays a second night at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co in Chico before heading to the midwest for a few shows.

Payne joins the band for the two-night run at the Aggie Theatre in Fort Collins and they close out the first leg of the Spring tour with “Still Smokin,’” an event taking over the streets of Denver in front of Cervantes on 4/20. This May, LoS and Payne travel through the midwest for a few shows and then veer south to Florida, after a stop at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, and then onward to Georgia, North & South Carolina. They’ll head up through Virginia and land in DC for a two-night stand at The Hamilton before returning to North Carolina for more shows.

In mid-June, they will be back in Colorado for Snowmass Mammoth Fest and Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Early July brings LoS and Payne to Las Vegas to play at the NEW Brooklyn Bowl location for two nights. This summer Leftover Salmon ft. Bill Payne perform at many festivals throughout the country including the Targhee Bluegrass Festival, Gathering of the Vibes, and Phases of the Moon.
LoS Fan Club ticketing for the new shows will go on-sale at 10am (MST) on Thursday April 3rd.
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
Leftover Salmon Complete Tour Dates
4/01 Tue - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Chico, CA
4/03 Thu - Sweetwater Shakedown at Papa Charlie’s - Lutsen, MN
4/04 Fri - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN >
4/05 Sat - Majestic Theatre - Madison, WI >
4/18 Fri - Aggie Theatre - Ft. Collins, CO* %
4/19 Sat - Aggie Theatre - Ft. Collins, CO* #
4/20 Sun - Still Smokin' @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom (Outdoors - In the Streets) - Denver, CO*=
5/01 Thu - The Vogue - Indianapolis, IN*
5/02 Fri - Old Rock House - St Louis, MO*
5/03 Sat - George's Majestic - Fayetteville, AR*
5/04 Sun - Beale Street Music Festival - Memphis, TN*
5/23 - Freebird Live - Jacksonville, FL*
5/24 Sat - Papa Joes’ Banjo-B-Que Music Festival - Evans, GA*
5/25 Sun - Windjammer - Isle of Palms, SC*
5/26 Mon - Windjammer - Isle of Palms, SC*
5/29 Thu - Cox Capitol Theatre - Macon, GA*
5/30 Fri - Blackstock Music Festival - Blackstock, SC*
5/31 Sat - Penguin Fest - Wilmington, NC* !
6/01 Sun - Pisgah Brewing - Black Mountain, NC* ! $
6/03 Tue -  Harvester Performance Center - Rocky Mount, VA*
6/04 Wed - The Hamilton - Washington DC* !
6/05 Thu - The Hamilton - Washington DC*
6/06 Fri - Lincoln Theater - Raleigh, NC*
6/07 Sat - Ziggy's - Winston- Salem, NC*
6/13-15 Fri-Sun - Snowmass Mammoth Fest - Snowmass, CO*
6/19-22 Thu-Sun - Telluride Bluegrass Festival - Telluride, CO*
7/2 Wed - Brooklyn Bowl - Las Vegas, NV*
7/3 Thu - Brooklyn Bowl - Las Vegas, NV*
8/8-10 Fri-Sun Targhee Bluegrass Festival - Alta, WY*
7/31-8/1 Thu-Fri Gathering of the Vibes - Bridgeport, CT*
9/11-14 Thu-Sun - Phases of the Moon Music & Art Festival - Danville, IL*

* Featuring special guest Bill Payne of Little Feat (April 18th - September 14th)
> w/ The Giving Tree Band
% w/ Gipsy Moon
# w/ Grant Farm
= w/ Bonnie Paine and Daniel Rodriguez of Elephant Revival and Friends 
! w/ Jeff Austin w. Danny Barnes, Eric Thorin and Ross Martin
$ w/ Jon Stickley Trio (Late Night)

For more information and further tour dates, please visit: www.LeftoverSalmon.com

Wed, 04/02/2014 - 10:37 am

Jeff Austin is on tour this spring with Danny Barnes (banjo and vocals), Eric Thorin (bass and vocals), and Ross Martin (guitar and vocals). They will be touring together throughout the year and also have been in the studio with a number of other friends, heroes and mentors to record an album.The tour loops through the southeast starting in Knoxville before heading over to Atlanta and Greensboro and then landing at the Aiken Bluegrass Festival. Picking back up in Charleston towards the end of the month Jeff goes on to link up with Leftover Salmon for a few dates in North Carolina and D.C.Austin will appear at a number of festivals as the season moves on including The Riverbend Festival, Blue Plum, Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival, Nedfest, and Lockn'. Jeff’s appearance at Gathering of the Vibes will be a special Grateful Grass set featuring Austin along with Keller Williams and Reed Mathis.Please visit JeffAustin.com for more information and further tour dates. Keep up to date with Jeff on facebook.com/JeffAustinOfficial and twitter.com/Jeffreyaustin10.Jeff Austin on Tour w. Danny Barnes, Eric Thorin and Ross Martin5/07 Wed - NV Nightclub - Knoxville, TN5/08 Thu - Terminal West - Atlanta, GA *5/09 Fri - The Blind Tiger - Greensboro, NC5/10 Sat - Aiken Bluegrass Festival - Aiken , SC5/30 Fri - Pour House - Charleston, SC5/31 Sat - Penguin Fest @ Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre - Wilmington, NC +=6/01 Sun - Pisgah Brewing Company - Black Mountain, NC +6/03 Tue - Lincoln Theater - Raleigh, NC6/04 Wed - The Hamilton - Washington, DC +6/05 Thu - The Lyric Theatre - Blacksburg, VA6/06 Fri - Riverbend Festival - Chattanooga, TN6/07 Sat - Blue Plum Festival - Johnson City, TN8/01 Fri - Gathering Of The Vibes - Bridgeport, CT %     8/09 Sat - Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival - Alta, WY8/22 Fri - Nedfest - Nederland, CO 9/5-6 Fri- Sat - Lockn' Festival - Arrington, VA%* w/ New Master Sounds+ Leftover Salmon= w/ Keller Williams        % Grateful Grass ft. Keller Williams, Jeff Austin and Reed Mathis

Thu, 04/24/2014 - 10:03 am

 Leftover Salmon featuring Bill Payne of Little Feat played to a large crowd this past weekend on Sunday, April 20th. With the entire city a-lit with activities throughout the day, folks gathered in the streets outside of Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver, CO, while Method Man and Redman performed inside to a packed house.  “People around the world are looking at Denver on this day...” said Vince Herman to The Denver Post/ Reverb. “I feel really glad that we can have a role celebrating in the streets.”“It’s a little piece of culture that people can feel they own, and we’re going to see more and more of it,” Herman went on to state.A bluegrass-focused jam band playing at the same event as a hip-hop act, Herman said is evidence of the different genres and cultures 4/20 brings to Denver. Vince said, “It’s a great indicator of the diversity of music in the Mile High City.” The gates opened around 2pm with Leftover Salmon featuring Bill Payne taking the stage at 4:20pm. They brought up many guest throughout the day. After kicking off with “The 420 Polka” to celebrate this historic event, Karl Denson joined the band on sax on the majority of the first set. Anders Beck (Greensky Bluegrass), Allie Kral, Silas Herman (Gipsy Moon), Paul Hoffman (Greensky Bluegrass), Bonnie Paine (Elephant Revival) joined in in the second set. Everyone that sat in during the second set came back on stage, along with Daniel Rodriguez (Elephant Revival), to play during the encore. The full set is available to download on www.LiveSalmon.com. All Leftover Salmon shows are streamed live on the site as well, pending a solid internet connection.Set List:Leftover Salmon April 20th, 2014Still Smokin' - In the Streets of Denver, COSet I1. 420 Polka2. Down in the Hollow3. Boo Boo > Gimmie da'ting (with Karl Denson)4. Easy to Slip (with Karl Denson)5. Breakin' Through (with Karl Denson)6. High Country 7. Bird Call (with Karl Denson)Set II1. Zombie Jamboree2. Atlanta3. All Nite Ride4. Shanty (with Anders Beck)5. Aquatic Hitchhiker (with Anders Beck)6. Rag Mama Rag (with Anders Beck and Allie Kral)7. Willin' (with Anders Beck and Allie Kral)8. Viper (with Anders Beck, Allie Kral and Silas Herman)9. River's Risin > Marley Medley10. Everybody Must Get Stoned (with Silas Herman and Paul Hoffman)11. Pasta on the Mountain (with Anders Beck, Silas Herman, and Paul Hoffman, and Bonnie Paine)12. Boogie (with Anders Beck, Allie Kral, Silas Herman, Paul Hoffman, and Bonnie Paine)Encore13. Henry (with Bonnie Paine and Silas Herman)14. Reach (with Bonnie Paine, Daniel Rodriguez, Silas Herman, Anders Beck, and Paul Hoffman and Allie Kral)*Whole show with Bill Payne of Little Feat on Keys & Organ

Wed, 05/28/2014 - 2:42 pm

Jeff Austin is embarking on the second leg of his Spring tour starting this weekend. Jeff is on tour this year with Danny Barnes (banjo and vocals), Eric Thorin (bass and vocals), and Ross Martin (guitar and vocals). They have been in the studio with a number of other friends, heroes and mentors to record an album; it can already be summed up succinctly as Austin’s love letter to storytelling. “I love writing a three-minute song with a hook that would grab a five-hundred-pound marlin as much as I like writing something that goes, ‘okay, after the bridge, it’s going to open up and just go wide.’” They put together this great video together to tell you more about it: http://vimeo.com/filmcartel/rundownpromoJeff was an “Artist at Large” this past weekend at Delfest in Cumberland, MD. He closed out Saturday night headlining slot with The Travelin McCourys, dueting with Billy Nershi on the last song with the crowd going nuts. Listen to the set here: http://bit.ly/RBJiGL. Later that night, he appeared with Railroad Earth and Ronnie McCoury on a three way mandolin jam. On Sunday he appeared with the String Cheese Incident on “I Know you Rider.” Sunday late night (actually monday morning) Jeff played the majority of the set with the Travelin McCourys singing some of his originals.Needless to say, Jeff is on a mission to deliver the High Octane Bluegrass that he has been known for and will continue to deliver with his new band that include Danny Barnes, Eric Thorin and Ross Martin.Please visit JeffAustin.com for more information and further tour dates. Keep up to date with Jeff on facebook.com/JeffAustinOfficial and twitter.com/Jeffreyaustin10.See Jeff Austin & Friends on Tour at:5/30 Fri - Pour House - Charleston, SC5/31 Sat - Penguin Music Fest - Wilmington, NC +=6/01 Sun - Pisgah Brewing Company - Black Mountain, NC +6/03 Tue - Lincoln Theater - Raleigh, NC6/04 Wed - The Hamilton - Washington, DC +6/05 Thu - The Lyric Theatre - Blacksburg, VA6/06 Fri - Riverbend Festival - Chattanooga, TN6/07 Sat - Blue Plum Festival - Johnson City, TN8/01 Fri - Gathering Of The Vibes - Bridgeport, CT %   8/09 Sat - Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival - Alta, WY8/16 Sat -  YarmonyGrass - Yarmony, CO8/22 Fri - Nedfest - Nederland, CO8/23 Sat - River Run Events Plaza - Keystone , CO8/24 Sun - Center for the Arts Outdoors Stage - Crested Butte, CO9/5-6 Fri- Sat - Lockn' Festival - Arrington, VA%* w/ New Master Sounds+ Leftover Salmon= w/ Keller Williams       % Grateful Grass ft. Keller Williams, Jeff Austin and Reed Mathis    * w/ New Master Sounds+ Leftover Salmon= w/ Keller Williams       % Grateful Grass ft. Keller Williams, Jeff Austin and Reed Mathis

Tue, 06/03/2014 - 11:02 am

Digging back into their catalog, Leftover Salmon is excited to celebrate fifteen years of one of their most memorable recordings experiences, “The Nashville Sessions”. On September 15th their performance at the Ryman Auditorium will be a one-of-a-kind reunion and a great opportunity for the band to share that special recording experience with the fans in a live setting. Special Guests for the evening including John Bell, Sam Bush, Jeff Coffin, John Cowan, Jeff Hanna, Taj Mahal, Todd Park Mohr, Bill Payne, Randy Scruggs, Jo-el Sonnier, Sally Van Meter, and Reese Wynans. 

The Nashville Sessions recording represents a highlight in the bands long lived career. In talking with Vince Herman about this experience he shared some thoughts saying, “Recording the Nashville sessions was like a musical fantasy island for us. We'd have Earl Scruggs come in the morning, Taj Mahal in the afternoon and Waylon Jennings the next day. We were loving it. It's still dreamlike thinking about it years later. I sure treasure having had the chance to play with such iconic figures, especially those who have passed on, including our brother Mark Vann. I'm going to savor the chance to make music with the great cast of characters assembled at the Ryman that night. Life is short. Art is long."
Looking back over the past 25 years of rootsy, string-based music, the impact of Leftover Salmon is impossible to deny. Formed in Boulder at the end of 1989, The Colorado slamgrass pioneers took their form of aggressive bluegrass to rock and roll bars at a time when it wasn't so common, helping Salmon become a pillar of the jam band scene and unwitting architects of the jam grass genre. Today, Leftover Salmon is: Vince Herman (vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin); Drew Emmitt (vocals, mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar, mandola, fiddle); Andy Thorn (vocals, acoustic and electric banjo, National guitar); Greg Garrison (vocals, acoustic and electric bass, acoustic guitar); Alwyn Robinson (drums, percussion).
Though the lineup would change through the years, the foundation of Leftover Salmon was built on the relationship between co-founders Drew Emmitt (vocals, guitar, fiddle, mandolin), Vince Herman (vocals, guitar, washboard) and Mark Vann (electric banjo). Following a decade of constant growth and constant touring, on March 4, 2002, Mark Vann lost his battle with cancer. Vann insisted that the band carry on and Leftover Salmon has done just that.
After several rotating banjo players including Matt Flinner, Scott Vestal, Tony Furtado, as well as taking a hiatus from touring at the end of 2004, the band was ready to hit the road again in the summer of 2007. Soon after, banjo phenom Andy Thorn was brought in to the group and a new album, Aquatic Hitchhiker, was recorded and released in 2012. NPR’s Mountain Stage heralded Colorado’s Leftover Salmon as “one of the most beloved acts on America's summer-festival circuit”. This year Leftover Salmon released their 2004 self-titled album digitally for the first time; the album was produced by Bill Payne of Little Feat who has also been joining the band on the road for most of their shows in recent months.
For more information, tour dates, and other LoS news, please visit www.LeftoverSalmon.com.
Tue, 06/17/2014 - 10:13 am

Magnolia Fest celebrates its 18th year at the magnificent Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL on October 16-19, 2014. Festivalgoers can enjoy four days of camping and live music, arts and crafts, and a selection of great foods. Magnolia Fest consistently features some of the world’s finest performers in Americana, Roots Rock, Acoustic Blues, Singer/Songwriter, Bluegrass & Newgrass, Cajun/Zydeco, New & Traditional Folk and other forms of American Roots music. Tickets are on sale in advance and at the gate.

Magnolia Fest is excited to welcome to the 2014 stages Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group, Jason Isbell, The Indigo Girls, Dr. John and The Night Trippers, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Marcia Ball & Terrance Simien “Boogie on the Bayou”, Keller Williams with More Than A Little, Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, Tim Reynolds & TR3, Willie Sugarcapps, American Aquarium, MarchFourth Marching Band, The Lee Boys, Big Cosmo, Honey Island Swamp Band, Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, and many more.

This energetic and family friendly musical celebration is a gem of a festival with a great lineup, beautiful fall weather and a stunning natural setting. There will be a kid’s parade on Saturday at 11am. The Live Oak Music And Arts Foundation (LOMAF) will have a booth with raffles to raise money for the local music and art programs in the area.

Tickets for Magnolia Fest are on sale in advance for $150 until the price increase to $170 on June 20th ($200 at the gate) inclusive of all taxes and fees, and include 4 days of primitive camping and music. Kids under 12 are invited to join for free. Fans can also upgrade their experience with VIP tickets for $300. For RV hook ups, cabin rentals and golf cart rentals, please call SOSMP at (386)-364-1683. For further information and tickets, please visit MagnoliaFest.com.

Magnolia Fest 2014 Initial Lineup
Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group
Jason Isbell
The Indigo Girls
Dr. John and The Night Trippers
Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn
Marcia Ball & Terrance Simien “Boogie on the Bayou”
Keller Williams with More Than A Little
Donna the Buffalo
Jim Lauderdale
Tim Reynolds & TR3
Willie Sugarcapps
American Aquarium
MarchFourth Marching Band
The Lee Boys
Big Cosmo
Honey Island Swamp Band
Grandpa’s Cough Medicine
Sloppy Joe
Quartermoon
Flagship Romance
JacksonVegas
Juke
Parker Urban Legend
Bryce Alastair Band
Chelsea Saddler
… and many more TBA!

Mon, 07/07/2014 - 12:09 pm

Leftover Salmon is excited to announce their 2014 Fall Tour featuring Bill Payne of Little Feat for the majority of the shows. This September Leftover Salmon performs a couple of shows in Michigan before heading to Phases of the Moon Music and Arts Festival in Illinois. Monday, September 15th marks their 15 year anniversary of the Nashville Sessions which will be celebrated with a performance at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville with special guests including John Bell, Sam Bush, Jeff Coffin, John Cowan, Jeff Hanna, Taj Mahal, Todd Park Mohr, Bill Payne, Randy Scruggs, Jo-el Sonnier, Sally Van Meter, and Reese Wynans.

Late September brings the Leftover Salmon and Bill Payne to the Watermelon Park Fest in Virginia and the Mauch Chunk Opera House in Pennsylvania. In early October they play two nights at The Arcata Theater, followed by two nights at The Independent in San Francisco, and then another double header at the Applegate Lodge in Oregon. The fall tour closes out with shows in Eugene, Portland, and Seattle.

Tickets go on sale this weekend at: http://bit.ly/LosTourDates.

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.

Leftover Salmon Featuring Bill Payne of Little Feat on Complete Tour Dates
7/11-13 - Leftover Salmon Hosts: Rendezvous Rock N’ Ride Bike Tour & Music Festival – Winter Park, CO*
8/01- Fri - Flood City Music Festival - Johnstown, PA*
8/02 Sat- Gathering of the Vibes - Bridgeport, CT*
8/09 Sat - Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival - Alta, WY*
9/10 Wed - The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI
9/11 Thu - Bell’s Brewery – Kalamazoo, MI
9/13 Sat - Phases of the Moon Music & Art Festival (9/11-14) - Danville, IL*
9/15 Mon - Ryman Auditorium “Nashville Sessions 15 Year Anniversary Concert”- Nashville, TN* ^
9/26 Fri - The National - Richmond, VA*
9/27 Sat - Watermelon Park Fest (9/25-27) - Berryville, VA*
9/28 Sun - Mauch Chunk Opera House - Jim Thorpe, PA*
10/02 Thu - Arcata Theatre - Arcata, CA* !
10/03 Fri - Arcata Theatre - Arcata, CA* !
10/04 Sat - The Independent - San Francisco, CA* %
10/05 Sun - The Independent - San Francisco, CA* %   
10/07 Tue - Applegate Lodge - Applegate, OR*
10/08 Wed - Applegate Lodge - Applegate, OR*
10/09 Thu - WOW Hall - Eugene, OR*
10/10 Fri - Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR*
10/11 Sat - Neptune Theatre - Seattle, WA*
10/24-26 Fri-Sun - Hangtown Halloween Ball - Placerville, CA*
12/11-15 Thu-Mon - Strings & Sol - Puerto Morelos, Mexico*

* Featuring special guest Bill Payne of Little Feat
^ Leftover Salmon The Nashville Sessions 15th Anniversary Concert featuring Leftover Salmon, Bill Payne of Little Feat, John Bell of Widespread Panic, Taj Mahal, The McCourys, Jeff Coffin, and more!
! w/ Absynth Quintet
% Leftover Salmon and Friends

Thu, 07/24/2014 - 12:40 pm

Celebrated for his fleet fingers and penchant for improvisation on stage, mandolinist, songwriter and vocalist Jeff Austin is on tour with Danny Barnes (banjo and vocals), Eric Thorin (bass and vocals), and Ross Martin (guitar and vocals) as the Jeff Austin Band. They have also have been in the studio with a number of other friends, heroes and mentors to record an album due out early in 2015.Fall brings the Jeff Austin Band to the West Coast with shows in Flagstaff, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Arcata, Eugene, Portland, Seattle and Bellingham. JAB will also be performing two nights at Railroad Earth’s Hangtown Halloween Ball in Placerville, CA where Leftover Salmon and moe. amongst others. Jeff will also be featured as an “Artist-at-Large” at the Ball.Jeff Austin Band is set to perform at a number of shows and festivals this summer including Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival, Nedfest and Phases of the Moon. Jeff will also be appearing at Gathering of the Vibes, Yarmony Grass and Lockn' Festival for special Grateful Grass sets featuring Austin along with Keller Williams and Keith Moseley.Austin is headed in a new creative direction with the Jeff Austin Band as he prepares to step into the spotlight as a solo artist. On his forthcoming debut project, Austin’s songwriting remains rooted in Americana inspiration and the frantic energy of the jam genre but also, reaches even further weaving in more mainstream themes, reminiscent of his co-write contribution “Fiddlin’ Around,” that was featured on the 2010 Grammy nominated Dierks Bentley album, Up on the Ridge.While the upcoming, untitled solo effort is still a work in progress, it can already be summed up succinctly as Austin’s love letter to storytelling. “I love writing a three-minute song with a hook that would grab a five-hundred-pound marlin as much as I like writing something that goes, ‘okay, after the bridge, it’s going to open up and just go wide.’”Please visit JeffAustin.com for more information and further tour dates. Keep up to date with Jeff on facebook.com/JeffAustinOfficial and twitter.com/Jeffreyaustin10.Complete Schedule of the Jeff Austin Band Tour Dates:8/01 Fri - Gathering of the Vibes - Bridgeport, CT*8/09 Sat - Targhee Bluegrass Festival - Alta, WY8/16 Sat - Yarmony Grass - Bond, CO*8/22 Fri - NedFest - Nederland, CO8/23 Sat - Keystone Resort - Keystone, CO8/24 Sun - Center for the Arts - Crested Butte, CO9/5-6 Fri-Sat - Lockn' Festival - Arrington, VA*9/12 Fri - Utopia Festival - Utopia, TX^9/13-14 Sat-Sun - Phases of the Moon - Danville, IL10/21 Tue - Orpheum Theater - Flagstaff, AZ10/22 Wed - Musical Instruments Museum - Phoenix, AZ10/23 Thu - The Mint - Los Angeles, CA10/24-26 Fri-Sun - Hangtown Halloween Ball - Placerville, CA #10/28 Tue - Humbrews - Arcata, CA10/29 Wed - WOW Hall - Eugene, OR10/30 Thu - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR10/31 Fri - Nectar's Lounge - Seattle, WA11/01 Sat - The Green Frog - Bellingham, WA* Jeff plays with Grateful Grass featuring Keller Williams and Keith Moseley^  Jeff plays with Grateful Grass featuring Keller Williams and Sam Grisman# w/ Railroad Earth, Moe., Leftover Salmon and more. JAB plays two days and Jeff is Artist-at-Large 

Wed, 08/27/2014 - 1:10 pm

Bring 15 Years Of The Nashville Sessions Live From The Ryman To Your Home. Help bring this historic night of live music to living rooms around the world! With your help, this one-of-kind concert experience could be webcast live from the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. There are some exclusive items being offered to those who pledge. Our good friends at Music City Roots will be bringing their A-team along with full HD production to capture the night! By pledging, you could help make this live HD webcast a reality. In addition Leftover Salmon will be donating a portion of the funds raised to the Americana Music Association!

Celebrating 15 years of The Nashville Sessions Live At The Ryman Auditorium!
On September 15th, Leftover Salmon will assemble an all-star cast which includes John Bell (of Widespread Panic), Sam Bush, Taj Mahal, Bill Payne (of Little Feat), Jeff Coffin (of Dave Matthews Band), Elizabeth Cook, and many more amazing musicians! 15 years ago LoS was joined in the studio by many of these musicians to record their most treasured album to date, The Nashville Sessions. Years later, they are excited to recreate this album in a live setting. Many music fans out there won’t be able to join in on this special evening in Nashville. This is why the band wants to bring the show to you!
At the Ryman, Leftover Salmon will also be releasing The Nashville Sessions [1999] on vinyl for the first time. A limited pressing of 1000 copies will only be available for purchase at the Ryman or by pledging. This double vinyl set includes a special track featuring Col. Bruce Hampton, which has been aging in the vault for the past 15 years!
You can be the first to download “Bluegrass Pines,” one of the new songs off Leftover Salmon’s forthcoming studio album for a pledge of $5. This track was written by Bill Payne of Little Feat and Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. Be the first to hear it!
Please join Leftover Salmon in helping make this webcast a reality. If the goal is reached, this unique performance will be broadcasted to the world. So, pick up one of these great offerings, and mark your calendar for a special night of entertainment on Monday, September 15th right from the living room for your home!
Vince Herman shares his thought on The Nashville Sessions:
Recording The Nashville Sessions was like a musical fantasy island for us. We’d have Earl Scruggs come in the morning, Taj Mahal in the afternoon and Waylon Jennings the next day. We were loving it. It’s still dreamlike thinking about it years later. I sure treasure having had the chance to play with such iconic figures, especially those who have passed on, including our brother Mark Vann. I’m going to savor the chance to make music with the great cast of characters assembled at the Ryman that night. Life is short. Art is long. –Vince Herman

Thank you for supporting Leftover Salmon for the past 25 years!

For more information and complete tour dates for LoS, please visit and www.LeftoverSalmon.com. To find out more about the Ryman and the event, please visit www.Ryman.com.
Thu, 08/28/2014 - 1:11 pm

With a touring and recording history of more than 20 years, a strong following regionally and beyond, and a history of playing festivals like Bonnaroo and Farm Aid, North Carolina favorites Acoustic Syndicate returned in 2013 with their first record since 2004, Rooftop Garden.

The band is set to perform a select number of shows in the southeast this Fall including two shows on September 27th; a daytime performance at the Isothermal Community College (the home of WNCW radio) in Spindale, NC for the college's 50 Year Anniversary, and another set later that evening at Pisgah Brewing Company’s outdoor stage in Black Mountain, NC to celebrate WNCW’s 25 Year Anniversary on the airwaves. In early November they return to Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta before heading on to Lucky’s in Valdosta, GA and the Riverhawk Music Festival in Brooksville, FL. Acoustic Syndicate is also happy to announce their annual Asheville Thanksgiving show at the Grey Eagle in Asheville on November 29th
Having claimed the #6 spot in WNCW's 2013 year-end Top-100 listener poll with Rooftop Garden, the band is as beloved to the Western North Carolina audience as they've ever been. “Acoustic Syndicate has remained one of WNCW listeners’ favorite regional and overall acts ever since they began in the ‘90’s,” says WNCW’s Martin Anderson. “In fact they were one of the Top 10 favorite WNCW artists during our big 20th Anniversary vote in 2009, ranking alongside such A-list acts as the Avett Brothers, the Allman Brothers, and Alison Krauss. When I think of bands that best represent the overall sound of what we do at WNCW – roots music, rock, jamming, harmonizing, songs that tell a good story – it’s hard to think of a better one than Acoustic Syndicate."
Produced by Grammy Award winner Stewart Lerman (Boardwalk Empire, Patti Smith, The Roches, Antony and the Johnsons, Crash Test Dummies), Rooftop Garden features the band’s distinctive blend of rock and acoustic music, all influenced by the players’ love of a wide range of music, from reggae to American roots. “Their modern take on traditional bluegrass and rock values culminates in a glimmering, driving sound rich with acoustic textures and glowing vocals,” writes Paul Kerr on JamBase. 
They have also branched out into new territory with the album as Glide’s Bryan Rodgers notes, "... in 2010, new songs began creeping into set-lists and the band began a new era. The culmination is Rooftop Garden...The passage of time, dedication to other interests (family, farming, and software engineering for instance) and newfound musical freedom helped the band create their most personal album yet, which is remarkable. All of the music… has a distinctly human touch, with topics like sustainability, the frailty of existence, love, and community. Rooftop Garden is somehow more immediate because of where the band now finds themselves musically: with no one to please but themselves and an even broader range of life experiences from which to cull material.”
“The tunes on this album were written with an essentially positive message, one about humanity, earth, responsibility and peace,” said singer/guitarist Steve McMurry. He and his cousin Bryon McMurry (banjo, electric guitar) split the songwriting and lead vocal duties 50/50 on this new album, and are joined by Bryon’s brother Fitz McMurry (drums) for the kind of three part harmony that only close relatives who grew up singing together can conjure up. The band is rounded out by always in-demand bassist Jay Sanders and dobro wizard Billy Cardine; both of whom make use of Moog synthesizers and pedals to craft a unique ensemble sound.
The McMurry family has been in family farming in the same region of Cleveland County, NC since the 1700s. Their love of the land and their serious approach to its stewardship is echoed by the love of the music they make and the care with which they make it. Rooftop Garden conveys important things about the environment we all share, grounded in the life experiences of people who truly love what they do. “Through our music, we have tried to maintain a consistent message, a reminder,” says Steve McMurry, “that this Earth is the only one we will ever have. And though we speak of some lofty ideals in our music, my most fervent hope is that when people listen to us or come to our show, they leave with a laugh and a smile and the satisfaction of having been a part of something positive.”
Acoustic Syndicate Fall Shows 2014
9/27 Sat - Isothermal CC 50th Anniv. on the Campus Green- Spindale, NC
9/27 Sat - WNCW’s 25th Anniv. Party at Pisgah Brewing Company - Black Mountain, NC*
11/6 Thu - Smith's Olde Bar - Atlanta, GA
11/7 Fri - Lucky's - Valdosta, GA
11/8 Sat - Riverhawk Music Festival - Brooksville, FL
11/29 Sat- The Grey Eagle - Annual Thanksgiving show - Asheville, NC
* w/ Shane Pruitt Band & Phuncle Sam
Tue, 11/11/2014 - 4:18 pm

Donna the Buffalo just passed the marker as their 25th year as a band and have proven to be a consistent purveyor of American music. What’s the recipe? To be sure, it’s infused with more spices than you’ll find at a Cajun cookout by way of a southern-fried, rockin’ country old-time jamboree. “For the dizzying array of styles and genres with which they work, Donna The Buffalo maintain a surprising level of consistency. The New York-based band has played around with folk, zydeco, and many other musical ideas over the course of their 25-year career, but they retain a sharp focus that has helped them create some truly lasting music,” writes Elmore Magazine.

Donna the Buffalo will be celebrating the New Year in Florida starting with three nights at Skippers in Tampa (12/30/14- 1/1/15) and three days of shows at the Green Parrot in Key West (1/2-4), followed by shows in Boca Raton, Orlando, and Valdosta before making their way up for further shows in Atlanta and Raleigh. They pick back up again on Winter Tour towards the end of January with shows in Asheville, NC and Falls Church, VA. February brings the band to Charlotteville, VA; Saranac Lake, NY; Ardmore PA and then back down to Florida to Miami for the Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival. Stay tuned to DonnaTheBuffalo.com for additional Winter Dates.
Donna the Buffalo is Jeb Puryear (vocals, electric guitar) and Tara Nevins (vocals, guitar, fiddle, accordion, scrubboard) joined by David McCracken (Hammond organ, Honer Clavinet & piano), Kyle Spark (bass) and Mark Raudabaugh (drums). “It's been really fun with this lineup,” Puryear says. “You get to the point where you're playing on a really high level, things are clicking and it's like turning on the key to a really good car. It just goes.”
“You have to do just what you want to do, and everyone likes different things,” Nevins says. “Both Jeb and I come from this background of old-time fiddle music, which is very natural, very real, very under-produced, and all about coming from the gut—flying by the seat of your pants. So we have that in us, too.”
Donna the Buffalo debuted their first studio album in five years Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday, in the spring of 2013 via Sugar Hill Records. All Music Guide says the album, “highlights everything this consistent band does, and it has a warm, live-sounding production… This is what 21st century Americana sounds like, a little bit of this and that from anywhere wrapped up into a poignant, jamming dance reel, a place where the past and history meet easily in the immediate now and everybody feels like dancing.”
The group draws its inspiration from a cherished part of the American heritage: the old-time music festivals of the south that drew entire towns and counties together. “Those festivals were so explosive, and the community and the feeling of people being with each other, that's the feeling we were shooting for in our music,” Puryear says. “Donna the Buffalo is an extension of the joy we've found.”
Over the years, the band has also built a following that proudly calls itself The Herd, along with a well-deserved reputation for crafting social narratives and slipstream grooves without equal. To merely call this “roots music” does it disservice, for the roots nurtured by Puryear and Nevins run wild, deep and strong—a tribute to how much Donna the Buffalo marries musical trailblazing and tradition.
"It’s a great feeling to promote such a feeling of community, like you’re really part of something that’s happening, like a movement or a positive force…” Nevins says, “All those people that come and follow you and you recognize them and you become friends with them — you’re all moving along for the same purpose. It is powerful. It’s very powerful, actually."
Donna the Buffalo has toured the nation for over twenty five years with an ever-evolving grassroots sound and plans to keep on doing so for many years to come.
Take a look at their offical music videos:
“Working On That” -> http://bit.ly/1eXPofS
“I Love My Tribe” -> http://bit.ly/1i9fy9Q

Donna the Buffalo On Tour
11/13 Thu - Narrows Center For the Arts - Fall River, MA
11/14 Fri - Lake Placid Center for the Arts - Lake Placid, NY #
11/15 Sat - Buffalo Iron Works - Buffalo, NY #
12/4 Thu - Infinity Hall - Norfolk, CT
12/5 Fri - State Theater - Ithaca, NY *
12/6 Sat - Jay Peak Resort - Jay, VT *
12/7 Sun - The Egg - Hart Theatre - Albany, NY *
12/12 Fri - Ziggys By The Sea - Wilmington, NC &
12/13 Sat - Ziggy’s - Winston-Salem, NC >
12/30/14- 1/1/15 Tue-Thu - Skipper's Smokehouse - Tampa, FL
1/2-4/15 Fri-Sun - Green Parrot - Key West, FL
1/6 Tue - The Funky Biscuit - Boca Raton, FL
1/7 Wed - The Social - Orlando, FL
1/8 Thu - Lucky’s - Valdosta, GA
1/9 Fri - Red Clay Theater - Duluth, GA (Atlanta)
1/10 Sat - The Lincoln Theatre - Raleigh, NC
1/23 Fri - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC <
1/24 Sat - State Theatre - Falls Church, VA <
2/6 Fri - Mauch Chunk Opera House - Jim Thorpe, PA
2/7 Sat - Jefferson Theater - Charlottesville, VA
2/12 Thu -The Waterhole Winter Carnival - Saranac Lake, NY
2/14 Sat - Ardmore Music Hall - Ardmore, PA
2/19-22 Thu- Sun - Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival - Miami, FL
2/27 Fri - Neighborhood Theater - Charlotte, NC
3/20 Fri - City Winery - Nashville, TN
4/16-19 Thu-Sun - Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival - Silk Hope, NC
4/23-25 Thu-Sat - MerleFest - Wilkesboro, NC
7/3-5 Fri-Sun - Great Blue Heron Music Festival - Sherman, NY

* w/ Hot Tuna
^ w/ Boy = Girl
# w/ The Falconers
& w/ The Deluge
> w/ Rock n Roll Attoms
< w/ Driftwood
$ w/ Big Leg Emma

Mon, 01/26/2015 - 2:45 pm

The Everyone Orchestra has announced three northern California shows in March of 2015. Conducted by Matt Butler, this performance will feature Kris Meyers (Umphrey's McGee), Joel Cummins (Umphrey's McGee), Jamie Kime (Zappa Plays Zappa), Ben Thomas (Zappa Plays Zappa), and Kai Eckhardt (John McLaughlin Trio/Garaj Mahal). They pay Thursday, March 26th at Napa City Winery in Napa, CA, Friday, March 27th at Harlow's in Sacramento, CA, and Saturday, March 28th at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA. More guests for each show will be announced.

Butler has been leading a rotating cast of accredited musicians through full-length shows that are entirely improvised, since 2001, after touring with the rock band Jambay. In 2012, Butler gathered particularly well-known musicians from bands like Phish, Moe., and others, and recorded Everyone Orchestra’s first studio album, Brooklyn Sessions [2012], which was still largely improvised.

“The experience of playing with different musicians, improvising every night, and getting the crowd involved in ways that they can’t be at a regular show has provided an unparalleled live music experience,” said Butler.

The Everyone Orchestra conductor/founder Matt Butler has taken its participants, both on stage and off, on improvisational journeys with the most diverse of lineups at festivals, theaters and philanthropic events both nationally and internationally. A laundry list of hundreds of musicians, dancers, singers, guest conductors and community organizations have embraced the experience of EO in single shots of musical adrenaline to the soul. Tuning in to his energy, the band and audience utilize The Conductor as their pivot to the set mood of each passing jam as he communicates with the musicians using hand signs, whiteboard and assorted mime suggestions.

The list of Everyone Orchestra participants is an increasingly wide and intercontinental group including members of The Grateful Dead, Phish, Furthur,  Ratdog, Trey Anastasio Band, Gov’t Mule, String Cheese Incident, moe., members of Allman Brothers Band. including Oteil Burbridge, Yonder Mountain String Band, The New Mastersounds, Big Gigantic, The Punch Brothers, Dumpstaphunk, Galactic, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Railroad Earth, Thievery Corporation, Lettuce, Infamous Stringdusters, Leftover Salmon, The Flecktones, Club d’Elf, ALO, Tea Leaf Green, Tuvan throat singers, live painters, dancers, chanters, choirs, hula hoopers, firespinners, jugglers, stiltwalkers, storytellers, a presidential candidate and hundreds of others among a growing legion of other performers.

Marching clearly into uncharted territory, The Everyone Orchestra balances the challenges of live group improvisation with triumphant tension and release conduits of music which head deep into the soul. This unique collaborative of performance deeply encourages and requires audience interaction.  The edge of your seat enthusiasm for what is next is the fuel behind the continuous musical experiment of The Everyone Orchestra. 

The Everyone Orchestra Announce N. California Shows In March
With Members Of Umphrey's McGee, Zappa Plays Zappa & Garaj Mahal
Thursday, March 26th - Napa City Winery - Napa, CA
Friday, March 27th - Harlow's - Sacramento, CA
Saturday, March 28th - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA
Performing As The Everyone Orchestra For All Three Shows Are:
Kris Meyers (Umphrey's McGee)
Joel Cummins (Umphrey's McGee)
Jamie Kime (Zappa Plays Zappa)
Ben Thomas (Zappa Plays Zappa)
Kai Eckhardt (John McLaughlin Trio/Garaj Mahal)
More guests to TBA

 

Wed, 01/28/2015 - 8:15 am

On March 19-22, 2015, the 19th annual Suwannee Springfest kicks off the spring festival season at The Spirit Of Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL. A gem of a festival with beautiful early spring weather in a stunning natural setting, Suwannee Springfest is thrilled to announce a few additions to the already stellar lineup. Additions include Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, Del McCoury & David Grisman, Hot Rize with Red Knuckles and The Trailblazers, Jeff Austin, The Duhks, Pgrass, Virginia Dare Devils, Whetherman, Flagship Romance, The Applebutter Express, Big Cosmo, Canary in the Coalmine, and Acoustic Ensemble.

Bands that have already been announced to perform are The Wood Brothers, Shovels and Rope, Keller Williams and The Travelin’ McCourys, The Infamous Stringdusters, Blind Boys of Alabama, Donna The Buffalo, Larry Keel Experience, Cabinet, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, The Seth Walker Band, Fruition, Town Mountain, Joe Craven, amongst others.
Festivalgoers experience four days of superb music in the midst of a friendly, family-style environment with good times including music from usual festival favorites, as well as lots of talented new faces in Bluegrass & Newgrass, Acoustic Blues, Roots Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Cajun/Zydeco, New & Traditional Folk and other forms of American Roots music. 
Along with the camping, there are nearly 12 miles of trails suitable for hiking, biking, horseback riding and nature exploring. For RV hook ups, cabin rentals and golf cart rentals, please call SOSMP at (386)364-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to  a variety of events including Wannee, Magnolia Fest, Bear Creek Music and Arts Festival, Hulaween, and Aura Music Festival amongst others. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com or call them at 386-364-1683 for information. 
Get your tickets in advance for Suwannee Springfest and save for $160 until February 28th; $175 from March 1st through March 18th; and $200 at the gate. Individual day tickets are also available. Student / Military Ticket $150 Advance. Tickets are inclusive of all taxes and fees, and include 4 days of primitive camping and music Thursday - Sunday nights. Kids under 12 are invited to join for free. Attendees can also upgrade for a VIP Experience which includes a four-day ticket with primitive camping, dinners Thursday - Saturday evenings, a VIP Laminate, a swag bag with the festival poster, a cap, and other goodies for $300 through February 15th ($350 from 2/16 on and at gates. If you purchase a VIP Ticket you will be entered into a drawing for a pair of upgraded All Access Passes. Please visit SuwanneeSpringfest.com for ticketing and other information. 

Suwannee Springfest Final 2015 Lineup
Lucinda Williams
John Hiatt
Del McCoury & David Grisman
The Wood Brothers
Shovels and Rope
Hot Rize with Red Knuckles and The Trailblazers
Keller Williams and The Travelin’ McCourys
The Infamous Stringdusters
Jeff Austin
Blind Boys of Alabama
Donna The Buffalo
Larry Keel Experience
Cabinet
Jim Lauderdale
The Duhks
Verlon Thompson
The Seth Walker Band
Fruition
Town Mountain
Joe Craven
Dread Clampitt
Pgrass
Shinyribs
Jon Stickley Trio
The Shook Twins
Taylor Martin’s Acoustic Band
Ralph Roddenbery Band
Grandpa’s Cough Medicine
Virginia Dare Devils
Whetherman
Flagship Romance
The Applebutter Express
Sloppy Joe
Nikki Talley
Big Cosmo
Canary in the Coalmine
Grits & Soul
Quartermoon
The Josh Daniel/Mark Schimick Project
Steve Pruett's Back from the Brink
Oak Hay
Short Straw Pickers
Sarah Mac Band
Acoustic Ensemble

Wed, 02/11/2015 - 9:20 am

The Honeycutters, an Asheville, NC-based original country roots band, is set to release their third studio album, Me Oh My, on April 21, 2015 with Organic Records®. Led by songwriter Amanda Anne Platt, The Honeycutters include Tal Taylor on mandolin, Rick Cooper on bass, Josh Milligan on drums, and Matt Smith rounds out the band on pedal steel, electric guitar, and dobro to create a sound that carries just as well across the bar room as in a church or a theater. Fueled by the powerful songwriting and vocals of founder Amanda Platt, Me Oh My moves her into the spotlight as producer, band leader, and principal creative force behind the band. With songs that are honest and relatable, part chagrin and part hope, Platt’s voice carries a timeless appeal. Pre-sales for the album start Tuesday, February 17th on iTunes and includes two immediate tracks to download.

“The new album is the one I'm most proud of to date.” Platt says, “I took much more of a driver's seat in it's making, and the process has forced me to do a lot of growing up... I feel like I've really found my voice. I'm very excited about the line up of the band, and the songwriting includes some of my very favorites.” Platt self produced the album along with the help of engineer and assistant producer Jon Ashley. They laid down the all original 14-track album in Echo Mountain Recording Studio and Mixtown Studio in Asheville, NC and it was mixed and mastered just down the road at Crossroads Studios in Arden, NC.

Me Oh My is threaded with themes of love, loss, acceptance and regrowth. It kicks off with an engaging southern swingin’ song, “Jukebox,” that is about taking life one day at a time and not taking yourself too seriously saying “it’s only a song, so for heaven’s sake won’t you sing along?” The title cut is an inspirational anthem about the state of the modern woman, stating, "Some girls marry and some girls wait." Me Oh My brings more of what fans love about The Honeycutters, honestly written songs sung in Platt's authentic voice. The up-tempo, beer-raising, danceable "Ain't It The Truth" is one that will fuel audiences at live shows while melancholy ballads like "Texas '81" balance the album both in meter and mood. The upbeat “I’ll Be Lovin’ You” as a whole speaks to holding someone up until they are strong enough to stand on their own. Me Oh My delves deeper into the darker realms of love with "Little Bird" which gained Platt notoriety as it was chosen as a finalist at MerleFest's prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest (2011). 

Special guests on the album include Phil Cook on piano and organ, Aaron Wood on Telecaster, Peter James on Telecaster, Will Straughan on harmony vocals and resonator guitar, Mica Hanks electric guitar, Evan Bradford on trumpet, and Amanda’s father Mark Platt on harmonica.

Music City Roots’ Craig Havighurst calls The Honeycutters “... just superb, with a sweet toned and melodious aura… Today’s Smoky Mountain area modern folk thing does have a certain vibe, and these guys are among its finest purveyors.” Folk Music About.com’s Kim Ruehl wrote, “Their music embodies a very catchy, accessible, optimistic sort of spirit so frequently lacking in folk circles (where brooding, hyper-analytical music reigns supreme). What’s more, like Carolina Story, they’re a great band replete with tasty harmonies.”

They’ll celebrate Me Oh My with an album release tour which is soon to be announced as well as a hometown album release party at Isis Music Hall in Asheville on April 17th. They are also set to perform at MerleFest in Wilkesboro, NC the weekend of the release date.

In both her simple composition and honest delivery it's easy to hear the influence of country legends such as Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, or Loretta Lynn, and with this Miss Platt credits growing up listening to her Father's extensive record collection every Saturday morning. Despite her love for classic country, Platt cites Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty as major influences and her songwriting carries a wit and an edge that plants her firmly in her generation.

The Honeycutters formed in 2007 in Asheville, NC, the town they still call home, and had quick success with their first release Irene (2009). Me Oh My is the highly anticipated follow up to the 2012’s When Bitter Met Sweet. Each album has helped to grow grow their audience and expand their tours to include notable appearances at MerleFest, Suwannee Springfest, Strawberry Music Festival, Vancouver Island Music Fest, Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Folk Alliance, Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Fest and the Nelsonville Music Festival. They have also performed alongside esteemed musicians Guy Clark, Tony Rice, The Seldom Scene, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Amy Ray, Donna the Buffalo, Jill Andrews, and The Steep Canyon Rangers.

The Honeycutters on Tour
2/12 Thu - Willie's Locally Known - Lexington, KY
2/18 Wed - Music City Roots - Nashville, TN
2/19 Thu - Old Rock House - St. Louis, MO
3/13 Fri-  Mudville Music Room - Jacksonville, FL
3/14 Sat - Music Under the Moss - Panama City, FL
4/2 Thu - Robert Ferst Center For The Arts - Atlanta, GA
4/3 Fri - Mars Theatre - Springfield, GA
4/17 Fri - Isis Music Hall - Asheville, NC
4/18 Sat - Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival - Silk Hope, NC
4/24 Fri - MerleFest - Wilkesboro, NC
More dates TBA

Wed, 02/18/2015 - 9:01 am

The Everyone Orchestra has announced additional shows for the Eastern states for April and May 2015. Joining conductor Matt Butler in the northeast this April are Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon), Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident) [DC and Stroudsburg], Andrew Altman (Railroad Earth), Cris Jacobs (The Bridge), Jesse Harper (Love Canon), and Jay Starling (Love Canon). They are set to play Thursday, April 23 at Tally Ho Theatre in Leesburg, VA; Friday, April 24 at Gypsy Sally's in Washington DC; Saturday at the 8 x 10 in Baltimore MD for a Late night Charm City Bluegrass and Folk Festival show, and Sunday, April 26 at the Sherman Theatre in Stroudsburg, PA.  

In May, a different cast of characters are brought into the mix including Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Aron Magner (Disco Biscuits), Robert Mercurcio (Galactic), Durga McBroom (Pink Floyd), Natalie Cressman (Trey Anastasio Band), Ivan Jackson (Mighty High Brass Band), and Todd Stoops (Kung Fu) [Ridgefield Only]. They will play Friday, May 8th at Brooklyn Bowl in New York; Saturday, May 9th at Ardmore Music Hall near Philadelphia, PA; and Sunday, May 10th at Ridgefield Playhouse in Connecticut.
Everyone Orchestra has previously announced three March shows in Northern California which feature Kris Meyers (Umphrey's McGee), Joel Cummins (Umphrey's McGee), Jamie Kime (Zappa Plays Zappa), Ben Thomas (Zappa Plays Zappa), and Kai Eckhardt (John McLaughlin Trio/Garaj Mahal). They pay Thursday, March 26th at Napa City Winery in Napa, CA, Friday, March 27th at Grass Valley Center For The Arts [NEW LOCATION] in Grass Valley, CA, and Saturday, March 28th at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA. 
The Everyone Orchestra will also be performing a set at the Electric Forest Festival this June in Rothbury, MI. Stay tuned to EveryoneOrchestra.com for more on the EO lineup for the fest, as well as other special guests for all shows to be announced for the spring shows. 
Butler has been leading a rotating cast of accredited musicians through full-length shows that are entirely improvised, since 2001, after touring with the rock band Jambay. In 2012, Butler gathered particularly well-known musicians from bands like Phish, Moe., and others, and recorded Everyone Orchestra’s first studio album, Brooklyn Sessions [2012].
“The experience of playing with different musicians, improvising every night, and getting the crowd involved in ways that they can’t be at a regular show has provided an unparalleled live music experience,” said Butler. 
The Everyone Orchestra conductor/founder Matt Butler has taken its participants, both on stage and off, on improvisational journeys with the most diverse of lineups at festivals, theaters and philanthropic events both nationally and internationally. A laundry list of hundreds of musicians, dancers, singers, guest conductors and community organizations have embraced the experience of EO in single shots of musical adrenaline to the soul. Tuning in to his energy, the band and audience utilize The Conductor as their pivot to the set mood of each passing jam as he communicates with the musicians using hand signs, whiteboard and assorted mime suggestions.
The list of Everyone Orchestra participants is an increasingly wide and intercontinental group including members of The Grateful Dead, Phish, Furthur,  Ratdog, Trey Anastasio Band, Gov’t Mule, String Cheese Incident, moe., members of Allman Brothers Band, Yonder Mountain String Band, The New Mastersounds, Big Gigantic, The Punch Brothers, Dumpstaphunk, Galactic, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Railroad Earth, Thievery Corporation, Lettuce, Infamous Stringdusters, Leftover Salmon, The Flecktones, ALO, Tea Leaf Green, Tuvan throat singers, live painters, dancers, chanters, choirs, hula hoopers, fire spinners, jugglers, stilt walkers, storytellers, a presidential candidate and hundreds of others among a growing legion of other performers.
Marching clearly into uncharted territory, The Everyone Orchestra balances the challenges of live group improvisation with triumphant tension and release conduits of music which head deep into the soul. This unique collaborative of performance deeply encourages and requires audience interaction.  The edge of your seat enthusiasm for what is next is the fuel behind the continuous musical experiment of The Everyone Orchestra. 
Everyone Orchestra On The Road:
MARCH

Thu 3/26 - Napa City Winery - Napa, CA*
Fri 3/27 - Grass Valley Center For The Arts - Grass Valley, CA* NEW LOCATION
Sat 3/28 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA*
* Conducted by Matt Butler featuring Kris Meyers (Umphrey's McGee), Joel Cummins (Umphrey's McGee), Jamie Kime (Zappa Plays Zappa), Ben Thomas (Zappa Plays Zappa), Kai Eckhardt (John McLaughlin Trio/Garaj Mahal), More guests to TBA
APRIL
Thu 4/23 - Tally Ho Theatre - Leesburg, VA^
Fri 4/24 - Gypsy Sally's - Washington DC^
Sat 4/25 - 8 x 10 - Baltimore MD ^ - Late night Charm City Bluegrass and Folk Festival show
Sun 4/26 - Sherman Theatre - Stroudsburg, PA^
^Conducted By Matt Butler, featuring Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon), Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident) [DC and Stroudsburg], Andrew Altman (Railroad Earth), Cris Jacobs (The Bridge), Jesse Harper (Love Canon), and Jay Starling (Love Canon).
MAY
Fri 5/8 - Brooklyn Bowl - Brooklyn NY#
Sat 5/9 - Ardmore Music Hall - Ardmore, PA#
Sun 5/10 - Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT#
#Conducted By Matt Butler Featuring, Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Aron Magner (Disco Biscuits), Robert Mercurcio (Galactic), Durga McBroom (Pink Floyd), Natalie Cressman (Trey Anastasio Band), Ivan Jackson (Mighty High Brass Band), and Todd Stoops (Kung Fu) [Ridgefield Only]

JUNE
6/26-27 - Electric Forest - Rothbury, MI

Tue, 02/24/2015 - 8:10 am

Sea Island Resort in Georgia is bringing together the best music and food south of the Mason-Dixon for the inaugural Southern Grown Festival, taking place June 19-21, 2015. The three-day festival, filled with brunches, barbeque and bourbon, pays homage to the distinctive culture of America’s South at one of the finest grand dame resorts of the region. Southern Grown will feature a weekend full of events and classes led by more than a dozen award-winning chefs and artisans from Louisiana to Kentucky, and will culminate with an oceanfront performance by North Carolina folk-rock band The Avett Brothers.

The Southern Grown festivities kick off on Friday evening with a “Big Fish” Fry, featuring an appearance by Big Fish author Daniel Wallace, live music from South Carolina jam band Sol Driven Train and a late night speakeasy experience with hand-crafted cocktails created by Tom Bulleit of Bulleit Bourbon. On Saturday, festivalgoers can participate in an array of classes and lectures, including a “Pole to Plate” class taught by two patriarchs of the Southern food movement, Mike Lata (Charleston’s FIG) and John Currence (Oxford’s City Grocery); a “Curds and Whey” session with cheesemongers Jessica and Jeremy Little of Georgia’s Sweet Grass Dairy; and an “Up in Smoke” tutorial celebrating barbeque, one of the South’s most honored traditions, with pit masters Harrison Sapp and Griffin Bufkin of Georgia’s Southern Soul Barbeque.

The highlight of the Southern Grown weekend occurs on Saturday evening, when the Grammy-nominated band The Avett Brothers takes the stage for an oceanfront performance on the lawn of The Lodge at Sea Island. As the sun sets over the Atlantic Ocean, guests will be serenaded by the band’s folk rock sounds while sampling selections from the carnival-style “culinary village,” emulating some of the world’s biggest music fairs. Additional music will be announced as the event draws nearer.

“Southern Grown truly reflects Sea Island’s rich history of gracious hospitality and memorable experiences,” said Scott Steilen, President of Sea Island. “Sea Island embraces its many long-standing traditions and we are thrilled to continue building thoughtful new traditions rooted in our rich culture.”

Southern Grown welcomes locals and travelers alike to experience the region’s wildly impressive food and music culture.  Festival tickets are now available for sale and prices range from $65 (general admission concert tickets) to $1,450 (“All Access” passes for two). For additional information on the Southern Grown weekend or to make reservations, please visit www.southerngrown.com or call 1-800-SEA-ISLAND.

Wed, 04/22/2015 - 8:20 am

Magnolia Fest celebrates its 19th year at the magnificent Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL on October 15-18, 2015 and is thrilled to welcome to the 2015 stages Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Avett Brothers, Lake Street Dive, Keller Williams Grateful Gospel, Steep Canyon Rangers, Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, Col Bruce Hampton, The Lost Bayou Ramblers, The Lee Boys, The Corbitt Brothers,  Sloppy Joe, Quartermoon, Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, Quebe Sisters, The Frontier Needs Heroes, Jackson Vegas, and many more will be announced. Tickets are on sale in advance and at the gate.

Festivalgoers enjoy four days of camping and live music, arts and crafts, and a selection of great foods. Magnolia Fest consistently features some of the world’s finest performers in Americana, Roots Rock, Acoustic Blues, Singer/Songwriter, Bluegrass & Newgrass, Cajun/Zydeco, New & Traditional Folk and other forms of American Roots music.

This energetic and family friendly musical celebration is a gem of a festival with a great lineup, beautiful fall weather and a stunning natural setting. The Live Oak Music And Arts Foundation (LOMAF) will have a booth with raffles to raise money for the local music and art programs in the area.

Get your tickets early and save! Tickets for Magnolia Fest are on sale now in advance for $160 until the price increase to $175 on May 25th through July 19th; $185 until August 20th; $200 until October 14th; and  $210 at gate. All weekend tickets are inclusive of all taxes and fees, and include 4 days of primitive camping and music. Kids under 12 are invited to join for free. Fans can also upgrade their experience with VIP tickets for $350 through 8/30 ($400 after that) which includes dinner, discounts, VIP Lounge, festival poster, & other perks.  For RV hook ups, cabin rentals and golf cart rentals, please call SOSMP at (386)-364-1683. For further information and tickets, please visit www.MagnoliaFest.com.

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, located just north of Live Oak, FL, is a one-of-a-kind music park and premier 500+ acre campground nestled on the shady banks of the historic, tea-colored Suwannee River in North Florida. Along with the camping, there are nearly 12 miles of trails suitable for hiking, biking, horseback riding and nature exploring. Bring along a fishing pole and wet a line from the dock on Rees Lake. Canoe and bike rentals are available at the on-site canoe outpost. Or take a dip in the nearby Suwannee Springs. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com or call them at 386-364-1683 for more information.

Magnolia Fest 2015 Initial Lineup
Tedeschi Trucks Band
The Avett Brothers
Keller Williams Grateful Gospel
Lake Street Dive
Steep Canyon Rangers
Donna the Buffalo
Jim Lauderdale
Col. Bruce Hampton
The Lost Bayou Ramblers
The Lee Boys
Sloppy Joe
Quartermoon
Grandpas Cough Medicine
The Corbitt Brothers
Quebe Sisters
The Frontier Needs Heroes
JacksonVegas
Bryce Alastair Band

… and many more TBA!

Thu, 04/30/2015 - 2:57 pm

Tellico independently releases their debut album Relics and Roses on June 2, 2015. The album features the singing and songwriting of Anya Hinkle (guitar, fiddle) and Stig Stiglets (bass), and showcases Aaron Ballance on dobro and pedal and lap steel and Jed Willis on mandolin and clawhammer banjo. Guitar virtuoso Jon Stickley (Jon Stickley Trio) produced the album and makes a few guest appearances with drums and guitar.

The album is available now for pre-order at Tellicoband.com and includes an immediate download of the leading track, “Backstep Blues,” which is also available to stream now at the band’s website. Firmly planted in Asheville NC's thriving roots music scene, Tellico is well schooled in bluegrass but with an unbridled organic “Appalachiacana” sound, combining some of the finest voices, songs and instrumental prowess in western North Carolina and beyond. Anya and Stig's committed, authentic vocals are alloyed with Aaron's flowing and soaring dobro and Jed's textured and expressive mandolin, rooted in the mountain music they grew up with while pushing tradition into a modern Americana sound aesthetic.

Storytelling is at the helm of Tellico’s music. All of the songs on Relics and Roses were penned by Hinkle and Stiglets with the exception “White Line-River of Pride,” a Neil Young and Crazy Horse medley of two dirty electric rock tunes buttoned up bluegrass-style. The leading track, “Backstep Blues” [Hinkle] has a “backstep”, a rhythmic hiccup that is typical of old time music, telling the story of a man’s successive retreat from his wife (with the refrain “hey where did your daddy go wrong?”), leaving her with the “backstep blues.” “Calamity”, written by Stiglets, is a tale of disaster sparked by a combination of Hurricane Katrina and Japan’s 2011 tsunami, and the destructive and terrifying images of those events. 

“Forsaken Winds” is poetry unto itself with the ethereal sounds of Ballance’s pedal steel filling in the spirit of the lyrics; while “Hawkeye Pierce and Honeycutt Blues” is a tongue and cheek raggy romp in an Asheville street busker’s shoes. “You Can’t Go Home Again” is inspired by Asheville author Thomas Wolfe’s book of the same name. Anya found the book to be so richly descriptive in Wolfe’s longwinded style, especially when the protagonist DOES go home again, which she said, “reminded me of something that my dad always used to say: ‘you can’t go home again’! Of course you can’t. The comforting idea of home is just that, an idea. You have to face yourself and your life. Running from it, either to home or far away from it, doesn’t alleviate your suffering.”

“Mexico 1995” is a coming-of-age story penned by Hinkle after a solo four month journey, mostly by bus, from Nogales, Arizona through Guatemala and back. It was before the internet, before cell phones, and after a grisly war and genocide in southern Mexico and Guatemala, a real eye opener for a kid, all during the winter after Jerry Garcia died. Hinkle says, “That early morning that I walked back, on foot, into my post-college privileged American life after crossing the border at Nogales was like a dream, I was a ghost in my own shoes, my idea of who I was as porous as the haze that seemed to linger that entire day that I re-emerged.” The song uses samples from iconic songs that set up the general feeling that it’s all been done before. Hinkle reflects, “Where does a kid go with that? What’s ahead that’s worth anything?” 

Relics and Roses is the first since Anya, Stig, and Aaron formed Tellico after recording four records with the Asheville-based bluegrass band Dehlia Low, whose final album Ravens and Crows was released on the Rebel Records label in 2011. 

“I love how the songs on Relics and Roses sound with these musicians covering all details that I didn’t even realize I was longing to hear. The band’s rich playing overlays absolutely perfectly with the meanings of the songs, whether playful and amusing or searching, haunting and lonely,” says Hinkle.

Tellico Tour Dates

Fri 5/8 - LEAF Festival
- Black Mountain, NC

Fri 5/22 - Music In The Valle - Valle Crucis Community Park -
Valle Crucis, NC

Sun 5/31 - The Rooster's Wife - Aberdeen, NC

Fri 6/5 - Isis Restaurant and Music Hall - Asheville, NC

Fri 6/12 - Music On The Square - Jonesborough, TN

Sat 6/13 - Granite Falls Brewery - Granite Falls, NC

Fri 6/19 - Groovin' on the Green Summer Concert Series - Cashiers, NC

Fri 6/26 - Nantahala Outdoor Center - Bryson City, NC

Sat 6/27 - 185 King Street - Brevard, NC

Sat 7/11 - Bluegrass On The Grass,
20th Anniversary - Carlisle, PA

Fri 8/21 - The Jones House-
Summer Concert Series - Boone, NC

Sat 8/29 - US National Whitewater Center River Jam - Charlotte, NC

Sat 9/19 - Apple Fest -
Winston-Salem, NC

Sat 10/17 - Cowee School
Concert Series - Franklin, NC

Tue, 06/02/2015 - 11:53 am

Jon Stickley Trio has earned a reputation for painlessly shattering expectations. The originality and sheer energy of this genre-bending ensemble serves as a welcome wake up call for those who experience it. With roots in bluegrass, gypsy jazz, and hip-hop, Jon Stickley, one of the world’s most innovative flatpickers, violinist Lyndsay Pruett (Futureman), and drummer Patrick Armitage (Atmosphere), have fused their collective styles into a repertoire of exciting, innovative original music, along with fresh takes on traditional tunes. They are set to release a new album, Lost at Last, in October of 2015.

The album was recorded in Asheville, NC’s iconic Echo Mountain Studios, under the watchful eye of producer Dave King (The Bad Plus). While recording the album, King referred to the band’s imaginative sound as “this whole other thing.” King’s creative energy and inspired musical approach led the band deeper and deeper into the heart of their musical consciousness, which led to the solidification of their musical identity. 

Lost at Last features six original tunes, along with covers of The Bad Plus, Tim O’Brien, and Bela Fleck. The record also includes a traditional gypsy jazz waltz, and ends with Andy Thorn’s banjo ripper, “Flight of the Durban,” all done in the Trio’s signature explosive style.

The virtuosic trio’s compositions truly do not fit into any specific genre, but remain totally accessible and danceable to audiences across the board, while remaining true to their musical roots. The Trio successfully raised over $18,000 in a Kickstarter campaign that solidified the band’s fan base with over 300 people pre-ordering CDs, and pledging their support.

In their short time together, the trio has shared the stage with The Infamous Stringdusters, Leftover Salmon, Larry Keel, Leon Russell, amongst others and have thrilled audiences at some of the nation's top festivals including MerleFest, Floydfest, and Four Corners Folk Fest. Billy Nershi (String Cheese Incident) says, "I’ve had the pleasure of playing with Jon onstage and off. He always plays something I didn’t think was possible.”

"The inspiration of blending the rhythmic, fast-paced techniques of Bluegrass with songs from the other end of the musical spectrum led to the formation of Stickley's eponymous trio." writes Alli Marshall with Asheville’s Mountain Xpress. Through the recording of Lost at Last, the band has honed their fiery, yet sensitive sound to create something that is uniquely the Jon Stickley Trio. 

Jon Stickley Trio travels through Colorado’s Front Range in late June. They pick back up for a hometown show with The Hackensaw Boys in Asheville in mid-July followed by performances in Virginia, Georgia, and Tennessee. More shows to be announced.

Jon Stickley Trio on Tour

6/6 Sat -  Nantahala Brewing Co - Bryson City, NC

6/24 Wed - Barkley Ballroom - Frisco, CO

6/25 Thu - Cervantes’ Other Side - Denver, CO

6/26 Fri - Clear Creek RapidGrass - Idaho Springs, CO

6/27 Sat - Oskar Blues - Longmont, CO
6/28 Sun - Oskar Blues - Lyons, CO
7/10 Fri - RiverMUSIC - Asheville, NC *
7/11 Sat - Red Wing Roots - Mt. Solon, VA
7/16/15 - Red Light Cafe - Atlanta, GA 

7/17/15 - Wolf Hills Brewing - Abingdon, VA

7/18/15 - Jig and Reel - Knoxville, TN

7/23/15 - Zia Taqueria - Asheville, NC

7/24/15 - Cat's Cradle - Carrboro, NC ^

7/31/15 - Summer Concert at the Jones House, Boone, NC

7/31/15 - Murphy's - Boone, NC

8/7/15 - Gottrocks, Greenville, SC

8/8/15  - Soulshine Music Festival - Green Mountain, NC

8/20/15 - Zia Taqueria - Asheville, NC

9/05 Sat - Four Corners Folk Festival - Pagosa Springs, CO

* w/ The Hackensaw Boys
^ w/ Big Fat Gap

 

Wed, 06/10/2015 - 1:12 pm

Dublin roots band, I Draw Slow, has been garnering praise around the globe since the release of their 2012 album Redhills. Now their latest release, White Wave Chapel (2014), is all the buzz at home and overseas with their unique sound, bringing together Irish tradition with modern Americana while staying rooted in the old-time style of Appalachia. Their impact abroad is redrawing the map for these Irish/Americana songwriters. They are happy to return Stateside this summer for a handful of shows in mid-July including Red Wing Roots Music Festival in Virginia, Tellus 360 in Lancaster, PA; Creative Alliance in Baltimore; World Cafe Live Upstairs in Philadelphia, and Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in New York.

With the line-up of Adrian Hart on fiddle, Colin Derham on clawhammer banjo, Konrad Liddy on double bass, and siblings Dave Holden on guitar and vocals and Louise Holden on vocals, White Wave Chapel develops on the distinctive sound fans have come to love from I Draw Slow. It’s an arresting confection of old time Americana, bluegrass and Irish traditional music that swings from melancholia to joy and is always framed within well-crafted melodies and skilled performances. They offer a whole new songbook of stories with dark tales of debauchery and trouble swinging.

White Wave Chapel, engineered and mastered by veteran Irish producer Brian Masterson (Planxty, The Chieftains, Van Morrison, Christy Moore, Norah Jones), has taken the band and their unique sound to an even wider audience. The album reached No 2. in the overall Irish iTunes chart, and was selected as RTE Radio 1's Album of the Week. It has been described as “bewitching” (Irish Independent), “exquisite” (Sunday Times), “practically begs you to sing along” (Hot Press), and “a thing of beauty” (9/10).

The UK press describes I Draw Slow as "American top league equivalents" destined "to blow the opposition away," drawing favorable comparisons with Gillian Welch and Alison Krauss. They have played to audiences in the UK, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, performed with the legendary Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, and made an appearance at the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Scotland. The band is now in great demand in the US, touring there extensively over the last few years and have performed at several major US festivals including MerleFest, Grey Fox, Rockygrass, Pickathon, and the IBMA’s.

Dublin Roots Band, I Draw Slow, Returns to the Northeast US This July

Irish Roots Band, I Draw Slow, Returns Stateside this Summer, Touring With Their 2014 Release White Wave Chapel

7/12 Sun - Red Wing Roots Music Festival -  Mount Solon, VA

7/14  Tue - Tellus 360 - Lancaster, PA

7/15 Wed - Creative Alliance - Baltimore, MD

7/16 Thu - World Cafe Live Upstairs -  Philadelphia, PA

7/18 Sat - Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival - Oak Hill, NY

Fri, 06/12/2015 - 11:43 am

Having started in 1989, Donna the Buffalo has passed the marker as their 25th year as a band and have proven to be a consistent purveyor of American music. They kick off their 2015 Summer tour at the Blue Heron Festival in Sherman, NY over the weekend of the 4th of July before heading up to their stomping grounds in Trumansburg, NY to celebrate the 25th annual Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance mid-month, a festival Donna started, and are still the driving force behind. Late July brings them through Rochester, NY and then over to  Kalamazoo, MI and Lander, WY for a couple of shows on their way out West in August for performances in Missoula, MT, a return to the Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival in Wyoming, and then back through Boulder and Denver for a couple of Colorado shows.

Mid-August sees their return East with stops in New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. They have a short break from the road and pick back up again leading into the Fall in mid-September playing in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, and West Virginia, as well as October’s The Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival in North Carolina and Magnolia Fest in Live Oak, FL. Stay tuned for more Fall shows to be announced.

Donna the Buffalo is Jeb Puryear (vocals, electric guitar) and Tara Nevins (vocals, guitar, fiddle, accordion, scrubboard) joined by David McCracken (Hammond B3 organ, Honer Clavinet & piano), Kyle Spark (bass) and Mark Raudabaugh (drums). “It's been really fun with this lineup,” Puryear says. “You get to the point where you're playing on a really high level, things are clicking and it's like turning on the key to a really good car. It just goes.”

“You have to do just what you want to do, and everyone likes different things,” Nevins says. “Both Jeb and I come from this background of old-time fiddle music, which is very natural, very real, very under-produced, and all about coming from the gut—flying by the seat of your pants. So we have that in us, too.”

The group draws its inspiration from a cherished part of the American heritage: the old-time music festivals of the south that drew entire towns and counties together. “Those festivals were so explosive, and the community and the feeling of people being with each other, that's the feeling we were shooting for in our music,” Puryear says. “Donna the Buffalo is an extension of the joy we've found.”

Over the years, the band has also built a following that proudly calls itself The Herd, along with a well-deserved reputation for crafting social narratives and slipstream grooves without equal. To merely call this “roots music” does it disservice, for the roots nurtured by Puryear and Nevins run wild, deep and strong—a tribute to how much Donna the Buffalo marries musical trailblazing and tradition.

"It’s a great feeling to promote such a feeling of community, like you’re really part of something that’s happening, like a movement or a positive force…” Nevins says, “All those people that come and follow you and you recognize them and you become friends with them — you’re all moving along for the same purpose. It is powerful. It’s very powerful, actually.”

Donna the Buffalo On Tour
7/3-5 Fri-Sun - Great Blue Heron Music Festival - Sherman, NY
7/16-19 Thu-Sun - GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance - Trumansburg, NY
7/31 Fri - Rochester Public Market - Rochester, NY
8/1 Sat - Bell’s Eccentric Cafe - Kalamazoo, MI
8/4 Tue - Lander Live @ Jaycee Park - Lander, WY
8/6 Thu - Top Hat Lounge - Missoula, MT
8/7 Fri - Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival - Alta, WY
8/8 Sat - Oriental Theater - Denver, CO
8/9 Sun - eTown Hall - Boulder, CO
8/14 Fri - Inspire Moore Winery - Naples, NY
8/15 Sat - Nelson Ledges Quarry Park - Garrettsville, OH
8/18 Tue - Eight Great Tuesdays @ Liberty Park - Erie, PA
9/17 Thu - Stafford Palace Theater - Stafford Spring, CT
9/18 Fri - New Hope Winery - New Hope, PA
9/19 Sat - Tally Ho Theater - Leesburg, VA
9/20 Sun - The Tin Pan - Richmond, VA
9/25 Fri - Towne Crier - Beacon, NY
9/26 Sat - Westcott Theater - Syracuse, NY
9/27 Sun - The American Music Festival for the Lake - Lake George, NY
10/15 Thu - Rose G. Smith Theater - Williamson, WV
10/ 8-11 Thu-Sun - Shakori Hills GrassRoots Fest - Silk Hope, NC
10/17-18 Sat-Sun - Magnolia Fest - Live Oak, FL

Thu, 06/18/2015 - 8:18 am

Magnolia Fest celebrates its 19th year at the magnificent Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL on October 15-18, 2015 and is thrilled to announce a handful of additions to this Fall’s lineup including The Del McCoury Band, Jeff Austin Band featuring Danny Barnes, Ross Martin & Eric Thorin, Oteil Burbridge and Roosevelt Collier Band, Rebirth Brass Band, Jerry Joseph & The Jack Mormons, New Orleans Suspects, The Congress, Band of Heathens, Nikki Talley and more!

They will be joining the already stacked lineup which includes Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Avett Brothers, Keller Williams Grateful Gospel, Lake Street Dive, Steep Canyon Rangers, Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, Col Bruce Hampton, Lost Bayou Ramblers, The Lee Boys, and many others! Tickets are on sale in advance and at the gate. → www.magnoliafest.com/tickets/

Festivalgoers enjoy four days of camping and live music, arts and crafts, and a selection of great foods. Magnolia Fest consistently features some of the world’s finest performers in Americana, Roots Rock, Acoustic Blues, Singer/Songwriter, Bluegrass & Newgrass, Cajun/Zydeco, New & Traditional Folk and other forms of American Roots music.

This energetic and family friendly musical celebration is a gem of a festival with a great lineup, beautiful fall weather and a stunning natural setting. The Live Oak Music And Arts Foundation (LOMAF) will have a booth with raffles to raise money for the local music and art programs in the area.

Get your tickets early and save! Tickets for Magnolia Fest are on sale now in advance for $175 through July 19th; $185 until August 20th; $200 until October 14th; and $210 at gate. All weekend tickets are inclusive of all taxes and fees, and include 4 days of primitive camping and music. Kids under 12 are invited to join for free. Fans can also upgrade their experience with VIP tickets for $350 through 8/30 ($400 after that) which includes dinner, discounts, VIP Lounge, festival poster, & other perks.  For RV hook ups, cabin rentals and golf cart rentals, please call SOSMP at (386)-364-1683. For further information and tickets, please visit www.MagnoliaFest.com.

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, located just north of Live Oak, FL, is a one-of-a-kind music park and premier 500+ acre campground nestled on the shady banks of the historic, tea-colored Suwannee River in North Florida. Along with the camping, there are nearly 12 miles of trails suitable for hiking, biking, horseback riding and nature exploring. Bring along a fishing pole and wet a line from the dock on Rees Lake. Canoe and bike rentals are available at the on-site canoe outpost. Or take a dip in the nearby Suwannee Springs. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com or call them at 386-364-1683 for more information.

Magnolia Fest 2015 Full Lineup
Tedeschi Trucks Band
The Avett Brothers
The Del McCoury Band
Keller Williams Grateful Gospel
Lake Street Dive
Jeff Austin Band featuring Danny Barnes, Ross Martin & Eric Thorin
Oteil Burbridge and Roosevelt Collier Band
Steep Canyon Rangers
Rebirth Brass Band
New Orleans Suspects
Donna the Buffalo
Jim Lauderdale
Col. Bruce Hampton
Jerry Joseph & The Jack Mormons
Lost Bayou Ramblers
The Lee Boys
The Congress
Band of Heathens
Nikki Talley
The Applebutter Express
Whetherman
Grits & Soul
Sloppy Joe
Quartermoon
Grandpa’s Cough Medicine
The Corbitt Brothers
Quebe Sisters
Big Cosmo
Berry Oakley’s Skylab
Habanero Honeys
Flagship Romance
This Frontier Needs Heroes
JacksonVegas
Bryce Alastair Band
Back From The Brink
Bonnie Blue
Mojo Gurus

Wed, 07/22/2015 - 1:45 pm

Magnolia Fest celebrates its 19th year at the magnificent Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL on October 15-18, 2015. Spicing it up a bit more, the festival announces the additions of  this year and adding The Motet and London Souls to the bill. 

On this fall’s lineup are Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Avett Brothers, The Del McCoury Band, Keller Williams Grateful Gospel, Lake Street Dive, Jeff Austin Band featuring Danny Barnes, Ross Martin & Eric Thorin, Oteil Burbridge and Roosevelt Collier Band, Steep Canyon Rangers, Rebirth Brass Band, Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, New Orleans Suspects, Col Bruce Hampton, Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons, Lost Bayou Ramblers, The Lee Boys, The Congress, Band of Heathens, Nikki Talley and more! 
Festivalgoers enjoy four days of camping, live music, unique arts and crafts, a wonderful selection of foods and beautiful fall weather. Another reason to attend Magnolia Fest is the stunning setting located just north of Live Oak, FL, in The Spirit of Suwannee, a one-of-a-kind music park and premier 500+ acre campground nestled on the shady banks of the historic, tea-colored Suwannee River with lush overgrowths of Spanish moss. There is also nearly 12 miles of trails suitable for hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, and nature exploring, as well as canoe and bike rentals. 
With four stage of music including a natural amphitheatre set into the trees, an expansive meadow stage, a music hall, and another wood-built stage near the vending Magnolia Fest consistently features some of the world’s finest performers in Americana, Roots Rock, Acoustic Blues, Singer/Songwriter, Bluegrass & Newgrass, Cajun/Zydeco, New & Traditional Folk and other forms of American Roots music. There’s also campfire pickin’ throughout the festival by attendees and performers alike; you just never know who may show up to play in this energetic and family friendly musical celebration.

Tickets are on sale in advance and at the gate. Early bird rates are $185 until August 20th; $200 until October 14th; and $210 at gate. All weekend tickets are inclusive of all taxes and fees, and include 4 days of primitive camping and music. Kids under 12 are invited to join for free. Fans can also upgrade their experience with VIP tickets for $350 through 8/30 ($400 after that) which includes dinner, discounts, VIP Lounge, festival poster, & other perks. The Live Oak Music And Arts Foundation (LOMAF) will have a booth with raffles to raise money for the local music and art programs in the area.

SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville. For RV hook ups, cabin rentals and golf cart rentals, please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com call SOSMP at (386)-364-1683. For further information and tickets, please visit → www.magnoliafest.com/tickets

Magnolia Fest 2015 Full Lineup
Tedeschi Trucks Band
The Avett Brothers
The Del McCoury Band
Keller Williams Grateful Gospel
Lake Street Dive
Jeff Austin Band featuring Danny Barnes, Ross Martin & Eric Thorin
Oteil Burbridge and Roosevelt Collier Band
Steep Canyon Rangers
Rebirth Brass Band
New Orleans Suspects
Donna the Buffalo
Jim Lauderdale
The Motet
Col. Bruce Hampton
Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons
Lost Bayou Ramblers
The Lee Boys
The Congress
Band of Heathens
London Souls
Nikki Talley
The Applebutter Express
Whetherman
Grits & Soul
Sloppy Joe
Quartermoon
Grandpa’s Cough Medicine
The Corbitt Brothers
Quebe Sisters
Big Cosmo
Berry Oakley’s Skylab
Habanero Honeys
Flagship Romance
This Frontier Needs Heroes
JacksonVegas
Bryce Alastair Band
The Mojo Gurus
Back From The Brink
Bonnie Blue

Stay up to date with Magnolia Fest news at www.MagnoliaFest.com, www.facebook.com/MagnoliaFestfl, www.twitter.com/MagnoliaFest, and www.instagram.com/magnoliafest.

Tue, 08/04/2015 - 11:00 am

Everyone Orchestra’s conductor and founder Matt Butler has been leading a rotating cast of accomplished musicians through entirely improvised performances, since 2001. Butler’s unique style of conducting is groundbreaking in that he has essentially created an entirely new way to perform and experience music. Butler says, “Playing with different musicians, improvising every night, and getting the crowd involved in ways that they can’t be at a regular show has provided an unparalleled live music experience.”

Everyone Orchestra's performances in Seattle, WA at Nectar Lounge on Friday, September 11th and  Portland, OR at Aladdin Theater on Saturday, September 12th feature Andy Thorn (banjo - Leftover Salmon), Lebo (guitars, steels & vocals - ALO) Allie Kral (fiddle and vocals - Yonder Mtn. String Band) Jans Ingber (percussion and vocals - The Motet), Mimi Naja (mandolin and vocals - Fruition), Tyler Thompson (drums - Fruition), Jeff Leonard (bass - Fruition), and Asher Fulero (keyboards, vocals - Halo Refuser).

Butler brings EO’s participants, both on stage and off, on spontaneous compositional journeys with eclectic ensembles at festivals, theaters, and philanthropic events both nationally and internationally. Featuring a large contingent of hundreds of musicians, dancers, singers and community organizations who have embraced the experience of EO in single shots of musical adrenaline to the soul. It’s all in the moment, designed exclusively by everyone participating in each show.

Having marched clearly into uncharted territory, Everyone Orchestra is an avant-garde conceptual and collaborative performance which deeply encourages and requires audience interaction. Both the band and the audience start the show with a clean slate to help co-create a dynamic musical experience, with Butler receiving ideas from the audience to help set the course of action. Tuning in to Butler’s energy and pantomime, The Conductor is utilized as a pivot to the set mood of each passing jam as he communicates musical concepts using hand signs, whiteboard and assorted mime suggestions. The edge of your seat enthusiasm for what is next is the fuel behind the continuous musical experiment of  Everyone Orchestra.

“I feel like it’s part of my job, and paramount, to not have too many preconceptions,” he said. “But the only preconceptions I have going in are to create a really dynamic show from beginning to end, have it have a nice arc, and that all the musicians get a chance to shine. I want to keep them challenged and engaged. It’s a playground for musicians that I’m trying to create,” says Matt in an interview with Examiner.

“[In each city] Butler will have another group with which he can create the beautiful chaos this act is known for. Simply put, there is no set list to be confined to, no certain marks to hit over the course of the night. Butler makes his way to the front of the stage, and it’s off to the races, testing the limits of his players while also showing how good music is when everything clicks in the midst of an improvised set.” writes Examiner’s Thomas Gerbasi. “At this point, Butler almost has it down to a science, at least as much as you can on a speeding car that could veer off the road at any moment.”

EO balances the challenges of live group improvisation with triumphant tension and release conduits of music which head deep into the heart filled with the aspiration of creating shared magical moments.

In 2012, Butler gathered musicians from Phish, Moe., Dave Matthews Band, and others and recorded Everyone Orchestra’s first studio album, Brooklyn Sessions [2012], which was still largely composed on the spot over the course of several days. The results range from hard-hitting grooves that take unexpected twists and turns (“Boots”), to sweet and expansive (“Pensive”), all with a spirit that is both liberated and focused. Jambands.com writes of the album in review, “Imagine trying to take a photograph of a flowing stream – a wild-assed, multi-colored, groove-saturated stream – and that’ll give you some idea of what capturing the music of the Everyone Orchestra in a studio setting is like. Just as the water in that stream is constantly moving and shape-shifting, never to be the same again, so is the right now music created by the Everyone Orchestra.”

The ever-evolving collective of Everyone Orchestra participants is an increasingly wide and intercontinental group which  has included members of The Grateful Dead, Phish, Furthur, Ratdog, Trey Anastasio Band, Gov’t Mule, String Cheese Incident, moe., members of Allman Brothers Band. including Oteil Burbridge, Yonder Mountain String Band, The New Mastersounds, Big Gigantic, The Punch Brothers, Dumpstaphunk, Galactic,The Motet, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Railroad Earth, Thievery Corporation, Lettuce, Infamous Stringdusters, Dopapod, Leftover Salmon, The Flecktones, ALO, Papdosio, Tuvan throat singers, live painters, dancers, chanters, choirs, hula hoopers, firespinners, jugglers, stiltwalkers, storytellers, a presidential candidate and hundreds of others among a growing legion of other performers.

Tue, 08/04/2015 - 1:15 pm

American roots music troubadours, Donna the Buffalo and Peter Rowan, are teaming up with Ben Cohen, Co-Founder of Ben Jerry's, for The Stampede: A tour to raise awareness to the inappropriate use of corporate money in politics. Peter Rowan says, “At last, it comes around again; making music with Donna the Buffalo, one of my favorites.” In the Fall of 2015, The Stampede lands in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, North Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio, and Illinois. Stay tuned for more dates to be announced.

The Stampede is led by Ben Cohen, Co-Founder of Ben and Jerry’s. It uses a simple and effective tactic of rubber stamping messages on paper currency as a demonstration of public demand and outrage.

"Since 2000, special interest groups have poured over $11 billion into federal elections. The absurd level of money in politics from corporations and billionaires is raping and corrupting our democracy. The Stampede is a demonstration of public outrage and its working," stated Cohen.

“As a band, we have made a long term commitment to join this burgeoning movement,” says Jeb Puryear of Donna the Buffalo. “It is clear to us that we will never get significant government action on issues like healthcare, student debt, wall street banks, the environment, and corporate tax evasion until we outlaw legalized corporate bribery of our politicians.”

By special arrangement Stampede rubber stamps, which normally sell for $10, will be available at the shows for a suggested donation of $5. Every stamped bill gets seen by 875 people once it goes into circulation. If 3000 stampers stamps three bills a day for a year it will create 2.8 BILLION impressions as the bills go into circulation.  

"Its totally legal and it’s very satisfying to stamp a stack of bills knowing you're part of a growing grassroots movement putting this message out there," says Puryear.

The Stampede Tour Dates:

11/11 Wed - Ardmore Music Hall - Ardmore, PA
11/12 Thu - Highline Ballroom - New York, NY
11/13 Fri - German House - Rochester, NY
11/14 Sat - The Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT
11/15 Sun - Spruce Peak - Stowe, VT
11/18 Wed - Ziggy's By The Sea - Wilmington, NC
11/19 Thu - Ziggy's - Winston-Salem, NC
11/20 Fri - The Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC
12/2 Wed - Mainstage - Morgantown, WV
12/3 Thu - The Kent Stage - Kent, OH
12/4 Fri - Old Town School of Folk Music - Chicago, IL

more dates tba

Fri, 08/07/2015 - 1:48 pm

Having started in 1989, Donna the Buffalo just passed the marker as their 25th year as a band and have proven to be a true purveyor of American music. What’s the recipe? To be sure, it’s infused with more spices than you’ll find at a Cajun cookout by way of a southern-fried, rockin’ country old-time jamboree. “For the dizzying array of styles and genres with which they work, Donna The Buffalo maintain a surprising level of consistency... over the course of their 25-year career, they retain a sharp focus that has helped them create some truly lasting music…” writes Elmore. “Few groups are this comfortable as performers, and even fewer would take as many risks."

Donna the Buffalo is Jeb Puryear (vocals, electric guitar) and Tara Nevins (vocals, guitar, fiddle, accordion, scrubboard) joined by David McCracken (Hammond organ, Honer Clavinet & piano), Kyle Spark (bass) and Mark Raudabaugh (drums). “It's been really fun with this lineup,” Puryear says. “You get to the point where you're playing on a really high level, things are clicking and it's like turning on the key to a really good car. It just goes.”

“You have to do just what you want to do, and everyone likes different things,” Nevins says. “Both Jeb and I come from this background of old-time fiddle music, which is very natural, very real, very under-produced, and all about coming from the gut—flying by the seat of your pants. So we have that in us, too.”

Donna the Buffalo has also announced The Stampede: A tour to raise awareness to the inappropriate use of corporate money in politics. They’ve joined forces with Ben Cohen, Co-Founder of Ben & Jerry's, who has started stamping slogans on currency in protest (stampstampede.org). “As a band, we have made a long term commitment to join this burgeoning movement,” says Jeb Puryear. “It is clear to us that we will never get significant government action on issues like healthcare, student debt, wall street banks, the environment, and corporate tax evasion until we outlaw legalized corporate bribery of our politicians.”

They are joining forces with legendary American roots music troubadour Peter Rowan to kick off The Stampede in the Fall of 2015 and are looking to snowball the tour into the election year to raise awareness to the topic. Peter Rowan says, “At last, it comes around again; making music with Donna the Buffalo, one of my favorites.”

All Music Guide says their most recent album, Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday (2013 Sugar Hill Records), “highlights everything this consistent band does, and it has a warm, live-sounding production… This is what 21st century Americana sounds like, a little bit of this and that from anywhere wrapped up into a poignant, jamming dance reel, a place where the past and history meet easily in the immediate now and everybody feels like dancing.”

Donna the Buffalo has toured the nation for over twenty five years with an ever-evolving grassroots sound and plans to keep on doing so for many years to come.

Tue, 08/11/2015 - 2:16 pm

Everyone Orchestras conductor and founder Matt Butler has been leading a rotating cast of accomplished musicians through entirely improvised performances, since 2001. Butler’s unique style of conducting is groundbreaking in that he has essentially created an entirely new way to perform and experience music. Butler says, “Playing with different musicians, improvising every night, and getting the crowd involved in ways that they can’t be at a regular show has provided an unparalleled live music experience.”

Everyone Orchestra's performances in Denver, CO at Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom on Thursday and Friday, September 3rd and 4th feature Kris Myers (drums- Umphrey’s McGee), Rob Mercurio (bass- Galactic), Aron Magner (keys-Disco Biscuits), Vernon Reid (guitar-Living Colour), Durga McBroom (Vocals-Pink Floyd), Jennifer Hartswick (Trumpet/Vocals- Trey Anastasio Band), Natalie Cressman (Trombone/Vocals-Trey Anastasio Band), and Eddie Roberts (guitar-New Mastersounds). Special guests Paul Hoffman (Mandolin-Greensky Bluegrass) and Jason Hann (Percussion-String Cheese Incident) will also be joining in on Thursday. Pre and post Phish Parties!

Having marched clearly into uncharted territory, Everyone Orchestra is an avant-garde conceptual and collaborative performance which deeply encourages and requires audience interaction. Both the band and the audience start the show with a clean slate to help co-create a dynamic musical experience, with Butler receiving ideas from the audience to help set the course of action. Tuning in to Butler’s energy and pantomime, The Conductor is utilized as a pivot to the set mood of each passing jam as he communicates musical concepts using hand signs, whiteboard and assorted mime suggestions. The edge of your seat enthusiasm for what is next is the fuel behind the continuous musical experiment of Everyone Orchestra.

“I feel like it’s part of my job, and paramount, to not have too many preconceptions,” he said. “But the only preconceptions I have going in are to create a really dynamic show from beginning to end, have it have a nice arc, and that all the musicians get a chance to shine. I want to keep them challenged and engaged. It’s a playground for musicians that I’m trying to create,” says Matt in an interview with Examiner.

“[In each city] Butler will have another group with which he can create the beautiful chaos this act is known for. Simply put, there is no set list to be confined to, no certain marks to hit over the course of the night. Butler makes his way to the front of the stage, and it’s off to the races, testing the limits of his players while also showing how good music is when everything clicks in the midst of an improvised set.” writes Examiner’s Thomas Gerbasi. “At this point, Butler almost has it down to a science, at least as much as you can on a speeding car that could veer off the road at any moment.”

EO balances the challenges of live group improvisation with triumphant tension and release conduits of music which head deep into the heart filled with the aspiration of creating shared magical moments.

TICKETING DETAILS:
Thursday, Sept 3rd - Phish Pre-Party
EO & Touchpants in The Ballroom
Start Making Sense (Ultimate Talking Heads Tribute) w/ Love Canon, Great American Taxi
and Jon Stickley Trio at The Other Side
16+, doors 6pm/ show 7pm; $20 Early Bird / $25 Advance / $30 Day of Show
Tickets: www.cervantesmasterpiece.com/event/930643-everyone-orchestra-denver/

Friday, Sept 4th - Phish Post Party
Everyone Orchestra in the Ballroom and Touchpants in The Other Side
16+; doors 11pm / show 11:59pm
Tickets Ballroom for EO:  
$20 Advance / $25 Day Of Show
www.cervantesmasterpiece.com/event/930999-phish-after-show-everyone-denver/
Friday Tickets Dual Venue:
$30 Advance / $35 Day Of Show
www.cervantesmasterpiece.com/event/932517-phish-after-show-dual-venue-denver/

Cervantes’ is located at 2637 Welton Street, Denver, CO, 80203
www.cervantesmasterpiece.com

Mon, 08/17/2015 - 8:41 am

 Magnolia Fest celebrates its 19th year at the magnificent Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL on October 15-18, 2015. On this fall’s lineup are Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Avett Brothers, The Del McCoury Band, Keller Williams Grateful Gospel, Lake Street Dive, Jeff Austin Band featuring Danny Barnes, Ross Martin & Eric Thorin, Oteil Burbridge and Roosevelt Collier Band, Steep Canyon Rangers, Rebirth Brass Band, Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, The Motet, New Orleans Suspects, Col Bruce Hampton, Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons, Lost Bayou Ramblers, CeDell Davis, The Lee Boys, The Congress, Band of Heathens, The London Souls, Nikki Talley and more!

Festivalgoers enjoy four days of camping, live music, unique arts and crafts, a wonderful selection of foods and beautiful fall weather. Another reason to attend Magnolia Fest is the stunning setting located just north of Live Oak, FL, in The Spirit of Suwannee, a one-of-a-kind music park and premier 500+ acre campground nestled on the shady banks of the historic, tea-colored Suwannee River with lush overgrowths of Spanish moss. There is also nearly 12 miles of trails suitable for hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, and nature exploring, as well as canoe and bike rentals.

With four stage of music including a natural amphitheatre set into the trees, an expansive meadow stage, a music hall, and another wood-built stage near the vending Magnolia Fest consistently features some of the world’s finest performers in Americana, Roots Rock, Acoustic Blues, Singer/Songwriter, Bluegrass & Newgrass, Cajun/Zydeco, New & Traditional Folk and other forms of American Roots music. There’s also campfire pickin’ throughout the festival by attendees and performers alike; you just never know who may show up to play in this energetic and family friendly musical celebration.

Tickets are on sale in advance and at the gate. Early bird rates are $185 until August 20th; $200 until October 14th; and $210 at gate. All weekend tickets are inclusive of all taxes and fees, and include 4 days of primitive camping and music. Kids under 12 are invited to join for free. Fans can also upgrade their experience with VIP tickets for $350 through 8/30 ($400 after that) which includes dinner, discounts, VIP Lounge, festival poster, & other perks. The Live Oak Music And Arts Foundation (LOMAF) will have a booth with raffles to raise money for the local music and art programs in the area.

SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville. For RV hook ups, cabin rentals and golf cart rentals, please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com call SOSMP at (386)-364-1683. For further information and tickets, please visit → www.magnoliafest.com/tickets.

Magnolia Fest 2015 Full Lineup
Tedeschi Trucks Band
The Avett Brothers
The Del McCoury Band
Keller Williams Grateful Gospel
Lake Street Dive
Jeff Austin Band featuring Danny Barnes, Ross Martin & Eric Thorin
Oteil Burbridge and Roosevelt Collier Band
Steep Canyon Rangers
Rebirth Brass Band
New Orleans Suspects
Donna the Buffalo
Jim Lauderdale
The Motet
Col. Bruce Hampton
Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons
Lost Bayou Ramblers
CeDell Davis
The Lee Boys
The Congress
Band of Heathens
The London Souls
Nikki Talley
The Applebutter Express
Whetherman
Grits & Soul
Sloppy Joe
Quartermoon
Grandpa’s Cough Medicine
The Corbitt Brothers
Quebe Sisters
Big Cosmo
Berry Oakley’s Skylab
Habanero Honeys
Flagship Romance
This Frontier Needs Heroes
JacksonVegas
Bryce Alastair Band
The Mojo Gurus

Back From The Brink
Bonnie Blue

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 12:21 pm

Banjo player extraordinaire Danny Barnes is the 2015 recipient of the 6th annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass. Described as "one of a kind" and widely acknowledged as "one of the best banjo players in America," Barnes is recognized for his experimental sound. The raw and unpolished musical breadth of his compositions has propelled him across the industry today. Barnes will be releasing a new solo record, a ten year anniversary re-recording of an earlier album called Get Myself Together [2005]. The new release, Got Myself Together, comes out in November on Eight 30 Records. He will be on the road solo this fall and winter; stay tuned for dates to be announced.

A Texas native now living northwest of Seattle, Barnes is one of bluegrass music's most distinctive and innovative performers. He is known for blending together different sounds which defy labeling while redefining the banjo’s perceived image in a wide-ranging and four-decade long career. From his early days as the driving force behind the impressive Austin-based Bad Livers, a band of pioneering Americana missionaries, through a prolific solo career and the development of his trademark approach he calls “Barnyard Electronics” (which is also the name of his 2007 album) that incorporates digital technology and various effect pedals to stretch the tonal range of the instrument, Barnes has always listened to his proudly offbeat inner voice. His live shows involve a computer program he built in max/msp and a banjo. 

Recently, he was recording in his home lab when a package arrived from Steve Martin with a letter notifying him that he was the recipient of 2015 recipient of the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass

“The day that package came from Steve, I had gotten up at like 4am when it’s real quiet and I can get recording done. When FedEx came, I was kind of preoccupied. I saw that it was from Steve and thought, ‘Oh cool… he’s sent me one of his records.’” says Barnes in an interview with John Lawless in Bluegrass Today. “But then I thought… ‘Hey, I never gave him my address.’ I had met Steve earlier this year at a show with the Steep Canyon Rangers, and we got to talk a little bit, but I didn’t remember giving him my address. When I opened it up and saw what it was, I was completely stunned. I was speechless. I’ve never won anything, and it amazes me that anyone knows what I am doing.”

The Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass provides the winner with an unrestricted cash prize of fifty-thousand dollars, as well as a bronze sculpture created specifically for the prize by noted artist Eric Fischl. Created to bring recognition to an individual or group for outstanding accomplishment in the field of five-string banjo or bluegrass music, the prize highlights the extraordinary musicianship of these artists and bluegrass music worldwide. The winner is determined by a board consisting of J.D Crowe, Pete Wernick, Tony Trischka, Anne Stringfield, Alison Brown, Neil V. Rosenberg, Béla Fleck, and Steve Martin. Previous winners have included Noam Pikelny (2010), Sammy Shelor (2011), Mark Johnson (2012), Jens Kruger (2013), and Eddie Adcock (2014).

When asked by Bluegrass Today what he would be doing with the honorarium from his Steve Martin Prize, Danny says, “I’m going to invest it back into the art, back into the banjo community. I have a new record coming out in November, and then I’m thinking of doing a straight up banjo record. I’ve never done that, and I’ve started talking to some of the guys I’d like to have play on there with me. I also have an idea for a contemporary piece for banjo, and I hope to finally get to work on that.”

Got Myself Together hits the streets this fall with another in the works this winter for a straight up banjo record, and he’s also working on a suite of contemporary music for banjo and tuba. Barnes has released over ten albums and has been featured on over 50 others. His most recent album, Junior Sampled [June 2014], is available to stream at http://dannybarnes.bandcamp.com/album/junior-sampled

In addition to the above, Barnes will be releasing an avant garde “kinda” noise cassette coming out on his own label, Minner Bucket Records which specializes in limited run cassettes, for Cassette Store Day (10/17/15). Only 50 will be made. 

Barnes says, “I’ve been at this a pretty long time. The main thing I use to get my ideas across has been the banjo. It has an unusual sound and is capable of a wide range of expression, however it isn’t very developed yet, in terms of what is being done with it in a current macro sense. It’s untapped.” 

His skills as an instrumentalist and his open embrace and infectious love of music for music’s sake, have brought him to share the stage and record with a wide array of marquee artists that reads like a who’s who among broad musical landscapes, ranging from bluegrass greats Bela Fleck, Del McCoury, and Sam Bush, newgrass stars Yonder Mountain String band, to Americana artists Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett, and Nickel Creek, to Jam friendly Gov’t Mule, Leftover Salmon, and Keller Williams, to jazz and blues instrumentalists Bill Frisell, Chuck Leavell, and John Popper, to members of the punk and metal Butthole Surfers, Dead Kennedys, and Ministry. He’s collaborated and shared stages with the likes of Bill Frisell, Yonder Mountain String Band, Robert Earl Keen and Dave Matthews, as well as wailed on a flying V guitar with members of the Butthole Surfers.

Stay up-to-date with news from Danny Barnes at www.dannybarnes.com, twitter.com/Wildknees, and Facebook.com/DannyBarnesBanjo.  Also feel free to ask him a question at http://dannybarnes.com/ask-barnes

Fri, 10/09/2015 - 11:59 am

Everyone Orchestra is thrilled to announce a two night run at The Barkley Ballroom in Frisco, Co on Fri-Sat December 18-19, 2015 to help the venue celebrate its 3rd Anniversary! Conducted by Matt Butler, these shows feature Al Schnier (moe. - guitar, vocals), Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident - percussion/drums), Bridget Law (Elephant Revival - fiddle), Jay Starling (Love Canon - dobro), Sage Cook (we dream dawn - guitar, vocals), Adrian Engfer (The Grant Farm - bass). More tba!

Created in 2001, Everyone Orchestra has spearheaded bringing together musicians from a variety of cities, genres, and walks of life to play purely improvised set with one another, without any preconceptions of how it is “supposed” to sound. Tuning in to Matt Butler’s energy and pantomime, The Conductor is utilized as a pivot to the set mood of each passing jam as he communicates musical concepts using hand signs, whiteboard and assorted mime suggestions. The edge of your seat enthusiasm for what is next is the fuel behind the continuous musical experiment of Everyone Orchestra.

Having marched clearly into uncharted territory, Everyone Orchestra is an avant-garde conceptual and collaborative performance which deeply encourages and requires audience interaction. Both the band and the audience start the show with a clean slate to help co-create a dynamic musical experience, with Butler receiving ideas from the audience to help set the course of action.

Butler’s unique style of conducting is groundbreaking in that he, as EO’s founder, has essentially created an entirely new way to perform and experience music. Butler says, “Playing with different musicians, improvising every night, and getting the crowd involved in ways that they can’t be at a regular show has provided an unparalleled live music experience.”

“[In each city] Butler will have another group with which he can create the beautiful chaos this act is known for. Simply put, there is no set list to be confined to, no certain marks to hit over the course of the night. Butler makes his way to the front of the stage, and it’s off to the races, testing the limits of his players while also showing how good music is when everything clicks in the midst of an improvised set.” writes Examiner’s Thomas Gerbasi. “At this point, Butler almost has it down to a science, at least as much as you can on a speeding car that could veer off the road at any moment.”

EO balances the challenges of live group improvisation with triumphant tension and release conduits of music which head deep into the heart filled with the aspiration of creating shared magical moments.

Two Nights of Everyone Orchestra at The Barkley Ballroom!
Conducted by Matt Butler featuring Al Schnier (moe. - guitar, vacals), Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident - percussion/drums), Bridget Law (Elephant Revival - fiddle), Jay Starling (Love Canon - dobro), Sage Cook (we dream dawn - guitar, vocals), Adrian Engfer (The Grant Farm - bass)
More tba!
Doors  9pm/ Show 9:30PM; Tickets $21 adv/$25 dos; Ages 18+
Tickets: Friday &  Saturday 
The Grant Farm opens the show!
610 Main St, Frisco, CO 80443
(970) 708-7042
www.barkleyballroom.com
Tue, 10/13/2015 - 5:08 pm

Town Mountain is excited to announce the independent release of Town Mountain: The Dead Session on Friday, November 13, 2015. “Each member of this band has enjoyed the music of the Grateful Dead for quite some time,” says vocalist and guitarist Robert Greer. “It seemed only fitting for Town Mountain to pay respect to some musical heroes in this year, their 50th year of existence.” They recorded an impromptu set of two of their favorite songs from the Grateful Dead’s catalog, “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo” and “Big River” at the widely acclaimed Echo Mountain Recording Studios in their hometown of Asheville, NC.

This is the Grateful Dead done in Town Mountain’s hard drivin’ style filled with a honky tonk edge and barroom swagger. The resulting sound is touched by Jerry Garcia with Jimmy Martin and John Hartford… Fitting since Hartford played a short stint in Old and In The Way before Vassar Clements filled out the band on fiddle, and Garcia’s first instrument was a banjo as he was influenced by bluegrass music throughout his career. Narrowing down to just two was not an easy task for Town Mountain.

“What can I say about “Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo”? It's just perfect. Lyrically it's amazing,” says banjoist Jesse Langlais. “Robert Hunter can be so descriptive yet so vague in the point he's trying to get across. Which is great for the audience because it allows listeners to choose what they want the song to be about. In my opinion that's what a good songwriter does. He leaves the song open to interpretation.”

Langlais says, “Musically, Mississippi was extremely fun to play with exciting changes and a lot going on melodically… almost like there's two songs in one. On the original studio version of this song Vassar Clements plays fiddle. Bobby and I tried to mimic the interplay that Jerry and Vassar had on it. This is just an amazing song, and and it made sense for us to record it because it had a bluegrass master involved. We adopted it into Town Mountain’s repertoire without changing the integrity of the song.”

“Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo” was written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter and originally released on Wake of the Flood in 1973. It was performed over 230 times live by The Dead over the years and the song was also the second set opener of the second night of the Fare Thee Well shows in Santa Clara this year.

“Big River” was written by Johnny Cash in 1958. But true to The Dead's fashion they would take other people's songs or traditional songs and make them their own. They had a knack for finding covers that were transcendent of the original artist and they played it in almost 400 live performances.

“We've always liked their version of country music. Even their original albums we're steeped in that sound. Workingman's Dead is full of country music influence,” explains Langlais. “The Dead kept the sentiment of ‘Big River’ but translated it to make an audience, who may not have known what country music was, love it. That audience for them was typically a younger more rock or jam influenced fan but they still ended up knowing the song and singing along.” “Big River” fits right into Town Mountain’s sound and wheelhouse.

The core of Town Mountain is Robert Greer on vocals and guitar, Jesse Langlais on banjo and vocals, Bobby Britt on fiddle, Phil Barker on mandolin and vocals, and Adam Chaffins on bass (Adam is featured on “Mississippi”). Evan Martin plays drums on both tracks. Jon Stickley fills in on bass and guitar in “Big River” and Jack Deveroux lays down the pedal steel on “Big River.”

For the cover art, Town Mountain turned to long time Grateful Dead artist Taylor Swope. Taylor has been creating official Grateful Dead art since the former VP of Grateful Dead Productions discovered her in a parking lot at a show in 2003 and offered her a license on the spot. Her work has become iconic in its own right, having become widely associated with the generations of Deadheads who have grown up in the wake of Jerry Garcia’s passing.

Riding the wave of excitement that followed Fare Thee Well where her poster was one of only four featured at both stadiums, and sharing Town Mountain’s deep appreciation for American roots music, Taylor says she "thoroughly enjoyed creating this image. I am obsessed with swimming and water in general, so when Town Mountain asked me to draw them a river with a Steal Your Face, it was a natural fit."

Town Mountain is no stranger to playing covers, and what has become one of the group’s more memorable live performance songs is their version of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire,” which they first recorded in 2008’s Heroes & Heretics. Town Mountain’s version “I’m On Fire” has reached over 1 Million listeners on Spotify and has garnered over 430,000 views. 

Town Mountain is also prolific in songwriting; each member contributes their well-supplied vat of original material. They’ve been finalizing their next studio release which was produced and engineered by GRAMMY winner Dirk Powell in his studio, The Cypress House, in south Louisiana. For a sneak peek at what to expect on the future album, watch the band perform a new original song, “Wildbird,” in this wonderful session filmed by Hype Music Festivals at the 2015 Suwannee Springfest in Live Oak, FL →  http://bit.ly/Wildbird_byTownMountain_HYPE.

Town Mountain is in it for the long haul... check out out where they’ll be travelin’ to next and keep an eye on TownMountain.net for further dates as well as a brand new selection of merchandise. For updates from the road, please visit facebook.com/TownMountaintwitter.com/TownMountain, and instagram.com/townmountainbluegrass.

 

Wed, 11/11/2015 - 6:34 pm

Everyone Orchestra is excited about their upcoming run of shows in the NorthEast States in mid-November in Baltimore, Brooklyn, Ardmore (Near Philly), and Washington, DC! Conducted by Matt Butler, these performances will feature Steve Kimock (guitar), John Morgan Kimock (drums), Todd Stoops (Raq - keys, vocals), Cris Jacobs (The Bridge - guitar, vocals), Ashish Vyas (Thievery Corporation - bass). Find out more in this great video update from Matt! 

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more tour dates and artists announcements for The Barkley Ballroom in December and Jam Cruise!

Everyone Orchestra Tour Dates
NOV 2015
11/18 Wed - 8 x 10 - Baltimore, MD*
11/19 Thu - The Hall at MP - Brooklyn, NY*
11/20 Fri - Ardmore Music Hall - Ardmore, PA*&
11/21 Sat - Gypsy Sally’s - Washington, DC*
* Conducted by Matt Butler featuring Steve Kimock (guitar), John Morgan Kimock (Mike Gordon - drums), Todd Stoops (Raq - keys, vocals), Cris Jacobs (The Bridge - guitar, vocals), Ashish Vyas (Thievery Corporation - bass).
&  w/ Zach Deputy opening

DEC 2015
12/18-19 Fri-Sat - The Barkley Ballroom - Frisco, CO%
% Conducted by Matt Butler featuring Al Schnier (moe. - guitar, vacals), Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident - percussion/drums), Bridget Law (Elephant Revival - fiddle), Jay Starling (Love Canon - dobro), Sage Cook (we dream dawn - guitar, vocals), Adrian Engfer (The Grant Farm - bass) and more to be announced! The Grant Farm opens the show

JAN 2016
1/6-11/16 Wed-Mon - Jam Cruise^
^ Featured artists TBA

For more information, videos, downloads & more, please visit www.everyoneorchestra.com, www.facebook.com/EveryoneOrchestra, & www.twitter.com/every1orchestra.

Fri, 11/13/2015 - 5:26 pm

Town Mountain independently released The Dead Session on Friday, November 13, 2015. “Each member of this band has enjoyed the music of the Grateful Dead for quite some time,” says vocalist and guitarist Robert Greer. “It seemed only fitting for Town Mountain to pay respect to some musical heroes in this year, their 50th year of existence.” The band recorded an impromptu set of two of their favorite songs from the Grateful Dead’s catalog at the widely acclaimed Echo Mountain Recording Studios in their hometown of Asheville, NC.

This is the Grateful Dead done in Town Mountain’s hard drivin’ style filled with a honky tonk edge and barroom swagger. The resulting sound is touched by Jerry Garcia with Jimmy Martin and John Hartford… Fitting since Hartford played a short stint in Old and In The Way before Vassar Clements filled out the band on fiddle, and Garcia’s first instrument was a banjo as he was influenced by bluegrass music throughout his career. Narrowing down to just two was not an easy task for Town Mountain

Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo” was written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter and originally released on Wake of the Flood in 1973. It was performed over 230 times live by The Dead over the years and the song was also the second set opener of the second night of the Fare Thee Well shows in Santa Clara this year.

Big River” was written by Johnny Cash in 1958. But true to The Dead's fashion they would take other people's songs or traditional songs and make them their own. They had a knack for finding covers that were transcendent of the original artist and they played it in almost 400 live performances.

Wed, 11/18/2015 - 6:21 am

The Blue Mountain Community Renewal Council, a 501C3- non-profit, is partnering with HUMANITY RISING - Share the Spirit, A Butte Fire Benefit on December 19th at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds.

Set to perform, and graciously donating their time, are Hard Working Americans (a recently formed ‘Super group’ consisting of Todd Snider, Dave Schools, Neal Casal, Duane Trucks, Chad Staehly, and Jesse Aycock), Moonalice out of San Francisco, Dead Winter Carpenters from the Tahoe area, Edge of the West from Santa Cruz, Grateful Bluegrass Boys and Dusty Greenbones Band from Mendicino, and many more! Plus the best MC of our time, Wavy Gravy and a psychedelic light show by Liquid Lights.

It’s a family friendly event with three stages in three buildings, dinner, and silent auction and runs from 1pm through Midnight. HUMANITY RISING is looking for donations and volunteers to help make this event as impactful as possible. Proceeds will be distributed promptly and equitably to the most needy families and individuals promptly in order to help provide some degree of holiday comfort.

"Our first show ever was a benefit show for flood victims in Colorado. We understand how these giant natural disasters put hard-working Americans' backs up against the wall.” say The Hard Working Americans. “We're in a position to help so let's all join together and make a difference. It takes a village."

The Butte Fire started in early September 2015 in the Sierra Nevada Foothills of California and was one of the among the worst in the State’s history, with over 70,000 acres burned, as well as an estimated 500 plus homes.

“If you are thinking the Butte Fire is over, stop assuming someone else is doing the work that needs to be done." Long time Tuolumne and Calaveras county resident, promoter, philanthropist, and co-producer of Humanity Rising Jim Stearns says, “There's some perception or rationalization that there is enormous help coming in. It's the proverbial 'somebody else is taking care of it' problem. If those who are still warm, dry and relatively wealthy that live within 25 miles of the devastation would give 10 percent of their time and/or resources the problem would largely be handled already. Unfortunately many are buying useless crap for Christmas, taking vacations and ignoring the tragedy their neighbors are facing right over the hill.”

The mission of this event will be to provide grants to those that have had their homes and lives destroyed by the Butte Fire. Those that are uninsured, well underinsured and haven’t or haven’t the ability to secure major funding from other agencies such as Red Cross and FEMA will be given the highest priority.

Wendy Cox, a "boots on the ground” type of person, posted a comprehensive and accurate write-up about the situation entitled, “Why Is help still needed?.” “Hundreds (if not more than 1,000) of displaced people (more than 500 residences were lost to the fire) are living in inadequate conditions. They are confounded by their situation, and at a loss for what they are going to do. Many do not have potable water, if they have water at all. They are toileting in the sticks that used to be forest. They are sleeping on the bare ground if they are not fortunate to have a tarp. They do not enjoy a hot meal. They are waking up to frost and constant dampness that sleeping outdoors will bring (seniors are especially vulnerable to health problems in this environment.) Basic needs remain unmet.

When a disaster strikes there is an outpour of support which quickly turns to a trickle. Some of the temporary fixes and help have left… Because it has been two months and recovery will take 10-15 years.  Because there are victims still waiting for basic needs to be met.  Because victims are being swallowed by bureaucracy. Because people still feel lost, and confused.  Because it is the right thing to do.

The producers of the Humanity Rising benefit concert are Jim and Alisa Stearns, Linda Sanchez, and Emily West. Jim was owner and operator of Avery Ranch from 1974 until 2011. Alisa was born and raised in Sonora and has partnered with Jim on countless fundraising endeavors. Linda Sanchez, a long time Calaveras activist, was a Butte Fire victim, (lost everything) and Emily is a long time resident of the county as well. Blue Mountain Community Renewal Council is the 501C3 that will be the steward of the event and for providing this administrative service as well as providing insurance, this organization will take 3% of the revenue. BMCR, located in San Andreas, is listed by the Sierra Health Foundation as one of the five recipients of their community grants as an organization working for the relief of Butte Fire victims.

“We do our best to live up to the mantra: Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the places you can. In all the ways you can. To all the people you can. At all the times you can, for as long as you can.” Jim Stearns says “We have a deep connection to the land and the people that were devastated by the fire. We believe that if people just do what they can to help, in the relief of their neighbors and friends, then we together we can make a huge impact. Maybe it’s a day of work. Maybe it’s five bucks or maybe it’s a hundred. Maybe it’s taking somebody in, loaning somebody your RV or making food. We all have something we can offer. For us, we happen to be good at bringing people together for a good time as well as a good cause. Like everybody else, we’re just offering to help in the way we know best.”

“We are in the process of contacting individuals and organizations who are working tirelessly on the ground for recommendations and nominations for possible recipients of these funds.” Alisa Stearn says, “We are acutely aware that misuse, misdirection and administrative costs often decimate the effectiveness of these endeavors and remain deeply committed to making sure that this event will be as transparent and efficient as humanly possible.”

More Information and to get involved, please contact Jim Stearns, [email protected] or Alisa Mooy [email protected].

Humanity Rising - A Butte Fire Benefit:
Hard Working Americans
Moonalice
Dead Winter Carpenters
Edge of West
Grateful Bluegrass Boys
Dusty Greenbones Band
Folk Goddess Diane Patterson
Nedra & Julio
Thick Soup
Big Joe Daddy
Felicity Oceansong
Nicole Sass
MC Wavy Gravy
Plus a Psychedelic Light show by Liquid Lights
More tba!

Ticket link and more details → www.eventbrite.com/e/humanity-rising-share-the-spirit-butte-fire-benefit-concert-tickets-19321362716?aff=efbbt

Thu, 11/26/2015 - 9:43 am

Perhaps the foremost interpreter of Grateful Dead music today and an accomplished guitarist, singer and songwriter in his own right, David Gans now shares with us his own well-crafted and heartfelt interpretations of some of the Grateful Dead’s best songs on It's a Hand-Me-Down, due out November 27th on Gans’ Perfectible Recordings label. The album is available on pre-order now on Festival Link and Amazon and will be ready to check out on those along with iTunes on Black Friday!

Gans approaches Grateful Dead music with a unique range and a rare degree of mastery on multiple levels: as a noted writer (his most recent volume, This Is All a Dream We Dreamed: An Oral History of the Grateful Dead [Nov 2015], co-authored with Blair Jackson, presents the definitive story of the Grateful Dead in their own words), commentator, and radio-show host he has introduced, contextualized, and exposed Grateful Dead music to generations of Deadheads and casual fans. As a musician, singer, and impresario he has brought the music to life in solo and ensemble configurations. As an interviewer and documentor, he has chronicled the Grateful Dead experience from a kaleidoscopic array of perspective, as an insider, an outsider, and a songsmith.

It's a Hand-Me-Down sets some of the Dead tunes Gans most enjoys performing in a “solo electric” context closely modeled on his performance style, making extensive use of looping and electronics to bring the sort of shimmery elastic feel required to do this material justice.

“The idea was to make a record that sounds like my performances: guitar and vocal, with some additional layers of guitar made possible by the Boss RC-30 Loop Station which allows me to record the chord changes of a song so I can play a guitar solo on top of them. It also makes it possible to create multi-layered performances of composed and improvised music.”

“Lazy River Road” and “Attics of My Life” are the simplest: one guitar, one voice. “Ship of Fools,” “Loser,” “Stagger Lee,” “Black Peter,” and “Brokedown Palace” feature guitar fills and solos over the chord changes, exactly as presented in his live show with the help of the looper (but for this project recorded in separate passes, to take advantage of the editing and mixing capabilities of multitrack recording). “Deal” is “realistic” until the end, when a third guitar joins in to spice up the coda. Some sections were edited to eliminate repetitive stretches of loop development. In “Wharf Rat,” this leads to a moment in which four guitars appear simultaneously, in four takes, initially expecting to use just one, but liking the intersection of all four.

For this collection, David has chosen songs whose lyrics and melodies he has explored deeply and inhabited in performance. “Songs I cover from the Dead or other artists tend to tell a piece of my own story. It might just be one line or part of a line in a song that resonates in my own little atomic structure, and I don’t always recognize the connection at first. But eventually I find the resonances. I do the songs that I feel are appropriate for me,” says Gans, “and I’ve adapted them to my own style. I’ve changed the key, changed the phrasing or the groove.”

Over the decades, the Grateful Dead have inspired a lot of cover bands, impersonators, and even reenactors capable of recreating specific renditions in precise detail; Gans is doing something different. He has taken from the Dead their approach to music itself, making it live again but in a different realm--one populated by Gans' own lyrical landscape-- “taking it for a walk in the woods” (as Dead guitarist Bob Weir puts it), and making each performance fresh and unique. 

Without any urge to duplicate, and no desire to be thought of as the “next Jerry”, Gans is mostly doing what he loves best: playing music and having a ball. “Playing this music is incredibly fun. I’ve always enjoyed getting together with people and jamming, and if you’re into it, this music is deeply enjoyable music to play.

You see and hear this in David’s approach to his own original material as well, and when he returns to these timeless gems from the Dead’s repertoire, the tradition winds on a sort of recursive, fractal, moebius-strip dimension; remaking the old and familiar into something new, fresh, and… familiar. It’s terrapins all the way down!

David brings a unique mix of experiences to this project. Most Deadheads first discovered Gans through his radio show or his writing, but music has always been central, the constant drumbeat organizing his many hats, with the Dead’s music specifically woven through much of it and mingling with his own.

None of this was planned. David never set out to become a professional Deadhead or a DJ. Another page he took from the Grateful Dead book was this model of improvising your own life, and staying open to a serendipitous build-up of events and circumstances that led David on his path.

This is also David's way of celebrating the ever morphing and shifting cultural legacy of the Dead. Each generation experiences the music differently, but draws from the same cultural pool… telling and retelling of the stories, and David Gans is a master storyteller. 

It’s A Hand-Me-Down Track Listing
Stagger Lee  4:02
Lazy River Road  5:45
Ship of Fools  4:06
Loser  6:54
Looks Like Rain  6:33
Wharf Rat  7:22
Stella Blue  6:03
Black Peter  6:34
New Speedway Boogie  5:40
Deal  3:58
Terrapin Station  7:26
Attics of My Life  4:53
Brokedown Palace  5:04

All songs by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter except “Looks Like Rain” by Bob Weir and John Barlow
Ice Nine Publishing (ASCAP)

Thu, 12/10/2015 - 11:30 am

One of the most dynamic and determined bands continuously touring America for since 1989, Donna the Buffalo has created a community environment at their shows through their distinctive, groove-heavy, and danceable music. 

Donna the Buffalo is happy to announce their new year’s and winter tour for 2016! They travel into Florida leading up to the New Year with a show in Ponte Vedra Beach on the 30th of December and they ring in the New Year on NYE at Skipper’s in Tampa. They continue on in early January through Stuart, Boca Raton, Key West, and Orlando before heading back up north for stops in Saxapahaw, NC as well as Charlottesville, and Richmond, Virginia before a short break. 

The tour picks back up again at The Hamilton in Washington, DC on January, 22nd as they travel south to play Asheville’s Orange Peel the following day. The following Thursday they meet up with Ben Cohen (Co-founder of Ben and Jerry’s) for another Stampede show - this one Free - in Plymouth, NH on the 28th. That weekend they roam the northeast with shows in Jim Thorpe, Buffalo, and Infinity Hall in Norfolk. In early February they hit the Brooklyn Bowl, Club Helsinki Hudson, the Narrow Center for the Arts  in Fall River and the Bull Run Concert Series near Boston, MA. Inventive New York City-based band, City of the Sun will open along select winter shows. 

Donna the Buffalo is the host band for the Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music, Art & Dance in Miami and they’ll be performing throughout the weekend from Thursday-Sunday, February 18-21. Stay tuned for more dates to be announced for late winter and early spring!

Donna the Buffalo is Jeb Puryear (vocals, electric guitar) and Tara Nevins (vocals, guitar, fiddle, accordion, scrubboard) joined by David McCracken (Hammond organ, Hohner Clavinet & piano), Kyle Spark (bass) and Mark Raudabaugh (drums). “It's been really fun with this lineup,” Puryear says. “You get to the point where you're playing on a really high level, things are clicking and it's like turning on the key to a really good car. It just goes.”

Donna the Buffalo is a band for the people that is accessible, positive, and memorable. With roots in old time fiddle music that evolved into a soulful electric American mix infused with elements of cajun/ zydeco, rock, folk, reggae, and country. 

“For the dizzying array of styles and genres with which they work, Donna The Buffalo maintain a surprising level of consistency... over the course of their 25-year career, they retain a sharp focus that has helped them create some truly lasting music…” writes Elmore. “Few groups are this comfortable as performers, and even fewer would take as many risks."

Donna the Buffalo Winter Tour 2016
12/30 Wed - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
12/31/15 Thu - Skipper’s Smokehouse - Tampa, FL
1/1/16 Fri - Terra Fermata - Stuart, FL
1/2 Sat - The Funky Biscuit - Boca Raton, FL
1/5-6 Tue-Wed - Green Parrot - Key West, FL
1/7 Thu - Plaza Live - Orlando, FL
1/8 Fri - Haw River Ballroom - Saxapahaw, NC
1/9 Sat - The Jefferson Theater - Charlottesville, VA*
1/10 Sun - Capital Ale House - Richmond, VA
1/22 Fri -The Hamilton - Washington, DC*
1/23 Sat - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC*
1/28 Thu - Flying Monkey Performance Center - Plymouth, NH#
1/29 Fri - Mauch Chunk Opera House - Jim Thorpe, PA*
1/30 Sat - Buffalo Iron Works - Buffalo, NY*
1/31 Sun - Infinity Hall - Norfolk, CT*
2/3 Wed - Brooklyn Bowl - Brooklyn, NY
2/4 Thu - Club Helsinki Hudson - Hudson, NY
2/5 Fri - Narrows Center For the Arts - Fall River, MA
2/6 Sat - The Bull Run Concert Series - Shirley, MA
2/18-21 Thu-Sun - Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music, Art & Dance - Miami, FL

* w/ City of The Sun opening
# Stampede show with Ben Cohen (Co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s) Free!

For more information and complete tour dates, please visit www.donnathebuffalo.com
facebook.com/donnathebuffalo and twitter.com/donnathebuffalo

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 8:31 am

Suwannee Springfest celebrates 20 years of kicking off the spring festival season at the beautiful Spirit of Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL. It takes place March 17-20, 2016 and we are thrilled to announce that John Prine will be headlining the festival with his debut appearance at the event! A lot of return favorites from over the years will be joining in to help celebrate the anniversary including The Del McCoury Band, Keller Williams Grateful Grass, The Infamous Stringdusters, Jeff Austin Band, The Larry Keel Experience, Donna the Buffalo, and Jim Lauderdale. Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers and Dave & Dave (of Trampled By Turtles) make their debut appearance at the fest! 

Other fun acts on the bill include Cabinet, Fruition, Jon Stickley Trio, Nora Jane Struthers, Mandolin Orange, Rumpke Mountain Boys and more. Stay tuned for additional artist announcements, workshops, and other activities! See the full lineup at suwanneespringfest.com.

Get your tickets for Suwannee Springfest now at the super early bird rate of $160 (GA) until midnight on Wednesday Dec 16th before they rise to the next tier of $175 through January 17th. Student / Military Ticket $175 advance through March 16th. Individual day tickets are also available. Tickets are inclusive of all taxes and fees, and include 4 days of primitive camping and music Thursday - Sunday nights. Kids under 12 are invited to join for free. 

Attendees can also upgrade for a VIP Experience which includes a four-day ticket with primitive camping, dinners from Thursday - Saturday evenings, a VIP Laminate, a swag bag with the festival poster, a cap, and other goodies for $300 until 1/17 when it goes up to $350. See all rates and tiers and get tickets at www.suwanneespringfest.com/tickets.

Suwannee Springfest is a gem of a festival with beautiful early spring weather in a stunning natural setting of moss-draped oak and cypress trees where festivalgoers experience four days of superb music in the midst of a friendly, family-style environment. Keep an ear out for some campground pickin’ and bring your acoustic instruments to join in on the fun!

Located just north of Live Oak, Fla, the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is a one-of-a-kind music park and premier campground nestled in 800 acres on the shady banks of the historic, tea-colored Suwannee River in North Florida. With multiple stages, miles of trails and over 800 acres for camping, hiking, swimming, canoe and kayak rentals on the river, horseback riding, disc golf, and a restaurant and country store; the park offers a unique experience like no other, a true playground for all that attend.

Attendees can reserve RV hook ups, cabin rentals, and golf cart rentals by calling the park. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com or call them at 386-364-1683 for information.

Further information at suwanneespringfest.com. Also visit us on at facebook.com/suwanneespringfest, twitter.com/SuwanneeSpring and instagram.com/SuwanneeSpringfest.

Suwannee Springfest Initial 2016 Lineup
John Prine
The Del McCoury Band
Keller Williams Grateful Grass
Infamous Stringdusters
Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers
Jeff Austin Band
The Larry Keel Experience
Donna the Buffalo
Dave & Dave (of Trampled By Turtles)
Jim Lauderdale
Cabinet
Fruition
Jon Stickley Trio
Nora Jane Struthers
Mandolin Orange
Rumpke Mountain Boys
The Broadcast
The Virginia Daredevils
Grits & Soul
Grandpa’s Cough Medicine
Big Cosmo
Nikki Talley
Sloppy Joe
Quartermoon
Taylor Martin’s Engine
Two Foot Level
The Steppin Stones

More tba at suwanneespringfest.com.

Sun, 01/17/2016 - 12:27 pm

Banjo player extraordinaire and 2015 recipient of the 6th annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass, Danny Barnes is described as "one of a kind" and widely acknowledged as "one of the best banjo players in America." Barnes is recognized for his experimental sound. The raw and unpolished musical breadth of his compositions has propelled him across the industry today. Barnes released a new solo record Got Myself Together (Ten Years Later) on Austin, TX based Eight 30 Records on November 27, 2015. Barnes' first collection in six years showcases a singular songwriter and player in peak form reworking his classic album Get Myself Together [2005]  (“Big Girl Blues,” “Get Me Out of Jail”) a decade on.

The Seattle-area resident simply strips songs to their essence on the new recording “I spend a lot of time developing new contexts like the barnyard electronics aesthetic,” Barnes says. “Get Myself Together was my last acoustic-type recording and I get quite a bit of fan mail about it, but the label that released it went out of business. I wanted to make something with this record that featured more of my raw acoustic sound, as though I was kind of playing in your living room.” Barnes’ also offers a buoyant bonus track rerecording of his former band the Bad Livers' high watermark “I'm Convicted.”

“Danny Barnes' musical horizon is vast and elegant,” says legendary Texas songsmith Robert Earl Keen, who frequently enlists Barnes as banjoist in his touring band. “I've said many times that he is the world's greatest banjo player. Danny's singing swoops and soars by still waters and down rocky paths.”

Longtime fans immediately will recognize Barnes' quirky lyrics and unimpeachable banjo style jumping toward the fore with little distraction on the new record. “I had to come up with a different scene for each song,” Barnes says. “The original context for these songs was as though I had made a movie and everything was all committed to celluloid. However, with music you tend to shape things as you play them live. The routine: You write something, you record it, then you go play it for ten years on the road. So, in returning to the music, I had a different perspective. It's more like a dramatic work in that the company that performs it and the venue it's performed in necessarily changes the meaning.”

“I enjoy these songs and I think they are 'real songs,' if that makes any sense,” Barnes concludes. “They can be strummed on a one-string instrument and they still make sense and tell the story. They don't depend on effects or processing. I think they are worth a busy person taking time to jam on them."

“It is heaven and earth,” says superstar Dave Matthews, who also frequently calls Barnes to bat in his live show. “It is Americana from the back porch to the pulpit.”

A Texas native, Barnes is one of bluegrass music's most distinctive and innovative performers. He is known for blending together different sounds which defy labeling while redefining the banjo’s perceived image in a wide-ranging and four-decade long career. From his early days as the driving force behind the impressive Austin-based Bad Livers, a band of pioneering Americana missionaries, through a prolific solo career and the development of his trademark approach he calls “barnyard electronics” (which is also the name of his 2007 album) that incorporates digital technology and various effect pedals to stretch the tonal range of the instrument, Barnes has always listened to his proudly offbeat inner voice. His live shows involve a computer program he built in max/msp and a banjo.

“Danny Barnes doesn't sound like anyone else,” says iconic instrumentalist Bill Frisell, whose “Big Shoe” closes out the album proper. “I was knocked out when I first heard him play and continue to be.”

Recently, he was recording in his home lab when a package arrived from Steve Martin with a letter notifying him that he was the recipient of 2015 recipient of the “Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass.”

“The day that package came from Steve, I had gotten up at like 4am when it’s real quiet and I can get recording done. When FedEx came, I was kind of preoccupied. I saw that it was from Steve and thought, ‘Oh cool… he’s sent me one of his records.’” says Barnes in an interview with John Lawless in Bluegrass Today. “But then I thought… ‘Hey, I never gave him my address.’ I had met Steve earlier this year at a show with the Steep Canyon Rangers, and we got to talk a little bit, but I didn’t remember giving him my address. When I opened it up and saw what it was, I was completely stunned. I was speechless. I’ve never won anything, and it amazes me that anyone knows what I am doing.”

The Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass provides the winner with an unrestricted cash prize of fifty-thousand dollars, as well as a bronze sculpture created specifically for the prize by noted artist Eric Fischl. Created to bring recognition to an individual or group for outstanding accomplishment in the field of five-string banjo or bluegrass music, the prize highlights the extraordinary musicianship of these artists and bluegrass music worldwide. The winner is determined by a board consisting of J.D Crowe, Pete Wernick, Tony Trischka, Anne Stringfield, Alison Brown, Neil V. Rosenberg, Béla Fleck, and Steve Martin. Previous winners have included Noam Pikelny (2010), Sammy Shelor (2011), Mark Johnson (2012), Jens Kruger (2013), and Eddie Adcock (2014).

“Every year it’s a very tough choice on our banjo prize. We all vote, narrow it down, narrow it down.” Steve Martin says to the Raleigh News Observer, “Danny is a real innovator and we want to make sure innovation gets honored over the course of the prize. He plays three-finger and he’s also not afraid to strum like an old banjo. You rarely see that, someone using banjo in all its capacities.”

Got Myself Together hit the streets this fall and he’s already got another in the works for a straight up banjo record, and he’s working on a suite of contemporary music for banjo and tuba. Barnes has released over ten albums and has been featured on over 50 others. In addition to the albums, Barnes also has an avant garde “kinda” noise cassette tape label, Minner Bucket Records which specializes in limited run cassettes.

Barnes says, “I’ve been at this a pretty long time. The main thing I use to get my ideas across has been the banjo. It has an unusual sound and is capable of a wide range of expression, however it isn’t very developed yet, in terms of what is being done with it in a current macro sense. It’s untapped.”

His skills as an instrumentalist and his open embrace and infectious love of music for music’s sake, have brought him to share the stage and record with a wide array of marquee artists that reads like a who’s who among broad musical landscapes, ranging from bluegrass greats Bela Fleck, Del McCoury, and Sam Bush, newgrass stars Yonder Mountain String band, to Americana artists Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett, and Nickel Creek, to Jam friendly Gov’t Mule, Leftover Salmon, and Keller Williams, to jazz and blues instrumentalists Bill Frisell, Chuck Leavell, and John Popper, to members of the punk and metal Butthole Surfers, Dead Kennedys, and Ministry. He’s collaborated and shared stages with the likes of Bill Frisell, Yonder Mountain String Band, Robert Earl Keen and Dave Matthews, as well as wailed on a flying V guitar with members of the Butthole Surfers.

Stay up-to-date with news from Danny Barnes at www.dannybarnes.com, twitter.com/Wildknees, and Facebook.com/DannyBarnesBanjo

Wed, 02/03/2016 - 12:55 pm

NPR’s World Cafe, produced by XPN in Philadelphia, is bringing the show to Asheville’s The Grey Eagle on Tuesday, February 23rd for an evening of entertainment with Jon Stickley Trio and The Honeycutters, two Asheville-based bands who have both been making headlines across the country. World Cafe host David Dye will be in the house to interview with them before each band performs. This is a special show with limited seats available, so get tickets early before it sells out. Doors are at 7pm and the shows starts recording at 8pm. Tickets are on sale now at www.TheGreyEagle.com. $15/$18.

The New York Times calls Jon Stickley Trio’s sound “respectful and free” and NPR Music featured a track off their new album Lost at Last on their program Heavy Rotation with Folk Alley’s Linda Fahey writing, “Jon Stickley has been playing in bluegrass bands for years, and is known as a progressive and adventurous flatpicker, but his musical roots and influences range widely to include rap, grunge, punk and more… [It’s] a wonderfully unique sound that defies easy categorization.”

Nashville’s Music City Roots’ Craig Havighurst says of The Honeycutters, “Vocalist Amanda Platt has a voice that’s complex, sweet and aching. Even more potently, she writes songs that folks are citing as up there with the best of the field, such as Mary Gauthier and Lucinda Williams.” Saving Country Music goes on to write, “...Platt’s songwriting could be placed in the exceptional category, at least from the evidence Me Oh My [2015 Organic Records] presents in her favor. It’s not just the sorrow and sincerity, it’s the insight and the resonance.”

Since launching World Cafe in 1991, David Dye has served as the host of this nationally acclaimed show, now syndicated on more than 250 public radio stations across the United States. Every week, Dye brings out the best in interviews with internationally known artists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Joni Mitchell. He has conducted nearly 4,500 interviews during his years with the program. He introduces a half-million listeners each week to groundbreaking artists like Vampire Weekend, Mumford & Sons, PJ Harvey, Sheryl Crow, Beck, LCD Soundsystem, and Amos Lee.

World Cafe’s Sense of Place is a quarterly series which brings the whole crew, including host David Dye, to various cities around the world. Previous shows have been recorded in Rio de Janeiro, Iceland, Havana, Stockholm (Sweden), Dublin, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Austin, Pittsburg, Nashville, Memphis, Portland, and more. Sense of Place is made possible by a grant from The Wyncote Foundation in hopes to give you an idea of the past and present of various local music scenes and some pointers for musicians or music-lovers planning a visit.

Asheville-area NPR affiliate, WNCW, consistently sings praise for each band; The Honeycutters placed #3 with Music Director and Morning Host Martin Anderson saying, “Amanda Platt writes songs on par with Lucinda, Isbell, Lauderdale, Hank Sr.” Anderson says of Jon Stickley Trio, who placed #13 in the poll, “Asheville has a force to be reckoned with in the tight three-piece perfection of the Jon Stickley Trio. It’s pretty incredible how closely the three play with their unique blend of Appalachian, jazz, maybe even prog-rock styles.” You can tune in to World Cafe on WNCW weekdays between 4am to 6am and 6pm to 8pm.

For more information, please visit www.xpn.org/world-cafe/sense-of-place, www.TheGreyEagle.com, www.jonstickley.com, and www.thehoneycutters.com

Get Tickets at http://bit.ly/WorldCafeAtTheGreyEagle.

Thu, 02/04/2016 - 2:17 pm

Flatpicking guitar phenom Larry Keel is set to release a his 15th album, Experienced, on February 26, 2016. Keel has a variety of musical formats swirling around the calendar each year: look out for his core band, The Larry Keel Experience (featuring Will Lee on 5 string banjo and vocals and Jenny Keel on upright bass and vocal harmonies). They are set to embark on an album release tour starting in late February with stops throughout the north and south eastern States including a couple of sets at Suwannee Springfest in Live Oak, FL and a lot of pickin’ gig on at Aiken Bluegrass Festival in South Carolina. See Larry’s full list of tour dates below including a few early February dates with Keller & the Keels, as well as All-star shows in Hawaii leading up to Valentine’s Day and at Winter Wondergrass in Vail in mid-February. 

Experienced includes seven tracks and is an entirely original work that showcases both Larry’s and bandmate Will Lee’s exceptional songwriting, singing and jaw-dropping instrumental performances, accompanied by Keel’s equally talented wife Jenny Keel. It was recorded at Wally Cleaver Studio in Fredericksburg, VA with engineer (and guest drummer) Jeff Covert and mastered by the award-winning industry great Bill Wolf (Willie Nelson, Tony Rice, Doc Watson) in Arlington, VA.

Added to the raw sophistication of Keel’s progressive acoustic style are several guest-musician-friends who appear on various tracks of Experienced, a list of artists that reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of icons and new stars including Sam Bush, Del McCoury, Peter Rowan, Keller Williams, Jason Carter (The Del McCoury Band), Mike Guggino (Steep Canyon Rangers), and Anders Beck (Greensky Bluegrass). According to Larry, “This project is a collection of my songs and Will Lee’s music, developed further with the amazing talents of some of our musician friends and heroes. Very real. Very fresh.”
Larry Keel On Tour with Experienced 2016
Keller & the Keels
2/04 Thu - Plaza Live - Orlando, FL*
2/05 Fri - Jannus Live - St. Petersburg, FL*
2/06 Sat - b.e. easy Music & Arts Festival - Lake Worth, FL
The Keels w/ Special Guests
2/12-13 Fri-Sat - Charleys Restaurant and Saloon - Paia, HI
2/19-20 Fri-Sat - WinterWonderGrass - Vail, CO
The Larry Keel Experience
2/26 Fri - Shepherdstown Opera House - Shepherdstown, WV
2/27 Sat - Gypsy Sally’s - Washington, DC
3/03 Thu - Rabbit Hole - Charlotte, NC ^
3/04 Fri - Charleston Pour House - Charleston, SC ^
3/05 Sat - Tifton Rhythm & Ribs Festival - Tifton, GA
3/18-19 Fri-Sat - Suwannee Springfest - Live Oak, FL
3/24 Thu - The Jefferson Theater - Charlottesville, NC <
3/25 Fri - Asheville Music Hall - Asheville, NC
3/30 Wed - Plain Folk Cafe - Pleasant Plain, OH
4/2 Sat - Woodlands Tavern - Columbus, OH
4/3 Sun - Elk Creek Cafe - Millheim, PA
5/7 Sat - Sleepy Creek Spring Ding on the Potomac - Berkeley Springs, WV

The Keels w/ Special Guests
5/13-14 Fri-Sat - - Aiken Bluegrass Festival - Aiken, SC >

*w/ Yonder Mountain String Band
^ w/ Jon Stickley Trio
< w/ The Woodshedders
> Friday LKE set, Sat Keller and Keels as well as Larry Keel All-star jam with Vince Herman, Mimi Naja, Paul, Anders Beck and more!
More date TBA! Stay tuned to www.larrykeel.com.
Thu, 02/11/2016 - 8:34 am

In much the same way that iconic southern dishes such as Louisiana gumbo or Brunswick stew can include any number of flavorful ingredients, so too does bluegrass music rely on a recipe that can vary wildly, depending on who's doing the cooking. For Asheville, North Carolina-based bluegrass band Town Mountain, the key ingredient of the musical stew that is their career-defining fifth album, Southern Crescent, is the same confident – yet entirely embraceable – swagger that has distinguished the group since they first formed in 2005. The new album is due out on April 1, 2016 on LoHi Records.

With an insatiable musical hunger, the members of Town Mountain (Robert Greer on vocals and guitar, Jesse Langlais on banjo and vocals, Bobby Britt on fiddle, Phil Barker on mandolin and vocals, and Nick DiSebastian* on bass) made their way to the little south-central Louisiana town of Breaux Bridge, where they recorded their most cohesive, most satisfying album to date. Produced by legendary GRAMMY-winning musician (and Louisiana transplant) Dirk Powell at his Cypress House studio, with low-swooping live oak trees and the picturesque Bayou Teche nearby, Southern Crescent is nothing less than a musical tour-de-force. Adam Chaffins* plays bass in the touring outfit.

The 2013 winners of IBMA Momentum Awards for Performance Band and Vocalist of the Year (Robert Greer), Town Mountain has earned raves for their hard-driving sound, their in-house songwriting and the honky-tonk edge that permeates their exhilarating live performances, whether in a packed club or at a sold-out festival. Just as a gumbo recipe starts with the "holy trinity" of staples (onions, bell peppers and celery), and can contain a wide variety of additional ingredients and inspiration, the hearty base of Town Mountain's music is the bluegrass triumvirate of Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. It's what else goes into the mix that brings it all to life both on stage and on record and reflects the group's wide-ranging influences – from the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia and the ethereal lyrics of Robert Hunter, to the honest, vintage country of Willie, Waylon and Merle.

Southern Crescent was recorded in a decidedly old-school way, live, with minimal fixes and overdubs, with all the musicians in the same room and no noise-reducing baffling between them. The result: a raw, soulful album that prompted iconic singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale to enthuse in the liner notes, "The first time I heard Town Mountain I loved, respected, and enjoyed them. And I do now more than ever. They have stuck with their deep bluegrass roots but as they have with all of their releases, they have grown and expanded. They sound like Carolina, and they carry that sound farther and farther with Southern Crescent, their latest gem."

In spite of not having worked with Powell as their producer before, singer-songwriter Robert Greer says he walked away from the experience "thinking this is how I want to record every record from this point on." It probably didn't hurt that Powell's mom, who lives next door to the studio, was keeping the group supplied with coffee and homemade chocolate chip cookies.

The new album is being released on LoHi Records. Based in Greensboro, N.C., the label is a partnership formed by entrepreneur and marketing veteran Jim Brooks with singer/songwriter and record producer Todd Snider, record producer Tim Carbone (who also plays fiddle in newgrass band Railroad Earth) and Chad Staehly from Gold Mountain Entertainment in Nashville.

Each of Town Mountain's members contributed songs to Southern Crescent, with Barker, Langlais and Greer the chief writers in the band. A democratic process determines what they'll record, but the greatest factor, especially on the new record, is audience reaction, which is basically what led to release of the band's first official live album, Town Mountain: Live At The Isis, in 2014. "We've gone into the studio before with new stuff but every tune on this record had been road-tested," says Greer. "We go in to the recording situation and we have our tunes arranged already because we've been playing them on stage. That's a contributing factor to successfully being able to record them live, because we're used to doing them night after night."

From the boogie-woogie piano of Jerry Lee Lewis that inspired the delightful (and danceable) "Coming Back to You," to Greer's cleverly penned and fast-paced "Tick on a Dog," which offers a taste of another major bluegrass influence, Jimmy Martin, Southern Crescent is tailor-made to keep live audiences on their feet, but it'll also keep those who think they can easily peg Town Mountain on their toes. "With live music, anything can happen," Greer acknowledges. "It's not supposed to be perfect but does it have soul!"

The music, perhaps, should also come with a road map. As Langlais explains, "A lot of the material is based around traveling. You start to peel back the lyrics of the songs and see that a lot of the material is about being out on the road and the experiences – positive or negative – that we may have living the lifestyle."

Just as the guys find a wealth of musical inspiration in each other, there's admittedly a little frustration that comes from being in a band with several other gifted songwriters at the same time. As Langlais explains, "You want to make sure you're up there and everybody else is feeling the same about you. It's good to have multiple writers in the band because it gives your audience more variety."

That variety is indeed part of what drives Southern Crescent, which opens with Britt's delightfully dizzying fiddle work on "St. Augustine," and showcases Greer's hard-country vocals on "House With No Windows" and on the freewheeling composition "Ain't Gonna Worry Me," (penned by Barker). The group members' palpable chemistry (and individual artistry) are displayed throughout such instantly memorable tracks as "Wildbird," (Barker) and "I Miss the Night," which Langlais penned (with Mark Bumgarner) after experiencing 22 hours of daylight during Alaska's summer solstice.

"Bands are constantly trying to define their sound, a sound that sets them apart from every other band, especially in genre as small as bluegrass," says Langlais. "Our approach has been to find what our sound inherently will be and build off of that. Granted, we are taking a piece of what Bill Monroe's band did in order to make our own bluegrass band. That's just inevitable. But he borrowed from all these other genres, too – rock 'n' roll, country music, Scots-Irish fiddle music. I think we have realized what our sound is with this album."

Greer, who hosts occasional nights of acoustic classic country and bluegrass in Asheville called Cornmeal Waltz (after a Guy Clark song), understands the music-food connection, saying that no matter what goes into gumbo or Brusnwick stew, they're still "as southern as red clay." The same is certainly true of Southern Crescent, Town Mountain's prize-worthy signature dish.

Town Mountain on Tour 2016:
3/4-5 Fri-Sat - Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival - Hilton Head, SC
3/19 Sat - The Rabbit Hole - Charlotte, NC (with Jeff Austin Band)
4/1 Fri - The Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
4/2 Sat - Newgrass Brewing Company - Shelby, NC
4/5 Tue - Hampton Taphouse - Hampton, VA
4/6 Wed - Gypsy Sally's - Washington, DC
4/7 Thu - Lizard Lounge - Cambridge, MA
4/8 Fri - Hill Country BBQ - New York, NY
4/10 Sun - Tin Angel - Philadelphia, PA
4/12 Tue - Haymarket Whiskey Bar - Louisville, KY
4/13 Wed - Cosmic Charlie’s - Lexington, KY
4/14 Thu - The Station Inn - Nashville, TN
4/15 Fri - Barley's - Knoxville, TN
4/16 Sat - Waverly “Old 280” Boogie - Waverly, AL
4/17 Sun - Zydeco - Birmingham, AL
5/28 Sat - Rooster Walk - Martinsville, VA
6/24 Fri - ROMP Fest - Owensboro, KY
7/23 Sat - Homegrown Music Festival - Ozark, AR

Wed, 02/17/2016 - 11:05 am

Celebrating ten years together, The Band of Heathens is set to embark on a banner year with founding members Ed Jurdi (guitar, keys, vocals) and Gordy Quist (guitar, vocals) along with Trevor Nealon (keys, vocals), Richard Millsap (drums, vocals) and Scott Davis (bass, vocals). Fresh off the boat from the Sirius XM Outlaw Country Cruise, This Austin, TX based world class rock n roll outfit has two new releases slated for 2016, beginning with the Green Grass EP, which will premiere  four new BOH originals and a faithful cover of The Band's “Bessie Smith,” featuring Joe Fletcher.

In the coming months, they will be sailing the high seas aboard Kid Rock’s 7th Annual Chillin’ The Most Cruise, hitting select markets in the Rockies, Midwest and the Southeast and are set to return to The Ride Festival in Telluride, CO with Pearl Jam and many others later in the year. 

Fans will receive a free digital download of the five-song limited edition EP, Green Grass, with all advance ticket purchases. The CD version will only be available at their shows and in the web store: www.bandofheathens.com/music

For a limited time anyone can download the title track for free at http://bit.ly/BOH_GreenGrass_2016. The EP will be followed later in the year by a full album tentatively slated for release in September. 

The Band of Heathens on Tour
2/24 - The Kenney Store - Kenney, TX
2/26 - Spirits Food & Friends - Alexandria, LA
3/09 - The Funky Biscuit - Boca Raton, FL
3/10-14 - Kid Rock’s Chillin’ The Most Cruise
3/16 - SXSW - Swan Dive - Austin, TX ^
3/17 - SXSW - Craftsman - Austin, TX >
3/25 - Luckenbach Dancehall - Fredericksburg, TX
3/26 - Legendary Firehouse Saloon - Houston, TX
3/31 - Cervantes' Other Side - Denver, CO *
4/01 - Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, CO *
4/15 - MAIN St. Fort Worth Arts Festival - Fort Worth, TX
4/17 - Old Settler’s Music Festival - Driftwood, TX
4/19 - Knuckleheads - Kansas City, MO*
4/20 - Off Broadway - St. Louis, MO*
4/21 - The Castle Theatre - Bloomington, IL*
4/22 - Taft Ballroom - Cincinnati, OH
4/23 - Beat Kitchen - Chicago, IL
4/24 - Woodlands Tavern - Columbus, OH
4/26 - Lafayette's Music Room - Memphis, TN
4/29 - Hal & Mal's - Jackson, MS +
4/30 - Rock ‘n’ Ribs Benefit - Selma, AL
5/26 - Free Texas Music Series @ The County Line - San Antonio, TX
5/28 - The LOT Downtown - Mansfield, TX
6/03 - Montrose Music Summer Series - Montrose, CO
6/04 - Music on the Mesa - El Prado, NM
6/23 - Thursday Music On Main - Victor, ID
6/24 - Hwy 30 Music Fest - Filer, ID
6/26 - Blues, Brew and BBQ at Snowbasin - Huntsville, UT
8/19 - Texan Theater - Greenville, TX
8/20 - Cultural Activities Center - Temple, TX

^ New Frontier Touring Presents
> The New Americana Party
* w/ Chicago Farmer supporting
+ supporting the Drive-By Truckers

Mon, 02/22/2016 - 11:30 am

The New Stew is a “super group” of a handful of fine musicians from all genres of music that features Corey Glover (Living Colour, Galactic) on vocals, Roosevelt Collier (The Lee Boys) on Lap Steel/ Pedal Steel, Yonrico Scott (Derek Trucks Band, Royal Southern Brotherhood) on percussion, Dave Yoke (Susan Tedeschi Band, Dr. John, Scrapomatic) on guitar, Jared Stone (Stone’s Stew) on drums, and Matt Slocum (Oteil and the Peacemakers, Col. Bruce Hampton & Aquarium Rescue Unit, The Lee Boys) on piano. This project was formed with one focused goal, to pay respect to those recordings that influenced the players and to re-imagine recordings that they feel should be heard and experienced in a live setting.

The first homage will be paid in Spring of 2016 when the group makes its debut in select cities playing the classic Bill Withers - Live At Carnegie Hall album from start to finish. It is more than a labor of love, it is a way to allow the public to experience something again or in many cases the first time and reconnect with this classic recording over four decades since it’s release. The tour kicks off in early May in Cincinnati before heading up north to Philadelphia, Annapolis, Brooklyn, and Washington, DC and then loops down south for shows in Asheville and Atlanta.

Bill Withers’ performance at Carnegie Hall on October 6, 1972, was recorded, and released as Live At Carnegie Hall in the following year. Recorded less than a year and a half since Withers quit his day job to pursue music full time, the then rising soul star commands the historic New York stage with veteran poise and power with songs like "Use Me", “Ain't No Sunshine”, and “Lean On Me.” In counting years as a live performer he was a novice but his ability to transform the hallowed venue to a tiny club and hold the audience's attention like a conversation, a feat that heightens the intimacy of the performance and accentuates the intensity of the songs.

Withers' along with his band moved fluidly, stretching out the songs beyond their initial recorded times, the subsequent jams take the audience on a ride the studio recordings were not able to do. The album ranks at number 27 on Rolling Stones' list of the 50 Greatest Live Albums of All Time. Live At Carnegie Hall stands as one of the greatest live recordings of all time. and The New Stew is delighted to re-imagine this time-honored performance.

The New Stew on tour performing Bill Withers - Live At Carnegie Hall

5/5 Thu - Live at Ludlow Garage - Cincinnati, OH
5/6 Fri - The Ardmore Music Hall - Philadelphia, PA
5/7 Sat  - Ram’s Head Live -  Annapolis, MD
5/9 Mon - Brooklyn Bowl - Brooklyn, NY
5/10 Tue - The Hamilton Live - Washington, DC
5/11 Wed- The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
5/12 Thu - Center Stage - Atlanta, GA

For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/thenewstew

Fri, 02/26/2016 - 12:30 pm

Flatpicking guitar phenom Larry Keel dazzles music-lovers once more with his 15th self-released album Experienced, out today, February 26, 2016. Del McCoury says, “Larry Keel is a triple threat... songwriter, guitar player, entertainer. He can do it all.” The album is an entirely original work that showcases both Larry’s and bandmate Will Lee’s exceptional songwriting, singing and jaw-dropping instrumental performances, accompanied by Keel’s equally talented wife Jenny Keel on upright bass and harmony vocals. 

Experienced is available now at Keel’s web store (http://larrykeel.com/products-page/) and CD Baby (http://bit.ly/LarryKeel_Experienced_CDBaby).

Added to the raw sophistication of Keel’s progressive acoustic style are several guest-musician-friends who appear on various tracks of Experienced, a list of artists that reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of icons and new stars including Sam Bush, Del McCoury, Peter Rowan, Keller Williams, Jason Carter (The Del McCoury Band), Mike Guggino (Steep Canyon Rangers), and Anders Beck (Greensky Bluegrass). The album was recorded at Wally Cleaver Studio in Fredericksburg, VA with engineer (and guest drummer) Jeff Covert and mastered by the award-winning industry great Bill Wolf (Willie Nelson, Tony Rice, Doc Watson) in Arlington, VA.

The seven tracks on Experienced reflect Keel’s musical personality, from frenzied and raunchy to mystical and sensitive, and through it all, Keel’s honest attitude shines, fearlessly and with throttle wide-open. “I love me some Keels. There is a certain genuine authenticity that Larry and Jenny possess,” says Keller Williams. “When we get together, our wonder-powers unite to form a giant, impenetrable sphere of open-minded, Appalachian psychedelic goodness.” Sam Bush (who plays mandolin and fiddle on the fiery opening track “Ripchord”) exclaims, ‘Enjoy the music... Larry does!”

Tue, 03/01/2016 - 9:36 am

Jam in the Trees kicks off its inaugural event full force with The Wood Brothers, The Del McCoury Band, Junior Brown, and Willie Watson! It takes place at Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain, NC on Friday and Saturday, August 26-27, 2016. The lineup also includes a handful of rising artists from North Carolina including Mipso, Chatham County Line, Tellico, Mark Bumgarner, and Unspoken Tradition. WNCW is the media sponsor and will be emceeing at the event! Doors open at 7pm on Friday for shows on the indoor stage. Gates open Saturday at 10am, with music starting at 11am throughout the day until 11pm on the beautiful Pisgah Outdoor Stage, followed by an “After Hours Jam” on the indoor stage.

The event promises a wide range of award-winning musicians over two days with live performances, exquisite local food offerings, VIP events with the artists, and down-home fun. Limited VIP and weekend ticketing packages are available at http://bit.ly/JamInTheTreesAtPisgahBrewing_Tickets.

Laurel York, a lifelong resident of Asheville and President of Jam In The Trees, LLC, helped bring the idea for the event to fruition during a visit with friends from Asheville and Canada that “mentioned Pisgah Brewing is a perfect location and felt it would attract people from all over with the right musical lineup. That started the ball rolling toward creating an event that would be a celebration of authentic Roots Music, community, and philanthropy (a portion of the proceeds will go to a local not-for-profit, Wild Forests & Fauna (WildFF), in one of the area’s finest outdoor music venues” said York.

“Jam in the Trees is shining a bright light bringing our community together in support of the Big Tree Project which focuses on the biggest, baddest trees in Western NC and beyond, that generate the most benefits to surrounding ecosystems and biodiversity.” Benjamin Colvin, Executive Director WildFF, goes on to say, “Del McCoury Band, the Wood Brothers and this whole lineup connects in spirit with WildFF... we all want people to go outside, get connected, get lost a little, and ACT to protect our forests for future generations!”

Jam In The Trees and Pisgah Brewing will deliver award-winning musicians, exquisite local food offerings, VIP events with the artists, and down-home fun, celebrating authentic roots and Americana music in a setting that will be as much a part of the festival as a the all-star Americana lineup showcasing acoustic and electric music which encompasses various American roots music styles, including country, roots-rock, folk, bluegrass, and rhythm and blues.

“We are extremely pleased to be working to bring Jam In The Trees to Pisgah Brewing. Those that attend our events know that we treat our attendee’s right and the music is always top notch. This event will be no different. Come join us for a fun event next August and get your tickets early as we expect this to sell out quickly once the additional artists are announced!” said Benton Wharton, the Events Manager for Pisgah Brewing.

Jam in The Trees 2016 Lineup:

The Wood Brothers
The Del McCoury Band
Junior Brown
Willie Watson
Chatham County Line
Mipso
Layla McCalla
Tellico
Unspoken Tradition
Mark Bumgarner

Stay tuned for more TBA!

For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/jaminthetrees and www.pisgahbrewing.com/jam-in-the-trees-coming-to-pisgah-brewing-august-2016/.

Wed, 03/09/2016 - 1:30 pm

Celebrating ten years together, The Band of Heathens is set to embark on a banner year with founding members Ed Jurdi (guitar, keys, vocals) and Gordy Quist (guitar, vocals) along with Trevor Nealon (keys, vocals), Richard Millsap (drums, vocals) and Scott Davis (bass, vocals). Fresh off the boat from the SiriusXM Outlaw Country Cruise, this Austin, TX based world class rock n roll outfit has two new releases slated for 2016. The Green Grass EP premieres four new BOH originals and a faithful cover of The Band's “Bessie Smith, featuring Joe Fletcher, and will be followed by their 8th full length album tentatively slated for release in September.

In the coming months, they will be sailing the high seas aboard Kid Rock’s 7th Annual Chillin’ The Most Cruise, hitting select markets in the Rockies, Midwest and the Southeast and are set to return to The Ride Festival in Telluride, CO with Pearl Jam and many others later in the year. For their spring and summer 2016 tours, fans will receive a free digital download of the five-song limited edition EP, Green Grass, with all advance ticket purchases. The CD version will only be available at their shows and in the web store: www.bandofheathens.com/music. For a limited time anyone can download the title track for free at http://bit.ly/BOH_GreenGrass_2016.

The title track of the EP, "Green Grass of California," is a timely tongue-in-cheek marijuana anthem. "The issue of legalization has become both a ballot issue and a hot topic of discussion around the water cooler, so I like the idea of pushing it a little bit and getting involved in the discussion," says Ed Jurdi. We've been playing that song live and it's something that everyone's been talking about with us after the show, so it's connecting and is something that is on people's minds."

"It's nice to think that we can shed some humor and light on some of these subjects that were once ‘taboo,’ but are now becoming more mainstream and integrated into the fabric of the country,” continues Jurdi. “I like the idea that we're part of the dialogue where we drag some old draconian ideas out of the closet and expose them to the light and realize that they aren't quite so scary in the daytime."

The EP is a return to the kaleidoscopic rock n roll sound that the band has fearlessly forged over the course of their ten-year career. Seamlessly blending country, and R&B, on tracks like “DC9” or integrating lyrical prose with rock n roll and pop sensibilities on “Out On Each Other", the music showcases the combustible creative chemistry of the band's current lineup. "There's a deeper sense of exploration on these tracks that feels really special,” remarks Gordy Quist.” I think it's the best the band has ever sounded, and I think it's a good reflection of where we are right now."

Both new releases for 2016 feature the sonic shift in the band, straying further into their roots of a more which harnesses the rollicking energy of their live shows, and away from the more folk/singer-songwriter direction which they took with their 2013 release Sunday Morning Record. The new album also shows some new geographic influences with some of the recordings being done in Asheville, Austin, and Nashville.

Outside of the Heathens recording their own tracks for this year's releases, the band spent much of their time the last couple of years backing and recording with artists like Kid Rock, Hayes Carll, and East Nashville's own Tim Easton. The members have also been working on a variety of other projects, with Quist, continuing to live in Austin, producing records for a handful of artists and Jurdi having moved to Asheville, NC spending some more time at home with his daughter and making rounds with a number of other songwriters.

Having launched their musical career in Austin with 2006’s Live From Momo’s and 2007’s CD/DVD Live at Antone’s, as well as being honored as “Best New Band” at the Austin Music Awards (2007), 2008 saw the release of their eponymous first studio effort in a self-titled, produced by iconic Texas troubadour Ray Wylie Hubbard. That album won widespread fan approval and copious critical acclaim, as did 2009’s One Foot in the Ether, which, like its predecessor, reached the #1 slot on the national Americana radio charts. Also in 2009, the band gained substantial TV exposure, performing live sets on PBS’ Austin City Limits and the legendary German music show Rockpalast. The Band of Heathens were nominated for "New Emerging Artist" at the Americana Music Association's Awards in 2009 & "Best Duo or Group" in 2010. In 2011, they released their third studio album Top Hat Crown and the Clapmaster’s Son, followed in 2012 by the two-CD/two-DVD set The Double Down: Live in Denver, which once again spotlighted the band’s mastery as a live unit. Keep an eye on the band’s website and social networks for more about their first full-length album since to 2013’s Sunday Morning Record, due out in the fall of 2016.

For more information and updates on the upcoming release, please visit www.bandofheathens.com, www.facebook.com/thebandofheathens, www.twitter.com/bandofheathens, and www.youtube.com/user/bandofheathens

The Band of Heathens on Tour
3/9 Wed - The Funky Biscuit - Boca Raton, FL
3/10-14 Thu-Mon - Kid Rock’s Chillin’ The Most Cruise - departs from Miami, FL
3/16 Wed - SXSW - Swan Dive - Austin, TX ^

3/17 Thu - SXSW - Craftsman - Austin, TX >
3/25 Fri - Luckenbach Dancehall - Fredericksburg, TX
3/26 Sat - Legendary Firehouse Saloon - Houston, TX
3/31 Thu - Cervantes’ Other Side - Denver, CO *
4/1 Fri - Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, CO *
4/2 Sat - Sheridan Opera House - Telluride, CO
4/15 Fri - MAIN St. Fort Worth Arts Festival - Fort Worth, TX
4/17 Sun - Old Settler’s Music Festival - Driftwood, TX
4/19 Tue - Knuckleheads - Kansas City, MO*
4/20 Wed - Off Broadway - St. Louis, MO*
4/21 Thu - The Castle Theatre - Bloomington, IL*
4/22 Fri - Taft Ballroom - Cincinnati, OH
4/23 Sat - Beat Kitchen - Chicago, IL
4/24 Sun - Woodlands Tavern - Columbus, OH
4/26 Tue - Lafayette's Music Room - Memphis, TN
4/29 Fri - Hal & Mal's - Jackson, MS +
4/30 Sat - Rock ‘n’ Ribs Benefit - Selma, AL
5/26 Thu - Free Texas Music Series @ The County Line - San Antonio, TX
5/28 Sat - The LOT Downtown - Mansfield, TX
6/3 Fri - Montrose Music Summer Series - Montrose, CO
6/4 Sat - Music on the Mesa - El Prado, NM
6/23 Thu - Thursday Music On Main - Victor, ID
6/24 Fri - Hwy 30 Music Fest - Filer, ID
6/26 Sun - Blues, Brew and BBQ at Snowbasin - Huntsville, UT
8/19 Fri - Texan Theater - Greenville, TX
8/20 Sat - Cultural Activities Center - Temple, TX

^ New Frontier Touring Presents
> The New Americana Party
* w/ Chicago Farmer supporting
+ supporting the Drive-By Truckers

Wed, 03/23/2016 - 4:06 pm

NPR’s World Cafe, produced by XPN in Philadelphia, brought the show to Asheville’s The Grey Eagle on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 for sold out evening of entertainment with Jon Stickley Trio and The Honeycutters, two Asheville-based bands who have both been making headlines across the country. World Cafe host David Dye was in the house to interview with them during their performances. The airdate to hear both band’s performances is Thursday, March 31st as part of the “Sense of Place: Asheville” series. Find out more at www.WorldCafe.NPR.org. Fans can tune into their local affiliate station at the scheduled World Cafe broadcast time and Asheville area folks can tune in to World Cafe on WNCW weekdays between 4am to 6am and 6pm to 8pm. 

The full series of “Sense of Place: Asheville” will run starting the week of March 28th. While in town, World Cafe explored Asheville music and musicians with visits to downtown's Echo Mountain Recording Studio including local musicians Steep Canyon Rangers, Tyler Ramsey of Band of Horses, The Get Right Band, and River Whyless. They also interviewed with some movers and shakers in the scene including Jessica Tomasin (Studio Manager at Echo Mountain Recording), Michelle Moog (The Bob Moog Foundation), and Alli Marshall (Author and Mountain Xpress’ Arts Editor) among others.

Front Row Focus’ David Simchock was on hand to capture in photographs show at The Grey Eagle with Jon Stickey Trio and The Honeycutters and a live audience. He writes, “Let it be known that I witnessed, if not participated in, history in-the-making in Asheville, particularly within our awe-inspiring music… as the night went on, and as David Dye's insightful interviews delved deeper and deeper into the inspiration behind the artists, I realized how huge this event was/is for all of the musicians in Asheville, if not everyone in the city. Oh, and the actual performances were pretty bad-ass as well!” Check out the images here → http://bit.ly/AVLWordCafePhotos

The Asheville Citizen times writes, “Jon Stickley Trio and The Honeycutters are two of Asheville's strongest bands, and they're both breaking into the national eye in impressive ways.” The New York Times says of Jon Stickley Trio’s sound offers “a turbocharged original with a ska upbeat and a shredding melody. And when Mr. Stickley and friends turn to bluegrass, they sound both respectful and free.” Nashville’s Music City Roots’ Craig Havighurst says of The Honeycutters, “Vocalist Amanda Platt has a voice that’s complex, sweet and aching. Even more potently, she writes songs that folks are citing as up there with the best of the field, such as Mary Gauthier and Lucinda Williams.”

Since launching World Cafe in 1991, David Dye has served as the host of this nationally acclaimed show, now syndicated on more than 200 public radio stations worldwide. World Cafe’s Sense of Place is a quarterly series which brings the whole crew, including host David Dye, to various cities around the world. Previous shows have been recorded in Rio de Janeiro, Iceland, Havana, Stockholm (Sweden), Dublin, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Austin, Pittsburg, Nashville, Memphis, Portland, and more.

For more information, please visit www.WorldCafe.NPR.org,
www.TheGreyEagle.com, www.jonstickley.com, and www.thehoneycutters.com.

Thu, 03/24/2016 - 2:17 pm

The Honeycutters have a voice you can’t ignore; a voice of persistence, of struggle and of hope, a voice that leads the new music movement erupting out of Asheville, NC. Poised to release their 4th studio album On The Ropes May 20, 2016 on Organic Records, Nashville’s Music City Roots’ Craig Havighurst says principal songwriter and frontwoman, Amanda Anne Platt “has a voice that’s complex, sweet and aching. Even more potently, she writes songs that folks are citing as up there with the best of the field, such as Mary Gauthier and Lucinda Williams.” Along with Platt, The Honeycutters are Rick Cooper (electric and upright bass), Josh Milligan (drums and vocal harmonies), Matt Smith (pedal steel and electric guitar), and Tal Taylor (mandolin). On The Ropes was produced by Amanda Anne Platt and Tim Surrett and engineered and mastered by Van Atkins at Crossroads Studios in Arden, NC. 

“Fitting in at country honky-tonks and hard-scrabble bars alike, the Honeycutters have built a reputation for high energy shows coupled with tight harmonies and wistfully delicate lyrics of longing, heartbreak, and the American experience,” writes Alan Cackett (UK).

In On The Ropes Platt continues to bring songs of heartache, yearning, and comebacks using phrases so relatable you wish you had thought of them yourself, ”Love ain't ever black and white, it's pink and gray and blue besides” (“Blue Besides”).

Platt’s writing is always personal. The title track, “On The Ropes,” is a rally song about coming back from hard knocks. “When I'm down for the count there's a voice I can't ignore,” like a continuous conversation with herself, pushing her along and encouraging her to make “something out of nothing.”

In a recent interview with David Dye of the World Cafe, Dye pointed out Platt’s string of songs with ‘love gone wrong’ themes. Her response, “Doesn’t everyone have stories of love gone wrong?” Part of Amanda’s significance as a songwriter lies in her ability to write everybody’s story and allow each listener to feel it’s theirs alone. She shares songs of love and loss, songs of struggles and fears; in “The Only Eyes” Amanda writes, “If there were an easier road that wasn't so crooked, Honey, I hope you know I would have took it." NPR’s World Cafe, produced by XPN in Philadelphia, brought the show to Asheville’s The Grey Eagle this February for a sold out evening of entertainment including The Honeycutters in their “Sense of Place” series. The airdate for The Honeycutters’ World Cafe segment is Thursday, March 31st during the first hour of the show.

The power of Amanda’s songwriting requires musicianship with the kind of edginess needed to match it, to cohesively surround the lyrics in just the right skin while still shining in their individual performances.

Alternating between upright and, new to this album, electric bass, Rick Cooper accentuates the band’s delve deeper into a rock sound blending with their old-school country roots attitude. Along with drummer Josh Milligan the two create a powerful pocket and groove that locks the album together, with Milligan’s vocal harmonies complementing and enhancing Platt’s lead. The pedal steel work of Matt Smith brings unexpected rock licks on an instrument traditionally reserved for a classic country sound in tracks like “Blue Besides” and “Only Eyes”. Smith also shows his prowess on electric guitar with rock, and R&B flavored runs and solos like in “Golden Child”. Tal Taylor’s mandolin cuts through with bitey, bluesy notes and fierce tremolo that pushes the instrument beyond its obvious folk appeal.

On The Ropes has thirteen tracks of all original material with the exception of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” a song Amanda has been playing since before she moved to Asheville. She says, “We've had a number of people ask us to record our version, so here 'tis.”  Special guests on the album include Amanda’s father Mark Platt on harmonica, Jeff Collins on piano, and Jason Webb on Hammond B-3 Organ. "The Handbook" features the lovely ladies of Sweet Claudette on vocals: Dulci Ellenberger, Melissa Hyman, and Amber L. Sims. 

A special vinyl edition of On the Ropes will be released April 12, 2016 on Vinyl Tuesday, as a featured national release for Record Store Week. This will include a double album released through Organic Records®’ national distribution partner Select-O-Hits. This vinyl album will be made available to independent record stores throughout the country in time for Record Store Day on April 16th. Vinyl Mastering by Scott Barnett at Crossroads Studios / Arden, NC and Jeff Powell at Take Out Vinyl, Memphis, TN.

On The Ropes builds on the critical success of The Honeycutters breakout album Me Oh My [Organic Records 2015], which appeared on over twenty “2015 Year End Lists” including nods from No Depression, “It’s the type of country music you’d play on the jukebox and take a spin on a red dirt floor” and Cleveland Scene, “an upbeat symphony of regret, redemption and resurgence.” The album was voted #3 on WNCW’s Top 100 Listeners Poll (Under Jason Isbell and Alabama Shakes), listed in NPR’s Folk Alley’s Top 50, and was one of KBCS’s “Most Played Albums of 2015.”

In their “50 Essential Albums for 2015” list, Saving Country Music writes, "Me Oh My is the 14-song testament that you sense could be the centerpiece of her career when it’s all said and done... This is a band, an album, and a songwriter that both the Americana and country world should pay greater attention to." Me Oh My launched The Honeycutters onto the national stage, bringing along an army of fans with them. Don’t blink now, they’re coming back for more.

It has been said that overnight success is a result of long time dedication and hard work. Amanda writes, in “Golden Child,” her love letter to the music industry, “Now I don't mind if it takes a little time, when it comes to waiting I've been practicing for years.”

On The Ropes - Track Listing
1. On the Ropes
2. Blue Besides
3. Golden Child
4. The Handbook
5. The Only Eyes
6. Back Row
7. Useless Memories
8. Piece of Heaven
9. Let's Get Drunk
10. 500 Pieces
11. Ache
12. Hallelujah
13. Barmaid's Blues

 

Wed, 03/30/2016 - 7:14 am

The New Stew is a “super group” of a handful of fine musicians from all genres of music that features Corey Glover (Living Colour, Galactic) on vocals, Roosevelt Collier (The Lee Boys) on Lap Steel/ Pedal Steel, Yonrico Scott (Derek Trucks Band, Royal Southern Brotherhood) on percussion, Dave Yoke (Susan Tedeschi Band, Dr. John, Scrapomatic) on guitar, Jared Stone (Stone’s Stew) on drums, and Matt Slocum (Oteil and the Peacemakers, Col. Bruce Hampton & Aquarium Rescue Unit, The Lee Boys) on piano. This project was formed with one focused goal, to pay respect to those recordings that influenced the players and to re-imagine recordings that they feel should be heard and experienced in a live setting.

The first homage will be paid in Spring of 2016 when the group makes its debut in select cities playing the classic Bill Withers - Live At Carnegie Hall album from start to finish. It is more than a labor of love, it is a way to allow the public to experience something again or in many cases the first time and reconnect with this classic recording over four decades since it’s release. The tour kicks off in early May in Cincinnati before heading up north to Philadelphia, Annapolis, Brooklyn, and Washington, DC and then loops down south for shows in Asheville and Atlanta.           

Bill Withers’ performance at Carnegie Hall on October 6, 1972, was recorded, and released as Live At Carnegie Hall in the following year. Recorded less than a year and a half since Withers quit his day job to pursue music full time, the then rising soul star commands the historic New York stage with veteran poise and power with songs like "Use Me", “Ain't No Sunshine”, and “Lean On Me.” In counting years as a live performer he was a novice but his ability to transform the hallowed venue to a tiny club and hold the audience's attention like a conversation, a feat that heightens the intimacy of the performance and accentuates the intensity of the songs.

Withers' along with his band moved fluidly, stretching out the songs beyond their initial recorded times, the subsequent jams take the audience on a ride the studio recordings were not able to do. The album ranks at number 27 on Rolling Stones' list of the 50 Greatest Live Albums of All Time. Live At Carnegie Hall stands as one of the greatest live recordings of all time. and The New Stew is delighted to re-imagine this time-honored performance.

The New Stew on tour performing Bill Withers - Live At Carnegie Hall

5/5 Thu - Live at Ludlow Garage - Cincinnati, OH
5/6 Fri - The Ardmore Music Hall - Philadelphia, PA
5/7 Sat  - Ram’s Head On Stage -  Annapolis, MD
5/9 Mon - Brooklyn Bowl - Brooklyn, NY
5/10 Tue - The Hamilton Live - Washington, DC
5/11 Wed - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
5/12 Thu - Center Stage - Atlanta, GA

For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/thenewstew

Meet The Players in The New Stew:

Corey Glover

Corey Glover is a singer and songwriter who is best-known for his work in Living Colour and has toured as the vocalist for the funk band Galactic. Corey is a GRAMMY Award winner for Best Hard Rock Performance (Cult of Personality) and was also named best new Best New Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards (1989). Living Colour was also included to be one of the first bands on the inaugural Lollapalooza tour in 1991. With his band Living Color, Corey has released 6 albums. Living Colour blends hard rock, soul, funk and jazz to create a unique sound that is often copied but never duplicated. Cory and his band mates have remained sonic pioneers for over 2 decades. In addition to live music, in 2006 Corey began a co-headlining a national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, playing the role of Judas. Corey performed as Judas with the National touring company until 2008 when he returned to his band to begin work on their next record.

           

Roosevelt Collier

Soft-spoken by nature, south Florida-bred Roosevelt Collier does his hollering on the steel guitar. Seated front and center, the "sacred steel" front man with The Lee Boys leaves an indelible mark on listeners, flooring audiences with his lightning-fast slide work. A regular "Artist at Large" at festivals, the sit-in virtuoso has built a reputation for collaborating with some of the industry's most respected artists of all genres, from the Allman Brothers and Umphrey’s McGee, The Del McCoury Band, and Dumpstaphunk. His new side-project, the Roosevelt Collier Trio, features Mofro drummer Anthony Cole and Shak Nasti bassist Matt Lapham -- a powerhouse rhythm section, creating a filthy groove for Roosevelt's slide to sing like James Brown and shred like Jimi Hendrix. No matter the context, when Roosevelt takes the stage, the ear-to-ear grins can't help but be contagious.

Yonrico Scott
In 1979, Yonrico accepted an Artist in Residency assignment in Atlanta, GA, with The Neighborhood Arts Center’s Department of Cultural Affairs. He soon became one of Atlanta's most sought-after studio drummers. Since 1995, Yonrico has been touring with the Derek Trucks Band (DTB). Since their self-titled debut CD was released in October 1997, the band has released six albums. The DTB has headlined both ‘Blues Cruise’ and ‘Jam Cruise,’ and completed multiple tours in Japan & Europe.  He is also a member of the Royal Southern Brotherhood along with Cyril Neville. Throughout his musical career, Yonrico has recorded and/or performed with a Who’s Who list of well-known artists. Most recently, he has collaborated with The Ying Yang Twins and Outkast. Other notable artists include Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Widespread Panic, Phil Lesh, and The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Yonrico's Broadway tour performances include The Wiz, 5 Guys Named Moe, and Dream Girls.

Dave Yoke

Dave Yoke taught himself guitar in his native Anniston, Alabama drawing on the blues enthusiasm of his older siblings. He launched his career as a founding member of the long-standing, regionally popular Second Hand Jive. In the mid-90s, Yoke moved to Atlanta and became an in-demand session player, joining forces with (Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown associate) Dr. Dan Matrazzo. Yoke was then invited to become a full-time member of the oft-GRAMMY-nominated Susan Tedeschi Band and the legendary Dr. John. He is also a permanent member of Scrapomatic, with whom he tours and has recorded three albums. As testament to his blues roots, Dave is regularly invited to sit in with the Allman Brothers Band, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Americana artist Kristina Train.

Jared Stone
Jared Stone has done a few things. Played for country music stars, served in the USMC, drove minors across the country for merchandise %, studied music at universities, played a lot of jazz, made records, played on records, owned jazz clubs, built music venues, mended fences, promoted concerts and festivals, directed festivals and some other things that he is sure he can’t remember. He has a bad ankle from running in combat boots too long. He still plays the drums pretty good though and his band is Stone’s Stew.

Matt Slocum
Born in Newton, MA, Matt Slocum began his formal classical training at the age of 8, at the South Shore Conservatory of Music in Boston. At the age of 14 Matt moved to Alabama where he was accepted to the Alabama School of Fine Arts. In the summer of 1991, he attended the Berklee College of Music Performance Summer Program, and was rated among the top 10 musicians in the entire program. Matt is a keyboardist whose skills are predominantly in-demand with southern jazz, funk, fusion & blues musicians. Matt has been a member of the Oteil and the Peacemakers, Col. Bruce Hampton & Aquarium Rescue Unit, Jimmy Herring Band, Jeff Sipe Band, The Lee Boys, Susan Tedeschi band, and the Rich Robinson Band.

 

Fri, 04/01/2016 - 10:36 am

Raw, soulful, and with plenty of swagger, Town Mountain, based in Asheville, NC, releases their 5th studio album Southern Crescent on April 1, 2016 through LoHi Records. Produced and engineered by GRAMMY winner Dirk Powell, the album was recorded in Powell’s studio The Cypress House in Breaux Bridge, LA. It was mixed by Mixed by Scott Vestal at Digital Underground in Greenbrier, TN.

With an insatiable musical hunger, the members of Town Mountain (Robert Greer on vocals and guitar, Jesse Langlais on banjo and vocals, Bobby Britt on fiddle, Phil Barker on mandolin and vocals, and Nick DiSebastian on bass) made their way to the little south-central Louisiana town of Breaux Bridge, where they recorded their most cohesive, most satisfying album to date. Adam Chaffins* plays bass in the touring outfit.

Southern Crescent was recorded in a decidedly old-school way, live, with minimal fixes and overdubs, with all the musicians in the same room and no noise-reducing baffling between them. Each of Town Mountain's members contributed songs to Southern Crescent, with Barker, Langlais and Greer the chief writers in the band.

From the boogie-woogie piano of Jerry Lee Lewis that inspired the delightful (and danceable) "Coming Back to You," to Greer's cleverly penned and fast-paced "Tick on a Dog," which offers a taste of another major bluegrass influence, Jimmy Martin, Southern Crescent is tailor-made to keep live audiences on their feet, but it'll also keep those who think they can easily peg Town Mountain on their toes.

That variety is indeed part of what drives Southern Crescent, which opens with Britt's delightfully dizzying fiddle work on "St. Augustine," and showcases Greer's hard-country vocals on "House With No Windows" and on the freewheeling composition "Ain't Gonna Worry Me," (penned by Barker). The group members' palpable chemistry (and individual artistry) are displayed throughout such instantly memorable tracks as "Wildbird," (Barker) and "I Miss the Night," which Langlais penned (with Mark Bumgarner) after experiencing 22 hours of daylight during Alaska's summer solstice.

The new album is being released on the new LoHi Records. Based in Greensboro, NC, the label is a partnership formed by entrepreneur and marketing veteran Jim Brooks with singer/songwriter and record producer Todd Snider, record producer Tim Carbone (who also plays fiddle in newgrass band Railroad Earth) and Chad Staehly from Gold Mountain Entertainment in Nashville.

Town Mountain's Southern Crescent Tour 2016:
4/1 Fri - The Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
4/2 Sat - Newgrass Brewing Company - Shelby, NC
4/5 Tue - Hampton Taphouse - Hampton, VA
4/6 Wed - Gypsy Sally's - Washington, DC
4/7 Thu - Lizard Lounge - Cambridge, MA
4/8 Fri - Hill Country BBQ - New York, NY
4/9 Sat - The Hobo Stage - Fredon, NJ
4/10 Sun - Tin Angel - Philadelphia, PA
4/12 Tue - Haymarket Whiskey Bar - Louisville, KY
4/13 Wed - Cosmic Charlie’s - Lexington, KY
4/14 Thu - The Station Inn - Nashville, TN
4/15 Fri - Barley's - Knoxville, TN
4/16 Sat - Waverly “Old 280” Boogie - Waverly, AL
4/17 Sun - Zydeco - Birmingham, AL
4/28 Thu - Independent Ale House - Greenville, SC
4/30 Sat - UNC - Chapel Hill, NC
5/13 Fri - KSUT Concert Series @ Henry Strater Theatre - Durango, CO
5/14 Sat - Denver Beer Co.’s Sundrenched Music Festival - Denver, CO
5/14 Sat - Ophelia's Electric Soapbox - Denver, CO (After party with Hot Buttered Run)
5/21 Sat - The Pour House - Charleston, SC (with Peter Rowan)
5/22 Sun - Lincoln Theatre - Raleigh, NC (supporting Hard Working Americans)
5/24 Tue - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC (supporting Hard Working Americans)
5/25 Wed - Minglewood Hall - Memphis, TN (supporting Hard Working Americans)
5/27 Fri - White Squirrel Festival - Brevard, NC
5/28 Sat - Rooster Walk - Martinsville, VA
6/1 Wed - Music City Roots - Nashville, TN
6/3 Fri - Bailey Park - Winston-Salem, NC
6/5 Sun - Nelsonville Music Festival
6/11 Sat - Festival of the Bluegrass - Lexington, KY
6/16 Thu - Back Porch Music Series - Durham, NC
6/23 Thu - Rudyfest 16 - Grayson, KY
6/24 Fri - ROMP Fest - Owensboro, KY
7/23 Sat - Homegrown Music Festival - Ozark, AR
8/5 Sat - Pickathon - Happy Valley, OR

Fri, 04/22/2016 - 12:15 pm

The Band of Heathens are currently on tour in the Midwest on their "Green Grass Spring Tour" and paid tribute to Prince at The Castle Theatre last night in Bloomington, IL with their own soulful take on "Purple Rain."

Watch the video here:

The Band of Heathens on Tour 2016
4/22 Fri - Taft Ballroom - Cincinnati, OH
4/23 Sat - Beat Kitchen - Chicago, IL
4/24 Sun - Woodlands Tavern - Columbus, OH
4/26 Tue - Lafayette's Music Room - Memphis, TN
4/27 Wed - Revolution Music Room - Little Rock, AR
4/29 Fri - Hal & Mal's - Jackson, MS +
4/30 Sat - Rock ‘n’ Ribs Benefit - Selma, AL
5/20 Fri - Tulsa International Mayfest - Tulsa, OK
5/21 Sat- Gary Foster Memorial Concert - Denton, TX
5/26 Thu - Free Texas Music Series @ The County Line - San Antonio, TX
5/28 Sat - The LOT Downtown - Mansfield, TX
5/29 Sun - River Road Ice House - New Braunfels, TX
6/3 Fri - Montrose Music Summer Series - Montrose, CO
6/4 Sat - Music on the Mesa - El Prado, NM
6/9 Thu - Continental Club - Austin, TX
6/10 Fri - Levitt AMP Denison Music Series - Denison, TX
6/11 Sat - Floore’s Country Store - Outdoors - Helotes, TX
6/23 Thu - Thursday Music On Main - Victor, ID
6/24 Fri - Hwy 30 Music Fest - Filer, ID
6/25 Sat - Snowbird Cool Air Concert Series - Snowbird, UT
6/26 Sun - Blues, Brew and BBQ at Snowbasin - Huntsville, UT
7/7 Thu - Music In The Mountains - Big Sky, MT
7/9-10 Sat-Sun - The Ride Festival - Telluride, CO
8/3 Wed - Elway’s Summer Concert Series - Denver, CO
8/7 Sun - Rhythms on the Rio - South Fork, CO
8/19 Fri - Texan Theater - Greenville, TX
8/20 Sat - Cultural Activities Center - Temple, TX

+ supporting the Drive-By Truckers

Wed, 05/25/2016 - 1:41 pm

Jon Stickley Trio is excited to embark on tour for a plethora of shows this festival season! They have stops throughout the country including the White Squirrel Festival in North Carolina and Rooster Walk in Martinsville, Virginia this May. They kick off June in Nashville on their way St. Louis and then Colorado’s Front Range. Mid-June brings them back to the Southeast and they finish up the month at ROMP in Owensboro, Kentucky. In July, the Trio simmers in the Carolinas before making appearances at Red Wing Roots in Virginia and North West String Summit in Oregon. Mid-July sees their return to Colorado to the Dolores River Brewery and they close out the month in New Mexico and Texas before making their way back East in August with a notable show at Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage in Washington, DC. See the full list of dates below and stay tuned for more to be announced.

Jon Stickley Trio is making waves with the independent and fan-funded release of their 2nd album, Lost at Last [October 2015], which was produced by Dave King of The Bad Plus. The originality and sheer energy of this genre-bending ensemble serves as a welcome wake up call for those who experience it. With roots in gypsy jazz, bluegrass, and hip-hop in an “exhilarating all-acoustic swirl” (Acoustic Guitar Magazine), Jon Stickley Trio combines Jon Stickley’s rapid-fire flatpicking guitar with the sultry and wild, yet refined, melodies of Lyndsay Pruett on violin set over the deep groove of Patrick Armitage on drums.

The New York Times’ Nate Chinen writes “... there’s hardy cohesion among the players — no less on the Gypsy standard ‘Valse de Wasso’ than on ‘Darth Radar’ a turbocharged original with a ska upbeat and a shredding melody.” Premier Guitar Magazine took note of “Darth Radar,” calling it, “a rapid-fire take that moves from a serious ska beat to burning surf-style runs that would make Dick Dale proud.” They caught the attention of NPR’s Heavy Rotation, made an appearance on Nashville’s Music City Roots (where they performed three songs and received three standing ovations from packed audience), as well as recording with NPR’s World Cafe in the Trio’s hometown of Asheville, NC with live studio audience in a sold out show. It has been a whirlwind and the Trio is up for more with a new album they will record this winter.

Jon Stickley Trio On Tour 2016
5/27 Fri - White Squirrel Fest - Brevard, NC
5/28 Sat - Roosterwalk - Martinsville, VA
6/1 Wed - The Basement - Nashville, TN
6/2 Thu - The Bootleg at Atomic Cowboy’s LouGrass Thursday’s - St. Louis, MO
6/4 Sat - Pagosa Folk 'N Bluegrass - Pagosa, CO
6/8 Wed - Hodi's Half Note - Ft. Collins, CO (with Front Country)
6/9 Thu - Cervantes - Denver, CO
6/10 Fri - Lazy Dog - Boulder, CO
6/16 Thu - Pickin’ in the Plaza - Raleigh, NC
6/18 Sat - The Getdown in Pumpkin Town - Marietta, SC
6/24 Fri - ROMP (late night set) - Owensboro, KY
7/6 Wed - Nantahala Brewing Co. - Bryson City, NC
7/7 Thu - Visulite Theatre - Charlotte, NC
7/9 Sat - Red Wing Roots - Mt. Solon, VA
7/12 Tue - NWSS Pre-Party- Nectar’s- Seattle, WA
7/14-16 Thu-Sat - NorthWest String Summit - North Plains, OR
7/20 Wed - Dolores River Brewery - Dolores River, CO
7/21 Thu - Crash Music - Aztec, NM
7/22 Fri - Taos Mesa Brewing - El Prado, NM
7/23 Sat - Private House Concert - Albuquerque, NM
7/28 Thu - Dosey Doe Music Cafe - Conroe, TX
7/29 Fri - Lamberts Downtown - Austin, TX
8/5 Fri - Secret Stages - Birmingham, AL
8/6 Sat - Boyd’s Jig & Reel - Knoxville, TN
8/11 Thu - American Tobacco - Durham, NC
8/12 Fri - Jimmy’s at Red Dogs - Wrightsville Beach, NC
8/13 Sat - Calico Room - Wilmington, NC
8/18 Thu - Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center - Washington, DC
8/21 Sun - The Rowayton Summer Music Festival - Rowayton, CT
8/24 Wed - Empire State Plaza Concert Series - Albany, NY
8/25 Thu - Joe’s Pub - New York, NY
9/24 Sat - Boats & Bluegrass - Winona, MN
9/29 Thu - Private House Concert - Traverse City, MI
9/30 Sat - Crooked Tree Arts - Petosky, MI
10/13-16 Thu-Sun Suwannee Roots Revival - Live Oak, FL

Stay tuned for more TBA!

Tue, 06/28/2016 - 10:25 am

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is excited to announce the Suwannee Roots Revival taking place October 13­-16, 2016 at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, FL. The stellar lineup includes Leftover Salmon, Sam Bush, The Wood Brothers, Donna The Buffalo, Peter Rowan Band, Blueground Undergrass, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, The HillBenders "Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry", Town Mountain, Col. Bruce Hampton, Mike & Ruthy Band, Jon Stickley Trio, and more.

The festival promises to be a family friendly event, and includes camping, disc golf, campground pickin' sessions hosted by Sloppy Joe and Quartermoon, workshops and more! In addition, long­time friends of the park Randy Judy and Beth Judy will emcee the new festival.

Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf and biking.The Spirit of Suwannee Music Park offers a unique experience like no other, a true playground for all that attend. The Park also offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms and water stations. Upgraded Camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, is currently on sale and reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. Attendees can also reserve golf cart rentals by calling the park.                   

A limited number of Early Bird Tickets are on sale now for $135 for a 4-­day Weekend Pass (all taxes, fees and primitive camping included) through July 6th when they rise to the next ticketing tier. Kids under 12 are invited to join for free. See all rates and tiers and get tickets at www.suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets.

SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Suwannee Roots Revival 2016 Lineup
Leftover Salmon   
Sam Bush
The Wood Brothers
Donna The Buffalo
Peter Rowan Band
Blueground Undergrass
Jim Lauderdale
Verlon Thompson
The HillBenders "Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry"
Town Mountain
Col. Bruce Hampton
Mike & Ruthy Band
Jon Stickley Trio
Sauce Boss
Dread Clampitt
Nikki Talley
Grass Is Dead
Ralph Roddenbery & Donna Hopkins
Grandpa's Cough Medicine
Walter Parks & Lee Hunter
SYGYZY
The Applebutter Express
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe
The New 76ers
Belle & the Band
Acoustic Messengers
Big Cosmo
Habanero Honeys

Further information at www.SuwanneeRootsRevival.com. Also visit us on at www.facebook.com/suwanneeroots, Twitter & Instagram: @SuwanneeRoots (#SuwanneeRoots).

Wed, 07/13/2016 - 5:54 pm

Raw and soulful, with plenty of swagger, Town Mountain, is on tour with their 5th studio album, Southern Crescent, which released to much acclaim on April 1, 2016 on LoHi Records. The band debuted on the Grand Ole Opry stage in June. Just two weeks later they made their debut appearance at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, as part of a three day run of shows supporting Greensky Bluegrass. The album debuted at #4 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart and stayed for ten weeks on the Americana Music Association's radio chart’s top 40. 

Town Mountain, based in Asheville, NC, continues their album relase tour mid-July with shows in Atlanta, Mississippi, and Arkansas before heading up to the northwest states in early August. They return to the south for a number of shows this summer and fall including opening for Yonder Mountain String Band at the Party in the Holler in New River Gorge, then traveling into Virginia and the Carolinas. The season includes notable appearances at Watermelon Park Fest, World of Bluegrass, and Suwannee Roots Revival. 

No Depression’s Amos Perrine names Town Mountain as, “the most exciting bluegrass band to come along in a long time." This is echoed by Music City Roots’ Craig Havighurst sentiments, “I’d put Town Mountain on my list of Five Bluegrass Bands You Must Know in 2016, because while the genre has forked and morphed in wonderful ways, these guys from Asheville have more Flatt & Scruggs and more Jimmy Martin in their sound than any young band I can think of. And when they do nod to other influences, they tend to be from parallels to the early bluegrass era, like Chuck Berry and Carl Perkins for example.” 

Town Mountain includes Robert Greer on vocals and guitar, Jesse Langlais on banjo and vocals, Phil Barker on mandolin and vocals, Jack Devereux on fiddle, and Adam Chaffins on bass. Please note Bobby Britt (fiddle) and Nick DiSebastian (bass) perform on Southern Crescent.

Produced and engineered by GRAMMY winner Dirk Powell, Southern Crescent was recorded in Powell’s studio The Cypress House in south-central Louisiana town of Breaux Bridge. It was mixed by Mixed by Scott Vestal at Digital Underground in Greenbrier, TN. The album was recorded in a decidedly old-school way, live, with minimal fixes and overdubs, with all the musicians in the same room and no noise-reducing baffling between them. Each of Town Mountain's members contributed songs to Southern Crescent, with Barker, Langlais, and Greer the chief writers in the band. 

Raleigh News & Observer calls Southern Crescent hard-charging, grits-and-gravy authentic, the kind of emotions on the strings of Bill Monroe and Flatts and Scruggs pioneered more than 60 years ago… Town Mountain honors the Ancients while bringing a collective and generational identity to their art.” 

Town Mountain holds its own against all comers when it comes to producing a powerhouse bluegrass drive grown from deep roots.” Bluegrass Unlimited goes on to write, “Much like Monroe’s original Blue Grass Boys show, the CD opens with a lickety-split fiddle number, ‘St. Augustine,’ then the band shifts gears and rolls into an up-tempo, bouncy ‘Ain’t Gonna Worry’ written and sung by the band’s mandolinist, Phil Barker.” 

Town Mountain has been making it rounds at notable festivals this season having already appeared at ROMP and Festival of the Bluegrass in Kentucky, Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh, Denver Beer Co.’s Sundrenched Music Festival, Rooster Walk in Virginia, Nelsonville Music Festival in Ohio, among others. Walter Tunis with Lexington Herald Ledger notes, “The ascension of Town Mountain as one of the festival’s [Festival of Bluegrass 2016] premiere acts was demonstrated in a set that emphasized the North Carolina’s quintet’s obvious strengths – specifically, a rugged ensemble charge (showcased at once during the show opening "Tick on a Dog"), ample stylistic dexterity (the honky tonk drive of "Whiskey With Tears") and individual firepower (Greer’s joyous vocals, Phil Barker’s quick-witted mandolin picking).”

“The past echoes through Town Mountain, clear through to the future,” says Railroad Earth’s Tim Carbone. “To bluegrass fans I'd say the genre is in good hands. But you will dig the rough edges too! They're a shot of 100 proof bluegrass with a honky-tonk chaser!" Carbone is part of the partnership of the new LoHi Records, of which Southern Crescent is the first album in their catalog. Based in Greensboro, NC, the label also includes Hard Working Americans’ Todd Snider (singer/songwriter and record producer ) and Chad Staehly (keyboardist who is also with Gold Mountain Entertainment in Nashville), as well as entrepreneur and marketing veteran Jim Brooks.

Town Mountain ‘Southern Crescent’ Tour 2016:
7/20 Wed - Terminal West - Atlanta, GA (w/ Sam Lewis)
7/21 Thu - Down On Main Concert Series - Tupelo MS
7/22 Fri - Proud Larry's - Oxford, MS
7/23 Sat - Homegrown Music Festival - Ozark, AR
8/3 Wed - Applegate Lodge - Jacksonville, OR
8/4 Thu - The Old Stone - Bend, OR
8/5 Fri - Pickathon - Happy Valley, OR
8/6 Sat - Double Mountain Brewery - Hood River, OR
8/7 Sun - Nectar’s - Seattle, WA
8/12 Fri -  The Twisted Pear - Forest City, NC
8/19 Fri - Capital Ale House - Richmond, VA
8/20 Sat - The Barns of Rose Hill - Berryville, VA
8/21 Sun - Sanctuary Brewing Co - Hendersonville, NC
8/25 Thu -  Gottrocks - Greenville, SC
8/27 Sat - The Pour House - Charleston, SC
8/26 Fri - Ziggy’s by the Sea - Wilmington, NC
9/3 Sat - Party in the Holler @ ACE Adventure Resort - New River Gorge (supporting Yonder Mountain String Band)
9/9 Fri - Blue Bear Music Fest - Boone, NC
9/10 Sat - Beericana - Holly Springs, NC
9/22 Thu - Botanic Garden - Kernersville, NC
9/24 Sat - Watermelon Park Fest - Berryville, VA
9/30 Fri - World of Bluegrass - IBMA - Raleigh, NC
10/13-14 Thu-Fri -Suwannee Roots Revival - Live Oak, FL

Thu, 08/11/2016 - 6:57 pm

Chicago Farmer, the moniker Bloomington, Illinois’ Cody Diekhoff performs and writes under, is set to independently release his 7th album, Midwest Side Stories, on September 30, 2016. Midwest Side Stories is about hope, depression, job loss, meth, skateboards, a divided nation, used cars, the late shift, farms, factories, the destruction of our environment, and still being around to sing about it. The new release contains ten tracks all of which were written by Diekhoff (pronounced dee-cough), with the exception of the John Hartford classic “I'm Still Here.”

Folk hero Todd Snider says, "I love Chicago Farmer's singing and playing and songs, but it's the intention behind the whole of his work that moves me to consider him the genuine heir to Arlo Guthrie or Ramblin' Jack Elliott. He knows the shell game that goes on under folk music… which is sacred to me. Chicago Farmer is my brother; if you like me, you'll love him."

Lyrically driven, Chicago Farmer delves into the social and political issues of today’s world, taking it all in and putting it back out through music as a commentary on modern times in the Midwest. With his unfeigned and relatable approach, Chicago Farmer has earned a place in the heart of this generation’s rise of protest songs. He composes music written and sung by and for the working man, the "regular person", bringing to mind modern day folk tales.

“I arrived here, kicking and screaming the day that I took the stage, I went searching for some kind of meaning, like words looking for a page. Came up empty and full of worry that nothing could cover the pain, then these songs and stories began unfolding like an umbrella in the rain.” This is the opening stanza to the first song “Umbrella”, a song that speaks of the power of music in people’s lives and is dedicated to songwriters everywhere, including many of whom we've lost in 2016.

With heartfelt observations of the world around him, Chicago Farmer has been around the folk scene for a while now singing the stories he has written along the way, aiming to capture the essence of the human condition and putting it all on display. He has gotten to know a variety of players over the years and brought together a wonderful cast of musicians to perform on the album. Diekhoff co-produced Midwest Side Stories, with engineer Chris Harden at I.V. Labs Studios in Chicago, Illinois. Harden also played Glockenspiel and harmonized vocals on select tracks. Others on the album include vocalist and guitarist Ernie Hendrickson, drummer Darren Garvey, vocalist Heather Horton, and a handful of other Midwestern mainstays.

Cody has his finger on the pulse of middle America. Coming from a long line of family farmers and factory workers in central Illinois and growing up in a rural farming community has inspired many songs that are autobiographical in nature. Farms & Factories” is a workgrass song featuring fiddle, tempo changes, and the farming side of Chicago Farmer. In 2002 he moved up north to the big city where he came up with the name Chicago Farmer for what was initially intended to be a band, but ended up keeping the name for himself and started writing and recording albums. Eventually he moved back in 2008 to central Illinois where he makes his home in Bloomington. The Midwest is where he was born and raised. It’s where he first started to write poetry and where he would eventually set those words into motion with his guitar.

With Midwest Side Stories Chicago Farmer builds an adventurous narrative that brings issues to the front burner with folk/protest songs. “Two Sides of the Story” is an acoustically portrayed glimpse of the evolving division in the United States. It takes aim at the media, politics, and religion's role in that division. “There’s two sides to every story, there’s two sides to every town, the side of town that tells the story. The side where the story went down.”

An upbeat electric working class protest song, “Revolving Door,” describes manufacturing job loss in the Midwest with howling vocals, a driving beat, and ripping harmonica. “My home state of Illinois continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the region, and manufacturing jobs continue to disappear.” Cody says, ”Politicians who work the current system to benefit themselves and their constituencies have sold out these industries and workers. While the CEO's of these companies hand out pink slips to their workforce, they continue to hand themselves bonuses.”

“9pm to 5” examines the plight of the working American and pays tribute to those with unconventional work hours. At other times Chicago Farmer goes tongue-in-cheek with “Skateboard Song” which takes listeners on a ride with this folk story song, questioning our laws and priorities.

Midwest Side Stories is a follow up to 2013’s Backenforth, IL which rose to #33 on the Americana Charts as well as top #10 on several folk charts. Honest Tune wrote of it, "You can smell the dirt in the fields, hear the wind as it blows across the plains, and see the people that Chicago Farmer sings about. Each track captures a moment in time, whether for a person or a particular place. Imagine if a John Steinbeck short story had been written as a song, and this will give you a fairly good idea as to what Chicago Farmer accomplishes on his albums." 

Chicago Farmer is ready to kick down some more doors and put something new in as many ears, hands, living rooms, and car stereos as possible. Midwest Side Stories is available now on pre-order on Kickstarter through September 11th and folks that donate will receive it at their doorstep several weeks before the official release.  “We’ve set our goal at $20… because we love you.” Cody says, “My last album has a song called The Twenty Dollar Bill. It's easily one of my top 3 requested songs, I especially love that it's requested by people of all ages. It's a story song inspired my grandparents and I've been told has moved a lot of people. We put a lot of heart, soul, sweat, tears, and even some blood into making this album. While the basics are covered, we still have a large hill to climb and any support that you can offer is greatly appreciated”

Midwest Side Stories captures everything that Chicago Farmer is capable of as a performer, songwriter and story teller. He draws you in with the emotion in his voice and holds you captive with the lyrical pictures he paints about the real struggle the common man is up against.

Wed, 08/17/2016 - 11:11 am

Fifteen MarchFourth musicians traveled to New Orleans and spent ten days recording at The Parlor Recording Studio, making their fourth studio album, MAGIC NUMBER, their first in over five years. With Producer Ben Ellman (Galactic) and Engineer/Producer Mikael “Count” Eldridge (DJ Shadow, Tycho, Galactic, Trombone Shorty) at the helm, this album is full of the captivating grooves and brassy swagger you have come to expect from M4, plus a healthy dose of New Orleans magic, with guest appearance by Trombone Shorty, Stanton Moore (drums), and Matt Perrine (sousaphone). The album was fan-funded through Kickstarter and will be independently released September 30, 2016.

“MAGIC NUMBER represents a shift in the band’s musical evolution, featuring more vocals and guitar than our previous records.” Founding member and band leader, John Averill, who also sings and plays electric bass says, “It is also the first record by “MarchFourth” (we officially dropped the “Marching Band” from our name).”

MarchFourth is a genre-breaking force of entertainment. This explosion of brassy funk, rock, and jazz emanates from twenty or so performers: musicians, acrobats, stilters and more, touring the country year-round, stealing the festival wherever they appear, taking audiences on a joy-inducing, booty-shaking, soul-stirring journey that defies categorization. Word on the street: You have to see it to believe it! 

“From the first note to the last, the sound was pumping and the fun never stopped,” exclaimed USA Today. “It’s worth noting that there are serious musicians behind all the fun. I was a music major in college and it’s obvious these guys (and gals) have had lots of training and formal practice. Talented band geeks turned rebels. When one of the horn players steps up to improvise a solo, you know it’s going to be a treat.”

“Working with a large group of talented songwriters and musicians in M4 made the project go really smoothly. Wherever the band goes they sort of set up camp… that led to a really creative working communal environment.” Producer Ben Ellman states, “It's always exciting to work with a band that is open to experimentation and different possibilities. MarchFourth came in wanting to expand their sonic pallet from what they've done previously.”

“Unlike M4's previous albums, recorded over weeks and months in our hometown of Portland, Oregon, getting the band to NOLA for a ten-day recording session really created an intensity and electricity you can feel throughout MAGIC NUMBER.” Founding member, cymbal player, singer, and tour manager Dan Stauffer recalls, “After long days at The Parlor, the band members would go out to party on Frenchman Street and sit in on sets all over the city, meanwhile the producers, Ben and Count, would create mixes late into the night: that's the mojo you can hear, everything going off for ten days straight.

Ellman attests, “The individual songwriters all had a clear vision of where the song should end up… there are different styles on the record, but as a whole it's very cohesive. Very MarchFourth.” Four of the band’s members wrote the eleven songs on MAGIC NUMBER including John Averill, trombonist and singer Anthony Meade, trumpet player and singer, and project manager Paul Theodore Chandler, and electric guitarist and baritone sax Taylor Aglipay

“The decision to work with Ben Ellman was a decision to make a modern sounding horn-driven record. This is certainly the biggest, punchiest, and rockinest M4 has ever sounded on an album. We certainly pushed the bounds of what we're comfortable with genre-wise and performance-wise but we have a lineup of musicians right now who can handle it better than ever.” Anthony Meade says, “Putting the microscope on yourself in the recording studio is one of the most ego-shattering processes to undergo as a musician. Some people handle it better than others but we were able to get super deep in such a saturated environment.”

With a load of fresh new material, MarchFourth enters some new territories on this album, channeling some deep swampy voodoo vibes steeped in the brassy NOLA traditions. MAGIC NUMBER kicks of with the aptly named “Call to Action,” featuring the M4-style second line, calling on folks to get on up and “shake yo’ tail feathers!” 

Stanton Moore makes a guest appearance on drums on the song "Push It Back" carrying the listener off on a royal litter of afro funk. Trombone Shorty blows a fiery solo on "Inventing the Wheel,” a musical journey into a heavy hypnotic groove; the track also features Ben Ellman on harmonica. Matt Perrine of Bonerama plays sousaphone on the uplifting and soul searching “Science (Free Your Mind)” which radiates all the energy of a street party in a full-on brassy explosion.

The title track’s visceral and thoughtful vocals draw you into a bombastic dream world you won’t want to leave, fusing eastern brass and the Wild West, with a little nod to Adam and the Ants. “The funky breakdown part popped into my head late one night after many Tecates. Lyrically, the song is about age, aging, the cycle of life, mortality, and coping with acceptance and resentment.” John Averill says, “I was 47 when we recorded it, and months later one of my best friends, Dave Camp (who subbed for M4 a few times on guitar) died of cancer at age 47… There’s something illusory to me about age and linear time, yet apparently each of us has a physical duration.”

“The Quarter” has more of a sexy feel, with a slinky hip-hop vibe mashing up the style of 50 Cent's "In Da Club" with some Tower of Power or Chicago-style brass parts. Paul Theodore Chandler says of it, “Unlike the other tunes I wrote for the album, this one had been ‘road tested’ at shows for some time, but with different lyrics that were more appropriate to a live show. Wanting to rewrite the lyrics to fit the scope of this album, I set out to capture the anticipation and excitement of flying into a new city at night, being enveloped in the magic of that new place. And what better place to land than the French Quarter in New Orleans.”

Other songs on the album range from the bubbly and danceable pick-me-up “Hotstepper” with the unforgettable earworm of a hook, “Don’t tell my mom,” to the balkan brassy “Drunk Bears,” and the gypsy metal sound of “Jan Jar.” ”It’s a Trap” features the band as punk rock as a brass band can go, while “Endless Highway” speaks to timeless beauty in its brevity--a gentle closer to such a bold and flavorful album.

Further members of MarchFourth appearing on MAGIC NUMBER include Katie Presley on trumpet, Daniel Lamb on trombone, Jon VanCura on guitar, saxophonists Michelle Christiansen (alto), Cameron DePalma (tenor), Andy Shapiro (tenor), and Jon VanCura (baritone, bass), as well as drummer & percussionists Jenny DiDonato (snare, congas, bells, blocks, ride), Cheo Larcombe (bass drum, percussion), Will McKinney (toms, chocalho),
and Jake Wood (snare, hi-hat).

“I always feel like we are some freaky kind of Jack-in-the-box. Put twenty of us in a 45-foot bus for 6-8 hours a day, then open the door onto a stage and watch us explode!” Stauffer says, “Old greats like Basie and the Duke were some of my first favorite jazz artists in college. I love the fact that I tour and play with all these fantastic horn players and travel around in this bus. We are very much like the big bands of old, except we also have electric guitars, stilt-walkers, acrobats, and a psychedelically wide palette of musical styles and costumery.”

MarchFourth will continue to tour all over the United States in support of this album through the fall and into 2017 with their colorful stage show full of energy and groove.

Widely recognized for the allure of their live show, MarchFourth breaks ground with their music in the forefront on MAGIC NUMBER.

Wed, 09/07/2016 - 1:59 pm

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park has announced the final lineup of artists for the inaugural Suwannee Roots Revival taking place October 13-16, 2016 at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, FL. Joining the lineup are The Honeycutters, Shook Twins, Arvid Smith, The Fried Turkeys, The Dunehoppers, Gumbo Limbo Cajun Band, comedian and magician Jeff Bradley, Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus and Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp.  

These artists and others join Leftover Salmon (Fri/Sat), The Wood Brothers (Fri), Sam Bush (Sat), Donna The Buffalo (Sat/Sun), Peter Rowan (Sat/Sun) and many more talented and amazing artists near and dear to the Spirit of the Suwannee family.

This old school, family friendly event includes camping, disc golf, and campground pickin' stages at Slopryland hosted by Sloppy Joe and at Bill Monroe Shrine hosted by Quartermoon. There will be performance workshops by artists Peter Rowan, Verlon Thompson, Jim Lauderdale, Jeff Mosier and others! There will also be hands on workshops with instruction provided by festival artists and daily yoga with Rhonda Bell.

A special Permaculture Action Day of gardening and workshops will be held on Thursday, October 13, 2016. Festival attendees, who sign up in advance, will come together for hands-on projects in permaculture, rainwater harvesting, and assembling recycling stations. 

The Dance Tent Stage will be located in the meadow providing a shaded space designed for movement. There will be a dance floor with Contra and Square Dances led by The Dunehoppers with instruction at the beginning of each set. Many of your favorite bands will be performing there including Donna the Buffalo, Blueground Undergrass, and The Mike + Ruthy Band.

The Kids Tent will be the place to be for the young and young at heart as Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus host a variety of musical and fun activities. There will also be a kids stage for performances featuring special presentations by Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp.

Suwannee Roots Revival is also excited to unveil beautiful poster art for 2016 by Marci Davis, longstanding friend of the Suwannee music scene. Stay tuned for an additional art poster by Bean Spence. Signed posters will be available for sale at Festival Merch.

Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf and biking. The Park also offers guest comforts including a general store, full-service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping is currently on sale and reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364-1683

SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the Park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Currently, Advance Tickets are on sale now for $155 for a 4-day Weekend Pass (all taxes, fees and primitive camping included). This price is good until September 20th. 

Further information at www.SuwanneeRootsRevival.com. Also visit us on at www.facebook.com/suwanneeroots, Twitter & Instagram: @SuwanneeRoots (#SuwanneeRoots)
Suwannee Roots Revival 2016 Lineup:
Leftover Salmon
Sam Bush
The Wood Brothers
Donna The Buffalo
Peter Rowan Band
Blueground Undergrass
Jim Lauderdale
Verlon Thompson
The HillBenders "Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry"
Col Bruce & Madrid Express
Town Mountain
The Mike + Ruthy Band
Jon Stickley Trio
The Honeycutters
Shook Twins
Sauce Boss
Dread Clampitt
Nikki Talley
Grass Is Dead
Grandpa's Cough Medicine
Ralph Roddenbery & Donna Hopkins
Walter Parks & Lee Hunter
SYZYGY
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe
The Applebutter Express
The New 76ers
Acoustic Messengers
Belle & the Band
Big Cosmo
Habanero Honeys
The Fried Turkeys
Arvid Smith
Gumbo Limbo Cajun Band
The Dunehoppers
Jeff Bradley
Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus
Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp

Wed, 09/21/2016 - 8:05 am
Balsam Range’s assent to the top of the Bluegrass world has left a well marked trail of success since the band's inception in 2007. One of the genre’s most award winning artists in recent years garnering ten International Bluegrass Music Association Awards to date with five critically acclaimed albums, Balsam Range has put on live performances across the nation, including multiple Grand Old Opry appearances that have left audiences spellbound. Nominated for three International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards (Entertainer, Vocal Group, and Vocalist of the Year) for 2016, Balsam Range is offering something that is sure to continue to mesmerize fans of Bluegrass and beyond with their new release Mountain Voodoo, due out November 11 on Mountain Home.

Mountain Voodoo is like the book of life “Chapter Six” for Balsam Range; 13-tracks filled with songs of journey, home, sense of place, hardcore stomping drive, and longing. There are fiery instrumental parts alternating with heavy, deep ballads overlaid by the vocal harmonies the group has become known for.

Balsam Range is Buddy Melton (Fiddle, Lead and Tenor Vocals), Darren Nicholson (Mandolin, Octave Mandolin, Lead Vocals, Baritone and Low Tenor Vocals), Dr. Marc Pruett (Banjo), Tim Surrett (Bass, Dobro, Baritone and Lead Vocals), and Caleb Smith (Guitar, Lead & Baritone Vocals). The five original members are all acoustic musicians and singers from North Carolina and they thoughtfully and respectfully adopted the name of a majestic range of mountains that surrounds part of their home county of Haywood, NC where the Smokies meet the Blue Ridge, the Balsam Range.
Picturing the story of Mountain Voodoo... 
Imagine yourself, if you can, high up on a ridge in the mountains of North Carolina at midnight under a full moon, looking through the smoky nighttime haze at the surrounding ridges all covered in Balsam firs. It’s a scene of life engulfed in strong but muted tones, crisp air, bubbling springs, and the power of uncertain mystery. The springs carry the mystery down and down, feeding the the creeks and streams that feed the ponds and the small farms, and the small towns and the people in them, and the works they create by day.
Then, somehow imagine that there is a soundtrack to all this - to all the old tales, lives lived, and even the scenery itself. It sounds like adventure glimpsing into the unknown, but remembering family and friends and always wanting to return home. Yes, there’s a dualistic nature about it, but the story always finishes with the pull of the mountains, the people and the places.
This environment, this background and this living culture is the backdrop that chooses the songs and creates the rhythms and styles, that voices the vocals and fingers the strings, that casts acoustic spells on every audience every time. When Balsam Range performs, a joyous magical mysterious musical mist enchants the audience as well as the band. Buddy, Caleb, Darren, Marc, and Tim become the messengers and the crowd is transported to that place. This is what is Balsam Range—this is Mountain Voodoo.
The mystical deep jam of “Voodoo Doll” is a fun creative twist on the age-old tale of broken hearted love loss and the attempt of passing one's heartache off on mystical curses rather than accepting reality.  Written by Jeb Anderson many years ago, the band has wanted to record it for a long time, after Melton first heard it performed by a dear friend and fellow artist known as “Tall Paul”. It is not your typical bluegrass song; It could just as easily be performed by a rock band.
There are multiple songs written by Balsam Range “staff writer” Milan Miller, including the catchy opening track, “Something ‘Bout That Suitcase,” which Miller penned along with Beth Husband. Buddy Melton, a longtime fan of lyrics that make you think, and IBMA Vocalist of the Year nominee for 2016, asks, “How many times have you seen a stranger traveling through life and wondered, what is their story? Where are they going? What has brought them to this place? We all have and it’s that curiosity and interest in other people that brings society together. Maybe it’s the human inherent caring spirit that defines us most or at least gives us hope for humanity. ‘Suitcase’ is a song we can all relate to and one that will at least have you looking around the airport terminal with curiosity the next time you fly the friendly skies.”
Blue Collar Dreams” is a working class anthem, written by Aaron Bibelhauser, it had all the elements for Balsam Range to transform it into a great bluegrass song to comfort the frustrations of working for the hard-to-attain American Dream. From the first note of the mandolin kick off you realize quickly that things are going to get tense but in a good way. 
Eldorado Blue” is a story of finding oneself and recognizing contentment in life is something we can all stand to do; whether it means moving away or staying in what may seem an unlikely location to achieve it, is a blessing. “The Girl From The Highlands” is another journey song inspired by Miller's travels through the Highlands years ago and the stories of many Scottish Highlanders who traveled to the US for work but often couldn't afford to bring family along. Balsam Range spices it up with Tony Rice styled vocals and Caleb’s guitar licks which capture that same vibe and groove. 
Mountain Voodoo is thematic of life in Western North Carolina, from the haunting and lonesome “I Hear the Mountains”, to the Honky Tonk of “Hello Heartache,” to the rip-roaring banjo led “Chain Gang Blues,” to the sacred and soothing “Rise and Shine,” and Gospel inspired and powerful “Wish You Were Here.
Balsam Range fills the air with traditional, yet contemporary sounds, things that are new, yet still somehow familiar. Mountain Voodoo is a follow up to the band’s fifth album, Five (2014), which made its Billboard Chart debut at #4 and remained on the Billboard chart for 12 weeks. The album excelled on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Airplay Album Chart, spending 5 consecutive months at #1 with seven #1 songs, earning the group the 2015 IBMA Awards for Vocal Group of the Year and Song of the Year for “Moon Over Memphis.”
Elements of jazz, country, gospel, swing, and old-time music are all infused into the fresh sound of this unique Southern band. It’s five distinct personalities creating one remarkable musical experience. It’s the award-winning Balsam Range and they are excited to bring Mountain Voodoo to the world this year.
Balsam Range’s Mountain Voodoo Tracks & Songwriter Credits

  1. Something 'Bout That Suitcase     3:34 (Milan Miller)

  2. Blue Collar Dreams                       2:54 (Aaron Bibelhauser)

  3. Voodoo Doll                                   4:08 (Jeb Stuart Anderson)

  4. Eldorado Blue                                3:08 (James Ellis, Milan Miller)

  5. The Girl From The Highlands        3:02 (Milan Miller, Thomm Jutz)

  6. I Hear The Mountains                    4:36 (Milan Miller, Davis Raines)

  7. Chain Gang Blues                         2:09 (Marvin C. Davis)

  8. Rise And Shine                             4:25 (Mark Bumgarner, Aimee Bumgarner)

  9. Spring Hill                                      3:36 (Marc Pruett)

  10. Hello Heartache                             2:29 (Milan Miller, Glenn Simmons)

  11. Lines In The Sand                         3:00 (Craig Market, Barry Bales)

  12. Don't Walk Away                           2:47 (Miriam Sonstenes)

  13. Wish You Were Here                    5:00 (James M Stover, Michael C Williams)

Thu, 09/29/2016 - 12:14 pm

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is excited to announce the music schedule for the inaugural Suwannee Roots Revival taking place October 13-16, 2016 at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, FL. This old school, family friendly event includes camping, disc golf, and campground pickin' stages and features multiple stages, The Amphitheater, The Porch, The Dance Tent, Workshops at The Music Hall & The Music Farmers Hands On Workshop Stage, many decorated with beautiful backdrops by Richard and Rainne of tye-dyebackdrops.com. Bring your instruments to enjoy the pickin’ parties going off throughout the campgrounds. 

Suwannee Roots Revival is thrilled to unveil a poster design by Visual and Performance Artist Bean Spence whose whimsical and fantastical art will also decorate The Amphitheater Stage. Bean Spence, along with Matt Abercrombie and Leo Hearn, will be painting live and displaying their art in the vendor village. Folks can pick up signed copies of Bean’s poster as well as the poster previously unveiled by Marci Davis at Festival Merch.

Join the Suwannee team in dressing in your best 70's pinball wizard attire on Thursday for The HillBenders “Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry,” following sets from The Shook Twins and Town Mountain. Thursday night will close out with a late-night set from The Grass is Dead.

Friday features long sets from The Wood Brothers and Leftover Salmon, back to back closing out the night on The Amphitheatre Stage. Also see Blueground Undergrass, Col. Bruce Hampton & The Madrid Express, The Honeycutters, Ralph Roddenbery and Donna Hopkins and more Friday on the main stage. The Porch Stage will also be kicking off on Friday with sets from Florida favorites Grandpa's Cough Medicine, Acoustic Messengers, and The Applebutter Express. Comedian/Illusionist Jeff Bradley will be making special appearance as the last performance of the evening on the Porch Stage.

Leftover Salmon will return to the stage on Saturday for back to back hour-and-a-half sets with Sam Bush on The Amphitheatre Stage. The Stage also features long sets with Donna the Buffalo and Peter Rowan, following Jon Stickley Trio, Verlon Thompson, The Mike + Ruthy Band among others. On Saturday afternoon there will be plenty of things for the kids to do hosted by the Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp. Later on Nikki Talley, Dread Clampitt,  and Quartermoon perform, Comedian/Illusionist Jeff Bradley will make a second appearance.     

Sunday brings things back in a bit with all the music at The Amphitheatre Stage with Donna the Buffalo closing out the festival in a set which will feature many other musicians that have also performed throughout the weekend. This follows an extra special set from Col. Bruce Hampton, Reverend Jeffrey Mosier, and Friends! Sunday also features Jim Lauderdale, Peter Rowan, Verlon Thompson, and Big Cosmo. The stage begins at 10am with Tania and The Kids Jam.

The Dance Tent Stage features music Thursday through Saturday and will be located in the meadow providing a shaded space designed for movement. There will be a dance floor with Contra and Square Dances led by The Dunehoppers with instruction at the beginning of each set. Many of your favorite bands will be performing there including Jim Lauderdale & Donna the Buffalo, Col. Bruce Hampton & Madrid Express, Blueground Undergrass, Town Mountain, Jon Stickley Trio, SYZYGY, Dread Clampitt, The Mike + Ruthy Band and more!

The Kids Tent will be the place to be for the young and young at heart as Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus host a variety of musical and fun activities. 

Throughout the weekend the Music Farmers Hands On Workshop Stage will host hands-on workshops with instruction provided by festival artists. A special Permaculture Action Day of gardening and workshops will be held on Thursday, October 13, 2016. Festival attendees, who sign up in advance, will come together for hands-on projects in permaculture, rainwater harvesting, and assembling recycling stations. 

Live Oak Music and Arts Foundation (LOMAF) will hold a raffle to raise funds for Kids Music Education in Northeast Florida. Funds got to in-school education programs in Suwannee and Hamilton county and to Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp. Catch kids from the music camp performing on Saturday on The Porch stage!

Our healing arts programs feature Yoga with Rhonda Bell, Continuum Movement® Introductory workshop with Donnalea Van Vleet Goelz, and possibly an "unannounced" Tai Chi workshop on Sunday with one of our favorite artists. 

Check out the full schedule with these acts and many more talented and amazing artists near and dear to the Spirit of the Suwannee family at www.suwanneerootsrevival.com.

Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf and biking. The Park also offers guest comforts including a general store, full-service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping is currently on sale and reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364-1683.

SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the Park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Further information at www.SuwanneeRootsRevival.com. Also visit us on at www.facebook.com/suwanneeroots, Twitter & Instagram: @SuwanneeRoots (#SuwanneeRoots)

Suwannee Roots Revival 2016 Lineup:
Leftover Salmon
Sam Bush
The Wood Brothers
Donna The Buffalo
Peter Rowan Band
Blueground Undergrass
Jim Lauderdale
Verlon Thompson
The HillBenders "Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry"
Col Bruce & Madrid Express
Town Mountain
The Mike + Ruthy Band
Jon Stickley Trio
The Honeycutters
Shook Twins
Sauce Boss
Dread Clampitt
Nikki Talley
Grass Is Dead
Grandpa's Cough Medicine
Ralph Roddenbery & Donna Hopkins
Walter Parks & Lee Hunter
SYZYGY
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe
The Applebutter Express
The New 76ers
Acoustic Messengers
Belle & the Band
Big Cosmo
Habanero Honeys
The Fried Turkeys
Arvid Smith
Gumbo Limbo Cajun Band
The Dunehoppers
Jeff Bradley
Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus
Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp

Sat, 10/01/2016 - 2:49 pm

Fifteen MarchFourth musicians traveled to New Orleans and spent ten days recording at The Parlor Recording Studio, making their fourth studio album, MAGIC NUMBER, their first in over five years. With Producer Ben Ellman (Galactic) and Engineer/Producer Mikael “Count” Eldridge (DJ Shadow, Tycho, Galactic, Trombone Shorty) at the helm, this album is full of the captivating grooves and brassy swagger you have come to expect from M4, plus a healthy dose of New Orleans magic, with guest appearance by Trombone Shorty, Stanton Moore (drums), and Matt Perrine (sousaphone). The album was fan-funded through Kickstarter and is out now!

MAGIC NUMBER represents a shift in the band’s musical evolution, featuring more vocals and guitar than our previous records.” Founding member and band leader, John Averill, who also sings and plays electric bass says, “It is also the first record by ‘MarchFourth’ (Formerly MarchFourth! Marching Band; we officially dropped the “Marching Band” from our name).”

“Unlike M4's previous albums, recorded over weeks and months in our hometown of Portland, Oregon, getting the band to NOLA for a ten-day recording session really created an intensity and electricity you can feel throughout MAGIC NUMBER.” Founding member, cymbal player, singer, and tour manager Dan Stauffer recalls, “After long days at The Parlor, the band members would go out to party on Frenchman Street and sit in on sets all over the city, meanwhile the producers, Ben and Count, would create mixes late into the night: that's the mojo you can hear, everything going off for ten days straight.

“Working with a large group of talented songwriters and musicians in M4 made the project go really smoothly. Wherever the band goes they sort of set up camp… that led to a really creative working communal environment.” Producer Ben Ellman states, “It's always exciting to work with a band that is open to experimentation and different possibilities. MarchFourth came in wanting to expand their sonic pallet from what they've done previously.”

Ellman attests, “The individual songwriters all had a clear vision of where the song should end up… there are different styles on the record, but as a whole it's very cohesive. Very MarchFourth.” Four of the band’s members wrote the eleven songs on MAGIC NUMBER including John Averill, trombonist and singer Anthony Meade, trumpet player and singer, and project manager Paul Theodore Chandler, and electric guitarist and baritone sax Taylor Aglipay.

Stanton Moore makes a guest appearance on drums on the song "Push It Back" carrying the listener off on a royal litter of afro funk. Trombone Shorty blows a fiery solo on "Inventing the Wheel,” a musical journey into a heavy hypnotic groove; the track also features Ben Ellman on harmonica. Matt Perrine of Bonerama plays sousaphone on the uplifting and soul searching “Science (Free Your Mind)” which radiates all the energy of a street party in a full-on brassy explosion.

“I always feel like we are some freaky kind of Jack-in-the-box. Put twenty of us in a 45-foot bus for 6-8 hours a day, then open the door onto a stage and watch us explode!” Stauffer says, “Old greats like Basie and the Duke were some of my first favorite jazz artists in college. I love the fact that I tour and play with all these fantastic horn players and travel around in this bus. We are very much like the big bands of old, except we also have electric guitars, stilt-walkers, acrobats, and a psychedelically wide palette of musical styles and costumery.”

MarchFourth will continue to tour all over the United States in support of this album through the fall and into 2017 with their colorful stage show full of energy and groove. Widely recognized for the allure of their live show, MarchFourth breaks ground with their music in the forefront on MAGIC NUMBER. 

MarchFourth’s ‘Magic Number’ Tour Dates

9/30-10/1 Fri-Sat - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co’s Oktoberfest - Chico, CA
10/4 Tue - Harlow's - Sacramento, CA
10/5 Wed - Don Quixote's International Music Hall - Felton, CA  
10/6 Thu - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA
10/7-8 Fri-Sat - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co’s Oktoberfest - Chico, CA
10/15 Sat - Fed Up Fest - Kansas City, MO       
10/28 Fri - Revolution Hall (2 shows!) - Portland, OR
12/14 Wed - Domino Room - Bend, OR
12/15 Thu - The Egyptian Theater - Boise, ID
12/16 Fri - The Hive - Sandpoint, ID
12/17 Sat - Winthrop Barn Auditorium - Winthrop, WA
1/20/2017 Fri - Broadway Center for the Performing Arts - Tacoma, WA
1/21/2017 Sat - Vern Burton Center - Port Angeles, WA

Tue, 10/11/2016 - 10:47 am

It's been a whirlwind year for the Jon Stickley Trio! On the tail of their 2015 fan funded and independent release, Lost at Last, they have just announced a brand new 5-song EP, Triangular, and a Kickstarter Campaign to help them head back into Echo Mountain Recording Studio with Producer Dave King (Of The Bad Plus) to record a new full length album. King also produced Lost At Last which garnered praise from The New York Times, NPR's Heavy Rotation, NPR's World Cafe, Premier Guitar Magazine, Acoustic Guitar Magazine, and many others. 

Lost At Last made it into rotation on radio stations both nationally and internationally, the Trio performed at over 100 festivals and venues across the country (Including the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC), attracted attention of thousands of new fans, and landed a top notch booking agent. All of this interlocks, proving that the release of a recording can translate directly into touring traction and financial returns that propel the band into the future. Jon Stickley Trio heads into the studio in early December to record the yet unnamed full length album. 

“Asheville, NC's Jon Stickley has been playing in bluegrass bands for years, and is known as a progressive and adventurous flatpicker, but his musical roots and influences range widely to include rap, grunge, punk and more.” Linda Fahey with FolkAlley says for NPR’s Heavy Rotation. “When he teamed up with fiddler Lyndsay Pruett and drummer Patrick Armitage — originally as a lighthearted side project — the end result is a wonderfully unique sound that defies easy categorization.”

Jon Stickley Trio is looking to raise $28,000 and launched the Kickstarter campaign on 10/10; Folks can get involved until it ends on 11/11. They say, “We've set our goal at $28,000 which is substantially less than what the realistic costs add up to, because we understand that this is a group effort, and we are a part of that group!”

Pre-Order the New Album Now & Receive the New EP, Triangular, the day the goal is reached!

KICKSTARTER → http://kck.st/2e0lTzL

Thu, 10/13/2016 - 7:08 pm

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park makes the announcement that The Wood Brothers will not appear at the Suwannee Roots Revival on Friday, October 14 due to an ongoing medical emergency with one of the band members. Everyone is stable and we hope to have more news soon. 

Our Suwannee Community pulls together in times of need and friends of the Park and amazing musicians JJ Grey & Luther Dickinson are coming out as a special addition to the festival and will perform Friday night from 8:30-9:45pm, following Col. Bruce Hampton & The Madrid Express (6:30-7:45pm).

The special Blueground Undergrass reunion show will take place 10:15-11:45pm. Leftover Salmon closes out the night on Friday night. Others performing at the festival throughout the weekend include Sam Bush, Donna the Buffalo, Peter Rowan, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, The HillBenders "Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry", Town Mountain, Col. Bruce Hampton, The Mike + Ruthy Band, Jon Stickley Trio, The Honeycutters and more.

Check out the full schedule with these acts and many more talented and amazing artists near and dear to the Spirit of the Suwannee family at www.suwanneerootsrevival.com; you may also contact  the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park Office at 386-364-1683 or [email protected].

Also visit us on at www.facebook.com/suwanneeroots, Twitter & Instagram: @SuwanneeRoots (#SuwanneeRoots).

Thu, 10/20/2016 - 1:49 pm

One of the most dynamic and determined bands continuously touring America for since 1989, Donna the Buffalo has created a community environment at their shows through their distinctive, groove-heavy, and danceable music. Donna the Buffalo is a band for the people that is accessible, positive, and memorable. With roots in old time fiddle music that evolved into a soulful electric American mix infused with elements of cajun/ zydeco, rock, folk, reggae, and country, Donna’s music often contains social and moral responsibility as core beliefs, and they are just simply fun to get out and celebrate life with. 

Donna the Buffalo is founding members Jeb Puryear and Tara Nevins joined by David McCracken, Kyle Spark, and Mark Raudabaugh. “It's been really fun with this lineup,” Puryear says. “You get to the point where you're playing on a really high level, things are clicking and it's like turning on the key to a really good car. It just goes.”

After over a decade of service and after delivering the band safely to over a thousand gigs, it is time to retire their beloved purple Eagle tour bus. Being on the road for over 25 years, the band spends nearly half the year on the bus. At this point they cannot continue doing what they do without buying a new bus.

They put 1 million miles on the original engine traveling from coast to coast; from their home in Trumansburg on down to Suwannee, from MerleFest to Mcdowell Mountain, from Blue Heron to Grand Targhee, and every fine venue in between. Over mountains, through valleys, across plains, and desert, our bus has enabled Donna the Buffalo to share their music with you all.

In the last 6 months they have replaced the engine twice. At this point, with yet another round of mechanical issues due to the bus's age, they are struggling to make it to their shows. The time has come. Jeb Puryear says, “We have no choice but to buy a new bus.”

Owning and maintaining a bus is no small feat. Jeb, along with the bands driver Loi Cao, Jordy Risk, and many others through the years have worked extremely hard to maintain the bus and keep everyone safe on the road. Tara says, “We appreciate everyone's devotion, love, and hard greasy grueling work to keep us in our purple bus on the road all of these years.”

“We love our bus and we are sad to see it go” All of the band agrees saying, “We have wonderful memories with you all because of that bus. We will carry this love on to the new bus.”

The band’s manager, Ben Greenberg, has started a GoFundMe page to help make it happen→ www.gofundme.com/donnathebuffalo. All money raised will be used directly towards the purchase of the new bus. They have been shopping steadily and we have found one that they are very excited about.

From the moment the band posted the campaign to social media, within 24 hours over 20k was raised. Tara says, “We are feeling the love so strongly! I can't even express how much we appreciate this. We are feeling incredible gratitude and love! And it's only the beginning! Thank you so very much from all of us! This means so much to us! We are sending you love back big time! We can get there, I hope we can! We can't wait to drive in our new bus out west down south, up north, and east! Love and thank you to all! I know we can do this!”

Levels of donations range from $25 for a signed copy of their next studio album when released to house concerts with Tara and Jeb to performing a song with the band and a lifetime guest list for two. They have been in the studio a handful of days already this year and are planning on returning this winter to lay down more track. More news will be forthcoming about the next studio release. There are also a couple of Herd Getaway Lottery entry levels for one person or a couple for the possibility of winning a weekend on the bus with the band, a private meet & greet and cocktails with Tara and Jeb including show tickets, a private songwriting session with Tara and Jeb, dinner and cocktails for two with Tara and Jeb, guest list for a year or two for two people, box seta, t-shirts, mugs, hats, a weekend on the bus. All of the levels are named after songs that have become fan favorites over the years. 

“We thank you all for your continued support, love, and friendship. It means the world to us. We can't do this without you and we can't thank you enough. Peace and Love Always,” Donna the Buffalo. 

For more information and tour dates, please visit www.donnathebuffalo.com
facebook.com/donnathebuffalo and twitter.com/donnathebuffalo

Fri, 10/28/2016 - 8:25 am

Town Mountain is teaming up with The Honeycutters, another stellar band from Asheville, for the Asheville Holiday Hang as a run of shows in the Southeast. The Asheville Holiday Hang originated as a holiday benefit in Asheville, NC and is heading into its 5th year. This year’s benefit event takes place at The Grey Eagle in Asheville on Friday, December 16th and proceeds go to MANNA FoodBank. They decided that they wanted to bring The Asheville Hang on the road and added a few other dates with the same lineup for the holidays. Other dates include December 14th at The Rabbit Hole in Charlotte, NC, December 15th at The Pour House in Charleston, SC, and December 17th at Gottrocks in Greenville, SC.

The Asheville Hang is not an isolated series; Town Mountain will be hosting Asheville Hangs in various cities throughout the year with a variety of other Asheville acts. Town Mountain’s Jesse Langlais says, “This year it has turned into a multi-city event, which originated in Asheville, over the course of a week. Thus, the concept of the Asheville Hang was born. A traveling show, representing some of the finest musical acts Western North Carolina has to offer. Expect to see the Asheville Hang branching out into a variety of other towns.”

The Asheville Holiday Hang 2016 Dates
12/14 Wed - The Rabbit Hole - Charlotte, NC
12/15 Thu -  The Pour House - Charleston, SC
12/16 Fri - MANNA FoodBank Benefit @ The Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
12/17 Sat - Gottrocks - Greenville, SC

Fri, 11/11/2016 - 2:16 pm

Casting Acoustic spells, Balsam Range releases their sixth album, Mountain Voodoo, on November 11, 2016 on Mountain Home Music Company. The band thoughtfully and respectfully adopted the name of a majestic range of mountains that surrounds part of their home county of Haywood, NC where the Smokies meet the Blue Ridge, the Balsam Range. Mountain Voodoo is like the book of life “Chapter Six” for the band; 13-tracks filled with songs of journey, home, sense of place, hardcore drive, and longing.

“Balsam Range can lay down that stomping bluegrass as well as any band but the ballads clearly set them apart. They also add just the right touch of contemporary to their sound, separating them from so many who play that old-timey sound.” Elmore Magazine’s Jim Hynes continues, “The spirit and ambience of the mountains, as seen in CD cover art with the smoky haze set against the fir trees, not only imbues their sound but seems to create a kind of magical intrigue when you listen to ‘I Hear the Mountains’ and some of the others.”

Since the band's inception in 2007, they have left a trail of success towards the top of the Bluegrass World. One of the genre’s most award winning artists in recent years garnering ten International Bluegrass Music Association Awards to date with five critically acclaimed albums, Balsam Range have made multiple Grand Old Opry appearances, were presented by the Governor of North Carolina the NC Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2015 for a “proven record of extraordinary service to the state, and extra effort in their careers”, and were the first band to play at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC in 2010. They have left audiences spellbound, and now Balsam Range is offering something that is sure to continue to mesmerize fans of Bluegrass and beyond with Mountain Voodoo.

"To be sure, Balsam Range fronts a traditional bluegrass sound, but Mountain Voodoo displays depth and texture not found in contemporary straight-ahead bluegrass groups.” Country Standard Time’s Fred Smith says, "They wear it well, and Mountain Voodoo is a fine snapshot of Balsam Range today.

Balsam Range is comprised of five gifted friends who all hail from Western North Carolina. Tim Surrett delivers entertaining MC work as well as seasoned lead and harmony singing. Tim plays bass and he will occasionally share his talents on the resonator guitar. He charms with spontaneity, wit and professionalism. A stellar fiddler, Buddy Melton is also one of the most gifted tenor voices in Bluegrass and Americana today. His range and tone give Balsam Range its identifying sound. With his envied guitar style, Caleb Smith has been called “one of the top young guns of guitar.” He sings with both power and control, delivering a high-energy song or a tender ballad with equal vocal skill. Darren Nicholson is a gifted mandolin player and harmony singer with tremendous enthusiasm for American heritage music. That twinkle in Darren’s eye says it all. He is usually up to something! Grammy Award winner, Dr. Marc Pruett brings more than 40 years of entertainment experience to the group. He brilliantly complements the ensemble with the intuitive, traditional three finger style that has made him one music’s most admired banjo players.

“They kick the album off with a bang.” No Depression’s Frank Gutch Jr. says, “Pure (what they at one time called) Newgrass, the kind of stuff on which Tony Rice and Ricky Skaggs based their reputations. Acoustic guitar (mostly picked), bass, mandolin, fiddle and banjo, and voices. The voices are crucial. You can jig and reel and you can breakdown without vocals but you cannot have the best of what bluegrass offers without voices. Think Seldom Scene and Doyle Lawson. Think harmonies sung by angels. Think harmonies stacked to the ceiling.”

There are multiple songs written by Balsam Range “staff writer” Milan Miller, including the catchy opening track, “Something ‘Bout That Suitcase,” which Miller penned along with Beth Husband. Buddy Melton, a longtime fan of lyrics that make you think, says, “‘Suitcase’ is a song we can all relate to and one that will at least have you looking around the airport terminal with curiosity the next time you fly the friendly skies.”

Mountain Voodoo is thematic of life in Western North Carolina, from the harmonically sentimental melodic “I Hear the Mountains” [Milan Miller, Davis Raines], to the the mystical deep jam of “Voodoo Doll” [Jeb Stuart Anderson], to the Honky Tonk of “Hello Heartache” [Milan Miller, Glenn Simmons], to the rip-roaring banjo led “Chain Gang Blues” [Marvin C. Davis] the sacred and soothing “Rise and Shine” [Mark Bumgarner, Aimee Bumgarner] the Gospel inspired and powerful “Wish You Were Here” [James M Stover, Michael C Williams], the vividly picturesque “Eldorado Blue” [James Ellis, Milan Miller], to the groovy “The Girl From The Highlands” [Milan Miller, Thomm Jutz], and the emotionally powerful “Lines In The Sand” [Craig Market, Barry Bales].

Blue Collar Dreams [is] a hard-luck, hard-workin’ song from Aaron Bibelhauser, sung as a duet by Caleb Smith and Buddy Melton. And in true bluegrass style, this workin’ man’s blues is presented with a cheerful, upbeat sound,” says John Lawless with Bluegrass Today. Watch a video of Balsam Range performing the song in studiohttp://bluegrasstoday.com/blue-collar-dreams-video-from-balsam-range/

Elements of jazz, country, gospel, swing, and old-time music are all infused into the fresh sound of this unique Southern band. It’s five distinct personalities creating one remarkable musical experience. It’s the award-winning Balsam Range and they are excited to bring Mountain Voodoo to the world.

For more information, tour dates, and more, please visit www.balsamrange.com.

Stay up to date with current news on www.facebook.com/balsamrange, www.twitter.com/BalsamRange, and www.instagram.com/balsamrange.

Tue, 11/22/2016 - 1:36 pm

We are thrilled to announce the dates for the 2nd Annual Jam in the Trees taking place Friday-Saturday, August 25-26, 2017 at Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain, NC. Early bird tickets go on sale on Black Friday, November 25, 2016 at 10am. Stay tuned to the festival’s new website www.jaminthetrees.com for more information and updates! Stay tuned for the initial artist announcement in late December. Merchandise from the 2016 JITT is available on the website.

The inaugural event in 2016 featuring The Wood Brothers, The Del McCoury Band, Junior Brown, The Burrito Brothers, and more, was a great success. It raised $5000 in contribution to Wild Forests & Fauna (WildFF) and all the work they did and do to make things happen in Western North Carolina to protect, restore and support threatened forests and wildlife. Relive some of the wonderful moments of 2016 through photos of the event by David Simchock Photography at www.frontrowfocus.com.

"At WildFF, our Big Tree Project that leverages outreach education and reforestation to protect forests in Western North Carolina and around the globe. Jam in the Trees was an incredible event that was rooted in the positive support for our community and supported the growth of our Big Tree Project.” WildFF’s Executive Director Benjamin Colvin says, “Since JITT, the Big Tree Project has grown and has even sparked a relationship with ABTech and local company ArborZen to restore a razed site with over 500 native trees. We are thrilled to be a part of this and can not wait for Jam in the Trees 2017!"  

"Jam in the Trees fit like a glove in our beautiful amphitheater, and we couldn't be more excited to partner with this organization again in support of our most precious forests and natural resources in 2017. It's a real win-win!" says Benton Wharton, Events Manager for Pisgah Brewing.

The 2017 event promises a wide range of award-winning musicians over two days with live performances, exquisite local food offerings, VIP events with the artists, and down-home fun. Limited VIP and weekend ticketing packages will be available. Doors open at 7pm on Friday for shows on the indoor stage. Gates open Saturday at 12pm, with music starting at 1pm throughout the day until 11pm on the beautiful Pisgah Outdoor Stage, followed by an “After Hours Jam” on the indoor stage.

JITT is now accepting art vendor applications for Jam In The Trees 2017. JITT is booking non-food vendors only; if you are a food vendor interested in being a part of JITT, please contact Pisgah Brewing directly. Here is the link to the Art Vendor Application: http://bit.ly/JITT_ArtVendorApp_2017.

“We are incredibly excited to be working in 2017 in support of our mission of philanthropy, music, and community as we bring Jam In The Trees back to Pisgah Brewing with a portion of the event proceeds once again going to Wild Forests and Fauna.” Lifelong resident of Asheville and President of Jam In The Trees, LLC, Laurel York, continues, “We hope the ‘jamsters’ will come out again in 2017 for an even better event than last year and show their support for their great cause!”

More information about Jam in The Trees can be found at www.jaminthetrees.com, www.facebook.com/JamInTheTrees, www.twitter.com/jaminthetrees, and www.instagram.com/jaminthetrees.

Fri, 12/02/2016 - 3:05 pm

On the tail of their critically acclaimed 2015 album, Lost at Last, Jon Stickley Trio independently releases a brand new 5-song EP, Triangular, on December 2,2016. With roots in gypsy jazz, bluegrass, and hip-hop in an “exhilarating all-acoustic swirl” (Acoustic Guitar Magazine), Jon Stickley Trio combines Jon Stickley’s rapid-fire flatpicking guitar with the sultry and wild, yet refined, melodies of Lyndsay Pruett on violin set over the deep groove of Patrick Armitage on drums.

In a time when a lot of instrumental music feels more like math than art, Jon Stickley Trio's Triangular reminds us of the pure joy that can be created and shared through music,” says Greensky Bluegrass’ Anders Beck.

Jon Stickley Trio is on tour this winter with shows in the southeast this December in Knoxville, Kingsport and Charlotte. Jon also has a couple of shows booked with Andy Thorn (Leftover Salmon) and Travis Book (The Infamous Stringdusters) in North Carolina mid-month. On December 30th, the Trio pops up north to Richmond, Virginia to open for The Infamous Stringdusters before heading home to Asheville for a special New Year's Eve Celebration with The Honeycutters on Dec 31st. In early January, Jon Stickley travels to Denver to play two nights as a part of the Bluegrass Generals featuring members of The Infamous Stringdusters, Greensky Bluegrass, and more. The Trio joins up again in Wray, Colorado on the 21st with some surprise mystery dates out west TBA. There’s a scattering of other dates announced including WinterWonderGrass in California in the spring and FloydFest in the summer in Virginia. More to come!

The EP, Triangular, was recorded at Blue Sprocket Sound in Harrisonburg, VA this summer and was sent early to anyone that donated $10 or more to their recent successful Kickstarter Campaign to help them head back into Echo Mountain Recording Studio this winter with Producer Dave King (Of The Bad Plus) to record a yet un-named new full length album due out in 2017. The band surpassed their goal and reached $29,120 and is currently in studio recording.

"I like to think of music as a two-way street, a reciprocal experience between musician and audience,” says Lyndsay Pruett. “The Kickstarter campaign really affirms my view on that. And it truly becomes about more than the money. Money is the thing we all know we need to make the world go around, but this process allows people to have an extra level of personal involvement. We have conversations with people we've met at shows from all over the country, and they become involved in the next record. Then when we go back to those places to play the music for them the experience is more substantial, and more fun, of course."

Triangular features five songs leading out with with “Blackburn Brothers”, of which Beck says, “While the opening notes remind the listener of Tony Rice's Manzanita (one of the greatest acoustic guitar albums of all time), one is suddenly catapulted into Jackson 5 territory a few minutes later in the same song. Sure, comparisons to previous musicians are a good way to explain a new artist to the masses, but to do so is to cheat Stickley of what he really is: a damn genius, a musical mastermind, and one of the most unique, creative, and inventive guitar players I've ever heard.”

Plain Sight” was penned by Jon after the mass shooting at a concert in Paris. ”It's as much an angry response to the perpetrators as it is a mournful tribute to the victims,” says Stickley. The music features Lyndsay's delicate pizzicato violin plucking, Patrick's breakbeat drum vibes, and Stickley's signature high speed shredding. The third phase of the tune breaks down to a gentle trading of melodic lines by Jon and Lyndsay.

Palm Tree” is a tropically themed dance tune has become a staple of the band's live shows. It changes time signatures between 5/4 and 6/8, but remains danceable and accessible. The purpose of “Palm Tree” is to jam out and have fun, and that's what the Trio does on this track. You can hear Jon and Lyndsay pushing each other while Patrick "cooks" underneath, heating up the skillet till its HOT.

Echolocation”’ is a tribute to whales and the beautiful songs they sing underwater. The most evocative of the songs on the record, it features the cello-like longbows of Lyndsay's violin that mimic the whales' songs. Patrick's epic drum solo over Lyndsay and Jon's unison arpeggios is a climactic moment that is one of the band's most dazzling recorded moments to date.

Manzanita” is a classic composition by Jon's hero, guitarist Tony Rice, is arguably one of the most important pieces of music in Newgrass history. The Trio recorded this song as a tribute to those who came before and took musical risks that changes the history of music.

“Since bluegrass players started delving into jazz, they've been composing progressive acoustic music, but so much of it has lacked the comfort in its own skin that Stickley's songs possess.” Anders Beck says of Stickley’s style,“I could go on and on about how amazing it is that his twisty and turny songs don't feel forced, and always bob and weave at the right time; or how Stickley's guitar playing shares as much in common with the flow of the greatest rappers of all time as it does with his flatpicking heroes... I think you get my point. Stop reading this and go listen to his new EP.”

With the success of Lost At Last making it into rotation on radio stations both nationally and internationally, the Trio has traveled over 50,000 miles, performing at over 100 festivals and venues across the country in 2016 (Including the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC), attracted attention of thousands of new fans, and teamed up with a national booking agency. Jon Stickley Trio heads into the studio in early December 2016 to record the yet unnamed full length album with Dave King, who also produced Lost At Last which garnered praise from The New York Times, NPR's Heavy Rotation, NPR's World Cafe, Premier Guitar Magazine, Acoustic Guitar Magazine, and many others.

Jon Stickley Trio has evolved into a fully formed, musical identity that was just beginning to take shape on the first record. Stickley realizes, “Our musicality has matured individually, and collectively to the extent that we can read each other, and respond to each other in a completely intuitive and natural way. We can’t wait to take our matured sound back into Echo Mountain with our mentor and producer, Dave King.”

All of this interlocks, and is propelling the band into the future. Music City Roots’ Craig Havighurst says “A new generation of bluegrass-reared instrumental explorers is coming into its own, and the Stickley Trio is in the vanguard.” While the group does their thing in the studio, they are happy to share Triangular with the world now!

Triangular Track Listing:

1. Blackburn Brothers 4:16
2. Plain Sight 4:26

3. Palm Tree 4:49

4. Echolocation 4:50

5. Manzanita 3:31

Jon Stickley On Tour 
12/7 Wed - Knoxville, TN - WDVX Tennessee Shines @ Boyd’s Jig & Reel
12/8 Thu - Kingsport, TN - Sleepy Owl Brewery
12/10 Sat - Charlotte, NC - The Rabbit Hole *co-Bill with Billy Strings
12/15-16 Thu-Fri - Asheville, NC - Isis Music Hall *Stickley / Thorn / Book support for Travelin’ McCourys
12/17 Sat - Morganton, NC - Winter Music Fest *Stickley / Thorn / Book
12/30 Fri - Richmond, VA - The National  *support for The Infamous Stringdusters
12/31/16 Sat - Asheville, NC - Isis Music Hall *w/ The Honeycutters

1/6-7/17 Fri-Sat - Denver, CO - Cervantes *Jon Stickley as a part of the Bluegrass Generals feat. members of The Infamous Stringdusters, Greensky Bluegrass, etc.
1/20 Fri - Abilene, KS - Great Plains Theatre
1/21 Sat - Wray, CO - 4th and Main Grille
3/30 Thu - San Francisco, CA Neck of the Woods
3/31 Fri - Squaw Valley, CA - WinterWonderGrass
7/26-30 - Floyd, VA - FloydFest

* All dates are Jon Stickley Trio unless otherwise noted.

Mon, 12/19/2016 - 4:35 pm

The Honeycutters are excited to announce they will be back in the studio in January to record their 5th studio album to be released later in the year as the band’s third release on Organic Records. Nashville’s Music City Roots’ Craig Havighurst says of principal songwriter and frontwoman Amanda Anne Platt, “She’s soothing (even in the hurtin’ songs) and sobering (except for the drinkin’ songs) and nuanced in a way that I think tops even those rather famous ladies of the moment named Margo and Kacey… I’d be hard pressed to find a finer string of recordings from any band working in the classic country/mountain tradition in these last five years.” Along with Platt, The Honeycutters are Rick Cooper (electric and upright bass), Josh Milligan (drums and vocal harmonies), Matt Smith (pedal steel and electric guitar), and Tal Taylor (mandolin).

They have been touring with their latest album On The Ropes which came in at #35 on the Top 100 Albums played on Americana Radio in 2016, spending nineteen weeks on the Americana Radio Chart peaking at #10 and remaining in the top twenty for 11 weeks. The album debuted at #39 on iTunes Top 40 Country Chart on Release day, #12 on Amazon's Hot New Releases on Folk, #11 on the EuroAmericana Chart and landed in the #1 position on the Roots Music Report Country Chart.

Helping to carry them into the new year, The Honeycutters have signed on with The WNS Group, a music management, promotion and publishing company headed by 50 year industry veteran Brad Hunt. The management division proudly represents Steve Forbert, Sonny Landreth, Tim O'Brien, Martha Scanlan and now The Honeycutters.

“I've been thinking it might be time for us to hire a manager for a little while now, and when our paths crossed with Brad we were all just in the right place at the right time.” Amanda Platt says, “I knew that he had been helpful to other artists that I admire, I think he's a good fit for us. He understands the business of music but also the people.”

Brad Hunt explains, "I was in Grimey's Basement during AmericanaFest and was entranced by a true force of nature performance by Amanda Plant and The Honeycutters and after consulting with a mutual friend, Martin Anderson of WNCW, decided I had to work with them. Amanda placed the first call to me and now we are ready to spread the word worldwide about this songwriting machine and extraordinary singer!"

In 2017, the band plans to tour extensively in US and will travel to Europe for the first time in the summer. 2016 featured The Honeycutters on NPR’s World Cafe’s Sense of Place (recorded in the band’s hometown of Asheville in a sold out show), NPR’s Mountain Stage, Nashville’s Music City Roots. They opened for Tedeschi Trucks at the Warner Theatre in Washington DC, and made notable appearances at Taos Mesa Brewing’s Music on the Mesa, in New Mexico, Beartrap Summer Festival in Wyoming, Rhythm and Roots Festival in Rhode Island, AmericanaFest in Nashville, Suwannee Roots Revival in Florida among others.

Stay tuned to their revamped website www.TheHoneycutters.com.

Wed, 12/21/2016 - 12:02 pm

Donna the Buffalos old school purple tour bus was well known to The Herd across the country. After over a decade of service and after delivering the band safely to thousands of gigs, they decided it is time to retire their beloved purple Eagle tour bus and they just successfully funded a new tour bus through GoFundMe raising over $85,000 in just a few weeks!

Being on the road since 1989, the band spends nearly half the year on the bus and they put 1 million miles on the original engine traveling from coast to coast; from their home in Trumansburg on down to Suwannee, from MerleFest to Mcdowell Mountain, from Blue Heron to Grand Targhee, and every fine venue in between. Over mountains, through valleys, across plains, and desert, their bus enables Donna the Buffalo to share their music with you all. “We thank you all for your continued support, love, and friendship. It means the world to us. We can't do this without you and we can't thank you enough. Peace and Love Always,” says Donna the Buffalo.

With their new bus equipped for the road, they are about to embark on winter tour and also have announced a handful of shows in the spring. They will celebrate the New Year’s with a run of shows in Florida before heading up to Atlanta (with Butch Trucks of The Allman Brothers who also performs at the show in Ponte Vedra) and then loop their way through the Southeast through Charleston, Columbia, Saxapahaw, and Asheville.

In mid-January they travel to Jamaica for Dark Star Orchestra’s Jam In The Sand at Jewel Paradise Cove Resort with Los Lobos. They close out the month returning to New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut before looping back down through Charlottesville and Charlotte. Rising singer-songwriter Bess Greenberg will join them for a handful of shows in the north mid-February. DtB returns to Florida for the end of the month for shows in Stuart and Orlando as they head down to Virginia Key for GrassRoots Live.

Donna the Buffalo will embark the Sounds of the Sea Cruise with Max Creek and Adam Ezra Group at the end of March and a handful of May shows have been announced in the midwest. Stay tuned for more tour dates.

Known as one of the most dynamic and determined bands continuously touring America for over 25 years, Donna the Buffalo has created a community environment at their shows through their distinctive, groove-heavy, and danceable music. Donna the Buffalo is a band for the people that is accessible, positive, and memorable. With roots in old time fiddle music that evolved into a soulful electric American mix infused with elements of cajun/ zydeco, rock, folk, reggae, and country, Donna’s music often contains social and moral responsibility as core beliefs, and they are just simply fun to get out and celebrate life with.

Donna the Buffalo is Jeb Puryear (vocals, electric guitar) and Tara Nevins (vocals, guitar, fiddle, accordion, scrubboard) joined by David McCracken (Hammond organ, Hohner Clavinet & piano), Kyle Spark (bass) and Mark Raudabaugh (drums). “It's been really fun with this lineup,” Puryear says. “You get to the point where you're playing on a really high level, things are clicking and it's like turning on the key to a really good car. It just goes.”

Donna the Buffalo On Tour 
12/29 Thu - Ponte Verdra Concert Hall - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL *w/ Butch Trucks & The Freight Train Band
12/30 Fri  - Skipper’s Smokehouse - Tampa, FL *w/ Verlon Thompson
12/31 Sat - Skipper’s Smokehouse - Tampa, FL *w/ Ralph Roddenberry
1/1 Sun - The Funky Biscuit - Boca Raton, FL
1/3 Tue - City Winery - Atlanta, GA *w/ Butch Trucks & The Freight Train Band
1/4 Wed - Pour House - Charleston, SC
1/5 Thu - New Brookland Tavern - West Columbia, SC
1/6 Fri - Haw River Ballroom - Saxapahaw, NC
1/7 Sat - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
1/19-22/17 Thu-Sun - Jam In The Sand at Jewel Paradise Cove Resort - Runaway Bay, Jamaica
                                                              * w/ Dark Star Orchestra, Los Lobos
1/27 Fri - Towne Crier Cafe - Beacon, NY
1/28 Sat - The Mauch Chunk Opera House - Jim Thorpe, PA
1/29 Sun - Infinity Hall - Norfolk, CT
2/2 Thu - The Ardmore Music Hall - Ardmore, PA
2/3 Fri - Jefferson Theater - Charlottesville, VA
2/4 Sat - Neighborhood Theater - Charlotte, NC
2/8 Wed - The Waterhole - Saranac Lake, NY *w/ Bess Greenberg
2/9 Thu - Buffalo Iron Works - Buffalo NY  *w/ Bess Greenberg
2/10 Fri - G.A.R. Hall - Peninsula, OH  *w/ Bess Greenberg
2/11 Sat - The Rex Theater - Pittsburgh, PA  *w/ Bess Greenberg
2/24 Fri - Terra Fermata - Stuart, FL
2/25 Sat - The Social - Orlando, FL
2/26 Grassroots Live - Virginia Key, Florida
3/25-4/1 Sat-Sat - Sounds of the Sea Cruise *w/ Max Creek, Adam Ezra Group
5/4-7 Thu-Sun - Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival - Silk Hope, NC
5/12 Fri - Gateway City Arts - Holyoke, MA
5/13 Sat - City Winery - New York, NY
5/18 Thu - Edinboro Music & Arts Fest  - Edinboro, PA
5/19 Fri - City Winery - Chicago, IL
5/20 Sat - Bell’s Eccentric Cafe - Kalamazoo, MI
5/21 Sun - Edinboro Music & Arts Fest - Edinboro, PA

For more information and tour dates, please visit www.donnathebuffalo.com
facebook.com/donnathebuffalo and twitter.com/donnathebuffalo

Wed, 12/28/2016 - 8:07 am

The 2nd Annual Jam In The Trees is thrilled to welcome Acoustic Syndicate, Peter Rowan, Larry Keel, Tim O'Brien, Jim Lauderdale, Underhill Rose, Ken Tizzard to the stage for the 2017 event taking place Friday and Saturday, August 25-26th at Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain, NC. More artists TBA! 

Early Bird Tickets available while supplies last. VIP tickets are available for $100 and include Meet & Greets with the bands, a guided brewery tour and tasting, preferred parking, a commemorative event poster and more! Doors open at 7pm on Friday for shows on the indoor stage. Gates open Saturday at 12pm, with music starting at 1pm throughout the day until 11pm on the beautiful Pisgah Brewing Outdoor Stage, followed by an “After Hours Jam” on the indoor stage. Hotel and shuttle information coming soon. Stay tuned to the festival’s new website www.jaminthetrees.com for more information and updates.

JITT is a benefit for Wild Forests & Fauna (WildFF) and last year's inaugural event raised $5000 to protect, restore and support threatened forests and wildlife in Western North Carolina. Relive some of the wonderful moments of 2016 through photos of the event by David Simchock Photography at www.frontrowfocus.com.

"At WildFF, our Big Tree Project that leverages outreach education and reforestation to protect forests in Western North Carolina and around the globe,” WildFF’s Executive Director Benjamin Colvin says, “Since JITT, the Big Tree Project has grown and has even sparked a relationship with ABTech and local company ArborZen to restore a razed site with over 500 native trees. We are thrilled to be a part of this and can not wait for Jam in the Trees 2017!"   

"Jam in the Trees fit like a glove in our beautiful amphitheater, and we couldn't be more excited to partner with this organization again in support of our most precious forests and natural resources in 2017. It's a real win-win!" says Benton Wharton, Events/PR Director for Pisgah Brewing.

JITT is now accepting art vendor applications for Jam In The Trees 2017. JITT is booking non-food vendors only; if you are a food vendor interested in being a part of JITT, please contact Pisgah Brewing directly. Here is the link to the Art Vendor Application: http://bit.ly/JITT_ArtVendorApp_2017

“We are incredibly excited to be working in 2017 in support of our mission of philanthropy, music, and community as we bring Jam In The Trees back to Pisgah Brewing with a portion of the event proceeds once again going to Wild Forests and Fauna.” Lifelong resident of Asheville and President of Jam In The Trees, LLC, Laurel York, continues, “We hope the ‘jamsters’ will come out again in 2017 for an even better event than last year and show their support for their great cause!”

Jam in The Trees 2017 Initial Lineup:
Acoustic Syndicate
Peter Rowan
Larry Keel
Tim O'Brien
Jim Lauderdale
Underhill Rose
Ken Tizzard

More information about Jam in The Trees can be found at www.jaminthetrees.com, www.facebook.com/JamInTheTrees, www.twitter.com/jaminthetrees, and www.instagram.com/jaminthetrees.

Thu, 01/19/2017 - 9:28 am
New York native, Bill Scorzari, is set to independently release his sophomore album, Through These Waves, on March 10, 2017. Produced by Jonah Tolchin (Yep Roc) and engineered, mixed, and mastered by Billy Bennett, the album of all original material was recorded over twelve days at the famed Bomb Shelter in East Nashville through the studio’s 1970’s MCI console and mixed to tape. In a recent interview with No Depression, Tolchin calls Bill Scorzari, “one of the greatest songwriters I’ve ever heard.” With sincere and robust lyrics, Scorzari’s raspy vocals usher the listener breezily into his world.
 
Joining Scorzari on the album are Joachim Cooder (drums, percussion), Laur Joamets (electric guitar, slide guitar), Chris Scruggs (steel guitar), Will Kimbrough (mandolin, piano), Eamon McLoughlin (fiddle, viola, cello), Jon Estes (upright bass, guitar, organ), Kim Richey (vocals), Brent Burke (dobro) and more.
 
"Bill has a scruffy sentimentality that was comforting to behold.” Billy Bennett comments on the recording sessions, “There were humbling moments of marvel for me during the process, as the tremendous cast of musicians populated Bill's emotional landscapes beautifully. I was privileged to have played a part."
 

Bill Scorzari on Solo Tour with Through These Waves

2.16 Thu - Newburyport Brewing Co - Newburyport, MA
2.17 Fri - Cape Ann Brewing Co - Gloucester, MA
2.18 Sat - Riverwalk Cafe & Music Bar - Nashua, NH*
2.21 Tue - WFUV's On Your Radar at Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 3) - New York, NY%
3.02 Thu - Live in the Lobby at The Patchogue Theatre - Patchogue, NY^
3.08 Wed - Finley's of Huntington - Huntington, NY
3.18 Sat - Avenue 209 - Lock Haven, PA
3.24 Fri - House Concert - Louisville, KY
3.25 Sat - Bobby's Idle Hour - Nashville, TN
3.26 Sun - Acoustic Coffeehouse - Johnson City, TN
3.28 Tue - Awendaw Green Barn Jam - Charleston, SC
3.29 Wed - The Roasting Room (Songwriter Showdown) - Bluffton, SC
4.02 Sun - Americana Cafe Sundays - Lynn Haven, FL
4.12 Wed - Wine & Song - South Pasadena, CA
4.18 Tue - The Laughing Goat - Boulder, CO
4.29 Sat - Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 1) - New York, NY

Also Performing:
* w/ Jeff Scroggins and Colorado
% w/ Susan Kane and Cole Quest & The City Pickers
^ w/ Toby Tobias and SEE

Fri, 01/20/2017 - 9:26 am

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is happy to announce the Suwannee Spring Reunion on March 23 – 25, 2017, at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida. The initial lineup includes Donna the Buffalo, Jerry Douglas presents Earls of Leicester, Peter Rowan Band, Jim Lauderdale, Jeff Mosier with Pickled Holler, Verlon Thompson, Joe Craven, Turtle Duhks, Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, Sloppy Joe, and Quartermoon. Many great additions will be announced!

After careful consideration, for those who are wondering about the traditional Spring festival at Spirit of the Suwannee and given today’s dynamic musical environment; we are proud to offer three glorious days of music this spring. The folks who sparked Fall’s Suwannee Roots Revival, Randy and Beth Judy, and Paul Levine have graciously offered to help put together an intimate and powerful weekend of music, camping, laughter, and fun! We hope you will join us!

Thanks to everyone that came out to support the inaugural Suwannee Roots Revival, which took place last October, making it a wonderful festival experience! We hope that you will plan to attend the next Suwannee Roots Revival on October 12-15, 2017. Stay tuned for more on SRR.

Suwannee Spring Reunion attendees can expect workshops, a Kid’s Tent, Yoga, camp pickin’ parties, and wonderful food and crafts, along with the Park’s other many attractions: disc golf, miles of hiking and biking trails, the bat house, and the chance to venture Way Down Upon The Suwannee River.

Tickets are on sale January 19th. Suwannee Spring Reunion will be offering a multi-day ticket that includes festival admission for three days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Advance tickets are only $99 + taxes and fees; Students and military with a valid ID are $89.45 + taxes and fees. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.  Get your tickets now, because prices at the gate will be higher! SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events.

For more information and to reserve camping, please visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com.

Suwannee Spring Reunion Initial Lineup: 
Donna the Buffalo
Jerry Douglas presents Earls of Leicester
Peter Rowan Band
Jim Lauderdale
Jeff Mosier with Pickled Holler
Verlon Thompson
Joe Craven
Turtle Duhks
Grandpa’s Cough Medicine
Sloppy Joe
Quartermoon

More artists will be announced!

Tue, 01/24/2017 - 2:18 pm

When Relix magazine announced the The Contribution’s debut record, Which Way World [2010], and called them a “jamband supergroup,” they also recognized, “the band serves the songs first and foremost.” Although the band is comprised of some of the scene’s heavy hitters, the first listen to their music reveals their love of 60s pop and soul coupled with their ability to flat-out shred. It’s what makes the band appealing to music lovers from all walks of life and they are pleased to release tracks from their upcoming LoHi Records album, Wilderness And Space, one song at a time over the course of seven months, with full proceeds of each single going to a different non-profit with each track.

The Contribution is the brainchild of Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth (violin, guitar, vocals) together with Phil Ferlino (keyboards, vocals) and Jeff Miller (guitar, vocals) of New Monsoon. Keith Moseley (String Cheese Incident), has been the bass player from the band’s inception along with vocalist Sheryl Renee (The Black Swan Singers). The drum chair has been occupied by Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident), Matt Butler (Everyone Orchestra), and currently Duane Trucks (Widespread Panic). Both Matt Butler and Duane Trucks appear on the band’s new record, Wilderness And Space.

The first song will be released on February 17, 2017 and all proceeds will be donated to Rex Foundation. Consecutive songs will come out each month, each paired with it’s own art and a different non-profit partner. Others taking part include Conscious Alliance, HeadCount, and a handful of other organizations that support the arts, environment, and health. The full ten song album will be released on vinyl this Fall.

Releasing records and touring is a cycle that is connected and a part of each member’s individual careers. Initially conceived as a studio project that would play select live shows, the emphasis for The Contribution was always on writing and recording. Rather than releasing a full record with expectations of touring to support it, Carbone wanted to find a way to live up to the band’s name, which in itself provided the clue as to how, and this is what they cooked up as a way to keep it going and give back in the process.

How could the creation of music be leveraged best for the betterment of the world at large? A lofty goal. The band has never been about personal profit and individually the members have been advocates and activists for various environmental and social causes. Now they have thought of a way to meld the two worlds the band holds dear. They are The Contribution, after all.

Carbone says, “We feel blessed to be able to make this music and have it help people in need… and we would like to empower those who share our passion and provide a resource for them to take action with us.” 

All songs written and produced by Tim Carbone, Phil Ferlino and Jeff Miller. The songs from Wilderness And Space were recorded mainly at Silo Sound Studio in Denver, Colorado and engineered by Todd Dival with additional recordings at TRI Studios in San Rafael, CA, (engineered by Rick Vargas). The full ten-song album will come out on vinyl in the Fall of 2017.

Wilderness And Space will be released on LoHi Records, of which Carbone is one of the partners along with singer/songwriter and record producer Todd Snider, Hard Working Americans' Chad Staehly, who is also with Gold Mountain Entertainment in Nashville, and entrepreneur and marketing veteran Jim Brooks

Hear more about the Wilderness And Space project from Tim Carbone →  https://youtu.be/_6qfJzD97Ak

For more information, please visit www.TheContribution.net, www.facebook.com/TheContribution, www.twitter.com/thecontribution, and www.instagram.com/thecontribution.

Tue, 01/31/2017 - 9:47 am

Described by Steve Martin as “an absolutely joyous, riveting, beautifully syncopated example of the beauty of the banjo,” Ned Luberecki’s new album, Take Five, demonstrates he is a master of his instrument, adept in multiple styles. Recorded at The Rec Room, Ben Surratt’s studio in East Nashville, Take Five will be independently released on March 31, 2017. Self-produced, the 14-track album is a mix of originals and covers and clocks in at just under 45 minutes.

“With Take Five, Ned Luberecki offers a full course five-string feast, with savory bluegrass, tasty fiddle tunes, tangy jazz and more. It’s all presented with sumptuous tone, timing that’s just right and a dash of Ned’s irrepressible humor. This is state-of-the-art five-string banjo, cooked up with virtuosity and creativity,” says banjo player, banjo instructor, and author Bill Evans.

As banjo player for the award-winning Becky Buller Band; one half of the duo Nedski & Mojo, and host of Sirius XM Bluegrass Junction’s Derailed and More Banjo Sunday, Ned is known not only for his banjo prowess, but for his wit and humor. Respected as both a traditional and progressive player, Ned toured extensively in the United States and Europe as a member of Chris Jones and The Night Drivers for over a decade before joining the Becky Buller Band. He’s also been a member of Paul Adkins and the Borderline Band, the Rarely Herd, and Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, and has appeared with such artists as Jim Lauderdale, Tony Trischka, and Ray Stevens.

Take Five is stacked with a remarkable lineup of guest musicians including Missy Raines and the New Hip, Jeremy Garrett of The Infamous Stringdusters, Becky Buller, The Helen Highwater Stringband (Mike Compton, David Grier, Missy Raines, and Shad Cobb), Chris Jones and The Night Drivers, Dale Ann Bradley, and Amanda Smith. Also, appearing on the album, Stephen Mougin, guitarist of Sam Bush Band and the other half of Nedski & Mojo, calls it “a sonic glimpse inside the mind of Nedski.” He goes on, “It showcases Ned’s brilliant banjo skills in a diverse range of material, from old-time to bluegrass to jazz and beyond. Way beyond!”

Tony Trischka weighs in on the album, “At one point, the Siriusly radio-ready voice of Ned envelops us as we prepare to go where no man has gone before. If you love Ned’s ‘Cabin of Death’ - and who doesn’t -  you’re sure to embrace the traditional banjo/fiddle duet on the iconic Star Trek theme. At other times, his rocket–jockey, warp-speed, banjoistic chops propel ‘Adams County Breakdown’ and his own ‘Night Driver’ with impeccable timing. My personal favorite is ‘Cleveland Park”, less of a barn burner, but possessed of a gentle, Celtic beauty. There are several stops for jazzy sojourns as Ned and company employ bluegrass instruments to bring a fresh and welcome outlook to Jobim, Monk and Brubeck. Speaking of 5/4 time, Ned gives 'Take 5' a run for it’s money with his ear-worm catchy ‘Earl’s Court’."

When not performing and broadcasting, Ned gladly shares his methods with banjo students around the world, having taught at Nashcamp, Munich Banjo Camp, Camp Bluegrass, Sore Fingers (UK), Kaufman Kamp, Midwest Banjo Camp and more. Additionally, he is the author of Alfred Music Publishing’s Complete Banjo Method.

Ned’s interest in the banjo was spurred at the age of thirteen. He asked for a banjo for Christmas, and when one of his other Christmas gifts was a couple of Steve Martin comedy albums, Ned found himself paying more attention to Steve’s banjo playing than to the comedy. The classic Foggy Mountain Banjo was his first foray into the iconic Scruggs style, and while he loved the classic sounds of Earl Scruggs, J.D. Crowe, and Sonny Osborne, somewhere along the way he discovered Tony Trischka, who would become one of his “all-time favorite musicians ever. Bar none.” This discovery—the progressive style of banjo—led Ned to delve into music from Trischka, Alan Munde, Béla Fleck, and their contemporaries. Sam Bush and New Grass Revival were his version of Lennon and the Beatles: transformative and eye opening.

Artists and bands outside of bluegrass influenced his developing musical voice as well. He carries on the banjo tradition of emulating and mimicking guitar licks in his own way, borrowing vocabulary from his favorite players Eddie Van Halen and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Avant-garde bluegrass artists David Grisman and Tony Rice introduced him to jazz greats such as Oscar Peterson and Dave Brubeck. With such a varied musical taste and background, it’s no surprise most fans and banjo aficionados would tell you Ned’s style is perfectly his own - a harlequin combination of the diverse artists, musicians, and genres he’s ingested.

Take Five is a reflection of Ned’s musical diversity, presenting fiddle and banjo tunes, instrumentals, and traditional bluegrass interspersed with jazz standards, classic Buck Owen​s, and even the theme to S​tar Trek. Many of Ned’s musical friends from all walks of bluegrass make appearances, making Take Five a sort of retrospective and reminding us that however we know Ned Luberecki - sideman, teacher, on-air radio personality - it all springs from his first love, the banjo.

Take Five Track Listing & Credits
1. Night Driver                           2:29 (Ned Luberecki)
2. Higher Ground                      2:46 (Kelley Jones Luberecki & Dale Ann Bradley)
3. Cleveland Park                     2:36 P.D.
4. Adams County Breakdown   3:03 (Tom Adams)
5. We’ll Put Out The Fire          2:35 (Jon Weisberger & Vida Wakeman)
6. B-Flat Medley                       3:38 (Done Gone, P.D., New Camptown Races – Frank Wakefield)
7. Fiddlin’ Dan                          4:10 P.D.
8. Take Five                              3:32 (Paul Desmond)
9. Girl From Ipanema               3:22 (Antônio Carlos Jobim)
10. Earl’s Court                        3:38 (Ned Luberecki)
11. Blue Monk                          4:00 (Thelonius Monk)
12. Kitchen Squirrel Medley     2:09 P.D. (Kitchen Girl – Squirrel Hunters)
13. Buck Owens Medley*         3:38 (Buck Owens & Don Rich, Buck Owens)
14. Where No Man Has Gone Before (Star Trek Theme) 1:27 (Alexander Courage)

*(Before You Go, Let The World Keep On Turnin’)

For more information, please visit www.nedski.com, www.facebook.com/MoreBanjo, Twitter: @NedLuberecki, and Instagram: nedluberecki

Thu, 02/09/2017 - 2:27 pm

In an epic three-day celebration of traditional and modern bluegrass music, the Anastasia Music Festival will feature over 20 of the brightest bluegrass stars performing live at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre Thursday, March 16 through Saturday, March 18. Bands performing include The Del McCoury Band (two sets), David Grisman’s Bluegrass Experience, Sam Bush, Elephant Revival, Fruition (three sets), Cabinet (two sets), Jeff Austin Band, The Travelin’ McCourys (two sets), Mandolin Orange (two sets), Sierra Hull, The Broomestix, Dustbowl Revival (two sets), Joe Pug, Jon Stickley Trio (two sets), and more! See the daily lineup below and stay tuned for more news about after-parties each night after the music ends at several local venues all three nights.

It’s also quite special to note that three generations of McCourys are represented at Anastasia. The Broomestix, a nine-piece R&B/Soul/Funk/Pop group out of the Nashville area, features Del McCoury’s grandson, Evan McCoury, on guitar, very exciting!

“Bluegrass music has such a rich history and to host a three-day festival celebrating the genre at the Amphitheatre is truly special,” says Ryan Murphy, Director of the St. Johns County Cultural Events Division which owns and operates the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. “We hope that music fans of all ages and families from all over will come out and enjoy traditional and modern bluegrass among the natural park setting of the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.”

This family-friendly event also features a Kid’s Tent on Friday and Saturday featuring fun activities for children and Brenda Star Walker will host daily yoga on Friday and Saturday. Children 10 and under are free with paid adult admission. Information on camping packages and other accommodations are available online at www.anastasiamusicfestival.com.

The Daily Lineup:

Performing on Thursday, March 16 will be Fruition, The Broomestix, Grits & Soul, Nikki Talley, Taylor Martin, and more to be announced. Gates are at 3pm with music starting at 4pm and music ends on Thursday at 10pm.            

Friday, March 17 will feature performances by The Del McCoury Band, David Grisman’s Bluegrass Experience, The Travelin’ McCourys, Elephant Revival, Fruition, Cabinet, The Broomestix, Dustbowl Revival, Mandolin Orange, Jon Stickley Trio, Joe Pugg, Grits & Soul, Nikki Talley, Taylor Martin, Flagship Romance, I Like Dandelionsn and Paper Bird. Gates are at 11am with music starting at 12pm and ending at Friday at 10:30pm.

Saturday, March 18 performances include sets by Grateful Ball with The Travelin’ McCourys and Jeff Austin, Sam Bush, The Del McCoury Band, Cabinet, Fruition, The Jeff Austin Band, Sierra Hull, Mandolin Orange, Jon Stickley Trio, Dustbowl Revival, Joe Pugg, Taylor Martin, Nikki Talley, West King Band, Alastair – Byrd Revue, Robbie Dammit & The Broken Stringsn and Remedy Tree. Gates are at 11am with music starting at 12pm and ending at 10:30pm.

Stay tuned for more about each night's after-parties for a list of venues and bands.                

More information on all the performers can be found online at www.anastasiamusicfestival.com  in addition to camping and hotel accommodations, as well as volunteer and vending information. VIP, Three-day, and Single day tickets for the Anastasia Music Festival are on sale now at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Box Offices, online at ticketmaster.com, all authorized TicketMaster outlets, or by phone at 800-745-3000.

Anastasia Music Festival Full Lineup- 2017
The Del McCoury Band x2
David Grisman’s Bluegrass Experience
Sam Bush
Elephant Revival
Fruition x3
Cabinet x2
Jeff Austin Band
The Travelin’ McCourys x2
Mandolin Orange x2
Sierra Hull
The Broomestix x2
Dustbowl Revival x2
Joe Pug
Jon Stickley Trio x2
Grits & Soul x2
Nikki Talley x2
Taylor Martin x2
The Applebutter Express
Paper Bird
Flagship Romance
Town Meeting
West-King String Band
Alastair-Byrd Revue
Remedy Tree
I Like Dandelions
Robbie Dammit & The Broken Strings
Steve Pruett

For more information and to stay up to date on news, please visit www.anastasiamusicfestival.com, www.facebook.com/AnastasiaMusicFestival, www.twitter.com/AnastasiaFest17, www.instagram.com/anastasiafest17, and www.staugamphitheatre.com.

Wed, 02/15/2017 - 1:07 pm

Danny Barnes is already known as an iconic American musician, a banjo playing innovator who’s earned high praise from everybody from Bill Frisell and Dave Matthews to Steve Martin, who presented Danny with the Prize for Excellence in Banjo in 2015. From the days with his groundbreaking Austin band, the Bad Livers, to his two decade solo career experimenting with electronic music, jazz, old time string band music and more, he’s a genre bending, rule breaking original who prefers to color outside the lines.

Now, with Stove Up, out March 3, 2017, he’s showing us that it was always a choice, that he’s always had the chops to play straight ahead bluegrass banjo with the best of them. With a top-flight band backing him up, Danny turns in an amazing set of tunes that demonstrate his respect for tradition and his commitment to his own musical voice.

“Happily, with Stove Up, our five-string hero steps out of the lab and into the sunlight where his pre-war Gibson can really shine,” says Tim O'Brien. “Producer and guitarist Nick Forster wisely loosens the reins and lets his pack of thoroughbreds set a fast pace around the bluegrass track. Mandolinist Chris Henry, with his bone-dry tone and expanded traditional approach, is a particularly inspired foil to Barnes. Along with Forster, much decorated fiddler Jason Carter, and everyone’s favorite bassist, Mike Bub, they cut through some beautiful territory, including two Don Stover’s compositions—”Black Diamond” and “Rockwood Deer Chase.” Three vocal tracks peek through the instrumentals and give new listeners a look into the quirky mind of Barnes… These are live and lively performances where you can almost hear the musicians smile.”

Recorded in eTown Studios in Colorado, Stove Up was produced by Nick Forster and engineered by James Tuttle. The mixing and editing were done by the great banjo player Scott Vestal and it was mastered by David Glasser at Airshow.

Danny says, “After 45 years of practicing, this is the first acoustic bluegrass record I've ever made. Nick, Mike, Jason, and Chris are bluegrass royalty! It was a sure enough honor to be able to make Stove Up, a loving homage to the great Don Stover.”

One of his banjo heroes, Don Stover, was the inspiration for this project simply because Don knew how to play bluegrass banjo in a way that fit the style, showed respect for Earl Scruggs and others, but it still sounded like him, had his own voice. Danny delivers on all fronts here, from scorching banjo fiddle duets with Jason Carter (“Paddy on the Turnpike,” “John Hardy,” and “Bill Cheatum”) to faithful versions of Scruggs (“Flint Hill Special” and “Fireball”), or a Grandpa Jones tune (“Eight More Miles To Louisville”) to a reinterpreted Rolling Stones song (“Factory Girl”) or his own originals (“Isotope 709,” “Charlie,” and “Get It While You Can”).

This generous set of music sounds like what it is – great musicians having fun playing music in real time.

Danny says, “All these tunes on here (except the ones I made up), I’ve been playing and working on since I was a young boy. I’m STILL working on this stuff. My plan = never give up.” 

If you’re looking for an antidote to the world’s problems, go find Stove Up, this new Danny Barnes record, and turn it up loud. It’s a thing of joy and beauty!

Thu, 02/16/2017 - 10:31 am

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is happy to announce the final lineup for the Suwannee Spring Reunion on March 23 – 25, 2017, at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida. Joining some of the stellar acts already announced are Sara Watkins, Hot Buttered Rum, Tornado Rider, Roy Book Binder, Josh Daniel/Mark Schimick Project, Nikki Talley, Ralph Roddenbery & The B-Sides, Grass Is Dead, Lon and Lis Williamson, The Adventures of Annabelle Lyn, Bobby Miller and the Virginia Daredevils, Whetherman, Flea Market Hustlers, The Applebutter Express, Habanero Honeys, Old Dawgs New Trixx, and Artist at Large: Mickey Abraham.

Artists that have already been announced include Donna the Buffalo, Jerry Douglas Presents Earls of Leicester, Peter Rowan Band, Jim Lauderdale, Jeff Mosier with Pickled Holler, Verlon Thompson, and Joe Craven. See the full line-up below.

Along with two stages of music, Suwannee Spring Reunion will have hands on and performance workshops featuring festival artists. All the kids can get really excited too because Tania & the Magic Moon Traveling Circus and Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp will be providing a weekend to remember.Expect camp pickin’ parties, wonderful food and crafts, and enjoy the Park’s many other attractions including disc golf, miles of hiking and biking trails, the bat house, and the chance to venture Way Down Upon The Suwannee River. Festival Director Beth Judy says, "I am so excited about Suwannee Spring Reunion. To me, when spring is in the air, it is a very special time of year to gather with friends and family. This festival is truly a reunion; we have artists coming together who have been at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in different incarnations many times over the years, so much they are family. It's a coming home too for many friends, family, and chosen family joining together to celebrate life, love, and music under the oaks.”

Tickets are on sale now with a price increase in one week on February 22nd. Suwannee Spring Reunion is offering a multi-day ticket that includes festival admission for three days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Advance tickets are only $99 + taxes and fees; Students and military with a valid ID are $89.45 + taxes and fees. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Get your tickets now, because prices at the gate will be higher! Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events.

For more information and to reserve camping, please visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com.

2017 Suwannee Spring Reunion Lineup
Jerry Douglas Presents Earls of Leicester
Donna the Buffalo
Sara Watkins
Peter Rowan Band
Hot Buttered Rum
Jeff Mosier w/ Pickled Holler
Verlon Thompson
Jim Lauderdale
Joe Craven
Tornado Rider
Turtle Duhks
Roy Book Binder
Josh Daniel/Mark Schimick Project
Lon and Lis Williamson
Nikki Talley
Ralph Roddenbery & The B-Sides
Grass Is Dead
Grandpa's Cough Medicine
Bobby Miller and the Virginia Daredevils
Whetherman
The Adventures of Annabelle Lyn
Flea Market Hustlers
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe
The Applebutter Express
Habanero Honeys
Old Dawgs New Trixx
Mickey Abraham - Artist at Large
Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus
Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp
Fri, 02/17/2017 - 10:43 am

The Contribution is pleased to release tracks from their upcoming LoHi Records album, Wilderness And Space, one song at a time over the course of seven months, with full proceeds of each single going to a different non-profit. The full ten-song album will be released on vinyl this Fall.

They kick off with the single “Back This Way” which will be available online on February 17, 2017 with all proceeds donated to Rex Foundation. This track was recorded at Bob Weir’s TRI Studios in San Rafael, CA and engineered by Rick Vargas.  Head over to Relix Magazine to hear the World Premiere of “Back This Way” →  http://bit.ly/TheContributionRexPremiere_Relix.

The Contribution is the brainchild of Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth (violin, guitar, vocals) together with Phil Ferlino (keyboards, vocals) and Jeff Miller (guitar, vocals) of New Monsoon. Keith Moseley (String Cheese Incident), has been the bass player from the band’s inception along with vocalist Sheryl Renee (The Black Swan Singers). The drum chair has been occupied by Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident), Matt Butler (Everyone Orchestra), and currently Duane Trucks (Widespread Panic). Both Matt Butler and Duane Trucks appear on the band’s new record, Wilderness And Space.

When Relix magazine announced the The Contribution’s debut record, Which Way World [2010], and called them a “jamband supergroup,” they also recognized, “the band serves the songs first and foremost.” Although the band is comprised of some of the scene’s heavy hitters, the first listen to their music reveals their love of 60s pop and soul coupled with their ability to flat-out shred. It’s what makes the band appealing to music lovers from all walks of life.

Since they are in other touring bands and cannot really get on the road together that often, they came up with this unique idea; Carbone wanted to find a way to live up to the band’s name, which in itself provided the clue as to how, and this is what they cooked up as a way to keep it going and give back in the process. Individually the members of The Contribution have been advocates and activists for various environmental and social causes. Now they have thought of a way to meld the two worlds the band holds dear. They are The Contribution, after all.

The group selected a handful of organizations to partner with and are excited to kick things off with Rex Foundation. Created in 1983 by the Grateful Dead and Family, Rex Foundation aims to help secure a healthy environment, promote individuality in the arts, provide support to critical and necessary social services, assist others less fortunate than ourselves, protect the rights of indigenous people and ensure their cultural survival, build a stronger community, and educate children and adults everywhere. Rex Foundation has granted $8.9 million to over 1,200 recipients.

“For more than 30 years, the Rex Foundation has funded organizations most people might never have heard of, but all of whom do meaningful work that we find important. I believe that these same groups need all of us now more than ever, and I doubt there could be any better way to celebrate their work than by coming together with songs in the air and spirits held high,” says Rex Foundation Executive Director Cameron Sears.

Carbone says, “We feel blessed to be able to make this music and have it help people in need… and we would like to empower those who share our passion and provide a resource for them to take action with us.” 

“Back This Way” is a duet sung as a conversation between a man and a woman whose relationship is suffering because the man is always away from home. He could be a musician or a traveling salesman (kind of the same thing) or in the military. It’s an argument that somehow, through love, turns out well. Carbone and Renee take the lead on vocals, backed by Miller, Ferlino, and Mosely, with Matt Butler holding it down on the drums. 

Other organizations which will be featured include Conscious Alliance and HeadCount, as well as a handful of others that support the arts, environment, and health. Wilderness And Space will be released on LoHi Records, of which Carbone is one of the partners along with Hard Working Americans’ Todd Snider and Chad Staehly (Gold Mountain Entertainment), and entrepreneur/marketing veteran Jim Brooks.

Fri, 02/24/2017 - 9:53 am

In an epic three-day celebration of traditional and modern bluegrass music, the Anastasia Music Festival will feature over 20 of the brightest bluegrass stars performing live at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre Thursday, March 16 through Saturday, March 18. Set to perform are The Del McCoury Band, David Grisman’s Bluegrass Experience, Sam Bush, Elephant Revival, Fruition, Cabinet, Jeff Austin Band, The Travelin’ McCourys, Mandolin Orange, Sierra Hull, The Broomestix, Dustbowl Revival, Joe Pug, Jon Stickley Trio, The Honeycutters and more! 

Anastasia Music Festival is excited to announce late night parties each night! On Thursday, Taylor Martin will host the "Anastasia Park Players" at Hoptinger St Augustine. Firewater Tent Revival Band hosts Friday night, also at Hoptinger St Augustine. Jon Stickley Trio & Friends perform Saturday’s late night at Elks Lodge. Expect lots of special guests and late night fun! Music will be on three stages of music at the St. Augustine Amphitheater and runs until 10pm on Thursday and 10:30pm on Friday and Saturday nights with the late night parties starting directly following.   

This family-friendly event also features a Kid’s Tent on Friday and Saturday featuring fun activities for children and Brenda Star Walker will host daily yoga on Friday and Saturday. Children 10 and under are free with paid adult admission.

More information on all the performers can be found online at www.anastasiamusicfestival.com in addition to camping and hotel accommodations, as well as volunteer and vending information. VIP, Three-day, and Single day tickets for the Anastasia Music Festival are on sale now at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Box Offices, online at ticketmaster.com, all authorized TicketMaster outlets, or by phone at 800-745-3000.

Late Night Parties:

Thursday, March 16 @ 10:30pm at Hoptinger St Augustine
"Anastasia Park Players" hosted by Taylor Martin
200 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine, FL
No Cover

Friday, March 17 @ 10:30pm at Hoptinger St Augustine
Firewater Tent Revival Band
200 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine, FL
No Cover

Saturday, March 18 at 11:00pm at Elks Lodge
Jon Stickley Trio & Friends
1420 A1A South, St. Augustine, FL
Tickets: $10 @ the door

Anastasia Music Festival Full Lineup- 2017
The Del McCoury Band x2
David Grisman’s Bluegrass Experience
Sam Bush
Elephant Revival
Fruition x3
Cabinet x2
Jeff Austin Band
The Travelin’ McCourys x2
Mandolin Orange x2
Sierra Hull
The Broomestix x2
Dustbowl Revival x2
Joe Pug
Jon Stickley Trio x2
The Honeycutters x2
Grits & Soul x2
Nikki Talley x2
Taylor Martin x2
The Applebutter Express
Paper Bird
Flagship Romance
Town Meeting
West-King String Band
Alastair-Byrd Revue
Remedy Tree
I Like Dandelions
Robbie Dammit & The Broken Strings
Steve Pruett

Wed, 03/01/2017 - 10:19 am
The 2nd Annual Jam In The Trees is thrilled to announce the addition of The Infamous Stringdusters to the lineup which includes some incredible acts that have already been annonced: Acoustic Syndicate, Peter Rowan, Larry Keel, Tim O'Brien, Jim Lauderdale, Underhill Rose, and Ken Tizzard. The 2017 event takes place Friday and Saturday, August 25-26th at Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain, NC. More artists TBA!
 
Bluegrass virtuosos The Infamous Stringdusters are no stranger to WNC and are excited to return with their new album LAWS OF GRAVITY, which debuted at #3 on iTunes Country Chart and #1 on the Amazon Bluegrass Chart. As first revealed on Rolling Stone Country, the new album marks a return to form for the Grammy-nominated acoustic five-piece. LAWS OF GRAVITY is all new original Dusters music--perhaps the most "Infamous" record they've done in their decade together.
 
Jam in the Trees has also announced the Friday schedule which starts with Ken Tizzard, followed by Underhill Rose, then Larry Keel. Doors at 7, show starts at 8pm, all on the indoor stage.

Gates open Saturday at 12pm, with music starting at 1pm throughout the day until 11pm on the beautiful Pisgah Brewing Outdoor Stage, followed by an “After Hours Jam” on the indoor stage. Early Bird Tickets available while supplies last. VIP tickets are available for $100 and include Meet & Greets with the bands, a guided brewery tour and tasting, preferred parking, a commemorative event poster and more! Hotel and shuttle information coming soon. Stay tuned to the festival’s new website www.jaminthetrees.com for more information and updates.

JITT is a benefit for Wild Forests & Fauna (WildFF) and last year's inaugural event raised $5000 to protect, restore and support threatened forests and wildlife in Western North Carolina. Relive some of the wonderful moments of 2016 through photos of the event by David Simchock Photography at www.frontrowfocus.com.
 
"At WildFF, our Big Tree Project that leverages outreach education and reforestation to protect forests in Western North Carolina and around the globe,” WildFF’s Executive Director Benjamin Colvin says, “Since JITT, the Big Tree Project has grown and has even sparked a relationship with ABTech and local company ArborZen to restore a razed site with over 500 native trees. We are thrilled to be a part of this and can not wait for Jam in the Trees 2017!"
 
Lifelong resident of Asheville and President of Jam In The Trees, LLC, Laurel York, continues, “We hope the ‘jamsters’ will come out again in 2017 for an even better event than last year and show their support for their great cause!”
 
Jam in The Trees 2017 Initial Lineup:
 
The Infamous Stringdusters
Acoustic Syndicate
Peter Rowan
Larry Keel
Tim O'Brien
Jim Lauderdale
Underhill Rose
Ken Tizzard
Fri, 03/03/2017 - 4:09 pm

Town Mountain is thrilled to join in on Yep Roc Records’ Sing Out!, a night of songs and solidarity in support of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of North Carolina at The Cat’s Cradle on Saturday, March 11th. Tift Merritt, Caleb Caudle, and Alexandra Sauser-Monnig from Mountain Man will also be performing! Doors are at 7pm with the show starting at 7:30. Tickets are $15 and 100% of ticket sales will be going to the ACLU of North Carolina.

The ACLU of North Carolina is a nonpartisan, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting civil rights and civil liberties for all North Carolinians. The ACLU-NC has approximately 20,000 members and supporters in North Carolina. For more information, please visit www.acluofnc.org.

Town Mountain’s banjo player, Jesse Langlais says, “In today's political climate, we need now more than ever, a great source for accountability. The ACLU is that entity. Town Mountain is proud to take part in an event to help fight the good fight.”

Vocalist and guitar player Robert Greer says, “We believe in the civil rights of all human beings and we also love playing music in Eastern North Carolina. That's why we're stoked to play this show benefiting the ACLU of North Carolina at Cat’s Cradle!”

Town Mountain is known for their hard-driving sound, in-house songwriting, and the honky-tonk swagger of their live performances. The hearty base of Town Mountain's music is the bluegrass triumvirate of Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. It's what else goes into the mix that brings it all to life both on stage and on record and reflects the group's wide-ranging influences – from the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia and the ethereal lyrics of Robert Hunter, to the honest, vintage country of Willie, Waylon, and Merle. Along with Langlais and Greer, this the Asheville-based band features and mandolinist Phil Barker, fiddler Jack Devereux, and Zach Smith on bass.

Wed, 03/08/2017 - 12:48 pm

Riding the wave of their critically acclaimed 2015 album, Lost at Last, Jon Stickley Trio independently releases their 3rd full length album, Maybe Believe, on May 12, 2017. Jon Stickley Trio combines Jon Stickley’s rapid-fire flatpicking guitar with the sultry and wild, yet refined, melodies of Lyndsay Pruett on violin set over the deep groove of Patrick Armitage on drums.

“The latest record from the Jon Stickley Trio flexes new and strong muscles, utilizing more progressive structures and deeper pockets than ever before,” says Producer Dave King (Of The Bad Plus). “All the while, the group retains its place as a modern-thinking acoustic ensemble with one foot in tradition and the other in a bluegrass honored future that allows for the avant garde, punk, and be bop to mix in freely and tastefully.”

Greensky Bluegrass’ Anders Beck says of Jon, “Sure, comparisons to previous musicians are a good way to explain a new artist to the masses, but to do so is to cheat Stickley of what he really is: a damn genius, a musical mastermind, and one of the most unique, creative, and inventive guitar players I've ever heard…  Stickley's guitar playing shares as much in common with the flow of the greatest rappers of all time as it does with his flatpicking heroes...”

The album title, Maybe Believe, is a continuation of the theme from Lost at Last. With Lost at Last, the band was stepping away from their collective musical past, into new territory that was somewhat uncomfortable, but also inspiring and free. With Maybe Believe, they have become more comfortable in their own skin yet retain an element of vulnerability while continuing to move into uncharted territory. This album marks the next step in the band’s evolution, and takes the listener to original and unexpected new places that still embody the familiarity of the Jon Stickley Trio’s signature style.

Dave says, “I was honored to be a part of this evolution and I think we made a very compelling album for music fans and musicians of all kinds.” This is his second time joining forces with the Trio at Echo Mountain Recording Studio in the band’s hometown of Asheville, NC, once again working with Engineer Julian Dryer. Both were also on board for Lost at Last which garnered praise from The New York Times, NPR's Heavy Rotation, NPR's World Cafe, Folk Alley, Premier Guitar Magazine, Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Performer Magazine, and many others. 

Stickley says, “We had just gotten to know Dave last time and had such a good time. Bringing him in again takes the whole thing up a notch. It was a completely different experience, after traveling all over the place touring [in 2016 the Trio drove over 50,000 miles], over time we’ve developed a cohesion as a band where we intimately know each other and can feel where each other is wanting to go and respond. It’s developed into a tight musical relationship.”

The album’s opening track, “Jewels,” is a short, mellow, piece which serves as the album’s prologue, setting the tone of the record, quieting the mind of the listener. It's a cleansing of the palette before the full course, and features the delicate harmonics of Jon and Lyndsay along with and Patrick’s textural brushwork.

Then they go full throttle with “Playpeople,” an eclectic piece that draws inspiration from Green Day, Duran Duran, Grateful Dead, and David Grisman Quintet, but in the end, is ultimately pure Jon Stickley Trio. This track’s title is a gender-neutral term for someone who likes to have a good time, and does so despite all external obstacles and displays the Trio’s fun-loving energy and virtuosity, as well as their controlled intensity.

“Almost With You” and “Mt. Sandia Swing” highlight the Jon Stickley Trio’s ability and inclination to play with polyrhythms and layer different grooves on top of each other. Dave King described “Sandia” as “The Violent Femmes… playing Jazz.”

Jon Stickley’s music brings forth mental imagery from the soundscapes the band has created in songs like “Slow Burn,” which is a like simmering pot of stew that occasionally boils over, while “Microbruise” embraces the fun-loving nature of Asheville’s beer brewers and drinkers, and “Cecil” is the Trio’s heaviest song yet featuring seamless interplay between guitar and violin with a sludgy, old school, John Bonham style drumbeat. 

The aforementioned songs were all penned by Stickley, while Lyndsay Pruett’s hand brings forth a couple of jazzier numbers. A highlight of the record, “The Price of Being Nice” has a quirky, infectious theme that is explored throughout the song with a somewhat deconstructed treatment that allows the Trio to shine. Pruett also wrote “Lady Time,” a short solo song that closes out the album that features her distinctive pizzicato playing and improvisations. 

The album contains three covers, “Jerusalem Ridge” (a Bill Monroe tune with a twist that has become a staple at live shows), "Avril 14th" (a piece by Richard James a.k.a. Aphex Twin), and “Birdland Breakdown” (a tune by mandolinist John Reischman which also appeared on Tony Rice’s jazz-grass album Still Inside).

Jon Stickley Trio On Tour
3/10 Fri - The Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
3/15 Wed - The Station Inn - Nashville, TN *w/ The Dustbowl Revival
3/16 Thu - The Earl - Atlanta, GA w/ The Dustbowl Revival
3/17-18 Fri-Sat - Anastasia Music Festival @ St. Augustine Amphitheater - St. Augustine, FL
3/21 Tue - Taos Mesa Brewing - El Prado, NM
3/22 Wed - House Concert - Albuquerque, NM
3/23 Thu - Last Exit Live - Phoenix, AZ
3/24 Fri - Coconino Center For The Arts - Flagstaff, AZ
3/25 Sat - Seven Grand - San Diego, CA
3/29 Wed - Throckmorton Theatre - Mill Valley, CA
3/30 Thu - Neck of the Woods - San Francisco, CA
3/31-4/1 Fri-Sat - WinterWonderGrass - North Lake Tahoe, CA
4/6 Thu - The Stage at KDHX - St. Louis, MO
4/7 Fri - Rhythm and Blooms Festival - Knoxville, TN
4/8 Sat - Albino Skunk Festival - Greer, SC
4/12 Wed - Willie’s Locally Known - Lexington, KY
4/13 Thu - The Fire Pit’s Side Bar - Milwaukee, WI
4/14 Fri - Mid West Music Festival - LaCrosse, WI
4/15 Sat - Two Brothers Roundhouse - Aurora, IL
4/29 Sat - WV Craft Brew Fest - Lewisburg, WV
5/12-13 - Fri-Sat - LEAF - Black Mountain, NC
5/19 Fri - Lower Town Arts & Music Festival - Paducah, KY
5/20 Sat - Moonshiner’s Ball - Berea, KY
5/26 Fri - Rooster Walk - Martinsville, VA
6/8 Thu - Founders Brewing - Grand Rapids, MI
6/9 Fri - Parliament Room at Otus Supply - Ferndale, MI
6/10-11 Sat-Sun - NorEastr Festival @ County Fairgrounds - Mio, MI
7/15 Sat - Red Wing Roots Music Festival - Mount Solon, VA
7/29-30 Sat-Sun - FloydFest - Floyd, VA
More dates TBA!

Fri, 03/10/2017 - 4:56 pm

New York native, Bill Scorzari independently releases his sophomore album, Through These Waves, Today, March 10, 2017. Produced by Jonah Tolchin (Yep Roc) and engineered, mixed, and mastered by Billy Bennett, the album of all original material was recorded over twelve days at the famed Bomb Shelter in East Nashville through the studio’s 1970’s MCI console and mixed to tape. In a recent interview with No Depression, Tolchin calls Bill Scorzari, “one of the greatest songwriters I’ve ever heard.” With sincere and robust lyrics, Scorzari’s raspy vocals usher the listener breezily into his world.

Joining Scorzari on the album are Joachim Cooder (drums, percussion), Laur Joamets (electric guitar, slide guitar), Chris Scruggs (steel guitar), Will Kimbrough (mandolin, piano), Eamon McLoughlin (fiddle, viola, cello), Jon Estes (upright bass, guitar, organ), Kim Richey (vocals), Brent Burke (dobro), and more.
"Bill has a scruffy sentimentality that was comforting to behold.” Billy Bennett comments on the recording sessions, “There were humbling moments of marvel for me during the process, as the tremendous cast of musicians populated Bill's emotional landscapes beautifully. I was privileged to have played a part."

Even through all of the chaos in the world, every time you are let down, or hurt, or feel broken, there is a softness within our hearts that will help us to come through and rise above anything that life deals us, without hardening our spirit. There’s a solemn, yet uplifting and gracious feel to Through These Waves, a gentle roll of energy in the songs and the recording experience that is emphasized in the musical collaboration that came about when the musicians entered the studio.

Fri, 03/10/2017 - 5:11 pm

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is excited to announce the addition of Vassar Sunday to the Suwannee Spring Reunion which takes place on March 23 – 26 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. The full schedule of events is now up at www.suwanneespringreunion.com/schedule.html. Along with incredible music, expect camp pickin’ parties, wonderful food and crafts, and enjoy SOSMP’s many other attractions including disc golf, miles of hiking and biking trails, the bat house, and the chance to venture Way Down Upon The Suwannee River.

Music starts at 2 p.m. Thursday and Donna the Buffalo holds the headlining slot at 8 p.m. on The Amphitheatre Stage, followed by the Grass Is Dead. Other sets that day on both the Amphitheater and Porch stages include Joe Craven, Turtle Duhks, The Applebutter Express, Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, Bobby Miller & Virginia Daredevils, and Flea Market Hustlers on Amphitheatre and Porch Stages.

On Friday folks, can bounce between those two stages for a sensory feast of music which includes Jerry Douglas Presents Earls of Leicester, Peter Rowan, Jim Lauderdale, Jeff Mosier with Pickled Holler, Ralph Roddenbery & the B-Sides, Verlon Thompson, and another set by Donna the Buffalo. There will also be a special set called the Craven Rum Jam which includes Joe Craven and Hot Buttered Rum's Erik Yates, Zeb Bowles, and James Stafford closing out the Porch Stage for the night.

Saturday holds lots of room for some magical musical moments with Sara Watkins, Peter Rowan Band, two sets with Hot Buttered Rum, Jeff Mosier with Pickled Holler, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, Turtle Duhks, two sets with Tornado Rider, and more.

Workshops and performances will also be going on all day in the Music Hall and on the Music Farmer’s Stage on Friday and Saturday with appearances by Peter Rowen, Verlon Thompson, Joe Craven, Jim Lauderdale, Josh Daniel/Mark Schimick Project, Whetherman, Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, Lon and Lis Williamson, The Applebutter Express and more. All the kids can get really excited too because Tania & the Magic Moon Traveling Circus and Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp will be providing a weekend to remember with kids' activities and shows. (Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.)

Sunday is Vassar Day, a day of remembrance for all the festival family no longer with us, and for this reunion it is also fun day, a more relaxed day to visit our friends and family and enjoy the beautiful campground. Vassar Clements was a regular at the Spirit of Suwannee performing at every spring and fall event at Spirit of Suwannee until his passing in 2005. Not only was he a legend in his own time, he also became a dear friend to many at the festivals because of his cheer, friendliness, and non-stop pickin’. After his passing, Sundays became the day of remembrance to celebrate Vassar's life as well as those of other loved ones who passed over.

The Sunday schedule includes special activities in the morning, music on the Porch Stage from 10-2 p.m. Tania & The Magic Moon Traveling Circus Kids open the stage in the morning, followed by Rushadicus and Friends (Tornado Rider) and what is sure to be a memorable Vassar Gospel Jam hosted by "Rev" Jeff Mosier and the Spring Reunion Backsliders Porchestra.

Sunday is also host to art project for roots in the afternoon, a morning permaculture workshop called  “Transforming Spaces for Health Food & Living” in the Butterfly Garden, as well as scheduled jams in the campground late afternoon & evening at the Bill Monroe Shrine, Slopryland, and throughout SOSMP. Camping Sunday night is included.

Festival Director Beth Judy says, "I am so excited about Suwannee Spring Reunion. To me, when spring is in the air, it is a very special time of year to gather with friends and family. This festival is truly a reunion; we have artists coming together who have been at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in different incarnations many times over the years, so much they are family. It's a coming home too for many friends, family, and chosen family joining together to celebrate life love & music under the oaks.”

Suwannee Spring Reunion is offering a multi-day ticket that includes festival admission as well as primitive camping Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia state line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. 

For more information and to reserve camping, please visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com.

Sat, 04/01/2017 - 11:21 am
Ned Luberecki’s new album, Take Five, is independently is available now. A master of his instrument and adept in multiple styles Ned recorded at The Rec Room, Ben Surratt’s studio in East Nashville this self produced, the 14-track album is a mix of originals and covers and clocks in at just under 45 minutes.
 
Take Five is a reflection of Ned’s musical diversity, presenting fiddle and banjo tunes, instrumentals, and traditional bluegrass interspersed with jazz standards, classic Buck Owen​s, and even the theme to S​tar Trek. Many of Ned’s musical friends from all walks of bluegrass make appearances, making Take Five a sort of retrospective, reminding us that however we know Ned Luberecki - sideman, teacher, on-air radio personality - that he is respected as both a traditional and progressive player with a style perfectly his own - a harlequin combination of the diverse artists, musicians, and genres he’s ingested.
 
Take Five is stacked with a remarkable lineup of guest musicians including Missy Raines and the New Hip, Jeremy Garrett of The Infamous Stringdusters, Becky Buller, The Helen Highwater Stringband (Mike Compton, David Grier, Missy Raines, and Shad Cobb), Chris Jones and The Night Drivers, Dale Ann Bradley, and Amanda Smith. Also appearing on the album, Stephen Mougin, guitarist of Sam Bush Band and the other half of Nedski & Mojo, calls it “a sonic glimpse inside the mind of Nedski [that] showcases Ned’s brilliant banjo skills in a diverse range of material, from old-time to bluegrass to jazz and beyond. Way beyond!
 
Buy it on iTunes, Amazon, cdbaby or directly from Ned at www.nedski.com/take-five
Tue, 04/25/2017 - 6:01 pm
The Contribution has been living up to their name and giving back, they released their third single from their Wilderness And Space project April 21, benefiting HeadCount. Since this February, The Contribution has been releasing one single a month, as sort of a mid-month pick-me-up. They have partnered with a variety of nonprofits to which 100% of the profits from each single (sold as a digital download) will go to a charity (hand-picked by members of the band) in perpetuity.
 
The Contribution is the brainchild of Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth (violin, guitar, vocals) together with Phil Ferlino (keyboards, vocals) and Jeff Miller (guitar, vocals) of New Monsoon. Keith Moseley (String Cheese Incident), has been the bass player from the band’s inception along with vocalist Sheryl Renee (The Black Swan Singers). The drum chair has been occupied by Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident), Matt Butler (Everyone Orchestra), and currently Duane Trucks (Widespread Panic). Both Matt Butler and Duane Trucks appear on the band’s new record, Wilderness And Space. Although the band is comprised of some of the scene’s heavy hitters, the first listen to their music reveals their love of 60s pop and soul coupled with their ability to flat-out shred. The full ten song album will be released on vinyl this Fall on LoHi Records.
 
Tim Carbone tells Shows I Go To about how the nonprofits were selected, “I put it to the band at large. What do you feel strongly about? Matt Butler said we should go for the Rex Foundation. Keith wanted Conscious Alliance, who I have also worked with before. Phil suggested Rock the Earth. I thought we would go with HeadCount because I am politically motivated. They don’t choose sides, they just encourage people to register to vote. When you don’t vote, bad things happen. I think we found that out.”
 
Tim says, “I wrote the words to ‘This Too Shall Pass’ for our guitar player Jeff after his mother passed away from breast cancer.” He says they did some searching and found BCEF, a Breast Cancer Emergency Fund in SF Bay area, to pair up with that song. LoHi Records labelmate, Jim Brooks, suggested Piedmont Land Conservatory as he has held events to raise money for them in the past to preserve natural and scenic lands, farms, and open spaces in Piedmont North Carolina. The Delaware Riverkeeper Network is located nearby where Carbone is from and they do wonderful work in protecting the waterways, including the drinking water of nearly 17 Million people, throughout the entire Delaware River Watershed which includes Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York.
Wed, 04/26/2017 - 8:22 am

“We're switching things up a little. After four albums, I've decided to step out and start using my own name. It's something that a lot of people have encouraged me to do over the years, and I guess that 2017 just felt right.” That name, Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters, is also the title of the band’s new album, which will be released by Organic Records June 9, 2017. “We're keeping The Honeycutters too because we don't want to confuse people... really, we've always been Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters. I think I've just gotten to a place where I feel comfortable enough to be in the spotlight.”

"Amanda is so good it's ridiculous. I don't even know what words to use. Her singing, songwriting and presence is unmatched in Americana, Country, Pop… Simply breathtaking," said Saul Davis: producer (Percy Sledge), manager (Gene Clark, Carla Olson, Phil Seymour).

Lyrically driven, the songs on Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters blend the band’s old-school country roots attitude with their shared influences of rock and folk. Amanda says of the album, “I think it's just about life and all that that entails. Including but not limited to death, strangers, birthdays, money, leaving, arriving, seasons, corruption, and love.”

Performing along with Platt, are Matt Smith on pedal steel and Stratocaster, Rick Cooper on bass, Josh Milligan on drums and harmony vocals, and Evan Martin on keys and Telecaster.

Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters is the group’s third release on Organic Records, and fifth album. Assembling the same the same team as 2016’s On The Ropes, Balsam Range’s Tim Surrett steps in for the second time to co-produce this album along with Amanda. Its thirteen tracks were recorded, mixed, and mastered by Scott Barnett at Crossroads Studios in Arden, NC near the band’s hometown of Asheville, NC.

There is an empathetic and charming wit ingrained in Amanda’s songwriting. She has a knack for accessing a deep well of emotion and applying it to her story-telling, whether she is writing from her own experiences or immersing herself into the melody of emotions in another person's life.

“Amanda Platt writes songs on par with Lucinda, Isbell, Lauderdale, Hank Sr. In my opinion, anyway." said, WNCW’s Music Director Martin Anderson to No Depression.

In the lead off track, “Birthday Song,” Amanda writes with a gentle optimism, “Every time it gets colder I get another year older… I start looking for lines in the bathroom mirror… but when I lay down at night I swear I must have done something right… cause I'm still so damn glad to be here… I've been trying to love the questions, and keep on guessing.” Written just before her 30th birthday, Platt calls the song, “a summation of everything I learned in that decade.”

There is an easygoing warmth to the album, enhanced by the its refined arrangement and production; from the upbeat “Diamond in the Rough” to the poetic and observational “Eden” to the very personal, yet universal, “Brand New Start” to “Late Summer's Child” (an ode to her favorite season) and “Rare Thing” (a song commissioned from Platt from a fan as a love song to his wife that ended up being included on the album. “Your mama said that it would never last… but these years go by so fast… and you're the song I'm humming to myself as I'm counting the miles… you're such a rare thing.”) One can feel it even in songs with a more solemn concept behind them like, like “Long Ride,” which speaks of living in the moment in the face of mortality.

Platt wrote “Learning How To Love Him” after hearing an acquaintance of hers talk about learning that her husband of 40+ years was terminally ill. She says, “What really struck me was how she described the tenderness that the news brought back to their relationship.” Amanda sings, “'I woke last night and I felt so afraid, I turned on the light and shook him awake and we stared at the ceiling, listening to the sink drip… I spent my whole life learning how to love him and I never loved him more than I do today.”

The successes of On The Ropes [2016] and Me Oh My [2015] have propelled Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters onto the national scene and they have been featured on NPR’s World Cafe’s Sense of Place, NPR’s Mountain Stage, Nashville’s Music City Roots, and Folk Alley and they have performed at AmericanaFest, MerleFest, and IBMA. On The Ropes debuted at #39 on iTunes Top 40 Country Chart on release day and landed on a plethora of year end lists including placing #35 on the Top 100 Albums played on Americana Radio in 2016 and landing at #1 on Western North Carolina’s WNCW Radio’s Year End Listeners Poll of Top Albums of 2016!

On The Ropes hit #11 on the EuroAmericana Chart and The UK’s Julian Piper with Acoustic Magazine says, “Amanda Platt has one of those gorgeous heartache-drenched voices that brings to mind Loretta Lynn or Sheryl Crow.”

Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters plan to tour extensively in US this year and will travel to Europe for the first time in the summer. They are excited to release Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters to the world this spring!

 

Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters on Tour

5/6 Sat - Green River Adventures - Saluda, NC
5/19 Fri - Birdfest - Pinewood, SC
5/20 Sat - Sunset Fest - Dandridge, TN
6/2 Fri - The Neighborhood Theater - Charlotte, NC ^ w/ Town Mountain
6/9-10 Fri-Sat - The Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
6/17 Sat - The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI
6/21 Wed - Abilene Bar and Lounge - Rochester, NY
6/22 Thu - Sportsmen’s Tavern - Buffalo, NY
6/23 Fri - Cathedral Café - Fayetteville, WV
7/14 Fri - Variety Playhouse - Atlanta, GA * w/ Amy Ray Band (of The Indigo Girls)
7/19 Wed - Taos Mesa Brewing - El Prado, NM
7/21 Fri - Telluride Americana Music Fest & Songwriter Showcase at Sheridan Opera House - Telluride, CO
7/22-23 Sat-Sun - Mountain Rails Live - Alamosa, CO

Tue, 05/16/2017 - 7:05 am
Jon Stickley Trio independently released their 3rd full length album, Maybe Believe, on May 12, 2017. Jon Stickley Trio create textural soundscapes combining Jon Stickley’s rapid-fire flatpicking guitar with the sultry and wild, yet refined, melodies of Lyndsay Pruett on violin set over the deep groove of Patrick Armitage on drums. Produced by Dave King (Of The Bad Plus) at Echo Mountain Recording Studio in the band’s hometown of Asheville, NC.
 
On release week, NPR’s Folk Alley posted the world premiere of a stream of the entire album → www.folkalley.com/archives/001565.php.
 
In April, Jon Stickley Trio performed on NPR's Mountain Stage and their episode is scheduled for broadcast this Friday, May 20 and begins feeding to 200+ NPR stations. Airtimes and stations can be found here.
 
They will also be touring the States extensively with Maybe Believe. See the full list of tour dates below.

Jon Stickley Trio Maybe Believe Tour

5/12-13 - Fri-Sat - LEAF - Black Mountain, NC
5/19 Fri - Lower Town Arts & Music Festival - Paducah, KY
5/20 Sat - Forest Fest - Louisville, KY (11am show)
5/20 Sat - Moonshiner’s Ball - Berea, KY
5/26 Fri - Rooster Walk - Martinsville, VA
5/27 Sat - Big Wesser BBZ at Nantahala Outdoor Center - Bryson City, NC
6/8 Thu - Founders Brewing Co - Grand Rapids, MI
6/9 Fri - Parliament Room at Otus Supply - Ferndale, MI
6/10-11 Sat-Sun - NorEastr Festival @ County Fairgrounds - Mio, MI
6/12 Mon - WNMC House Concert Series @ The Moon Tower - Traverse City, MI
6/14 Wed - B Side Ballroom - Oneonta, NY
6/15 Thu - Abilene Bar - Rochester, NY
6/17 Sat - Skunk Funk Music Festival - Cazenovia, NY 
6/18 Sun - Gypsy Sally’s - Washington DC
6/19 Mon - Metro Gallery - Baltimore, MD
6/20 Tue - Motorco Music Hall - Durham, NC
6/21 Wed - Muddy Creek Music Hall - Winston-Salem, NC
6/22 Thu - River Jam at US Whitewater Center - Charlotte, NC
6/23-24 Fri-Sat - Clusterpluck @ Spirit of Suwannee Music Park - Live Oak, FL
7/7-8 Fri-Sat - Breckenridge Brewery - Littleton, CO
7/15 Sat - Red Wing Roots Music Festival - Mount Solon, VA
7/22 Sat - Burning Can @ Oskar Blues - Brevard, NC
7/29-30 Sat-Sun - FloydFest - Floyd, VA
8/2 Wed - The High Watt - Nashville, TN
8/3 Thu - Hi Tone - Memphis, TN
8/4 Fri - Homegrown on the River - Ozark, AR 
8/6 Sun - Rhythms on the Rio - South Fork, CO
8/9 Wed - The Bishop - Bloomington, IN
8/10 Thu - Woodlands Tavern - Columbus, OH
8/11 Fri - Bright Box Theater - Winchester, VA
8/12 Sat - Musikfest - Bethlehem, PA
8/16 Wed - The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI
8/18 Fri - Ignition Music Garage - Goshen, IN
8/19 Sat - Short’s Brewing Co - Bellaire, MI
8/20 Sun - Hoxyville Music Festival - Wellston, MI
9/5-10 Fri-Sun - Sisters Folk Fest - Sisters, OR
9/14 Thu - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA
9/17 Sun - The Knitting Factory - New York, NY
More date TBA!
Wed, 05/17/2017 - 11:22 am
The Festy Experience is excited to announce the first half of its music lineup for the 8th annual festival, happening October 5-8, 2017 in the Blue Ridge Bowl at Infinity Downs Farm in Arrington, Virginia. The lineup comprises a carefully curated blend of national and local roots music acts, featuring The Infamous Stringdusters, Drive-By Truckers, Sam Bush Band, The Travelin' McCourys, The Jerry Douglas Band, Cabinet, Billy Strings, Love Canon, Carl Anderson, and The 8th Annual Garrettgrass Gospel Hour. And this is just half of the artist lineup. The next installment of artists will be announced on Wednesday, June 14th. Tickets are on-sale now.
 
The Festy Experience came about as an idea between Virginia-native Michael Allenby and The Infamous Stringdusters in 2009. Allenby’s Charlottesville-based company, The Artist Farm, was working with the band at the time in management. They got to talking and wanted to organize an event that grew out of the band’s shared experiences with fans over the years on the road. Music was a focus, but it was always more than music to them. Some had started raising families and community has always been at the heart of their involvement in the festival scene.
 
Throughout the event's seven-year history, The Festy Experience team has worked hard to produce a festival experience that illustrates its core values: a love of craft food & beer (they will be offering a variety of Virginia's award winning craft beer), appreciation for the outdoors, and stellar music. A family-friendly atmosphere is key; along with a family camping area, there will be a large kids area, a teen zone, special programming, a kids instrument making workshop, as well as other family activities.
 
With acres of meadows and miles of trails, The Festy Experience is crafting a full weekend of outdoor activities that will include Disc Golf and many other outdoor activities… plus Guided Nature Tours, Trail Runs, and Hosted Bike Rides. Of course they’ll still have an amazing YOGA program, plus the 22nd Annual Blue Ridge Burn (5k/10k)! Stay tuned for more information on activities, workshops, and special accommodations.
 
This will be The Festy Experience’s second year at Infinity Downs Farm, a 387-acre property in Arrington, VA, located in the Nelson County Preserve at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Central Virginia adjacent to the site of LOCKN' Festival. The property features outdoor amphitheaters, open fields, campgrounds, hiking, and over 7 miles of biking trails. The Festy is fortunate that Infinity Downs Farm has been investing in extremely rare infrastructure (fencing, power, roads, water, internet) that will provide a sturdy foundation for The Festy Experience to continue its mission of long-term sustainability. It is conveniently located just 35 miles south of Charlottesville and 30 miles north of Lynchburg.
 
Tickets are on sale now and there are plenty of options including Weekend Camping, Car Camping, Family Camping, RV (powered or non-powered options), Individual Day, and Weekend-Day Passes with addition parking fees added on depending on your needs. Kids under 12 are free and there are special rates for teens (13-17). If you have any questions please contact us at [email protected] or 434-220-4000.
 
The Festy Experience is excited to announce that All Weekend Access Tickets now include FREE Thursday Arrival (making it 4 days total over Columbus Day weekend). This is made possible because of a grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) who recently awarded sponsorships to 32 Virginia music festivals, including The Festy Experience.
 
Anyone that purchases an All Weekend ticket will also receive a FREE commemorative steel pint cup from The Festy’s Partner Klean Kanteen. This is part of the festival’s commitment to environmental sustainability and used for beer purchases and water from free filling stations throughout the event.
 
Watch out for a series of events throughout the year in central Virginia to keep The Festy Experience around all year such as Bluegrass Brunch, listening room shows, and other special family friendly events.
 
The Festy Experience ~ First Half of 2017 Lineup:
 
The Infamous Stringdusters
Drive-By Truckers
Sam Bush Band
The Travelin' McCourys
The Jerry Douglas Band
Cabinet
Billy Strings
Love Canon
Carl Anderson
The 8th Annual Garrettgrass Gospel Hour
More TBA in June!

Tickets: www.TheFesty.com

Fri, 05/26/2017 - 6:25 am
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is excited to announce the 2nd Annual Suwannee Roots Revival taking place Thursday, October 12th, 2017 through Sunday, October 15th, 2017 at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, FL. The stellar lineup includes Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn, The Wood Brothers, Peter Rowan Dharma Blues featuring Jack Casady, Donna the Buffalo, Steep Canyon Rangers, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, Shawn Camp, Rev Jeff Mosier Band, Willie Sugarcapps, Joe Craven & The Sometimers, River Whyless, Seth Walker, Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters, Rumpke Mountain Boys, The Grass Is Dead, Grandpa's Cough Medicine, Nation of Two, Dread Clampitt, Belle and The Band, and more! See the full initial lineup below.
 
The family friendly festival includes four days of music, camping, campground pickin' sessions hosted by Sloppy Joe at Slopryland and Quartermoon at Bill Monroe Shrine, the Dance Tent, hands on and performance workshops, yoga, a Kids Tent, and much more!  Hosted by long time friends of the park Randy Judy and Beth Judy, Suwannee Roots Revival focuses on amazing roots music that ties together a weekend laced with community based fun, growing friendships, laughing families, and that feel good feeling you get from hanging out in such a beautiful natural setting. Festival Director Beth Judy says “Our goal is festival therapy. We want each person to experience the festival in such a way that when they leave, they are better than when they arrived. The unique participation of the musicians at such a soul level, combined with an open, loving community, placed in the aptly named Spirit of the Suwannee, creates the perfect environment for letting go of the cares of your regular life. This makes it a healing event. But it’s the most fun you ever had getting healed!”
 
The festival pays tribute and remembers our beloved artists who have passed on with our memorial Vassar Sunday. For this festival, we will also have some very special memorial musical presentations earlier in the weekend.
 
Verlon Thompson and Shawn Camp will join forces to present a special set of music by the legendary Guy Clark. There will also be a special set to honor the amazing and also legendary Col. Bruce Hampton - details will be forthcoming.
 
Be on the lookout for additional artists to be added to this already incredible line up, including a group of bands designed specially to get you out on the Dance Tent Floor.  We’ll have Contra, Cajun, and more - maybe even a little Salsa thrown in there for you!
 
A limited number of Early Bird Tickets are on sale now for $155 for a 4-­day Weekend Pass (all taxes, fees and primitive camping included). Kids age 12 and under are invited to join for free when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who buys a multi-day ticket. There are also military and student discounts available. See all rates and tiers and get tickets at www.suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets.
 
Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf and biking.The Spirit of Suwannee Music Park offers a unique experience like no other, a true playground for all that attend. The Park also offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms and water stations. Upgraded Camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, is currently on sale and reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. Attendees can also reserve golf cart rentals by calling the park.
 
SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.
 
Suwannee Roots Revival Initial Lineup
Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn
The Wood Brothers
Peter Rowan Dharma Blues featuring Jack Casady
Donna the Buffalo
Steep Canyon Rangers
Jim Lauderdale
Verlon Thompson
Shawn Camp
Rev Jeff Mosier Band
Willie Sugarcapps
Joe Craven & The Sometimers
Seth Walker
River Whyless
Nation of Two
Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters
The Grass Is Dead
Rumpke Mountain Boys
Dread Clampitt
Grandpa's Cough Medicine
The Pine Box Dwellers
Belle and The Band
The Adventures of Annabelle Lyn
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe
Habanero Honeys
Jeff Bradley
Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp
Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus
More to be announced...
Further information at www.SuwanneeRootsRevival.com. Also visit us on at www.facebook.com/suwanneeroots, Twitter & Instagram: @SuwanneeRoots (#SuwanneeRoots)
Sun, 05/28/2017 - 4:24 pm

The 2nd Annual Jam In The Trees is a two day, Americana music-themed event that takes place at Pisgah Brewing in Black Mountain, NC! With bands playing on both the beautiful Outdoor Stage, and the more intimate Indoor Taproom Stage Friday and Saturday, August 25 and 26, 2017. There are unique vendors and local food trucks on-site, and of course award-winning Pisgah Brewing beer.

Joining the bill to round up the final lineup are Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen, Jeffrey Foucault, Front Country, Eilen Jewell, Cicada Rhythm, and Zoe & Cloyd. Others that have already been announced include The Infamous Stringsuters, Acoustic Syndicate, Peter Rowan, Larry Keel, Tim O'Brien & Jan Fabricius, Jim Lauderdale, Underhill Rose, and Ken Tizzard.

Jam in the Trees’ Friday schedule starts with Zoe & Cloyd, followed by Underhill Rose, then Larry Keel. Doors at 7, show starts at 8pm, all on the Indoor Stage. Gates open Saturday at 12pm, with music starting at 1pm throughout the day until 11pm on the beautiful Pisgah Brewing Outdoor Stage, music inside all day, followed by an After Hours Jam at 11pm on the Indoor Stage with special guest artists from the day!

The Infamous Stringdusters close out the night on Saturday on the Outdoor Stage, following a performance by Acoustic Syndicate. Others performing on the Outdoor stage on Saturday include Front Country, Eilen Jewell, Tim O'Brien & Jan Fabricius, and Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen. Jim Lauderdale closes out the Indoor Stage on Saturday, following Ken Tizzard. Cicada Rhythm opens the stage for the day, followed by an afternoon set with Peter Rowan, then Jeffrey Foucault.

Tickets are on sale now. The two day packages are sold out; however there are still single day tickets available. VIP tickets (Saturday only) are also available and include Meet & Greets with the bands, a guided brewery tour and tasting, preferred parking, a commemorative event poster and more! Kids 12 and under are free and welcome on Saturday with a paying adult. Tap Room shows at Pisgah Brewing are 18 and up, which is what Friday night is, so no kids on Friday night.

Jam In The Trees partnering with The Asheville Brews Cruise to run complimentary shuttle buses, making a continuous circuit between a handful of nearby hotels and campgrounds and Pisgah Brewing Company. The ones on the route are Holiday Inn Asheville-Biltmore East, Quality Inn and Suites Biltmore East, Super 8 Black Mountain, Mama Gertie's Hideaway Campground, and Asheville East KOA. More information can be found at www.jaminthetrees.com/accommodations-shuttles.

JITT is a benefit for Wild Forests & Fauna (WildFF) and last year's inaugural event raised $5000 to protect, restore, and support threatened forests and wildlife in Western North Carolina as part of their Big Tree Project.

Stay tuned to the festival’s website www.jaminthetrees.com to see the full schedule and for more information and updates.

Jam in The Trees 2017 Lineup

The Infamous Stringdusters
Acoustic Syndicate
Peter Rowan
Larry Keel Experience
Jim Lauderdale
Tim O'Brien & Jan Fabricius
Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen
Jeffrey Foucault
Front Country
Eilen Jewell
Underhill Rose
Ken Tizzard
Cicada Rhythm
Zoe & Cloyd
Tue, 06/06/2017 - 4:49 pm

Andy Hall of The Infamous Stringdusters and Roosevelt Collier of The Lee Boys have come together on a new album, Let The Steel Play, which is set for independent release June 16, 2017. Let the Steel Play was born out of a love of slide guitar, and a friendship made through music. Andy Hall and Roosevelt Collier met in 2012 on Jam Cruise, and began playing music together when their paths would cross. Both are sought after sit-in players at festivals throughout the country and known for their dexterity, versatility, and intuitive knack for picking up rhythms and melodies.

Andy comes from the world of bluegrass, and cut his teeth in Nashville’s vibrant country and bluegrass scene having performed with Earl Scruggs, Ryan Adams, and Dolly Parton (who he is also on two albums with). Roosevelt "The Dr." was born into the Sacred Steel sound, learning lap and pedal steel at a young age directly under his uncles and grandfather in the House of God church his family attended in Perrine, FL. Roosevelt has performed alongside BB King, Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers, and Del McCoury Band.

Coming from different backgrounds and methods, yet brought together through slide guitar, Roosevelt and Andy have joined forces to create a musical bridge that emanates a freshness, yet honors both traditions.

The bluegrass tradition is highlighted by classics such as a haunting and melodic version of “A Maiden’s Prayer,” which was written initially for piano in Poland and made popular in the 1930’s in America by Bob Wills who arranged it on fiddle in a more Western Swing style and added lyrics; it was later recorded by Buck Owens and Willie Nelson. Let The Steel Play also includes the 1920’s folk song made popular by Flatts and Scruggs, “Reuben’s Train,” which is jazzed up even more in it’s evolution here.

The time-honored song “This Little Light Of Mine” is played in both bluegrass and gospel music. Andy says, “We chose it because it seemed like a natural bridge between our two styles, and it is just fun to play. Roosevelt’s unique way of playing bass parts on the steel is highlighted in the breakdown section.”

“Power In the Blood” showcase the sounds of Sacred Steel. Written by Lewis E. Jones in 1899, the slides take on a very vocal style here; you can almost imagine yourself in church, feeling the holy spirit!

For a slightly more modern flair they also perform a version of the Grateful Dead’s “Crazy Fingers.” “When we recorded this album I had been playing quite a bit with Phil Lesh, and was doing Grateful Grass shows with Keller Williams, so I certainly had the Grateful Dead on the brain,” says Andy Hall, “‘Crazy Fingers’ has always been a closet favorite of mine. Amazing complex chords that work so well together. Yet the melody is so memorable. I play the melody throughout, and then Roosevelt soars on the intro riff that we repeat at the end.”

Additionally there are 5 originals that Andy and Roosevelt wrote together specifically for this project. From the uplifting “Rosebud” to the fast paced “Remington,” this record showcases not only exceptional slide work, but engaging songwriting. “The Darkest Hour” was written on Hall’s Weissenborn style guitar, which has a mellower, pretty sound and juxtaposes nicely with the gritty low sound of Roosevelt’s lap steel.

In the final song of the album, “Colfax Boogie,” Anders Beck of Greensky Bluegrass adds his Dobro prowess to make a slide guitar power trio. They co-wrote it while all together in the studio and had fun with three slides all taking turns and playing off each other, a perfect way to round out the project.

Let The Steel Play was recorded at Macy Sound Studios in Denver, CO, and produced by John Macy (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Los Lobos). The mastering was done by Fred Guarino (he also recorded The Infamous Stringdusters’ 2015 album Undercover), at Tiki Recording.

Let the Steel Play is an instrumental offering that gives the listener something new, yet familiar. Where two traditions come together and form something new and relevant. The slide guitar is not all that common, but it’s certainly a treat to the ear and to the soul.

Let The Steel Play Track Listing
1. This Little Light Of Mine 4:51
2. Maiden’s Prayer 3:48
3. Singing Steel 4:01
4. Crazy Fingers 4:40
5. Rosebud 3:04
6. Reuben’s Train 3:34
7. Remington 3:06
8. The Darkest Hour 4:05
9. Power In the Blood 3:50
10. Colfax Boogie (W/ Anders Beck) 4:46

Thu, 06/15/2017 - 10:24 am
The Festy Experience is excited to announce the second round of its music lineup for the 8th annual festival, happening October 5-8, 2017 in the Blue Ridge Bowl at Infinity Downs Farm in Arrington, Virginia. The lineup comprises a carefully curated blend of national and local roots music acts and additions include Ani DiFranco, Elephant Revival, Beats Antique, Joan Osborne, Sierra Hull, EmiSunshine, Della Mae, Shook Twins, Sarah Siskind & Sunliner, Phoebe Hunt, Maggie Koerner, Dori Freeman, Erin Lunsford, and Tara Mills. Danny Barnes, Nick Forster, and Gallatin Canyon have also been recently added!
 
Other performers already announced include The Infamous Stringdusters, Drive-By Truckers, Sam Bush Band, The Travelin' McCourys, The Jerry Douglas Band, Cabinet, Billy Strings, Love Canon, Carl Anderson, and The 8th Annual Garrettgrass Gospel Hour. Tickets are on-sale now.
 
With half of the lineup consisting of female artists, The Festy Experience Director Michael Allenby says, "We recognize that the previous version of the music industry is hurting and can not invest in artists and progress their careers. It is now the promoter's job to evolve the industry and we believe that gender equality is a critical issue. Other industries often claim that gender inequality is a ‘pipeline issue’ that will take a long time to evolve; however, there's no shortage of amazing female artists and performers. The marketing of this talent happens AT festivals… not just FOR festivals.
 
“The fact that the first half of this year's Festy lineup was ALL MEN went surprisingly unnoticed by most.” Allenby continues, “We see unbalanced programming too often and wanted to do something to draw attention to the issue. It's one of many progressive changes that The Festy intends to roll out over the coming years and we are challenging promoters to make social progress a priority in all aspects of large-scale community gatherings."
 
Throughout the event's year history, The Festy Experience team has worked hard to produce a diverse festival experience that illustrates its core values: a love of craft food & beer (they will be offering a variety of Virginia's award winning craft beer), appreciation for the outdoors, and stellar music. A family-friendly atmosphere is key; along with a family camping area, there will be a large kids area, a teen zone, special programming, a kids instrument making workshop, as well as other family activities. Of course they’ll still have an amazing yoga program, plus the 22nd Annual Blue Ridge Burn (5k/10k)!
 
Environmental sustainability is important to the organizers and they are eliminating all waste from single-use plastic cups. Instead every All Weekend ticket comes with a free commemorative steel pint cup from The Festy’s Partner, Klean Kanteen, which they can use for free water from filling stations placed throughout site as well as beer purchases.
 
The Festy Experience started in 2009 and is a partnership between Allenby's Virginia-based company, The Artist Farm and The Infamous Stringdusters and it offers more than music. This will be The Festy Experience’s second year at Infinity Downs Farm, which is conveniently located just 35 miles south of Charlottesville and 30 miles north of Lynchburg, adjacent to the site of LOCKN' Festival. The property features outdoor amphitheaters, open fields, campgrounds, hiking, and over 7 miles of biking trails. Stay tuned for more information about outdoor activities and workshops.
 
The Festy Experience ~ Full 2017 Lineup:
The Infamous Stringdusters
Ani DiFranco
Drive-By Truckers
Elephant Revival
Sam Bush Band
Beats Antique
The Jerry Douglas Band
Joan Osborne
The Travelin' McCourys
Sierra Hull
Danny Barnes & Nick Forster
EmiSunshine
Garrettgrass Gospel Hour
Della Mae
Cabinet
Shook Twins
Billy Strings
Sarah Siskind & Sunliner
Carl Anderson
Phoebe Hunt
Love Canon
Maggie Koerner
Dori Freeman
Erin Lunsford
Gallatin Canyon
Tara Mills
Sat, 06/17/2017 - 2:31 pm
Andy Hall of The Infamous Stringdusters and Roosevelt Collier of the Lee Boys just released Let The Steel Play on Friday, June 16th. “This album is the perfect example of something you do strictly for the joy of the music. We shared songs that highlight our slide guitar history, but we also wrote some super cool modern tunes together. We came together through our love of slide and have become close musical partners,” says Andy, “It was engineered by a great slide guitarist in his own right, John Macy (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Los Lobos) in Denver CO. So it's slide top to bottom!”
 
Andy Hall and Roosevelt Collier met in 2012 on Jam Cruise, and began playing music with one another when their paths would cross. Both are sought after sit-in players at festivals throughout the country and known for their dexterity, versatility, and intuitive knack for picking up rhythms and melodies.
 
Andy comes from the world of bluegrass, and cut his teeth in Nashville’s vibrant country and bluegrass scene having performed with Earl Scruggs, Ryan Adams, and Dolly Parton (who he is also on two albums with). Roosevelt "The Dr." was born into the Sacred Steel sound, learning lap and pedal steel at a young age directly under his uncles and grandfather in the House of God church his family attended in Perrine, FL. Roosevelt has performed alongside BB King, Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers, and Del McCoury Band.
 
Let the Steel Play is an instrumental offering that gives the listener something new, yet familiar. Where two traditions unite and form something new and relevant. The slide guitar is not all that common, but it’s certainly a treat to the ear and to the soul.
Thu, 06/22/2017 - 7:08 am

Over the past few decades, the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance has grown to be more than just a single event in Trumansburg, NY and this year the latest addition to the roster returns for its sophomore year: the GrassRoots Culture Camp 2017 runs from Sunday through Wednesday, July 16-19, the four days leading up to the 27th annual GrassRoots Festival which takes place July 20-23. Both the camp and the festival are held at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds.

Culture Camp is an incredible opportunity to attend four days of music and dance workshops led by many of the favorite GrassRoots performers including instructors from Donna The Buffalo, Driftwood, The Horseflies, Preston Frank and His Zydeco Family Band, Keith Secola, Balfa Toujours, Los Texmaniacs, Big Mean Sound Machine, Jennie Lowe Stearns, The Blind Spots, Richie and Rosie, Bobby Henrie and The Goners, and many more! Culture Camp Coordinator and co-founding member of Donna the Buffalo, Tara Nevins, says, "GrassRoots Culture Camp offers first hand learning experience with masters of traditional and contemporary art forms, including music, dance, visual arts, and culinary arts in a fun and positive setting, promoting community and the importance of tradition and culture in our society.”
 
The workshops, along with themed nightly dinners and dances, provide an opportunity to immerse oneself in an intimate learning experience and to enjoy a few extra days of fun before the festival begins. Workshops include fiddle, banjo, guitar, the art of guitar and cello, bass, mandolin, accordion, improvisation, singing, children’s sing song, country songs old and new, cajun songs, songwriting, father and son duo, Native Americana, the spirit of the native american drum, Moog synthesizers, Afrobeat drumset rhythms & concepts, bodhran, scrubboard, triangle, dance, acrylic painting, yoga, youth percussion, and youth square dance. Advanced musicians as well as beginners are welcome!
 
See the full lineup and schedule → www.grassrootsfest.org/culture-camp-1-1
 
PREVIOUS CULTURE CAMP ATTENDEES SAY:  "What an amazing experience Culture Camp turned out to be! Rarely is there an opportunity to immerse yourself in music while learning how to make it. The nightly shows in the dance tent were fabulous! The dinner cuisine was superb! My favorite workshops were Songwriting and Duet Singing. I left Culture Camp feeling inspired and energized!" --Phyllis Atwell
 
"In all honesty, last year's Culture Camp was a major life experience for me. I was able to work and jam with with professionals, such as Jeb Puryear.  At my level of playing as an adult learner, I never thought that I would have had that opportunity. I received individualized instruction from the very talented Joey Arcuri of Driftwood. I don't think I've put down my upright bass since. I look forward to Culture Camp to rejuvenate the inspiration and motivation for another whole year. Culture Camp is such a beautiful way to ease into the excitement of the music festival....the feeding of my soul through music, education, arts, culture, and friends that have become family." --Ni Lu
 
"My Culture Camp participation was a combination of learning, experiencing, and interacting with people up close and feeling the joy of what they do and bring to GrassRoots. It's truly rewarding!" --Jeffrey Schriber
Wed, 07/26/2017 - 12:11 pm
Balsam Range is overjoyed with the news of today’s IBMA Awards Nominations in the following eight categories: Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Instrumental Group of the Year, Song of the Year: “Blue Collar Dreams”, Album of the Year: Mountain Voodoo, Gospel Recorded Event of the Year: “Wish You Were Here”, Male Vocalist of the Year: Buddy Melton, and Bass Player of the Year: Tim Surrett! Balsam Range, along with Sierra Hull and Justin Moses, performed live earlier today for the awards announcement with SiriusXM Bluegrass Junction host Kyle Cantrell. You can re-watch it over on IBMA’s Facebook page from their Facebook Live stream.
 
The band is flying high with their sixth studio album, Mountain Voodoo, which came out on Mountain Home Music Company [11/11/17]. With Mountain Voodoo they offer something that is continuing to mesmerize fans of bluegrass and beyond with elements of jazz, country, gospel, swing, and old-time music that are all infused into the fresh sound of this unique Southern band. It’s five distinct personalities creating one remarkable musical experience.
 
The 13-tracks are like the book of life “Chapter Six” for Balsam Range and are filled with songs of journey, home, sense of place, hardcore drive, and longing. There are fiery instrumental parts alternating with heavy, deep ballads overlaid by the vocal harmonies the group has become known for.
 
Their song “Blue Collar Dreams” has stayed at #1 on Bluegrass Unlimited’s radio chart for June, July, and August. The same song also spent three consecutive months at number one on the Bluegrass Today charts earlier this year! Two other songs from the album have also landed at #1 on Bluegrass Today’s chart including “Something 'Bout That Suitcase” and “El Dorado Blue.” Balsam Range is Buddy Melton (Fiddle, Lead and Tenor Vocals), Darren Nicholson (Mandolin, Octave Mandolin, Lead Vocals, Baritone and Low Tenor Vocals), Dr. Marc Pruett (Banjo), Tim Surrett (Bass, Dobro, Baritone and Lead Vocals), and Caleb Smith (Guitar, Lead & Baritone Vocals). The five original members, who celebrated their 10th year together this past March, are all acoustic musicians and singers from North Carolina. They thoughtfully and respectfully adopted the name of a majestic range of mountains that surrounds part of their home county of Haywood, NC where the Smokies meet the Blue Ridge, the Balsam Range.
 
Balsam Range is humbled and honored to receive nominations for this years IBMA Awards in the following categories:
Entertainer of the Year
Vocal Group of the Year
Instrumental Group of the Year
Song of the Year: “Blue Collar Dreams”
Album of the Year: Mountain Voodoo
Gospel Recorded Event of the Year: “Wish You Were Here”
Male Vocalist of the Year: Buddy Melton
Bass Player of the Year: Tim Surrett
Get Mountain Voodoo at iTunes, Amazon, and more → https://clg.lnk.to/3OSAZ
Wed, 08/16/2017 - 1:23 pm

Jam in The Trees is honored to be nominated for an International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Momentum Award in the Festival/Event/Venue category for 2017! What great news to find out shortly before The 2nd Annual Jam In The Trees, a two day, Americana music-themed event that takes place at Pisgah Brewing in Black Mountain, NC on both the beautiful Outdoor Stage and the more intimate Indoor Taproom Stage Friday and Saturday, August 25 and 26, 2017.

This year's event features The Infamous Stringdusters, Acoustic Syndicate, Peter Rowan, Larry Keel Experience, Jim Lauderdale, Tim O'Brien & Jan Fabricius, Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen, Jeffrey Foucault, Front Country, Eilen Jewell, Underhill Rose, Ken Tizzard, Cicada Rhythm, and Zoe & Cloyd!  There will also be unique vendors and local food trucks on-site including Bun Intended, Grateful Roots, Mountain View BBQ, and DOGS, as well as award-winning Pisgah Brewing beer!

Doors open at 7pm on Friday for shows on the Indoor Taproom Stage. Gates open Saturday at 12pm, with music starting at 1pm throughout the day until 11pm on the Pisgah Brewing Outdoor Stage and inside the Taproom with no overlapping sets between stages.

Saturday night there will be an After Hours Jam hosted by Jim Lauderdale and “house band” Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen with guests Peter Rowan, Tim O' Brien, Ken Tizzard, Front Country and more. It starts around 11:30pm in the Taproom. The full schedule of music can be found at www.jaminthetrees.com/stage-schedule-2017.

For folks that purchased VIP Tickets, VIP Meet & Greets take place on Saturday in the VIP Area and include Popcorn with Peter Rowan (5:30- 6pm), Jim Lauderdale PicNic Party (4 - 4:30pm), and Biscuits with O'Brien (Tim & Jan) (2:30- 3pm). Each is paired with a specific Pisgah Beer for the occasion and is followed by a brewery tour.

Tickets are on sale now. The two day packages are sold out; however there are still single day tickets available. VIP tickets (Saturday only) are also available and include Meet & Greets with the bands, a guided brewery tour and tasting, preferred parking, a commemorative event poster and more! Kids 12 and under are free and welcome on Saturday with a paying adult. Tap Room shows at Pisgah Brewing are 18 and up, which is what Friday night is, so no kids on Friday night.

Jam in the Trees not only values music and community, but we also take on a responsibility to change the world for the better. For the second year in a row, a portion of our proceeds will benefit Wild Forests & Fauna (WildFF), a conservation organization that works with local communities to protect and restore globally important forests. One of their main projects, Native Seeds, is headed up by Asheville-native Georgia Beasley who has helped build the largest native tree nurseries in northern Uganda to empower traditional women healers and provide the area with medicine and food security. Last year's inaugural event raised $5000 to protect, restore, and support threatened forests and wildlife in Western North Carolina as part of their Big Tree Project.

Jam in The Trees is sponsored by Prestige Subaru and Mosaic Lifestyle Realty.

Jam In the Trees is excited to have partnered with Asheville Brews Cruise to offer complimentary shuttle service to all ticket holders for 2017! You can catch a ride out to Pisgah Brewing from downtown Asheville before the music starts on both Friday and Saturday, and catch a ride back downtown after the music ends both days! Stay safe and save money on gas!

During festival hours, the Brew Bus will be making a continuous circuit between nearby hotels and campgrounds in the Swannanoa/Black Mountain area and Pisgah Brewing Company. The ones on the route are Holiday Inn Asheville-Biltmore East, Quality Inn and Suites Biltmore East, Super 8 Black Mountain, Mama Gertie's Hideaway Campground, and Asheville East KOA. Even if you just missed the shuttle, the longest you should have to wait for another is approximately 30 minutes. More information and shuttle times can be found at www.jaminthetrees.com/accommodations-shuttles.

Jam in The Trees 2017 Lineup
The Infamous Stringdusters
Acoustic Syndicate
Peter Rowan
Larry Keel Experience
Jim Lauderdale
Tim O'Brien & Jan Fabricius
Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen
Jeffrey Foucault
Front Country
Eilen Jewell
Underhill Rose
Ken Tizzard
Cicada Rhythm
Zoe & Cloyd

 

Tue, 08/29/2017 - 9:21 am
Jon Stickley Trio is on tour with Maybe Believe, their 3rd independently released full length album [May 12, 2017]. Jon Stickley Trio combines Jon Stickley’s rapid-fire flatpicking guitar with the sultry and wild, yet refined, melodies of Lyndsay Pruett on violin set over the deep groove of Patrick Armitage on drums.
 
Jon Stickley Trio has been touring the States extensively this year and kicks off September at the Jackpine Jamboree in Wisconsin and then they’ll spend a week at Sisters Folk Fest in Oregon with workshops and performances in early September. Mid-month brings them around to the northeast before playing out the rest of September back in midwest. After a quick break in their hometown of Asheville, NC, they head  west with a stop in Colorado before a handful of shows in California, including the Joshua Tree Music Festival. Then the road brings them up through Utah and Wyoming before a few more Colorado shows. They close out October by joining in on the Halloween fun at String Cheese Incident’s Suwannee Hulaween down in northern Florida at the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park.
 
In early November the Trio heads into Virginia for a couple of shows before traveling back into Florida for the Riverhawk Fest and more performances throughout the state. The end of the month brings the Trio back up towards their home-state for a scattering of shows and to rest up a bit before heading out in early December to Strings and Sol in Puerto Morelos, a Mexican port town on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula where they join in on Cloud 9’s annual 4-night all-inclusive Tropical Bluegrass Adventure with Yonder Mountain String Band, Greensky Bluegrass, Railroad Earth, Leftover Salmon, The Infamous Stringdusters, Fruition, and Bryan Sutton. To close out the year they have a special New Year's Eve Celebration in their hometown of Asheville at Isis Music Hall with The Digs!
 
Stay tuned to Jon Stickley Trio’s website and social networks for more dates to be announced and updates from the road.
 
Jon Stickley Trio 'Dream Vision' Tour 
9/2-3 Sat-Sun - Jackpine Jamboree - Birnamwood, WI
9/5-10 Tue-Sun - Sisters Folk Fest - Sisters, OR
9/13 Wed - Gypsy Sally’s - Washington, DC * w/ The Last Revel
9/14 Thu - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA * w/ The Last Revel, Jeremiah Tall
9/15-16 Fri-Sat - Wormtown Music Festival - Greenfield, MA
9/17 Sun - Knitting Factory - Brooklyn, NY * w/ The Last Revel
9/20 Wed - The Raccoon Motel - Davenport, IA
9/21 Thu - Tonic Room - Chicago, IL
9/22 Fri - The Source Public House - Menasha, WI * w/ Head For The Hills
9/23 Sat - Boats and Bluegrass - Winona, MN
9/24 Sun - Carnahan Hall - Lafayette, IN
10/3 Tue - Dolores River Brewery - Dolores, CO
10/5 Thu - Winston’s - San Diego, CA *w/ The Ghost of Paul Revere
10/6 Fri - Boulevard Music - Culver City, CA *w/ The Ghost of Paul Revere
10/7 Sat - Joshua Tree Music Festival - Joshua Tree, CA
10/10 Tue - Don Quixote’s - Felton, CA
10/12 Thu - Throckmorton Theatre - Mill Valley, CA
10/13 Fri - Old Ironsides - Sacramento, CA
10/14 Sat - Moe’s Original BBQ - Tahoe City, CA * W/ Brad Parsons
10/17 Tue - Piper Down - Salt Lake City, UT
10/18 Wed - Pinedale Fine Arts - Pinedale, WY
10/20 Fri - Wildflower Concert Series - Lyons, CO * Monacle Band Album Release Show
10/21 Sat - Cervantes’ Other Side - Denver, CO
10/22 Sun - 4th and Main Grill - Wray, CO
10/27-28 Fri-Sat - Suwannee Hulaween - Live Oak, FL
11/2 Thu - Cat’s Cradle - Carrboro, NC * w/ Larry Keel
11/3 Fri - 5 Points Music Sanctuary - Roanoke, VA * w/ Larry Keel
11/4 Sat - Bright Box Theater - Winchester, VA
11/11-12 Sat-Sun - Riverhawk Fest - Brooksville, FL
11/14 Tue - Terra Fermata - Stuart, FL * w/ The Nouveaux Honkies
11/16 Thu - Point Ybel Brewing Co. - Fort Myers, FL
11/17 Fri - Wynwood Yard - Miami, FL
11/18 Sat - Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center - Sarasota, FL
11/19 Sun - Iron Oak Post - Melbourne, FL
11/20 Mon - Beaches History Museum - Jacksonville Beach, FL
11/30 Thu - The Grove at Upcountry Provisions - Travelers Rest, SC
12/1 Fri - The Spinning Jenny - Greer, SC
12/2 Sat - House Concert - Walkertown, NC
12/8-12 Fri-Tue - Strings and Sol - Puerto Morelos, Mexico
12/31 Sun - NYE Celebration at Isis Music Hall - Asheville, NC * w/ The Digs
Tue, 08/29/2017 - 12:08 pm
The 8th Annual Festy Experience takes place October 5-8, 2017 in the Blue Ridge Bowl at Infinity Downs Farm, a 387-acre property in Arrington, Virginia (also the new home of LOCKN' Festival) at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Festy aims to give the ultimate laid back festival experience which is fun for the entire family: camping, outdoor activities, craft food and beer, daily yoga, the 22nd Annual Blue Ridge Burn (5k/10k), and stellar music! This year’s lineup includes The Infamous Stringdusters, Ani DiFranco, Drive-By Truckers, Elephant Revival, Sam Bush Band, Beats Antique, The Jerry Douglas Band, Joan Osborne, and lots more. The Festy Experience is thrilled to announced the daily schedule of music for the Blue Ridge Outdoors Stage and the Skyline Tent Stage, with no overlapping sets between the two stages! Head on over to the newly revamped website to check it out.
 
Thursday brings the full moon and sees host band The Infamous Stringdusters close out the evening out on the Skyline Tent Stage just following Beats Antique’s set on Blue Ridge Outdoors Stage. Others performing on Thursday include Danny Barnes & Nick Forster, Sierra Hull, and Gallatin Canyon.
 
Sam Bush Band closes out Friday night the Blue Ridge Outdoors Stage, following early evening performances by The Infamous Stringdusters and Della Mae. EmiSunshine & Friends have an afternoon set on the Blue Ridge Outdoors Stage and Emi is the MC host for that stage the entire weekend. Cabinet will rock out the late night set on the Skyline Tent Stage and other Friday performers on the stage include Carl Anderson and Erin Lunsford.
 
Saturday is packed with performances including Drive-By Truckers, Ani DiFranco, and Elephant Revival on the Blue Ridge Outdoors Stage. That day, Skyline Tent Stage features The Travelin McCourys, Sarah Siskind & Sunliner, Phoebe Hunt & The Gatherers, and Maggie Koerner. There’s also a Kids Parade and Jam at 11:30am.
 
Sunday sets on the Blue Ridge Outdoors Stage include The Jerry Douglas Band, The Infamous Stringdusters, and Joan Osborne Sings the Songs of Bob Dylan. The stage kicks off with the Garrettgrass Gospel Hour that morning (featuring Jeremy Garrett of The Infamous Stringdusters and EmiSunshine, as well as members of Shook Twins, Elephant Revival, and more.) Sunday Skyline Tent Stage performances include Shook Twins, Billy Strings, Love Canon, and Dori Freeman.
 
Family fun is key throughout the Festy all weekend long; along with a family camping area, there will be a large kids area, a teen zone, a kids instrument making workshop, as well as other family activities. Kids activities in the Little Planets Kids Zone will include Children's Jams, Magic Shows, Balloon Animals & Bubble Making, Kids Drum & Didgeridoo Workshops w/ Jim Gagnon, Costume Making for the Kid’s Parade on Saturday and more!
 
Notably, half of the lineup consists of female artists, The Festy Experience Director Michael Allenby says, "We recognize that the previous version of the music industry is hurting and can not invest in artists and progress their careers. It is now the promoter's job to evolve the industry and we believe that gender equality is a critical issue. Other industries often claim that gender inequality is a ‘pipeline issue’ that will take a long time to evolve; however, there's no shortage of amazing female artists and performers. The marketing of this talent happens AT festivals… not just FOR festivals… we are challenging promoters to make social progress a priority in all aspects of large-scale community gatherings."
 
Tickets are on sale now and there are plenty of options including Weekend Camping, Car Camping, Family Camping, RV (powered or non-powered options), Individual Day, and Weekend-Day Passes with addition parking fees added on depending on your needs. Kids under 12 are free and there are special rates for teens (13-17). All Weekend Access Tickets include Thursday Arrival (making it 4 days total over Columbus Day weekend). Single Day tickets are also available now. Get your tickets now a pricing increases on September 5th!
 
To help in sustainability efforts to eliminate all waste from single-use plastic cups, every All Weekend ticket comes with a free commemorative steel pint cup from The Festy’s Partner, Klean Kanteen, which they can use for free water from filling stations placed throughout site as well as beer purchases.
 
Lodging Upgrades are also available offering all the fun, with none of the hassle. See the website for more information on The High Country Village and The Show Sherpa packages which range from reserving an RV or Yurt (along with other perks including power, showers, flushable toilets, morning coffee, and more) to having a campsite set up and ready to go for you to on site.
 
Thursday is "Free Nelson County Day.” Stay tuned for information on how Nelson County residents can pick up tickets.
 
The Festy Experience ~ Full 2017 Lineup:
The Infamous Stringdusters
Ani DiFranco
Drive-By Truckers
Elephant Revival
Sam Bush Band
Beats Antique
The Jerry Douglas Band
Joan Osborne
The Travelin' McCourys
Sierra Hull
Danny Barnes & Nick Forster
EmiSunshine
Garrettgrass Gospel Hour
Della Mae
Cabinet
Shook Twins
Billy Strings
Sarah Siskind & Sunliner
Carl Anderson
Phoebe Hunt & The Gatherers
Love Canon
Maggie Koerner
Dori Freeman
Erin Lunsford
Gallatin Canyon
Tara Mills

Location: Blue Ridge Bowl at Infinity Downs Farm
1510 Diggs Mountain Road
Arrington, VA 22922

Infinity Downs Farm is conveniently located just 35 miles south of Charlottesville and 30 miles north of Lynchburg, (it is also the site of LOCKN' Festival). The property features outdoor amphitheaters, open fields, campgrounds, hiking, and over 7 miles of biking trails. Stay tuned for more information about outdoor activities and workshops.
Mon, 09/11/2017 - 6:12 pm

Donna the Buffalo is delighted to release a music video for their original song “Across The Way” along with a slew of tour dates for this Fall and Winter! The song breathes fresh air with lyrics written by Jeb Puryear, “Do you think that a smile matters… Do you think a song can change the world… If you do then let it play... All these things happen… Across the way… Do you believe in magic... I do… Every day… It's right where you're standing… Across the way.”

Known as one of the most dynamic and determined bands continuously touring America for nearly thirty years, Donna the Buffalo has created a community environment at their shows through their distinctive, groove-heavy, and danceable music. With roots in old time fiddle music that evolved into a soulful electric American mix infused with elements of cajun/ zydeco, rock, folk, reggae, and country, Donna’s music often contains social and moral responsibility as core beliefs, and they are just simply fun to get out and celebrate life with.

Donna the Buffalo is Jeb Puryear (vocals, electric guitar) and Tara Nevins (vocals, guitar, fiddle, accordion, scrubboard) joined by David McCracken (Hammond organ, Hohner Clavinet & piano), Kyle Spark (bass) and Mark Raudabaugh (drums).

Donna the Buffalo is excited to announce their Fall and Winter upcoming tour dates. They’ll be in the NorthEast in mid-September before heading south for a few shows including a performance at the historic Bijou Theatre in Knoxville, Tennessee and Deep Water Soul Fest in Hot Springs, North Carolina and their very own Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival in Pittsboro, North Carolina. In mid-October they return to Spirit of Suwannee Music Park in northern Florida for the Suwannee Roots Revival before returning north for shows in Binghamton and Tarrytown, New York.

In November they bring their new bus out west for shows in Fort Collins and Nederland, Colorado, then on to the Moab Folk Festival in Utah, as well as appearance at the Musical Instruments Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. They’ll travel up the coast of California for six shows including Pappy and Harriet's in Pioneertown and the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Mid-month on they explore the NorthWest a bit more with shows in Eugene, Seattle, Portland, and Missoula. The band returns home and has a few shows in New York State in early December, along with a show at the new Boston City Winery!

Donna the Buffalo’s New Year’s run brings them back to Florida starting off December 29 at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall and then two nights (Including New Year's Eve) at Skipper’s Smokehouse in Tampa. After a day of rest on New Year’s Day, they loop through Key West, Boca Raton, Orlando, Charleston, and Saxapahaw, NC.

Their Winter tour has more to be announced and already includes shows in Washington DC, Charlottesville, Atlanta, Charlotte, Saranac Lake, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh. Stay tuned for more dates to be added →  www.donnathebuffalo.com/on-the-road.

Donna the Buffalo Fall / Winter Tour

9/14 Thu - Infinity Hall - Hartford, CT
9/15 Fri - New Hope Winery - New Hope, PA
9/16 Sat - Harwich Cranberry Arts & Music Festival - Harwich, MA
9/22 Fri - Bijou Theatre - Knoxville, TN
9/23 Sat - Deep Water Soul Fest - Hot Springs, NC
10/5-8 Thu-Sun - Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival - Pittsboro, NC
10/13-15 Fri-Sun - Suwannee Roots Revival - Live Oak, FL
10/20 Fri - Touch of Texas - Binghamton, NY
10/21 Sat - Tarrytown Music Hall - Tarrytown, NY
11/2 Thu -  Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, CO
11/3 Fri - The Caribou Room - Nederland, CO
11/4 Sat - Moab Folk Festival - Moab, UT
11/5 Sun - Musical Instruments Museum - Phoenix, AZ
11/8 Wed - Saint Rocke - Hermosa Beach, CA
11/9 Thu - Pappy and Harriet’s - Pioneertown, CA
11/10 Fri - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA
11/11 Sat - The Catalyst Atrium - Santa Cruz, CA
11/12 Sun - Hopmonk Tavern - Sebastopol, CA
11/14 Tue - Humboldt Brews - Arcata, CA
11/15 Wed - WOW Hall - Eugene, OR
11/16 Thu - Tractor Tavern - Seattle, WA
11/17 Fri - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR
11/18 Sat - Top Hat Lounge - Missoula, MT
12/1 Fri - Cohoes Music Hall - Cohoes, NY
12/2 Sat - City Winery - Boston, MA
12/8 Fri - The Westcott Theater - Syracuse, NY
12/9 Sat - Anthology - Rochester, NY
12/29 Fri - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall - Ponte Vedra, FL
12/30-31 Sat-Sun - Skipper’s - Tampa, FL
1/2/18 Tue - Green Parrot - Key West, FL
1/3 Wed - The Funky Biscuit - Boca Raton, FL
1/4 Thu - The Social - Orlando, FL
1/5 Fri - The Charleston Pour House - Charleston, SC
1/6 Sat - Haw River Ballroom - Saxapahaw, NC
1/19 Fri - The Hamilton Live - Washington, DC
1/20 Sat - Jefferson Theater - Charlottesville, VA
1/26 Fri - City Winery - Atlanta, GA
1/27 Sat - Neighborhood Theater - Charlotte, NC
2/8 Thu - The Waterhole - Saranac Lake, NY
2/9 Fri - Tralf Music Hall - Buffalo, NY
2/10 Sat - Rex Theater - Pittsburgh, PA
 
Mon, 09/25/2017 - 2:32 pm

Town Mountain and Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters, two stellar bands from Asheville, North Carolina, are teaming up for the Asheville Holiday Hang as a run of shows in the Southeast, sponsored by New Belgium Brewing Company. Ashvegas’ Caleb Calhoun calls them, “a match made in heaven.”

“Over the past few years, New Belgium and Town Mountain have forged a relationship that goes well beyond making great music and good beer. The partnership has been one that ties to both organizations philanthropic roots at a time of year where people need it the most, the holidays,” says New Belgium Brewing Employee Owner, Trey Wheeler. New Belgium Brewing Company will be running specials at each of the shows and adding to the financial donation to MANNA FoodBank.

Town Mountain says, "For us the holiday season seems like a great time to celebrate playing music with friends as well as giving back to the community that has supported us through the years." The Asheville Holiday Hang originated as a holiday benefit in Asheville and is heading into its 6th year with the hometown Asheville show taking place at The Orange Peel for the first time. Both bands and The Orange Peel are teaming up and donating 20% of ticket sales from that show to MANNA FoodBank!

MANNA FoodBank is a private, not-for-profit service organization, that links the food industry with over 200 partner agencies in 16 counties of WNC. MANNA is an acronym and stands for Mountain Area Nutritional Needs Alliance. They are a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization. For 35 years, Feeding America has responded to the hunger crisis in America by providing food to people in need through a nationwide network of food banks with the motto, “Together we can solve hunger.”

“MANNA is excited to partner with Town Mountain again for the fifth consecutive year. Their Holiday Hang show has become a ‘Must See’ holiday tradition for dozens of fans in our MANNA community.” Alisa Hixson, Director Corporate Engagement & Signature Events at MANNA FoodBank, says,”Their support has provided for over 6,000 meals in WNC and their desire to keep giving  back to their community epitomizes the mindset of the Asheville community. They’re a powerhouse of musicians harnessing their talent to help their neighbors, the perfect holiday story!”

Last year, Town Mountain paired with The Honeycutters and decided to bring the Holiday Hang on the road to other cities they both frequent and have grown friendships and fans in. The tradition continues this year and are excited to expand the scope of the Holiday Hang with a longer run of shows through the Southeast including Rocky Mount, Virginia, Greer and Charleston, South Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia, and Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Not only is the event traveling to additional cities, but with the help of Feeding America (of which MANNA is a part of) the bands are donating partial proceeds from each show to a food bank from that area.

Town Mountain and The Honeycutters have long been close friends and each band has a different sound to offer The Holiday Hang. Both have their own spin on what Americana is today. You'll be sure to hear bluegrass, country, and rock influences coming from each band. As in years past there will be a jam at the end of each night where they join together in the collaborative spirit of the Asheville music scene.

"On the surface, a joint tour between the bluegrass combo Town Mountain and the alt-country band The Honeycutters might seem like an odd fit. Town Mountain’s dizzying all-acoustic instrumental skills and tight vocal harmonies recall the great early bluegrass groups like The Stanley Brothers or Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys, while The Honeycutters’ rougher brand of twangy heartbreak is perfect for the honky-tonk,” says Greenville Journal’s Vincent Harris.

“We just go back a long way in the Asheville music scene; we’re friends in that way. And I think that we’re both bands with roots in more traditional forms of music. We can be put into genres, but at the same time, ‘Americana’ describes what both of us do,” Platt says in an interview with the Greenville Journal. “Obviously, Town Mountain plays bluegrass and The Honeycutters have origins in classic country, but we’re both very song-oriented. Town Mountain has three great songwriters that share the songwriting duties, and in The Honeycutters I’m all about the song.”

The Holiday Hang is an event focused on highlighting talent from the Asheville music community, while raising awareness and donating partial proceeds to Feeding America food banks in each city

Asheville Holiday Hang Tour Dates

12/7 Thu - Harvester Performance Center - Rocky Mount, VA
12/8 Fri - The Spinning Jenny - Greer, SC
12/9 Sat - The Charleston Pour House - Charleston, SC
12/14 Thu - Smith’s Olde Bar - Atlanta, GA
12/15 Fri - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
12/16 Sat - Neighborhood Theater - Charlotte, NC
12/17 Sun - The Lincoln Theater - Raleigh, NC
Sun, 10/01/2017 - 9:09 am

The Sound Mind Collective Presents: Uplift! Brooklyn: A Concert Benefiting Exalt and Empowering NYC's Youth. The event is hosted by comedian Carolyn Castiglia and features music with The London Souls, The Nth Power, Qaasim & The Juggernaut War Party, and Revel In Dimes. It takes place at The Bell House on Friday, October 20th. Doors at 7pm. Please join us for an evening of engagement and musical performance to raise money for Exalt Youth NYC! Come early for a Happy Hour with complimentary beer from Lagunitas from 6pm until doors at 7pm.

Exalt elevates expectations of personal success for youth ages 15-19 who’ve been involved in the criminal justice system. Their mission statement is, “We inspire youth at a critical crossroads to believe in their worth, from the first steps in contemplation through the journey to create lasting behavioral change. Our powerful combination of structured classes for tangible skill development, individualized support to navigate the education and justice systems, placement in paid internships and an alumni network of resources equips youth with the tools and experience to avoid further criminal justice system involvement. At exalt, we empower youth to see a future filled with hope – and we provide the road map to get there.”

Sound Mind Collective is an organization based in Brooklyn, NY founded in the Spring of 2017 by Katherine Powell (manager, The Nth Power), Chris St. Hilaire (musician, The London Souls) and Nikhil P. Yerawadekar (musician, Antibalas). They state, “Our aim is to connect independent musicians and artists with our local communities in order to encourage meaningful positive growth in education, social justice, and creation.”

Sound Mind Collective is also focused on providing resources for independent musicians and creators in areas of basic business management, with the greater intention of strengthening the music community in ways that are more socially conscious and self-sustaining in the face of an increasingly corporate music industry.

“Our goals rely on the development of a community,” says Nikhil, “So whether you are a Brooklyn musician, a music lover, an activist or someone simply looking to get more involved in music culture, we'd love to be in contact with you to see how we could work together and to keep you informed of upcoming events-- feel free to drop us a line at thesoundmindcollective@gmail.com.

Further information about Sound Mind Collective at www.thesoundmindcollective.org and about exalt Youth at www.exaltyouth.org.

Wed, 12/20/2017 - 6:36 pm

Jon Stickley Trio is a genre-defying, explosive instrumental trio, who’s deep grooves, innovative flatpicking, and sultry-spacy violin moves the listener’s head, heart, and feet. “Stickley's Martin churns out a mixture of bluegrass, Chuck Berry, metal, prog, grunge, and assorted other genres - all thoroughly integrated into a personal style,” writes Guitar Player Magazine.

Premier Guitar says, “Stickley’s trio with violinist Lyndsay Pruett and drummer Patrick Armitage is not a traditional bluegrass group by any means… they are just nimble and ambitious enough to navigate EDM-style breakbeats as effortlessly as the old timey standard ‘Blackberry Blossom.’”

Dave King (of The Bad Plus) joined forces with the Trio to produce 2017’s Maybe Believe and 2015’s Lost At Last in the band’s hometown of Asheville, NC at the esteemed Echo Mountain Recording Studio. The Trio slipped a self-produced 5-track EP, Triangular, into the mix in December of 2016. Dave says, “The group retains its place as a modern-thinking acoustic ensemble with one foot in tradition and the other in a bluegrass honored future that allows for the avant garde, punk, and bebop to mix in freely and tastefully.”

With inspiration ranging from from Green Day to Duran Duran to Tony Rice to Nirvana, Grateful Dead, David Grisman and beyond, over the past few years they have zig-zagged the nation, playing over 120 dates in 2017 alone, they are road tested and band geek approved! “In a time when a lot of instrumental music feels more like math than art, Jon Stickley Trio reminds us of the pure joy that can be created and shared through music,” says Greensky Bluegrass’ Anders Beck.

Stickley says, “The Trio feels fresher and hotter than ever, we’ve hit our stride in terms of creating tunes that are uniquely us and that’s a really exciting place to be musically. Not to mention we are so stoked to get back to many of our favorite festivals and clubs, and even more excited to play some the ones we’ve always dreamed of. 2018 will, without a doubt, be our best year yet!”

Jon Stickley Trio celebrates a successful year having just returned from Strings and Sol in Puerto Morelos, Mexico where they performed an intensely captivating late-night set which included collaborations with Jacob Joliff (Yonder Mountain String Band) and Andy Thorn (Leftover Salmon). The result was an unstoppable wowing musical moment in time that was described as a highlight of the weekend for many festival goers. The weekend also included numerous sit-ins for Stickley including those with Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band and Leftover Salmon. Other notable shows in 2017 included The String Cheese Incident’s Suwannee Hulaween, Joshua Tree Music Festival, WinterWonderGrass, Mountain Stage, Rooster Walk, Suwannee Clusterpluck, Red Wing Roots Music Festival, and FloydFest among others.

To close out the year and ring in 2018, Jon Stickley Trio is performing a special New Year's Eve celebration in their hometown of Asheville at Isis Music Hall with The Digs & Josh Phillips. Keeping with the local community spirit, they travel with fellow Asheville band and good friends, Town Mountain, for a few shows in Virginia in mid-January. In early February they link up with Front Country to play Cumberland Caverns in Tennessee before they travel back towards DC for a show at The Mansion at Strathmore and a two-night run in Roanoke, Virginia.

Mid-February brings them back to Tennessee to perform at WDVX’s Tennessee Shines in Knoxville on Valentine's Day and the the historic Station Inn in Nashville the following day.

Upcoming festivals for the Trio in the coming year include Delfest, WinterWonderGrass (California and Colorado), Old Settler’s Music Festival, John Hartford Memorial Fest, and many more to be announced in the coming months.

Stay tuned to Jon Stickley Trio’s website and social networks for more dates to be announced and updates from the road.

Jon Stickley Trio Winter Tour 2018
12/31 Sun - NYE Celebration at Isis Music Hall - Asheville, NC *w/ The Digs & Josh Phillips
1/18 Thu - Capital Ale House - Richmond, VA *w/ Town Mountain
1/19 Fri - The Clementine Cafe - Harrisonburg, VA *w/ Town Mountain
1/21 Sun - Boathouse Live - Newport News, VA  *w/ Town Mountain
2/3 Sat - Cumberland Caverns - Live at the Volcano Room - McMinnville, TN *w/ Front Country
2/8 Thu - The Mansion at Strathmore - Bethesda, MD (Near DC)
2/9-10 Fri-Sat - 5 Points Music Sanctuary - Roanoke, VA *w/ Jenni Lyn & TBA
2/14 Wed - Tennessee Shines @ Jig and Reel - Knoxville, TN
2/15 Thu - The Station Inn - Nashville, TN
2/16 Fri - Atomic Cowboy - St. Louis, MO
2/17 Sat - Mike Kelly’s Westsider - Kansas City, MO
2/20 Tue - eTown - Boulder, CO *w/ Billy Strings
2/22 Thu - Cervantes Other Side - Denver, CO *w/ Old Salt Union & The Deer
2/23-24 Fri-Sat - WinterWondergrass CO - Steamboat Springs, CO
2/25 Sun - Steve’s Guitars - Carbondale, CO
2/28 Wed - Lefty's Live Music - Des Moines, IA
3/1 Thu - The Famous Mockingbird - Marion, IA
3/2 Fri - Redstone Room at River Music Experience - Davenport, IA
3/3 Sat - Bourbon On Division - Chicago, IL
3/8-9 Thu-Fri - Savannah Stopover Festival - Savannah, GA
3/29 Thu - Zanzabar - Louisville, KY
3/31 Sat - Music at Murdock’s - Manhattan, KS
4/5-8 Thu-Sun - WinterWonderGrass - Olympic Park - North Lake Tahoe, CO
4/17 Tue - Taos Mesa Brewing - El Prado, NM
4/20 Fri - Magnolia Motor Lounge - Fort Worth, TX
4/21 Sat - Old Settler’s Music Festival - Dale, TX
5/31-6/1 Thu-Fri - John Hartford Music Festival - Bean Blossom, IN

Sat, 01/13/2018 - 4:04 pm

Jon Stickley Trio is a genre-defying and cinematic instrumental trio, who’s deep grooves, innovative flatpicking, and sultry-spacy violin moves the listener’s head, heart, and feet. “It’s not your father’s acoustic-guitar music—although Stickley’s pop showed him his first chords when he was 12 years old. Instead, Stickley’s Martin churns out a mixture of bluegrass, Chuck Berry, metal, prog, grunge, and assorted other genres—all thoroughly integrated into a personal style,” writes Guitar Player Magazine.

Premier Guitar says, “Stickley’s trio… is not a traditional bluegrass group by any means… they are just nimble and ambitious enough to navigate EDM-style breakbeats as effortlessly as the old timey standard ‘Blackberry Blossom.’”

“Stickley is a super-resourceful acoustic guitarist who uses the instrument in many surprising ways and whose timing is just flawless. Fiddler Lyndsay Pruett puts deep thought into her flowing solos, plus she adds little flourishes and sudden stops that elevate the music,” proclaims Nashville's Music City Roots’ Craig Havighurst.

Jon Stickley Trio announces a change in lineup beginning in January 2018 with new drummer, Hunter Deacon, who is both classically trained and boasts heavy jazz influences. Hailing from the ever-hip Knoxville, Tennessee, Hunter studied with drummer Keith Brown and received a BM in Studio Music and Jazz from the University of Tennessee. Deacon then went on to complete a six month residency at a jazz club in Hangzhou, China where he performed seven nights a week. Since his return, he’s played with Scott Miller and the Commonwealth, toured the country with Sam Lewis, and performs with guitarist Mike Baggetta.

Stickley says about the seemingly sudden lineup change, “we’re really excited to add Hunter’s vibe to the mix, his creativity and willingness to experiment were two things that drew us to him, and Lyndsay and I were quickly surprised and inspired by what he’ll bring to the table.”

With inspiration ranging from from Green Day to Duran Duran to Tony Rice to Nirvana, Grateful Dead, David Grisman and beyond, the Trio is making waves with their unique sound. Along with releasing two full length albums and one EP in the past few years, the Trio has zig-zagged the nation, playing over 120 dates in 2017 alone. They are road tested and band geek approved!

Dave King (of The Bad Plus) joined forces with Jon Stickley Trio to produce 2017’s Maybe Believe and 2015’s Lost At Last (which The New York Times called “both respectful and free”) in the band’s hometown of Asheville, NC at the esteemed Echo Mountain Recording Studio. The Trio slipped a self-produced 5-track EP, Triangular, into the mix in December of 2016.

“In a time when a lot of instrumental music feels more like math than art, Jon Stickley Trio reminds us of the pure joy that can be created and shared through music,” says Greensky Bluegrass’ Anders Beck.

Stickley says, “The Trio feels fresher and hotter than ever, we’ve hit our stride in terms of creating tunes that are uniquely us and that’s a really exciting place to be musically. Not to mention we are so stoked to get back to many of our favorite festivals and clubs, and even more excited to play some the ones we’ve always dreamed of. 2018 will, without a doubt, be our best year yet!”

For more information and updates from the road, please visit www.jonstickley.com, www.facebook.com/JonStickleyTrio, www.instagram.com/jonstickleytrio, and www.twitter.com/StickleyMusic.

WDVX Presents: Jon Stickley at Cervantes Other Side on Thursday, February 22
w/ Old Salt Union and The Deer

7pm doors, Js3 at 11pm; All Ages
OVER 21 = $5 Before 8pm / $10 between 8pm and 9pm / $15 After 9pm
Under 21 = $15 ALL NIGHT

2637 Welton Street Denver, CO 80205
www.cervantesmasterpiece.com
www.cervantesmasterpiece.com/event/1606148-jon-stickley-trio-old-salt-denver/

Sat, 01/13/2018 - 6:26 pm

For decades the onset of Spring meant gathering at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida for a weekend of fun, family, Bluegrass and string music. A beloved tradition continues as the picturesque grounds play host to a new take on a classic family-friendly gathering with the 2nd Annual Suwannee Spring Reunion taking place Thursday through Sunday, March 22 – 25, 2018.

Suwannee Spring Reunion 2018 features The Infamous Stringdusters, David Bromberg Quintet, Donna The Buffalo, Larry Keel Experience, Dar Williams, Billy Strings, Amy Helm, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, Shawn Camp, The Grass Is Dead, Rev. Jeff Mosier and Biscuit Tragedy, Jon Stickley Trio, Front Country, Roy Book Binder, Grayson Capps, Ralph Roddenbery, Grandpa's Cough Medicine, Nikki Talley, Quartermoon, Sloppy Joe, and Big Cosmo!

Most of these artists bring with them storied histories of epic Suwannee performances! Matching the history on the stage, long time festival creators Beth Judy and Randy Judy along with an amazing staff, are partnering with the Spirit of the Suwannee to make sure that every piece needed to make an epic weekend of music and fun is in place and ready to write this next episode for this new legend.

The theme for the 2018 Reunion is “Sowing The Seeds of Music ~ Sustaining Our Community.” This is the inspiration behind Marci Davis's art poster for this festival with the seed packet imagery.

Once again the beloved tree-lined amphitheater is home to early morning sing-a-longs and night time musical pyrotechnics from the park’s stellar cast of alumni and new favorites. There will be music on four stages including the Amphitheater, Porch, Music Hall, and Music Farmers Stages. Suwannee Spring Reunion attendees will also enjoy music in the campground with jamming at Slopryland and the Bill Monroe Shrine as well as camp pickin’ parties.

Hands-on and performance workshops will be held throughout the weekend with a variety of artists set to perform. Billy Strings will perform the music of Doc Watson and Dar Williams will share her music and maybe some tidbits from her newest book. There will be hands-on learning workshops led by Roy Book Binder, Tom Nelly, and many more teaching musicians.

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as an array of culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Tania & The Magic Moon Traveling Circus will lead the Kid’s Tent with music and activities, Rhonda Bell will lead Daily Yoga each morning at 9am, and folks can also experience the Park’s other many attractions including disc golf, miles of hiking and biking trails, the bat house, and the chance to venture Way Down Upon The Suwannee River.

Tickets are on sale now. Suwannee Spring Reunion offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Early Bird Tickets are $130; Students and military with a valid ID are $120. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Get your tickets now before they rise to the next pricing tier. Single Day Tickets will be available at the Gate only. Please note, Single Day Tickets do not include primitive camping.

If you are planning to attend our sister festival, Suwannee Roots Revival on October 11-14, 2018, you can get a Special Combo Spring Reunion/Roots Revival Weekend Ticket for $260 total and this is available until 1/15/2018. Each Weekend Ticket includes Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday venue access to music as well as primitive camping Thursday through Sunday.

SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events.

For four days in March, you can slip your shoes off and dance under the bright blue vistas and star-studded skies. Wander the endless trails along the Suwannee River, tell stories around the crackling campfire or simply lie back and watch the Spanish moss that drapes the sheltering Live Oaks that sway in the breeze. Dance the days away at the Stages and while away the late night hours around the “Picking Parties” that spring up into the dawn’s early light. There are no wrong choices when you arrive at your home and the place where live music lives for the founding of a new tradition, built on the love of the past, the Suwannee Spring Reunion.

Suwannee Spring Reunion 2018:
The Infamous Stringdusters
David Bromberg Quintet
Donna The Buffalo
Larry Keel Experience
Dar Williams
Billy Strings
Amy Helm
Jim Lauderdale
Verlon Thompson
Shawn Camp
The Grass Is Dead
Rev. Jeff Mosier and Biscuit Tragedy
Jon Stickley Trio
Front Country
Roy Book Binder
Grayson Capps
Ralph Roddenbery
Grandpa's Cough Medicine
Nikki Talley
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe
Big Cosmo

Suwannee Spirit Kids
Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus

Tue, 02/20/2018 - 5:24 pm

Donna the Buffalo is joining forces with legendary Producer/ Engineer Rob Fraboni to record their next album February 2018 at Sonic Ranch in El Paso, TX. It is one of the world's largest residential recording studios and is built around an 80-year-old hacienda and pecan orchard right along the border. Fraboni is well known for his work with Bob Dylan, The Band, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Tim Hardin, The Beach Boys, Joe Cocker, and Bonnie Raitt, and as Vice President at Island Records where he oversaw the remastering of the entire Bob Marley catalog. He produced the soundtrack on Martin Scorsese's groundbreaking concert movie, The Last Waltz, which included an all-star cast of famous rock and roll performers. He built and designed the legendary Shangri-La studios in Malibu to the specification of Bob Dylan and the Band. Referred to as a "genius" by Keith Richards in his bestselling autobiography Life.

Known as one of the most dynamic and determined bands continuously touring America since 1989, Pittsburgh City Paper says, “Though it will always be hard to pinpoint the key to an act’s staying power, distinctiveness and consistency surely can’t hurt. Donna the Buffalo has carved out a niche; it has weathered trends, and even made some of its own by being unapologetically itself.” Donna the Buffalo is Jeb Puryear (vocals, electric guitar) and Tara Nevins (vocals, fiddle, guitar, accordion, scrubboard) joined by David McCracken (B3 Hammond organ, Hohner Clavinet & piano), Kyle Spark (bass) and Mark Raudabaugh (drums).

Donna the Buffalo drew their original inspiration from a cherished part of the American heritage: the old-time music festivals of the south that drew entire towns and counties together. Not only was it playing music at these events, it was the vibe and the togetherness that bonded the people that attended. The Erie Times says, "They craft spirit-soaring songs with distinct sensibilities: Nevins' songs are unfailingly melodic, brisk and buoyant, powered by her reassuring, wisdom-soaked vocals and ever-present fiddle and accordion. Puryear's songs accentuate the groove, his exceptional guitar work and sly, Dylan-like way with lyrics."

Donna the Buffalo’s fanbase, The Herd, will be excited to hear the news of the upcoming album since their most recent album, Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday, came out nearly five years ago in the spring of 2013. All Music Guide says of it, “This is what 21st century Americana sounds like, a little bit of this and that from anywhere wrapped up into a poignant, jamming dance reel, a place where the past and history meet easily in the immediate now and everybody feels like dancing.”

Donna the Buffalo has released ten albums and are affiliated with several others including  two solo albums from Nevins including 2011’s Wood and Stone (produced by Larry Campbell in Levon Helm Studios) and Mule to Ride in 1999,  Puryear’s 2007 solo album Hopes and Dreams, and a 2003 release, Wait Til Spring, with Jim Lauderdale. The band's 2008 release, Silverlined, as well as the 2013 release, Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday, (both on Sugar Hill Records) did well on the Americana Music Chart, each placing well into the top ten.

“Donna the Buffalo knows a thing or two about rhythm, says New Haven Register. “Cajun, zydeco and old-time rhythms. A bit of reggae rhythm. Various guitar and fiddle rhythms. The rhythm of traveling by bus year after year for more than a quarter-century now, criss-crossing America… over and over again.”

The band’s tour kicks back up in New York City at at the City Winery in mid-March before a show at Ransom Steele Tavern near their hometown in the Finger Lakes region of New York state. They’ll be sunny Florida for the Suwannee Spring Reunion in March and the Peace River Revival in early April. They’ve got a plethora of shows lined up including two festivals which they started and are still the driving force behind: Spring Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival in Pittsboro in North Carolina in May and The Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg, New York in July, as well as other great festivals like MerleFest, Old Settlers Music Festival, Edinboro Music & Arts Fest, Buttermilk Jamboree, Blue Heron Music Festival, and more!

Donna the Buffalo on Tour

3/16 Fri - City Winery - New York, NY

3/17 Sat - Ransom Steele Tavern - Apalachin, NY

3/24-25 Sat-Sun - Suwannee Spring Reunion - Live Oak, FL

4/6 Fri - Terra Fermata - Stuart, FL

4/7 Sat - Peace River Revival - Punta Gorda, FL

4/14 Sat - Loaded Up and Truckin @ Oskar Blues Brewery - Hendersonville, NC

4/19-20 Thu-Fri - Old Settlers Music Festival - Driftwood, TX

4/21 Sat - Blue Moon Saloon and Guest House - Lafayette, LA

4/26-29 Thu-Sun - MerleFest - Wilkesboro, NC

5/3-6 Thu-Sun - Spring Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival - Pittsboro, NC

5/11 Fri - The Dock - Ithaca, NY

5/12 Sat - Narrows Center for the Arts - Fall River, MA

5/13 Sun - Infinity Hall - Norfolk, CT

5/17 Thu - Edinboro Music & Arts Fest - Edinboro, PA

5/18 Fri - The Ardmore Music Hall - Ardmore, PA

5/19 Sat - The State Theatre - Falls Church, VA

5/20 Sun - Edinboro Music & Arts Fest - Edinboro, PA

6/16 Sat - Buttermilk Jamboree - Delton, MI

7/6-8 Fri-Sun - Blue Heron Music Festival - Sherman, NY

7/19-22 Thu-Sun - Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival - Trumansburg, NY

8/16 Thu - Daryl’s House Club - Pawling, NY

8/17 Fri - Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival - Manchester, VT

8/18 Sat - Hickory Festival - Wellsboro, PA

8/24 Fri - Evanston SPACE - Evanston, IL

8/25 Sat - Porcupine Mountains Music Festival - Ontonagon, MI

9/15 Sat - Harwich Cranberry Jam - Harwich, MA

For more information and tour dates, please visit www.donnathebuffalo.com www.facebook.com/donnathebuffalo and www.twitter.com/donnathebuffalo

Fri, 05/04/2018 - 4:48 pm

Hailing from North Lake Tahoe, California, Dead Winter Carpenters have built a reputation for pouring their heart and soul into each song, with their progressive nature shining through loud and clear as they blend acoustic and electric sounds. They are excited they they to release a new single May 4, 2018 of their original song, “Roller Coaster,” which features Jackie Greene as a special guest on Hammond B3 Organ. Earlier this week, JamBase premiered their official music video for the song which features scenes from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the band’s recording session.

Greene says, “Dead Winter Carpenters are one of the finest roots-rock groups working today. It was such a pleasure to get to play on this cut!”

“Roller Coaster” was written by Jesse Dunn, who also sings lead and plays acoustic guitar. Jenni Charles (co-founder of the band along with Dunn) shows off her impassioned fiddle playing and sings the harmonies which the band is well known for. Nick Swimley blazes in on Telecaster, Brendan Smith and Dave Lockhart hold the beat down on drums and bass, while Greene seasons the tune with his distinctive B3, all adding to the rock and roll flavor of the song.

Dead Winter Carpenters

“Everything about this life is temporary,” says Dunn. “As the days roll by, more obstacles are thrown our way. ‘Roller Coaster’ is about these daily battles that we all face while doing our best to remain hopeful, live with intention, and be good to those we love.”

“Roller Coaster” was recorded by Kevin Bosley and Zak Girdis at Prairie Sun Recording, a GRAMMY winning studio known for classic analog recording in a rural setting based of Sonoma County wine country of California. The track was mixed by Matt Wright and Zak Girdis and mastered by John Cuniberti. Additional recording was done at Grand Street Recording in Brooklyn by Ken Rich.

The band’s catalogue includes the group’s 2016 release, Washoe, of which Good Times’ writes, “Dead Winter Carpenters introduce more indie rock to their saloon sound. The album sees the band evolving and growing, but staying true to their high-energy, mountain music roots.” Other studio projects are their self-titled debut in 2010, Ain’t It Strange in 2012, the much-acclaimed 2014 EP, Dirt Nap, of which No Depression says, “Each track tells a story, just as each instrument and voice coalesces into the band’s rich and textured sound.”

Reminiscent of genre-benders like Jack White, Chris Thile, and Sam Bush, Dead Winter Carpenters harmoniously fuses refined musical ability with a scarcely restrained tendency to let it all hang out. The result is a controlled burn, a riveting sound, and a connection with fans that sells out shows and has the band sharing stages with the likes of Jason Isbell, Greensky Bluegrass, and Hard Working Americans.

A steadily touring band since forming in 2010, Dead Winter Carpenters has entertained growing crowds at notable festivals including Harvest Music Festival (AR.), High Sierra Music Festival and Strawberry Music Festival (CA), WinterWonderGrass (CA & CO), DelFest (MD), Northwest String Summit (OR), John Hartford Memorial Fest (IN), Salmonfest (AK), and more.

Dead Winter Carpenters is a band with the ambition, talent, and authenticity. Look for them to continue to delight – and invite – fans from many music camps. Ride the roller coaster…

Dead Winter Carpenters on Tour
5/4 Fri - Pearl Street Warehouse - Washington, DC
5/5 Sat - SpringDig Festival - Berkeley Springs, WV
5/11 Fri - The Mohawk - Austin, TX
5/12 Sat - 502 Bar - San Antonio, TX
5/13 Sun - Banjos to Beats - Dallas, TX
5/16 Wed - Sainte Rocke - Hermosa Beach, CA *w/ Big Sam's Funky Nation
5/17 Thu - Concerts in the Park - Palm Desert, CA
6/1 Fri - Concerts in the Park - Sacramento, CA
6/2 Sat - UC Theatre (SEVA Benefit) - Berkeley, CA *w /Rising Appalachia
6/9 Sat - Silver Cloud Campout - Haugan, MT
6/15 Fri - Weiser River Music Festival - Weiser, ID
6/17 Sun - Commons Beach - Tahoe City, CA
6/23 Sat - Village Summer Jam - Mammoth Lakes, CA
7/28 Sat - Guitarfish Music Festival - Cisco Grove, CA

Thu, 05/31/2018 - 11:26 am

For nearly two decades, Hot Buttered Rum has attracted a truly multi-generational audience across the States with their high energy and fun-loving performances that showcase their stunning instrumental and vocal ingenuity. Hot Buttered Rum is excited to independently release Lonesome Panoramic, their sixth studio album, on July 20, 2018.

“Lonesome Panoramic is the result of different thematic and stylistic threads that Butter has been chasing over the years: driving uptempo stringband tunes, layers of dark lonesome drum grooves, letting things go, and embracing what we have,” says HBR’s Nat Keefe.

The band’s two vocalists and songwriters, guitarist Nat Keefe and multi-instrumentalist Erik Yates (mainly 5-string banjo, also resonator and acoustic guitars), take turns leading each of the 13 well-crafted originals on the album. Rounding out the band, Bryan Horne delivers, in true athletic form, his talents on upright bass along with charismatic fiddler and harmony vocalist Zebulon Bowles and drummer/percussionist/mandolinist James Stafford, providing a warm and solid rhythmic foundation.

Rooted in the trajectory of west coast bluegrass, Hot Buttered Rum began in San Francisco in 1999 after Keefe, Yates, and Horne connected through backcountry trip in the High Sierras; they added drums in 2008 and have since progressed into upbeat improvisational mix of song-oriented string music with a groove that interplays between bluegrass, folk, rock, and country. Their years of touring have given the band the chance to work and play with an extensive cross-section of musicians including Phil Lesh, Chris Thile, Kyle Hollingsworth, Brett Dennen, and Robert Earl Keen, to name a few, as well as being named “The Official Bluegrass Band of the San Francisco Giants.”

Self-produced, Lonesome Panoramic was recorded at Panoramic House Studio in Stinson Beach, CA, along the Panoramic Highway. With majestic views of the western Marin County coastline, it is a landmark destination studio built with recycled materials in the‘60s and renovated and upgraded into a studio in 2013. The studio has been host to several big-name indie bands, including My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses, and Thee Oh Sees. Lonesome Panoramic was engineered by Robert Cheek (Band of Horses, The Chris Robinson Brotherhood), mixed by Zebulon Bowles, and mastered by David Little.

Yates says, "Making music on the Panoramic Highway carried a lot with it for me. It's one of the roads I grew up driving, towards the ocean, the mountain, the woods, and, eventually, back home again. I hope some of these tunes can do the same for the listener.”

Much of Hot Buttered Rum’s music is inspired by the northern California landscape which can be heard in the lyrics, felt through the music, and known from the backstory. Lonesome Panoramic conveys a broad range of what Hot Buttered Rum offers.

The album kicks off with a pair of buoyant bluegrass tunes, opening with their more traditional lineup of guitar, fiddle, banjo, bass, with Stafford forgoing the drums for mandolin. The opening track, “You Can Tell,” written by Yates while pickin’ on one of the East Bay's many trails, has a tinge of old-tyme to it. It is followed by “Sittin’ Here Alone,” written by Keefe about the time he built himself a cabin in the woods.

They change the pace a bit on the third track, “Country Tunes & Love Songs,” adding in drums for this mid-tempo Americana rocker which was was co-written by Keefe along with Kellen and Jamie Coffis (of The Coffis Brothers), who also sing vocal harmonies with Keefe. It is one of a few songs on the album where Yates trades his banjo for the Dobro; another is “Treasure Island Blues,” which Erik thought up while sitting on the manmade island halfway between San Francisco and Oakland.

“How Short the Song” is performed as a trio with velvety string arrangements making it peaceful and reflective, just like Oakland's Lake Merritt where Yates wrote it, while “When that Lonesome Feeling Comes” is a more lively ragtime boogie gospel.

Keefe says in a recent interview with Marin Magazine, “There are some songs I've been keeping in my back pocket for a long time, like ‘Leaving Dallas’ and ‘Spirits Still Come.’ They've been the shy kids hiding in their mother's skirts but I'm glad they're seeing the light of day. ‘Spirits’ is a heavy one, about my aunt passing away. I wasn't sure I'd share it with the world but it's feeling good to sing it out.” “Spirits” features special guests, Rainbow Girls (Erin Chapin, Caitlin Gowdey, Vanessa May) with their haunting backup vocals to Keefe’s lyrics.

Some songs on the album are more lighthearted such as “Mighty Fine” and “Never Got Married,” while songs like “Sleeping Giants” and the intricate 8-minute “The One that Everybody Knows” have a deeper, slow burn. The closing track of the album, “The Deep End” is one that is dear to the band’s heart and was co-written by Keefe and Yates along with old friends ALO’s Zach Gill and Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz (who also added electric guitar to the mix) as a theme song for a festival the two bands co-host called Camp Deep End.

It’s an undeniably hip and fresh sound that has found its way to the most prestigious festivals in the country including Telluride Bluegrass, Newport Folk Festival, Jam Cruise, Bonnaroo, Strawberry, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Kate Wolf, Northwest String Summit, Grey Fox, WinterWonderGass, The Bender Jamboree, Summer Camp, and High Sierra, among others.

With Lonesome Panoramic, Hot Buttered Rum wades the full width of the river from the shoals to the deep waters with a passionate, laid back attitude and they are thrilled to share this new album with the world.

Lonesome Panoramic Track Listing

1. You Can Tell   2:11 (Yates)
2. Sittin’ Here Alone   3:14 (Keefe)
3. Country Tunes & Love Songs (ft. The Coffis Bros.)  4:29 (Keefe, K Coffis, J Coffis)
4. How Short the Song   3:27 (Yates)
5. Treasure Island Blues   4:46 (Yates)
6. Never Got Married   2:50  (Keefe)
7. Spirits Still Come (ft. Rainbow Girls)   4:54 (Keefe)
8. Sleeping Giants   5:04  (Yates)
9. Leaving Dallas   4:31 (Keefe)
10. When that Lonesome Feeling Comes 4:07 (Yates)
11. Mighty Fine   4:25 (Keefe)12. The One that Everybody Knows   8:04  (Yates)
13. The Deep End (ft. ALO)   4:55 (Keefe, Yates, Lebowitz, Gill

Wed, 06/06/2018 - 12:27 pm

LOVE CANON brings their acoustic-roots sensibilities to the electronic-tinged pop hits of the 80s and 90s to create Cover Story, their 4th album, due out on Organic Records July 13, 2018. With Cover Story, LOVE CANON delivers a fresh set of classics, crossing genres to recount music of decades past from the likes of Peter Gabriel, Billy Joel, Depeche Mode, and Paul Simon. The self-produced album hosts a plethora of special guests, including Jerry Douglas, Aoife O’Donovan, Keller Williams, Michael Cleveland, and Eric Krasno, among others.

The band’s diehard fans are music lovers first and are drawn to the charismatic and wide-ranging vocal stylings of lead singer and guitarist Jesse Harper matched with banjo master Adam Larrabee, mandolin pickin’ by Andy Thacker, Darrell Muller holding down the low-end on standup bass, and the slick sounds of resonator guitar king Jay Starling on the Beard MA-6. It’s acoustic rock! Acclaimed fiddler Alex Hargreaves [Turtle Island Quartet, Sarah Jarosz] does all of the fiddling on this record with the exception of two tracks, and he occasionally joins the band on tour.

As seasoned virtuoso string players who have been touring the mid-Atlantic since 2010, LOVE CANON stays true to the approach, arrangements, and keen artistry of these nostalgic hits. Cover Story was engineered by Rob Evans at Dave Matthews Band's Haunted Hollow Studio in LOVE CANON’s hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia and mixed by Wayne Pooley, Bruce Hornsby’s Engineer/Producer. Cover Story is a follow up to the band’s previous efforts, Greatest Hits Volumes 1-3.

LOVE CANON has taken many of the suggestions called out at their high-energy live shows as well as from their guest performers to offer ten invigorating tracks to bring it to the max! From the instrumental album opener, “Prelude (Angry Young Man)” by Billy Joel, to the unforgettable chorus of Howard Jones’ “Things Can Only Get Better” to the 7/4 timing of Peter Gabriel’s “Solsbury Hill / Icecaps Of Pentatonia” (with guest vocalist Mark Errelli [Lori McKenna, Paula Cole and Josh Ritter]), they run the gamut of songs from the cassette generation.

The songs in Cover Story become a vehicle for the band to demonstrate their prowess in translating the original pop production compositions into the modern day acoustic music framework to achieve a new and different, but satisfyingly similar, sonic effect. A great example of using bluegrass instrumentation to imitate the ambient electronic processed sounds is the very epic, cinematic version of Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy The Silence,” complete with a soaring string arrangement at the end by Trey Pollard of Richmond, Virginia's Spacebomb Studios.

When LOVE CANON was first thinking of putting together a guest artist record Jerry Douglas was at the top of their list. He not only acquiesced, but proposed the great Mr. Mister tune, “Kyrie Eleison.” Mike Barnett [Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Bryan Sutton Band] joins in on fiddle for this track. Aoife O'Donovan seamlessly blends her beautiful vocal harmonies with Harper on Paul Simon’s “Graceland,” and, with ten International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Fiddle Player of the Year awards under his belt, Michael Cleveland steps in blazing on fiddle.

Keller Williams brought “Driver 8” by R.E.M. to the band's attention as a personal favorite; Keller wanted to do an uptempo bluegrass arrangement and LOVE CANON was envisioning a reggae/dub version, so they compromised and added the jaw-dropping classical fiddle work of Mike Barnett. Guitar hero Eric “Kraz” Krasno does a bang-up job with a fierce guitar solo on Squeeze’s “Tempted,” a song he recommended. LOVE CANON’s take on the Barry Gibb [Bee Gees] classic, “Islands In The Stream” features Lauren Balthrop [Dear Georgiana, Balthrop Alabama, The Bandana Splits], singing the tarnation out of the Dolly Parton part while Harper takes on Kenny Rogers complete with a saxophone and trumpet section at the end featuring Charlottesville Jazz legends Bobby Read and John D’earth [Bruce Hornsby and The Noisemakers].

LOVE CANON and its individual members have shared the stage and studio with many notable acts over the years including Josh Ritter, Keller Williams, The Infamous Stringdusters, KD Lang, Emmylou Harris, Sara Bareilles, Huey Lewis and The News, John C. Reilly, Madeleine Peyroux, and Colbie Caillat, among others. They were the backing band for Keb Mo and Jason Mraz at SPARC performance LIVE ART event in Richmond, and performed as the house band at the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam in Asheville a couple of years in a row with sits-ins from Bruce Hornsby and Haynes, among others. Harper and Muller were members of acoustic supergroup Old School Freight Train and they performed shows with David Grisman (who also produced one of their albums), Ricky Skaggs, and Merle Haggard. LOVE CANON has performed at various events across the country including LOCKN’, Jam Cruise, FloydFest, Bourbon and Beyond (as part of the Bluegrass Situation Stage), and Gathering of the Vibes. They have also performed overseas live on the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) and RTE radio (Raidió Teilifís Éirean - Irish Public-service Broadcasting).

With this adventurous chapter in their Cover Story, Love Canon proves they don’t just know music history but have a vision for where music can go.

Thu, 06/14/2018 - 1:11 pm

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park is pleased to announce additions to the 3rd Annual Suwannee Roots Revival which takes place Thursday, October 11 - Sunday, October 14 at the magical Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. Additions include Oteil & Friends, Leftover Salmon, Bruce Cockburn, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, Shinyribs, Dustbowl Revival, Jon Stickley Trio, The Grass Is Dead, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, David Gans as Artist-at-Large, and more! These superb additions join in on an already stellar lineup that includes Keller Williams' PettyGrass Featuring The HillBenders, Donna the Buffalo, The Seldom Scene, Samantha Fish, Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, Rev. Jeff Mosier, and Joe Craven & The Sometimers.

With multiple stages (Amphitheater Stage, Porch Stage, Dance Tent, Music Hall, and Music Farmer’s Stage) Suwannee Roots Revival is jam-packed with stellar music and dance and many bands will perform multiple sets. This family-friendly festival includes four days of music, camping, yoga, music workshops, a Kids Tent, as well as campground pickin’ sessions. Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf, and biking.

Oteil Burbridge will lead an all-star cast as Oteil & Friends featuring John Kadlecik, Weedie Braimah, Alfreda Gerald, Jay Lane, Scott Metzger [JRAD], and Jason Crosby [Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band]. Oteil is no stranger to the Suwannee festival family, originally playing SOSMP with Aquarium Rescue Unit and Oteil & The Peacemakers back in the day, as well as his annual Allman Brothers Band appearances in April. With his current gig with Dead and Company going better than ever, he's making new fans everywhere he goes and Oteil & Friends will bring his vast and varied experiences into what promises to be a transcendental set that will be long remembered.

Festival director Beth Judy says, “Oteil has so many options right now, still he loves our festivals and he chose us. All his friends joining him are stellar musicians, but, I absolutely ADORE Alfreda Gerald’s voice! I can't wait!”

Leftover Salmon, also a longtime Suwannee favorite who has played multiple times over the years, is one of the great purveyors of Americana that dig deep into the well that supplies its influences; rock ‘n’ roll, folk, bluegrass, Cajun, soul, zydeco, jazz and blues. They will be traveling with a new album, Something Higher (released May 2018), in which they tap into everything from horn-blasting R&B to reverb-drenched desert noir, from the cosmic roots music sound they helped create to neo-New Orleans-meets-Appalachia liquefaction. We are so excited to hear some of the new tunes at Suwannee Roots Revival!

One of Canada’s finest artists, Bruce Cockburn has enjoyed an illustrious career shaped by politics, spirituality, and musical diversity embracing folk, jazz, rock, and worldbeat styles. For 40 years, this Canadian musical legend has been capturing in song the essence of human experience – while fiercely striving to make it better for his activism on issues from native rights and land mines to the environment and Third World debt.

Bluegrass mavericks, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, will be traveling in from Wisconsin with their 2018 album release, The Ode. Shinyribs is the continuation of The Gourds’ Kevin Russell’s musical journey of country-soul, swamp-funk and tickle; a Shinyribs show is an exaltation of spirit: a hip shaking, belly laughing, soul-singing, song-slinging, down-home house party. An eclectic eight-piece, Dustbowl Revival mines an energizing vein of soul, funk and roots-infused rock. Jon Stickley Trio is a genre-defying and cinematic instrumental trio: innovative flatpicking guitar and sultry-spacy violin along with classically trained and heavily jazz-influenced drums. The Grass Is Dead will make us all smile, smile, smile… Pickin’ and grinnin’ is what they do best, and they have been adapting Grateful Dead songs in their own bluegrass style since 1998.

Known nationwide as a purveyor of literate, improvisational folk-rock with looping, singer/songwriter/producer/photographer/author David Gans has composed, performed, and written about music for the whole of his adult life and Suwannee Roots Revival is thrilled to host him as an Artist-at-Large. He has been on the road this year with The Grass Is Dead and Rev. Jeff Mosier and we are excited to see who else he will be sitting in with! Gans will also broadcast his Sunday SiriusXM Radio Show, Tales From The Golden Road, live from the festival.

With stunning, virtuosic technique, multi-instrumentalist and composer Jonathan Scales is likely the most innovative steel drummer on the planet and his mesmerizing compositions and tasteful, avant-garde improvisation that set him apart from the pack. Bela Fleck, in considering Scales’ cover of his composition “The Imposter,” remarked “To say I am impressed would be a gross understatement…”

Katie Skene and Cosmic Kind is Skene along with John Molo (drums), Kevin Scott (bass), Rick Lollar (guitar) playing blues, soul, and rock under the influence of Col. Bruce Hampton. Hailing from the mountains of western North Carolina, Nikki Talley’s gorgeous voice and thoughtful songs are as eclectic as the state that boasts the mountains and the sea. Brett Bass and Melted Plectrum plays bluegrass with an edge, SYZYGY is the Gainesville, FL rock trio led by Suwannee favorite Tom Nelly, and The Corbitt Brothers are a trio with a hard-driving, southern rock sound.

The dance tent will continue to build a program of organized dance hosting bands for Contra/Square, Waltz, and Salsa. The Dunehoppers, from St. Augustine have been a staple of North Florida folk festival the past decade with a tasteful blend of high energy bluegrass, folk, and old time dance music. LPT is a 10-piece orchestra delivering salsa and Afro-Cuban music with their high-energy live shows. Based in Piedmont North Carolina, The Walker Family Band delights audiences with Irish dance and American old time music with a forward reaching attitude and will be your Waltz connection at the Dance Tent.
Take one part standup comic, mix in a bit of Penn & Teller, add a dash of Cirque Du Soleil, and you may come close to describing Jeff Bradley’s show. No matter if Jeff is on stage or holding court in the festival area, his comedy + cool stuff is not to be missed.  

Hosted by long time friends of SOSMP, Randy Judy and Beth Judy, Suwannee Roots Revival focuses on amazing roots music that ties together a weekend laced with community based fun, growing friendships, laughing families, and that feel good feeling you get from hanging out in such a beautiful natural setting.

Early Bird Tier 1 Tickets are on sale now. $140 gets a 4-­day Weekend Pass which includes music, primitive camping (where is most cases you can camp right by your car!), all taxes, and handling fees. Kids age 12 and under are free. There are also military and student discounts available. See all rates and tiers and get tickets at www.suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Suwannee Roots Revival 2018  (New Additions in Bold)
Oteil & Friends
Leftover Salmon
Donna the Buffalo
Keller Williams' PettyGrass Featuring The HillBenders
Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce
Bruce Cockburn
The Seldom Scene
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades
Samantha Fish
Shinyribs
Dustbowl Revival
Jim Lauderdale
Verlon Thompson
Rev. Jeff Mosier
Jon Stickley Trio
The Grass Is Dead
Joe Craven & The Sometimers
The Lonely Heartstring Band
Jonathan Scales Fourchestra
The Lee Boys
Katie Skene and Cosmic Kind
Tornado Rider
Sauce Boss
Belle and The Band
Whetherman
Sloppy Joe
Quartermoon
The Adventures of Annabelle Lyn
Brett Bass and Melted Plectrum
The Corbitt Brothers
Nikki Talley
SYZYGY
The Dunehoppers
LPT
The Walker Family Band
David Gans - Artist-at-Large
Jeff Bradley
Suwannee Spirit Kids
Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus

Further information at www.SuwanneeRootsRevival.com. Also visit us on at www.facebook.com/suwanneeroots, Twitter & Instagram: @SuwanneeRoots (#SuwanneeRoots)

Wed, 09/19/2018 - 12:35 pm

The 3rd Annual Suwannee Roots Revival takes place Thursday, October 11 - Sunday, October 14 at the magical Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. With multiple stages throughout the weekend (Amphitheater Stage, Porch Stage, Dance Tent, Music Hall, and Music Farmer’s Stage) Suwannee Roots Revival is jam-packed with stellar music and dance and many bands will perform multiple sets. This family-friendly festival includes four days of music, camping, yoga, music workshops, a Kids Tent, as well as campground pickin’ sessions. Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf, and biking. We are thrilled to announce the daily schedules of music here → www.suwanneerootsrevival.com/schedule.

Oteil Burbridge will lead an all-star cast as Oteil & Friends as the Thursday night headliners featuring John Kadlecik, Weedie Braimah, Alfreda Gerald, Jay Lane, Scott Metzger [JRAD], and Jason Crosby [Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band]. Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce is also on Thursday and Rowan will be doing a workshop as well. Others set to appear on Thursday are Jon Stickley Trio, The Grass Is Dead, The Dustbowl Revival, Joe Craven & The Sometimers, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, Sloppy Joe, Sauce Boss, Jeff Bradley, Contra Dance Instruction & Contra Dance with The Dunehoppers, LPT, and more!

Keller Williams’ Pettygrass featuring The HillBenders headlines Friday along with The Seldom Scene, and the first of three festival appearance by Donna the Buffalo. Friday hosts a plethora of stellar music including Rev Jeff Mosier, The Lee Boys, The HillBenders, a second appearance by Joe Craven & The Sometimers, The Lonely Heartstring Band, Katie Skene & The Cosmic Kind, Brett Bass & Melted Plectrum, Whetherman, Belle and the Band, second sets by The Grass Is Dead and Sauce Boss, Tornado Rider, Syzygy much more including, in the Dance Tent, Waltz Instruction & Waltz with The Walker Family Band, and Contra Dance Instruction & Contra Dance with The Dunehoppers.

Leftover Salmon makes their first appearance of the weekend as the Saturday night headliners. The day is jam-packed with music by Donna the Buffalo, Bruce Cockburn (who will also be hosting a workshop), Samantha Fish, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, David Gans will be hosting a workshop and is also an artist at large, Nikki Talley, The Corbitt Brothers, and Rushadicus as well as further sets with Tornado Rider and Rev Jeff Mosier, Joe Craven & The Sometimers, Whetherman, The Lee Boys, LPT, Brett Bass and Melted Plectrum, Waltz with The Walker Family Band, and Contra Dance Instruction with The Dunehoppers.

Sunday is always a special day closing out the festival with music and is “Vassar Day”, the day of remembrance for those lost that were dear to us. Donna the Buffalo will close out the festival with a a set and also will be bringing up guests artist that are still around for a fun-filled evening. Sunday sets include Leftover Salmon, Rev Jeff Mosier with The Grass Is Dead, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson and more. David Gans will be broadcasting his SiriusXM Radio show "Tales from the Golden Road" live from the park.

Other special items to keep an eye out for are Yoga with Rhonda Bell on Friday, Saturday & Sunday at 9am at Dance Tent, Kids Tent Activities Daily with Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus along with a with Kids Talent Show on Sat Night, Bean Spence Paint Class, Kids Yoga and more. There will also be various workshops in Music Hall with many artist such as Seldom Scene, Bruce Cockburn, and more throughout the weekend.

Hosted by long time friends of SOSMP, Randy Judy and Beth Judy, Suwannee Roots Revival focuses on amazing roots music that ties together a weekend laced with community based fun, growing friendships, laughing families, and that feel good feeling you get from hanging out in such a beautiful natural setting.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Suwannee Roots Revival Full Lineup 2018

Oteil & Friends
Leftover Salmon
Donna the Buffalo
Keller Williams' PettyGrass Featuring The HillBenders
Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce
Bruce Cockburn
The Seldom Scene
Horseshoes & Hand Grenades
Samantha Fish
Shinyribs
Dustbowl Revival
Jim Lauderdale
Verlon Thompson
Rev. Jeff Mosier
Jon Stickley Trio
The Grass Is Dead
Joe Craven & The Sometimers
The Lonely Heartstring Band
Jonathan Scales Fourchestra
The Lee Boys
Katie Skene and The Cosmic Kind
Tornado Rider
Sauce Boss
Belle and The Band
Whetherman
Sloppy Joe
Quartermoon
The Adventures of Annabelle Lyn
Brett Bass and Melted Plectrum
The Corbitt Brothers
Nikki Talley
SYZYGY
The Dunehoppers
LPT
The Walker Family Band
David Gans - Artist-at-Large
Jeff Bradley - Comedy + Cool Stuff
Suwannee Spirit Kids
Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus

Thu, 10/18/2018 - 1:29 pm

After four great years at the Stanley Hotel, Leftover Salmon is graduating to the next level and are thrilled to bring you Leftover Salmon’s Boogie At The Broadmoor!

Please join the band for a first class, five-star concert experience like no other at The Broadmoor Resort. Leftover Salmon's Boogie At The Broadmoor is three days and nights of live music, dancing, dining, and activities of all kinds! Nestled against the backdrop of the Cheyenne Foothills just 75 miles south of Denver.

The Broadmoor welcomes guests to a legendary Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond resort with impeccable service and distinctive amenities. Here, the spirit of the West inspires the adventurer within, providing endless opportunities to explore the picturesque mountains, streams, and canyons that have inspired generations. Whether you are interested in zip lining adventures and horseback riding, Colorado fly-fishing, or an indulgent day at the spa, you’ll find endless activities for every age in every season.

Experience an iconic resort where personalized luxury offers an escape from the ordinary and modern details blend seamlessly with the timeless European elegance of this historic hotel.

The Resort has been operating for over 100 years, undergoing regular renovations to keep amenities ahead of the curve. With Valet parking, 24/7 room service, ice service, and views that can't be beat, they have a variety of rooms to fit your budget. A state of the art movie theater, bowling alley and so much more!

Check out where the Boogie’s going down here: https://www.broadmoor.com/the-resort.

For more information, tour dates, and other LoS news, please visit www.LeftoverSalmon.com.

Tue, 11/13/2018 - 10:30 am

Few bands stick around for thirty years. Even fewer bands leave a legacy during that time that marks them as a truly special, once-in-lifetime type band. And no band has done all that and had as much fun as Leftover Salmon. Since their earliest days as a forward thinking, progressive bluegrass band who had the guts to add drums to the mix and who was unafraid to stir in any number of highly combustible styles into their ever evolving sound, to their role as a pioneer of the modern jamband scene, to their current status as elder-statesmen of the scene who cast a huge influential shadow over every festival they play, Leftover Salmon has been a crucial link in keeping alive the traditional music of the past while at the same time pushing that sound forward with their own weirdly, unique style.

As Leftover Salmon nears their 30th year, their inspiring story is set to be told in a brand new book, Leftover Salmon: Thirty Years of Festival! that will be released February 2019 by Rowman & Littlefield. In this book, critically acclaimed author of Bluegrass in Baltimore: The Hard Drivin’ Sound & It’s Legacy, Tim Newby presents an intimate portrait of Leftover Salmon through the personal recollections of its band members, family, friends, former band-mates, managers, and the countless musicians they have influenced. Leftover Salmon: Thirty Years of Festival! is a thorough guide covering a thirty-year journey of a truly remarkable band. It is a tale of friendships and losses, musical discoveries and Wild West adventures, and the brethren they surround themselves with who fortify Salmon’s unique voice. Their story is one of tragedy and rebirth, of unimaginable highs and crushing lows, of friendships, of music, but most importantly it is the story of a special band and those that have lived through it all to create, inspire, and have everlasting fun.

Heading into their fourth decade Leftover Salmon is showing no signs of slowing down as they are coming off the release of their most recent album, Something Higher (released in 2018), which has been universally hailed as one of the band’s finest releases. Something Higher shows how even upon preparing to enter their fourth decade Leftover Salmon is proving it possible to recreate themselves without changing who they are. The band now features a line-up that has been together longer than any other in Salmon history and is one of the strongest the legendary band has ever assembled. Built around the core of founding members Drew Emmitt and Vince Herman, the band is now powered by banjo-wiz Andy Thorn, and driven by the steady rhythm section of bassist Greg Garrison, drummer Alwyn Robinson, and keyboardist Erik Deutsch.

The new line-up is continuing the long, storied history of Salmon which found them first emerging from the progressive bluegrass world and coming of age as one the original jam bands, before rising to become architects of what has become known as Jamgrass and helping to create a landscape where bands schooled in the traditional rules of bluegrass can break free of those bonds through nontraditional instrumentation and an innate ability to push songs in new psychedelic directions live.

Leftover Salmon: Thirty Years of Festival!

Salmon is a band who, over their thirty-year career, has never stood still; they are constantly changing, evolving, and inspiring. If someone wanted to understand what Americana music is they could do no better than to go to a Leftover Salmon show, where they effortlessly glide from a bluegrass number born on the front porch, to the down-and-dirty Cajun swamps with a stop on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, to the hallowed halls of the Ryman in Nashville, before firing one up in the mountains of Colorado.

Leftover Salmon On Tour:

Thanksgiving Run- featuring pre/post shows and a Day of Giving at Moe’s BBQ Englewood
11/23 Fri - Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO w/ Gasoline Lollipops
11/24 Sat - Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO w/ Tenth Mountain Division

12/7-11 Fri-Tues - Strings & Sol - Puerto Morelos, Mexico

New Years Run
12/28 Fri - Crystal Bay Club Casino - Crystal Bay, NV
12/29 Sat - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co - Chico, CA
12/30 Sun - Terrapin Crossroads - San Rafael, CA
12/31 Mon - Terrapin Crossroads - San Rafael, CA

2019
1/15-20 Tue-Mon - Jam Cruise - Miami, FL
1/31 Thu - Soreng Theatre - Eugene, OR*
2/1 Fri - Revolution Hall - Portland, OR*
2/2 Sat - The Triple Door - Seattle, WA (2 shows)*
2/14 Thu - Wheeler Opera House - Aspen, CO*
2/15 Fri - Vilar Performing Arts Center - Beaver Creek, CO*
2/16 Sat - Washington's - Fort Collins, CO*
2/21 Thu - The Steifel Theatre for the Performing Arts - Salina, KS*
2/22 Fri - Sheldon Concert Hall - St. Louis, MO*
2/23 Sat - North Shore Center for the Performing Arts - Skokie, IL*
2/24 Sun - Turner Hall Ballroom - Milwaukee, WI*
2/26 Tue - Woodward Theatre - Owensboro, KY*
2/27 Wed - Minglewood Hall - Memphis, TN*
2/28 Thu - City Winery - Atlanta, GA (2 shows)*
3/1 Fri - The Caverns - Pelham, TN*
3/2 Sat - Dave Finkelman Auditorium - Middletown, OH*
3/14-16 Thur-Sat - Alyeska Resort - Girdwood, AK
3/22-24 Fri-Sun - Boogie at the Broadmoor - Colorado Springs, CO
3/29-31 Fri-Sun - WinterWonderGrass - Tahoe, CA
4/13-14 Sat-Sun - Bender Jamboree - Las Vegas, NV
4/26 Fri - Stoughton Opera House - Stoughton, WI*
4/27 Sat - Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts - Sheboygan, WI*
4/28 Sun - Sheldon Theatre - Red Wing, MN*

*Stories From the Living Room Shows:
Each of the SFTLR shows listed will feature Leftover Salmon’s acoustic Living Room set with stories and chatter about Thirty Year Of Festival from the band.
Tickets On Sale for SFTLR show: Friday, Nov. 16, 10am MST

For more information, tour dates, and other LoS news, please visit www.LeftoverSalmon.com.

Stream and purchase Something Higher at https://lnk.to/SomethingHigher.

Fri, 12/07/2018 - 10:06 am

For decades the onset of Spring meant gathering at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida for a weekend of fun, family, Bluegrass and string music. A beloved tradition continues as the picturesque grounds play host to a new take on a classic family-friendly gathering with the 3rd Annual Suwannee Spring Reunion taking place Thursday through Sunday, March 21-24, 2019.

For four days in March, you can slip your shoes off and dance under the bright blue vistas and star-studded skies. Wander the endless trails along the Suwannee River, tell stories around the crackling campfire or simply lie back and watch the Spanish moss that drapes the sheltering Live Oaks that sway in the breeze. Dance the days away at the Stages and while away the late night hours around the “Picking Parties” that spring up into the dawn’s early light. There are no wrong choices when you arrive at your home and the place where live music lives for the founding of a new tradition, built on the love of the past, the Suwannee Spring Reunion.

The Suwannee Spring Reunion initial lineup for 2019 features Steep Canyon Rangers, Billy Strings, Donna The Buffalo, Peter Rowan, Larry Keel Experience, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, The Grass Is Dead, Jon Stickley Trio, Town Mountain, Rev. Jeff Mosier, The Mammals, Roy Book Binder, Pigeon Kings, Nora Jane Struthers, Ralph Roddenbery, TKO featuring Duke Bardwell, Nikki Talley, The Adventures of Annabelle Lyn, Quartermoon, Sloppy Joe, Habanero Honeys, Jeff Bradley - Comedy + Cool Stuff, Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus. More artists to be announced.

Most of these artists bring with them storied histories of epic Suwannee performances! Matching the history on the stage, long time festival creators Beth Judy and Randy Judy along with an amazing staff, are partnering with the Spirit of the Suwannee to make sure that every piece needed is in place to make an epic weekend of music and fun.

Festival Director Beth Judy believes that the perfect gift for music lovers this year is the 2019 Combo Ticket available until January 7th. Beth says “What could be better than a gift of an extraordinary experience not once, but twice in one year when your loved one can attend Suwannee Spring Reunion and Suwannee Roots Revival?  And if not the Combo, an Early Bird Ticket for Suwannee Spring Reunion will make smiling faces all around!”

Once again the beloved tree-lined amphitheater is home to early morning sing-a-longs and night time musical pyrotechnics from the park’s stellar cast of alumni and new favorites. There will be music on four stages including the Amphitheater, Porch, Music Hall, and Music Farmers Stages. Suwannee Spring Reunion attendees will also enjoy music in the campground with jamming at Slopryland and the Bill Monroe Shrine as well as camp pickin’ parties.

Hands-on and performance workshops will be held throughout the weekend with a variety of artists set to perform.  Expect to get professional instruction at the hands on workshops and some out of the ordinary intimate musical experience from the different presentations.

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as an array of culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park

Tickets are on sale now. Suwannee Spring Reunion offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Early Bird Tickets are $130; Students and military with a valid ID are $120. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Get your tickets now before they rise to the next pricing tier. Single Day Tickets will be available at the Gate only. Please note, Single Day Tickets do not include primitive camping.

Also available is the 2019 Combo Ticket Featuring one multi-day Weekend Ticket for both Suwannee Spring Reunion and Suwannee Roots Revival priced at $260, available until January 7th.  

SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events.

Suwannee Spring Reunion 2019 Initial Lineup
Steep Canyon Rangers
Billy Strings
Donna The Buffalo
Peter Rowan
Larry Keel Experience
Jim Lauderdale
Verlon Thompson
The Grass Is Dead
Jon Stickley Trio
Town Mountain
Rev. Jeff Mosier
The Mammals
Roy Book Binder
Pigeon Kings  
Nora Jane Struthers
Ralph Roddenbery
TKO featuring Duke Bardwell
Nikki Talley
The Adventures of Annabelle Lyn
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe
Habanero Honeys
Jeff Bradley - Comedy + Cool Stuff
Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus

Tue, 12/18/2018 - 6:44 pm

Graduating to the next level after four great years at the Stanley Hotel, Leftover Salmon is thrilled to bring you Leftover Salmon’s Boogie At The Broadmoor Friday- Sunday, March 22-24. They are excited to share some incredible additions to the lineup including Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Southern Avenue, and Pixie and the Partygrass Boys! LoS has already announced that they will be joined by special guests The High Country Horns, featuring Skerik, Natalie Cressman, and Jennifer Hartswick and will be announcing further additions in the new year.

Leftover Salmon's Boogie At The Broadmoor is three days and nights of the live music, dancing, dining, and activities of all kinds and is open to all ages. This first class, five-star concert experience is like no other and is held at The Broadmoor Resort, nestled against the backdrop of the Cheyenne Foothills just 75 miles south of Denver.

The Broadmoor welcomes guests to a legendary Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond resort with impeccable service and distinctive amenities where the spirit of the West inspires the adventurer within and there are endless opportunities to explore the picturesque mountains, streams, and canyons that have inspired generations. Whether you are interested in zip lining adventures and horseback riding, Colorado fly-fishing, or an indulgent day at the spa, there is a plethora of activities for every age in every season, including a state of the art movie theater, bowling alley, and so much more!

Experience an iconic resort where personalized luxury offers an escape from the ordinary and modern details blend seamlessly with the timeless European elegance of this historic hotel. The Resort has been operating for over 100 years, undergoing regular renovations to keep amenities ahead of the curve. With Valet parking, 24/7 room service, ice service, and views that can't be beat, they have a variety of rooms and restaurants to fit your budget.

LoS is excited to be able to offer a wide range of accommodations at Boogie At The Broadmoor attendees and the amenities at The Broadmoor are boundless. See what awaits you here.

The Broadmoor offers a variety of Suites, Cottages, Brownstones, and even a 12,000 SQ FT Estate House.
To book any of these upgraded accommodations, please call the resort at 1-855-634-7711 and mention you’re with "Leftover Salmon's Boogie At The Broadmoor" group.

Boogie At The Broadmoor Lineup:
Leftover Salmon with Special Guests The High Country Horns
Featuring: Skerik, Natalie Cressman, and Jennifer Hartswick
Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Southern Avenue
Pixie and the Partygrass Boys
… Plus more to be announced!

Tickets and rooms available now at www.Boogieatthebroadmoor.com.

For more information, other LoS news, and their tour dates, please visit www.LeftoverSalmon.com.

Tue, 01/15/2019 - 6:04 pm

Graduating to the next level after four great years at the Stanley Hotel, Leftover Salmon is thrilled to bring you Leftover Salmon’s Boogie At The Broadmoor Friday - Sunday, March 22-24. They are excited to share some fantastic additions to to make up the final lineup including Sam Bush, Bluegrass Generals (Ft. Chris Pandolfi, Andy Hall, Sam Bush, Dave Bruzza, & Greg Garrison), Zach Deputy, The Sweet Lillies, Tenth Mountain Division, DeadPhish Orchestra, Erik Deutsch's Falling Flowers, Woodshed Red, and Special Guest: Sally Van Meter! Still to be announced: activities, themes, movies, contests, and more!

Other acts already announced to boogie with Leftover Salmon for the weekend include Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Southern Avenue, and Pixie and the Partygrass Boys! LoS will be joined by special guests The High Country Horns, featuring Skerik, Natalie Cressman, and Jennifer Hartswick.

Leftover Salmon's Boogie At The Broadmoor is three days and nights of the live music, dancing, dining, and activities of all kinds and is open to all ages. This first class, five-star concert experience is like no other and is held at The Broadmoor Resort, nestled against the backdrop of the Cheyenne Foothills just 75 miles south of Denver.

Drew and Vince | Salmon

The Broadmoor welcomes guests to a legendary Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond resort with impeccable service and distinctive amenities where the spirit of the West inspires the adventurer within and there are endless opportunities to explore the picturesque mountains, streams, and canyons that have inspired generations. Whether you are interested in zip lining adventures and horseback riding, Colorado fly-fishing, or an indulgent day at the spa, there is a plethora of activities for every age in every season, including a state of the art movie theater, bowling alley, and so much more!

Experience an iconic resort where personalized luxury offers an escape from the ordinary and modern details blend seamlessly with the timeless European elegance of this historic hotel. The Resort has been operating for over 100 years, undergoing regular renovations to keep amenities ahead of the curve. With Valet parking, 24/7 room service, ice service, and views that can't be beat, they have a variety of rooms and restaurants to fit your budget.

LoS is excited to be able to offer a wide range of accommodations at Boogie At The Broadmoor attendees and the amenities at The Broadmoor are boundless. See what awaits you here.

The Broadmoor offers a variety of Suites, Cottages, Brownstones, and even a 12,000 SQ FT Estate House. To book any of these upgraded accommodations, please call the resort at 1-855-634-7711 and mention you’re with "Leftover Salmon's Boogie At The Broadmoor" group.

Boogie At The Broadmoor Final Lineup:

Leftover Salmon
Sam Bush
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Bluegrass Generals (Ft. Chris Pandolfi, Andy Hall, Sam Bush, Dave Bruzza, & Greg Garrison)
Zach Deputy
Southern Avenue
The Sweet Lillies
Tenth Mountain Division
Pixie & The Partygrass Boys
DeadPhish Orchestra
Erik Deutsch's Falling Flowers
Woodshed Red
Special Guests: High Country Horns ft. Skerik - Jennifer Hartswick - Natalie Cressman & Sally Van Meter
Activities, vendors, themes, and more to be announced!

Tickets and rooms available now at www.Boogieatthebroadmoor.com.

For more information, other LoS news, and their tour dates, please visit www.LeftoverSalmon.com.

Sat, 02/09/2019 - 4:50 pm

With poignant and thought provoking lyrics, Amy McCarley finds balance in a new perspective with the launch of MECO, her 3rd studio album, out February 8, 2019. After collaborating in writing new songs with Bluebird Cafe round-mate and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer, Pat Alger, McCarley returned to the studio with esteemed colleagues, co-producers Kenny Vaughan & George Bradfute to work on MECO, her highly anticipated follow up to 2014’s Jet Engines. MECO was recorded and mixed by Bradfute in his Tone Chaparral Studios in Madison, Tennessee and mastered by Jim DeMain at Yes Master Studios in Nashville.

An acronym borrowed from the Space Shuttle program that stands for Main Engine Cut Off, MECO occurred for the shuttle when onboard propulsion systems were disengaged at an altitude where velocity could be maintained by the power of an innate force at work in the universe with periodic adjustments from the vehicle. The album traces McCarley’s experience of what it's been like leaving life as a NASA contractor to pursue a career in music.

Featuring two of Marty Stuart’s Fabulous Superlatives on the entire album including Vaughan on guitar and multi-instrumentalist Chris Scruggs on drums, percussion, bass, and steel guitar; it is only fitting that Harry Stinson joins in on backing vocals on a track and Stuart himself plays mandolin on “Never Can Tell.” 

The ten tracks of all original material feature McCarley’s yearning vocals, acoustic guitar, and harmonica. Alger, who co-wrote half of the songs on MECO says of McCarley, “Super, super intense guitar style. And I was so fascinated by it. Everything she did was real. Super intense. She’s just a different kind of performer.” Alger describes the series of events leading to a co-writing partnership that yielded half the songs on MECO in this video clip.

Uniquely relatable, this northern Alabama native’s music is embraced by Americana fans across the country and abroad. Vaughan says, “I think all of her songs come from a personal experience. Each song is about something she’s gone through, which is good because it gives her a little edge on the delivery. The emotional content kinda comes through in there.”

Thu, 02/14/2019 - 1:05 pm

As spring approaches, the excitement builds as folks of all ages make plans to gather at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida to continue a beloved festival tradition that features a range of music genres rooted in original music – Americana: Bluegrass, Newgrass, Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Blues, and more. Literally something for everyone! The gorgeous park with its mossy live oak laden grounds host the 3rd Annual Suwannee Spring Reunion, taking place Thursday through Sunday, March 21-24, 2019.

The Suwannee Spring Reunion adds a batch of artists to round out the final lineup for 2019 including Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Chatham County Line, Joe Craven & Hattie Craven, Daddy (Will Kimbrough & Tommy Womack), Shawn Camp Band, Cicada Rhythm, Balkun Brothers, and Artists At Large: Brett Bass and Nicholas Edwards Williams.

They will join the stellar acts already announced which include Steep Canyon Rangers, Billy Strings, Donna The Buffalo, Larry Keel Experience, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, The Grass Is Dead, Jon Stickley Trio, Town Mountain, Rev. Jeff Mosier, The Mammals, Roy Book Binder, Pigeon Kings, Nora Jane Struthers, Ralph Roddenbery, TKO featuring Duke Bardwell, Nikki Talley, The Adventures of Annabelle Lyn, Quartermoon, Sloppy Joe, Habanero Honeys, Jeff Bradley - Comedy + Cool Stuff, and Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus.

Due to unforeseen circumstances Peter Rowan will not be able to perform this year as previously announced. He is sad to miss it, but excited to let you know that he will be performing at the sister festival, Suwannee Roots Revival, this October.

Most of these artists bring with them storied histories of epic Suwannee performances! “This festival truly is a reunion. Most of the artists have played here before and are part of our Festival Family,” says Festival Director Beth Judy. “It feels like coming home to the artists and the festival community. Even those attending for the first time, whether artist or festival patron, are welcomed into our community and feel a part of something special. Special and more fun than they’ve had lately – maybe ever! It truly is something you have to experience to believe.”

Matching the history on the stage, long time festival creators Beth Judy and Randy Judy, along with an amazing staff, are partnering with the Spirit of the Suwannee to make sure that every piece needed is in place to make an epic weekend of music and fun.

Once again the beloved tree-lined amphitheater is home to early morning sing-a-longs and night time musical pyrotechnics from the park’s stellar cast of alumni and new favorites. There will be music on four stages including the Amphitheater, Porch, Music Hall, and Music Farmers Stages. Suwannee Spring Reunion attendees will also enjoy music in the campground with jamming at Slopryland and the Bill Monroe Shrine as well as camp pickin’ parties.

Hands-on and performance workshops will be held throughout the weekend with a variety of artists set to perform.  Expect to get professional instruction at the hands on workshops and some out of the ordinary intimate musical experience from the different presentations.

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as an array of culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Tickets are on sale now at www.suwanneespringreunion.com/tickets/. Suwannee Spring Reunion offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Current Tickets Rates are $145; Students and military with a valid ID are $130. Get your tickets now before they rise to the next pricing tier on Monday, February 25th. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Single Day Tickets will be available at the Gate only. Please note, Single Day Tickets do not include primitive camping.

SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events.

Fri, 03/08/2019 - 4:28 pm

As spring approaches, the excitement builds as folks of all ages make plans to gather at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida to continue a beloved festival tradition that features a range of music genres rooted in original music – Americana: Bluegrass, Newgrass, Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Blues, and more. Literally something for everyone! The gorgeous park with its mossy live oak laden grounds host the 3rd Annual Suwannee Spring Reunion, taking place Thursday through Sunday, March 21-24, 2019!

The Suwannee Spring Reunion schedule is now up at www.suwanneespringreunion.com/schedule/.

This stellar event features Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Steep Canyon Rangers, Billy Strings, Donna The Buffalo, Larry Keel Experience, Chatham County Line, Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, Shawn Camp Band, The Grass Is Dead, Jon Stickley Trio, Town Mountain, Joe Craven & Hattie Craven, Rev. Jeff Mosier, Daddy (Will Kimbrough & Tommy Womack), The Mammals, and more!

Most of these artists bring with them storied histories of epic Suwannee performances! “This festival truly is a reunion. Most of the artists have played here before and are part of our Festival Family,” says Festival Director Beth Judy. “It feels like coming home to the artists and the festival community. Even those attending for the first time, whether artist or festival patron, are welcomed into our community and feel a part of something special. Special and more fun than they’ve had lately – maybe ever! It truly is something you have to experience to believe.”

Matching the history on the stage, long time festival creators Beth Judy and Randy Judy, along with an amazing staff, are partnering with the Spirit of the Suwannee to make sure that every piece needed is in place to make an epic weekend of music and fun.

Suwannee Spring Reunion attendees will also enjoy music in the campground with jamming at Slopryland and the Bill Monroe Shrine as well as camp pickin’ parties. Hands-on and performance workshops will be held throughout the weekend with a variety of artists set to perform.  Expect to get professional instruction at the hands on workshops and some out of the ordinary intimate musical experience from the different presentations.

Tickets are on sale now at www.suwanneespringreunion.com/tickets/. Suwannee Spring Reunion offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Current Tickets Rates are $160; Students and military with a valid ID are $145. Full weekend tickets will also be available at the gate. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Single Day Tickets will be available at the Gate only. Please note, Single Day Tickets do not include primitive camping.

SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events.

Suwannee Spring Reunion 2019 Final Lineup

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
Steep Canyon Rangers
Billy Strings
Donna The Buffalo
Larry Keel Experience
Chatham County Line
Jim Lauderdale
Verlon Thompson
Shawn Camp Band
The Grass Is Dead
Jon Stickley Trio
Town Mountain
Joe Craven & Hattie Craven
Rev. Jeff Mosier
Daddy (Will Kimbrough & Tommy Womack)
The Mammals
Pigeon Kings
Roy Book Binder  
Nikki Talley
Nora Jane Struthers
Ralph Roddenbery
TKO featuring Duke Bardwell
Cicada Rhythm
Balkun Brothers
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe
Habanero Honeys
The Adventures of Annabelle Lyn
Artists At Large: Brett Bass and Nicholas Edwards Williams
Jeff Bradley - Comedy + Cool Stuff
Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus
For more information, tickets, and to reserve camping, please visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com.

Fri, 04/19/2019 - 12:50 pm

After a decade of touring and three studio albums with legendary jam band Leftover Salmon, banjoist Andy Thorn is releasing his first solo recording in eight years, Frontiers Like These, on June 21 at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. To make this album, Thorn called in his oldest friends, who now happen to be in meteoric acoustic bands, including members of Mandolin Orange, Town Mountain, Jon Stickley Trio, and Big Fat Gap.

Andy is excited to release a video of the album’s first single “Blazing New Frontiers” on Friday, 4/19 — just in time for the 420 holiday. Watch it here → https://youtu.be/CEFwbA2u46c.

The song tells the story of America’s first licensed pot broker, who also happens to be his wife, Cecelia May Thorn. It is an ode to the people who built the cannabis industry, who tried to find their way in an increasingly corporate landscape. The video, directed by award-winning director Eric Abramson, was shot in the facilities of her actual former clients, 14er Holistics’ Grow. It depicts Andy performing in an indoor grow room while Cecelia acts out her pot brokering business throughout Boulder, with cameo appearances by members of Leftover Salmon.

Denver’s Westword call it “an amusing peek into the zany ins and outs of Colorado's most famous business.” In the Westword interview about the song, which is based an old poem written by Cecelia, Thorn says, "It's a salute to all the growers and people who helped pioneer the industry... Some of the words are 'You can't grow a plant without a radio tag/You can't sell a pound without a barcode bag,' and the chorus goes, 'You can call us crooks and gangsters/But we'll still be pioneers/We're the first state to go legal/We're blazing new frontiers.'” 

Written and produced by Andy Thorn, Frontiers Like These features 11 original tracks including four instrumental numbers and seven vocal tracks featuring lush harmonies by Emily Frantz and Andrew Marlin of Mandolin Orange. The lyrics and soundscapes capture a snapshot of American life — from North Carolina to the Rocky Mountains and beyond. Inevitably, the album references climate change and economic inequality. The album also features Jon Stickley on guitar, Town Mountain’s Bobby Britt on fiddle, and Big Fat Gap’s Miles Andrews on bass, the decades of Carolina-based picking friendships are palpable from the first notes.

Frontiers Like These was recorded in the musicians’ hometown of Chapel Hill at The Rubber Room. It was done over the holidays, so everyone was back in town visiting family. The recording sessions felt like a Carolina bluegrass family reunion, but most of these songs were actually written at 7300 feet above sea level, in Thorn’s high-altitude Colorado home.

For more information, please visit www.Andythornmusic.com, www.instagram.com/thornpipe, and www.facebook.com/andythornmusic.

Wed, 06/26/2019 - 8:43 am

The 4th Annual Suwannee Roots Revival takes place Thursday, October 10 - Sunday, October 13 at the renowned Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. A plethora of incredible musicians are slated to perform including Sam Bush Band, Del McCoury Band, Keller & The Keels, Samantha Fish, The Travelin' McCourys, Peter Rowan, Donna the Buffalo, We Banjo 3, The Lil’ Smokies, Jon Stickley Trio, Verlon Thompson, The Grass Is Dead, Lindsay Lou, Front Country, Joe Craven & The Sometimers, Jeff Mosier Ensemble, David Gans, The Lee Boys, and much more!

Suwannee Roots Revival is jam-packed with stellar music and dance on multiple stages throughout the weekend (Amphitheater Stage, Porch Stage, Dance Tent, Music Hall, and Music Farmer’s Stage). This family-friendly festival includes four days of music, camping, yoga, music workshops, a Kids Tent, as well as campground pickin’ sessions. Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf, and biking.

Hosted by longtime friends of SOSMP, Randy Judy and Beth Judy, Suwannee Roots Revival focuses on showcasing established as well as up-and-coming roots musicians throughout a weekend laced with community based fun, growing friendships, laughing families, and that feel-good feeling you get from hanging out in such a beautiful natural setting.

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. Hands-on and performance workshops will be held throughout the weekend with a variety of artists set to perform. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Tickets are on sale now at suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets/. Suwannee Roots Revival offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Early Bird Tickets are $140; Student / Military Early Bird are $130 (with a valid ID). Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Get your tickets now before they rise to the next pricing tier. Single Day Tickets will be available at the gate only. Please note, Single Day Tickets do not include primitive camping.

Suwannee Roots Revival 2019 Lineup:
Sam Bush Band
Del McCoury Band
Keller & The Keels
Samantha Fish
The Travelin' McCourys
Peter Rowan
Donna the Buffalo
We Banjo 3
The Lil’ Smokies
Jon Stickley Trio
Seth Walker
Verlon Thompson
The Grass Is Dead
Lindsay Lou
Front Country
Joe Craven & The Sometimers
Jeff Mosier Ensemble
David Gans
The Lee Boys
Balkun Brothers
Donna Hopkins Band
Ralph Roddenbery
Dread Clampitt
Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp
Brett Bass and Melted Plectrum
Nicholas Edward Williams
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe
Arvid Smith
The Walker Family Band
The Dunehoppers
Jeff Bradley
Suwannee Spirit Kids
Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus
… and more to be announced!

Fri, 07/19/2019 - 1:52 pm

Few bands stick around for thirty years. Even fewer bands leave a legacy during that time that marks them as a truly special, once-in-lifetime type band. And no band has done all that and had as much fun as Leftover Salmon. Since their earliest days as a forward thinking, progressive bluegrass band who had the guts to add drums to the mix and who was unafraid to stir in any number of highly combustible styles into their ever evolving sound, to their role as a pioneer of the modern jamband scene, to their current status as elder-statesmen of the scene who cast a huge influential shadow over every festival they play, Leftover Salmon has been a crucial link in keeping alive the traditional music of the past while at the same time pushing that sound forward with their own weirdly, unique style.

As Leftover Salmon nears their 30th year, their inspiring story is set to be told in a brand new book, Leftover Salmon: Thirty Years of Festival! released February 2019 by Rowman & Littlefield. In this book, critically acclaimed author of Bluegrass in Baltimore: The Hard Drivin’ Sound & It’s Legacy, Tim Newby presents an intimate portrait of Leftover Salmon through the personal recollections of its band members, family, friends, former band-mates, managers, and the countless musicians they have influenced. Leftover Salmon: Thirty Years of Festival! is a thorough guide covering a thirty-year journey of a truly remarkable band. It is a tale of friendships and losses, musical discoveries and Wild West adventures, and the brethren they surround themselves with who fortify Salmon’s unique voice. Their story is one of tragedy and rebirth, of unimaginable highs and crushing lows, of friendships, of music, but most importantly it is the story of a special band and those that have lived through it all to create, inspire, and have everlasting fun.

Heading into their fourth decade Leftover Salmon is showing no signs of slowing down as they are coming off the release of their most recent album, Something Higher (released in 2018), which has been universally hailed as one of the band’s finest releases. Something Higher shows how even upon preparing to enter their fourth decade Leftover Salmon is proving it possible to recreate themselves without changing who they are. The band now features a line-up that has been together longer than any other in Salmon history and is one of the strongest the legendary band has ever assembled. Built around the core of founding members Drew Emmitt and Vince Herman, the band is now powered by banjo-wiz Andy Thorn, and driven by the steady rhythm section of bassist Greg Garrison, drummer Alwyn Robinson, and keyboardist Erik Deutsch.

The new line-up is continuing the long, storied history of Salmon which found them first emerging from the progressive bluegrass world and coming of age as one the original jam bands, before rising to become architects of what has become known as Jamgrass and helping to create a landscape where bands schooled in the traditional rules of bluegrass can break free of those bonds through nontraditional instrumentation and an innate ability to push songs in new psychedelic directions live.

Salmon is a band who, over their thirty-year career, has never stood still; they are constantly changing, evolving, and inspiring. If someone wanted to understand what Americana music is they could do no better than to go to a Leftover Salmon show, where they effortlessly glide from a bluegrass number born on the front porch, to the down-and-dirty Cajun swamps with a stop on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, to the hallowed halls of the Ryman in Nashville, before firing one up in the mountains of Colorado.

For more information, tour dates, and other LoS news, please visit www.LeftoverSalmon.com

Thu, 08/01/2019 - 11:44 am

When Relix magazine announced the The Contribution’s debut record, Which Way World (2010), and called them a “jamband supergroup,” they also recognized, “the band serves the songs first and foremost.” Although the band is comprised of some of the scene’s heavy hitters, the first listen to their music reveals their love of 60s pop and soul coupled with their ability to flat-out shred. It is what makes the band appealing to music lovers from all walks of life. In 2017, The Contribution released seven tracks from their upcoming LoHi Records album, Wilderness and Space, with full proceeds from each single going to a different non-profit organization. The full ten-song album will be out on all digital platforms on August 23.

The Contribution is the brainchild of Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth (violin, guitar, vocals) together with Phil Ferlino (keyboards, vocals), and Jeff Miller (guitar, vocals) of New Monsoon. Keith Moseley (String Cheese Incident) has been the bass player from the band’s inception, along with vocalist Sheryl Renee (The Black Swan Singers). The drum chair was previously occupied by Matt Butler (Everyone Orchestra), and Duane Trucks (Widespread Panic); both who appear on the album. Will Trask (Great American Taxi) will be performing for the album release shows in the summer of 2019.The first song was released in February 2017 with all proceeds donated to Rex Foundation. Consecutive songs came out monthly, each paired with unique artwork and all proceeds benefiting a different non-profit partner hand-picked by members of the band. Others taking part include Conscious Alliance, HeadCount, Rock the Earth, and a handful of other organizations that support the arts, environment, and health.

Releasing records and touring is a cycle that is a part of each member’s individual careers. Initially conceived as a studio project that would play select live shows, the emphasis for The Contribution was always on writing and recording. Rather than releasing a full record with expectations of touring to support it, Carbone wanted to find a way to live up to the band’s name and this is what they cooked up to keep going and give back in the process.

How could the creation of music be leveraged for the betterment of the world at large? A lofty goal. The band has never been about personal profit and individually the members have been advocates and activists for various environmental and social causes. Now they have thought of a way to meld the two worlds the band holds dear. They are The Contribution, after all. Carbone says, “We feel blessed to be able to make this music and have it help people in need… and we would like to empower those who share our passion and provide a resource for them to take action with us.”

Wilderness and Space will be released on LoHi Records, of which Carbone is one of the partners along with singer/songwriter and record producer Todd Snider, Hard Working Americans’ Chad Staehly, who is also with Gold Mountain Entertainment in Nashville, and entrepreneur and marketing veteran Jim Brooks. All songs written and produced by Tim Carbone, Phil Ferlino, and Jeff Miller.

Colorado shows:

Thursday, August 22 - Washington’s - Fort Collins, CO
Friday, August 23 - Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox - Denver, CO
Saturday, August 24 - KBUT Kampout - Gunnison, CO

Tue, 08/13/2019 - 6:22 pm

Few bands stick around for thirty years. Even fewer bands leave a legacy during that time that marks them as a truly special, once-in-lifetime type band. And no band has done all that and had as much fun as Leftover Salmon. NPR’s Mountain Stage says, “One of the most fun-loving bands you'll encounter, Leftover Salmon has built a fervent audience with an insatiable thirst for living, and re-living, its energetic live performances,” while Offbeat calls them, “One of the most spirited, jovial bands of the jam band nation.” 

Since their earliest days as a forward thinking, progressive bluegrass band who had the guts to add drums to the mix and who was unafraid to stir in any number of highly combustible styles into their ever evolving sound, to their role as a pioneer of the modern jamband scene, to their current status as elder-statesmen of the scene who cast a huge influential shadow over every festival they play, Leftover Salmon has been a crucial link in keeping alive the traditional music of the past while at the same time pushing that sound forward with their own weirdly, unique style.

Leftover Salmon’s Vince Herman says, “A long strange swim it’s been for salmon. Through many incarnations, losses, joys, festivals, bars, barns, mountains, rivers, oceans, benefits, weddings, and goat yoga sessions; we have kept the big ball rolling with a love of music and each other to keep ourselves plowing ahead the only way we know how. Thank you all for letting us have this much fun for so long.” Vince continues “We are really excited to bring in the new year (and celebrate 30 years as a band) at home in Denver’s brand new Mission Ballroom, an absolute state of the art venue we hope to call home for years to come.”

Drew Emmitt adds, “So excited to celebrate this auspicious milestone at the fabulous new Mission Ballroom  with friends, family, and so many fans that have supported us these thirty years! What an amazing journey this has been and continues to be!”

The band formed in 1989 when members of two Colorado-based bands that occasional jammed with one another, Vince Herman’s Salmon Heads joined forces with Drew Emmit’s Left Hand String Band to play a New Year's Eve show at the Eldo, a live music venue in Crested Butte. As the story goes, a couple of members of the Salmon Heads couldn't make the drive from Boulder, so they recruited members of the Left Hand String Band to join in for the festivities.

Leftover Salmon Celebrates 30 Years Under The Big Top on New Years Eve 2019
At The Mission Ballroom
With Karl Denson's Tiny Universe and Lindsay Lou

Presale $29.95-39.95/ ADV $45 / DOS $50 / VIP $99.95
Doors @ 6:30PM

Presale: Thursday 8/15 10a – 10p MST   Password: BIGTOP
On Sale Friday 8/16 - Ticket link: http://bit.ly/losbigtop

The Mission Ballroom: 4242 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO 80216
www.missionballroom.com 

Thu, 08/15/2019 - 7:49 pm

On September 20, New York native, Bill Scorzari, independently releases his third full-length album of all original music titled, Now I’m Free. His sound is gritty, raw and at times, downright sad. His songs transition through a multitude of emotions, with themes centered on the experiences of the human condition. Of his music, some say it’s spoken word, and others, an amalgam of the voice of Tom Waits, the delivery of Sam Baker, and the soul of Kris Kristofferson. In his lyrics, there is a poetic grace, a calming and resigned wisdom of acceptance that shines through the wistful melancholy of hope, and breaks free. No Depression wrote, “Bill Scorzari is a force. His songwriting is stellar, his picking above par and his voice fits his songs perfectly."

Bill says of the record, “During the past three years and beyond, I found myself in a place that demanded prolonged introspection and profound healing to be able to navigate through and journey past. This record is a journal of some of the lessons and discoveries that I’ve encountered along the way.” 

Produced by Neilson Hubbard (Orphan Brigade), Now I’m Free was recorded and mixed by engineer Dylan Alldredge at Skinny Elephant Recording in Inglewood, TN and mastered by Jim DeMain at Yes Master Studios. Hubbard says, “Bill tears himself open on these 15 songs and leaves it all out there in plain sight. He is an open book delivering a record of astonishing intimacy… and the gravel and whispers in his voice carry a true knockout punch.”

The album was performed live in the studio by Scorzari and a long list of critically acclaimed and otherwise notable musicians including, Hubbard on Drums/Percussion, Multi-Instrumentalist Will Kimbrough, Vocalist Erin Rae (Americana Music Association nominee for Best Emerging Artist of 2019), Fiddler/Strings Eamon McGloughlin (AMA nominee for Best Instrumentalist of 2019), Upright and Electric Bass player Michael Rinne (AMA nominee for Best Instrumentalist of 2019), Brent Burke on Dobro, Juan Solorzano on Electric Guitar and Lap Steel, Lap Steel player and Vocalist Megan McCormick, Greg Krockta on Harmonica, and Vocalist Mia Rose Lynne.

Throughout the entire album, Bill’s authenticity as a songwriter moves you through his music breath by breath. Profound and poetic, Scorzari’s emotionally charged and introspective compositions are sung with a knowing tenderness of heart. 

The album opens with “Into the Light Of the Day,” of which Scorzari says, “Faith and trust are so important. When they are called into question, for whatever reason, it becomes difficult to see things clearly. We become distressed, and our distress makes it even harder to find clarity… Nothing can resolve until we look directly at it and confront the full depth of it all. The first step toward doing that is both the most difficult and the most liberating step, taking what troubles you into the light of the day.” 

This is fitting to describe Bill’s music in general and his approach of digging deeper into his own depth and bringing his thoughts and experiences honestly and authentically into the light through the medium of music.

He writes in the title track, “Now I’m Free,” “So, I stood there by the waterfall flowing from the bridal veil, with an angel dressed in rags. She said, ‘To hell you ride.’ And, to hell we sailed. And, we never did look back. And, she said, ‘Every word I say is true and someday you will see, spending all of our time always tryin' to break through, leaves us no time for tryin' to break free, and it's time to break free.’"

Another standout track on the album is the first single, "It All Matters," with Erin Rae adding vocal harmony. When asked about what the lyrics of this track mean to him, Scorzari says, "It’s so important to be attentive to each other. The way toward that goal, is to start to be more attentive to ourselves, to heal what needs to be healed in us and to find a path forward to our own better existence… It’s never too late to shine a light through the darkness... The big things are important, but so are the little things. It all matters.”

The nearly 11-minutes of “Yes I Will” were recorded in an unrehearsed, epic “first take” in which Bill sings, “And, I know these thoughts will come and that they will go again, and yes, I know, yes, I can still chase the harder days away with just some paper and a pen, the way the sun will rise and embrace the white moon in its own black skies, and then there’ll be no need to try to make me smile. Won’t you help me to more easily reveal my broken soul?...  I’m only distracted by my motion when I’m intent on standing still. And, if you let me have the time to just keep on tryin’ to break through, just to be human, well then, yes, I will.” 

There is a wide variety of soundscapes in Now I’m Free, ranging from the slow country waltz of “Over Again,” the catchy uptempo road song “Treat Me Kind,” the sleepy-slow, intoxicating, drunken-swaying groove in “San Miguel County,” the crushingly intimate and breathtaking “One More Time,” and the raging blues number, “Steel Wheels.”

“When Will My Time Come Along” is a humble reminder of the seemingly endless struggles we must endure, and the importance of small accomplishments made along the way towards larger pursuits. It’s chord progression manifested easily in Scorzari’s mind, as did the lyrics for “It’s Just What I Know,” when he found himself in that “longed-for space where the words you’ve desperately searched for, and have been struggling with how to say, suddenly arrive as a gift in an unfettered moment of clarity.”

Although he picked up his first guitar at just 8 years old, it wasn’t until 2011 that he was able to give his artistry the attention it deserves. The passing of Bill’s father and role-model, whose footsteps he had followed into the practice of law, marked a time of profound change and opened a new chapter – one that required a giant leap towards pursuing a passion that had long been tucked away in Bill's heart. The three albums (and their titles) that he created thereafter, represent the narrative and catharsis of his journey: past, present and future. 

The first two, Just the Same (2014) and Through These Waves (2017), were both released to critical acclaim. Waves, a spring release, made several best-album-of-2017 lists, including Folk Alley and Elmore Magazine. Jim Hynes, in his review of Waves in Elmore, says of Bill, “...his thoughtful, cinematically shaped songs that continue to resonate after repeated listens. Yes, this is a ‘must hear’ for singer-songwriter aficionados.” One such aficionado, WFUV’s John Platt, says, "Bill Scorzari has a lived-in voice that says, 'Listen to these songs. They spring from the earth and the ocean with an open heart and the wisdom of experience.'”

The success of his first two records allowed Bill to share stages with Sarah Jarosz, Sam Outlaw, The Dustbowl Revival, Tall Tall Trees, Seldom Scene, Billy Strings, Frank Fairfield, Tom Marion, Zak Sokolow, Jonah Tolchin, Jenni Lyn Gardner (Della Mae), Jeff Scroggins and Colorado, Twisted Pine, Whiskey Myers, Big Country, and others. In July,  of 2019, Bill became "One of the folk" with his inaugural performance at Newport Folk Festival.

This third installment in his discography, Now I’m Free, offers a deeper and unguarded look into Scorzari’s soul, weathered and bared, and rooted in the present moment while moving freely into the unspoken promises of the future.

For more information, up-dates and news, please visit www.billscorzari.com, www.facebook.com/billscorzari, www.twitter.com/BillScorzari, and www.instagram.com/billscorzari

Mon, 08/19/2019 - 12:10 pm

On September 20, New York native, Bill Scorzari, independently releases his third full-length album of all original music titled, Now I’m Free. His sound is gritty, raw and at times, downright sad. His songs transition through a multitude of emotions, with themes centered on the experiences of the human condition. Of his music, some say it’s spoken word, and others, an amalgam of the voice of Tom Waits, the delivery of Sam Baker, and the soul of Kris Kristofferson. In his lyrics, there is a poetic grace, a calming and resigned wisdom of acceptance that shines through the wistful melancholy of hope, and breaks free. No Depression wrote, “Bill Scorzari is a force. His songwriting is stellar, his picking above par and his voice fits his songs perfectly."

Bill says of the record, “During the past three years and beyond, I found myself in a place that demanded prolonged introspection and profound healing to be able to navigate through and journey past. This record is a journal of some of the lessons and discoveries that I’ve encountered along the way.” 

Produced by Neilson Hubbard (Orphan Brigade), Now I’m Free was recorded and mixed by engineer Dylan Alldredge at Skinny Elephant Recording in Inglewood, TN and mastered by Jim DeMain at Yes Master Studios. Hubbard says, “Bill tears himself open on these 15 songs and leaves it all out there in plain sight. He is an open book delivering a record of astonishing intimacy… and the gravel and whispers in his voice carry a true knockout punch.”

The album was performed live in the studio by Scorzari and a long list of critically acclaimed and otherwise notable musicians including, Hubbard on Drums/Percussion, Multi-Instrumentalist Will Kimbrough, Vocalist Erin Rae (Americana Music Association nominee for Best Emerging Artist of 2019), Fiddler/Strings Eamon McGloughlin (AMA nominee for Best Instrumentalist of 2019), Upright and Electric Bass player Michael Rinne (AMA nominee for Best Instrumentalist of 2019), Brent Burke on Dobro, Juan Solorzano on Electric Guitar and Lap Steel, Lap Steel player and Vocalist Megan McCormick, Greg Krockta on Harmonica, and Vocalist Mia Rose Lynne.

Throughout the entire album, Bill’s authenticity as a songwriter moves you through his music breath by breath. Profound and poetic, Scorzari’s emotionally charged and introspective compositions are sung with a knowing tenderness of heart. 

The album opens with “Into the Light Of the Day,” of which Scorzari says, “Faith and trust are so important. When they are called into question, for whatever reason, it becomes difficult to see things clearly. We become distressed, and our distress makes it even harder to find clarity… Nothing can resolve until we look directly at it and confront the full depth of it all. The first step toward doing that is both the most difficult and the most liberating step, taking what troubles you into the light of the day.” 

This is fitting to describe Bill’s music in general and his approach of digging deeper into his own depth and bringing his thoughts and experiences honestly and authentically into the light through the medium of music.

He writes in the title track, “Now I’m Free,” “So, I stood there by the waterfall flowing from the bridal veil, with an angel dressed in rags. She said, ‘To hell you ride.’ And, to hell we sailed. And, we never did look back. And, she said, ‘Every word I say is true and someday you will see, spending all of our time always tryin' to break through, leaves us no time for tryin' to break free, and it's time to break free.’"

Another standout track on the album is the first single, "It All Matters," with Erin Rae adding vocal harmony. When asked about what the lyrics of this track mean to him, Scorzari says, "It’s so important to be attentive to each other. The way toward that goal, is to start to be more attentive to ourselves, to heal what needs to be healed in us and to find a path forward to our own better existence… It’s never too late to shine a light through the darkness... The big things are important, but so are the little things. It all matters.”

The nearly 11-minutes of “Yes I Will” were recorded in an unrehearsed, epic “first take” in which Bill sings, “And, I know these thoughts will come and that they will go again, and yes, I know, yes, I can still chase the harder days away with just some paper and a pen, the way the sun will rise and embrace the white moon in its own black skies, and then there’ll be no need to try to make me smile. Won’t you help me to more easily reveal my broken soul?...  I’m only distracted by my motion when I’m intent on standing still. And, if you let me have the time to just keep on tryin’ to break through, just to be human, well then, yes, I will.” 

There is a wide variety of soundscapes in Now I’m Free, ranging from the slow country waltz of “Over Again,” the catchy uptempo road song “Treat Me Kind,” the sleepy-slow, intoxicating, drunken-swaying groove in “San Miguel County,” the crushingly intimate and breathtaking “One More Time,” and the raging blues number, “Steel Wheels.”

“When Will My Time Come Along” is a humble reminder of the seemingly endless struggles we must endure, and the importance of small accomplishments made along the way towards larger pursuits. It’s chord progression manifested easily in Scorzari’s mind, as did the lyrics for “It’s Just What I Know,” when he found himself in that “longed-for space where the words you’ve desperately searched for, and have been struggling with how to say, suddenly arrive as a gift in an unfettered moment of clarity.”

Although he picked up his first guitar at just 8 years old, it wasn’t until 2011 that he was able to give his artistry the attention it deserves. The passing of Bill’s father and role-model, whose footsteps he had followed into the practice of law, marked a time of profound change and opened a new chapter – one that required a giant leap towards pursuing a passion that had long been tucked away in Bill's heart. The three albums (and their titles) that he created thereafter, represent the narrative and catharsis of his journey: past, present and future. 

The first two, Just the Same (2014) and Through These Waves (2017), were both released to critical acclaim. Waves, a spring release, made several best-album-of-2017 lists, including Folk Alley and Elmore Magazine. Jim Hynes, in his review of Waves in Elmore, says of Bill, “...his thoughtful, cinematically shaped songs that continue to resonate after repeated listens. Yes, this is a ‘must hear’ for singer-songwriter aficionados.” One such aficionado, WFUV’s John Platt, says, "Bill Scorzari has a lived-in voice that says, 'Listen to these songs. They spring from the earth and the ocean with an open heart and the wisdom of experience.'”

The success of his first two records allowed Bill to share stages with Sarah Jarosz, Sam Outlaw, The Dustbowl Revival, Tall Tall Trees, Seldom Scene, Billy Strings, Frank Fairfield, Tom Marion, Zak Sokolow, Jonah Tolchin, Jenni Lyn Gardner (Della Mae), Jeff Scroggins and Colorado, Twisted Pine, Whiskey Myers, Big Country, and others. In July,  of 2019, Bill became "One of the folk" with his inaugural performance at Newport Folk Festival.

This third installment in his discography, Now I’m Free, offers a deeper and unguarded look into Scorzari’s soul, weathered and bared, and rooted in the present moment while moving freely into the unspoken promises of the future.

For more information, up-dates and news, please visit www.billscorzari.com, www.facebook.com/billscorzari, www.twitter.com/BillScorzari, and www.instagram.com/billscorzari

Wed, 08/21/2019 - 9:37 am

Introducing the world to a new and exciting all-star project consisting of some good friends from the Americana, jam, and bluegrass worlds. Please meet THE HIGH HAWKS.

No one knows where the train will take them. It’s one you jump on out of the curiosity and excitement of the unknown. The very wonder of what the stars and the spirits will conjure on any given jubilee. And what the hell is a High Hawk?

Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon), Adam Greuel (Horseshoes & Hand Grenades), Chad Staehly (Hard Working Americans), Brian Adams (DeadPhish Orchestra), and Will Trask (Great American Taxi), come together with friends like Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth) as well as others to play songs, perhaps bringing an unusual sparkle to the galactic core.

THE HIGH HAWKS will be playing some Fall dates with more to come. Tickets go on sale on Friday.

10.18.19 - Fox Theatre - Boulder, CO*

10.19.19 - Cervantes Other Side - Denver, CO*

10.20.19 - Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, CO*

11.7.19 - The Back Room @ Colectivo - Milwaukee, WI @#

11.8.19 - Spirit of Peoria - Peoria, IL @

11.9.19 - La Crosse Distilling Co. - La Crosse, WI @

11.10.19 - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI @#

* - with special guest Kind Country

@ - with special guest Tim Carbone

# - with special guest Chicago Farmer

Mon, 09/09/2019 - 10:59 am

The 4th annual Suwannee Roots Revival will kick off on Thursday, October 10 at the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida with Brett Bass & Melted Plectrum setting the tone for the weekend on the Amphitheater Stage at 3pm. Followed by female roots rocker Lindsay Lou, the dynamic presence of The Lil Smokies, chart topping and energetic Celtic bluegrass sensations We Banjo 3, and to close it all out, a nice long set from blues rocker Samantha Fish, fresh off the cover of the Rolling Stone! With opening sets from Sloppy Joe, Quartermoon, and Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp on the Porch Stage, the music will flow. The rocking Dance Tent will start the weekend with amazing sets from stellar festival family national touring artists Nicholas Edward Williams, Joe Craven & The Sometimers, The Grass Is Dead, and Jon Stickley Trio, as well as host the first of several daily contra/square dance sets from The Dunehoppers with caller Andy Kane.

On Friday, fans can start the day off with a stretch at the Dance Tent with the first of daily 9am yoga classes with Rhonda Bell and the sweet soothing sounds of Arvid Smith. Both Friday and Saturday offer workshops and performances in the Music Hall as well as educational hands on interactive workshops on The Music Farmers Stage sponsored by Live Oak Music & Arts Foundation Inc. Most of the lineup of festival artists perform on Friday and Saturday (See below for the full lineup by day). Friday brings high energy sacred steel jammers The Lee Boys for two sets, and first sets for masterful blues guitarist and sublime songwriter Seth Walker, genre bending virtuoso grassy band Front Country, force of nature rocker Donna Hopkins, the new age psychedelic rock n’ roll power duo Balkun Brothers, highly gifted and entertaining singer songwriter Ralph Roddenbery, and Hipbilly/ Funky bluegrass fusion from Dread Clampitt. The first of several family dance sets will take place in the Dance Tent with The Walker Family Band, who will also teach at the Kids Tent and bring them into the joys of dance.

A Friday only highlight is the Del McCoury Band, fresh off a 50-year anniversary celebration and forging into his 6th decade with new triumphs, new collaborations, and new music. The sensational band that offers everything you want in a roots band, festival favorite, Donna the Buffalo follows Del on the Amphitheater, for the first of three days of Donna!

Saturday brings more amazing festival friends and favorites, the talented and charismatic Rev. Jeff Mosier with the Jeff Mosier Ensemble, quintessential troubadour and unparalleled songwriter and instrumentalist Verlon Thompson, and songwriter, guitarist, and music journalist David Gans. Gans is also host of Tales from the Golden Road on Sundays 4-6pm ET on SiriusXM 23, which he will host from Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park on Sunday, October 13. Saturday also brings 2019 ‘Best Bluegrass Album’ GRAMMY Award Winners The Travelin’ McCourys, Festival Father and Buddha bluegrass cowboy Peter Rowan, Newgrass founder and Festival King Sam Bush, and closing out the night with Appalachian Psychedelic Bluegrass with Keller & The Keels.

Vassar Sunday honors the memory of our beloved festival fiddle master Vassar Clements and others we've lost along the way kicking off with a set from the talented kids of Tania & the Magic Moon Traveling Circus and ending with a rousing closing set from Donna the Buffalo that includes many other festival artists.  Sunday is definitely a fun day!

Most festival artists will be around all weekend and you can catch many of them out at the campground stages, Bill Monroe Shrine hosted by Quartermoon and Slopryland hosted by Sloppy Joe. In addition, there are literally dozens of camps, many of them with clever fun names, that have their own style and vibe with everyone welcome to stop in and join them. The Suwannee Roots Revival community has something going on around the clock. That said, if sleep is important to you, there are plenty of camping areas where it’s low key, so sleep is a possibility. No recorded or amplified music is permitted in the campground during this festival, so any music happening is live and acoustic.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Suwannee Roots Revival offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Student / Military Tickets are available (with a valid ID). Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Single Day Tickets will be available at the gate only. Please note, Single Day Tickets do not include primitive camping. For all rates, please visit the website.

Tickets are on sale now at suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets.

 

Sat, 09/28/2019 - 5:58 pm

For any of you who may be going to Suwannee Roots Revival a day early you should know there will be a pre-party benefit on Wednesday at 7pm, “Roots For A Reason,” held at the Music Hall where all proceeds are split between LOMAF (Live Oak Music and Arts Foundation) and the Suwannee Kids Camp. Performing are The Firewater Tent Revival, Billy Gilmore and Friends, and Brett Bass & Melted Plectrum. The admission price will be a $20 donation and this does not include early entry to the park or camping-- it is for folks already inside. 

Thu, 10/17/2019 - 2:12 pm

Fresh off the heels of a fantastic Suwannee Roots Revival, Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) is thrilled to announce the initial lineup and dates for its sister festival, The 4th Annual Suwannee Spring Reunion, set to take place Thursday through Sunday, March 19-22, 2020 at SOSMP in Live Oak, FL.

The Suwannee Spring Reunion initial lineup for 2020 features Donna the Buffalo, Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce featuring Los Texmaniacs, The Duhks, Darrell Scott, Jim Lauderdale Band, Verlon Thompson, Shawn Camp Band, Roy Book Binder, Jeff Mosier Ensemble, Quartermoon, Sloppy Joe, and many more artists to be announced.

Folks of all ages will make plans to gather at during the forefront of spring at this gorgeous park and its mossy live oak laden grounds for this beloved festival tradition that features a range of music genres rooted in original music – Americana: bluegrass, newgrass, folk, singer/songwriter, blues, and more. Literally something for everyone!

For four days and nights this family-friendly festival is home to early morning sing-a-longs and night time musical pyrotechnics from the park’s stellar cast of alumni and new favorites. There will be music on four stages and Suwannee Spring Reunion attendees will also enjoy music in the campground with jamming at Slopryland and the Bill Monroe Shrine as well as camp pickin’ parties. Hands-on and performance workshops will be held throughout the weekend with a variety of artists set to perform.

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as an array of culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Tickets are on sale now. See details at www.suwanneespringreunion.com/Tickets/.

SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events.

Suwannee Spring Reunion 2020 Initial Lineup
Donna the Buffalo
Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce featuring Los Texmaniacs
The Duhks
Darrell Scott
Jim Lauderdale Band
Verlon Thompson
Shawn Camp Band
Roy Book Binder
Jeff Mosier Ensemble
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe

And many more to be announced!

For more information, tickets, and to reserve camping, please visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com.

Fri, 10/18/2019 - 1:43 pm

The Drunken Hearts release Wheels of the City October 18 on LoHi Records. Produced by Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth), the album was recorded at Silo Sound Studios in Denver, Colorado, and mastered by Jim Wilson. On Wheels of the City, The Drunken Hearts deliver tales of adventure, love, risk, and realization.

The Drunken Hearts Wheels of the City Tour Dates:

10/18 Fri - Norfolk, CT - Infinity Music Hall and Bistro*
10/19 Sat - Saratoga Springs, NY - Putnam Place*
10/30 Wed - Bend, OR - Volcanic Theatre Pub
10/31 Thu - Coos Bay, OR - 7 Devils Brewing Co.
11/1 Fri - Salem, OR - Governor’s Cup
11/2 Sat - Portland, OR - Private Party
11/13 Wed - Baltimore, MD - The 8x10*
11/14 Thu - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl*
11/15 Fri - Ardmore, PA - The Ardmore Music Hall*
11/16 Sat - Boulder, CO - The Fox Theatre
11/17 Sun - Woodstock, NY - Levon Helm Studios*
11/19 Tue - Greenfield, MA - Hawks & Reed PAC*
11/21 Thu - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall*
11/22 Fri - Pawtucket, RI - The Met*
11/23 Sat - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall* 
11/24 Sun - York, PA - The Capitol Theatre*

* supporting Yonder Mountain String Band

Tue, 10/22/2019 - 4:35 pm

First coming together on a late October evening when Vince Herman wandered into the Walrus Saloon in Boulder, Colorado, after being enticed by a sign reading “Bluegrass Music Here Tonight,” and met Drew Emmitt, whose band was playing that night, the pair have been reshaping the musical landscape ever since. First at house parties and the campgrounds at festivals, then in Emmitt’s bluegrass outfit the Left Hand String Band, before coming together and forming the legendary roots band Leftover Salmon on New Years Eve thirty years ago.

Since then, these two have been blazing new musical paths with Leftover Salmon, taking the music at their core, rock ‘n’ roll, folk, bluegrass, Cajun, soul, zydeco, jazz and blues, and crafting it into something new that has spawned a legion of bands in their wake. With their unpredictable approach in a live setting, their willingness to take chances by fusing disparate musical styles together and their incorporation of non-traditional bluegrass covers into their repertoire, Leftover Salmon has pushed that progressive bluegrass sound they were originally influenced by to the next level. Instead they are firmly settled in the long lineage of bands that defy simple categorization, always setting their own musical agenda.

Drew & Vince

The two long-time collaborators are hitting the road for a rare run of acoustic-duo shows performed in intimate settings that will celebrate over thirty years of musical friendship. Each night will be a journey through the pair’s long history and touch on all realms of their vast musical catalog including everything from well-known favorites to long-forgotten gems, and everything in between.

Vince Herman + Drew Emmitt on Tour

12/19 Thu - Barley's - Knoxville, TN
12/20 Fri - Asheville Music Hall - Asheville, NC
2/6 Thu - City Winery - Atlanta, GA
2/7 Fri - City Winery - Nashville, TN
2/8 Sat - 185 King Street - Brevard, NC
2/9 Sun - Richmond Music Hall - Richmond, VA
2/11 Tue - City Winery - Washington, DC
2/12 Wed - City Winery - Philadelphia, PA
2/13 Thu - City Winery (2 shows) - New York, NY
2/14 Fri - The Egg - Albany, NY
2/15 Sat - Stage One - Fairfield, CT
2/16 Sun - City Winery - Boston, MA
2/27 Thu - Kenny's Westside Pub - Peoria, IL
2/28 Fri - Redstone Room - Davenport, IA
2/29 Sat - City Winery (2 shows) - Chicago, IL

For more information, tour dates, and other LoS news, please visit www.LeftoverSalmon.com.

Sat, 11/09/2019 - 12:32 pm

Leftover Salmon releases “Songs You’ve Left Unsung” as a tribute to dear friend Jeff Austin in his memory. The song was penned by LoS’s bassist, Greg Garrison, and is out now at Backline.care/songs-left-unsung. All proceeds from the sale of it are donated to Backline.

Backline.Care is a hub for music industry professionals and their families to quickly and easily access mental health and wellness resources. Backline has partnered with leading support organizations and care providers to streamline access to a wealth of services and educational resources specifically geared towards this work and lifestyle. It is a hub to discover existing organizations, unique content, peer networks, and case managers who can help create a plan that addresses your unique mental health and wellness challenges--on and off the road. Their website was created by music industry professionals for music industry professionals.

Here is a note from Greg Garrison about “Songs You’ve Left Unsung”:

I first met Jeff Austin when we were in 7th grade. Through the 80’s and 90’s, we somehow always wound up in the same places at the same times…Rolling Meadows, IL as kids, Decatur and Urbana, IL during our college years, and eventually Colorado as adults. And then, maybe predictably, as members of touring bands in the same scene.

“Songs You’ve Left Unsung” is a reflection on some of these times…the verses move chronologically, starting in Illinois and winding up in Colorado. The chorus is meant to be bittersweet but also hopeful for those of us that are still here writing songs, experiencing music, raising families and living life with all of its turbulent ups and downs.

I wanted to release the song with Backline because I think their mission is exceptionally important; providing mental health and wellness support to people in the music industry while also providing an opportunity for those of us who deal with issues like depression, anxiety, and substance abuse to share our stories. Hopefully, these stories will provide comfort, clarity, support, inspiration and a helping hand to anyone who is in need.

On a personal note, I have always struggled with a certain amount of social anxiety (not the easiest thing when you’re in a band like Leftover Salmon); the kind of anxiety that makes you feel like you’re always in the way, that folks don’t really want to hear what you have to say, play or sing, always looking for a way out of conversations because “this person doesn’t really want to be talking to me anyway…”. It makes being a musician, which involves a healthy amount of“putting yourself out there” a difficult task at times. Thankfully, when the music is happening and I’m playing the bass, I can close my eyes, quiet my mind and feel at home.

I discovered that I suffer from low-level depression (called dysthymia) during one of my most difficult periods as a human and as a musician. When I parted ways with Punch Brothers in 2008, a lot of things came crashing down. While my amazing third child (Ella) had just been born, I was also in the midst of a crumbling marriage, had no steady gig or income (Leftover Salmon was still just waking up from its hiatus), and the band that I had put so much time, effort, and soul into was moving in a different direction. Lots of stress…lots of anger…lots of confusion…lots of self-doubt…lots of hopelessness. I know many musicians can relate to this scenario, it’s certainly not a unique one in our industry.

Fortunately, through counseling, I was able to get my proverbial “shit together” to some extent, and I started taking medication (which I still take to this day). It’s hard to admit you need help. I’m glad that I did. I was lucky enough to have some honest people around me who recognized what I was going through and pushed me to make changes.

Like many, I certainly wish I would have understood the extent to which Jeff was hurting, and that I could have given him a helping hand when it was needed. I’m glad that an organization like Backline exists now, as having the support of others who have gone through or are going through a similar situation will allow the healing to start and leave far fewer songs left unsung.

-Greg Garrison

To donate and download the song, please visit www.backline.care/songs-left-unsung.

For more about Leftover Salmon, please visit www.LeftoverSalmon.com

Tue, 11/12/2019 - 1:20 pm

The Drunken Hearts released a new music video today of their original song “Fire in a House,” exclusively premiered by American Songwriter Magazine. Watch it HERE.

American Songwriter writes, “The five-man band from the Boulder/Denver area of Colorado carry a mountain spirit into its music and mix it with a 90s rock blend, that is eerily reminiscent of Pearl Jam — due in large part to the vocals of Andrew McConathy.” 

McConathy tells American Songwriter, “This song came to me after hearing of a fellow musician’s rather startling breakup with his band mate, and serves as a harsh reminder that even the most fairy tale relationships can come to an end. If you don’t watch out, it can burn down the whole damn town.”

“Fire in a House” is the opening track of their new album Wheels of The City, which came out October 18, 2019 on LoHi Records to rave reviews. Glide’s Jim Hynes says, “Powerhouse singer Andrew McConathy is commanding from the outset on ‘Fire in House,” and Americana Highways’ John Apice calls the song, “a typical classic rock era swipe without sounding too retro.” Loudwire also featured the song song their “Weekly Wire” on release week.

NYS Music writes, “The album.. starts out with ‘Fire in a House,’ slowly building an intro, leading to a verse, a piano melody, and continuing with layers of other instrumentation and backing vocals. The tune eventually deconstructs to some degree toward the end, sonically arriving back where it began.” 

The album was recorded at Silo Sound Studios in Denver with friend and producer Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth). Carbone also performs piano on “Fire In A House.”

The Drunken Hearts are acoustic guitarist and powerhouse lead singer, Andrew McConathy joined by pedal steel, Dobro, and lap steel player Cody Russell and electric guitarist and vocalist Kory Montgomery, along with bassist and vocalist Jon McCartan and drummer Alex Johnson.

The band is continuing their album release tour, and is on the road opening for Yonder Mountain String Band for a slew of shows.

The full album is available at all outlets to stream and purchase now → https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thedrunkenhearts/wheels-of-the-city-4

Fri, 11/15/2019 - 8:50 am

For recording artists, albums can be like children — it’s hard to go on record choosing one as a favorite. But Cody “Chicago Farmer” Diekhoff doesn’t hesitate to designate his forthcoming release, Flyover Country, as his “golden child.”

“I think it’s my best work so far and definitely the one that I put the most into,” Diekhoff said of the 10-song album, due out Feb. 7, 2020.

Americana Highways premiered the lead single, “Indiana Line,” which is out now, saying, “With an ominous western intro, ‘Indiana Line’ builds up to a foot stompin,’  thumpin’ instant singalong. This bodes very well for Chicago Farmer’s Flyover Country. The harmonies with The Band of Heathens are irresistible, and the style is absolute contagion.” Listen HERE

Flyover Country, his sixth full-length studio album, comes on the heels of his double-disc live release, Quarter Past Tonight, and the new one signals a turning point for Diekhoff. Quarter Past Tonight was a sort of valedictory statement for Chicago Farmer as a solo tale-spinning troubadour. He felt it was time for a change.

I knew as I was writing these songs that they called for another direction — and a band. A band that was tight, had soul, and knew how to make records,” Diekhoff said. “I’ll always be a folksinger, but you can’t just keep doing the same thing over and over. I decided it’s time to throw some fuel on this fire and get it going. For me, it’s all about the poetry and playing with a band is about putting the poetry in motion a little differently.”

As he was contemplating how to make his next record, he had some dates opening for The Band of Heathens. Talking backstage with Gordy Quist of the Heathens, Diekhoff discovered that the Heathens had their own studio (The Finishing School) back home in Austin, Texas, and had a strong track record of working on recording projects with other musicians, including Margo Price and Reed Foehl. On top of that, the five guys in The Band of Heathens are all versatile, world-class musicians with soul and they know how to make records.

“It seemed like it was meant to be, a calling from the Americana rock ‘n’ roll gods,” Diekhoff said.

The Heathens thought as highly of Chicago Farmer as Diekhoff thought of them. “Cody writes and sings in a truly authentic voice about the people that inhabit the spaces that America’s hopes and dreams have been built upon. Always the underdog, sometimes overlooked, but never to be forgotten,” said Ed Jurdi of the Heathens.

With Quist and Jurdi serving as co-producers with Diekhoff, the Heathens and Diekhoff hit the studio with the blueprints for the next Chicago Farmer album. While there were some overdubs, Chicago Farmer’s voice was recorded completely live with The Heathens to drive his words even deeper. 

Diekhoff said. “I’ve never been put to the test like that before. It really made me kick it up a notch.”

“Cody came in with a stellar batch of songs and really had a good vision for what he wanted the album to be,” Jurdi added.

Diekhoff’s longtime collaborator Chris Harden served as recording engineer (and mixed the album), on top of adding harmonies on two songs, and Heather Horton added harmony vocals on three tunes.

Fans of Chicago Farmer will already know at least a couple of the songs on Flyover Country if they’ve seen a show in the past couple years. In fact, Diekhoff’s talking-blues tribute to hardworking, unsung, everyday heroes, “Dirtiest Uniform,” and his country-folk singalong anthem extolling the virtues of intimate live music shows and cheap beer over corporate arena concerts, “$13 Beers,” are among the highlights on Quarter Past Tonight.

Diekhoff and the Heathens cover a lot of musical territory on Flyover Country. “Indiana Line” is a country-tinged rootsy raveup, a tale of a desperate drive down the road to redemption with great, growling slide guitar work. The title track is a languid waltz with a shuffling beat and jangly guitar, an ode to the people of the rural heartland, his people, putting Diekhoff’s high vibrato to great use. A brisker waltz beat propels “Collars,” another tribute to small-town folks, this one inspired by a young soldier who didn’t come home from Iraq.

Harmonica and baritone guitar drive “Deer in the Sky,” an uptempo folk-rock number about the benefits of flying over driving (you can drink beer on a plane and you’ll never hit a deer). Things get downright raucous on a couple songs, with Diekhoff’s grunge-rock roots coming out on “Mother Nature’s Daughter,” an environmental protest song, while the guitars go to town on “All in One Place,” a humorous look at the sad truth about making money in the music business.

Diekhoff pays tribute to Hank Williams with the album’s sole cover, Williams’ “Ramblin’ Man,” while also honoring Kenny Forbes, a friend’s father who introduced a young Diekhoff to the music of Hank Williams, setting him off on his musical quest as a folksinger. “Ramblin’ Man” starts with a stripped-down presentation but by the final verse it explodes with intensity.

The album ends with “The Village Revisited,” a sprawling, gospel-tinged song about the importance of community that recalls Creedence Clearwater Revival’s take on “Midnight Special” at times and at the end sounds like a party has broken out in the studio.

Through all the songs on Flyover Country — and most Chicago Farmer songs, for that matter —runs a common thread, a love and respect for regular folks, those who might be overlooked and underappreciated.

“A lot of my friends are just getting by day-to-day,” Diekhoff said. “We keep at it, we keep working hard. Hopefully, eventually, things will turn around.”

When Flyover Country comes out in February, Diekhoff will put his solo troubadour days behind him, at least for a while. He’ll hit the road with a band, performing as Chicago Farmer and the Fieldnotes, something he’s really looking forward to after seeing how much fun The Band of Heathens have onstage.

This is Chicago Farmer’s first studio album in four years and it will be available on CD and vinyl, as well as digital & streaming services. Pre-order Flyover Country now through Kickstarter → http://kck.st/2KbMnLX

Chicago Farmer
Flyover Country Tour Dates

All Shows Feature:
Chicago Farmer & The Fieldnotes:
Chicago Farmer, Jaik Willis, Cody Jensen, and Cosmic Charlie Harris 

2019
12/26 Thu - Monarch Music Hall - Peoria, IL 
12/27 Fri - Rosebowl Tavern - Urbana, IL
12/28 Sat - Hey Nonny - Arlington Heights, IL

2020
2/7 Fri - The Bootleg - St. Louis, MO
2/8 Sat -  The Eagle's Theater - Olney, IL
2/9 Sun - Stellar Cellar - Effingham, IL
2/14 Fri - Castle Theatre - Bloomington, IL
2/15 Sat - Fitzgerald's Nightclub - Berwyn, IL
2/16 Sun- Anodyne Coffee - Milwaukee, WI 
2/21 Fri - The Turf Club -  St Paul, MN
2/22 Sat - The Outer Edge - Appleton, WI 
2/28 Fri - Southgate House - Newport, KY 
2/29 Sat - Duke's INDY - Indianapolis, IN
3/6 Fri - Redstone Room - Davenport, IA 
3/7 Sat - Vaudeville Mews - Des Moines, IA

Tue, 12/03/2019 - 10:47 am

Few bands stick around for thirty years. Even fewer bands leave a legacy during that time that marks them as a truly special, once-in-a-lifetime type band. And no band has done all that and had as much fun as Leftover Salmon. NPR’s Mountain Stage says, “One of the most fun-loving bands you'll encounter, Leftover Salmon has built a fervent audience with an insatiable thirst for living, and re-living, its energetic live performances,” while Offbeat calls them, “One of the most spirited, jovial bands of the jam band nation.”

Since their earliest days as a forward thinking, progressive bluegrass band who had the guts to add drums to the mix and who was unafraid to stir in any number of highly combustible styles into their ever evolving sound, to their role as a pioneer of the modern jamband scene, to their current status as elder-statesmen of the scene who cast a huge influential shadow over every festival they play, Leftover Salmon has been a crucial link in keeping alive the traditional music of the past while at the same time pushing that sound forward with their own weirdly, unique style. Billboard writes, “By blending so many elements of two-step, rock 'n' roll, bluegrass and more, they're able to repeatedly maintain a fresh sound, no matter how many years pass.”

Leftover Salmon formed in 1989 when members of two Colorado-based bands that occasionally jammed with one another, Vince Herman’s Salmon Heads joined forces with Drew Emmitt’s Left Hand String Band to play a New Year's Eve show at the Eldo, a live music venue in Crested Butte. Salmon is a band who, over their thirty-year career, has never stood still; they are constantly changing, evolving, and inspiring. If someone wanted to understand what Americana music is they could do no better than to go to a Leftover Salmon show, where they effortlessly glide from a bluegrass number born on the front porch, to the down-and-dirty Cajun swamps with a stop on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, to the hallowed halls of the Ryman in Nashville, before firing one up in the mountains of Colorado.

The band now features a line-up that has been together longer than any other in Salmon history and is one of the strongest the legendary band has ever assembled. Built around the core of founding members Drew Emmitt and Vince Herman, the band is now powered by banjo-wiz Andy Thorn, and driven by the steady rhythm section of bassist Greg Garrison, drummer Alwyn Robinson, and keyboardist Erik Deutsch.

Leftover Salmon’s Vince Herman says, “A long strange swim it’s been for Salmon. Through many incarnations, losses, joys, festivals, bars, barns, mountains, rivers, oceans, benefits, weddings, and goat yoga sessions; we have kept the big ball rolling with a love of music and each other to keep ourselves plowing ahead the only way we know how. Thank you all for letting us have this much fun for so long.”

Leftover Salmon Winter 2020 Tour Dates
1/15 Wed - White Oak Music Hall - Houston, TX*
1/16 Thu - Empire Control Room & Garage - Austin, TX*
1/17 Fri - Gas Monkey Live! - Dallas, TX*
1/18 Sat - Gruene Hall - New Braunfels, TX*
3/6 Fri - Crystal Bay Casino - Crystal Bay, NV
3/7 Sat - Warfield Theatre - San Francisco, CA^
3/12 Thu - Community Concert Hall Durango, CO
3/13 Fri - The Commonwealth Room - Salt Lake City, UT
3/14-15 Sat-Sun - Knotty Pine - Victor, ID
3/20-22 Fri-Sun - Boogie At The Broadmoor - Colorado Springs, CO

* w/ Jason Boland & The Stragglers
^ w/ ALO

Sun, 12/08/2019 - 2:04 pm

Sticks N’ Thorns is the new project from Leftover Salmon banjoist Andy Thorn and flatpicking guitarist Jon Stickley of the Jon Stickley Trio. Since their teenage years together in North Carolina, Andy and Jon have played together in numerous bands including the Broke Mountain Bluegrass Band (with Anders Beck of Greensky Bluegrass, and Travis Book of The Infamous Stringdusters). At the 2019 Telluride Bluegrass Festival summer Broke Mountain reunited amid rabid excitement (mostly their own). This was slightly more epic than the open mic nights the two had played together back in Durham. 

Today, both Jon and Andy are prominent members of the Jam Grass scene (and still best friends), despite divergent musical paths. Jon stayed in North Carolina and briefly played mandolin with Asheville favorites The Biscuit Burners. Shortly afterwards, he formed his own group, the Jon Stickley Trio, which has been praised by both NPR and the New York Times for the band’s boundary-defying bluegrass. 

Meanwhile, Andy enjoyed a stint in Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, then relocated to Colorado, where he joined the Emmitt-Nershi Band (with Bill Nershi of The String Cheese Incident, and Drew Emmitt of Leftover Salmon). Soon, Andy joined Leftover Salmon, ending the band’s multi-year hiatus. Leftover Salmon had just been waiting, it turned out, for their “missing banjo link.” Since then, the band has released multiple studio albums, using Andy’s original songs as the title tracks.

Sticks N’ Thorns is for everyone who wants to see what happens when two childhood friends reunite to bring everything they’ve learned from their music careers — and from life on the road —  to their new musical hijinks. Get ready for old-school classics, buddy shenanigans, and genre-defying bluegrass.

Sticks N’ Thorns Winter 2020 Tour Dates:
1/9 Thu - 185 King Street - Brevard, NC
1/10 Fri - The Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC
1/11 Sat - The Hunt House - Atlanta, GA
1/12 Sun - 3rd and Lindsley - Nashville, TN *
2/13 Thu - Steamboat Unplugged - Steamboat, CO ^
2/14 Fri - Animas City Theatre - Durango, CO #
2/15 Sat - The Liberty - Telluride, CO
2/16 Sun - The Surf Hotel - Buena Vista, CO
2/17 Mon - Shakedown Bar - Vail, CO
2/19 Wed - The Mesa Theater - Grand Junction, CO

* w/ Jon Stickley Trio
^ w/ Tyler Grant & Presented by Partners in Routt County & WinterWonderGrass  
# w/ Robin Davis

For more information please visit www.facebook.com/JonStickleyTrio and www.facebook.com/andythornmusic

Sun, 12/15/2019 - 12:41 pm

Leftover Salmon is excited to announce 30 Years Under The Big Top, a complete vinyl box set containing their music catalog from the past 30 years!

NPR’s Mountain Stage calls Leftover Salmon, “One of the most fun-loving bands you'll encounter” and Offbeat says they are, “One of the most spirited, jovial bands of the jam band nation.” Billboard concurs, “By blending so many elements of two-step, rock 'n' roll, bluegrass and more, they're able to repeatedly maintain a fresh sound, no matter how many years pass.”

Leftover Salmon formed in 1989 when members of two Colorado-based bands that occasionally jammed with one another, Vince Herman’s Salmon Heads joined forces with Drew Emmitt’s Left Hand String Band to play a New Year's Eve show at the Eldo, a live music venue in Crested Butte.

Now, 30 years later, they are still swimming strong and are celebrating full-tilt boogie with the event “30 Years Under the Big Top” on New Years Eve at the new Mission Ballroom, a circus-themed extravaganza with With Karl Denson's Tiny Universe and Lindsay Lou, in Denver, Colorado on December 31. 5280 Magazine says, “This Is the New Year’s Eve Show You Won’t Want to Miss,” and 30 Years Under The Big Top is the box set you won’t want to miss out on getting.

This custom box set is a limited edition commemorating 30 years as a band. It includes 10 complete records including all studio albums: Bridges To Bert [1993], Ask The Fish [1995], Euphoria [1997], Nashville Sessions [1999], LIVE [2002], Leftover Salmon [2004], Aquatic Hitchhiker [2012], High Country [2014], Something Higher [2018], From The Living Room Vol. 1 [2019].

The set will also include bonus tracks and previously unreleased music and a 24-page full-color booklet all contained in a custom cigarette style box with matte finish and magnetic closure with hand-drawn art by Gary Houston. It is a very limited edition and each set is signed and numbered by Drew Emmitt and Vince Herman. It ships in early 2020.

Leftover Salmon’s Vince Herman says, “A long strange swim it’s been for Salmon. Through many incarnations, losses, joys, festivals, bars, barns, mountains, rivers, oceans, benefits, weddings, and goat yoga sessions; we have kept the big ball rolling with a love of music and each other to keep ourselves plowing ahead the only way we know-how. Thank you all for letting us have this much fun for so long.”

Pre-order 30 Years Under The Big Top today at https://leftover-salmon.myshopify.com/products/30-years-under-the-big-top-vinyl-box-set. Every pre-order is entered to win season passes for two tickets to every show in 2020 (with some exceptions such as festivals).

For more information, tour dates, and other LoS news, please visit www.LeftoverSalmon.com.

Fri, 01/10/2020 - 10:35 am

Leftover Salmon is thrilled to announce the lineup for Boogie At The Broadmoor on March 20-22, 2020. Boogie At The Broadmoor will once again feature three days of Leftover Salmon and it going to be a Festivaaalll with 16+ bands over the weekend including Jerry Douglas and Friends, Circles Around The Sun, Andy Frasco and the U.N., Nick Forster's Hippy Bluegrass Church, DeadPhish Orchestra, Grant Farm and more!

This is a first class concert experience that is like no other, held at The Broadmoor Resort, a historic five star resort nestled against the backdrop of the Cheyenne Foothills just 75 miles south of Denver. Enjoy the beautiful property and a plethora of fantastic amenities including 20 restaurants, cafes, and bars on site! Plus a bowling alley, movie theater, spa, and even a zoo. Enjoy all this and more to go with 3 days of music!

3-Day passes are on sale NOW. Festival Ticket Prices Increase on January 18th. Once again the band is happy to offer rooms at a reduced rate for our “Boogie At The Broadmoor” group starting at $199.The hotel is very excited to have all our patrons back at their wonderful resort. Experience The Broadmoor at an attractive rate not normally offered by the resort, along with a Boogie to go with it!

Activities, VIP offerings, and more fun will be announced soon!

Boogie At The Broadmoor 2020 Lineup:
3 Days Of Leftover Salmon
Jerry Douglas and Friends
Circles Around The Sun
Andy Frasco and the U.N.
Nick Forster's Hippy Bluegrass Church
DeadPhish Orchestra
Grant Farm
Handmade Moments 
Lonesome Days
Jack Cloonan Band
Woodshed Red
Armchair Boogie
Wood Belly 
Pick and Howl 
Shawn Nelson
Silent Disco
Jazz Brunch Set

Special Guests:
Jerry Douglas
Adam Greuel
Roosevelt Collier

Fri, 01/10/2020 - 2:19 pm

For recording artists, albums can be like children — it’s hard to go on record choosing one as a favorite. But Cody “Chicago Farmer” Diekhoff doesn’t hesitate to designate his forthcoming release, Flyover Country, as his “golden child.”

Chicago Farmer is known for his clever and heartfelt songwriting and unique voice. Todd Snider exclaims, “Chicago Farmer is my brother; if you like me, you’ll love him,” and Pokey LaFarge says  “Chicago Farmer represents the best qualities of Midwestern U.S.A. His lyrics, his stories and his heart are true… Definitely one of my favorite singers out there today.”

Flyover Country features The Band of Heathens and was recorded at the Heathens studio, The Finishing School, in Austin TX with Gordy Quist and Ed Jurdi serving as co-producers alongside Diekhoff.

Jurdi says, “Cody (Chicago Farmer) came in with a stellar batch of songs and really had a good vision for what he wanted the album to be. The material really takes a look at the kaleidoscopic fabric of the Midwest. Chicago Farmer writes and sings in a truly authentic voice about the people that inhabit the spaces that America’s hopes and dreams have been built upon. Always the underdog, sometimes overlooked, but never to be forgotten.”

“I think it’s my best work so far and definitely the one that I put the most into,” Diekhoff said of the 10-song album, due out Feb. 7. This is Chicago Farmer’s first studio album in four years and it will be available on CD and vinyl, as well as digital & streaming services.

The 2nd single, “All In One Place,” is out now and starting to hit Americana reporting radio stations. American Songwriter premiered the song and calls, “This tale of high hopes and low returns” an “outlaw country number that resounds with heart and humor.” 

“I knew as I was writing these songs that they called for another direction — and a band. A band that was tight, had soul, and knew how to make records,” Diekhoff said about Flyover Country, his sixth full-length studio album. “I’ll always be a folksinger, but you can’t just keep doing the same thing over and over. I decided it’s time to throw some fuel on this fire and get it going. For me, it’s all about the poetry and playing with a band is about putting the poetry in motion a little differently.”

Fans of Chicago Farmer will already know at least a couple of the songs on Flyover Country if they’ve seen a show in the past couple years. In fact, Diekhoff’s talking-blues tribute to hardworking, unsung, everyday heroes, “Dirtiest Uniform,” and his country-folk singalong anthem extolling the virtues of intimate live music shows and cheap beer over corporate arena concerts, “$13 Beers,” are among the highlights on 2019’s double-disc live release, Quarter Past Tonight.

Diekhoff and the Heathens cover a lot of musical territory on Flyover Country. 

The album opens with “Indiana Line,” a country-tinged rootsy raveup, a tale of a desperate drive down the road to redemption with great, growling slide guitar work. This track was released towards the end of 2019 as the album’s first single. Americana Highways premiered it, writing, “With an ominous western intro, ‘Indiana Line’ builds up to a foot stompin,’ thumpin’ instant singalong. This bodes very well for Chicago Farmer’s Flyover Country. The harmonies with The Band of Heathens are irresistible, and the style is absolute contagion.”

The title track is a languid waltz with a shuffling beat and jangly guitar, an ode to the people of the rural heartland, his people, putting Diekhoff’s high vibrato to great use. A brisker waltz beat propels “Collars,” another tribute to small-town folks, this one inspired by a young soldier who didn’t come home from Iraq.

Harmonica and baritone guitar drive “Deer in the Sky,” an uptempo folk-rock number about the benefits of flying over driving (you can drink beer on a plane and you’ll never hit a deer). Things get downright raucous on a couple songs, with Diekhoff’s grunge-rock roots coming out on “Mother Nature’s Daughter,” an environmental protest song, while the guitars go to town on “All in One Place,” a humorous look at the sad truth about making money in the music business.

Diekhoff pays tribute to Hank Williams with the album’s sole cover, Williams’ “Ramblin’ Man,” while also honoring Kenny Forbes, a friend’s father who introduced a young Diekhoff to the music of Hank Williams, setting him off on his musical quest as a folksinger. “Ramblin’ Man” starts with a stripped-down presentation but by the final verse it explodes with intensity.

The album ends with “The Village Revisited,” a sprawling, gospel-tinged song about the importance of community that recalls Creedence Clearwater Revival’s take on “Midnight Special” at times and at the end sounds like a party has broken out in the studio.

Through all the songs on Flyover Country — and most Chicago Farmer songs, for that matter —runs a common thread, a love and respect for regular folks, those who might be overlooked and underappreciated.

“A lot of my friends are just getting by day-to-day,” Diekhoff said. “We keep at it, we keep working hard. Hopefully, eventually, things will turn around.”

When Flyover Country comes out in February, Diekhoff will put his solo troubadour days behind him, at least for a while. He’ll hit the road with a band, performing as Chicago Farmer and the Fieldnotes which includes Jaik Willis, Cody Jensen, & Cosmic Charlie Harris.

Chicago Farmer Solo Supporting Todd Snider:

1/15 Wed - The Lyric - Oxford, MS
1/16 Thu - Vinyl Music Hall - Pensacola, FL
1/21 Tue - Key West Theater - Key West, FL
1/23 Thu - The Funky Biscuit - Boca Raton, FL
1/24 Fri - Centro Asturiano de Tampa - Tampa, FL
1/25 Sat - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
1/26 Sun - Iron City Bham - Birmingham, AL
1/29 Wed - Georgia Theater - Athens, GA
1/30 Thu - Victory North - Savannah, GA
1/31 Fri - Charleston Music Hall - Charleston, SC
2/1 Sat - Rocky Mount Mills - Rocky Mount, NC

Winter Shows Featuring Chicago Farmer & The Fieldnotes:

2/7 Fri - The Bootleg - St. Louis, MO
2/8 Sat -  The Eagle's Theater - Olney, IL
2/9 Sun - Stellar Cellar - Effingham, IL
2/14 Fri - Castle Theatre - Bloomington, IL 
2/15 Sat - Fitzgerald's Nightclub - Berwyn, IL
2/16 Sun - Anodyne Coffee - Milwaukee, WI
2/20 Thu - Pearl Street Brewery - LaCrosse, WI
2/21 Fri - The Turf Club -  St Paul, MN
2/22 Sat - The Outer Edge - Appleton, WI
2/28 Fri - Southgate House - Newport, KY
2/29 Sat - Duke's INDY - Indianapolis, IN
3/6 Fri - Redstone Room - Davenport, IA
3/7 Sat - Vaudeville Mews - Des Moines, IA
3/8 Sun - World Theater - Kearney, NE
3/12 Thu - Magic Rat - Fort Collins, CO
3/13 Fri - Walnut Room - Denver, CO
3/14 Sat - Western Jubilee - Colorado Springs, CO

 

Wed, 01/15/2020 - 12:47 pm

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) is thrilled to announce that Greensky Bluegrass, Béla Fleck & The Flecktones, Sierra Hull, Ghost Light, and Jon Stickley Trio are added to The 4th Annual Suwannee Spring Reunion lineup along with a host of other acts. The festival takes place Thursday through Sunday, March 19-22 at SOSMP in Live Oak, FL.

Further additions to the 2020 lineup include Chatham County Line, Fireside Collective, Tony Furtado with Luke Price, Blueground Undergrass, The Grass Is Dead, Songs From The Road Band, Nation of Two, The Tania Elizabeth Experiment, Nikki Talley, Lee Hunter & The Gatherers, Ukelyptus, Brett Bass & Melted Plectrum, The Adventures of Annabelle Lyn, Two Foot Level, Nicholas Edward Williams, Habanero Honeys, The Hungry Monks, The Walker Brothers, The Dunehoppers, Jeff Bradley - Comedy + Cool Stuff, and Tania & The Magic Moon Traveling Circus.

Previously announced bands include Donna the Buffalo, Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce featuring Los Texmaniacs, The Duhks, Darrell Scott, Jim Lauderdale Band, Verlon Thompson, Shawn Camp Band, Roy Book Binder, Quartermoon, and Sloppy Joe.

Folks of all ages will make plans to gather during the forefront of spring at this gorgeous park and its mossy live oak laden grounds for this beloved festival tradition that features a range of music genres rooted in original music – Americana: Bluegrass, Newgrass, Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Blues, and more. Literally something for everyone!

For four days and nights this family-friendly festival is home to early morning sing-a-longs and night time musical pyrotechnics from the park’s stellar cast of alumni and new favorites. There will be music on four stages and Suwannee Spring Reunion attendees will also enjoy music in the campground with jamming at Slopryland and the Bill Monroe Shrine as well as camp pickin’ parties. Hands-on and performance workshops will be held throughout the weekend with a variety of artists set to perform.

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as an array of culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Tickets are on sale now. See details at www.suwanneespringreunion.com/Tickets

Fri, 02/07/2020 - 12:41 pm

This March 19-22 Leftover Salmon’s Boogie At The Broadmoor returns for its second year to the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs. This year a charity portion has been added to the event called Let’s Boogie To Benefit Mental Health. In 2020, the focus is on mental health, an important health concern that everyone and anyone can relate to, but a topic not openly talked about enough.

Let’s Boogie To Benefit Mental Health will consist of events addressing and bringing awareness to this important topic. Three events have been added --Bowling with the Band featuring Leftover Salmon and Circles Around The Sun on Thursday evening and We Bee Spelling featuring Andy Frasco and a an all-star jam on Sunday evening with members of Yonder Mountain String Band and more -- bookending Leftover Salmon’s Boogie At The Broadmoor. An additional free concert and Charity Raffle featuring Woodshed Red was added on Friday evening.

Leftover Salmon will be working closely with Backline, a recently formed organization that supports music industry professionals and their families; along with support on the national, state, and local level from the mental wellness organizations: National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Health Colorado, and Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention. These organizations will be on site throughout the weekend spreading awareness about this critically important topic.

Together we hope to raise funds and awareness throughout the Boogie At The Broadmoor weekend. All are welcome to attend the Let’s Boogie To Benefit events on a donation basis, even if you are not attending the festival that weekend. There is limited capacity to these events, so please get involved while space is still available.

Let’s bring our communities together and show our support for mental health.

Leftover Salmon previously released a tune penned by their bassist Greg Garrison, “Songs You’ve Left Unsung,” as a tribute to dear friend Jeff Austin in his memory. All proceeds from the sale of it are donated to Backline and you can check it out here →  Backline.care/songs-left-unsung/.

ABOUT LET’S BOOGIE TO BENEFIT MENTAL HEALTH EVENTS:

Bowling with the Band - Thursday, March 19th 7-11pm

Roll into Boogie at the Broadmoor on Thursday with a very special bowling tournament) and fundraising event to start the weekend at Play, the Broadmoor’s bowling alley. Bowling with the Band gives fans a rare chance to bowl with members of Leftover Salmon and Circles Around the Sun before the weekend's festivities kick off on Friday. Teams of up to five (5) bowlers can sign up online to participate for $500/team ($100/bowler) and each team will be paired with a member of Leftover Salmon or Circles Around the Sun for the evening’s event. Create a team or join a team to participate in this unique fundraising opportunity! The proceeds of this event will benefit Backline. Top fundraising teams will win concert tickets and exclusive memorabilia.

Find out more and sign up to bowl at https://givebutter.com/boogiebowling

Free Concert & Charity Raffle - Friday, March 20th 5-6:30pm

Join us at the International Center for a free concert featuring local favorites Woodshed Red. The weekend’s silent auction and raffle will begin at this time. Have the first chance to put your bids in for these great items. All proceeds will support our non-profit mental health partners for the event!

We Bee Spelling - Sunday, March 22nd 5-10:30pm

On Sunday March 22nd, Boogie at the Broadmoor will host a finale benefit event: We Bee Spelling, a comedy game show hosted by Alex Greer, Kyle Ayers (Conan) with house bandleader Andy Frasco with Leftover Salmon. We Bee Spelling is a one-of-a-kind experience — part late night variety show, part spelling bee, and all for charity — supporting mental health through Backline and Colorado mental wellness programs. Contestants participate in this interactive, live improv show on behalf of Backline and do their best to spell while encountering “sabotages” from the audience (such as spelling words backwards or performing hidden talents), increasingly more ridiculous head-to-head games, and all sorts of antics that make this a truly unique and hilarious fundraiser.

And that’s not all, Sunday night will be capped with a very special performance by members of Yonder Mountain String Band, Leftover Salmon, surprise guests, plus Woodshed Red! This send-off event will be open to the public on a donation basis and is limited capacity.

Find out more and sign up to Bee at https://givebutter.com/webeeboogie

MORE ABOUT BOOGIE AT THE BROADMOOR

Boogie At The Broadmoor will once again feature three days of Leftover Salmon and it going to be a Festivaaalll with 16+ bands over the weekend including Jerry Douglas and Friends, Circles Around The Sun, Andy Frasco and the U.N., Nick Forster's Hippy Bluegrass Church, DeadPhish Orchestra, Grant Farm, Handmade Moments, Lonesome Days, Jack Cloonan Band, Woodshed Red, Armchair Boogie, Wood Belly, Pick and Howl, Shawn Nelson, Silent Disco, and a Jazz Brunch Set along with Special Guests: Jerry Douglas, Adam Greuel, and Roosevelt Collier.

This is a first class concert experience that is like no other, held at The Broadmoor Resort, a historic five star resort nestled against the backdrop of the Cheyenne Foothills just 75 miles south of Denver. Enjoy the beautiful property and a plethora of fantastic amenities including 20 restaurants, cafes, and bars on site! Plus a bowling alley, movie theater, spa, and even a zoo.

More information about the event, tickets, and accomodations can be found at www.BoogieAtTheBroadmoor.com.

More about LoS at www.LeftoverSalmon.com.

Mon, 02/24/2020 - 3:48 pm

Illinois-based Cody “Chicago Farmer” Diekhof paired up with Texas’ The Band of Heathens for Flyover Country, independently released February 7. With DJs across the country spinning many of the songs from the album, it is climbing up the Americana and Folk radio charts in an increasingly competitive landscape. In the past few  weeks the album shot up to #18 after debuting at #33 on the Americana Radio Albums Chart and is currently at #9 on the NACC Folk Radio Chart.

The current single, “All In One Place,” is a humorous look at the sad truth about making money in the music business is on the rise and currently at #33 on the Americana Singles Chart. American Songwriter Magazine says, “This tale of high hopes and low returns [is] an outlaw country number that resounds with heart and humor.”

Chicago Farmer is known for his clever and heartfelt songwriting and unique voice. Through all the songs on Flyover Country — and most Chicago Farmer songs, for that matter —runs a common thread, a love and respect for regular folks, those who might be overlooked and underappreciated. He is a champion of the Midwest and the working class. “A lot of my friends are just getting by day-to-day,” Diekhoff said. “We keep at it, we keep working hard. Hopefully, eventually, things will turn around.”

Chicago Farmer Tour Dates

All Shows with The Full Band, The Fieldnotes, Unless Otherwise Noted:

2/27 Thu - Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza - Worthington, OH
2/28 Fri - Southgate House - Newport, KY
2/29 Sat - Duke's Indy - Indianapolis, IN
3/6 Fri - Redstone Room - Davenport, IA 
3/7 Sat - Vaudeville Mews - Des Moines, IA
3/8 Sun - World Theater - Kearney, NE
3/12 Thu - Magic Rat - Fort Collins, CO
3/13 Fri - The Walnut Room - Denver, CO
3/14 Sat - Western Jubilee - Colorado Springs, CO
3/27 Fri - Inside Out - Gilman, IL *solo show
4/2 Thu - Music Box Supper Club - Cleveland, OH
4/3 Fri - Sportsmens Tavern - Buffalo, NY
4/4 Sat - Moondogs - Pittsburgh, PA
4/6 Mon - Woodsongs Radio Hour - Lexington, KY
4/10 Fri - Founders Brewing Co - Grand Rapids, MI
4/11 Sat - The Livery - Harbor, MI
4/16 Thu - Rose Music Hall - Columbia, MO
4/17 Fri - Kenny’s Westside Pub - Peoria, IL
4/18 Sat - The Venue - Aurora, IL
4/23 Thu - Crossroads Music Fest - Seymour, IN
4/24-25 Fri-Sat - Rose Bowl Tavern - Urbana, IL 
5/21 Thu - The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI
5/22-5/24 Fri-Sun - Summer Camp Music Festival -Chillicothe, IL
6/5 Fri - Knuckleheads - Kansas City, MO
6/6 Sat - Brew Skies Music Festival - Hannibal, MO
5/28-29 Thu-Fri - John Hartford Memorial Fest - Bean Blossom, IN
6/19 Fri - Moccasin Creek Festival - Effingham, IL
6/27 Sat - Private Event - Wilmington, IL
8/7 Fri - Rock the Farm @ Mackinaw Valley Winery - Mackinaw, IL
8/8 Sat - People Fest - Hillsboro, WI

Mon, 03/02/2020 - 2:36 pm

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) is thrilled to host The 4th Annual Suwannee Spring Reunion Thursday through Sunday, March 19-22 at SOSMP in Live Oak, FL. Folks of all ages will make plans to gather during the forefront of spring at this gorgeous park and its mossy live oak laden grounds for this beloved festival tradition that features a range of music genres rooted in original music – Americana: Bluegrass, Newgrass, Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Blues, and more. Literally something for everyone!

The lineup features Greensky Bluegrass, Béla Fleck & The Flecktones, Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce featuring Los Texmaniacs, Donna The Buffalo, Sierra Hull, Ghost Light, Darrell Scott, Jim Lauderdale Band, Verlon Thompson, The Duhks, Jon Stickley Trio, Shawn Camp Band, Chatham County Line, Fireside Collective, Tony Furtado with Luke Price and Matt Flinner, and more!

See the full schedule of music at → https://suwanneespringreunion.com/schedule.

For four days and nights this family-friendly festival is home to early morning sing-a-longs and night time musical pyrotechnics from the park’s stellar cast of alumni and new favorites. There will be music on four stages and Suwannee Spring Reunion attendees will also enjoy music in the campground with jamming at Slopryland and the Bill Monroe Shrine as well as camp pickin’ parties.

Thursday night is going to be a blast with Blueground Undergrass hitting the main Amphitheatre Stage at 8:30pm just after a set by Verlon Thompson on the Porch Stage. Jon Stickley Trio follows Blueground alternating back to the Porch and then The Grass Is Dead closes out the Amphitheater Stage for the night. Music begins for the day kicking off with Quartermoon at 3pm and also includes performances by Roy Book Binder, Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, and Brett Bass & Melted Plectrum.

Greensky Bluegrass headlines Friday night, bookended by sets with Peter Rowan and Free Mexican Airforce and Jon Stickley Trio on the Amphitheater Stage. The Duhks play just before Greensky on the Porch Stage and Donna the Buffalo closes out the Porch following Greensky’s set. Other Friday performances include Ghost Light, Chatham County Line, Fireside Collective, Verlon Thomspon, The Tania Elizabeth Experience, and more. The Music Hall Indoor Stage also kicks off on Friday and includes sets by Applebutter Express, Nation of Two, and a special Banjo workshop with Leonard Podolak, Rev Jeff Mosier, and Tony Furtado.

Vassar Sunday is always a special day for Suwannee Spring Reunion and as tradition holds, Donna the Buffalo will close out the festival and bring out a ton of special guest performers that have played throughout the weekend! Jim Lauderdale, Sierra Hull, Peter Rowan, Rev Jeff Mosier, Verlon Thomspon, and Nikki Talley all perform again as well.

The Old Florida Stage will also feature Contra Dance music and instruction Thursday - Saturday with The Dunehoppers and The Hungry Monks with Andy Kane doing the calling.

A variety of performers will be hosting special hands-on workshops on Music Farmers Stage Friday and Saturday including a Banjo Workshop with Rev Jeff Mosier, Fiddle Instruction with Scott Walker & Holly Riley, Songs and Stories with Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, Hambone Workshop with Leonard Podolak, Mandolin with Matt Flinner, Flat Pick Guitar Workshop with Brett Bass, Roy Book Binder Hands on Blues Guitar Workshop, Songwriting with Lee Hunter, Joey Kerr, & Annie Wenz, and more.

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as an array of culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events.

Tickets are on sale now. See details at www.suwanneespringreunion.com/Tickets.

Sun, 03/15/2020 - 5:41 pm

Dear Festival Friends,

It is with heavy hearts and deep regret that we sadly announce the cancellation of Suwannee Spring Reunion 2020 which was to be held at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL, March 19-22. Please read the following note from the Festival Director:

We have been actively monitoring the updated recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and of State of Florida officials. Recently, the CDC issued Florida-specific recommendations to “cancel large gatherings (over 250 people).”  The CDC also recommended cancelling smaller gatherings that bring people together from multiple parts of the United States.

Based upon this guidance, we feel that it is prudent to cancel the Festival.  We did not reach this conclusion lightly and while we are disappointed, we will get through this situation.  We take the health, safety, and welfare of our guests and our community very seriously and we look forward to gathering again soon by the banks of the Suwannee River to share music and friendship.

All ticket holders that have yet to fill out the current rollover request form will automatically be rolled over to Suwannee Spring Reunion 2021.  If you would prefer your tickets to be transferred to Suwannee Roots Revival 2020, please fill out the following form by April 1, 2020:

Request to move Spring 2020 Tickets to Roots 2020

If you have upgraded camping or cabins, they will be rolled over as well, but you can contact the Park during their regular hours at 386-364-1683 to make other arrangements.

Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park will remain open even though the event is cancelled.  We look forward to seeing you there again soon.

In Harmony,

Beth

Beth Judy

Festival Director 

Sat, 05/09/2020 - 1:09 pm

The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, in collaboration with Relix Magazine, is hosting Suwannee at Home: Spirit Raiser 2020. This virtual online festival will take place Friday-Sunday, May 15-17 and is intended to raise the spirits of our music community, to keep us connected to our beloved Suwannee, and to raise some funds for festival support staff.

As our fans, artists, and festival production teams are sheltering in place and dreaming about being at festivals at our favorite music venue, we wanted to do something to raise everyone’s spirits and the online festival Suwannee at Home: Spirit Raiser 2020 was born.

Artists are volunteering their time to participate in this online festival by performing live or sending in pre-recorded content from their shelter in place. The sets will air live on Zoom via Facebook and the Suwannee Spirit Raiser website and will range from brief cameos to longer 30 minutes slots, some with a Q and A.

Suwannee at Home: Spirit Raiser 2020 will be hosted by Suwanee Rising Event Co-Producers: Beth Judy (Suwannee Spring Reunion, Suwannee  Roots Revival) and Paul Levine (Hulaween, Purple Hatters Ball).

Live Oak Music and Art Foundation Inc, a 501c3 organization will collect and distribute any collected funds and will be the sole recipient of any merchandise sold.

Fans can also get involved by telling us what coming to a festival at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park means to them. Folks are being encouraged to make a short video of themselves telling their Suwannee story through a poem, live art, straight story telling, or any other creative medium that inspires their thoughts about the park. 

If you would like to get involved as an advertiser or sponsor, please contact [email protected] to find out more information.

For more information and to watch, please visit www.suwanneespiritraiser.com.

Sat, 05/09/2020 - 1:43 pm

Nate Lee is an International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award-winning instrumentalist and renowned teacher of private lessons and music camps. The overlapping landscapes of folk, bluegrass, old-time, and new acoustic music offer a wide field to hoe and singer/mandolinist Nate ably covers every bit of that ground. Tuneful lopes, the muscular bounce of ‘grass, the sparkling charm of Grisman-Rice inspired dawg music, and more are all in his comfort zone and he moves between them with uncommon ease. Nate is known as the kind of musician who is able to put his own stamp on whatever he plays and his forthcoming album, Wings of a Jetliner, brings that home and is set for independent release June 12, 2020 on his own Adverb Records.

The first single “Love Medicine,” (written by Chris Sanders of the Hard Road Trio) was premiered by The Bluegrass Situation who says, “Even while bluegrasser and multi-instrumentalist Nate Lee puts the main focus on the powerhouse instrumentalists on his new album, Wings of a Jetliner, the lyrics and masterful chordal harmonies of ‘Love Medicine’ -- a song about addiction and tough situations -- shine through.”

Nate is known as a member of award-winning bluegrass group, the Becky Buller Band, which he joined in 2017. For this project Nate assembled an inspired collection of iconic players, modern masters, and rising stars—including bandmates from Becky Buller Band: Becky Buller herself, banjoist Ned Luberecki, bassist Daniel Hardin, and the album’s producer and engineer Dan Boner. Also joining in on guitar is original member of the Tony Rice Unit and flatpicking legend, Wyatt Rice,  icon of acoustic music and sideman to the stars, living-legend bassist Todd Phillips, and rising star Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (Mile Twelve) on fiddle. Bluegrass singer and songwriter Daniel Salyer joins in on harmony vocals on a few songs and Thomas Cassell (Circus No. 9) serves as Nate’s duet partner on the Grisman-inspired two-mandolin instrumental “Serenity.”

Nate composed all five instrumental numbers on Wings of a Jetliner: The lead-off track and bluegrass ripper, “Wonderbat,” the light-hearted jazzy “Quick Select,” the lovely and spare “Comealong Brown Dog,” and the spiraling “Rook Roller."

Listeners will find equally satisfying variety in the carefully chosen vocal numbers, penned by an eclectic assortment of accomplished songwriters, on Wings of a Jetliner. All here to delight are hard-driving bluegrass songs (“Tobacco”), western swing (“The More I Pour”), nuanced tales (“Miner’s Grave”, “Somewhere Far Away”), the waltzy “Sweet Allis Chalmers,” and the new-grassy sounds of “Love Medicine,” as well as a cover of 90’s rock icons The Offspring’s “All Along.”

Fri, 06/12/2020 - 4:41 pm

Nate Lee is an International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award-winning instrumentalist and renowned teacher of private lessons and music camps. The overlapping landscapes of folk, bluegrass, old-time, and new acoustic music offer a wide field to hoe and singer/mandolinist Nate ably covers every bit of that ground. Tuneful lopes, the muscular bounce of ‘grass, the sparkling charm of Grisman-Rice inspired dawg music, and more are all in his comfort zone and he moves between them with uncommon ease. Nate is known as the kind of musician who is able to put his own stamp on whatever he plays and his forthcoming album, Wings of a Jetliner, brings that home and out on June 12, 2020, on his own Adverb Records.

Nate is known as a member of award-winning bluegrass group, the Becky Buller Band, which he joined in 2017. For this project Nate assembled an inspired collection of iconic players, modern masters, and rising stars—including bandmates from Becky Buller Band: Becky Buller herself, banjoist Ned Luberecki, bassist Daniel Hardin, and the album’s producer and engineer Dan Boner. Also joining in on guitar is original member of the Tony Rice Unit and flatpicking legend, Wyatt Rice,  icon of acoustic music and sideman to the stars, living-legend bassist Todd Phillips, and rising star Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (Mile Twelve) on fiddle. Bluegrass singer and songwriter Daniel Salyer joins in on harmony vocals on a few songs and Thomas Cassell (Circus No. 9) serves as Nate’s duet partner on the Grisman-inspired two-mandolin instrumental “Serenity.”

Renaissance man, Professor Dan Boner, came on board early as producer and engineer and primarily tracked the album at the ETSU Recording Lab. Professor Dan says, “Wings of a Jetliner mirrors all that I have observed in Nate’s persona. He is an objective seeker, lifelong learner, patient teacher, and a quick-witted responder to happenstances.”

Nate composed all five instrumental numbers on Wings of a Jetliner: The lead-off track and bluegrass ripper, “Wonderbat,” the light-hearted jazzy “Quick Select,” the lovely and spare “Comealong Brown Dog,” and the spiraling “Rook Roller.”

Listeners will find equally satisfying variety in the carefully chosen vocal numbers, penned by an eclectic assortment of accomplished songwriters, on Wings of a Jetliner. All here to delight are hard-driving bluegrass songs (“Tobacco” - Daniel Salyer), western swing (“The More I Pour” - Tim Stafford & Mark Bumgarner), nuanced tales (“Miner’s Grave” - Ashleigh Caudill, “Somewhere Far Away” - Bradford Lee Folk & Nicholas Ian Woods ), the waltzy “Sweet Allis Chalmers” (Bill Caswell) and the new-grassy sounds of “Love Medicine” (Chris Sanders), as well as a cover of 90’s rock icons The Offspring’s “All Along” (Bryan Holland).

Fri, 09/04/2020 - 10:41 am

Colorado band Tenth Mountain Division is pushing the sound found in the mountains in bold new directions with their high-energy and exploratory take on Americana, draws influences from classic Southern rock, the progressive bluegrass that was born in their backyard, and the adventurous spirit of 60s psychedelic.

After a soaring 2019 which saw the band travel from coast-to-coast playing their biggest shows to date including Summer Camp, WinterWonderGrass, ARISE, and Yarmony, they took the plunge back into the studio at the turn of the year. With Producer Tim Carbone (of Railroad Earth), the band recorded their third studio album with engineer Todd Divel at Silo Sound Studio, recently dubbed the ‘Abbey Road of Denver’ [Westword].

The band’s mandolinist, Winston Heuga says, “It’s been hard to know the best way to adapt to this new culture and keep our momentum moving. Just before the shutdown, we completed a Kickstarter for the new album and were lucky enough to have 358 backers pledge $38,765 to help bring this project to life. We’re very fortunate to be in a position to keep creating and get music to our fans."

Tenth Mountain Division is excited to start releasing this new music with an animated video for their new single “9 to 5.” Watch the World Premiere of “9 to 5” now at DittyTV → https://dittytv.com/world-premiere-video-9-to-5-by-tenth-mountain-division.

“9 to 5” was penned by the band’s bassist Andrew Cooney who says, “This song is about trusting yourself to take the path you feel is right. The first verse lays out what could be, and the second draws the final straw that leads to the solution in the chorus, ‘going home another way.’ It’s a somber, yet uplifting song that makes you ask if you are really following your heart.”

"TMD's music video for their new single, "9-5", directed by Chase Allen Taylor, takes the viewer through a flowing mosaic of animated, interwoven tableau vivant,” says the band’s guitarist MJ Ouimette, “We travel  as if 'with' the song through wraparound backgrounds reminiscent of the Flintstones, subbing Bedrock for psychedelic cartoon landscapes and subterranean pho factories and the foot-powered Rubstone Special for a rendering of the band's beloved short-bus-tour-bus, Dorothy. The thread unifying the piece is the animation's reaction to the track's sound wave, sometimes gently as in during pianist Campbell Thomas light-as-a-feather solo and others dramatically to vocalist/songwriter Andrew Cooney's inviting yet poignant vocals. An audiovisual treat for the modern aesthete."

“9 to 5” is out Today!

“9 to 5” is the first single of their upcoming third album [Release date TBA], and a follow up to 2018’s In Good Company which Live for Live Music declared was, “chock full of raw rock and roll, with a savory listening experience guaranteed for all.”

Marquee Magazine writes, “...the group’s electro-acoustic sound… gives unapologetic nods to the jam gods that have come before them… Tenth Mountain Division takes some Widespread Panic inspired jams, and meshes them with Leftover Salmon-styled arrangements, and couples that with a hell-bent love for classic rock, soul, and pub sing-alongs.”

Tenth Mountain Division formed in 2010 when high-school classmates, Winston Heuga (mandolin) and MJ Ouimette (guitar) first met when they discovered a shared musical interest. The two young musicians started penning songs together that were inspired by the natural beauty that surrounded their hometown in the Rocky Mountains and the lore of the 10th Mountain Division military infantry (The WWII pioneers of mountain combat who founded Vail, CO and many other ski areas across the country.) They ended up at the University Colorado Boulder where they briefly played as an acoustic trio with upright bassist, Connor Dunn before meeting drummer Tyler Gwynn and keyboardist Campbell Thomas. The addition of drums and keys to Heuga and Ouimette’s deep musical bond, widened their musical palette, taking the band in new directions and pointing to bold, uncharted, musical horizons. They released their first album, Cracks in the Sky, in 2016 and followed it up with a national tour that saw them packing shows across the country. The band’s lineup was solidified soon after with the addition of Andrew Cooney and immediate success followed. Since then they have become a regular presence on the festival circuit including stops at Summer Camp, Aiken Bluegrass Festival, Winter Wondergrass, Yarmony, ARISE, and Leftover Salmon’s Boogie at the Broadmoor. They released their second album, In Good Company, in 2018.

Sun, 10/04/2020 - 1:46 pm

Colorado band Tenth Mountain Division is pushing the sound found in the mountains in bold new directions with their high-energy and exploratory take on Americana, draws influences from classic Southern rock, the progressive bluegrass that was born in their backyard, and the adventurous spirit of 60s psychedelic.

Tenth Mountain Division has created their own music and comedy webisode series, TMDtv, and is excited to release it to the world! Starting Thursday, October 1 it will air at 6pm MT/ 8pm ET every Thursday in October. The first episode airs free to all on Tenth Mountain Division's Facebook/IG/Youtube with an option to donate what you please. From there on the entire 5 episode season is available for purchase at tmdtunes.com. They jest, “This is our Mona Lisa…”

Watch the Official Trailer for #TMDtvwww.youtube.com/watch?v=wi95CH8VXOM

"When quarantine hit we were left unsure of how to reach our fans AND where we'd be getting our next paycheck…” TMD says, “We decided to do something about it and it has been one of the most challenging and rewarding projects we've taken on. We have a lot of people to thank but most importantly to our fearless leader/producer/editor/director/film director Samuel Ryan Densford of Homefield Productions and to our sound engineer Cory Ballentine. Get ready to laugh!”

The band recently released an animated video for their new single, “9 to 5,” which is the first song from their upcoming third album to hit the airwaves. “9 to 5” was penned by the band’s bassist Andrew Cooney who says, “This song is about trusting yourself to take the path you feel is right. The first verse lays out what could be, and the second draws the final straw that leads to the solution in the chorus, ‘going home another way.’ It’s a somber, yet uplifting song that makes you ask if you are really following your heart.”

The new album will be released in early 2021 and was produced by Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth) at Silo Sound Studio in Denver (recently dubbed the ‘Abbey Road of Denver’ [Westword]).

Thu, 10/15/2020 - 12:18 pm

Leftover Salmon is getting the band back together for one weekend only for the Fall Maskerade 2020. For three sold out nights, Leftover Salmon will be playing in Buena Vista, CO on the Surf Hotel's newest outdoor venue, The LAWN Friday-Sunday, October 23, 24, 25.

Leftover Salmon is excited to team up with Nugs.tv to stream all 3 shows so no one has to miss out and you can watch from the safety of your home. The shows start at 6pm Friday and Saturday and 3pm on Sunday, and the stream can be played live or on demand. Once you start the stream you will have 48 hour to finish it.

“It's certainly been a stretch since we turned the bus around on tour March 13th, canceled the Broadmoor, and then eventually our entire summer. We hope you all are doing as well as you can. It's certainly a strange time!” says Leftover Salmon, one of the great purveyors of Americana music influenced by rock ‘n’ roll, folk, bluegrass, Cajun, soul, jazz and blues.

“In fact, it feels like we are going to anahuac Buena Vista next weekend! Because after next weekend we are going to run, run, run, away again! Stay posted for another anahuac to be announced soon.”

The band, built around the core of founding members Drew Emmitt and Vince Herman, along with  banjo-wiz Andy Thorn, bassist Greg Garrison, and drummer Alwyn Robinson, is excited to be performing as Leftover Salmon after such an unexpected and lengly break. As much as we wish more could attend the show and COVID wasn't a concern, we have to keep things safe and stay within strict guidelines for all our own good.

“It’s crazy to be coming back for our first gig in a whole new world," says Thorn, “But as a band, we’ve always been in another universe. There might be a ‘new normal’ out there, so to keep up, we’ll be an all-new weird.”

Leftover Salmon hopes you will all tune in and join us virtually as they get together to perform for the first time in months. “We miss you all much and look forward to when we can all boogie together in person again!!”

Wear them if you got them: costumes are encouraged for the Saturday night show. In fact, so encouraged, we are hosting a contest. Details are forthcoming on the socials, but be prepared to share pics of your digs and scene and tag #LoSMaskerade!

NPR’s Mountain Stage calls Leftover Salmon, “One of the most fun-loving bands you'll encounter,” and we sure are happy to be able to help refresh us all with some live music again!

For more information and other LoS news, please visit www.LeftoverSalmon.com.

Mon, 10/26/2020 - 4:55 pm

Leftover Salmon got the band back together for a very special weekend for the Fall Maskerade 2020, as their last show of 2020. For three sold out nights, Leftover Salmon played live in Buena Vista, CO at the Surf Hotel's newest outdoor venue, The LAWN Friday-Sunday, October 23, 24, 25.  The band also teamed up with Nugs.tv to stream all 3 shows.

“Buena Vista’s Surf Hotel was the perfect setting for a much needed socially distanced mini festival!” Vince Herman says, “The weather was Coloradoish. Sunny and warm and dumping snow too! It was a great collection of friends, kids, and dogs having music for the soul. Such fun! Now it’s time to crawl back into the Covid bubble and stay safe. See ya next year!”

Buena Vista, CO at The Surf Hotel

With two sets each night, there were so many memorable moments! This small gathering of friends and family coming back together, along with everyone that tuned in online, was a great reminder how special this festival community is. Folks at home could feel the magical energy of the experience.

Friday night Leftover Salmon performed a number of songs for the first time live including, “Best Day Ever,” “Cloud City,” “Morning Dew,” and “We'll Get By.” They went deep with a funky “Muddy Water Home” and Drew busted out the electric mandolin on “Fireline.” Tyler Grant joined in on “Breakin' Thru” and “Mr. Charlie.”

3 Nights of Sold Out Shows in Buena Vista, CO

Saturday Night was a total costume party on site-- with fans dressed up to the max. Calls were made from stage to “Vote for Pedro”, the bands was on fire

Coleman Smith (of Rapidgrass) on fiddle joined the band on “Bird Call” and Jerry Jeff Walker’s  “Derby Day.” The opening set closer, “Reuben's Train” features some chicken foot antics and teased “Dinner And A Movie,” “Once In A Lifetime,” and “Moose’s Lucky Day.” They performed “Black Peter” for the first time live and hosted a crowd Maskerade during “Show Me Something Higher.”

#ICYMI- Leftover Salmon Acoustic Tribute to Jerry Jeff Walker backstage Saturday night performing JJW’s ”Derby Day.” You can watch it on Facebook here.

Leftover Salmon’s Fall Maskerade

Sunday took place during a snowstorm, adding to the magic of the day. They, once again, played a handful of songs for the first time ever on stage including JJW’s “Mr. Bojangles,” “Sunday,” and “Bringing It On Home To Me.” Coleman Smith joined the band on fiddle for the entire second set and there was some triple fiddle action with Andy, Drew, and Coleman on “Bringing It On Home To Me.”

“This Is The Time” was the last song of the Los Fall Makerade (and the 2nd in that night’s encore) was extra special. The lyrics: “This isn't a time for giving up. This is the time to be strong…. I know life is never easy, when you're holding out so long… I know that we can make it, with a little bit of faith to get us by…. This isn't the time or faking. This is the time for us to fly…

Buena Vista, CO

This isn't the time for losing hope. This is the time to lean… Well I know we can find our way if you're ready to receive…. There's always so much to learn, as you wander through this life…. And timing is everything. This is the time, the night…”

Thu, 11/05/2020 - 11:11 am

Leftover Salmon is excited to pick back up in 2021 for a special 3 day residency at the Vilar Performing Arts Center (VPAC) in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado on Thursday-Saturday, January 21-23. These will be intimate shows that are capped at 100 in the audience due to strict Covid-safe guidelines.

“We’re excited not only for what this will bring in terms of connecting us during divisive times through quality performances, but also what it will do to keep the vitality of our industry alive,” says Duncan Horner, Executive Director of the Vilar Performing Arts Center. “We’ve long been a favorite stop on tour for many artists – now we can be a center not just for the finished performance product, but as a place to safely isolate and create new ideas during this exceptionally difficult time.” Read more about their COVID-19 Policy and Procedures HERE.

Since their earliest days as a forward thinking, progressive bluegrass band who had the guts to add drums to the mix into their ever evolving sound, to their role as a pioneer of the modern jamband scene, to their current status as elder-statesmen of the scene, Leftover Salmon has been a crucial link in keeping alive the traditional music of the past while at the same time pushing that sound forward with their own unique style.

In October, they got the band back together for the Fall Maskerade 2020 for three sold out nights in Buena Vista, CO on the Surf Hotel's The LAWN. As their last show of 2020 and their first show back since March when they canceled everything to lock down, they made it extra tasty with plenty of debuts as Phish and Dead teasers throughout the sets. The energy was high whether you were one of the few there in person or watching online! All three shows are available at Nugs.tv.

“It's certainly been a stretch since we turned the bus around on tour March 13th, canceled the Broadmoor, and then eventually our entire summer. We hope you all are doing as well as you can. It's certainly a strange time!” says Leftover Salmon.

The band, built around the core of founding members Drew Emmitt and Vince Herman, along with  banjo-wiz Andy Thorn, bassist Greg Garrison, and drummer Alwyn Robinson, is excited to be performing as Leftover Salmon after such an unexpected and lengthy break. As much as we wish more could attend the show and COVID wasn't a concern, we have to keep things safe and stay within strict guidelines for all our own good.

NPR’s Mountain Stage calls Leftover Salmon, “One of the most fun-loving bands you'll encounter,” and we sure are happy to be able to help refresh us all with some live music again in the new year!

For more information and other LoS news, please visit www.LeftoverSalmon.com

Leftover Salmon 3 Day Residency at Vilar Performing Arts Center
Thursday-Saturday January 21-23, 2021
All shows at 7pm

Tickets: 
Thursday, January 21 → https://vilarpac.org/event/leftover-salmon-january-21/
Friday, January 22 → https://vilarpac.org/event/leftover-salmon-january-22/
Saturday, January 23 →  https://vilarpac.org/event/leftover-salmon-january-23/

Tickets are $160, all covid regulations followed at a limited capacity of 100 people
A Project of the Vail Valley Foundation
68 Avondale Lane, Beaver Creek, CO 81620
970.845.8497

Mon, 11/16/2020 - 8:09 am

Leftover Salmon is thrilled to kick off the Memorial Day Drive-In Tailgate Concert Series Presented by Driftless Music Gardens in Yuba, WI on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, May 28, 2021. The venue is located a short drive between Madison, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Lacrosse & The Quad Cities. Gates Open at 4 and the show is 7-10pm.

Music takes place all weekend long at the Drive-In Tailgate with Horseshoes & Hand Grenades playing on Saturday, May 29 and The Infamous Stringdusters capping off the weekend Sunday, May 30. These shows will be set up as a drive-in tailgate concert and each night’s show is sold separately. A very limited number of on-site private group campsites are available and will be sold in advance. You must hold tickets to all 3-shows in order to camp. Tickets are on sale now → https://driftlessmusicgardens.com/tailgate-concert-series.

“We all need something to look forward to,” says Driftless Music Gardens. “Life is strange. As artists, we’ve had no choice but to roll with the changes brought on by COVID-19. Driftless Music Gardens is adapting to the new normal by getting bands and music fans together in a more intimate setting. Our first announcement for 2021 is a full weekend of bluegrass.”

Throwing a concert has changed in the time of social distancing and Driftless Music Gardens will be doing everything they can to ensure musicians and fans have the safest possible experience. They have dramatically cut capacity to limit crowds. Four people are allowed per vehicle and each car will have a 15-20-foot personal tailgating area to enjoy music from while remaining socially distant. Guests will be asked to wear masks in all common areas (check-in, merch, vendors, bathrooms, etc.). People must practice social distancing and proper hand washing. They say, “We will be operating cautiously as we proceed with the future of live music... We want to set a good example for the future of live music in our beautiful, natural amphitheater.”

More About Leftover Salmon: Since their earliest days as a forward thinking, progressive bluegrass band who had the guts to add drums to the mix into their ever evolving sound, to their role as a pioneer of the modern jamband scene, to their current status as elder-statesmen of the scene, Leftover Salmon has been a crucial link in keeping alive the traditional music of the past while at the same time pushing that sound forward with their own unique style.

The band, built around the core of founding members Drew Emmitt and Vince Herman, along with  banjo-wiz Andy Thorn, bassist Greg Garrison, and drummer Alwyn Robinson, is excited to be performing as Leftover Salmon after such an unexpected and lengthy break. As much as we wish more could attend the show and COVID wasn't a concern, we have to keep things safe and stay within strict guidelines for all our own good.

NPR’s Mountain Stage calls Leftover Salmon, “One of the most fun-loving bands you'll encounter,” and we sure are happy to be able to help refresh us all with some live music again in the new year!

For more information and other LoS news, please visit www.LeftoverSalmon.com

Mon, 11/23/2020 - 10:21 am

On Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday November 25, A Harvest Celebration with Vince Herman & Friends will air on Instrumenthead Live at 8pm EST and again at 8pm PST. Vince says, “Come and join us, have a little music with Mimi Naja, Kyle Tuttle, the Davisson Brothers, and Kylie Frey. We are gonna have a harvest celebration Thanksgiving style 2020 with pickin’ and singin’ and dancin’ and movin,’... It's gonna be fun!”

Enjoy a full live set in stunning HD video and audio from your phone, home, tablet, or computer. Free to watch and streaming live on YouTube, Facebook and INSTRUMENTHEADLIVE.com. After the initial airing online, the stream will then be available for 24hrs on the Instrumenthead Live Youtube page. Donations will be accepted for the artists and Instrumenthead Live by texting

“THANKS” to "844-931-4517.”

Known for capturing the spirit of an eclectic array of iconic musicians with this unique photographic series, The INSTRUMENTHEAD Collection, Instrumenthead Live Founder and photographer Michael Weintrob’s  photography encapsulate the personality of each artist with a surrealist look into the soul of a musician, not through their eyes as with traditional portraiture, but through his/her instrument in place of their head.

Weintrob shares, “This new Instrumenthead Live series is an opportunity to create a safe and fun environment for people to enjoy high quality audio and video in a unique gallery where the art is curated specifically for the artist performing. We are empowering live art by bringing an authentic high-quality live show atmosphere to the comfort of music lovers’ homes everywhere.”

During the filming of the Harvest Celebration at his Nashville studio gallery, Weintrob rearranged his  gallery space to build a set specific to the artist performing as well as shot some portraits of the group. There will also be specialty signed and numbered art prints available for purchase. 

Instrumenthead Live launched in August with its first original series, “Music With 5 Questions” featuring Jen Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band), and Kris Myers (Umphrey’s McGee) and has since hosted a stacked lineup of performances including Daniel Donato, Stolen Faces, Lady Couch, The Slo Beats, Mimi Naja, Katie Pruitt, and LORE.

For more information, please visit www.instrumentheadlive.com and www.LeftoverSalmon.com

Fri, 01/15/2021 - 6:58 pm

In the Fall of 2019 Andrew McConathy & his band of Drunken Hearts embarked on a 20 show, cross-country album release tour that spanned more than 15,000 miles from Portland, OR to Portland, ME, and everywhere in between. Six men, six plane flights, 3 tow trucks, two vans, two winter storms, one bad transmission, one flatbed U-Haul truck, one SUV, and one trailer resulted in… ONE LIVE ALBUM.

Set for digital release only on Friday, January 15, Andrew McConathy & The Drunken Hearts’ Alive 'n Free showcases the band in the midst of a grueling tour supporting Yonder Mountain String Band October 10 - November 24, 2019. The tour made stops at fabled venues like the 8x10 in Baltimore, Brooklyn Bowl, Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY, The Ardmore Music Hall near Philadelphia, Wooly's in Des Moines, IA, as well as a notable headlining album release show at the Fox Theatre in their hometown of Boulder, CO.

Alive 'n Free accurately captures McConathy’s infectious energy while smack-dab in the band’s element - on the road, enduring the hardships that often come with life as a touring band, and the result is magnetic. Glide Magazine’s Jim Hynes says, “Drunken Hearts adeptly blend country, mountain music, and psychedelia… And, surely McConathy has one of the most memorable voices in roots music.” American Songwriter’s Dallas Jackson echoed this sentiment, “[They] carry a mountain spirit into its music and mix it with a 90s rock blend, that is eerily reminiscent of Pearl Jam — due in large part to the vocals of Andrew McConathy.”

JamBase premiered the album in its entirety and interviews with McConathy more about it here: www.jambase.com/article/andrew-mcconathy-drunken-hearts-live-album-alive-n-free

This debut live release features 12 original songs including standout performances along the tour of then-brand new tunes, “Unrest,” “Shining Eyes,” and the Jack Kerouac inspired politically appropo title track from their most recent studio album “Wheels of the City.” There is also an explosive cover of fellow Coloradan Robin Davis’ “Prom Night” (Broke Mountain) and short anecdote from the road in “Van Story”

Alive 'n Free flows almost as if it were a "Best Of," documenting the band's rise from three piece bluegrass outfit to full-fledged country rock'n roll machine. The album progresses from some of McConathy's oldest original songs like "Don't Go" and "Happy" into scorching new staples like "Black Snake" (their testament to Standing Rock), "Want You Back," and "Broken Things.

One previously unreleased song, “Tell Me,” kicks off the album, starting subtly with an “Amazing Grace” intro leading into a pounding rhythm and the lyrics, “The road keeps winding under these feet… No winds can stop us, these words are the seed… Here to remind us there’s nothing between…  the end of the darkness & the sight unforeseen.” McConathy says of the song, “Tell Me’ is about showing resilience in the face of defeat or adversity and hitting the gas, not slowing down, when it feels like the world is on your shoulders. We wrote the song holed up in a cabin outside of Winter Park, CO in July 2019.”

Alive 'n Free is a follow up to 2019’s studio release, Wheels of the City (LoHi Records), which PopMatters’ Michael Bialas called “a pulsating, ambitious, adventurous new record” and Americana Highways’ Gary Schwind called “A Soundtrack For The Open Road.” Wheels was produced by McConathy’s longtime friend and mentor Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth) and was recorded over several sessions in 2018 at Silo Sound in Denver, CO. Both the new album and Wheels feature McConathy on acoustic guitar and vocals, Alex Johnson on drums, Jon McCartan on bass, Cody Russell on pedal steel, lap steel, and dobro, and Kory Montgomery on electric guitar and vocals.

Produced by McConathy & Todd Divel, Alive 'n Free was recorded by the band’s sound engineer Taylor Hines and then mixed and mastered by Divel at Silo Sound throughout 2020.

Alive ‘n Free brings Andrew McConathy & The Drunken Hearts’ soundtrack from the open road!

Fri, 05/07/2021 - 9:30 am

Colorado-based band Tenth Mountain Division is pushing the sound found in the mountains in bold new directions with their high-energy electro-acoustic sound. With Producer Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth) at the helm, the band recorded their third studio album, Butte La Rose, with engineer Todd Divel (Hard Working Americans, Fruition) at Silo Sound Studio.

Tenth Mountain Division is built upon the long-friendship of mandolinist Winston Heuga and guitarist MJ Ouimette. The two first met and started playing music together in high school, eventually landing at the University of Colorado in Boulder together where they formed Tenth Mountain Division as an acoustic trio. Over the next few years they added drummer Tyler Gwynn and keyboardist Campbell Thomas. Soon after their debut album (Cracks in the Sky) in 2016, the band’s lineup solidified with the addition of bassist Andrew Cooney and so did their sound: a high-energy fusion of roots-inspired, Southern Rock boogie that heads into unchartered territories. This is elevated even more with all members sharing in the songwriting, vocals, and arrangements. The band is named in honor of the famed military unit the 10th Mountain Division, the WWII pioneers of mountain combat who founded Vail, CO and many other ski areas across the country.

With ten songs, including one instrumental, Butte La Rose captures the essence of Tenth Mountain Division—fun, danceable, and surprisingly thoughtful and heartfelt. Ouimette calls it, “a snapshot of TMD’s last year of touring fused with new offerings that will intrigue the ear with stylistic diversity, unified by the personality etched in each song."

Bringing together some of the hottest horns from the area—Scott Flynn (ODESZA) on trombone, Gabriel Mervine (Lettuce, Karl Denson, The Colorado Symphony) on trumpet, and Nathan Peoples (Coral Creek) on saxophone—the results of these sessions can be heard on two of the albums stand out tracks: the album’s fiery opener “Hot Sweaty South,” and deeper into the album, with it’s classic Memphis soul vibes from the horns to the hook, “Got Too Excited.”

Synth-pop meets surf-rock in a melancholic lament about the pitfalls of heartbreak in “Sad Summer,” while the powerful and somber “Get Out of My Head,” “Burning Heart,” and the eerie final track, “Big Blue Sky” run deep and dark.

Taking a different turn and bringing forth a lighter mood are the subtly sweet “Highland Morning,” featuring special guest Elliott Peck (Midnight North) on harmony vocals; the inspiring and hopeful instrumental epic “Spring Chicken;” the slick guitar and bass rocker, “Drown You With the Bottle; and the groovin’ “Girl Like You.”

First Single “Sad Summer” ~ Out Today

Wed, 06/09/2021 - 10:43 am

Colorado-based band Tenth Mountain Division is pushing the sound found in the mountains in bold new directions with their high-energy electro-acoustic sound. With Producer Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth) at the helm, the band recorded their third studio album, Butte La Rose, with engineer Todd Divel (Hard Working Americans, Fruition) at Silo Sound Studio.

Tenth Mountain Division is built upon the long-friendship of mandolinist Winston Heuga and guitarist MJ Ouimette. The two first met and started playing music together in high school, eventually landing at the University of Colorado in Boulder together where they formed Tenth Mountain Division as an acoustic trio. Over the next few years they added drummer Tyler Gwynn and keyboardist Campbell Thomas. Soon after their debut album (Cracks in the Sky) in 2016, the band’s lineup solidified with the addition of bassist Andrew Cooney and so did their sound: a high-energy fusion of roots-inspired, Southern Rock boogie that heads into unchartered territories. This is elevated even more with all members sharing in the songwriting, vocals, and arrangements. The band is named in honor of the famed military unit the 10th Mountain Division, the WWII pioneers of mountain combat who founded Vail, CO and many other ski areas across the country.

With ten songs, including one instrumental, Butte La Rose captures the essence of Tenth Mountain Division—fun, danceable, and surprisingly thoughtful and heartfelt. Ouimette calls it, “a snapshot of TMD’s last year of touring fused with new offerings that will intrigue the ear with stylistic diversity, unified by the personality etched in each song.”

Bringing together some of the hottest horns from the area—Scott Flynn (ODESZA) on trombone, Gabriel Mervine (Lettuce, Karl Denson, The Colorado Symphony) on trumpet, and Nathan Peoples (Coral Creek) on saxophone—the results of these sessions can be heard on two of the albums stand out tracks: the album’s fiery opener “Hot Sweaty South,” and deeper into the album, with it’s classic Memphis soul vibes from the horns to the hook, “Got Too Excited.”

Synth-pop meets surf-rock in a melancholic lament about the pitfalls of heartbreak in “Sad Summer,” while the powerful and somber “Get Out of My Head,” “Burning Heart,” and the eerie final track, “Big Blue Sky” run deep and dark.

Taking a different turn and bringing forth a lighter mood are the subtly sweet “Highland Morning,” featuring special guest Elliott Peck (Midnight North) on harmony vocals; the inspiring and hopeful instrumental epic “Spring Chicken;” the slick guitar and bass rocker, “Drown You With the Bottle; and the groovin’ “Girl Like You.”

Butte La Rose Track Listing:

1. Hot Sweaty South (3:53)

2. Sad Summer (3:33) 

3. Highland Morning (3:15)

4. Spring Chicken (4:59)  *instrumental

5. Get Out of My Head (4:43)

6. Burning Heart (4:30)

7. Girl Like You (3:10) 

8. Got Too Excited (3:22) 

9. Drown You With The Bottle (2:52)

10. Big Blue Sky (2:30)

Band Members:

Andrew Cooney - Bass, Lead Vocals (3,8,9), Backing Vocals (1,2,6,7), Guitar (3, 4,8,9)

Tyler Gwynn - Drums

Winston Heuga - Mandolin, Lead Vocals (6)

MJ Ouimette - Guitar, Lead Vocals (2,7), Backing Vocals (9)

Campbell Thomas - Piano, Organ, Synthesizer, Lead Vocals (1,5,10), Backing Vocals (2,5,7,9)

Special Guests:

Will Trask - Percussion - Entire album

Elliott Peck - Backing Vocals (3)

Nathan Peoples - Saxophone (1,8) 

Gabriel Mervine - Trumpet - (1,8) 

Scott Flynn - Trombone - (1,8)

Tim Carbone - Backing Vocals (5)

Fri, 06/11/2021 - 10:07 am

The 5th Suwannee Roots Revival takes place Thursday, October 14 - Sunday, October 17 at the renowned Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. A plethora of incredible musicians are slated to perform including Sam Bush Band, Leftover Salmon, The Infamous Stringdusters, Steep Canyon Rangers, Donna the Buffalo, Keller & The Keels, Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce featuring Los Texmaniacs, Larry Keel Experience, Jon Stickley Trio, Jim Lauderdale, Darrell Scott, Verlon Thompson, Joe Craven & Painted Mandolin, Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble, Bowregard, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, The Grass Is Dead, Nikki Talley and Jason Sharp, Ralph Roddenbery, Nicholas Edward Williams, Quartermoon, and Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus.

Hosted by long time friends of SOSMP, Randy Judy and Beth Judy, Suwannee Roots Revival focuses on showcasing established as well as up-and-coming roots musicians throughout a weekend laced with community based fun, growing friendships, laughing families, and that feel-good feeling you get from hanging out in such a beautiful natural setting.

"It's incredibly exciting to be returning to our beloved Suwannee and especially to my favorite place to hear music— the natural Amphitheater,” says Beth Judy. “This Roots is a true revival as we bring our amazing community back together after such dramatic and tough times experienced this past year. I believe this Suwannee Roots Revival will bring comfort and joy back to our festival family through the music of so many of our favorite artists along with the laughter, fun and healing we share in the beautiful natural and magical setting of Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park."

Suwannee Roots Revival is jam-packed with stellar music and dance on multiple stages throughout the weekend. This family-friendly festival includes four days of music, camping, yoga, music workshops, a Kids Tent, as well as campground pickin’ sessions. Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf, and biking.

Suwannee Roots Revival kicks off on Thursday with a big start! Newgrass legend Sam Bush will crush a two hour set with his band before Leftover Salmon closes out the night with a spicy set of their own potent brew of bluegrass, rock ‘n’ roll, folk, Cajun, soul, zydeco and jazz and blues. Master songwriter Darrell Scott will perform the first set of his festival appearances and Thursday will also introduce Sarah Shook & the Disarmers to the SOSMP family.

Friday brings Americana roots troubadours Donna the Buffalo back to the Amphitheater for the first of their festival appearances. They’ll be back at it on Saturday and Sunday including an afternoon set with Mr. Americana himself, Jim Lauderdale, on the Amphitheater Stage, a Porch Stage set, and Suwannee Roots Reviavl’s traditional Sunday closing set on the Amphitheater Stage where they will be sure to include many special guest artists from the festival.

Friday also brings the first of two festival performances by the intrepid knights of bluegrass—Steep Canyon Rangers, the return of Leftover Salmon for their second appearance, as well as sets by Appalachian psychedelic bluegrass trio Keller & The Keels, the cinematic Jon Stickley Trio, and many more including a workshop and Porch Stage set by Darrell Scott.

On Saturday, SOSMP welcomes back The Infamous Stringdusters for some wildly creative bluegrass innovation, the flatpicking legend and his explosive band—Larry Keel Experience, and Peter Rowan flies in with his Free Mexican Airforce featuring Los Texmaniacs. Up and coming Colorado bluegrass band, Bowregard will make their maiden Suwannee appearance. Verlon Thompson will bring his usual wit, charm, and stellar songwriting and musicianship for a set as well as a workshop with Jim Lauderdale and will return the following day for another set.

Vassar Sunday will be filled with festival family favorites culminating with Donna the Buffalo's closing jam.

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. Hands-on and performance workshops will be held throughout the weekend with a variety of artists set to perform. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Tickets will go on sale Thursday, June 17th at 10am. Suwannee Roots Revival offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Early Bird Tickets are $140 (includes fees and taxes); Student / Military Early Bird are $130 (with a valid ID). Get your tickets quickly because there is a limited supply before the Early Bird Tier will sell out and they rise to the next pricing tier automatically—Early Bird Tier 2 Tickets at $175. For complete ticket information and to purchase tickets, visit suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Suwannee Roots Revival 2021 Lineup

Sam Bush Band 

Leftover Salmon

The Infamous Stringdusters

Steep Canyon Rangers

Donna the Buffalo

Keller & The Keels

Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce featuring Los Texmaniacs 

Larry Keel Experience

Jon Stickley Trio

Jim Lauderdale

Darrell Scott

Verlon Thompson

Joe Craven & Painted Mandolin

Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble

Bowregard

Sarah Shook & The Disarmers

The Grass Is Dead

Nikki Talley and Jason Sharp

Ralph Roddenbery

Nicholas Edward Williams

Quartermoon

Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus

For more information, tickets, and to reserve camping, please visit www.suwanneerootsrevival.com. Also visit us on at www.facebook.com/suwanneeroots, Twitter & Instagram: @SuwanneeRoots (#SuwanneeRoots).

Fri, 06/18/2021 - 1:39 pm

Colorado-based band Tenth Mountain Division is excited to independently release their latest album, Butte La Rose, June 18. Produced by Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth) at Silo Sound Studio in Denver, Butte La Rose captures the essence of Tenth Mountain Division—fun, danceable, and surprisingly thoughtful and heartfelt.

Tenth Mountain Division is built upon the long-friendship of mandolinist Winston Heuga and guitarist MJ Ouimette along with drummer Tyler Gwynn, keyboardist Campbell Thomas, and bassist Andrew Cooney. The band’s electro-acoustic sound is a high-energy fusion of roots-inspired, Southern Rock boogie that heads into unchartered territories. This is elevated even more with all members sharing in the songwriting, vocals, and arrangements. The band is named in honor of the famed military unit the 10th Mountain Division, the WWII pioneers of mountain combat who founded Vail, CO and many other ski areas across the country.

Ouimette calls the 10-track album, “a snapshot of TMD’s last year of touring fused with new offerings that will intrigue the ear with stylistic diversity, unified by the personality etched in each song.”

With song premieres in JamBase (“Highland Morning” Featuring Elliott Peck), Glide Magazine (“Got Too Excited”), and Festy GoNuts (“Sad Summer”) the album is garnering national attention. They will perform to a sold out crowd at the Mishawaka Amphitheater on the night of the album’s release.

Mon, 09/13/2021 - 4:09 pm

Born in the soul-basted countryside of Alabama, then brought to the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains to marinade and mature, Red Clay Revival delivers an experience that continues to reshape the parameters of roots music with skillful, heart-driven compositions. Bandleader and songsmith extraordinaire, Doug McElvy, lays a solid foundation at the epicenter of Red Clay’s musical magnitude. The band’s high energy shows are filled with slam-grass/bluegrass breaks, with a rock feel; it’s an entertaining performance sure to get the crowd moving regardless of musical taste.

“I love this band! These musicians carve an irresistible groove that always gets the party started. Doug Mcelvy is an authentic, soulful powerhouse of a vocalist and songwriter, not to mention a world class fly fisherman! Fishin and pickin— what could be better?!” says flatpicking legend Larry Keel and bassist Jenny Keel, "Doug McElvy and his Red Clay Revival render a rootsy blend of folk rock foundation and inventive yet catchy lyrics. It's earthy and fun music with dark overtones too.”

Red Clay Revival is excited to release a new song: “Gold.” McElvy calls it, “A song to remind us to connect with the natural world to let go of the everyday stress that life brings our way; it’s an expression of my happy place where I go to find peace and clarity.”

Filled with jubilance and written and sung by McElvy, he leads “Gold” on guitar and is backed by Zebulon Bowles on fiddle, Jacob Baumann on drums, and Daniel Ianuccie on bass and harmony vocals. The track was recorded by Matt Williams and The Eagle Room in Asheville, NC.

Leftover Salmon’s Andy Thorn says, “Red Clay Revival’s new track ‘Gold’ takes you straight to the fly fishing streams of western North Carolina. Singer-songwriter Doug McElvy (who’s also a fly-fishing guide) is as natural on his guitar as with his fly rod. With festival-scene veteran Zeb Bowles on the fiddle, this is roots rock at its finest!”

Red Clay Revival’s powerful songs and live performances harness an energy that electrifies any space, leaving audiences with an embedded musical experience. “Red Clay Revival always brings the most fun and energetic crowd to Salvage Station and never fails to impress everyone with their spontaneous jams, high energy performances, and musical talent,” says the Asheville venue. “You know you have a great band on the stage when the entire crowd refuses to let a summer downpour stop the fun!”

“Gold” has been a long time coming and a new studio album is in the works. Previous recordings include Barefoot, McElvy’s 2012 LP in which he teamed with resophonic guitar master, Billy Cardine, as creative consultant and co-producer, as well as collaborating with decorated pros, such as Keller Williams, Larry and Jenny Keel, as well as Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth. In 2014 he released an EP, Chilly, once again pairing with Cardine in production, and recruiting the talents of world class violinist, Casey Driessen, and beat master Jeff Sipe for backing elements.

Fri, 09/24/2021 - 2:39 pm

The 5th Suwannee Roots Revival takes place Thursday, October 14 - Sunday, October 17 at the renowned Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. A plethora of incredible musicians are slated to perform including Sam Bush Band, Leftover Salmon, The Infamous Stringdusters, Steep Canyon Rangers, Donna the Buffalo, Keller & The Keels, Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce featuring Los Texmaniacs, Larry Keel Experience, Jon Stickley Trio, Jim Lauderdale, Darrell Scott, Verlon Thompson, Joe Craven & Painted Mandolin, Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble, Bowregard, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, The Grass Is Dead, Nikki Talley and Jason Sharp, Ralph Roddenbery, Nicholas Edward Williams, Quartermoon, and Magic Moon Traveling Circus.

Suwannee Roots Revival is jam-packed with stellar music and dance on multiple stages throughout the weekend. This family-friendly festival includes four days of music, camping, yoga, music workshops, a Kids Tent, as well as campground pickin’ sessions. Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf, and biking.

Suwannee Roots Revival kicks off on Thursday with a big start! Newgrass legend Sam Bush will crush a two hour set with his band before Leftover Salmon closes out the night with a spicy set of their own potent brew of bluegrass, rock ‘n’ roll, folk, Cajun, soul, zydeco and jazz and blues. Master songwriter Darrell Scott will perform the first set of his festival appearances and Thursday will also introduce Sarah Shook & the Disarmers to the SOSMP family. Multi-talented Joe Craven, a beloved festival favorite, will bless the opening of the festival with his wisdom and insight along with his new project, Painted Mandolin.

Friday brings Americana roots troubadours Donna the Buffalo back to the Amphitheater for the first of their festival appearances. They’ll be back at it on Saturday and Sunday including an afternoon set with Mr. Americana himself, Jim Lauderdale, on the Amphitheater Stage, a Porch Stage set, and Suwannee Roots Revival’s traditional Sunday closing set on the Amphitheater Stage where they will be sure to include many special guest artists from the festival.

Friday also brings the first of two festival performances by the intrepid knights of bluegrass—Steep Canyon Rangers, the return of Leftover Salmon for their second appearance, as well as sets by Appalachian psychedelic bluegrass trio Keller & The Keels, the cinematic Jon Stickley Trio, up and coming Colorado bluegrass band, Bowregard (for their maiden Suwannee appearance), and many more including a workshop and Porch Stage set by Darrell Scott.

On Saturday, SOSMP welcomes back The Infamous Stringdusters for some wildly creative bluegrass innovation, the flatpicking legend and his explosive band—Larry Keel Experience, and Peter Rowan flies in with his Free Mexican Airforce featuring Los Texmaniacs. Verlon Thompson will bring his usual wit, charm, and stellar songwriting and musicianship for a set as well as a workshop with Jim Lauderdale and will return the following day for another set.

Vassar Carlton Clements Sunday

Vassar Sunday will be filled with festival family favorites culminating with Donna the Buffalo's closing jam.

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. Hands-on and performance workshops will be held throughout the weekend with a variety of artists set to perform. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Hosted by long time friends of SOSMP, Randy Judy and Beth Judy, Suwannee Roots Revival focuses on showcasing established as well as up-and-coming roots musicians throughout a weekend laced with community based fun, growing friendships, laughing families, and that feel-good feeling you get from hanging out in such a beautiful natural setting.

"It's incredibly exciting to be returning to our beloved Suwannee and especially to my favorite place to hear music— the natural Amphitheater,” says Beth Judy. “This Roots is a true revival as we bring our amazing community back together after such dramatic and tough times experienced this past year. I believe this Suwannee Roots Revival will bring comfort and joy back to our festival family through the music of so many of our favorite artists along with the laughter, fun and healing we share in the beautiful natural and magical setting of Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park."

Suwannee Roots Revival offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. A limited number of Early Bird 2 tickets are available before raising to the advance tier price. Student / Military discounts are available (with a valid ID). For complete ticket information and to purchase tickets, visit suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets.

The festival poster art was designed by Marci Davis and will be available for purchase at Artist Merchandise.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Suwannee Roots Revival 2021 Lineup
Sam Bush Band
Leftover Salmon
The Infamous Stringdusters
Steep Canyon Rangers
Donna the Buffalo
Keller & The Keels
Peter Rowan Free Mexican Airforce featuring Los Texmaniacs
Larry Keel Experience
Jon Stickley Trio
Jim Lauderdale
Darrell Scott
Verlon Thompson
Joe Craven & Painted Mandolin
Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble
Bowregard
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers
The Grass Is Dead
Nikki Talley and Jason Sharp
Ralph Roddenbery
Nicholas Edward Williams
Quartermoon
Magic Moon Traveling Circus

Sat, 10/02/2021 - 1:59 pm

The Freeway Jubilee is excited to independently release On The Horizon Vol. 1 on November 12. The Freeway Jubilee's evocative blend of gospel-tinged southern rock and hard-driving soulful grooves is met with a flare of psychedelic mountain music and a strong dedication to the craft of the song. Freeway exhibits, “an assured balance between flash and restraint. For this band, the song is the thing… Listeners who appreciated Delaney & Bonnie in the ’70s — or who enjoy the Tedeschi Trucks Band today — will find a similarly eclectic and soulful mindset at work,” says music journalist, historian, and author Bill Kopp.

Performing live, The Freeway balances well-structured tunes with a jam ethos that lends a raw and explorative power to the music. Their heartfelt lyrics weave imagery through a tasteful layering of vibrant 4-part vocal harmonies, crisp Telecaster licks, smoky saxophone riffs, and an eclectic assortment of organ/piano arrangements, creating a soundscape that is both musically intricate and soulfully energetic. Rest that on the groove of a unique and driving rhythm section, and you are sure to feel the magnetic force of this band.

The group formed in Asheville, NC in 2015 and is made up of a collective of songwriters. The Freeway Jubilee is twin brothers, both vocalists, Adam and Jonathan Clayton on keys and guitar, respectively, along with singer and bass player Kenny Crowley, blazing bari and tenor saxophonist Hunter Parker, and the John Bonham-style drumming of Cartwright Brandon.

“There’s a breezy quality to the sort of Americana the band makes, and it’s most definitely influenced by the guys’ time on the road, or their desire to get back out there. It’s the sound of Hammond organ and piano weaving raindrop melodies around an electric guitar, the whistle of wind through an open window and a dog-eared road map sitting on the dashboard. It’s equal parts Allmans and Dawes, Doobies, and Deep Dark Woods,” says Steve Wildsmith of The Maryville Times.
 
The Freeway Jubilee says, “As a hard-working independent band, it tends to feel like you’re constantly moving towards goals that are far out on the horizon and hard to reach. It’s a long and challenging road and it can feel never-ending, but something on a deep and meaningful level keeps driving you onward towards those ever elusive landmarks. For us it’s truly the music and the brotherhood that keeps us going.”

Cultivating positivity, especially through challenges, is the overarching theme of the album. This clear optimism can be heard in the upbeat opener “In Motion,” the bright rock and soul vibe of “Reachin’,” and the gospel and mountain music inspired closing track “Humble Song” (in which Chris Moe adds to the playfulness of the sound via his harmonica accompaniment.)

The band continues, “Combine that with actually being on the road a lot and literally headed towards that horizon on a regular basis, and the fact that we’ve been working on this album so long in striving to capture the real essence of Freeway, this release feels like it’s been ‘On the Horizon’ for a long time. Especially since there’s a Volume 2 yet to come…”
 
Produced by Kenny Crowley and The Freeway Jubilee, On The Horizon Vol.1 was recorded mostly at the band’s home studio in Asheville, NC, mixed by Robin Applewood and Kyle Brone, and mastered by Justin Weis at trakworx.com [Sammy Hagar, Papa Roach, The Polish Ambassador, NOFX].
 
With “In Motion” as the opener, the band presents their vocal harmonies front and center over a straightforward rock and roll beat with a catchy saxophone hook. This track was recorded by Gar Ragland at Citizen Vinyl—a newly converted communal space housing a record press facility, cafe, bar, recording studio, and more – located in the historic Citizen Times building in downtown Asheville.
 
The funky, groovy “Sunlight Stream” turns up the heat with the additions of Dr. Bacon’s Michael Crawford on harmonica and Myles Dunder on alto and tenor sax as well as Jacob Bruner on trombone. Penned by Crowley on a solo camping trip in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the song speaks of a divine communion with nature restoring a hopeful outlook at a time when the state of humanity seems to be unraveling and perilous.

Whole world’s tearing at the seams when …
Everybody’s hiding from disease and
Bleaching and cleaning and trying not to breathe in ...

It’s enough to bring a man to tears
So I let those teardrops fall into that
Sunlight stream on a
Carolina mountain evening
Holy water rolling through the boulders and the trees
I can hardly believe what I’m seeing
It’s the only kinda churchin’
A man like me could ever need

Other songs on the album include the two lengthiest tracks: a country rock suite, “Not the Same,” and a genre-spanning epic homage to beautiful and dark history of American music, art, and literature, “Rugged & Free,'' as well as the album’s ballad “Let Me Try.” The album includes 7 original tracks and clocks in at 45 minutes, the perfect length to fit on vinyl—which is being pressed at Citizen Vinyl and is due out this Winter.
 
Sheryl and Don Crow of Nashville Blues Society say of Freeway, “You’re gonna hear a little bit of everything we’ve grown up with–the Allmans, Garcia-era Dead, Dylan, on up thru the likes of Gov’t Mule, the CRB, and Tedeschi-Trucks on today’s scene. We don’t want to call them ‘Southern rock,’ because, although they have Southern roots, this music is much, much more... Their incredible musicianship, collaborative songwriting, and spot-on harmony arrangements make this set special."

Formerly dubbed 'The Freeway Revival,' the group has been continually growing a dedicated grassroots fan base with their energetic sound. After the successful release of their 2016 self-titled EP, The Freeway Revival burst onto the scene in the Fall of 2017 with their heavy hitting debut album Revolution Road, which appeared as #20 on Jambands.com National Radio Charts. Freeway continues to show relentless work ethic and a prolific sense of creativity and in early 2019, as they stepped into a bigger and bolder sound with the addition of a saxophone, they evolved into what is now The Freeway Jubilee. Since then, The Freeway Jubilee released The Revival Days, a digital only compilation pulling from the two previous albums, and in 2020 they put out a single, “Let Me Try.”

On The Horizon Vol.1 Track Listing
1. In Motion  (5:06)
2. Sunlight Stream  (6:54)
3. Not the Same  (9:07)
4. Rugged & Free  (9:48)
5. Let Me Try  (3:55)
6. Reachin'  (4:01)
7. Humble Song  (5:29)

Sun, 11/14/2021 - 1:34 pm

With song premieres in Glide, Americana Highways, and VENTS, The Freeway Jubilee is excited to independently release On The Horizon Vol. 1 on November 12.

Glide Magazine says, “Right out of the gate, the band lays down a funky groove that is only heightened by the presence of brass. Channeling the Southern laid back rock of Little Feat alongside New Orleans R&B and greasy blues, the song [‘Sunlight Stream’) is a testament to this crazy pandemic-laden world we have all dealt with over the last year and change.”

The Freeway Jubilee's evocative blend of gospel-tinged southern rock and hard-driving soulful grooves is met with a flare of psychedelic mountain music and a strong dedication to the craft of the song. Their heartfelt lyrics weave imagery through a tasteful layering of vibrant 4-part vocal harmonies, crisp Telecaster licks, smoky saxophone riffs, and an eclectic assortment of organ/piano arrangements, creating a soundscape that is both musically intricate and soulfully energetic. Rest that on the groove of a unique and driving rhythm section, and you are sure to feel the magnetic force of this band.

On The Horizon Vol.1 Track Listing
1. In Motion  (5:06)
2. Sunlight Stream  (6:54)
3. Not the Same  (9:07)
4. Rugged & Free  (9:48)
5. Let Me Try  (3:55)
6. Reachin'  (4:01)
7. Humble Song  (5:29)

Fri, 12/17/2021 - 11:18 am

You could say that Chris Castino is a writer of dance music. Not the kind you hear at any club. It’s the kind you hear at a Dead show, or festivals, when the crowd moves together spinning and bouncing like an ocean of blissful and emancipated souls. Chris is the primary songwriter for his longtime popular Minnesota-based rock’n’roll jamband The Big Wu. The Big Wu started in the mid 90’s and quickly ascended from the comforts of the local club scene to playing H.O.R.D.E Fest, Bonnaroo, Gathering of the Vibes, High Sierra, and the list goes on.

Castino joined forces with the incredibly talented band Chicken Wire Empire from Milwaukee, WI, and took the opportunity, while sitting through COVID-19 lock-downs in 2020 and 2021, to arrange some of his catalog into impeccably fitting bluegrass tunes. With the addition of many of Chris’s lifelong musical heroes, including several GRAMMY winning artists in the bluegrass and Americana: Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Tim O’Brien, Jerry Douglas, Andy Hall, Vince Herman, Nick Forster, and Keller Williams, this feels like a classic bluegrass album and sounds instantly familiar. Fresh Pickles aims to satisfy your cravings—it is a light-hearted, down-home concept that plays with the idea that although some of the songs were written many years before, they now feel brand new. Fresh. Fresh Pickles will be independently released on February 4 and is now available for pre-order.

Chris says, “What turned out to be just something to occupy our time while we weren't touring, became something outstanding. I am driven to make music that is lasting and accessible; but my personal style is a combination of sincerity and imagery. There is, to be fair, much more depth in my writing now, having gone through the reckoning of addiction that laid me low, and required nothing short of a rebirth.”

Fresh Pickles features 11 original songs penned by Castino. All of which, but one, were first released on four of The Big Wu’s five studio albums spanning from 1997-2019. Formed in 1992, the Big Wu’s momentum was driven by Castino’s catchy songwriting and the band’s hefty tour schedule in the late 90’s early 00’s, which launched the band into becoming a mainstay in the national roots and jamband scene as a full-time touring commodity for years. Fresh Pickles can be seen as a retrospective and reexamination of Castino’s music through a bluegrass lens.

“It brings me joy to hear how these songs in particular have been given new life,” Castino continues, ”For music lovers who are unfamiliar with my songs I truly believe that this record will be a fresh experience for them. It's not essential to understand the history of these songs to appreciate them. My hope is to bring a new audience to my music, so that the next record can reach more people. This is my only desire. And my best tunes are yet to come.” Fresh Pickles follows Castino's introspective 2020 debut solo album Brazil.

The Fresh Pickles album opener, “Kangaroo,” demonstrates how well the songs lend themselves to bluegrass and introduces the core band of Castino on lead vocals and guitar along with Chicken Wire Empire’s Ryan Ogburn on mandolin, Jordan Kroeger on bass, Ernest Brusbardis IV on fiddle, and Jon Peik on banjo. Castino says, “‘Kangaroo’ is one of the very first songs I wrote as a professional. It's upbeat and irreverent but also reveals the bluegrass influence which was so strong in my writing in those early days.”

An ambitious “Red Sky” recounts a drive home from the Dead shows in 95; the lyrics being sets of images with Sam Bush’s fiddle work here knitting several different movements within the theme together. Hear it now at Relix.

“The Ballad Of Dan Toe” is a south-of-the-border inspired tune that The Big Wu has kept in their repertoire since the 90s. Castino says, “It’s a tale of a mythical mystic who is bigger than life. Because it is inspired by the writing of Peter Rowan there’s no understating the bliss of having him sing with me on this tune. Jerry Douglas also appears here. These two are my bigger-than-life heroes.”

The travelogue “Bound For the South” features Tim O’Brien on harmony fiddle and Nick Forster on vocals (both of Hot Rize). Other tracks include a buoyant “Shantytown” (feat. Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon), country-song-turned-funky, “Minnesota Moon” (w/ Adam Greuel), the jolly “Texas Fireball'' (feat. Keller Williams and Andy Hall (The Infamous Stringdusters), a nostalgic “Young Pioneer,” the high speed “Rhode Island Red,” atmospheric song from the road “Jackson County” (feat. Jerry Douglas and Adam Greuel), and a more Thile-inspired closing track, “Irregular Heartbeat.”

Adam Greuel (Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, The High Hawks) worked with Castino to produce the album, along with adding vocals on a couple of tracks. Greuel says, “I've always heard and felt the influence of bluegrass music on Caz's songwriting. Lyrically, his content and themes seem to occasionally draw from that tradition, while the music has hints of that bluegrass drive or perhaps the sweetness of a traditional waltz. When Castino gave me a ring and explained that he was interested in breathing some new life into some of his more loved Big Wu classics by way of bluegrass, my initial reaction was raw excitement.”

Castino’s early passion for bluegrass music was cultivated by his father, a professional singer of standards, who was captivated by that plaintive, lonesome vocal style. He says, “I learned all he could from the weekly dose of bluegrass served, like some foreign cuisine to the northern city folk of Minneapolis who knew not the traditions of the southern hill folk, by host Phil Nussbaum and his 35+ years long running radio show Bluegrass Saturday Morning on local community radio: to this day.” Captivated, he began to steer his composing down this road.

Fresh Pickles is just the beginning of Castino’s heartfelt and fulfilling voyage into bluegrass— highlighting some of his most beloved tunes with a classic 70’s and 80’s alt-bluegrass sound, it features stomping rippers and sweet, harmonic ballads, as well as a taste of genre-shifting psychedelic rides. Always true to the tradition and authentic in presentation, Fresh Pickles is packed with great music.

Fresh Pickles Track Listing:

1.) Kangaroo 2:38
2.) Red Sky 4:25 (feat. Sam Bush)
3.) Bound For the South 5:26 (w/ Tim O’Brien and Nick Forster)
4.) Shanty Town 3:24 (feat. Vince Herman)
5.) Minnesota Moon 3:41 (w/ Adam Greuel)
6.) Texas Fireball 2:38 (feat. Keller Williams and Andy Hall)
7.) Young Pioneer 3:57
8.) Rhode Island Red 3:18
9.) Jackson County 5:33 (feat. Jerry Douglas and Adam Greuel)
10.) The Ballad of Dan Toe 6:32 (feat. Peter Rowan and Jerry Douglas)
11.) Irregular Heartbeat 4:59

Mon, 12/20/2021 - 8:20 am

The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) is thrilled to announce the return of  the Suwannee Spring Reunion, set to take place Thursday through Sunday, March 17-20, 2022 at SOSMP in Live Oak, FL.

The Suwannee Spring Reunion lineup for 2022 features Greensky Bluegrass, Trampled By Turtles, Yonder Mountain String Band, Sierra Hull, Peter Rowan, Donna The Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale , Verlon Thompson, Roy Book Binder, Jon Stickley Trio, Town Mountain, Chatham County Line, Fireside Collective, Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble, The Grass Is Dead, Songs From The Road Band, Two Foot Level, Nikki Talley, Quartermoon, Sloppy Joe, The Low Crows, and Habanero Honeys.

"Back in early March 2020, we were on the cusp of things closing down because of COVID-19. The pressure to make the eventual decision to cancel the festival was one of the toughest things I've ever done," says Beth Judy, Festival Director. "That makes it so much more thrilling for the Suwannee Spring Reunion to finally be happening again after two years of not being able to put it on because of the pandemic. This incredible lineup has many of the acts slated to happen back then, plus a few more to sweeten the pot!"

Folks of all ages will make plans to gather at during the forefront of spring at this gorgeous park and its mossy live oak laden grounds for this beloved festival tradition that features a range of music genres rooted in original music – Americana: Bluegrass, Newgrass, Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Blues, and more. Literally something for everyone!

For four days and nights this family-friendly festival is home to early morning sing-a-longs and night time musical pyrotechnics from the park’s stellar cast of alumni and new favorites. There will be music on four stages and Suwannee Spring Reunion attendees will also enjoy music in the campground with jamming at Slopryland and the Bill Monroe Shrine as well as camp pickin’ parties. Hands-on and performance workshops will be held throughout the weekend with a variety of artists set to perform.  

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as an array of culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Tickets are on sale now. Suwannee Spring Reunion offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Early Bird Tickets are on sale now with a price of $140 (includes fees and taxes) good through January 4th, 2022. Student / Military Early Bird are $130 (with a valid ID). Get your tickets before the Early Bird Tier ends. An additional event car pass is now required to bring a car into the campground. Advance Car Pass: $15 or $20 at the Gate. For complete ticket information and to purchase tickets, visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com/Tickets/.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Suwannee Spring Reunion 2022
Greensky Bluegrass
Trampled By Turtles
Yonder Mountain String Band
Sierra Hull
Peter Rowan
Donna The Buffalo
Jim Lauderdale
Verlon Thompson
Roy Book Binder
Jon Stickley Trio
Town Mountain
Chatham County Line
Fireside Collective
Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble
The Grass Is Dead
Songs From The Road Band
Two Foot Level
Nikki Talley
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe
The Low Crows
Habanero Honeys

For more information, tickets, and to reserve camping, please visit www.suwannee spring reunion.com.

Fri, 01/14/2022 - 2:42 pm

You could say that Chris Castino is a writer of dance music. Not the kind you hear at any club. It’s the kind you hear at a Dead show, or festivals, when the crowd moves together spinning and bouncing like an ocean of blissful and emancipated souls. Chris is the primary songwriter for his longtime popular Minnesota-based rock’n’roll jamband The Big Wu. The Big Wu started in the mid 90’s and quickly ascended from the comforts of the local club scene to playing H.O.R.D.E Fest, Bonnaroo, Gathering of the Vibes, High Sierra, and the list goes on.

Castino joined forces with the incredibly talented band Chicken Wire Empire from Milwaukee, WI, and took the opportunity, while sitting through COVID-19 lock-downs in 2020 and 2021, to arrange some of his catalog into impeccably fitting bluegrass tunes. With the addition of many of Chris’s lifelong musical heroes,  including several GRAMMY winning artists in the bluegrass and Americana: Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Tim O’Brien, Jerry Douglas, Andy Hall, Vince Herman, Nick Forster, and Keller Williams, this feels like a classic bluegrass album and sounds instantly familiar. Fresh Pickles aims to satisfy your cravings—it is a light-hearted, down-home concept that plays with the idea that although some of the songs were written many years before, they now feel brand new. Fresh. Fresh Pickles will be independently released on February 4 and is now available for pre-order as well as pre-save on Spotify.

Fresh Pickles features 11 original songs penned by Castino. All of which, but one, were first released on four of The Big Wu’s five studio albums spanning from 1997-2019. Formed in 1992, the Big Wu’s momentum was driven by Castino’s catchy songwriting and the band’s hefty tour schedule in the late 90’s early 00’s, which launched the band into becoming a mainstay in the national roots and jamband scene as a full-time touring commodity for years. Fresh Pickles can be seen as a retrospective and reexamination of Castino’s music through a bluegrass lens.

Chris says, “What turned out to be just something to occupy our time while we weren't touring, became something outstanding. It brings me joy to hear how these songs in particular have been given new life. For music lovers who are unfamiliar with my songs I truly believe that this record will be a fresh experience for them. It's not essential to understand the history of these songs to appreciate them.”

The Fresh Pickles album opener, “Kangaroo,” demonstrates how well the songs lend themselves to bluegrass and introduces the core band of Castino on lead vocals and guitar along with Chicken Wire Empire’s Ryan Ogburn on mandolin, Jordan Kroeger on bass, Ernest Brusbardis IV on fiddle, and Jon Peik on banjo. Castino says, “‘Kangaroo’ is one of the very first songs I wrote as a professional. It's upbeat and irreverent but also reveals the bluegrass influence which was so strong in my writing in those early days.”

An ambitious “Red Sky” recounts a drive home from the Dead shows in 95; the lyrics being sets of images with Sam Bush’s fiddle work knitting several different movements within the theme together. “Red Sky” was the first single released. Hear it now at Relix or Stream/Buy.

“The Ballad Of Dan Toe” is a south-of-the-border inspired tune that The Big Wu has kept in their repertoire since the 90s. Castino says, “It’s a tale of a mythical mystic who is bigger than life. Because it is inspired by the writing of Peter Rowan there’s no understating the bliss of having him sing with me on this tune. Jerry Douglas also appears here. These two are my bigger-than-life heroes.”

The travelogue “Bound For the South” features Tim O’Brien on harmony fiddle and Nick Forster on vocals (both of Hot Rize). Other tracks include a buoyant “Shantytown” feat. Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon), country-song-turned-funky, “Minnesota Moon” with Adam Greuel, the jolly “Texas Fireball'' feat. Keller Williams and Andy Hall (The Infamous Stringdusters), a nostalgic “Young Pioneer,” the high speed “Rhode Island Red,” and a more Thile-inspired closing track, “Irregular Heartbeat.”

Atmospheric song from the road “Jackson County” was the second single released and it features Jerry Douglas and Adam Greuel. Glide Magazine premiered the song and writes, “Of course, this being a song rooted in jam and then translated into bluegrass, we get a healthy dose of group interplay that shows the band’s love for bringing that live music feel to the studio. If this rendition of ‘Jackson County’ is any indication, Castino is naturally suited for the bluegrass life and there is plenty to be excited for on Fresh Pickles.”

Album co-producer Adam Greuel (Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, The High Hawks) says, “I've always heard and felt the influence of bluegrass music on Caz's songwriting. Lyrically, his content and themes seem to occasionally draw from that tradition, while the music has hints of that bluegrass drive or perhaps the sweetness of a traditional waltz. When Castino gave me a ring and explained that he was interested in breathing some new life into some of his more loved Big Wu classics by way of bluegrass, my initial reaction was raw excitement.”

Fresh Pickles is just the beginning of Castino’s heartfelt and fulfilling voyage into bluegrass— highlighting some of his most beloved tunes with a classic 70’s and 80’s alt-bluegrass sound, it features stomping rippers and sweet, harmonic ballads, as well as a taste of genre-shifting psychedelic rides. Always true to the tradition and authentic in presentation, Fresh Pickles is packed with great music.

What folks are saying:

“It is so great to hear Chris playing and singing with some of the best in the ever-expanding bluegrass world. To go from one of the seminal jambands of my young adult life to a bluegrass outfit is a testament to his versatility. Always loved Chris's voice!”  —Adam Ajala (Yonder Mountain String Band)

"It’s fun to collaborate with old bros. This direction seems to make sense for Chris. Storytelling and quick picking is right up his alley." —Keller Williams

“Castino is one witty and wild loon. His lyrics tell a vivid story and his chord progressions are often that lovely balance between familiar and boundary-pushing.” —Adam Greuel

Fresh Pickles Track Listing:

1.) Kangaroo 2:38
2.) Red Sky 4:25
3.) Bound For the South 5:26
4.) Shanty Town 3:24
5.) Minnesota Moon 3:41
6.) Texas Fireball 2:38
7.) Young Pioneer 3:57
8.) Rhode Island Red 3:18
9.) Jackson County 5:33
10.) The Ballad of Dan Toe 6:32

Sun, 02/06/2022 - 9:13 am

Chris Castino, the primary songwriter for The Big Wu, recently took the opportunity, while sitting through COVID-19 lock-downs in 2020 and 2021, to arrange some of his catalog into impeccably fitting bluegrass tunes with the incredibly talented band Chicken Wire Empire from Milwaukee, WI. With many of Chris’ lifelong musical heroes collaborating, including several GRAMMY winning artists in the bluegrass and Americana: Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Tim O’Brien, Jerry Douglas, Andy Hall, Vince Herman, Nick Forster, Keller Williams, and Adam Greuel, this feels like a classic bluegrass album and sounds instantly familiar.

Fresh Pickles is a light-hearted, down-home concept that plays with the idea that although some of the songs were written many years before, they now feel brand new. Fresh. The album highlights some of his most beloved tunes with a classic 70’s and 80’s alt-bluegrass sound; it features stomping rippers and sweet, harmonic ballads, as well as a taste of genre-shifting psychedelic rides.

Met with critical acclaim, including premieres in The Bluegrass Situation, Relix, and Glide, as well as significant radio airplay and on the air in over 20 states—the album is currently at #4 on the Alt Country Chart this week and on the rise on the Americana and Jamband radio charts. Fresh Pickles was independently released February 4 and is now available to stream and purchase → https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/chriscastinowithchickenwireempire/fresh-pickles.

Chris says, “What turned out to be just something to occupy our time while we weren't touring, became something outstanding. It brings me joy to hear how these songs in particular have been given new life. For music lovers who are unfamiliar with my songs I truly believe that this record will be a fresh experience for them. It's not essential to understand the history of these songs to appreciate them.”

Album co-producer Adam Greuel (Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, The High Hawks) says, “I've always heard and felt the influence of bluegrass music on Caz's songwriting. Lyrically, his content and themes seem to occasionally draw from that tradition, while the music has hints of that bluegrass drive or perhaps the sweetness of a traditional waltz. When Castino gave me a ring and explained that he was interested in breathing some new life into some of his more loved Big Wu classics by way of bluegrass, my initial reaction was raw excitement.”

Fresh Pickles can be seen as a retrospective and reexamination of Castino’s music through a bluegrass lens. The album features 11 original songs penned by Castino. All of which, but one, were first released on four of The Big Wu’s five studio albums spanning from 1997-2019. The Big Wu is a longtime popular Minnesota-based rock’n’roll jamband who formed in 1992. The band’s momentum was driven by Castino’s catchy songwriting and the band’s hefty tour schedule in the late 90’s early 00’s, which launched the band into becoming a mainstay in the national roots and jamband scene as a full-time touring commodity for years. They had quickly ascended from the comforts of the local club scene to playing H.O.R.D.E Fest, Bonnaroo (being the first band to perform at the inaugural event), Gathering of the Vibes, High Sierra, and the list goes on.

Castino’s early passion for bluegrass music was cultivated by his father, a professional singer of standards, who was captivated by that plaintive, lonesome vocal style. He says, “I learned all he could from the weekly dose of bluegrass served, like some foreign cuisine to the northern city folk of Minneapolis who knew not the traditions of the southern hill folk, by host Phil Nusbaum and his 35+ years long running radio show Bluegrass Saturday Morning on local community radio: to this day.” Captivated, he began to steer his composing down this road.

Fresh Pickles aims to satisfy your cravings and is just the beginning of Castino’s heartfelt and fulfilling voyage into bluegrass. Always true to the tradition and authentic in presentation, Fresh Pickles is packed with great music.

Fresh Pickles Track Listing:
1.) Kangaroo 2:38
2.) Red Sky 4:25 (feat. Sam Bush)
3.) Bound For the South 5:26 (feat. Tim O’Brien and Nick Forster)
4.) Shanty Town 3:24 (feat. Vince Herman)
5.) Minnesota Moon 3:41 (feat. Adam Greuel)
6.) Texas Fireball 2:38 (feat. Keller Williams and Andy Hall)
7.) Young Pioneer 3:57
8.) Rhode Island Red 3:18
9.) Jackson County 5:33 (feat. Jerry Douglas and Adam Greuel)
10.) The Ballad of Dan Toe 6:32 (feat. Peter Rowan and Jerry Douglas)
11.) Irregular Heartbeat 4:59

WuGrass: Chris Castino & Chicken Wire Empire Tour Dates:
2/11 Fri - Martyrs  - Chicago, IL
2/12 Sat - Cavalier Theater & Lounge - LaCross, WI
3/17 Thu - Bell’s Eccentric Cafe - Kalamazoo, MI
3/18 Fri - Woodlands Tavern w/ Del McCoury Band - Columbus, OH
3/19 Sat - Parliament Room at Otus Supply - Ferndale, MI
4/28 Thu - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI
5/27 Fri - Revival Music Festival - Clarks Grove, MN

Mon, 02/28/2022 - 11:55 am

Suwannee Spring Reunion is thrilled to kick off the Spring season Thursday through Sunday, March 17-20, 2022. Folks of all ages will be gathering under the gorgeous, mossy live oak laden grounds of The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, FL for this beloved festival tradition. For four days and nights this family-friendly festival is home to early morning sing-a-longs and night time musical pyrotechnics from the park’s stellar cast of alumni and new favorites hosting a range of original music rooted Americana—Bluegrass, Newgrass, Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Blues, and more. Literally something for everyone!

The Suwannee Spring Reunion 2022 lineup features Greensky Bluegrass, Trampled By Turtles, Yonder Mountain String Band, Sierra Hull, Peter Rowan, Donna The Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, and more. There will be music on four stages and plenty of music in the campground with jamming at Slopryland and the Bill Monroe Shrine as well as camp pickin’ parties. Hands-on and performance workshops will be held throughout the weekend with a variety of artists set to perform.  
The full schedule of events has been announced and can be found at www.suwanneespringreunion.com/schedule.

Yonder Mountain String Band closes out the Amphitheater Stage Thursday Night with a two hour set from 11pm-1am, following Sierra Hull’s set on the stage from 8:30pm-10pm. In between them, Jon Stickley Trio will stun with a riveting set on the Porch Stage. The festival kicks off with an opening set by The Grass Is Dead at 4pm and other highlights in Thursday's already jam-packed day include Jim Lauderdale, Mike + Ruthy, The Applebutter Express, The Firewater Tent Revival, and Two Foot Level.

Greensky Bluegrass headlines Friday night at 9:30pm on the Amphitheater Stage with Donna the Buffalo playing the sunset set (6:45pm) and Jon Stickley Trio closing out the latenight from 12:30-2am. Highlights of others performing around the festival Friday include Rev. Jeff Mosier Ensemble, Verlon Thompson, and Chatham County Line on the Porch Stage; Free Range Strange, Two Foot Level, Nikki Talley, and a closing set by The Grass Is Dead in the Music Tent Stage; and on The Music Farmers Stage: a sing-a-long harmony workshop with Mike + Ruthy (of The Mammals), a banjo workshop with Rev. Jeff Mosier, and a blues guitar workshop with Roy Book Binder.

Saturday night headliners are Trampled By Turtles at 9:30pm on the Amphitheater Stage. Peter Rowan plays at 7pm (He will also perform at 1pm on the Porch Stage) and Donna the Buffalo closes out the stage with a late night power set; Songs From The Road Band and Chatham County Line play the Amphitheater Stage in the daytime. Other Saturday highlights include Town Mountain, Fireside Collective, and Tony Furtado with Luke Price on the Porch Stage; a closing set on the Music Tent Stage by Songs From The Road Band—following sets by Quartermoon, Jon Stickley Trio, and Verlon Thomson; and on the Music Farmers Stage sets by The Low Crows and Free Range Strange as well as workshops with Tom Nelly (guitar) and Tony Furtado with Luke Price (banjo and fiddle).

Sunday will always be known as Vassar Sunday in honor of the late and great Vassar Clements who used to frequent the festivities at the park. Donna the Buffalo will close out the festival on The Amphitheater Stage and as is their fashion-- they will host a number of folks to perform along with them in a closing jam. Who knows who will end up on stage?! Others set to play Sunday across the festival include Town Mountain, Peter Rowan, Verlon Thomspon, Rev. Jeff Mosier, and more.

"Back in early March 2020, we were on the cusp of things closing down because of COVID-19. The pressure to make the eventual decision to cancel the festival was one of the toughest things I've ever done," says Beth Judy, Festival Director. "That makes it so much more thrilling for the Suwannee Spring Reunion to finally be happening again after two years of not being able to put it on because of the pandemic. This incredible lineup has many of the acts slated to happen back then, plus a few more to sweeten the pot!"

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as an array of culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Tickets are on sale now. Suwannee Spring Reunion offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Early Bird Tickets are on sale now with a price of $175 (includes fees and taxes); Student / Military Early Bird are $160 (with a valid ID). Get your tickets before the Early Bird Tier ends good through March 8, 2022. An additional event car pass is now required to bring a car into the campground. Advance Car Pass: $15 or $20 at the Gate. For complete ticket information and to purchase tickets, visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com/Tickets/.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Suwannee Spring Reunion 2022
Greensky Bluegrass
Trampled By Turtles
Yonder Mountain String Band
Sierra Hull
Peter Rowan
Donna The Buffalo
Jim Lauderdale
Verlon Thompson
Roy Book Binder
Jon Stickley Trio
Town Mountain
Chatham County Line
Fireside Collective
Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble
Songs From The Road Band
The Grass Is Dead
Tony Furtado with Luke Price
Two Foot Level
Mike + Ruthy
Nikki Talley
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe
The Low Crows
The Applebutter Express
Free Range Strange
Firewater Tent Revival
Habanero Honeys
Tania & The Magic Moon Traveling Circus

For more information, tickets, and to reserve camping, please visit www.suwannee spring reunion.com.

Sat, 04/09/2022 - 11:40 am

Saint Disruption, the spirit-driven music and art collective led by renowned  improvisational keyboardist John Medeski (cofounder of Medeski Martin & Wood) and musician, scientist, and folk healer Jeff Firewalker Schmitt, has created a soulful rendition of John Lennon’s classic composition “Imagine.” The single features slide guitar work by Grammy winning vocalist, songwriter, guitar legend, and Gov’t Mule front man Warren Haynes, marking the first time that Haynes has recorded with his nephew Austn Haynes, cofounder of Asheville-based hip-hop quartet Free Radio.

Out April 8, 2022 via Root Doctor Collective, the track also features impressively dynamic vocalists—Datrian Johnson and Grammy winning artist Debrissa McKinney (both of whom also work with Austn in Free Radio)—with the foundational bass parts played by Jake Wolf.

“Such a cool, inventive take on this timeless tune,” says Warren. “It highlights the amazing strength and importance of the song while taking it into the future. It's a real honor to work alongside my nephew Austn, my Asheville cohorts and my old friend John Medeski.”

Jeff Firewalker reflects, “We were inspired to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of Lennon’s classic recording ‘Imagine,’ as we feel the message is more pertinent than ever. There are no human dilemmas, no global issues, no societal imperatives that the message of ‘Imagine’ doesn’t touch. We hope that our rendition stands as a ‘call to action,’ as we ask ourselves, “Are we courageous enough to dismantle the structures that have not served us?”

For this song, Medeski provides tasteful, ominous piano work, and skilled arrangements. He also stepped behind the console to mix the highly-textured reimagined track with Chris Bittner at Applehead Studios. John remarks, “I’m very sensitive about covering songs. I don’t see the point unless you have something personal to say or want to shed a different light on the original. ‘Imagine’ is an anthem, so at first, I was tentative. It was essential that we evoke a different emotional landscape as the backdrop for the song— something all of us were feeling. I think it happened. Nothing felt forced, it all came together easily and naturally, a good sign!”

Noted Asheville spiritual artist Saïd Osio provides the striking original artwork inspired by the single

Medeski and Firewalker Schmitt had no idea they’d meet and strike up a friendship when they traveled independently to the heart of the Amazon to work with a shaman healer in 2008— but when they did, a collaborative creative relationship was born. Over a decade after that fateful meeting, in the midst of a global pandemic, the two felt an urgent need to join forces and make music as Saint Disruption. Saint Disruption brings together musicians and artists to create works that support positive change in the world, with a spotlight on the rich artistic community of Asheville, NC as the creative hub. Firewalker and Medeski are pleased to have created the foundation to bring Warren and Austn Haynes together for the first time in a recording.

Austn comments, “It's been a long-time in the making for me to collaborate with Warren, and to start by paying homage to a song of this stature was as frightening as it was fitting. Free Radio and Saint Disruption have become like a musical spirit family and bringing Warren into the mix really felt for me like one side of the family finally coming together with the other. I couldn't be more grateful that it turned out exactly how it did.“

“‘Imagine’ has long been one of my favorite songs,” says Austin of the song that was initially released in October 1971. “Although John Lennon's classic might not make most people think about hip-hop, for me, I've always wanted to remix it and rap on it. In this dark time our world is currently in, I attempted to meet Lennon on his committed frequency of love and add some poetic confidence in the spirit of hip-hop. Working with this group of musicians was humbling and encouraging because they really helped create the space for the presence and camaraderie that brought our version to life.”

American Songwriter’s Geoffrey Himes writes, “What’s surprising about this partnership between Schmitt and Medeski is how different the results are from what most people expect of ‘spiritual music.’ The two men may have met in a shaman’s kitchen in the far reaches of the Amazon jungle, but the music they created sounds much more like an American street than that rainforest or a guru’s mountaintop. The predominant flavors are hip-hop, funk, blues-rock and electronica, even if the lyrics are probing issues of systemic oppression, personal identity and barriers to spiritual development.”

Austn Haynes and the entire Free Radio collective is featured on Saint Disruption’s critically acclaimed debut album Rose in the Oblivion [Released April 8, 2021 via Root Doctor Collective.] The debut is a sweeping seven-track opus of probing and political neo-funk featuring contributions from Lyric Jones and Last Poets founder Umar Bin Hassan amongst others.

Looking forward, Saint Disruption is planning to release more music and visual art collaborations, music videos, and their soon-to-be-launched No Simple Disruption Podcast/Video-show—released in conjunction with the No Simple Road Podcast and The UBC TV Network—which aspires to provide a platform for young visionaries to share their works and engage in deep dialogue with thought-leaders of their choice.

Stream Saint Disruption’s “Imagine” here → https://orcd.co/stdimagine
Revisit Rose in the Oblivion here: https://orcd.co/saintdisruption.

For further updates and news about Saint Disruption, please visit: www.saintdisruption.com

Fri, 05/06/2022 - 12:04 pm

The 6th Suwannee Roots Revival takes place Thursday, October 13 - Sunday, October 16 at the renowned Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. We are thrilled to announce an initial lineup of incredible musicians for 2022 including JJ Grey & Mofro, Punch Brothers, Peter Rowan's Bluegrass Band, Donna the Buffalo, Kitchen Dwellers, Jon Stickley Trio, Jim Lauderdale, Seth Walker, Verlon Thompson, Shawn Camp, Joe Craven, Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble, The Grass Is Dead, Ralph Roddenbery & the HighRoad, Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, Nicholas Edward Williams, Sloppy Joe, Quartermoon, The Fried Turkeys, Tania & the Magic Moon Traveling Circus, and more to be announced!

Suwannee Roots Revival focuses on showcasing established as well as up-and-coming roots musicians throughout a weekend laced with community based fun, growing friendships, laughing families, and that feel-good feeling you get from hanging out in such a beautiful natural setting.

"Creating a lineup has always seemed like painting a musical picture to me,” says Festival Director Beth Judy. “The work in progress for this year's Suwannee Roots Revival is taking shape nicely starting with the vivid and unique hues of JJ Grey & Mofro and Punch Brothers to complement the colorful collection of artists we're blessed to have joining us. I look forward to the completion of this work of art very soon and I'm thrilled at the choices on my musical palate. I can't wait to share the final product with you!"

Suwannee Roots Revival is jam-packed with stellar music and dance on multiple stages throughout the weekend. This family-friendly festival includes four days of music, camping, yoga, music workshops, a Kids Tent, as well as campground pickin’ sessions. Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf, and biking.

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. Hands-on and performance workshops will be held throughout the weekend with a variety of artists set to perform. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Tickets are on sale now. Suwannee Roots Revival offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Early Bird Tickets are $140 (includes fees and taxes); Student / Military Early Bird are $130 (with a valid ID). Get your tickets quickly because there is a limited supply before the Early Bird Tier will sell out and they rise to the next pricing tier automatically—Early Bird Tier 2 Tickets at $175. An additional event car pass is now required to bring a car into the campground. Advance Car Pass: $15 or $20 at the Gate. For complete ticket information and to purchase tickets, visit suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets/.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Suwannee Roots Revival 2022 Initial Lineup
JJ Grey & Mofro
Punch Brothers
Peter Rowan's Bluegrass Band
Donna the Buffalo
Kitchen Dwellers
Jon Stickley Trio
Jim Lauderdale
Seth Walker
Verlon Thompson
Shawn Camp
Joe Craven
Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble
The Grass Is Dead
Ralph Roddenbery & the HighRoad
Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp
Nicholas Edward Williams
Sloppy Joe
Quartermoon
The Fried Turkeys
Tania & the Magic Moon Traveling Circus

Fri, 06/17/2022 - 12:15 pm

“New York-based singer-songwriter Bill Scorzari transcends titles like songwriter or poet. He catapults past categories into a dark, ruminative, and ultimately life-affirming realm where family folklore, memories, pain, prayer, and incantation meet,” says Acoustic Guitar. Scorzari, a prolific songwriter, has taken his craft to new heights and deeper depths with his 4th studio album, The Crosswinds of Kansas which will be independently released on August 19.

Much of The Crosswinds of Kansas was inspired by his three-month-long Now I’m Free Tour in 2019—which had become a journey of self discovery, with Bill ultimately arriving at a new awareness and desire to adapt and continue to create. He had made his way from the east coast, toward, and around the west coast and back, traveling under two full moons, visiting waterfalls, hiking, climbing, pondering and processing his life experiences of loss, gain and change, and at times composed haiku as a way to pass the time on the long drives between performances, until the tour came to an unexpected early end when Bill learned of the sudden decline in the health of his then 94 year old mother back home in NY.

Bill started his four-day drive home back east from California; when he got to Kansas on the second day, the winds were blowing so hard North and South across I-70 East that he had to fight the steering wheel for hours just to keep his car going straight down the highway. He stopped in Hays, KS for the night and woke up the next morning with a sore neck and arms from wrestling those tenacious crosswinds the day before. The following lines came to him while he was driving, “Then, came the crosswinds of Kansas unleashed, and it pushed me hard, north and south, all down I-70 east… As I tore home to my mother, before her health, it would fail, at 94, I felt another love leaving me lost, like a nail in a cross.”

Bill says, “When I wrote ‘I-70 East,’ I immediately knew that it was going to be the first track on this new album, even before I wrote the others, and when you cue up this record, it’ll be the first song that you hear when the music begins.” “I-70 East” is the first single to be released and is available now to stream or purchase → https://billscorzari.hearnow.com/i-70-east.

After arriving back home in NY and securing 24-hour care for his mom in late 2019, Bill took a deep breath, and began to write. Some of the songs were new creations and some were reworkings of songs from his back catalog which also fit well within the themes and moods of what was becoming the new album. He spent the early days of the Covid lockdown finishing the songs, gathering the right instruments to fit the music, and building out his studio—First Thunder— where he recorded much of the album. All the while, he continued to share time with his mom daily, until she passed at home on Christmas Day 2020 with Bill and family at her bedside, less than seven weeks before her 96th Birthday.

With Scorzari drawing inspiration from a full palette of moods and emotions, the 13 original tracks on The Crosswinds of Kansas have many stories to tell— some confront the darker emotions head-on. Bill says, “I found that a lot of the songs on this record wound up having an upbeat feel, even when the lyrical content wasn’t necessarily upbeat, or at least not primarily or entirely so. It’s a very satisfying thing when that happens, like positivity shining through and prevailing over our struggles with adversity.”

Scorzari recounts a hard tale of the destruction of a relationship in the rootsy “The Broken Heart Side of the Road,” while “Multnomah Falls” weaves a chronicle of a rainy day’s hike into an account of the trials of change and transcendence set to cascading mandolin lines. The orchestral “Oceans In Your Eyes” recounts a perilous navigation through an enchanted captivation, and a wistfully nostalgic “Patience and Time” haunts with lyrics, “… and I don’t think there’s anything that’s ever been as ‘this much’ on my mind. And with each day that’s passed I’m holding fast to patience and time, ‘cause nothing can outlast patience and time.”

Nostalgia is revisited in the hypnotic “Try, Try Again'' and “Not Should’ve Known” presents a combination of uncertainty and prescience with its lyrics, “I’m just waitin’ for the courage to accept what I can’t change. Still, I can’t help but worry ‘bout how sometimes things turn strange and how with every situation that confronts me to my core, there comes a realization that I seem to have had before… what if I knew, and not should’ve known?”

With the electric-guitar-driven opening track ”I-70 East,” the transcendent “All Behind Me Now,” the uplifting “1, 2, 3, Jump,” the fast-moving acoustic jam of “A Ghost, My Hat and My Coat,” and the rhythmic, semi-autobiographical, sound-collage that is “The Measure of a Man,” Scorzari achieves a beautiful balance in this new collections of songs.

Bringing a mix of contemporary and Indigenous instruments, “Inside My Heart” opens with the bell chime of a Tibetan singing bowl, a cluster of claw-hammer banjo notes and a Native American flute flourish, while the intriguing backstory of the making of the album finds Bill learning his lyrics in Navajo from a Navajo flutemaker named Ty Allison and his friends, and recording those lyrics, and the two flutes made by Ty, onto the final track, “Tryin’, Tryin’, Tryin’, Tryin’.”

Bill says of learning Navajo, “It was an incredible honor for me. Beyond words. I’m also going to very candidly say that it was, however, no small task, and something that I would not have been able to do without the patient teaching, support and encouragement by, and friendship of Ty, Caleb and David. It is a connection that I will always cherish.”

Bill Scorzari is a New York native, with a richly raspy voice and a stellar ear for lyrics and composition. At a later age, he transformed his life as a New York Trial Lawyer, to a new life as an accomplished, full-time musician. To date, his discography includes four full-length albums: Just the Same (2014), Through These Waves (2017), and Now I’m Free (2019)—-all independently released to critical acclaim.

Through These Waves landed on many Top-Ten-Albums-of-2017 lists including Folk Alley and Elmore Magazine, with Elmore saying, “…this is a must hear for singer-songwriter aficionados.” More recently, Now I’m Free was premiered by Billboard, with an exclusive interview by Gary Graff who described the album as “delicately nuanced” with “detailed arrangements” and Glide Magazine’s Jim Hynes wrote, “Like them [Dylan, Waits, Kristofferson, and Sam Baker] too, Scorzari’s facility with words and poetic flair, instills a calming wisdom and creaks of hope among the dark.”

The album was recorded in two locations—beginning in 2020 at First Thunder Recording Studios in Huntington, NY, by Scorzari during the Covid outbreak and through the continued lockdown into 2021, and continuing at Skinny Elephant Recording in Nashville, TN, by Engineer Dylan Alldredge in 2021 and again in 2022.

Acclaimed record producer, film director, film producer, singer-songwriter, and photographer, Neilson Hubbard joined Bill as Co-Producer during the Nashville sessions, and also played drums and/or percussion on all of the tracks. Bill says, “Neilson has, among many other things, produced records for Mary Gauthier, Sam Baker, Kim Richey, and others, and his musical and production sense is spot on, and it appears to be effortlessly so. The man has a gift, and I am so very grateful for his friendship and for his many great talents which he has shared with me over the past several years.”

In early 2022, Bill recorded some backing vocal and harmony vocal tracks for the song, “Tryin’, Tryin’, Tryin’, Tryin’” at his studio in New York. For the final piece to complete the record, he asked Ty to send him a short cell phone recording of himself singing a Navajo chant, which Bill edited to make it sound like a historically older recording before adding it in at the end of the song. It’s also the very last sound on the album. Bill says, “When I was done and listened back to it, the song (and the album) felt complete, and the history it has gathered is abundant and beautiful.”

Bill says, “For me, the journey that had begun in 2019 (and in many respects, much earlier), became a journey into the depths of my soul, not just in a nebulous aspirational or conceptual sense, but in its fruition, and this album is a record of many of the ways in which it has all unfolded for me so far. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have occupied my time with this effort and for the opportunity to continue to participate in the dance that is life, through this pandemic and beyond.”

He continues, “It has been an arduous and relentless trek to the ultimate discovery that we are here simply to dwell in the experience of being human and to come to know that wherever that experience may take us, and to whatever heights or depths we may rise or fall in it, it is all nothing less than an unspeakably generous and miraculous gift of life and great love.”

More information can be found at: www.billscorzari.com.
Pre-order The Crosswinds of Kansas at https://billscorzari.hearnow.com/the-crosswinds-of-kansas.

First Single “I-70 East” is Available Now at Spotify, Amazon, and Apple

Fri, 07/15/2022 - 2:32 pm

Acoustic Americana trio fed on bluegrass, roots rock, old time, and vintage swing, Damn Tall Buildings are excited to release their 3rd album, Sleeping Dogs, on September 9. Whether sharing lead vocals and instrumental solos or blending their voices into loose, joyous harmony, the three members of Damn Tall Buildings—multi-instrumentalist and primary lyricist Max Capistran (guitar and banjo), bassist Sasha Dubyk, and fiddler Avery Ballotta—delight in entertaining.

Witty and engaging, Damn Tall Buildings’ energizing music finds beauty and glory in the mundane workaday struggle of everyday life: time keeps passing and the seasons come and go, you scroll too much, you smoke too much, you lose yourself, only to sit with yourself and find yourself again, you laugh with your friends, and you look out the window and dream about what else might be out there. It all keeps coming around. You carry on, intent on flourishing and thriving. This is what Damn Tall Buildings sings about, what they seek to share with their audience.

Sleeping Dogs is a bop about looking things smack-dab-right-in-the-face and is essentially about how it has become almost impossible to not be constantly influenced by current events, media, and all of the other things that surround you in your day-to-day life.

Sleeping Dogs opener, “What A Nice Life,” has some extra pep to balance out the darker “I-don’t-know-who-I-am-anymore” lyrics: “And it’s been feeling mighty lonesome now that winter’s coming on… Not sure who I've been lately… But holy sh*t can barely stand me.” The old timey, swingin’ “Dark Window Panes” (which adds Garrett Eaton [Dana Williams, Gracie and Rachel] on trumpet) and “Podcast” see the band pondering a pending apocalypse.

The velvety and rejuvenating “Cold Rain” is the album's first single, and was premiered by AmericanaUK who calls it, “music that is determinedly of Now.” For the song, they are joined by mandolin wizard Dylan McCarthy (2019 Rockygrass Mandolin Champion) and rock-steady drummer Micah Cowher [STOMP in NYC]. Micah also lays down the beat on the catchy “Sweet Girl,” with its chorus, “I am not myself, I am everyone else,” which became what the band calls, “the motto for the record; It’s basically our new anthem.”

Damn Tall Buildings calls Sleeping Dogs, “an exploration to the depths of oneself to discover who we truly are… maybe it really is as simple as buying some new shoes, and feeling really good wearing ‘em, while you cruise down the block on the sunny side of the street.” You can hear this cheery sentiment echoed in the deep groove and colorful melodies of “Lemons,” in which the virtuosic flute playing of Anh Phung [Twisted Pine] elevates the song to a new level. This fresh energy can also be felt as the sunshine slips in on “Patio.”

The mid-tempo shuffle “Painter” illustrates a re-emergence into the world; with Lars Thorson [Kane Brown] bringing the magic of the lap steel to this track. They slow things down a bit in a rainy day ode to waiting, “Quietly Heartbreaking,” and the gentle “My Baby.”

The album closes with the title track, “Sleeping Dogs,” pulling from the old proverb—“Don’t you let them sleeping dogs lie”—the song emphasizes the theme of the album: don't ignore life, get out there and live it, take pleasure and meaning from the little things that keep us all connected and growing.

Self produced and recorded, the album was mixed & mastered by Dan Cardinal [Darlingside, Lula Wiles, Josh Ritter] at Dimension Sound Studios. Dan also played keyboard on the title track, adding to the texture of the song.

The trio is individually from all over the United States (New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Montana), but were born as a band while attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA in 2013. They started as buskers on Newbury Street in Boston, started touring nationally, and then moved the band to Brooklyn in 2017. Since their busking days, they’ve made two albums—Cure-All (2014) and Don’t Look Down (2019)—and released a self-titled EP in 2015.

Sleeping Dogs Track Listing:
1.) What A Nice Life 3:02^
2.) Dark Window Panes 1:56
3.) Podcast 3:40
4.) Cold Rain 3:31^
5.) Lemons 2:36
6.) My Baby 4:19
7.) Patio 2:25
8.) Painter 2:27
9.) Quietly Heartbreaking 3:40
10.) Sweet Girl 2:56
11.) Sleeping Dogs 2:58
^FCC Warning

Sat, 07/16/2022 - 12:06 pm

The Company Stores independently releases The Family Album, their third full-length album, on September 23. The powerful and sultry voice of lead vocalist Ileana Ille captivates the audience with her ability to express raw emotion, while the band unites many influences to lay down bold grooves amidst dynamic crescendos. “This album is about family,” says Matthew Marks, the primary lyricist for the band. “It’s about understanding the triumphs, failures, tendencies, and choices of the people who came before, in order to understand how to successfully navigate where you are going.”

Based in Charleston, WV, the band blends elements of rock and roll, jazz, funk, world music, Appalachian folk, gospel, and other soulful roots music with soaring harmonies, electronic textures, strings, and horns over a solid rhythm section. Along with Ille’s vocals and Marks on guitar, The Company Stores is Michael Micucci on bass, Joseph Cevallos on violin and trumpet, Matthew Jackfert on keys, vibes, trombone, among other instruments, and John Query on drums.

The Family Album was produced by Robert Mercurio, bassist for New Orleans funk legends Galactic. The instrumentation was recorded by Julian Dreyer at Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville, NC. Mercurio stepped in as engineer to record the vocal parts at Galactic’s Number C Studio in New Orleans—including bringing in the Josh Kagler Choral Group to enhance the choruses on much of the album. The album was mixed and mastered by Mikael “Count” Eldridge [Trombone Shorty, DJ Shadow, The Revivalists].

Mercurio says, “As a producer, I feel like I saw this band grow immensely as songwriters though the process of making this album. We started working on it before the pandemic, and with their downtime they put in the work it takes to make great songs. Illy blossomed into the rock star she now is—crushing the vocals on every take. I’m very proud of the final product and had a blast working with all of them.” Along with his own band, Mercurio has production credits with an impressive list of artists including Big Freedia, Lyrics Born, and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe.

The Company Stores had plans to hit the road hard, raise funds, and save to record their new album in 2020, then all plans got curtailed and almost all of their live shows and side jobs were canceled due to the pandemic. The songs were written during a time of personal havoc for Marks after his engagement had ended and he moved to his family farm, where he still resides, in March 2020 to help with his Grandad who was dying of lung cancer. While first there, he did a deep dive into his family history and roots lending to the content and mood of the album. They were able to start recording in mid-2021 after a year-long pause once things seemed safe for travel again.

“This album tells a story of everything being turned upside down; both personally and across the country,” says Marks. “Together we have been spending countless quarantine hours writing in the rehearsal room, growing as songwriters and musicians, and are getting excited to present what we think will be our greatest record to date.” Jackfert, who is also a freelance composer and classical music broadcaster, collaborated with Marks on the arrangements in shaping the lush orchestral soundscapes.

Ille says, “I am honored that The Company Stores chose my voice as a vehicle to express the stories in The Family Album. Each song is a collection of the people who have shaped us and the times that made us. I hope the listeners are able to connect with the musicality, storytelling, and creativity to feel at home when they listen to it.”

With keys and vibes at the front, the album opens with a moody “Savannah” followed by the fiery “A New Leaf'' which explores negative patterns in life, with the lyrics, “Damn… what a year. Sucker punched me to the next hemisphere… And now I’m waking up thunderstruck. Right in front of God and everyone… But now…clarity… A view from the floor that I had to see myself for sure. To turn over a new leaf…”

With its rockin’ country western vibe “Ways” continues on this theme, but sees the narrator start to recognize how choices made have developed these patterns of behavior that produce similar outcomes. “These old ways ain’t the best ways, just the ones I know… Trails blazed over time in my mind are deciding where I go… Now I gotta find peace of mind, redefine my life…” “Ways” also sees special guests Walter DeBarr [Song of the Year in Minnesota 2021, William Elliot Whitmore] and Jodi Hall on backing vocals. This song is dedicated to DeBarr, known for his soulful songwriting and deep raspy voice, who sadly passed away shortly after recording with the band.

The Family Album out Sept 23

Jambase premiered the “Ways” music video and the song is the album’s first single—available now at thecompanystores.hearnow.com/ways.

“Maria” sees someone trapped in comparisons of old relationships and incorporates Latin stylings. “Old Dog,” told from two perspectives—the grumpy old dog stuck in his ways and the “Boy” who is bluntly saying “stop barking at the shadows”—has a bit of hip-hop flare on the verses and heavy guitars and horns on the chorus.

“Fathers” looks into how mistakes made can be passed down for generations, stuck in a cycle. Marks, whose father was a pastor, says, “It’s a very personal song, about my father, and his father. I am being as honest with myself and listeners as I could—baring it all.” Set in the minor key, the acoustic guitar and electric Fender Telecaster with tremolo effects along with the Spanish trumpet at the end gives this a very Ennio Morricone Spaghetti Western vibe.

An ethereal “Blue Tide” calls out to explore the dark depths of oneself, while the rock opera, “There Went The Neighborhood'' is about seeing the people you shared childhood dreams with deteriorate with the neighborhood you all grew up in. The progressive “American Dream Girl” sees a few time signature changes and calls out, “Hey, American Dream Girl. Who are you trying to be? You’re in a dream world. Somebody else’s dream… But every filter veils a real identity.”

“Some Sunday,” composed and written by Micucci, has a R&B flavor, with a focus on bass and groove. The album closes with a southern rock gospel ambience in “Castles & Cain,” a song about trying to live up to your family name, and realizing that the people who you respect and even idolize had highs and lows just like everyone else.

The name "The Company Stores" is a throwback to the old coal mines of West Virginia referring to the store in Appalachian coal towns during the 19th and 20th century where workers were paid in coal money or “scrip,” leaving them with no exit from working the mines. This name not only shows the bands heritage, but also the gritty feel of their music and the meaning behind many of their songs about the struggles of the common man.

The Family Album is preceded by the 2017 release Little Lights, also recorded at Echo Mountain Studio in Asheville, and their local debut Rollin’ In in 2014. Mother Church Pew says, "The Company Stores‘ Little Lights features a fiery backdrop of musicality that begs for a festival-sized stage and a whole lot of sunshine. It’s punchy, it’s poignant, and it’s perfect” and Jammerzine says it is “filled with emotional highs and empathetic harmonies laid over an almost orchestral level of musicianship.”

The Company Stores says, “We look forward to the day when we can sing, dance, laugh, and cry with you in a room filled with music once again.” Keep an eye on their website and socials for tour dates and further news: www.thecompanystoresband.com, facebook.com/thecompanystores, twitter.com/CompanyStoresWV and instagram.com/thecompanystores.

Presave and preorder The Family Album at thecompanystores.hearnow.com.

The Company Stores - The Family Album - Track Listing
1. Savannah (4:08)
2. A New Leaf (3:31)
3. Ways (3:47)
4. Maria (5:53)
5. Old Dog (4:58)*
6. Fathers (4:07)*
7. Blue Tide (3:47)
8. There Went The Neighborhood (2:43)*
9. American Dream Girl (3:32)
10. Some Sunday (3:58)
11. Castles & Cain (3:54)
 
*FCC Warning: please note explicit language
Radio edited versions are available for “Old Dog” and “There Went The Neighborhood”

Thu, 07/21/2022 - 12:54 pm

The 6th Suwannee Roots Revival takes place Thursday, October 13 - Sunday, October 16 at the renowned Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. We are excited to announce an additional round of artists to this incredible lineup that includes JJ Grey & Mofro, Punch Brothers, Peter Rowan's Bluegrass Band, Donna the Buffalo, Kitchen Dwellers, Jon Stickley Trio, Jim Lauderdale, and Seth Walker.

Additions include Larry Keel Experience; based in Virginia, Keel has performed a plethora of times at SOSMP and Rolling Stone recently called him, “One of the finest flatpickers around" and described his unparalleled live performance as, “taking songs up a notch with psychedelic hillbilly shredding.”

John Mailander, acclaimed multi-instrumentalist who is well known for his fiddle playing with Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers and appearances with Billy Strings, will be around for the weekend joining in as Artist-At-Large as well as performing with the Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble. AJ Lee & Blue Summit features singer, songwriter, and mandolinist, AJ Lee who has been performing since the age of 5. In 2011 Mother Jones magazine asked, “Could This Kid Be the Next Alison Krauss?” By the time she was 21 she won the Northern California Bluegrass Society’s (NCBS) Best Female Vocalist award nine times!

Atlanta’s Blair Crimmins & The Hookers will get folks dancing with their supercharged hot ragtime jazz, Dread Clampitt will be performing a 20th anniversary set of their funky bluegrass, The Krickets are a female Americana group from the gulf coast who's music is what Paste Magazine called a "a truly stunning, one-of-a-kind sound." Other additions include Florida’s Grandpa's Cough Medicine, The New Cahoots, and Free Range Strange.

Add that all in along with Suwannee mainstays Verlon Thompson, Shawn Camp, Joe Craven, Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble, The Grass Is Dead, Ralph Roddenbery & the HighRoad, Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, Nicholas Edward Williams, Sloppy Joe, Quartermoon, The Fried Turkeys, Tania & the Magic Moon Traveling Circus and you’ve got a weekend of unforgettable memories, musical favorites, and news discoveries!

Suwannee Roots Revival focuses on showcasing established as well as up-and-coming roots musicians throughout a weekend laced with community based fun, growing friendships, laughing families, and that feel-good feeling you get from hanging out in such a beautiful natural setting.

Suwannee Roots Revival is jam-packed with stellar music and dance on multiple stages throughout the weekend. This family-friendly festival includes four days of music, camping, yoga, music workshops, a Kids Tent, as well as campground pickin’ sessions. Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf, and biking.

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. Hands-on and performance workshops will be held throughout the weekend with a variety of artists set to perform. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Tickets are on sale now. Suwannee Roots Revival offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Early Bird 2 Tickets are $175 (includes fees and taxes); Student / Military Early Bird are $160 (with a valid ID). Get your tickets quickly before they rise to the next pricing tier, Advance Weekend, at $200 ($250 at the Gate). Single Day tickets are also available. An additional event car pass is now required to bring a car into the campground. Advance Car Pass: $15 or $20 at the Gate. For complete ticket information and to purchase tickets, visit suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets/.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Suwannee Roots Revival 2022 Lineup
JJ Grey & Mofro
Punch Brothers
Peter Rowan's Bluegrass Band
Donna the Buffalo
Kitchen Dwellers
Larry Keel Experience
Jon Stickley Trio
Jim Lauderdale
Seth Walker
Verlon Thompson
Shawn Camp
Joe Craven
Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble
John Mailander - Artist at Large
AJ Lee & Blue Summit
The Grass Is Dead
Blair Crimmins & The Hookers
Dread Clampitt
The Krickets
Ralph Roddenbery & the HighRoad
Grandpa's Cough Medicine
The New Cahoots
Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp
Free Range Strange
Nicholas Edward Williams
Sloppy Joe
Quartermoon
The Fried Turkeys
Tania & the Magic Moon Traveling Circus

Fri, 07/29/2022 - 11:55 am

Led by acoustic guitarist and powerhouse lead singer Andrew McConathy—known for his compelling songwriting and distinct, deep, and expressive vocals—Drunken Hearts independently release their new single, “Sunlight (feat. Big Richard)” July 29 on all platforms.

McConathy says, “I wrote ‘Sunlight’ in September of 2021, I was depressed about the pandemic and hung up on trying to get things back to the way they used to be. The weekend before, I planned a writing trip to a cabin in the mountains of Colorado but encountered some of the worst writer’s block I’ve had. It was pretty frustrating and I guess only made my condition worse. However, when I got home, ‘Sunlight’ emerged the first time I pulled out my guitar.”
“Sunlight” Available Now

The song begins with a more mournful feel and progresses into another realm of joyful sorrow with it’s lyrics:

I can't sleep with light in my eyes
I can't help reaching for the sky
I don't want to leave it all behind
you know I can't stop my mind

“While it certainly delves into depression and anxiety, “Sunlight” also serves as a reminder to be resilient in the face of adversity, and to never, ever stop pursuing your dreams, even if you can’t get out of bed in the morning, “says McConathy. “It was an exhilarating experience tracking this song with so many amazing friends and musicians.”

John Grigsby [bassist in Gregory Alan Isakov’s band] did a fantastic job bringing it all to life with stunning surrealist animation, which can be viewed here → https://youtu.be/-qgHfV49Dp4.

Americana Highways premiered the video and writes, “With gorgeous pine rainforest footage and misty otherworldly natural images, the video supports this song of renewal. Starting with low, foreboding cello tones and McConathy’s raw vibrato, this song builds piece by piece into a glorious celebration.”

Andrew McConathy | Drunken Hearts

This release from Drunken Hearts features McConathy along with Alex Johnson on drums/ percussion/samples, Adrian Engfer on upright bass and violin, Tyler Adams on piano, and Andy Reiner on violin. Johnson recorded the basic tracks in his basement studio in Arvada, CO and then Todd Divel re-tracked the acoustic guitar and vocals at Silo Sound in Denver, CO and finalized the mix and master.

“When we recorded it, I wanted the instrumentation to match the vibe of the song, which felt different from my other releases, and instantly thought cello would be fitting. I made a Facebook post looking for a cellist, and Joy Adams from Big Richard was the first recommendation. At first we just had upright bass, violin, and acoustic guitar, but over time added cello, more strings, piano, and very light drums. I love Big Richard and after already having Joy’s cello, it only made sense to add the rest of the band on harmony vocals to give the song an eerie, siren-esque feel. I love the way ‘Sunlight’ turned out.”

All contributing to backing vocals on “Sunlight” (with Adams on cello), Big Richard is a charismatic, neo-acoustic supergroup formed in 2021 composed of four well-established Colorado musicians including Bonnie Sims [Bonnie & Taylor Sims, Everybody Loves an Outlaw, Bonnie and the Clydes], Joy Adams [Nathaniel Rateliff, Darol Anger, Half Pelican], Emma Rose [Sound of Honey, Daniel Rodriguez, Whippoorwill], and Eve Panning [Lonesome Days]. Big Richard’s vocal parts were recorded by Kyle Donovan at Cinder Sound Studio in Longmont, CO. Joy Adams and husband Andy Reiner recorded and tracked the cello and fiddle parts at their home studio outside of Black Hawk, CO.

Drunken Hearts have previously released four studio albums—Wheels of the City (2019 LoHi Records, Produced by Tim Carbone [Railroad Earth]), The Prize (2018), Love & Thirst (2016) (produced by Rob Eaton of Dark Star Orchestra) and Live For Today (2012)— as well as a live album, Alive 'n Free (2021). More recently they released a series of singles through the pandemic from their EP Wildflower Sessions (recorded at Planet Bluegrass) in 2021 and early 2022. Drunken Hearts have shared the stage with acts like Billy Strings, Mumford & Sons, The Revivalists, Greensky Bluegrass, Mavis Staples, Black Pumas, Stevie Wonder, The String Cheese Incident, Railroad Earth, The Infamous Stringdusters, Elephant Revival, Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band, and many more.

Kind Words About Drunken Hearts From Previous Releases:

"... surely McConathy has one of the most memorable voices in roots music"  —Glide Magazine, Jim Hynes

“Heavy thinkers and power players” —PopMatters, Michael Bialas

“We are over the moon with their infectious humor, quick wit, and edgy Americana sound, so much so, we brought them into the studio” —WEXT Radio, Tabitha Clancy

“If you mix Pearl Jam with a mountain spirit, you get Drunken Hearts”—American Songwriter, Dallas Jackson

“[MConathy’s] distinctive and coarse tonality is sure to please listeners and carries the lyrics with intent” —Americana UK, Joe Edwards

“Drunken Hearts deliver an intimate perspective to a nostalgic rock and roll sound. Passionate vocals that are reminiscent of Eddie Vedder are both familiar and a newfound discovery”—Paul Hoffman [Greensky Bluegrass]

“Somewhere between Counting Crows and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats you’ll find Drunken Hearts” —Fervor Coulee, Donald Teplyske

“Lead singer Andrew McConathy is not an imitation, he does emulate expressively a pure Eddie Vedder alt-country vocal halfway to deep-voiced Brad Roberts (Crash Test Dummies vocalist). But the Hearts’ music has musicality: it’s all golden” —Americana Highways, John Apice

For more information, please visit www.thedrunkenhearts.com

Tue, 08/23/2022 - 12:39 pm

With a rich, raspy voice and a remarkable ear for lyrics and composition, prolific songwriter Bill Scorzari independently released The Crosswinds of Kansas Aug 19. The album was co-produced by Neilson Hubbard and was recorded in part at Scorzari’s studio in Huntington, NY—First Thunder— before bringing it to Nashville (after pandemic restrictions eased) to Skinny Elephant Recording—with a cast of incredible musicians. Born and raised in New York, Bill transformed his life as a New York Trial Lawyer to a new life as a full-time musician. This is his 4th album released, following Just the Same (2014), Through These Waves (2017), and Now I’m Free (2019)—-all independently released to critical acclaim.

The Crosswinds of Kansas was released to radio in mid-July and debuted on the Folk DJ Monthly Chart for July at #36 and climbed to #19 on August 10th on the Alternative Country Specialty Chart. The album is well received by the press with nods from Glide Magazine, The Boot, Americana Highways, Music Mecca, DittyTV among others.

Much of The Crosswinds of Kansas was inspired by his three-month-long Now I’m Free Tour in 2019—which had become a journey of self discovery, with Bill ultimately arriving at a new awareness and desire to adapt and continue to create. He had made his way from the east coast, toward, and around the west coast and back, traveling under two full moons, visiting waterfalls, hiking, climbing, pondering and processing his life experiences of loss, gain and change, and at times composed haiku as a way to pass the time on the long drives between performances, until the tour came to an unexpected early end when Bill learned of the sudden decline in the health of his then 94 year old mother back home in NY.

His journey home, which included travel through some treacherous crosswinds over the Kansas highways, was folded into the story told within the electric-guitar-driven opening track (and first single released) “I-70 East” and its accompanying music video.

Upon his return to Huntington, NY, Bill spent the early days of the Covid lockdown finishing the songs for the album, building out his studio, gathering the right instruments to fit the mood, and caring for his ailing mother. He also learned Navajo from new friends that he met when commissioning a Native American flute to be able to recite his lyrics in the language for the closing track, “Tryin’, Tryin’, Tryin’, Tryin’”—a song with an intriguing backstory.

Scorzari draws inspiration from a full palette of moods and emotions and the 13 original tracks on The Crosswinds of Kansas have many stories to tell. On the lighter side he presents, the transcendent “All Behind Me Now,” the life-affirming “1, 2, 3, Jump,” the fast-moving acoustic jam of “A Ghost, My Hat and My Coat,” and the rhythmic, semi-autobiographical, sound-collage that is “The Measure of a Man.”

With a heavier brush stroke, Scorzari recounts a hard tale of the destruction of a relationship in the rootsy “The Broken Heart Side of the Road” (the album’s 2nd single and music video). “Multnomah Falls” weaves a chronicle of a rainy day’s hike into an account of the trials of change and transcendence set to cascading mandolin lines. The orchestral “Oceans In Your Eyes” recounts a perilous navigation through an enchanted captivation, and in “Patience and Time” he evokes a haunting nostalgia with wistful melody and lyrical promise. Nostalgia reemerges in the hypnotic, plaintive “Try, Try Again,” and prescience triumphs over uncertainty in the folksy “Not Should’ve Known.” With a mix of contemporary and Indigenous instruments, “Inside My Heart” tells a melancholy story of an unrequited love.
    
What Folks Are Saying:

“His thoughtful, cinematically shaped songs continue to resonate after repeated listens… To be sure, one needs solitude to appreciate his literate craft, a blend of prose and poetry put to music, a Walt Whitman of sorts for our times… With Scorzari, one hangs not just onto every word, but just about every breath (which unbelievably, you can hear.) Strap yourself in. This album runs for 71 minutes, and some are so emotionally devastating that it’s almost too much to take in at once. Allow yourself the time. The music is mostly surprisingly upbeat even when he is singing about pain and darker times.” —Glide Magazine, Jim Hynes

“It’s the voice of someone who brings a variety of experienced life stories into focus and one that draws you into the heart of each song… It is the kind of music that envelops you” —Lonesome Highway, Stephen Rapid

“The instrumentation and production are superb, while his weather-worn voice embodies the heartbreak and hope in the finely crafted lyrics.”
—KPFA Radio, Tim Lynch

“Singer, songwriter, Americana hypnotist Bill Scorzari effortlessly captivates with his forthcoming The Crosswinds of Kansas … Scorzari’s vocals immediately grab hold of your attention with this or any of his previous work, bleeding with honesty and conviction while gravelly capturing your imagination… It is meticulously drawn from the experiences, emotionally-fueled then executed as naturally as the sunset across the plains or the water falling over Multnomah Falls… Expectations were high and Bill Scorzari, naturally, exceeded them with every chord and word…”
—Nanobot Rock

“The poetic rhythm of Scorzari’s lyrics is most impressive, the syllables serving as elemental pulse as much as any of the (many) instruments constructing his songs… This is what I find with Scorzari’s songs and albums: there is always something new to capture your attention, something previously missed that reveals itself as it must… ”
—FervorCoulee, Donald Tepylske

"...Scorzari’s message is powerful and profound. ...this listener cannot get enough of “All Behind Me Now”, “Try, Try Again” and the eleven-minute glorious, meditative opus “Tryin’, Tryin’, Tryin’, Tryin'”. Oh, and “Patience and Time” might well be the most tender and loving song I’ve heard this year. ...The Crosswinds of Kansas is an indisputable triumph… an utter joy to review."  —Listening Through The Lens, Rob Dickens

“Scorzari’s raspy vocals—think Dave Van Ronk with a touch of Steve Earle—add weight to his wise, poetic lyrics and contrast beautifully with the album’s frequently sweet-sounding music, which features a variety of guitars and such other instruments as dobro, cello, piano, fiddle, banjo, upright bass, mandolin, and percussion, not to mention Native American flutes and a Tibetan singing bowl bell. Songs like ‘All Behind Me Now’ and ‘Inside My Heart’ will have you hanging on every word and
wondering why Scorzari isn’t famous yet.”
—Americana Highways, Blog Critics, Jeff Burger

"A  welcome treasure to my ears… with each lyric, he calls my mind to ponder; the crunch of a gravel road below resonates with a voice that is both conversational and reflective. Bill Scorzari’s music is akin to the musings of  Tom Waits, John Prine, and John Moreland. His songs are a conversation where we can savor his poetry. The message echoes in our souls with every instrumental break. Bill's music is both organic and timely. With each creative muse, I really can’t wait to see where he leads us.”
—The Long Island Sound Podcast, Steve Yusko

“[‘The Broken Heart Side of the Road,’ is] a standout track… With its melancholy tone, Scorzari lends his gritty vocals to a work of dark Americana roots music… a song that carries a stirring energy and a haunting tale.” —Glide Magazine, Song Premiere

“He’s captured such pain. And the beauty of a Rose.”
—Americana Highways Video Premiere: “I-70 East”

“Bill Scorzari's sandy blast suggests he was born to sing tales of the dusty highway. In fact, Scorzari was a trial lawyer in New York City before hanging it up to tour, the setting for ‘I-70,’ in which he fights the literal winds to make it back to the East Coast to care for his mother. The song's surging melody and Scorzari's impassioned punk-influenced performance calls to mind vintage Two Cow Garage.”
—The Boot's Weekly Picks, Rachel Cholst

“I like Bill’s voice & ‘Ocean In Your Eyes’ – that’s the ticket, that’s a great showcase. The resonance in his voice has spirit. Instead of burning kindling, he’s ignited a log. This is what Bill needs with lines like ‘I’m swimming for my life’ – perfect for his penetrating vocals. The words he sings must be believable. It’s here. They need to be words from a voice as lived in as Bill’s.” —Americana Highways, John Apice

“‘All Behind Me Now’... is surprisingly welcoming and perfect for a movie soundtrack. It presents listeners with a sense of perseverance and hopefulness for the future and a lesson in personal perspective”
—HVY.com, Will Phoenix

“From New York Trial Attorney to full-time musician, Bill Scorzari makes the seemingly 180-degree transition to a new life look natural.”
—Music Mecca, Morgan Brady

"Bill Scorzari is a master storyteller. He puts it to music and creates pure magic!!” —The Colfax Journal’s Jay Vee Music Review, Jeff Vallet

Bill says, “For me, the journey that had begun in 2019 (and in many respects, much earlier), became a journey into the depths of my soul, not just in a nebulous aspirational or conceptual sense, but in its fruition, and this album is a record of many of the ways in which it has all unfolded for me so far. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have occupied my time with this effort and for the opportunity to continue to participate in the dance that is life, through this pandemic and beyond.”

He continues, “It has been an arduous and relentless trek to the ultimate discovery that we are here simply to dwell in the experience of being human and to come to know that wherever that experience may take us, and to whatever heights or depths we may rise or fall in it, it is all nothing less than an unspeakably generous and miraculous gift of life and great love.”

Order or stream The Crosswinds of Kansas at billscorzari.hearnow.com/the-crosswinds-of-kansas.

The CD is a six-panel digipack and includes a 16-page lyric book beautifully decorated with original art by Anna Berman and photography by Jacob Blickenstaff.

For more information, updates and tour dates, visit www.BillScorzari.com.

Fri, 09/16/2022 - 12:38 pm

Leftover Salmon banjo player Andy Thorn never expected to go viral. But in 2021, he was in his backyard, playing an improvised banjo tune to a wild fox, when his wife caught the whole thing on video. The video made headlines around the world. Soon, Andy was interviewed on the Kelly Clarkson Show, The Dodo, and A & E’s Neighborhood Wars. Even Political Gabfest discussed the video. A New York Times writer, Ferris Jabr, called it “a moment plucked from Aesop.”

Andy was stunned by the publicity, and by how many people kept asking him about the song. He finally recorded it ("Aesop Mountain”), along with 14 other banjo instrumentals. The resulting album, Songs of the Sunrise Fox, stands in contrast to the music Andy normally plays with Leftover Salmon. This new album isn't about the flashy banjo picking favored by jam bands. Instead, it’s the banjo melodies Andy would play for his friend “Foxy” at sunrise. The stripped-down band also features Erik Deutsch [Black Crowes] on piano, Greg Garrison [Leftover Salmon] on bass, and Windfield champ Tyler Grant on guitar.

The first single, “Aesop Mountain,” was released last month and has already garnered nearly 100,000 listens on Spotify. This is the song from the viral video that started all the Foxy craze (that now has 3.8 million views). Thorn says, “I really enjoyed turning it into a full band tune and Erik Deutsch’s piano brought it all together.” The album also includes an acoustic solo version of the song as the closing track.

Other songs include the upbeat solo banjo tune, “Barry's Bounce,” which was written right around the time Thorn’s baby boy Barry started bouncing around, while the solo clawhammer number “Stork Bite” was written right after his birth. “Red Sun Salutation” commemorates a wintery sunrise and “Dawn is Coming” feels like the winter storm that it was written about with the addition of Garrison and Grant adding  to the mood. “Monarch Morning” is a relaxing duet with Deutsch on piano; Andy wrote this tune in his backyard while butterflies were swirling around.

As you keep listening you will hear more of the songs that were first performed for Foxy during the morning light, sun pillars, and sundown as his furry little friend sat down and listened and then trotted along… Foxy even has kids of her own now. “In a world full of crazy, this brought joy to my soul. Thank you,” Eve S. wrote on YouTube. Andy is thrilled to release Songs of the Sunrise Fox and hopes it sends some joy your way as well.

Andy Thorn: Songs of the Sunrise Fox Track Listing:
1. Aesop Mountain (3:28)
2. Barry's Bounce (1:40)
3. Red Sun Salutation (2:44)
4. Dawn is Coming (3:42)
5. Stork Bite (2:22)
6. Monarch Morning (3:39)
7. The Morning Light (1:25)
8. Whisker Twitchin’ (1:02)
9. Fox's Fancy (3:06)
10. Fabled Way (3:45)
11. Trot Along (1:37)
12. Fox Trail (3:05)
13. Sun Pillar (1:54)
14. Silver Thorn (3:24)
15. Aesop Mountain (2:20)

Songs of the Sunrise Fox is available at https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/andythorn/songs-of-the-sunrise-fox. Vinyl records are available to purchase at the website www.andythornmusic.com/shop.

Sun, 09/18/2022 - 4:20 pm

Damn Tall Buildings are thrilled to independently released their 3rd album, Sleeping Dogs, on Sept 9. Bluegrass, roots rock, old time, and vintage swing are among the influences on this acoustic Americana trio. Whether sharing lead vocals and instrumental solos or blending their voices into loose, joyous harmony, the three members of Damn Tall Buildings—multi-instrumentalist and primary lyricist Max Capistran (guitar and banjo), bassist Sasha Dubyk, and fiddler Avery Ballotta—delight in entertaining. For a handful of tracks on the album, they brought in special guests on trumpet, drums, flutes, lap steel, and keys to add to their dynamic sound.

Sleeping Dogs is a bop about looking things smack-dab-right-in-the-face and is essentially about how it has become almost impossible to not be constantly influenced by current events, media, and all of the other things that surround you in your day-to-day life.

Damn Tall Buildings produced and recorded the record themselves, back and forth between Sasha’s parents house in the south Jersey shore and in Max and Sasha’s apartment in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. After recording, they sent their tracks to Dan Cardinal [Darlingside, Lula Wiles, Josh Ritter] at Dimension Sound Studios in Jamaica Plain, MA to mix and master. Dan also played keyboard on the title track, adding to the texture of the song.

Max says, “With us taking the recording process into our own hands, we were able to set our studio up wherever we saw fit, which completely changed the recording process for us… With this new arrangement we were able to really take our time, which gave us more freedom to really explore the songs without the pressure of running out of studio days. We all love the beach, the ocean and surfing, so we set up shop at the house smack-dab in the middle of hurricane season in the northeast, so we were literally doing takes, then running out to the beach to catch some of the finest waves New Jersey has to offer. I’m pretty sure Hurricane Larry deserves co-producer credits, actually.”

The album opens with, “What A Nice Life,” which has some extra pep to balance out the darker “I-don’t-know-who-I-am-anymore” lyrics: “And it’s been feeling mighty lonesome now that winter’s coming on… Not sure who I've been lately… But holy sh*t can barely stand me.” This is followed by an old timey, swingin’ “Dark Window Panes,” in which they ponder a pending apocalypse, accompanied by longtime friend and maestro of sound Garrett Eaton [Dana Williams, Gracie and Rachel] on trumpet.

"Podcast" was premiered by Under the Radar who writes, “With ‘Podcast’ the band leans further into their sun-lit harmonies, rugged instrumentation, and lively performances… they deliver some deliciously biting lyrics, taking shots at the entertainment industry’s complacency as the world rushes to its end: ‘Sleeping on the ground/Thinking you’re so profound/Your podcast sucks and I think I hate you…Your bio says your an artist/Filtering all your garbage/Do you know what you’re even saying?’”

The velvety and rejuvenating “Cold Rain" was premiered by Americana UK who calls it, “music that is determinedly of Now.” For the song, they are joined by mandolin wizard Dylan McCarthy (a longtime DTB collaborator and 2019 RockyGrass Mandolin Champion) and rock-steady drummer Micah Cowher [STOMP in NYC]. Cowher also lays down the beat on the catchy “Sweet Girl,” with its chorus, “I am not myself, I am everyone else,” which became what the band calls, “the motto for the record; It’s basically our new anthem.”

Damn Tall Buildings calls Sleeping Dogs, “an exploration to the depths of oneself to discover who we truly are… maybe it really is as simple as buying some new shoes, and feeling really good wearing ‘em, while you cruise down the block on the sunny side of the street.”

You can hear this cheery sentiment echoed in the deep groove and colorful melodies of “Lemons,” in which the virtuosic flute playing of Anh Phung [Twisted Pine] elevates the song to a new level. This fresh energy can also be felt as the sunshine slips in on “Patio.”

The mid-tempo shuffle “Painter” illustrates a re-emergence into the world, with a regained sense of self with its lyrics—“But I've got some new shoes baby, and I'm feeling so fine… And it looks like we’ve got blue skies honey, coming up a’ down the line.” Lars Thorson [Kane Brown], an adjunct member of DTB since the beginning, brings the magic of the lap steel to this track.

They slow things down a bit in an ode to waiting, “Quietly Heartbreaking,” written on a beautiful rainy day, and the gentle “My Baby.” Avery wrote “My Baby” for his partner in both life and music (and soon-to-be-wife), Emily Gervaise Moran [Aurora Birch]; to hear her guitar sing over the bridge really brings everything full circle in sound and spirit.

The album closes out with the title track, “Sleeping Dogs,” pulling from the old proverb—“Don’t you let them sleeping dogs lie”—the song emphasizes the theme of the album: don't ignore life, get out there and live it, take pleasure and meaning from the little things that keep us all connected and growing.

The trio is individually from all over the United States (New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Montana), but were born as a band while attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA in 2013. They started as buskers on Newbury Street in Boston, started touring nationally, and then moved the band to Brooklyn in 2017. Max says, “Brooklyn has an endless influence on our music. Yemeni music on iPhone speakers at the deli. Reggaeton from the street side auto shop across the street rattling our window panes. West African guitar rhythms on the walk to the train. It’s insane. We love it.”

Since their busking days, they’ve made two albums—Cure-All (2014) and Don’t Look Down (2019)—and released a self-titled EP in 2015. The band's music has been praised by publications such as Bluegrass Today, PopMatters, The Boot, Saving Country Music, The Boston Globe, The Alternate Root, Folk Radio UK and more.

Damn Tall Building says, “Our innate desire is to connect with people on a level that’s beyond day-to-day interaction. Our hope is that the joy that making this music brings us will somehow get passed along to the people listening, which they can then take with them to pass along to someone else. It’s a shared celebration of positive energy, and that’s what keeps us cooking.”

Damn Tall Buildings on Tour

9/9 Fri - Coppell Arts Center - Coppell, TX
9/10 Sat - Cactus Cafe - Austin, TX
9/15-17 Thu-Sat - Walnut Valley Music Festival - Winfield, KS
9/27-29 Tue-Thu - IBMA Bluegrass Ramble - Raleigh, NC
9/29 Thu - The Ramkat - Winston Salem, NC
9/30 Fri - Bourgie Nights - Wilmington, NC
10/1 Sat - IBMA Wide Open Bluegrass Festival - Martin St. Stage - Raleigh, NC
10/13 Thu - Parlor Room - Northampton, MA
10/15 Sat - Glastonbury Apple Harvest & Music Festival - Glastonbury, CT
10/16 Sun - 118 North - Wayne, PA
10/20 Thu - Rockwood Music Hall - New York, NY
10/21 Fri - City Winery - Boston, MA
11/10 Thu - Prius Hall-Ball State University - Muncie, IN
11/11 Fri - Thrasher Opera House - Green Lake, WI

Wed, 10/05/2022 - 1:02 pm

The 6th Suwannee Roots Revival takes place Thursday, October 13 - Sunday, October 16 at the renowned Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. Jam-packed with stellar music and dance on multiple stages throughout the extended weekend, this family-friendly festival includes four days of music, camping, yoga, music workshops, a Kids Tent, as well as campground pickin’ sessions. Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground for endless activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, disc golf, and biking.

We are excited to announce the daily music schedule for this incredible lineup for a full weekend of unforgettable memories, musical favorites, and news discoveries!

Regarding the hurricane, Festival Director Beth Judy says, “While hurricanes are part of our life here in Florida, no matter how prepared we are, the effects of storms like Hurricane Ian are devastating. The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park was spared any damage this time, but many members of our staff, attendees, vendors, and artists—along with friends and family—were affected by Ian in some way. Please remember that even though the storm goes away rather quickly, thousands of people will still be dealing with the effects for months afterwards, some losing everything. We send our love and positive energy to everyone dealing with this and encourage anyone who is able to make a donation of time, supplies, or money to help our neighbors out. If donating cash, local charities such as the gofundme ‘Emergency Supplies for Pine Island Hurricane Ian’  is a good one, and there are others—just do a little research and find what legitimate charity resonates with you. Pay it Forward!”

“As we move from the hot summer to the cooler evenings of fall, the thought of our amazing community gathering for Suwannee Roots Revival in a couple weeks leaves me filled with excitement and anticipation!” Beth says, “JJ Grey & Mofro, Punch Brothers, 5 sets of Donna the Buffalo, and so many of our favorite artists will bring the music that moves our souls–our extraordinary festival family will revive us all! Do yourself a favor and join the family for a full long weekend to close out the festival season.”

Artists performing include Friday night headliners—JJ Grey & Mofro— and Saturday night headliners—Punch Brothers. Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Donna the Buffalo, Verlon Thompson, and Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble all play Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Thursday night holds strong with a headlining set by Larry Keel Experience, bookend by performances with Jim Lauderdale Band and Jon Stickley Trio (Late Night) on the Amphitheater Stage. AJ Lee and Blue Summit, Joe Craven & The Y’allterations will be playing the Porch Stage and you can catch Nikki Talley and Jason Sharp in the Music Hall along with other talented artists performing throughout the park to kick off the weekend.

Kitchen Dwellers, Larry Keel Experience, Seth Walker, Shawn Camp, AJ Lee & Blue Summit all play two days, and we will see three days of performances by Jon Stickley Trio, Jim Lauderdale, Joe Craven, The Grass Is Dead, Ralph Roddenbery & The HighRoad. John Mailander will be an Artist-at-Large throughout the 4-day weekend! See below for the full lineup outlining the days of performances. The full music schedule is available at www.suwanneerootsrevival.com/schedule/.

Suwannee Roots Revival focuses on showcasing established as well as up-and-coming roots musicians throughout the weekend. Immerse yourself in their music, community based fun, growing friendships, laughing families, and that feel-good feeling you get from hanging out in such a beautiful natural setting.

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. Hands-on and performance workshops will be held throughout the weekend with a variety of artists set to perform. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Tickets are on sale now. Suwannee Roots Revival offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Advance Weekend Tickets are $200 (includes fees and taxes); Student / Military are $185 (with a valid ID). Get your tickets quickly before they rise  to $250 at the Gate. Single Day tickets are also available.

An additional event car pass is now required to bring a car into the campground. Advance Car Pass: $15 or $20 at the Gate. For complete ticket information and to purchase tickets, visit suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets/.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Suwannee Roots Revival 2022 Lineup with Day(s) Performing

JJ Grey & Mofro Friday
Punch Brothers Saturday
Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band Friday/Saturday/Sunday
Donna the Buffalo Friday/Saturday/Sunday
Kitchen Dwellers Saturday/Sunday
Larry Keel Experience Thursday/Friday
Jon Stickley Trio Thursday/Friday/Saturday
Jim Lauderdale Thursday/Saturday/Sunday
Seth Walker Friday/Saturday
Verlon Thompson Friday/Saturday/Sunday
Shawn Camp Friday/Saturday
Joe Craven & The Y'allterations Thursday/Friday/Saturday
Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble Friday/Saturday/Sunday
John Mailander - Artist at Large all weekend
AJ Lee & Blue Summit Thursday/Friday
The Grass Is Dead Thursday/Friday/Sunday
Blair Crimmins & The Hookers Friday/Saturday
Dread Clampitt 20th Anniversary Set on Saturday
The Krickets Friday/Saturday
Nikki Talley and Jason Sharp Thursday/Friday/Saturday
Ralph Roddenbery & The HighRoad Friday/Saturday/Sunday
Grandpa's Cough Medicine Saturday
The New Cahoots Saturday
Free Range Strange Friday/Saturday
Nicholas Edward Williams Thursday/Friday/Sunday
Quartermoon Thursday/Friday and all weekend at Bill Monroe Shrine
Sloppy Joe Thursday/Friday/Saturday and all weekend at Slopryland
The Fried Turkeys Saturday
Tania & the Magic Moon Traveling Circus

For more information, tickets, and to reserve camping, please visit www.suwanneerootsrevival.com.

Thu, 02/16/2023 - 11:27 am

With a rich, raspy voice and a remarkable ear for lyrics and composition, prolific songwriter Bill Scorzari is thrilled to release three acoustic versions of songs featured on his most recent album, The Crosswinds of Kansas (Independently Released Aug 2022): "The Broken Heart Side of the Road (Acoustic)," "I-70 East (Acoustic)," and "Multnomah Falls (Acoustic)."

“Now that we’ve started a new year (Happy New Year!), it's great to be able to look back at the good things that have come out of all of the effort we put into The Crosswinds of Kansas… It’s been a long road and I’m so grateful to everyone who has made it all possible,” says Bill. “As a thank you to everyone who has listened to and enjoyed the songs, I decided to release new versions of three tracks from the album, which I’ve re-recorded in a singer-songwriter style, with just acoustic guitar and vocals.”

The album was listed in Americana UK’s Top Albums of 2022! Mark Whitfield writes, “The simple use of imagery and clever phraseology make it a very poignant record at times… The pain on some tracks is visceral in its honesty—and Scorzari’s voice is the perfect match for these substantial songs.”

Today, Americana UK premiered “1-70 East (Acoustic)” here: https://americana-uk.com/track-premiere-bill-scorzari-i-70-east-acoustic

“Bill Scorzari has captured the sonic embodiment of the Tolkien quote ‘not all who wander are lost’ with each album he’s released, yet The Crosswinds of Kansas bleeds this sentiment with each chord and word. The vivid storytelling balances delicately on masterful musicianship to create a massively memorable album,” writes Nanobot Rock in their Top 10 Discoveries of 2022.

These stripped down versions reflect more of what seeing Bill perform live and solo is like, and had been requested by a handful of terrestrial radio stations. Recorded at his First Thunder Recording Studio in Huntington, NY, the abridged songs were mastered by Jim DeMain at Yes Master Studio in Nashville in 2022.

"The Broken Heart Side of the Road (Acoustic)" is the first of the three songs released—Hear it now at https://billscorzari.hearnow.com/i-70-east-acoustic. Glide Magazine premiered the album version and wrote, “With its melancholy tone, Scorzari lends his gritty vocals to a work of dark Americana roots music…  a song that carries a stirring energy and a haunting tale.” Americana Highways’ John Apice wrote, “‘The Broken Heart Side of the Road,’ is pure Bill. Precise, an impressive composition that’s subtle & striking. Bullseye.”

"I-70 East (Acoustic)'' will be out February 17. Americana Highways’s Melissa Clarke calls it a, “song of the anguished parallels between an elderly mother fading and passing on, and a lover’s betrayal. He’s captured such pain. And the beauty of a Rose.”

Multnomah Falls (Acoustic)” weaves a chronicle of a rainy day’s hike into an account of the trials of change and transcendence. It will be out March 10.

FervorCoulee’s Donald Tepylske says, “The poetic rhythm of Scorzari’s lyrics is most impressive… Scorzari doesn’t do conventional… Each song envelopes the listener, sharing its secrets and truths.” Jim Hynes of Glide Magazine seems to concur, “To be sure, one needs solitude to appreciate his literate craft, a blend of prose and poetry put to music, a Walt Whitman of sorts for our times… With Scorzari, one hangs not just onto every word, but just about every breath.”

We hope that listeners will be as moved by the acoustic renditions as these folks were by the originals. Bill has also started working on a new album! It is too early to say when it might be finished; so stay tuned to Bill’s social media for more information as things start to gather momentum and move forward.

More about Bill Scorzari: Born and raised in New York, Bill transformed his life as a New York Trial Attorney to a new life as a full-time musician beginning around 2011. He has independently released four studio albums including 2014’s Just the Same, 2017’s Through These Waves (Produced by Jonah Tolchin at The Bomb Shelter in Nashville), 2019’s Now I’m Free (Produced by Neilson Hubbard at Skinny Elephant Recording in Nashville), and The 2022’s Crosswinds of Kansas (Co-Produced with Neilson Hubbard at First Thunder Recording and Skinny Elephant Recording). Some of the musical artists that can be heard on Bill’s albums include Fats Kaplin, Eamon McLoughlin, Matt Menefee, Will Kimbrough, Michael Rinne, Dan Mitchell, Juan Solarzano, Brent Burke, Marie Lewey, Cindy Richardson Walker, Joachim Cooder, Kim Richie, Chris Scruggs, Laur Joamets, Jonah Tolchin, Erin Rae, John Estes, and Kyle Tuttle, among others.

Scorzari’s music has been well received by the press over the years with nods from those mentioned above in addition to Billboard, Acoustic Guitar, No Depression, The Bluegrass Situation, The Boot, Music City Magazine, Music Mecca, Making A Scene!, The Aquarian Weekly’s Rant ‘n’ Roll, Country Standard Time, The Alternate Root, DittyTV, Beyond A Song, Australia’s Listening Through The Lens, Alt Country Netherlands, and more.

His music can be heard on the airwaves across the country and beyond! The Crosswinds of Kansas made a handful of DJs’ Year End Lists including KPFA Radio’s Tim Lynch, XPN’s Chuck Elliot, KVMR’s Kim Rogers, WFPK’s Michael Young, and WWSP’s Jim Canales. In 2022, Bill did in depth interviews with WVTF’s Luke Church, Beyond A Song’s Rich Reardin, High Plains Public Radio’s This Is the Place with host Jenny Inzerilo, and The Long Island Sound Podcast with Steve Yusko. The Crosswinds of Kansas peaked at #4 on the Alt. Country Specialty Chart, hit #36 on the Folk DJ Chart, and #85 on The Americana Music Chart. Some of Scorzari’s top spins come from Americana Boogie Radio; WBCM in Bristol, VA; WVMO in Madison, WI; KNOW in St Paul, MN; and KSYM in San Antonio, TX.

If you have not yet heard The Crosswind of Kansas, listen here https://billscorzari.hearnow.com/the-crosswinds-of-kansas.

For more information, updates and tour dates, visit www.BillScorzari.com.

Thu, 03/02/2023 - 1:17 pm

Suwannee Spring Reunion takes place Thursday through Sunday, March 23-26, 2023 at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, FL. Suwannee Spring Reunion is truly a gem of a festival where festival goers experience four days and nights of music rooted in Americana, newgrass, bluegrass, folk, blues, and more. Slip into Spring in the most fabulous of ways—making memories with friends old and new while gathering under the gorgeous, mossy live oak trees in this picturesque setting in the midst of a friendly, family-style environment!

Suwannee Spring Reunion will feature music on multiple stages including the beloved tree lined Amphitheater Stage, the Porch Stage, the Dance Tent Stage, and the Music Hall Stage. There will be workshops by a wide range of performers at the festival on the Music Farmers Stage, jam sessions at Slopryland and Bill Monroe Shrine, as well as pickin’ parties throughout the campgrounds. The Vending Village will feature a wide variety of arts and crafts, as well as culinary pleasures, with a strong emphasis on original creations and unique items sure to satisfy all.  

We are thrilled to announce the full schedule of events → suwanneespringreunion.com/schedule

Thursday: Sierra Hull performs the sunset slot on the Amphitheater Stage, preceded by Peter Rowan and followed with a Leftover Salmon late-night set. Armchair Boogie kicks off the festival music at 4pm! Others performing Thursday include John Mailander’s Forecast, Mile Twelve, and Hattie & Joe Craven on the Porch Stage.

Free Range Strange and Sloppy Joe will be performing Thursday sets on the Music Hall Stage.

Friday sees Sam Bush, The Earls of Leicester, Keller Williams, Donna the Buffalo, Big Richard, Caleb Caudle and more on The Amphitheater and Porch Stages. Jon Stickley Trio closes out the night on the Porch, followed by another late-night set with Leftover Salmon on the Amphitheater Stage. Two other stages open on Friday—The Dance Tent and Music Farmers Stages—bring more music from Peter Rowan, Armchair Boogie, Roy Book Binder, The Grass in Dead, The Ain’t Sisters, Shawn Camp & Verlon Thompson doing the songs of Guy Clark, Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, Mile Twelve, Sloppy Joe, and Quartermoon.

The Music Farmers Stage will have hands-on workshops with Rev Jeff Mosier (banjo), Jared Womack (Dobro), Hattie & Joe Craven (‘Singing with Soul’), Tom Nelly (guitar), and Roy Book Binder (blues guitar).

Saturday is just as stacked between the five stages. The Infamous Stringdusters featuring Molly Tuttle will play the Amp Stage evening slot, preceded by the Steep Canyon Rangers and followed by a  late-night set with Donna the Buffalo. We’ll see daytime Amphitheater Stage sets by Jon Stickley Trio (they’ll also be late-night on the Dance Tent Stage), Big Richard (also post-sunset on Dance Tent Stage), Hattie & Joe Craven (also on the Dance Tent Stage), and Medicine Springs. Others performing through the festival include Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble, Jim Lauderdale with Donna the Buffalo, Habanero Honeys, Lee Hunter & The Gatherers, and further music from Verlon Thompson (including a set with Jim Lauderdale on the Music Hall Stage), Roy Book Binder, Free Range Strange, Caleb Caudle, Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, Shawn Camp, and Quartermoon.

Workshops for Saturday include Brett Bass (Building Speed for Bluegrass Guitar), Barry Sager (harmonica), Tom Nelly (guitar), workshop with Joe Craven and a Sloppy Joe Jam set. Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus will host a Kids Talent Show Saturday morning on the Music Farmers Stage.

Vassar Sunday brings it all in reunion-style and, as always, Donna the Buffalo will host the closing jam on The Amphitheater Stage– bringing up a plethora of guest performers who performed through the weekend. Sunday brings full sets by Jim Lauderdale Band, Verlon Thompson & John Mailander, Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble, The Grass Is Dead, The Ain't Sisters, Belle & The Band, Roy Book Binder, Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp, and Quartermoon. Tania & The Moon Tunes opens with the morning slot on the Amphitheater Stage with fantastic kids performances.

Serendipitous moments seem to spring forth like wildflowers and so many of these incredible musicians have been returning to the park for a long time, often referring to it as a “Soul Retreat” of sorts. It is called a “reunion” for a reason and because of that there’s always an exciting amount of “surprise” stage collaborations between the musicians performing!

The woods light up to the sounds of campground pickin’ and performers can often be found joining right along with attendees around the campfires. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. Matching the history on the stage, longtime park hosts, Beth and Randy Judy, are partnering with the Spirit of the Suwannee to make sure that every piece needed to make an epic weekend of music and fun is in place and ready to write the new entries for this new legend. Suwannee Spring Reunion (and its sister festival Suwannee Roots Revival which takes place in October) hold the space for a special couple of music-filled weekends to look forward to and back upon with laughter and love in your heart.

Tickets are on sale now. Suwannee Spring Reunion offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Advance Tier 4 Tickets are on sale now, priced at $200 (includes fees and taxes). Student /Military Early Bird are $185 (includes fees and taxes). Prices advance to Tier 5 on Monday, March 6, so get your tickets now! An additional event car pass is now required to bring a car into the campground—Advance Car Pass: $15 or $20 at the Gate. For complete ticket information and to purchase tickets, visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com/Tickets/.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Suwannee Spring Reunion 2023 Lineup

The Infamous Stringdusters featuring Molly Tuttle
Sam Bush
Leftover Salmon
Steep Canyon Rangers
The Earls of Leicester
Peter Rowan
Donna the Buffalo
Sierra Hull
Keller Williams
Jim Lauderdale
Jon Stickley Trio
Verlon Thompson
Shawn Camp
Roy Book Binder
Rev Jeff Mosier Ensemble
The Grass Is Dead
Big Richard
Hattie Craven & Joe Craven
John Mailander’s Forecast
Armchair Boogie
Caleb Caudle
Mile Twelve
The Ain’t Sisters
Medicine Springs
Lee Hunter & The Gatherers
Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp
Quartermoon
Sloppy Joe
Belle & The Band
Free Range Strange
Habanero Honeys
Tania & Magic Moon Traveling Circus

For more information, tickets, and to reserve camping, please visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com.

Fri, 03/03/2023 - 4:49 pm

Arkansauce is excited to independently release their 5th album, OK to Wonder, on April 21. The melodies of the Ozark Mountains' rolling hills and raging rivers can be heard in this progressive string quartet’s distinct blend of newgrass. Arkansauce is Tom Andersen on bass, guitarist Zac Archuleta, Ethan Bush on mandolin, and Adams Collins on banjo. Their music features improvisational string leads matched with complex melodies, intriguing rhythms, and deep thumping bass grooves. Each member sings lead and harmony parts as well as contributes to the lyrics, which offer authentic, intelligent songwriting with hard-hitting hooks.

OK to Wonder is filled with songs of revelry, wonder, insight, and whimsy—inspired not only from their home state of Arkansas, but also throughout their travels. “We are a band that spends most of our time in the back of a van hurtling toward long nights, good times, and a destiny unknown,” says Ethan. “Our inspiration is gathered by events unfolding in our own adventures in real time. These days, the desire to create, inspire, and redefine within our scene seems to be the main driving force behind our music. From a young age we were huge fans of live music and were introduced to a lot of great music by our families.”

Music Mecca’s Spencer Nachman calls them a “fiery, finger-picking string band… What is apparent at any Arkansauce show is their positivity and desire to uplift the audience’s spirit, no matter the circumstance.”  Americana UK’s Tim Newby writes, “Their take on bluegrass, which is forward-thinking yet still adhering to a traditional model, is powered by their creative and technically challenging arrangements.”

OK to Wonder ‘s 11 tracks were recorded in Fayetteville at Crisp Recording Studio with engineer Darren Crisp, James Tuttle [Leftover Salmon, The String Cheese Incident, Hot Rize, Michael Franti, Cary Morin] on the mix, and Brad Sarno [Son Volt, Jay Farrar] for the mastering.

Beginning with the upbeat “Up on the Shelf,” which Ethan describes as, “a rowdy song about a wild night out and gradually became a much more in depth picture of the ups and downs of a relationship; I aimed to maintain the spirit of the original concept, while trying to depict the stress that partnerships may bring through an honest and unique lens.”

“Big City Chicken” harnesses the creative insights gathered during the first few weeks of pandemic quarantine, setting a pulsing, contemplative feel until it reaches a breaking point mid-song and everything turns around into a delightful trip as they celebrate getting back on tour. “First Night of the Tour” recalls the “rules of the road,” a fun reminder that “Everybody knows that you don’t unload the very first night of the tour.”

Other songs include an ambitious and stimulating “Coldiron,” the Hartford-esque “How Time Flies,” and the hard drivin’ “My Home in Arkansas.” “I'll Be Yours” gives encouragement to the underdogs of the world, while the empathetic and anthemic “Early Bird” shines and welcomes you to join in.

“Bim Batta,” with its 80s electro/hip-hop flair, is the first of three instrumentals on the album composed by Adams who says, "At some point, I became obsessively interested in how a four-piece bluegrass group might emulate various styles of drum grooves and rhythms.” “The Funky Gorilla” leans into Stanton Moore's New Orleans funk approach and a delightful “Air Bender” completes the album with its undulating banjo transporting the listener on a magical country western jaunt.

Previous albums include All Day Long (2015), Hambone (2016), If I Were You (2017), and Maybe Someday (2019). The band has extensive roots in their home state of Arkansas (winning the 2021 Arkansas Best Bluegrass Artist of the Year in the Arkansas Country Music Awards) as well as out in the wider bluegrass, Americana, and festival music scenes.  

Having played shows from California to Connecticut over the last several years in addition to two tours in Europe, the band is no stranger to the road. They supported Yonder Mountain String Band for a leg of their summer tour in 2019, played mainstage spots on festivals with bands (including but not limited to) Greensky Bluegrass, Railroad Earth, The Del McCoury Band, Billy Strings, Leftover Salmon, Tauk, The Wood Brothers, and shared the stage with the legendary Sam Bush as a guest.

Arkansauce Tour Dates

3/3 - Cedar Cultural Center - Minneapolis, MN
3/4 - Appleton Beer Factory - Appleton, WI
3/8 - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI
3/9 - Golden Dagger - Chicago, IL
3/10 - Granada Theatre - Mount Vernon, IL
3/22 - Hop Springs Beer Park - Murfreesboro, TN
3/23 - Barley’s - Knoxville, TN
3/24 - Charleston Pour House - Charleston, SC
3/28 - The Camel - Richmond, VA
3/29 - The Southern - Charlottesville, VA
3/31 - Best Booth Bash - Ridgeway, IA
4/2 - Parkway Brewing - Salem, VA
4/13 - Belly Up - Solana Beach, CA*
4/14 - Crescent Ballroom - Phoenix, AZ*
4/15 - 191 Toole - Tucson, AZ*
4/16 - Yucca North - Flagstaff, AZ*
4/21 - Beer City Music Hall - Oklahoma City, OK
4/22 - Backwoods Music Festival - Ozark, AR
4/27 - 123 Pleasant St. - Morgantown, WV
4/28 - Some Kind of Jam - Kempton, PA
4/29 - Private Wedding - Roanoke, VA
4/30 - House Show - Lynchburg, VA
5/6 - Record Bar - Kansas City, MO
5/12 - Sustain Art & Music Festival - French Lick, IN
5/19 - FreshGrass - Bentonville, AR
5/25  - The Lariat - Buena Vista, CO
5/26 - Cervantes Other Side - Denver, CO
5/28 - McAwesome Fest - Castle Rock, CO
6/2 - Dixie Center for the Arts - Ruston, LA
6/15 - Ozark Mountain Soul Fest - Eureka Springs, AR
6/17 - Survivor’s Ball - Lonedell, MO
6/23 - Argentina Vibes - North Little Rock, AR
7/14 - ABQ Biopark Zoo - Albuquerque, NM
8/5 - Keystone Bluegrass & Beer - Keystone, CO
8/6 - Rhythm on the Rio - Del Norte, CO
8/11-12 - Lovegrass Music Festival - Wilson Lake, KS
* w/ The Brothers Comatose

Fri, 03/24/2023 - 12:24 pm

Arkansauce independently releases OK to Wonder, their 5th album, on April 21. Hear the melodies of the Ozark Mountains' rolling hills and raging rivers in this progressive string quartet’s distinct blend of newgrass. OK to Wonder is filled with songs of revelry, wonder, insight, and whimsy—inspired not only from their home state of Arkansas, but also throughout their travels.

Arkansauce is Tom Andersen on bass, guitarist Zac Archuleta, Ethan Bush on mandolin, and Adams Collins on banjo. Their music features improvisational string leads matched with complex melodies, intriguing rhythms, and deep thumping bass grooves. Each member sings lead and harmony parts as well as contributes to the lyrics, which offer authentic, intelligent songwriting with hard-hitting hooks.

“We are a band that spends most of our time in the back of a van hurtling toward long nights, good times, and a destiny unknown,” says Ethan. “Our inspiration is gathered by events unfolding in our own adventures in real time.”

OK to Wonder‘s 11 tracks—ranging from upbeat and stimulating to contemplative and encouraging— were recorded in Fayetteville at Crisp Recording Studio with engineer Darren Crisp, James Tuttle [Leftover Salmon, The String Cheese Incident, Hot Rize, Michael Franti, Cary Morin] on the mix, and Brad Sarno [Son Volt, Jay Farrar] for the mastering.

The uptempo bluegrass number “My Home in Arkansas” is the album’s 2nd single and was premiered by The Bluegrass Situation. Andersen says, “The song came to me after a Bill Monroe bender. It’s a straight-forward bluegrass song about the road and the yearnings for home—with a few twists and turns on the arrangement, as any road worth traveling would have.”

Glide Magazine premiered the album’s 1st single (and album opener), “Up on the Shelf” and says, “Strong lyricism, warm harmonies, and impressive solos abound throughout this track.” Ethan describes it as, “a rowdy song about a wild night out and gradually became a much more in depth picture of the ups and downs of a relationship; I aimed to maintain the spirit of the original concept, while trying to depict the stress that partnerships may bring through an honest and unique lens.” After the song’s release on 3/3, “Up on the Shelf” was almost immediately placed into Spotify’s “Indie Bluegrass” Playlist.

“First Night of the Tour” sings the result of the band learning the “rules of the road” through trial and error on their first few tours. The stimulating “Coldiron” was inspired by a close friend of the band who uprooted himself at an early age to move to a remote, old family property where he didn’t know a soul and ambitiously forged a bountiful and fulfilling life.

A song of reflection and reminiscing, the title lyrics can be heard in the Hartford-esque “How Time Flies.” My oh my how time flies… Is this the way I wanted things to be… I simply cannot decide… Who in the hell is behind those eyes… I guess it’s okay to wonder until the day I die… Hold on to what you got for now and let time take care of the rest.” The song is meant to help us find some peace in the space between trying to chase down our dreams and deciding to alter our path.

“I'll Be Yours” gives encouragement to the underdogs of the world while the empathetic and anthemic “Early Bird” shines and welcomes you to join in. Zac says, “Written during the heat of the pandemic after my father-in-law, a truck driver whose CB handle was ‘Early Bird,’ passed away from covid. Everything seemed so dark that I wanted to write a song about light and hope with a lot of harmonies and uplifting melodies. My dad actually passed away a few months after, and it ended up being a song for myself in a way.”

“Big City Chicken” is the first of four instrumentals on the album, and it celebrates getting back on the road after the first year of the pandemic. Ethan says, “It was written while watching my chickens peck around my backyard during those first few weeks of quarantine. Performing on the road later felt as if I was finally weaponizing the creativity birthed in that time and space.”

Adams composed the other three instrumentals and says, "At some point, I became obsessively interested in how a four-piece bluegrass group might emulate various styles of drum grooves and rhythms. ‘Bim Batta’ is influenced by 80s electro and hip hop, while ‘The Funky Gorilla’ is influenced by Stanton Moore's New Orleans funk approach.” The delightful “Air Bender” leads the listener into a magical country western jaunt with its undulating banjo as the album's final track.

Previous albums include All Day Long (2015), Hambone (2016), If I Were You (2017), and Maybe Someday (2019). The band has extensive roots in their home state of Arkansas (winning the 2021 Arkansas Best Bluegrass Artist of the Year in the Arkansas Country Music Awards) as well as out in the wider bluegrass, Americana, and festival music scenes.

Music Mecca’s Spencer Nachman calls them a “fiery, finger-picking string band… What is apparent at any Arkansauce show is their positivity and desire to uplift the audience’s spirit, no matter the circumstance.”

Having played shows from California to Connecticut over the last several years in addition to two tours in Europe, the band is no stranger to the road and they have a hearty tour schedule lined up for 2023.

For more information, a full list of tour dates, and news from the road please visit www.arkansaucemusic.com, www.facebook.com/Arkansauce.Music, www.instagram.com/arkansaucemusic, and www.youtube.com/@arkansaucemusic314.

OK to Wonder Track Listing

1. Up on the Shelf 4:25 (Bush)
2. Big City Chicken 6:31 (Bush)
3. First Night of the Tour 3:29  (Bush)
4. Coldiron 5:42 (Bush)
5. Bim Batta 4:44 (Collins)
6. I'll Be Yours 4:32 (Bush)
7. Early Bird 4:58 (Archuleta)
8. The Funky Gorilla 5:09 (Collins)
9. How Time Flies 4:48 (Bush)
10. My Home in Arkansas 4:11 (Andersen)
11. Air Bender 4:58 (Collins)

Fri, 03/24/2023 - 2:25 pm

Randy Steele is an award winning banjo pickin' singer/songwriter from Chattanooga, Tennessee and he is excited to independently release a new single, “There’s a Part of Me,” March 24 with his bluegrass band, High Cold Wind. A good old heartache song about growth, “There’s a Part of Me” ’ is about learning to let go of someone that doesn’t serve your best interest anymore.

“The nostalgia is washed with the benefit of hindsight, with the maturity of well wishes, and it’s a prime example of the unique offerings that Steele presents to modern bluegrass,” says Nicholas Edward Williams of American Songcatcher. He continues, “Take the second verse: ‘I remember that Christmas, when you got a neck tattoo, and your momma cried and spent the holidays holed up in her room, she said that you can’t be buried with your family anymore.’ You couldn’t name enough bluegrass songs on one hand that cover that much ground emotionally. Then add the depth of the looming chorus, that Steele’s heart ‘heals a little every day, that I spend away from you.’ It’s the kind of break up song that we all wish were true to our own lives.”

Randy says, “Some of the stories from the song are symbolic, some are reflections from growing up Pentecostal. I really love Faye’s vocal work on this one, she's a blessing.”

Joining Steele in the High Cold Wind is Fiddlin’ Faye Petree, regional fiddle legend of the North Carolina and Georgia music scene; flat pick wizard and member of Americana favorites Strung Like a Horse, Tyler Martelli on acoustic guitar; multiple state, multiple instrumental contest champion and well known teacher John Boulware on mandolin; and Justin Hupp holding it down on the upright bass.  

Randy affirms, “For a while now I’ve been wanting to do more bluegrass. I love bluegrass. It is a great example of simplicity and complexity combined. Every time I hear the simple 1 & 3 low thump of an upright bass contrasted by the 2 & 4 hard chop of a mandolin, I am immediately reminded of a thousand great evenings playing with friends.”

Growing up in Bradley County Tennessee near both the North Georgia and North Carolina borders, Randy was surrounded by music from an early age. His family was heavily involved in the Church of God, with his Papaw being a lifelong Pentecostal preacher and pastor of the largest Church in the organization at one time.

Randy recollects, “Bluegrass was always my Papaw’s favorite and he idolized the players. He was a gospel player and he always looked up to the flatpickers and the finger pickers… I think the biggest influence of all though was my Mom. She is a fantastic singer with a very rich voice. She’s practiced it like an art form her entire life—in her youth she traveled from church to church singing as part of the Henson Family. She taught me how to practice correctly and that has been one of the greatest gifts. It has proven useful time and time again within music and just in life in general.”

In his teens in the mid-90s, Steele discovered the budding Jamband scene, who  tagged along with his Uncle, Paul Henson, who toured and recorded with the Aquarium Rescue Unit. His early musical inspirations ranged from Townes Van Zandt, Garcia/Hunter, John Prine, and Robert Earl Keen. Lyric driven music stories were his early favorites and remain his primary songwriting medium. Randy went on to tour some with a band and studied Jazz Guitar at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville for a bit. Then Randy stopped playing music for a while and became a firefighter with the Chattanooga Fire Department and got married and settled down. He says, “I still wrote songs constantly but I figured my music days were mostly behind me. In the firehouse, I needed something to help me decompress and then I found the banjo…”

To pass the time at the fire station, Randy began practicing Scruggs style banjo and, a few years later in 2008, began performing with Slim Pickins Bluegrass Band, along with Boulware and Hupp. They went on to spend a month living in Belgium and played shows all over Europe, eventually though between jobs and family obligations, the band settled into playing a few select shows in the Chattanooga area each year.

In 2016 Steele released a solo album, Songs from the Suck, which was recorded at the legendary FAME studios in Muscle Shoals Alabama and finished at The Soundry Studios in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee. He began to do some light touring solo and with a trio. Two years later he released an EP, Moccasin Bender, both of these were kind of on the bluegrass side of Americana.

In 2018 Steele won an Independent Music Award for Bluegrass 'Song of the Year' for "Mobile Soon" (and was nominated for Bluegrass Album of the Year), and was selected as a finalist in the Newsong Music LEAF Songwriting Competition.

Steele then spent 2019 hard on the road clocking in 90 shows in 17 states in 47 cities before being forced off the road by the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic. In 2019 Captain Randy Steele was also named Fire Department Officer of the Year and was awarded a Medal of Valor, as he was recognized for his outstanding efforts at emergencies in 2018.

“As it all went back to gigs and regular life after the pandemic, I really wanted to get back into some traditional bluegrass. I had been touring as a trio and decided to try to start a bluegrass band based on that touring outfit, and thus High Cold Wind was born.”

High Cold Wind was formed in 2022 as a support band for Steele’s singer/songwriter touring and they continued to move through multiple markets—with Atlanta, Asheville, Charleston SC, Nashville, and a few other cities seeing multiple repeat performances by either Randy Steele solo or RS & the High Cold Wind.  After a few shows, they found themselves invited to multiple festivals throughout the Southeast US with acts like Greensky Bluegrass, Yonder Mountain String Band, Town Mountain, Larry Keel, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out, The Kody Norris Show, Nick Lutsko, and the Lonesome River Band.

The band entered the studio in winter 2022/2023 and recorded the High Cold Wind EP with multiple single releases due out in 2023 beginning with “There’s a Part of Me.” Self-produced, Randy’s new music was recorded and engineered at The Soundry Studios in Soddy-Daisy, TN by Brett Nolan and mastered by Adam Brown.

2023 is looking great with multiple spring and summer mini tours scheduled throughout the southeast and multiple festival bookings for full band shows.

Find out more at www.randysteelemusic.com & www.highcoldwind.com

Fri, 04/21/2023 - 2:39 pm

Progressive string quartet, Arkansauce, is thrilled to independently release their 5th album, OK to Wonder, TODAY April 21. With 11 original tracks—ranging from upbeat and stimulating to contemplative and encouraging—the collection is filled with songs of revelry, wonder, insight, and whimsy. Arkansauce is Tom Andersen on bass, guitarist Zac Archuleta, Ethan Bush on mandolin, and Adams Collins on banjo.

The Roanoke Times calls them “Hot bluegrass ramblers” and AmericanaUK says, “That’s a bluegrass line-up right there – but this isn’t your grandpappy’s bluegrass.” Their music features improvisational string leads matched with complex melodies, intriguing rhythms, and deep thumping bass grooves. Each member sings lead and harmony parts as well as contributes to the lyrics, which offer authentic, intelligent songwriting with hard-hitting hooks.

This progressive string quartet’s distinct blend of newgrass calls forth the sounds of the Ozark Mountains' rolling hills and wild rivers. Inspired not only from their home state of Arkansas, but also throughout their travels, Ethan says, “We are a band that spends most of our time in the back of a van hurtling toward long nights, good times, and a destiny unknown. Our inspiration is gathered by events unfolding in our own adventures in real time.”

Uptempo bluegrass number “My Home in Arkansas,” the album’s 2nd single, was premiered by  The Bluegrass Situation, called a “snappy bluegrass cut” by the Americana Music Association in their weekly newsletter, is on Spotify's “Fast Grass” Playlist, and is listed in The Alternate Root Magazine’s Top Ten Songs of the Week. Andersen says, “The song came to me after a Bill Monroe bender. It’s a straight-forward bluegrass song about the road and the yearnings for home—with a few twists and turns on the arrangement, as any road worth traveling would have.”

Album opener, and 1st single, “Up on the Shelf,” was premiered by Glide Magazine who says, “Strong lyricism, warm harmonies, and impressive solos abound throughout this track.” Ethan describes it as, “a rowdy song about a wild night out that gradually became a much more in depth picture of the ups and downs of a relationship; I aimed to maintain the spirit of the original concept, while trying to depict the stress that partnerships may bring through an honest and unique lens.” After the song’s release, “Up on the Shelf” was almost immediately placed into Spotify’s “Indie Bluegrass” Playlist and has received airplay on SiriusXM Bluegrass Junction.

“First Night of the Tour” sings the result of the band learning the “rules of the road” through trial and error on their first few tours. The stimulating “Coldiron” was inspired by a close friend of the band who uprooted himself at an early age to move to a remote, old family property where he didn’t know a soul and ambitiously forged a bountiful and fulfilling life.

A song of reflection and reminiscing, the title lyrics can be heard in the Hartford-esque “How Time Flies.” My oh my how time flies… Is this the way I wanted things to be… I simply cannot decide… Who in the hell is behind those eyes… I guess it’s okay to wonder until the day I die… Hold on to what you got for now and let time take care of the rest.” The song is meant to help us find some peace in the space between trying to chase down our dreams and deciding to alter our path.

“I'll Be Yours” gives encouragement to the underdogs of the world while the empathetic and anthemic “Early Bird” shines and welcomes you to join in. Zac says, “Written during the heat of the pandemic after my father-in-law, a truck driver whose CB handle was ‘Early Bird,’ passed away from covid. Everything seemed so dark that I wanted to write a song about light and hope with a lot of harmonies and uplifting melodies. My dad actually passed away a few months after, and it ended up being a song for myself in a way.”

“Big City Chicken” is the first of four instrumentals on the album, and it celebrates getting back on the road after the first year of the pandemic. Ethan says, “It was written while watching my chickens peck around my backyard during those first few weeks of quarantine. Performing on the road later felt as if I was finally weaponizing the creativity birthed in that time and space.” Americana Highways’ Jon Apice calls the song “searing & saturated with backwoods vibrancy. The inter-picking shimmer of the notes is invigorating. Flatt & Scruggs would be proud.”

Adams composed the other three instrumentals and says, "At some point, I became obsessively interested in how a four-piece bluegrass group might emulate various styles of drum grooves and rhythms. ‘Bim Batta’ is influenced by 80s electro and hip hop, while ‘The Funky Gorilla’ is influenced by Stanton Moore's New Orleans funk approach.” The delightful “Air Bender” leads the listener into a magical country western jaunt with its undulating banjo as the album's final track.

OK to Wonder was recorded in Fayetteville at Crisp Recording Studio with engineer Darren Crisp, James Tuttle [Leftover Salmon, The String Cheese Incident, Hot Rize, Michael Franti, Cary Morin] on the mix, and Brad Sarno [Son Volt, Jay Farrar] for the mastering. Previous albums include All Day Long (2015), Hambone (2016), If I Were You (2017), and Maybe Someday (2019).

WATCH Arkansauce interview about OK to Wonder on the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette What’s Up video podcast with music writer Monica Hooper. They performed three songs: “Up on the Shelf,” “My Home in Arkansas,” and “Coldiron.” NWA’s Monica Hooper says the songs, “bear the hallmarks of quintessential Arkansauce tunes: They're fun to sing along with and give each member of the band time to flex his considerable picking skills.”

Arkansauce has a hearty tour schedule lined up for the year including hometime release shows in Oklahoma and Arkansas for (including the Backwoods at Mulberry Mountain Festival). They have Spring shows in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Missouri, Louisiana, and around the Front Range of Colorado. Further Festivals include Sustain Art & Music Festival (IN), FreshGrass Bentonville (AR),, Weekend at The Cave (IL), Rhythms on the Rio (CO), Lovegrass Music Fest (KS), FreshGrass North Adams (MA), and Annapolis Baygrass Festival (MD), with more shows yet to be announced!

For more information, a full list of tour dates, and news from the road please visit www.arkansaucemusic.com, www.facebook.com/ArkansauceMusic, & www.instagram.com/arkansaucemusic.

Tue, 05/02/2023 - 10:12 am

Reviving and carrying on the longtime tradition of hosting some of the most prominent names in American roots music and beyond, the 7th Suwannee Roots Revival takes place Thursday, October 5 - Sunday, October 8 at the renowned Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida.

The Suwannee Roots Revival initial lineup for 2023 includes Trampled By Turtles, Hot Tuna Electric (catch them while you can—they just announced it is all acoustic after their fall tour), Donna the Buffalo, The Peter Rowan Band, Jim Lauderdale Band, Electric Larry Land (before you start thinking about 90s albums—this is Larry Keel’s new all electric quartet!), Big Richard, Jon Stickley Trio, Sunny War, The Last Revel, Stillhouse Junkies, Verlon Thompson, Jeff Mosier Ensemble, John Mailander’s Forecast, The Grass Is Dead, The Ain’t Sisters, Blair Crimmins & The Hookers, Ralph Roddenbery & The Jones, Nikki Talley, Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, The NEW Quintet, Sloppy Joe, Quartermoon, Tania & the Magic Moon Traveling Circus, and more to be announced!

Jam-packed with stellar music and dance on multiple stages, this family-friendly festival includes four days of music, camping, yoga, music workshops, a Kids Tent, as well as campground pickin’ sessions. Suwannee Roots Revival focuses on showcasing established as well as up-and-coming roots musicians throughout the weekend, often with some one-of-a -kind collaborations among the artists performing—you never know who will give a surprise sit-in on stage (or in the campgrounds for that matter).

Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground and the festival celebrates community based fun, growing friendships, laughing families, and that feel-good feeling you get from hanging out in such a beautiful natural setting. This is the place to make new memories with friends old and new while gathering in a picturesque setting breathing in the songs that fill the air… as they say at SOSMP: “Music Lives Here.”

An incredible time was had by all in March at our sister festival—Suwannee Spring Reunion—with glowing reviews in Rolling Stone, Holler Country, Bluegrass Today, MusicFestNews, The Jamwich, and more!

Rolling Stone says, “[SOSMP] would seem the most unlikely of bluegrass epicenters, but legends and new stars alike flock there every spring for an in-the-know festival… Each March, the Spring Reunion brings together some of the biggest names in bluegrass, Americana, and folk music, this unofficial kickoff to the outdoor festival season. To bookend the year, a similar event, Suwannee Roots Revival, occurs in October… There’s a deep sense of family and fellowship that’s permeated Suwannee as far back as anyone can remember… ”

Placing a strong emphasis on embracing the traditions that have made the park a national treasure, there will be a wide array of arts & crafts as well as culinary delights ranging from healthy to decadent in the Vending Village. Hands-on and performance workshops will be held on the Music Farmer’s Stage with a variety of artists set to perform. The park itself is a place where kids of all ages can remember why they fell in love with the magic mixture of sights, sounds, and sensations that constitutes a weekend of paradise that is the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park.

Tickets are on sale now. Suwannee Roots Revival offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Early Bird Tier 2 Tickets are $155 (includes fees and taxes); Student / Military Early Bird are $144 (with a valid ID). Get your tickets quickly before June 1 when the price changes to Early Bird Tier 2 at $175. An additional event car pass is required to bring a car into the campground. Advance Car Pass: $15 or $20 at the Gate. For complete ticket information and to purchase tickets, visit suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets/.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Suwannee Roots Revival 2023 Initial Lineup

Trampled By Turtles
Hot Tuna Electric
Donna the Buffalo
The Peter Rowan Band
Jim Lauderdale Band
Electric Larry Land
Big Richard
Jon Stickley Trio
Sunny War
The Last Revel
Stillhouse Junkies
Verlon Thompson
Jeff Mosier Ensemble
John Mailander’s Forecast
The Grass Is Dead
The Ain’t Sisters
Blair Crimmins & The Hookers
Ralph Roddenbery & The Jones
Nikki Talley
Grandpa’s Cough Medicine
The NEW Quintet
Sloppy Joe
Quartermoon
Tania & the Magic Moon Traveling Circus
& more to be announced!

For more information, tickets, and to reserve camping, please visit www.suwanneerootsrevival.com.

Thu, 06/01/2023 - 9:05 am

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival is a two-day beachfront music festival at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, MD that highlights the best in regional and national bluegrass, jamgrass, and Americana music. Taking place Saturday and Sunday, September 30-October 1, this conservation-focused musical event was listed as a “Don’t-Miss Bay Music Festival” by Chesapeake Bay Magazine and anticipates drawing people from all over the country and the region to enjoy the unique destination of Annapolis, Maryland, and the entire Chesapeake Bay area.

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival headliners include Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, Keller & The Keels, and Melvin Seals & JGB. Other national touring bands include Fruition, Lindsay Lou (band & artist-at-large), Cabinet, Cris Jacobs & Smooth Kentucky, Jon Stickley Trio, Arkansauce, The Dirty Grass Players, The High & Wides, Wicked Sycamore, and the Baygrass House Band—Geraldine.

“The Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival was born out of our team’s love of progressive bluegrass music, the desire to generate a fun community-oriented vibe, and a passion for protecting the Chesapeake Bay,” says festival co-founder Ron Peremel. “We created a unique music festival where just by having fun you're helping the Bay. As we like to say: ‘Every Jam Saves the Bay!’"

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival is thrilled to announce a theme song, “In The Water,” by Geraldine with special guest Cris Jacobs! Listen here → https://linktr.ee/geraldineband.

"In The Water" was written by singer/songwriter/guitarist John Bolten, PhD, who is also the Chief of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Hydrological Sciences Lab. This man understands the water and why all of our actions have such a significant impact on the Chesapeake Bay. "In The Water" is from their recently released album Paw Paw.

Brad Kolodner of Bluegrass Country Radio talked with John about it all. Stream it online at bluegrasscountry.org/brad-kolodner-on-air-interviews or listen in on Friday (6/2) at 1pm and Saturday (6/2) at 8am, Eastern Time.

Bolten says: The Chesapeake Bay supports more than 3,600 species of plants and animals and consists of nearly 12000 miles of coastline—more than the entire western coast of the U.S. It’s in dire need of attention. So we wrote a song to emphasize how all of our actions affect this precious resource and how it is shared with friends downstream and should be protected for future generations.

We tried to create a song that folks could connect with, just like we all are connected to water! Whether you know it or not, all of your actions, from what type of food you eat, to how we dispose of waste, and how we treat our backyards, they all affect our immediate environment and ultimately our water resources. Water availability, water use, and water quality—they are all tied together.

We are in this together… And we really are in the water. Just as we drink the same water that the dinosaurs drank, we affect the water around us, for better, or for worse—so it is up to us to protect it.

“We’re just floating by
on a river of days of lows and highs
We’re just drops of rain
Falling together down the darkened drain
We’re in the water
There must be something in the water…

Annapolis Baygrass is a family-friendly event with plenty of offerings for all ages including interactive artist and conservation workshops, yoga classes, beach and yard games, a Kidzone, a craft vendor village, and other activities.

Fresh lump crab cakes, roasted and raw oysters, gourmet BBQ, wood-fired pizzas, vegetarian delicacies, and other locally curated culinary options will be available at the festival. Attendees will enjoy tasty microbrews at the Baytoberfest Beer Garden, as well as fresh craft cocktails, mocktails, and wines provided by local and regional beverage partners at the waterfront Blue Crab Beach Bar.
 
An exceptional VIP option is available for those wishing to upgrade their experience with exclusive viewing areas, dining and lounge pavilion, chef-prepared hot meals, fresh-shucked oysters, snacks, free beverages, VIP parking, private entrance, and more. Learn more at www.baygrassfestival.com/VIP.

Baygrass has partnered with CashorTrade as the official fan-to-fan ticket exchange and they are giving away two (2) VIP Passes + Lodging & Shuttle Transport to this year’s celebration. Enter for your chance to win the #GratefulGiveaway → https://cot.me/ad/m.937.

Sandy Point State Park, a 786-acre Maryland State Park located along the northwestern shore of the Chesapeake Bay, provides a perfect backdrop for this one-of-a-kind festival. Attendees will enjoy 14 bands on two alternating stages, with stunning views of the Chesapeake Bay and ample space to spread out and enjoy themselves in comfort and style on the sandy beaches.

Annapolis Baygrass offers several local lodging partners and camping options nearby to make your weekend perfect. These heavily discounted options are first come, first serve basis and fit options for all budgets. Shuttle service will make your stay even easier, with Shuttle Passes serving select lodging locations going on sale soon. More information www.baygrassfestival.com/lodging.

More than a music festival, Annapolis Baygrass maintains a dual mission—to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and to support local Mental Health Awareness programs. It was founded in 2022 by Ron Peremel, John Way, and Ron Katz, who share a passion for music, a love of the local region, and a desire to give back to the community by creating a music festival with a purpose.

10% of all proceeds from ticket, food, beverage, and merchandise sales will go to Maryland-based non-profit organizations including Watershed Stewards Academy, Oyster Recovery Partnership, and Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.

To increase Mental Health Awareness and connect the public to wellness resources, the festival has partnered with VA Way, a non-profit organization run by Baygrass co-founder John Way, an Army Veteran and a Certified Veteran MHFA (Mental Health First Aid) Instructor.
 
Way says, “I have attended hundreds of shows and festivals for over 20 years and have seen firsthand how music has the power to heal the mind. We have a rare opportunity with Baygrass to bring important mental health information to a large audience in an incredibly positive and supportive setting.” Also partnered with Baygrass are American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the music-industry centric Backline.

Baygrass’ environmental ethos is evidenced in its adoption of the sustainability model, making it one of the only green festivals in Maryland. Actions to reduce the festival's environmental footprint include using local food vendors and ingredients, compostable plates and utensils, reusable steel cups, refillable water stations, and a “no single-use plastic water bottles” policy. Learn more at: www.baygrassfestival.com/green-initiatives.

By celebrating the local region, giving back to the community, and curating a fantastic lineup of national artists, Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival aims to be a pillar in the local music scene and an annual music festival tradition for years to come!

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival Full 2023 Lineup:
Yonder Mountain String Band
Railroad Earth
Keller & The Keels
Melvin Seals & JGB
Fruition
Lindsay Lou (band & artist-at-large)
Cabinet
Cris Jacobs & Smooth Kentucky
Jon Stickley Trio
Arkansauce
The Dirty Grass Players
Geraldine
The High & Wides
Wicked Sycamore

Sun, 06/18/2023 - 8:44 am

Randy Steele is an award winning banjo pickin' singer/songwriter from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Randy’s creative music ranges from character based narratives to deeply personal and revelatory. Emotionally powerful, Steele can wake you up with a hard-drivin' song, draw you in with deep lyrics, and have you laughing (or crying) with a compelling confession. Steele independently released a new single, “A Golden Smile,” today!

"Bright banjo tones and Randy's smiling vocals and a poppy click track set the tone for this tale of woe," wrote Americans Highways in their premiere of “A Golden Smile.” The song, which landed him as a finalist in this year's Kerrville Folk Festival's Grassy Hill New Folk Competition and a semi-finalist in American Songwriter’s Song of the year 2022, is based on Randy's remembrance of his own self doubt and fear when he first started dating his wife; they have been married for 22 years.

If I had a heart of stone
Ventricles of granite
Pumping gravels thru my veins
I don’t have a heart of stone
So it don’t matter anyways.

Randy says of “A Golden Smile,” “The click is an old Seth Thomas metronome that is sitting in front of a microphone. This very metronome sat on my Mom’s piano for decades and she recently gave it to me. It’s one of those crank up styles that will hold time for a bit but eventually slows then just dies. It does have a more aesthetically pleasing acoustic sound than most of the modern day metronomes. I’ve played banjo and guitar scales with that old thing for so long now that the song feels like a duet with an old friend.”

Steele’s songwriting is often storytelling in nature, Randy says, “As of late though, the songs that are more personal are tending to be the ones that mean more thus they end up on the recordings.”

Randy’s high-energy bluegrass band, High Cold Wind, brings out the best in his charisma and superb storytelling and they are set to independently release a 5-song self-titled EP this August which will also contain “A Golden Smile.”

The first single was released in March: A good old heartache song about growth ,“There’s a Part of Me,” was premiered by Americana UK with Jonathan Aird writing, “It’s a song that sounds as traditional as heck, but take a careful listen to the lyrics and you’ll find very modern sensibilities and concerns being thought about. Not too many Bluegrass songs include scenes like: ‘I remember that Christmas / When you got a neck tattoo / And your momma cried and / Spent the holidays holed up inside her room / She said that you can’t be buried / With your family anymore.’”

Bluegrass Today praised the music video for “There’s a Part of Me” as “a clever music video that mixes animation and live action on this story of heartbreak and recovery.” Nicholas Edward Williams of American Songcatcher says of it, “ You couldn’t name enough bluegrass songs on one hand that cover that much ground emotionally. Then add the depth of the looming chorus, that Steele’s heart ‘heals a little every day, that I spend away from you.’ It’s the kind of break up song that we all wish were true to our own lives.”

The other three upcoming songs included on the EP are: “Nashville Drinking Song” (a fun fast paced song about leaving the big city and moving back to the country), “It Happened” (quick tempo and fun bluegrass song about life in the country, maybe robbing some banks, and lying to the police!), and “Eight Thirty Eighteen” (a song born out of frustration and channeled into a super fast, major key, knee slappin’ bluegrass number).

Joining Steele in High Cold Wind is Fiddlin’ Faye Petree, regional fiddle legend of the North Carolina and Georgia music scene; flat pick wizard and member of Americana favorites Strung Like a Horse, Tyler Martelli, on acoustic guitar; multiple state, multiple instrumental contest champion and well known teacher John Boulware on mandolin; and Justin Hupp holding it down on the upright bass.

Randy says, ”For a while now I’ve been wanting to do more bluegrass. I love bluegrass. It is a great example of simplicity and complexity combined. Every time I hear the simple 1 & 3 low thump of an upright bass contrasted by the 2 & 4 hard chop of a mandolin, I am immediately reminded of a thousand great evenings playing with friends. Memories of a million banjo breaks on standards, just trying to find where the banjo fits, come flooding back to me each time. Usually I had a smile on my face and maybe a little whiskey on my breath. I wanted to convey that feeling with this group of songs. The subject matter for the most part is southern living, particularly based around my youth growing up in a Pentecostal Church.” 

Sat, 08/05/2023 - 3:11 pm

Authentic and from-the-heart, Stella Prince’s melodies delve deep into your spirit with her evocative and relatable songs. Her poetic lyrics, in tandem with the atmospheric sounds of her vocals, acoustic guitar, and musical compositions, appeal to a diverse, multi-generational audience. Born and raised in Woodstock, NY, Stella, who is nearing the end of her teenage years, is now living in Nashville.

Stella Prince’s musical influences span decades—from country and folk music’s renowned voices of Judy Garland, Karen Carpenter, Patsy Cline, Emmylou Harris, and Dolly Parton; to the pop icon Taylor Swift. Think Country Press says, “Imagine the perfect mixture of Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, and Judy Collins all packed into one young musician.”

Stella independently released her 8th single, “Two Faced,” on August 4. For this newest single, Stella had the pleasure of working with Steve Fishell, a Nashville-based pedal steel guitarist, Grammy-winning record producer, and educator [Dolly Parton, John Prine, Mavis Staples, Emmylou Harris].

“No one sings like Stella Prince,” says Fishell. “I was transported the first time I heard her and I bet you will be too.”

Emotionally moving from the start, accentuated by Fishell’s pedal steel, with the harrowing opening lines, “You got her right where you wanted… Lonely enough so she’d take the bait… Blinded by words that were only an empty promise… Desperation paves way for mistakes.” The heart of the song is in the chorus: ‘There’s all kinds of empty… but the hardest one to take… is lies that seem tempting… Loneliness is two faced.’

Stella says, “My big goal is for someone to play my song and think, ‘That’s exactly how I feel…’ I want my songs to resonate with everyone, every generation, every issue: loneliness, fear, all of that.”

MusicFestNews premiered the track and writes, “[‘Two Faced’] is a song that plays on universal themes such as heartache, isolation and loneliness. With Prince’s emotive vocals floating over Fishell’s guitar, the track’s lyrics hit listeners square in the heart.”

Self produced, “Two Faced” was recorded at the legendary Sound Stage Studios on Music Row in Nashville [Est. 1970. Johnny Cash, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Buddy Guy] with Sound Engineer Kameron Luchterhand [Carrie Underwood, Devon Allman, Luke Combs].

Stella says, “It was an amazing experience—my first time ever recording with a full band. Actually this song specifically is the first ever song I recorded with more than just me. It was wild and incredible.” Joining her at SoundStage, along with Fishell, for the “live recording” feel are Nashville players: Ben Garrett (keys, guitar), PJ Schreiner (drums), Mike Dunton (electric guitar), and Father Phillip (bass).

Stella Prince on Tour:
8/10 Thu - Bozeman Taproom - Bozeman, MT
8/14 Mon -  Paris West  - Cheyenne, WY
8/15 Tue - Little Bear Inn - Cheyenne, WY
8/30 Wed - Parlour - Providence RI
8/31 Thu - Galactic Theatre - Warren RI
9/1 Fri - The Lily Pad - Boston MA
9/2 Sat - Daryl's House (3-5pm) - Pawling, NY
9/3 Sun - Club Passim - Boston, MA
9/22 Fri - The Falcon - Marlboro, NY *w/ Professor Louie
9/23 Sat - Silvana - New York, NY
9/24 Sun - Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 1) - New York, NY
9/25 Mon - The Bitter End - New York, NY

Nashville Shows:
8/20 Sun - All-female Folk/Americana showcase hosted by Stella - The Underdog - Nashville, TN
9/19 Tue - Special Folk/Americana Showcase as part of AmericanaFest - The Underdog - Nashville, TN
9/21 Thu - One Big Love Fest @ The Coliseum - Nashville, TN
10/4 Wed - The Bowery Vault - Nashville, TN
10/15 Sun - All-female Folk/Americana showcase hosted by Stella - The Underdog - Nashville, TN

Thu, 08/10/2023 - 8:05 am

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival takes place Saturday, Sept 30 & Sunday, Oct 1 on the gorgeous beach at Sandy Point State Park along Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, MD. Highlighting the best in regional and national bluegrass, jamgrass, and Americana music, this conservation-focused musical event was listed as a “Don’t-Miss Bay Music Festival” by Chesapeake Bay Magazine. A family-friendly festival, Annapolis Baygrass anticipates drawing people from all over the country and the region to enjoy the unique beachfront destination, scrumptious local foods, and delightful cocktails and mocktails.

The event will host 14 bands across two alternating stages over two days, and Annapolis Baygrass is thrilled to announce the daily lineups!

Saturday headliners are Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, and Keller & The Keels. These three legendary bands have joined together in camaraderie for a unique tour, presented by Relix, and Annapolis Baygrass is their final stop! There will be a set by each, followed by a big jam to close out the night. Saturday daytime is full of flavor with the cinematic Jon Stickley Trio and Baltimore's own high energy The Dirty Grass Players and Baygrass House Stringband, Geraldine.

Sunday headliner, Melvin Seals and JGB, will be serving up a tasty mix that spans from blues to funk to rock to jazz, with a little R&B and gospel thrown in to spice things up. A powerful presence in the music industry for over 30 years, Seals is most revered for his high-spirited playing in the Jerry Garcia Band for 18 years. Melvin and JGB bring an intuitive, expressive style, soul, spontaneity, and remarkable chops to the table with John Kadlecik on lead guitar and vocals, John-Paul McLean's savory bass, Jeremy Hoenig on the drums and, of course, a heapin' helpin' of the wizard's magic on Hammond B-3 Organ and keyboards.

Sunday offers an eclectic assortment of bands to rock out and dance to—each adding their own stories, harmonious vocals, and fiery fingerpickin’ to the mix—including Fruition, Cabinet, Cris Jacobs & Smooth Kentucky, Arkansauce, and the Chesapeake Bay area’s Wicked Sycamore and The High & Wides.  

Lindsay Lou will sweep you off your feet with her incredible vocals and beautiful lyrics—both with her band on Saturday, and as artist-at-large throughout the event.

“The Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival was born out of our team’s love of progressive bluegrass music, the desire to generate a fun community-oriented vibe, and a passion for protecting the Chesapeake Bay,” says festival co-founder Ron Peremel. “We created a unique music festival where just by having fun you're helping the Bay. As we like to say: ‘Every Jam Saves the Bay!’"

More than a music festival, Annapolis Baygrass maintains its mission to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay. 10% of all proceeds from ticket, food, beverage, and merchandise sales will go to Maryland-based non-profit organizations including Watershed Stewards Academy, Oyster Recovery Partnership, and Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.

Sandy Point State Park, a 786-acre Maryland State Park located along the northwestern shore of the Chesapeake Bay, provides a perfect backdrop for this one-of-a-kind festival with stunning views of the Chesapeake Bay and ample space to spread out and enjoy themselves in comfort and style on the sandy beaches. Annapolis Baygrass has plenty of offerings for all ages including interactive artist and conservation workshops, yoga classes, beach and yard games, a Kidzone, a craft vendor village, and other activities.

Fresh lump crab cakes, roasted and raw oysters, gourmet BBQ, Asian food, tacos, wood-fired pizzas, vegan and vegetarian delicacies, and other locally curated culinary options will be available at the festival. Attendees will enjoy tasty microbrews by our partners Pherm Brewing Company and Idiom Brewing Co. at the Baytoberfest Beer Garden, as well as fresh craft cocktails from Gray Wolf Spirits, The Wine Collective wines, and delicious non-alcoholic drinks and mocktails from Sobar at the waterfront Blue Crab Beach Bar.
 
An exceptional VIP option is available for those wishing to upgrade their experience with the beach-front VIP pavilion, exclusive viewing areas as well as a hot, gourmet meal hosted by our partners at Chesapeake Chef Service. Perks include chef-prepared hot meals, fresh-shucked oysters, snacks, free beverages, VIP parking, private entrance, as well as VIP Gift Bag with Annapolis Baygrass branded reusable steel cups and other merch. Learn more at www.baygrassfestival.com/VIP.

Heavily discounted nearby lodging partners, camping options (first serve basis and fit options for all budgets) and shuttle service make it an enjoyable and hassle-free weekend! Please note the deadline to reserve your camping spot at KOA is August 25. Shuttles will be serving the partnering lodging locations from 10am to post show Saturday and Sunday. Shuttle Passes are on sale now at the ticketing link. More information on lodging at www.baygrassfestival.com/lodging.

Baygrass’ environmental ethos is evidenced in its adoption of the sustainability model, making it one of the only green festivals in Maryland. Actions to reduce the festival's environmental footprint include using local food vendors and ingredients, compostable plates and utensils, reusable steel cups, refillable water stations, and a “no single-use plastic water bottles” policy. Learn more at: www.baygrassfestival.com/green-initiatives.

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival was founded in 2022 by Ron Peremel, John Way, and Ron Katz, who share a passion for music, a love of the local region, and a desire to give back to the community by creating a music festival with a purpose. They brought in industry veterans to join the team: Executive Director Thom Bloom, Marketing Director Ellen Crawford, and Green/Sustainability Director Walter Wright.

Baygrass also draws attention to mental health education and recognizes that music is often an excellent vehicle to building and growing a healthy, strong community. To connect the public to wellness resources, the festival has partnered with non-profits VA Way, the music-industry centric Backline, and our beverage partner Sobar whose mission envisions "an environment where the stigma of alcoholism, addiction, mental illness, and not drinking alcohol is eliminated."

Baygrass co-founder and founder of VA WAY, John Way—an Army Veteran and a Certified Veteran MHFA (Mental Health First Aid) Instructor—says, “I have attended hundreds of shows and festivals for over 20 years and have seen firsthand how music has the power to heal the mind. We have a rare opportunity with Baygrass to bring important mental health information to a large audience in an incredibly positive and supportive setting. We’ve just partnered with Anne Arundel County Health Department to bring narcan training to the event as a harm reduction workshop for the community.”

Some of our other official Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival partners include Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County and The Lyric, Baltimore’s premiere live entertainment venue.

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival has a theme song, “In The Water,” by Geraldine with special guest Cris Jacobs! The song was written by singer/songwriter/guitarist John Bolten, PhD, who is not only Geraldine’s bandleader but also the Chief of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Hydrological Sciences Lab—this man understands the water and why all of our actions have such a significant impact on the Chesapeake Bay. Listen here → https://linktr.ee/geraldineband.

Hear a bit from all of the Annapolis Baygrass artists on our Annapolis Baygrass Spotify Playlist.

By celebrating the local region, giving back to the community, and curating a fantastic lineup of musicians, Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival aims to be a pillar in the local music scene and an annual music festival tradition for years to come!

Thu, 08/10/2023 - 10:34 am

“Our waiting days are finally over,” the title track from Pert Near Sandstone’s new album decries, echoing the sentiment of a community recently pent up and beyond longing. What can develop from the turbulence of a still dwindling global pandemic and also respond to the noise of prattling politics? Art has its purpose in this exact hour.

It’s a strikingly different world than when Pert Near Sandstone first began nearly two decades ago near the sandstone river bluffs of St. Paul. The former latchkey kids who grew up together a few Mississippi-miles upstream have been out on a spree, through the thicket, and have been performing and recording this past year in earnest, which has culminated in their eighth studio album. Waiting Days is set for independent release on October 20.

“Out of Time,” the album's heaviest hitting song, is a gazette of concerns that we face in troubled times. The explicit itemization is an alarm for movement; the singer’s vocals singe of desperation is motivation to confront the things most feared and to hold on to what is most dear. Lest we get lost in despair, we can find rejuvenation in one of the strongest songs, “All Waves Break,” which gestures with surrealism to offset the bleakness of a just-as-wacky reality.

They are releasing the first glimpse of the new tunes with “All Waves Break” as the album’s first single. Watch the lyric video for the song here → https://youtu.be/M_eB5cJyZ64

Waiting Days has all the merit of maturity and the strengths of its four songwriters (all of whom are vocalists)—Justin Bruhn (bass), Kevin Kniebel (banjo), J Lenz (guitar), and Nate Sipe (mandolin, steel guitars, fiddle)—offering responses to each other’s compositions through a long camaraderie. Sipe says, “After almost twenty years together, our bond has grown to reflect more of a family, a band of brothers.”

As longtime stewards of the modern stringband revival, Pert Near has a songcraft informed by the American folk tradition in a delivery of acoustic instrumentation. The songs themselves tell a different tale, straying from the reliquary of common stringband selections, lightly veiled as bluegrass while sneakily appeasing their inner desire for a more modern musical timbre. Pert Near delivers another full album of original songs that meditates on this exact present, rich with context and reference.   

There are songs that reach into a field that isn't always aglow with sunlight while finding beauty in the tenderness of relationships. There are traveling songs sung by a band that has hit the pavement hard over their time, simultaneously creating a soundtrack for those all night drives that music festival devotees well know.  This isn’t music reaching for the banality of pop hits—this is fresh air for blades of new grass to grow in. At times there is an almost symphonic string section that lifts the melody, while other times the simplicity of banjo and pedal steel indeed helps us believe the genuine intentions of Pert Near Sandstone’s creative resolve.

Chris Forsberg, a recent inclusion to the outfit, puts his fiddle stamp on the overall sound with turnbuckle solos and harmonious response to the melodies. The interplay of mandolin and fiddle carries much of the music across the songs, but it’s the mixture of guest instrumentalists that gives this album a unique tapestry of sounds and texture, opening a deeper space that has become standard in production for Pert Near Sandstone projects.

Trampled By Turtles’ fiddler and original Pert Near member, Ryan Young, recorded and mixed the album—the fourth he has gifted his audio wizardry to— and added his fiddle and other accouterments to bolster the energy of the songs. The intimacy of collaboration is at the heart of this new project, after all, which spanned several of the harshest weeks of a midwestern winter in Ryan’s NeonBrown Recording Studio in Crystal, Minnesota.

Ryan says, “I’ve been recording Pert Near Sandstone since 2004 when I’d set up some mics to record our practices. I feel like we know each other really well and I know what kind of sounds they are going for. Some songs call for a stripped down feel of friends playing folk music together in a living room, and others are more elaborate with influences from metal to electronic music to rock and more.”

The railroad laden album cover looks as though it could be an illustration for the song, “End of The Line,” wherein a conversation between a hobo and railroad brakeman confront the possible obsolescence of their livelihoods. We can now hear that distant whistle as a token of hope. An electric steel guitar slides into the conversation and nods to early country music, played by the band's train hopper and mandolinist. Several other songs also feature Sipe’s work on pedal steel guitar.

In an ever-changing terrain, digitally enhanced and quickly refreshed, only an album like this could be harvested. By contrast to tik tocs, reels, and tweets, this album was formed from the wilderness and carved from the heartwood. The band would say their music and sound come about organically, but under the tall oak trees of the Twin Cities, those wooden instruments may have been antennas drawn to the marrow, like a divination wand used to scratch an itch or soothe a wound, they tapped into this latest collection of songs.  

Anyone that knows this band is aware of their humor and levity, and that charm is never far from the surface. It is a central component of their expression and shared experience. The connectedness to community is at the core of Pert Near’s music and philosophy. Nobody on earth is having a singular experience, as these songs shine a light upon. We are all here together. As the title track declares, “... I want to take you with me when I go.” Let’s get ready. Now is our time. The waiting days are over.

Pre-save Waiting Days on Spotify: https://show.co/kHU93US.

Pert Near Sandstone on Tour
08.17 | Sioux Falls, SD - Icon Lounge
08.18 | Custer, SD - Beacon
08.19 | Livingston, MT - Pine Creek Lodge
09.16 | St. Paul, MN - Dual Citizen Brewing
09.21 | Appleton, WI - Poplar Hall
09.22 | Winona, MN - Boats and Bluegrass Festival
10.04 | Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads
10.05 | Columbia, MO - Blue Rose Music Hall
10.07 | Pelham, TN - Cave Fest
10.19 | Bend, OR - Volcanic Theatre Pub
10.20 | Portland, OR - Good Foot
10.21 | Centralia, WA - Juice Box
10.22 | Seattle, WA - High Dive
11.03 | LaCrosse, WI - Midwest Music Fest
11.08 | Lincoln, NE - Zoo Bar *
11.09 | Ft Collins, CO - 830 N *
11.10 | Boulder, CO - Velvet Elk Lounge *
11.11 | Denver, CO - Ophelia's *
11.30 | Ames, IA - Alluvial Brewing
12.01 | Mankato, MN - Mankato Brewery ^
12.02 | Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue ^

* w / Henhouse Prowlers
^ w / Them Coulee Boys

Fri, 09/08/2023 - 5:52 pm

“Our waiting days are finally over,” the title track from Pert Near Sandstone’s new album decries, echoing the sentiment of a community recently pent up and beyond longing. What can develop from the turbulence of a still dwindling global pandemic and also respond to the noise of prattling politics? Art has its purpose in this exact hour.

It’s a strikingly different world than when Pert Near Sandstone first began nearly two decades ago near the sandstone river bluffs of St. Paul. The former latchkey kids who grew up together a few Mississippi-miles upstream have grown into a band of brothers, bonded together as family. By contrast to tik tocs, reels, and tweets in an ever-changing terrain that is digitally enhanced and quickly refreshed, this album was formed from the wilderness and carved from the heartwood.

Waiting Days has all the merit of maturity and the strengths of its four songwriters (all of whom are vocalists)—Justin Bruhn (bass), Kevin Kniebel (banjo), J Lenz (guitar), and Nate Sipe (mandolin, steel guitars, fiddle)—offering responses to each other’s compositions through a long camaraderie. Chris Forsberg, a more recent inclusion to the outfit, puts his fiddle stamp on the overall sound with turnbuckle solos and harmonious responses to the melodies. The album is set for independent release on October 20.

The interplay of mandolin and fiddle carry much of the music across the songs, but it’s the mixture of guest instrumentalists that gives this album a unique tapestry of sounds and texture, with accents of piano, trumpet, choral vocalists, steel guitar, and percussion. As longtime stewards of the modern stringband revival, their studio recordings have continuously pulled the genre toward a more contemporary perspective, meditating on the present and rich with reference. This isn’t music reaching for the banality of pop hits, instead they provide fresh air for blades of new grass to grow in.

Trampled By Turtles’ fiddler and original Pert Near member, Ryan Young, recorded and mixed the album—the fourth he has gifted his audio wizardry to— and added his fiddle and other accouterments to bolster the energy of the songs. The intimacy of collaboration is at the heart of this new project, which was recorded during several of the harshest weeks of a midwestern winter in Ryan’s NeonBrown Recording Studio in Crystal, Minnesota.  

They released the first glimpse of the new tunes with “All Waves Break” as the album’s first single, which was premiered by JamBase who called the song “poignant.” Pert Near now offers another taste of what is in store with the full album with “I’ve Been Traveling,” which is out today on streaming outlets.

“I’ve Been Traveling,” “Soo Line,” and “On To Dawn” are traveling songs, sung by a band that has hit the pavement hard over their time, simultaneously creating a soundtrack for those all night drives that music festival devotees well know.

“Out of Time,” the album's heaviest hitting song, is a gazette of concerns that we face in troubled times. The explicit itemization is an alarm for movement; the singer’s vocals singe of desperation is motivation to confront the things most feared and to hold on to what is most dear. Lest we get lost in despair, we can find rejuvenation in one of the strongest songs, “All Waves Break,” which gestures with surrealism to offset the bleakness of a just-as-wacky reality.

In “Clouds Are Gathering,” the story and images reach into a field that isn't always aglow with sunlight, while finding beauty in the tenderness of relationships. In “Believe,” we are granted access to an inner world propelled by an almost symphonic string section. “Lay Down Your Burdens” has a simplicity that indeed helps us believe the genuine intentions of Pert Near Sandstone’s creative resolve.

“Who To Choose” gives permission to an indeterminate personality to decide their own path in this human condition. The railroad-laden album cover looks as though it could be an illustration, “End of The Line,” wherein a conversation between a hobo and railroad brakeman confront the possible obsolescence of their livelihoods. A distant whistle is heard as a token of hope with Sipe’s electric steel guitar sliding into the conversation with a nod to early country music.

Well known for their humor and levity, with charm that is never far from the surface, the connectedness to community is at the core of Pert Near’s music and philosophy. Nobody on earth is having a singular experience, as these songs shine a light upon. We are all here together. As the title track declares, “... I want to take you with me when I go.” Let’s get ready. Now is our time. The waiting days are over.

Pre-save Waiting Days on Spotify: https://show.co/kHU93US

Sat, 09/09/2023 - 10:53 am

Vince Herman is out to have some fun. 33 years after founding Leftover Salmon, Vince released an album of his own and hit the road to play a batch of songs developed in his new Nashville home. It’s a bit of a departure from the “Salmon sound” as he digs into his idea of what country music is. There’s some bluegrass and Cajun influences and honky tonk ballads all piled atop great players taking the tunes for a ride.

Vince formed a hot band consisting of some of Nashville’s finest musicians, all also vocalists, to take on the road! Joining him in the Vince Herman Band for their Fall tour dates are Nathan Graham (upright bass), Dakota Holden (pedal steel), Ian Cory (banjo/fiddle), his son Silas Herman (mandolin/guitar), Alex Johnson (drums) [Sept], and Lawrence Nemenz (drums) [October/November].

The Vince Herman Band Tour kicks off with a free show in Vince’s sometime home state of Colorado, at the Mishawaka Amphitheatre on Sunday, September 10. They then hit up a few points in California before venturing back to the Midwest, then a bit of the south, the east, and the Southeast. Basically, they’re covering as much as they can in 3 months.

“With his immersion into Nashville, Herman’s also peeling back the pages of Music City history, harkening back to the early days of country music, where the genre lines were blurred or not yet defined by record labels and marketing teams,” writes Rolling Stone’s Garret K. Woodward.

“I’m gonna try to keep my solo repertoire separate from Leftover Salmon so people can expect something different than they would see at a Salmon show,” says Vince to Relix Magazine’s Mike Greenhaus. “I want them to live in different worlds, but one of the reasons I made this record is that I’m a fan of country music. And I’ve always thought of Salmon as a country band. You can look at the Grateful Dead as a country band—to me, bluegrass, cajun music, ballads and all that stuff is what makes up country music… But, though I’ve always seen Salmon as somewhat of a country band, the country and jamband worlds are absolutely miles apart—not so much musically, but culturally. And at this point, so much of this country needs to come together, with all the walls between the different sides and all the perceived little niches that we’re supposed to stay in, man. We need to come together as a country. And music can play a big role in that. So I guess you can say that I want to bring the hippies to country. I want to say, ‘We’re kind of doing the same thing here, folks. Can we talk?’”

Vince Herman Band on Tour:

SEPTEMBER
9/10 Sun - Bellevue, CO - Mishawaka Amphitheater
9/14 Thu - Arcata, CA - Humbrews / Humboldt Brews
9/15 Fri - Grass Valley, CA - The Center for the Arts
9/16 Sat - Mill Valley, CA -  Sweetwater Music Hall
9/17 Sun - Felton, CA - Santa Cruz Mountain Sol Festival
9/19 Tue - Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room
9/20 Wed - Teton Village, WY - Mangy Moose Restaurant & Saloon

OCTOBER
10/8 Sun - Makanda, IL - Little Grassy Get Down
10/12 Thu - Richmond, VA - Richmond Music Hall at Capital Ale House*
10/13 Fri - Roanoke, VA - 5 Points Music Sanctuary*
10/14 Sat - Huntington, WV - THE LOUD*
10/15 Sun - Morgantown, WV - Mountain Stage Radio Show
10/23 Mon - Tulsa, OK - The Shrine
10/25 Wed - Wichita, KS - Wave
10/26 Thu - Edwardsville, IL - Wildey Theatre
10/27 Fri - Bloomington, IL - The Castle Theatre
10/28 Sat - Evanston, IL - Evanston SPACE
10/29 Sun - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall
*w/ Airshow

NOVEMBER^
11/1 Wed - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
11/2 Thu - Charleston, SC - Charleston Pour House
11/3 Fri  - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre
11/4 Sat - Knoxville, TN - Open Chord Stage
11/5 Sun - Asheville, NC - Asheville Music Hall
11/7 Tue - Lexington, NC - High Rock Outfitters
11/8 Wed - Atlanta, GA - Smith's Olde Bar
11/9 Thu - Tupelo, MS - Blue Canoe
11/10 Fri - Memphis, TN - Hi Tone
11/11 Sat - Nashville, TN - 3rd & Lindsley Nashville
11/12 Sun - Louisville, KY - Whirling Tiger
11/14 Tue - Newport, KY - The Southgate House Revival
11/15 Wed - Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird Café & Music Hall
11/16 Thu- Wayne, PA - 118 North
11/17 Fri - Blairstown, NJ - Roy's Hall
11/18 Sat - Thomas, WV - The Purple Fiddle
11/19 Sun - York, PA - Appell Center for the Performing Arts
^All November dates w/ Airshow

Vince Herman Other Appearances:

9/22 Fri - Vince Herman + Drew Emmit - Billy Strings Renewal Fest - Buena Vista, CO

10/10 Tue - Handle With Care: A Tribute to Tom Petty - Brooklyn Bowl - Nashville, TN
Benefit for Backline: All Star Band led by Derek Wells w/ songs performed by Wynonna Judd, Brittney Spencer, Charles Wesly Godwin, Sierra Hull, Vince Herman & more

Leftover Salmon Tour Dates: www.leftoversalmon.com/tour

Fri, 09/15/2023 - 4:28 pm

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival takes place Saturday, September 30 & Sunday, October 1 on the gorgeous beach at Sandy Point State Park along Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, MD. Highlighting the finest in regional and national bluegrass, jamgrass, and Americana music, this conservation-focused musical event was listed as a “Don’t-Miss Bay Music Festival” by Chesapeake Bay Magazine. A family friendly festival, Annapolis Baygrass anticipates drawing people from all over the country and the region to enjoy the unique beachfront destination, scrumptious local foods, and delightful cocktails and mocktails.

“The Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival was born out of our team’s love of progressive bluegrass music, the desire to generate a fun community-oriented vibe, and a passion for protecting the Chesapeake Bay,” says festival co-founder Ron Peremel. “We created a unique music festival where just by having fun you're helping the Bay. As we like to say: ‘Every Jam Saves the Bay!’"

Annapolis Baygrass will host 14 bands across two alternating stages over two days, and Annapolis Baygrass is thrilled to announce the daily schedules!

Saturday headliners are Yonder Mountain String Band (8:20-9:30pm), Railroad Earth (6-7:10pm), and Keller & The Keels (7:10-8:20pm). These three legendary bands have joined together in camaraderie for a unique tour, presented by Relix, and Annapolis Baygrass is their final stop! There will be a set by each, followed by a big jam to close out the night (All Star Jam 9:30-10pm).

Saturday daytime is full of flavor with the cinematic Jon Stickley Trio (2:30-4pm), Baltimore's own high energy The Dirty Grass Players (1-2:30pm), and Lindsay Lou will sweep you off your feet with her incredible vocals and beautiful lyrics—both with her band on Saturday (4-5:30pm), and as artist-at-large throughout the event. Baygrass House Stringband—Geraldine opens the festival (Sat 11:45am-12:45pm) and will perform the Annapolis Baygrass Theme Song “In The Water” after a Proclamation from Mayor of Annapolis—Gavin Buckley (Sat 5:30-6pm).

Sunday headliner, Melvin Seals and JGB (7:15-9pm), will be serving up a tasty mix that spans from blues to funk to rock to jazz, with a little R&B and gospel thrown in to spice things up. A powerful presence in the music industry for over 30 years, Seals is most revered for his high-spirited playing in the Jerry Garcia Band for 18 years. Melvin and JGB bring an intuitive, expressive style, soul, spontaneity, and remarkable chops to the table with John Kadlecik on lead guitar and vocals, John-Paul McLean's savory bass, Jeremy Hoenig on the drums and, of course, a heapin' helpin' of the wizard's magic on Hammond B-3 Organ and keyboards.

Sunday daytime offers an eclectic assortment of bands to rock out and dance to—each adding their own stories, harmonious vocals, and fiery fingerpickin’ to the mix—including Fruition (5:30-7pm), Cabinet (4-5:20pm), Cris Jacobs & Smooth Kentucky (2:45-3:55pm), Arkansauce (1:45-2:45pm), and the Chesapeake Bay area’s Wicked Sycamore (12:45-1:45pm) and The High & Wides (11:45am-12:45pm).  

Hear music from all of the artists on the Annapolis Baygrass Spotify Playlist.

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival has a theme song, “In The Water,” by Geraldine with special guest Cris Jacobs! The song was written by singer/songwriter/guitarist John Bolten, PhD, who is also the Chief of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Hydrological Sciences Lab—this man understands the water and why all of our actions have such a significant impact on the Chesapeake Bay. John says, “‘In the Water’ was written with all the heart and soul of the Chesapeake Bay in mind.”

Wed, 09/27/2023 - 3:21 pm

Hosting some of the most prominent names in American roots music, The 7th Suwannee Roots Revival takes place Thursday-Sunday, October 5-8 at the beloved Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. We are thrilled to announce the daily schedule for music and workshops. See the full schedule here→ https://suwanneerootsrevival.com/schedule.

Headliners include Duluth's acoustic Folk/Americana/bluegrass rockers Trampled By Turtles and the final farewell show for Hot Tuna Electric (featuring Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady.)
 
Returning for another year are Donna the Buffalo, The Peter Rowan Band (Peter Rowan, David Grier, Mike Bub, and Larry Atamanuik), Jim Lauderdale & The Game Changers, Electric Larry Land (Larry Keel’s new all electric quartet), Jon Stickley Trio, Snake Oil Medicine Show, Verlon Thompson, Jeff Mosier Ensemble, John Mailander’s Forecast, The Grass Is Dead, Ralph Roddenbery & The Jones, Nikki Talley, Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, The NEW Quintet (featuring Nicholas Edward Williams), The Fried Turkeys, Sloppy Joe, and Quartermoon.
 
Newer to playing Suwannee, but making waves across the States are Big Richard (Neo-acoustic, all-female quartet from Colorado), Sunny War (Folk/punk from LA), The Last Revel (Fresh Americana from Minneapolis/Montana/Nashville), Stillhouse Junkies (swingin’/funky/ grassy roots from Durango), The Ain’t Sisters (Eclectic indie folk-rock from Atlanta), and Blair Crimmins & The Hookers (jazz/dixieland/ragtime from Atlanta).
 
Jam-packed with stellar music and dance on multiple stages, this family-friendly festival includes four days of music, camping, yoga, fun for kids, art and crafts, and a raffle for LOMAF (Live Oak Music & Arts Foundation). As always, there will be late night jams and daytime workshops with many of the artists performing.

Suwannee Roots Revival focuses on showcasing established as well as up-and-coming roots musicians throughout the weekend, often with some one-of-a -kind collaborations among the artists performing—you never know who will give a surprise sit-in on stage (or in the campgrounds for that matter).

Set in the midst of 800 acres of Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a playground and the festival celebrates community based fun, growing friendships, laughing families, and that feel-good feeling you get from hanging out in such a beautiful natural setting. This is the place to make new memories with friends old and new while gathering in a picturesque setting breathing in the songs that fill the air… as they say at SOSMP: “Music Lives Here.”

Weekend tickets include primitive camping. Student/Military tickets available. Ages 12 & under are free. For complete ticket information and to purchase tickets, visit suwanneerootsrevival.com/tickets.

Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's website at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

Get your tickets now; you’ll be glad you did when you leave refreshed with a big grin on your face and a new tune in your heart!

Suwannee Roots Revival 2023
Trampled By Turtles —Sat
Hot Tuna Electric —Sat
Donna the Buffalo —Thu & Fri
The Peter Rowan Band —Fri
Peter Rowan and David Grier (workshop) —Thu
Jim Lauderdale & The Game Changers —Fri & Sat
Jim Lauderdale and Verlon Thompson (workshop) —Sat
Electric Larry Land —Thu & Fri
Big Richard —Thu & Fri (x2)
Jon Stickley Trio —Thu & Fri
Sunny War —Fri (x2) & Sat
The Last Revel —Fri & Sat (x2)
Stillhouse Junkies —Sat & Sun
Snake Oil Medicine Show —Fri, Sat, & Sun
Verlon Thompson —Fri, Sat, & Sun
Jeff Mosier Ensemble —Fri & Sat
Mosier Brothers & Friends —Sunday closing set
Jeff Mosier (banjo workshop) —Sat
John Mailander’s Forecast –Sat
LPT —Fri (2x)
The Grass Is Dead —Sat (x2) & Sun
The Ain’t Sisters —Fri, Sat, & Sun
Blair Crimmins & The Hookers —Thu (x2), Fri, & Sat
Ralph Roddenbery & The Jones —Fri, Sat, & Sun
Nikki Talley Band —Fri, Sat, & Sun
Grandpa’s Cough Medicine —Thu, Fri, & Sat
The NEW Quintet —Sat (x2) & Sun
Sloppy Joe —Fri & Sat
Sloppy Joe Jam (workshop- bring instruments) —Fri
Quartermoon —Thu & Sat
The Fried Turkeys —Sat
Tom Nelly (guitar workshop) —Fri & Sat
Jared Womack (Dobro workshop) —Fri
Brett Bass & Fil Pate (workshop) —Fri & Sat
Mark Williams & Arvind Smith (workshop) —Thu
Barry Sager (harmonica workshop) —Sat
Gaurav Malhotra (D.U.B. Drums workshop) —Fri & Sat
Yoga with Rhonda Bell —Fri, Sat, & Sun
Tania & the Magic Moon Traveling Circus —Sat & Sun performances plus 4 days of kids activities!

See the full schedule with all time and workshop details here→ https://suwanneerootsrevival.com/schedule

Fri, 10/06/2023 - 3:41 pm

Pert Near Sandstone independently releases a new album Waiting Days Oct 20. Longtime stewards of the modern stringband resurgence, Pert Near Sandstone are known for their contemporary appeal and collaborative spirit with their lively music, quick pickin,’ and creative lyrics.

“The band seems to forever seize the importance — and sound — of being earnest, while never fearing the somewhat strange. It's a winning combination, and one worth waiting to hear,” writes Aarik Danielsen in the Columbia Daily Tribune.

Pert Near’s four songwriters/vocalists—also all instrumentalists: Justin Bruhn (bass), Kevin Kniebel (banjo), J Lenz (guitar), and Nate Sipe (mandolin, steel guitars, fiddle)—write songs that speak to the present and are rife with allusions—spanning a breadth of content including traveling songs, concerns of the modern era, and surrealistic scenarios. The album showcases the bands harmonious musical interplay and turnbuckle solos, which are elevated further by guest instrumentalists’ accents of piano, trumpet, choral vocalists, steel guitar, and percussion.

Trampled By Turtles’ fiddler and original Pert Near member, Ryan Young, recorded and mixed the album—the fourth he has gifted his audio wizardry to— and added his fiddle and other accouterments to bolster the energy of the songs. The intimacy of collaboration is at the heart of this new project, which was recorded during several of the harshest weeks of a midwestern winter in Ryan’s NeonBrown Recording Studio in Crystal, Minnesota.

“Out of Time,” the album's heaviest hitting song, is a gazette of concerns that we face in troubled times. The explicit itemization is an alarm for movement; the singer’s vocals singe of desperation is motivation to confront the things most feared and to hold on to what is most dear. This song is available on all streaming outlets now → li.sten.to/26iksw8f.

Sat, 10/14/2023 - 7:23 am

Stella Prince's melodies are genuine and from the heart, and her evocative and accessible tunes delve deep into your spirit. Her poetic lyrics, in tandem with the atmospheric sounds of her vocals, acoustic guitar, and musical compositions, appeal to a diverse, multi-generational audience.

Stella’s musical influences span decades—from country and folk music’s renowned voices of Judy Garland, Karen Carpenter, Patsy Cline, Emmylou Harris, and Dolly Parton; to the pop icon Taylor Swift. Think Country Press writes, “Imagine the perfect mixture of Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, and Judy Collins all packed into one young musician.”

Stella has a wonderfully distinctive voice as well as a fascinating backstory. Born and raised in Woodstock, NY, Stella, who is nearing the end of her teenage years, was immersed in music from an early age as the only child of creative parents (a painter/photographer and a writer). She graduated highschool at age 15 (during the beginning of the pandemic in 2020) and earned her two-year associates degree—with a focus on music—at age 16. She started releasing singles in 2021 and moved to Nashville with her family towards the start of this year.

Stella says in an interview with Stereotype Co, “I think the pandemic actually pushed me positively to focus entirely on my career, and nothing else but my career. I’ve always known my whole life that this is what I was meant to do. When I was four, I told my parents I was ready for a manager and that I was determined to begin that day.”

Stella says her latest single “Dear Future Me” [independently released Oct 13] is, “written from a place of sadness, wondering if there is any possible chance that in the future I will lose the insecurities I grew up with. I wonder if I'll ever be confident, and not filled with doubt, and worry. Who knows what my future self will do, and what I'll think of her.”

Stella Prince  Press Shot & Single Artwork  Photo Credit: Lily Prince

“‘Dear Future Me’ [is] a song that immediately brings to mind the softer ballads of Dolly Parton. Through her poignant lyrics and truly standout vocals, Prince gives an old soul sound that feels wise beyond her years,” writes Glide Magazine in their exclusive premiere of the song. “What sets this apart is… going for something that feels simultaneously classic and fresh. The lovely touch of piano and twangy pedal steel give the song a sense of timelessness, and there is an excitement to the song as a whole that makes you eager to hear how Prince will progress as she continues to find her footing.”  

Self-produced, Stella recorded a handful of songs “live” at the legendary Sound Stage Studios with sound engineer Kameron Luchterhand. She had the honor of working with Nashville-based pedal steel guitarist, Grammy-winning record producer, and educator Steve Fishell [Dolly Parton, John Prine, Mavis Staples]. “No one sings like Stella Prince,” says Fishell. “I was transported the first time I heard her and I bet you will be too.”

This experience was Stella’s first time recording with a full band which, along with Prince and Fishell, includes some talented Nashville players: Ben Garrett (keys, guitar), PJ Schreiner (drums), Mike Dunton (electric guitar), and Father Phillip (bass). “Dear Future Me” is one of the results of that session. There are still a few unreleased songs which will be out in 2024.

The first song to emerge from those recordings, “Two Faced,” was released in early August and quickly rose to the position of #2 “Most Added” on the NACC Folk Charts. “Two Faced” is being played on BBC Radio Scotland with Iain Anderson as well as BBC Radio Ulster’s Country show with Ralph McLean. This is wonderful because, next week she embarks on a 12-show tour throughout England commencing October 21 in London, then through to Bristol, York, and everything in between, and finishing in Filely on November 6.

In May 2023, Stella started an all-female Folk/Americana showcase, Stella & Friends, presented by Change The Conversation —an organization that fights gender inequality in the music business— which takes place once a month at The Underdog in East Nashville. Stella & Friends was also selected to be a part of AmericanaFest 2023 and marked her debut performance at the event. Nashville Scene recommended the showcase and Nashville Noise listed it sas a “Showcase You Can’t Miss.”

Stella & Friends traveled to New York’s The Bitter End and Rockwood Music Hall in late September and while in the state, Stella interviewed on WFDU’s “Folk Music Notebook” and WIOX’s “Folk Odyssey.” In September she also performed on WDVX’s Blue Plate Special in Knoxville and was interviewed by WERU in Maine and WICN/Massachusetts Public Radio.

Previous singles include: 2021’s “The Rain Might Fall,” “Scared,” “Before You Leave,” and “Alone for the Holidays.” 2022 offered three new songs: “Crying on a Saturday Night,” “Eighteen,” and "Closing Doors."  

"Closing Doors" was produced by Professor Louie [The Band], who commented in Mix Magazine, “Stella has a voice and sensibility well beyond her years, and can draw listeners in with her vulnerable lyrics and captivating vocals… I’m looking forward to seeing her have a lasting impact with her songs on the Folk/Americana musical landscape.”

“My big goal is for someone to listen to my songs and think, ‘That’s exactly how I feel…’ Stella explains. “I want them to resonate with everyone, every generation, every issue: loneliness, fear, all of that.”

Kind Words about Stella Prince

“With the release of her eighth ethereal single ‘Two Faced,’ folk phenom Stella Prince has solidified her place among the genre’s rising stars… the tune’s soul-stirring lyrics coupled with Prince’s shimmering vocals aim for the heart.” —MusicFestNews, Dalia Jakubauskas, Song Premiere: “Two Faced”

“Singer/songwriter Stella Prince has amassed an impressive array of credits in a short period of time… The maturity in both the vocals and lyrics is also a reflection of the influences of veteran folk and pop performers on Prince, who has been a fan of veteran artists from the start.” —The Tennessee Tribune, Ron Wynn

“The urgency of Prince’s lyrics is nearly palpable in her singular voice, which effortlessly recalls the measured melodies of classic folk. Even on the highest notes, Prince’s voice holds a softness and lightness. Over careful and striking guitar lines, she all but lulls you into a trance. It’s a unique and memorable sound that's led her to critical acclaim.” —NYS Music, Hattie Lindert

“For the seventeen-year-old Stella Prince there’s the added angst of having missed out on a big part of those transition years, as she explained to Americana UK: ‘I feel like I lost half of my teenage years to the pandemic… My whole generation lost so much time growing up. So now that we’re adults, it just doesn’t feel real. We’re all scared of growing up.’ These tentative feelings and half-realised fears are captured in the direct ‘Eighteen‘.”  —Americana UK, Jonathan Aird, Song Premiere: “Eighteen” (July 2022)

“The first thing you’ll notice is Prince’s uncanny vocal tones sending chills down your spine. From that very instant, you’ll be hooked. ‘Why am I here, still crying on a Saturday night?’ is a very relatable sentiment, and the easy acoustic guitar buoyed by the fiddle accompaniment winds up delivering a very memorable and catchy package.” —Americana Highways, Melissa Clarke, Song Premiere: “Crying On A Saturday Night” (March 2022)

For more information, a full list of tour dates, and further updates, please visit, www.stellaprincemusic.com, www.facebook.com/stellaprincemusicofficial, www.instagram.com/stellaprincemusic, and watch her music videos at www.youtube.com/@stellaprincemusic.

Sat, 10/21/2023 - 11:31 am

Pert Near Sandstone independently released Waiting Days Oct 20. Longtime stewards of the modern stringband resurgence, Pert Near Sandstone are known for their contemporary appeal and collaborative spirit with their vibrant music, intricate pickin,’ and inventive lyrics.

“The band seems to forever seize the importance — and sound — of being earnest, while never fearing the somewhat strange. It's a winning combination, and one worth waiting to hear,” writes Aarik Danielsen in the Columbia Daily Tribune.

It’s a strikingly different world than when Pert Near Sandstone first began nearly two decades ago near the sandstone river bluffs of St. Paul. The former latchkey kids who grew up together a few Mississippi-miles upstream have grown into a band of brothers, bonded together as family.

Pert Near’s four songwriters/vocalists—also all instrumentalists: Justin Bruhn (bass), Kevin Kniebel (banjo), J Lenz (guitar), and Nate Sipe (mandolin, steel guitars, fiddle)—write songs that speak to the present and are rife with allusions—spanning a breadth of content including traveling songs, concerns of the modern era, and surrealistic scenarios.  

Chris Forsberg, a recent inclusion to the outfit, puts his fiddle stamp on the overall sound with turnbuckle solos and harmonious response to the melodies. Trampled By Turtles’ fiddler and original Pert Near member, Ryan Young, recorded and mixed the album during several of the harshest weeks of a Midwestern winter in Ryan’s NeonBrown Recording Studio in Crystal, Minnesota. Ryan also added his fiddle and other accouterments to bolster the energy of the songs.  

Ryan says, “I’ve been recording Pert Near Sandstone since 2004 when I’d set up some mics to record our practices. I feel like we know each other really well and I know what kind of sounds they are going for. Some songs call for a stripped down feel of friends playing folk music together in a living room, and others are more elaborate with influences from metal to electronic music to rock and more.”

The intimacy of collaboration is at the heart of this album. The interplay of mandolin and fiddle carries much of the music across the songs, and the mixture of guest instrumentalists gives this album a unique tapestry of sounds and texture—with accents of piano, trumpet, choral vocalists, steel guitar, and percussion.

“I think the voice of all the songs on Waiting Days is clearly written from a post-pandemic reality,” says Nate Sipe in an interview with Music Mecca. “There is a lot of searching for a new way to belong from a distance beyond an old way of understanding. I also hear a lot of hope throughout the songs, which I believe is as important, or even more important, than identifying the obstacles that we face in life.”  

“Our waiting days are finally over,” the title track from Pert Near Sandstone’s new album decries, echoing the sentiment of a community recently pent up and beyond longing. What can develop from the turbulence of a still dwindling global pandemic and also respond to the noise of prattling politics? Art has its purpose in this exact hour.

“Out of Time,” the album's heaviest hitting song, is a gazette of concerns that we face in troubled times. The explicit itemization is an alarm for movement; the singer’s vocals singe of desperation is motivation to confront the things most feared and to hold on to what is most dear. Pert Near’s Nate Sipe created an intricate and vintage-looking video collage (with his original artwork) for "Out of Time" → https://youtu.be/7Qpi3y20jxc.

Lest we get lost in despair, we can find rejuvenation in one of the strongest songs, and first radio single, “All Waves Break,” which gestures with surrealism to offset the bleakness of a just-as-wacky reality. The Current, Minnesota Public Radio, NPR listed "All Waves Break" as the Song of the Day (9/29) and it was premiered by JamBase who called the song “poignant.”

“I’ve Been Traveling,” “Soo Line,” and “On To Dawn” are traveling songs, sung by a band that has hit the pavement hard over their time, simultaneously creating a soundtrack for those all night drives that music festival devotees well know.

In “Clouds Are Gathering,” the story and images reach into a field that isn't always aglow with sunlight, while finding beauty in the tenderness of relationships. “Lay Down Your Burdens” has a simplicity that indeed helps us believe the genuine intentions of Pert Near Sandstone’s creative resolve.

Adventures in Americana premiered the symphonic “Believe,” and wrote, “It’s a beautiful contemplative ballad perfect for early fall… [it] opens gently with only banjo, soon joined by fiddle and gradually the other instruments and vocals. While this often boisterous band is able to reach the stratosphere with their layered sound and blazing fast solos, their interplay throughout this track is soft and tender, highlighting the beauty of each instrument’s individual sound.”

“Who To Choose” gives permission to an indeterminate personality to decide their own path in this human condition. The railroad laden album cover looks as though it could be an illustration, “End of The Line,” wherein a conversation between a hobo and railroad brakeman confront the possible obsolescence of their livelihoods. A distant whistle is heard as a token of hope with Sipe’s electric steel guitar sliding into the conversation with a nod to early country music.

Well known for their humor and levity, with charm that is never far from the surface, the connectedness to community is at the core of Pert Near’s music and philosophy. Nobody on earth is having a singular experience, as these songs shine a light upon. We are all here together. As the title track declares, “... I want to take you with me when I go.” Let’s get ready. Now is our time. The waiting days are over.

Stream/buy Waiting Days here → https://li.sten.to/t2sthw1c.
Or purchase a physical copy on vinyl or CD HERE.

Pert Near Sandstone on Tour
10/20 Fri - Portland, OR - The Jack London Revue
10/21 Sat - Centralia, WA - Juice Box
10/22 Sun - Seattle, WA - High Dive
11/3 Fri - LaCrosse, WI - Mid West Music Fest  
11/8 Wed - Lincoln,  NE - Zoo Bar*
11/9 Thu - Ft Collins, CO - 830 North*
11/10 Fri - Boulder, CO - Velvet Elk Lounge*
11/11 Sat - Denver, CO - Ophelia's*
11/24 Fri - Chicago, IL - Park West*
11/30 Thu - Alluvial Brewing - Ames, IA^
12/1 Fri - Mankato, MN - Mankato Brewery^
12/2 Sat - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue^

* w / Henhouse Prowlers
^ w / Them Coulee Boys

Looking ahead to 2024
2/9 - White Pine, MI - 34th Annual Midwest Telefest
6/27-29 - Eau Claire, WI - 10th Blue Ox Music Festival

Fri, 11/17/2023 - 2:20 pm

Jamgrass, newgrass, funkgrass, whatever you want to call it—Armchair Boogie is rapidly becoming one of the country’s hottest acts. With an unbounded sound, this Wisconsin-based quartet is known for their powerful harmonies, timeless originals, and choice covers, along with unforgettable live performances. Listed as a “Must-See Roots Artists at Bourbon & Beyond'' by The Bluegrass Situation who wrote, “We recently caught this jammy Wisconsin outfit at Earl Scruggs Music Festival, where they burnt down their late-night set.”

Armchair Boogie is Augie Dougherty on banjo and Ben Majeska acoustic and electric guitars backed by tight, driving rhythms of Eli Frieders on electric bass and Denzel Connor on drums. This unconventional lineup enhances their lightning-fast bluegrass, allowing them to freely venture into the realms of funk or country. A band on the verge, Armchair Boogie is excited to independently release their fourth studio recording, Hard Times & Deadlines, on March 15.

The lead track, and first single, “Hard Times,” demonstrates the 3-part harmonies that drive home the album’s namesake. Dougherty says of his perspective of the song, “‘Hard Times’ is about my navigation of life's realities. Entering my late twenties came with a lot of pressure to pursue musical and other professional endeavors. Feeling lost, feeling a lack of freedom, feeling like I have to push on through.”

The Hartforesque sounding tune can also take on a plethora of new meanings with lyrics like, “We’re out here all alone, this big ol’ world is our only home, What do you do, if you find yourself lost? You can find a friend, you can find a bucket, You can find a piece of wood and just chuck it. If you're real lucky, you can find a soul… Well the hard times and deadlines pushin’ me through till the good times.”

Live For Live Music premiered the song and Michael Broerman writes, “‘Hard Times’ highlights the dualities that define Armchair Boogie. On one hand, there’s the opening picking of Augie‘s banjo, which elucidates the group’s traditional elements. By the time he breezes through the opening verse, however, the rest of the band comes alive as Denzel‘s drums awaken the track to reveal Armchair’s folk-jam sensibilities. The stylistic personalities of the four-piece—which also features Eli on electric bass and Ben on acoustic guitar [for this track]—work in tandem on ‘Hard Times,’ as Armchair Boogie powers through the hard times and deadlines to discover what life is about.”

Self-produced, this new album shows a maturing of the band’s songwriting and musical capabilities. Composing these songs around the beginning of the pandemic, Majeska and Dougherty—who sing lead on the respective songs they wrote—were experiencing the stresses of entering their late twenties.

Majeska says “Life comes with highs and lows, and Hard Times & Deadlines captures the fleet of emotions that come with it. From broken hearts and fond memories. To broad horizons and the inevitable end of this human journey.”

"Hard Times & Deadlines is a pretty literal explanation of what I felt life was turning into,” Dougherty says. "The fluffy part of college and party life was beginning to fade away and it seemed like it was time to put my head down and work."

Once the tunes were drafted, they were brought to the whole band for collaboration. "This is where the tune truly becomes a Boogie song. Everyone adds their touch of creative input and we're able to polish it up collectively pretty quickly,” explains Dougherty.

The ten original songs that make up Hard Times & Deadlines were recorded and mixed by Jeffrey Peterson at Lunar Lava Audio—who specializes in classic recording techniques and organic sounding results—in Fort Atkinson, WI. It was mastered by Collin Jordan—owner of The Boiler Room Mastering in Chicago.

ARMCHAIR BOOGIE DOWN THE ROAD
Armchair Boogie emerged from the central waters and woods of Wisconsin, after meeting at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point in 2015. In the spring of 2018 Armchair Boogie moved to Madison and released their debut self-titled album, followed by 2019’s What Does Time Care?, and a 4-track EP in 2021—The Western.

Nowadays Armchair Boogie continues touring and climbing their way up notable festival lineups. In 2023 alone they performed at Summer Camp Music Festival, Old Settler’s Music Festival, Bourbon and Beyond, Grey Fox, Blissfest, Suwannee Spring Reunion, Earl Scruggs Music Festival, Shoe Fest, and Sugar Pine Music Festival. Adding to previous years at WinterWonderGrass, Northwest String Summit, Blue Ox Music Festival, John Hartford Memorial Festival, Charm City Bluegrass, MerleFest, Albino Skunk Fest, and more.

They started hosting their own event, The Boogiedown Music Festival, in 2021 at Driftless Music Gardens during the summer in Yuba, WI. The band has performed throughout the country, with regular stops throughout the Midwest—including sold-out shows in their hometown of Madison—as they continue to break through into new markets.

Over the years and through the shows, they’ve had the honor to share the spotlight at shows and or performed with members of with Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band, The Infamous Stringdusters, The HillBenders, Daniel Donato, Pert Near Sandstone, and jammed with many more.

The good word of boogie continues to spread like wildfire! Armchair Boogie has several Midwest performances coming up to close out the year, culminating on New Year's Eve at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee with Horseshoes & Hand Grenades and Dead Horses. They begin the new year with performances throughout the Rocky Mountains, followed by Telluride. February resumes with a few gigs in Wisconsin before heading to the Northwest for a run with Kitchen Dwellers. They kick off March at WinterWonderGrass in Steamboat Springs, CO with spring tour dates soon to be announced. Visit www.armchairboogiemusic.com for a full list of tour dates.

With Hard Times & Deadlines they want to help you boogie down in your living room, your car, on your phone, or wherever you listen to music when you're not at a show.

Presave the album at https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/armchairboogie/hard-times--deadlines.

Tue, 11/21/2023 - 1:27 pm

Swing into spring in the most spectacular of ways at Suwannee Spring Reunion, taking place Thursday through Sunday, March 21-24 at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, FL. Enjoy four days and nights of music rooted in Americana, newgrass, bluegrass, folk, blues, and more. This family friendly festival is set in the midst of 800 acres of majestic Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, the venue is a picturesque playground for endless activities including swimming, canoeing, kayaking, yoga, and disc golf.

The 2024 Suwannee Spring Reunion features music on multiple stages and includes Sam Bush, Railroad Earth, Steep Canyon Rangers, Peter Rowan Walls of Time Band, Donna the Buffalo, Keller Williams’ PettyGrass ft. The HillBenders, Bettye LaVette, The Steel Wheels, Town Mountain, Seth Walker, Jon Stickley Trio, Fireside Collective, Darrell Scott, Jim Lauderdale, Hattie & Joe Craven Trio, Verlon Thompson, Shawn Camp, Jeff Mosier Ensemble, The Grass Is Dead, Roy Book Binder, Leon Timbo & The Family Band, David Grier, Colby T Helms & The Virginia Creepers, Nikki Talley Band, Free Range Strange, Sloppy Joe, Quartermoon, Habanero Honeys, John Mailander: Artist At Large, and Magic Moon Traveling Circus.

“Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida, would seem the most unlikely of bluegrass epicenters, but legends and new stars alike flock there every spring for an in-the-know festival,” wrote Rolling Stone’s Garret Woodward.

The lineup includes artists with storied histories of epic Suwannee performances over the years. Matching the history on the stage, longtime park hosts, Randy and Beth Judy, are partnered with the Spirit of the Suwannee to make sure that every piece needed to make an epic weekend. It is home to generations of families who have gathered year after year to experience that shared connection to the music and the commitment to the notion of something bigger than ourselves.

Beth, the Festival Director, says “From the very beginning, in 1997, with our first festival at SOSMP (Suwannee SpringFest), we set an intention of a community of love and healing and music and positive impact on the lives of the people who were there. And we attracted those people who needed that in their lives, and many of them are still coming. The Suwannee Spring Reunion is a new version of the events we began so long ago when music festivals were just starting to pop up again after Jerry’s passing. Springfest and Magfest had changed and evolved over the years and now we are gathering everyone together for the  big reunion and revival of what commenced during those early years.”

“There’s this unique, communal spirit here, where it’s homelike for us,” says Sam Bush in an interview with Woodward, “And you find yourself thinking about some of our brethren that aren’t here anymore, but especially Vassar [Clements] — he ruled this place.”

“‘It was probably around 2004 [when we first played the park],” Steep Canyon Rangers singer-banjoist Graham Sharp tells Rolling Stone backstage at a recent Suwannee Spring Reunion, ‘We’ve been able to trace our band and its evolution through this festival, from being a traditional bluegrass band to being whatever the hell we are now — this place is a natural home for that.’”

They say the stars come out at night. And at Suwannee that is not only true in seeing the clear nighttime skies, but also throughout the park. Many of the festival musicians convene in the campgrounds when things light up at night. The Bill Monroe Shrine, hosted by Quartermoon, and Slopryland, hosted by Sloppy Joe, are open to all who bring their instrument and want to join in. In addition, there are literally dozens of camps, many of them with clever fun names, that have their own style and vibe.

The Suwannee Spring Reunion community has something going on around the clock. That said, if sleep is important to you, there are plenty of camping areas where it’s low key, so sleep is a possibility. No recorded or amplified music is permitted in the campground during this festival, so any music happening is live and acoustic.

The Jamwich’s Ashley Feller noted, “I love how these family camps have evolved over the years because now there are generations of people that have come to this festival. People have brought their kids, and these kids have grown up and made offshoots of those original camps. It is just so cool to see the creativity that goes into it. Some of it is like glamping. Some of them are just downright gorgeous.”

Beth expands on this in her interview with The Jamwich, “But the thing about the generations, grandparents have been the first people to come and bring their grandkids, and then the kids come, or it’s the kids and they bring their parents and then they bring their grandkids. The most I’ve seen is five generations. Five generations of families doing things together. And this is not just one family, this is in multiple cases. It’s a family reunion for people. It’s a family outing. It’s part of their life. They plan it, and that is community plus. That’s building relationships and making your life better. If you can do things with your family or chosen family,  that can make your life happier and make the challenges that we all face during the year so much easier to face because you have this support and those people are there for you. The people who come to these festivals are the kindest, most open-hearted, loving people you will ever meet!.”

Jeff Mosier, who had been performing at spring and fall Americana/bluegrass events at SOSMP since nearly the beginning (in the early years with his band Blueground Undergrass), sums it up eloquently in an interview with Live and Listen (2019), “Live Oak is the balm. It heals me from missing Bruce [Hampton], missing Vassar [Clements]. It gives me a chance at 60 to keep it going as long as I can. So far, so good. That’s all you can do - keep writing, creating, doing interviews with folks like you and you doing your writing, that’s what life is - keeping the ball rolling… It’s a special place and it made a huge difference in my kids’ lives. They’re in their 20s, but they started going when they were babies. It taught them everything they needed to know without us having to teach them. It taught them how to be. They decided to be people like the people of Suwannee. And now they’re good people. My little boy used to say, ‘Why can’t the world be like Suwannee?!’. That’s really it. Why not? I think it can. I go there every year in hopes of keeping that going.”

Suwannee Spring Reunion (and its sister festival Suwannee Roots Revival which takes place in October) hold the space for a special couple of music-filled weekends to look forward to and back upon with laughter and love in your heart. Many of the artists look forward to returning each year just as much as the attendees! The atmosphere and the people that gather are uplifting and warmhearted—the perfect end caps to the long festival season.

Stay tuned for further news about the daily schedules and a wide range of hand-on workshops on the Music Farmers Stage, sponsored by the festival’s nonprofit arm, Live Oak Music and Arts Foundation (LOMAF). There will also be a raffle to raise money for LOMAF, which is earmarked for music and arts programs locally in North Florida schools.

One program that LOMAF helps fund is Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp which is a free three-day music weekend for kids ages 5-17, held three times a year, where students receive instruction a variety of instruments including but not limited to fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, ukulele, vocals, and hand drums. There is a performance at each Spring Reunion and Roots Revival which often features kids that attend the Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp, along with plenty of other fun things for the little ones including an amazing kids zone set accessible back in the woods with crafts, games, face painting, and more!

Tickets are on sale now. Suwannee Spring Reunion offers a multi-day Weekend Ticket that includes festival admission for four days of music, as well as primitive camping on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.  Military and Student discounts are available. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Get your tickets before they go up to the next pricing tier on January 14th. An additional event car pass is required to bring a car into the campground—Advance Car Pass: $15 or $20 at the Gate. For complete ticket information and to purchase tickets, visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com/Tickets/.

SOSMP offers guest comforts including a general store, full service restaurant, free showers, indoor bathrooms, and water stations. Upgraded camping, including RV hook ups and cabin rentals, as well as golf cart rentals are currently on sale. Reservations may be made by calling the Park office at (386) 364­-1683. SOSMP is located between Jacksonville, Florida & Tallahassee, Florida about 30 minutes south of the Georgia State line, about 45 minutes north of Gainesville and is host to a variety of events. Please visit the park's web site at www.musicliveshere.com for further information.

For more information, please visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com.

Suwannee Spring Reunion 2024 Lineup
Sam Bush
Railroad Earth
Steep Canyon Rangers
Peter Rowan Walls of Time Band
Donna the Buffalo
Keller Williams’ PettyGrass ft. The HillBenders
Bettye LaVette
The Steel Wheels
Town Mountain
Seth Walker
Jon Stickley Trio
Fireside Collective
Darrell Scott
Jim Lauderdale
Hattie & Joe Craven Trio
Verlon Thompson
Shawn Camp
Jeff Mosier Ensemble
The Grass Is Dead
Roy Book Binder
Leon Timbo & The Family Band
David Grier
Colby T Helms & The Virginia Creepers
Nikki Talley Band
Free Range Strange
Sloppy Joe
Quartermoon
Habanero Honeys
John Mailander: Artist At Large
Magic Moon Traveling Circus

Fri, 12/15/2023 - 11:52 am

Armchair Boogie offers a funked up spin on bluegrass with their unique lineup of drums and electric bass backing acoustic/electric guitar and banjo. A band on the verge, the good word of the Boogie continues to spread like wildfire. Listed as a “Must-See Roots Artists at Bourbon & Beyond'' by The Bluegrass Situation who says, “We recently caught this jammy Wisconsin outfit at Earl Scruggs Music Festival, where they burnt down their late-night set.”

Armchair Boogie has announced an extensive Winter Tour with shows in the Midwest, Rocky Mountains, and West Coast and will continue on throughout the States in 2024. They aim to help you boogie down even more in your living room, in your car, on your phone, or anywhere you listen to music when you're not at a gig with the independent release of Hard Times & Deadlines, their fourth studio album, on March 15.

To get you in the spirit, “Liquor Store,” the album’s 2nd single, is out now. Written by Augie Dougherty to address the nostalgic feeling of looking back on his youth, “reminiscing on the younger days of love and liquor.” The track features special guest Ernest Brusubardis IV on fiddle.

Glide Magazine writes, “The song is a hyper-paced work of alt-country-laced bluegrass that balances impressive picking with strong lyricism that could just as easily fit in a work of quiet folk. Propelled by Dougherty’s banjo, the music careens forward with a lively energy that you can imagine turning into an explosive jam onstage.”

This follows the November release of the Hartforesque lead track “Hard Times,” which demonstrates the 3-part harmonies that drive home the album’s namesake. Premiered by Live For Live Music, Michael Broerman writes, “‘Hard Times’ highlights the dualities that define Armchair Boogie.”

“On one hand, there’s the opening picking of Augie Dougherty‘s banjo, which elucidates the group’s traditional elements,” explains Broerman. “By the time he breezes through the opening verse, however, the rest of the band comes alive as Denzel Connor‘s drums awaken the track to reveal Armchair’s folk-jam sensibilities. The stylistic personalities of the four-piece—which also features Eli Frieders on electric bass and Ben Majeska on guitar—work in tandem on ‘Hard Times,’ as Armchair Boogie powers through the hard times and deadlines to discover what life is about.”

Self-produced, this new album shows a maturing of the band’s songwriting and musical capabilities. Composing these songs around the beginning of the pandemic, Majeska and Dougherty—who sing lead on the respective songs they wrote—were experiencing the stresses of entering their late twenties.

"Hard Times & Deadlines is a pretty literal explanation of what I felt life was turning into,” Dougherty says. "The fluffy part of college and party life was beginning to fade away and it seemed like it was time to put my head down and work."

Majeska, who plays both electric and acoustic guitars throughout the album, says “Life comes with highs and lows, and Hard Times & Deadlines captures the fleet of emotions that come with it. From broken hearts and fond memories. To broad horizons and the inevitable end of this human journey.”

Once the tunes were drafted, they were brought to the whole band for collaboration. "This is where the tune truly becomes a Boogie song. Everyone adds their touch of creative input and we're able to polish it up collectively pretty quickly,” explains Dougherty.
Along with “Liquor Store” and “Hard Times,” the ten original songs that make up Hard Times & Deadlines were recorded and mixed by Jeffrey Peterson at Lunar Lava Audio in Fort Atkinson, WI and mastered by Collin Jordan.

They cover a variety of topics, including capturing the fervor of a hopeless circumstance in "Gone in a Day" (with special guest fiddler Jeremy Garrett [Infamous Stringdusters, appearing courtesy of Organic Records]), toasting to wild nights and timeless stories in 'Skippin' Town,' and bringing poignant moments with "You've Been Hurt” and “Empty Pools.”

While upbeat and cheerful on the outside,  ”Low Down Time” pleads, “It’s been a low down time, And things been out of line. And I just need some help getting by. Won’t you help me stay alive?”  The song features special guests The Payback Horns (Jamie Kember on trombone, Jon Schipper on trumpet, and Allen Cordingley on tenor sax).

Dougherty's characteristic fast-talking vocal wit shines through in the buoyant “All the Same and the electrifying "Livin'"—inspired by a quote from The Hobbit: "What's the good in living, if the living isn't good?” Using his best "John Prine energy" while writing about our inevitable finish line in the tongue-in-cheek "Boneyard," Augie sings, '‘I'm headed to the bone yard. So are you. It’s the same old story that they’re following too close to.”

Jamgrass, newgrass, funkgrass, whatever you want to call it—Armchair Boogie is rapidly becoming one of the country’s hottest acts. Their unconventional lineup enhances their lightning-fast bluegrass, allowing them to freely venture into the realms of funk or country. With an unbounded sound, this Wisconsin-based quartet is known for their powerful harmonies, timeless originals, and choice covers, along with their enthusiastic live performances.

“Armchair Boogie is a name that somehow oddly perfects their vibe: a folk, funk, and bluegrass that originated on a front porch. A band that can turn downhome bluegrass into an upbeat groove with contagious rhythm is not to be missed…” writes The Pitch Kansas City’s Allison Scavo. “As I entered, the crowd was already screaming to the point where I questioned if I had missed them. I quickly realized they had just gotten on stage and the frenzied elation was merely for their presence. From the first note to the elongated jams and everything in between, Armchair Boogie aerated the venue with unforgettable energy.”

Armchair Boogie Winter Tour
12/15 Fri - The Hive - Fond du Lac, WI
12/31 Sun - Pabst Theater - Milwaukee, WI #
1/16-17 Tue-Wed - Belly Up - Aspen, CO*
1/18 Thu - Mesa Theater - Grand Junction, CO*
1/20 Sat - Center For The Arts - Crested Butte, CO*
1/21 Sun - Sheridan Opera House - Telluride, CO*
2/3 Sat - Grand Theater - Wausau, WI
2/9 Fri - Fox Hollow - La Crosse, WI
2/10 Sat - Ice Dance Music Fest - Appleton, WI
2/21 Wed - WOW Hall - Eugene, OR*
2/22 Thu - Revolution Hall - Portland, OR*
2/23 Fri -  Midtown Ballroom/Domino Room/Annex - Bend, OR*
2/24 Sat - Neptune Theatre - Seattle, WA*
2/25 Sun - Wild Buffalo - Bellingham, WA*
3/1 Fri - Talbott’s Cider Company - Palisade, CO*  
3/2 Sat - WinterWonderGrass - Steamboat Springs, CO
3/16 Sat - Stoughton Opera House - Stoughton, WI

# w/ Horseshoes & Hand Grenades and Dead Horses
*w/ The Kitchen Dwellers

Sat, 01/20/2024 - 3:25 pm

Jamgrass, newgrass, funkgrass, whatever you want to call it—Armchair Boogie is rapidly becoming one of the country’s hottest acts. With an unbounded sound, this Wisconsin-based quartet is known for their powerful harmonies, timeless originals, and choice covers, along with unforgettable live performances.

Armchair Boogie is Augie Dougherty on banjo and Ben Majeska acoustic and electric guitars backed by tight, driving rhythms of Eli Frieders on electric bass and Denzel Connor on drums. This unconventional lineup enhances their lightning-fast bluegrass, allowing them to freely venture into the realms of funk or country. A band on the verge, Armchair Boogie is excited to independently release a collection of ten original songs as their fourth studio recording, Hard Times & Deadlines, on March 15.
This week, The Bluegrass Situation premiered “Gone in a Day,” the album’s newest single. Having previously listed Armchair Boogie as a “Must-See Roots Artists at Bourbon & Beyond,” stating, “We recently caught this jammy Wisconsin outfit at Earl Scruggs Music Festival, where they burnt down their late-night set.”

“Gone in a Day,” captures the fervor of a hopeless circumstance—channeling the energy from a storm's eye outwards, personified by the delicate pizzicato turned fiddle frenzy that special guest Jeremy Garrett (Infamous Stringdusters, appearing courtesy of Organic Records) brings in. After experiencing loss in both love and friendship in a short amount of time, the result is a song that moves through the emotions of acceptance,” says Majeska.

After meeting at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point in 2015, they moved to Madison in 2018 and released their debut self-titled album, followed by another in 2019 and an EP in 2021. Self-produced, this new album shows a maturing of the band’s songwriting and musical capabilities. Composing these songs around the beginning of the pandemic, Majeska and Dougherty—who sing lead on the respective songs they wrote—were experiencing the stresses of entering their late twenties.

“Hard Times & Deadlines is a pretty literal explanation of what I felt life was turning into,” Dougherty says. "The fluffy part of college and party life was beginning to fade away and it seemed like it was time to put my head down and work."

Once the tunes were drafted, they were brought to the whole band for collaboration. "This is where the tune truly becomes a Boogie song. Everyone adds their touch of creative input and we're able to polish it up collectively pretty quickly,” explains Dougherty.

Majeska says “Life comes with highs and lows, and Hard Times & Deadlines captures the fleet of emotions that come with it. From broken hearts and fond memories. To broad horizons and the inevitable end of this human journey.”

Live for Live Music says, “funk-grass outfit Armchair Boogie is ready for whatever life throws its way” on their premiere of the Hartforesque first single and lead track “Hard Times.” Dougherty says the song, “is about my navigation of life's realities. Entering my late twenties came with a lot of pressure to pursue musical and other professional endeavors. Feeling lost, feeling a lack of freedom, feeling like I have to push on through.”  

With rousing banjo and guitar solos, they raise a glass to wild nights and timeless stories in the rhythmic 'Skippin' Town” and the nostalgic “Liquor Store.” Meanwhile they touch upon poignant moments with a more measured approach in "You've Been Hurt,’ a song about fostering trust in a relationship.

Glide Magazine premiered “Liquor Store” and calls it, “a hyper-paced work of alt-country-laced bluegrass that balances impressive picking with strong lyricism that could just as easily fit in a work of quiet folk. Propelled by Dougherty’s banjo, the music careens forward with a lively energy that you can imagine turning into an explosive jam onstage.”

Upbeat and cheerful on the outside,  ”Low Down Time” pleads, “It’s been a low down time, And things been out of line. And I just need some help getting by. Won’t you help me stay alive?”  The song features special guests The Payback Horns (Jamie Kember on trombone, Jon Schipper on trumpet, and Allen Cordingley on tenor sax).

Dougherty's characteristic fast-talking vocal wit shines through in the buoyant “All the Same and the electrifying "Livin'"—inspired by a quote from The Hobbit: "What's the good in living, if the living isn't good?” Using his best "John Prine energy" while writing about our inevitable finish line in the tongue-in-cheek "Boneyard," Augie sings, '‘I'm headed to the bone yard. So are you. It’s the same old story that they’re following too close to.”

“Armchair Boogie is a name that somehow oddly perfects their vibe: a folk, funk, and bluegrass that originated on a front porch. A band that can turn downhome bluegrass into an upbeat groove with contagious rhythm is not to be missed…” writes The Pitch Kansas City’s Allison Scavo. “As I entered, the crowd was already screaming to the point where I questioned if I had missed them. I quickly realized they had just gotten on stage and the frenzied elation was merely for their presence. From the first note to the elongated jams and everything in between, Armchair Boogie aerated the venue with unforgettable energy.”

Presave the album at https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/armchairboogie/hard-times--deadlines.

Armchair Boogie Shows:
1/20  Center For The Arts - Crested Butte, CO*
1/21  Sheridan Opera House - Telluride, CO*
2/03  Grand Theater - Wausau, WI
2/08  West Theater - Duluth, MN
2/09  Fox Hollow - La Crosse, WI
2/10  Ice Dance Music Fest - Appleton, WI
2/21  WOW Hall - Eugene, OR*
2/22  Revolution Hall - Portland, OR*
2/23  Midtown Ballroom/Domino Room/Annex - Bend, OR*
2/24  Neptune Theatre - Seattle, WA*
2/25  Wild Buffalo - Bellingham, WA*
2/28  The Elm - Bozeman, MT*
3/01  Talbott’s Cider Company - Palisade, CO*  
3/02  WinterWonderGrass - Steamboat Springs, CO
3/16  Stoughton Opera House - Stoughton, WI
3/21  xBk Live - Des Moines, IA^
3/22  Turner Hall Ballroom - Milwaukee,  WI^>
3/23  Turf Club - St. Paul, MN^
3/27  Rumba Cafe - Columbus,  OH
3/28  Hi-Fi - Indianapolis, IN
3/29  The Stache at The Intersection - Grand Rapids,  MI
3/30  Martyrs’ - Chicago, IL
5/24-25   DelFest - Cumberland, MD
5/24-26   Solshine Reverie - Chillicothe, IL
6/20-23   Moccasin Creek Festival - Effingham, IL
7/11-13   The Boogiedown - Hillsboro, WI
7/18-20   4848 Festival - Snowshoe, WV

*w/ The Kitchen Dwellers
^w/ AJ Lee & Blue Summit
>w/ Henhouse Prowlers

Fri, 02/16/2024 - 2:41 pm

Armchair Boogie independently releases Hard Times & Deadlines March 15. Their unconventional lineup of banjo with acoustic & electric guitars backed by tight, driving rhythms on electric bass and drums enhances Armchair Boogie’s lightning-fast bluegrass, allowing them to freely venture into the realms of funk or country.
Buckle up, their newest single, “Livin’” is a high energy ride with plenty of twists and turns. The kind of tune that puts the boogie in the armchair!

“Livin’” features banjoist Augie Dougherty's characteristic fast-talking vocal wit on this electrifying song that was inspired by a quote from The Hobbit: "What's the good in living, if the living really isn't that good?"  Augie says, “I'm talking about all the juicy parts of life here—parties, love & lust, the forest, friends…The good stuff.”

Along with Dougherty on banjo, Armchair Boogie is Ben Majeska acoustic and electric guitars backed by tight, driving rhythms of Eli Frieders on electric bass, and Denzel Connor on drums.

This high energy jamgrass/newgrass/funkgrass—whatever you want to call it—quartet has been on the rise in the festival scene since their formation in 2015, after meeting and forming on the front porch of their college home of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. They released their first album in 2018 after moving to Madison in the years prior, followed by another in 2019 and an EP in 2021.

Self-produced, Hard Times & Deadlines shows a maturing of the band’s songwriting and musical capabilities. Much of the material for this album was written during the early days of the pandemic and reflects their passion in managing life's realities while also allowing room for nostalgic toasts and memories—Majeska and Dougherty sing lead on the respective songs they wrote.

“Hard Times & Deadlines is a pretty literal explanation of what I felt life was turning into,” Dougherty says. "The fluffy part of college and party life was beginning to fade away and it seemed like it was time to put my head down and work.”  Once the tunes were drafted, they were brought to the whole band for collaboration. "This is where the tune truly becomes a Boogie song. Everyone adds their touch of creative input and we're able to polish it up collectively pretty quickly,” explains Dougherty.

Majeska says “Life comes with highs and lows, and Hard Times & Deadlines captures the fleet of emotions that come with it. From broken hearts and fond memories. To broad horizons and the inevitable end of this human journey.”

The ten original songs that make up Hard Times & Deadlines were recorded and mixed by Jeffrey Peterson at Lunar Lava Audio in Fort Atkinson, WI and mastered by Collin Jordan.

Previously released singles include a blazing “Gone in a Day” (with Jeremy Garret on fiddle), the Hartforesque “Hard Times,” and the nostalgic “Liquor Store” (with Ernest Brusubardis IV on fiddle).

Other tracks include a buoyant “All the Same,” the struttin’ “Skippin’ Town,” and a grassy “Empty Pools” which reflects on the loneliness of changes of season and changes of heart and features Connor on piano (as well as drums).

With "You've Been Hurt," a poignant song about building trust in a relationship that features vocals from all four members, the band adopts a more measured approach. They pick the quick beat right back up with ”Low Down Time.” While upbeat and cheerful on the outside, the song pleads, “It’s been a low down time, And things been out of line. And I just need some help getting by. Won’t you help me stay alive?"

Majeska says “Being down and out is part of life. But if we're lucky, we'll have people to rely on along the way. Be it a stranger or close companion, we're in this together.” With this sentiment in mind, and adding to their kinetic sound, Armchair Boogie's special guests for "Low Down Time" are The Payback Horns, which consist of Jamie Kember on trombone, Jon Schipper on trumpet, and Allen Cordingley on tenor sax.

They close the album out with a song about  our inevitable finish line in the tongue-in-cheek "Boneyard." Augie says, “I was channeling my best ‘John Prine energy’ while writing this tune…’I'm headed to the bone yard. So are you. It’s the same old story that they’re following too close to’.”

A band on the verge, the good word of the Boogie continues to spread like wildfire. In 2024, they are set to play a slew of tour dates including shows at WinterWonderGrass Steamboat, DelFest, Solshine: A Music & Arts Reverie, their own: The Boogiedown Festival, and 4848 Festival, with more yet to be announced.

Visit www.armchairboogiemusic.com for more information, tour dates, and keep up with their adventures on facebook.com/armchairboogieboys and instagram.com/armchairboogieboys.

Armchair Boogie hosts: The Boogiedown Music Festival at Driftless Music Gardens July 11-13, 2024 in Yuba, WI

Thu, 02/22/2024 - 9:04 am

Suwannee Spring Reunion takes place Thursday through Sunday, March 21-24 at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP). Set in the midst of 800 acres of majestic Spanish moss-draped oak and cypress trees along the Suwannee River, this family-friendly festival boasts four days and nights of music rooted in Americana, newgrass, bluegrass, folk, blues, and more. Featuring music on multiple stages, with many repeat performers throughout the weekend, we are happy to announce the schedule for the 2024 edition of the festival!

“Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida, would seem the most unlikely of bluegrass epicenters, but legends and new stars alike flock there every spring for an in-the-know festival,” wrote Rolling Stone.

This stellar lineup promises an exciting start to the long weekend’s festivities with Keller Williams’ PettyGrass ft. The HillBenders headlining Thursday night—bringing bluegrass versions of Tom Petty Hits; get ready to sing along at SOSMP’s gorgeous Amphitheater Stage. Prior to PettyGrass the Amphitheater Stage are The Steels Wheels, who are rolling into Florida with a brand new album, Sideways, in hand— they also perform in the Music Hall later that night. Alt-country honky-tonk rebels Town Mountain (also bringing a fresh new release: Dance Me Down Easy: The Woodstock Sessions EP), will close out the night on the Amp Stage with their first set of the weekend (Thu/Fri).

Over on the Porch Stage on Thursday we see the first sets of the weekend from Country-soul rocker Leon Timbo & The Family Band (Thu/Fri), the soul-folk of Hattie & Joe Craven Trio (Thur/Fri/Sat), and the first set from The Grass is Dead (Thu/Sun). Sloppy Joe opens the festival at 4pm on the Amphitheater stage and can also be heard throughout the weekend on various stages and in the campground at their own, open call, pickin’ party site—Slopryland.

Before the legendary Sam Bush takes center stage on Friday night, Americana blues icon Bettye Lavette makes her stage debut at the Park on the Amphitheater Stage. With their first set of the weekend, Railroad Earth (Fri/Sat) closes up the late night on the Amp Stage. In the midst of all that goodness on Friday—and in between the aforementioned sets—over on The Porch Stage will be Darrell Scott (also playing Sat), Town Mountain, and the first of a few sets from roots rockin’ troubadours Donna the Buffalo (Fri/Sat/Sun).

Saturday night is a double dose with Railroad Earth returning The Amp Stage, preceded by what is sure to be a soul-stirring set of mountain music by Steep Canyon Rangers. Donna the Buffalo is sure to keep everybody dancing to the wee hours, closing the stage late-night.

Saturday on the Porch Stage we see the first sets of the weekend by Peter Rowan & The Walls of Time Band (Peter Rowan, Chris Henry, David Mansfield III, David Grier, Mike Bub, Larry Atamanuik); and The Mosier Brothers Band (featuring Jeff Mosier’s Scruggs'-style banjo prowess and Johnny Mosier’s rockin guitar chops, founders of Blueground Undergrass—a former Suwannee staple act (Fri/Sat/Sun)). Also on the Porch on Saturday is rising bluegrass star Colby T Helms & The Virginia Creepers. Currently on tour with a new album: Tales of Misfortune, Helms makes his Suwannee debut Friday in the Dance Tent.

Sunday, dubbed “Vassar Sunday” by regular attendees and staff, is a musical day of gathering, celebration, and rememberance of those who came and played before (Vassar Clements, Sue Cunninham, Guy Clark, Col. Bruce Hampton, just to name a few) and those who carry on the traditions of what started at the park way back in 1997. Fueled with anticipation, Donna the Buffalo will close out the evening with a special set—bringing up to the stage just about every artist who is left at the fest. Other performances that day leading into the finale include Jim Lauderdale, Verlon Thompson, The Mosier Brothers, and Peter Rowan & The Walls of Time Band.

The weekend is jam-packed with multiple sets by many at all of the festival stages (Amphitheater Stage, Porch Stage, Dance Tent Stage, Music Hall, & Music Farmers Stage) Along with some of those mentioned above, there will be multiple sets by Jim Lauderdale (Sat/Sun), Verlon Thompson (Fri/Sat/Sun), Roy Book Binder (Fri/Sat), Shawn Camp (Fri/Sat), Seth Walker (Fri/Sat), Jon Stickley Trio (Fri/Sat),  Fireside Collective (Fri/Sat), David Grier (Fri), Nikki Talley Band (Thu, Sun), Free Range Strange (Sat), Habanero Honeys (Sat), Quartermoon (Fri/Sat and throughout the weekend hosting campground pickin’ at the Bill Monroe Shrine), John Mailander: Artist-at-Large through the weekend, and Magic Moon Traveling Circus.

Something special to note about the lineup is that it includes artists with storied histories of epic Suwannee performances over the years. Matching the history on the stage, longtime park hosts, Randy and Beth Judy, are partnered with the Spirit of the Suwannee to make sure that every piece needed to make an epic weekend. It is home to generations of families who have gathered year after year to experience that shared connection to the music and the commitment to the notion of something bigger than ourselves.

Festival Director Beth Judy says “From the very beginning, in 1997, with our first festival at SOSMP (SpringFest), we set an intention of a community of love and healing and music and positive impact on the lives of the people who were there. And we attracted those people who needed that in their lives, and many of them are still coming. The Suwannee Spring Reunion is a new version of the events we began so long ago when music festivals were just starting to pop up again after Jerry’s passing. SpringFest and MagFest had changed and evolved over the years and now we are gathering everyone together for the  big reunion and revival of what commenced during those early years.”

“There’s this unique, communal spirit here, where it’s homelike for us,” says Sam Bush in an interview with Rolling Stone’s Garret Woodward. “And you find yourself thinking about some of our brethren that aren’t here anymore, but especially Vassar [Clements] — he ruled this place.”

“‘It was probably around 2004 [when we first played the park],” Steep Canyon Rangers singer-banjoist Graham Sharp tells Woodward, ‘We’ve been able to trace our band and its evolution through this festival, from being a traditional bluegrass band to being whatever the hell we are now — this place is a natural home for that.’”

They say the stars come out at night. And at Suwannee that is not only true in seeing the clear nighttime skies, but also throughout the park. Many of the festival musicians convene in the campgrounds when things light up at night. There are literally dozens of theme camps, many of them with clever fun names, that have their own style and vibe. There will also be daily Umalumina Yoga with Rhonda Bell.

The Suwannee Spring Reunion community has something going on around the clock. That said, if sleep is important to you, there are plenty of camping areas where it’s low key, so sleep is a possibility. No recorded or amplified music is permitted in the campground during this festival, so any music happening is live and acoustic.

A couple of workshops in the Music Hall to watch out for are The Devil's Box - A Fiddle Workshop with
Joe Craven, John Mailander & Lyndsay Pruett (Fri) and Colby T Helms is leading a workshop on guitar influences and styles (Sat).

Stay tuned for further news about a wide range of hand-on workshops on the Music Farmers Stage, sponsored by the festival’s nonprofit arm, Live Oak Music and Arts Foundation (LOMAF). There will be a raffle to raise money for LOMAF, which is earmarked for music and arts programs locally in North Florida schools and includes the Suwannee Spirit Kids Music Camp.

Multi-day Weekend Tickets include primitive camping. Prices go to the next tier on March 1. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Military/Student discounts available as well as RV upgrades, golf carts, and other amenities. For complete ticket information, visit www.suwanneespringreunion.com/Tickets.

Suwannee Spring Reunion 2024 Lineup & Days Performing
Sam Bush (Fri)
Railroad Earth (Fri/Sat)
Steep Canyon Rangers (Sat)
Peter Rowan Walls of Time Band (Sat/Sun)
Donna the Buffalo (Fri/Sat/Sun)
Keller Williams’ PettyGrass ft. The HillBenders (Thu)
Bettye LaVette (Fri)
The Steel Wheels (Thu x 2)
Darrell Scott (Fri/Sat)
Town Mountain (Thu/Fri)
Seth Walker (Fri/Sat)
Jon Stickley Trio (Fri/Sat)
Fireside Collective (Fri/Sat)
Jim Lauderdale (Sat/Sun)
Donna the Buffalo with Jim Lauderdale (Sat)
Verlon Thomson with Jim Lauderdale (Sat)
Verlon Thompson  (Fri/Sat/Sun)
Shawn Camp (Fri/Sat)
Shawn Camp & Verlon Thompson (Sat)
Shawn Camp & Verlon Thompson doing the songs of Guy Clark (Fri)
The Mosier Brothers Band (Fri/Sat/Sun)
The Grass Is Dead (Thu/Sun)
Roy Book Binder (Thu/Fri/Sat)
Hattie & Joe Craven Trio (Thu/Fri/Sat)
David Grier (Fri)
Leon Timbo & The Family Band (Thu/Fri)
Colby T Helms & The Virginia Creepers (Fri/Sat)
Nikki Talley Band (Thu/Sun)
Free Range Strange (Sat x2)
Sloppy Joe (all)
Quartermoon (all)
Habanero Honeys (Sat)
John Mailander: Artist At Large (all)
Magic Moon Traveling Circus

Fri, 03/15/2024 - 2:42 pm

Jamgrass, newgrass, funkgrass, whatever you want to call it—Armchair Boogie is rapidly becoming one of the country’s hottest acts. Armchair Boogie offers a funked up spin on bluegrass with their unconventional lineup of drums and electric bass backing acoustic/electric guitar and banjo. With an unbounded sound, this Wisconsin-based quartet is known for their powerful harmonies, timeless originals, and choice covers, along with their enthusiastic live performances.

Hard Times & Deadlines, their fourth studio album, is available now. The ten original songs that make up this collection were recorded and mixed by Jeffrey Peterson at Lunar Lava Audio in Fort Atkinson, WI and mastered by Collin Jordan. With Hard Times & Deadlines they want to help you boogie down in your living room, your car, on your phone, or wherever you listen to music when you're not at a show.

Armchair Boogie is Augie Dougherty on banjo and Ben Majeska acoustic and electric guitars backed by tight, driving rhythms of Eli Frieders on electric bass and Denzel Connor on drums. This high energy quartet has been on the rise in the festival and bluegrass music communitie since their formation in 2015, after meeting and forming on the front porch of their college home of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. The members all moved to Madison around 2017, releasing their debut album in 2018. Much of the material for this album was written during the early days of the pandemic and reflects their passion in managing life's realities while also allowing room for nostalgic toasts and memories. A band on the verge, the good word of the Boogie continues to spread like wildfire.

Kind Words about Armchair Boogie and Hard Times & Deadlines:

“Defined by a jam-driven grassy funk and harmonies that soar, the band have blazed their own trail, building a following without a label but with a razor sharp focus on their future.”
—Goldmine, Ray Chelstowski

“Both lead-off tracks ‘Hard Times,’ & ‘Livin’’ are fuel-injected, gutsy & lively creations with some humorous lyrics that take a back seat to the fiery performance of the fast & loose musicians. ‘Boneyard,’ even has an early 60s song humor & sounds like an outtake from Dante & the Evergreens after they recorded their hit ‘Alley-Oop.’ But nothing on this CD is novelty-oriented.”
—Americana Highways, John Apice

 “the album clearly qualifies them as a band not only with an infectious sound but also an ample supply of wit and wisdom to go along with it”  
—Bluegrass Today, Lee Zimmerman

“Melding indie rock fervour with the intricate fretwork of bluegrass, the band steer their way through both genres without slowing and manage to come out on the other side with something unique and wholly their own.” —Alan Cackett (UK)

“an unorthodox combo for the bluegrass world. But it works for them and their growing fanbase of Armchair Boogie enthusiasts” —Bluegrass Today, John Lawless

“On… ‘Livin’..., Armchair Boogie question the point of it all, and whether life is in fact all that good at all.  Ridiculous, of course, as one can easily refute the posed question “what’s the use of livin’ if the livin’ really ain’t that good?” by pointing out that the combination of fast paced banjo giving way (wait long enough, it really does) to a funky electric guitar boogie coda is surely as good a reason as any to embrace life.
—AmericanaUK, Jonathan Aird

“The funky aspect of their music is most vivid in the horn slathered ‘Low Down Time’ while the closing ‘Boneyard’ with its upbeat music, much like the opener, disguises downcast lyrics, in this case a sarcastic view of life's finality. Yet, Armchair Boogie's unbounded energy and unabashed contagious enthusiasm prevail on anything they play or sing about.”
 —Country Standard Time, Jim Hynes

“In my experience, some of the best songs are written to completion (or almost) within a few hours of starting. That’s what happened with ‘Gone in a Day.’ When you feel strongly about the subject matter, ideas tend to flow with far less second guessing. There was no rush, but all the feelings, words, and melodies were at the ready. It also didn’t take long at all to think of adding in our friend Jeremy Garrett on the fiddle to take it to new heights. We think it’ll be just as smooth a listen as it was to put together.”
—Ben Majeska says to The Bluegrass Situation

These songs [in Hard Times & Deadlines] look at the struggles and inevitable end of life, while the music works to lift us up and keep us going. There is some great playing and wonderful grooves on these tracks.” —Michael Doherty’s Music Log

“Majeska’s ‘Skippin’ Town’...  is essentially a tuneful tip of the hat to nigh-universal bacchanalian, ageless examples of youth. This one has some rockin’ musical moments and must work well with live audiences.”  —Will Phoenix, Now Playing: Track by Track Review

“unpredictably delightful” —Northwest Bluegrass Music Association

“This act of collaboration is what cemented these songs as Armchair Boogie material, as the band tapped into the fluid, communal playing style that has made it a rising name on the festival circuit.”
 —Live For Live Music, Michael Broerman - Song Premiere

“Armchair Boogie Showcase Lightning-fast Bluegrass Chops and Strong Lyricism on ‘Liquor Store’”
—Glide Magazine Song Premiere

“Hard Times & Deadlines, the new release from the Wisconsin based jam-grass band Armchair Boogie is an enjoyable album that combines banjo dominated bluegrass influence with rock and jam band sensibility. What makes it more interesting, is that their songs often tend toward philosophical lyrics.”
—WVIA, The Graham Album Reviews, George Graham

Debuted at #44 on The Alt Country Specialty Chart Top 50 this week!

“A funkadelic,
boot-stompin’ bluegrass boogie
Borrow happiness”
—"Livin’” Haiku Review, Gary Schwind

”... uproarious, debaucherous like I’ve been transported to the Wild West and I'm in a saloon, throwing back shots. It has a timeless feeling and an uncanny ability to transport you to a different place.”  
—Jammin’ on The Grass [Aaron Stein Interviews Ben Majeska]

“Tinkering and playing off of one another's music and ideas has shaped many songs in Armchair
Boogie's repertoire, and often the memories that come from these days feed into what their favorite songs to perform together are… Similar to how jazz musicians play, learning how and being able to play with improvisation keeps the brain active, and creates entirely unique sounds, such as with their new song "Skippin' Town.'” —Ion Indie Magazine [Kira Doman Interviews Augie Doherty]

Getting To Know Armchair Boogie [All That Jam Interviews Ben Majeska]

Hear more from Ben as he talks with WSUM’s GreenArrowRadio about Saturday’s hometown album release show at Stoughton Opera House.

Visit www.armchairboogiemusic.com for a full list of tour dates, and keep up with their adventures on facebook.com/armchairboogieboys and instagram.com/armchairboogieboys.