Rumpke Mountain Boys take off on a big Summer Tour, kicking things off in Indiana, before heading to the East Coast and then stretch all the way out West to Alaska.
This Summer Tour has stops at some of the premiere Summer festivals such as Smoky Run, Romp, Northwest String Summit and SalmonFest in Alaska. This will be Rumpke’s first time in Alaska, where Summer days stretch into the night, which is perfect for their Trashgrass style, that has them known for picking late into the night.
They will start out in Hope, AK with the first weekend being spent at the stacked SalmonFest. Then they are hitting some of the best spots in Alaska, including the iconic Fairview Inn, in Talkeetna and rounding it out with a show in Anchorage. Then it’s back home to hit up a couple shows in Kentucky to finish off tour.
Rumpke’s full Summer Tour can be found below. You can keep up with the latest news and tour dates at https://rumpkemountainboys.com
Cincinnati-based bluegrass band Rumpke Mountain Boys (RMB) begin their fall tour—focusing on regional venues and festivals. This bluegrass, also named “trashgrass” band, starts their journey on October 11 in Bowling Green, KY at the A-Frame with a fan kick-off, two-night run. Then they take their trashgrass style to Fort Wayne, IN and onward to their home state of Ohio, with Kansas City-based band Grassfed supporting.
Ben Gourley, mandolist, says “We can’t wait to play some shows in our home state and get to out to some new places. We are ready to hit the road!”
RMB ends the festival season with a three-night run at Terrapin Hill Farm in Kentucky for their annual Snuggleween Fest. This Halloween themed festival, along with all festivals at Terrapin Hill, have become a RMB tradition. After this fall festival, it is time to head east for some dates in West Virginia and Pennsylvania before coming back to the Midwest.
Local songwriting team, Arthur Lee Land and Carol Lee wrote the song “Two Rivers” as a tribute to everything that is Lyons, CO. This Americana, Folk-Rock anthem released a music video that tips a hat to all of the influential musicians that have or currently reside in the tight-knit Boulder County community.
This songwriting team was commissioned by local real estate agent, Laura Levy, who wanted to celebrate the special town of Lyons with an anthem about the small vibrant community. Levy tapped Lee Land and Lee to take on the project after hearing about their custom song offerings. The song is named ‘Two Rivers’ as a nod to the North and South St. Vrain Rivers that converge in the heart of downtown Lyons.
An artistic collaboration was formed with Arthur Lee Land and a film crew led by Ryan Decesari to share sights, sounds and to show the musical heart and soul of this small Colorado town. “Two Rivers” brings so many local musicians together to put the real Lyons soul into the song. The song was recorded in Lyons at Brian McRae’s (Kyle Hollingsworth Band) Wrecking Room Studio and produced by Lee Land who shared the duet’s vocal duties with Monica Marie (Monocle). The track also features local musicians Enion Pelta-Tiller (TAARKA), Eric Thorin (Bonnie Paine, Darol Anger, Danny Barnes), Darren Garvey (Elephant Revival) and Aaron Youngberg (FY5).
“It’s a great celebration of Lyons,” says Arthur Lee Land. “ To have a song that reflects what is so lovely about this community, the musicians, the artists and the people that live here and the love that so many of us have for that aspect, I’m hoping that’s the carrier wave that sends out that attracts people that are gonna move here that love music and why this place is so special.”
The Arthur Lee Land single “Two Rivers” drops on December 6 on iTunes and all digital streaming services. A percentage of sales will go to LEAF: Lyons Emergency Assistance Fund.
About Arthur Lee Land
Living in Lyons since 2012, Arthur Lee Land is a vibrant performer, songwriter, teacher, recording artist, bandleader, live-looper, producer and educator. Known for his joy filled innovative live performances as a solo artist or with his TRIO. You will also find him in high demand performing with established Colorado Artists blending his stellar guitar work and singing into their sound, including Great American Taxi, Daniel Rodriguez Band (Elephant Revival), Kyle Hollingsworth Band (String Cheese Incident). Arthur Lee Land’s Twang is Dead - Where Colorado Twang Meets the Funk, is a side project of the TRIO. It’s a new take on good old Grateful Dead Songs re-interpreted thru the lens of a mash-up of JJ Cale, Parliament Funkadelic and Merle Haggard. Keep up with Arthur Lee Land by visiting https://www.arthurleeland.com/
Kyle Tuttle (Kyle Tuttle Band), Jared Pool (Larry Keel Experience) and Adam Greuel (Horseshoes & Hand Grenades) join forces to bring fans a high energy and highly entertaining collaboration. Tuttle, Pool and Greuel have shared the stage numerous times together over the years, but now take on their own project bending the possibilities of bluegrass and shaping it into their own.
Born out of festival malarky and late night hotel jams, this trio comes along as a sort of ‘Three Musketeers’ of the grass universe. Focusing on the parts of the music that spark joy and grow our community, these three writers and pickers will showcase some of their favorite material in a new and exciting way. Kyle Tuttle, Jared Pool, and Adam Greuel conjure a show that’s simply too cool for school, bringing a good time get down to roadhouses, theaters, and friendly homes here, there, and everywhere.
Tuttle, Pool, and Greuel kick off their tour in early March in the Midwest. The tour starts off in St. Louis at the local favorite Broadway Oyster Bar, followed by an intimate house show in Iowa City. Rounding out the run in Indiana, they will appear at The Coterie in Kokomo and The Mousetrap in Indianapolis. You can find the full schedule here. More shows to be announced soon.
International Banjo Champion Kyle Tuttle is shredding his way through the jamgrass scene. Since moving to Nashville in 2012 Kyle has shared the stage with many epic performers, most notably as a member of the Jeff Austin Band for 3 years. Kyle has also worked closely with Jamgrass legends Larry Keel, Travelin’ McCourys, Leftover Salmon, Greensky Bluegrass, Billy Strings, and Railroad Earth. In addition to being seen around the jamgrass circuit, Kyle is a studio musician in Nashville, and recently produced the Chain Station album ‘Backroads’.
Jared Pool is a multi instrumentalist from Richmond, VA. His love of music was born from attending bluegrass festivals as a kid while growing up with other diverse musical influences from the Tidewater area. After completing a jazz studies degree, Pool moved to Richmond in 2009 where he began working with various regional acts and has worked extensively with the Virginia Folklife Program. In 2017, Jared became the mandolinist for the Larry Keel Experience. Since then, he’s shared the stage with Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Travellin’ McCourys, Railroad Earth and Keller Williams.
Known for his ability to both don and provoke a hearty smile, his music and personality has been noted for its ability to provide relief to the troubled mind, joy to the weary soul, and light to those in darkness. In 2010, Adam joined forces with four other young acoustic instrumentalists and created the band Horseshoes & Hand Grenades. Committing to their music and a rigorous touring schedule, their road has led to such notable stages as Red Rocks Amphitheater, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, the Riverside Theater, Delfest, and Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, to name just a few.
Terrapin Hill’s Cabin Fever Reliever Festival announces a stellar bluegrass lineup to kick off the festival season, April 16-19th. The festival takes place just outside of Harrodsburg at Terrapin Hill Farm, deep in the rolling hills of central Kentucky.
Terrapin Hill Festivals are run by a small but loyal staff and they’ve been doing things the right way for over 20 years. They produce three festivals each year: Cabin Fever Reliever in April, Family Reunion in July, and Snuggleween at the end of October. Cabin Fever Reliever is the first festival of the year and the biggest of the three due to the timing and outstanding lineup, but you won’t be overrun by huge crowds in this intimate setting. The festival is a hidden gem, in one of the most beautiful and relaxed venues in the Midwest. All festivals at Terrapin Hill are family friendly and primitive camping is included with each ticket. The festival organizers pride themselves on keeping ticket costs low while providing a great experience for an audience of all ages. Advance tickets are available online now or can be purchased at the gate. For all things Terrapin Hill and to purchase tickets, check out their website.
Many musicians and artists call the town of Lyons, CO home, and is referred to by many as “Nashville of the Rockies.” From casual jams at Sandstone Park to meeting friends at Oskar Blues to epic festivals at Planet Bluegrass this town thrives on music and arts. Planet Bluegrass and Wildflower Pavillion is the epicenter for bringing artists and fans from all over the country into this small mountain community. They host some of the best artists in the music scene and have multiple music festivals a year.
COVID-19 has brought an economic crisis to artists. Without any notice shows and festivals were canceled, venues were closed, weddings postponed, and galleries were shut down. Although this is impacting all service industries, artists could suffer longer due to their jobs depending on large gatherings of people for shows to take place. There is much uncertainty if large gatherings of any kind will be permitted for months to come. Many artists may not qualify for some of the state and federal support that is available to others. The financial impact is crushing the music and arts industry.
“When this pandemic hit and social distancing became our new reality, I realized our artist community would be hit again. “I felt like this group could use a lot of assistance and I felt like they deserved a lot of love from our community,” Levy said. “After all, we tend to lean into our art and music during hard times to find comfort. What I love most about the art community within Lyons is its resilience and spirit,” Levy said. “The beauty of this part of Colorado is already a strong attractant that makes you want to live here. But, Lyons tends to also attract really wonderful people over time. And those people really know how to work together when things are hard. They write songs, help their neighbors, create beautiful art installations around town, give back to their community. You can feel the love in this town even when we’re all physically distanced.”
Levy has not only made a huge impact by starting the Gig Fund with LEAF, she has also matched the first $3,000. You can purchase T-shirts online from her local store Uniquely Lyons, starting May 10, and a portion of all sales will be donated back to the Gig Grant Fund.
The town of Lyons is centered around music. It’s engraved in the culture of the town, Lyons even has its own anthem written by local artist Arthur Lee Land and songwriter Carol Lee, called ‘Two Rivers.’ This town would not be the same without the impact of music and arts. By supporting this fund, not only are you supporting the artists but you are helping Lyons continue to thrive. To donate you can click here
Ben Gourley of the Rumpke Mountain Boys (RMB) released his first solo album Lost in the Shuffle on May 15. The album was created and recorded at his home recording space during the quarantine of 2020. The unique feature of this album is Gourley recorded all parts himself, making this album completely his own composition.
Following the announcement that venues and clubs nationwide would be closing, Gourley began recording as a response to his desire to play music. With no shows for the foreseeable future, this was his way of continuing to get his music out into the world. The recording process was different from what he had done in the past, as there were no other musicians to collaborate with this time. The new album includes his usual mandolin and tenor guitar, but also consists of bass,cuatro, six-string guitar, electric mandolin, dulcimer, slide mandolin,slide tenor guitar, electric tenor, electric six-string guitar, and percussion (fashioned from items around the studio) as well as using his signature vocals and deep lyrics to round the album.
“Lost in the Shuffle” has a folk/grass/acoustic, singer-songwriter sound with a few twists into other styles and genres. The album was recorded using only a laptop, USB microphone, a selection of instruments, and a handful of friends knowledgeable and willing to help. It was created pulling from Ben’s songs that had never been recorded prior. After recording and mixing the music, Gourley collaborated with Jesse Barnes, entrusting his expertise in mastering the album.
Vanessa Jo Bahr, professional printmaker and artist, designed the artwork for the album cover. She creates prints from hand-carved plates, including relief/block prints, intaglio carvings and copper etchings. For this particular project, she carved a block of wood, also known as a woodcut, with imagery relevant to Ben’s music and lyrics. After carving, the wood block was hand-inked and pressed onto specialty paper, which resulted in the finished print. Each print was then individually water-colored to create the final product that is available for purchase as a limited edition run of prints. These prints were made in the same house, under quarantine, that Ben Gourley recorded his album: the two working side-by-side throughout the entire process. Gourley revealed, “Lost in the Shuffle" really came together quickly and extremely harmoniously, it seemed almost like each upcoming hurdle in the process was met serendipitously with the generosity and kindness of the community. It’s been a pleasure from the start, an incredible affirmation of the friends and fan-base that has formed behind RMB and in turn, me as well. I hope the demonstration of new creativity and growth will show in times of bleak isolation as the first sprouting life of Spring and inspire those at home to create new art as well, whatever their medium may prove to be.”
Lost in the Shuffle is something everyone can relate to, whether in our everyday lives or in the bigger picture. It can be easy to get “Lost in the Shuffle” but we have each other and can make it through together. Ben Gourley’s new album is now available for digital download and you can purchase it here.
Kyle Tuttle is releasing his second album, a live EP Kyle Tuttle Live in 2020, Friday, February 26, almost a year to date when the album was recorded. The album features songs recorded live two different nights, at The Mill & Mine in Knoxville, TN on February 26, 2020 and The Hunt House in Atlanta, Georgia on February 28 2020, opening for Railroad Earth. At the time of recording, no one knew what the next year would bring. It was Kyle Tuttle Band’s (KTB) first tour of the year, and subsequently also the last before COVID-19 hit.
Kyle Tuttle Band brings high energy jams with a rocky, bluegrass style. The band consists of James Kittleman on drums, Julian Pinelli, fiddle, and Ben DeBerry on bass. The live EP brings a handful of covers such as “Mystery Train” originally by Junior Parker, which is the first released single available on Friday, February 12. Tuttle also brings some of his originals like “Birdie Strut” which is an upbeat instrumental with a catchy flow.
“It felt great to be hitting the road with fresh energy. Spirits in the van were high. That energy is captured well on these tapes. New material and arrangements had the band still on our toes, and that’s when the magic really happens,” says Tuttle.
Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon raves, “Kyle Tuttle Live in 2020 is proof that, yes, there were signs of life and even outright joy in 2020. The band sounds great. Tight rhythm section, and the fiddle and banjo take you to good places while you say ‘dang that’s some good playing!’ High level musicianship and innovative tones played with fun in mind. Put it in your ears now.”
Shawnee Cave Amphitheater announces a stellar bluegrass lineup for its Memorial Day weekend event. The event will take place May 28-30 with music all three nights, for these family friendly shows. Weekend at the Cave is bringing some of the best progressive jamgrass bands back to beautiful Southern Illinois. The lineup includes Sam Bush Band, The Infamous Stringdusters, Leftover Salmon, Keller Williams, Kyle Tuttle Band & Chicken Wire Empire.
Shawnee Cave Amphitheater is being brought back to life after being purchased by new owners nearly a decade ago. The vision for the property is a new experience-based destination venue to drive tourism to Southern Illinois. The land surrounding the amphitheater borders up with The Shawnee National Forest. From hiking gems such as Little Grand Canyon or Inspiration Point, to rock climbing at Alto Pass, mountain biking at Touch of Nature or fishing at Cedar Lake the possibilities are endless. Located in the heart of wine country and Illinois BBQ capital, Murphysboro Illinois, the Shawnee Cave Amphitheater makes it easy to come for the music, and leave wanting to explore all that Southern Illinois has to offer. The new owners of the venue have been hard at work to make this a new experience for event goers.
“We nearly tripled the size of the stage and poured concrete around it to provide an accessible venue for all guests. Other additions to the property include a Shakedown midway area for food and craft vendors and a stage for daytime/ late night performers. Our ‘stay and play’ vision fits with the recreation opportunities in the area by providing true southern hospitality. Over the next year we hope to host experience-based events, build our brand, and increase lodging accommodations.”
The event itself will take place over the three-day holiday weekend. There are ticket options to fit everyone’s needs from single day general admission, to 3-day weekend VIP passes. You can opt to camp on site or there are many options to camp nearby as well. There will be local musicians, vendors, and food trucks throughout the daytime providing entertainment for all camping guests. They plan to showcase the local community to make this a memorable and safe event to both visitors and locals. This is a socially distanced event with very limited passes. They will be enforcing all state mandated COVID-19 regulations. Follow Shawnee Cave Amphitheater on socials to get the inside scoop on daily schedules to be announced soon.
Miles Over Mountains released their newest album Burn the Ships on Friday, March 31, with an album release party in Chicago at Durtie Nellie’s with friends Fox Crossing Stringband and Pete Jive . This is their fourth full length album for the band. This album is special, as all songs were recorded with Shawn Drake on fiddle, before he passed away in June of 2022.
This album is dedicated in loving memory of Shawn Drake -
“One evening over tacos and cold cheap beers, we discussed various ideas for the title of this forthcoming album. We wanted something that was poignant and relevant to our relative journey of creating this album and sharing it with the world. The basic theme saying "all in", "no looking back", "can't turn around" felt right on to us.
After Shawn's passing about a month later, there was no thought whatsoever as to what our album would be titled, and who's spirit it would sing in remembrance of. Make no mistake, every show the band ever plays from now until forever is for Shawn. However, these songs happen to feature the last recorded musical efforts of one of the greatest souls we ever felt glow upon us.
“Burn the Ships" accurately represented where we were. Little did we know, it would come to accurately represent where we found ourselves. And now, it represents where we find ourselves, as this band pushes forward against whatever the current may be."
The name Burn the Ships comes from a metaphorical expression that comes from the early 1500’s. It is said to have come from the 1519 Spanish conquest of Mexico when commander Hernan Cortes burned all of his ships so that his men would be forced to win or die. In short, the message we’re going for states “no turning back”. Removing the option to turn away, you are forced to keep moving, as hard as it may be. This band continues to push forward no matter what comes their way.
The brand new single Trailer in Boulder Canyon from Kyle Tuttle is now available on all streaming platforms, This is the second single from the new album Labor of Lust that drops on February 16th, 2024. This will be Tuttle’s second full length album, and third release overall.
“This track is a journey to a fantastical land of freedom and fun… a reprieve from the monotony and hum-drum of daily life in the machine. Take the Canyon Road up to a mental vacation in the clouds… some call it Nederland. Is it really real, who knows?? I don’t have a trailer on the mountainside by the big lake yet, but one day I hope to make it happen. Maybe even Stream this dream into reality? Haha. I kid, but seriously, Nederland is a cool little mountain town with years of Jamgrass lore surrounding it, and this track is my ode to the place that has birthed some of my favorite bands including Leftover Salmon and Yonder Mountain String Band. I am joined on this track by Cody Kilby, Dominick Leslie, Julian Pinelli and Travis Book, who all helped immensely in bringing this goofy vision to life. Just sit back, close your eyes, and take a little trip home with me.”
This single was recorded back in 2021, during the pandemic at Forty One Fifteen Studio in Nashville, TN. Listen to the new single on all streaming platforms. Kyle will be hitting the road in February for two weeks for Labor of Lust tour through the Southeast and Midwest, while he has a break from full time touring with Molly Tuttle Golden Highway. The Kyle Tuttle band will be a five piece band, kicking off with the first show on February 15, in Charleston, SC.
Stay up to date on all upcoming shows and news by visiting www.kyletuttle.com
About Kyle Tuttle
Equally comfortable picking pristine progressive bluegrass and electric jamband solos, Kyle Tuttle is a rare and virtuosic banjo player known for his work with GRAMMY-winning guitarist Molly Tuttle, and former Yonder Mountain String Band mandolin player Jeff Austin. On his new record, Tuttle explores a wide range of sounds and possibilities for the banjo, while his songwriting gives insight into a tumultuous time in his own life; losing a mentor and going through a divorce.
Growing up in Georgia, Kyle Tuttle first began singing and playing folk songs with his grandparents. After studying at Berklee College of Music and moving to Nashville, TN, Tuttle played in the band of Yonder Mountain String Band mandolinist Jeff Austin until Austin’s death in 2019. Kyle has also worked closely with Jamgrass legends Larry Keel, Travelin’ McCourys, Leftover Salmon, Greensky Bluegrass, Billy Strings, Railroad Earth and many more.
In addition to being seen around the jamgrass circuit, Kyle is a studio musician in Nashville, and he produced the Chain Station album ‘Backroads’. He is Currently on tour with Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway along with his own band, the Kyle Tuttle Band.
