Cybergrass Bluegrass Music News

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "String Wizard" John McEuen with sons Jonathan and Nathan will be performing live at Studio 201 in New York City this March 30th. On the eve of the release of their first album together, "The McEuen Sessions" The Circle Remains Unbroken on this 40th Anniversary concert of the release of one of the greatest albums of Americana Music, Will The Circle Be Unbroken.

Will The Circle Be Unbroken was inducted into the Library of Congress in 2004 as one of America's most important recordings. This evening with John and family will include
Music from their new album, a special section of Circle Music rarely heard onstage, stories behind the recording of this landmark recording, and the music of John's sons that has been getting critcal acclaim in their own right.

John brings his renown talents on banjo, guitar, fiddle and mandolin to the stage joining Jonathan and Nathan with a performance that is unlike any other. John puts it simply "I'd hate to follow us".

Founded by two alumni of the legendary Capitol Theatre in Passaic, NJ, Live At Studio 201 is the most unique venue for intimate concerts in NYC. With a maximum seating capacity of 225 and no seat farther than 30 feet from the stage, Live At Studio 201 creates a one of a kind concert experience for both the audience and the performers, featuring some of the most legendary musicians of the past 40 years. This isn't mega corporate rock, it is music presented in a totally intimate setting for fans by fans for the pure passion of the music.

Tickets are available now at Live at Studio 201.

2012 marks the 53rd year since bluegrass music artist Ricky Skaggs struck his first chords on a mandolin, and this fourteen-time Grammy Award winner continues to do his part to lead the recent roots revival in music. With 12 consecutive Grammy-nominated classics behind him, all from his own Skaggs Family Records label, the diverse and masterful tones made by the gifted Skaggs come from a life dedicated to playing music that is both fed by the soul and felt by the heart.

International Festival of Country Music introduced country music to the British public almost 45 years ago. The shows, promoted by the legendary Mervyn Conn, ran for 23 years from 1969 to 1991 at Wembley Arena. Hugely popular, the shows always featured the biggest stars of Country music fans were treated to outstanding performances by artists including; Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Tammy Wynette, Jerry Lee Lewis, Crystal Gayle and many more. Now after a gap of 20 years the Festival is back, and one thing that has not changed is world class line-up. Skaggs and his band Kentucky Thunder will be a part of the next big lineup.

The festival takes place in London's Wembley Arena 26th February 2012 and then in Belfast's Odyssey Arena 29th February 2012. Details and ticketing information can be accessed at the Festival of Country Music web site.

A discography of Skaggs' works include Bluegrass Rules! in 1998, Ancient Tones in 1999, History of the Future in 2001, Soldier of the Cross, Live at the Charleston Music Hall, and Big Mon: The Songs of Bill Monroe in 2003, Brand New Strings in 2005, Instrumentals in 2007, Salt of the Earth with The Whites in 2008, Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947 in 2009 and Ricky Skaggs Solo: Songs My Dad Loved along with Mosaic in 2010.

By Joe Ross
With four traditional tunes, five originals, and eight covers, the Missouri-based string band Blackberry Winter has produced a pleasant album chock full of downhome flavor and personality. These self-professed "old hillbillies" have long resumes with folk, big band, swing, rockabilly and even funk music. Common interests in music, friendship and camaraderie bring the folks together from many walks of life. Blackberry Winter's seven eclectic members have also pursued careers in journalism, broadcasting, photography, nature study, music teaching, massage therapy, realty and home remodeling. The band originally formed when singer/storyteller Marideth Sisco pulled them together to play soundtrack music for "Winter's Bone," an award-winning, thrilling melodrama set in the Missouri Ozarks. The rest of the affable group is Dennis Crider (guitar), Bo Brown (guitar, mandolin, Dobro), Van Colbert (clawhammer banjo), Linda Stoffel (vocals, washboard), Tedi May (bass), and Billy Ward (fiddle). The album's liner notes don't credit the male singers, but one would presume that it's Bo Brown singing his own self-penned "Small Town."

As an original tribute to their home, the album opens with Sisco's passionate statement about the "rich, deep current of life always running through these Ozarks Hills." The songs with spare instrumental settings are especially effective for the nostalgic and evocative sentiments. "Cold Rain and Snow" brings chills with its rustic accompaniment of only banjo and fiddle. Tom Waits' "House Where Nobody Lives" and Hedy West/Don West's "Anger in the Land" and Hazel Dickens' "Fly Away Little Pretty Bird" are also sparsely arranged to impart old-timey front porch intensity that is remarkably powerful storytelling. The project also taps the repertoires of such luminaries as Dave Macon, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Natalie Merchant, Kate Long, and Bill Carlisle. I've heard several bands cover "Who Will Watch the Home Place," and that kind of song seems a perfect fit for this band's ethos and approach...as do "Gone Home" and "The Water is Wide."

Blackberry Winter is a successful regional band, and they recently completed a 27-city "Amazing Geriatric Hillbilly U.S. World Tour" to promote the Winter's Bone soundtrack. It's nice to see them keeping the ensemble together, as well as pursuing a variety of string band styles. While large-scale commercial success may elude them, I'm sure they have a solid fan base in Old Mizzoo. "Use It Up" might even have a biographical thread – "no need to strive for riches, you can patch it up with kisses, it ain't old, it ain't old, it ain't old, it's just seen a lot of life." Sung from the heart, their music helps us lay down heavy burdens and weary bodies. A swingy song like "City Kicks" might best capture their prevalent message – "I'm going to throw away all my bills, when I get to those Ozark Hills, and trade these old hard times for an easy chair. And I ain't gonna need no liquor, gonna hang with them guitar pickers, gonna play away my blues when I get down there." Sung from the heart, their music helps us lay down heavy burdens and weary bodies. A swingy song like

This year's Grammy® Awards program was an emotional one with the death of Whitney Houston just as the celebration was unfolding. This year, however, was also exciting as we saw some of our favorites being honored by the Recording Academy. Alison Krauss' latest project Paper Airplane captured Best Bluegrass Album and the album also captured the Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical award.

The Best Bluegrass Album nominations also included Reason And Rhyme: Bluegrass Songs by Robert Hunter & Jim Lauderdale by Jim Lauderdale on Sugar Hill records, Rare Bird Alert by Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers (Rounder), A Mother's Prayer by Ralph Stanley (Rebel), Old Memories: The Songs of Bill Monroe by the Del McCoury Band, and Chris Thile & Michael Daves' Sleep With One Eye Open. All of these albums are winners in their own right.

Here is a short clip of Alison Krauss & Union Station on the Red Carpet prior to the show...

Here is a List of all of Alison Krauss' Awards on the Grammy web site.

The Best Americana Album was awarded to Ramble at the Rymanby Levon Helm. Others nominated in the category were Blessed by Lucinda Williams, Hard Bargain by Emmylou Harris, Pull UpSome Dust and Sit Down by Ry Cooder and linda Chorney's Emotional Jukebox.

In the Folk category, the Best Folk Album was The Civil Wars' Barton Hollow which also captured the Best Country Duo/Group Performance award. This album competed with Gilliam Welch's The Harrow & The Harvest, Steve Earle's I'll Never Get Out of this World Alive, Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes, and Ukulele Songs by Eddie Vedder.

The Bristol Sessions, 1927-1928: The Big Bang of Country Music failed to capture the Best Historical album or Best Album Notes awards but none the less, this collection is beyond outstanding. This is the history of country music and definitely was the "Big Bang" that created the roots of the music we all admire.

For a complete list of awards and winners, please visit The Grammy Nominations and Winner's web page.
Hard Bargain

The exciting new bluegrass music group, Nu-Blu, has been having great success with their current CD, Blu-Disc. They're not really a "new" group and next year will be the band's 10th anniversary. Nu-Blu announced that they decided to take the opportunity of the cold winter months to retreat to the warmth of the studio and begin work on their next Nu album. This album will be an all Gospel CD, and they are hoping to see a release date sometime late spring of 2012.

Through the years, Nu-Blu has worked hard to develop a group that would give the listener a diverse experience. By mixing their original songs along with traditional material, and even incorporating songs from other genres, the group has certainly created a unique and driving blend of music that keeps audiences coming back for more.

Nu-Blu was founded by husband and wife team, Carolyn and Daniel Routh. Carolyn, on bass, provides her trademark lead vocals with impressive clarity and vocal range and Daniel, on guitar, brings his songwriting and vocal talents to the group. The two young guns, Levi Austin (banjo and vocals) and Austin Koener (mandolin) fill out the ranks providing the band with a solid and talented backbone.

Carolyn and Daniel Routh, the founding members of Nu-Blu, make up half of this "hard-driving" band.  Carolyn began taking the stage at the age of 7.  Even though she attended many bluegrass events, the "bug" never really bit her.  In high school she was introduced to Broadway style musicals where she gained much knowledge and experience under the direction of Dr. Joanne Bowman.  In the years that followed, Gospel, Country, Blues and Rock and Roll all shaped and expanded her vocal style and achievements.  It was while fronting one of her bands, Faithful Journey, that she met Daniel Routh.

Daniel began playing guitar at the age of 15.  Banjo soon followed, which he played in the bands Different Directions and The Donna Hughes Band.  It was while playing in Donna's band that he and Carolyn met.  After a chance meeting in Wal-Mart, Daniel learned that Carolyn was in need of a bass player, so he agreed to learn bass to fill the spot.  After Faithful Journey disbanded, and a short time playing together in a classic rock band, they attended a festival that Carolyn's long time friend John Wade was performing at.  It only took till the second song by Lonesome River Band to bring Carolyn back to her roots.  "I have told Sammy Shelor many times that he is directly responsible for my bluegrass addiction," Carolyn says. 

Together they started Nu-Blu in the fall of 2003.  Through the music, the pair had become best friends.  During Thanksgiving weekend in 2003, Carolyn suffered two strokes and nearly lost her life.  She lost her speech and the use of her right side. Daniel was her constant companion through it all and never left her side in the months of rehab that followed.  On June 16, 2006, Daniel and Carolyn married and Carolyn often states, "There is nothing sweeter than taking the stage with your best friend and love standing right beside you. I'm having the time of my life."

Trinity Music Productions is proud to present American Guitar Master Michael Kelsey in concert as part of the Acoustic Guitar Masters Concert Series 12. Join Michael at the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, March 2, 2012. Show time is 7:30pm EST. Tickets are $15.00 each. For more information visit www.AcousticGuitarMasters.com

Michael Kelsey cannot be limited to a simple description. When you listen to his music and see him perform live you're witnessing more than a just another singer-songwriter. You're watching a rhythmic, inspired guitarist and performance artist who brews soul, funk and even a little bit of the blues into a guitar festival of organic sound.

Multi-instrumentalist Kelsey has been known to blend many musical genres with fervour and grace. When he hits the stage to perform, he plays every inch of his guitar and makes it sing, soar, pop and ping--by strumming it, pounding it and pulling every part of it or anything else an arm's length or foot kick away. He has created a style that he described best as "progressive-aggressive acoustic guitar," and he has only begun to make a first impression.

His live performances are particularly moving. Sometimes he sounds as if he’s deftly playing more than one guitar. At a Kelsey show audience members may actually lose themselves in the moment and forget they are listening to one person. They can be tapping their foot one minute, in a deep trance the next, then bursting into laughter.

"There is a five piece band in my head. They all have different tastes in music and they are all trying to escape at the same time through my hands, feet and mouth. I hang onto an acoustic guitar and see what happens," Kelsey sums up his stage show aptly. He is well versed in the art of entertaining and at every show he creates a rare army of sound that comes from one man, a voice and an acoustic guitar.

Phone order tickets are available using Visa, MasterCard and Discover. A convenience charge of $2.50 per ticket will be added to phone orders and the tickets will be mailed to you.
Please call 270-325-3958 between 9am and 5pm Monday through Friday.

The brand new single release from the Niall Toner Band is "Tomorrow." This is a follow up to the very successful original tribute song "William Smith Monroe" about the Father Of Bluegrass. WSM is also included with Rhonda Vincent and Ricky Skaggs on New Cuts Of Bluegrass Volume 3. Today is the first single off the upcoming record Onwards and Upwards that will be released from Pinecastle in Fall of 2012. Look for more music soon.

Niall Toner hails originally from Harold's Cross in Dublin, Ireland’s Capital City, and re-located to Myshall, County Carlow, in 2001, where he got together with Clem O’Brien and Dick Gladney, and formed the NTB. Niall is widely regarded as one of Ireland's leading experts on Bluegrass and American Country Music. He brings his knowledge of music to a wide audience through his performances with his Band, and on his Radio Show, Roots Freeway, on RTE Radio One, which features a range of music, from Bluegrass and Old Timey to Blues and Cajun, with contemporary singer-songwriters,Traditional Irish music, and live studio guests.

Niall has also been nominated for several PPI Radio Awards. www.rootsfreeway.ie, www.rte.ie/radio

Niall has written extensively on the subject, and his articles have been published in Hot Press, Irish Music Magazine, In Dublin Magazine, Country Music Plus, Bluegrass Unlimited and Maverick Magazine.

Niall was a founder member of The Lee Valley String Band in Cork, The Sackville String Band and Hank Halfhead and The Rambling Turkeys.

He sings, plays Guitar and Mandolin, and has been writing songs since 1980.Niall’s compositions have been recorded by Bill Wyman,[The Rolling Stones] The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Albert Lee, Special Consensus, Barry and Holly Tashian, Paddy Cole, Eoin O'Riabaig, Ray Dolan, The Fleadh Cowboys, Keith Sewell, and many others. Niall has also enjoyed huge success with the inclusion of his composition, Nuns Island Reel, in the biggest-selling video game in history, Grand Theft Auto IV. More recently, in 2011, Niall has achieved major success through the release of his CDs on Air Play Direct, and holds the distinction of being at the Number Two Spot in the Bluegrass/Folk all time Chart, and the Number Thirteen spot in the Top Fifty APD all genres chart.

In 2003, Niall's contribution to Country Music was honored by the CMA in Nashville, in the form of a nomination for a Global Artist Award, and his three all-original CDs with NTB, There's A Better Way, Mood Swing, and NTB3 have been widely acclaimed for their originality and the quality of their songs and instrumentals.

Clem O'Brien is well known as Ireland's finest flatpicking guitar stylist, and is also famed for his high tenor singing voice, which is an integral part of the sound of the NTB. Clem is from Ballylynan in County Laois and his Sister and his Dad are also fine singers and musicians who perform with their own band, Woodbine. Clem has served stints with many outfits, and is the only Irish musician to have worked professionally with an American Bluegrass Band, when he toured the USA with Special Consensus in 1998. Clem has also fronted a number of Irish bands, including the legendary Flinthill Boys and his own Clem O'Brien Band. In recent times, he has been appearing all over the World as guitarist with The Chieftains. Clem plays Guitar, Mandolin and Dobro, and also writes songs firmly based in the tradition of hardcore bluegrass and traditional country music, many of which are featured on the NTB CDs.

Dick Gladney , a native of St.Mullins, in County Carlow, is the Band's Double Bass player, and his experience with The Flinthill Boys, The Clem O'Brien Band and many other outfits has helped him hone his skill on that large instrument, and his steady hand adds greatly to the overall sound of the Trio. Dick is also an integral part of the songwriting team, and several of his co-writes are included on the NTB CDs. A song he's justifiably very proud of is Railroad Dreams on the Mood Swing album, which tells the true story of a train that used to pass his parent's house when he was a young man in St.Mullins. Dick also plays autoharp, and features that instrument on a song called The Promise on AVCD 005.

The Niall Toner Band also perform a substantial repertoire of songs written by Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, The Carter Family, Ralph Stanley, Flatt and Scruggs and Johnny Cash, but have concentrated in the past ten years on recording and performing their own material. There's no doubt at all about where their influences come from, but it's their own songs, like The Master's Resting Place, Another's Name, The Cheatin' Side Of Town, Bill Monroe's Mandolin and Railroad Dreams that have garnered them a plethora of great reviews, and it's quite remarkable that a three-piece string band can hold an audience with two hours of live music, all of it original.

NTB have released three all-original, all-acoustic CDs, There's A Better Way [2003], Mood Swing [2005], and in 2008, NTB3, and are currently working on CD number four, due for release in conjunction with the Centenary of the birth of Bill Monroe in 2011.Meanwhile, in 2011, they have released a mini CD featuring three Bill Monroe tribute songs. But, as good as their CDs are, a live performance is best, so check them out live, if you can. There's no doubt that hearing the combined sounds of the mandolin, guitar and string bass, as well as the singing voices of all three, is the best way to appreciate their music. This is a stringband sound made by guys who love and respect the great traditions of Bluegrass, Traditional Country and Americana roots music.

Rounder Records sends us a reminder on Josh Williams' "Bird Video." I know most of you have probably already seen this, but in case you haven't, please take a moment to watch this cute video of the Josh Williams Band shot by Ted Lehmann at the Doyle Lawson Bluegrass Festival last May. The video has over 830K views already!

The band never misses a beat as the cute little baby bird unexpectedly lands on Josh's guitar while he's playing it. The song continues with the bird riding comfortably on the back of the guitar. Needless to say, Josh couldn't continue picking for the rest of the song. It didn't matter as the bird even tried to sing during the performance.

At around 1:30 a baby bird lands on Josh's guitar and continues to sit & listen while Josh finishes his song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vBo0ptYJNs Thanks to Ted for capturing this special moment.

The Josh Williams Band became one of the leading explosive tributes to the tradition of music last season, after a nomination to the final round as IBMA's Emerging Artist for 2009 set their course. Their smooth vocals hold the fans spellbound. Josh, Randy, Jason & Nick blend hypnotically to take their audiences through all realms of musical sentiment, from easy-going ballads to fiery, hard-driving instrumentals. The band's unique chemistry with each other, their charisma and connection to their fans, along with their inherent musical and lyrical gifts, are producing riveting performances to sold-out audiences. Their instant appeal to every demographic is soaring JWB to new heights. With the electrically-charged magical sounds that make them so popular, Josh led the band to become “the people's choice” when they won 2010 IBMA Emerging Artist.

Marty Stuart's Late Night Jam has become recognized as the kick off event of the CMA Music Festival and in 2012, Marty will celebrate the jam session's 11th year. Marty started the event as way to welcome fans to country music's biggest festival, but the jam has also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for MusiCares, which provides assistance for music people in times of need.

In the past, Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels, Porter Wagoner, Neko Case, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jerry Lee Lewis and many more have shown up for the jam session.

Last year Marty Stuart celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Late Night Jam as he kicked off that year's CMA Music Festival and the annual Springer Mountain Farms Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman summer concert series. Stuart is a favorite at the Ryman and if last year's sold-out performance is a any indication, if you want tickets, you need to act fast. Tickets are available at: The Ryman Ticket Sales web site.

Stuart, a stalwart of traditional country music, recently received his fifth career Grammy® award for "Best Country Instrumental" for "Hummingbyrd," from his critically acclaimed album Ghost Train (The Studio B Sessions). His TV show, The Marty Stuart Show, continues to bring traditional country music into living rooms across the country every Saturday night on RFD-TV.

Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit www.musicares.com

That wonderful action filled group, Leftover Salmon is announcing another tour! If you haven't heard yet, the group is preparing and getting ready to get back on on the road for their 2012 tour.

This spring the roads will take the band to parts of the Midwest and Southeast. They have also just got out of a Portland, Oregon studio and have completed their first record in more than 8 years. You'll be hearing a lot more about that in the coming months.

The band notes, "There is a full festival season ahead for us and we kick off our Winter Tour on February 28th in Fort Collins. We've also just added a second date at the Sheridan Opera House. So, if you didn't get tickets to the first sold out show in Telluride, you now have a chance."

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the second date at the Sheridan Opera House on March 12 and their Spring Tour! They can't wait to see all of you out on the road.

Lebanon, TN -- Rounder Records recording group Dailey & Vincent were honored with multiple awards during the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) awards show on February 5, 2012 in Nashville, Tenn. Together they won Gospel Group of the Year (Contemporary), Vocal Group of the Year, and Overall Bluegrass Band of the Year. Separately, Jamie Dailey earned Entertainer of the Year and Contemporary Male Vocalist, and Darrin Vincent earned Bass Performer of the Year. In addition, acclaimed bluegrass group The Grascals was named Instrumental Group of the Year at the 39th Annual SPBGMA Awards.

"We are delighted that Jamie Dailey, Darrin Vincent, and their group have been recognized by their fans and members of SPBGMA in such an exciting way," said Cracker Barrel Marketing Manager Julie Craig. "Since they released The Gospel Side of Dailey & Vincent on January 9, their second CD in the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® exclusive music program, Jamie and Darrin have connected with our guests in Cracker Barrel stores throughout their travels. Their talent and spirit shines through whether they are performing on stage or visiting at one of our tables and we're very proud of them."

"The Grascals hit the ground performing at the start of 2011 with phenomenal music steeped in the bluegrass tradition that touched the hearts of their contemporary audiences," said Cracker Barrel Marketing Manager Julie Craig. "We are thrilled to congratulate them on their achievements and proud of all of their accomplishments, particularly the success of their January 3, 2011 Cracker Barrel exclusive music program release of The Grascals & Friends - Country Classics With A Bluegrass Spin CD<?em>." The album debuted at #1 on Billboard magazine's Bluegrass Albums chart and at #26 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart.

The Gospel Side of Dailey & Vincent, the latest CD in Cracker Barrel's exclusive music program, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums chart (week ending January 15, 2012) and has remained #1 for four weeks. 2011 Cracker Barrel releases include The Oak Ridge Boys' CD It's Only Natural in September; Jason Michael Carroll's all-country Numbers with 11 new songs and one previous hit in July; the May release of Teddy Gentry's Best New Nashville with original music from 12 talented new artists and Randy Travis' self-titled album Randy Travis. In March 2011 Cracker Barrel released Kenny Rogers' The Love of God, which debuted at #8 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and #2 on the Top Christian Albums chart; The Grascals & Friends - Country Classics With A Bluegrass Spin in January, which debuted at #1 on Billboard magazine's Bluegrass Albums chart and at #26 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. In November 2010, Cracker Barrel released Smokey Robinson's Now & Then, which debuted at #19 on Billboard magazine's R&B chart and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. September saw the release of the self-titled Rodney Atkins, which included four #1 hits, and Mandy Barnett's Winter Wonderland. Over the last few years, Cracker Barrel has released exclusive CDs with Craig Morgan, Wynonna, Alan Jackson, the Zac Brown Band, George Jones, Montgomery Gentry, Dolly Parton, Bill Gaither, Ricky Skaggs, Aaron Tippin, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Josh Turner, Amy Grant, Sara Evans and Charlie Daniels.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store provides a friendly home-away-from-home in its old country stores and restaurants. Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real home-style food and shopping that's surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America's country heritage…all at a fair price. The restaurant serves up delicious, home-style country food such as meatloaf and homemade chicken n' dumplins as well as its made from scratch biscuits using an old family recipe. The authentic old country retail store is fun to shop and offers unique gifts and self-indulgences.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. and operates 610 company-owned locations in 42 states. Every Cracker Barrel unit is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. For more information, visit crackerbarrel.com.

Rural Rhythm Records is proud to announce the new single, "Life Goes On" by the Musicians Against Childhood Cancer®. The title track surely speaks to the heart and soul and gives us a glimpse of the all-star power contained on this exciting new 2 CD Set releasing March 27, 2012. This beautiful song was written by Dale Pyatt and Steve Thomas and includes lead vocals by Jerry Salley, Carl Jackson, Rickey Wasson, Larry Cordle, and Ronnie Bowman. It was recently released on the label's Fresh Cuts & Key tracks radio compilation CD and is now available at AirplayDirect.com

"Life Goes On" also includes the talents of: Ron Stewart (Fiddle); Jim VanCleve (Fiddle); Alan Bibey (Mandolin); Clay Hess (Guitar); Randy Kohrs (Harmony vocal, Dobro); Jay Weaver (Bass); and Garnet Bowman, Ashley Kohrs, D.A. Adkins, Len Butler, Gary Payne, Dale "Chicken Grease" Pyatt (Harmony Vocals).

The Life Goes On album was recorded live during the annual MACC festivals from 2006 - 2011 with the exception of the new single "Life Goes On" that was recorded at Randy Kohrs' Slack Key Studio in Nashville , TN.

Proceeds from the festival benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Performers at the festival generously donate their time and talent to this cause. MACC was founded by Darrel & Phyllis Adkins in honor of their daughter, Mandy who lost her battle with cancer on November 25, 2000. Life Goes On is the next chapter for this important music project and once again the Bluegrass music community has stepped up and supported the project with open arms and a big heart.

For more information on Musicians Against Childhood Cancer, please visit their website at www.BluegrassClassic.com and for more information on Rural Rhythm Records, please visit www.RuralRhythm.comRural Rhythm Records is proud to announce the new single,

The Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation's Concert Series and Downtown Rome's Living & Giving will present Shannon Whitworth in Concert on Friday, March 2, at 8 p.m. A bluegrass/Americana singer, she comes to Rome to perform in the town that her parents call home. The daughter of Darlington School Headmaster Tom Whitworth and his wife, Margo, Shannon credits her parents with filling their home with music that inspired her, including Paul Simon, James Taylor, John Prine, and Crosby Stills, Nash & Young.

"We are very excited that our daughter and her group are supporting the efforts to help the DeSoto be all that it can be," said Tom. "We are very, very proud of Shannon, and proud that she'll be here. We look forward to everyone getting to know her."

Shannon was a founding member of the Biscuit Burners, the bluegrass band that brought her to the attention of the music world and performed during Darlington's Centennial Alumni Weekend in 2005. After appearances on the BBC and PBS, she left the band to pursue a broader musical vision.

In 2007, she released her first solo album, No Expectations, followed by Waterbound in 2010. She was also featured last year in the popular Southern magazine Garden & Gun. Under the cover headline "Bluegrass Nation, 25 Bands Giving Old-Time Music a Whole New Sound," Shannon is said to have eclectic musical tastes ranging from Beck to Patsy Cline. "Her sound may be hard to define, but her voice is unmistakable," said the magazine about her distinctive, husky voice.

Shannon is married to musician Woody Platt, whose band, Steep Canyon Rangers, performs with comedian and banjo player Steve Martin.

Opening for her will be Rome's own Thunderbolt Patterson. A VIP Patron's Party will be held jointly at the Swift and Finch café and the Great Room at the Seven Hills Building, two new spaces just opening to the community at the former Clyde Collier and White Rabbit buildings. The VIP reception will continue after the concert at the Swift and Finch café, which will also be open to the general public.

Downtown Rome's retail business Living & Giving is the concert's marquee sponsor and was instrumental in bringing Shannon Whitworth to Rome. Her mother, Margo, has been on the Living & Giving staff for the past five years.

"You can imagine my excitement at being able to introduce our community to Shannon's sultry bluegrass sound, Swift & Finch, and Seven Hills all in one evening," said Lisa Landry, event co-chairperson in charge of the VIP Reception.

"We're excited that so many elements of the Rome community have come together in support of the DeSoto Theatre," said Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation President Paul Griffin. "Seven Hills Fellowship has been holding Sunday morning church services at the DeSoto Theatre for over five years and is an instrumental partner in the theatre's restoration efforts."

The Historic DeSoto Theatre, built in 1929 by O.C. Lam, was the first theatre in the south built exclusively for "talkies." The Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation was established in 2008 to lead a community effort to restore, maintain and operate the DeSoto Theatre as a historical, cultural and economic asset. All proceeds from the concert will go toward the Foundation's restoration efforts.

Tickets for the concert are $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Tickets for the VIP Patron's Party are $50 per person and include the meet-and-greet reception with live music, reserved seating at the theatre, and coffee and desserts after the concert. Tickets are available at www.desototickets.com , Living & Giving, Schroeder's New Deli, Blue Sky Outfitters, DeSoto Box Office, or by calling 706 295-7171.img src=

Bristol, TN/VA -- The Appalachian Cultural Music Association will present their 16th Annual Leon Kiser Memorial Tribute Concert at the Paramount Theatre in Bristol, Tennessee on Saturday, February 25th. The concert is named in memory of the late Leon Kiser who was bandleader of his group the Holston Mountain Boys for over thirty years. Kiser was also a local legend who not only performed bluegrass music but also was a promoter of the music as well in the regions of East Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia.

The concert is presented each year by the ACMA and showcases local, regional and national artists who volunteer their talents to honor musicians and contributors who help further bluegrass and old time music in the southern Appalachian Region.

Honorees this year will be the legendary Stoneman Family who were originally from Galax, Virginia. Patsy, Donna and Roni Stoneman are the surviving children of the late Ernest V. and Hattie Stoneman. Ralph Peer and the Victor Company recorded Ernest and Hattie Stoneman at the famous Bristol Sessions of 1927 and Ernest is credited for urging Peer to come to Bristol for these legendary recordings. Stoneman's surviving daughters Patsy, Donna and Roni will be honored along with their famous family and they will perform on the show as well.

Also being honored at this year's concert will be the McPeak Brothers from Wytheville, Virginia. The McPeaks have been performing and writing bluegrass music for over 40 years and are legendary in the bluegrass music world. Dewey, Larry and Mike McPeak will be honored at the concert along with their late brother Udell who originally helped form the band back in the 1960s. The McPeaks are scheduled to perform on the show also.

Emily Spencer is another honoree this year. Emily is best known for her decades of work and music making with the White Top Mountain Band. She is also been very giving of her time and talents by teaching others how to play and sing old time music. The White Top Mountain Band will perform on the concert on February 25th as well.

The Vanover Sisters played music for over six decades in the Tri-Cities Region with a career going back to the Farm and Fun Time Show on WCYB Radio in the 1950s. Monet and Estelle Vanover who were originally from Southwestern Virginia performed classic country music for countless audiences over the years. Estelle passed away last year. Monet will be on hand for the concert and will perform on stage with Robby Spencer on the February 25th concert.

The final honoree at this year's concert will be Harry Esenwine. Esenwine will be awarded the “Award of Merit” by the ACMA for his contributions and support of the region's music. Esenwine retired a few years ago as manager of the Bristol Mall but back in 1998 gave the Mountain Music Museum their first home. The ACMA supports and operates the Mountain Music Museum at the Bristol Mall which still thrives there today thanks in large part to Harry Esenwine's vision and support. Esenwine still lives in Bristol since his retirement four years ago.

The concert will feature many talented bands and musicians including the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band, the Stonemans, McPeak Brothers, Holston Mountain Boys, Kiser Family, Kody Norris, Morehead State University with Raymond McLain and their Mountain Music Ambassadors, Lightnin' Charlie, Monet Vanover with Robby Spencer, Breaking Tradition and Duty Free. Tim White who hosts the popular television concert series “Song of the Mountains” will emcee the concert.

The 16th Annual Leon Kiser Memorial Tribute Show will begin at 7:00 pm on Saturday, February 25th. Tickets are available at the Paramount Theatre in Bristol, Tennessee. For tickets and information call 276-274-8920 or visit www.theparamountcenter.com information is also available at www.mountainmusicmuseum.org or www.pickinporch.org

Proceeds from this concert go to benefit the Benny Sims and the ACMA's Leon Kiser Scholarships at East Tennessee State University.

The concert is sponsored by Bryant Label Company, Arrington, Schelin & Herrell, P.C., Toyota of Kingsport, Kiser Supply, Johnson City Honda, The Tim White Bluegrass Show, Rock 102.5 in Marion, Virginia, News5 WCYB, News Channel 11, Eddie's Trophies, Charter Media and WPWT 870 am Top Gun Country.

Lyons, CO -- Planet Bluegrass sent us this announcement... "Dearest festivarian: It's time to get serious for a minute. No more easily-ignored pleas to scribble lottery dates on your calendar. The time for summer solstice action is now. Before your curious eyes get immersed in the single-day Telluride lineup (yes, it's below), stop and consider anyone you know who is still looking for tickets to Telluride Bluegrass... Maybe it's a pickin' buddy? Maybe it's the couple that camped next to you last year? Maybe it's you? Send them a reminder to enter the online lottery for single-day tickets right now. These are the only tickets left for the grand gathering of Festivarian Nation in Telluride; and the lottery closes this Thursday, February 9. Reminder sent? Great. Onto the good stuff...

And, now, here is the schedule lineup for the 39th Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival...

Thursday, June 21: Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, John Prine, Laura Marling, Thelma & Louise featuring Chris Thile & Béla Fleck, Greensky Bluegrass, Dan Mangan, Della Mae

Friday, June 22: John Fogerty, Leftover Salmon, Del McCoury Band, Béla Fleck & the Marcus Roberts Trio, Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Edgar Meyer & Mike Marshall, Joy Kills Sorrow, Head for the Hills

Saturday, June 23: Sam Bush Band, k.d. lang & the Siss Boom Bang, Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, Yonder Mountain String Band, Jerry Douglas featuring Omar Hakim & Viktor Krauss, The Devil Makes Three, Run Boy Run

Sunday, June 24: Telluride House Band featuring Sam Bush, Béla Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Bryan Sutton & Stuart Duncan, Glen Hansard, Punch Brothers, O'Brien Party of Seven, and several more early-day sets still to be announced...

The legendary John Fogerty makes his long-awaited Telluride Bluegrass debut on Friday night – filling the box canyon with his iconic voice, gritty guitar, hard rocking band, and remarkable repertoire. Then Saturday, the artist whom Fogerty calls "my favorite musician" – Jerry Douglas – reunites his brilliant power trio of Omar Hakim & Viktor Krauss.

Béla Fleck & Chris Thile open the festival with a completely improvised set – in which their only discussion before hitting the stage is their choice of name: Thelma & Louise. Four years since his unforgettable set with The Swell Season, Glen Hansard returns with his powerful new band on Sunday evening; while one of our favorite voices in modern British folk, Laura Marling, makes her enchanting Telluride debut on Thursday.

From contemporary stringband (Joy Kills Sorrow) to jamgrass (Head for the Hills) to post-singer-songwriter band (Dan Mangan) to punky backporch singalongs (The Devil Makes Three) to jawdroppingly virtuosic (Edgar Meyer & Mike Marshall), these latest additions explore the many crags and cornices in the distinctive musical landscape of "Telluride Bluegrass."

As we mentioned above, the only remaining tickets (1,500 single-day tix per day) are being sold via an online lottery from February 7-9 – that's today thru Thursday. Read all the lottery rules (1 entry per credit card, 2 tix per day) and submit your entry right now at bluegrass.com. We'll begin processing the lottery this Friday, February 10. Good luck!

Camping is still available at Lawson Hill and Mary E. Or if sleeping under the stars isn't your thing, check out our lodging partners in Telluride and Mountain Village, including special early-bird discounts.

Though 4-day passes sold-out on December 25, there is still one way to earn your pass: the Telluride Troubadour Songwriting Contest. We'll invite 10 songwriting finalists to perform in Telluride, with 1 Troubadour winning a custom Shanti guitar and a Saturday afternoon set on the main stage. Submit up to 2 songs either online or by mail, thru April 13.

Wilkesboro, NC -- This Sunday, the Staples Center in Los Angeles becomes the focal point of the entertainment world, when music's top artists are celebrated at the 54th Annual Grammy® Awards. Several of the artists nominated for these prestigious awards will grace the stages of MerleFest 25 this spring, continuing a twenty-five year tradition of bringing music's most talented performers to Wilkesboro, N.C., for one of the country's premier music festivals.

MerleFest 25, presented by Lowe's and slated for April 26-29, is an annual homecoming of musicians and music fans, gathering to celebrate the memory of musician Eddy Merle Watson, beloved son of American music icon Doc Watson - who himself is the recipient of seven Grammys. Doc will share the MerleFest stages with the following 2011 Grammy nominees: Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, the Original Lineup (nominated for "Best Instrumental Composition"), Vince Gill (nominated for "Best Country Song"), Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas (nominated for "Best Bluegrass Album"), Jim Lauderdale (nominated for "Best Bluegrass Album"), Steep Canyon Rangers (nominated for "Best Bluegrass Album"), Tedeschi Trucks Band (nominated for "Best Blues Album") and artist Chris Thile, performing with the Punch Brothers at MerleFest 25 (nominated for "Best Bluegrass Album").

Of course, MerleFest 25 boasts the talents of many artists who have already received that most prestigious of music awards. Besides Fleck (12-time Grammy recipient), Gill (15-time Grammy recipient), Lauderdale (three-time Grammy recipient), Tedeschi Trucks Band and Thile (two-time Grammy recipient), other Grammy honorees include Sam Bush (three-time Grammy recipient), John Hammond, David Holt (four-time Grammy recipient), Jerry Douglas (12-time Grammy recipient), Los Lobos (three-time Grammy recipient), Nashville Bluegrass Band (six-time Grammy recipient), Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, Marty Stuart (five-time Grammy recipient) and dobroist Tut Taylor.

Of special note in Grammy history is MerleFest 25 performer Alison Krauss, whose 26 prior wins makes her the most awarded female artist in Grammy history.

In addition to its stellar roster of Grammy-nominated performers, MerleFest has also become known for spontaneous moments, collaborations and last-minute performance additions. To keep up with any additional changes and additions to this year's lineup – even during the festival – MerleFest encourages fans to sign up for the e-newsletter and to follow the festival through Facebook and Twitter. Links are available at www.merlefest.org.

Ticket purchases for MerleFest 25 can be made on the web at www.merlefest.org or by calling 1-800-343-7857. An early bird ticket discount is available through March 12, 2012.

With over 90 artists performing on 14 stages during the course of the event, MerleFest 25 is an excellent entertainment value. A complete list of confirmed performers is available at www.merlefest.org.

MerleFest, considered one of the premier music festivals in the country, is held on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of Eddy Merle Watson and is a celebration of what Doc Watson calls "traditional plus" music, meaning the traditional music of the Appalachian regional plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play." The annual festival has become the primary fundraiser for the WCC Endowment Corporation, funding scholarships, capital projects and other educational needs.

/CMA/ Nashville, TN -- By Bob Doerschuk
CMA has pledged $10 million to "Working on a Building: Country Music Lives Here," the capital campaign that will finance the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's expansion from 140,000 square feet to more than 350,000 square feet. This donation is the largest philanthropic gift in the not-for-profit, Nashville-based educational organization's history.

In 1961, the CMA Board approved the establishment of the Country Music Hall of Fame to recognize noteworthy individuals for their outstanding contributions to the format. In 1964, CMA organized the not-for-profit Country Music Foundation (CMF) for the purpose of "establishing a museum and archives for the preservation and exhibition of historical and cultural materials and exhibits within the field of Country Music and to make the same available to students, researchers and the general public."

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened in 1967. Since then, CMA has contributed nearly $5 million to the Museum, including a $1 million endowment to their flagship school program Words & Music, and underwriting the Museum's annual Medallion Ceremony, which has served as the official rite of induction for CMA's new Hall of Fame members since 2007. CMA is proud to be one of the Museum's most generous and consistent benefactors.

"CMA and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum are connected by history and our shared interest in preserving the legacy, rewarding excellence and advancing the future of the format," said CMA CEO Steve Moore. "This donation is the latest example of CMA's longstanding commitment to the Hall of Fame. We are proud to support the growth of the Hall and we look forward to using the CMA Theater in a variety of ways that will shine a spotlight on the Country Music industry and format."

An integral part of the expansion project, the 800-seat, state-of-the-art CMA Theater is designed to be flexible and adaptable for a broad range of activities, from concerts and films to lectures and corporate meetings.

"We are indebted to CMA for a gift that serves our educational mission, benefits Music City and serves a worldwide audience," said Museum Director Kyle Young. "In Nashville, the CMA Theater's seating capacity is unique and will fill a gap in available performance halls. It is sure to become a coveted venue for touring artists in many genres of music, and it will be recognized as one of Music City's crown jewels.

"In addition to expanding the size and number of our own educational programs, the CMA Theater will give us the additional opportunity to partner with other cultural organizations, such as the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the Belcourt Theater and Nashville's downtown library," Young added. "We anticipate that the theater will be a critical asset to both the Music City Center and the Omni Nashville Hotel, whose clients will need convenient access to a theater like this for speakers, programs, performances and other events throughout the year. These activities could easily keep the theater booked 250 days a year."

The CMA Theater's sound and lighting is by Fisher Dachs Associates, renowned internationally for their work with technically superior and highly functional theaters, opera houses, concert halls and arts education facilities. Their work includes intimate setting such as Shakespeare's Globe, the Guthrie Theater and Arena Stage among repertory theaters; major venues including Radio City Music Hall and the Hollywood Bowl; and the Schermerhorn and other symphony halls.

The television-ready CMA Theater will feature a 500-seat main floor and two balconies of 150 seats each, ensuring that sightlines are unimpeded for audiences of 500-, 650- or 800-seat events. Its back-of-house will include a green room, band room and four dressing rooms. Exterior signage on Fifth Avenue South will make the theater visible and accessible to patrons of the 1.2 million-square-foot Music City Center. The lobby entrance will also connect with the 800-room Omni Nashville Hotel.

With Country Music Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson and Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford as honorary co-chairs, the Museum launched its $75 million "Working on a Building" campaign in late July with $56.8 million in cash and pledges already secured. Designed by Tuck-Hinton Architects, the expansion is expected to complete in early 2014.

© 2012 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.
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Review by Joe Ross
Janie Fricke has had success with various country styles, whether slower numbers, snappy hard-driving songs, or duet hits with the likes of Johnny Duncan, Charlie Rich, Merle Haggard and Moe Bandy. Like so many other country artists who have released bluegrass music projects, it only seems logical that she add that genre to her catalogue. She started her professional career as a Nashville backup vocalist in 1975. She sang on over 1,200 albums before producer Billy Sherrill launched her career as a solo artist.

The two-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year (1982-83) has a professional and precise vocal style, and she doesn't try to deliver either backwoods rusticity or intense vocals that more often characterize bluegrass music of the hard-driving variety. Rather, it's polished, smooth, and best described as pop-oriented radio-friendly bluegrass, hence the album's title. While we've heard her sing these songs before, "You Don't Know Love," "Tell Me a Lie," "Don't Worry ‘bout Me Baby," and "It Ain't Easy Bein' Easy" are given some additional tempo and acoustic flair that breathe new life into their bluegrassy renditions. Janie's only self-penned number on the album, "Goodbye Broken Heart," has a conservative country music formula, message and hook that have succeeded for decades. That same goes for the smooth Nashville background vocals of Chip Davis, Margie Cates and Judy Rodman. The duet with Davis on the classic "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" (In Love with You)" will surely be a crowd-pleaser.

Regardless of how you define bluegrass, this album has some enchanting repertoire with Fricke's torchy voice always in the forefront. If your brand of bluegrass requires banjo, then focus on those eight (of 13) tracks with David Talbot's 5-string in the mix. Songs like "She's Single Again" and "I'll Need Someone to Hold Me (When I Cry)" do it for me. "Don't Worry ‘bout Me Baby" has plenty of banjo and fiddle (and a cleanly flatpicked guitar break by Johnny Hiland), but it's tough to call it bluegrass without that alluring heartfelt simplicity that's so prevalent in older bluegrass. The songs without banjo are infused with Randy Kohrs' nimble-fingered Dobro.
I definitely miss more of the lively sound of the mandolin that is relegated to a rather minor understated role on nine tracks, courtesy of four different Nashville session players (Luke Bulla, Andy Leftwich, Jimmy Mattingly, Glen Duncan) better known for their world-class fiddling also heard on the CD. Bob Mater's drums provide that "chop" and "bark" which the mandolin typically play in a bluegrass band. So, this album is really acoustic country music, and perhaps it should've been named Janie Fricke's "bluegrassy side of country" instead. No matter … there's plenty for folks in both camps to enjoy. Nashville bluegrass-pop has a lot of fans, and this album provides an hour of very enjoyable listening.

2011 proved to be a fantastic year for AirPlay Direct's growth and evolution now accelerating to over 7,200 radio station members globally and over 32,000 artist and record label members around the world. This type of global market place positioning and advancement in 2011 has set a firm foundation for APD's continued strong growth throughout 2012.

"As AirPlay Direct has grown and our needs have changed, we decided to reorganize the company early last year and bring on a more experienced executive team to help fuel our expansion to a new level, and the resulting growth has been excellent. We've now got the right team in place, the product and a system that continues to excel at delivering viable, relevant content to our radio programmers globally," says Robert Weingartz, Chairman and CEO of AirPlay Direct. "Our artists are cutting through the boundaries and finding placements around the globe and that is a fact that we cannot overlook… in fact it must be amplified. This system wouldn't exist without the effective network that we have behind the scenes. I continue to be very excited and inspired by the support AirPlay Direct receives daily from all of our strategic partners around the world."

With over 39,000 global members total, AirPlay Direct has secured 1.2 million song downloads by radio, delivered over 10 million artist Digital Press Kits (DPKs) and has had over 17 million visits to APD artist websites to date. AirPlay Direct recently announced their plan to add new promotional opportunities for users this year, having e-blasts that will be available twice a month and a featured artist slot for each blast when members need increased exposure and awareness.

The promotions truly deliver the numbers for artists and labels, for example, pre-e-blast promotion William Shatner's latest album only logged 12 radio downloads. However, within 24 hours of launching a promotion with AirPlay Direct his songs accumulated more than 1,300 downloads.

Independent artist Red Molly started with no presence on the AMA / Americana Radio Airplay Chart, and then with a small promotion on AirPlay Direct has now risen to #9 on the AMA Chart. These numbers repeat for major label, independents, and celebrity artist members.

The diversity among AirPlay Direct's members covers a broader perspective as they embark on 2012. APD is now distributing / delivering more diversified content from various creative sources --- artists, labels, publishers and radio stations. http://airplaydirect.com/charts

"The Del McCoury Blue Side of Town" radio show is now hosting its syndicated programs on AirPlay Direct's platform for delivery to its stations around the globe. The platform serves as a cost efficient paradigm shift that majors, independent and radio programmers around the globe are turning to. Among its 39,000 members are notable names like Robert Plant, Gregg Allman, Grace Potter, Merle Haggard, Steve Vai, Justin Townes Earle, Rosanne Cash, Vanguard / Sugarhill Records, Rounder Records, Alligator Records, Bloodshot Records and Rural Rhythm Records. New and upcoming releases on AirPlay Direct include Lydia Loveless, Justin Townes Earle, Joe Louis Walker, Janiva Magness and Shurman.

AirPlay Direct is continuing to create partnerships within the music industry at large as member benefit exchange services were executed for ASCAP this year, and a new partnership with the Folk Alliance, and also a new partnership with the Hard Rock Café will be announced soon.

AirPlay Direct's e-based artist marketing, promotion and education platform allows artists, record labels, and music publishers to securely deliver broadcast-quality music and Digital Press Kits / DPKs to music industry professionals worldwide. Our system allows radio programmers and film / TV music supervisors globally to connect to new music, create music calls, browse top downloaded artists, and immediately download music and related artist information. AirPlay Direct recently introduced our genre-based APD Global Radio Indicator Charts™ which track the download activity that our member's music receives from our world-wide radio panel. AirPlay Direct also publishes the digital/interactive publication, the Direct Buzz. For more information about AirPlay Direct visit www.AirPlayDirect.com
Independent artist Red Molly started with no presence on the AMA / Americana Radio Airplay Chart, and then with a small promotion on AirPlay Direct has now risen to #9 on the AMA Chart. These numbers repeat for major label, independents, and celebrity artist members.

The Bluegrass All-Star Jam will celebrate American roots music this weekend with performances in Troy, New York and Alexandria, Virginia. Performances will be held Feb 10 and 12, 2012. The Bluegrass All-Star Jam will celebrate American roots music this weekend with performances in Troy, New York and Alexandria, Virginia. This all-star event is truly a unique experience with the best and brightest in bluegrass music featuring the award-winning talents of: Claire Lynch, Sammy Shelor, Michael Cleveland, Josh Williams, Kenny & Amanda Smith, and Missy Raines.

On Friday, February 10, 2012, the group will perform at the Troy Savings Band Music Hall located at 30 Second St., Troy, NY 12180 at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $25-$35 and can be purchased at TroyMusicHall.org.

This Sunday, February 12, 2012, they are set for a performance at The Birchmere, located at 3701 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305 at 8:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at (800)745-3000, and at The Birchmere Box Office from 5-9pm any night during shows. For more information, please visit Birchmere.com or call (703) 549-7500.

Claire Lynch is a two-time International Bluegrass Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year award winner – In 2010, in recognition of her current work with the Claire Lynch Band and in 1997, for her influential work with the Front Porch String Band, and her impressive career as a solo artist. Blazing her own trail in the mid 70's when there were few role models for a young woman in the genre, Claire Lynch made history when she led the Front Porch String Band, which evolved in the 80’s and 90’s into one of the sharpest and most exciting post-modern bluegrass bands on the circuit. She formed her own Claire Lynch Band in 2005 and has consistently been a top pick of prestigious publications, critics and audiences across the nation ever since.

Josh Williams is an International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) multi-award winner including three-time IBMA Guitar Player of the Year (2008-2010) and The Josh Williams Band as the 2010 IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year (2010). He was nominated for the IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year (2011). Not only is he a top vocalist and guitarist, Josh is adept on all bluegrass instruments. He is currently on tour with his band also sits in with the Tony Rice Unit on mandolin. In 2011, The Josh Williams Band was caught on camera performing at the Doyle Lawson Bluegrass Festival in NC where a fan captured a special moment on stage when a small bird lands on Josh's guitar while he's singing. The video is receiving an impressive number of views on youtube.

Virginia Country Music Hall of Famer, Sammy Shelor is a 4-time IBMA Banjo Player of the Year award winner. He is the leader of the super bluegrass group, Lonesome River Band who are celebrating their 30th Anniversary. Last November, Sammy was awarded the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass during an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman followed with a performance by the Lonesome River Band with special guest Steve Martin. Banjo pickers all over the world have studied Sammy’s tab books and instructional DVD.

Missy Raines is the most decorated bass player in the history of the International Bluegrass Music Association with 7 Bass Player of the Year Awards to her credit. A former member of the Grammy Nominated Claire Lynch Band, the acclaimed duo, Jim Hurst and Missy Raines, Missy is one of the most popular figures in the bluegrass community and a trailblazer in her field for as long as she’s been playing music. Her rich pedigree in the field reaches from legends such as Mac Wiseman, Kenny Baker, Josh Graves and Eddie and Martha Adcock, to contemporary artists like Peter Rowan, Laurie Lewis, Dudley Connell and Don Rigsby. Missy also toured and recorded with the rootsy, edgy Brother Boys.

Michael Cleveland is an impressive 9-time IBMA Fiddler Player of the Year Award winner (2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). As a bandleader, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper won the IBMA Instrumental Recording of the Year Award (2002, 2004, 2006) and the IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year Award (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.)

Kenny & Amanda Smith –Kenny is widely considered one of the most impressive and influential flatpicking-style guitarists of his generation. He is a two-time IBMA Guitarist of the Year Award winner (1998, 1999). In 2001, Kenny left the Lonesome River Band to perform in as a duo with his wife Amanda who is an acclaimed vocalist. They met in 1995 at a Lonesome River Band concert and married soon thereafter. In 2003, Kenny and Amanda won the IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year Award.

For more information on the Bluegrass All-Star Jam, please visit BluegrassAllStarJam.com.