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John McEuen, a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, is to receive the 2013 Charlie Poole Lifetime Achievement Award. Banjo player McEuen, who is scheduled to top the bill at the 18th Annual Charlie Poole Music Festival, is to receive the award at [...]

Last night in Nashville, Mark Newton & Steve Thomas held a CD release party at the Swinging Doors Saloon, which also served as the premiere of their music video for Old McDonald Sold The Farm. The guys have graciously allowed us to offer the online premiere [...]

One last MerleFest 2013 gallery from Andy Garrigue, who also shared these comments. Heavy numbers poured in Sunday to see The Avett Brothers close down Merlefest 2013, despite the calls for rain throughout the day, and their late afternoon set was alternately passionately energetic, to [...]

Signature Sounds has released a preview video for Wide Awake, their upcoming 7-track CD from Joy Kills Sorrow. The Boston-based band specializes in original music that flirts with the line between modern bluegrass and contemporary indie-pop. Emma Beaton fronts the group and sings lead with [...]

This World Oft Can Be, Della Mae's Rounder debut, shows that like The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, and Punch Brothers, the five multitalented young women of Della Mae are respectful of American musical tradition, but not restricted by it, combining centuries' worth of musical influences with an emotionally tough, undeniably modern songwriting sensibility.

On May 28, Boston-based quintet Della Mae will release their debut for Rounder, This World Oft Can Be. The album, which was produced by Bryan Sutton and mixed by Paul Q. Kolderie (Radiohead, Hole, Dinosaur Jr.) Della Mae recorded This World Oft Can Be at Cash Cabin Studio, Johnny Cash's former recording base, in Hendersonville, Tennessee. In addition to absorbing the studio's inspirational vibes, Courtney Hartman played June Carter Cash's vintage 1933 Gibson L5 Round Hole guitar on "Some Roads Lead On," while Ludiker had the honor of borrowing John Hartford's custom carved fiddle on "Letter From Down The Road."

"It's been a life-changing experience for us, individually and as a band," Ludiker says of the tour. "A cool thing about playing music in Central Asian countries is in the lack of distinction their audience places between musical genres. We found that if music is played with feeling, all people connected to it. They find themselves smiling and relating without even understanding the language."

Indeed, Della Mae demonstrates how effectively music builds bridges and transcends artificially constructed borders, whether they're national or genre-based.

This World Oft Can Be's 12 songs—including such engaging originals as "Empire," "Paper Prince," "Maybeline" and the feisty title track—showcase the fivesome's world-class instrumental abilities, lilting harmonies and subtly commanding lead vocals. Although the musicians' sublime skills have already won them numerous individual honors, the album's focus is squarely on the band's emotionally potent songs and spirited, effortlessly expressive performances.

“The identity that we've developed as a band is a melting pot of our different personalities and backgrounds," asserts founder Kimber Ludiker. After having the idea at a summer festival, Kimber hand picked musicians from all over the country: singer Celia Woodsmith comes from a blues/rock background, guitarist Courtney Hartman studied at Berklee College of Music, bassist Shelby Means played with various bands in Nashville, and mandolin player Jenni Lyn Gardner was schooled in traditional bluegrass. Della Mae's members hail from all over the United States, and the five women each bring impressive musical resumes amassed in their previous ventures.

Tags: Della MaeThis World Oft Can BeCD ReleaseRounder Records

The fifth ceremony coincides with West Virginia’s sesquicentennial and, throughout the year, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame (WVMHoF) will sponsor events leading up to the November ceremony. The induction ceremony will be broadcast live on WV-PBS, across the state. In addition to a notable cast of hosts, presenters and performers, this year’s event will feature more musical performances.

The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at the Culture Center Theater in Charlston, West Virginia. General admission tickets are $60; Preferred tickets are $200 and include preferred seating and admittance to a private reception with the hosts and inductees before the event. Tickets are available through the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame web site.

The living inductees are: Melvin & Ray Goins, Peter Marshall, Wayne Moss, and Tim O’Brien. The deceased inductees are: The Swan Silvertones, Ada “Bricktop” Smith, and Eleanor Steber. The fifth class of inductees continues the Hall of Fame’s mission to recognize outstanding artists who were born in the Mountain State. Once again, choosing just seven inductees was not an easy task for the voting committees.

Tim O’Brien, Born 1954, Wheeling (Ohio County)

Grammy-winning bluegrass/country/folk artist Tim O’Brien is an incredibly talented multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. A Wheeling native, Tim is also a sought-after producer who co-founded the popular group Hot Rize. He has also played with Mark Knopfler and comedian Steve Martin. Wheeling native Tim O'Brien came to prominence with the Colorado-based bluegrass band Hot Rize, and its tongue-in-cheek country-Western alter ego, Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers. Since Hot Rize disbanded in 1992, O'Brien has recorded solo, with his group the O’Boys, with his sister Mollie, and Darrel Scott. His songs have been recorded by longtime friend Kathy Mattea. When his 2005 release, “Fiddler’s Green,” earned him a Grammy for “Best Traditional Folk Recording,” he became one of the most sought-after session players on the folk-country-progressive-bluegrass circuit and has appeared on dozens of releases. In addition to production and session work, O’Brien maintains a rigorous touring and recording schedule. In 2010, he toured with Mark Knopfler and has recorded with comedian Steve Martin. A board member of the WV Music Hall of Fame, he has played a key role in a number of projects and the HoF’s four previous induction ceremonies.

Melvin Goins & Ray Goins Melvin born 1933, Ray 1936-2007, Goodwill (Mercer County)

Born on Sinai Mountain, near the coal mining community of Goodwill, Mercer County, Melvin and Ray Goins hold a significant place in the history of bluegrass music. Both together and separately, the brothers played in The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers and The Shenandoah Playboys as well as The Goins Brothers Band. From the early ’50s, both have been involved in radio and TV, first on Bluefield radio station WHIS and later on stations in Prestonsburg, Hazard and Paintsville, KY. In 1994, when Ray stopped touring due to health problems, Melvin changed the band’s name to Melvin Goins and Windy Mountain. In 2005, The Goins brothers were included in the International Bluegrass Music Museum’s oral history project. Melvin was the first bluegrass musician to be featured on the cover of Smithsonian magazine and was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Fame as a member of the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers in 2009 and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2011.

Wayne Moss Born 1938, South Charleston (Kanawha County)

An accomplished bassist, guitarist and songwriter, Wayne Moss is a true legend among Nashville studio musicians. His credits include sessions for hundreds of country and rock artists as well as stints in storied Nashville groups, Area Code 615 and Barefoot Jerry. Along with fellow West Virginians Charlie McCoy and Russ Hicks, Moss was a member of the house band for the TV show “Hee Haw” band for 15 years and played on seminal Bob Dylan records including “Blonde on Blonde.” He also played on sessions for Tammy Wynette, Simon & Garfunkle, Nancy Sinatra, Charlie Daniels, Joan Baez and Michael Nesmith. Moss played the signature guitar line on Roy Orbison’s No. 1 hit “Oh, Pretty Woman,” the often-imitated guitar solo on Waylon Jennings’s “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line,” and on Tommy Roe’s No. 1 million seller “Sheila.” As a songwriter, his songs have been recorded by artists including The Oak Ridge Boys, Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Roy Clark, George Benson, and Willie Nelson. In 1960, Moss opened Cinderella Sound Recording Studio, currently the oldest continually operating studio in Nashville. Cinderella clients have included Linda Ronstadt, Charlie Daniels, The Steve Miller Band, Ricky Skaggs, Grand Funk, KISS, The Whites, and Little Jimmy Dickens. In the early ’60s, Faron Young hosted a syndicated radio show from Cinderella, which featured many Grand Ole Opry performers stopping by to sing their latest hits.

Peter Marshal Born 1926, Wheeling (Ohio County)

While Wheeling native Peter Marshall (born Pierre LaCock) is best-known for hosting more than 5,000 episodes of the five-time Emmy Award-winning game show, “Hollywood Squares,” he is also a gifted actor, singer and entertainer. After moving to New York in his teens, he formed a comedy team with Tommy Noonan and appeared in major night clubs, films, and theaters as well as appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” In London, Marshall starred with Chita Rivera in “Bye Bye Birdie,” while his first starring role on Broadway was in “Skyscraper” with Julie Harris. In later years, he appeared in musicals including “High Button Shoes,” “Anything Goes,” “Music Man,” “42nd Street,” and Neil Simon's “Rumors.” In the 1980s, Marshall performed his role as George in “La Cage Aux Folles” in more than 800 performances. Marshall also acted in films including “Ensign Pulver,” “Swinging Along,” and “The Cavern,” and as the radio crooner in “Annie.” In the mid-’60s, an audition to host the game show “Hollywood Squares” led to a 16-year run with the show. Marshall also appeared on television shows including “Love Boat,” “Lou Grant,” “WKRP In Cincinnati,” and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” He also hosted the 12-show “Big Bands From Disneyland” series for the Disney Channel, and produced and toured in a number of big band shows. Marshall continues performing concerts and is heard nationally on “The "Music of Your Life" radio network. In 2000, he issued the CD “Boy Singer” which featured new arrangements of standards and a 36-piece orchestra.

Eleanor Steber 1914-1990, Wheeling (Ohio County)

Wheeling native Eleanor Steber is considered one of the most important U.S. sopranos of the 20th Century. With a rich voice noted for its versatility, the day she sang Desdemona in Verdi's “Otello” for a Met matinee is still legendary. But she is most famous for her creation of the title role in Samuel Barber's “Vanessa” and for commissioning his “Knoxville: Summer of 1915.” After studying at the New England Conservatory of Music, Steber’s operatic debut was in a 1936 WPA production of Wagner's “The Flying Dutchman,” when she was 21. In 1940, she won the “Metropolitan Auditions of the Air” and made her Met debut later that year as Sophie in Strauss's “Der Rosenkavalier.” In addition to opera and recitals, she was a frequent guest on “The Voice of Firestone” television broadcasts. In the ’60s, Steber focused more on recitals and concerts. She and her husband started a record label and she made some Broadway appearances. Steber also gave one of the notorious bathhouse concerts in New York in 1973. She died in Pennsylvania in 1990.

“Bricktop” 1894-1984, Alderson (Monroe County)

Born Ada Beatrice Queen Victoria Louise Virginia Smith in Alderson, Bricktop was a dancer, singer, vaudevillian, and self-described saloon-keeper who owned the Paris nightclub Chez Bricktop. She has been described as “one of the most legendary and enduring figures of 20th Century American cultural history.” After working as a chorus girl in Chicago and Harlem, Bricktop moved to Paris around 1924 to escape the racial tension in the U.S. Soon, Cole Porter hired her to entertain at his parties. His song, “Miss Otis Regrets,” was written especially for her to perform, and Hot Jazz innovators Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli wrote a song titled “Bricktop.” Bricktop’s drew many celebrities including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and John Steinbeck. Her proteges included Mabel Mercer and Josephine Baker, and she employed Langston Hughes as a busboy. Leaving Paris during WWII, she then opened nightclubs in Mexico City and Rome. In 1961, at age 67, she retired to the U.S. Bricktop made a cameo appearance in the 1974 film “Honeybaby, Honeybaby” and the 1983 Woody Allen film “Zelig.” She continued to perform as a Cabaret entertainer well into her 80s. In 1972, Bricktop made her only recording, "So Long Baby," with Cy Coleman.

Claude Jeter & The Swan Silvertones Formed 1938, Bluefield (Mercer County)

The Swan Silvertones were one of the greatest gospel quartets of the ’50s and ’60s. The group, originally called The Four Harmony Kings, and then the Silvertone Singers, was founded in 1938 by Claude Jeter, an Alabama native who moved to McDowell county to work in the mines. One of the original members was Solomon Womack whose nephew, Bobby Womack, became a star in soul and rock. Moving to Knoxville, TN, the group was hired by a local radio program that was sponsored by the local Swan Bakery and renamed the Swan Silvertones. The Swans were one of the first gospel groups to add instruments to its a capella sound. Jeter received many offers to perform R&B and rock ‘n’ roll but chose to honor a commitment he had made to his mother that he would always sing for the Lord. With an angelic falsetto, elements of Jeter’s style were picked up by later singers including Sam Cooke and Al Green. A line from the group’s 1961 song “Mary Don’t You Weep” – “I'll be a bridge over deep water if you trust in my name” – inspired Paul Simon to write his 1970 hit, “Bridge over Troubled Water.” Simon hired Jeter to sing on his 1973 LP, “There Goes Rhymin' Simon,” and gave Jeter $1,000 for inspiring “Bridge over Troubled Water.” In 1991, Jeter released his only solo recording “Yesterday and Today.” He died in 2009 at home for the elderly in the Bronx.

Tags: West Virginia Music Hall of FameTim O'BrienGoins BrothersHall of FameAward

James Reams & The Barnstormers, with special guest Blaine Sprouse on fiddle, will be performing at the Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival on Saturday, June 15th along with Justin Townes Earle, The Devil Makes Three, and Pokey LaFarge. The Bluegrass and Roots Festival kicks off June 15th in Palisade, Colorado. A bluegrass band that was nominated by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2002 as Emerging Artist of the Year, James Reams & The Barnstormers provide a contemporary take on traditional bluegrass; blending it with innovation and vitality to create their own branch on the “roots” tree. In a review of an early album by James Reams, fRoots (an international magazine that specializes in world music) declared, “Traditional music kept alive by a stylish performer… Powerful, emotional music that needs to be heard.”

Palisade is known as the Peach and Wine Capital of Colorado with the state’s greatest concentration of wineries, vineyards, and orchards making it an ideal location for a weekend music festival and getaway. The festival is held in Riverbend Park which is set among the stately cottonwoods along the banks of the Colorado River and situated against the backdrop of Mt. Garfield, the Bookcliffs, and the Grand Mesa. Featuring some of the best traditional and contemporary Americana musicians to the Grand Valley, you won’t want to miss this 3-day event.

Raised in eastern Kentucky but now living in Phoenix, James Reams puts a layer of desert grit over a solid base of traditional bluegrass music. His band treads the terrain where bluegrass, old-time, classic country and rockabilly meet in the night to swap stories. These are the sounds of the hills and hollers combined with the sounds of factories, railroad yards and honky tonks.

Here’s how the band is described by noted bluegrass authority Stephanie P. Ledgin in her book, Homegrown Music: Discovering Bluegrass (Praeger Publishers, 2004): “A plentiful selection of younger, emerging artists continues to grow in both traditional as well as progressive bluegrass camps. James Reams & The Barnstormers rely on early country material and originals written in authentic style. The results are a virtual history of the music and its roots, played in a clean, heartfelt manner that is somewhere between Bill Monroe’s and the Stanley Brothers’.”

Their latest CD, One Foot in the Honky Tonk, made two Top Ten CDs of 2011 lists and had a single that charted nationally. Here are some reviews of their most recent CD (One Foot in the Honky Tonk):

Lonesome Road Review by Larry Stephens:

"[James Reams & the Barnstormers] have been around almost two decades, playing their own style of music. James’ music is hardcore traditional bluegrass and acoustic music. There’s no indication that he feels bound to the Monroe tradition and you’ll hear some old-time sound in his music, but if he isn’t in the same vein of coal with Monroe he’s certainly in the same coal mine."

Joe Ross, reviewer for Bluegrass Now and SPBGMA’s Bluegrass Music News:

“James Reams and the Barnstormers have built a solid reputation for lively, spirited, soulful, no-frills-added bluegrass with a nice mix of traditional numbers, covers and originals. Fronted by his rustic and rural lead vocals, they dish up exciting bluegrass in a classic old-school style of yesteryear…this album has plenty of songs that belong on today's jukeboxes and ipods.”

JP Tausig, Country Standard Time:

"With a voice like Del McCoury's, Reams has captured the feel of old honky-tonk jukebox music. ‘I Can't Settle Down’ is a great example of what Reams and the Barnstormers can do. ‘Snake Eyes’ is an original Reams tune about bad luck and gambling, with clean instrumentals and surprising harmonies on the chorus… Reams' style turns even this topic into a song you might dance to on a Saturday night.”

In honor of the band’s 20th anniversary, their Barnstormin' album is now available as a FREE download from www.NoiseTrade.com/jamesreams. John Lupton, of Country Standard Time, wrote this about the album: “The music on this disc features elements reminiscent of the sophisticated stylings of fellow Kentuckian Bill Monroe mixed with the old time, deep-hollow sound of the Stanley Brothers...This is hard-core bluegrass from down home.” The band’s next album — James Reams, Walter Hensley & The Barons of Bluegrass — was nominated by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2002 as a Recorded Event of the Year.

More information about the festival is available at www.palisademusic.com. All shows are General Admission lawn seating, so bring a chair, tarp or blanket to sit on. Palisade is just a short 5 to 15 minute drive from Grand Junction and Fruita. Riverbend Park is located at 451 Pendleton Street, Palisade, CO 81526. Directions: Take 36 ¼ Road, just south of Highway 6 and west of the Palisade High School. Maps available on the website under Contacts. Ticket prices vary depending on the package purchased. Pricing is listed on the website.

For more information about James Reams & The Barnstormers (including music clips) visit http://www.jamesreams.com or http://cdbaby.com/all/jamesreams.

Tags: James Reams & The BarnstormersPalisade Bluegrass FestivalEventBluegrass Festival

Nashville, TN -- Further information about the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) World of Bluegrass 2013 event, which takes place September 24-28 in Raleigh, North Carolina, was revealed today at a noontime press conference at the Red Hat Amphitheater. IBMA Executive Director Nancy Cardwell, joined by Raleigh mayor Nancy McFarlane, Rebecca Quinn-Wolf of PNC Bank, Deborah Johnson, president, North Carolina Pork Council, and IBMA Board members Cindy Baucom (“Knee Deep in Bluegrass”) and William Lewis (PineCone—The Piedmont Council of Traditional Music), gave additional details about all aspects of the yearly bluegrass industry event, held for the first time in Raleigh.

IBMA – the International Bluegrass Music Association – is the professional trade organization for the global bluegrass music community. The organization’s three-year stay in Raleigh is the result of a partnership with The Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau, PineCone—The Piedmont Council of Traditional Music, the City of Raleigh and a local organizing committee.

Events during World of Bluegrass will take place at the Greater Raleigh Convention Center, the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, the Red Hat Amphitheater and at various venues in town.

PNC’s Quinn-Wolf was at the press conference to talk about the company’s involvement in the Wide Open Bluegrass festival. Earlier, Paula Fryland, PNC regional president for Eastern Carolinas, also expressed her support: "PNC understands that a vibrant arts community is a significant driver of our economic success, providing employment, creating educational opportunities for our children, boosting tourism and making the region attractive for businesses, residents and visitors. As presenting sponsor, we look forward to the positive opportunities World of Bluegrass will bring to our region."

Details about the first Raleigh World of Bluegrass event included:

• An announcement of the star-studded line-up and PNC as the new presenting sponsor for IBMA’s Wide Open Bluegrass festival
• Details about the free Street Festival portion of Wide Open Bluegrass
• The new multi-venue “Bluegrass Ramble” evening showcase series, and
• North Carolina’s own Grammy Award-winning Steep Canyon Rangers as hosts for the 24th International Bluegrass Music Awards

IBMA’s World of Bluegrass 2013 event consists of three main parts: the Business Conference, which runs Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 24-26, the 24th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for Thursday evening, Sept. 26, and the music festival – newly re-named Wide Open Bluegrass – which takes place Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27-28.

The Wide Open Bluegrass music festival can be experienced in two ways: both as ticketed shows, which will take place at The Red Hat Amphitheater and Raleigh Convention Center stages, and through the free Street Festival Stages. PNC, new in the Raleigh neighborhood this year, will be the presenting sponsor for both the ticketed portion of Wide Open Bluegrass and the free Street Festival.

The ticketed portion of the two-day Wide Open Bluegrass festival will feature performances from a Who’s Who list of bands from the wide world of bluegrass. In addition to previously announced performers Steve Martin and Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickell, Punch Brothers and a highly anticipated, special collaboration between bluegrass giants Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Béla Fleck, Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, Tony Rice and Mark Schatz, the following bands have been confirmed so far: The Gibson Brothers; The Seldom Scene; Dailey & Vincent featuring Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune; a collaboration between musicians Alan Bartram, Jason Carter, Bela Fleck, Ronnie McCoury, and Danny Paisley; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver; Balsam Range with The Boxcars; The Infamous Stringdusters; Dale Ann Bradley; The Claire Lynch Band; Blue Highway; Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper; Della Mae; The Krüger Brothers with the Kontras Quartet performing Appalachian Concerto; Druha Trava; Darin & Brooke Aldridge; The SteelDrivers; Rob Ickes & Jim Hurst; Audie Blaylock & Redline; Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen; Marty Raybon & Full Circle; Nu-Blu; Kickin' Grass Band; The Grass Cats; The Spinney Brothers; Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road; Greensky Bluegrass; and Detour.

The free Street Festival will include 50+ bands, three music stages, a dance tent, vendors, concessions, youth performances and activities - including programming set up by IBMA’s Youth Council, an Exhibit Hall and a Masters Workshop Stage in the Raleigh Convention Center. The full list of performers for the free Street Festival will be announced in the coming weeks.

“At Wide Open Bluegrass festival this year we’ll have the opportunity to hear a wide variety of bluegrass music, from traditional-edged performers to edgy bands that draw from old-time, progressive, classical music, jamgrass and international influences,” said IBMA’s Cardwell. “And I predict the set featuring Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck and Mark Schatz together will be the most photographed hour of music in the bluegrass world this year.”

Adding to the excitement of the free Street Festival is the North Carolina Whole Hog Barbecue State Championship—a weekend of bluegrass-flavored fun for the whole family. The Pork Council will make a contribution of up to $10,000 in barbecue sales income to IBMA.

The annual cooking championship is the culmination of the state qualifying series that includes 15 to 20 local barbecue competitions conducted as part of community events in Tar Heel cities and towns from April into September. At the Raleigh final event, as is the case in all the events throughout the season, the cooked barbecue is collected after judging, chopped and sold in plates to the general public.

Spectators will be able to watch the entire aromatic cooking process in the parking area between the Raleigh Convention Center and the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. The Pork Council expects to sell plates of authentic North Carolina pork barbecue to around 4,000 bluegrass fans. It will be first-come, first-served in the outdoor, downtown setting.

The 24th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for Sept. 26 at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, is simply bluegrass music’s biggest night of the year. Reigning Bluegrass Album of the Year Grammy Award winners and the 2011 IBMA Entertainers of the Year, North Carolina’s own Steep Canyon Rangers, will co-host the show, which recognizes outstanding talent and achievements for the year, honors new Hall of Fame inductees, and waves the worldwide flag for bluegrass music.

The IBMA Business Conference portion of World of Bluegrass 2013, Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 24-26, will feature the best in bluegrass networking, showcasing and professional development, along with expanded showcase opportunities. New this year is “The Bluegrass Ramble” (named after a famous Bill Monroe instrumental), where convention attendees and local fans will be able to “ramble” around Raleigh for five nights, sampling great bluegrass music on seven stages. In addition to a stage at the Raleigh Convention Center sponsored by the Greater Raleigh Visitors & Convention Bureau, the following Raleigh venues will participate: The Lincoln Theatre, The Longview Center, The Pour House Music Hall, Tir Na Nog, Kings, and The Architect Bar and Social House.

“We’re thrilled to announce PNC as the presenting sponsor of Wide Open Bluegrass,” said Cardwell. “Additional sponsorships are still available for the IBMA Business Conference, the International Bluegrass Music Awards and the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival.”

For more details and to purchase tickets/register for World of Bluegrass 2013, IBMA Awards, Wide Open Bluegrass weekend festival and Bluegrass Ramble showcase passes, lodging and camping options, and more, visit www.ibma.org or call 1-888-GET-IBMA. Wide Open Bluegrass Festival tickets are available for $40-$70/day, based on seat location and IBMA membership. Tickets for children 14 and under are half price ($30 members, $35 non-members). IBMA members may purchase Wide Open Bluegrass festival tickets beginning May 15 at 1:15 p.m. Central Time, and ticket sales are open to the general public on May 29. To purchase festival tickets, go to ETix.com or call 8888-GET-IBMA.

Twitter: @IntlBluegrass, #IBMA, #WOB13 On the web at http://www.ibma.org/

Tags: International Bluegrass Music AssociationIBMAWorld of BluegrassEvent

Randy Barnes is the new bass player with Marty Raybon & Full Circle. He has been out with the band since April 28, and is also participating in the harmony singing. He joins Chris Wade on banjo, Zach Rambo on mandolin, and Tim Raybon on [...]

Many bluegrass musicians first developed their love of this genre from listening carefully to their grandparents and other relatives making music. Kenny Thacker is no different. On his latest release, On the Front Porch, this Kentucky-born pastor pays tribute to his grandfather, and the others [...]

At a press conference this afternoon in Raleigh, NC, the International Bluegrass Music Association announced PNC Bank as the presenting sponsor for the 2013 Wide Open Bluegrass festival. This two-day event, running September 27-28 and formerly known as Bluegrass Fan Fest, occurs just following the [...]

The 24th Annual NimbleFingers Bluegrass and Old Time Workshop and Festival in beautiful Sorrento will be held here with workshops running August 18-23 and August 25-30. It's an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in music and be inspired by world class musicians.

Is it “Mon-ROE” or “MUN-roe”? Is how we pronounce bluegrass names important? It probably is, yet it’s not always as simple as it might seem. Do we pronounce people’s names the way they would pronounce them themselves, or do we just say those names the [...]

On This Day……………………… On May 15, 2002 Ray Park died. Ray Park (guitar and fiddle) is most notable for his partnership with mandolin player Vern Williams. In 1959 they formed a band called the Carroll County Country Boys; the very first bluegrass band in greater [...]

In June 2013, two bluegrass music traditions – KET’s Jubilee and the International Bluegrass Music Association Fan Fest – come together in a groundbreaking collaboration: live performances from the IBMA Fan Fest are captured for the first time ever on the new season of Jubilee, recorded in Nashville in September 2012. A major event in the world of bluegrass music, this is the first time IBMA’s Fan Fest, which yearly features top bluegrass artists, has ever been recorded. The season premieres Tuesday, June 4 at 8/7 p.m. on KET and Saturday, June 8 at 11/10 p.m. on KET2.

Each of the season’s 20 episodes features performances from two to three national and regional artists from the 2012 Fan Fest, including many 2012 IBMA award winners. Additionally, some programs include interviews with the performers.

Abby Malik with Kentucky Educational Television (KET), the Kentucky PBS affiliate tells us that "June is the premier of their 17th season of Jubliee which comes from the 2012 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Fan Fest that was held in Nashville, Tennessee." She notes, "What makes this season special is that it marks the first time the IBMA Fan Fest performances have ever been recorded.

Jubilee is a nationally distributed show – public television stations across the country can pick it up and air it. In addition, here is a behind-the-scenes/ preview video of the season, to give you a better sense of what the program is all about:

“We were thrilled to take our Jubilee production to the IBMA Fan Fest event last fall, and it was extra special being the first time those performances were recorded for broadcast,” says Nick Helton, Jubilee producer. “It was two amazing days filled with great music and will make one of the best Jubilee seasons we’ve ever had.”

Since its premiere in 1996, KET’s Jubilee series has presented an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary bluegrass, blues, folk, gospel, and other forms of distinctly American music. The producers film live performances from festivals, and we bring those performances into fans’ living rooms.

In addition, after each episode airs on Tuesdays, beginning June 4, they’ll then be available to watch online, for free – making the program available to anyone who loves Bluegrass. The season kicks off with bluegrass legends Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press and The Del McCoury Band, and continues on with 19 more episodes that feature 2-3 artists each.

Osborne, who will be 82 this year, is one of the major contributors to bluegrass mandolin playing, pioneering a sound in the 1950s that remains popular today. He bridged the gap between bluegrass and mainstream country music, and Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-press was the first bluegrass act to play at The White House, in 1971.

For the past 50 years, McCoury has been defining authenticity for hard-core bluegrass fans. He was influenced in the early 1950s by the music of Earl Scruggs to pick up a banjo, and he joined Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in 1963. In the early 1990s, he formed The Del McCoury Band with his sons, and they moved to Nashville. McCoury has influenced artists from Vince Gill and Alison Krauss to Phish and Steve Earle.

This season’s episodes also include:

Episode #1102

This episode includes performances by five-time IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year Russell Moore and his group IIIrd Tyme Out plus bluegrass/gospel performer Larry Sparks and his group The Lonesome Ramblers.

Episode #1103

This episode includes performances by bluegrass Hall of Famer Doyle Lawson and his group Quicksilver plus The Rambling Rooks, featuring former Lonesome River Band members Ronnie Bowman, Don Rigsby, and Kenny Smith.

Episode #1104

This episode includes performances by IBMA 2012 Instrumental Group of the Year The Boxcars; rising stars The Skip Cherryholmes Quintet; and first-generation family group The Chapmans.

Episode #1105

This episode includes performances by North Carolina bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers plus the young picking stars Sleepy Man Banjo Boys.

Episode #1106

This episode includes performances by Boston-based alt-grassers Della Mae; five-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year Dale Ann Bradley; and folk-bluegrass group Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands.

Episode #1107

This episode includes performances by bluegrass legend J. D. Crowe and his group The New South plus award-winning vocalist and guitarist Audie Blaylock and his group Redline.

Episode #1108

This episode includes performances by brother and sister duo The Roys; “sweethearts of bluegrass” Darin & Brooke Aldridge; and up-and-coming stars The Bankesters.

Episode #1109

This episode includes performances by premier fiddler Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper; 2012 Grand Master Fiddle Champion Jaclyn Sites; and the youthful performers of Kids on Bluegrass.

Episode #1110

This episode includes performances by Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, who took home 2012 Song of the Year and Album of the Year trophies, plus IBMA Vocal Group of the Year Blue Highway.

Episode #1111

This episode includes performances by Nashville’s own The SteelDrivers plus Grammy award winning The Clay Hess Band.

Episode #1112

This episode includes performances by top vocalist Marty Raybon & Full Circle plus Lonesome River Band, who received the 2012 IBMA Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year Award for the song “Angeline The Baker.”

Episode #1113

This episode includes performances by bluegrass veteran Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time plus 2012 IBMA Emerging Artists of the Year Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers.

Episode #1114

This episode includes performances by Nashville “A-list” songwriter Jim Lauderdale; perennial bluegrass favorite The Grascals; and Canadian acoustic group The Spinney Brothers.

Episode #1115

This episode includes performances by 2012 IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year nominee Darrell Webb Band; Kentucky-based group Newtown; and bluegrass icon Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys Reunion.

Episode #1116

This episode includes performances by mandolin prodigy Sierra Hull plus North Carolina bluegrass group Balsam Range.

Episode #1117

This episode includes performances by bluegrass/country guitarist Josh Williams and his band plus acclaimed Kentucky vocalist/guitarist Charlie Sizemore and his band.

Episode #1118

This episode includes performances by the young, high-energy quintet The HillBenders plus “bluegrass poet” Donna Ulisse and The Poor Mountain Boys.

Episode #1119

This episode features The Best of the 2012 IBMA Fan Fest (part 1): Veteran stars and rising young groups are featured in performances from the 2012 International Bluegrass Music Association Fan Fest in Nashville.

Episode #1120

This episode features the Best of the 2012 IBMA Fan Fest (part 2): More performances of original songs from artists featured at the 2012 International Bluegrass Music Association Fan Fest in Nashville.

More information about Jubilee, including streaming video, is available at ket.org/jubilee. More information about KET programming and education services, as well as how to support KET, can be found at ket.org.http://www.youtube.com/embed/9VldNuUqm80?list=UUWtu89uGn8KHtZSZQmTg61Q/dt

Tags: JubileeKentucky Educational TelevisionPBSIBMA Fan FestBroadcast

The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) announced their initial list of eligible recorded products which can be nominated for the 24th International Bluegrass Music Awards this year. To be eligible, the bluegrass music recording must have been released between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013. As a result of the initial announcement, artists, producers, labels and others are making their respective projects known to the bluegrass music community with emphasis on the voting members of the IBMA. It's all about the music.

While the IBMA attempts to get their list as accurate as possible, it is important to note that the list may not necessarily contain 100% of the bluegrass recordings released during the eligibility period. The association also has established rules for which albums may be included in the process. Artists competing should already be aware of the rules for the awards program.

The International Bluegrass Music Awards are the highlight and culmination of the World of Bluegrass trade show and convention which will be held in Raleigh, NC this year. For the past several years, the show took place in Nashville, Tennessee.

Artists compete through a variety of public relations, press releases, and social media to get the word out about their recordings. Many were released early in the eligibility period so it is important for the artists to remind the voting membership about their projects. The awards are not only representative of achievement but also carry with them the potential for higher financial rewards to the artists.

Since the founding of IBMA in 1985, one of the fundamental purposes of the organization has been to honor outstanding achievements and pioneering efforts in the music. The first honors were the Distinguished Achievement Awards (then called the Certificate of Merit) first bestowed in 1986. Today, with almost two dozen annual awards, the IBMA represent the genre's most important honors. What makes them important and unique is that the awards are determined by the recipient's peers and colleagues in the bluegrass music industry.

Each year bluegrass artists, professionals and fans come together to celebrate the biggest night of the year during the annual Awards Show. The recording is the focus as this is where the music ultimately resides. Awards are based on song, album, artist, and aspects surrounding those three elements. Without the music, there would be no awards.

This year's World of Bluegrass will take place September 24-26, 2013 at the Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, North Carolina. Tickets are available through http://worldofbluegrass.org/

Tags: International Bluegrass Music AssociationInternational Bluegrass Music AwardsIBMA AwardsWorld of BluegrassAwards Show

Willis, VA -- The unique and entertaining musical journey of The Expedition Show is at the forefront with the release of their new Mountain Fever Records album Stormy Horizons. The album’s first single, “Stormy Horizons” was released on February 19th to high acclaim. WAMU Bluegrass Country’s Gary Henderson said, “One of my all-time favorite Jim & Jesse tunes from the 1960's is "Stormy Horizons". The Expedition Show treatment with fiddle and walking bass lines, really add to your cover. Well Done!"

This CD release week starts with the SiriusXM Bluegrass Junction Track By Track with Kyle Cantrell on Wed. May 15th followed by a CD release concert in Rolla, MO at the Ozark Actors Theatre and Friday and Saturday, May 17th and 18th - CD Celebration Shows at Silver Dollar City's Bluegrass & BBQ in The Playhouse.

Known for their tight blend of vocal harmonies, white-hot picking, and side-splitting humor, The Expedition Show performs a fast paced, non-stop, crowd-pleasing show via original songs and fresh sounds combined with old-school traditional spirit. The new album is no different.

The Expedition Show has been a fan and festival favorite since their beginning in early 2002, with their 2011 self-titled Mountain Fever Records release reaching #1 on Sirius XM’s Most Played Albums in October 2011. During the band's 11 year tenure, the group has been nominated twice by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) for Emerging Artist of the Year (2005 and 2007), Wayne Southards has won the International Acoustic Music Association's Male Vocalist of the Year award (2009) and Blake Williams has been nominated three times for Entertainer of the Year by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (2007-2009).

Band member and banjo player, Blake Williams says, “We've always put great thought into providing a true listening experience with each project we've released through song selection and arrangements. Wayne, Alex and I all contributed original songs to this project but we've also reached back and recorded songs by Hank Williams, Sr. and Earl Scruggs. And the title cut was a song we'd heard Jim & Jesse do for years that was co-written by Ira Louvin. This is our 7th CD as a band and as with all of them, Tim Crouch adds some amazing fiddle and we were also honored to have our dear friend Phil Leadbetter play dobro of 3 tracks."

Tags: The Expedition ShowStormy HorizonsMountain Fever RecordsCD Release

The Cherry Pickers are a new young bluegrass group in the San Francisco, CA area featuring Isaac Cantor on banjo, Riley HIll on guitar, Rich Kearns on mandolin, and Leo Suarez on bass. Their goal is to write and record their own music, walking the line between contemporary and [...]

Today (5/14) marks the release of Stormy Horizons, a new CD project from The Expedition Show, on Mountain Fever Records. Fans can hear the entire record this week on Sirius-XM’s Track-by-Track with Kyle Cantrell, starting on Wednesday (5/15) at 11:00 a.m. (EDT). The show will [...]

With a title like Grandma’s Rules for Drinking, the most recent release from Canadian folk group Annie Lou, offers intriguing possibilities for potential listeners. What they will find upon pressing play is an enjoyable collection of original music in the string band tradition. The songs [...]