Monthly Archives: April 2022

Bell Buckle Records has released a music video for Dunlap & Mabe, accompanying their new single, Flowers Down Below.

The song, written and sung by guitarist Jack Dunlap, tells of a love gone wrong far away from home.

Jack’s musical partner is banjoist Robert Mabe, and both are experienced veterans of the DC area bluegrass scene. Between the two of them, they have worked with Larry Keel, Gina Furtado, Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, Scythian, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Bud’s Collective, The Fly Birds, Dry Mill Road, Old Town Flood, Shannon Bielski & Moonlight Drive, Tim, and Savannah Finch & The Eastman Stringband, Lonesome Highway, Circa Blue, and Jakobs Ferry Stragglers.

The video was shot at a home in Historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia with the members of the regular group, Alex Kimble on bass and Mason Wright on fiddle.

Check it out…

Flowers Down Below is available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers can get the track at AirPlay Direct.

This series is a feature we are running to memorialize the creative and musical legacy of the late J.D. Crowe, who we lost just before Christmas. We are calling it My Favorite Crowe Lick, and each episode will include a prominent bluegrass banjo player sharing both their thoughts about Crowe and his influence, and showing us a lick they learned from his playing that sticks with them.

Today we hear from Ron Block, not only among the most highly-regarded banjo pickers on the current scene, but as serious a student of the music and playing of J.D. Crowe as we have in bluegrass. We all know Ron from his many years playing banjo and guitar with Alison Krauss & Union Station, his many solo projects, and as a banjo player at large performing with a wide variety of artists in bluegrass and acoustic music in general.

Ron gives us a two for one here, a tag lick from Sugar Coated Love, and another from Honey You Don’t Know My Mind, both great examples of the way Crowe would fill up the end of a solo with his trademark phrases.

Take a look…

Keep an eye out for future installments of My Favorite J.D. Crowe Lick here at Bluegrass Today. You can watch all of them by following this link.

Mountain Fever Records introduces their latest signee, Casey Penn, with a debut single today, the title track from her upcoming album, Chasing Rainbows.

Casey is a young singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from central Arkansas, whose music as a member of the duo, Lee Street Lyrical, has spent time on our Bluegrass Today Grassicana weekly airplay chart. Striking out now on her own, Penn’s clear, unaffected voice is a perfect match for Chasing Rainbows, a super positive message song written by Dana Landers and Russ Ragsdale.

She tells us that she loves this uplifting song, especially coming from someone who has been such a help in her own life.

“No matter our age or experience level, we all need someone in our lives who lifts us up when we’re chasing a dream – particularly one that can be as elusive as success in the music business. Dana was a person who did this for me and for many others. A skilled writer and caring friend, her catalog includes countless songs written to strengthen the vulnerable and celebrate those working hard to achieve their dreams.

As a music writer, artist, and avid music lover myself, I’ve been a fan of all things Mountain Fever for years now! Mark Hodges has a knack for picking up worthy artists, so I’m honored to be joining the roster. I look forward to sharing my music and being represented by such a respected team of hard-working professionals.”

Penn is supported on her first single by Justin Moses on banjo and mandolin, Jason Roller on guitar and fiddle, and Kevin Grant on bass. Casey sings the lead vocal, and a harmony part, with the other coming from Tim Raybon, who is a big fan. He speaks quite highly of Casey’s abilities.

“There are a lot of great singers out there … Casey Penn is not only a great singer-songwriter but someone who sings from the depths of her heart, and you feel it when you hear her sing. A wonderful talent!”

Have a listen…

Chasing Rainbows is available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

Congratulations go out to Josiah Tyree, banjo picker with The Kody Norris Show, and his exhausted wife, Cassie, on the birth of their first child.

Hazel Kate Tyree was born on April 27 at 7:42 a.m. in Carthage, TN, at the Riverview Regional Hospital. She made her appearance at 7 lb, 12 oz, stretching out to 20” long.

Cassie had a rough go of it, with three days in labor followed by a C-section, but she and Hazel are healthy and doing fine. Well done mom!

Best of luck to the new parents, and a big Bluegrass Today welcome to little Hazel!

Don Stiernberg and Joe K Walsh sunning themselves at Mandolin Camp North – photo by Kelly Stockwell

Music Camps North, located at Prindle Pond Conference Center in Charlton, Massachusetts, came roaring back to life April 22-24 with Mandolin Camp North. Attendance was back at pre-pandemic levels.

President Kelly Stockwell, and her Board of Directors, volunteers, and jam support staff, hosted a big group of campers and instructors during a weekend of fine spring weather. COVID vaccinations were required. Testing and masking was left to personal choice. Kelly stated, “Our goal was to hire plenty of musicians, fill up Prindle Pond, and host a safe and fun weekend of mandolin immersion.  Mission accomplished!”

Four fortunate students attended on full scholarship!

Mandolin Camp offered 114 classes over the 48 hour weekend. Twenty-five instructors covered many mandolin styles. A few classes were offered for guitar and fiddle too. Subjects included bluegrass, old time, jazz, swing, rock, blues, and Celtic.

The schedule included the usual mix of formal classes, organized jams, faculty concerts and free-time jamming. Music Camps North hired a staff of jam support musicians on guitar, bass, and banjo to give the campers a full sound in their jams.

For the instrument geeks, there was a spectrum of instruments of various shapes and brands, including an original The Gibson Mando-Bass (wow!), plenty of fine luthier-made mandolins including the famed Australian makers, and even a couple of Loars.

Since the last Mandolin Camp in April of 2019, a few of the stalwart staff have passed on (but not due to COVID), and at the Faculty Concert a moment of silence was observed in memory of past-President Phil Zimmerman, sound man Mike Rivers, and instructor David Surette.

The Instructor Roster comprised: Alan Bibey, Mike Compton, Maddie Witler, Don Stiernberg, Jim Richter, Lorraine and Bennett Hammond, Matt Flinner, Frank Solivan, Joe K Walsh, Annie Staninec and John Kael, Skip Gorman, Louise Bichan, Claudine Langille, Carl Jones and Erynn Marshall, Richie Brown, Grant Gordy, Ben Pearce, Tony Watt, Eli Gilbert, Lincoln Meyers and Steve Roy.

Mandolin Camp has been part of  the Music Camps North event roster since 2005. Banjo Camp North will celebrate its 20th year May 13-15. Music Camps North is now a registered non-profit.

For more info go to MusicCampsNorth.com.

Alex Leach has been an interesting character for as long a he has been involved in bluegrass music, which started when he was a teen radio host for east Tennessee’s WDVX. For someone so young, he had a savant’s knowledge and understanding of bluegrass and traditional music, long before we all learned what a terrific singer and songwriter he was.

Performing alongside Ralph Stanley II on banjo for several years, it became clear that his skills were profound, and when he released his original number, Mountain Heartache, we mentioned that it might be the perfect traditional bluegrass song, among the finest ever written. But when he struck out on his own with The Alex Leach Band, he chose Americana hero Jim Lauderdale to produce, with a look that called back more to San Francisco in 1967 than the hills of Appalachia.

Not quite a cipher, but someone that bears watching on all fronts.

This week, Mountain Home Music is releasing a single from the band’s next recording, one Alex wrote called Little Secret.

He offers a hint of what this one is about.

“With a brand new album of original music coming this summer, I couldn’t be more excited to share it with everyone, and Little Secret is one of the high energy songs that will be included. It talks about a corrupt boss man who’s always taking advantage of everyone, and one of his workers is about to get back at him for all of his wrongdoings. Although the lyrics are pretty serious, this song has become one of our favorites to have fun with on stage. I hope you enjoy this one, and remember, it’s just a little taste of what’s to come on our new album this summer!”

Leach and the band get some strong support from Derek Vaden on banjo, one of the most exciting young pickers of the five these days, and from label mate Carley Arrowood who adds some tasty fiddle. Roscoe Morgan also joined them in the studio on mandolin, while Alex plays guitar and sings with JT Coleman on bass. Harmony vocals come from Coleman and Miranda Leach.

Check it out…

Little Secret is available now from popular download and streaming services online, and to radio programmers via AirPlay Direct.

New look, new sound, new label… 

Mountain Home Music has announced today the signing of Sister Sadie to the label.

The band has a new look, with the recent departure of founding members Dale Ann Bradley and Tina Adair, and a new sound from incoming vocalists Jaelee Roberts on guitar and Mary Meyer on mandolin. They join other founding members Deanie Richardson on fiddle and Gena Britt on banjo, along with bassist Hasee Ciacco.

Now they have a new exclusive recording contract with Mountain Home and are expected to start work on a new project later this summer.

Speaking jointly, the band has issued this statement:

“Sister Sadie is incredibly excited to be a part of the Mountain Home Family. We are looking forward to making a new record soon with this amazing team. On behalf of Gena, Deanie, Hasee, Jaelee, and Mary, thank you for believing in us and giving us a place to make more Sister Sadie music.”

Mountain Home producer and A&R man Jon Weisberger says that this group brings a lot of heft to the label, having won four IBMA Awards the past three years, not to mention stellar previous recordings and a powerful stage show.

“Sister Sadie has already had quite an impact on bluegrass. Their awards are testimony to that, but I believe a look at the esteem that musicians like Gena and Deanie have among their colleagues, and at the breadth of the group’s audience, tells the story at least as well as the trophies. We think the best is yet to come for Sister Sadie’s music, and we’re looking forward to bringing it to the world.”

The band has been performing and recording together since 2012, when the original members did a show at the Station Inn in Nashville, with no plans to ever do so again. The reaction was so powerful that they did a few more shows, and an album, and soon they were headlining festivals and winning major awards.

Look for more news about their upcoming Mountain Home project in the near future.

Congratulations to Andy Falco, guitarist with Infamous Stringdusters, and his lovely wife, Jasmine, on the birth of their second child.

Theodore Nunzio Falco was born on April 26 in Long Island, NY at 2:36 p.m. He burst onto the scene at 8 lb, 1 oz. They are calling him Teddy.

Daughter, Violet, is ready to start her big sister role when mother and child return from the hospital.

Many blessings and much luck to the growing Falco family, and a big Bluegrass Today welcome to little Teddy!

Del McCoury Band at the 2022 Old Settlers Music Festival – photo by Amy Price

Many thanks to the folks at the Old Settlers Music Festival in Tilmon, TX who shared this gallery of images from this past weekend’s happenings.

Photos by Amy Price.

Larry Efaw & The Bluegrass Mountaineers have a new single, Torn Love, written by his father, Edward, throwing it back to the days of the original Bluegrass Mountaineers.

Bluegrass has always had a strong respect for tradition, while also embracing innovation, though the two impulses may sometimes be in conflict. But we all love to see a popular band taken over by a member of the next generation. We are delighted to watch the success of Danny Paisley, who is continuing a tradition started by his father, Bob – and likely to eventually be handed over to Danny’s son, Ryan – and The Travelin’ McCourys keeping the McCoury sound alive for when Del steps aside.

That is exactly what Larry is doing, maintaining the sound and the band name his father bequeathed to him, a mountain music heritage in the Stanley style.

Torn Love comes from Ed Efaw, who stayed active in bluegrass into his 80s. Upon his retirement, Larry assumed management of The Bluegrass Mountaineers, with whom he had performed since he was a young man.

Larry says this one came in the nick of time to make the next record.

“I was in the studio and had the music down for the last song. Then dad sent Torn Love to me late that night. I was listening to it, and for some reason it wouldn’t leave me. It just reminded me of something that Carter Stanley would have written, and the Stanley Brothers would have recorded. I’m a big fan of original material. At 91, Dad Still loves to write and it makes him proud when I record one of his songs. I really don’t know why but this song still won’t leave my head.”

These days the Mountaineers are Logan Leab on guitar, Curtis Coleman on banjo, Adam Burrows on fiddle, and Mikayla Burrows on bass. Larry plays mandolin and sings lead with Mikayla adding the lonesome duet harmony.

Have a listen to the new single…

Torn Love is available now from Bell Buckle Records at popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

It will also be included on the next Larry Efaw & The Bluegrass Mountaineers album, The Old Home.

Doug Flowers has contributed his talents as a sideman to several different artists such as Betty Fisher, Little Roy & Lizzy, and Clinton Gregory. Although Flowers has released a few solo projects over the last few years, Brothersville marks the official debut of the Doug Flowers Band, a solid combination of Georgia-based musicians.

The title Brothersville is symbolic of two different connections within the Doug Flowers Band. The group consists of two pairs of brothers, the Flowers (Doug on mandolin and Dwayne on electric bass), and the Lambs (Aaron on banjo and Joshua on rhythm guitar). Prior to 1870, the Flowers brothers’ hometown, Hephzibah, GA was actually a village called Brothersville. Nonetheless, it’s obvious just how much blood harmony plays a role in the group’s music. It’s particularly evident on Good Saddles Ain’t Cheap and I Don’t Want To Hear It. Doug and Dwayne have a tight vocal blend which is complemented by Aaron Lamb’s solid baritone.

Although not related to anyone within the group, Edward Dalton is also a member of the Doug Flowers Band contributing lead guitar throughout the project, as well as singing lead vocals on Preachin’, Prayin’, Singin’ and Teardrops In My Eyes. Brothersville Breakdown, written by banjoist Aaron Lamb, is the sole original tune. It’s a perfect straightforward piece that captures the instrumental talents of Lamb, Doug Flowers, and Edward Dalton.

Brothersville also contains two Gospel songs which feature some special guests. Mike Rogers, currently a member of Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, lends his tenor vocals to How Great Thou Art, while bass vocalist Aaron McCune of Dailey & Vincent sings on both the aforementioned track as well as Preachin’, Prayin’, Singin’. Both pieces are a nice touch to this collection and Rogers and McCune’s appearances add great dimension to these songs.

Most of the nine tracks on Brothersville are more than likely known by most bluegrass and music fans in general, but the Doug Flowers Band have worked up their own great arrangements to songs such as Listening To The Rain, Ramblin’ Man, and White Freight Liner Blues.

Brothersville is a wonderful introduction to the traditional stylings of The Doug Flowers Band. It’s a short, yet promising debut project from a group of well-defined pickers and singers. It’s a great example of how the sibling dynamic can play a role within the making of really great music.

Since it has been established in the advertising world that if you can identify a niche, you can target it, it was probably inevitable that we would one day see the rise of bluegrass men’s cologne. 

Bluegrass women’s fragrances had already been introduced last year with the noted success of Bleu Diva, and Je Pick 5! (the latter was an immediate hit, due to its mysterious and captivating blend of the scents of grapefruit, cherry blossom, and the musty interior of a vintage banjo case).

The cologne industry has made a fortune creating and selling an image in our minds and tying it to certain scents, even if we wouldn’t have naturally connected the two without some marketing assistance. For example, Versace describes their men’s cologne The Dreamer this way:

“If you spend your days immersed in dreams about the future, Dreamer by Versace is the perfect fragrance for your romantic soul.” It goes on to say that it “. . . leaves a warm and woody aroma in your wake designed to turn heads. Relish in the sweet open of mandarin notes, combined with floral and fresh lavender. A rugged heart of tobacco blends with the rich scent of tonka bean for a finish that is mysterious and captivating.”

If I hadn’t been led to believe that this is what romantic dreamers smell like, I probably would have thought these scents were sending a mixed aromatic message, possibly suited to someone who is unsure of his direction in life (when you think about it, men like that need their own scent, too).

Meanwhile, Hugo Boss’ Boss #6 boasts that “this elegant scent is ideal for men who have an unapologetic zest for life. This is achieved by blending apple and citrus, combined with warm cinnamon and pelargonium, anchored by hints of cedar.” Left to draw my own conclusions, this would just seem like a man who has an unapologetic zest for breakfast, and who may sometimes choose to eat it outdoors. This is probably where I should admit that I have no idea what pelargonium is.

Many of these cologne descriptions talk about “top notes” or an “open,” with “heart notes” at the center, followed by “base notes” or the “finish.” Beer is described this way now, too, and I don’t think the world is a better place for it, but you might equate this sequence of scent sensations with the kick-off of a song, its verse and chorus, followed by its last ringing chord.

It may have been with that analogy in mind that many of these same designers have now introduced several colognes and related products geared towards men in the bluegrass music industry. Expect them to have booths with free samples at the IBMA World of Bluegrass this September, but for now I’ve been given a sneak peak into the advertising copy for some of them:

Yodel – You’re the lead singer in everything you do, and you’re ready to go high or go low, as the situation requires. Yodel is the scent that says you’ve got range, with an alluring blend of citrus and grassy top notes, a heart of earthy sage, alfalfa, and steroid nasal spray, finishing with a base of honey/lemon throat lozenges. Kick off the song of life; you’re ready for verse one.

Truss Rod – It isn’t just how you play the banjo, you can also talk the talk, whether it’s discussing pflanges or tone rings, and you can confidently dissemble a pre-war flathead so fast, heads will turn. Steel and woody scents open up this invigorating fragrance, followed by notes of juniper and goat hide which all combine to say you’ve got a solid forward roll.

Commission – You love being the skilled negotiator, the middle man between the high-maintenance artist and the penny-pinching promoter, and it shows. Commission is a confident blend of reassuring lavender and oak aromas, with harder edged hints of bourbon, tobacco, and well-worn ten dollar bills for the base. Oh yes, that call is coming in, and they’re going to meet your price!

Down Up Down – This is a scent for a man who has the confidence and consistency to relish repetitive motion, whether making magic happen on a guitar or mandolin, or just knowing where in life the firm downstroke is needed. With high notes of phosphor bronze, and spruce, sustainably sourced tortoiseshell for the heart notes, and classically masculine rosewood and mahogany base notes, Down Up Down is a fragrance that says your wrist is loose and tendinitis-free, and you’re ready for that well-placed rest-stroke.

Man Bun – You’re barefoot, you’re on stage, and you’re going to be playing this song for a very very long time. This is the scent that tells the world that you go your own way in exactly the same way your friends and band members are going their own way, too. Opening top notes of beard oil give way to hemp, patchouli, and avocado. Dude, you smell good.

Bus – You’re the road warrior, and you’re winning. You roll down the highways of life, a free spirit with an appetite for large vehicles and a small bunk. Bus is an intoxicating coffee and diesel fuel-based scent with hints of vodka, pork rinds, and a subtle brake fluid finish. It’s a fragrance that says you’d love to spend the night but you can’t sleep anywhere that isn’t heavily air conditioned and moving at 75 mph. Go boldly on, warrior. The next Flying J awaits!

Big Mon – A cologne for a man not afraid to be a leader, traditionalist, and innovator all at once. Inspired by the spirit of the Father of Bluegrass, Big Mon is definitely “a part of something”: it’s a self-assured, regal scent, which will set you apart and make a lasting impression, with lonesome high notes of damp fertile soil, a heart of freshly mowed Kentucky blue grass, leaving a soft trail of spruce, maple, and just a hint of draft horse sweat in the base. Spray it on and let the world follow your lead. 

Rock Hearts, the pride of southern New England, has produced a music video for Whispering Waters, a band original from their 2020 debut album, Starry Southern Nights.

The song was written by mandolinist Billy Thibodeau and Stan Keach, an uptempo grasser of lost love and suicidal ideation. It’s another happy-sounding bluegrass number with dark undertones.

In the video we see the band – completed by Alex MacLeod on guitar, Joe Deetz on banjo, Austin Scelzo on fiddle, and Rick Brodsky on bass – performing the song in an old barn. Alex sings the lead with Billy and Joe bringing harmonies.

Have a look/listen…

Alex tells us that the band has been hard at work this month finishing up their second album at Dark Shadow Recording. No word yet on a possible release date.

Starry Southern Nights is widely available from online download and streaming sites, and on CD directly from the band.

1st prize winner Lindy Bryson with Stan Lowery at the Don Gibson Theatre – photo by Gary Hatley

On April 2, the 12th Annual Don Gibson Singer Songwriter Symposium was held in the late country singer’s hometown of Shelby, NC, inside a theater named after the artist. Gibson was a gifted songwriter and singer having penned such memorable hits as Oh, Lonesome Me and I Can’t Stop Loving You, who passed away in 2003.

Stan Lowery, Executive Director of the Don Gibson Theatre, stated, “We had 36 songs submitted by 34 participants. Everybody plays their songs in the preliminary round in the afternoon. The field is narrowed to the top 12. They performed their songs again for final judging that night in the theatre.”

Darin and Brooke Aldridge served as judges in the final round.

Winners for this year’s contest were:

Bryson, an 18-year-old senior at nearby Crest High School, took the top prize for her song, Muddy Waters.

The young songstress explained her motivation for the song. “When I was 12, I was baptized in the Broad River. Jesus was baptized in a river, so was my family. The song is about being baptized that day.”

The teenager has only been composing tunes for the past two or three years. 

“I was very surprised. I didn’t expect to win.”

Lowery agreed. “It was a big surprise. She was amazing.”

This was Bryson’s first songwriting competition.

“I love to minister to people. I just sing to minister and hope my songs will touch somebody.”

Bryson is headed to Gardner-Webb University in the fall to major in ministry and music.

Second place was Josh Hudson of Sandy Ridge, NC, who had taken the first place slot the two previous years. This year’s winning song was I’m Still Here, addressing the struggles with Alzheimer’s disease. The song was written in memory of Hudson’s paternal grandmother, Lizzie Mae Hudson.

“The song is super personal. I grew up on the same piece of property (beside my grandparents). I was the youngest grandchild of their youngest son. It allowed me a lot of time to be influenced by my grandparents.”

Hudson shared some details. “My grandmother was a seamstress. She made my overalls and shirts. She passed away in 2013 at the age of 87. She had suffered from Alzheimer’s since about 2005. There were times when she did not know my dad or me, but we cherished the good days. She never forgot how to sing the Gospel songs.”

“It is meant to be a healing song, showing pride and respect. The words from the chorus say it all, ‘Even when you don’t see me, I’m near.’ There’s no way to separate her from me.”

Third place was a tie between 27-year-old Pistol Hill of Shelby and 39-year-old Nick Washburn of Boiling Springs. 

Hill’s composition entitled Damn It, was written in Illinois. 

“The snow was falling and I was sleeping in my car after playing a gig. My wife sent me a video of my three-month-old daughter rolling over for the first time. Being a Christian man, I tapered it down. I wrote it in about 20 minutes.”

The young music man has been traveling and performing since age 19, playing 30 states a year. He won the songwriting contest when he was 18 in 2012, and decided to make music his career.

“Music is my livelihood,” Hill stated.

Tying Hill’s was Washburn’s song, Jesus, Family, and Rodeo. A licensed contractor who owns his own construction business, he plays guitar, and loves singing, music, and church.

“I help with Rodeo Polkville. A church has a rodeo to bring in money for the community. It is mission-based. This is its 22nd year. When it first was held, there were a few hundred people. In 2021, 5000 people a night showed up. They had to turn people away because it was too congested.”

Working with the rodeo gave Washburn the inspiration for the tune. “I had an idea for a cowboy song. If Chris LeDoux, Dean Dillion, and Alan Jackson ever wrote a country-western song with a Gospel message, this would be it!”

Washburn will perform at the rodeo for the first time on June 17 and 18. Using a full band, he wants to convey a message.

“It’s Jesus first, then family, and then rodeo.”

Judges, Darin and Brooke Aldridge, shared, “The creative process is a beautiful thing. It allows a person to go anywhere or experience anything regardless of whether they’ve lived something first hand or not. Brooke and I were honored to be judges of the Don Gibson Song Writing Contest in Shelby, NC a few weeks ago. We got to hear songs of faith, life, love, and nature. We got to feel a bit of what inspired the writer to create a story in some moment of their life. And we got to see that they were brave enough to share these sometimes very personal experiences with all who were there to listen. It was inspiring. Each contestant that stepped into the spotlight brought a uniqueness that captivated the room, every time. We’re so proud of all the contestants, but we want to offer special congratulations to 17 year old Lindy Bryson for taking home the big win.”

First prize came with a check for $1,000, with $400 for second, and $200 for third.

Mountain Fever Records has a new single today from them Williams boys, in this case, Jr. Williams singing a gem from the late Don Williams, Lord I Hope This Day Is Good.

Don Williams was a master of understatement, and of finding songs that celebrated the simple life. This Dave Hanner number which Don released in 1981 is a perfect example. It went to #1, and has since been covered by a good many artists, including Anne Murray and Lee Ann Womack. Paul Brewster also recorded it on his bluegrass solo project, Everybody’s Talkin’ in 2007.

For Jr.’s cut, we have an appropriately restrained arrangement, with Williams’ voice supported simply by Aaron Ramsey on guitar, Adam Steffey on mandolin, Nathan Aldridge on fiddle, and Jeff Partin on reso-guitar and bass. Partin also provides harmony vocals.

Williams says that this one had stuck with him from his youth.

“I’m a lover of good country music. I remember this song being released just after high school; I’ve always been a Don Williams fan! I love good story songs, songs with a message. With all the things going wrong in our world these days, I think most of us would just like to see some good things happen. This song hits home with me and hopefully many of the listeners.”

Even if you don’t know Don’s lovely original, this new version is sure to please.

Have a listen…

Lord I Hope This Day Is Good from Jr. Williams is available today from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

Brittany Haas, Laura Orshaw, and Jenee Fleenor at Dark Shadow Recording

It’s triple fiddles all the way down for the intro on Laura Orshaw’s newest single from Dark Shadow Recording, I Can’t Settle Down.

Orshaw, fiddler with The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, enlisted fellow bow women Brittany Haas and Jenee Fleenor, to help layer the tracks with fiddle on this country-flavored song from Roberta Gordon and Tim Carter. It tells of a rounder who just can’t stand to say in one place more than a short space of time.

She says that this is a number that will surely get those boots scootin’.

“I used to think of myself as a homebody, but in the past few years I’ve realized that I love waking up on the tour bus, not knowing exactly where I am until I walk out the door. This sentiment paired with the square dance fiddle tune melody, is what drew me to I Can’t Settle Down. Jenee Fleenor and Brittany Haas joined me for the triple fiddle section, and we created a rhythmic ‘wall of sound’ that’ll make you want to shuffle around the dance floor!”

Laura gets further support from BB Bowness on banjo, Reed Stutz on mandolin, Josh Rinkel on guitar, and Alan Bartram on bass. Jenee also adds harmony vocals.

Check it out.

I Can’t Settle Down is available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

It will also be included on her upcoming album, Solitary Diamond.

“It’s been the most amazing weekend that I’ve had in 18 years,” said Jeff Branch, promoter of the central NC-based Big Lick Bluegrass Festival.

“The enthusiasm from the bands and fans and the perfect weather has made it even more enjoyable.”

Branch was due a successful weekend after having to endure cold temperatures and monsoon-like weather in previous years, then having to put the event on hold for two years due to the pandemic. Everyone was overjoyed to return to live music, and you could feel the appreciation from both the performers and the audience.

“A big thanks to Jeff Branch,” Lonesome River Band’s Sammy Shelor expressed from the stage. “We are glad to be back. We went too long without it.”

On Saturday, the last day of the festival, things ran smoothly even though Branch received a call late Friday night warning that The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys would be unable to perform due to a health emergency. That afternoon, emcee Sherry Boyd offered the microphone to the festival’s organizer.

“The problem (of filling their slot) was fixed in 15 minutes,” the promoter shared with the audience.

As band leader Steve Dilling headed home from playing the festival on Friday, Branch called the banjoist and explained his dilemma. Dilling and ensemble readily agreed to return for a command performance. The promoter introduced Sideline as they took the stage for a second day.

“I’m thankful for good friends,” he stressed.

“We have to help each other out,” guitarist Skip Cherryholmes stated after their afternoon performance.

During Sideline’s sets, they had several guest appearances including founding Sideline member, Darrell Webb, who joined the band for a crowd favorite, Pipe Liners Blues, with Bob Barnes on harmonica. Caroline Owens also sang a number, as did Big T Lassiter.

A highlight on Saturday was a presentation during Appalachian Road Show’s performance. Bluegrass First Class promoter, Milton Harkey, accompanied by rising star, Olivia Jo, took the stage during the band’s performance to present a new Eastman mandolin to Tyler Abernathy, ARS’s banjoist, Barry Abernathy’s seven-year-old son. Barry and his wife, Beverley, recently adopted Tyler and his sister, Zoey. 

The senior Abernathy explained. “Tyler is special. He came to us almost three years ago. Our hands are just alike. (They held their left hands together to reveal that both had only a thumb and a stub of an index finger.) It was a gift from God.”

Off stage, Barry Abernathy continued to express his appreciation. “It’s wonderful to be back playing in this area. These people are special. This was such a good surprise. We appreciate Jeff Branch, Milton Harkey, and Eastman mandolins. They made Tyler’s week. He said, ‘Dad, I want to be a cowboy,’ so we had to get him a new outfit.”

Also performing on Saturday was Terry Baucom and his Dukes of Drive.

Boyd introduced him. “Anytime banjo pickers’ names are mentioned, this man’s name comes up.”

During Bauc’s performance, Knee Deep in Bluegrass’ Cindy Baucom shared some of her husband’s heritage. “Terry grew up so close to here. Jeff Branch’s grandfather played fiddle in the same band with Terry, the Rocky River Boys.”

Other bands appearing on Saturday included Spartanburg, SC’s Backline, performing mostly original material written by lead vocalist, Katelyn Ingardia, and the Parlor House Band, featuring musicians and vocalists associated with one of the festival’s sponsors, Ron’s Pickin’ Parlor of Stanfield, NC.

Ingardia stated, “I grew up with bluegrass. I can’t tell you how glad I am to be back. I’ve missed you guys,” then she sang an original, Bluegrass State of Mind.

Branch concluded, “I’ve got Big Lick to the level I’ve been wanting for 18 years. It’s been a long time coming and I’m ready for next year!”

Woody Platt, founding member of Steep Canyon Rangers, has announced his imminent departure from the band after 23 years.

The guitarist and vocalist has recently released a single, One Last Goodbye, from an upcoming solo project which made it to #1 on our Bluegrass Today Weekly AirPlay chart. In a radio interview for Terry Herd’s Into The Blue broadcast, he mentioned how much he was enjoying doing shows with the guys on the record, who he describes as The Duck Band, and how he is looking forward to more events with them in future.

Platt says that touring and recording with the Steeps has brought him tremendous joy, and he wishes them all the best moving forward.

“Being a Steep Canyon Ranger has been one of the highlights of my life! I was so fortunate to meet a few wonderful friends in college while simultaneously reconnecting with childhood friends and together, from the ground up, we built something truly special! It’s been an honor and absolute joy to be a member of this band — I’m incredibly excited to see what gold lies ahead for my brothers in music – the Steep Canyon Rangers!”

Woody and the rest of the guys – Graham Sharp (banjo), Mike Guggino (mandolin), Nicky Sanders (fiddle), Mike Ashworth (bass), and Barrett Smith (guitar) – are currently in the studio working on a new single.

Speaking jointly, the Rangers wish Woody well in his future endeavors.

“Obviously, Steep Canyon Rangers wouldn’t be where we are without Woody; we’ll miss him and we wish him all the success in the world in his next chapter. Right now we’ve got a renewed energy around the change. It’s given us a chance to unlock everyone’s talent and has made room for us to step into some new roles. We truly think our fans are going to love where we’re heading right now and can’t wait to get it on stage and in the studio.”

You will still see Platt on stage over the next few months with the band, with an end date not firmly established.

You can see their tour dates for 2022 online.

Anyone in attendance at the Big Lick Bluegrass Festival in North Carolina already knows that a health issue has sidelined The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. They had to miss their time at Big Lick when band leader, mandolinist and vocalist, C.J. Lewandowski, fell ill on Friday evening.

He was taken to the emergency room in Sevierville, TN with what he described as an uncomfortable problem, but wanted to assure everyone that it was not COVID-related. He was released after several tests showed that it wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but the band decided against subjecting him to two days performing in his condition.

C.J. is resting now at home, building his strength back, and looking forward to getting out on stage as soon as he can.

The band issued a statement to fans and friends.

“As you all know, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys is more than just a band. We are a family. And when something happens to one of our own, we draw closer together. Our music is so important to us, but in order to perform to the best of our abilities for you we have to all be healthy.

Thank you to Jeff Branch of Big Lick Bluegrass Festival for being understanding, Sideline for helping fill what would have been our spot, LeConte Medical Center in Sevierville, TN for taking care of C.J., and going above and beyond. Thanks to the Jereme and Tommy for delivering him to the ER, and to Josh and Laura for picking him up and watching over him the past 36+ hours. Most of all, thank you so much for the support and love you have given us from the start. We love y’all so much, and we know C.J. appreciates your thoughts, prayers and good vibes. We ask that you respect his privacy as he takes a little time to heal up.

Never Slow Down!”

I’m sure all our readers join us in sending best wishes C.J.’s way, along with a hearty Get Well Soon! Plenty of time for music when you feel better.

If there are any two individuals fully capable of capturing the vintage sounds of a traditional brocade, it would have to be the duo that consists of Allison De Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves. De Groot, a seasoned picker known for her fret work with Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, The Goodbye Girls, and Nic Gareiss, has earned the praises of numerous contemporaries and has proven her mettle in a variety of well-studied settings. Hargreaves, a veteran fiddle player who has shared stages with Dave Rawlings, Gillian Welch, Laurie Lewis, Darol Anger, Bruce Molsky, and Jake Blount, has acquired a sterling reputation as one of the leading lights of today’s new generation dedicated to reviving and preserving the sounds of old time Appalachia, particularly those of the old time variety.

Not surprisingly then, the two find plenty of common ground, and under the assured guidance of producer Phil Cook, they’ve created an album for the ages, recorded live and culling songs from a time-honored template, their own compositions and a handful of obscure offerings by old time composers. The result, Hurricane Clarice, from Free Dirt Records, is an appropriately sparse set consisting of nine songs, all shared duets featuring clawhammer banjo and fiddle finesse, which convey the archaic feel of field recordings circa early 20th century.

Consequently, these are decidedly sturdy songs, most of which vary in tempo and tone. The celebratory sounds of The Banks of the Miranichi draw a decided contrast to the pluck and strum of DeGroot’s original instrumental Wellington. The frenzied fiddle work of the 19th century square dance tune, Nancy Blevins, and the astute instrumental, Ostrich With Pearls, nicely complement the down-home draw of a Roy Acuff composition, Each Season Changes. The plodding yet plucky title track finds a fine fit with the pair’s upbeat harmonies of the closing track, The Road Walked By Fools. Likewise, I Would Not Live Always, which originated with a poem written approximately a hundred years ago and adapted for fiddle and vocal, still manages to provide contemporary credence.

Ultimately, despite the obscure origins of these songs, the entire set comes across as both moving and mesmerizing. Happy then, this Hurricane manages to blow at full force.

Mountain Fever Records has a new single today for powerhouse bluegrass vocalist Dave Adkins, one called We’re All Crazy.

It’s offers a more contemporary sound for Adkins, a song from Skip Black, Aaron Goodvin, and Catt Gravitt.

Dave says that the vibe of the song sums up how much he loves his bluegrass music.

“We’re all crazy sums up how I feel about driving across the country to play an hour and a half of music, and by the time we get home, you realize you are just doing it to play! We’re all crazy about something.”

He is supported on the track by Aaron Ramsey on guitar, Jason Davis on banjo, Will Clark on mandolin, and Jeff Partin on bass, reso-guitar, and harmony vocal.

It’s a good’n.

The single for We’re All Crazy is available now from popular download and streaming services online. Radio programmers will find the track at AirPlay Direct.

High Fidelity at the 2022 Big Lick Bluegrass Festival – photo by Gary Hatley

After a two year hiatus due to the global pandemic, the Big Lick Bluegrass Festival near Oakboro in south central North Carolina returns this weekend. Promoter Jeff Branch has worked tirelessly to ensure a top notch event. A new stage in a new spot with clear sound featuring a powerhouse lineup of musical talent, plus a variety of food trucks on a beautiful spring Tarheel weekend, all nestled in picturesque countryside, is a winning formula for a great family-friendly bluegrass festival.

Thursday night kicked off with an open mic featuring local talent. There were plenty of youth represented on the stage, ensuring the future of our beloved music. Chelsea (age 10)  and Courtney (age 8) Edenfield, granddaughters of Deeper Shade of Blue’s former banjoist, Jim Fraley, warmed hearts with their tight heartfelt harmony on numerous hymns. Big sister Chelsea accompanied their perfect-pitch voices on ukulele. 

Following their performance, Old River Road took the stage. Two of the band members, Malachi Freeman (age 17) on fiddle, and his sister, Amelia (age 16) on mandolin, are regulars on the IBMA Youth Stage with the Kids on Bluegrass ensemble. They were joined by their proud papa, Justin, on bass, friend Bob Dotson on guitar, and Junior Sisk Band’s Curt Love on banjo. Several other groups including the Quarter House Band, Hickory Nuts, and Last Chance Band (featuring Big T and Pammy Lassiter) performed.

“We decided on the name Last Chance Band because we’ve got six divorces between us, and working on seven and eight,” Big T joked.

The music resumed on Friday with some of the best in bluegrass: Sideline, Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers, High Fidelity, and Deeper Shade of Blue. 

High Fidelity kicked off the first full day of music. A regular part of their show, the band featured a couple of twin banjo tunes with Jeremy Stephens and Daniel Amick.

Every band and attendee was grateful for the warm, sunny day since the pre-pandemic festival weather had been either cold or rainy.

Joe Mullins announced from the stage, “We’ve brought beautiful weather with us from southern Ohio.”

“We’re happy to have sunshine and happy to be back,” stressed Scott Burgess of Deeper Shade of Blue.

Steve Dilling was grateful as well. “We’ve been at this festival every year since we’ve been a band.”

Saturday’s show runs noon until 11:00 p.m. and will feature the Lonesome River Band, Appalachian Road Show, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Terry Baucom & Dukes of Drive, Backline, and the Parlor House Band. 

Branch stated, “I’m happy to be hosting Big Lick after two years away from being able to have a festival due to the pandemic. We have a superb lineup and the response has been amazing. This shows me that people are ready to get out and get back to a normal life of great bluegrass music and family fun.”

The Big Lick Bluegrass Festival is located at 640 S Oak Ridge Road (Hwy 205), Oakboro, NC 28129. Saturday ticket prices are $35 for adults, ages 12-16 $10, under 12 free. For tickets and information, call 704-985-6987.

ROMP, i.e., the River of Music Party, held annually in Owensboro, KY, has announced Birds of Prey as the winners of their 2022 Virtual Band Contest. The competition involves bluegrass bands submitting a live video of themselves, and then entreating their fans to vote for them in the online balloting. Friends of the festival and anyone interested in ROMP can also vote, with the top vote getter invited to perform at the festival and at the epic after party on Saturday night.

The festival is held June 22-25 at Yellow Creek Park, a 150-acre facility noted for its nature trails, winding creek and fishing lake, plus a campground where festival attendees can stay.

Birds of Prey hail from Waterford, MI and play a very modern, almost alt-grass type of music. The band features Aaron Brooks on guitar, Rob Wardell on mandolin, Jayson Brooks on banjo, and Thayer Neimi on bass.

When they were announced as the winning group on Tuesday, they shared this grateful message with their fans.

“Words cannot express the sheer joy and wonderment we are experiencing right now!

Overwhelmed with the love and support of each and every one of you and our hearts are filled to the brim with gratitude.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and may the blessings of this life continue to be shared to everyone!

Big thank you to ROMP for putting this contest together to give everyone who really wants it a chance to show their hard work and dedication

And finally a HUGE shoutout and thank you to all of the other entries for the contest. We know the work and dedication that goes into all of this, and just know it doesn’t go un noticed.”

Here’s their winning video, a song appropriately titled Bird of Prey.

Congratulations to all five finalists, and to the winners.

You can learn more about ROMP 2022 online.

An awful lot has changed for bluegrass vocalist Jaelee Roberts between the time she signed with Mountain Home Music Company, and started working on her first project with a label, and the album’s imminent release.

When this all started, she was an extremely promising young artist, studying in college, with high hopes for a successful career in music. As the daughter of bluegrass royalty – mandolinist Danny Roberts of The Grascals and Andrea Roberts, former vocalist with Special Consensus and Petticoat Junction, now a top tier artist representative – Jaelee knew the business side of the industry well, even for a teenager. 

Now with the recording concluded, and the album, Something You Didn’t Count On, due for a May 20 release, Jaelee is the primary vocalist for powerhouse bluegrass headliners Sister Sadie, alongside veteran performers Deanie Richardson and Gena Britt, with a string of critically acclaimed singles to her credit.

Today finds the final single before the release of the full project, one called Sad Songs, written by Chris Harris, Josh Matheny, and Robbie Melton, which Roberts says isn’t actually sad at all.

“I always joke about how happy sad songs make me. Well, it’s not really a joke, because I sure do love them. So when I had the opportunity to record a song with the title Sad Songs, I just had to do it. My mom actually brought this song to me, because after she heard it, she knew that I would love it — and she was absolutely right! And really, Sad Songs is NOT a sad song! It’s actually the anti-sad song; the lyrics talk about having had enough sad songs, and the melody is upbeat and happy. I think this is such a well-written song with cool plays on words and little rhymes and an awesome bridge — and I’m a sucker for all of that. I hope you love it as much as I do!”

She is supported on the track by Kristin Scott Benson on banjo, Alan Bibey on mandolin, Tony Wray on guitar, Jimmy Mattingly on fiddle, and producer Tim Surrett on bass. Kenny and Amanda Smith provide harmony vocals.

Check it out…

Sad Songs is available now for immediate download with a pre-order for the Something You Didn’t Count On album. Radio programmers can get the track via Airplay Direct.

This series is a feature we are running to memorialize the creative and musical legacy of the late J.D. Crowe, who we lost just before Christmas. We are calling it My Favorite Crowe Lick, and each episode will include a prominent bluegrass banjo player sharing both their thoughts about Crowe and his influence, and showing us a lick they learned from his playing that sticks with them.

Today’s example comes from Casey Henry, popular banjo instructor and heir apparent to the Murphy Method legacy. Casey is the daughter of Murphy Henry, originator of the aforementioned method, known for decades for teaching people to play bluegrass instruments without the use of tablature. A number of titles in the Murphy Method video catalog are taught by Casey, and she is regularly a featured faculty members at the  various Murphy Method camps.

Her example comes from a song on Ronnie Bowman solo project, The Man I’m Trying To Be, from 1998.

Keep an eye out for future installments of My Favorite J.D. Crowe Lick here at Bluegrass Today. You can watch all of them by following this link.