Your independent source of bluegrass news.
Hi Folks,
Just a quick note to let you know about a small new festival happening over here in Galway, Ireland, coming up in September; 10th -13th. www.galwayamericanafestival.com Drop by and leave us a message! Links gratefully exchanged. Cheers! : )
I fully agree with the Moose lodge folks. An electric bass has no place in a bluegrass setting. The Galax festival is all about tradition and the folks that don’t understand that should take their amps and go to Bonnaroo. I think the Moose folks have it right when they ban amps. I think the rules next year will reflect that. As for the comment about half the crowd leaving, It ain’t gonna happen, so get over it and bring your dog house or stay home.
For those of you that are in the Los Angeles area, the sister trio known as Baskery will be performing at The Hotel Cafe on Sunday, August 16th at 9 PM. Originally from Sweden, the Bondesson sisters’ acoustic guitar, six-stringed banjo, upright bass, and three-part harmonization comprise a self-proclaimed genre of “mud-country, killbilly, and banjopunk” with roots in bluegrass and country. Check them out on their website or stream their music on their MySpace. Their fusion of music brings a fresh perspective to the genre that is best experienced live.
So if you’re in town and want to hear Baskery live, you can buy tickets before hand at www.hotelcafe.com/tickets for $10! Visit The Hotel Cafe’s official website to find more details.
-The Hotel Cafe
The world’s first International Newgrass Festival will take place August 21-23, 2009 at Ballance MotoX on the Historic Ballance Farms just north of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Headlining the three-day festival will be the surviving members of the band that started it all, the original New Grass Revival. Sam Bush, John Cowan and Curtis Burch will each perform with their new bands alongside many newgrass performers who have followed in their footsteps.
Using bluegrass instrumentation to develop what is known today worldwide as newgrass music, the original New Grass Revival formed in the early 1970’s. They rehearsed about 40 miles from Bowling Green in Hiseville and Temple Hill, Ky., so Ballance MotoX was a natural choice as the festival site because of its close proximity to the roots of the genre.
The International Newgrass Festival will be the first event of its kind in the Southeast. Organizers hope to attract a variety of fans with the festival’s range of performers from the originators, to award winners, to young and upcoming acts. The goal of the festival is to not only entertain but educate the public about this progressive art form.
A Bowling Green native, Sam Bush was honored on Monday, March 17, 2008 with a resolution from the Commonwealth of Kentucky as the founder of newgrass music. According to festival director Kenny Lee, “For our state to be the home of a new art form is awesome, and the best way to present it to the world is to celebrate with a festival!”
The full festival lineup and more information are at www.newgrassfestival.com. Single day tickets cost $40 for Friday, $55 for Saturday, and $35 for Sunday. A three-day ticket is available for only $99 with RV and tent amping passes available. Tickets can be purchased on the website as well as at the gate. The three-day passes also are available at the Great Escape Records and Comics in Bowling Green and Louisville, Ky. and at Grimey’s Music in Nashville, Tenn. Tickets are limited to 2,000 per day.
The International Newgrass Festival is hosted by the Kentucky Blues Society in conjunction with Curtis Burch and made possible, in part, by sponsorship from WBKO Television, Western Kentucky Coca~Cola, Jim Johnson Nissan Hyundai, Bluegrass Cellular, and the Kentucky Blues Society.
To learn more about the headlining bands, click the images below, or visit any of the following links for information about other participating musicians:
Sam Bush Band, John Cowan Band, Curtis Burch Band, The Greencards, The Grascals, IIIrd Tyme Out, Infamous Stringdusters, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Cadillac Sky, Duckbutter, Act of Congress, Farewell Drifters, Safire Sun, Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music Ensemble, James Dewdney and Eleanor Cross, Michael Gough.
Media Contact: Marissa Butler
Public Relations Director, BGACVB
800-326-7465, marissa@visitbgky.com
For more Festival Information:
contact Festival Director, Kenny Lee
270-784-0757, ngfest@gmail.com
Watermelon Park – September 24-26, 2009 РBerryville, VA
Tradition runs deep at Watermelon Park Fest, as just about any current Bluegrass or Country artists could tell you. She was, according to most, the first multi-day bluegrass festival in history, happening first sometime in the early 1960’s. Since then she has been host to a staggering lineup of now legendary performers including The Carter Family, Bill Monroe, Johnny Cash, Flat & Scruggs, Patsy Cline, and The Stanley Brothers, to name but a few.
So the folks who come to Watermelon Park Fest are expecting to see some great traditional music; and this they shall. This year’s artists were all selected for their dedication and respect to this craft. But they were also selected because they don’t just mimic heirloom sounds from the past, but rather because they take its inspiration, and contribute something brand new to the whole. And this not only honors traditional music, it sustains its continuance in our culture.
This year’s Watermelon Park Fest lineup includes the bluegrass and old-time of The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Tim O’Brien, Bruce Molsky, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, Randy Waller & The Country Gentlemen, Furnace Mountain Band, Danny Knicely’s Bluegrass and Beyond, The Whiskey Rebellion, Walker’s Run, The Fox Hunt, The Speakeasy Boys, Chesham Creek, and the Acoustic Burgoo; the gypsy swing and folk jazz of The Woodshedders, and Taarka; the Cajun sounds of Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole; and the side stage always brings some great surprises.
New this year is the Watermelon Park Fest Band Contest, where bands will compete for a prime-time performance slot this year, paid slots for next year’s fest, and more. Additional entertainment includes The Fairbuilt Guitar Pickin’ Contest, open jams, Cajun, old-time, and freestyle dances, workshops, kid’s activities, environmental displays and films, food and craft vendors, plus tons of outdoor activities including swimming, fishing, canoeing, tubing, hiking, biking, and more.
Once again, Watermelon Park Fest will be powered entirely by Wind. They won’t have wind turbines onsite, but have purchased Renewable Energy Certificates from a company called Clean Currents, the same company that powers My Organic Market. It will also feature locally provided and organic food, recycling, free filtered water, and biodegradable cups and dishes made of corn.
Earlybird Tickets are available through August 31st at $50 for the Weekend (Thurs-Sun). On September 1st ticket prices become $70 for the Weekend (Thurs-Sun). Per day tickets are $40 each. Children 12 and under are FREE. This year’s event also offers FREE CAMPING with Admission (on ticket night only). Water and Electric Hookups available at $50 for Thursday through Sunday ‚Äì RV Reservations available online only.
Advance Tickets are available at JV Music in Berryville, VA; The Guitar Studio in Winchester, VA; Melodee Music in Leesburg, VA; and at Watermelon Park in Berryville, VA; and online at www.watermelonparkfest.com.
For more information please call 540-955-1621 or email mail@shepherdsford.com.
I read an article that pertains to Hershel Sizemore & saw that the lineup of pickers were Jimmy Haley ( of early DL&Q fame of late 70s-early 80s. I’m surprised to see his name listed, & don’t know if he’s touring somewhat or doing side work that pertains to music.
The Firebox is honored to announce the appearance of…
"Rebel Records" recording artists….
"David Davis and the Warrior River Boys"
http://www.myspace.com/daviddavisandwrb
Sunday. Aug 2, 2009, 5:00 PM
At THE FIREBOX RESTAURANT
539 Broad St., Hartford, CT. 5:00-8:30 PM.
Sunday Night Bluegrass Series
860-246-1222
With your hosts: Nick Novia-Joe DeLillo
http://www.fireboxrestaurant.com/
bigappleachia@gmail.com
New England’s “hottest” new venue featuring traditional bluegrass and country music!
It’s also the friendliest place to be!
…oh yea‚Ķit’s free‚Ķbut we “pass the hat/boot,” ‚Ķand no reservations
needed, and you don’t have to eat…but the food is the best around!!
‚Ķbut you’d better get here early.
"Valet Parking"
The Firebox features many specials…$4.00 pints of locally brewed
drafts! $15.00 “growlers”‚Ķthat’s a ¬? gallon of beer, including
refills!!! There is a “special discounted “bar” menu for Sunday
nights…and the foods are fresh and delicious! Most wines are half
price for our bluegrass visitors! The friendliest room around!
Bands…wanna play the Firebox?? Contact us!
Upcoming events:
Aug 02-David Davis and the Warrior River Boys-Alabama
Aug 09-Silver Dagger Bluegrass-Asheville, NC
Aug 16-Nick ‘n Dick ‘n the Rank Stranglers (Stanley Brothers Tribute)
Aug 23-BigAppleachia-NYC
Aug 30-TrueGrass-CT
Sep 06-No Bluegrass-Labor Day
Sep 13-Tony Watt and Southeast Expressway-NY/MA
Sep 20-Amy Gallatin and Stillwater-CT
Sep 27-TrueGrass-CT
Oct 04-Too Blue-CT/NY
Oct 11-
Oct 18-TrueGrass-CT
Oct 25-Birch Benders-NH
Great Article! Just wanted to make a small correction. The bands playing on August 6th will only be the Little Mountain Boys, Nothin’ Fancy, Larry Stephenson and Rhonda Vincent. The other bands mentioned as well as several others played a benefit concert on July 26th for Mary.
For those of you in the Nashville area, tune in tomorrow at 4:15 on WSM 650AM on your radio dial and if you are not in Nashville and want to listen online, go to www.wsmonline.com.
For more information on Donna Ulisse go to www.donnaulisse.com
The Boxcar Bandits, a bluegrass band from Denton, TX, will kick off the second leg of their summer tour on Wednesday, July 29th at the Blue Light in Lubbock, TX. Stops include:
Wed 7/29 Blue Light, Lubbock TX
Thurs 7/30 Golden Light, Amarillo, TX w/1100 Springs
Fri 7/31 Brothers, Norman, OK
Sat 8/1 Capt’n Drinkwaters, Strong City KS
Sun 8/2 Chelsea’s Cafe, Eureka Springs AR
Mon 8/3 Buccaneer Lounge, Memphis TN w/Devil Train
Wed 8/5 Circle Bar, New Orleans LA
Thurs 8/6 Super Happy Fun Land, Houston TX
Fri 8/7 Revolution, Bryan TX w/Pentagrass
Sat 8/8 BoBFest III, Independence Brewery, Austin TX w/Pentagrass and Moonshine Summit
The Boxcar Bandits’ Skunkgrass sound is a blend of old-time, bluegrass, western swing and heavy metal, utilizing acoustic string band instruments. Formed in early 2006 from house party jams, the Bandits have been traveling all over the land, bringing the party to countless towns in their path. Their released their debut album, “Smells Like Grass” in 2008 on Break-A-Pick Records, and between tours are hard at work on the follow-up, “Far Mountain Gravy”. Online, they can be found at www.myspace.com/boxcarbandits or www.boxcarbandits.com.
