Miscellaneous bluegrass news

  • Claire Lynch bluegrass haiku contest

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    Claire Lynch is offering a free CD from her online store to whomever comes up with the best haiku with a bluegrass theme. The contest runs through January 22, and only one entry per person is allowed. In addition to

  • Ralph Stanley down with pneumonia

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    The venerable Dr. Ralph Stanley has been in the hospital in Big Stone Gap, VA since earlier this week, suffering from pneumonia. We asked Lee Olsen, who handles Ralph's dates with Keith Case & Associates, and he suggested that Dr.

  • Floppie the banjo clown?

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    The rock music group Blue Man Group is currently conducting a tour titled How to Be a Megastar Tour 2.0. During a show on this tour the band leads the audience through a "workshop" on how to become a megastar

  • Happy New Year!

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    With New Year's Eve upon us, let me recommend my very favorite version of the perennial December 31st classic, Auld Lang Syne. It comes from David Grisman's terrific 1983 release, David Grisman's Acoustic Christmas, and features a much younger and

  • New Year’s Eve Update

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    Way back before Christmas we told you about the New Year's Eve celebration happening at the Ryman Auditorium. I just wanted to remind everyone that it is being broadcast on Public Television and is available online as well. In addition to

  • Death of the banjo?

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    Back in early November, a minor fury was generated by a press release issued to announce the release of a new book by Carole Wade. The book is entitled, The Death Throes and Demise of the Banjo, and the press

  • Blue Highway cuts with Jorma Kaukonen

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    Jorma Kaukonen may never be a fixture on the bluegrass circuit, but the eclectic guitarist has been involved in a variety of roots music endeavors since his early days with The Jefferson Airplane in San Francisco's heady 1960s music scene.

  • Charlie Moore remembered

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    Travers Chandler, mandolinist with Avery County, has posted a nice remembrance on his MySpace Blog of Charlie Moore, who passed away on December 24, 1979. "Charlie's story is a story of triumph and tragedy. He was a gifted musician. A great

  • New MAD Mandolin

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    New Millennium Acoustic Design, aka NewMAD, has recently introduced the world's first carbon fiber mandolin. The construction is almost entirely carbon fiber. The only wood on the instrument is the ebony fingerboard and bridge. The tuners and other hardware are

  • Casting call for Dark Of The Moon

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    Bluegrass musicians and actors in or near the Big Apple may be interested in this. Phare Play Productions has issued a casting call for their production of Dark Of The Moon, by Howard Richardson and William Berney. The period piece, set