Bluegrass television news Archives - Page 2 of 64

Bayla Davis chosen as a Fellow by From the Top’s Learning and Media Lab

Bayla Davis, the 16 year old banjo player with North Carolina’s Newfound Gap, has been awarded a 2023-’24 Learning and Media Lab Fellowship by From The Top, an association dedicated to fostering and promoting talented young musical artists. From The Top typically focuses on classical musicians, so it’s a special treat to see them highlighting a teen traditional artist like Bayla.

A film crew visited Bayla from Boston this past weekend to film a segment for the From The Top radio program on NPR, and for videos and podcasts they distribute online. She sat for an interview and played some music which should be broadcast and available in April. The film crew also captured her out and about in Asheville, showing off some of her favorite spots in town.

Bayla has already received recognition for her primarily clawhammer banjo playing, being a two-time recipient of the IBMA Fletcher Bright Memorial Scholarship to Béla Fleck’s Blue Ridge Banjo Camp, where she was also selected to perform before the entire assemblage.

Her Fellowship will include a four week/12 hour online curriculum designed to prepare young artists for the life of a professional musician like developing familiarity with the recording process, the live concert experience, and how to work with media.

Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville was chosen for Bayla’s studio session and interview, where she recorded with two of her instructors, Jerry Sutton (Bryan’s dad) and Josh Goforth.

For those unfamiliar with her playing, here’s Bayla from a few months ago in a front porch video playing a medley of Snowflake Reel and Bonaparte’s Retreat.

And here she is with siblings Sylvie and Judah in Newfound Gap at the Balsam Range Art of Music Festival back in December.

Keep an eye on your local NPR affiliate station’s schedule in April to catch Bayla Davis on From The Top.

Billy Strings and Chris Thile on CBS Saturday Morning

In case you missed it… two of bluegrass music’s brightest young stars performed on February 3 at the CBS Saturday Morning studios, which was broadcast all over the US.

Chris Thile and Billy Strings were in New York this past weekend for Billy to perform on Chris’ 65th Street Sessions, and for the two to offer a duet program at The Lincoln Center. So it was the work of a moment for them to stop by the CBS facility on 57th Street to pick and sing a few.

They laid down three classics of the genre, starting off with a slinky version of Wild Bill Jones…

…followed by an instrumental version of I Am A Pilgrim…

…and I’ve Been All Around This World.

And here’s a look at a Doc Watson tribute Billy and Chris did during their Lincoln Center Show in the David Geffen Hall.

Well done, boys!

Michael Cleveland on MSNBC tonight (video added)

Due to a concentration of circumstances, bluegrass fiddle maestro Michael Cleveland will be making a last minute television appearance tonight (1/18) on MSNBC.

Cleveland, in New York City for tomorrow’s sold out performance with Tony Trischka at The City Winery, celebrating Tony’s 75th birthday, was able to honor a long standing request to appear on the 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle. Tonight’s show had been intended to focus on a Republican debate, which was cancelled yesterday after one of the participants refused to take part.

So Michael is in and Nikki Haley out. Sounds like a good trade.

Tune in at 11:00 p.m. (EST) tonight for the program. Cleveland is expected to be involved in a segment in the second half of the one hour show, to talk with host Stephanie Ruhle about his upcoming schedule, which includes a European tour with Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart starting on January 30, and a string of dates with his own band, Flamekeeper, and the Louisville Orchestra billed as the In Harmony Tour starting at the end of February.

Cleveland is also sure to play some fiddle for Ruhle and her staff in his segment. If we can find video we’ll include it tomorrow.

Info on all those tour dates can be found online.

Molly Tuttle video from Austin City Limits

Austin City Limits aired an episode last week that featured a live performance by Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, playing material from their current Grammy-winning album, City of Gold.

If you missed the program when it showed on PBS stations all over the country, you can watch it in full below. This episode also included a set by Margo Price, which starts the presentation. To watch Molly, go to the 25 minute mark in the video.

Along with Tuttle on guitar and lead vocal, Golden Highway includes Bronwyn Keith-Hynes on fiddle, Kyle Tuttle on banjo, Dom Leslie on mandolin, and Shelby Means on bass.

Enjoy…

Opry announces Grand Del Opry 2 on November 18

The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville has announced an anniversary celebration of Del McCoury, and his 20 years as an Opry member, with a special show at the Opry House on November 18. Billed as Grand Del Opry 2, the show will feature Del performing with his band, and many of his friends in the bluegrass, country, and gospel music worlds.

Set to appear are Bill Anderson, Sam Bush, Tyler Childers, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Ricky Skaggs, The Travelin’ McCourys, and more.

Del’s induction as an Opry member took place on October 25, 2003, and he was feted by them once before on his 80th birthday at the first Grand Del Opry.

Tickets for the show are available now from the Opry box office, starting at $45.

The full show will be broadcast on Saturday the 18th on WSM Radio, and at Opry.com. You will also be able to listen on the SiriusXM Willie’s Roadhouse channel.

Portions of Grand Del Opry 2 will be aired at a later date on Opry Live on the Circle Network.

Congratulations Del!

Hammertowne to appear on RV There Yet?

Kentucky’s Hammertowne is set to appear next year in an episode of RV There Yet? on the Discovery channel.

The band filmed with the program on October 21 when they performed at Greenbo State Park for an episode celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Kentucky State Parks system.

Band leader David Carroll says that they sat for interviews and picked some for the film crew, but aren’t sure how much will make it into the final edit. The show is set to air sometime in April of 2024.

RV There Yet? travels across the United States to capture the RV lifestyle, and show how many wonderful places you can visit with your own motor home. It is hosted by Kevin and Patrice McCabe, who tour the country in their Winnebago Vista 3K.

Hammertowne consists of Scott Tackett on vocals, Dale Thomas on banjo, Chaston Carroll on mandolin and vocals, Bryan Russell on bass and vocals, Dave Carroll on guitar and vocals, and newest member Daniel Norton on reso-guitar.

Hammertowne fans, and bluegrass lovers in general, should keep their eye on TV listings in the spring to see when this episode will air where you live.

The Discovery channel is available on most cable at satellite television packages.

Big Family documentary now available for streaming from KET

The excellent 2019 documentary about bluegrass music, Big Family: The Story of Bluegrass Music, produced by Kentucky Educational Television, has finally been made available for online streaming.

Filmed in large part during the World of Bluegrass convention in 2017 and ’18, the film tells the story of the evolution of the music, expressed by the artists who play it today. Interview segments are intertwined with audio and video from performers, starting with the earliest days, and progressing through to the contemporary artists of today.

Featured speaking during the film are some of the biggest names in bluegrass, including Béla Fleck, Ricky Skaggs, Chris Thile, Alison Brown, Sam Bush, JD Crowe, Del McCoury, Bobby Osborne, Laurie Lewis, and many others. Writer Teresa Day, and producers Matt Grimm and Nick Helton, did a masterful job of weaving the dialogue and the live music into a cohesive narrative that makes its two hour run time an extremely interesting and diverting program.

Upon release four years ago, Big Family could only be shown on KET broadcast stations, owing to the licensing agreements made with copyright owners of recorded music. But it would seem that those restrictions have been resolved, as the complete film is now offered as an online stream from the KET web site.

If you never seen this terrific presentation, set some time aside to watch. Any smart TV or online device that can search the web can access the video. Newer bluegrass fans will learn a great deal about the history and development of the music, while long term bluegrassers will enjoy seeing some of their favorite artists talking about their own experiences falling in love with the music.

Since KET depends on audience funding for a major part of their operating budget, you might also consider making a donation should you find Big Family: The Story of Bluegrass Music to your liking.

Dailey & Vincent Show to start sixth season on RFD-TV

The sixth season of the popular musical variety program, The Dailey & Vincent Show, is set to premiere next weekend on RFD-TV, carried by most cable and satellite television providers in the US. Hosted by Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, otherwise known as Dailey & Vincent, the show airs on Saturday evenings at 8:30 p.m. (ET), rebroadcasting on Wednesday mornings at 7:00 a.m. and Friday evenings at 10:30 p.m.

The half hour show is packed full with live performances, featuring Jamie and Darrin and their band, along with a new special guest each week. This season is chock full of family, with Jamie’s dad, Johnny Dailey, and Darrin’s sister, Rhonda Vincent, being scheduled in September.

Vincent says that despite their arduous tour schedule, they really enjoy producing this program.

“We get to do a hundred shows every year on the road as Dailey & Vincent, and then, come to the Grand Ole Opry and play for the people. But, to have a TV show that really represents what we do with our band and our friends…we’re so thankful for that opportunity.”

Bluegrass fans need no introduction to Jamie Dailey, who served a lengthy apprenticeship with Doyle Lawson, or Darrin Vincent, who grew up touring with his family in the Sally Mountain Show, and then worked for some time with Ricky Skaggs before partnering up with Dailey. Together they became a top draw on the bluegrass circuit, before expanding their reach into both the classic country and southern gospel markets.

Scheduled to appear on the Dailey & Vincent Show this season are:

September 9 – Johnny Dailey
September 16 – The Vincent Family
September 23 – Rhonda Vincent
September 30 – Bryce Leatherwood
October 7 – Andy Leftwich
October 14 – Larry Gatlin
October 21 – Wendy Moten
October 28 – Pam Tillis
November 4 – Everette
November 11 – Wyatt Ellis
November 18 – The Kody Norris Show
November 25 – T.G. Sheppard and Kelly Lang (Christmas show)
December 2 – Moe Bandy and Jeannie Seely (Christmas show)

The big Dailey & Vincent American Made Music Festival is set for later this month in Georgia, with a great mix of bluegrass and country entertainers. You can follow all their tour dates on their official web site.

July 1 Song of the Mountains taping to be a family affair

Song of the Mountains, a public television program presented by PBS NC., will, on July 1, 2023, host a Bluegrass Celebration involving acts with family connections. Set to perform at the taping are Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius, Marc and Anita Pruett, the Lilly Fame (Songcathers), Cabin Creek Boys, and Williamson Branch.

This live taping will provide content for several of the hour-long episodes for Song of the Mountain.

Everett Lilly, Jr., volunteered ….

“I have organized a musical celebration of bluegrass music and heritage involving our Songcatchers, featuring Ashley Rose Lilly, Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius, and Marc and Anita Pruett. All are my friends and we enjoy playing together on the rare occasions that can happen. Rather than ‘bluegrass,’ I actually prefer what my father called American Folk Mountain Country Music but, you know, bluegrass is the more popular term. Anyway, my dad always opened the Lilly Brothers shows by saying ‘Welcome to a friendly gathering…………’ and that’s surely what this collaboration is.”

Also appearing are old-time band the Cabin Creek Boys, featuring Erika and Chris Testerman.

Multi-Grammy award winner singer/song writer Tim O’Brien (Hot Rize) and his wife Jan Fabricius have performed together nationally and internationally either as a duo or as part of the Tim O’Brien Band since 2015. Fabricius grew up in WaKeeney, Kansas, and from an early age sang in church and school, taking up clarinet and then mandolin.

In a duet setting with a guitar, a mandolin, and their two voices, they bring an intimate and warm acoustic music roots repertoire that’s at once both original and traditional.

O’Brien’s 2021 CD He Walked On, and his recent release, Cup of Sugar, both feature original songs co-written by the couple.

Marc (Balsam Range) and Anita Pruett have a deep history in mountain music and mountain culture and love to share their heritage through songs, stories, and instrumentals. Marc’s wife, Anita Pruett, is a gifted musician who plays both banjo and guitar and has deep experience in singing bluegrass, gospel and the traditional styles of country music.

The Songcatchers are a multi-generational, traditional country/folk music group and are led by Dr. Everett Lilly, a long-time professional musician.

The lead singer of the group is Everett’s 23-year-old daughter, Ashley Lilly, who is rapidly rising in the world of country music. She is both a singer and a songwriter with many recordings to her credit including her own original songs. She is a country singer who is also at home with folk, pop, gospel, and bluegrass music.

The Songcatchers have played numerous venues from Boston to Los Angeles and many points in between.

As well as having her own more recent solo recordings Ashley Lilly can be head on the band’s Baby Blue Eyes CD (2015).

When it comes to music, there’s a closeness among family members that cannot be overstated. Harmonies are sweeter, rhythms are tighter, and emotions are heightened. For Williamson Branch, formed in 2014, music and family have been melding for three generations.

Despite a varied background that incorporates bluegrass, country, gospel music, and dance, this family band are traditionalists in every sense, carrying on a sound that springs from the very roots those archival styles imply.

Pinecastle recording artists, they have a handful of CDs to their credit, the latest being Very Merry Christmas.

The Cabin Creek Boys play old-time hillbilly music from the mountains of south-west Virginia and north-west North Carolina, and for 15 years have been performing at area fiddlers’ conventions, festivals, square dances, and other community events.

The Song of the Mountains Bluegrass Celebration takes place this coming Saturday (July 1, 2023) at 7:00 p.m. at The Lincoln Theatre on Main Street in Marion, VA. The July 1st tickets are available online and at the box office.

For information visit the website at www.songofthemountains.org or call 276-783-6092.

Song of the Mountains, hosted by Executive Coordinator Tim White, presents concert tapings every month for broadcast across America on Public Television.

The show is supported by tax-deductible contributions to Song of the Mountains.

Life of a Musician receives Emmy nomination

Television programs that focus on bluegrass and acoustic string music are rare, which is precisely why we cherish them so much. Even rarer are ones that receive critical acclaim, especially right out of the gate. But this is exactly what has happened for The Life of a Musician, hosted by Brandon Adams, which has received an Emmy nomination in its first broadcast season.

The show is filmed in Danville, VA, with strong support from the local business community as well as Santa Cruz Guitars and Ear Trumpet Labs, which showcases in-depth conversations with celebrated music makers. Each 30 minute episode finds Brandon in discussion with pickers and/or singers who have made a mark on our music, followed by a segment where they perform a couple of songs together. Adams is a noted guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist in his own right, which makes him a perfect host in this setting.

The Emmy nomination comes from The National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, more commonly known as the Capital Emmys, which recognizes television programs of note within their region. The Life of a Musician is nominated in the Interview/Discussion category, specifically the episode with Sammy Shelor of Lonesome River Band fame.

The Capital Emmy awards will be presented on June 24 at the North Bethesda Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Bethesda, MD, and will be live-streamed online.

PBS affiliate Blue Ridge PBS, in Roanoke, VA, is the producing station for The Life of a Musician, and they have made this award-nominated episode available for online viewing.

Adams tells us that work on season two is well underway, with segments either filmed or scheduled with Zach Top, Jenee Fleenor and Josh Martin of Wood Box Heroes, Red Volkeart, Lauren Mascetti, Tim O’Brien, John Cowan, Aoife O’Donnovan, Roy Book Binder, and Darin & Brooke Aldridge.

The Life of a Musician airs on Saturday evenings at 9:00 p.m. on Blue Ridge PBS, which also streams live online. Past episodes can also be viewed online.

Congratulations and best of luck to Brandon Adams for this nomination, and to his Co-Executive Producer Mindy Adams, as well as Director/Producer Jacob Dellinger.