Mountain Heart has been looking forward to their New Years Day performance on The Grand Ole Opry for some time. Just a day before their appearance comes word that fiddler Jim VanCleve is caught in a snowstorm in Pennsylvania, and isn’t likely to make it back to Nashville for the show. Bummer, right?
Well a quick phone call and fiery fiddle wizard Michael Cleveland is set to fill in. If there is a fiddler in bluegrass as dynamic and exciting on stage as Jim VanCleve, it would surely be Michael.
Everyone is excited about this opportunity to play together on The Opry. They have decided to play The Ride to feature Josh Shilling, and Lee Highway Blues to shine the spotlight on Michael. He has played before with Mountain Heart, but never on the Opry.
Mountain Heart’s set is scheduled in the 9:00-9:30 segment (EST). You can hear them over the air on WSM 650 AM, or listen online. You can bet that Jim – and the rest of Flamekeeper – will be tuning in.
Bobby Osborne and Mike Snider will also perform on tonight’s (1/1) Opry. The Saturday Opry show has its share of bluegrass as well, with Cherryholmes, Jesse McReynolds and Mike Snider on the bill.
