• John Meyer to Clay Hess Band

    The Clay Hess Band has announced the addition of John Meyer from Bolivar, MO as their new banjo player. He joins Clay on guitar, Irl Hees on bass, Ryan Moyers on mandolin and Brennan Hess on guitar. Just 19 years old, John

  • Big news from Clay Hess

    Bluegrass guitarslinger Clay Hess and his lovely wife Samantha are expecting their first child later this year. They just found out yesterday that it's a girl, and Samantha is due November 14. Since leaving Sierra Hull & Highwa 111 last summer,

  • Clay Hess Band Steps Out

    I had the pleasure to witness the debut public appearance of the Clay Hess Band, at the Pumpkin Park Music Hall in Milton, West Virginia on Friday night. Most bluegrass musicians and fans across the country were introduced to Clay

  • Phil Leadbetter benefit in March

    Another benefit concert has been scheduled in Knoxville for Phil Leadbetter, who continues to undergo treatment for a very stubborn cancer that has been try resistant to common therapies. Phil has dedicated his life to bluegrass music, working in turn

  • Life Goes On – Music from the MACC II

    We've written many times about the magnificent work done by Darrel and Phyllis Adkins at their annual Musicians Against Childhood Cancer festival in Ohio. Top bluegrass acts make the trip each summer and perform at no charge, with proceeds from the

  • Introducing the Clay Hess Band

    Clay Hess has his new band in place and is booking shows for the upcoming festival season. Clay handled lead guitar duties for Sierra Hull and Highway 111 until last month. Joining him to tour in support of his solo album,

  • Clay Hess Heads Out On His Own

    Flat-picking guitar wizard Clay Hess has parted ways with Sierra Hull and Highway 111 and is putting together his own band for the 2012 festival season. Clay's last gig with Sierra was Dec. 10. He called his departure "kind of a

  • Clay Hess, With Help From His Friends

    Of all the great jam sessions during IBMA’s World of Bluegrass this week, the hottest of all took place Friday night when Clay Hess gathered with some friends to celebrate the release of his solo project, Rain. And what friends they

  • Clay Hess – Rain

    Longtime sideman Clay Hess is out with his third solo project, due for wide release during IBMA later this month. Rain finds Hess in his most familiar role: scorching the guitar, on both lead and rhythm. Since first hitting the

  • Sierra Hull at MBOTMA

    We be spending most of today on The Bluegrass Blog mentioning some new CDs you may not be aware of, but to get the day started off right, here is some fine video of Sierra Hull & Highway 111 at