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Alison Krauss talks about 100 Miles

Earlier this spring, Alison Krauss sat down with WGBH radio’s Brad Paul to talk about her then upcoming compilation CD, A Hundred Miles Or More.

The discussion was largely focused on the songs included on this recording, but she also talked about working with T Bone Burnett on the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack.

It was really an incredible experience. I’ve worked with him before, on Cold Mountain and Ya Ya Sisterhood. I would come in for a day and work on something and he is so encouraging. By the end of the day you are thinking, “I must be the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. I must really be something else.” Because he really keeps the mood up and he is so very happy with what’s going on and so complimentary, whatever he is doing really keeps you inspired. Sometimes I would sing all day long. It wasn’t like I was in there killing it and then leaving. I was singing all day long, “Well yea! I’ll sing it for you again, sure!” He’s positive and encouraging to all those playing. He has such a respect for roots music and a huge knowledge of the history of roots music and rock-and-roll.

The transcript from this interview is now posted on the official Alison Krauss web site – just in time for the TV special on GAC with Alison recreating many of the songs from the CD live in the studio. The program will debut on Saturday (8/11) at 9:00 p.m., with several additional airings over the next 10 days.

Full schedule below – all times EDT:

August 11, 2007 9:00 p.m.
August 12, 2007 1:00 a.m.
August 19, 2007 8:00 p.m.
August 20, 2007 12:00 a.m.
August 20, 2007 3:00 p.m.

Krauss on GAC rescheduled for 8/11-20

In June we told you about an upcoming special on GAC TV, featuring Alison Krauss performing songs from her latest Rounder CD, Hundred Miles Or More. In mid-July, we posted again to alert everyone that the initially announced air date of July 14-15 had been canceled, with a later date to be announced.

Now comes word that the show will finally air in August, starting with the 8/11-12 weekend.

The concept of this one hour special, shot live in the recording studio, is to showcase the songs on the latest CD, many of which feature Alison in duet with other notable vocalists. The program will include her singing with country star Brad Paisley on their duet hit Whiskey Lullaby, and with famed singer/songwriter James Taylor on The Louvin Brothers’ How’s The World Treating You?”

She is assisted throughout by her stellar band, Union Station (featuring Jerry Douglas), with guest appearances from Tony Rice, Sam Bush and Stuart Duncan for Sawin’ On The Strings, perhaps the only purely bluegrass number on the show.

The special will debut on GAC Friday, August 11 at 9:00 p.m., and later that same night at 1:00 a.m. (technically Saturday morning). It will run again the following Saturday evening (8/19) at 8:00 p.m., with one additional showing on Sunday (8/20) at 3:00 p.m. All times are Eastern.

Loads of bluegrass from the Opry

There is a ton of bluegrass emanating from The Grand Ole Opry this weekend – on radio, online, and on TV.

Friday night’s radio broadcast will feature performances by Bobby Osborne, John Cowan and Mountain Heart, and Saturday’s show has John Cowan again, along with Mike Snider and The Whites.

The Friday show airs from 9:00-11:00 p.m. on WSM 650 AM, and on Saturday from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Both shows are streamed live from WSMonline.com, and portions of each show will be available in their audio archives next week. All times are EDT.

On GAC TV Saturday night, their Opry Live program has two songs by The Grascals, filmed on July 24 during the Tuesday Night Opry. That airs at 8:00 p.m. July 28, and again at midnight. GAC will run it again at noon and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday (7/29) and then on Tuesday (7/31) at 9:00 p.m.

In fact, if you are in Nashville Thursday evening (7/26), you can catch the last of this summer’s Bluegrass Nights at The Opry concerts with The Grascals, Mountain Heart and The Steep Canyon Rangers.

Air date change for Alison Krauss on GAC

The Alison Krauss special on GAC we posted about last month, which was originally set to air this weekend, has been postponed until a later date. “Technical difficulties” is the reason given by GAC, and no rescheduled date has been announced.

This show features songs from the most recent Krauss release, A Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection, and includes duets with several of her high profile collaborators.

Read more about this special program in our earlier post.

Doyle Lawson on GAC this weekend

Doyle Lawson will join host Kylie Harris on this weekend’s edition of The Edge of Country on GAC. It will air on Saturday (6/23) at 1:00 p.m., and again on Monday (6/25) at both 1:00 and 11:00 p.m. (EDT).

The interview (taped several weeks ago) will cover Quicksilver’s latest CD, More Behind the Picture Than the Wall, and Doyle’s plans for the rest of 2007.

Alison Krauss – 100 Miles Or More on GAC

Among the many reasons Alison Krauss has generated such a large and enduring following would have to include her ability to appeal to a widely diverse fan base. Bluegrass fans love her for her gritty, grassy tunes – and for her loyalty to the genre – while country and soft rock fans appreciate her delicate treatment of tender ballads.

This unique aspect of her career is the focus of her latest CD, A Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection, which includes a number of popular duets she has recorded with stars from well outside of bluegrass and acoustic music.

Be sure to mark the weekend of July 14-15 on your calendar to catch a one-hour special on GAC TV which will feature live performances of the music from the new CD. Alison will sing her duets with Brad Paisely (Whisky Lullaby), James Taylor (How’s The World Treating You) and John Waite (Lay Down Beside Me).

The members of Union Station (Dan Tyminski, Jerry Douglas, Ron Block and Barry Bales) will back the vocalists, along with guests Tony Rice, Sam Bush and Stuart Duncan. That lineup suggests that they will perform her stellar arrangement of Sawing On The Strings, also on the new release.

The show, Alison Krauss: A Hundred Miles Or More, will air on GAC July 14 at 9:00 p.m., and on July 15 at 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. All times are eastern.

Grascals on GAC 6/15

The Grascals will be part of a Friday broadcast on GAC TV, captured live at the CMA Music Fest in Nashville.

The band’s web site says that the show is on at 8:00 and 11:00 p.m. on June 15, but the GAC site shows 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. It may repeat the same show again at 8:00. GAC should be running promos that clarify the schedule, and the show in question is the one that also features The Road Hammers.

All times shown are eastern.

GAC: Alison Krauss & John Waite

If you’re a fan of the duet between Alison Krauss and John Waite, you will want to tune in to GAC Nights this evening at 8 PM EST. Host Suzanne Alexander will be interviewing the two artists and discussing their current duet Missing You, among other things.

The interview airs tonight at 8 PM EST and again at Midnight.

The Isaacs: Big Sky and GAC

Last month John told you about the new release from the Isaacs, Big Sky. The CD is released today and is available for order from the Isaacs’ website.

Sonya Isaacs will be on the GAC show On the Streets, with host Suzanne Alexander, today at 1:30 pm and 10:00 pm. The show will re-air on April 25th at 2:00 am, and April 29th at 4:30 pm. All times are EST.

Infamous Stringdusters on GAC this weekend

Fans of new young bluegrass phenoms, The Infamous Stringdusters – or anyone curious to learn what they are all about – will have several chances to see and hear them over the next few days.

They will be interviewed on GAC TV’s The Edge of Country show on Saturday (3/17). The show is hosted by Kylie Harris, and airs at 1:00 p.m. with a rebroadcast at 11:00 p.m. The show will also be shown on Monday (3/19) at 1:00 p.m., and again on Tuesday morning (3/20) at 3:00 a.m. All times are eastern.

Banjo picker Chris Pandolfi shared some thoughts on taping the segment with GAC.

“The Edge of Country was some of the first real ‘national’ media attention we have received, and the show went really well. We do many press opportunities as a full band, so it was a challenge to get everyone involved, but we did, in turn showcasing one of our greatest assets – we are a band.

It’s hard to classify exactly what we do, genre-wise, but ‘edge of country’ seems an appropriate catch-all for our music.

I asked dobroist/vocalist Andy Hall what is was like for them, with a new CD out on a major independent label after actively performing without label support for almost two years. He responded with high praise for the folks at Sugar Hill, and said that all was right with his world.

“This is a great time for us, as we have a full touring schedule and a brand new first record. What more does a picker need?”

Andy also mentioned that The ‘Dusters recently recorded a live segment for AT&T blue room, which showcases artists online with both in studio performances and interviews. We’ll be sure to post an update when that is available on the blue room site.

On Monday, the band will be in Knoxville for a live radio broadcast from the studios of WDVX. The show will air from noon to 1:00 p.m. (3/19) on 89.9 FM, and will also be available online via streaming audio.

If you just can’t get enough of The Infamous Stringdusters, you could listen to the WDVX audio stream from noon to 1:00, and then tune in to GAC and catch the interview.