String Theory Media Archives

Craig Havighurst to produce for Music City Roots

Craig Havighurst, writer, NPR music journalist, independent filmmaker and IBMA Board member, has been tapped as Senior Producer for Music City Roots, a weekly, two-hour live radio/television broadcast aired on Wednesday’s from Nashville’s Loveless Cafe. The show presents music from a variety of artists loosely falling into the Americana or roots genre, including a healthy dose of bluegrass on most programs.

Havighurst has been associated with MCR since its debut in October 2009, serving as on-stage interlocutor, and guiding the performers through live interviews during the show – one of several things that sets them apart from similar offerings. But through this time, he has also been active as a free lance videographer, creating EPKs and promotional videos for Blue Highway, Infamous Stringdusters, Ralph Stanley, and Alison Krauss and Robert Plant.

But as Craig says on his blog at String Theory Media, “I’ve hung my free lance above the fireplace,” to work full-time for Music City Roots. There he will function in the day-to-day producer’s role, while also seeking to expand the reach of the program through more extensive syndication on the radio side. He hopes to see a syndication partner for their television feed as well, and plans to work towards a branded 24/7 online radio feed for American roots music.

In a discussion yesterday, Craig offered some reflections on the change from free lance to full time employment, and how he might be able to express his writing and film chops going forward.

“It feels strange after 8 years to have one point of reference, but it couldn’t be a better bunch of people or mission. It’s a great opportunity.

I’ll be looking for very similar kinds of film work, but just doing it under the MCR banner. Our productions will be on behalf of the artists but carry some kind of MCR credit ,and we’ll promote and share them via the MCR channels. I’m hoping for more live show films, since we have a nice set of cameras.

And I want to rededicate myself to magazine writing on the side. I’m going to see if I can get hooked in with a literary/public affairs kind of scene. I’m really interested in the role of bluegrass in the larger cultural conversation, viz. the Warren Hellman blog post I wrote. We’ll see.”

Congratulations to Craig – and to Music City Roots – on this new association.

Donna Ulisse studio video

Donna Ulisse has released a music video for the song Her Heart Is A Stone Hard Ground, the first from her new album, An Easy Climb.

They shot it the same day they recorded the track, right there at Ocean Way Nashville. Craig Havighurst of String Theory Media handled video production.

Featured in the video are the same musicians who cut the song: Keith Sewell on guitar, Scott Vestal on banjo, Andy Leftwich on mandolin, Rob Ickes on resonator guitar, and Viktor Krauss on bass. Harmony vocalists are Tony King and Rick Stanley.

Her Heart Is A Stone Hard Ground was written Ulisse, Marc Rossi, and Ben Glover.

Mast Farm Inn sessions

We wrote earlier this year about the first in a planned series of unique Artist In Residence events at The Mast Farm Inn in North Carolina, sponsored by The Bluegrass Legacy Facebook group.

This first was an intensive songwriter’s workshop, hosted by Ronnie Bowman and Dan Tyminski in mid-August. It was designed as a full-immersion songwriting experience, and special consideration was given to young songwriters with an interest in bluegrass music. The class contained just over a songwriters, who spent the weekend together in the NC woods.

These events are the brainchild of Henri Deschamps, a successful businessman and music lover who is using his expertise and business acumen during his “retirement” to help up-and-coming bluegrass artists develop their talents. He means to hold other small session seminars at Mast Farm Inn, a bed and breakfast he and his wife operate in Valle Crucis, NC.

In discussions, Henri exudes a sincerity and passion for the music and the people who dedicate their lives to it, and can be nothing but an asset to bluegrass. He spent a career in textbook publishing, and has a wealth of knowledge about instructional methods and publicity that he is willing to share. For example, he will help lead an IBMA Professional Development seminar in November on Creating Strategic Alliances on Facebook.

Though the songwriting workshop in August was kept to a minimal number, Deschamps tapped Nashville videographer (and IBMA Board member) Craig Havighurst to produce a record of the event. The result is The Mast Farm Inn Sessions (A Study In Songwriting), a 25 minute documentary crafted in a journalistic style. Henri footed the bill, but is making the video available online – you catch watch it below.

On his web site, Craig mused a bit about what a joy it was to create this film, and what an important part of the music it portrayed.

“My own sense of mission about this film was strong from the start. I wanted to try to capture one of the finest things I’ve come to know about bluegrass, and that is its giving, pass-the-knowledge kind of culture. At one point Scott in the film says that there can be an exclusive club-like quality to certain picking circles of cliques of musicians. And that can be true, but I think everyone including him would agree that there’s also a vast amount of information sharing and inspiration passing that goes on in the community. I am on the board of directors of the International Bluegrass Music Association because I think so highly about the bluegrass business and community and the music’s place in our culture. This film was in no way sanctioned by the IBMA. They haven’t even seen it. But I would like to dedicate the film to IBMA’s mission of perpetuating bluegrass music across borders and generations. I think you’ll agree that with teachers and learners this passionate and sincere, that will be going on for a long time to come.”

A tip of the hat to Deschamps for his vision, to Ronnie and Dan for their willingness to share, and to Craig for presenting it unfiltered for everyone to enjoy.

Classical Americana video

We posted in August about The Nashville Symphony’s Classical Americana concert, scheduled for this Saturday (9/12).

The show will feature noted bluegrass and folk performers with the symphony, and was programmed as a tribute to the Americana Music Association’s convention next week, and the IBMA World of Bluegrass Convention at the end of the month, both held in Nashville.

Sam Bush, Alison Brown, Jerry Douglas and Abigail Washburn are among the list of guest artists for Classical Americana, and Craig Havighurst has put together a video that explains the motivation behind this unique musical collaboration.

You can find out more about this concert by visiting The Nashville Symphony online.

Bluegrass at ETSU

Craig Havighurst – he of String Theory Media and the IBMA Board of Directors – has put together a 9 minute promotional video for the Bluegrass, Old Time & Country Music program at East Tennessee State University. It encompasses perfectly why so many folks are excited about this program, especially as they seek to have it expanded to a four year, Bachelor of Arts degree.

Craig captures a good many scenes of the students in their classes and music labs, plus comments from program director Raymond McLain, adjunct faculty members Barry Bales and Adam Steffey, and country music star Kenny Chesney, who was a student in the program before he ever made a stab at Nashville.

He also speaks with Rhonda Vincent, whose two daughters attend ETSU, and whose fiddler, Hunter Berry, also went to the school. We also hear from current students who have traveled from all over the world to study traditional American music in East Tennessee.

You can find out more about this valuable resource for young bluegrass musicians online.

New IBMA Board Members

The annual IBMA elections concluded recently with the addition of four new board members.

Only professional members vote in board elections. Elected representatives serve for a period of three years beginning with their installment on September 29, 2008.

Here are the four new board members, the constituency they represent, and a little background info about them.

Carl Jackson, an award-winning artist, songwriter and producer from Gallatin, Tennessee, was elected to represent artists and composers.

Ronnie McCoury, an award-winning artist, producer and member of the Del McCoury Band from Hendersonville, Tennessee was elected as an "at-large" representative for all members.

Cindy Baucom, from Elkin, North Carolina, is an award-winning broadcast personality who hosts the nationally syndicated program "Knee Deep in Bluegrass," was elected to represent the broadcast media.

Craig Havighurst, an award-winning independent journalist, author and producer whose company (String Theory Media) is located in Nashville, Tennessee, was elected by IBMA’s print media and education members.

These new board members join the existing board members (replacing four who previously held these posts) to compose the 17 member policy-making, governing body of the organization.

Sierra Hull Video Bio

Our friend Craig Havighurst has posted a YouTube video bio of Sierra Hull. Craig produced the video for Rounder Records to coincide with the release, yesterday, of Sierra’s new CD, Secrets.

We got to produce this video bio of Sierra that shows her trying to balance the life of a normal 16-year-old high school junior with her new career as an in-demand touring and recording artist. She’s a super person too, and we wish her the best of luck.

The video features interview footage with both Sierra and producer, Ron Block, as well as behind the scenes footage and performance footage. It’s a nice feature that all bluegrass fans should enjoy.

Punch Brothers on All Things Considered

Our friend Craig Havighurst has gotten in on the media frenzy surrounding the Chris Thile’s new band, Punch Brothers. Craig put together a story about the new band, and the new music for National Public Radio’s All Things Considered.

The story is transcribed if you prefer to read it, or you can launch the player at the top of the story and just listen online. The audio includes Craig’s commentary along with quotes from band members Thile, Garrison and Pikelny.

Dobro master as Jerry Douglas weighs in as well.

The musician in me marveled at how well it all went together and how it kept my attention the whole way. And I just thought it was an amazing thing for somebody to do.

The story was NPR’s most emailed music story during the first part of this week. The segment is just over 8 minutes in length. Give it a listen!

Dailey & Vincent Opry Video

Our friend Craig Havighurst from String Theory Media just wrote to let us know that he has uploaded a new video to his YouTube page. The video is a five minute walk along with Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent as they make their first Grand Ole Opry appearance under their own banner as Dailey & Vincent.

The video begins in the car on the way to the Opry and follows them through the evening until the show is over. It’s obviously condensed and does not include their full performances, but it does contain some entertaining moments with the bluegrass duo.