Friday, October 27, 2006

A whole lot o' Bluegrass on MySpace.com

In a post last month, I told you about a few of the BG folks who have MySpace websites. As you probably know, MySpace has been the subject of a lot of news stories this year -- and not all for great reasons. However, it still seems like the popularity of the website is a great draw for LOTS of people, and the number of BG performers who have websites there is pretty amazing. It seems this might not be a horrible way for these performers to get their music and tour information out there -- and maybe this information will get to and interest people who've never heard BG before. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so. How popular is MySpace? Consider this: over half of the BG performers ranked in Bluegrass Unlimited November Bluegrass Survey (there are 26 different performers ranked in the top 30 in November) have MySpace accounts. Coincidence, or just a fact of the times? Of the top 30, here's an alphabetical list of who's got a MySpace site:

  1. Blue Moon Rising
  2. Sam Bush
  3. Dave Evans
  4. Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain
  5. Bo Isaac
  6. Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road
  7. Claire Lynch
  8. Alecia Nugent
  9. Gibson Brothers
  10. The Grascals
  11. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
  12. Del McCoury Band
  13. Mountain Heart
  14. Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press
  15. David Peterson & 1946
  16. Pine Mountain Railroad
  17. Marty Raybon
  18. Larry Stephenson
  19. Jim VanCleve
  20. Rhonda Vincent & the Rage

In addition, here are a few other BG performers who have active MySpace sites:

Doubtless, there are lots of other BG performers with MySpace accounts, too -- check them out and see what you can find. This seems like a pretty good marketing tool -- for now. Time will tell, I suppose....

Amy

Lots of live, local BG -- get out there!

Folks -

There is no shortage of live Bluegrass in eastern CT this weekend -- please get out there and support as much of it as you can.

Tonight's Salem Barn concert -- the last for the season -- is sold out. Be sure to check the CT Bluegrass Music Association's website for news about what's in store for the barn for next season....

There are a couple of shows on Saturday night, October 28th, in CT's "Quiet Corner." At the Vanilla Bean Cafe in Pomfret, GrassRoutes will be taking the stage at 8PM. For more information, visit www.vanillabeancafe.com or call (860)928-1562. Admission is $10.

Another "Quiet Corner" show on that very same evening will take place just down the road from Pomfret in Killingly, CT. Mike Boulay & Down The Road, as well as Shady Creek (with guest fiddler Peggy Harvey) will be performing at the Killingly Grange, which is located at the intersection of Route 101 and Dog Hill Road in East Killingly. Starting time for this show is 7PM. For more information, call (860)564-1018. Admission is $10.

The forecast for Saturday in eastern CT is pretty dismal -- lots of rain and chilly temperatures. If your day starts in a bad way, why not end it on a high note (no pun intended) with some great Bluegrass?

Don't forget, too: there's going to be some terrific traditional Bluegrass in eastern CT next weekend, as well, when Dan Paisley & The Southern Grass and Bear Bridge take the stage at the Plainfield Town Hall on November 5th! For more information on that show (or to refresh your memory), click here.

Amy

Monday, October 23, 2006

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 10/21/2006

The unofficial theme of Sunday's show was "just play the music." We did that, of course, throwing in a couple of very excellent tracks from the Good Home Grown Music Sampler for 2006 (songs written mostly by Tom T. & Dixie Hall), as well as answering requests for music from the likes of Rhonda Vincent, Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Del McCoury, and the Gibson Brothers (requests noted on the list in blue). Hope you enjoyed something you heard. Join Jim & Marti in next week's BG Cafe -- there may be a sports preemption, but we'll keep you posted...

Amy

  • Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / Rockygrass / Blue Planet
  • The Hard Times / Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press / Try A Little Kindness / Rounder
  • All I Want Is You / Nashville Bluegrass Band / Nashville Bluegrass Band / Rounder
  • Wichita / Tim & Mollie O'Brien / Rockygrass / Blue Planet
  • I Love No One But You / Stanley Brothers / Stanley Bros. & Clinch Mt. Boys, 1949-1952 / Bear Family
  • How's It Feel / Jeanette Williams / Back To The Well / Blue Circle
  • Rhythm Of The Wheels / Rhonda Vincent / All American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
  • I'm Comin' Back, But I Don't Know When / David Grisman / Home Is Where The Heart Is / Rounder
  • Holding On When You've Let Go / Josh Crowe / Good Home Grown Music Sampler, 2006 / Blue Circle
  • The Open Road / Gibson Brothers / Bona Fide / Sugar Hill
  • Six Feet Under The Ground / Michael Cleveland / Flame Keeper / Rounder
  • Trust Each Other / Blinky Moon Boys / Moonlite Theater / Hay Holler
  • Brown Mountain Light / Country Gentlemen / Can't You Hear Me Callin' / Rebel
  • A Dime Looks Like A Wagon Wheel / Reno & Smiley / Together Again / Rebel
  • Wall Around Your Heart / David Peterson & 1946 / The Howling Blue Winds / Self-Produced
  • Blackberry Blossom / Clay Jones /Mountain Tradition / Rural Rhythm
  • My Cabin In Caroline / Flatt & Scruggs / Complete Mercury Recordings / Mercury
  • The Hills And Home / Bear Bridge Band / One More Ride / Open Road
  • Uncle Ned / Bob Paisley & the Southern Grass / Back To The Blue Ridge / Brandywine
  • Leaves Musn't Fall / Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass / The Tradition Continues / Brandywine
  • Little Annie / Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bluegrass At The Roots / Smithsonian Folkways
  • Hold Whatcha Got / Jimmy Martin & Sunny Mountain Boys / You Don't Know My Mind, 1956-1966 / Rounder
  • Another Tear / Cedar Hill / Portrait Of A Song / Hay Holler
  • This Old Martin Box / Blue Moon Rising / On The Rise / Lonesome Day
  • The Grass That I'm Playing Is Really Blue / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / The News Is Out / Sugar Hill
  • (I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle Blow / David Davis & the Warrior River Boys / Troubled Times / Rebel
  • All Night Blues / King Wilkie / Broke / Rebel
  • Waiting To Hear You Call My Name / Steep Canyon Rangers / One Dime At A Time / Rebel
  • Paul Bunyan Love / Bluegrass Patriots / Springtime In The Rockies / Copper Creek
  • How Wrong A Man Can Be / Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show with Jim Lauderdale / Worries On My Mind / Rebel
  • Do You Remember? / Bill Harrell & the Virginians / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
  • I Only Wish You Knew / J.D. Crowe & New South / Lefty's Old Guitar / Rounder
  • You're My Darling / Old Time Bluegrass Singers / Threads / Open Road
  • Before The Next Teardrop Falls / New Found Road / Life In A Song / Rounder
  • Beautiful Brown Eyes / Gibson Brothers / Bona Fide / Sugar Hill
  • Won't You Think Of Me / Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass / The Tradition Continues / Brandywine
  • My Dying Day / Lou Reid & Carolina / Time / Lonesome Day
  • Restless State Of Mind / Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain / Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain / Rural Rhythm
  • The Blues Are Still The Blues / Traditional Grass / Howdy Neighbor Howdy / Rebel
  • Loneliness And Desperation / Del McCoury & the Dixie Pals / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
  • Georgia Stomp / Johnson Mountain Boys / At The Old Schoolhouse / Rounder
  • Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes / Jim & Jesse / Bean Blossom / MCA
  • Blow Out The Candle, Laura / Crooked Creek / Good Home Grown Music Sampler, 2006 / Blue Circle
  • Don't You Want To Go There / BlueRidge / Gettin' Ready / Pinecastle
  • Praise His Name / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / A School Of Bluegrass / Crossroads
  • Kneel And Pray / Mickey Harris / Kneel And Pray / Self-Produced
  • Stormy Waters / Jimmy Martin & Sunny Mountain Boys / Singing All Day And Dinner On The Ground / Universal
  • The Touch Of God's Hand / Longview / Longview / Rounder
  • The Angels Rejoiced / Joe Val & New England Bluegrass Boys / Angels Rejoice / Strictly Country
  • That Glory Bound Train / Bear Bridge Band / Broken Hearts & Better Times / Open Road
  • Talking About That Old-Time Religion / Whetstone Run / Angels Rejoice / Strictly Country
  • Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Favorites / Rounder

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

The Gibsons in the "Bluegrass Guide" chat room tonight - Tuesday, October 17th!

If you've ever had a notion of being a songwriter, you may be interested in visiting Candi Sawyer's Bluegrass Guide website tonight at 8PM (EST). Tonight, the guests in the chat room are none other than Eric & Leigh Gibson (a/k/a The Gibson Brothers, of course) -- and I'm sure they'll be happy to share whatever insight and advice they can with those who log in to participate. There is no cost to join in the festivities. Just go to www.BluegrassGuide.com, click on the "Chat Room" link, and you should be all set. Your chat room host, by the way, is the very talented New Hampshire songwriter, Rick Lang.

If you'd like more information, see our earlier blog post about this event by clicking here.

Have fun!

Amy O.

Monday, October 16, 2006

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 10/15/2006

Our goal on Sunday was to play as much music as possible, and I think we did just fine. Included was our mini-tribute to a legendary BG character, "Uncle" Josh Graves, as well as the "BG Cafe" debut of a very-much-talked-about-and-waited-for CD from J.D. Crowe & the New South, "Lefty's Old Guitar" (Rounder). From what I've heard so far, I don't think anyone is too disappointed about waiting for such a quality product from J.D. et al for 7 years! You can be assured you'll be hearing plenty more of this disc played by both Jim and I. We also included new music from Long Island's Buddy Merriam & Back Roads, as well as a group called New River Line. See you next week in the Cafe.

Amy

  • Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / Rockygrass / Blue Planet
  • Fourteen Carat Mind / Osborne Brothers / Hillbilly Fever / CMH
  • My Old Kentucky And You / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / A Stop In Southport Towne / Blue Circle
  • When I'm Gone / BearTracks / From The Hollow / AMT Records
  • Hillbilly Fever / Osborne Brothers / Hillbilly Fever / CMH
  • Blue Moon Of Old Kentucky / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Live At Mechanics Hall / Acoustic Disc
  • What Ain't To Be, Just Might Happen / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / You Gotta Dig A Little Deeper /
    Rounder
  • Fishers Of Men / Rhonda Vincent / One Step Ahead / Rounder
  • Smoke Along The Track / Parmley & McCoury / Families Of Tradition / BGC
  • Meadow Green / Peter Rowan & Nashville Bluegrass Band / New Moon Rising / Sugar Hill
  • Mississippi River Raft / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Lefty's Old Guitar / Rounder
  • Rovin' Gambler / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Lefty's Old Guitar / Rounder
  • Lefty's Old Guitar / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Lefty's Old Guitar / Rounder
  • You Can Be A Millionaire With Me / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Lefty's Old Guitar / Rounder
  • Black Mountain Rag / Doc & Merle Watson / Black Mountain Rag / Rounder
  • Deep River / Buddy Merriam & Back Roads / Live At The Vail-Leavitt Music Hall / Lilypad Records
  • My Brother Paul And Me / New River Line / Chasing My Dreams / Kindred Records
  • Long List Of Heartaches / The Grascals / Long List Of Heartaches / Rounder
  • Travelin' This Lonesome Road / IIIrd Tyme Out / Round III At The MAC / Chateau Music Group
  • Salad Bowl / Frank Solivan II / I Am A Rambler / Self-Produced
  • Something In The Wind / Seldom Scene / Scene 20 / Sugar Hill
  • Huntsville / Blue Highway / Wind To The West / Rebel
  • Ain't Nobody Gonna Me When I'm Gone / Jimmy Gaudreau with Tony Rice Unit / In Good Company / CMH
  • Memories That We Shared / Johnson Mountain Boys / Let The Whole World Talk / Rounder
  • I'll Never See My Home Again / Fred Pike, Bill Rawlings & Twin River Boys / Genuine Authentic Bluegrass Folk Music / Osage
  • Just Joshin' / Josh Graves / Josh Graves / Rebel
  • Salty Dog Blues / Flatt & Scruggs / Complete Mercury Recordings / Mercury
  • Uncle Josh's Intro / Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives / Live At The Ryman / Universal South
  • Train 45 / Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives / Live At The Ryman / Universal South
  • Foggy Mountain Special / Josh Graves / Memories Of Foggy Mountain / OMS Records
  • Flatt Lonesome / Josh Graves / Great Dobro Sessions / Sugar Hill
  • Remington Ride / Phil Leadbetter / Slide Effects / Pinecastle
  • Papa Played The Dobro / White Mountain Bluegrass / Aragon Mill / Strictly Country
  • Pretty Polly / Stanley Brothers / Stanley Brothers & Clinch Mt. Boys / Bear Family
  • Hard Rain / Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain / Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain / Rural Rhythm
  • Don't Lie To Me / Red Allen & Frank Wakefield / Keep On Going / Rebel
  • Hillbilly Heartache / Don Rigsby & Midnight Call / Hillbilly Heartache / Rebel
  • Is It True / Jim & Jesse / Jim & Jesse, 1952-1955 / Bear Family
  • What A Ways We've Come / Gibson Brothers / Red Letter Day / Sugar Hill
  • Master Of The Sea / Bear Bridge Band / Bear Essentials / Open Road
  • When My Time Has Come To Go / Bob Paisley & The Southern Grass / Angels Rejoiced / Strictly Country
  • Just As The Sun Went Down / Spinney Brothers / Here At The Cross / Self-Produced
  • Rank Stranger / Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands / The Golden West / Hightone
  • That Home Above / David Peterson & 1946 / The Howling Blue Winds / Self-Produced
  • When We Look On His Face / Bill Emerson with Cliff Waldron / Reunion / Webco
  • God Moves In A Windstorm / Blue Highway / Wind To The West / Rebel
  • Mansions For Me / Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press / Try A Little Kindness / Rounder
  • Shouting In The Air / Johnson Mountain Boys / Let The Whole World Talk / Rounder
  • Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

Saturday, October 14, 2006

"Bluegrass Cafe" Play List for 8 October 2006

I'm running a bit behind this week getting last Sunday's play list posted, but here it is. Marti ran the Cafe while the rest of the crew was enjoying the excellent show in East Hartford with Wildfire, Pine Mountain Railroad, and Windy Creek. Marti really focused on getting the music out there and played nearly a record number of songs for a show.

Jim

  • Old Kentucky Hills / Larry Stephenson / Life Stories / Pinecastle
  • Hard Times / Grascals / Long List of Heartaches / Rounder
  • My Rocky Mountain Sweetheart / David Davis & the Warrior River Boys / David Davis & the Warrior River Boys / Rebel
  • A Lonesome Night / The Gillis Brothers / Ice Cold Stone / Hay Holler
  • Little Birdie / The Lonesome River Band / Head on into Heartache / Mountain Home
  • Our Last Goodbye / Dave Evans / Pretty Green Hills / Rebel
  • Emotions / Reno & Smiley / Together Again / Rebel
  • Pete, The Best Coon Dog in the State of Tennessee / Jimmy Martin / Songs of a Free Born Man / CMH
  • Montana Cowboy / Michael Cleveland / Let' Er Go Boys / Rounder
  • Think of What You've Done / IIIrd Tyme Out / Round III at the Mac / CMG
  • Mr. John Henry, The Steel Drivin' Man / Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives / Live at the Ryman / Superlatone
  • Open Pit Mine / Nashville Bluegrass Band / Waitin' For The Hard Times / Sugar Hill
  • Cold Sheets of Rain / Virginia Squires / The Best of The Virginia Squires / Rebel
  • Restless / Alison Krauss / Lonely Runs Both Ways / Rounder
  • Tennessee 1949 / Bill Emerson & Pete Goble / Emerson & Goble / Webco
  • Toil, Tears, and Trouble / James King / Thirty Years of Farming / Rounder
  • Shady Grove / The Kentucky Colonels / Long Journey Home / Vanguard
  • Long Journey Home / The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Early Recordings Rebel
  • I Got a Woman / The Gibson Brothers / Red Letter Day / Sugar Hill
  • Workin' End of a Hoe / Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time / Songs From the Workbench / Shell Point
  • Blue Ridge Mountain Blues / Bill Monroe & The Blue Grass Boys / Live At Mechanics Hall / Acoustic Disc
  • You Are What I Am / J.D. Crowe & The New South / J.D. Crowe & The New South / Rounder
  • Girl in the Valley / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Bluegrass Unlimited Sampler / Rounder
  • In The Mountaintops to Roam / David Peterson & 1946 / In The Mountaintops to Roam / Self
  • Endless Train / Blue Highway / Bluegrass Unlimited Sampler / Rounder
  • West Virginia / Bobby Osborne / Bluegrass Unlimited Sampler / Rounder
  • Lucky Drive / Open Road / Bluegrass Unlimited Sampler / Rounder
  • Muddy Water / The Seldom Scene / Treasury of Bluegrass / Time Life
  • Jimmy Brown the Newsboy / Mac Wiseman / Treasury of Bluegrass / Time Life
  • Little Maggie / Ralph Stanley / Treasury of Bluegrass / Time Life
  • Nine Pound Hammer / Jim & Jesse / Treasury of Bluegrass / Time Life
  • Coldest Day of Winter / James King / Bluegrass Unlimited Sampler / Rounder
  • My Saro Jane / The Grascals / Bluegrass Unlimited Sampler / Rounder
  • Scattered to the Wind / Donna Hughes / Bluegrass Unlimited Sampler / Rounder
  • White House Blues / Marty Raybon / Bluegrass Unlimited Sampler / Rounder
  • Foggy Mountain Breakdown / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Treasury of Bluegrass / Time Life
  • Two Highways / Alison Krauss & Union Station / Treasury of Bluegrass / Time Life
  • Legend of the Rebel Soldier / The Country Gentlemen / Treasury of Bluegrass / Time Life
  • High on a Mountain / Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals / Treasury of Bluegrass / Time Life
  • Banks of the Ohio / Ralph Stanley & Charlie Waller / Saturday Night/Sunday Morning / Freeland
  • All the Love I had is Gone / Ralph Stanley & Larry Sparks / Saturday Night/Sunday Morning / Freeland
  • Can't You Hear Me Calling / Boone Creek / One Way Track / Sugar Hill
  • I Can't Get Over You / The McPeak Brothers / The Bottom Line / Copper Creek
  • Cold Virginia Rain / Josh Williams / IBMA 2004 Pinecastle Sampler / Pinecastle
  • Shackles & Chains / Osborne Bros. & Mac Wiseman / The Essential Bluegrass Album / CMH
  • Travelin' Prayer / Dolly Parton / The Grass is Blue / Sugar Hill
  • What True Love Is / IIIrd Tyme Out / The Best Durn Ride / CMG
  • My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains / Bob Paisley & Southern Grass / Live In Holland / Strictly Country
  • He Was a Friend of Mine / Randy Waller & The Country Gentlemen / Keeper of the Flame / Lendel Records
  • Gone But Not Forgotten / Jesse McReynolds/Charles Whitstein / IBMA 2004 Pinecastle Sampler / Pinecastle
  • Hoedown in Motown / Grascals / Long List of Heartaches / Rounder
  • Baby Blue Eyes / Josh Crowe / IBMA 2004 Pinecastle Sampler / Pinecastle
  • The Battle of Forty Dollars / Wildfire / Rattle of the Chains / Pinecastle
  • The Last Dollar Blues / Blue Highway / Lonesome Pine / Rebel
  • So Happy I'll Be / The Bluegrass Band / Shine Hallelujah Shine / Hay Holler
  • Good Time Get Together / The Lewis Family / Live In Georgia / Self
  • He Lifts Me / The Isaacs / Bridges / Horizon
  • Hallelujah Homecoming Day / Carl Story / Thank the Lord for Everything / Self

Friday, October 13, 2006

Bluegrass at the Plainfield (CT) Town Hall -- Sunday, November 5th



On Sunday, November 5th, there will be a great show in Plainfield, CT -- especially if you like your Bluegrass music to be hard-driving and traditional. Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass will be appearing at the Plainfield Town Hall Community Room, 8 Community Ave., Plainfield for 2 big sets of great BG.

Also on the bill is a band with which I'm quite familiar -- the Bear Bridge Band. This group (with members from western MA, southeastern NH, and northwestern CT) doesn't perform nearly as much as it did in, say, the late 1990s, but they still do make at least one or two appearances every year -- and always receive a very nice response. (Disclaimer: I'm not just saying nice things about these folks 'cause the one they call "Tex" is my brother -- really.)

The doors will open at 12:30PM for some pre-show jamming, and the music will start on the stage at 1:30PM. Food will be available, and there will some some CD giveaways, too. The show's sponsor is the Rhode Island Bluegrass Music Association (RIBGMA), which already has a number of members from Connecticut...and those numbers seem to be growing.

If you'd like information about the show, call (860)617-0394, send email to ribgma@yahoo.com, or visit the RIBGMA website: www.RIBGMA.com. For directions to Plainfield Town Hall, click here, and if you'd like to see the flyer for this show, click here.

We hope to get Danny on the air at WHUS in the next couple of weeks. We'll let you know all about it -- both here and on the air.

I'll be back in the BG Cafe with you this Sunday from 4-7PM. Please join me....

Amy O.

2006-2007 Country Corner Coffee House series begins Saturday, October 21st



Dave Helman (seen here at his home studio) begins his 2006-2007 Country Corner Coffee House series on Saturday evening, October 21st with a big show by New York's James Reams & the Barnstormers. This series has been held since 1990 at the South Hadley Falls Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, 11 North Main Street, South Hadley, MA, and through the years, has featured lots of regional and national Bluegrass greats, including shows by the likes of Dry Branch Fire Squad, Karl Shiflett & the Big Country Show, the Gibson Brothers, the Traditional Grass, the Bluegrass Patriots, the Gary Ferguson Band, TrueGrass, Traver Hollow, Southern Rail, Bear Bridge, and many, many more. Shows are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month, October-April (no show in December -- 2 shows in March), and are a great way for folks in southern New England to get through the "non" festival season.

Here's what Dave has in store for this season's Country Corner series:

All concerts start at 8PM (except for the March 25th show). The Country Corner Coffee House is smoke- and alcohol-free and is wheelchair accessible. Tickets are sold at the door only. For more information, contact Dave at Pioneer Valley Friends of Bluegrass, PO Box 161, South Hadley MA 01075, email info@countrycornermusic.com, or call (413)467-9394. You may also click here to visit the Country Corner website.

We'll see you at some of these shows, I'm sure!

Amy

A separate note for fans of old-time (i.e. REAL) country music: Listen to Dave Helman on his radio show, "Country Corner," every Saturday from 1-3PM. The show is broadcast from WTCC, Springfield Technical Community College (Springfield, MA), and can be found at 90.7 on your FM radio dial. You may also listen online by clicking here.


Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Candi Sawyer's "Songwriter Chat" series begins Tuesday, October 17th...

Folks in the New England Bluegrass community are, doubtless, familiar with Candi Sawyer and a couple of her endeavors: the Bluegrass Guide and the Jenny Brook Bluegrass Festival in Weston, VT every June. Candi's husband, Seth, is a wonderful songwriter, and has had his tunes recorded by folks like the Gibson Brothers and David Davis & the Warrior River Boys. So, it stands to reason that one of Candi's favorite topics is the fine art of Bluegrass songwriting.

Coming up this Tuesday evening -- October 17th -- at 8PM, the Bluegrass Guide website -- www.BluegrassGuide.com -- will be having a chat session that may be of interest to a whole lot of folks. Both Eric and Leigh Gibson will be the "Guests of Honor," and participants will be able to ask them questions about their songs and songwriting, in general. It's no secret that those Gibson boys are terrific songwriters; pick up any of their recordings on Hay Holler and Sugar Hill, and you'll be able to find many, many tunes that were penned by Eric or Leigh or sometimes Eric and Leigh together. There's lots of great ones: "Sam Smith," "Arleigh," "Vern's Guitar," "That Bluegrass Music," "Railroad Line," "Ragged Man," "The Barn Song," "We Won't Dance Again," "Walking With Joanna," and so many more. It's pretty obvious those Gibsons are doing something right: their most recent Sugar Hill release, Red Letter Day, has been named the #1 Album of the Year by the reviewers for Bluegrass Now in the November 2006 issue. Not too shabby!

Anyhow, to take part in this chat session, all you need to do is visit the website on Tuesday, October 17th at 8PM (EST). Get there at www.BluegrassGuide.com.

Amy

Friday, October 06, 2006

Big Sunday...just two days away...

In case you've been off the planet for the last few weeks, you may not have heard about our BIG SUNDAY BLUEGRASS event coming up this very weekend on Sunday, October 8th.

Here's the Reader's Digest version:

BIG SUNDAY BLUEGRASS
at East Hartford Community Cultural Center
50 Chapman Place East Hartford, CT
Wildfire
Pine Mountain Railroad
The Windy Creek Bluegrass Band
Show starts at 1PM; doors open at noon for jammers
Three sponsors: Podunk Bluegrass Music Committee, Rhode Island Bluegrass Association, WHUS Radio's Bluegrass Cafe


For more information, click here to see a flyer. In addition to great music, there will be food and CD drawings. Please join Jim, Myrna, and I in East Hartford -- we'd love to see you!

Amy

Bluegrass at the Weston (VT) Playhouse -- Saturday, November 4th

I got official word this week about the next Weston (VT) Playhouse BG show. These shows are held about 3 times a year, and even though Vermont is a bit of a drive from most points in our "traditional listing area," this may be a BG journey you'd like to make. Every town should have a Weston Playhouse in which to have Bluegrass shows!

Here's the scoop:

BLUEGRASS MUSIC
Sponsored by the Weston Rod & Gun Club
Saturday, November 4, 2006
Weston Playhouse
Weston, VT
David Parmley & Continental Divide
Junior Barber & Beartracks
The Muellers
2 shows: 12-4PM OR 6-10PM (2 separate admissions)
For more information, call (802)824-6674
On November 5th, there's going to be a great traditional BG show in Plainfield, CT featuring Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass and the Bear Bridge Band. We'll post all kinds of details about that show in the next week or so. In the meantime, if you can't wait to read about it, click here.
Amy

Monday, October 02, 2006

Bernie Caouette Music Scholarship Benefit -- Sunday, October 15th

Julie Caouette asks us to pass the word along about this upcoming event:

Bluegrass Benefit Show for the Bernie Caouette Music Scholarship
an all~day celebration in memory of a dear friend to Bluegrass Music!
Sunday, October 15th, 2006
Athol/Orange Elks Hall, Rte 2A New Athol Road , Orange , MA
12noon-7pm
Bands include:
The Cowtippers (their last performance)
Bean Hill Bluegrass
The Stillhouse Jammers
The Sawyer Family (Candi, Seth & guests)
Jake Jenkins & Lyle Meader with the Old Time Bluegrass Singers
and special surprise guests!
(and of course, they will be featuring Caouette Banjos, custom-made by Bernie)

Raffle prizes including a Martin Sigma guitar~donated by Dave Nichols of
Custom Pearl Inlay, NY;
Festival tickets & more.
Refreshments/food/cash bar available all day!

For advance tickets/pricing information/directions/more information:
www.geocities.com/caouettebanjos
or email
autumnblue@juno.com
or call Julie at 978-724-3250
Go on out and support this endeavor, if you can. I'm sure they'd love to see you....
Amy

"Bluegrass Cafe" Play List 10/01/06

Inspired by the IBMA Awards Show this past Thursday, Marti and I played many songs from winners and nominees (see the earlier post of winners here). Probably as a result of this theme, the show ended up being very "new" with most of the music from the last year or two.

We also made a couple of changes to the flow of the show. The first was back announcing after three songs instead of the usual four. The other change was to play a gospel set at the end of each hour in addition to the gospel set we use to end the show. This is an old tradition with bluegrass DJs going back to the 1950s and 1960s. We have had requests for more gospel music, so this is partly in response to those requests, plus it will open up a larger repertoire that we usually don't have time to explore.

Marti will host the show next week because Amy, Myrna, and I will be at
Big Sunday Bluegrass in East Hartford where Wildfire, Pine Mountain Railroad, and Windy Creek will be performing. The concert starts at 1:00 pm, and we want to see you there!

Jim

  • Wild Turkey / Gillis Brothers / Down By The River / Hay Holler
  • Dark As The Night, Blue As The Day / Michael Cleveland / Let 'Er Go Boys / Rounder
  • Hoedown In Motown / The Grascals / Long List Of Heartaches / Rounder
  • Uncle Pen / Ricky Skaggs / Time_Life's Treasury of Bluegrass / Time Life
  • Whoop And Ride / Lonesome River Band / The Road With No End / Mountain Home
  • Coat of Many Colors / Dolly Parton / Live And Well / Sugar Hill
  • Grapes On The Vine / Wildfire / Rattle Of The Chains / Pinecastle
  • Two Highways / Alison Krauss and Union Station / Time Life's Treasury of Bluegrass / Time-Life
  • Machine Gun Kelly / Rob Ickes / Big Time / Rounder
  • Our Last Goodbye / Dave Evans / Pretty Green Hills / Rebel
  • I'm Just Here To Ride The Train / Mountain Heart / Wide Open / Skaggs Family
  • Whiskey Before Breakfast / Bryan Sutton / Not Too Far From The Tree / Sugar Hill
  • One Dime At A Time /Steep Canyon Rangers / One Dime At A Time / Rebel
  • Heart of Caroline / Country Current / Live / Dept Of Defense
  • The Ballad Of Sarah Malone / David Davis and the Warrior River Boys / Troubled Times / Rebel
  • Flyin' High / The Lewis Family / Flyin' High / Mountain Home
  • I'm Ready To Go / Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder / Soldier Of The Cross / Skaggs Family
  • Look Down That Lonesome Road / Tim O'Brien / Fiddler's Green / Sugar Hill
  • Heartbreaker's Alibi / Rhonda Vincent with Dolly Parton / All American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
  • Breaking New Ground / Alecia Nugent / A Little Girl… A Big Four Lane / Rounder
  • The Hard Times / Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press / Try a Little Kindness / Rounder
  • A Letter To Tom / The Country Gentlemen / On The Road (and More) / Smithsonian Folkways
  • Highway 52 / Don Reno and Red Smiley / Together Again / Rebel
  • The Hide Head Blues / Jim Mills / Hide Head Blues / Sugar Hill
  • Don't Act / Rhonda Vincent / All American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
  • I Wish You Knew / Nothin' Fancy / Album #7 / Pinecastle
  • Behind Those Big Closed Doors / Larry Stephenson / Life Stories / Pinecastle
  • Run Rufus Run / Dale Ann Bradley / Catch Tomorrow / Compass
  • You Gotta Dig A Little Deeper / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / You Gotta Dig A Little Deeper / Rounder
  • The Moonshiner / IIIrd Tyme Out / Round III At The Mac / CMG
  • Let The Big Dog Eat / Jim VanCleve / No Apologies / Rural Rhythm
  • California Cotton Fields / Phil Leadbetter / Slide Effects / Pinecastle
  • I'm Not Ashamed / Ralph Stanley / My All And All / Rebel
  • I Believe In The Old Time Way / The Traditional Grass / I Believe In The Old Time Way / Rebel
  • My Lord's Been A Walkin' / The Spinney Brothers / Here At The Cross / Self
  • Movin' On / The Virginia Ramblers / The Virginia Ramblers / Hay Holler
  • White Lightning Strike / Pine Mountain Railroad / Heartache & Hope / TrakTone
  • Mighty Lonesome / Jim Lauderdale / Bluegrass / Yep Roc
  • Wings To Fly / Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike / Wash Away Your Troubles / Bell Buckle
  • Down In Caroline / Big Country Bluegrass / On Fire / Hay Holler
  • Girl Behind The Bar / Jay Armsworthy & Eastern Tradition / Making Memories / self
  • Beautiful Brown Eyes / The Charles River Valley Boys / Bluegrass And Old Timey Music / Prestige
  • Saints Go Marching In / The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bluegrass At The Roots / Smithsonian Folkways
  • You're My Darling / The Old Time Bluegrass Singers / Threads / Open Road
  • Does It Have To End This Way / King Wilkie / True Songs / self
  • Man of Constant Sorrow / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mtn Boys / Live at McCabe's Guitar Shop / DCN
  • Wayward To Hayward / Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder / Instrumentals / Skaggs Family
  • Campin' In Canaan Land / Carl Story / Mighty Close To Heaven / Starday
  • Lazarus / Blue Highway / Marbletown / Rounder
  • Living Up On The Mountain / The Lewis Family / Live In Georgia / Riversong
  • Tramp On The Street / The Blue Sky Boys / The Stained Glass Hour / Rounder
  • Ohoopee / The Gillis Brothers / Down By The River / Hay Holler