"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 12/24/2006

As you might expect on Christmas Eve, we played mostly Christmas music on this week's BG Cafe. We did, however, sneak in a few non-Christmas tunes, just to break things up a little bit. Included was a mini-tribute to the late Dempsey Young of the Lost & Found. Hope you all had a very merry Christmas, and please make plans to join me again this Sunday -- New Year's Eve -- from 4-7PM for another BG Cafe. (If you're a fan of the classic country music -- think 1940s and 1950s -- join me, too, as I sit in once more for Jim & Marti's Red Rooster Party on Sunday from 2-4PM).

Amy

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• Christmas Is Near / Stanley Brothers / Christmas Time's A-Comin' / Time Life
• Christmas Day At My House / Patty Loveless / Bluegrass & White Snow / Epic
• We Three Kings / Country Gentlemen / Early Rebel Recordings / Rebel
• Christmas Time's A-Comin' / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Christmas Time's A- Comin' / Rounder
• I'm Going Home, It's Christmas Time / Ralph Stanley / Christmas Time With Ralph Stanley / Freeland
• If We Make It Through December / Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum / Winter's Grace / Dog Boy Records
• A Holly Jolly Christmas / Bob Dick / Tidings Of Comfort And Joy / Appleland
• A Shut-In At Christmas/Shut-In's Prayer / Louvin Brothers / Must Be Santa! / Rounder
• When It's Snowin' In The Mountains / Wildwood Valley Boys / Christmas In The Mountains / Rebel
• The Waves On The Sea / Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bluegrass At The Roots / Smithsonian Folkways
• Milwaukee Blues / David Davis & the Warrior River Boys / Troubled Times / Rebel
• I'll Go Steppin', Too / Country Current / Live / Department Of Defense
• Foggy Mountain Chimes / Flatt & Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Jamboree / Sony
• Christmas Lullaby / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Merry Christmas From Our House To Your House / SSK
• Christmas Reunion / Reno & Smiley / The True Meaning Of Christmas / Gusto
• White House Christmas / WhiteHouse / A Pinecastle Christmas Gatherin' / Pinecastle
• The Friendly Beasts / Johnson Mountain Boys / O Christmas Tree / Rounder
• Christmas Story / Nashville Bluegrass Band / Tinsel Tunes / Sugar Hill
• I Can't Go Home This Christmas / Paul Williams & The Victory Trio / Christmas In The Mountains / Rebel
• My Little Silver Bells / Bill Grant & Delia Bell / O Christmas Tree / Rounder
• Christmas Time Back Home / Country Gentlemen / Christmas Time's A-Comin' / Time Life
• Love Of The Mountains / Lost & Found / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
• Endicott Run / Lost & Found / Just Pickin' / Copper Creek
• Wild Mountain Flowers For Mary / Lost & Found / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
• Buckaroo / Lost & Found / Just Pickin' / Copper Creek
• Harvest Time / Lost & Found / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
• Christmas In Virginia / Lost & Found / Christmas In The Mountains / Rebel
• The Season Of My Heart / Rick Lang & Friends / The Season Of My Heart / Haley Anna
• All I Want Is Mary For Christmas / Lonesome River Band / Tinsel Tunes / Sugar Hill
• God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen/Joy To The World / Dan Crary / Holiday Guitar / Sugar Hill
• O Christmas Tree / Rhonda Vincent / Beautiful Star / Rounder
• O Christmas Candle / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Christmas Grass, Vol. 2 / Koch
• Mary, Merry Christmas / Ralph Stanley II / Christmas In The Mountains / Rebel
• Precious Child / Tony Trischka with Dudley Connell & James King / O Christmas Tree / Rounder
• Christmas At The Old Homeplace / David Parmley & Continental Divide / A Pinecastle Christmas Gatherin' / Pinecastle
• There's A Song In The Air / Rick Lang & Friends / The Season Of My Heart / Haley Anna
• Old Hickory Cane / Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass / The Tradition Continues / Brandywine
• Windy Mountain / Lonesome Pine Fiddlers / Windy Mountain / Bear Family
• Tolland Deserted / Old Time Bluegrass Singers / Threads / Open Road
• Miller's Cave / Michael Cleveland with Audie Blaylock / Let 'Er Go, Boys! / Rounder
• Some Of These Days (You're Gonna Be Sad) / David Peterson & 1946 / In The Mountaintops To Roam / Self-Produced
• Winter Wonderland / Rhonda Vincent / Beautiful Star / Rounder
• Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem / Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mt. Boys / Christmas Time Back Home / Rebel
• It's Christmas Time / Larry Sparks / Christmas Time Back Home / Rebel
• That White Christmas Song / Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers / Sugar Plums / Sugar Hill
• That's Christmas Time To Me / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Christmas Time's A- Comin' / Time Life
• Joy To The World / Reno & Smiley / The True Meaning Of Christmas / Gusto
• Mary's Christmas / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Merry Christmas From Our House To Your House / SSK
• My Christmas Dream / Josh Williams / A Pinecastle Christmas Gatherin' / Pinecastle
• New Star Shining / 5 For The Gospel / Christmas Time In Eastern Kentucky / Hay Holler
• Silent Night / Seldom Scene / Sugar Plums / Sugar Hill
• Jingle Bells / Reno & Smiley / Christmas Time's A-Comin' / Time Life

Christmas Eve on the ol' radio....

As Jim mentioned in his last post, I get to host both BG Cafe and Jim & Marti's Red Rooster Party this Sunday, December 24th. Honestly, I'm not sure at this point if the music I play will be 100% Christmas -- we may "escape" back to the "regular" BG and country tunes every now and then. I can tell you, though, that for RRP from 2-4PM, you'll be hearing Christmas selections from the likes of Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, Ernest Tubb, Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, the Louvin Brothers, Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Riders In The Sky, Loretta Lynn, the Statler Brothers, and, of course, Buck Owens, among others.

As far as BG Christmas music goes, well....there's a whole lot of it. When I hosted a BG radio show at WECS in 1988 (can it really be that long ago?), when it got to be Christmastime, there was exactly one album available to me from which I could play BG Christmas tunes. Today, there are dozens of CDs filled with Christmas music from all kinds of BG performers. If you have a particular favorite you might like to hear, feel free to send along an email to bgcaferequests@yahoo.com.

If you're so inclined, please join me on Sunday from 2-7PM, or anytime in between. Remember, you can listen to the show at 91.7 on your FM dial (in southern New England), or listen online from anywhere at www.WHUS.org.

Merry Christmas to all, and best wishes for good health and happiness in 2007!

Amy

"Bluegrass Cafe" Play List 12/17/06

This was the last BG Cafe Marti and I will host for the year. Unfortunately, UCONN mens hockey (or was it varsity checkers?) preempted half of the show, so we were not able to bring you all the music we desired. With the time remaining we concentrated on classic bluegrass -- emphasis on less-familiar songs -- with several new songs and Christmas songs added to the mix. I had a GREAT time doing this show, and I hope you enjoyed it, too.

Amy will wrap up the year on the Cafe over the next two Sundays. (Where did 2006 go???!)

Take care, and Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah.

Jim

• Big Tilda / The Gillis Brothers / Ice Cold Stone / Hay Holler
• Let Me Love You One More Time / The Infamous Stringdusters / The Infamous Stringdusters / Sugar Hill
• I'm Going Home, It's Christmas Time / Ralph Stanley / Christmas Time with Ralph / CRFreeland
• Christmas Time's A Comin' / Rhonda Vincent / Beautiful Star / Rounder
• Do You Still Love Me / Emerson & Taylor / Appaloosa / Pinecastle
• Golden Hair / Country Current / Live / Dept of Defense
• Molly and Tenbrooks / Country Current / Live / Dept of Defense
• I Don't Mind / Buzz Busby / Going Home / King
• Banjo Whiz / Buzz Busby / Going Home / King
• I Stood On The Bridge At Midnight / Buzz Busby and Leon Morris / Honkytonk Bluegrass / Patuxent
• Thank You For Caring / Jeanette Williams with George Jones / A Blue Circle Sampler 2006 / Blue Circle
• Misery Loves Company / The Johnson Mountain Boys / Working Close / Rounder
• Wild Bill Hickok / The Stoneman Family / 28 Big Ones / King
• Bring Back My Blue Eyed Boy / Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Early Recordings / Rebel
• Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss / Charlie Moore / The Vetco Sessions / Vetco
• Uncle Pen / California / Traveler / Sugar Hill
• One Way Track / Boone Creek / One Way Track / Sugar Hill
• Be Proud of the Gray In You Hair / Dave Evans / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
• Blackberry Blossom / Michael Johnathon with Homer Ledford / Woodsongs
• Heaven / Flatt & Scruggs / Songs To Cherish / Columbia
• My Time Will Come Someday / Carl Story / Mighty Close To Heaven / King
• Turn Your Radio On / Hee Haw Gospel Quartet / Hee Haw Gospel Quartet / Time-Life
• Bluegrass Christmas / The Del McCoury Band feat. Ronnie McCoury / Christmas on the Mountain / Universal
• Prayer Bells of Heaven / Red Smiley & The Bluegrass Cut-Ups / Down Home Gospel / Rural Rhythm
• When My Time Comes To Go / IIIrd Tyme Out / IIIrd Tyme Out / Rebel
• Old Fashioned Christmas / Jimmy Martin / Christmas Jamboree / Hollywood
• Beulah Land / Paul Williams / Gloryland / Time-Life
• The Lonesome Traveler / The Gillis Brothers / Ice Cold Stone / Hay Holler

The Grascals (and Bradley Walker) are coming!

Okay, so this subject line doesn't carry quite the same urgency as those words from Mr. Revere, but fans of the the 2006 IBMA Entertainers of the Year -- the Grascals -- will be delighted to know that they have something to which they can look forward coming up very quickly in the new year. The Reader's Digest condensed version is this: The Grascals & Bradley Walker will be playing at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, MA on Saturday, January 13th at 7:30PM. Tickets are available now through the BBU website: www.bbu.org. If you'd like more-detailed information about the performers or the show itself, here's the announcement email from BBU's Gerry Katz. Read on:

Holiday greetings from the BBU -

We continue our 31st concert season on Saturday, January 13 with the Grascals plus special guest Bradley Walker at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, MA. I'm a huge fan of these guys and believe this will be the hottest show that the BBU has presented in in a long, long time. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased on line or via mail. I encourage you to get your tickets early for this performance.

The Grascals exploded onto the bluegrass scene in 2005, and it only took them a few months to be named IBMA 2005 Emerging Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "Me And John And Paul." In 2006 they vaulted right to the top, winning the 2006 Entertainer of the Year, one of the most coveted awards in bluegrass. With their latest Rounder release, Long List of Heartaches they now have two best-selling CD’s, a recent Grammy nomination, and a huge legion of fans. Dolly Parton, who hired the Grascals not long after they formed as both her opening act and her backing band, called their debut "one of the greatest albums I’ve ever listened to."

The Grascals have new member with the addition of banjo player and vocalist Aaron McDaris. McDaris replaces David Talbot, who recently resigned from the band in order to pursue other opportunities. McDaris has played bluegrass music professionally for twelve years. He started out with Second Exit for three years, followed that with a three-year stint with New Tradition, and for the last six years has played with the Larry Stephenson Band."We're delighted that Aaron is ready to join us on this incredible journey," said Grascals vocalist/guitarist Jamie Johnson. "He's an incredible player and singer, and he's eager to be a part of our team." Visit the Grascals at www.grascals.com and visit their music page to hear what's in store for January 13th.

Rising country/bluegrass vocalist Bradley Walker is making serious inroads with his debut CD, Highway of Dreams. Entertainment Weekly's editor-at-large Ken Tucker said that Bradley Walker is "One of the most striking debuts of the year...”. It is an astonishingly accomplished debut album, featuring Walker's rich, soulful baritone across a selection of new and classic songs, supported by an illustrious cast of instrumentalists and vocalists. Produced by Grammy Award-winning musician and songwriter Carl Jackson, Highway of Dreams winds skillfully between bluegrass, honky-tonk, and acoustic country music, introducing a new sound spun from classic cloth, and is an essential showcase for one of the finest new roots music vocalists to emerge in the past decade. Brian Mansfield echoed this sentiment in a 3 ½ star record review in USA Today, calling Highway of Dreams "a marvelous piece of work, by turns inspirational and heartbreaking, showcasing a voice that would make Lefty Frizzell proud." Have a listen to Bradley at www.bradleywalker.com.

Advance Tickets are $21 (BBU Members $20), or $23 at the door, and can be purchased online at www.bbu.org or by mailing a check (payable to the BBU) and self-addressed stamped envelope to Boston Bluegrass Union, PO Box 650061, West Newton, MA 02465.More info can be found at www.bbu.org. The National Heritage Museum is located at 33 Marrett Rd. (Route 2A), Lexington, MA 02421.Doors open at 6:30pm and concert begins at 7:30pm. Directions can be found at www.monh.org or call (781) 861-6559.

BBU tickets and memberships make great holiday gifts. Both can be purchased online at www.bbu.org

All the best for the Holidays,
Gerry Katz
Boston Bluegrass Union

"Bluegrass Cafe" Play List 12/10/2006

No preemptions, and a live interview with Tony Trischka in anticipation of his Christmas show at the University of Hartford this coming Friday, 15 December, made the show lots of fun. We played a few Christmas songs to get a start on the season.

Thanks for listening!

Jim

• Wild Turkey / Gillis Brothers / Down By The River / Hay Holler
• Down In Caroline / Curly Seckler / Down In Caroline / Copper Creek
• Precious Child / Tony Trischka / Glory Shone Around / Rounder
• Old Kentucky Hills / Larry Stephenson / Life Stories / Pinecastle
• Let The Big Dog Eat / Jim Van Cleve / No Apologies / Rural Rhythm
• The Buckin' Mule / Vern & Ray / San Francisco 1968 / Arhoolie
• In My Younger Days / The Country Gentlemen / Joe's Last Train / Rebel
• The Moonshiner / IIIrd Tyme Out / Round III at the MAC / CMG
• Don't Tell Mama / The Grascals / Long List of Heartaches / Rounder
• The Whiskey Ain't Workin' Anymore / Mary Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives / Live At The Ryman / Superlatone
• Keep On The Firing Line / Ralph Stanley / A Distant Land To Roam / Columbia/DMZ
• Appaloosa / Country Current / Live / DoD
• Mighty Lonesome / Jim Lauderdale / Bluegrass / Rep Roc
• The River Ran Black / David Davis and the Warrior River Boys / Troubled Times / Rebel
• Mississippi River Raft / J. D. Crowe & The New South / Lefty's Old Guitar / Rounder
• Our Last Goodbye / Dave Evans / Pretty Green Hills / Rebel
• Beautiful Star of Bethlehem / Rhonda Vincent / Beautiful Star / Rounder
• Angels We Have Heard On High Tony Trischka / Glory Shone Around / Rounder
• Montana Cowboy / Michael Cleveland w/ Del McCoury / Let 'Er Go, Boys / Rounder
• Blue Ridge Cabin Home / Flatt & Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Jamboree / Columbia
• Footprints In The Snow / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / The Essential / Columbia
• Rita Mae / Dale Ann Bradley / Catch Tomorrow / Compass
• Over The Hill To The Poorhouse / Flatt & Scruggs / The Golden Years / County
• Working Man Blues / The Carter Family / The Carter Family / Sphere
• Train 45 / Jim Van Cleve / No Apologies / Rural Rhythm
• Another Tear / Cedar Hill / Portrait of a Song / Hay Holler
• Blue Ridge Mountain Girl / Blue Highway / Lonesome Pine / Rebel
• Cold Rain / Big Country Bluegrass / On Fire / Hay Holler
• Tupelo County Jail / Nothin' Fancy / #7 / Pinecastle
• Are You Lonesome Tonight / Mark Newton Band / Hillbilly Hemingway / Rebel
• I Cried All The Way To Kentucky / Alecia Nugent / A Little Girl… A Big Four-Lane / Rounder
• Highway 52 / Reno & Smiley / Together Again / Rebel
• They're At Rest Together / Seldom Scene / Dream Scene / Sugar Hill
• Boots of Spanish Leather / Seldom Scene / Scene It All / Sugar Hill
• O Come All Ye Faithful / Tony Trischka / Glory Shone Around / Rounder
• Sleigh Ride / Tony Trischka / Glory Shone Around / Rounder
• Nothin' Special / Del McCoury Band / The Company We Keep / McCoury
• Never Grow Up Boy / Del McCoury Band / The Company We Keep / McCoury
• Have I Stayed Away Too Long / Bob Paisley and the Southern Grass / No Vacancy / Brandywine
• Ridin' That Midnight Train / Ralph Stanley & Iris DeMent / Clinch Mountain Sweethearts / Rebel
• I'm Ready To Go / Ralph Stanley & Jeannie Seely / Clinch Mountain Sweethearts / Rebel
• I Got Tired Of Being Poor / The Scenic Route / The Scenic Route / RCH
• It's Too Late Now / The Osborne Brothers / Dayton to Knoxville / Pinecastle
• He Lives In Me / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / He Lives In Me / Horizon
• A Beautiful River of Life / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / A Stop In South Port Towne / Blue Circle
• What Will The Coming of the Lord Mean To You / The Gillis Brothers / Sunshine In The Shadows / Hay Holler
• Let's All Go Down To The River / David Peterson / Jesus Use Me / Self
• Pass Me Not / Dale Ann Bradley / Catch Tomorrow / Compass
• I'm Bound For The Land of Canaan / Del McCoury Band / The Promised Land / McCoury
• Ohoopee / Gillis Brothers / Down By The River / Hay Holler

An untimely passing...

The bluegrass community suffered a major loss this weekend when Dempsey Young, longtime mandolin player of the Lost & Found, took his own life on Saturday, December 9, 2006. If you've heard any of the great L&F tunes, such as "Love Of The Mountains" or "Wild Mountain Flowers For Mary," you've, no doubt, noticed the distinctive mandolin picking of Dempsey Young. Honestly, as a non-musician, sometimes it's hard for me to pick out who's playing a particular instrument. Not so with Dempsey Young -- his playing could easily be identified within a few notes. A memorial fund has been established for the family of Dempsey Young; you can read about it in the piece I've included here from the Bluegrass Blog. Sincere condolences to the fans, friends, and family of Dempsey Young.....

Dempsey Young Memorial Fund

In our earlier post about the untimely passing of Dempsey Young, I made reference to a fund being established for the benefit of his family. That fund is now in place, and contributions can be sent to:

Dempsey Young Memorial Fund c/o Franklin Community Bank
400 Old Franklin Turnpike, Suite 100
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151

Dempsey is survived by his wife Lynette, daughters Stephanie and Demetra living at home, and son Christopher (USAF), stationed in Qatar. The memorial fund is to assist Lynette and the children, particularly with education expenses.

He also leaves 3 brothers, Steve, Randy and Scott all of Wirtz, VA and several extended family members. His band family consists of Allen Mills, business partner for over 33 years, Scottie Sparks and Ronald Smith.

Condolences can be sent to:

Lynette Young
3467 Bonbrook Mill Road
Boones Mill, VA 24065
OR
Lost & Found
7915 Charity Highway
Ferrum, VA 24088

The Scene & Amy Gallatin in East Hartford...

Amid the hustle and bustle that is the month of December, the Podunk Bluegrass Committee sponsored a terrific show last Friday, December 8th at the Community Cultural Center in East Hartford. First to take the stage was Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters, featuring Roger Williams on the dobro, John Urbanik on the bass, and special guest, Dave Dick, on the mandolin and banjo. This was a fine-sounding configuration, for sure, and they received a very nice response from those in attendance.

After a fine set from Amy & Co. and an intermission break, the Seldom Scene came on for one energetic (and fairly lengthy) set. Without the larger-than-life presence of John Duffey, it's almost difficult to call this band the Seldom Scene, but that is not to discredit this fine group in any way, shape, or form. All of these guys, including original Scene-r Ben Eldridge, worked with Duffey long enough to learn a few of his showmanship "tricks," and they did not disappoint at all. While Dudley Connell joked that the audience must have "all come in one car," really, the crowd wasn't terribly small. It's always fun to see Dudley and Lou Reid sing together, and Fred Travers has to be one of the most under-rated tenors in bluegrass. Their trios are terrific, and when Ronnie Simpkins adds a bass vocal to the mix....I can't think of too many quartets in bluegrass who are better today. If you missed the East Hartford show, perhaps you got a chance to catch the Scene in their BBU show at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, MA on Saturday night. From what I understand, that 400-seat theater was nearly sold out, so I guess it's safe to say that folks in the northeast definitely are fond of the Seldom Scene.

There will be more bluegrass at the EHCCC in the new year, too: a sort of progressive group called Cadillac Sky is playing there on Friday, January 12th and ultra-traditional Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass takes the EHCCC stage on Saturday, February 3rd. If you'd like more information on either of these shows, visit the EHCCC website.

Amy

Tony Trischka's "Glory Shone Around" holiday show comes to West Hartford...

On Friday, December 15, 2006, Tony Trischka’s Glory Shone Around (Holiday Show) will be appearing at the University of Hartford in a concert to benefit FoodShare. This show will be held at the Wilde Auditorium, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. The doors open at 6:30PM -- the show starts at 7:30PM. For ticket information, call (860)768-4228 or 1-800-274-8587. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.hartford.edu/tickets or www.musicforachange.com, or in person at the University of Hartford box office at Lincoln Theater, 200 Bloomfield Avenue. Proceeds to benefit FoodShare. Concert attendees are encouraged to bring a donation of non-perishable food to help feed those in need this holiday season.

Rumor has it, too, that Jim may be talking with Tony Trischka on the air during this Sunday's Bluegrass Cafe. Please tune in from 4-7PM for the show (and 2-4PM for the Red Rooster Party, if you're so inclined).

Amy

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 12/3/2006

Sunday's BG Cafe was a mostly not-preempted show (we missed about 5 minutes to UCONN Men's Basketball). We listened to a bit of new music from the new Circuit Riders CD, as well as a "missing" project from Helen, June, & Anita Carter that was recorded in 1991, but never released until recently. We included about 30 minutes of bluegrass standards from the pen of the late Carter Stanley (who died on December 1, 1966) -- lots of tunes from both Carter & Ralph, as well as other folks who've recorded Carter's songs through the years. Believe me, this was just a very small sampling, as we could easily fill several shows with various performers' versions of Carter Stanley tunes. In addition, we gave away copies of the last two CDs by David Peterson & 1946 (The Howling Blue Winds & In The Mountaintops To Roam), and heard lots of nice comments from listeners about Dave's in-studio visit with Jim and I on November 26th. All in all, 'twas a busy show. Jim and Marti will be in the BG Cafe for the next two Sundays -- I'll be back on Christmas Eve playing lots of those bluegrass Christmas tunes. (If memory serves, I may be filling in for the Red Rooster Party on December 24th, as well -- I'll get my Buck Owens Christmas CDs ready....)

Amy

Playlist note: requests are in green

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / Rockygrass / Blue Planet
• Bluegrass Blues / Steep Canyon Rangers / Steep Canyon Rangers / Rebel
• China Grove, My Hometown / Curly Seckler / Down In Caroline / Copper Creek
• Losing You / Audie Blaylock / Tribute To Jimmy Martin / Koch
• Your Love Is Like A Flower / Flatt & Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Jamboree / Columbia
• Red Letter Day / Gibson Brothers / Red Letter Day / Sugar Hill
• God Must Be A Cowboy / The Grass Cats / Home To Carolina / New Time Records
• Christmas Time's A Comin' / Rhonda Vincent / Beautiful Star / Rounder
• Take Me Back To Old Kentucky / Circuit Riders / Let The Ride Begin / Pinecastle
• My Brother Paul And Me / New River Line / Chasing My Dreams / Kindred Records
• My Clinch Mountain Home / Carter Family / Carter Family / Sphere Records
• Cold Wind / Circuit Riders / Let The Ride Begin / Pinecastle
• I'll Still Write Your Name In The Sand / David Peterson & 1946 / In The Mountaintops To Roam / Self-Produced
• I Wish You Knew / Nothin' Fancy / #7 / Pinecastle
• 1946 / David Peterson & 1946 / In The Mountaintops To Roam / Self-Produced
• The Old Home / Stanley Brothers / Stanley Brothers & Clinch Mt. Boys, 1949-1952 / Bear Family
• Say Won't You Be Mine / Ralph Stanley / Sixteen Years / Copper Creek
• A Vision Of Mother / Stanley Brothers / Stanley Brothers & Clinch Mt. Boys, 1949-1952 / Bear Family
• Our Last Goodbye / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Legacy / Sugar Hill
• Let's Part The Best Of Friends / Stanley Brothers / Stanley Brothers & Clinch Mt. Boys, 1949-1952 / Bear Family
• Let Me Be Your Friend / John Duffey / Always In Style / Sugar Hill
• Mother No Longer Awaits Me At Home / Stanley Brothers / Earliest Recordings / Rich-R-Tone
• The Drunkard's Hell / David Peterson & 1946 / The Howling Blue Winds / Self-Produced
• Hey! Hey! Hey! / Stanley Brothers / Stanley Brothers & Clinch Mt. Boys, 1949-1952 / Bear Family
• The Fields Have Turned Brown / Bobby Osborne & Rocky Top X-Press / Try A Little Kindness / Rounder
• Are You Afraid To Die / Ralph Stanley with Sonya & Becky Isaacs / Clinch Mountain Country / Rebel
• Nobody Cares (Not Even You) / Lonesome Pine Fiddlers / Windy Mountain / Bear Family
• Just Loving You / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Lefty's Old Guitar / Rounder
• Tomorrow I'll Be Gone / Johnson Mountain Boys / Working Close / Rounder
• Cumberland Gap / Charlie Cushman / Five String Time / Self-Produced
• Blow Out The Candle, Laura / Crooked Creek / Good Home Grown Music Sampler, 2006 / Blue Circle
• Sophronie / Jimmy Martin & Sunny Mt. Boys / You Don't Know My Mind / Rounder
• Hard Times / The Grascals / Long List Of Heartaches / Rounder
• Blue And Lonesome / Seldom Scene / Scene It All / Sugar Hill
• Name On Your Heart / Acoustic Blue / Workin' Man / Self-Produced
• The Last Old Shovel / Phyllis Boyens / O Sister / Rounder
• Paper And Pen / Alecia Nugent / Alecia Nugent / Rounder
• Blue Tears Are Falling / Paul Adkins & the Borderline Band / Reflections Of Love / Rebel
• Banjo Boy Chimes / Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass / The Tradition Continues / Brandywine
• Wildwood Flower / Carter Family / Anchored In Love / Rounder
• Rocky Top / Osborne Brothers / High Lonesome / CMH
• Shouting On The Hills Of Glory / Spinney Brothers / Here At The Cross / Self-Produced
• Shine Hallelujah Shine / Reno & Smiley / Together Again / Rebel
• I'm Bound For The Land Of Canaan / Del McCoury Band / The Promised Land / McCoury Music
• Just A Little Talk With Jesus / Phoenix / Tailor Made / Self-Produced
• A Voice From On High / Bill Monroe & the Blue Grass Boys / High Lonesome / CMH
• One Wide River / Country Gentlemen / Early Rebel Recordings, 1962-1971 / Rebel
• Higher Ground / Paul Williams & Cliff Waldron / Higher Ground / Rebel
• Little White Church / Jim & Jesse with Mac Wiseman / Music Among Friends / Rounder
• Blue Grass Twist / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

A bit of live BG in December....

Can you believe it's December 1st? How the heck did that happen?

Anyhow, if you're not too bogged down with preparing for Christmas events (i.e. parties, shopping, etc.), why not make some time to take in some live bluegrass music in the area?

Tomorrow, December 2nd, there will be a show at the Killingly Grange (located on the corner of Route 101 and Dog Hill Road in East Killingly, CT) featuring the Pulpit Rock Rounders and Nick Anderson & Tall Grass. The Pulpit Rock Rounders are a old-time duo from the western part of CT, who, as far as I know, have not performed often (if ever) in eastern CT. Nick Anderson's Tall Grass group is one I know next-to-nothing about, but I'm sure they'll have a very good sound. If you're interested in checking out this show, it all starts at 7:00PM. For more information, call (860)564-1018.

Next Friday night, December 8th, the Seldom Scene makes another New England appearance for 2006, this time at the East Hartford Community Cultural Center, 50 Chapman Place, East Hartford. This show is sponsored by the folks who put on the Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival, and EHCCC is just a splendid place to see and hear live music. If you'd like more information, check out the EHCCC website, or call (860)528-1458. Showtime is 7:30PM, but the doors will open at 6:00PM for jamming.

(Should you happen to miss the Scene in East Hartford on the 8th, you might be able to catch them the next night at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, MA. This show is sponsored by the Boston Bluegrass Union, and rumor has it, the tickets are going pretty quickly. If you know you can't make it to East Hartford, but need to see the Scene on December 9th, visit the BBU online ASAP.)

See you Sunday in the Bluegrass Cafe. We'll have a mini-tribute to the songwriting legacy of Carter Stanley, some new music from the Circuit Riders and Jack Cooke (two separate CDs, of course), "new" music from Helen, June, and Anita Carter, and a CD or two to give away featuring last week's in-studio guest, David Peterson. Please join us at 4PM (start time depending on when the sports broadcast ends).

Amy

A few photos from Sunday's Cafe with David Peterson....

Here are a few pictures from Sunday's visit with David Peterson.

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 11/26/2006

Sunday's show featured a very special in-the-studio guest at the Bluegrass Cafe: David Peterson. Since Dave came home to Massachusetts to see his folks for Thanksgiving, we were able to get him to stop by the studio and play a few tunes for us on his guitar. Some of the songs were from the excellent (and very successful) David Peterson & 1946 CD, "In The Mountaintops To Roam," and the others were tunes that Dave hasn't recorded (yet). We actually had a bit of a combined Red Rooster Party and Bluegrass Cafe, as Dave and guitar joined us on the air about 3:40PM, and stayed until the UCONN Men's Basketball game preempted the Bluegrass Cafe beginning at 5PM. I think I can safely speak for Jim and Marti and say that we were all delighted to have Dave in the studio with us. If you ever get a chance to see him and 1946 play live, do yourself a favor and get out there. Saying this in the nicest way possible, the man and his music are hardcore, and the band is a whole lot of fun to listen to and watch on the stage. [Note to New England promoters: if you're in need of a dyed-in-the-wool, traditional, authentic Bluegrass band for your shows and/or festivals in 2007, contact David Peterson.] Thanks to Dave for joining us in the studio -- anytime you want to come back is fine with us!

Amy

• Weary Blues From Waitin' / David Peterson / Live at WHUS
• Rattlesnakin' Daddy / David Peterson / Live at WHUS
• You Don't Know My Mind / Jimmy Martin / Time-Life Treasury Of Bluegrass / Time-Life
• In The Mountaintops To Roam / David Peterson / Live at WHUS
• Sparkling Brown Eyes / Joe Val / Diamond Joe / Rounder
• 1946 / David Peterson / Live at WHUS
• Fool's Moon / David Peterson / Live at WHUS
• Put Me On The Trail To Carolina / David Peterson / Live at WHUS

Play List "Bluegrass Cafe" 11/19/2006

I checked the calendar and noticed it had been just over ten years since Don Stover left us, and about a year since Bea Lilly left us, so I decided to focus a good bit of the Bluegrass Cafe on The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover. Apparently many listeners were appreciative because the phone was quite active during the show.

Marti and I along with Amy will be combining parts of Red Rooster Party and Bluegrass Cafe next Sunday to give David Peterson an opportunity to be with us a meaningful amount of time before the sports guys take over the studio. Be sure to tune in!

Jim

• Wild Turkey / Gillis Brothers / Down By The River / Hay Holler
• White House Blues / Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys / Mountain Music Bluegrass Style / Smithsonian Folkways
• Katy Cline / The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover / Live At Hillbilly Ranch / Hay Holler
• Picture On The Wall / The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover / Live At Hillbilly Ranch / Hay Holler
• Bile 'em Cabbage Down / Stover, Lilly & Anthony / Mountain Music Bluegrass Style / Smithsonian Folkways
• Valley Of Peace / Don Stover / Things In Life / Rounder
• Things In Life / Don Stover / Things In Life / Rounder
• Mole In The Ground / Doc & Merle Watson / Black Mountain Rag / Rounder
• Coat of Many Colors / Dolly Parton / Live And Well / Sugar Hill
• Cold Creek March / Mark Johnson & Emory Lester / Acoustic Rising / Mountain Home
• On A Hill Lone And Grey / Ralph Stanley / A Distant Land To Roam / Columbia
• The Ballad of Sarah Malone / David Davis and the Warrior River Boys / Troubled Times / Rebel
• Butcher Boy / The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Have A Feast Here Tonight / Prestige/Folklore
• Where Shall I Be / The Old Time Bluegrass Singers / Threads / Open Road
• Old Man Joe / Jim Eanes and Bobby Atkins / Heart of the South / Rural Rhythm
• My Home's Across The Blueridge Mountains / Jimmy Arnold / Riding With Ol' Mosby / Rebel
• Boots of Spanish Leather / Seldom Scene / Scene It All / Sugar Hill
• Oh, Hide You In The Blood / The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / Bluegrass at the Roots 1961 / Smithsonian Folkways
• I'll Live On / The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover / What Will I Leave Behind / Rebel
• Homefolks / The Mark Newton Band / Hillbilly Hemingway / Rebel
• Blue Bonnet Lane / J. D. Crowe & The New South / Lefty's Old Guitar / Rounder
• Cornbread and 'lasses and Sassafras Tea / The Lilly Brothers And Don Stover / Bluegrass At The Roots 1961 / Smithsonian Folkways
• Julia Belle / Dale Ann Bradley / Catch Tomorrow / Compass
• Cut Your Wheels / The Grascals / Long List of Heartaches / Rounder
• Careless Love / David Peterson & 1946 / In The Mountaintops To Roam / Self
• Back Roads Breakdown / Buddy Merriam and Back Roads / Live at the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall / Lillypad
• Deep River / Buddy Merriam and Back Roads / Live at the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall / Lillypad
• She's No Lady / Lonesome River Band / The Road With No End / Mountain Home
• Night / Michael Cleveland / Let 'Er Go Boys / Rounder
• Four Dollar Fight / Cedar Hill / Portrait of A Song / Hay Holler
• Pretty Green Hills / Dave Evans / Pretty Green Hills / Rebel
• Little Willie / Stanley Brothers / Plum Pitiful Volume Two / Wango
• The Touch of God's Hand / Vern & Ray / San Francisco 1968 / Arhoolie
• Dark As A Dungeon / Merle Travis / in Boston 1959 / Rounder
• Little Annie / The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover / Bluegrass at the Roots 1961 / Smithsonian Folkways
• 20/20 Vision / The Gillis Brothers / Ice Cold Stone / Hay Holler
• Ice Cold Stone / The Gillis Brothers / Ice Cold Stone / Hay Holler
• 2720 / Dan Menzone / Menzone Drive / Self
• Freeborn Man / Dan Tyminski, Doyle Lawson, Tony Rice, et al / Celebration of Life / Skaggs Family
• Six More Miles / The Basement Band / Plum Pitiful Volume Two / Wango
• He Goes To Church / Cherryholmes / Cherryholmes / Skaggs Family
• I Am The Man, Thomas / Don Rigsby & Midnight Call / Hillbilly Heartache / Rebel
• Somebody Touched Me / The Dillards / There Is A Time / Vanguard
• Will You Meet Me Over Yonder / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / He Lives In Me / Horizon
• I Would Not Be Denied / The Lilly Brothers And Don Stover / What Will I Leave Behind / Rebel
• Paul and Silas / Flatt and Scruggs / Foggy Mountain Gospel / Columbia
• I Hear A Sweet Voice Calling / Joe Val & The New England Bluegrass Boys / The Stained Glass Hour / Rounder
• Ohoopee / Gillis Brothers / Down By The River / Hay Holler

A Guest for Two Shows....

Question: What could be more fun than having a live musical guest on a radio show?
Answer: Having the guest on TWO radio shows!

On Sunday, November 26th, that very thing will happen when Massachusetts native David Peterson will be dropping by both the Red Rooster Party AND the sports-shortened Bluegrass Cafe. Starting off 'round about 3:30PM, Jim & Marti will welcome Dave and his guitar, and who knows what tunes and conversation you might hear? The BG Cafe will be on for less than an hour on 11/26, as there is a UCONN Men's Basketball game starting at 5PM, so we thought we'd keep the festive holiday weekend feeling going by combining the two shows for a bit and welcoming Dave into the mix. It should be a whole lot of fun -- we hope you'll join us.

(By the way, it's important to note that David Peterson will be performing at WHUS without his band, 1946 -- pictured here at the rain-soaked Buttery Brook BG Festival last July. There's no great controversy -- the rest of the band will just be enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday with their families. Perhaps we'll all be able to hear Dave sing his very successful tune -- also called "1946" -- that has done so well on the National Bluegrass Survey this year. If he doesn't sing it, you're liable to hear one disappointed person whining on the 26th....)

Tune in to Red Rooster Party this week and every week from 2-4PM, and stay tuned for the BG Cafe from 4-7PM (most weeks, that is).

Amy

Chris Stuart is November's "Songwriter Chat" guest

Candi Sawyer, publisher of the Bluegrass Guide, would like you to know that the Songwriter Chat at her website this month will feature special guest, Chris Stuart. Chris fronts the band, Backcountry, and is a past first-prize winner of the Chris Austin Songwriter contest at Merlefest in both the bluegrass and gospel categories. Some of his compositions include "Julia Belle" -- a tune that can be found on at least two 2006 recordings -- 5 South by Backcountry's banjo player, Janet Beazley, and Catch Tomorrow by Dale Ann Bradley -- as well as a fine gospel tune recorded a few years back by Claire Lynch, "Paul And Peter Walked." If you are a subscriber to Bluegrass Unlimited magazine, you may have also noticed that Chris has had a couple of interviews published in the past year or two in that publication; Ralph Stanley (seen here being interviewed by Chris), the Gibson Brothers, Del McCoury, Tim O'Brien, and Lou Reid are just a few of his subjects. For more information on Chris Stuart and Backcountry, visit their band website.

To join Chris in the Songwriter chat room, go to the Bluegrass Guide website, then click "Chat Room" (left side of the screen), and "Enter." This will happen on Tuesday, November 21st at 8PM. As always, New Hampshire songwriter, Rick Lang, is your chat room host.

Amy

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 11/12/2006

Sunday's show included new music from the likes of Laurie Lewis & the Hired Hands, the Grass Cats, the Mark Newton Band, and a very cool live recording of the duo of Vern (Williams) & Ray (Park) with Herb Pedersen from the 1968 San Francisco State Folk Festival. We also answered a few listener requests for tunes from Dry Branch Fire Squad, the Seldom Scene, Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, Jim Van Cleve, and even the Bear Bridge Band. For next week's show, Jim will be at the helm. Do join him and Marti on Sunday from 4-7PM, please....

Amy

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / Rockygrass / Blue Planet
• Handmade Nails And Homemade Love / Randy Kohrs / I'm Torn / Lonesome Day
• Poor Monroe / Ricky Skaggs & Keith Whitley / Second Generation / Rebel
• We'll Meet Again Sweetheart / Curly Seckler / 60 Years Of Bluegrass With My Friends /Copper Creek
• No Mother Or Dad / Flatt & Scruggs / Complete Mercury Recordings / Mercury
• There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere / Osborne Brothers / Hyden / Pinecastle
• Steppin' Stones / Paul Williams / Tribute To Jimmy Martin / Koch
• Theme Time / Jim Mills / Hide Head Blues / Sugar Hill
• Sparkling Brown Eyes / Joe Val / Diamond Joe / Rounder
• Purple Heart / Red Allen / Lonesome And Blue / Rebel
• I've Lived A Lot In My Time / Dry Branch Fire Squad / Just For The Record / Rounder
• Boots Of Spanish Leather / Seldom Scene / Scene It All / Sugar Hill
• Healing Hills / Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike / That's What Love Can Do / Bell Buckle
• How Many Times / Vern & Ray with Herb Pedersen / San Francisco, 1968 / Arhoolie
• The Golden West / Laurie Lewis & The Hired Hands / The Golden West / Hightone
• Homefolks / Mark Newton Band / Hillbilly Hemingway / Rebel
• Home To Carolina / Grass Cats / Home To Carolina / New Time Records
• Your Eyes / Laurie Lewis & The Hired Hands / The Golden West / Hightone
• Poor Ellen Smith / Vern & Ray with Herb Pedersen / San Francisco, 1968 / Hightone
• A Faded Rose, A Broken Heart / Spinney Brothers / If I Were Your Brother / Self-Produced
• Nature Of The Beast / Jim Van Cleve / No Apologies / Rural Rhythm
• I've Waited As Long As I Can / IIIrd Tyme Out /Grandpa's Mandolin / Rebel
• In Despair /David Peterson & 1946 / In The Mountaintops To Roam / Self-Produced
• Tennessee Cut-Up Breakdown / Charlie Cushman /High Fidelity / Self-Produced
• Like A Bird In A Cage / Bear Bridge Band / Broken Hearts & Better Times / Open Road
• Hard Hearted / Jim & Jesse / In The Tradition / Rounder
• Moonlight On Kentucky / Misty Valley Boys / Bluegrass Piedmont Style / MasterShield
• Mississippi River Raft / J.D. Crowe & The New South / Lefty's Old Guitar / Rounder
• Never Grow Up Boy / Del McCoury Band / The Company We Keep / McCoury Music
• Footprints In The Snow / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Time-Life Treasury Of Bluegrass / Time-Life
• The Lonesome Fugitive / Darrell Webb / Behind The Scenes / Lonesome Day
• Lonesome Won't Get The Best Of Me / Lonesome River Band / The Road With No End / Mountain Home
• The Ballad Of Sarah Malone / David Davis & The Warrior River Boys / Troubled Times / Rebel
• Hard Times / The Grascals / Long List Of Heartaches / Rounder
• If I'm Lyin' I'm Dyin' / Frank Solivan II / Selfish Tears / Self-Produced
• Never Get To Hold You In My Arms Anymore / Warrior River Boys / Sounds Like Home / Rounder
• Who Done It? / WhiteHouse / WhiteHouse / Pinecastle
• Scatterbrain Mama / Hunger Mountain Boys / Three / Old-Fi
• When You Were Mine / Phoenix / Tailor Made / Self-Produced
• I Beg To You / Cedar Hill / Portrait Of A Song / Hay Holler
• The Heavenly Light Is Shining On Me / Dan Paisley & The Southern Grass / The Tradition Continues / Brandywine
• Lord, Lift Me Up / Bluegrass Patriots / E Pluribus Bluegrass / Red Feather
• I Can't Sit Down / Steep Canyon Rangers / Feel Like My Time Ain't Long / Rebel
• Along The Way / Country Gentlemen / Let The Light Shine Down / Rebel
• What Would You Give In Exchange? / Lilly Brothers / Bluegrass At The Roots / Smithsonian Folkways
• Lay Down Your Troubles / Gary Ferguson / I'm Really Leaving / Webco
• I Want To Be A Christian Soldier / Crowe & McLaughlin / Going Back / Rounder
• Wicked Path Of Sin / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Essential Bill Monroe, 1945-1949 / Columbia
• Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder
  

"Bluegrass Cafe" Play List 11/05/06

Marti performed duty above and beyond by playing lots of bluegrass while Amy and Jim were enjoying the excellent concert in Plainfield with The Bear Bridge Band, Dan Paisley and the Southern Grass, and special surprise guest James King (!!!) Folks, if you weren't there, you should be kicking yourself right about now.

Amy will be spinning the bluegrass as only she can this coming Sunday, so see you at the Cafe.

Jim

• Down Where the River Bends / Ralph Stanley (w/Dwight Yoakum) / Saturday Night/Sunday Morning / Freeland
• God Bless the Soldier / Rhonda Vincent / All American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
• I'm Coming Back, But I Don't Know When / Del McCoury / I Wonder Where You Are Tonight / Arhoolie
• Margie / Bob Paisley & The Southern Grass / Live in Holland / Strictly Country
• There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere / Charlie Waller & the Country Gentlemen / Songs of the American Spirit / Pinecastle
• Mother's Prayer / Joe Val / Diamond Joe / Rounder
• America Our Home / Joe Isaacs / Dreaming of Home / MME
• Run Rufus Run / Dale Ann Bradley / Catch Tomorrow / Compass
• Flower Blooming in the Wildwood / Michael Cleveland (Tim O'Brien vocal) / Ler 'er Go Boys / Rounder
• Cleanin' Off the Porch / Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time / Songs from the Workbench / Shell Point
• Hickory Hollow / The Dillards / Back Porch Bluegrass / Elektra
• Goin' Back to the Blue Ridge Mountains / Jim Mills / My Dixie Home / Sugar Hill
• Iron Mountain Line / Larry Stephenson / Life Stories / Pinecastle
• Will You Be Loving Another Man / The Grascals / Long List of Heartaches / Rounder
• My Rocky Mountain Sweetheart / David Davis and the Warrior River Boys / David Davis & the Warrior River Boys / Rebel
• Hearts & Flowers / Randy Waller & The Country Gentlemen / Keeper of the Flame / Lendel
• Devil's Dream / Bill Monroe & the Blue Grass Boys / Live At Mechanics Hall / Acoustic Disc
• Dark Hollow / Bill Monroe & the Blue Grass Boys / Live At Mechanics Hall / Acoustic Disc
• Highway of Sorrow / Johnson Mountain Boys / Live at the Birchmere / Rounder
• Hard Times / Grascals / Long List of Heartaches / Rounder
• It's Amazing What Sunshine Can Do / Pete Goble / When I'm Knee Deep in Bluegrass / Fireheart
• Pretty Green Hills / Dave Evans / Pretty Green Hills / Rebel
• I'm Not Living Life, It's Living Me / Bo Isaac / A Good Homegrown Music Sampler / Home Grown Music
• Cardboard Mansion / Bob Paisley & The Southern Grass / Back to the Blue Ridge / Brandywine
• Prisoner of the Past / Lou Reid, Terry Baucom & Carolina / Carolina Blue / Webco
• Hard Times in Kentucky / The Virginia Squires / The Best of the Virginia Squires / Rebel
• Is It Too Late Now / The Bluegrass Album Band / The Bluegrass Album, Vol. 2 / Rounder
• Troubles Up & Down The Road / Blue Highway / Blue Highway / Ceili
• We Can't Be Darling Anymore / Johnson Mountain Boys / Live at the Birchmere / Rounder
• Don't Act / Rhonda Vincent / All American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
• Bringing in the Georgia Mail / Sam Bush / Prime Cuts of Bluegrass, Vol. 82 / KBC Music
• Pill or Potion / The Grass Cats / Prime Cuts of Bluegrass, Vol. 82 / KBC Music
• Chancellorsville / David Davis & the Warrior River Boys / Troubled Times / Rebel
• Too Often Left Alone / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Lefty's Old Guitar / Rounder
• Travelin' Kind / Carolina Sonshine / ...Remembers the Country Gentlemen / Mastershield
• Uncle Pen / Ricky Skaggs / Treasury of Bluegrass / Time Life
• You Don't know My Mind / Jimmy Martin / Treasury of Bluegrass / Time Life
• Down In Caroline / Big Country Bluegrass / On Fire / Hay Holler
• Flame in My Heart / James King / Thirty Years of Farming / Rounder
• Heart Like a Road Sign, Head Like a Wheel / Mountain Heart / Force of Nature / Skaggs
• Think of What You've Done / IIIrd Tyme Out / Round III at the Mac / CMG
• Shuckin' the Corn / Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives / Live at the Ryman / Universal South
• Whoop and Ride / Lonesome River Band / The Road With No End / Mountain Home
• The Great Speckled Bird / Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives / Live at the Ryman / Universal South
• Lefty's Old Guitar / J. D. Crowe & The New South / Lefty's Old Guitar / Rounder
• Blackmail Your Heart / Dan Paisley & Southern Grass / The Tradition Continues / Brandywine
• White Lightning Strikes / Pine Mountain Railroad / Heartache & Hope / TrakTone
• Fool's Moon / David Peterson & 1946 / In the Mountaintops to Roam / Self
• West Virginia My Home / Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top Xpress / Try A Little Kindness / Rounder
• Rocky Top X-Press / Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top Xpress / Try A Little Kindness / Rounder
• Daddy Was A Moonshine Man / Don Rigsby & Midnight Call / Hillbilly Heartache / Rebel
• I'm Bound for the Land of Canaan / The Del McCoury Band / The Promised Land / McCoury Music
• Those Good Old Country Sundays / The Lewis Family / Flyin' High / Mountain Home
• Zion's Hill / The Spinney Brothers / Here At the Cross / self
• He Will Set Your Fields On Fire / Blueridge / Getting' Ready / Pinecastle
• The Lowest Valley / The Isaacs / Bridges / Horizon

Consider yourself warned...

Folks -

For the last two weeks of BG Cafe shows, you've been treated first to Jim & Marti, and then last week, to Marti alone, but this week.....I'm back on the air. Now, that may disappoint some people, but I hope you'll tune in for the music, nonetheless. We'll have a big time with (we hope) some great new music from Laurie Lewis & the Hired Hands, and maybe a few others, too. Of course, we'll throw in some of those chestnuts we all love so well, too. I hope you'll join me this Sunday from 4-7PM.

Also, this isn't 100% chiseled in stone yet, but there's a very strong possibility that on Thanksgiving weekend -- Sunday, November 26th -- we'll have a live-in-the-studio guest playing some (again, we hope) great music. Maybe he'll even do his tune that's currently in the Top 5 of the National BG Survey....? We'll let you know for sure about this possible guest when we firm things up, but in the meantime, keep on listening to the Bluegrass Cafe, please.....

Happy Veterans Day to all you vets out there, and thanks.....

Amy

More traditional BG on the way....

Fans of traditional, "hard core" BG are in for a major treat when David Davis & the Warrior River Boys take the stage at the Country Corner Coffee House in South Hadley, MA on Saturday, November 18th. These boys have a new record (okay...CD) out on Rebel Records called "Troubled Times," and it's very hard-edged, bluesy, and authentic. This is another band that has made the rounds many times for many years throughout New England and the Northeast, although David Davis and a majority of the band live in the Deep South. I don't think it should surprise anyone that there seems to be a great following for the traditional brand of BG in New England -- and those who love that sound will want to be in South Hadley on November 18th. You can reserve a ticket for this show, if you like, but you have to do it by November 13th. To get your name on a reservation list, call (413)467-9394 or email info@countrycornermusic.com. Otherwise, make sure you get to South Hadley early enough on November 18th to secure a ticket (and a parking space!). If you'd like to learn more about DD & WRB before the show, check out their website, or visit their MySpace page for audio samples from the new record.

If you need directions to the Country Corner Coffee House (a/k/a the South Hadley Falls Congregational Church Fellowship Hall), click here.

Calling all Southern New England BG-listeners.....

Don't miss your chances this weekend to see and hear some outstanding BG music in both RI and CT. If you do, you'll be sorry.....

Starting on Friday night, November 3rd, the RIBGMA (or, Rhode Island BG Music Association, if you're not up on the initials) is presenting a show that will feature a very dynamic band called WILDFIRE at the Burrillville Junior-Senior High School, East Avenue, Harrisville, RI. Also appearing on the bill is Rhode Island's own Fifth Sunday Bluegrass Band. Showtime is 7PM -- doors will open at 6:30PM, and tickets are available at the door. If you need more information, call (401)468-8238.

On Sunday, November 5th, traditional BG is on the bill at the Plainfield Town Hall, 8 Community Ave., Plainfield, CT when DAN PAISLEY & THE SOUTHERN GRASS make their final appearance for 2006 in southern New England. Have you ever seen either Dan Paisley or his late father, Bob, get a less-than-wildly-enthusiastic response at a BG festival or show in the Northeast (or anywhere, for that matter)? I sure haven't. In addition to the Southern Grass, you'll get to see one of the infrequent-but-always-enjoyable appearances of The Bear Bridge Band. This is an afternoon show -- the doors will open at 12:30PM for pre-show jamming, and showtime is 1:30PM. For more information, see our earlier blog entry or call (860)617-0394 or (860)546-9062. If you're keeping score, this show is also sponsored by the RIBGMA.

And, if you can't stand the thought of not having live BG to see and hear on Saturday, November 4th, make the trip to the Weston Playhouse in Weston, VT. Our post on that terrific show featuring David Parmley & Continental Divide, BearTracks (with Junior Barber), and The Muellers can be found here.

There are just no excuses for you to miss these shows. We try (sometimes) not to be TOO preachy to listeners and readers about the need for you to get out and support this wonderful music when it's being performed live in your area, but I can't stop myself from strongly encouraging you to please get out to one (or, better still, ALL) of these shows. You can sleep next week.....

See you -
Amy

Play List for "Bluegrass Cafe" 29 Oct 2006

Marti and I had a fun day at the WHUS studios. We had just come off of an interview with yodeling legend Kenny Roberts when we opened up the Bluegrass Cafe, so we were in good spirits, and played new and old bluegrass that just felt good to us. We hope you enjoyed.

Marti will be running the Bluegrass Cafe solo 5 November because everyone else, including you, will be at the Dan Paisley/Bear Bridge concert at Plainfield Town Hall. The Bluegrass Cafe's audience is worldwide on the web, so Marti will be keeping the folks streaming on the web happy while Dan and Bear Bridge will be keeping the local listening area happy. See you there!

Jim

• Wild Turkey / Gillis Brothers / Down By The River / Hay Holler
• John Henry / IIIrd Tyme Out / Round III at the MAC / CMG
• Pretty Green Hills / Dave Evans / Pretty Green Hills / Rebel
• John Henry, Jr. / David Davis and the Warrior River Boys / Troubled Times / Rebel
• Don't Cheat In Our Home Town / The Stanley Brothers / The King Years 1961-1965 / King
• Roll Muddy River / The Grascals / Long List of Heartaches / Rounder
• Let The Big Dog Eat / Jim VanCleve / No Apologies / Rural Rhythm
• Hello City Limits / Michael Cleveland / Let 'Er Go, Boys / Rounder
• West Virginia My Home / Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press / Try A Little Kindness / Rounder
• Healing Hills / Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike / That's What Love Can Do / Bell Buckle
• Rovin' Gambler / J. D. Crowe & The New South / Lefty's Old Guitar / Rounder
• Take Me Back To The Mountains / Windy Creek / Take Me Back To The Mountains / Self
• Are You Waiting Just For Me / Red Allen / Lonesome And Blue / Rebel
• Gonna Have A Time / Cedar Hill / Portrait of a Song / Hay Holler
• Don't Act / Rhonda Vincent / All American Bluegrass Girl / Rounder
• My Lord Might Come Anytime / The Fritts Family / One More Mountain / Self
• My Jesus / Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike / Wash Away Your Troubles / Bell Buckle
• Old Hickory Cane / Dan Paisley and The Southern Grass / The Tradition Continues / Brandywine
• Molly and Tenbrooks / Country Current / Live / DoD
• Old Bryson Station / Pine Mountain Railroad / Heartache & Hope / TrakTone
• How Many Times / Bob Paisley and the Southern Grass / Steeped In Tradition / Brandywine
• Could I Stop Loving You / Don Reno & Red Smiley / Together Again / Rebel
• Careless Love / David Peterson & 1946 / In The Mountaintops to Roam / Self
• Restless State of Mind / Carrie Hassler / Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain / Rural Rhythm
• The Knoxville Boy / Larry Stephenson / Life Stories / Pinecastle
• Knoxville Girl / The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover / Live At The Hillbilly Ranch / Hay Holler
• Red Rocking Chair / Doc & Merle Watson / Black Mountain Rag / Rounder
• Hey, Hey, Hey / The Virginia Ramblers / The Virginia Ramblers / Hay Holler
• Alcatraz Blues / Bob Paisley & The Southern Grass / Steeped In Tradition / Brandywine
• Big Jim / Don Rigsby & Midnight Call / Hillbilly Heartache / Rebel
• Dance All Night / Charlie Cushman / Five String Time / Self
• Wake Up Peter / The Gillis Brothers / Sunshine In The Shadows / Hay Holler
• Lord, Guide My Footsteps / Cecil Hall and the Dominion Bluegrass Boys / Mother's Beautiful Rose / Weslyn
• Paul and Silas / The Stanley Brothers / The King Years 1961-1965 / King
• My Old Kentucky Home / Dan Paisley and The Southern Grass / The Tradition Continues / Brandywine
• Goodbye Old Pal / Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys / Blue Grass 1950-1958 / Bear Family
• Stay In The Wagon Yard / Charlie Waller and the Country Gentlemen / Songs of the American Spirit / Pinecastle
• Dear Old Dixie / Tom Adams & Michael Cleveland / Live at the Ragged Edge / Rounder
• Julia Belle / Janet Beazley / 5 South / Self
• Rita Mae / Dale Ann Bradley / Catch Tomorrow / Compass
• Kitten and the Cat / The Blinky Moon Boys / Moonlite Theatre / Hay Holler
• Wild Urge To Ramble / Blue Highway / Marbletown / Rounder
• One More Ride / The Bear Bridge Band / One More Ride / Open Road
• Name On Your Heart / The Bear Bridge Band / Broken Hearts & Better Times / Open Road
• Waltz of the Angels / Jimmy Bowen & Santa Fe / Stone Fences / Self
• Jesus Savior Pilot Me / Flatt & Scruggs / 1948-1959 / Bear Family
• Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven (But Nobody Wants To Die) / Tommy Brown & County Line Grass / Hard Drivin' / Lavinir
• Lord I'm Coming Home / Jimmy Martin / Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys / Bear Family
• A Voice From On High / Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder / Soldier of the Cross / Skaggs Family
• Ohoopee / The Gillis Brothers / Down By The River / Hay Holler

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:

• Blue Highway
• BlueRidge
• Dale Ann Bradley
• Mike Bub
• The Chapmans
• David Davis & the Warrior River Boys
• Tim O'Brien
• Lou Reid & Carolina
• Seldom Scene
• Charlie Sizemore Band
• Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
• Dan Tyminski

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