"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 7/27/2008

The last Sunday before the Podunk Bluegrass Festival in East Hartford was a great opportunity to have Roger Moss, Director of Parks & Recreation for the town of East Hartford, visit the Bluegrass Cafe to let everyone know what is happening with the festival. Podunk is an amazing festival with an amazing line-up that we are very fortunate to have in in Connecticut. The crew of Bluegrass Cafe hopes to see all of you there.

A highlight of the show was the band "Gravity" -- a bluegrass band from Sweden that will perform at Podunk Thursday and Friday. Band vocalist, Annsofie Lindström, discussed the history and goals of the band while we played music from their CD titled "Roadman." The band also gave us a live performance of a song from the CD.

The rest of the show featured many of the artists appearing at the Podunk festival, and some new tracks from Ricky Skaggs, Big Country Bluegrass, Cadillac Sky, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, and Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad. The latter will visit Bluegrass Cafe next Sunday after their performance at Podunk, so don't miss it!

Jim

Requests in blue

SONG TITLE / PERFORMER / ALBUM TITLE / LABEL

• The Old Brown County Barn / Michael Cleveland / Let 'Er Go, Boys! / Rounder
• Ain't Nobody Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone / Red Smiley & The Bluegrass Cut-Ups / Theory of Acoustic Evolution / Rural Rhythm
• Pike County Breakdown / Bobby Atkins, Jim Eanes, Vassar Clements, and Clay Jones / Theory of Acoustic Evolution / Rural Rhythm
• Lonesome Weary Heart / Audie Blaylock and Redline / Prime Cuts of Bluegrass Vol. 92 / KBC
• Black Eyed Susie / Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers / Travelin' On / Copper Creek
• Field Of Stone / Michelle Cupit / Prime Cuts of Bluegrass Vol. 92 / KBC
• Brand New Heartache / New England Bluegrass Band / 10 Years of European World of Bluegrass / Strictly Country
• Can't Have One Without The Other / Darrell Webb with Rhonda Vincent & The Rage / Prime Cuts of Bluegrass Vol 93 / KBC
• U Stay Gone / Cadillac Sky / Gravity's Our Enemy / Skaggs Family
• At The End Of A Long Lonely Day / Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass / The Room Over Mine / Rounder
• Little Maggie / Mashville Brigade / Bluegrass Smash Hits Volume 1 / Rural Rhythm
• I Can Go Back Anytime / Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain / CHHR2 / Rural Rhythm
• Lichen-Covered Stone / The Muellers / Branching Out / MasterShield
• Turned Me Down / Cherryholmes / Cherryholmes II: Black and White / Skaggs Family
• Uncle Pen / Ricky Skaggs / The High Notes / Cracker Barrel
• Can't You Hear That Whistle Blow / The Grascals / Keep On Walkin' / Rounder
• My Dear Old Southern Home / Doc Watson / Best Of The Sugar Hill Years / Sugar Hill
• Country Blues / Doc Watson / Best Of The Sugar Hill Years / Sugar Hill
• Travelers / Gravity / Roadman / Enviken
• Georgia On a Fast Train / Gravity / Roadman / Enviken
• Say When / Gravity / Roadman / Enviken
• Roadman / Gravity / Roadman / Enviken
• Backroads and Blue Skies / Gravity / Live Performance in the WHUS Studio
• If I Should Fall Behind / Gravity / Roadman / Enviken
• Road to Columbus [bed] / Patrick McAvinue / Grave Run / Patuxent
• Tennessee Wagoner [bed] / Patrick McAvinue / Grave Run / Patuxent
• Pick Me Up On Your Way Down [bed] / Patrick McAvinue / Grave Run / Patuxent
• Blackberry Blossom [bed] / Patrick McAvinue / Grave Run / Patuxent
• High Alleghenies / Big Country Bluegrass / Open For Business / Mountain Roads Recordings
• Old Cheater's Blues / Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time / Took Down and Put Up / Lonesome Day
• You Can't Handle The Truth / The Infamous Stringdusters / The Infamous Stringdusters / Sugar Hill
• Virginia's In The South / H. R. Cook / Neongrass / Fireball
• Widow Of The Glade / Adcock, Gaudreau, Waller & Gray / The Country Gentlemen Reunion Band / Radiotherapy
• Long Black Veil / The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover / Have A Feast Here Tonight / Prestige
• Over In Gloryland / Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad / Pickin', Praisin' & Singin' / Rural Rhythm
• Echoes From The Burning Bush / Carl Story Quartet / Songs From XERA Live Transcriptions / Old Homestead
• Sweeping Through The Gates / Dan Paisley and The Southern Grass / The Tradition Continues / Brandywine
• By The Mark / Dailey & Vincent / Dailey & Vincent / Rounder
• It's Time To Give Jesus A Try / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Why Don't You Give Jesus a Try / Blue Circle
• Swing Low, Sweet Chariot / Jim & Jesse / The Jim & Jesse Story / CMH
• I Know, I Know / Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver / Help Is On the Way / Horizon
• Orange Blossom Special / Jim Smoak / The Orange Blossom Special / Self

Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad in-studio with us -- Sunday, August 3rd!

Hey folks -

As Jim and I have both been telling you for the past couple of weeks, we'll be welcoming some special guests to WHUS and the Bluegrass Cafe this Sunday, August 3rd....Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad!

These five gentlemen have a new all-gospel recording from their new label (Rural Rhythm) called, "Pickin', Praisin', & Singin' : Hymns From The Mountain." If you've listened to the show, you've probably heard us playing some of the new tunes from this fine project. There's something there for all lovers of gospel music -- some straight Bluegrass-sounding tunes, some "classics," and even a couple of a cappella tunes. At this point, the group isn't planning on singing in the studio, but we will be playing several tunes from the CD, talking, taking your questions, and even giving away a signed-copy of the new CD. Join us at 4PM, and we'll welcome CS & PMRR shortly thereafter....

Of course, you also owe it to yourself to check out Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad at the Podunk BG Festival in East Hartford on Sunday, as they will be conducting a workshop at 10AM and playing a full gospel set at 12:35PM.

We look forward to seeing this band on Sunday -- hope you will, too!

Amy

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 7/20/2008

"New" was the word for the day at Sunday's BG Cafe. We played plenty of new music from several different acts, including the Grascals, Beth Stevens & Edge, the Churchmen, Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, Blue Moon Rising, and Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad.

Another feature on Sunday was a brief conversation with Bryan Simpson of Cadillac Sky. This band plays "bluegrass for the 21st century" (from Sing Out!, Summer 2007), and has a new Skaggs Family recording called "Gravity's Our Enemy." In addition, they will be performing on July 31st at the Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival in East Hartford. Listen to BG Cafe next Sunday when Jim welcomes Roger Moss, the main promoter of Podunk, and you'll hear all about that lineup that features something for every BG listener.

Don't forget, too, that on Sunday, August 3rd, we'll welcome the members of Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad into our studios at WHUS. Their new Rural Rhythm CD -- "Pickin', Praisin' & Singin' : Hymns From The Mountain" -- is a dandy, and we'll talk with the band and play lots of music from this fine BG gospel CD. Be sure to join us!

Thanks for listening, and be sure to join us every Sunday, won't you?

Amy


Requests are RED.

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• Why Don’t You Tell Me So / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / Diamond Joe / Rounder
• I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home / White Mountain Bluegrass / Aragon Mill / Strictly Country
• Hickory Hollow / Fred Pike, Bill Rawlings & the Twin River Boys / Authentic Bluegrass Folk Music / Osage
• How Many Times / Dan Tyminski / Wheels / Rounder
• The One You Lean On / Dan Tyminski / Wheels / Rounder
• I’m Comin’ Back, But I Don’t Know When / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / The Room Over Mine / Rounder
• Choices / The Grascals / Keep On Walkin’ / Rounder
• Fishers Of Men / Rhonda Vincent / One Step Ahead / Rounder
• Feeling Blue / The Grascals / Keep On Walkin’ / Rounder
• Sugar Coated Love / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Live In Japan / Rounder
• Virginia Waltz / Jim & Jesse / Jim & Jesse, 1952-1955 / Bear Family
• Hold Whatcha Got / Jimmy Martin / You Don’t Know My Mind / Rounder
• Love Of The Mountains / Lost & Found / Best Loved Bluegrass / Rebel
• East Kentucky Home / The SteelDrivers / The SteelDrivers / Rounder
• I’m Walkin’ / J.D. Crowe & the New South / Live In Japan / Rounder
• If I Knew Then What I Know Now / Beth Stevens & Edge / Strong Enough / Pinecastle
• Bluegrass Blues / Steep Canyon Rangers / Steep Canyon Rangers / Rebel

Conversation with Bryan Simpson of Cadillac Sky:

• Born Lonesome / Cadillac Sky / Blind Man Walking / Skaggs Family
• Inside Joke / Cadillac Sky / Gravity’s Our Enemy / Skaggs Family

• Stone Cold Loneliness / Blue Moon Rising / One Lonely Shadow / Lonesome Day
• Sweet Mountain Darlin’ / Rick Hayes / Fly By Night / Self-Produced
• I Can Go Back Anytime / Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain / CHHR2 / Rural Rhythm
• Leaving Baker County / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / Blue Side Of The Blue Ridge / Rebel
• Hazel Creek / Heather Berry & Tony / Before Bluegrass / Blue Circle
• Run On / Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad / Pickin’, Praisin’, & Singin’ : Hymns From The Mountain / Rural Rhythm
• The Lighthouse / Gibson Brothers / Bona Fide / Sugar Hill
• Unwanted Love / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder
• Have I Stayed Away Too Long / Old Time Bluegrass Singers / Threads / Open Road
• Poor Boy Workin’ Blues / Dailey & Vincent / Dailey & Vincent / Rounder
• Can’t Have One Without The Other / Darrell Webb with Rhonda Vincent & the Rage / Prime Cuts Of Bluegrass, v.93 / KBC
• Have You Come To Say Goodbye / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / Radio Gems / Radio Gems
• I Hope You Have Learned / Adcock, Gaudreau, Waller & Gray / Country Gentlemen Reunion Band / RadioTherapy Records
• I’m On My Way Back To The Old Home / Ralph Stanley with Bill Monroe / Live At McClure / Rebel
• Gone Home / Gibson Brothers / Iron & Diamonds / Sugar Hill
• I Like The Old Time Way / Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road / Why Don’t You Give Jesus A Try / Blue Circle
• Are You Lost In Sin / The Churchmen / I’ll Be Long Gone / Pinecastle
• He Said If I Be Lifted Up / Laurel Canyon Ramblers / Rambler’s Choice / Sugar Hill
• The Angels Rejoiced Last Night / Whitstine [sic] Brothers / Sing Gospel Songs Of The Louvin Brothers / Rounder
• Valley Of Peace / Lynn Morris Band / Lynn Morris Band / Rounder
• When They Ring Those Golden Bells / Country Gentlemen / Early Rebel Recordings, 1962-1971 / Rebel
• Drowning Sailor / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / The Room Over Mine / Rounder
• Giving My Soul Back To Him / IIIrd Tyme Out / Footprints / Rounder
• Black Mountain Blues / Johnson Mountain Boys / Requests / Rounder

"Bluegrass Cafe" Playlist - 7/13/2008

This Sunday was a great Bluegrass Day as you kept Marti and me busy on the phone throughout the show. We heard from many new callers, too, which is always a pleasure.

It was Rhonda Vincent's birthday (Chick reminded us) and we played quite a few of Rhonda's songs -- every one a request from a different caller. Wow!

We also played a tune from the earliest recording from Shady Creek (1990) that displayed some great dual flatpicked guitar from Dave Orlomoski and the late Gary Olenick with Dave Shaw on the mandolin. I hope you enjoyed this local classic as much as I enjoyed getting an education on some New England bluegrass history.

You might notice that we played quite a few new releases, too. I can't remember a time when there were so many great projects coming out simultaneously. We live in some great bluegrass times.

Don't forget Podunk coming soon to East Hartford! Many of the folks you heard on this program will be there.

Tune in next Sunday when Amy will bring you the best in bluegrass.

Jim

Requests in blue

SONG TITLE / PERFORMER / ALBUM TITLE / LABEL

• Wild Turkey / The Gillis Brothers / Down By The River / Hay Holler
• I Give All My Love To You / Rhonda Vincent / Good Thing Going / Rounder
• I'm Leaving Detroit / Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass / The Room Over Mine / Rounder
• Jolene / Rhonda Vincent & The Rage / Ragin' Live / Rounder
• I'll Be Glad When They Run Out Of Gas / John McEuen with Vassar Clements / Round Trip / Rural Rhythm
• Flat Rock Road / Jerry Salley with Jamie Johnson & Lisa Shaffer / New Songs, Old Friends / Mountain Home
• Marbletown / Blue Highway / Marbletown / Rounder
• Don't Bother With White Satin / Seldom Scene / SCENEchronized / Sugar Hill
• Midnight On The Mandolin / Frank Wakefield / Midnight On The Mandolin / Patuxent
• I Won't Be Far From Here / The Charlie Sizemore Band / Good News / Rounder
• Choices / The Grascals / Keep On Walkin' / Rounder
• My Heart's Own Love / Hazel Dickens / Rounder Bluegrass Unlimited Sampler 2008 / Rounder
• I'm Leavin' / Rhonda Vincent / Good Thing Going / Rounder
• Don't Leave Me Alone / Longview / Deep In The Mountains / Rounder
• I'll Remember You Love In My Prayers / Mashville Brigade / Bluegrass Smash Hits Vol. 1 / Rural Rhythm
• Ridin' That Midnight Train / The Stanley Brothers / The Definitive Collection (1947-1966) / Time Life
• Rita Mae / Dale Ann Bradley / Catch Tomorrow / Compass
• The First Train Robbery / Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time / Took Down and Put Up / Lonesome Day
• I Don't Know / Cherryholmes / Cherryholmes II: Black and White / Skaggs Family
• Through The Window Of A Train / Blue Highway / Through The Window Of A Train / Rounder
• East Kentucky Home / The Steeldrivers / The Steeldrivers / Rounder
• The Day When You Were Mine / Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper / Rounder Bluegrass Unlimited Sampler 2008 / Rounder
• Travelin' This Lonesome Road / Balsam Range / Marching Home / Mountain Home
• Me And The Jukebox / Buzz Busby & The Bayou Boys / Classic Bluegrass Collection / Time Life
• Turkey In The Straw / Shady Creek / Shady Creek Vol. 1 / Self-released
• Poverty Row / Cedar Hill / Poverty Row / Blue Circle
• Dreamin of the Sea / Wayne Taylor / Dear Mom / Self-released
• Will You Walk With Me / Anne & Pete Sibley / Will You Walk With Me / Self-released
• Twenty One Miles / Adcock, Gaudreau, Waller & Gray / The Country Gentlemen Reunion Band / RadioTherapy
• Back To The Mountains / The Monty McClanahan Project / The Road Less Traveled / Self-released
• Where the Deep River Bends / The Monty McClanahan Project / The Road Less Traveled / Self-released
• How Can It Be? / Avery County / Me & The Jukebox / Self-released
• Watson's Cove [bed] / Ben Greene / Watson's Cove / Self-released
• Cherokee Shuffle [bed] / Ben Greene / Watson's Cove / Self-released
• How Can I Lose / Nothin' Fancy / Album #7 / Pinecastle
• Lonesome Weary Heart / The Baker Boys / Lonesome Weary Heart / Patuxent
• Lonesome Pine Breakdown / Don Stover / Things In Life / Rounder
• Lonesome River / Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press / Bluegrass Melodies / Rounder
• Footprints in the Snow / IIIrd Tyme Out / Footprints: A IIIrd Tyme Out Collection / Rounder
• Rocky Top / The Osborne Brothers / Classic Bluegrass Collection / Time Life
• Dooley / The Dillards / Classic Bluegrass Collection / Time Life
• Jesus Walks Ahead Of Me / Larry Sparks / I Don't Regret A Mile / Sparks Music
• They're Holding Up The Ladder / Easter Brothers / By Request: Their Greatest Hits / Thoroughbred
• Sweeping Through The Gates / Dan Paisley and The Southern Grass / The Tradition Continues / Brandywine
• I'll Have A New Life / Iron Horse / The Gospel According To Hank Williams / CMH
• The Old Crossroad / Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder / Honoring The Fathers of Bluegrass / Skaggs Family
• How High Is That Mountain / Larry Stephenson / Thankful / Pinecastle
• Brother, I'm Getting Ready To Go / Curly Seckler / Bluegrass, Don't You Know / Copper Creek
• Will You Feel At Home? / James King / Gardens In The Sky / Rounder
• The White Dove / The Stanley Brothers / The Definitive Collection (1947-1966) / Time Life
• The Promise / The Gillis Brothers / Sunshine In The Shadows / Hay Holler

Bluegrass at Buttery Brook -- Saturday, July 19th

This coming Saturday, Dave and Rose Helman of Country Corner Productions will be holding their annual event known as Bluegrass at Buttery Brook Park in South Hadley, MA. Sometimes, the weather is extremely wet (2006), and sometimes, it's just absolutely gorgeous (2007). Let's hope that the 2008 conditions are similar to those found in 2007....

Either way, though, the music will be top-notch at Buttery Brook this Saturday. Here's the rundown of the bands:

White Mountain Bluegrass

Travers Chandler & Avery County

The Bristol Boys

CrabGrass

Joshua Williams & North Country Bluegrass

Please note that the last named band features a mighty fine 12-year-old singer from Massachusetts (as opposed to the also-young fine singer Josh Williams who formerly worked with Rhonda Vincent).

Buttery Brook Park is located on Route 33 in South Hadley, MA, and is easily accessible from the Mass Pike, as well as I-91. The music runs from 10AM-8PM, and the sound is by Country Corner Productions. As always, there will be food vendors, and a playground for the kids. For more information, call (413)467-9394, send email to info@countrycornermusic.com, or visit http://www.countrycornermusic.com/.

Yes, it's true that the outstanding Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival also happens this very weekend, but if you're not heading to Oak Hill, why not make the trip to South Hadley?

Hope to see you up there....

"Bluegrass Cafe" playlist - 7/6/2008

We wrapped up the Independence Day weekend with a good dose of BG -- hope you heard something you enjoyed somewhere along the way...

Included were a couple tracks from the brand-new Rounder release (long overdue, some might say) called The Room Over Mine from Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass. The Paisleys have been long-time crowd favorites at many festivals throughout the northeast, and it's great to see them finally getting the national recognition they deserve. This CD is not a disappointment, especially if you're partial to the more traditional sounds of the BG. You're certain to hear plenty more from this disc over the next few weeks and months at the BG Cafe.

In addition, we paid tribute to The Storyteller, Tom T. Hall, as he was formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in ceremonies held last Sunday, June 29th. Unless you've not purchased a BG recording within the past several years, you're probably aware that Tom T. has been spending a good bit of his "retirement" time writing many, many BG tunes that are included on almost every new BG CD that is released, it seems. His induction into the Hall of Fame is richly deserved and long-overdue -- congratulations to him!

Sunday was also a day for giveaways. We had four passes to a new festival to be held next Saturday & Sunday (July 12 & 13) at the Woodland Meeting House in Foster, RI, and two one-day passes to the upcoming Grey Fox BG Festival at its new location in Oak Hill, NY. Jim will have two more one-day Grey Fox passes to give away next Sunday, July 13th. Do listen in, won't you?

Amy

Requests are RED.

• Katy Hill / Del McCoury Band / RockyGrass / Blue Planet
• New Freedom Bell / Country Gentlemen / High Lonesome / Starday
• Under The Double Eagle / Country Gentlemen / Live In Japan / Rebel
• God Bless American Again / Jim & Jesse / Old Dominion Masters / Pinecastle
• East Bound Freight Train / Luke McKnight & Thunder Road / Leader Of The Band / Self-Produced
• Jolene / Rhonda Vincent & the Rage / Ragin’ Live / Rounder
• Louisville Suite / Chris Brashear & Peter McLaughlin / So Long Arizona / Dog Boy Records
• Down In The Cold Ground / Mark Newton Band / Charlie Lawson’s Still / Rebel
• Ridin’ My Thumb To Mexico / Bill Emerson & the Sweet Dixie Band / Bill Emerson & the Sweet Dixie Band / Rebel
• Who Showed Who / Dan Tyminski / Wheels / Rounder
• The Last Day At Gettysburg / Larry Sparks / Blue Mountain Memories / Rebel
• The Prisoner’s Song / Joe Val & the New England Bluegrass Boys / Live In Holland / Strictly Country
• Sad Prisoners Song / Johnson Mountain Boys / Johnson Mountain Boys / Rounder
• Losin’ In Las Vegas / Rickey Wasson / Fresh Cuts & Key Tracks / Rural Rhythm
• Nobody Cares (Not Even You) / Lonesome Pine Fiddlers / Windy Mountain / Bear Family
• Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong / Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder / Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass / Skaggs Family
• My Tennessee Mountain Home / Dolly Parton / Live And Well / Sugar Hill
• Red Rocking Chair / Charlie Monroe / Post War Country Classics / Cattle
• Don’t Throw Mama’s Flowers Away / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / The Room Over Mine / Rounder
• I’ll Take The Blame / The Adrians / I’ll Take The Blame / MasterShield Records
• Little Box Of Pine / Adcock, Gaudreau, Waller & Gray / Country Gentlemen Reunion Band / RadioTherapy Records
• Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder / Sierra Hull / Secrets / Rounder
• Blue Side Of The Blue Ridge / Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice / Blue Side Of The Blue Ridge / Rebel
• Drowning Sailor / Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass / The Room Over Mine / Rounder
• Get Up John / Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys / Anthology / MCA
• I’ll Never Shed Another Tear / Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs / The Complete Mercury Recordings / Mercury
• The Year That Clayton Delaney Died / Charlie Sizemore / The Story Is…The Songs Of Tom T. Hall / Rebel
• Killer On The Loose / Josh Williams / Lonesome Highway / Pinecastle
• Pretty Green Hills / Dave Evans / Pretty Green Hills / Rebel
• The Engineers Don’t Wave From The Trains Anymore / Lynn Morris Band / The Bramble And The Rose / Rounder
• How’s It Feel / Daughters Of Bluegrass / Back To The Well / Blue Circle
• Taking The Crooked Road Home / Linda Lay & Sammy Shelor / Taking The Crooked Road Home / Virginia FolkLife
• I’m Gonna Make Up A Song About You / Tom T. Hall / Tom T. Hall Sings Miss Dixie & Tom T. / Blue Circle
• Eight More Miles To Louisville / Bristol Boys / / Self-Produced
• Don’t You Call My Name / Dailey & Vincent / Dailey & Vincent / Rounder
• Pikeville Flood / Blue Highway / Midnight Storm / Rebel
• Angry Man / Gibson Brothers / Iron And Diamonds / Sugar Hill
• Golden Hair / Wayne Taylor / Dear Mom / Self-Produced
• O’er The Road I’m Bound / Old Time Bluegrass Singers / Threads / Open Road
• Railroad Boomer / Bristol Boys / / Self-Produced
• So High / Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad / Pickin’, Praisin’ & Singin’ / Rural Rhythm
• Heaven / Bill Yates & Friends / Country Gentlemen Tribute / MasterShield Records
• These Men Of God / Country Gentlemen / High Lonesome / Starday
• Gathering Flowers For The Master’s Bouquet / Stanley Brothers / All Bluegrass, All Gospel / Federal
• Wait A Little Longer Please Jesus / Del McCoury & the Dixie Pals / Classic Bluegrass / Rebel
• All Prayed Up / Atkinson Family / Angels Rejoice / MasterShield Records
• Kneel At The Cross / Bluegrass Patriots / E Pluribus Bluegrass / Red Feather
• They Called It A Church / Mickey Harris / Kneel And Pray / Self-Produced
• Climb The Ladder / Hot Rize / Take It Home / Sugar Hill
  

More "foot stomp'n" at Mineral Springs this weekend (July 4-6)...

One of the BG "traditions" in eastern CT (if such a thing actually exists) is the Mineral Springs Family Campground Foot Stomp'n Festival that has happened around the 4th of July for the last many years. This year's festival features a ton of the best BG talents you'll find in southern New England. If you're not too busy with the parades, fireworks, and, of course, picnics, you owe it to yourself to check out this terrific festival in Stafford Springs. The music starts at 11AM each day, Friday-Sunday. While there aren't any time schedules listed on the Mineral Springs website, these are the bands who'll be featured this year:

GrassRoutes

Northern Bound

TrueGrass

Southern Rail

Adam Dewey & Crazy Creek

Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters featuring Roger Williams

Gail Wade & Turning Point

Redstone Ridge

Second Circle

The Old Time Bluegrass Singers

For a more specific idea of when your favorite band(s) is/are performing, call the campground at (860)684-2993. The Mineral Springs Family Campground is located on 135 Leonard Road, Stafford Springs.

See you there!

Jenny Brook 2008

David Parmley & Continental Divide
Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass
The Dan Tyminski Band (not in picture: Ronnie Stewart on the banjo)
The Old Time Bluegrass Singers
The Gibson Brothers & Sister

Folks -

I'm not going to give you a major review of the 2008 edition of the Jenny Brook Family BG Festival in Weston, VT. I will say this, though -- if you missed it, you sure missed a dandy! As usual, the weather was not 100% cooperative, as there was a good bit of rain on Saturday from about 4:30PM onward, and the lousy weather lasted for the rest of the evening. That didn't much matter, though, in the long run.

If you'd like to read more details about the festival or see some dandy photos, please visit the blogs of Jenny Brook attendees Ted Lehmann and/or John Holland.

All of the bands were superb, from the "regionals," like Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters, White Mountain Bluegrass, Acoustic Blue, and the Old Time Bluegrass Singers, to the headliners -- David Parmley & Continental Divide, Danny Paisley & the Southern Grass, the Gibson Brothers (as well as their sister, Erin Gibson LaClair on Sunday afternoon), and the Vermont-made native, Dan Tyminski. The host Seth Sawyer Band was mighty fine, too (even if their Saturday set was shortened by rain).

Congratulations to Candi & Seth Sawyer for another fabulous Jenny Brook, and we'll look forward to the 2009 edition....