Rural Rhythm Records is proud to announce they are launching the new Rural Roots Music Series that takes classic albums and tracks from the Rural Rhythm master library and reissues them with new liner notes by Country Music Historian and Grammy™ Award winner Colin Escott, additional artist photos, and re-mastered from the original master tapes by famed Hi-End audio engineer Steve Hoffman.

The first release in the series is a two-CD package titled, The Legendary J.E. Mainer & His Mountaineers - “40 Classics: Old-Time Mountain Music“ scheduled for release August 28, 2007. This 40th Anniversary 2-CD set comprises the first two albums that J.E. recorded for Rural Rhythm in 1967. It is a very accurate depiction of what you would have heard at a J.E. Mainer concert from the 1930’s until his death in 1971. There were some mountain ballads, vaudeville and minstrel songs, blues together with Celtic-rooted fiddle tunes. We’ll never know where he first heard most of these songs. He changed them and sometimes renamed them, but that was how music was handed down in the pre-download, pre-phonograph era. It was part of J.E.’s skill to make a song written hundreds of years ago sound much like one written within recent memory.

The second in the series, “24 Bluegrass Classics, Vintage 70’s“ by Bluegrass Legends Earl Taylor & Jim McCall with the Stoney Mountain Boys is scheduled for release September 25, 2007. Earl Taylor began his career in the 40’s and worked with other legends including Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, Jimmy Martin and many more before embarking on a career that led him to become a pioneer of bluegrass music himself. Taylor and his band were so popular in the late 50’s, they hold the honor of being the first bluegrass band to perform at Carnegie Hall in 1959.

Jim McCall is the father of Rural Rhythm artist Dwight McCall who’s new album released this year, Never Say Never Again and current single Blue Eyed Boston Boy has received great reviews and very solid radio airplay.

Many more titles in this new archive series are scheduled for release in 2008 including classic albums by Vassar Clements, more titles by J.E. Mainer, Mac Martin, Raymond Fairchild, Tater Tate, Jim Eanes, Lee Moore and many more.

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“Chasin’ Dreams” is Honi Deaton and Dream’s newest project on Lamon Records.

Chasin’ Dreams contains a good mix of original songs and some well-chosen cover tunes. The album contains a good blend of traditional sounding bluegrass, elements of older honky tonk country and some more contemporary bluegrass sounds that will appeal to the new generation of fans who are coming to the genre.

“Rollin’ In My Sweet Baby’s Arms” kicks off the festivities here and Deaton and company do the song plenty of justice. Josh Brooks (banjo), Joe Clark (mandolin), and Andy Ruff (resonator guitar) contribute some really nice instrumental work on this one.

Deaton and the band’s cover of the old Elvis classic “Mystery Train” is worth the price of admission. It opens with the mandolin and resonator guitar growling at a slow pace with the band joining in and building the tempo until it’s at a feverish pace. Deaton finishes off what the band starts, delivering a powerful vocal effort without ever going over the top.

On “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” Honi shares the lead vocal with Andy Ruff whose vocal conjures up comparisons to Randy Travis. The solemn spiritual “Ain’t No Grave” features the very capable a cappella vocal stylings and brings the harmony work of the band to the forefront, that is found throughout “Chasin’ Dreams”.

“Caldwell / Angelina The Baker Medley” is a fine instrumental showcasing the talents of the mandolin, banjo and resonator guitar work of the band.

The closer, “Freedom” penned by Deaton herself, is an up-tempo patriotic-tinged number that’ll leave hardcore bluegrass fans tapping toes and wanting more.

The project’s only two misstep are “The Diaper Song” and “Via Dolorosa”. The Diaper Song, granted the most radio-friendly tune of the bunch, from the opening hook through the melody, sounds way too much like the commercial “country” played on today’s Top 40 stations. Having said that, perhaps it will bring some new listeners to the bluegrass fold.

The arrangement on “Via Dolorosa” suffers from the lack of dynamics in the recording. What could have been a powerful delivery of the tune never realizes its full potential as the passages of the tune that are supposed to reach out and grab the listener don’t , simply due to the lack of any real change in volume until the last couple of bars, resulting in just a slightly thicker sound compared to what should have been the softer sections of the cut.

The ensemble Honi and husband Jeff Deaton have assembled features some very capable musicians and should be a treat to see live. I expect things to only get better with future releases as this band continues to grow and mature.

For more information including extended tour dates, you can surf over to Honi Deaton and Dream’s Website or check out Lamon Records website.

By Travis Tackett

Honi Deaton & Dream Upcoming Dates:

Aug. 10 - Universal Chevrolet’s Pole Barn, Cleveland Ga
Aug. 24 - Gwinnett Historic Courthouse lawn, Lawrenceville, GA
Sept. 15 - Lake Lanier, Shady Grove Campground, Cumming, GA

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The Farewell Drifters are proud to announce the release of their new record “Sweet Summer Breeze”. The collection includes twelve original songs along with two covers that display the band in true form for the first time.

Produced by songwriter Glen Garrett and recorded at Ben Surratt’s Rec Room Studio in Nashville, “Sweet Summer Breeze” draws on the influence of artists like Clarence White, Gram Parsons, and Bob Dylan.

“Sweet Summer Dream” is currently available for purchase on the band’s web site.

“You won’t want to say farewell to these Drifters after hearing their set.”
- International Bluegrass Museum review

The Farewell Drifters Upcoming Dates:

August
2nd Hideaway BBQ(w/ Hackensaw Boys), Raleigh, NC
4th Home Team BBQ, Charleston, SC
8th Eddie’s Attic, Decatur, GA
11th Jack of the Wood, Asheville, NC
17-19th Summerfolk Festival Owen Sound, Ontario

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The Kentucky Bluegrass Music Festival, one of Louisville’s oldest festivals is scheduled for Aug. 3-4 in beautiful downtown Louisville on the Belvedere Plaza.

The lineup will feature Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper featuring Audie Blaylock and Relic, an up and coming band from the Louisville area.

The festival will offer great barbecue and kids entertainment. Picker’s are invited to bring their instruments for jammin’. Lawn chairs and blankets welcome.

The Festival hours for Friday are from 5pm-11pm and 4pm-11pm on Saturday.

For more information on the festival please call (502) 583-0333

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The 2008 Rhonda Vincent Bluegrass Cruise sets sail February 11-19 to the exotic Southern Caribbean for 8 fun filled days of bluegrass music on the high seas.

Joining Rhonda on stage this year will be a stellar lineup including Nothin’ Fancy, Special Consensus, IIIrd Tyme Out, The Grascals and among others.

Ticket packages have been selling at a brisk pace so make sure and call now to try and reserve a cabin aboard this bluegrass luxury liner. For more information please call 1-800-593-8803 or check out the web site.

The cruise, which will depart from Fort Lauderdale FL, will make stops in St. Maarten, St Lucia and St. Kitts.

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