Little Mo’ McCoury

I’m a year shy of 60 and have been making a living writing for four decades. Hmmmm, do the words “senior citizen” come to mind? Well, let’s just say I’ve matured somewhat with my word usage, and one word I’ve shunned these past couple of decades is “cute.” At my ripe age, it just doesn’t seem to fit.

But, I can’t help myself: “Little Mo MCCoury” is just downright cute. From its comic-book-like cover to the reproductions of kids’ posters all over the packaging and in the grooves (or whatever they’re called in this digital music world) of Ronnie McCoury’s new CD, which is billed as bluegrass for kids.

Has this ever been done before? I remember Tom T. Hall doing an album in the Seventies that was for kids, but it wasn’t bluegrass. McCoury may be breaking some new ground here. In doing so, he’s produced a real charmer — for us bluegrass kids of all ages.

The CD opens with a neat Bob Dylan tune, “Man Gave Names to All the Animals,” and “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” the Randy Newman-penned song from “Toy Story.” The two melodies set the stage for lots of fun that follows, including “The Monkey and the Engineer,” “This Old Man,” and “This Land is Your Land.” There’s somewhat of a not-so-cute offering among the fields of daisies and lollipops here, the old classic “Jimmy Brown, the Newsboy.”

But, back to this “cute” business. Little kids’ sweet and innocent voices introduce each song. Sound effects — train sounds, animal sounds, funny little sounds — pop up throughout “Little Mo.” Yeah, it’s cute. A group of kids, many obviously related to McCoury and Company judging by their names on the credits, also joins in on some of the grade-school and kindergarten standards. Yeah, it’s cute. One cut also features a school chorus. Yeah, it’s cute, and pretty darn well done.

Ronnie McCoury’s band mates from his dad’s band handle the sideman chores on the CD, so the musicianship, although secondary by the very nature of the project, is top-notch.

So, if you have a young son or daughter, perhaps a grandchild, that needs an introduction to bluegrass, buy “Little Mo” for their next birthday or as a Christmas present. Perhaps you need a warm and fuzzy (maybe cute?) infusion yourself for yourself. “Little Mo” will fit that bill. Yeah, it’s cute, no matter your age.

by Dan Tackett

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Doc Watson

MerleFest 2008, will feature artists from a variety of styles and genres to celebrate the music of Doc and Merle Watson for the 21st year. Once again Doc Watson will host the four-day festival, on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, NC on April 24-27, 2008. Tickets will go on sale November 13.

Doc and Merle’s son Richard Watson will be joined by The Avett Brothers; Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck, Casey Driessen, & Ben Sollee; Sam Bush; The Carolina Chocolate Drops; Jerry Douglas; Levon Helm & The Midnight Ramble on the Road with Special Guests; Tim O’Brien; The Waifs; The Waybacks; Old Crow Medicine Show; Solas “Reunion,”with Karan Casey & John Doyle; Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby with Kentucky Thunder; Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mtn Boys; Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives; Dan Tyminski Band; Alison Brown Quartet with Joe Craven; Donna The Buffalo; Blue Highway; The Claire Lynch Band; Dirk Powell & Riley Baugus; Tony Rice; Peter Rowan; Ollabelle; Sally Van Meter; Rhonda Vincent & The Rage; Pete Wernick & Flexigrass.

“When Merle and I started out we called our music ‘traditional-plus,’ meaning the traditional music of the Appalachian region plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play. Since the beginning, the people of the college and I have agreed that the music of MerleFest is ‘traditional-plus’ and this year’s line-up shows what that is all about.”Doc Watson

When asked what he is most looking forward to at MerleFest 2008, Doc responds, “I always look forward to reuniting with the boys from Frosty Morn, Merle’s band, because our performances are always special. This year, I am excited to play some of the Docabilly album tunes. I know that some of the musicians who helped me on it will be there.” The music legend is also looking forward to another unique collaboration, “Some of the leading bluegrass women are putting together the Merle’s Girls set we did a few years back and that is something I always enjoy.”

The crowd at Merlefest enjoying a performance on the Watson Stage.

Collaborations and jam sessions have been a major part of the MerleFest experience since the beginning and MerleFest 2008 will continue that tradition. Special collaborations between artists and exciting jam sessions that will fill the stage with talent are being planned throughout the four-days of the festival.

MerleFest will also feature performances by Bearfoot; The John Cowan Band; David Holt; The Infamous Stringdusters; Jorma Kaukonen; Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands; The Lovell Sisters; Nashville Bluegrass Band; Tift Merritt; The Waifs; The Wilders; Susana & Timmy Abell; Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan; Banknotes; Roy Book Binder; Laura Boosinger; Bob Carlin & Cheick Hamala Diabate; The Captain’s Crew; Carl & Kelli Jones; The Circuit Riders; T. Michael Coleman; Robert Dotson; Mike Dowling; Ruthie Foster; Future Traditions; Terry Garland; Buddy Greene; Mitch Greenhill; George Hamilton IV and George Hamilton V; Bob Hill; Hot Buttered Rum; Clint Howard Band; Sierra Hull & Highway 111; The InterACTive Theater of Jef; Phil Jamison; The Key City Boys; Jim Lauderdale; Jack Lawrence; Mark Lippard; Jeff Little; The Local Boys; Bill Mathis; Cliff Miller; Paul Oscher; The Pine Leaf Boys; Polecat Creek; Tom Sauber; Shana Banana; ShoeFly; Ryan Shupe & The RubberBand; Joe Smothers; Rafe Stefanini and Clelia Stefanini; Rodney Sutton; Tish Hinojosa; Tut Taylor; Joe Thompson; Happy Traum; Bil VornDick; Charles Welch; Whitetop Mountain Band; Wilkes Acoustic Folk Society; The Alberti Flea Circus; Buffalo Barfield; Willette Hinton & Family; Tony Williamson.

In addition to music on over a dozen stages, MerleFest offers heritage crafts from regional artisans, a safe and family friendly atmosphere, children’s activities, plenty of pickin’ opportunities, and more! For more information, to buy tickets, or to sign up as a festival volunteer visit www.merlefest.org or call 1-800-343-7857.

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NEW ATHENS, Illinois — Five levels of competition for fiddlers and three for banjo pickers are featured in an Oct. 27 competition at L&B’s East End in New Athens, Ill., in the greater St. Louis area.The contests, which start at noon and are non-profit, are being sponsored by The Bluegrass Shack, a fiddle and instrument shop , which caters to bluegrass consumers.

Registration starts at 11:30 a.m.

Fiddle contests are broken into Junior III for ages 12 and younger; Junior II for 13- to 15-year-olds; Junior I for 16- to 18-year-olds; Open for those 19 and older; and senior for fiddlers 60 and older.

First-place prizes in the fiddle contest range from $15 to $150, and the first five finishers in each class will receive cash, trophies or both. All junior competitors will receive a medal.

The banjo competition levels are Junior for those 15 and younger; open for those 16 and older; and senior, for those 60 and older. First-place prices range from $20 to $100. Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded to those finishing close to the top. As in the fiddle contests, all junior participants receive medals.

Entry fee for all contestants is $2, while $7 admission is being charged at the door. Contestants do not pay the admission fee.

Food and beverages will be available during the contest.

Other details, including all contest rules, are available from Chris Talley Armstrong at The Bluegrass Shack, 618-475-3678 or L&B’s Eastend, 618-475-8010.

Chris Talley Armstrong and her husband Earl run The Bluegrass Shop, which continues to gain notice from the bluegrass and acoustic music crowd in Illinois and Missouri. The small shop, which is crammed with fiddles and a variety of other musical instruments, has also become home to regular jam sessions that are drawing musicians from a wide circle. Armstrong is also becoming well known as a violin luthier in the region. And, in her spare time, she fronts the Chris Talley Trio.

Details about the fiddle and banjo contests, as well as The Bluegrass Shack itself, can be found at www.thebluegrassshack.com

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