Richard Smith and Julie Adams

Statesville, NC - - Hundreds of people from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia are expected to attend the annual N.C. Thumb & Finger Style Guitar Players Convention. The event will be held Nov. 9 and 10 at Mitchell Community College in Statesville. The program features performances by Richard Smith and Julie Adams and special guest appearance by classical guitarist Miguel Pico.

“It’ll be a great weekend for anyone who enjoys good music,” said Clay Lunsford, president of the guitar players association. “If you like world-class guitar music, you don’t want to miss this event.” Other artists include Jeff Little, Clay Lunsford, Eddie Pennington and Bob Saxton. The convention includes daily “jam” sessions, workshops, and open mic.

Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. Friday in Shearer Hall on the main campus. Workshops, jam sessions and open mic starts at 2 p.m. The evening concert begins at 6:30 p.m. in Shearer Hall. Saturday’s festivities begin at 9 a.m. with workshops, seminars and open mic events scheduled throughout the day. The evening concert begins at 6:30 p.m. in Shearer Hall.

Participants can register for the entire program or attend specific events. Nightly admission to the concerts is $15 at the door. Daily admission is $25 and covers all sessions and evening concert. A $55 registration fee, which includes a membership, covers all events for the entire convention for the member, spouse and children. Children 12 years old and younger are admitted free. Proceeds from the event will go to the Mitchell Community College’s Endowment for Excellence, which supports student programs.

For more information and schedule, visit http://www.nctaf.com or call 704.878.4321.

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Alison Krauss

Burlington, MA - Alison Krauss has been selected to perform at the 41st Annual Country Music Association Awards, which will be broadcast live on the ABC Television Network on Wednesday, November 7. She will perform her latest single “Simple Love,” from her RIAA certified gold release “A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection” (Rounder Records). The video for “Simple Love” can be seen on GAC, CMT, and CMT Pure.Krauss was nominated by the Country Music Association for four CMA Awards including Female Vocalist, Vocal Group of the Year for Alison Krauss and Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas, and two for Musical Event of the Year — with John Waite (his first CMA Awards nomination) on “Missing You” and with Vince Gill on “The Reason Why” (from Gill’s 4-CD release These Days).

“A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection”, released April 3, is comprised of 16 tracks, highlighting Krauss’ career outside of her traditional releases with long time band Union Station. The album features Krauss’ collaboration with John Waite on the single, “Missing You,” which also appears on Waite’s recent Rounder release “Downtown….Journey of a Heart.”

“A Hundred Miles or More” features Krauss’ contributions to film soundtracks including the Oscar^® nominated songs, “The Scarlet Tide” and “You Will Be My Ain True Love,” written for the motion picture Cold Mountain and “Down to the River to Pray” from the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? Known for her collaborations, Krauss also includes several duets in the collection such as the 2003 hit with Brad Paisley, “Whiskey Lullaby,” and her duet with James Taylor from the tribute album Livin’, Lovin’, Losin’: Songs of The Louvin Brothers, “How’s the World Treating You.” The collection debuts five new songs –”You’re Just a Country Boy,” “Jacob’s Dream,” “Simple Love,” “Lay Down Beside Me,” and “Away Down the River” all of which feature Krauss as a producer.

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Michael Cleveland

Evanston, IL. — The Chicago area’s Bluegrass Legends Concert Series is featuring Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper on Saturday, November 10. The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the American Legion Music Hall, 1030 Central St., in Evanston, Ill. Tickets are on sale now by calling 847-573-0443. Details are also available at http://www.chicagobluegrass.com.

Five-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Fiddle Player of the Year award, Mike Cleveland is the reigning fiddler of today’s bluegrass world. His band Flamekeeper, 2007 IBMA Instrumental Group Of The Year , burns through the night and sparks the virtuosity of Michael’s fiery fiddle. Crystal vocal harmonies, blistering instrumental work, and allegiance to the first generation bluegrass is warmed by dry wit and down-home humor.

Considered one of the premier bluegrass fiddlers of his generation, Mike picked up a fiddle at age four, and his talent was recognized early. In 1993, he was chosen to be part of the Bluegrass Youth All Stars at the IBMA’s award show. Later that year, Mike made his Grand Ole Opry debut as a guest of Alison Krauss. His list of guest appearances over the years is a who’s who of bluegrass legends including Bill Monroe, Jim and Jesse, Ralph Stanley, Mac Wiseman, Doc Watson, Larry Sparks, Doyle Lawson, and J.D. Crowe.

After high school, Mike briefly toured with then-named Dale Ann Bradley and Coon Creek before joining Rhonda Vincent and The Rage in 2000. At the 2001 IBMA awards, Mike took his first Fiddle Player of the Year award, and shared the title of Entertainer of the Year with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. In 2002, Mike rejoined The Dale Ann Bradley Band. That year he won the Fiddle Player of the Year award and again in 2004. Mike’s first project as a Rounder recording artist, “Flame Keeper,” was released in February 2002 and was chosen the IBMA’s Instrumental Album of the Year. In 2004, Mike shared the Instrumental Album of the Year award with Tom Adams for “Tom Adams and Michael Cleveland Live at the Ragged Edge,” an album of fiddle and banjo duets. In 2006 and 2007, Mike took home his fourth and fifth Fiddle Player of the Year awards.

Today Mike is a sought-after guest and has performed recently with Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, The Mark Newton Band, J.D. Crowe and the New South, Audie Blaylock and Redline, Melvin Goins and Windy Mountain and The Wildwood Valley Boys.

Bluegrass Legends Concerts ( Evanston , IL ) is the only running bluegrass & acoustic music concert series in the Chicago area that features national headline bluegrass talent. The 2007 fall series marks our 9 th year of presenting the nation’s top acoustic bluegrass talent and local folk-roots opening acts in an all-ages non-smoking concert setting for families. Bluegrass Legends concerts are all about great music in a truly community setting for families, friends, and neighbors.

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