Christmas Grass Vol. 3 Featuring 3 Fox Drive and Friends (koch)

“Christmas Grass Vol. 3 Featuring 3 Fox Drive and Friends” is a collection of Christmas standards you know by heart.

The project pairs 3 Fox Drive with several of bluegrass’s top-flight artists. The “friends” featured on the disc include Sonya Isaacs, John Cowan, Sarah Jarosz, Larry Sparks, IIIrd Tyme Out’s Russell Moore and Charlie Daniels.

3 Fox Drive and company pull off the monumental task of presenting songs that have been covered eons of times in a way that sounds instantly familiar and comfortable, yet with plenty of subtle embellishments and nuances to put a fresh and vibrant spin on them.

The musicians on the disc include: Darrin Vincent and Byron House on bass, Bryan Sutton and Cody Kilby on acoustic guitar, Adam Steffey on mandolin, Aubrey Haynie and Joe Caverlee on fiddle, Rob Ickes on Dobro, Joel Fox on Banjo, Erik Darken on percussion and Kim Fox, Barb Fox and Joel Fox on vocals.

If you’re looking for a new Christmas disc for the holiday season, “Christmas Grass Vol. 3 Featuring 3 Fox Drive and Friends” is as inviting and welcoming as family and friends visiting around the Christmas tree with a fire in the fireplace.

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Blue Highway

Blue Highway will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Kingsport, Tenn. Renaissance Center.In addition, members of the band will conduct a singer/songwriter workshop beginning at 2 p.m. that day. Workshop size is limited and registration is $20 per person. This performance and workshop by Blue Highway is supported by the Tennessee Arts Commission’ Touring Artist Grant Program.

Tickets for the performance are $18 regular admission and $15 student/senior admission and may be purchased by calling the Renaissance Center Central Box Office 423-392-8417.

Blue Highway is generally regarded as one of the most influential groups in contemporary bluegrass. Members are Jason Burleson (banjo, guitar, mandolin), Rob Ickes (Dobro), Shawn Lane (mandolin, fiddle vocals), Tim Stafford (guitar, vocals) and Wayne Taylor (bass, vocals)

Taylor, Stafford and Lane write many of the band’s tunes and have several songs recorded by others in bluegrass and country music.

The Renaissance Center is a facility for arts and senior citizen’s activities, and is also used for business meetings, parties, receptions, classes and seminars. It includes a 350-seat theater.

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James Monroe

James Monroe is abandoning his latest business venture after a short run.The Daily News of Bowling Green, Ky., is reporting that the James Monroe Music Hall and Campground in Franklin has already closed and will be auctioned next month. The newspaper quoted sources from the Franklin-Simpson Tourism Commission.

Monroe’s enterprise was located near Franklin.

James Monroe, son of Bill Monroe, opened the venue in April 2006 with a four-day bluegrass festival inside the 700-seat music hall. Performances were given by Bobby Osborne, Mac Wiseman, Ronnie Stoneman and Larry Sparks.

Monroe was also bringing in a mix of country music and bluegrass acts, acts, including several Grand Ole Opry members and other classic country artists.

Dan Ware, director of the tourism bureau, told the Bowling Green newspaper that Monroe was wanting to focus on other business interests.

The property will be divided into two tracts and sold at auction on Dec. 13.

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