Pickin’ In The Senate: Sam Bush Honored by Commonwealth of Kentucky
“Pickin’ in the Senate” from left to right are: Roger Bondurant - guitar (left), Emmadell Goodlett - mandolin, Sam Bush, and Brian McGaha - bass guitar (right). Photo courtesy of Mike Sunseri, LRC Public Information.Frankfurt, KY — Sam Bush was honored yesterday, March 18, 2008, with a resolution from the Commonwealth of Kentucky for his contributions to New Grass music. Sam performed two songs on the senate floor in Frankfort, Kentucky and was recognized for his contributions as an in-demand studio musician, and for being an integral member of the influential bands Bluegrass Alliance and New Grass Revival.
Sam Bush on the road:
- Mar 19 — Bluebird Cafe - Nashville, TN
- Apr 1 — Mexicali Blues Cafe - Teaneck, NJ
- Apr 2 — Berks Jazz Fest - Reading, PA
- Apr 25 — Merlefest - Wilkesboro, NC
- Apr 26 — Merlefest - Wilkesboro, NC
- May 1 — Tipitinas - New Orleans, LA
- May 3 — Stagecoach Music Festival - Indio, CA
- May 23 — Browns Island - Richmond, VA
- May 24 — 1st Annual Delfest - Cumberland, MD
Bluegrass Bits and Pieces
The Steep Canyon Rangers will play their first 2008 hometown gig this Saturday in Asheville, NC.RenoFest gets underway this weekend
Renofest 2008, will kick into high gear this Friday Afternoon, March 21 in Hartsville, SC, with a Bluegrass Band Contest at the Center Theater. The festival lineup includes Ronnie Reno & The Reno Tradition, Dailey & Vincent, The Grascal, Wayne Henderson and Friends and Movin’ On Bluegrass. The Festival wraps up on Sunday with a gospel show featuring the Flowers Family Band.
To get a taste of RenoFest make sure and watch the hour long “Bluegrass Express” episode filmed by SCETV at the 2007 RenoFest available on the home page of RenoFest
Steep Canyon Rangers playing first 2008 hometown gig
The Steep Canyon Rangers are gearing up for their first big hometown show of 2008 which takes place at The Orange Peel this Saturday March 22. The show starts at 9:00 PM (doors open at 8:00 PM) and will also feature Asheville’s Barrel House Mamas.
The Rangers will also be playing the “Bluegrass Returns to its Roots Festival” at the Exectutive Inn Rivermont in Owensboro, KY on April 11. Dailey & Vincent, The Steeldrivers, The Grascals, JD Crowe & The New South are among artists who will share the bill with the Steep Canyon Rangers.
Honi Deaton and Dream at Station Inn.
Honi Deaton and Dream will be appearing at the Station Inn in Nashville, Tenn. tonight, March 20. They’ll take the stage around 9:00 PM and will be playing music off of their debut album “Chasin’ Dreams” on Lamon Records. For more information visit Honi Deaton or the Station Inn online. Cover is $10.00 at the door.
No commentsGibson Brothers playing release party at Station Inn
The Gibson Brothers “Iron & Diamonds” (Sugar Hill)The Gibson Brothers will play a Thursday April 10th Album release party at the famed Station Inn in Nashville, Tenn. The show is in celebration of the release of the duo’s new CD “Iron & Diamonds” on Sugar Hill Records set to be released on April 8. The festivities get under way at 9:00 PM and admission is only $10.00. For more information visit www.stationinn.com or call (615) 255-3307.
“Iron & Diamonds” showcases the brothers’ trademark harmonies as well as songwriting that is among the best in the genre. Interspersed with original songs like the title track, a snapshot of the miners’ baseball league in their upstate-NY home, are carefully chosen covers like Tom Petty’s “Cabin Down Below” and others.
“Iron & Diamonds” boasts the brothers’ best vocal mix to date thanks to being able to record live on one mike, capturing the energy and closeness that concert audiences rave about. The band — Mike Barber on bass, Clayton Campbell on fiddle, and Rick Hayes on mandolin — is tighter than ever, complementing the brothers’ harmonies with adept instrumental performances.
Leigh and Eric Gibson have been performing together since encouraged in their youth by a minister in the borderlands of upstate New York, where they still reside. They received a Best Emerging Artist nod from the IBMA in 1998 and went on to record three albums for Sugar Hill Records: “Bona Fide,” “Long Way Back Home,” and “Red Letter Day.”
The Gibson Brothers on the road:
- Apr 4 — The Bull Run Restaurant - Shirley, MA
- Apr 5 — Plattsburgh State University, Hawkins Hall - Plattsburgh, NY
- Apr 10 — The Station Inn -Nashville, TN
- Apr 11 — The Grand Ole Opry - Nashville, TN
- Apr 26 — Annual Country Bluegrass Show - North Platte, NE
Editor’s Note: Look for a review of The Gibson Brothers “Iron & Diamonds” here on BluegrassJournal.com coming in the next week.
No commentsLarry Stephenson Band unveils ‘Thankful’
“Thankful,” The Larry Stephenson Band’s new CD, hit retail shelves Wednesday on the heels of several favorable advance reviews.
It’s Stephenson’s fourth gospel album and, according to the band leader, a CD that marks a shift in the band’s musical pilgrimage.
“Our fans like our gospel music and I truly enjoy performing them,” Stephenson said. “Our most requested song to this day, after almost two decades together, is a gospel song titled ‘Yes, I See God.’”
The album’s songs all focus on the theme of gratefulness.
“These songs came from everywhere,” Stephenson said. “I co-wrote ‘Everyday Is Mother’s Day’ with Tom T. and Dixie Hall and also co-wrote ‘Open Up The Window (Let The Angels In)’ with Jerry Salley.
Several new writers including Tonya Lowman and Berry Clevenger, have songs on the collection. The Louvin Brothers penned title track “Thankful” features close harmony singing reminiscent of the Louvins.
The album is also a landmark of sorts, marking the first time a female voice has been heard on any of Stephenson’s 16 albums. The voice belongs to acclaimed vocalist Sonya Isaacs. Other notables in the supporting cast are Missy Raines on bass, Dustin Benson (lead and harmony vocals, guitar), Shad Cobb (fiddle and harmony fiddle), Warren Goad (bass vocals), Aaron McDaris (lead and harmony vocals, banjo) and Ben Surratt (harmony vocals).
Stephenson, SPBGMA’s 2008 Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year, is being joined by another 2008 SPBGMA honoree as he kicks off a tour promoting the gospel CD. Multi-instrumentalist Josh Williams has joined Stephenson’s band. Williams, SPBGMA’s Guitar Performer of the Year, is playing guitar with the band. He previously was a member of Rhonda Vincent & the Rage and prior to that, played mandolin and fiddle with Special Consensus.
No commentsBluegrass on the Grand Ole Opry this week
Cherryholmes plays on the Friday night Grand Ole Opry this week.The Grand Ole Opry will feature bluegrass luminaries Bobby Osborne and Jesse McReynolds this weekend along with Cherryholmes, Marty Stuart, Charlie Louvin and Riders in the Sky.
Friday, March 21
- Riders In The Sky — 9:00-9:30
- Cherryholmes — 9:30-10:00
Saturday, March 22
- Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys — 7:00-7:30
- Riders In The Sky — 8:00-8:30 & 11:00-11:30
- Marty Stuart — 8:30-9:00 & 11:00-11:30
- Charlie Louvin — 10:00-10:30
- Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press — 10:00-10:30
The Grand Ole Opry is broadcast live on WSM 650 AM radio, online at www.WSMonline.com and on XM Satellite Radio (XM 11). All listed times are central time.
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