Nasvhville, Tenn. — Bluegrass master Del McCoury today announced the complete line-up for his inaugural DelFest, May 23 through 25 at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, MD.

DelFest was born from the desire to create a family-friendly music festival celebrating the rich legacy of McCoury music while creating a forum for world-class musical collaborations and to showcase fresh new talent. Produced in association with High Sierra Music, DelFest will offer a quality festival experience stamped with the unique McCoury touch. With Del’s easygoing yet uncompromising commitment to quality combined with his experience at the High Sierra Music Festival (whose 18th annual High Sierra Music Festival takes place July 3 through 6 in Quincy, CA) Del has created a world-class event with a down-home feeling. McCoury says, “I’ve had opportunities to host a festival before but I always thought that if I was going to do it, I’d want to make sure that it was done right.”

Personally chosen by Del, Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, MD is the perfect location for the inaugural DelFest. Nestled along the Potomac River in the scenic Appalachian Mountains, the Fairgrounds are convenient to four major airports and easily reached by rail or road.

In addition to traditional stage sets by these world-class artists, attendees can expect to see one-of-a-kind collaborations, special guest sit-ins, and various tributes to Del McCoury and his musical legacy. Each day’s schedule will also feature more intimate appearances, both at unique “playshops”—informal workshops where the emphasis will be on performance rather than instruction—and in late night indoor performances and picking sessions. Whether “parking lot pickers” or just plain music fans, festival-goers will have plenty of opportunities to interact with their favorite artists. Rounding out the program, DelFest will include a bluegrass band competition, with the winners invited to return for a regular set at the following year’s gathering.

Yet while music will be central to Delfest, every aspect of the festival experience will be shaped by Del’s concern for and appreciation of the fans. The festival will offer interactive children’s programs, a craft fair featuring regional and international artisans, and an eclectic food court along with the chance to simply relax and camp with good friends in gorgeous weather. The Fairgrounds have ample tent and RV camping on site with plentiful lodging nearby. Those who venture into the surrounding area will find a range of recreational options, including swimming, fishing, hiking, and biking. Finally, VIP packages will be available for those who want to take their Delfest experience to the ultimate level.

TICKETS AND INFORMATION
For detailed information and to purchase tickets, visit www.delfest.com.

Three-day adult passes, $125, Two-day adult passes, $110 through April 14 or while supplies last. Kids 6-12: Three-day passes are $30 and Two-day passes are $20; 5 & under admitted free. On-site camping is included with all multi-day passes. Limited On-site RV passes with hookups are $100. RV Passes with no hook-up are $35.

DelFest offers a limited number of VIP Packages. All packages include three-day festival passes plus access to a VIP lounge near the main stage, giving you an opportunity to catch your favorite artists up close. The VIP Lounge will feature elevated viewing, private port-o-johns, a massage chair (limited hours), beverages and snacks. Additionally, each day there will be a happy hour and Artist Meet and Greet. VIP purchasers will have a separate entry procedure, the option for early entry on Thursday evening, and designated VIP camping areas. Packages also include tickets to all late night shows plus festival t-shirts, festival posters and drink tickets. These packages are designed for both individuals and groups of two. VIP Package 3 includes an RV pass with guaranteed, reserved hook-up. Prices range from $375 to $800.

About Del McCoury
At the age of 69, McCoury is at the height of his game, and has become a major bridge in bringing bluegrass to a wider audience. At McCoury’s shows, college students cheer alongside the fans that have been following McCoury’s music since his very first album. McCoury—along with his band—has now won more International Bluegrass Music Association awards than any other artist (including 9 Entertainer of the Year Awards), has won a Grammy, along with seven total nominations, and has even had a top 10 video on CMT. He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 2003 and now divides his time between traditional bluegrass festivals, jam gatherings–recently playing with such bands as Phish, Leftover Salmon, and Yonder Mountain String Band, and prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall.

About High Sierra
High Sierra Music has been producing world-class music festivals since 1991. An independent production company based in Berkeley, CA, the organization was founded with the first High Sierra Music Festival, its cornerstone event that takes place every July 4th weekend in Northern California, and remains committed to its grassroots beginnings by drawing support from its loyal community of patrons, staff, volunteers and non-corporate sponsors. In addition to the High Sierra Music Festival, the organization has produced events in Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri and Las Vegas, and presents concerts in San Francisco and the Lake Tahoe area. This year, High Sierra Music presents the 18th Annual High Sierra Music Festival July 3-6, 2008 in Quincy, CA.

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Rick Hayes. Photo by Ken DeLong

Cincinnati, OH. — Rick Hayes, mandolinist for The Gibson Brothers, is in his studio putting the finishing touches to his first solo CD “Fly By Night,” with an expected May release.

Rick plays mandolin, guitar and bass on the project and invited Ron Stewart (The Dan Tyminski Band) on banjo, Jim VanCleve (Mountain Heart) on fiddle and Josh Swift (Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver) on dobro. Rick takes on lead vocal duties with the exception of a guest lead each by his bandmates Eric and Leigh Gibson. Harmony vocals are by Dwight McCall, the Gibsons and Clay Hess. The CD includes a bonus track sung by his father, Green Hayes.

The song selection includes covers as well as five original tunes, three by Clay Hess of Mountain Heart and two by Mark Cole, formerly of Larry Sparks & the Lonesome Ramblers. The CD was recorded in his studio, Hayes Productions, and will be released under his new label Kang Records – a homage to the bluegrass pronunciation of the legendary King Records.

In preparation for the release of the CD, Rick has officially launched his own website at www.RickeyHayes.com (his birthright name) and has overhauled his studio site, www.HayesProductions.com that caters to the bluegrass market. Past CD releases from his studio include Dwight McCall’s “Kentucky Peace of Mind” and Clay Hess’s “Red Haired Boy.”

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1929 Martin 0-18 guitar in for restoration work.

Coming this Monday on BluegrassJournal.com

On Monday, April 7, Rickey Lamb brings us Part 1 of a multi-part feature story on the restoration of a 1929 Martin 0-18 guitar that belongs to his family. The history of the guitar crosses the path of Bill Monroe who once borrowed the guitar from Rickey’s Uncle Pete Hatton.

Marty Lanham of the Nashville Guitar Company is doing the restoration on the guitar and has been kind enough to help us document the restoration of this treasured instrument over the course of the next 2 to 3 months.

Charlie Sizemore Band coming to the Station Inn

Charlie Sizemore and company is scheduled to perform at the Station Inn in Nashville, Tenn. on Saturday April 12. The show will start at 9:00 PM and admission is $10.00.

A native of eastern Kentucky, Sizemore was hired at age 17 to take over for the departing Keith Whitley in Ralph Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Boys, with whom he stayed for nine years before leaving to start his own band and attend college. He graduated with honors from the University of Kentucky, and now maintains a successful law practice in addition to his musical endeavors. Over the past 20 years since leaving the employment of Ralph Stanley, Sizemore has garnered a devoted following among fans and performers alike. He’s appeared on two Grammy® nominated albums (Ralph Stanley’s Saturday Night & Sunday Morning and The Stanley Tradition: Tribute to a Bluegrass Legacy) and received a Dove award nomination (for a track from 2002’s The Story Is…The Songs of Tom T. Hall).

The Charlie Sizemore Band is Charlie Sizemore (lead vocals, guitar), Danny Barnes (mandolin, vocals), Matt DeSpain (Dobro), and John Pennell (bass).

Hot off the menu: This month on the WDVX Blue Plate Special

East Tennessee’s Own WDVX will host several great Bluegrass bands on the Blue Plate Special, an hour long program featuring bands playing live on air, during the month of Arpil. Locals are encouraged to be part of the WDVX studio audience weekdays at noon (Eastern Time) for free performances in downtown Knoxville, Tenn. at the WDVX studios and for those who can’t make it down for a show, listen live on-line.

The WDVX studios are located in the Knoxville Visitor’s Center at the corner of Gay Street and Summit Hill Avenue in downtown Knoxville, Tenn.

• Wed., April 9: Todd Steed and the Suns of Phere / The Gibson Brothers / Ben Soll
• Sat., April 12: at 3PM The Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile
• Thu., April 17: Yu’uns / Carolina Chocolate Drop
• Fri., April 18: Biscuit Burners / Howling Brothers / Jason Rigenberg
• Fri., April 25: Dale Ann Bradley / Charlie Sizemore / Jennings and Keller/ Early Grace Band

Mountain Heart video available on YallWire.com

Yallwire.com has recently added the video for Mountain Hearts’ “Road That Never Ends” to it’s library of music video’s online. You’ll have to watch a short advertisement before the video starts but it gets to the good stuff pretty quick. “The Road That Never Ends” is the title cut from Mountain Heart’s latest release on Rural Rhythm Records.

Mountain Hearts current lineup features Josh Shilling, Jim Van Cleve, Clay Hess, Barry Abernathy, Aaron Ramsey and Jason Moore.

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