Mountain Heart’s video for Road That Never Ends is currently #2 on CMT Pure 12 Pack Countdown.

Tim Hensley will be featured in the May 16th country issue of People Magazine that includes an article,a review of Long Monday, Hensley’s debut on Rural Rhythm Records and a free song download.

Mountain Heart’s video for the title track of Road That Never Ends is currently in the #2 spot on CMT Pure 12 Pack Countdown. To vote for Mountain Heart visit CMT here.

Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain will be releasing a new single, “I Can Always Go Back Anytime” “I Can Go Back Anytime,” written by Jennifer Strickland, this month. Hassler and Hard Rain will also release a new Album this summer titled CHHR2.

Mashville Brigade’s first single, “Take This Hammer,” releases May 15th on Prime Cuts of Bluegrass. The Brigade also has an Upcoming appearance with Kyle Cantrell on XM Radio in the near future.

Rickey Wasson’s “Losin’ In Las Vegas” and Cody Shuller and Pine Mountain Railroad’s “My Eyes Shall Be On Canaan’s Land” are both set to be released to radio as singles. Both Wasson and Pine Mountain Railroad have upcoming albums to be released on Rural Rhythm Records.

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Crooked Still joins the lineup for the CBA’s 33rd annual Father’s Day Festival in Grass Valley, CA June 12-15, 2008

California Bluegrass Association members refer to it as their “big one.”

That reference is to the group’s annual Father’s Day Festival, being held for the 33rd year in 2008 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, Calif. The festival, from June 12-15, also includes the association’s annual Music Camp.

The camp itself runs from June 8-11. It’s popularity is gauged by a sign on the Web site, “2008 camp is FULL!.” And, there are long waiting lists to get into future classes. Camp organizers say some space may open up in the oldtime banjo class or the Level 1 bluegrass banjo class.

To be added to a list of people who are notified by e-mail when the CBA opens registration in February 2009 for next year’s festival, people can send an e-mail to info@cbamusiccamp.org requesting early notification.

Now, back to the CBA’s description of their festival as “the big one.” Take a look at the entertainment lineup, which CBA promoters tout, features some of the finest touring bluegrass acts and the best that California has to offer:

• Blue Highway
• Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver
• Bradley Walker
• Grasstowne
• Dan Tyminski Band
• The Wilders
• BladeRunners
• Crooked Still
• Goldwing Express
• Chris Jones and Ivan Rosenberg
• Blue & Lonesome
• All Star Music Camp Instructors Band
• The Doerfel Family
• Kids on Bluegrass
• Sidesaddle & Co.
• Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys
• Diana Donnelly & The Yes Ma’ams
• Mount Diablo String Band
• Natural Drift
• Megan Lynch, Tristan and Tashina Clarridge
• Keith Little & Jim Nunally
• Hamilton County Bluegrass Band
• Angelica Grim and High Action
• Bill Evans & Megan Lynch
• RoseBud Blue
• The Del Williams Band
• 49 Special
• The Alhambra Valley Band
• Kitchen Help
• The Notorious Shank Brothers
• The Grass Less Traveled
• Jeanie & Chuck Poling
• The Dalton Mountain Gang

Enough said about “the big one?”

Tickets are being sold on line for the festival. The sales information is available at http://www.fathersdayfestival.com. A special note on ordering tickets online: All online ticket purchasers must have a valid email address as they will be sent an E-ticket to print out and take to the event. Those ordering online will not receive anything in the mail when ordering E-tickets online. Special pricing is available on sales through May 31.

Camping is also available on site, although full hookups are assigned through a lottery — and the date to enter that has come and gone long ago. Camping info is also available on the above Web site.

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Midwest Bluegrass Festivals of Jacksonville, Ill., is gearing up to launch its warm-weather outdoor festival season.

First up will be the eighth annual Three Sisters Park Bluegrass Festival on June 6, 7 and 8 near Chillicothe, Ill. That’s a few miles north of Peoria.

The lineup includes Tennessee bands Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike and Kody Norris & the Watauga Mountain Boys, Frances Mooney & Fontana Sunset from Georgia and Wisconsin-based band Art Stevenson & High Water. Four Illinois groups will also entertain during the weekend. They are The Shipperts, Prairie Grass, Illinois Rail and Dale & Gloria Lowe.

The concert stage at Three Sisters Park is under cover, giving a clear green light to shows, no matter what the weather brings. Camping is also available at the park.

Headed by Terry and Jan Lease, Midwest Bluegrass Festivals also has festivals lined up throughout the summer. Here’s a look:

• July 11-13, Crazy Horse Campground Bluegrass Festival in Ashland, Ill.
• Aug. 8-10, Back Forty Bluegrass Festival in Curryville, Mo.
• Aug. 23-24, 14th annual Bluegrass in the Gardens festival at the Amish tourism spot Rockome Gardens near Arcola, Ill.

The Leases launch their season of indoor festivals during the winter months on Nov 7-9 with the 22nd annual Greater Downstate Indoor Bluegrass Festival at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield.

Band lineups as well as ticket and camping information where applicable are available at www.bluegrassmidwest.com.

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