The Steeldrivers are among the artists selected to showcase during the 2008 Americana Music Festival in Nashville, Tenn. September 17-20.

Americana Music Association Executive Director Jed Hilly has announced the first showcase artist names for the upcoming Americana Music Festival, Nashville, September 17-20, 2008. Artists confirmed to date display the breadth and vibrance of the genre include Jim White, The Belleville Outfit, James McMurtry, Paul Thorn, The Snake The Cross and the Crown and The SteelDrivers. More names will be announced in the following weeks.

From the sensitive brilliance of James McMurtry to the bluegrass/soul hybrids The SteelDrivers, to the gypsy swing/Big Band jazz of the Belleville Outfit, to Paul Thorn’s post Pentecostal roots rock, the folk inspired melodies of the Snake The Cross and the Crown to the metaphysical alt-country Jim White. These are just some of the artists comprising the Americana genre and they, plus more than 70 other artists, will be part of the upcoming 9th Annual Americana Music Festival & Conference in September.

The Music Festival and Conference will bring together an estimated 900 artists, record executives, managers, agents, music publishers, performing rights society executives, music retailers, producers, promoters, allied professionals and major media for three days of learning, networking and entertainment.

The signature event during the Americana festivities is the Americana Honors & Awards show on Thursday, September 18 at the Ryman Auditorium. It will be hosted again by two-time Americana Honors & Awards and Grammy^® recipient Jim Lauderdale and the all-star house band will once again be led by last year’s Award winner for Instrumentalist of the Year Buddy Miller. Last month, the Americana Music Association announced that they will honor John Hiatt with the Americana Lifetime Achievement in
Songwriting Award. Other participants and honorees will be announced in the future.

The two hour event will be broadcast live on XM Satellite Radio, as well as future broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio and on BBC@ Radio.

A limited number of tickets for the Honors & Awards show are priced at $45 are now available at http://www.americanamusic.org/site.php?content=store and by calling the Americana Music Association at 615 321-3836. Tickets will be available via Ticketmaster and the Ryman box office at a later date.

The schedule is still being completed, but is shaping up to be another four days of incredible music, educational workshops and networking. For early conference registration, please go to http://www.americanamusic.org/ or email info@americanamusic.org.

Conference registration includes access to all panels and presentations, the Trade Show, selected meals, invitations to all sanctioned parties, Conference Program Guide, goody bag, a ticket to the Honors & Awards at the Ryman Auditorium, wristband to all evening showcases and more. Registration through July 31 is only $250 for AMA members, $350 for non-members. On August 1 registration becomes $300 and $400, respectively.

Showcase wristbands, good for admission at all evening showcases are available for only $35 at the Americana Music website store and in Nashville at Grimey’s New and Preloved Music. Wristbands will be sold at area music retailers and other locations starting in early August.

The Renaissance is the official hotel and other major sponsors include ASCAP, BMI, Echomusic, First Amendment Center, The Gibson Foundation, Lost Highway Records, Rounder Records, SESAC, Sugar Hill Records and Vanguard Records.

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1st Annual Delfest kicks off in Cumberland, MD today.

The Del McCoury Band, McCoury Music and High Sierra Music will start reaping the rewards of many months worth of planning today when the 1st annual DelFest begins its inaugural festival. The Lineup features the Del McCoury Band along with Vince Gill, David Grisman, The Sparrow Quartet, Sam Bush, the Punch Brothers and a whole slough of great artists. Delfest runs through Sunday, May 25. For those wanting to attend Tickets will be available at the gate. You can get more information on the Delfest website.

Bristol Tenn. Photo club to hold inaugural photo competition in conjunction with the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion festival.

The competition is open to AMATEUR photographers only and all photographs must have been taken in our “Mountain Empire” region. The categories for the competition are: Color Pictorial, Monochrome, Altered Image and Best of Bristol. The competition is also open to YOUTH { 7-12 } and YOUNG ADULT {13-18 }. An entrant may enter up to 3 images in each category, not to exceed a total of 10 entries. The entry fee is $5.00 per entry; $1.00 per entry for Youth and Young Adult. BEST IN SHOW will receive $125.00 and PEOPLE’S CHOICE will receive $100.00.

Entries will be received at the Chamber of Commerce on Saturday September 13. Judging will be on Wednesday September 17. The exhibit will be open Friday through Sunday of the Festival at a location to be disclosed later.

Bluegrass Calendar of Festivals and Events

• May 21-25 — Guyton Spring Bluegrass Festival, Gyton GA. Featuring Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show, Jr Sisk & Ramblers Choice, The Larry Gillis Band, The Larkins and more.
• May 24 — Bluegrass in the Park, Cheltenham, MD. Featuring Ernie Bradley & Grassy Ridge, Jay Armsworthy & Eastern Tradition, the Virginia Ramblers and The Scott Brannon Band.

Got an item for the calendar? Looking for Festivals, Special events, Jam Sessions, etc… If it relates to the world of Bluegrass we want to know about it. Send us the who, what, when and where and other details you’ve got and we’ll do our best to let everyone know about it. Send your Bluegrass Calendar items to subscriber@bluegrassjournal.com.

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Memphis, Tenn. — The North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance (The Folk Alliance) will celebrate its Twentieth Anniversary with an evening of music at the Kerrville Folk Festival, Quiet Valley Ranch, Texas, Sunday, May 25, 2008. The KF Festival salutes the Folk Alliance with a show featuring Anthony da Costa, Sara Hickman, Eliza Gilkyson, Kevin Welch and Tom Russell. “We appreciate Kerrville’s salute to our 20th anniversary and their support,” says Louis Meyers, Executive Director, Folk Alliance. For information and tickets: www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com.

XM’s live broadcast will enlarge the rare atmosphere of the outdoor event to reach across North America. “The XM15 – The Village channel is growing in listenership. We want to go and be a presence, so to share this special festival with our USA and Canada community.” Robert Aubrey Davis - Program Director XM 15 The Village

Dalis Allen, Producer of Kerrville Folk Festival, Mary Sue Twohy, XM15 Music Director, and Louis Meyers, Executive Director of the Folk Alliance will be on hand to help raise awareness of the many benefits folk music has to offer.

The Folk Alliance recently hosted an evening at the Bluebird Café in Nashville and has two shows at the Orphem in Memphis: Judy Collins, Oct. 25, 2008 and the Carolina Chocolate Drops, January 24, 2009. Along with the online directory, interactive website (folk.org), insurance and other membership benefits the Folk Alliance works with its regions to help their internal events.

The regional conferences are interesting and helpful in developing intelligent and worthwhile fans and friends who support American contemporary and traditional music and dance. Including workshops, panels and showcases, the 2008 conferences will be:

• Oct. 2-5 - SWRFA - Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (www.swrfa.com) Location: TBA
• Oct 10 - 12 - FARM GATHERING - Folk Alliance Region Midwest, (www.farmfolk.org) Techny Towers Conference & Retreat Center, Northbrook, Ill.
• Oct. 17 - 19 - SERFA – Southeast Regional Folk Alliance (www.serfa.org) Murfreesboro, TN
• Oct. 24 - 26 - The 5th Annual FAR-West Regional Conference, (www.far-west.org) Phoenix Marriott Mesa Hotel & Convention Center, Ariz.
• Nov 13-16 – NERFA - Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (www.nerfa.org) Hudson Valley Resort, Kerhonkson, NY
• FACanada – no event.

The 21st International Folk Alliance Conference will be held in Memphis, Tenn., February 17-22, 2009. Roger McGuinn will be the keynote speaker.

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Dan TyminskiThe Greencards Mountain HeartSierra Hull

Nashville, Tenn. — A handful of Bluegrass Artists are scheduled to play the CMA Music Festival, June 5-8, 2008 in Nashville, Tenn. The CMA Music Festival, formally known as Fan Fest, includes more than 400 artists performing concerts and participating in Meet and Greets and Autograph Sessions for over 185,000 fans.

Bluegrassers scheduled for appearances during the CMA Music Festival include: The Grascals, The Greencards, Sierra Hull, Dan Tyminiski, The Steeldrivers, Riders in the Sky and Mountain Heart. See listing below for times and places.

Proceeds from the Festival are donated to the CMA’s charity “Keep the Music Playing” which supports music education in Metro Nashvilles, public school system through a partnership with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education.

All performances at the Chevy Plaza are free and open to the public.

The Steeldrivers, Kathy Mattea and Old Crow Medicine show are also scheduled to perform on Marty Stuarts Late Night Jam at the Ryman Auditorium during the CMA Music Festival.

Thursday, June 5, 2008 (11:00 AM - 4:30 PM) - Chevy™ Plaza
Free and open to the public. Sonny Burgess, Sierra Hull, KingBilly, Lucky Bucks, Daniel Lee Martin, Mountain Heart, The Steeldrivers, and Dan Tyminiski.
Sommet Center

Saturday, June 7, 2008 (11:00 AM - 4:40 PM) - Chevy™ Plaza
Free and open to the public. Deborah Allen, Band of Heathens, The Greencards, Jedd Hughes, James Intveld, Noe Palma, Michael Peterson, and Trent Summar.
Sommet Center

Sunday, June 8, 2008 (11:00 AM - 3:30 PM) - Chevy™ Plaza
Free and open to the public. The Grascals, La Familia, Little Joe, Bobby Marquez, Augie Meyers, Chase Mitchell, Ruben Ramos, Charlie Rich Jr., and Riders In The Sky.
Sommet Center

Marty Stuart’s 7th Annual Late Night Jam — Ryman Auditorium - June 4, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives (Kenny Vaughan, Harry Stinson, Brian Glenn), Charlie Daniels Band, John Rich & Friends, Kathy Mattea, Old Crow Medicine Show, Sunny Sweeney, The SteelDrivers, Mike Farris, and Gretchen Wilson! This concert benefits MusiCares, the philanthropic arm of The Recording Academy. To order tickets call (615) 255-9600 or go online www.ticketmaster.com

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Washington, DC – The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) today announced the 2008 recipients of the NEA National Heritage Fellowships, the country’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. Mac Wiseman was among the eleven fellowships, which include a one-time award of $20,000 each.

These awardees were chosen for their artistic excellence and contributions to our nation’s cultural heritage. They represent a cross-section of ethnic cultures and traditions and art forms ranging from saddlemaking and dance to bluegrass music and drum making.

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia said, “It is important to recognize the diverse traditional arts that enrich America’s cultural landscape and to award those whose dedication and artistry are so integral to the continuation of these art forms.”

These honorees join the ranks of previous Heritage Fellows, including bluesman B.B. King, Cajun fiddler and composer Michael Doucet, cowboy poet Wally McRae, gospel singer Shirley Caesar, and bluegrass musician Bill Monroe. Since 1982, the Endowment has awarded 338 NEA National Heritage Fellowships.

Fellowship recipients are nominated by the public, often by members of their own communities, and then judged by a panel of experts in folk and traditional arts on the basis of their continuing artistic accomplishments and contributions as practitioners and teachers. This year a nine-member panel reviewed 235 nominations for the 11 fellowships. The ratio of winners to nominees indicates the extraordinary level of competition for this national honor.

The 2008 awardees will come to Washington, D.C. in September for a series of events including a banquet at the Library of Congress and an awards presentation on Capitol Hill as well as a concert scheduled for Friday, September 19, at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland.

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment is the largest annual national funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.

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