Dan Paisley & Southern Grass will headline the Long Island Bluegrass Festival in Copiague, NY August 16.

Very self-described pure country boy Danny Paisley and his band Southern Grass are headed to the big city.

Paisley, whose new CD, “The Room Over Mine,” is earning high critical marks, and Southern Grass will headline the Long Island Bluegrass Festival from noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 16 at Tanner Park near the Great South Bay in Copiague, N.Y.

Sponsored by the Babylon Arts Council and the Town of Babylon, the festival will also include performances by Buddy Merriam & Back Roads, James Reams & the Barnstormers, Too Blue, Acoustic Electrix, Free Grass Union, Michael Daves and Blue Detour.

Now in its sixth year, the family-friendly festival will include workshop tents, plenty of opportunities for jamming, music and activities for children, crafts and a food court. Adult admission is $10, while children 12 and younger get in free.

Southern Grass, known for its hard-driven traditional bluegrass, includes band leader Paisley on guitar and lead and tenor vocals, his brother Michael Paisley on bass, T.J. Lundy on fiddle, Bobby Lundy on banjo and baritone vocals, and Donnie Eldreth on mandolin and harmony vocals.

Besides the critical acclaim the new CD is garnering, Paisley is featured on the current cover of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine.

Buddy Merriam & Back Roads play a mix of traditional favorites and original tunes. Merriam has played bluegrass music in the Northeast for more than 30 years. A friend and disciple of Bill Monroe, the “father of bluegrass,” the Long Island resident has toured nationally and internationally, has released five albums, and hosts “Blue Grass Time” Wednesday nights on local radio station WUSB 90.1 FM.

New York City-based James Reams & The Barnstormers has been performing its soulful, straight-up brand of old-school bluegrass since 1993. Fronted by southeastern Kentucky-bred Reams on guitar and lead vocals, the band performs traditional bluegrass with an old-time country edge and three-part harmonies.

Too Blue is a contemporary bluegrass quartet whose members hail from Connecticut and New York. Atlanta native Michael Daves is now based in Brooklyn and performs with guitar. Acoustic Electrix, Blue Detour and Free Grass Union are regional bluegrass groups.

More information on the Long Island Bluegrass Festival is available online at www.babylonarts.com or by calling (631) 587-3696

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Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper “Leavin Town” (Rounder)

Named the International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2007 “Instrumental Group of the Year”, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper are celebrating the release of Leavin’ Town, their debut CD on Rounder Records.

Led by five-time IBMA “Fiddle Player of the Year”, Michael Cleveland, the band unites bluegrass veterans with exuberant younger musicians to create a unique set of paths that converge at the roots of bluegrass. With songs ranging from the 1950s’ Lonesome Pine Fiddlers to recently-penned original material, Leavin’ Town offers the listener ample opportunity to get to know each member of Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper.

In celebration of the release of Leavin’ Town on July 29th, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper are announcing the launch of a new website and MySpace page. The band’s website located at www.FlamekeeperBand.com, offers the most current list of performances, news items, an electronic press kit, and opportunities to purchase the band’s music on-line. And for a sneak peek of the new CD visit the band’s new MySpace page at www.myspace.com/michaelclevelandflamekeeper to hear 5 tracks from the new project. While you are there, feel free to become a friend of the band and add their music to your own myspace account.

Fans of Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper have the opportunity to sign-up for the band’s new e-newsletter as well. The monthly e-mail will be sent to those who subscribe either on the band’s website or MySpace. Subscription to the free newsletter is easy and e-mails will not be shared with any third parties.

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“David Bromberg Quartet Live New York City 1982″ (Appleseed Recordings)

David Bromberg had slipped through my memory like a cookie crumb that found its way on an oak-plank floor. In the Seventies, I owned and thoroughly enjoyed a handful of his unique LPs that were a blend of just about any musical form you could reasonably blend.

But Bromberg, like a lot of the artists from three decades ago, hasn’t hung up his guitar, his fiddle, his mandolin, his Dobro and whatever else he plays. And, it should be noted, he plays them all pretty darn well.

So, I was thrilled and took a trip down memory lane when this “newly remastered archival recording” called “The David Bromberg Quartet; Live New York City 1982” came my way. I tried my best to conjure up some of my old favorite Bromberg material from my old vinyl albums, but the memory bank didn’t cooperate well. All I could remember was the guy was a lightning fast flat picker who could sing blues and bluegrass well, almost all in the same breath.

That’s what “Live New York City 1982” is all about — the two aforementioned genres. It opens with a 10-minute-plus medley that starts with the bluegrass classic, “Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down,” and then takes off with a medley of fiddle tunes. It just goes on and on and on — but never bores. One gets the idea right off the bat that this Bromberg kid — born in Philadelphia and raised in the Big Apple — is one hot country picker. Sizzlin’ hot, in fact.

The kickoff medley also lets the listener immediately know the remainder of the quartet is also able to hold their own with the band leader. Bromberg’s quartet at the time included Robert “Butch” Amiot on bass (who still performs with Bromberg;) Jeff Wisor on fiddle and mandolin (and also still with Bromberg) and Gene Johnson, mandolin and fiddle who is a founding member of the commercial country band, Diamond Rio.

Showing Bromberg’s affection for hot fiddle tunes, the CD also includes another, much shorter medley of Sally Gooden, Old Joe Clark and Wheel Hoss.

David Bromberg. Photo by Steve Sandick.

There’s a waltz by Bob Dylan, “Wallflower;” a rousing version of “Working on a Building,” (which was the encore of the particular live performance), the old country classic, “Last Date,” and a couple of country blues numbers.

Those unfamiliar with Bromberg might bristle a bit at their first introduction to his voice. It has a New Yawwk City essence, for sure, and it’s a bit removed from the Monroe doctrine of high lonesome. On the other hand, Bromberg’s band dishes up some outstanding, very traditional high-lonesome harmonies on this CD. And Bromberg, himself, can sing sweet as can be when the occasion calls for it.

After I started listening to this guy in the Seventies, I thought he was pretty cool. Here’s a New Yorker who’s bringing this traditional bluegrass stuff to a pretty hip crowd — and he’s got them eating right out of his hand.

The release of this 1982 recording didn’t change that old opinion one bit.

A caveat: To the best of my knowledge, this was a professional recording but some sound glitches exist. And no effort was made to fix anything in the mix — not that much needed fixing.

On www.davidbromberg.net, it’s noted that this CD is the first in a series of “Official Live Recordings” from Bromberg’s personal collection. We’re ready for more.

And on that, a footnote: Bromberg is already sold out of his current stock of the new CD. More should be available in the near future, according to the Web site.

Editor’s Note: According to Appleseed Recording’s own Alan Edwards,”David’s website no longer sells the original version of “Live NYC ‘82,” but our remastered version is available through our website, www.AppleseedMusic.com, in all of the major online CD stores, and in the dwindling number of actual CD stores around the country and overseas.”

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Nashville, Tenn. — Nashville will have a new entertainment option on Thursday nights next year when the Grand Ole Opry adds Opry Country Classics to its current line-up of Tuesday, Friday and Saturday performances.

The all-new addition to the Opry’s schedule will shine a spotlight on the classic country songs that have defined country music for generations of fans. Opry Country Classics will share country music’s colorful story through a live performance featuring country favorites performed by legends of the genre as well as talented new artists, a rousing live band, square dancing, and more. Like current Opry broadcasts, the show will be heard on 650 WSM-AM.

“We are pleased to introduce this new show that celebrates country music’s incredible legacy by showcasing its most familiar and beloved songs performed by the legends that made them famous as well as rising stars,” said Steve Buchanan, president of the Grand Ole Opry Group. “The programming in Opry Country Classics is a perfect complement to our Grand Ole Opry performances featuring the new stars, superstars and legends of country music.”

“I was raised in Mississippi, where we were immersed in the blues, rock n’ roll, and jazz, but it was the country music I heard that touched my heart. The sounds beaming from that 650 WSM signal seemed to beckon me to Nashville. I’m looking forward to performing some of those same great timeless songs for country fans on Thursdays next year. Let ‘er go, boys!” Marty Stuart - Grand Ole Opry Member

“The Grand Ole Opry has been instrumental in making Tennessee the center of the music world while positioning Nashville as ‘Music City,’” said Susan Whitaker, commissioner, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “We look forward to spreading the word about this addition to the Grand Ole Opry’s schedule as an important part of a musical mix unmatched by any other state.”

The Opry’s 2009 schedule of shows includes more than 200 performances:

• Tuesday — 7 p.m. March 2 – Dec. 15
• Opry Country Classics– Thursday, 7 p.m. March 26 – June 18 and Sept. 10 – Oct. 29
• Friday — 8 p.m. year-round
• Saturday — 7 p.m. year-round
• Saturday — 9:30 p.m. (March – April, June – July, Sept. – Dec.)

The Opry’s 2009 schedule of shows includes more than 200 performances.

Opry fans will be able to purchase tickets for Opry Country Classics alone or packaged alongside traditional Opry performances. Opry Country Classics shows will go on sale next month. Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday 2009 Opry shows are on sale now.

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Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain will play at the 1st Annual Angel City Bluegrass Festival in Unidilla, GA.

Unidilla, GA. — Veniece Kennedy of Riverbend Bluegrass is promoting a new bluegrass festival in Unidilla, Georgia over Labor Day Weekend. The Angel City Bluegrass festival is scheduled for August 28-30 and is being billed as a family event.

Bluegrass artists scheduled to appear include: Larry Cordle with Boohie Beach, Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, Randy Kohrs & The Lites, The Showcase Band, IIIrd Tyme Out, Fontana Sunset, Riverbend Bluegrass, Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, and The Wilson Family.

In addition to the great lineup of music, the Angel City Bluegrass Festival will feature arts and crafts booths, pony rides, and other kids activities. Food will be available at various vendors or at the Wagon Wheel Cafe located on the premises.

E-Tickets are currently available online through the Angel City Rally web site. a festival pass good for all three days is available for $35. Single day tickets are $10 (Thur) and $20 (Fri & Sat.) Tent Camping and RV sites without hookups are $10 per night and RV sites with hookups are $20 per night.

Golf carts and pets on leashes are welcome.

For more information call 229-425-0805 or for tickets & Reservations 800-433-7191.

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