Earl Scruggs on stage at Bean Blossom in June of 2008. Photo by Thomas Stout.

Earl Scruggs set the audience on fire last month with his brief, surprise performance at the Bill Monroe Memorial Bluegrass Festival in Bean Blossom, Ind. With no advance announcement, Scruggs appeared on stage with Lizzy Long & Friends, joining in some harmony singing, offering a few background licks on a vocal number and wowing the crowd with his banjo anthem, “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.”

It’s obvious that Scruggs, at age 84, hasn’t eased into the rocking chair.

An exclamation point to Scruggs’ non-retired status came earlier this week when the pioneering bluegrasser dazzled his audience on the final night of the Seattle, Wash., Symphony Orchestra’s SummerFest series. Scruggs’ appearance on the series playbill comes as no surprise once you realize who organized the concerts — Seattle native and ace fiddler/violinist Mark O’Connor.

Scruggs’ Seattle’s appearance, it should be noted, proves that milestones can happen, no matter a person’s age. Scruggs and his band had a more-than-adequate warm-up act, the Sparrow Quartet, one of virtuoso banjo player Bela Fleck’s many side projects. It marked the first time Scruggs and Fleck had shared the stage — and share it they did, with an encore performance that also included O’Connor.

Writing for the Seattle Times, freelance critic Tom Keogh, described the banjo guru’s performance: “… Scruggs was the center of a bluegrass onslaught. He played some of his most famous material (’Sally Goodwin,’ ‘Foggy Mountain Breakdown’) and a number of covers, including the 19th-century folk song ‘In the Pines,’ the even older ‘Soldier’s Joy’ (’I wrote it,”‘Scruggs quipped) and the Beatles’ ‘Lady Madonna.’

“Scruggs’ flowing, three-finger syncopation gave every tune a ringing quality that was both open and epic. Yet he could sound lazy and swaying (on Bob Dylan’s ‘You Ain’t Going Nowhere’), slightly martial (’Soldier’s Joy’) or witty (’Doin’ My Time’). “Surrounded by the likes of 75-year-old, Grammy Award-winning fiddler Bobby Hicks and renowned multi-instrumentalist John Jorgenson, Scruggs took a couple of necessary rests and let his terrific band rip through a few favorites.”

Also appearing as band members were sons Gary and Randy Scruggs.

Scruggs, meanwhile, has other summer dates to perform. He’ll appear Aug. 17 at the Havelock County Jamboree in Havelock, Ontario, and Aug. 31 at the Four Corners Folk Festival in Pagosa Springs, Colo.

A complete list of his tour dates and lots of information you may not know about Earl Scruggs can be found at www.earlscruggs.com.

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The Dan Tyminski Band has just released a video for the title track of their newest CD, “Wheels.”

Burlington, MA — Bluegrass giant Dan Tyminski takes a trip in his new video for the title track from his album Wheels. The video, directed by Rocky Schenck and produced by Rocky Schenck and Brad Paul, was shot on The Sierra Hotel train car on June 10 -11 in California.

The Sierra Hotel car was part of the California Zephyr line that ran from Chicago to Los Angeles from 1948 to 1983. The car was then purchased privately and completely restored and customized. The producers of the video chartered the car and had it attached to the Amtrak Coast Starlight train (which runs from Seattle to Los Angeles) in Oakland and shot the video during the journey south to Los Angeles and back to Oakland the next day. “Wheels” features grand iconic scenery, informal performances and humorous vignettes about the band finding ways to stay entertained while on the road.

The video is being added on GAC Tuesday, July 22 and is currently in heavy rotation on CMT Pure. It can be viewed here:

www.cmt.com/videos/dan-tyminski/255914/wheels.jhtml

Dan Tyminski - “Wheels” (Rounder)

Released June 17, Wheels, Tyminski’s sophomore album, made its debut at #1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Album Chart and was named by Ken Barnes of USA Today as one of his favorites. The album has also been hailed in No Depression, Billboard, American Songwriter, Washington Post, Chicago Sun Times, Country Weekly and Dallas Morning News.

Tyminski became one of the most recognized voices in bluegrass music when the hit single “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow” and the O Brother, Where Art Thou? phenomenon took off. Suddenly, the reluctant star was out in front performing on the Grammy^® Awards (taking home a trophy for Album of The Year among others) and shortly thereafter appearing on The Late Show With David Letterman, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and many others.

Tyminski is currently on tour in support of the release of the new album and will be making appearances from coast to coast through the fall. For a complete list of tour dates log onto www.dantyminski.com.

July
19 — Cleveland, TN - White Oak Mountain Bluegrass Festival
25 — Lyons, CO - Rockygrass

August
2 — Bainbridge Island, WA - Farmstock Festival
8 — Edmonton, ALB - Edmonton Folk Festival
10 — Alta, WY - Grand Targhee Resort
16 — LaFarge, WI - Larry Festival
17 — Three Oaks, MI - Acorn Theater
24 — New York, NY - Lincoln Center Out of Doors Series (guest appearance with Charlie Haden)

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Television

July 18 — The Steeldrivers will appear on NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien tonight. Check local listing for time and station.

Michigan

July 18-20 — Farmlane Bluegrass & Old Country Music Festival - Grass Lake, MI.
Bluegrass Artists scheduled include: The Larkin Family, Cedar Creek, Southern Explosion, Radio Gang, Clark Brothers and many more. Their are several option and prices for attending this festival listed on their web site.

Ohio

July 18-19 — Country Stage Bluegrass Festival - Nova, OH.
Bluegrass artists scheduled to appear include: Buck & Company, Spanky Moore Gang, Harbourtown, Hardline Drive, Highland Grass and more. A pass good for both days of the festival sells for $25 and single day tickets are $15 (Fri) and $20 (Sat). Weekend pass includes free primitive camping.

Got an item for the calendar? We’re 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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Jarrod Payne (second from right) receives the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship 2008 from Randall Franks (right), Share America Foundation president; Joe Turner (left), Share America Foundation chairman; July 11 in Ringgold. (Share America photo by Regina Watkins)Jarrod Payne brings the sounds of his banjo to life with some support from Lorie Watkins, Lisa Jacobi, Randall Franks and Shanon Watkins. (Share America photo by Regina Watkins)

Ringold, GA — The Share America Foundation, Inc. announced its second 2008 scholarship recipient at its July 11 Sacred Sounds Fridays concert featuring The Watkins Family, Steel String Session and Deborah Taylor at the Ringgold Depot in Ringgold, Ga.

Jarrod Payne, 18, of Ducktown, Tenn., a graduate of Copper Basin High School in Polk County, is the second 2008 winner of the scholarship. His special award is given in memory of the organization’s late benefactor Dottie Rambo. The organization’s scholarship committee including both education and music professionals reviewed the candidates then scoring applicants on academics and musical abilities.

Payne appeared at the event playing “Amazing Grace” and playing “Beethoven’s Old Hen” along with a full set of gospel songs performed with Steel String Session featuring Lisa Jacobi, Pete Dasher, Denny Mixon, and John McLeod.

“I was greatly impressed by the depth of knowledge and interest in the variety of styles that Jarrod has,” said Joe Turner, Share America chairman. “He is certain to touch people around the world with his talents.”

Payne received a $250 scholarship to be used towards his educational needs at Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, Tenn. He said his plans are to transfer to East Tennessee State University where he will pursue a bachelor’s degree in music.

“We are honored to present this special scholarship award this year remembering the gifts shared with our organization by Dottie Rambo,” said Randall Franks, Share America Foundation president. “I know that Jarrod is a talented young man with a great vision for his music. He will use these funds to study and expand the opportunities for his life and the potential for his impact on the lives of others. It will be a seed that we pray grows honoring all those who played a part in making it possible,” he said.

Board members include Franks, Turner, Gene Lowery, vice chairman; Adam Cathey, secretary and Jerry Robinson, Sr., vice president.

Payne said that while his goals are currently in pursuing a degree and career in music, he looks forward to all the academic opportunities of college that may “open the door to other careers …not yet considered.”

“The boundaries of a person’s mind and a society’s way of thinking are expanded when music enters the experience,” he said. “The varying genres of music can emphasize the different aspects of life, including the viewpoints one has on the world around them.

“Music affects my life in a truly personal way, as I find the music to be a way of life,” he said. “Throughout my music education, I have had several music instructors and fellow band mates who continually sample various styles and techniques found in many musical genres. In their own ways, they have interpreted and taught me the various musical languages that I now communicate through my performances and playing.”

Payne said music has richly blessed his life, as have the people who continue to play a role in making him the person he is.

Payne is the son of John Payne and Jennifer Cheatham of Ducktown, Tenn. and is the stepson of Joe Cheatham. He’s also the grandson of Luke and Linda Coleman of Ducktown and the late Avery and Loney Payne.

Sacred Sounds Fridays concerts are produced 10 times each year at the Ringgold Depot. The next event is August 8 with Mountain Faith of Sylva, N.C. and Jim Ricketts of Dayton, Tenn.

The monthly events help fund the organization’s Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship. Pearl and Floyd Franks are the late parents and former entertainment managers of actor/entertainer Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night.” The scholarships honor students excelling the Appalachian musical arts.

One additional scholarship will be presented in 2008, Franks said.

For more information about the organization and its programs, contact Share America, P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755 or visit www.myspace.com/shareamerica.

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