We recently ran a story about Mark O’Connor’s String Camps and incorrectly listed the dates for the Mark O’Connor String Institute at UCLA. The correct dates for the Mark O’Connor String Institute at UCLA are June 29 – July 3rd. Registration for the UCLA string camp is available online at http://www.summer.ucla.edu

Wilkesboro, NC — MerleFest 2009, presented by Lowe’s, is proud once again to host the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Now in its 17th year, the contest is an extraordinary opportunity for aspiring writers to have their original songs heard and judged by a panel of Nashville music industry professionals, under the direction of this year’s volunteer contest chairperson, Grammy®-winning singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale.

Lyons, Colo. — Planet Bluegrass today announces the initial lineup for the 36th Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival, held the weekend of the summer solstice, June 18-21, in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. This year’s incarnation of the legendary festival features Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Sam Bush, Dixie Chick Martie Maguire, and many, many more. Tickets and camping are on sale now at www.bluegrass.com or 800-624-2422, including a limited number of discounted four-day passes.

Photo credit – Benko Photographics.

Burlington, MA – Dan Tyminski’s stellar release, “Wheels”, is January’s #1 album on Bluegrass Unlimited’s National Bluegrass Survey Top 15 Albums chart, and the title track is #1 on the Top 30 Songs chart. Since the album’s June release on Rounder, the album has been #1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart three times and has also topped the Bluegrass Music Profiles Top 10.

It has been quite a while since I stepped outside the front door to celebrate New Year’s Eve, and this year was looking to be more of the same.

That changed when a close friend of mine convinced me I had to break the chains of New Year’s monotony and head to Knoxville, Tenn., to see the Hackensaw Boys. I had heard of the band and even watched a couple of rough YouTube videos, but other than that, I really knew very little about the group. I knew they had a loyal following out east, and from their videos, plenty of energy to burn.

Knoxville was ready to ring in the New Year. The Market Square district, located downtown, had a carnival-like feel. A huge stage was erected at one end of the square and featured a constant flow of entertainment. The middle contained an ice rink with couples gliding in the New Year. At the opposite end, food vendors and hucksters rounded out the holiday landscape.

But the real attractions came later, when a variety of bands brought in the New year at the several small restaurants and pubs that make up the square.

The Hackensaw Boys were performing at the Preservation Pub. It’s not a very large place, but what it lacks in size, it makes up in character, charm and hospitality.