The Lovell Sisters
When:
Saturday, May 17th, 2008
8:00 PM (doors open 7:30PM)
Tickets:
$20.00 Donation Adults /
$15.00 Seniors & Kids 16 & under
Tickets on sale NOW. Call 847-573-0443
Where:
American Legion Music Hall
1030 Central Street, Evanston IL
More Information:
Email Chicago Bluegrass
chicagobluegrass.com
Chip Covington @ 847-573-0443

The Lovell Sisters are a young bluegrass phenomenon from Georgia that features tight, soulful harmonies and virtuosic instrumentation. Jessica, Megan, and Rebecca Lovell (ages 21, 18, and 16) began lessons in classical violin and piano at age five and sang frequently as a vocal trio in their church choir. Since forming The Lovell Sisters Band, they have toured from their hometown of Calhoun, GA to perform their brand of bluegrass music in over 24 states, Ireland, and Norway.

Early signs were clear, when the ensemble from Calhoun, Georgia won the “A Prairie Home Companion” teen talent contest in 2005. The Lovell Sisters released their debut album, entitled When Forever Rolls Around , later that year. The project was engineered in Nashville by co-producer, Brent Truitt, who has played mandolin with the Dixie Chicks, Dolly Parton, and Alison Krauss. The album has been very well received.

May 2006, Rebecca became the first woman and youngest contestant to win the MerleFest International Mandolin Competition. But it is harmony, rather than competition, that most distinguishes the group. Whether performing their original compositions or re-envisioning an old standard, The Lovell Sisters blend as only the classic family ensembles can. They provide a breath of fresh air and a sense of reassurance that the music will be in good hands as it gets passed on to the next generation.

Says Jeff Styles of Talk Radio from Chattanooga, TN: “The Lovell Sisters play like pros, sing like angels, look like models, and are one good video away from stardom. Their energy is awesome and nobody in the bluegrass world wants to follow them on stage. They’re better than 99.9 percent of the bands on the radio today, and I don’t expect their eventual success to spoil them. A truly rare thing.”

Opening the show from Chicago is Cù Roì – an band of young artists out of the Academy Of Irish Music that perform deep Celtic sounds with original arrangements. Click their site for more info: http://www.curoiband.com

Bluegrass Legends Concerts

Bluegrass Legends Concerts (Evanston, IL) is the only running bluegrass & acoustic music concert series in the Chicago area that features national headline bluegrass talent. The 2008 spring series marks our 10th year of presenting the nation’s top acoustic bluegrass talent and local folk-roots opening acts in an all-ages non-smoking concert setting for families. Bluegrass Legends Concerts are all about great music in a truly community setting for families, friends, and neighbors.

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Larry Stephenson

The Chicago area’s Bluegrass Legends Concerts is hosting a night with the award winning Vocalist and Songwriter Larry Stephenson Friday January 18th. The show will also feature Barb Silverman. The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the American Legion Music Hall, 1030 Central St., in Evanston, Ill. Tickets are on sale now by calling 847-573-0443. Details are also available at http://www.chicagobluegrass.com.

Well-regarded among musicians as an outstanding mandolin player, a significant number of industry and media critics regard Larry Stephenson as the premier high lead vocalist in bluegrass music today. His distinctive, crystal clear voice towers over the band vocals, whether an old folk song, a ‘brush arbor’ gospel quartet, or one of his many top ten trios that have graced the national bluegrass song charts.

Larry Stephenson began his musical career in his early teens when he and his father, Ed Stephenson, formed Larry Stephenson & The New Grass in Larry’s hometown of King George, Virginia . He went on to join Bill Harrell & The Virginians in January 1979 playing mandolin and singing high lead and tenor. In June 1983, he moved to a similar role as a member of The Bluegrass Cardinals, remaining until October 1988, when he organized The Larry Stephenson Band.

Larry remains one of the comparatively few headline artists whose solidly tradition-based, contemporary interpretations of the music have kept his recording on the cutting edge of the bluegrass charts, while gaining the respect along the way of first generation legends. Larry continues to record for one of the country’s preeminent independent record companies, as 2008 will mark his 19th Anniversary of making records for the highly respected Pinecastle label family.

Larry has been honored by his home state when he was inducted into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2001, 2004, 2005 & 2006 he won the “Contemporary Male Vocalist Award” at the prestigious SPBGMA (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America ) Convention. Also in 2004, the band clinched the “Song of the Year Award” for the song & title track, “Clinch Mountain Mystery”.

Bluegrass Legends Concerts ( Evanston , IL ) is the only running bluegrass & acoustic music concert series in the Chicago area that features national headline bluegrass talent. The 2007/08 series marks our 9th year of presenting the nation’s top acoustic bluegrass talent

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Michael Cleveland

Evanston, IL. — The Chicago area’s Bluegrass Legends Concert Series is featuring Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper on Saturday, November 10. The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the American Legion Music Hall, 1030 Central St., in Evanston, Ill. Tickets are on sale now by calling 847-573-0443. Details are also available at http://www.chicagobluegrass.com.

Five-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Fiddle Player of the Year award, Mike Cleveland is the reigning fiddler of today’s bluegrass world. His band Flamekeeper, 2007 IBMA Instrumental Group Of The Year , burns through the night and sparks the virtuosity of Michael’s fiery fiddle. Crystal vocal harmonies, blistering instrumental work, and allegiance to the first generation bluegrass is warmed by dry wit and down-home humor.

Considered one of the premier bluegrass fiddlers of his generation, Mike picked up a fiddle at age four, and his talent was recognized early. In 1993, he was chosen to be part of the Bluegrass Youth All Stars at the IBMA’s award show. Later that year, Mike made his Grand Ole Opry debut as a guest of Alison Krauss. His list of guest appearances over the years is a who’s who of bluegrass legends including Bill Monroe, Jim and Jesse, Ralph Stanley, Mac Wiseman, Doc Watson, Larry Sparks, Doyle Lawson, and J.D. Crowe.

After high school, Mike briefly toured with then-named Dale Ann Bradley and Coon Creek before joining Rhonda Vincent and The Rage in 2000. At the 2001 IBMA awards, Mike took his first Fiddle Player of the Year award, and shared the title of Entertainer of the Year with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. In 2002, Mike rejoined The Dale Ann Bradley Band. That year he won the Fiddle Player of the Year award and again in 2004. Mike’s first project as a Rounder recording artist, “Flame Keeper,” was released in February 2002 and was chosen the IBMA’s Instrumental Album of the Year. In 2004, Mike shared the Instrumental Album of the Year award with Tom Adams for “Tom Adams and Michael Cleveland Live at the Ragged Edge,” an album of fiddle and banjo duets. In 2006 and 2007, Mike took home his fourth and fifth Fiddle Player of the Year awards.

Today Mike is a sought-after guest and has performed recently with Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, The Mark Newton Band, J.D. Crowe and the New South, Audie Blaylock and Redline, Melvin Goins and Windy Mountain and The Wildwood Valley Boys.

Bluegrass Legends Concerts ( Evanston , IL ) is the only running bluegrass & acoustic music concert series in the Chicago area that features national headline bluegrass talent. The 2007 fall series marks our 9 th year of presenting the nation’s top acoustic bluegrass talent and local folk-roots opening acts in an all-ages non-smoking concert setting for families. Bluegrass Legends concerts are all about great music in a truly community setting for families, friends, and neighbors.

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