The Isaacs will perform at ROMP June, 26 as part of the annual Legends Concert.

Fans of bluegrass gospel should be prepared to …. well, romp at the annual ROMP sponsored by the International Bluegrass Music Museum June 26-28 in Owensboro, Ky.

The festival has lined up three of the biggest bluegrass gospel groups on the circuit today for its annual Legends concert, slated from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 26. Appearing will be The Sullivans, the Lewis Family and The Isaacs. If that’s not enough, consider this: Ron Thomason of Dry Branch Fire Squad will serve as the evening’s emcee. The show will take place at Riverpark Center.

ROMP shows Friday and Saturday will be held at Yellow Creek Park.

Friday’s lineup includes Lost and Found, Country Ham, the Larry Stephenson Band, Sauber & Graham, Red Wine, Hazel Dickens, Don Rigsby & Midnight Call, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Dale Ann Bradley and Mike Snider.

Performing Saturday will be Cherryholmes, Dailey & Vincent, Infamous Stringdusters, Cadillac Sky, Claire Lynch, G2, the Buddy and Tina Wright Band, Kentucky Bluegrass All Stars, Cedar Hill, and Tim, Tina and the U.S. Express.

The festival includes museum tours, workshops and a trade show.

Tickets and additional details are at www.riverofmusic.org.

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Williams & Clark Expedition

Williams & Clark Expedition is up to its collective elbows with new band developments this spring.

First, there’s the new CD, the band’s fifth, which is due for release in May. According to the band’s latest newsletter, “All the tracks have been recorded for the new project and the CD is in the process of being mastered as we speak. Photos will be chosen this week for the CD … ”

Tracks were recorded at Top Dog Studios in Hendersonville, Tenn. Expect the new CD to include a guest appearance by Buck White playing piano on a swing tune penned by Wayne Southards and Blake Williams entitled “Goodbye Heartache, Hello You.” Claire Lynch steps into the sidelight with a harmony track on a song by Kimberly Williams entitled “Heaven On Earth”.

Next up for the band: A revamped Web site, which already offers a “sneak peak” of things to come. It can be found at www.WilliamsAndClarkExpedition.com.

Wait, that’s not all. The band has joined the latest music industry trend by offering digital downloads of its songs directly from the Web site — on the revamped Web site, that is, so wait a couple of weeks before loading up your hard drive. Songs can be purchased by the track or an entire CD.

“The process is simple and is through PayPal, the most trusted source for online payment in the world,” Kimberly Williams says. “We have already updated our merchandise page to allow you to purchase complete projects on-line. Additional merchandise is also available such as brand new WCE T-shirts and photos. For those of you who prefer, we have updated our snail-mail order form and will continue to accept orders through the mail and payment with a good old fashioned check.”

Tired yet? There’s just one more development — but relax, and it’s down the road a piece. The band is already heavily involved in planning the fifth annual Franklin (Ky.) Music Festival, set for Sept. 5-6 this year. Performers will include Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, The Grascals, The Isaacs, IIIrd Tyme Out, Nothin’ Fancy, Dailey & Vincent, Cherryholmes, The Martin Family and Williams & Clark Expedition.

Information on camping, lodging, tickets and schedules can be found at www.FranklinMusicFestival.com.

We’ve been spending the better part of winter, when not on the road performing, in Top Dog Studios recording our 5th CD. This project features songs and instrumentals contributed by each member of the band as well as a couple of crowd favorites we perform during our shows. We were honored to have some special guests join us in the studio as well. Buck White was gracious enough to lend his piano talents to a swing tune penned by Wayne and Blake titled “Goodbye Heartache, Hello You” and Claire Lynch sang harmony on a song with Kimberly titled “Heaven On Earth”. The new project is scheduled for release in May.

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Kathy Mattea will be performing material from her eagerly anticipated release “COAL” during upcoming appearances at The Ark in Ann Arbor, MI and Mountain Stage.

Coming to The Ark in April

The Ark, the premier live music club in Ann Arbor, MI, will feature a few Bluegrass shows well worth noting in April.

• Apr 1 — The Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile, 8:00 PM. Tickets are $25.00.
• Apr 8 — Flecktone bassist Victor Wooten, 8:00 PM. Tickets are $35.00.
• Apr 12 — The RFD Boys, 8:00 PM. Tickets are $11.00
• Apr 20 — Kathy mattea, 7:30 PM. Tickets are $35.00

For more information visit The Ark online.

On the WDVX Blueplate this week.

East Tennessee’s Own WDVX will feature The Red Stick Ramblers and Tim O’brien on a pair of live shows this week during WDVX’s Blueplate Special. The Blueplate Special features live in studio performances in front of an audience and is broadcast locally at Noon (Eastern Time). WDVX currently feautres a variety of audio streams online for listeners out of the area.

• Wed March 26 — The Red Stick Ramblers.
• Sat March 29 — Tim O’Brien

Live On Mountain Stage this week

Mountain Stage will have Kathy Mattea, Tim O’Brien and Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck, Casey Driessen and Ben Sollee on March 30 at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, KY. The 7:00 PM show will also feature slide guitar extraordinaire Sonny Landreth and Tift Merrit. Tickets are available through the Paramount Box Office (606)-324-3175 or Ticketmaster.

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“Pickin’ in the Senate” from left to right are: Roger Bondurant - guitar (left), Emmadell Goodlett - mandolin, Sam Bush, and Brian McGaha - bass guitar (right). Photo courtesy of Mike Sunseri, LRC Public Information.

Frankfurt, KY — Sam Bush was honored yesterday, March 18, 2008, with a resolution from the Commonwealth of Kentucky for his contributions to New Grass music. Sam performed two songs on the senate floor in Frankfort, Kentucky and was recognized for his contributions as an in-demand studio musician, and for being an integral member of the influential bands Bluegrass Alliance and New Grass Revival.

Sam Bush on the road:

• Mar 19 — Bluebird Cafe - Nashville, TN
• Apr 1 — Mexicali Blues Cafe - Teaneck, NJ
• Apr 2 — Berks Jazz Fest - Reading, PA
• Apr 25 — Merlefest - Wilkesboro, NC
• Apr 26 — Merlefest - Wilkesboro, NC
• May 1 — Tipitinas - New Orleans, LA
• May 3 — Stagecoach Music Festival - Indio, CA
• May 23 — Browns Island - Richmond, VA
• May 24 — 1st Annual Delfest - Cumberland, MD

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Steep Canyon Rangers burnin’ up the stage at the 4th annual 2007 Franklin, KY Music Festival photo by Wendy Connor

Although it’s only a two-day event, the Franklin Music Festival in Franklin, Ky. is gaining a reputation for the quality of acts it attracts.

That reputation will get a little more polished this year, with the announcement of the 2008 festival lineup for the Sept. 5-6 event. Bands already booked to perform include The Grascals, The Isaacs, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Nothin’ Fancy and IIIrd Tyme Out.

The official festival Web site has been updated with all the latest information, including lodging, local attractions, and the performance schedule.

You can read a roundup on last years Franklin Music Festival here.

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