Cleveland, Flamekeep up for 2008 IBMA instrumental honors
”Lee Highway Blues” by Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Live! in Chicago
When it comes to instrumentation, Michael Cleveland doesn’t simply fiddle around. Is there anyone out there in Bluegrass USA who would dispute that? Surely, that’s the big reason that Cleveland and his band, Flamekeeper, have reached the finalist round for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s title of Instrumental Group of the Year.
Cleveland himself has won IBMA’s Fiddle Player of the Year five times and he’s nominated for the same honor this year. He’s been playing fiddle since the age of four.
Other members of his band are guitarist Todd Rakestraw, Jesse Brock on mandolin, bass player Marshall Wilborn and banjo player John Mark Batchelor.
Adding proof to the contention that the instruments are king in Cleveland’s book, his first Rounder Records CD, “Flame Keeper,” was the IBMA’s Instrumental Album of the Year in 2002, and another project of banjo and fiddle duets, “Tom Adams and Michael Cleveland Live at the Ragged Edge,” took the same award in 2004.
Meanwhile, Cleveland and Flamekeeper have recently released “Leavin’ Town,” their debut band release on Rounder Records.
Website: http://www.flamekeeperband.com/
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper Discography:
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Leavin’ Town | Rounder |
| 2006 | Let ‘Er Go Boys | Rounder |
| 2004 | Live at the Ragged Edge, Tom Adams and Michael Cleveland | Rounder |
| 2002 | Flame Keeper | Rounder |
| 1998 | Sawing on the C String | Michael Cleveland Music |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Organization | Award | Presented To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | IBMA | Fiddle Player of the Year | Michael Cleveland |
| 2006 | IBMA | Fiddle Player of the Year | Michael Cleveland |
| 2004 | IBMA | Fiddle Player of the Year | Michael Cleveland |
| 2002 | IBMA | Fiddle Player of the Year | Michael Cleveland |
| 2001 | IBMA | Fiddle Player of the Year | Michael Cleveland |
Other Media:
“Northern White Clouds” - Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper at the Aiken Bluegrass Festival May 9, 2007
Who’s going to win the 2008 IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year? Vote for your Favorite below!
Michael Cleveland And Flamekeeper celebrate release of “Leavin’ Town” with new web site
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.
No commentsBluegrass on the Grand Ole Opry this week
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper make a friday night appearance this week at the Grand Ole Opry in Support of their forthcoming release “Leavin’ Town” due out July 29.Nashville, Tenn. — This weeks Grand Ole Opry shows feature a good lineup with plenty of bluegrass artists on the bill. Friday night Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper will play along with Jesse McReynolds, The Whites, The Time Jumpers and Marty Stuart. Bobby Osborne, The Isaacs, The Whites and the Time Jumpers will play on both Saturday shows and Jesse McReynolds will be on the late show.
Friday, July 25
- Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper — 8:00 - 8:30
- Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys — 8:30 - 9:00
- The Whites — 9:00 - 9:30
- The Time Jumpers — 9:00 - 9:30
- Marty Stuart — 9:30 - 10:00
Saturday, July 26
- Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press — 7:30 - 8:00 & 10:00 - 10:30
- The Isaacs — 8:00 - 8:30 & 10:30 - 11:00
- The Whites — 8:30 - 9:00 & 11:00 - 11:30
- The Time Jumpers — 8:30 - 9:00 & 11:00 - 11:30
- Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys — 10:30 - 11:00
The Grand Ole Opry is broadcast live on WSM 650 AM radio, online at www.WSMonline.com and on XM Satellite Radio (XM 11). All listed times are central time.
No commentsMichael Cleveland and Flame Keeper are “Leavin’ Town” July 29
Michael Cleveland and Flame Keeper on the road
- Jun 7 - The Globe Theater - Atlin, BC
- Jun 10 - KIAC Odd Fellows Hall - Dawson City, Yukon
- Jun 12 - Chilkat Center for the Arts - Haines, AK
- Jun 13-15 - Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival - Haines Junction, Yukon
- Jun 18 - Bill Monroe Beanblossom Bluegrass Festival - Beanblossom, IN
- Jun 20 - Blistered Fingers Family Bluegrass Festival - Sidney, ME
- Jun 21 - Laurel Highlands Bluegrass Festival - Ligonier, PA
- Jun 22 - Tottenham Bluegrass Festival - Tottenham, ON
- Jun 27 - Music in the Mountains - Summersville, WV
- Jun 28 - Goin’ Back to Harlan - Harlan, KY
- Jun 29 - Utah Arts Festival - Salt Lake City, UT
Burlington, MA – Rounder Records is proud to announce the release of Leavin’ Town, the debut album by Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper on July 29. Leavin’ Town provides the perfect setting for Cleveland’s continued exploration of the fusion of original ideas with those from bluegrass music’s forefathers and showcases the countless talents of each group member.
While other Cleveland recordings have been predominantly instrumental, Leavin’ Town is balanced out by vocal solos, duets, and trios – creating the effect of what would likely be heard at a Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper concert. The material comes from sources as varied as 78 rpm records made in the 1950s (The Lonesome Pine Fiddler’s “I’m Feeling For You [But I Can’t Reach You]”) to compositions written by members of Flamekeeper within the last couple of years (Todd Rakestraw’s “I’m Ridin’ This Train,” and “Kickin’ Back,” by Jesse Brock).
Cleveland is a five-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) Fiddle Player of the Year award who rose to prominence in the bands of Dale Ann Bradley and Rhonda Vincent. Leavin’ Town, Cleveland’s fourth album for Rounder and the first to feature the line-up of Jesse Brock, John Mark Batchelor, Todd Rakestraw and Marshall Wilborn, delivers the same high standard you’ve come to expect from Cleveland’s previous recordings – Let ‘Er Go Boys! (2006), Live At The Ragged Edge (2004) and Flame Keeper (2002) – each of which was awarded the International Bluegrass Music Association’s “Instrumental Album of the Year”.
Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper features Union Station founding member Todd Rakestraw on guitar and lead vocals, former Lynn Morris Band mandolinist Jesse Brock on tenor vocals, John Mark Batchelor on banjo, and veteran bass player, singer and songwriter Marshall Wilborn.
Track Listing:
- Sold Down the River
- In My Mind to Ramble
- My Blue Eyed Darling
- I’m Feeling For You (But I Can’t Reach You)
- Northern White Clouds
- Troubles ’Round My Door
- Leavin’ Town
- Sunday Morning Christian
- Jerusalem Ridge
- I’m Ridin’ This Train
- Come Spring
- When You Were Mine
- Kickin’ Back
- Farewell for a Little While
Rounder announces slew of upcoming Bluegrass releases
Rounder Records will continue their onslaught of bluegrass CD releases with several projects set for release between now and July 19, 2008. Bluegrass All-Star group Longview, Sierra Hull, James King, the Dan Tyminski Band, Dan Paisley & Southern Grass, The Grascals and Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper will all see new projects hit the streets over the next 4 months. To listen to Samples from these upcoming records as well as others released on the Rounder label this year visit JukeBoxAlive.com.
Longview
Deep in the Mountains
Release Date: April 8, 2008
Six years have passed since the last recording from bluegrass supergroup Longview, and Deep in the Mountains marks their much-anticipated return. Original members James King, Don Rigsby, and Marshall Wilborn are now joined by J.D. Crowe, Ron Stewart, and Lou Reid, resulting in a potent new lineup with the chops, discipline, and heart required to make the bluegrass tradition come alive. From the first note to the last, Deep in the Mountains is a striking update of the band’s long-held goal: soulful old-school bluegrass with soaring lead singing and riveting three-part harmonies.
Sierra Hull
Secrets
Release Date: May 6, 2008
16-year old Sierra Hull is a rare talent: an artist who combines youthful intensity and energy with a sense of grace and maturity well beyond her years. Secrets, her national debut, features her fluidly, inventive mandolin playing and tender, wistful singing supported by a luminous cast of bluegrass masters. From full-on newgrass instrumentals to eloquent, heart-stopping ballads to playful modern bluegrass, Secrets heralds the arrival of a fresh, important new voice onto today’s bluegrass scene.
James King
Gardens in the Sky: The Bluegrass Gospel of James King
Release Date: May 20, 2008
James King is considered among the leading voices in traditional bluegrass, summoning timeless echoes of Appalachia with a voice that is equally urgent, yearning, and tender. For that reason, this project - his first entirely gospel collection - has been eagerly awaited by his public, whose frequent requests for such an album inspired its release. King’s interpretations of bluegrass gospel classics both vintage and modern are so uniquely suited to the powerful longing and commitment that underpins every note he sings. Gardens in the Sky combines favorites from the James King catalog with performances featured on albums by Paul Williams and Longview, King’s contributions to The Stanley Gospel Tradition CD, and six previously unreleased recordings.
Dan Tyminski Band
Wheels
Release Date: June 17, 2008
One of the most revered artists in bluegrass, Dan Tyminski, will release Wheels this June, Tyminski’s sophomore album as a solo artist and his first effort for Rounder. The thirteen time GrammyÒ Award winner has been enchanting Bluegrass enthusiasts for over fourteen years as the guitarist, lead and harmony vocalist for Alison Krauss and Union Station. His signature hard-edged vocal style is a favorite among critics and peers who have named Tyminski Best Male Vocalist at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards three times. Rolling Stone called Tyminski “one of the genres biggest talents…” and went on to say that “Tyminski helps push bluegrass to the front line.”
Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass
The Room Over Mine
Release Date: June 24, 2008
Raised to the strains of classic bluegrass, Dan Paisley and the Southern Grass learned the ropes first-hand as the sons (and eventually bandmates) of such beloved figures as Bob Paisley, Ted Lundy, and Donnie Eldreth. Honed over decades of playing festivals, honky-tonks, Legion halls, and everywhere in between, their sound proudly reflects the timeless bluegrass soul of their fathers - while imparting a razor’s edge intensity all their own. Over the course of his apprenticeship, Danny Paisley’s singing has become proud, fierce, hard-driving, spontaneous, and unafraid to take risks, and when combined with the Southern Grass’s solid base in tradition, the result is a band and an album for the ages.
The Grascals
Keep On Walkin’
Release Date: July 15, 2008
The Grascals are among the most beloved new bluegrass bands of the past five years. Their rise was meteoric: their first album was released in 2005, and in that year they won both IBMA’s Song of the Year (”Me and John and Paul”) and Emerging Artist of the Year awards. In 2006 and 2007 they won the IBMA’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year. Keep on Walkin’ is the band’s third album and includes a smart selection of classic, original, and modern songs, including songs made famous by Waylon Jennings (”Only Daddy That Will Walk the Line”) and Merle Haggard (”Today I Started Loving You Again”), along with the bluegrass standard “Rollin’ In My Sweet Baby’s Arms” and the gospel favorite “Farther Along.” It also includes two songs from the pen of country hitmaker Harley Allen and a guest appearance from Vince Gill, who sings lead and harmony on “Sad Wind Sighs.”
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper debut album!
Release Date: July 29, 2008
The new band founded by five-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year Michael Cleveland, Flamekeeper are determined to put their own unique stamp on high-energy traditional bluegrass, while respecting and honoring the contributions of the music’s forefathers. The band features Cleveland’s fiery, inventive fiddle playing supported by John Mark Batchelor (banjo), Jesse Brock (mandolin), and Marshall Wilborn (bass), with soulful lead vocals from guitarist Todd Rakestraw.
