Update - 2:04 PM
Steeldrivers on televised portion of Grand Ole Opry

Recently named the #1 “Band to Watch in 2008” by American Songwriter, The SteelDrivers will be performing at the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, May 3 in support of their self-titled debut album. Their performance will be broadcast live on Opry Live on GAC (8 PM EST/7 PM CST) with encore performances airing several times during the week. Check out air dates here: http://www.gactv.com/gac/shows_goo/

The SteelDrivers were recently featured on CMT’s Unplugged at Studio 330.

The SteelDrivers are: mandolinist/guitarist/vocalist Mike Henderson, guitarist/vocalist Chris Stapleton, fiddler/vocalist Tammy Rogers, banjo player Richard Bailey and bassist Mike Fleming.

Chris Hillman and Herb Pederson along with Mike Bub will play the Station Inn May 2 at 9:00 P.M.

Iconic country-rock pioneers Chris Hillman and Herb Pederson play the Station Inn May 2

Chris Hillman and Herb Pederson, along with Mike Bub will perform, what’s sure to be a great evening of music, at the Station Inn on Friday, May 2. in Nashville, Tenn. The show takes place at 9:00 P.M. and tickets are $20. For more information visit the Station Inn online or call 615-255-3307.

The trio will play the hits from their former groups’ repertoire, including The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, Stephen Stills’ Manassas and Desert Rose Band, as well as selections from their recent solo projects. Come hear old favorites like “Turn,Turn, Turn,” “Tambourine Man,” “Eight Miles High,” “Wheels,” or “Devil In Disguise” from the original source! For more on Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen, visit them online at www.chrishillman.com or www.herbpedersen.com

Audie Blaylock and Redline climbing the charts

Audie Blaylock and Redline’s “Lonesome Weary Heart” is currently sitting at #12 on the Sirius Bluegrass CountDown Yonder Charts.

Blaylock and company also are staying busy as the festival season begins to roll full steam ahead. The month of May will see Audie and Redline performing on “Song of the Mountains,” a syndicated show that is broadcast on 165 plus PBS stations, on May 3 in Marion, VA at the Lincoln Theatre. The group is also making stops at the Fire on the Strings Festival in Montgomery, TX (May 16), the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival in Gettysburg, PA (May 18), a radio appearance on the WDVX Blueplate Special (May 30) and The 1st annual Jimmy Martin Memorial Bluegrass Festival in Sneedville, TN (May 31).

Songsmith, Sarah Siskind to play Nashville, Tenn. Date May 22

Sarah Siskind will play a May 22 show at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, Tenn.

Sarah Siskind will play an 8:00 P.M. show at one of Nashville’s premier live music clubs, 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, May 22. Cover charge for the show is $12.00.

Alison Krauss has championed Sarah and values her songs so highly that she’s recorded two of them, both of which became singles and videos that received widespread airplay. The Infamous Stringdusters have recorded the Siskind penned “Lovin’ You” for their forthcoming album on Sugar Hill Records. Not yet 30, Sarah has become a respected and acknowledged master of her craft in the crowded scene of Nashville. In the years to come, the wider world will come to know her as an artist of striking originality and emotional complexity. Sarah is currently working on a new album.

The Marksmen have their sights set on Ringold, GA.

The Share America Foundation will host Dove Award nominees The Marksmen Quartet Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ringgold Depot, corner of Depot Street and U.S. 41 in Ringgold, GA. Also appearing are the Frettin’ On Faith Dulcimer Club and the event will feature an art exhibit by Chuck Frye. Randall Franks from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night” will emcee.

The event is a fundraiser for the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship Fund helping musicians achieve higher education. Donations for tickets are adults: $5, Children 5 and under free with adult. Seating is limited to 300. Tickets may be purchased locally in advance during business hours at The Catoosa County News (706) 935-2621 in Ringgold and SonShine Christian Books (706) 861-7675 in Fort Oglethorpe. For more information, Share America Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 42 Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.

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Nashville, Tenn. — “Timber and Nails,” by The Marksmen, a single from the band’s current Rural Rhythm Records album, “God’s Masterpiece,” made its debut appearance this month at #16 on Bluegrass Now Magazine’s Top 20 Chart. “We are excited about how radio is receiving this touching song,” said Earle Wheeler, quartet leader. The song “Timber and Nails” is from the Dove nominated CD “God’s Masterpiece” and was written by Raymond Fortner and Mark Wheeler.

The Marksmen - “God’s Masterpiece” (Rural Rhythm Records)

This song is really about the gospel,” Mark said. “It’s about looking back, looking at the timbers and the nails and realizing the love that God has for mankind.” Mark said the group actually performed the song for several years and chose to include it in this project because it fit so well. “We had had so many requests for it, there was no doubt it was going on there,” he said.

Georgia’s Marksmen Quartet stand alongside Little Roy Lewis, Earl Scruggs, Lizzy Long, Ricky Skaggs and The Whites, Kenny & Amanda Smith, and Paul Williams and The Victory Trio for the Bluegrass Album of the Year Dove Award at the Gospel Music Association Awards in Nashville on April 23, 2008.

After more than 40 albums, winning four times as Gospel Bluegrass Band of the Year from SPBGMA, the group continues its legendary 40-year musical legacy with Earle Wheeler, Mark Wheeler, Darrin Chambers, Davey Waller and Mark Autry. The group was joined on “God’s Masterpiece” by Mountain Heart’s Barry Abernathy and Jim VanCleve.

“God’s Masterpiece” is available at Wal-Mart and other music retailers. “This project is a perfect worship album anytime of the year, however it is extra special and meaningful now, during the Easter season,” said Sam Passamano, Rural Rhythm President. “Also, having two recent hit singles in the Christian market, ‘God’s Masterpiece’ and ‘Timber and Nails’ sure gives this worship album a new fresh feel to the miracle of the resurrection”.

The Marksmen Quartet is an inductee of the Lone Star State Country Music Association, Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame.

For more information about the group, visit www.marksmenquartet.com

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Award-winning gospel group The Marksmen are celebrating their 40th anniversary with the release of “God’s Masterpiece,” a two-CD/one DVD offering from Rural Rhythm Records.” (Everyday Worship — Songs & Scriptures)” is a concept album about the death, burial and resurrection stories from the Bible, according to Sam Passamano of Rural Rhythm.

“Our company is so excited to bring this wonderful new approach to sharing a moving experience in music and scripture,” he said.

The set of of music and narrated scriptures also includes a DVD of The Marksmen performing songs from “God’s Masterpiece” and a 12-page booklet with scripture quotations from the King James Bible.

Produced by Mark Wheeler, the album includes guest appearances by bluegrass group Mountain Heart members, Barry Abernathy on banjo and Jim Van Cleve on fiddle.”

“This is a project I have always wanted to do,” Wheeler said. “When it came together and I finally heard the completed version, I knew this is the project that all the years and miles that The Marksmen have traveled is for - to share His word and His music through this soul-stirring CD and DVD.”

The title track, “God’s Masterpiece,” co-written by Wheeler, reached No. 3 on the “Christian Voice” magazine chart and the radio hit “Timber and Nails” went to No. 2 on the “US Gospel News” country chart. It also saw some chart activity on the “Singing News Magazine” radio list of top tunes.

The Marksmen have received numerous awards and recognitions throughout their career, including four-time recipient of the *Country Gospel Quartet of the Year* by Country Gospel Music Guild; four times as the *Bluegrass Gospel Group of the Year* by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA); inducted into the *Gospel Hall of Fame* by the Texas Country Music Association; and most recently, Mark Wheeler was nominated as *Favorite Male Vocalist* at the Front Porch Fellowship Bluegrass Gospel Fan Awards.

Group members also include Darrin Chambers, Davey Waller, and Mark Autry.

The album is available for purchase at all larger music retailers via RYKO Distribution.

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