Here’s round 1 of the photo’s from the 2008 Franklin Music Festival that took place this last weekend (Sept 5-6). We’ll have more info and pictures coming later in the week.

Chris Sexton (l) and Hunter Berry (r) twin fiddlin’ during Nothin’ Fancy’s set.

Nothin’ Fancy onstage during the 2008 Franklin Music Fest.

The 2008 Franklin Music Festival under the big top.

Kimberly Williams & Wayne Southards on stage during one of Williams & Clark Expedition’s performances at the 2008 Franklin Music Festival.

Danny Roberts & Jeremy Abshire during The Grascals’ 2008 Franklin Music Festival set.

The crowd enjoys Williams & Clark Expedition’s afternoon performance during the 2008 Franklin Music Festival.

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Williams & Clark Expedition “Brand New Set of Blues”

Nashville, Tenn. — XM Radio’s Bluegrass Junction will air a special “Track By Track” with Williams & Clark Expedition beginning July 30th at 3:00pm(Eastern). The show features the band’s new project on Acoustiblue Records, “Brand New Set Of Blues” in it’s entirety along with an in-depth interview with Expedition band members Blake & Kimberly Williams, Wayne Southards and Bobby Clark.

XM Radio’s Bluegrass Junction programmer and “Track By Track” host Kyle Cantrell stated, “As good as the songs are, and as nice as the harmonies may be, what really knocks me out about this project is the instrumental work. For my money, they’ve never sounded better. Of course, the vocals are really fine. You’re going to love this new CD!”

Bluegrass Junction can be located on XM Satellite Radio on Channel 14. Air-dates and times for “Track By Track” with Williams & Clark Expedition are:

• Wednesday, July 30, 3 PM (Eastern)
• Saturday, August 2, 4 PM (Eastern)
• Tuesday, August 5, 7 AM (Eastern)
• Thursday, August 7, 6 PM (Eastern)

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Kentucky
June 20-21 — Renfro Valley Bluegrass Festival - Renfro Valley KY. Bluegrass artists to appear include: Grasstowne, Dale Ann Bradley, All American Bluegrass Band, Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Ronnie Reno & the Reno Tradition, The Grascals and more. For ticket information call (800) 765-7464.

Maryland
June 21 - 10:00 AM — Béla Fleck - Throw Down Your Heart - Movie Screening.
Directed by Sascha Paladino (who is also Fleck’s younger brother), Throw Down Your Heart documents Fleck’s enthralling journey through Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Mali to uncover the roots of the banjo, an instrument that is now regarded as quintessentially American. Tickets are $10.00. More information can be found at http://silverdocs.com/festival/films/2008/throw-down-your-heart/

New York
June 21 — Tug Hill Bluegrass Festival - Lowville, NY.

Ohio
June 20-21 — Poston Lake Bluegrass Festival - Guysville, OH. Bluegrass acts schedule to take the stage include: J.D. Crowe & the New South, Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers, Bluegrass Strangers, Bluegrass Mountaineers, The Hart Brothers, Dailey & Vincent, Dan Paisley & Southern Grass, IIIrd Tyme Out and more. Tickets run $25 (Fri) and $30 (Sat) or a festival pass for $50. Free camping is also available (no hookups).

Tennessee
June 20 - 9:00 PM — Williams & Clark Expedition plays the Station Inn in Nashville Tenn.

June 20-21 — Earhart Music Festival, Bristol TN. Bluegrass artists scheduled to perform over 2 days include: The Steeldrivers, The Charlie Sizemore Band, Kenny and Amanda Smith, Red Stick Ramblers, Mark Johnson & Emory Lester, Old Line Skiffle, The Grascals, Bluegrass Addiction and more. Single Day tickets are $25 (Fri) and $30 (Sat) or a weekend festival pass good for both days is $45 at the gate.

Virginia
June 21 — Wayne Henderson Music Festival & Guitar Competition - Mouth of Wilson, VA. Artists scheduled to appear include: George Hamilton IV, The Kruger Brothers, Robin Kessinger, The Harris Brothers, Wayne Henderson and Friends and more. festival admission is $10 each with children 12 and under free with paid adult.

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Williams & Clark Expedition has released a new CD “Brand New Set of Blues.”

Williams and Clark Expedition has recently released their 5th career album. The CD, titled Brand New Set of Blues, is beginning to pick up spins on bluegrass radio and is receiving rave reviews according to the group’s recent newsletter.

Brand New Set of Blues is currently available for purchase directly from Williams & Clark Expedition’s recently revamped website. The project is available on CD or for the more gadget inclined, the group is also offering single song downloads for $.99 each that are ripe for the Ipod pickin’.

In addition to a performance at the Station Inn in Nashville, Tenn. on June 20th, Williams & Clark Expedition are scheduled to appear at the Summersville Bluegrass Festival, Coot Williams Road Bluegrass Festival, Dollywood’s Bluegrass & BBQ and the Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festiva over the course of the summer festival season.

Also coming up on the Williams & Clark Expedition schedule is the Franklin Music Festival in Franklin, KY on Sept 5-6. Williams & Clark Expedition hosts 2 days of some of the biggest names in Bluegrass including Dailey & Vincent, Nothing Fancy, Cherryholmes, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, IIIrd Tyme Out, The Isaacs, The Grascals and The Martins. If your looking to wrap up the dog days of summer with a short festival that’s long on quality this one’s hard to beat.

Brand New Set of Blues Track Listing:

1. Brand New Set Of Blues
2. Destiny’s Highway
3. In My Heart
4. Jalapeño Quickstep
5. (Love Is Coming To) A Heart Near You
6. Marching
7. Ridin’ That Midnight Train
8. Goodbye Heartache
9. Lifetime Of Love
10. Heaven On Earth
11. Highlands Ramble
12. Travelin’ Heaven’s Road
13. Tennessee Waltz
14. Comedy Track

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Blake Williams of Williams and Clark Expedition graces the cover of the May edition of Banjo Newsletter.

Blake Williams of the Williams & Clark Expedition is featured on the cover of The May issue of Banjo Newsletter.

The cover story interview is conducted by Greg Cahill, founder of Chicago-based Special Consensus and himself, a highly respected banjo player.

The article covers everything from Williams’ 37-year professional career to his personal banjo set-up. The magazine will also feature a tab of his self-penned “Cherry Creek”.

Williams, who has been playing professionally since 1971, is a founding member of Williams & Clark Expedition and has worked with some of the forefathers of bluegrass music, including Lester Flatt and Bill Monroe.

During his career, he has performed on award-winning projects such as “Southern Flavor”, the first bluegrass album to win a Grammy.

Banjo Newsletter is a 48-page magazine covering all aspects of the 5-string banjo. The magazine has been published monthly since 1974.

The magazine maintains a Web site at http://www.banjonews.com.

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