Lexington, KY — NewTown is proud to announce the release of brand new music from their upcoming self-titled CD, NewTown. The first single, “Water Under The Bridge” has been shipped to radio programmers and is available now for airplay.

What began as a dream for fiddle prodigy and vocalist Kati Penn over a decade ago has evolved into a full blown tour de force in NewTown. Mentored by Pete Wernick as part of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s “Young Acoustic All-Stars”, Kati was part of an elite group of young pickers that have since become some of bluegrass music’s most popular artists. Along with her peers, Kati carved her own niche in the music she loved most when she became a member of the New Coon Creek Girls, the Dale Ann Bradley Band and ultimately starting her own band which produced a country record and a solo bluegrass album.

Kati’s dream really began to take shape when her husband decided to not only be her partner in life, but share the stage with her, too. Junior Williams had secured a large fan base as the banjo player for Newfound Road but it wasn’t until he and Kati teamed up, that he was able to spread his wings and shine with his vocal skills as well. Together, they have formed an ensemble that includes James Kee on mandolin and vocals; Terry Poirier on bass and vocals; and C.J. Cain on guitar.

Recognizing the importance of all members, NewTown is a partnership that works like a well-oiled machine; each member tending to the music equally and each invested in the musical outcome. But unlike most newly formed bands, NewTown took the time to discover their true selves before releasing any music. For three years, the band played countless shows all over the country, honing their craft note for note while finding their musical voice. The result is their new self-titled project which is a collective effort between all the parts of this well-rounded, well-versed, and extremely talented band.

The band’s new CD, NewTown, produced by Brent Truitt is a collection of eleven tracks that perfectly sum up everything NewTown has to offer. With all five members being equally versed on their instruments, four of the five offering up lead vocals, and the astute ability to seek out the perfect material for their band, NewTown proves they have the staying power to achieve long-term success in the music business.

The first single, a haunting rendition of “Water Under The Bridge” written by Guy Clark and Rich Alves has been shipped to radio programmers and is also available via digital download at Airplay Direct. NewTown will be released worldwide December 1st.

Video NewTown “Water Under The Bridge” EPK

Related Links

Newtown
Listen to: “Water Under The Bridge”

Bristol, VA., — The Larry Sparks Exhibit was unveiled at the Appalachian Cultural Music Association’s “Mountain Music Museum” on Saturday, October 15, 2011 in Bristol, Virginia. A large crowd gathered at the museum located on the upper level of the Bristol Mall where Larry Sparks was on hand to say a few words prior to the unveiling. The East Tennessee Bluegrass Pride Band provided music for the unveiling ceremony which was hosted by Tim White. At the conclusion of the unveiling Larry Sparks performed a tune with the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band. Later the same evening Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers performed at the ACMA Pickin Porch located two doors away from the museum. Proceeds from the concert went to benefit the ACMA and their Mountain Music Museum.

The Mountain Music Museum is open 7 days a week. The ACMA also provides the “Pickin Porch Concert” every Thursday from 7 till 9 pm. Admission is free to the museum and Thursday night Pickin Porch concerts. Donations are appreciated.

The ACMA is a non-profit 501c3 organization which promotes the music of the southern Appalachian region which includes bluegrass, old time, Celtic, and Americana forms of music. For information please visit www.mountainmusicmuseum.org or call 276-645-0035.

Related Links

• Larry Sparks
• Mountain Music Museum

Austin, TX — Bay Area “bluegrass/folk star” Laurie Lewis releases today her new full-length recording, called “a beautiful and landmark album” and “magnificent” by Country Standard Time, a heartfelt tribute to Father of Bluegrass Bill Monroe entitled Skippin’ and Flyin’ (Spruce and Maple Music) that captures Laurie Lewis’ GRAMMY-winning vocals and special songwriting and arranging.

Skippin’ and Flyin’ features a fine mix of songs by Monroe himself, Jimmie Rodgers, Maybelle Carter, Del McCoury, Flatt & Scruggs and Utah Phillips; special guest vocalists such as Linda Ronstadt; masterful instrumentation; and new tunes written and/or arranged by fiddler-vocalist-guitarist Lewis — each perfectly suited for the album, described by CST as “the most impressive Bill Monroe tribute to arrive this autumn” but also “the most understated.”

“ … Lewis doesn’t simply mimic what Bill Monroe did in 1947 and 1957; she goes deeper, exploring what he may have heard and been impacted by in earlier years. In doing so, she gets to the roots of Bill Monroe in ways that many other artists have not attempted in 2011. … By exploring Bill Monroe — his music, his tradition, his influences — in this manner, she has paid him the ultimate tribute,” says CST.

Laurie Lewis album release show is set for November 26, at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, Calif.

She and her band, including her longtime musical partner, mandolin-mandola player and vocalist Tom Rozum, have been touring in support of the release, playing festivals from the East Coast (Virginia) to the West Coast (San Francisco) and making appearances at such events as World of Bluegrass, with more dates coming up.

Laurie Lewis, twice named IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year for her expressive voice and a GRAMMY Award winner and nominee, says, “I realize, looking back, that my one way as a musician and songwriter and my whole approach to making music were influenced in various ways by what I found in Bill Monroe’s music.”

For more information, visit www.laurielewis.com

Related Links

Laurie Lewis

The Award-winning alt-acoustic group, Mountain Heart will be headlining the music festival which is a benefit for the Miracle Field (www.miracleleague.com) and The Friendship House (www.friendshiphousekids.com).

Musical performances begin at 1 pm in Dalton Green Park featuring Steel String Session, Milk Drive, The Farewell Drifters, Missy Raines & the New Hip, and concluding with Mountain Heart at 8pm.Armbands for entry to the concerts are only $5.00 and will be valid for both Saturday and Sunday.

Sunday The 23rd will be the BBQ judging day and awards will begin at 5 pm. Tasters Choice will be Sunday and customers can purchase arm bands for $10 to taste all the BBQ vendors’ BBQ. Music will begin at noon and will feature Gary Stanley, Right Path Bluegrass, and Spatial Effects.

The Miracle League a non-profit organization that plans to build “The Miracle Field”, a barrier free handicapped and wheelchair accessible baseball/softball field with a cushioned rubberized playing surface serving children and adults in Dalton/Whitfield County.

Friendship House’s child care program has been in operation at its current facility since 1993, offering a comprehensive program for children ages six weeks to five years of age.

For more information about The Downtown Dalton BBQ & Music Festival visit http://www.downtowndalton.com

Related Links

• Downtown Dalton BBQ & Music Festival
• Mountain Heart
• Missy Raines & The New Hip

On the strength of a busy touring schedule, a string of national television appearances and the release of a new album, Rare Bird Alert on Rounder Records, Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers took home the Entertainer of the Year award at the 22nd annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Thursday night, September 29 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Martin, who always included banjo picking in his early stand-up comedy routines, has become more serious about recording and performing bluegrass music during the past two years, with the release of two albums of original music.

Martin appeared at the microphone to receive the bluegrass music industry’s highest music award, leapt a few times into the air, congratulated the other Entertainer of the Year nominees and jokingly thanked them for losing. He went on to thank producers John McEuen and Tony Trischka as well as his band mates, and then he talked about how hard they’ve been working on their music, as well as the humor and entertainment aspects of their show, while never denigrating the music. Martin said that while half of their audience usually comes to see him not knowing anything about bluegrass, “they all leave loving it, and maybe they seek out other musicians. We’re really, really honored to win this award tonight.”

Steep Canyon Rangers lead singer, Woody Platt quipped, “Working with Steve, we might be the most entertained of all. Most of all we thank Steve for giving us this most amazing ride.”

Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers, a young group based in North Carolina named IBMA’s Emerging Artist of the Year in 2007, played “Me and Paul Revere” during the Awards Show—a song Martin wrote from the perspective of Revere’s horse and performed on national television at the Capitol 4th Concert in Washington, D.C. July 4. There’s always been something a little magic about fiddle and banjo music, and Martin’s deft clawhammer style underscored by Nicky Sanders’ exuberant fiddling and soaring three-part vocal harmony from the Rangers definitely did the trick.

It was an exciting night for New York State-based band, The Gibson Brothers, who took home awards for Vocal Group of the Year and Album of the Year for Help My Brother, on Compass Records.

The Boxcars, a new combination of veteran musicians, were named Emerging Artists of the Year and Instrumental Group of the Year. Band member Ron Stewart tied for Banjo Player of the Year with The Grascals’ Kristin Scott Benson, who received the award for the fourth consecutive year.

Balsam Range received top honors for Song of the Year for “Trains I Missed,” written by Walt Wilkins, Gilles Godard & Nicole Witt. “There are a lot of folks out there—myself included—who are thankful for some of those trains missed and how things turned out,” commented Tim Surrett of Balsam Range.

Legendary artists Doyle Lawson, J.D. Crowe and Paul Williams took home two trophies for Recorded Event of the Year and Gospel Recorded Performance, for “Prayer Bells from Heaven.” The three announced their plans to record a second Old Friends album, much to the delight of fans in attendance at the Awards Show.

Russell Moore of IIIrd Tyme Out and Dale Ann Bradley took home awards for Male Vocalist and Female Vocalist of the Year—the fourth time for each. Rob Ickes of Blue Highway was awarded his 13th Dobro Player of the Year award, the most trophies any individual instrumentalist has received in the history of the IBMA Awards.

Michael Cleveland was named Fiddle Player of the Year for the ninth time, and his band received the award for Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year for “Goin’ Up Dray Branch,” a song written by Buddy Spicher and Jimmy Martin. Marshall Wilborn was named Bass Player of the Year for the third time, Bryan Sutton received the Guitar Player of the Year award for the sixth time, and Adam Steffey dedicated his eighth Mandolin Player of the Year to his twin sons, who he expects to be born in the next two weeks.

Hosted by legendary mandolin player and band leader Sam Bush, the 2011 IBMA Awards Show were a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bill Monroe, recognized as the Father of Bluegrass.

Sam Bush told a story about how a young musician once approached Bill Monroe and played a tune he’d written squarely in the Monroe style. The older mandolinist listened carefully and said, “That’s real good. What can you do on your own now?” The question was answered at the IBMA Awards, as band after talented band hit the stage.

As bluegrass music heads into the second hundred years after its founder’s birth, the genre is stronger than ever—as evidenced by a number of virtuoso level, high energy live performances from The Sam Bush Band, The Grascals, Balsam Range, The Del McCoury Band, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Sierra Hull & Highway 111, Lonesome River Band, The Boxcars, The Gibson Brothers, Dailey & Vincent, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver—later joined by J.D. Crowe and Paul Williams, George Shuffler, Hall of Famer Tom Gray and new Distinguished Award recipient Roland White.

The moment that probably would have made Bill Monroe smile was when White kicked into “Wheel Hoss,” with the next break played in twin harmony by Sam Bush and Ronnie McCoury on their mandolins. Dailey & Vincent thrilled the crowd with triple fiddles added to their usual line-up for “Close By,” and The Grascals brought two young girls from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital who are battling cancer onstage with them to sing “I Am Strong,” a song inspired by the band’s trip to St. Jude.

Ronnie and Rob McCoury inducted their father into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, and guitarist James Alan Shelton inducted George Shuffler, the bass and cross-picked guitar stylist known as “the third Stanley Brother.” The evening ended with a guitar rendition of “Life is Like a Mountain Railway” from Shuffler and Shelton, backed by Gray, and a medley of Del McCoury songs delivered in his trademark, scalding tenor range.

The International Bluegrass Music Awards are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), which serves as the trade association for the bluegrass music industry. The IBMA Awards Show is the centerpiece of the World of Bluegrass Week September 26 – October 2 in Nashville, Tenn., which also includes the IBMA Business Conference and Bluegrass Fan Fest.

The IBMA Awards Show was broadcast live on Sirius XM Satellite Radio (Bluegrass Junction, Channel 61) and on WSM-AM; the show will be syndicated to more than 300 U.S. markets and 14 foreign networks thanks to the sponsorship of Martha White, Deering Banjos, the International Bluegrass Music Museum, Bluegrass, Moonshine & The Birth of NASCAR – The Movie, Compass Records and the Academy of Bluegrass. Program directors and station managers may sign up to be affiliates by calling (615) 256-3222 or emailing jill@ibma.org

A complete list of nominees, this year’s Hall of Fame inductees and the recipients of the Distinguished Achievement Award can be found here.

Nashville, Tenn., — In the midst of IBMA’s World of Bluegrass, the IBMA announced the 2011 IBMA Awards during a ceremony held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. Tonights big winners during the 2011 IBMA Awards show are listed below.

2011 IBMA Awards

The Dalton Freight Depot was alive with excitement and music as a record audience spilled outside the historic venue to hear performances by The Dixie Bee-Liners, Jubal’s Kin, Lone Mountain Band and Earl Brackin. Emcee, Geoff Morris, visiting Dalton from Bendigo, Australia opened the show by saying “Tonight is a Miracle Night”. The event was a CD release party for Bluegrass Bands Helping Hands Volume Three – Big Leagues. The CD is a compilation bluegrass music project to benefit The Miracle League of Whitfield County. Millie Hicks, Miracle League member stated, “It was an amazing night with fantastic music. The level of talent of these bands is incredible and we are so thankful for their support of the Miracle League. With their help and the great community turnout, we were able to raise over $4,400 for the Miracle League bringing us ever closer to that first pitch.”

Morris speaking to the audience said that Miracles can happen in two ways. “Miracles can happen by faith and paraphrasing someone else saying you can also create miracles one dollar at a time”.

The show was recorded and will be broadcast Monday September 26th at 8pm eastern on Wall-to-Wall Bluegrass at www.worldwidebluegrass.com . The CD is available at 25 locations in North Georgia and can be purchased on-line. For more information visit www.bluegrassbandshelpinghands.com .

Millie Hicks announced “if anyone is interested in volunteering or learning more about the Miracle League they can visit our website, www.whitfieldcountyga.com/miracleleague, or call (706)275-7507. If they so wish, they can now donate directly online at www.communityfoundationnwga.org/MiracleLeague.”

All proceeds from the CD benefit the completion of The Miracle Field in Dalton, Georgia. The field when completed will feature a specialized playing surface for use by children and adults with special needs.

Related Links

• Bluegrass Bands Helping Hands
• The Dixie Bee-Liners
• Jubal’s Kin

Admission for the shows is free and open to the public.

Ernest Tubb’s Record Shop is located at 417 Broadway St. in Downtown Nashville.

Ernest Tubb’s Record Shop Schedule

No Concert, Festival or Event Listings Available.

Austin, TX., — Della Mae, the all-woman bluegrass quintet out of Boston that brings acoustic grit and twang to town with no apologies, will play shows in Nashville during the IBMA Business Conference and Fan Fest.

A new member has joined the band: Courtney Hartman, a bluegrass guitar flatpicker from Colorado who grew up playing music with her family. “An extraordinary bluegrass guitarist and a fluid, inventive improviser … one of the finest musicians I have ever had the privilege of working with,” said Matt Glaser, instructor at Boston’s Berklee College of Music.

Della Mae features the 2009-2010 National Fiddle Champion Kimber Ludiker, powerful mandolinist Jenni Lyn Gardner, seasoned bassist Amanda Kowalski, and the sweet, sultry vocals and driving acoustic guitar of Celia Woodsmith.

The band will release its debut full-length album, I Built This Heart, in October, with all-star guests Alison Brown, Laurie Lewis, Brittany Haas (Crooked Still) and Emma Beaton (Joy Kills Sorrow). The album was produced by Austin Nevins (Josh Ritter) and engineered by Erick Jaskowiack.

Vintage Guitar magazine describes Della Mae’s sound as “straightforward, expertly executed music that stays true to its inspirations.” Its musical style seamlessly blends years of experience with bluegrass music and modern singer-songwriter sensibilities. With award-winning instrumental abilities and a reputation for energetic live performances, the five women of Della Mae are turning heads.

Della Mae performed at RockyGrass and Grey Fox Music Festival and others this year and will play at the Bluegrass Jamboree in Germany in December.

In the words of master mandolinist Mike Marshall, “These gals can get down and aren’t messing around.”

Della Mae Performance Schedule

No Concert, Festival or Event Listings Available.

Related Links

• Della Mae

If your group is performing in an official capacity at the IBMA World of Bluegrass and You’d like to be included here, please send the details to subscriber@bluegrassjournal.com and we’ll get it added asap.

You can see our full Calendar of Bluegrass Festivals, Events and Concerts here.

IBMA Fan Fest Performance Schedule

No Concert, Festival or Event Listings Available.