Callaway, MD., — It’s the 2nd Annual “Bluegrass For Hospice” 1 day music event to raise money for the Hospice House in St. Mary’s County located in Callaway, Maryland. Presented and coordinated by Jay Armsworthy, the “Bluegrass For Hospice” will once again be held at the Flat Iron Farm on Flat Iron Road in Great Mills, Maryland with many local Bluegrass bands providing entertainment beginning at Noon. The event will be held on Saturday October 23, 2010.

This year’s event will feature Rounder Recording Artists and award winning Bluegrass group, The Grascals.

The Grascals are among the most beloved and acclaimed bands on today’s bluegrass scene, having won the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Emerging Artist of the Year award in 2005 and earning its Entertainer of the Year honor in both 2006 and 2007. Timely yet timeless, The Grascals make music that is entirely relevant to the here and now, yet immersed in traditional values of soul and musicianship. It’s a unique sound that has earned two of their previous releases, “The Grascals” (2005) and “Long List of Heartaches” (2006) Grammy^® nominations for Best Bluegrass Album.

While touring with the Hank Williams, Jr’s “Rowdy Friends Tour” throughout the US, Switzerland, Belgium, and Canada, this genre-bending sextet has had over 450,000 fans experience The Grascals this year. At this years International Bluegrass Music Association awards program, they are nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the year for “The Famous Lefty Flynn’s“, Recorded Event of the Year for “I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome” with Hank Williams, Jr., Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year, 2 time Banjo Player of the Year, Kristen Scott Benson is nominated again for the award. It’s been a great numbers game for a The Grascals in 2010 and we look forward to have them make an appearance at this years “Bluegrass For Hospice“.

Other local bands that will cross the stage throughout the day will be David Norris, Kenny Rickett & Recent Addition, Jack Tippett Band, Jay Armsworthy & Eastern Tradition, Joey Tippett & the California Ramblers, Charlie Thompson & Bottom County Bluegrass, Bubby Abell & Spoon Creek, and a special appearance by Gracie’s Guys and Gals Dancers. Sound for the event will be provided by Troy Jones.

Other events will take place as the day goes on such as Raffles, Door Prizes, Silent Auctions, and Craft Fair, vendors, and children’s activities. There will also be a $500.00 money raffle that will be on sale between now until the end of the event. Food will be available for sale by Thompson’s Catering. All proceeds for this day will go toward the Hospice House of St. Mary’s. Also please bring non-perishable food items to help replenish the Southern Maryland Food Banks.

For further information about the 2nd Annual “Bluegrass For Hospice” go to the web site at www.bluegrassforhospice.com

Related Links

• Bluegrass For Hospice
• The Grascals

Columbus, NC — Pinecastle Records is officially back in operation under a new owner, Dr. Lonnie Lassiter, and is proud to announce that Nu-Blu is the first artist to be signed to the label. The bluegrass band was the last artist to be signed to Pinecastle Records before it shut its doors in early February. The band is a rising star in the bluegrass world and is working hard to become a major force in the genre. Nu-Blu was recently honored by the Carolina Music Awards as “Country Band of the Year.” The band has been featured in Bluegrass Music Profiles, The Alternate Root Magazine and their album Nights is currently charting on the Americana Music Chart Top 40.

Daniel and Carolyn Routh, along with Kendall Gales and Levi Austin make up Nu-Blu. Daniel, on guitar, focuses on incorporating different styles into his playing. Not only does he add his guitar talents to Nu-Blu, but he also trades lead and harmony vocals with bass player Carolyn. With Carolyn handling most of the lead, her vocal range and clarity are a big part of what makes Nu-Blu such a sophisticated and versatile band. She gives the band flexibility and a driving edge that sets it apart from the rest. The two young guns, Kendall Gales on mandolin and Levi Austin on Banjo, fill out the ranks and provide the band with a solid and talented backbone.

The band gives the bluegrass genre a new spin while still staying grounded in the traditions and fundamentals of the music. They have worked hard to develop a sound that gives the listener a diverse experience, while remaining within the realms of bluegrass. By mixing original and traditional material with songs from other genres, Nu-Blu has created a unique and driving blend of music that keeps audiences coming back for more.

“It’s not often that a band is privileged enough to find a perfect fit with a label, but to find it twice is unprecedented. Nu-Blu is honored to be the first to be added to the new Pinecastle Records list of artists.” Daniel & Carolyn Routh, Nu-Blu

Pinecastle is excited to officially be back in business. The past month has been spent moving old artist product and company files, settling in to a new office, working on phone systems, email addresses, planning, and accounting. Now, Pinecastle can focus on making and promoting good music. A new website is currently in the works as are a slew of upcoming projects by new and old artists. Watch for new announcements and keep up to date on the following social media sites.

About Pinecastle Records

Pinecastle Records has been a key player in the transmission of bluegrass music to the masses for the last 20 years. Orlando, Florida business man Tom Riggs started the label in 1989 as a favor to a friend who was looking for an outlet for their newly recorded CD. Pinecastle has long developed young artists including Kristin Scott Benson, Terry Eldredge, and Josh Williams and has also been the home to bluegrass legends such as the Osborne Brothers, Jim & Jesse, and Charlie Waller & the Country Gentlemen. In all, it has released nearly 250 projects.

New York, NY, — ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) recently announced the launch of ASCAP Mobile, a new app for iPhone^®, iPad^® and iPod touch^®. ASCAP Mobile provides ASCAP’s songwriter, composer and publisher members with 24/7 access to their membership, catalog, performance and royalty information via ASCAP’s secure Member Access online portal. Additionally, the app’s interface allows all users the ability to search ASCAP’s entire repertory of over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works, and browse news about ASCAP and the music business. The app is free and can be downloaded from the App Store.

ASCAP is the first and only Performing Rights Organization to date to offer an app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Further versions of the app are planned for Blackberry® and Android®.

For more information, go to www.ascap.com/mobile.

Related Links

• ASCAP
• ASCAP Mobile
• Download ASCAP Mobile App

Audie Blaylock & Redline are celebrating numerous milestones this summer with their hot new album, “Cryin’ Heart Blues” that Terry Herd of Bluegrass Radio Network calls “without a doubt, his strongest album to date.” The album hit #1 on Cashbox Magazine Top 20 Bluegrass Album Chart (Aug ’10) and climbed to #7 on the Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine (BU) Top 15 Albums chart (Sept ’10). The title track and first single release have made impressive strides as well moving up again to reach #16 on the BU Top 30 Songs chart (Sept ‘10) and #13 on Bluegrass Music Profiles Magazine Top 30 Songs (Aug ’10).

“High energy that’s what I like and Audie puts on a great high energy show and it shows in his recording,” says Jerry Eicher of ‘Ol Hippe Bluegrass Hour radio show. The band has been pleasing audiences around the country and Canada this year at major festivals and events. Audie Blaylock & Redline will certainly do more of the same when they open for Pam Tillis at the Marshall County Blueberry Festival in Plymouth, Indiana on September 4, 2010.

Audie can also be heard on Michael Martin Murphey’s current album “Buckaroo Blue Grass II: Riding Song” on the track, “Running Gun” that Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine says is “powered by some killer lead guitar by Audie Blaylock.

Audie Blaylock & Redline can also be heard on the upcoming “All-Star Jam – Live At Graves Mountain” album releasing this October on Rural Rhythm Records.

For more information on Audie Blaylock & Redline, please visit www.audieblaylock.com

Related Links

Audie Blaylock & Redline

Bethel, N.Y., — The Harvest Festival at Bethel Woods presents Mountain Music Harvest Festival on Sunday, September 12th from 11:00am-4:00pm.

The Mountain Music Harvest Festival is a celebration of the music that originated in small towns and mountain villages across America, and became what we know today as bluegrass, old time and country music. Guitars, banjos, mandolins and sweet harmonies are all part of this rich and ever changing tradition of American music.

The line up on the Mountain Music Harvest Festival Stage includes Hudson Crossing at 11:30 a.m., at 12:30 p.m. Break Neck Annie will perform, followed by the Mike Burns Band at 2:30 p.m. The day will feature banjo, fiddling and harmony singing workshops, and will conclude with an open jam session at 3:30 p.m…so bring your instruments along!

The Event Tent will be filled with the beauty of handmade quilts from the Catskills and beyond in the Second Annual Airing of the Quilts presented by Calico Geese Quilters, Claryville Quilters and Friends.

There is so much to enjoy at the Festival. Visit the Hamish and Henry Authors Table and meet the Upper Delaware Writers. The kids are sure to enjoy creating a variety of musical instruments with Matt Sherman in the Children’s Area. Kids can also participate in a quilting project with construction paper hosted by The Museum at Bethel Woods.

Stop in the Community Tent to learn more about the Sullivan County Childcare Council, and show your support for the All American Dream Team and Relay For Life who will be operating the corn and hay mazes.

A new highlight of the festival this year is a fun, interactive chef demo with Catie Schwalb of “Pitchfork, Knife and Spoon” who will prepare a tasty dish using products from the farmer’s market.

This year’s special auction presents Adirondack chairs, custom made by Catskill Outdoor Furniture and painted by area artists with their interpretation of “food and farm”. Proceeds from the auction support the children’s and educational programming at the Festival.

Of course, the Mountain Music Harvest Festival will also feature its usual array of vendors and activities for the whole family, including the bountiful farmers market, diverse craft village, delicious festival foods (including vegetarian, barbeque, Brazilian, kettle corn, and Italian ice stands), a children’s area with educational programming, corn & hay mazes, arts & crafts workshops, pony rides, and the annual Gathering of the Scarecrows.

The Harvest Festival at Bethel Woods is supported by sponsors who share a commitment to the community and regional economic development. Generous support of The Harvest Festival Children’s Area provided by ShopRite Supermarkets. Additional support of the 2010 Harvest Festival season provided by Grey’s Woodworks. 2010 event sponsors also include Majek Furniture Warehouse, Thompson Sanitation, Jeff Bank, M&M Auto Group, Catskill Regional Medical Center, and Van Gorders’ Furniture.

Admission to the Mountain Music Harvest Festival is free each week, with a $2.00 parking fee. Pets are not permitted on Festival grounds.

For more information please visit www.BethelWoodsCenter.org.

Related Links

• Mountain Music Harvest Festival

Winfield, Kan., — With their shimmering harmonies, gently propulsive acoustic instrumentation, and disarmingly honest songwriting, the Farewell Drifters have arrived at an engaging, inventive musical hybrid all their own – pure, but not so simple; accessible and welcoming, yet highly personal. Since first setting out over four years ago, the young quintet have casually but clearly defied any preconceptions based on their lineup (two acoustic guitars, mandolin, fiddle, upright bass), delighting audiences from all walks with a sound that suspends classic elements in fresh new surroundings. The Farewell Drifters will now be bringing their style of music to fans at this year’s Walnut Valley Festival. The Farewell Drifters, though alarmingly young in appearance, have been developing a strong following of all ages. Acoustic music lovers have found an appreciation for their original songs, the skill they show playing their instruments and the energy level at which their music is delivered to the ever growing numbers of Drifter fans.

In the four years plus that the Farewell Drifters have been performing together, they have traveled to venues across the United States that have included a number of festivals and house concerts. They have even been well received at a number of rock clubs the band has performed at, again a testimonial as to the wide range of popularity they have been experiencing recently. The Farewell Drifters have released 2 full length cd’s, the most recent titled “Yellow Tag Mondays” that became available in June of this year. “Yellow Tag Mondays” contains 14 tracks, 13 of which are original songs contributed by several of the various band members.

The Farewell Drifters are just one of the nine performing artists to make their first visit to the Walnut Valley Festival. This year’s 39th annual Walnut Valley Festival starts with the hands-on workshops on Wednesday, September 15th and runs through Sunday, September 19th. For information the festival’s website is www.wvfest.com or you can call the office at 620-221-3250. Advance tickets may be purchased through September 14th at 5:00pm in person at the festival office, 918 Main Street in Winfield, Kansas.

Related Links

• Walnut Valley Festival
• The Farewell Drifters

Indio CA., — Goldenvoice has confirmed Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1, 2011 as the dates for next year’s Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival. The fifth annual critically acclaimed event–which features an impressive array of artists from the genres of mainstream country, bluegrass, folk, roots rock and alt-country–will again take place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA.

Details on the 2011 Stagecoach line-up and information on ticket sales will be announced later this year, but concert-goers can again expect a variety of activities, including a leading BBQ competition with participants offering tastes from across the country and a camping area which has grown into one of the largest annual gatherings of RV and tent camping in Southern California.

For the most up-to-date information, please visit www.Stagecoachfestival.com

Related Links

Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival

Nashville, Tenn., — The Violin Shop in Nashville, Tenn., is caving in to what it calls a wealth of requests to host jam sessions in the prestigious fiddle shop.

The store will hold the monthly jam nights on the first Tuesday of the month, starting Sept. 7.

“… we invite you to bring your fiddle/ mandolin / guitar, etc. and come on out for some fun, food and fiddlin’”, the shop staff said in a news release. “We will start around 7 p.m. and play until 10-ish”

Several jam areas will be set up around the shop, allowing for different styles of music and levels of play.

“Join in wherever you feel comfortable,” the release said. “Don’t play? Come hang out and enjoy the music. Bring a friend, we look forward to seeing you.”

Other scheduled jam nights through year’s end are:

• Oct. 5
• Nov. 2
• Dec. 7

The shop is located at 220 Old Hickory Boulevard.

Related Links

The Violin Shop

Irvine, KY., — On June 26, 2010, two weeks after his tragic and senseless auto accident, Jerry Wayne Chaney’s (New River Line) family organized the Jerry Wayne Chaney Memorial Music Scholarship Fund, Inc. and www.jerrywayne.org. Because of his extraordinary talent and his great love for music, his family wanted to honor his name while at the same time, helping high school students to obtain their own dreams of a career in the field of music. We are currently making application for 501 (c) 3 non-profit status and hope to have it completed by December 2010. We pray that through your donations, you help Jerry’s name and his dream live on forever.

Jerry Wayne Chaney was born and raised in East Central Kentucky near Irvine. Jerry was involved with music his entire life. He came from a musical family and began singing in church at a young age. He was a multi-instrumentalist, and wonderful vocalist who had a great passion for bluegrass and acoustic music. He also composed music on the dobro as well.

Jerry Wayne played in numerous bands. He began with Cane Brake, then with John Cosby and The Bluegrass Drifters. He also played several sets with Southern Blend. Jerry was a founding member of both Highbridge and New River Line bluegrass bands.

A new CD project is under way to be released. It is his final recording with New River Line, with whom he played for over 7 years.

Fundraising efforts will include the sale of t-shirts, bumper stickers, CD’s, and other merchandise available at www.jerrywayne.org and also a benefit festival is being planned.

Related Links

• Jerry Wayne Chaney Memorial Site

Burlington, MA – For forty years, Rounder Records has been on a singular mission, recording a glorious range of American roots music – bluegrass, New Orleans R&B, old time fiddling, singer-songwriter, blues, country, rockabilly, roots rock, Cajun and a few that cross enough boundaries to be genres of their own. On October 12, Rounder Records will release “The Rounder Records Story,” a 4 CD box set that includes 87 songs (see complete list below) selected to tell the label’s 40 year story and show the true breadth of their catalog. From the old time folk music of Ola Belle Reed to the Grammy^® sweeping triumph of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, it is fascinating to hear both the underlying consistencies and the ongoing evolution of the label’s vision. The list of musicians includes many of the defining names in roots music. The discs are arranged by decade, and the package also includes extensive notes by Washington Post journalist Geoff Himes in a 100 page book.

The Rounder Records Story Track Listings

Disc 1 – The 1970s

1. Old Home Place / J. D. Crowe and the New South 2:47
2. Take Me Back to Happy Valley / The Bailey Brothers 2:40
3. Armadillo Breakdown / Country Cooking 2:13
4. High on a Mountain / Ola Belle Reed 2:35
5. Killing the Blues / Woodstock Mountains 3:53
6. Johnson’s Old Gray Mule / George Pegram 2:15
7. Cherry River Rag / Ed Haley 2:52
8. Sweet Lucy / Michael Hurley 4:03
9. Parlez-Nous A Boire / The Balfa Freres 3:42
10. Mrs. Scott Skinner/The Smith’s A Gallant Fireman/The Earl of Seafield’s Real / Joseph Cormier 3:39
11. Tom and Jerry / Mark O’Connor 2:14
12. Down Home Summertime Blues / Norman Blake 3:40
13. Memory of Your Smile / Boone Creek 2:32
14. Things in Life / Don Stover 3:05
15. Kitty Puss / Buddy Thomas 2:22
16. Who Broke the Lock? / Highwoods Stringband 2:51
17. Don’t Put Her Down You Helped Put Her There / Hazel and Alice 3:45
18. Jula Jekere / Alhaji Bai Konte 5:02
19. The Only Way / Tony Trischka 4:17
20. Fluxology / Jerry Douglas 3:07
21. La porte dans arriere / D. L. Menard and the Louisiana Aces 3:24
22. I Ain’t Broke But I’m Badly Bent / David Grisman 1:58
23. Sparkling Brown Eyes / Joe Val and the New England Bluegrass Boys 3:05
24. Who Do You Love / George Thorogood and the Destroyers 4:19

Disc 2 – The 1980s

1. Frosty / Clarence Gatemouth Brown 3:46
2. Watch Your Step / Ted Hawkins 2:13
3. New Kind of Neighborhood / Jonathan Richman 2:43
4. I Never Go Around Mirrors / Keith Whitley. 3:17
5. Cold on the Shoulder / Tony Rice. 2:34
6. Mama’s Hand / Hazel Dickens 4:30
7. A Freylekhe Nakht In Gan Eydn / Klezmer Conservatory Band 1:49
8. Babylon’s Big Dog / Culture 3:58
9. Ya Ya / Buckwheat Zydeco 3:35
10. Tipitina / Professor Longhair 4:22
11. Zydeco gris-gris / Beausoleil 3:39
12. Cowboy Jubilee / Riders in the Sky 1:42
13. Let the Whole World Talk / The Johnson Mountain Boys 2:42
14. Happy Wanderer / Brave Combo 2:30
15. Classified / James Booker 3:16
16. Got To Have You Be My Man / Rory Block 2:22
17. Electricity / Sleepy LaBeef 2:20
18. Everybody Wants A Piece of Me / Johnny Copeland 2:55
19. Whitewater / Bela Fleck 3:10
20. Once In A Very Blue Moon / Nanci Griffith 2:34
21. My Blue Ridge Cabin Home / Bluegrass Album Band 3:09
22. Howjadoo / John McCutcheon 2:41
23. Viva Seguin / Flaco Jimemez 2:18
24. Me and the Boys /NRBQ 3:25

Disc 3 – The 1990s

1. Birches / Bill Morrissey 3:20
2. Baby Now That I’ve Found You / Alison Krauss 3:49
3. One Endless Night / Jimmie Dale Gilmore 3:46
4. Sing It / Marcia Ball, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson 4:18
5. Do Whatcha Wanna, Pt. 3 / ReBirth Brass Band 4:29
6. A Virus Called the Blues / Charles Brown 6:50
7. Only One Shoe / Carrie Newcomer 3:15
8. There Is Always One More Time / Johnny Adams 3:41
9. Something in the Rain / Tish Hinojosa 5:02
10. Bed by the Window / James King 4:57
11. Give Him Cornbread / Beau Jocque 4:55
12. Valse de Kaplan / D. L Menard, Eddie LeJeune, and Ken Smith 3:19
13. High Lonesome / Longview 4:04
14. In the Palm of Your Hand / Alison Krauss and the Cox Family 3:25
15. False Friend Blues / Ruth Brown with Clarence Gatemouth Brown 4:26
16. Carnival Time / Bo Dollis & The Wild Magnolias 2:42
17. Standing Here at the Cross Roads / Roomful of Blues 4:17
18. It’s Harder Now / Wilson Pickett 3:43

Disc 4 – The 2000s

1. Don’t Wait Too Long / Madeleine Peyroux 3:10
2. Down to the Wire / Son Volt 4:19
3. More than A Name on A Wall / Dailey & Vincent 2:57
4. Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms / The Three Pickers: Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Ricky Skaggs 3:07
5. Man With The Blues / Willie Nelson 2:19
6. Rebel Rouser/ Jimmy Sturr 1:54
7. Versatile Heart / Linda Thompson 3:24
8. In the Middle Of It All / Irma Thomas 4:45
9. Please Read the Letter / Robert Plant and Alison Krauss 5:53
10. Through the Window Of A Train / Blue Highway 3:08
11. Resist / Rush 4:26
12. Small Swift Birds / Cowboy Junkies 3:39
13. Basement Apt. / Sarah Harmer 4:07
14. I Have a Need for Solitude / Mary Chapin Carpenter 3:42
15. Lonesome Wind Blues / Rhonda Vincent 3:02
16. Me and John and Paul / The Grascals. 3:13
17. The Crow / Steve Martin 3:23
18. Robert Plant/ The Only Sound That Matters 3:44
19. Trashcan / Delta Spirit 3:37
20. Fibber Island / They Might Be Giants 2:10
21. Back To Me / Kathleen Edwards 3:31