Bluegrass’ favorite duo, Dailey & Vincent will appear on the season opener of Opry Country Classics on Thursday, March 25.

Opry Country Classics, featuring the songs country music fans love most, will return for a 13-week run, in this, the show’s second year. This year’s shows will emanate from the historic Ryman Auditorium, where many of the songs performed on the show were first heard by national audiences.

The first show of the season will feature a salute to Country Music Hall of Famers the Statler Brothers including performances by group member Jimmy Fortune, Wilson Fairchild (the duo made up of group members Harold and Don Reid’s sons), and Bluegrass Entertainers of the Year Dailey & Vincent, who have just released a collection of bluegrass versions of some of the Statlers’ most-loved songs, “Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers,” available exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. Additionally, show host Larry Gatlin as well as the Gatlin Brothers will emulate the renowned harmonies heard on more than 30 Top 10 Statler Brothers hits.

“We are so excited about being part of this special evening to honor the music of our friends, the Statler Brothers,” Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent said. “For people who have been Statler fans forever, like us, this will bring back wonderful memories. And it will be a wonderful introduction for those who are just discovering the magic of the Statlers’ musical legacy.”

Single show tickets as well as VIP or regular season passes (full 13-show passes, 8-packs, and 4 packs) for Opry Country Classics are available by calling 615-871-OPRY or 800-SEE-OPRY.

Related Links

Grand Ole Opry
Opry Country Classics Season Pass info.

Della Mae

From songs that explore independence and urban adventure to timeless themes of love and loss, Della Mae brings acoustic grit and twang to town with no apologies.

Della Mae features the reigning National Fiddle Champion Kimber Ludiker, powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Laura Cortese, seasoned bassist Amanda Kowalski, accomplished guitarist Avril Smith and the driving banjo of Grace Van’t Hof. Formed during the Fall 2009 in Boston, Della Mae was born from a yearning for a traditional bluegrass sound in the heart of New England.

In July of the previous summer Avril, Amanda, and Kimber had the opportunity to spend a week playing together at the Mount Shasta Fiddle Camp. During that time together the three women enthusiastically made a pact to continue their musical relationship. Upon hearing the idea of a female-driven bluegrass band, Laura jumped in, bringing a refreshing vocal style and a healthy handful of exciting unrecorded material. Grace was brought on board to deliver the traditional banjo style that grounds the band.

Inspired by great American performers and songwriters like Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Martin, the Carter Family and Loretta Lynn, Della Mae strives to create music that tells a story while delivering a punch. Though distinctly bluegrass, their unique sound is the culmination of five diverse musical backgrounds.

From an early age Kimber excelled at Texas-style fiddling, she went on to win multiple fiddle championships including the Washington State Championship, Colorado State Championship and the Grand National Fiddle Championship. She has performed with Mark O’Conner, Mike Marshall, Darol Anger, and Hanneke Cassel and is considered a pillar in the next-generation fiddle scene.

Like Kimber, Avril began playing during early childhood. Avril is as capable on a Tele as she is on a Martin and has twice been the recipient of the Washington Area Music Association’s top honors for Best Contemporary Folk Instrumentalist. Both Grace and Amanda share a dual background in classical music and traditional bluegrass.

Amanda has recorded and performed with many notable artists including Bela Fleck, Tony Trischka, Roland White, Darol Anger and Abigail Washburn. From the Sydney Opera House to the Grand Old Opry, Amanda has performed on stages worldwide.

Grace built her first banjo at age fifteen and has since been in love with Bluegrass music. She received multiple scholarships to attend East Tennessee State University’s prestigious Bluegrass, Old-Time and Country Music program. As both a banjo player and vocalist, Grace has toured throughout the United States and Europe, including performances at MerleFest, the Ulster American Folk Festival (Omagh, Ireland) and the International Folkdance Festival (Palma De Mallorca, Spain).

With a background in Scottish music, Quebecois, and American song, Laura is a musical force. She has been featured at Madison Square Garden with Patterson Hood (Drive By Truckers) and Michael Franti (Spearhead) as part of Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday celebration. Laura has also performed to a sold out Carnegie Hall with indie rockers Band of Horses.

In the words of Mike Marshall, “These gals can get down and aren’t messing around.” Della Mae’s musical style seamlessly blends years of experience with traditional mountain music and modern singer-songwriter sensibilities. With energetic live performances and award-winning instrumental abilities, the five women of Della Mae are turning heads.

Della Mae performance schedule

• May 13 — Club Passim, Cambridge, MA
• May 17 — The Red Door, Portsmouth, NH
• May 18 — Cantab Lounge, Cambridge, MA
• June 5 — Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival, Preston, CT
• July 15 — Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Oak Hill, NY
• July 16 — Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Oak Hill, NY
• July 17 — Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Oak Hill, NY
• July 18 — Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Oak Hill, NY
• July 22 — Ossipee Valley Bluegrass Festival, Cornish, ME
• July 23 — Ossipee Valley Bluegrass Festival, Cornish, ME

Related Links

• Della Mae
• Della Mae on Twitter
• Della Mae on Facebook
• Della Mae on MySpace

Audie Blaylock and Redline hit the fast lane with a brand new album, “Cryin’ Heart Blues” releasing March 30, 2010 on Rural Rhythm Records. This new release comes on the heels of their successful debut album on the label last year that yielded a #1 album and two Top 10 singles. The band was also honored with a selection as a 2009 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Artist Showcase plus a 2009 IBMA Award Nomination for Gospel Performance of the Year.

“Cryin Heart Blues” was produced by Audie Blaylock and includes musicians: Audie Blaylock (Guitar, Lead Vocals); Evan Ward (Banjo, Vocals); Patrick McAvinue (Fiddle, Mandolin, Vocals); and Matt Wallace (Bass, Vocals.) The first single, “Cryin Heart Blues” will be released next week to radio via Rural Rhythm’s new “Fresh Cuts & Key Tracks No. 7” radio CD.

Blaylock can also be heard performing the Western classic, “Running Gun” on Michael Martin Murphey’s February 9, 2010 album release, “Buckaroo Blue Grass II – Riding Song,” the follow-up to the Grammy™ nominated “Buckaroo Blue Grass” album. Blaylock and Murphey debuted the song last October during a live performance held during the IBMA World of Bluegrass held in Nashville, TN.

Audie Blaylock & Redline will be part of the Rural Rhythm Records 55 Year Anniversary Celebration – a live recorded event to be held in Syria, Virginia at the Graves Mountain of Music Festival on Friday, June 4, 2010.

For more information on “Cryin’ Heart Blues,” please visit www.audieblaylock.com or www.ruralrhythm.com

Related Links

• Audie Blaylock & Redline
• Rural Rhythm Records

The High Lonesome Strings Bluegrass Association is hosting open jam sessions on select Wednesday’s of each month.

The jam sessions take place at the Cultural Arts Center, Room 121 in Downtown Greensboro, North Carolina from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. and welcomes acoustic musicians of all skill levels.

The Cultural Arts Center is located at 121 N. Greene Street.

The High Lonesome Strings Bluegrass Association also hosts a monthly jam session that takes place at iCoffee in Summerfield, NC from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. The next sessions are scheduled for March 24, April 14 and April 28.

The High Lonesome Strings Bluegrass Association will also have it’s monthly meeting coming up on Sunday, March 21.

You can check out their complete schedule of upcoming events at HighLonesomeStrings.wordpress.com/ or contact Ed Sullivan at 336-420-0238 for more information.

Related Links

• High Lonesome Strings Bluegrass Association

Gettysburg, PA — The Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival is extraordinarily pleased to announce the addition of Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas to their already stellar May lineup. After a more than 10 year hiatus, the bluegrass super-group will return to the Gettysburg Main Stage, joining such bluegrass luminaries as Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Seldom Scene, Blue Highway, Mountain Heart, Dale Ann Bradley and many, many more. Alison Krauss & Union Station will close out the May Festival with a single performance on Sunday May 16th at 7PM.

The Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival is offering a limited number of Early Bird discount tickets. Early Bird Tickets for Sunday are $50 and will go on sale on Saturday, February 20th at 12 Noon EST. Tickets for the Alison Krauss & Union Station show and the full festival can be purchased at www.granitehillcampingresort.com or by calling 717-642-8749. Additional information can be found on the website www.alisonkrauss.com .

Granite Hill Camping Resort has been home to the internationally acclaimed Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival since 1979, with its 60th and 61st events scheduled for 2010. Each festival features top Bluegrass and Traditional Country musicians performing on our main stage, presenting informative workshops and meeting and greeting fans from all over the world. The Spring festival is scheduled for May 13-16, 2010, and the Fall festival will be held August 19-22, 2010. In addition to the Festivals themselves, the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival is pleased to present Pete Wernick’s Jam Camp, during the week leading into the May 2010 festival, and their 9th Annual Gettysburg Bluegrass Academy for Kids, set for August 19-22, 2010, for kids from kindergarten through 12th grades.

The Main Stage at Gettysburg has seen stellar performances by most of the world’s top bluegrass artists at some point over the past 31 years. Bill Monroe has performed on GBF main stage on several occasions, including his 75th birthday. The late John Duffey played every Gettysburg festival from 1979 until his untimely death in 1996. Alison Krauss played Gettysburg from her senior year in high school through the year she won the CMA Award for Female Vocalist of The Year. The Workshop Stage was the scene of the “Dobro Summit,” the first ever on stage-combined performance by Josh Graves, Mike Auldridge, and Jerry Douglas. A lot of bluegrass history has been made at Gettysburg, and there is surely more to come. Tickets for the event start at $25 and can be purchased online or by phone. Free day parking is available on site and camping is optional for an additional fee.

The Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, hosted by Cyndie and Rich Winkelmann and held at Granite Hill Camping Resort, is an internationally acclaimed bluegrass festival that has taken place twice a year since 1979. Each festival features more than 20 top Bluegrass and Traditional Country musicians performing on the main stage, presenting informative workshops and meeting and greeting fans from all over the world. The Festival will also be home to numerous food, merchandise, and craft vendors throughout the event. There are also a number of other activities on-site to entertain the whole family such as fishing, swimming, boating, Adventure Golf and much, much, more. For more information please visit our website at www.granitehillcampingresort.com or call (717) 642-8749.

Related Links

• Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival
• Granite Hill Camping Resort
• Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas

The results, just released by the NHCA, suggest that audio engineers are at greater risk of hearing loss than others. The testing also provided some evidence of the effectiveness of hearing protection, as regular hearing protection users had slightly better results than did non-users.

“We were pleased to partner with the NHCA for this important testing at AES,” said Shure President and CEO Sandy LaMantia. “Shure has long been committed to helping those in the music business preserve their hearing, and comprehensive testing like this is a great way to keep people educated about hearing health.”

Exposure to high levels of noise is one of the most common occupational hazards faced by American workers, with an estimated 22 million noise-exposed workers. Because of their potentially high exposure to noise, audio engineers are among those at highest risk for developing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).

Results Suggest More Hearing Loss Prevention Efforts Needed in Pro Audio Industry

During the screenings in October, 425 AES Convention attendees received a hearing test and answered a hearing history survey on a first-come, first-served basis. All testing was conducted by technicians certified by the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing and supervised by an occupational audiologist holding a Doctor of Audiology degree.

Key findings of the testing included:

• Students had the best hearing levels and those working with audio and other related jobs had the worst hearing results.
• Differences in audio test results were noted among the different job titles surveyed, suggesting that some types of audio engineering work may present a greater risk of NIHL than others.
• Nearly 1 in 4 participants reported difficulty hearing in one or both of their ears, and well over one-third of participants reported experiencing tinnitus (ringing or buzzing) in one or both ears.
• More than 1 in 3 participants reported normally working in a noisy area without hearing protection and more than one-quarter reported having regular noise exposure outside work.
• Average hearing levels among participants who reported using hearing protection during work were 1 to 2 dB better than those who did not use hearing protection.

“The testing results tell us there’s a need for additional hearing measurements and hearing loss prevention efforts among audio professionals,” continued LaMantia. “Noise induced hearing loss is a completely preventable disease, but people need to be aware of the risk factors and the steps they can take to minimize their risk.”

Shure sponsored the AES testing as part of the “Listen Safe” program, the Company’s corporate cause that supports hearing conservation. Shure will continue to provide free hearing screenings and distribute hearing protection devices at professional audio industry trade shows, music conferences, and to Shure Associates, to help reduce the risks to hearing health.

Related Links

• Shure Inc.

The National Folk Festival is the oldest and longest-running multi-ethnic traditional arts festival in the nation. This moveable exposition of traditional music and culture will be presented in downtown Nashville for three consecutive years, with the final year in Nashville marking the Festival’s 75th anniversary. Nashville won this honor in a competitive process involving 40 cities across the nation.

“No city in the United States can match the raw talent, creativity, and long history of making music like we have here in Nashville. You combine that with our growing international diversity and growing recognition and appreciation for the arts, and you have a city that is well primed to host the National Folk Festival and to create an event of a caliber worthy of serving as the celebration of its 75th anniversary,” Mayor Dean said.

The National Folk Festival’s effort in Nashville will involve the entire community and bring together many diverse groups to work toward the common goal of building the festival. An estimated 800 volunteers will work with festival planners, city employees and community leaders, creating an event that will bring the region numerous benefits.

The festival is expected to draw upwards of 80,000 attendees in its first year, increasing to over 150,000 by year three and is expected to have an estimated $10-15 million in economic impact per year. The National Folk Festival’s stay is also intended to lay the groundwork for a new annual festival that will continue in Nashville after the National moves on in 2014.

For over 70 years, the National Folk Festival has provided a way for people to embrace the cultural traditions that define us as Americans. This three-day free, public outdoor event celebrates the roots, richness and variety of American culture through music, dance, traditional craft, storytelling, food and more.

With downtown Nashville as the backdrop, audiences can expect a diverse array of continuous music and dance performances by the finest traditional artists from all parts of the Nation, a Tennessee Folklife Area with craft demonstrations, exhibits and stage presentations focused on the heritage of the region and state, a Family Area, regional and ethnic food courts, and a festival marketplace offering fine handmade regional crafts.

The festival will shine a light not only on the traditional roots of music that has made Middle Tennessee world famous, but also on the musical and cultural traditions of immigrant groups new to Nashville and the region, with the goal of reflecting the increasingly multi-cultural character of the city, state and nation.

Nashville’s National Folk Festival will be operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and will be produced in partnership with the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville, and the Compass Records Group. A fundraising effort to support the festival is underway and both corporate and private sponsorship are being sought.

Related Links

• Nashville – National Folk Festival
• Compass Records Group

Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie "Southern" (Rural Rhythm Records)

Washington D.C. — Bill Emerson is celebrating two major events this month. On Friday, March 27, Emerson will be honored with the very first Washington Monument Awards presented by the DC Bluegrass Union in recognition of this 50 year career in bluegrass music. The following night, Saturday, March 28, Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie will hold their official CD release party for their new album, “Southern.”

Bill Emerson – Washington Monumnent Award Event

The Washington Monument Award will be presented to Emerson at the DC Bluegrass Festival on Saturday, March 27 at Langley High School in McLean, Virginia. The award celebrates Washington, DC-area musicians who have been instrumental in shaping the direction of bluegrass music nationwide. For more information and online ticketing, please visit www.dcbluegrassfest.org.

Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie CD Release Party details

The Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie CD Release Party will take place at the Jammin’ Java located on Route 123, Vienna, Virginia from 2:00 – 4:00 pm on March 28. The album is receiving critical acclaim. Keith Lawrence with the Messenger-Inquirer stated, “Now, with Sweet Dixie, Emerson is headed back to the top again and “Southern” is an album fans won’t want to miss.”

The album was released on Rural Rhythm Records January 12, 2010 and is now available nationally in the physical and digital formats including: iTunes, Rhapsody, Borders, Barnes & Nobel, Amazon.com, Ernest Tubb Record Shops, County Sales, Music Shed, Elderly Instruments and many more outlets.

More information on Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie including their 2010 tour schedule and new album, please visit bluegrassville.com/billemerson/

Related Links

• Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie

Corey Congilio (Courtesy fishman)

Andover, MA — Fishman has appointed Corey Congilio as a Marketing/Artist Relations Specialist, focusing on social networking, online content, video demonstrations, sales events and training, marketing promotions, and artist relations.

Congilio, A part time employee based in Pittsburgh, is a working musician, composer, producer and guitar teacher. A graduate of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh in the Music and Video Business program, Corey has an Associate Degree in Specialized Business with an emphasis in audio engineering. During his enrollment, Corey began performing regularly throughout Pittsburgh, Ohio, and West Virginia. As a guitarist and vocalist, he has supported acts in genres from R&B, Country, Swing, Rock, and more.

Corey began doing projects for Fishman in 2008 as a demo artist and clinician before being hired to handle a broader scope of responsibilities this year.

“Corey is not only a brilliant and versatile musician, but is also excellent at explaining Fishman products in a thoughtful and musical way,” said Chris DeMaria, Director of Marketing & Artist Relations. “Anyone who has watched our online product demo videos can immediately connect with him.”

For more information about Fishman, call 978.988.9199 or click to www.fishman.com.

Related Links

Fishman

The Compass Records Group is delighted to announce that Emilee Warner will be joining the label as Director of Publicity and Promotion.

Emilee is one of the most knowledgeable roots music publicists working in Nashville today and her prior experience makes her an ideal addition to the team.

Emilee comes to us from the CMT Radio Network, Tuned In Broadcasting (WRLT Lightning 100), and her self-owned publicity company Big Shindig Media which represented Sarah Siskind, Steep Canyon Rangers, Computer vs. Banjo and others. She also worked for Keith Case & Associates and HollerBack PR in promotions and publicity. Emilee is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Business Administration and is a native of Crossville, Tennessee.