Hey Folks!

Our laptop has busted and our cell phones don’t get reception in the interest of greater science, namely the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, which benefits from quiet skies.  But there is plenty of coffee…. oh and BLUEGRASS!!!

Last night we rolled on to the foggy mountain top, just in time to hear Dan Tyminski! The evening concert was a in a domed building instead of outside, because it got so chilly with the late night moutain wind.

This morning we had a chance to chat with Larry Cordle, who also played last night, before he headed off on his next adventure. Godspeed, Mr. Cordle.

This afternoon Echo and I were treated to hearing Gold Mine Pickers for the first time live. They made the best of an early morning set. My favorite was an orginal tune, Cold Coffee, Sour Oats which they extended into a jam with hints of Angeline the Baker, then finished with a quote from the band, Rage Against the Machine.  I’ll have to check my music collection when I get home to tell you which song.

Steep Canyon Rangers and Cadillac Sky are on their way to the mountain. We’re hoping that one of them will have a working laptop so we can upload some photos!

As it is, Ms. Laura Parquette from the Snowshoe Staff, has been generous enough to let us post from her office computer… so, ok, the weekend’s not entirely technology free ;)

Cheers,

Jen

Technology Free Weekend!
Our laptop has busted , our cell phones don’t get reception in the interest of greater science, namely the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, which benefits from quiet skies. . But there is plenty of coffee…. oh and BLUEGRASS!!!
continue reading…

The weekend’s lineup will include 2008 International Bluegrass Music Awards Entertainer and Album of the Year recipients Dailey and Vincent, Grammy Nominated Dan Tyminski and local favorites Wilson Creek and the Hillbilly Gypsies. Saturday’s concert will be followed by a stunning mountaintop fireworks display celebrating Indepedence Day.

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Katy Daley reviews the International Bluegrass Museum’s ROMP 2009 music festival in Owensboro, KY.



Katy emceed ROMP 2009 in Owensboro, KY June 24-27. In addition to her duties as master of ceremonies, Katy blogged and provided news updates for BluegrassCountry.org and our MySpace page.

You can follow Katy’s exploits here and view Katy’s photos at our Flickr page.

*denotes part of our Roots and Branches series

*American Routes - July 4th with Ponderosa Stomp, Del McCoury Band & Preservation Hall Jazz Band
This Fourth of July, American Routes celebrates our nation’s birthday with two live concerts of all-American music from the French Quarter in New Orleans.  We’ll stop by the Ponderosa Stomp, dedicated to the “unsung heroes of rock ‘n’ roll” for a good dose of rockabilly, soul, country and R&B classics.  Then it’s down the street to Preservation Hall, where bluegrass masters the Del McCoury Band mix it up with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.  So fire up the grill, pull out your lawn chair, and turn up the radio for American Routes.

Bluegrass Breakdown - Hairy ‘Grass
We’ll be looking at one of BluegrassLand’s most socially significant subjects. Coming in many styles, lengths and colors, it’s something that’s alternatively admired, coveted, ridiculed and shunned. Roy McMillan, the Dixie Bee-Liners, Randall Hylton, Doc Watson, Laurie Lewis and Dave Evans will be singing about golden hair, yellow hair, flaxy hair, curly hair, red hair, long hair, short hair and gray hair.

Bluegrass Master Class
This week we’ll hear from three different experts: Dick Spottswood and banjo historian Karen Batten discuss “Home Sweet Home,” and how it’s endured for 150 years, along with the introduction of Scruggs tuners.  Lee Michael Demsey reviews nominees for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Hall of Fame, and journalist Boris Wientraub reviews his coverage of the 1970’s Washington DC bluegrass scene.

Bluegrass Review
What is American about bluegrass? That is the question posed by today’s Gem of Bluegrass. After the Gem, we play a group of songs that represent “American” bluegrass music. The show also includes a song recorded especially for the Bluegrass Review, the Iowa Waltz. This Greg Brown composition is sung by guitarist Bill Cagley of Waterloo / Cedar Falls, Iowa, and accompanied by David Tousley on the bass and show host Phil Nusbaum on the banjo. Later on, we spin some important new bluegrass. Show host Phil Nusbaum enjoys talking to listeners. Contact him at pnusbaum@bitstream.net.

Bluegrass Signal – Gearin’ Up For Grass Valley – Father’s Day Festival, Part 2: Vern’s Stage
It’s all California bands for this second of two programs previewing the music that’s part of this year’s Father’s Day Festival, the annual California Bluegrass Association wing-ding at Grass Valley. One group is nationally-known (Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick), two are family bands (Tuttles and Andersons), three have new demos (Mighty Crows, Blue & Lonesome, Matt & George & Their Pleasant Valley Boys), and most favor the traditional side of bluegrass. In fact, there are eight songs and/or personnel associated with Vern Williams and/or Vern & Ray, the patriarchs of California bluegrass. There are also two environmentally-conscious originals.

*The Dick Spottswood Show
A new CD by the surviving Stonemans (Patsy, Roni, Donna) precedes a few Pop Stoneman favorites from the 1920s and 1960s. A Lonnie Johnson suite features his guitar, fiddle and piano, and Pine Top Smith displays his pioneering boogie piano skills and stages a couple of skits. There’s an extended Independence Day suite in the second hour, with Bill Monroe, the Stanleys, Louvins, Jim and Jesse, Jenks Carman, the Johnson Family, Arthur Crudup (Elvis’s favorite), Hylo Brown, Maybelle Carter, other great Obsolete Americans.

*etown
For this encore broadcast, banjo player and singer-songwriter Abigail Washburn visits Etown with her spectacular ensemble, The Sparrow Quartet, featuring Béla Fleck (banjo), Casey Driessen (fiddle) and Ben Sollee (cello). Plus, poetic lyricist and powerful vocalist Vusi Mahlasela, known as “The Voice” in his home country of South Africa, makes his Etown debut; Nick & Helen Forster and the Etones layer in some lovely harmonies and instrumental support for him.

Featured News: ROMP 2009 Review

The Free for All - Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. LIVE, Friday 9 p.m.-12 a.m.

The Gary Henderson Show - Saturday 8-11 a.m. LIVE, Monday 12 p.m., Friday 12 a.m.

LIVE The Katy Daley Show - Monday-Friday 7-10 a.m. ET

The Lee Michael Demsey Show - Saturday 11a.m.-2p.m., Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET LIVE

Lonesome Pine RFD with Carol Beaugard, Mon. 12 a.m., Wed. 9 p.m., Thurs. 12 p.m.

*Mountain Stage - Featuring Mary Chapin Carpenter, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Howie Beck, The Holmes Brothers, Dale Ann Bradley. Playlist.

Music from Foggy Hollow
In Mike Kear’s Music from Foggy Hollow from Australia this week he’s playing new music from  Sarah Jarosz, Pathway, new young band Green On The Vyne, Marty Raybon and Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out.   The feature is Rambler’s Call from Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers. He talks about Joe and the background to the CD, and plays some of the music from the album.  He has all the regular features,  and as always he doesn’t take things too seriously - there’s time for some fun and a laugh or two too. It’s just good fun bluegrass from beginning to end.   Don’t miss it!

Open Mic - July Top 30 Countdown
Hosted by Lee Michael Demsey, the Bluegrass Unlimited Top 30 Countdown features the top 30 songs as reported to Bluegrass Unlimited for the upcoming month, in the familiar countdown format. Demsey also includes brief comments from some of the artists and/or songwriters whose music is included

Old Time Jam

Host Hubie King talks and plays with banjo player Tony Ellis, whose pickin’ style sits somewhere between old-time and bluegrass.

LIVE The Ray Davis Show Mon-Fri 3-6p.m., Sunday 10am-1p,

Rotating Shows

The Tom “Cat” Reeder Show - Sunday 3 a.m. (July 5)

The Old Home Place - Tuesday 12 p.m., Thursday 12 a.m., Sunday 3 a.m. (July 12)

Special Programming
We’ll hear from current and former members of the U.S. Navy Band, Country Current in this American themed special program featuring Kenny Ray Horton, Frank Sollivan III, Wayne Taylor and Bill Emerson.

LIVE Stained Glass Bluegrass hosted by Bob Webster
Over the July 4th weekend we’ll enjoy some patriotic selections from the Isaacs, Jim & Jesse, Jimmy Martin, and Paul Williams & The Victory Trio as we remember our country’s birthday.  Got your hymn books for the sing along at the start of the third hour?

*Thistle and Shamrock - A Broader Canvas
We shift the spotlight away from Scottish and Irish music this week to illuminate the rich traditions of Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Galicia, Asturias, Wales and Brittany.

LIVE *Traditions with Mary Cliff, Saturday 2-6 p.m.

Uptown Bluegrass with George McKnight - New Voices
This show features new bluegrass songs and tunes, in several styles with many wonderful and creative, emerging artists to the genre.

Playlist
Intro Music - Monroe, Bill - Panhandle Country
1. Osborne Brothers - Ruby
2. Seldom Scene - Colorado Turnaround (Live)
3. Bluegrass 45, The - Five Hundred Miles
4. Seldom Scene & Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris - The Sweetest Gift (Live)
5. Seldom Scene - Rider (Live)

6. Monroe, Bill - Uncle Pen

7. Hilo Brown - Stonewall
8. Jim & Jesse - I wonder Where you are tonight
9. Seldom Scene & Linda Ronstadt - Keep Me From Blowing Away (Live)
10. Starling, John and Carolina Star - Willin’
11. McCoury, Del Band - 1952 Vincent Black Lightning
12. Yonder Mountain String Band - Ruby-Robots!-Ruby

Hour 2: IBMA Hall of Fame Nominees
Host Lee Michael Demsey

Playlist
1. Lonesome Pine Fiddlers - Dirty Dishes Blues
2. Paul Warren - Listen to the Mockingbird
3. Stringbean -  Going To The Grand Ole Opry
4. Wade Mainer - Shake My Mother’s hand For Me
5. Charlie Moore and Bill Napier - It’s Goodbye and So Long To You
6. Clarence White - Alabama Jubilee
7. Kentucky Colonels - Prisoner’s Song
8. Dillards - Ebo Walker
9. John Hartford - Gentle On My Mind
10. Del McCoury - High On A Mountain
11. Larry Sparks - Smokey Mountain Memories

Hour 3: Home Sweet Home
Host Dick Spottwood

Pursuant to Bob Carlin’s piece on pre-Scruggs banjo players in the April issue of Bluegrass Unlimited, Dick speaks with banjo player Karen Batten on the 19th c. origins, persistence and bluegrass-ification of  the tune “Home Sweet Home.”

Playlist

1. JIM EANES (Hubert Davis-banjo) There’s No Place Like Home - Bear Family BCD 15934
2. BLUE RIDGE CORN SHUCKERS (George Stoneman-banjo) - Home Sweet Home - Country Music Foundation CMF-011-D
3. FRANK JENKINS - Home Sweet Home - County CD-3533
4. CHARLIE PARKER & MACK WOOLBRIGHT - The Man Who Wrote Home Sweet Home Never Was a Married Man - Old Hat CD-1005
5. LESTER FLATT & EARL SCRUGGS - Home Sweet Home - Bear Family BCD 15559
6. SNUFFY JENKINS - Dixie; There’s No Place Like Home - Arhoolie CD 9027
7. DON RENO - Home Sweet Home - King KBSCD-7001

8. OREN JENKINS - Home Sweet Home - Smithsonian Folkways SF 40037
9. BILL EMERSON - Sweet Dixie - Rebel CD-8005
10. LESTER FLATT & EARL SCRUGGS - Earl’s Breakdown - Bear Family BCD 15472
11. LESTER FLATT & EARL SCRUGGS - Flint Hill Special - Bear Family BCD 15472
12. LESTER FLATT & EARL SCRUGGS - Foggy Mountain Chimes - Bear Family BCD 15472
13. LESTER FLATT & EARL SCRUGGS - Till the End Of the World Rolls Round - Bear Family BCD 15472
14. LESTER FLATT & EARL SCRUGGS - Randy Lynn Rag - Bear Family BCD 15472
15. E. C. BALL - Home Sweet Home - Copper Creek CCCD-014

8-11 a.m. ET Host Gary Henderson is LIVE in the studio, presenting 3 hours of bluegrass, classic country, and mossy-old favorites, 4th of July style!

2-5 p.m. ET LIVE broadcast from the 43rd annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall. Bluegrass Country’s Mary Cliff, Lee Michael Demsey, and Hubie King broadcast with Frank Hennessey, host of Celtic Heartbeat on BBC radio Wales, to highlight traditional music, the Folklife Festival and the  4th of July.

9-10 p.m. ET Head down to Preservation Hall, where The Del McCoury Band mixes it up with the Crescent City’s own purveyors of traditional jazz, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band on American Routes.