Their 2012 release Looking Forward, produced by Steven Mougin (Sam Bush Band, Nedski and Mojo), was called one of the best of 2012 by Engine 145, praising the “angelic harmonies of sisters Melissa Triplett, Emily, and Alysha,” and the track “Looking Forward To Look Back” climbed to the #1 spot on the Bluegrass Today airplay chart in February. The album features the band's intuitive harmonies with cuts by Donna Ulisse, Dennis Duff, Billy Boone Smith, Lynn and Kerry Chater, and others. They even made a touching video for the self-empowering song “Don’t Try To Be Anyone Else”

The band was recently signed to Compass Records. Phil and Dorene Bankester and their three daughters and son-in-law are known for some of the finest harmony singing in bluegrass music. The band follows in the footsteps of other legacy family acts like The Cox Family and The Marshall Family. The band is starting to gain widespread attention in the bluegrass circuit this year.

The group is planning on a new album this fall. Over the past few months the band has been hard at work with producer Alison Brown on their next release, Love Has Wheels, which will include special guests Sierra Hull, Josh Williams, Rob Ickes, Jim Hurst and others. The album will host 12 tracks of bluegrass to Americana songs.

Hiltons, VA -- The Tune Town Old Time Band is a North Carolina based old time band that has been making quite a name for themselves in old time music circles for the past several years. Tune Town has six musicians in the group. The band features two guitars, two fiddles, and the clawhammer banjo. Dr. Mark Handy will be playing banjo and helping out on vocals. When he’s not playing old time, Dr. Handy practices family medicine in Abingdon, Virginia. Saturday, August 10th, 2013, at 7:30 p.m., the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert by the Tune Town Old Time String Band with Dr. Mark Handy. Admission to the concert is $8 for adults, children 6 to 11 $1, under age 6 free.

Fans of groups like the Mountain Park Old Time Band will love Tune Town. Be sure to bring your dancing shoes, and be ready for a night of down home fun. With twin fiddles, you can be sure there will be lots of tunes to keep the dancers happy and on the floor. Nothing gets you out of your seat and on the dance floor faster than a rousing old time band. Don’t miss the Tune Town Old Time Band at the Carter Family Fold! For more information on the group, check them out on Face Book.

Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information on the center, go to http://www.carterfamilyfold.org. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at http://www.carterfoldshow.com.

Carter Music Center is part of the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. You can visit the Crooked Road Music Trail site at http://thecrookedroad.org. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-386-6054. The Fold is on Facebook – page Carter Fold – and Twitter – @carterfoldinfo. To speak to a Fold staff member, call 276-594-0676.

The Rigneys are a high energy bluegrass band that offers an appealing blend of tight family vocal harmonies and innovative bluegrass instrumentation. The Rigney's have a great sense of balancing the traditional with fresh new sounds that exhilarates your soul with energy, laughter, and emotion. The Rigneys, a family band, are comprised of award-winning brothers, Andrew (guitar, vocals) and Grant (mandolin, fiddle, vocals), and their parents Mark (banjo, vocals) and Melissa (bass).

“It was a priority for me to have the group dig deep and contribute some original material for this album,” explains Mougin, who is also the longtime guitar player with the Sam Bush Band. “Andrew really stepped up to the plate with my challenge, writing two songs with me and contributing five strong songs overall.”

“Double or Nothing” is also one of the few chosen songs to be performed in the IBMA Songwriter Showcase at the World of Bluegrass event in Raleigh, NC, this September, an honor of which both writers are proud.

“I brought a general idea to the table and mojo and I sat down with a cup of Jo and hashed out the details,” Andrew says, telling the story behind the song. “We wrote the words together and thought that the gambling metaphor was a great way to describe the messed up love relationship in the song. I can't wait to see how audiences enjoy this gambling love affair!”

For more information on The Rigneys, visit www.TheRigneysOnline.com.

Nashville, TN -- Rural Rhythm Records is proud to announce that bluegrass music artists The Roys currently have two albums on the Billboard Top 10 Bluegrass Album Chart. This week The Roys have the #2 position with their 2013 album release Gypsy Runaway Train and the #3 position with their 2012 album release New Day Dawning.

The Roys performed their traditional and contemporary Bluegrass music to over 30,000 Country music fans at the 2013 Wisconsin Country Thunder festival July 19-21. The Roys were invited by the festival organizers to host The Roys’ Pickin’ Porch stage, entertaining the Country Thunder audience throughout the festival.

“It is very exciting to see The Roys music being enjoyed by new audiences. Lee & Elaine performed their traditional and contemporary Bluegrass to over 30,000 music fans and the positive results are reflective on the chart. This was a great opportunity to introduce a new audience to the signature sound of The Roys and at the same time bring an awareness and appreciation of Bluegrass music to this new audience,” said Sam Passamano, II – President Rural Rhythm Records.

This is the third consecutive year that The Roys performed at the Wisconsin Country Thunder festival, and the first year that they hosted The Roys’S Pickin’ Porch Stage. The Roys also introduced Country fans to their traditional and contemporary Bluegrass music at the Arizona Country Thunder festival last year.

The Roys were recently featured on PBS’ Jubilee series, which featured performances from their previous two Top 5 Billboard Bluegrass Albums, Lonesome Whistle and New Day Dawning. If you missed the program, click HERE to view. The Roys are now on tour in support of their Rural Rhythm albums. Visit The Roys official site for tour information.

Bluegrass music artist Jim VanCleve, founding member of Mountain Heart (fiddle), contracted Dengue Fever from mosquito bites he got from a recent trip to St. Croix back in March. The near fatal experience resulted in Jim being hospitalized for days. Now, he is suffering from the huge medical expenses as a result of that infection. Tonight, Music City Roots will live-stream Jimmy Jam, a live benefit to help Jim and his family with those expenses.

The Jimmy Jam will take place at 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville, Tennessee at 7 :30 PM. Doors open at 6. The Jam will feature award winning bluegrass artists Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Dailey & Vincent, the Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush Band, The Grascals, The Steel Drivers, Mountain Heart, Guthrie Trapp & Friends, Jon Weisberger w/Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Ned Lubereckiand Stephen Mougin, Melonie Cannon & Friends, Buddy Cannon, Ronnie & Garnett Bowman, Bryan Sutton, Larry Cordle, Donna Ulisse, Matt King, Fred Knobloch, Jeff King, Josh Daniels (of the New Familiars), and Andrea Zonn Playing on the Planet featuring Lisa Jacobi.

Jimmy Jam is a jam for the benefit of fiddler, songwriter and producer Jim Van Cleve, a founding member of the ever-evolving newgrass-y powerhouse Mountain Heart and a significant young player in the contemporary bluegrass recording world.

This is a great out-pouring of caring from the bluegrass community. This is what makes the bluegrass family so special. With this kind of talent all at one place, you know you're going to be in for a real treat. If you can't be there in person. Here is the link for the live stream: http://MusicCityRoots.com/live-stream

Singer/songwriter Donna Ulisse says, "If you are unable to attend in person you may still aid the family by contributing online via PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/send-money-online . Simply complete the transaction in the box provided to send your donation electronically, using a credit or debit card, to vanclevemedicalfund@gmail.com. Hopefully you will be able to catch this program and contribute to one of the genre's most versatile fiddlers.

Join the Timberline Lodge for an umforgettable day of live Americana and Bluegrass Music on their historic outdoor amphitheater Labor Day, September 2, at 1 PM. Admission is free. Former Blue Grass Boy, Peter Rowan and his band along with Great Northern Planes, Broken Top Band, The Barn Birds, and Rita Hosking will be entertaining the guests for this holiday performance. Summer may be coming to a close but the entertainment continues.

The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band will be the headline act for the Timberline Americana Music Festival.. Okay… “living legend” is a bit over-used; let’s just say Peter Rowan is a dog gone bluegrass icon, and one of the most popular live acts on today’s festival stage. His legendary bluegrass career started in 1964 as a member of none other than the father of Bluegrass Music Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys.

Chris Kokesh and her excellent band Broken Top kick off the day with their wonderful blend of country-folk, bluegrass, and original Americana music. The Great Northern Planes will entertain with their traditional yet slightly irreverent bluegrass music featuring fine musicianship, 4 part harmonies, and showmanship to spare. Chris Kokesh comes back on stage with award winning North Carolina singer/songwriter Jonathan Byrd in a spectacular duet paring called The Barn Birds. Rita Hosking and Cousin Jack will perform. Rita possesses one of the most memorable voices in contemporary Americana music.

So join the festival on beautiful Mt. Hood, Oregon as they celebrate another Labor Day at historic Timberline Lodge. Admission is free. Yup…you read that right! Musicians are invited to bring their instrument and jam on the back pickin’ patio where The Oregon Bluegrass Association and various outdoor recreation groups will be set up for outreach, including the Pacific Crest Trail Association who will be offering short guided hikes on the section of the PCT which runs right behind Timberline lodge.

Get all the info, directions and lodging information at www.timberlinelodge.com

"If the Bottle was a Bible", the latest single from their IBMA Album of the Year The Story of the Day that I Died was released Tuesday, August 6. It is available to broadcast media for download on AirPlay Direct. Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice's first single "The Story of the Day that I Died" from the album with the same name, reached number one on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass Survey singles chart for July 2013. The album is currently at number three on the albums chart.

The Story of the Day that I Died was released on March 12, 2013, and the world premiere was held on Sirius XM's Bluegrass Junction in February. The CD's title track was written by Ashby Frank of The Likely Culprits and hit the radio airwaves in November.

"We are so proud of this album and can't wait to celebrate its release with our fans," said Junior Sisk. Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice have received SPBGMA’s Album of the Year Award for “The Heart of A Song“. Junior also received the Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year Honor for 2013. “A Far Cry from Lester and Earl“ was named SPBGMA’s 2013 Song of the Year.

"I was floored the first time Ronnie played 'If the Bottle was a Bible' for me and knew right away we had to record it."
 -- Junior Sisk

From the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia comes one of bluegrass music's most honest voices in the genre's history, Junior Sisk. Over the years, his haunting, almost lonesome vocals have earned him and his band, Rambler’s Choice, the devotion of countless traditional bluegrass fans from all over the world.

The Story of the Day that I Died has received great reviews and has found both the album and singles from the album on the top of many bluegrass charts. Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice know bluegrass and they deliver on "If the Bottle was a Bible." align=

Nashville, TN (August 7, 2013) - Award-winning brother/sister duo The Roys return to RFD-TV's popular Larry's Country Diner with songs from their latest steamin' hot CD, Gypsy Runaway Train, and more on August 10 and 11. The show, which draws over 1.4 million loyal viewers each month, airs Saturday nights at 10 PM CT / 11 PM ET and Sunday evenings at 6 PM CT / 7 PM ET. The siblings performed three songs from their current CD: The blazin' title track, "You Can Count On My Love" and "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight." They also sang the poignant "Grandpa's Barn," a fan favorite from their previous disc, New Day Dawning. Larry's Country Diner also airs on FamilyNet; check local listings for broadcast times in your area.

Currently, two of the duo's albums are in the Top 5 on BILLBOARD's Bluegrass Albums Chart, with their newest sitting at #2, and the August 2012 release, New Day Dawning, holding at #3. Additionally, the GRT music video is in solid rotation on ZUUS Country's Americana Currents.

Lee and Elaine introduced Bluegrass to over 30,000 Country fans at last month's 2013 Wisconsin Country Thunder, hosting the event's inaugural The Roys' Pickin' Porch stage in addition to performing on the Festival's main stage. The siblings were also spotlighted on Billboard.com and featured on PBS' Jubilee series; click HERE to view.

Larry's Country Diner is a unique down-home variety show which integrates entertainment, interviews and music in a weekly format, taped LIVE in front of a studio audience in a country diner setting. The show features regular characters including Larry Black, Keith Bilbrey, Sheriff Jimmy Capps, Waitress Renae and avid church lady, Nadine, along with special guest appearances by Country music artists of yesterday and today. Since its initial airing on August 3, 2009, Larry's Country Diner has produced over 100 episodes and has become one of the most popular shows on RFD-TV. www.larryscountrydiner.com.

>Classic Banjo from Smithsonian Folkways is a 30-track compilation that captures the great versatility of the banjo and its part in shaping American musical identity, including the instrument’s vital role in the 1960s folk revival. Classic Banjo was compiled by ethnomusicologist Greg Adams and archivist Jeff Place from over 300 albums, and is the 22nd release in the acclaimed Classic Series.

The banjo is a “bigger than life” instrument, a symbol of deep southern American heritage. At the same time, beneath its veneer of old-time icon, the story of the banjo is one of enormous creativity and adaptation to many musical traditions around the world - from Africa, to the Caribbean, to North America, to Europe, and beyond. In Classic Banjo from Smithsonian Folkways, banjo connoisseurs Greg Adams and Jeff Place cull 30 gems of banjo artistry from more than 300 albums in the Folkways collections, offering a gateway into the deep and varied veins of banjo history. 64 minutes, 44-page booklet with extensive notes and photos.

The collection offers an introduction to some of the many faces behind the music of the banjo, such as a recording of a young Pete Seeger performing a rapid-fire banjo medley as well as Doc Watson’s 1976 rendition of “Rambling Hobo,” the first banjo tune Watson, better known for his guitar playing, ever learned. Other featured performers include Elizabeth Cotten, Bill Evans, Snuffy Jenkins, Bill Keith, Dink Roberts, Roni Stoneman, Tony Trischka, and Don Vappie.

Listen to selections from ‘Classic Banjo from Smithsonian Folkways’: http://www.folkways.si.edu/radio/classic_banjo_preview/index.html

‘Classic Banjo’ was compiled by ethnomusicologist Greg Adams and archivist Jeff Place from over 300 albums in the Smithsonian Folkways collection, and is the 22nd album in Smithsonian Folkways acclaimed ‘Classic’ series. Place, archivist at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage’s Rinzler Archives, has produced more than 50 Smithsonian Folkways recordings, including the GRAMMY-winning ‘Woody at 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection’. Adams is also currently an archivist at Rinzler Archives and has been playing banjo and studying its history since 1994, working closely with scholars, musicians, and collectors to raise awareness of the banjo’s broader multicultural significance.

As with every compilation in the Smithsonian Folkways Classic Series, ‘Classic Banjo’ explores the breadth and depth of a genre while the liner notes offer insight into the cultural and historical contexts of each selection. During the last 10 years, Smithsonian Folkways has released Classic compilations of bluegrass, folk, blues, maritime, old-time, and mountain music, among others.

‘Classic Banjo from Smithsonian Folkways’ tracklist:
1. Fly Around My Blue-Eyed Girl / Cripple Creek / Ida Red / Old Joe Clark — Pete Seeger (2:35)
2. Banging Breakdown — Hobart Smith (1:17)
3. Johnson Boys — Frank Proffitt (1:41)
4. Peachbottom Creek — Wade Ward (1:24)
5. Coo Coo — Dink Roberts (2:10)
6. Josh Thomas's Roustabout — Mike Seeger (2:38)
7. Jaw Bone — Willie Chapman (0:52)
8. Bright Sunny South — Dock Boggs (3:36)
9. Coal Creek March — Pete Steele (1:52)
10. Mississippi Heavy Water Blues — Josh Thomas (3:37)
11. Walk Light Ladies — Rufus Crisp (1:28)
12. Buck Creek Girls — Bill Cornett (1:00)
13. Gut Bucket Blues — Don Vappie (4:15)
14. Skylark / Roaring Mary — Mick Moloney (3:24)
15. St. Anne's Reel / La Renfleuse Gorbeil — Ken Perlman (2:50)
16. Smokey Mokes — Roger Sprung (2:21)
17. Golden Bell Polka — A.L. Camp (2:25)
18. Banjoland — Tony Trischka with Bill Evans (3:00)
19. Sally Ann — Snuffy Jenkins (1:10)
20. Lonesome Road Blues — Roni Stoneman (1:12)
21. Fox Chase — Lee Sexton (0:56)
22. Hop Along Lou — John Tyree (1:08)
23. Cotton Eyed Joe — "Big Sweet" Lewis Hairston (1:23)
24. Foggy Mountain Top — Ola Belle Reed (2:29)
25. Rambling Hobo — Doc Watson (1:37)
26. Old Rattler — John Snipes (2:46)
27. Georgia Buck — Elizabeth Cotten (1:42)
28. I Wish to the Lord I'd Never Been Born — Irvin Cook (3:07)
29. Black Eye Susie — Roscoe Holcomb (1:24)
30. Bluegrass Breakdown — Bill Keith with Bill Monroe and The Blue Grass Boys (3:09)

This is the 22nd release in the Smithsonian Folkways Classic Series. Visit Classic Banjo on Smithsonian Folkways for a sample, ordering and more information.

Nashville, TN -- Preparing for her upcoming August 27th release New Frontier, multi-award-winning bassist Missy Raines has just announced a string of fall tour dates in support of the new album, including a CD release show at Nashville's Station Inn. Raines, one of bluegrass music's most beloved musicians, explores the next step in her musical vision on the new album, redefining herself as a charismatic lead vocalist.

“It was really about boiling it down to what was most important to me in the world, and then finding the courage to go after it. For me, that journey was not just like ‘finding myself’ because everyone is always trying to do that, but it was really more about uncovering the important things, and then staying with it, and feeling the courage to do something like this,” says Missy Raines of New Frontier (August 27), an album that boldly treads into the worlds of folk and Americana. “Even though it was going to be something very different than folks were expecting to hear, I had to say ‘This is what I want to do, and I have to do it.’”

At first listen to New Frontier, you’d sooner peg Missy Raines as an Americana bandleader, rather than one of the most highly decorated bass players in bluegrass music. For the first time, Raines explores her dusky, emotive alto on each track, layered among the cool grooves and expansive soundscapes provided by her band, The New Hip: guitarist/co-producer Ethan Ballinger, mandolinist/acoustic guitarist Jarrod Walker and drummer/percussionist Josh Fox. These 10 tracks draw from songs written by Pierce Pettis, Sarah Siskind, Ed Snodderly and even Raines herself, and are driven home with the help of several genre-bending friends, including Sam Bush, Zach Bevill of the Farewell Drifters, and former New Hip drummer Robert Crawford.

For Raines, the album was a journey to find her voice, figuratively as well as literally. It cuts to the quick, opening with the subtle rock and sweeping reverb of Ballinger’s guitar on “I Learn,” while Raines’ lyrics resound the album’s empowering message: Follow your heart. It will not be easy and it will not be painless, but if you do it, it is absolutely worth it. “A lot of these songs share a common theme about renewal, pushing yourself out there, taking the past and letting it be the support underneath you, but continuing to go forward. Some days it’s painful, sometimes growth hurts a lot,” says Raines.

Raines’ journey and consequential growing pains permeate the album. “Where You Found Me,” plays like a diary entry to the singer’s former self, the folky Pierce Pettis-penned “Long Way Back Home” searches for perspective, and the title track teeters on the verge of epiphany and self-discovery: “I’m scared of going/but I know I can’t stay here/I see the light of the morning/the first day of a New Frontier.” Sam Bush lends his mighty mandolin and vocals to the rockin’ “What’s the Callin’ For” and the sparse mandolin on “American Crow” features Raines, Ballinger, and Walker’s sweet harmonies that close the album in a reverential moment of reflection.

Though why the change for the bluegrass bass virtuoso who now so comfortably transposes to the Folk-Americana genre? "I don't see it as a change as much as I see it as natural evolution...my bluegrass roots are strong and deep but I've tried to expand my horizons and see what else I can do. Exploration is a great way to put it – Inside Out was that for sure, but this is way more focused. I am very open about everything, all the possibilities, and it is a great new place to be.”

The sonic landscape is impressive and polished as well – Raines and co-producer Ethan Ballinger wanted to fully utilize their bluegrass instrumentation in a way that resonated with the album’s somewhat heavier subject matter: “Obviously this was going to be about songs and not about hot picking. At the same time the instrumentation was like, ‘how do we make this not sound like some kind of novelty.’ This is the sound we’ve been arriving at over the last few years, it’s the sound of the band,” says Ballinger.

New Frontier’s inspiring message of exploration and growth resonates with the listener, imploring them to listen again and take the message to heart. Raines shares that, “at many levels, you keep doing what you need to do because you have to. Because there’s just no other option. The good news is that if you keep doing it, you will prevail.”

Entrepreneur Joe Chambers, a noted songwriter, producer and owner of Nashville guitar store Chambers Guitars, was the original guiding force behind the new museum. He long believed studio musicians deserve more recognition for their contributions to popular music. Doing research on the concept, Chambers discovered that there were no museums anywhere dedicated to studio musicians. That just fueled his fire to bring the concept into fruition. He also felt that it would solidify Nashville's reputation as a music epicenter for all types of music.

Chambers commented in 2006 saying, "Working in the studio as songwriter and producer, I learned the importance of studio musicians. They are the backbone of the record business. I had spoken to Chet Atkins, Duane Eddy and James Burton about doing a project that would talk about and educate people on musicians. Those conversations ultimately metamorphosed into the museum."

Today, the organization is flourishing with new programs and presentations. In May, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean was on hand to unveil the new street name that is in front of The Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum. It was a perfect Nashville afternoon and local media was on hand to cover the event. Just recently, they announced the opening of an exhibit by Betty Harper -- "50+ Years with Elvis" that will open August 29th.

The grand reopening and the new location are great news for Nashville musicians and helps to highlight the dedication this organization has to the history and legacy of all music.

The band has just started a new chapter in their remarkable journey by entering into a booking agreement with nationally renowned, and highly esteemed talent agency, KCA Artists. Responsible for the touring careers of some of the country's most beloved performers like Hot Rize, Guy Clark, Seldom Scene, and Steep Canyon Rangers, KCA has been instrumental in the growth of the American acoustic music scene for more than three decades. The agency's deep connections in the folk, Americana, and bluegrass markets will offer countless new opportunities for the band and raise the bar for a bright future.

Formerly known as Keith Case & Associates, KCA Artists is a talent agency providing direction to the finest roster in American music. With over 30 years in the business, Keith Case has become widely known for representing one-of-a-kind artists of exceptional quality, and doing so with integrity and professionalism. Today, that tradition continues and grows. Case has a long-standing reputation as a passionate, dedicated advocate of bluegrass and roots music, helping pave the way for the best artists in these genres move toward the mainstream. He and his staff bring that same energy and devotion to their select artists in the fields of folk, gospel, contemporary blues, roots rock, bluegrass and Americana. The music represented is both timeless and contemporary, with each artist having a history of inspiring critics and electrifying audiences of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life.

Billboard Magazine has touted Compass Records Group as one of the leading independent labels of the past decade. The label group is home to more than 500 releases across the Compass Records, Green Linnet and Mulligan Records imprints with a roster that boasts a variety of artists including Colin Hay, Victor Wooten, Claire Lynch, Altan, Peter Rowan, The Gibson Brothers, Darden Smith, BeauSoleil, The HillBenders, Michael Cleveland, and label co-founder Alison Brown. For more information, visit compassrecords.com, keithcase.com

The 10th Annual Blazin' Bluegrass Music Festival is destined to be one of the best festivals of the region -- one that you won't want to miss. Offering a stellar lineup of award winning bluegrass artists is just the beginning. Other activities include: Kids Activities, Train, Inflatables, Huge Arts & Crafts Fair, Corn Hole Tournament, Veterans Ceremony, Chance to Win Door Prizes & all the Great Festival Foods.

This year, the festival continues with their outstanding lineup which includes Dale Ann Bradley with Steve Gulley Hosting the festival this year. Blue Highway, Paul Williams & Victory Trio, Moron Brothers, James King, Barbwire, Shadow Ridge, KY Mountain Trio, The Baker Family, Tad Paddle, and Mavis Hughes & Colonel Strings.

Admission is less than you would expect to pay for just one of these artists in concert. With the un-heard of admission prices of $20.00 for a 3 Day Pass & camping prices of only $35.00 for electric & water camp sites for all three days. Yes that's right - $35.00 gets you a camp site for three days at the beautiful Sandhill RV Camp nestled in the middle of the Daniel Boone National Park (Home of the Blazin Bluegrass Festival). $20.00 gets you a tent camp site for all three days. The park has 2 shower houses and a dump station on site.

Quality performances at an affordable price and all that jamming and camping in one lovely location is a hard bargain to beat. Early Bird Days start Monday Sept 16th when campers start rolling in thru Wednesday Sept 18th and include Pot Luck Dinners every night, Bluegrass & Bluegrass Gospel Jams on stage & around the camp fire and a Wednesday Night Service to dedicate the start of the Music Fest on Thursday Sept. 19th.

Get info on the bands, tickets, and more at http://www.blazinbluegrass.com/ Then hop on over to Sandhill 4H/RV Camp in Whitley City, KY for one heck of a great bluegrass festival.

Nashville, TN -- Rural Rhythm Records is proud to announce a new archival series that will focus on “classic album reissues”. The Rural Rhythm Heritage Collection Series will help keep traditional roots music alive and preserved for future generations. The Rural Rhythm Heritage Collection Series will include authentic Old-Time Country, Bluegrass, Folk, Country Waltzes, Fiddle Tunes and Gospel music performed by many legends & pioneers. Titles are mastered from the original master tapes, with original cover artwork and include many albums never-before available on CD.

Several months back Rural Rhythm announced its Rural Roots Digital Series which was originally created to release the label’s “classic album reissues” on digital only. After the release of Red Smiley & The Blue Grass Cut-Ups - Red Smiley & The Blue Grass Cut-Ups and Curly Fox - Champion Fiddler, Volume One on the digital format Rural Rhythm received a significant amount of requests from Bluegrass fans to purchase these titles on the CD format.

These titles were made available to program directors and DJ’s at AirPlay Direct and both albums shot up the AirPlay Direct Monthly Bluegrass Chart. In addition, many media requests came in for the physical CD for airplay, articles and reviews.

Rural Rhythm Records will continue releasing albums in the Rural Roots Digital Series, as well as releasing “classic albums” in the Rural Rhythm Heritage Collection Series on both the physical and digital formats.

The first two titles in the Rural Rhythm Heritage Collection Series will be released on September 24th with the CD release of Red Smiley & The Blue Grass Cut-Ups - Red Smiley & The Blue Grass Cut-Ups originally released in 1967 and Curly Fox - Champion Fiddler, Volume One originally released in 1972. Both of these albums are available on the CD format for the first time.

Each month Rural Rhythm plans to release more titles in the Heritage Collection Series in both the physical CD and digital formats. Releasing in October will be HYLO BROWN & The Timberliners originally released in 1967 and LEE MORE – Sings Radio Favorites Of Country Music originally released in 1966. Neither of these titles we’re ever available on the CD album format.

Many legends and pioneers released albums during this period including Mac Wiseman, Hylo Brown, Don Reno & Bill Harrell, Red Smiley, Jim Eanes, Vassar Clements, J.E. Mainer, Earl Taylor & Jim McCall, Raymond Fairchild and many more. Bringing the traditional “retro” vintage sounds from the past to the present in a convenient high-fidelity digital download format, Rural Roots Heritage Collection Series preserves, protects, promotes and presents the ageless music of these artists for current and future generations to enjoy and appreciate using the technologies of the 21st Century. Now you can listen to these classics at home or on the go.

Bob Cherry of Cybergrass says, “Vintage music and systems are making a comeback as fans try and recapture the music experience created by the pioneers. This is a great opportunity for the fans and collectors, as well as educators and historians, to appreciate the music that started it all. Maintaining a level of 'permanence’ within the digital world is important. Rural Rhythm is doing a great service to our music with the new "Heritage Collection" Series. Traditional roots music is in good caring hands and it’s out there to be heard and enjoyed.”

Mountain Fever Records is proud to announce they have signed Dave Adkins & Republik Steele to the label. The band made the official announcement during their appearance on the WSM Radio Station Inn Sessions in Nashville, Tenn. A new single will be released this fall with the highly anticipated new album releasing early next year. The project will be co-produced by Aaron Ramsey of the band Mountain Heart and Mark Hodges of Mountain Fever Records.

“We are very excited about adding Dave and Republik Steele to our family. This band can deliver a great show, they work hard at what they do and you couldn’t find a better group of guys to work with. I think even the sky can’t limit what Dave and his band can accomplish,” said Hodges.

The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) recently announced Dave Adkins & Republik Steele were chosen as an Official IBMA Showcase Artist and will perform during the 2013 World of Bluegrass convention in Raleigh, NC next month. The band also appears on the second IBMA Awards ballot in the Emerging Artist of the Year category and Dave Adkins in the Male Vocalist of the Year category. The final ballot that determines the final award nominees will be announced next week during the organization‘s press conference in Nashville, Tenn.

Earlier this year, Dave Adkins & Republik Steele received a SPBGMA Nomination as Entertaining Group of the Year with Dave Adkins receiving a Nomination as Male Vocalist of the Year. Since that time, the band has been busy touring the country and gaining new fans as a result of their music and high energy performances.

For more information on Mountain Fever Records, please visit www.mountainfever.com.

Nashville, TN -- The long-awaited, highly-anticipated new album by iconic Nashville songwriter, Larry Cordle, is scheduled to be released on October 8th, 2013 on his own label, MightyCord Records. Already being touted as the pinnacle recording of his career, The Cord Files: All-Star Duets features 13 artists joining him on songs they put on their own previous albums (in all cases possible), but this time done with bluegrass or acoustic instrumentation. Duet partners include Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Alison Krauss, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Terry Clark, Del McCoury, Diamond Rio, Ricky Skaggs, Travis Tritt, Kathy Mattea, Daryle Singletary, and Kevin Denney.

While the process was started nearly ten years ago and the tracks were (with the exception of "Murder on Music Row") recorded at Mark Howard's Signal Path Studios as artists' schedules would allow, practically all of the overdubs, vocals, editing and mixing were done at Slack Key Studio by Grammy-winning producer/engineer, Randy Kohrs, who, in addition to his skills behind the board, also contributed some resonator guitar work and background vocals to the project. Other notable musicians and harmony vocalists include Alison Krauss & Union Station members Jerry Douglas and Ron Block, and renowned songwriter/musician Carl Jackson, just to name a few.

"I feel like I must have done something right in life that I could call on these larger than life, great artists and wonderful people to help me out with a dream," Cordle humbly states. "It is simply unbelievable to me that it is this close to becoming reality. I will never be able to repay these folks for doing this for me."

With his band, Lonesome Standard Time, Cordle has been awarded a song of the year by the International Bluegrass Music Association on two separate occasions, garnered two Grammy nods for best bluegrass album, received nominations for vocal group and instrumental group, and landed #1 slots on the Bluegrass and Americana charts.

Rather than agonize over choosing a single, a near-impossible feat given the talent joining Cordle on the project, the entire album will be released to radio via Airplay Direct prior to the official drop date. “Lonesome Dove” (Yearwood), “Two Highways” (Krauss), "You Can't Take It With You When You Go" (Bentley), “Murder on Music Row” (Singletary and Denney - one of the aforementioned exceptions), and “Against the Grain” (Brooks), are just a few of the songs fans can look forward to hearing.

For more information on Larry Cordle, please visit www.larrycordle.com.

Nashville, TN -- World of Bluegrass week is the annual homecoming for the bluegrass music community, taking place September 24-28, 2013 in Raleigh, North Carolina. World of Bluegrass features three separate events: the Business Conference (Sept. 24-26) that focuses on development and networking for bluegrass professionals, the International Bluegrass Music Awards (Sept. 26) and the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival (Sept. 27-28), which will host the best in bluegrass music as well as multiple workshops, jam sessions and activities (ticketed events), and will also feature a massive street festival that is FREE and open to the public, with three music stages, a youth talent stage, the North Carolina Whole Hog Barbecue State Championship, Dance Tent, and many more things to see, do, and eat.

IBMA – the International Bluegrass Music Association – is the professional trade organization for the global bluegrass music community. The organization’s three-year stay in Raleigh is the result of a partnership with The Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau, PineCone—The Piedmont Council of Traditional Music, the City of Raleigh and a local organizing committee.

Events during World of Bluegrass will take place at the Raleigh Convention Center, the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, the Red Hat Amphitheater and at various venues in town.

Recent Highlights:

• PNC Bank as the new presenting sponsor for the entire Wide Open Bluegrass Festival
• Street Festival Announced in Conjunction with paid Main Stages—North Carolina Whole Hog Barbecue State Championship, youth festivities, and look out for many more details on the Street Festival line-up for stages, 40 additional artists!
• The new multi-venue “Bluegrass Ramble” evening showcase series, and
• North Carolina’s own Grammy Award-winning Steep Canyon Rangers as hosts for the 24th International Bluegrass Music Awards.

Events during World of Bluegrass will take place at the Greater Raleigh Convention Center, the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, the Red Hat Amphitheater and at various venues in town. PNC’s Quinn-Wolf was at the press conference to talk about the company’s involvement in the Wide Open Bluegrass festival. Earlier, Paula Fryland, PNC regional president for Eastern Carolinas, also expressed her support: "PNC understands that a vibrant arts community is a significant driver of our economic success, providing employment, creating educational opportunities for our children, boosting tourism and making the region attractive for businesses, residents and visitors. As presenting sponsor, we look forward to the positive opportunities World of Bluegrass will bring to our region."

IBMA’s World of Bluegrass 2013 event consists of three main parts: the Business Conference, which runs Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 24-26, the 24th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for Thursday evening, Sept. 26, and the music festival – newly re-named Wide Open Bluegrass – which takes place Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27-28.

The Wide Open Bluegrass music festival can be experienced in two ways: both as ticketed shows, which will take place at The Red Hat Amphitheater and Raleigh Convention Center stages, and through the free Street Festival Stages. PNC, new in the Raleigh neighborhood this year, will be the presenting sponsor for both the ticketed portion of Wide Open Bluegrass and the free Street Festival.

The ticketed portion of the two-day Wide Open Bluegrass festival will feature performances from a Who’s Who list of bands from the wide world of bluegrass. In addition to previously announced performers Steve Martin and Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickell, Punch Brothers and a highly anticipated, special collaboration between bluegrass giants Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Béla Fleck, Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, Tony Rice and Mark Schatz, the following bands have been confirmed so far: The Gibson Brothers; The Seldom Scene; Dailey & Vincent featuring Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune; a collaboration between musicians Alan Bartram, Jason Carter, Bela Fleck, Ronnie McCoury, and Danny Paisley; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver; Balsam Range with The Boxcars; The Infamous Stringdusters; Dale Ann Bradley; The Claire Lynch Band; Blue Highway; Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper; Della Mae; The Krüger Brothers with the Kontras Quartet performing Appalachian Concerto; Druha Trava; Darin & Brooke Aldridge; The SteelDrivers; Rob Ickes & Jim Hurst; Audie Blaylock & Redline; Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen; Marty Raybon & Full Circle; Nu-Blu; Kickin' Grass Band; The Grass Cats; The Spinney Brothers; Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road; Greensky Bluegrass; and Detour.

The free Street Festival will include 50+ bands, three music stages, a dance tent, vendors, concessions, youth performances and activities - including programming set up by IBMA’s Youth Council, an Exhibit Hall and a Masters Workshop Stage in the Raleigh Convention Center. The full list of performers for the free Street Festival will be announced in the coming weeks.

“At Wide Open Bluegrass festival this year we’ll have the opportunity to hear a wide variety of bluegrass music, from traditional-edged performers to edgy bands that draw from old-time, progressive, classical music, jamgrass and international influences,” said IBMA’s Cardwell. “And I predict the set featuring Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck and Mark Schatz together will be the most photographed hour of music in the bluegrass world this year.”

Adding to the excitement of the free Street Festival is the North Carolina Whole Hog Barbecue State Championship—a weekend of bluegrass-flavored fun for the whole family. The Pork Council will make a contribution of up to $10,000 in barbecue sales income to IBMA.

The annual cooking championship is the culmination of the state qualifying series that includes 15 to 20 local barbecue competitions conducted as part of community events in Tar Heel cities and towns from April into September. At the Raleigh final event, as is the case in all the events throughout the season, the cooked barbecue is collected after judging, chopped and sold in plates to the general public.

Hammertowne is proud to announce that effective immediately, they proudly endorse and play using GHS strings. GHS strings, have been the choice of world class musicians everywhere for many years, and Hammertowne is certainly proud and excited to be a part of the GHS family of artists. Hammertowne is a five man group that originates in the “cradle of bluegrass music” of the Eastern Kentucky foothills. Bluegrass artists are demanding on their sound and their music performed on acoustic stringed instruments. The strings are certainly a significant element in achieving the artist's desired sound.

While relatively new as a unit, this is a well-seasoned and talented group of performers who can lay claim to performing with some of the finest talent in bluegrass music throughout their careers. Band members include Scott Tackett on guitar/vocals, Brent Pack on banjo, Chaston Carroll on mandolin/vocals, Doug Burchett on bass/vocals and Dave Carroll on guitar/vocals. Carroll is widely admired for his songwriting prowess within the group and with others. He has new cuts on albums by Grasstowne (Featuring Ronnie Bowman), Junior Sisk and the Ramblers, Russell Moore& IIIrd Tyme Out and more.

From its inception, the group’s identity has been defined by a hard-driving style of bluegrass that combines unique instrumentation with a distinctive knack for weaving vocal harmonies. Hammertowne creates their hard driving sound with one foot in the traditional arena to honor those who paved the way before them, and the other in the progressive arena as reflected in their many original songs they write and perform.

One of bluegrass music’s most prolific songwriters, Larry Cordle says, “Upon hearing Hammertowne for the first time I thought holy cow! These guys ain’t kiddin’ around….Sometimes a combination comes together and something magical happens when they render together…that is what is happening here. The sky’s the limit for these boys…It’s fresh and new… but fits like your favorite old shoes. These boys can hammer down.”

In most cases, much forethought, planning, and sometimes recruiting, goes into forming a musical unit, but not in the case of Hammertowne. This group of musicians gathered in a studio as session players on a solo effort, and something special transpired. After the stop button had been hit on the first take of the first song, several seconds of complete silence filled the room, until finally from the control room came…”WOW!” The energy and musical compatibility was so strong, that the musicians decided they wanted to continue. Thus, Hammertowne was born. With this group of musicians, it is simply about the music, and having more fun on stage than should be legal. Their love of playing and entertaining emanates from the stage as well as studio.

GHS Strings is the first choice for many of the world's most renowned professionals and our collaboration with artists to create our Signature Series has been copied, but not duplicated, by lesser brands. Whatever your musical tastes, from bright crunching rock to mellow bluesy sounds, GHS has the right strings for you.

GHS produces a full line of strings for fretted instruments: electric, acoustic and classical guitar; electric bass; banjo; mandolin; pedal and steel guitar and more. All GHS products are manufactured with one objective - to provide players with products that continually exceed their expectations.s desired sound.

Thomson, IL -- The Heirloom Market & Café recently announced part of the lineup of bands they will be featuring at this year’s Melon Days Fall Festival held September 21st. On KCLN radio out of Clinton, IA, company spokesman Bob Whitten made the announcement that the Heirloom Market & Café will be hosting four sensational bluegrass bands with the hopes of inking a contract with a fifth bluegrass band out of Chicago.

This will be the third straight year that Heirloom Market & Café has played host to the small town festival that is rich in tradition, the Thomson Melon Days Fall Festival. In the past three years, the festival has continued to grow at a remarkable rate and it seems as though Bill Heid, owner of Heirloom Market & Café, has made it a point each year to bring something new and exciting to the festival.

The major addition to the festival this year is a bluegrass music concert made up of four bluegrass bands with a fifth band in the works. The music lineup for the festival will include Dirt Simple, The Matriarchs, Johnny Outlaw, and The HillBenders. The HillBenders are the headliner act and they will be making the five hundred mile trip north from Springfield, MI. This is an elite bluegrass band that has been making waves in the bluegrass music community and recently signed with with one of America's top acoustic talent agencies, KCA Artists.

Also among the bands is Dirt Simple who is currently just wrapping up a tour in Colorado. The core of Dirt Simple is made up of two extremely talented artists, Kendra Beth on the banjo, fiddle, and vocals and Marques Morel on the guitar, harmonica, percussion, and vocals. This dynamic duo has become a local sensation with their traditional bluegrass tones and their casual on stage banter especially in their hit song, “Huck Finn.”

The Matriarchs recently broke out of Galena, IL and have become a local bluegrass favorite. This all female bluegrass band has been traveling around the area from show to show and they have been a big hit at local festivals including Fulton's 1st Annual Bluegrass/Folk Music Festival.

The Clinton, Iowa born band, Johnny Outlaw is a three piece hybrid of bluegrass and rock & roll. These guys recently made some major changes to their musical style and transitioned from what they called a “Hickabilly” style to a more bluegrass style and they have made the tough transition look seamless.

The Melon Days Fall Festival will take place on September 21, 2013. The times for each band will be released shortly. For the most up to date details, go to http://www.TheHeirloomMarket.com.

Nashville, TN -- Award-winning family group The Isaacs will release an all-new CD recording, The Living Years, on August 13th. Produced by Ben Isaacs (Oak Ridge Boys, Gaither Vocal Band) and Bill Gaither, the new release, recorded acoustically, captures the intricate family harmonies that have made this group a household name among Gospel music lovers and showcases the type of arrangements and musicality that have made them known for their “pedal-steel blend.”

“This release is really about the vocals and represents what we are doing the most LIVE in concert these days,” describes Ben, “whether at a bluegrass festival, a gospel concert or a church, we are emphasizing our harmonies and using less instruments on stage. You still get the stand-up bass, mandolin, banjo, guitar and percussion and the bluegrass numbers; but our overall approach in a LIVE setting is one that focuses on our harmony, which is where it all started for us.”

Those seamless harmonies are featured on the recording’s opener—a cover of “The Living Years,” a pop hit from the 80s originally recorded by Mike + the Mechanics. “Bill [Gaither] suggested this song to us, and we are so glad he did,” recalls Ben. “What a great song. Our version is a bit looser and acoustic in style which I think brings the lyrics more front and center.” Lyrics remain “front and center” on the group’s covers of the Gospel classics “For Those Tears I Died,” “I Am a Child of God” and “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” and on their impeccable, acapella rendition of “I Must Tell Jesus.” “Walk Together Children” is another acapella selection that features a signature “boom boom” bass part by Bill Gaither. “This song sounds like a song from the 30s or 40s,” Ben explains. “This is one of those kinds of songs that Bill really loves. It has a barber shop feel.” “Bill is brilliant with harmony,” adds Lily, “the three parts come more naturally for us, but Bill is a master and a perfectionist with that fourth part—with those arrangements with chords that ‘rub’ together more unexpectedly.”

Not so unexpectedly, the group chose to record a Dottie Rambo-penned classic. “Becky brought ‘If That Isn’t Love’ to the bus one day before a show,” Ben recalls. “We went over it and Bill said, ‘We’re gonna sing this tonight!’ He often plays piano in concert with us for this song when we are with him. He is the ‘king of feel’ on the piano.” Bill, Gloria and Buddy Greene wrote a new song for the release entitled “Leave It All on the Altar.” “You know it’s like a house. You make it look real modern, and that is going to date it eventually,” describes Ben. “You build a classic home and you won’t know when it was built. Bill is like that with songs, and this is an example of a new song that sounds timeless. This cut is more swamp-y…blues-y. It’s the most fun I had playing in the studio during the recording.”

Another “fun” tune featured on The Living Years is the classic “Ac-Cent-Tchu-ate the Positive.” “Becky brought this to the table,” recalls Lily. “She heard Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters’ version from the 40s, and we really learned it from the YouTube clip! This tune is familiar to a lot of people, and we love to watch audiences warmly singing along.”

Crowds can also join in on the group’s rendition of “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days),” originally recorded by The Judds. Recorded at Ricky Skaggs’ studio, Sonya used one of Ricky’s octave mandolins on this recording, and she eventually purchased it from him and now performs the song with it in concert. “This song takes me to my dad’s parents’ home in Kentucky,” says Ben with a smile. “They were the epitome of what this song is about--being together, plowing fields, taking care of their cabin with 17 kids and no running water—this lyric takes me to that spot; and it features my favorite line on the entire album: “Did daddys really never go away?”

The newly written “I Wanna Be There” was an idea from Sonya and Becky that they brought to life with Sonya’s husband, Jimmy Yeary. An emotional tearjerker getting early rave reviews, the song features Gordon Mote on the piano which marks the only time piano is used on The Living Years.

Also releasing on Tuesday is Up Close and Personal, an all-new DVD from The Isaacs that contains an intimate time of conversation and performances around the piano with Bill, numerous appearances from various Homecoming stages ranging from Alaska to Jerusalem and a moving tribute to Lily’s mother.

The Living Years CD and DVD will be exclusively distributed by Capitol Christian Distribution and made available throughout general market stores and the Christian marketplace in addition to online retailers including iTunes and Amazon.
The release will be featured on tv networks including RFD, PBS, DISH TV, DIRECTV, AT&T U-verse, TBN, Family Net, FFE, RURAL TV, TNN, Airtime, CTN, The Walk TV (formerly Legacy), TCT and TLN and also in Canada on Vision TV, CTS, Grace TV and the Miracle Channel. In addition, the DVD will be featured on Gaither TV (available on Roku, Google and the Internet).

For further information regarding The Isaacs, You can follow them at Facebook and on Twitter.
Not so unexpectedly, the group chose to record a Dottie Rambo-penned classic. “Becky brought ‘If That Isn’t Love’ to the bus one day before a show,” Ben recalls. “We went over it and Bill said, ‘We’re gonna sing this tonight!’ He often plays piano in concert with us for this song when we are with him. He is the ‘king of feel’ on the piano.” Bill, Gloria and Buddy Greene wrote a new song for the release entitled “Leave It All on the Altar.” “You know it’s like a house. You make it look real modern, and that is going to date it eventually,” describes Ben. “You build a classic home and you won’t know when it was built. Bill is like that with songs, and this is an example of a new song that sounds timeless. This cut is more swamp-y…blues-y. It’s the most fun I had playing in the studio during the recording.”