MerleFest Lineup Announced; Early-bird Ticket Prices in Effect
Most of the lineup for MerleFest is now set, and early-bird ticket prices for one of America’s most popular roots-oriented music festivals are available through April 6.
Celebrating the music of the late instrumental virtuoso Merle Watson and his father Doc Watson, the “traditional-plus” music festival features sounds of the Appalachian region and beyond -- ranging from bluegrass and Americana to old-time, country and roots music. It takes place April 29 – May 2 on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
[To view the entire article, click on the headline.]
Congress Honors the Legacy of Lester Flatt
Bluegrass pioneer Lester Flatt, who died in 1979, is best known for having been a lead singer and guitarist with Bill Monroe back in the 1940s and for the two decades he spent with banjoist and fellow Bluegrass Boys alum Earl Scruggs as Flatt and Scruggs – a partnership that produced such bluegrass classics as “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.” The U.S. House of Representatives, on Jan. 26, agreed to a sense resolution recognizing Flatt’s invaluable contribution to American art and the indelible legacy he left on bluegrass music.
[To see the full text of the resolution, click on the headline.]
Joe Val Bluegrass Festival Near Boston Set for Feb. 12-14
The Boston Bluegrass Union hosts the 25th annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, February 12-14, at the Sheraton Framingham in Framingham, Massachusetts. The indoor festival, located 18 miles west of Boston, will feature regional and nationally touring bands, more than 40 master classes and workshops (for which pre-registration is required), directed slow jams and plenty of picking opportunities throughout the weekend.
[To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
Nominees Named for 36th Annual SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards
Dailey & Vincent and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage both scored eight nominations in the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America (SPBGMA) 36th Annual Bluegrass Music Awards. Winners will be announced during an awards show on February 7, 2010 at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. The awards show is a centerpiece of the organization’s annual national convention.
[To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
Initial Artist Lineup Announced for DelFest
The third annual DelFest at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland does not take place until next Memorial Day Weekend. But bluegrass patriarch and nine-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Entertainer of the Year Del McCoury joined IBMA Broadcaster of the Year Katy Daley yesterday on WAMU’s “Bluegrass Country” to announce the initial lineup for the event and take calls from fans.
[To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
MerleFest 2010 Artists to be Announced on Oct. 22
MerleFest, one of America’s most popular roots-oriented music festivals, will announce its artist lineup for 2010 during a one-hour radio special on North Carolina public radio station WNCW (streaming online at www.wncw.org) on Thursday, October 22, at 8 p.m. EDT.
[To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
2009 International Bluegrass Music Awards Bestowed
Dailey & Vincent retained the title of Entertainers of the Year when the 20th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards were presented on Thursday, October 1, at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The duo also was named Vocal Group of the Year.
[To read the entire article and learn who all the winners are, click on the headline.]
International Bluegrass Music Awards Nominees Named for 2009
Dan Tyminski Band, Dailey & Vincent, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, The Grascals and Steve Martin lead the list of nominees for the 20th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards that takes place on Thursday, October 1, at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
The awards show is the centerpiece of the International Bluegrass Music Association’ (IBMA)’s “World of Bluegrass,” September 28 to Oct. 4, that also features a business conference and fan fest. Hosting the awards show will be Grammy Award-winning country artist Kathy Mattea and bluegrass band Hot Rize (the first recipients of the IBMA Entertainer of the Year Award in 1990). It will be broadcast live on Sirius XM Radio’s “Bluegrass Junction” channel 14 and...
Mike Seeger, 1933-2009
Mike Seeger, who, as a solo performer, collector of songs, and member of the New Lost City Ramblers, helped to revive and widen interest in southern traditional music, died at his Lexington, Virginia home on August 7, just a week shy of his 76th birthday.
[To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
Registration Opens for Americana Music Association and IBMA ‘World of Bluegrass’ Conferences in Nashville This Fall
Two major music industry business conferences of note to the acoustic music community are slated for the fall in Nashville, Tennessee. The Americana Music Association’s 10th Annual Americana Music Festival & Conference returns to the “Music City,” September 16-19, while the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s World of Bluegrass is set for September 28-October 4. Early-bird registration opened this month for both events.
[To read the entire article, click on the headline.]
Bluegrass Festivals Set for Early Summer in New England
With summer approaching, the festival season will soon be in full swing in the Northeast. There will be plenty of banjos, fiddles and high-lonesome harmonies in New England. Among the bluegrass festivals taking place in the region early in the summer are the Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival (May 28-31) and both the Blistered Fingers Family Bluegrass Festival and the Jenny Brook Family Bluegrass Festival (June 18-21).
[To read the entire article, including artist lineups for the festivals, click on the headline.]
Like/Follow Us!