Saturday, October 1, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Steve Martin, Doyle Lawson, Del McCoury Lead Bluegrass Award Winners
Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers took home the Entertainer of the Year award at the 22nd annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Thursday night, September 29 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Martin, who always included banjo picking in his early stand-up comedy routines, has become more serious about recording and performing bluegrass music during the past two years, with the release of two albums of original music.
Deserving special mention is this year's IBMA Print Media Person of the Year, my friend, Juli Thanki. Juli wrote alongside me at The 9513 and is now my editor at another incredible music publication called Engine 145. Her writing and wit are only surpassed by her wealth of passionate music knowledge. The IBMA could not have picked a more worthy candidate.
Martin appeared at the microphone to receive the bluegrass music industry’s highest music award, leapt a few times into the air, congratulated the other Entertainer of the Year nominees and jokingly thanked them for losing. He went on to thank producers John McEuen and Tony Trischka as well as his band mates, and then he talked about how hard they’ve been working on their music, as well as the humor and entertainment aspects of their show, while never denigrating the music. Martin said that while half of their audience usually comes to see him not knowing anything about bluegrass, “they all leave loving it, and maybe they seek out other musicians. We’re really, really honored to win this award tonight.”
Steep Canyon Rangers lead singer, Woody Platt quipped, “Working with Steve, we might be the most entertained of all. Most of all we thank Steve for giving us this most amazing ride.”
It was an exciting night for New York
State-based band, The Gibson Brothers, who took home awards for Vocal Group of
the Year and Album of the Year for Help My Brother, on Compass Records.
The Boxcars, a new combination of veteran musicians, were named Emerging Artists of the Year and Instrumental Group of the Year. Band member Ron Stewart tied for Banjo Player of the Year with The Grascals’ Kristin Scott Benson, who received the award for the fourth consecutive year.
The Boxcars, a new combination of veteran musicians, were named Emerging Artists of the Year and Instrumental Group of the Year. Band member Ron Stewart tied for Banjo Player of the Year with The Grascals’ Kristin Scott Benson, who received the award for the fourth consecutive year.
Balsam Range received top honors for Song of the Year for “Trains I Missed,” written by Walt Wilkins, Gilles Godard & Nicole Witt. “There are a lot of folks out there—myself included—who are thankful for some of those trains missed and how things turned out,” commented Tim Surrett of Balsam Range.
Legendary artists Doyle Lawson, J.D.
Crowe and Paul Williams took home two trophies for Recorded Event of the Year
and Gospel Recorded Performance, for “Prayer Bells from Heaven.” The three
announced their plans to record a second Old Friends album, much to the
delight of fans in attendance at the Awards Show.
Russell Moore of IIIrd Tyme Out and
Dale Ann Bradley took home awards for Male Vocalist and Female Vocalist of the
Year—the fourth time for each. Rob Ickes of Blue Highway was awarded his
13th Dobro Player of the Year award, the most trophies any individual
instrumentalist has received in the history of the IBMA Awards.
Michael Cleveland was named Fiddle
Player of the Year for the ninth time, and his band received the award for
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year for “Goin’ Up Dray Branch,” a song
written by Buddy Spicher and Jimmy Martin. Marshall Wilborn was named Bass
Player of the Year for the third time, Bryan Sutton received the Guitar Player
of the Year award for the sixth time, and Adam Steffey dedicated his eighth
Mandolin Player of the Year to his twin sons, who he expects to be born in the
next two weeks.
Hosted by legendary mandolin player
and band leader Sam Bush, the 2011 IBMA Awards Show were a celebration of the
100th anniversary of the birth of Bill Monroe, recognized as the
Father of Bluegrass.
A complete
list of nominees, this year’s Hall of Fame inductees and the recipients of the
Distinguished Achievement Award are listed below.
A complete list of nominees, this year’s Hall of Fame inductees and the recipients of the Distinguished Achievement Award are listed below.
Hall of Fame Inductees - Del McCoury, George Shuffler
Entertainer of the Year - Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers
Vocal Group of the Year - The Gibson Brothers
Instrumental Group of the Year - The Boxcars
Male Vocalist of the Year - Russell Moore
Female Vocalist of the Year - Dale Ann Bradley
Emerging Artist of the Year - The Boxcars
Album of the Year - Help My Brother by The Gibson Brothers (artists), Eric & Leigh Gibson and Mike Barber (producers), Compass (label)
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year - "Goin' Up Dry Branch," Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (artist), Buddy Spicher & Jimmy Martin (songwriters), Jeff White & Michael Cleveland (producers), Rounder (label)
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year - "Prayer Bells of Heaven" by J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson, & Paul Williams (artists), Ben Isaacs (producer), Mountain Home (label)
Song of the Year - "Trains I Missed;" Balsam Range (artists); Walt Wilkins, Gilles Godard & Nicole Witt (songwriters)
Recorded Event of the Year - "Prayer Bells of Heaven" by J.D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson & Paul Williams (artists); Ben Isaacs (producer); Mountain Home (label)
Banjo Player of the Year - Kristin Scott Benson and Ron Stewart (tie)
Guitar Player of the Year - Bryan Sutton
Fiddle Player of the Year - Michael Cleveland
Bass Player of the Year - Marshall Wilborn
Mandolin Player of the Year - Adam Steffey
Dobro Player of the Year - Rob Ickes
Distinguished Achievement Award Recipients - Greg Cahill, Bill Knowlton, Lilly Pavlak, Geoff Stelling, Roland White
Broadcaster of the Year - Katy Daley, WAMU Bluegrass Country
Print Media Person of the Year - Juli Thanki, Engine145.com
Bluegrass Event of the Year - Silver Dollar City's Bluegrass & BBQ Festival; Branson, Mo.
Best Graphic Design - Ricardo Alessio & Erica Harris (designer & artist), Abigail Washburn (artist), Rounder (label)
Best Liner Notes - Colin Escott (writer), A Mother's Prayer, Ralph Stanley (artist), Rebel (label)
Thursday, September 29, 2011
The Luke Bryan Tailgates & Tanlines Giveaway
HOW YOU CAN WIN:
Comment below with what your favorite Luke Bryan song is. That's it. We'll announce a winner late on Friday night of this week!
NUMBER OF WINNERS: 2
DRAWING: 9p PST 9/30
BONUS ENTRIES: Like us on Facebook here and get double the entries.
Good Luck!
NOTE: Contest is open to U.S. and Canada residents only.
For more on Luke Bryan check out the following:
Official Site: www.lukebryan.com
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/lukebryan
Twitter Page: http://twitter.com/LukeBryanOnline
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Country Music News Round-Up- Sonia Leigh, Ashton Shepherd & Cactus Brothers
- I did an interview with
singer/songwriter Sonia Leigh
over at Engine 145. If you’re not familiar with her yet, she’s a brand new
country artist on Zac Brown’s
Southern Ground music label whose voice is the second coming of Janis
Joplin. Check it out HERE.
- Paul
Kirby of the alt-country music
band The Cactus Brothers passed
away at the age of 48. The Cactus Brothers toured nationally and internationally, released
two well-received albums and appeared in the
- “Country” Johnny Mathis, a recording artist and songwriter whose compositions were recorded by notables including George Jones, George Hamilton IV, Ray Price and Charley Pride, died Tuesday on the eve of his 81st birthday of complications from pneumonia.
- To be bluegrass or not to be bluegrass, that is the question. Infamous
Stringduster Chris Pandolfi delivered yesterday’s keynote address
at IBMA World of Bluegrass. To him, bluegrass fans must agree to disagree
on the question of what constitutes bluegrass. David Morris of Bluegrass
Today shared details on the event.
- Ashton Shepherd has
a brand new music video for “Where Country Grows.”
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Rascal Flatts Are Newest Grand Ole Opry Member Invitees
The trio was surprised with the news Tuesday night during their performance on the Opry. Twenty-year Opry member Vince Gill made an unscheduled appearance, interrupting singer Gary LeVox, bassist Jay DeMarcus and guitarist Joe Don Rooney mid-performance.
The band seemed genuinely surprised and expressed heartfelt emotion with tears in their eyes. The crowd gave them a standing ovation. The trio joins a recent slate of longtime stars invited to join, including Blake Shelton and The Oak Ridge Boys.
Opry membership is one the highest honors for a country musician and comes with an unwritten commitment to the history of the genre and a requirement to perform at least 10 times a year.
Fellow musicians were quick to recognize the achievement. James Otto tweeted:
Below is video shot from back stage - Vince Gill announces that Rascal Flatts will be inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry on Oct. 8th!
Dolly Parton's Joyful Noise Movie Trailer
"Joyful Noise" starring Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah will hit theaters January 13, 2012- check out the new movie trailer.
Johnnie and Jack's Johnnie Wright Passes Away
Following Anglin's death in 1963, Wright continued performing and making records. In 1964, he and his Tennessee Mountain Boys had a Top 25 hit with "Walkin', Talkin', Cryin', Barely Beatin' Broken Heart." The following year, he had success with "Hello Vietnam," a number one hit. In 1968, he and Wells recorded an autobiographical duet, "We'll Stick Together," and continued playing live shows together through the early '80s, when they left music to run a souvenir shop.
Monday, September 26, 2011
People Magazine and Noise Trade Offer Lots Of Free Country Music Downloads
o Ronnie Dunn- “Cost of Livin'”
o Vince Gill- “Threaten Me With Heaven”
o Billy Currington- “Until You”
o Jake Owen- “Keepin' It Country”
o Terri Clark- “Breakin' Up Thing”
o Matraca Berg- “You and Tequila”
o JT Hodges- “Hunt You Down”
o Bradley Gaskin- “Mr. Bartender”
o Sonia Leigh- “My Name is Money”
There are also a couple of new free downloads available through NoiseTrade.com. Soulful Louisiana crooner Marc Broussard has a brand new digital album available called The Atlantic Recordings and new country upstarts Eden’s Edge have a couple of new songs available as well. Click HERE to download those recordings.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
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