Agents & Managers:
Friends are welcome to send a get well card to Lance Leroy, of The Lancer Agency, who is recovering from a fall: Box 160, Hendersonville, TN 37077.
Artists & Composers:
Congratulations to Nu-Blu, named “Country Band of the Year” at the 3rd Annual Carolina Music Awards Show July 18. The band features Daniel & Carolyn Routh, Kendall Gales and Levi Austin, and their new album is called Nights. Info: www.nu-blu.com
Donna Hughes is giving away a free, autographed photo with every pre-ordered copy of her new album, Hellos, Goodbyes & Butterflies. Info: www.donnahughes.com
Barry Bales is hosting a “Have Bass Will Travel” video contest for fans in promotion of his new AcuTab educational DVD, A Solid Foundation to Acoustic Bass. Entrants are asked to create a (preferably humorous) video about how they get around with their acoustic basses. Six finalists will receive D’Addario HH610 strings, an autographed DVD from Barry, and will also have their videos posted on TheBluegrassBlog.com. The grand prize winner will receive a custom Colorado Case soft bass bad and Bass Strummit registration and accommodations. Click here for more info: http://www.thebluegrassblog.com/have-bass-will-travel/
Congratulations to Dierks Bentley, who has the #1 album on Billboard’s Top Bluegrass Albums chart, for the sixth week, with Up on the Ridge (Capitol Nashville). Also on the chart the month of July: Carolina Chocolate Drops, Chatham County Line, Cherryholmes, Dailey & Vincent, The Grascals, The Isaacs, Steve Martin, Michael Martin Murphey, Tim O’Brien, Punch Brothers, JuniorSisk & Ramblers Choice, The Steep Canyon Rangers, Trampled by Turtles and The Wailin’ Jennys.
The Grass Cats top Bluegrass Unlimited’s National Bluegrass Survey with the song, “A Good Way to Get the Blues,” from their album by the same name on the New Time label. The Grascals have the top album on the radio airplay chart, with The Famous Lefty Flynn’s, on Rounder Records.
Two-time IBMA Entertainers of the Year, Dailey & Vincent, will host an inaugural homecoming charity concert to raise money for the newly formed Dailey & Vincent Fund. The event will be held Saturday, Oct. 2 at 5 p.m. at the Jackson County high School football field in Gainesboro, Tenn. According to their press release, The Dailey & Vincent Fund “will provide financial assistance to disadvantaged children of Jackson and DeKalb counties to meet immediate medical, nutritional and educational needs not covered by insurance or other means, while acknowledging the God-given gifts, potential and dignity of each child.” Info: www.daileyvincent.com
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen have become a favorite on the house concert circuit, where gourmet cook Solivan and company serve up a full course, pre-show dinner along with the evening’s musical entertainment. Info: www.franksolivananddirtykitchen.com
Congratulations to Nora Jane Struthers & the Bootleggers, who took 1st place at the 2010 Telluride Band Competition. The self-titled debut album from the former Brooklyn, New York English literature teacher came out June 22.
Emily Martin is the 2010 grand champion of the Berks County Fiddle Festival, held in Bern Township, near Reading, Pennsylvania.
Hot Rize, featuring Pete Wernick, Tim O’Brien, Nick Forster and Bryan Sutton, is headed to Denmark in August for the Tonder Festival. Their fall tour will include dates in Seattle; Portland; Boulder; New York; Alexandria, Va.; Wheeling, W.Va. and more. Word on the streets is that Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers will be around for these shows, also. Pete & Joan Wernick just headlined at the Bluegrass Jamboree, the first Russian/American bluegrass festival, July 20-21, in Vologda, Russia with secondary events in St. Petersburg.
The Punch Brothers were profiled in a July 5 concert review published in The New York Times, written by Ben Ratliff. Their new album is called Antifogmatic, on the Nonesuch label. Info: www.punchbrothers.com
The Grascals kept their cool in 100 degree plus heat during an all-day video shoot for their current bluegrass and country radio single, “Last Train to Clarksville.” Directed by Marcel Chagnon, the piece was filmed at several locations including Nashville’s Cummins Station/ The Gulch, Lower Broadway and at Franklin, Tennessee’s Riverstone Farm. Marcel’s choice of the 12 frames per second shooting technique gives the clip an intentional, stop-motion feel reminiscent of 1960s-‘70s home movies. The new video premiered on Aol Music/ “The Boot” July 19, and is still posted online at www.theboot.com. The band has a new monthly fan newsletter written by band members. Two-time Banjo Player of the Year, Kristin Scott Benson wrote the first one. Info: www.grascals.com
Sugar Hill recording artist, Sarah Jarosz made her Grand Ole Opry debut in June, and she opened up for Earl Scruggs & Friends July 22 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Phil Leadbetter, the 2005 IBMA Dobro Player of the Year, has joined The Whites.
Congratulations to bandleader, mandolin and banjo player Dick Kimmel, who will be inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame on November 5, 2010.
Congratulations to Kelly and Casey Freeland on the June 12 birth of their son, Wynn Daniel Freeland. Casey plays bass with the Missouri-based band, Midnight Flight, and she manages the Casey Freeland Agency.