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Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


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The Steel Wheels to present fifth annual Red Wing Roots Music Festival July 14-16

The Steel Wheels will present the fifth annual Red Wing Roots Music Festival on July 14-16, 2017 — three days, four stages and 40 bands at the beautiful Natural Chimneys Park and Campground in Mt. Solon, Virginia, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley.

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MerleFest adds Leftover Salmon, Tift Merritt, Jorma Kaukonen, Donna the Buffalo and John Driskell Hopkins Band

From the good folks at MerleFest:

WILKESBORO, North CarolinaMerleFest, presented by Window World and scheduled for April 27-30, 2017, is proud to announce five more artists added to the MerleFest 2017 lineup: Leftover Salmon, Tift Merritt, Jorma Kaukonen, Donna the Buffalo, and John Driskell Hopkins Band! These artists join a list of performers already announced including Zac Brown Band, The Avett Brothers, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives and many more. This year marks MerleFest’s 30th celebration. The annual homecoming of musicians and music fans returns to the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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Annabelle’s Curse releases new digital EP, ‘Here and Now’ on Feb. 17

Annabelle’s Curse will release its new digital EP, “Here and Now” on Feb. 17, 2017. In the meantime, here’s the group’s NPR Tiny Desk Contest submission to tide you over.
You can catch this talented Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia-based, alt-rock-folk band live everywhere from Roanoke to Philly over the next month. Learn more about them here.

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Jack the Radio celebrates 5th anniversary with video release, Trophy Brewing Co. Baltic Porter on Groundhog Day

Jack the Radio is teaming up with Raleigh’s Trophy Brewing Company for a “Pretty Money” video and beer release party to celebrate the fifth year-plus anniversary of Jack the Radio’s debut album of the same name.

The indie, roots rockers’ free event is set for 6 to 10 p.m. at Trophy on Maywood, 656 Maywood Ave., on Thursday, Feb. 2.

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Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival 2017 features impressive lineup including Blue Highway, Don Flemons

The organizers of the Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival held just west of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, each September has announced its 2017 lineup and it is impressive. Among the acts scheduled to perform are IBMA winners Blue Highway, Carolina Chocolate Drops co-founder Don Flemons and Asheville’s Fireside Collective. At $15 for a full day pass (children 12 and younger are free with a paying adult), you’re not going to find a better musical bargain.

If you want to catch a preview of one of these acts, Fireside Collective is playing at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Foothills Brewing in Winston-Salem. You can find details here.

From the good folks at the Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival:

MOCKSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA –Ticket sales for the sixth Annual Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival opened today as festival organizers announced a full roster of exciting artists. Continue reading


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Dead Horses set to arrive in North Carolina for three shows Jan. 27-29

After I premiered the Dead Horses single “Ain’t Got Time” off their album, “Cartoon Moon,” last summer on my Huffington Post blog, I couldn’t stop listening to the entire album. In fact, it’s still in my CD player. Yeah, yeah, I’m a dinosaur but I recognize talent when I hear it.

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MerleFest’s 2017 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest closes on Feb. 1

Just a reminder to all the songwriters out there, the deadline to enter MerleFest‘s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest is Feb. 1, 2017. This contest has helped launched the careers of Gillian Welch, Abigail Washburn and Mipso’s Joseph Terrell, who just happens to be a judge this year.

Aspiring songwriters may submit entries to the contest using the online entry form or by mailing entries to MerleFest/CASC, PO Box 120, Wilkesboro, NC 28697. Submissions require a $30 fee per entry. To read more about the contest history, rules and prizes, visit http://merlefest.org/casc#tab-1.
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MerleFest is going on the road again to offer sneak peek to 30th reunion

MerleFest is going on the road again. After last year’s premiere of the festival’s preview road show, organizers have decided to give it another go.

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