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Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


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Alabama and Charlie Daniels Band reschedule Oct. 7 Koka Booth Amphitheatre show for Sunday, Oct. 23

From the Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, North Carolina, Facebook page:

Due to the circumstances caused or created by Hurricane Matthew the Alabama and the Charlie Daniels Band Event on Oct. 7 at will be rescheduled for Sunday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. Please note the new date and time. After careful consideration we feel that it’s the best interest of safety to reschedule the date. All tickets for the Oct. 7 date will be honored on the Oct. 23 event.

Learn more here: http://boothamphitheatre.com/


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On Huffington Post: Five things you don’t know about Americana music icon Jim Lauderdale

The following story was also posted on The Huffington Post blog here.

Jim Lauderdale broke out in 2016. An overnight success? Hardly. It’s taken nearly three  decades and about as many albums to receive the recognition that the Americana icon cleary deserves. Continue reading


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13th Annual Fall Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance set for Oct. 6-9, 2016

The 13th annual Fall Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance will feature more  than 50 bands and performers on two big outdoor stages, a large dance tent and a more intimate Cabaret Tent on Oct. 6-9 in Pittsboro, North Carolina.

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Nitty Gritty Dirt Band celebrates 50 years with new album release on Sept. 30, first-ever IBMA performance

I have always found it a bit ironic that one of the most iconic American bands that plays bluegrass has its roots, not in the verdant hills of Appalachia, but in the shifting sands of sunny Southern California.

Note that I said “band that plays bluegrass” rather than “bluegrass band.” Because that’s what Nitty Gritty Dirt Band leader and co-founder Jeff Hanna calls them.

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Jim Lauderdale releases ‘This Changes Everything’ with performances at IBMA, Muddy Creek Music Hall

Jim Lauderdale, a longtime ambassador of the Americana genre, has released his 28th album, “This Changes Everything,” which was largely recorded during a single day in Austin while on a break from his summertime tour. Lauderdale is supporting the new album release with appearances on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) World of Bluegrass annual event in Raleigh, North Carolina, and on Sunday, Oct. 2, at Muddy Creek Music Hall just outside Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Continue reading


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Annabelle’s Curse, Will Overman Band heading to Charlotte’s The Evening Muse on Saturday, Oct. 22

Two of Virginia’s hottest up-and-coming alt folk rock bands — Annabelle’s Curse and Will Overman Band — will light up the stage at Charlotte’s The Evening Muse  in NODA on Saturday, Oct. 22. Tickets for the late-night show that begins at 10:30 (Doors open at 10) are only $5. Trust me when I say you need to catch these bands at this price while you still can because you won’t be disappointed.

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World of Bluegrass/IBMA Awards/Wide Open Bluegrass return Sept. 27-Oct. 1 to Raleigh, North Carolina

This year’s World of Bluegrass/IBMA Awards/Wide Open Bluegrass events return to Raleigh, North Carolina, on Sept. 27 – Oct. 1.  Following is the Business Conference schedule, the Red Hat concert schedule and the Bluegrass Ramble schedule. The IBMA Awards are set for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Duke Energy Center and will be hosted by Dan Tyminski and Sierra Hull.

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BJ Barham, frontman for American Aquarium, to debut solo album, ‘Rockingham,’ at free show at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, in his hometown of Reidsville, North Carolina

BJ Barham is returning to his hometown of Reidsville, North Carolina, to debut his solo album, “Rockingham,” at a free show at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, in Market Square, downtown at the corner of Settle and Scales streets. A sampling of his new album on YouTube reveals that this one show you don’t want to miss.

Rockingham County natives can spot familiar sites in this video as well as relate to what can only be assumed are also familiar sentiments:

“Won’t you take me back to where I am from, where the air’s as thick as tobacco gum, where I was born, where I was raised, on broken promises and glory days.

“It’s the town where I became a man, it’s the place that made me who I am, right there on the river Dan … Rockingham.”

The frontman for the band, American Aquarium, released the album on Aug. 19. No Depression writes, “Teeming with the dark realism of lost hope, small towns and shattered dreams, Rockingham’s authentic stories are absolutely felt by the listener (whether or not you are a farmer, parent or elder), cementing Barham’s place as a songwriter with an ability to capture depth and emotion that is on par with few others.”

Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs but not pets or coolers.

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Rhonda Vincent and the Rage headlining Rex Fest on Saturday, Sept. 24, in Galax, Virginia

With the official kickoff of fall, it’s a busy music weekend. If you’re in the vicinity of Galax, Virginia, head to the all-day Rex Fest downtown featuring Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, and 16 bluegrass and oldtime bands from Southwest Virginia and North Carolina.

The festival times are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and tickets are  $25 advance, $30 day of event and available at the Galax Visitors Center.

For more info call 1-276-233-5470 or visit www.galaxrexfest.com

Rex Fest Band Schedule

10:00 – 10:30 – The Mastertones
10:35 – 11:05 – Zephyr Lightning Bolts
11:10 – 11:40 – Hard Tymes
11:45 – 12:15 – New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters
12:20 – 12:50 – Jeanette Williams Trio
1:00 – 1:30 – Changing Lanes
1:40 – 2:10 – Mountain Park Old Time Band
2:15 – 2:45 – Loose Strings
2:50 – 3:20 – Slate Mountain Ramblers
3:30 – 4:00 – Adam Mcpeak and Mountain Thunder
4:10 – 4:50 – Whitetop Mountain Band
5:00 – 5:40 – Rich in Tradition
5:50 – 6:30 – Dry Hill Draggers
6:40 – 7:20 – Carson Peters and Iron Mountain
7:30 – 8:15 – Larry Sigmon and Martha Spencer
8:15 – 8:30 – Clogging Group
8:30 – 10:00 – Rhonda Vincent and The Rage