musicreporterblog

Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


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The Rives Theatre offers two holiday shows you won’t want to miss

If you missed Mountain Heart’s Josh Shilling and Left Hip Pocket perform their Allman Brothers Tribute set at Rooster Walk 7, you won’t want to miss the Day After Christmas Party at The Rives Theatre in uptown Martinsville, Virginia. Continue reading →


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Will Overman Band kicks off album campaign, video release on Wednesday, Dec. 23

If you’re in the Norfolk, Virginia, area and you’re looking something to do the eve of Christmas Eve, give yourself the gift of music and head over to hear the Will Overman Band and Nate Sacks and LifeHack perform at Work Release, 759 Granby St. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the music starting at 8. Tickets for the all-ages show are $10 presale and $12 at the door. Find more info and tickets here: https://willovermankickstart.splashthat.com Continue reading →


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NASCAR, Wrestling and The Avett Brothers

The following was originally posted on my Huffington Post blog here.

Dolph Ramseur isn’t the most likely person to manage The Avett Brothers.

Ramseur had no musical background — other than being an appreciative listener — when he started Ramseur Records in Concord, North Carolina. In fact, until July 2000 his instrument of choice was a tennis racquet.

“I taught tennis at country clubs including Forsyth Country Club, and I was the tennis director for Hanes Park in Winston-Salem from 1993-95,” he said. “But I was always fascinated by music. I don’t play, I’m just a really big fan.”

So how does a country club tennis pro learn to promote musicians? Ramseur says he had some of the best teachers in his backyard, namely NASCAR, the National Wrestling Alliance and Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and WBTV.

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Chris Lane, Dustin Lynch to appear Sunday at the Cone Denim Entertainment Center

Country fans, listen up: If you like Chris Lane‘s breakout hit “Broken Windshield View,” you can catch him opening for Dustin Lynch on his “Hell of a Night Tour” at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Cone Denim Entertainment Center, 117 S. Elm St., Greensboro. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tyler Rich is also scheduled to perform.
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FloydFest announces additional acts for 2016

This just arrived in my inbox from the folks at FloydFest:

“We promised a month of book-ended artist announcements, and we are here to deliver on the dream, welcoming favorites old and new, and weaving some world textures into the pattern — announcing, for FloydFest 16:

Leftover Salmon, Keller Williams with More Than a Little+, Femi Kuti & Positive Force, Greensky Bluegrass, Bombino, Love Canon String Band, Liz Vice, Los Colognes, Seth Stainback & Roosterfoot, Mingo Fishtrap, Polyrhythmics, Caravan of Thieves, Dead Winter Carpenters, TigermanWOAH!, These Wild Plains, Dirty Bangs, Cask Mouse, and Cactus Attack!

Plus: Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, Nahko and Medicine for the People, Railroad Earth, Shakey Graves, The Wood Brothers, Elephant Revival, Anders Osborne, Pimps of Joytime, Rich Robinson, Monophonics, Otis Taylor Band, The Larry Keel Experience, Con Brio, The Legendary Shack Shakers, Head for the Hills, Honey Island Swamp Band, The Congress, Banditos and Dustbowl Revival.

And there is more to come — all you midnight riders are going to love the pending Dec. 10 announcement! ”

Want to learn more? Visit www.floydfest.com


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Tickets still available for Donna the Buffalo with Peter Rowan at The Rives Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 21

Donna the Buffalo with Peter Rowan are coming to The Rives Theatre in uptown Martinsville, Virginia, on Saturday, Nov. 21, in what is being billed as possibly the venue’s biggest show since it was re-opened five years ago. Continue reading →


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John Prine, The Wood Brothers among initial MerleFest 2016 lineup

MerleFest fans, the wait is over! According to the following announcement from MerleFest, fans can look forward to hearing headliners John Prine, Dave Rawlings Machine and The Wood Brothers as well as MerleFest favorites Steep Canyon Rangers, Jerry Douglas, Scythian, Donna the Buffalo, The Kruger Brothers and some new acts including the Will Overman Band at MerleFest 2016 on April 28- May 1, 2016. Continue reading →