Award-winning guitar phenom Billy Strings is coming back to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival 2024 on Thursday night and he’s teaming up with Chris Thile of The Punch Brothers fame and his recent Nickel Creek performance at MerleFest for his opening set on the evening of Thursday, June 20. Also on Thursday, will be performances by other recent MerleFest acts Sierra Hull, The Langan Band, Charley Crockett and the ever-present Telluride House Band featuring Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas and company. For the full stellar lineup, visit the website.
From the good folks at Planet Bluegrass: “They’re going to do what only those two virtuosos can: blow our little brains with the deftness of their fingers on frets. You can’t miss it! The town allowed us a few additional tickets this year, so it’s still possible for you to make it for the fun. Grab your passes and camping while they’re still available.”
Don’t have the cash for a ticket? Planet Bluegrass is still looking for volunteers to join their cohort, so if you’re interested, please apply! You can find all the necessary info here. And if you really, truly can’t make it, don’t forget to tune into the KOTO live stream. Happy Listening!
If you are looking for predictions on the best Rap, Reggae or Jazz performances, you’ve come to the wrong place. But if you are interested in who I think will win versus who should win in categories including best Americana, Country and Bluegrass, you’re in the right place. My winner predictions are in bold while who should win has an asterisk in front of the nominee. Who do you think should win? I would love to hear your picks.
The toughest category in the list below for me was Best Bluegrass Album. While everyone in this category deserves a “W,” Billy Strings will continue to ride his current wave of popularity to earn this well-deserved Grammy despite the fact that I believe Molly Tuttle and her band put out a better album. Best Country Solo Performance category is another tough one with Dolly Parton going head to head with Luke Combs haunting version of “Fast Car,” but I think Brandy Clark should win this category. My money, if I was in Vegas, however, is on Chris Stapleton for obvious reasons. The same goes for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. While I think Dierks Bentley and Billy Strings “High Note” should win, I think Carly Pierce and Stapleton will edge out the crazy popular Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson.
Best Country Solo Performance
*Brandy Clark – Buried Chris Stapleton – White Horse Dolly Parton – The Last Thing on My Mind Luke Combs – Fast Car Tyler Childers – In Your Love
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
Brothers Osborne – Nobody’s Nobody Carly Pearce Featuring Chris Stapleton – We Don’t Fight Anymore *Dierks Bentley featuring Billy Strings – High Note Jelly Roll With Lainey Wilson – Save Me Vince Gill & Paul Franklin – Kissing Your Picture (Is So Cold) Zach Bryan Featuring Kacey Musgraves – I Remember Everything
Best Country Song
*Brandy Clark – Buried Chris Stapleton – White Horse Morgan Wallen – Last Night Tyler Childers – In Your Love Zach Bryan Featuring Kacey Musgraves – I Remember Everything
Best Country Album
Brothers Osborne – Brothers Osborne Kelsea Ballerini – Rolling Up the Welcome Mat *Lainey Wilson – Bell Bottom Country Tyler Childers – Rustin’ in the Rain Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan
Best American Roots Performance
Allison Russell – Eve Was Black Blind Boys of Alabama – Heaven Help Us All Jon Batiste – Butterfly Madison Cunningham – Inventing the Wheel *Rhiannon Giddens – You Louisiana Man
Best Americana Performance
Allison Russell – The Returner Blind Boys of Alabama – Friendship *Brandy Clark Featuring Brandi Carlile – Dear Insecurity Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – King of Oklahoma Tyler Childers – Help Me Make It Through the Night
Best American Roots Song
Allison Russell – The Returner *Billy Strings Featuring Willie Nelson – California Sober Brandy Clark Featuring Brandi Carlile – Dear Insecurity Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Cast Iron Skillet The War and Treaty – Blank Page
Best Americana Album
Allison Russell – The Returner Brandy Clark – Brandy Clark Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Weathervanes Rodney Crowell – The Chicago Sessions *Rhiannon Giddens – You’re the One
Best Bluegrass Album
Billy Strings – Me/And/Dad Michael Cleveland – Lovin’ of the Game Mighty Poplar – Mighty Poplar *Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway – City of Gold Sam Bush – Radio John: Songs of John Hartford Willie Nelson – Bluegrass
Best Folk Album
Dom Flemons – Traveling Wildfire Joni Mitchell – Joni Mitchell at Newport (Live) The Milk Carton Kids – I Only See the Moon Nickel Creek – Celebrants *Old Crow Medicine Show – Jubilee Paul Simon – Psalms Rufus Wainwright – Folkocracy
Harrisonburg, Virginia – The Red Wing Roots Music Festival is excited to announce a full lineup for the eighth edition of the Shenandoah Valley’s best music festival, held each July at Natural Chimneys Park in Mount Solon, Virginia. This year’s festival will take place from July 10–12, 2020.
In addition to festival hosts and local favorites, TheSteelWheels, festival headliners include TheMavericks, SarahJarosz, BillyStringsandAsleepAtTheWheel.
Alsoamongthe40–plus artistsscheduled to appearatRed Wing this summerareHissGoldenMessenger, SonLittle,TimO‘BrienBand, PeterRowan’sFreeMexicanAirforcew/Los Texmaniacsand DustbowlRevival. Visitthefulllineupatwww.redwingroots.com/2020–line–up/.
Sinceitbegan in 2013,Red Wing has emphasized greatmusic,great food and great fun for the entire family in the greatoutdoors.This year,the festivalwillonce again feature musical performances on fivestages,alongwiththeregion’sfinest foodtruckswithoptions for craft beer,cider,and wine. Outdooractivities include akids’climbing wall and play area, organized bike ridesandgroup runs, aswellasmorningyogasessionsbeneath the rock towers at Natural ChimneysPark.
On–site camping has long been an extremely popularaspectofthe festival, with some options already sold out.This year’s Red Wing willfeature a newon–site lodging option on Chimney Ridge:luxuryglampingincanvastentsbySolidGroundShelters, on sale now on the festival’s ticketingpage. Alsonewfor thisyear,theChimneyRidgecamping area will have improved transportationoptionstothefestivalvenues,trailsdowntothepark, and facilities up on the ridge.
Asinrecentyears,festival ticketshavebeensellingquickly.Less than 1,000 three–day tickets are stillavailable.Alimited numberofsingle–day tickets willgo on salethe first of June and likelywill notlastlong.
MerleFest, presented by Window World, is proud to announce the next round of artist additions for MerleFest 2020, which will be held April 23-26. Melissa Etheridge, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, The Marcus King Band, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and John Cowan will be joining the annual homecoming of musicians and music fans on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Today’s lineup announcement adds five great artists to MerleFest’s already stacked lineup: Willie Nelson & Family, Alison Krauss, John Prine, The Jerry Douglas Band, Sam Bush, Billy Strings, Jim Lauderdale, Kruger Brothers, The Waybacks, Scythian, Donna the Buffalo, Peter Rowan and the Free Mexican Airforce, Tommy Emmanuel, Colin Hay, Shinyribs, Charley Crockett, Darrell Scott, The Steel Wheels, Kelsey Waldon, Gangstagrass, Robbie Fulks, Amythyst Kiah, Cordovas, Alison Brown, Andy May, “B” Townes, Banknotes, Bill and the Belles, Bryan Sutton, Carol Rifkin, Charles Welch, Chatham Rabbits, Che Apalache, The Cleverlys, Creole Stomp with Dennis Stroughmatt, David Holt, Fireside Collective, Flattop, Happy Traum, Hogslop String Band, InterACTive Theatre of Jef, Irish Mythen, Iron Horse Bluegrass, Jack Lawrence, Jeff Little Trio, Jody Carroll, Joe Smothers, Ken Crouse, Laura Boosinger, The Local Boys, Los Texmaniacs, Mark Bumgarner, Mary Flower, Mitch Greenhill, Pete & Joan Wernick, Piedmont Bluz, Presley Barker, Rev. Robert Jones, Roy Book Binder, Sierra Ferrell, String Madness, T. Michael Coleman, Tony Williamson, Wayne Henderson, The Moore Brothers, The Williams Brothers, and Wyld Fern.
From the good folks over at ROMP fest set for June 26-29 in Owensboro, Kentucky:
“We’re thrilled to release the daily lineup! Single day tickets are on sale now, and discounted prices last until Sunday night.
“Headliners Trampled by Turtles, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, and Billy Strings kick off the main stage Thursday night, followed by The Del McCoury Band, The Wood Brothers, and The Jeff Austin Band and The Travelin’ McCourys perform the Grateful Ball on Friday. The party rolls into Saturday with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder with special guest Patty Loveless, Sam Bush, and Steve Earle & The Dukes and many more.
“The Jagoe Homes After Party Stage gets started Wednesday night with the Glade City Rounders and Relic. The Rumpke Mountain Boys and Wood & Wire follow up on Thursday night, with Horseshoes & Hand Grenades and Songs from the Road Band rocking the After Party stage on Friday, and Dustbowl Revival closes out ROMP Festival on Saturday night.
“Make your plans and snag single day tickets at a discounted rate through Sunday night, when prices increase. Tickets available at: rompfest.com!”
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA — Sam Bush Band, Steep Canyon Rangers, Sierra Hull and Ghost Light are among the final list of bands announced for the 11th annual Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival. Other new additions include: The Steel Wheels, The Black Lillies, ‘Yarn Morrison’ (Yarn’s tribute to Van Morrison), Runaway Gin, The Trongone Band, Sanctum Sully, Disco Risqué, Kate Rhudy, Adar, The Folly, Chamomile & Whiskey, Prosperity’s Folly, The Drove, and MHC Praise Band.
After Molly Tuttle’s impressive win at the 2017 International Bluegrass Music (IBMA) Awards as the first female IBMA guitarist, Becky Buller leads the field for the 2018 International Bluegrass Music Awards with eight nominations followed by Tuttle’s six. Close behind with five nominations each are Special Consensus, and The Del McCoury Band/The Travelin’ McCourys, with strong showings by Rhonda Vincent, The Earls of Leicester, Balsam Range, and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Results of the balloting will be revealed at the International Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Duke Energy Performing Arts Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
There are numerous live music festivals and venues throughout North Carolina, Virginia and beyond on tap to help you celebrate the official kickoff of summer over the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend. Following are a few highlights. If I’ve missed one, let me know! Continue reading →
RW 10 is set for May 24-27, 2018, at the idyllic Pop’s Farm in Axton, Virginia, just a hop, skip and a jump from Martinsville and Danville.
“You’ve been asking for the Daily Band Schedule. Well, fair music lover, ask no more! Head over to the band schedule page at RoosterWalk.com to begin planning your weekend, note by note!”
So put on your dancing shoes, pack up the kids and the tent and head on over to RW 10 for a holiday weekend that promises to be full of amazing music, craft beer, local cuisine, crafts, outdoor adventure and, most of all, fun.
Marcus King and Billy Strings, two of the hottest names on today’s music scene, will join forces for a world-debut “King & Strings” set on May 25 at Rooster Walk 10, according to a release.
King will join Strings for the duration of a late-night, two-hour set at RW10, and iconic drummer Jeff Sipe will also sit in for the latter portion of the performance.
The two have never met, let alone played together, but each calls himself a fan of the other’s music. The current plan involves an unscripted jam that will begin in the bluegrass/acoustic world native to Strings, before evolving into something more electric and rock-based, with Sipe on the kit.
“I think that will be the most fun, if we showcase a little bit of both. We’ll get Marcus some on an acoustic and then get me on an electric with Marcus,” said the 25-year-old Strings. “We’ll kind of do both of our worlds and make them clash.”
Already a veteran of the special guest sit in, King has played with the likes of Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers and Greensky Bluegrass, to name just a few. He said he’s looking forward to the improvisational set at Pop’s Farm, which will also feature Billy’s band (banjo, fiddle and bass.)
“I think it’s gonna be a hoot man. If I can be frank, I think it’s a great idea, and we’re gonna have a lot of fun with it,” said King, just 21 years old.
Rooster Walk 10 will take place May 24-27, 2018, at Pop’s Farm in Martinsville, Virginia. Headlining bands include The Wood Brothers, JJ Grey & Mofro and Robert Randolph and the Family Band. To buy tickets or learn more information, visit www.RoosterWalk.com.
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