musicreporterblog

Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


Leave a comment

Hot Rize announces 40th anniversary album recorded live at Boulder Theatre releases first single ‘Colleen Malone’ featuring Jerry Douglas via Relix

From the good folks at The Press House:

Hot Rize, one of the most respected and influential bands in bluegrass music, is pleased to announce the release of their aptly named new record Hot Rize 40th Anniversary Bash, recorded live at Boulder Theatre, over the course of three sold out shows in January of this year. Hot Rize (Nick Forster on bass, Pete Wernick on banjo, Tim O’Brien on mandolin and fiddle, and Bryan Sutton on guitar) were joined by longtime musical friends Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, and Sam Bush, treating Boulder to three nights of unforgettable music. “We wanted to have a party,” says Forster.  “We wanted to have a full-out bash!” And now, on August 3rd, celebrating the anniversary of the band’s 40th year together, fans worldwide are musically invited to the party, as the band selecting 19 of the best of those unforgettable performances for the new record. On Monday, Relixreleased the video for “Colleen Malone,” Wernick commenting that he “ …learned this touching and lyrical song from the writer himself, Pete Goble, on his bus one day at a festival in the 1980s. The band liked it right away and our version became Song of the Year in 1991. It already seems to have become a standard at bluegrass jam sessions.” Watch here.

Continue reading →


Leave a comment

Listen Up: Live music opportunities abound for Memorial Day 2018

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 →


Leave a comment

Early bird ticket discounts available for MerleFest 2018 through Wednesday, April 25

From the good folks over at MerleFest:
With just one week until MerleFest 2018, the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, is buzzing with activity. The festival, presented by Window World, kicks off next Thursday, April 26, at 2:30 p.m., and runs through Sunday, April 29; an estimated 75,000-plus participants will gather at this year’s annual homecoming of musicians and music lovers to celebrate the world renowned MerleFest.

Continue reading →


1 Comment

Third annual Jam in the Trees to feature diverse lineup including The Travelin’ McCourys, Jerry Douglas, Shooter Jennings and Elizabeth Cook on Aug. 24-25

From the good folks over at The Press House and Jam In The Trees:
Jam In The Trees is proud to announce the lineup for the 2018 festival, which will be held on August 24-25, 2018. The annual music festival returns with a diverse lineup for the third year to Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
The roster includes legendary artists The Travelin’ McCourys, Jerry Douglas, Shooter Jennings, Elizabeth Cook, Jane Kramer, Gangstagrass, The Stray Birds, Jim Lauderdale, The Steel Wheels, Fireside Collective, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, The Slocan Ramblers, and Andy Buckner. Following tradition, Jam in the Trees will host music on both an indoor and outdoor stage, and will strategically schedule artists so that there are no overlapping sets. In addition to award-winning Pisgah beer, food trucks will be present on-site, as well as unique vendors and local artisans.

Continue reading →


Leave a comment

2017 Wide Open Bluegrass features Steep Canyon Rangers, Steve Martin, The Infamous Stringdusters and many more

If bluegrass music has a Super Bowl, it’s the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) World of Bluegrass week — the world’s largest urban bluegrass festival. The festival kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 26, with the Bluegrass Ramble and wraps up Friday, Sept. 29, and Saturday, Sept. 30, with Wide Open Bluegrass 2017 presented by PNC at the Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.

In between is a business conference featuring Greensboro’s own Rhiannon Giddens as the keynote speaker and exhibits at the Raleigh Convention Center, as well as the 28th Annual IBMA Awards Show hosted by Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn — acclaimed artists in their respective careers and GRAMMY winners in their duo work — Thursday night at the Duke Performing Arts Center.

No self-respecting North Carolina event is complete without barbecue. The North Carolina Pork Council will once again host the 2017 Whole Hog Barbecue Championship as part of Wide Open Bluegrass. The best whole hog barbecue chefs in North Carolina square off to become state champion. After the judges have had their say, the mouth-watering barbecue will be chopped and sold in sandwiches Saturday to festival attendees.

Continue reading →


Leave a comment

Blue Ridge Music Center presents Old Crow Medicine Show, Mipso and Amythyst Kiah on Sunday, Aug. 27

Known for its ability to draw amazing Americana artists including the Steep Canyon Rangers, Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, The Steel Wheels, Marty Raybon and The Lee Boys, the Blue Ridge Music Center has outdone itself by offering one of its most impressive lineups to date on Sunday, Aug. 27, as part of its annual outdoor summer music series.
Old Crow Medicine Show, Mipso and Amythyst Kiah are set to play beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Center, which is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 213 nestled between the southwest Virginia towns of Galax and Fancy Gap. Tickets are $38 for adults and $22 for children.

Continue reading →


Leave a comment

Eddie From Ohio, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen to headline Scythian’s Appaloosa Roots Music Festival on Sept. 1-3, 2017

Eddie From Ohio and Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen will headline the third Appaloosa Roots Music Festival, hosted by MerleFest fan favorite Scythian, on Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 1-3, 2017, in Front Royal, Virginia.

Continue reading →


Leave a comment

30 reasons to attend MerleFest’s 30th anniversary of making music, memories

MerleFest, one of the top Americana roots festivals, is known for its unique mix of traditional, roots-oriented music from the Appalachian region, including bluegrass and old-time music and four days of making memories, Americana, blues, country, Celtic, Cajun, cowboy, zydeco, rock and many other styles known as “traditional plus.” The festival, presented by Window World, is celebrating its 30th anniversary April 27-30, 2017, at in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Founded in 1988 by the late, great Doc Watson in memory of his son Eddy Merle Watson as a fundraiser for Wilkes Community College. Tickets are available here.

Continue reading →


Leave a comment

Early bird tickets for MerleFest 30th anniversary celebration available through Wednesday, April 26

From the good folks over at MerleFest:

With only one week until the start of MerleFest 2017, presented by Window World, the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, is buzzing with activity. Starting next Thursday, April 27, at 2:30 p.m., and running through Sunday, April 30, an estimated 75,000 participants will gather at this year’s 30th homecoming of musicians and music lovers to celebrate the world renowned MerleFest.

Continue reading →


Leave a comment

Earls of Leicester, Dark Star Orchestra coming to Greensboro’s Carolina Theatre

From the good folks over at the Carolina Theatre of Greensboro:

Greensboro, NC – The Carolina Theatre of Greensboro is pleased to announce the 2017 Spring Season, including two new concerts: Jerry Douglas presents the Earls of Leicester on Friday, March 31, and Dark Star Orchestra on Wednesday, April 5.

Continue reading →