Back To The Ant Hill...

The Biden/Palin debate isn't the only big deal going down Thursday night.  Here at the mother church of country music, Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium, the IBMA Awards, the Grammys of bluegrass, will be handed out as the main event of a whole week dedicated to the music, its artists, promoters, instrument makers, record labels and fans.  It's a heady and exhausting experience catching up with old friends and making new ones and trying to summon up enough energy to take full advantage of the 24/7 offerings of performances both formal and informal.  The list of finalists in all categories and who's leading in the unofficial poll conducted by The Bluegrass Blog is found here.  I'm gonna pass on predictions this year except to say I think it's gonna be a big night for Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent.  As alums of Doyle Lawson's and Ricky Skaggs' bands respectively, these two guys hit the road running a year ago and have won wide acclaim.  Not being out there yet, I don't have a read on the "buzz" so I'll be surprised with the rest of you as the show, hosted by Del McCoury, rolls on.  I'm pretty sure it's being carried live on XM track 14, Bluegrass Junction.  The three day FanFest runs Friday thru Sunday with an amazing lineup of artists all waiving their fees to benefit the IBMA Trust Fund for musicians facing tough times.  I get to introduce Bradley Walker, Kathy Mattea and the Lonesome River Band as emcee on Saturday night.  I'll try to post a few times from Music City but it may well have to wait 'til I get home.  There's too much to miss while sitting in your room at the laptop.

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It's always a treat to hear Tony Rice play, even when you have to stand up next to the house stacks to hear over the cumulative din of all those folks who paid for the Science Museum concert but only seemed to want to run their mouths.  I'll never understand.  But it was fun to see a new "Unit" comprised of brother Wyatt, Bryn Davies on bass, Josh Williams on mando and the always tasteful Rob Ickes on dobro.  I'm looking forward to hearing Tony's new Rounder compilation Night Flyer that includes some of his best vocal material and three previously unreleased tunes including a Rice original called "Never Meant To Be."  Fortunately for us though, he apparently was.

And if you're looking for a great night of music close by, AC&T welcomes back gifted singer/songwriter Slaid Cleaves Thursday night accompanied by Richmond's own Mr. Versatility Charles "King" Arthur.  Should be delicious.

Take care of things...TT

Fall in...

My favorite season began Monday just before noon and with it comes a challenging array of musical opportunities that I hope to bring to your attention with the caveat that this journal is not comprehensive.  Again, check with the Weekly Rant for that.  Thursday night's Swingin' On The Tracks finale at the Science Museum stars the lord of the herringbone Tony Rice with a Unit of uncertain composition

although I think brother Wyatt will be on hand along with Bryn Davies on bass.  With our own Jackass Flats opening, it should be a worthy show, rain or shine. (probably rain, but they have a tented indoor space at the venue)

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Watch this space for a preview of the 2008 IBMA Awards to be handed out live from the Ryman in Nashville on October 2nd.  Like last year I'll take a stab at "should win/will win" and bring you some telling photos from the annual gathering of the clan. 

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  The following week brings our very first Richmond Folk Festival, with all the stages, scenery and sensory stimuli we enjoyed during the National's three-year stay here, but with a completely fresh slate of performers sure to have you talking amongst yourselves saying things like, "Man, I've never even heard of Vieux Farka Toure and they blew me away."  The full lineup's now been announced with stage schedules for all three days so do check out the Website and plan on taking in as much as you possibly can.  This is our city's weekend to shine.

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We got a chance to catch up with globe trotting Daniel Clarke over the weekend on a short break from his world tour as keyboardist and supporting vocalist for k.d. lang.

  With the mutton chops missing in action, we heard some savory road stories and watched some very entertaining home videos from a recent Mexican tour with pal Mandy Moore which you can see here.  And over a 12 year old bottle of Dewars we listened to two of the joyful musician's favorite CDs:  drummer Brian Blade's Perceptual (richly textured Metheny-like jazz) and Raphael Saadiq's The Way I See It (a fresh take on classic r & b).  We're always energized by Danny C's over-the-top enthusiasm for what he does.  Happy contrails....TT

And the winners are...

Daniel Clarke, Andy Garrigue and John Haddad! We had eight correct answers on our trivia question for the three pairs of tickets to see Sheryl Crow in concert at the Siegel Center on October 18th. I put each of the eight names on a piece of paper and had my beautifully blindfolded bride do the drawing. Fair & square. So congrats to you boys...hope you have a blast. And the trumpet player on "We Do What We Can" from Sheryl's Tuesday Night Music Club was indeed her dad Wendell Crow. Here's an excerpt from a story by Dale Smith that appeared in a past issue of Mizzou's (University of Missouri's) alumni magazine (father and daughter are both graduates):

“Sheryl has always performed,” Wendell remembers. “I had a just-for-kicks band with 13 members when Sheryl was little. We played Les Brown and other big band tunes. One night we met to rehearse at our house, and Sheryl came down and sat at the piano. The guy who played keyboards said to her, ‘Can you play “Traces?” ’ I’ll never forget seeing her there with her little feet hanging a foot up off the floor. She said, ‘Sure, what key do you want it in?’ ”

Thanks to all who gave it a shot...hope we can do more giveaways down the road. And of course thanks to Tom Topinka at Genworth for the tickets...you can still buy them here.

Still savoring memories of a great weekend of music just past. The Heights of Grass reunion was a a double treat as the boys rose to the occasion and delivered a generous helping of the tunes we wanted to hear. "Just like the record." Maybe better. Plus they drew a big crowd to the Chesterfield Fairgrounds filled with faces we hadn't seen in years...folks with whom we shared the band's glory days at the Opry and beyond. Kudos to VFMA honoree Sonny Mead and new Hall of Famers Ronnie & Rickie Simpkins. Wouldn't have missed it for the world.

The boys are back...Sonny, Vernon, Billy, Don and Richard

Bassman Billy sings the gospel with the Seldom Scene

HOG alum and LRB legend Sammy Shelor shows up

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And if that wasn't enough to emotionally fill a weekend, here came Saturday and the second and final stop on the Among Friends 10th anniversary tour. Heartfelt thanks to Scott Hammer and all involved at the Shady Grove Coffee House for having us back and for giving us great sound and just the right vibe for bringing out the best in all the players. Scott said it was their biggest crowd ever and for us it was about the warmest and most polished show we can remember. This was the venue's season opener. Do check all the good stuff coming up here. We love you GT. (photo composite by Charles Dunton)

This Thursday marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Isabel's ravaging of our town leaving many if not most of us without power for days and for some, weeks. Remembering what it was like to be without our creature comforts and queuing up for ice and bottled water gives us pause to imagine what all those Galvestonians are facing after being dealt a much more devastating blow. Pray for them, send some money to the Red Cross and count your blessings. And take a good long look at your 401k.

TT

Scaling the Heights...

I owe these guys so much.  Although my early bluegrass influences were Reno & Smiley on TV during high school in Staunton, George Winn & The Blue Grass Partners at my Randolph-Macon fraternity parties, and the Seldom Scene's Live at the Cellar Door double LP which I wore out shortly thereafter, it was the Heights of Grass from right here in River City who kindled a passion and cut a path that has enriched my life more than I can say.  Their friendship and inspiration was the foundation of my continuing love affair with this music and the people who make it.  I met Don Grubb, Billy Lux, Richard Ward, Vernon Hughes and Sonny Mead when I was doing mornings at now-silent 1320 WEET, a comfortable old country station on the AM dial that gave me the freedom to play all the bluegrass I wanted.  Don and I even did a weekly hour show together called "Bluegrass Spectrum." The HOG was hot back in the late 70s and early 80s...so hot that they were invited by Sonny & Bobby Osborne to guest on their segment of the Grand Ole Opry on Valentine's Day, 1981.  So we organized a bus trip at the station to make the Nashville trip with the boys and got to witness music history as we rubbed elbows with the likes of     

Roy Acuff, Kenny Baker, George Gruhn and others backstage.   The boys have all grown up now and have put away their puffy shirts, but they're still playing in various configurations.  The music and the musicians they introduced me to some thirty years ago remain a cherished gift.  Tonight at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds they'll be having a reunion concert featuring those five, plus many others who passed through the Heights corral back then including Sammy Shelor, Mark Newton and John Lawless.  And fiddlin' Sonny Mead will be honored with a special recognition.  The centerpiece for the night will be the induction of Rickie and Ronnie Simpkins into the Virginia Folk Music Association's Hall of Fame.  I guess they could have a Virginia Squires reunion while they're at it, but Rickie's on tour with Emmylou Harris in Europe and will count on brother Ronnie to accept the plaque.  All that and the Seldom Scene will perform as icing on the big cake.  But my highlight's gonna be hearing the Heights of Grass bring back "Louisiana Saturday Night," "All I Ever Loved Was You," and they'd better do "Carolina Sunshine."  And it wouldn't hurt to hear Billy bottom out once more with "Miles and Miles of Texas."  Thanks for the ride you guys...may it continue.

Coming up...Jimmy Gaudreau and Moondi Klein return to Ashland Coffee and Tea on the 20th, and the Tony Rice Unit will be in town at the Science Museum for the Swingin' On The Tracks series on September 25th.

And don't forget to reserve the entire weekend of October 10-12 and prepare to immerse yourself in the musical and cultural delights of the very first Richmond Folk Festival along the river downtown, promising virtually the same incredible experience afforded by the National for the past three years, but now it's ours.  The Website is chock full of all you need to know about what's coming up, including a 40th anniversary reunion of Larry Bland's Volunteer Choir and for something completely different: Mexico's Tezcatlipoca Voladores.  You'll be hearing lots about them...just wait.

Finally, hurry and make your reservations for our very special JAMinc/In Your Ear Studio Concert on Friday, October 24th featuring southwest Virginia's legendary luthier and picker Wayne Henderson with special guest, fiddler Helen White.  Tickets are $20 in advance and we only have room for 80 folks, so jump on it.  And we've got Bryan Bowers coming on November 7th.

More later...thanks as always for your time...TT

Pulling a Punch...

So we were out this way anyway...so how could we pass up a chance to catch the potent Punch Brothers in a funky Rocky Mountain canyon venue called Mishawaka...out in the middle of nowhere, an hour and a half north of Boulder, Eminor's new home? The place is some ninety years old and its natural beauty alongside the cascading Poudre River is complemented by a seasonal full slate of live music started by its founder Walter S. Thompson. So Friday night, in front of a couple hundred receptive patrons, it was the How To Grow A Band>>>Tensions Mountain Boys>>>Punch Brothers convening from parts unknown to do a relaxed, wide-open set, extended by a triple encore, and all without fifth brother/fiddler Gabe Witcher. Word was he missed his flight from Maui. Whatever created the vacancy, the boys played a major trump card by recruiting the very first Punch Sister to add a wonderfully feminine mystique to the evening, Crooked Still's incomparable lead singer Aoife O'Donovan. We first got to witness the chemistry between Aoife and and the boys when she guested during the band's after-hours Sheridan Opera House set at Telluride in 2007. This night, she filled out a much larger role, nailing everything from high harmony on Lester Flatt's "Little Girl In Tennessee" to dueting with Chris Thile on Bob Dylan's achingly beautiful encore "Farewell Angelina." Guitarist Chris Eldridge who admitted to a fairly high stress level before the show, given their high standards and being without as critical a cog as Witcher, rose to the challenge with spot-on lead and rhythm playing and plenty of solid three-part baritone when the times came. All in all, a memorable evening of magnificent mountain scenery and well-played music that we felt very thankful to have witnessed. And how would you like to open for an act as accomplished as these brothers Punch? An honor yes, but a daunting task. The Grant Gordy Quartet accomplished their mission with nearly an hour of strong string-band instrumentals, drawing from many genres and offering up an impressive forum for Dawg pal Gordy and young Berklee-bound mando master Dominick Leslie. Really fine stuff.

Being out here in the high country is a head-clearing privilege and we're not sure what's gonna be harder...leaving our girl behind so far from home, or departing this spectacular part of the planet. If you've been here you know. If you haven't, put it on your list.

You journal readers are a sharp bunch...I've gotten way more than three correct answers to the question posed in the previous post for free Sheryl Crow tickets. If you haven't entered, all correct answers to the question will be placed in a drawing for three pairs of tickets to her October concert at VCU. Go for it...deadline: September 15th.

Thank the Lord for our Richmond rain and for keeping a muzzle on Gustav.

TT

EMBOSSED...

My only regret after witnessing the pure power of Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band at the Coliseum Monday night, besides the unforgivably long beer lines, was that I had gone for nearly sixty years and never experienced The Boss in all his gritty glory...live. We'd heard all the stories about three-hour non-stop concerts and unrivaled engagement of the audience, but what a thrill to see Freehold's favorite son deliver and exceed the hype. From an uncluttered, unadorned stage by today's standards, but with glorious HD video support, this seasoned team of nine took control of the sold out crowd at around 8:15 and didn't let go until well after 11:30. Most were on their feet for the whole thing, and not just the general admission customers with no seats who filled the entire floor. The last note of one song became the first note of the next as the Boss grabbed a freshly tuned guitar after each tune. He prowled the multi-level stage like a caged lion, often venturing into the sea of pumping fists and more than once providing lifetime moments to audience members like the straw-haired teen with whom the legend shared a vigorous call-and-response rendition of "All Night." He took to the baby grand and offered up a moving "I Came For You" dedicated to a Richmond promoter (was it John Richardson?) who gave him his first gig here. He took requests that tested the band's mettle including "Crush On You" which he set up as one of the worst tunes they'd ever done, but seemed to really enjoy playing when all was said and sung. And of course, he called out his old pal Robbin Thompson during the prolonged encore for a steamy take on "Twist and Shout" which guitar mate Stevie Van Zandt got a good piece of too. Tireless E Street drummer Max Weinberg, on leave from Conan O'Brien's Late Night show on NBC, provided a fat, relentless foundation for the proceedings and saxophone giant Clarence Clemons was always there to add his signature hot sauce. Bruce Springsteen's iconic status is well-deserved and his affection for our hometown is genuine. It may have been our first time...I hope it won't be our last. (I got the Bruce & Robbin photo from Robbin...don't know who took it)

The rest of August holds some strong incentives to make the Ashland Coffee & Tea scene at least once...tonight (Thursday) brings The Gibson Brothers back to town on the heels of their great new album Iron And Diamonds. Eric and Leigh bring top-notch songwriting and seamless brotherly harmony to the realm of bluegrass and are highly recommended. On Saturday it's Jackson Browne's versatile veteran sideman David Lindley, and on Friday the 29th, Old School Freight Train chugs in for one of its always memorable stops. And a save-the-date heads up: The Infamous Stringdusters play AC&T on Halloween night! Don't be scared.

And...are you ready for this? The generous folks at Genworth have offered up some free tickets to see Sheryl Crow at the Siegel Center on October 18th for the annual Children's Advantage Classic. And three of my loyal journal readers can each win a pair by correctly answering the following question: Who played trumpet on the track "We Do What We Can" from the Grammy winner's breakout album Tuesday Night Music Club? If more than three of you get this right we'll have a drawing. You can email me your answers at mail@timtimberlake.com and they must be received by September 15th. Do forward this link to any Sheryl fans you know, and thanks for clicking in.

Still dancin' for rain...TT

The Family of Floyd...

 

                 

      

The remarkable mountaintop gathering that is FloydFest is now a rich but fading memory...I should've done this post a week ago but...best laid plans and all that.  The festival's seventh year was our second and it has reaffirmed in us the conviction to make it an annual summer pilgrimage.  Kris Hodges and Erika Johnson, their dedicated staff and army of volunteers have built this early-maturing cultural happening into a true experience of the heart on so many levels...the elegant staging, the diverse festival food offerings (think alligator burritos), the unrivaled people-watching (think too many bare bellies of both genders) and of course, the music.

And that's where FloydFest really shines in offering an inclusive a lineup as you'll find anywhere, from Zimbabwe's best-selling recording artist Oliver Mtukudzi to the haunting highland a capella of Elizabeth Laprelle.  And so much in between.  It's four full days of creative camping, communing with the hills and its short-term inhabitants and opening the mind and soul to all that music can mean.  A few illustrations follow: 

Charming chimurenga exponent "Tuku" Mtukudzi of Zimbabwe holds court and wins hearts at sunset on Saturday.

Brittany Haas, Aiofe O'Donovan and Greg Liszt of Crooked Still on the VA Folklife Porch...string quartet with a banjo and an unforgettable lead singer in Aiofe (Ee-fah).

The rest of the Still...Corey DiMario on bass and Tristan Clarridge on cello...a band not to miss.

From Rural Retreat VA, Elizabeth Laprelle renders an aching Appalachian ballad.  She was here in Richmond for the National Folk Festival.

DJ Williams and Todd Harrington of Richmond's DJ Williams Projekt sweat out the funk on the Hill Holler Stage

Bo Carper, guitarist/lead singer for New Monsoon, one of our first-time favorites.  Their Saturday set on the Hill Holler stage was spectacular. 

 

 

Above left, 4-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year Michael Cleveland warms up for his set with prodigious 11-year-old veteran Adam Larkey.

From the City of Brotherly Love, Amos Lee sings powerful love songs that resonate with lovers of all ages.  He opened for Elvis Costello and Dylan in C'ville last year and nearly stole the show.  We had to buy his great new CD Last Days at the Lodge.

Fresh back from a festival in France the night before, Ross Holmes, Matt Menefee, Andy Moritz and Bryan Simpson of the powerful and profound Cadillac Sky jam it up on the Dreamin' Creek main stage on Sunday afternoon.

There were 44 acts in the Emerging Artist competition this year and the hands-down favorite was Charlottesville's

William Walter & Company.  Check 'em out.

 

FloydFest carries a refreshingly-retro, sixties, love-is-all-we-need vibe but with a contemporary edge that includes all that's new and needed in this wide and wonderful world of music.  FF 8 can't come soon enough.

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We'll wrap this post with a few options for the next week or so.  Friday night we've got Brad Spivey & The Honky Tonk Experience at Shenanigans, best Among Friends friends Frank Coleman & Chris Fuller at Ashland Coffee & Tea the same night and the Friend-filled Big Boss Combo in one of their big Johnson reunions at Legend's south of the river downtown out on the deck...summer at its best. 

Brad Wells at The National reminded me to also mention their Friday night artists, Rodrigo Sánchez and Gabriela Quintero.  Collectively they're Rodrigo y Gabriela, a unique act from Mexico performing heavy metal covers on acoustic guitars.  Sound intriguing?  Maybe a great reason to check out Richmond's fabulous new music venue, especially if you haven't been.

The Children's Museum of Richmond is holding a benefit concert for The Phoenix Project rebuilding post-Katrina downtown New Orleans featuring zydeco master Terrance Simien on Friday, the 15th.  Click here for tickets and info or call 474-7007.

And if you're up for one more festival roadtrip the weekend of the 15th, how about John Cowan, Alecia Nugent, Cadillac Sky, Karl Shiflett and Verlon Thompson among many others at Hickory Fest an day's drive up in Wellsboro, PA.  Photographer friend and HF promoter Frank Serio says it's one of those warm and wonderful small fests...if you go, let me know.

Shall we rain dance?

TT

Sounds of summer...

John Jackson's "Whimsical Metal Sculpture"/Jefferson, NY

Another confession of procrastination in creating this post as I've had so many intense musical experiences since my last one that trying to do justice to the great performances we've heard is truly daunting. I'll make this one mostly visual, since I've got some pretty cool shots and frankly it's faster than lots of verbiage. We'll start with a Monday night run to the predictably perfect Birchmere in Alexandria for a triple header on Eminor's 22nd birthday to hear Chatham County Line, The Infamous Stringdusters and Crooked Still. I've waxed glowingly about the virtues of the second group listed but let me say how much I enjoyed my first taste of the opening band from Raleigh and their folky hybrid that to me fell somewhere between Railroad Earth and the old King Wilkie. If you like either of those, you should seek out the Line. And the more we get to hear the sweet voice of Aoife (that's Ee-fah) O'Donovan, the more we're convinced that the linchpin of Crooked Still is every bit as talented and compelling a vocalist as Alison Krauss...only different. Less fragile. Fabulous. And Tristan Clarridge's cello makes the rest of the difference for this string band for the new millenium. I'm excited that they'll also be on the schedule at FloydFest this weekend up on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hope we'll see you there...Railroad Earth closes the main stage on Friday and Cadillac Sky plays on Sunday...life is good.

After three days of delightful decompression in the Catskills with good friends, Em and I made our way east to Oak Hill, NY to the new home of the venerable Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival (formerly Winterhawk) which found out in December they had to find a new home after years at Rothvoss Farm in Ancramdale. I had to see how Mary Tyler Doub and her dedicated staff and volunteers were able to not only find a new place for the festival but make all the political, logistical and practical arrangements to basically build a small town in the middle of farmer's hay field. Fortunately, the farmer was John Walsh and he had a big family up for a big adventure and it all fell together in an amazing way. The language of good music and good people gathering to enjoy it doesn't need translation. Grey Fox is and has always been a lot more open and unregimented than most other festivals we're used to like MerleFest and Graves Mountain which don't sell alcohol or allow it in the open. There's virtually no checking of what you bring in your coolers, little or no wristband inspection and I don't think I saw a uniformed officer of the law all weekend long. But it was amazing how well behaved everyone was...very family-friendly and safe feeling. It was gratifying to see that grownups could behave and respect their neighbors without being forced to. So hats off to those who made this whole thing happen. Here are a few things you missed if you weren't there:

Seventeen-year-old sensation Sarah Jarosz with Stringduster's fiddler Jeremy Garrett


Two young masters-in-the-making working on "Soldier's Joy"

Adrienne Young & Little Sadie holding forth in one of 3 Dance Pavilion sets

The g'earls of Uncle Earl setting feet in motion in the Dance Pavilion

Banjo masters Bill Keith, Bela Fleck, Peter Wernick and Chris Pandolfi bring rich perspective to the Workshop Stage

Bela, Abigail Washburn, Ben Sollee and Casey Driessen enjoy their Sparrow Quartet set

Whoo let the Dawgs out?

All in the family...Ronnie, Rob & Del McCoury

Great hearing the Eric & Leigh Gibson's brotherly harmony again

All the Stringdusters flanking Tim O'Brien in an inspired Friday night set


Travis Book, Tim O'Brien & Jeremy Garrett

Taking festival camping to a whole new level...

Bryan Sutton, Andy Falco & Chaz Justus in a serious six-string workshop

Sam Bush in silhouette in the Master's Tent

Nate Gawron, Ike Sheldon & Phil Wade of The Wilders

A 30th anniversary Hot Rize reunion with Bryan Sutton in Charles Sawtelle's shoes

Elmo & Waldo Otto, Suede, Red Knuckles and Wendell Mercantile...the Trailblazers ride again

Red and Wendell render a tender number

That's all for now folks. Thanks to Mary Burdette at Grey Fox for her hospitality and to Lesley & Hollace for the best accomodations anyone could ask for. Now it's on to fabulous Floydfest...hope to see you on the Parkway.

If you're home this weekend, be sure to tune in Page Wilson's Out O' The Blue Radio Revue for our premiere JAMinc/In Your Ear Studio A concert featuring John Cephas and Eliza Lynn. It airs Saturday from 8-10pm on 88.9 WCVE-FM
and streams at http://www.ideastations.org/.
Always great to have you here...please pass it on to whomever you think might care...TT

Get ready to ramble...

As we make a hasty retreat from the bombs bursting in air over the James River thanks to George Hoover and family last Friday, we hope you all had a fitting Fourth and are ready to muddle through the sultry shrinking summer with your ears well-placed to take in some of the many musical opportunities that lie ahead.

First a quick anecdotal underscore of how things are improving in this town for musicians and those who like to hear them live. D & I had just checked out Chris Tsui's hot (figuratively) and happening new restaurant Sushi O on Alverser Drive and rambled across the parking lot to Cafe Caturra for a cup of joe...a warm round of applause greeted us as we walked through the front door. We quickly realized the hand was for two musicians holding forth in the corner...the singer looked like a Cap One guy fresh off the golf course and his guitar player could've been his kid; but no...Brad Mauldin impressed us with his strong vocals and a varied set of folk/pop balladry and Jake Seward backed him well on his six-string Guild. They were terrific and usually travel with Jake's wife Kristen on keys...never heard of them but will be looking out for them now.

A couple of great options for Friday (tonight): John Patykula, who heads up the guitar program at VCU's music department also kicks off his Guitars & Other Strings series tonight in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall with The Whitetop Mountain Band. A big hit at the Richmond's first National Folk Festival a few years back, these energetic Virginia musicians promise an evening of authentic old-time and bluegrass of the highest order. Click here for more info. If you're up for something with a bit more twang and need a few brews to cap off your week, Shenanigans on the north side might be the spot as Brad Spivey and his superlative Honky Tonk Experience play one of their home gigs.

American mongrel Page Wilson follows in Brad's heels on Saturday night in the former Cock & Bull with the Reckless Abandon boys. And speaking of Page, we're very excited to announce that the first of JAMinc/In Your Ear's studio concerts will be featured on his Out O' The Blue Radio Revue on Saturday, July 26th from 6 to 8pm on WCVE-FM. We've been putting on these intimate shows at In Your Ear for the past few years featuring under-the-radar artists like Bruck Molsky, The Kruger Brothers, Rick Epping, Peter Ostrouschko and Phil Wiggins and now have a compelling collection of live recordings which will be a recurring part of Page's Saturday night soiree from the Chickahominy Swamp. The debut presentation will feature piedmont blues legend John Cephas with Asheville singer/songwriter and Cephas student Eliza Lynn. We're all very excited about this new partnership and urge you to tell a friend and tune in on the 26th and monthly thereafter.

On Sunday, an enduring Richmond tradition lives again at Dogwood Dell as the always-free Festival of Arts presents Larry Bland & The Volunteer Choir. I believe this is their 40th anniversary year and their energy and sincerity are sure to get the spirit moving. They'll also be featured at this year's debut of the Richmond Folk Festival October 10-12.

One more thing...Danny Knicely, an incredible mandolinist and old friend who lit things up on Pete's porch at Graves Mountain last month is set to perform with the Oretea Brothers as part of the Bluemont Concert Series in Ashland. Originally from Bolivia, Cesar and Jose studied Flamenco guitar and singing in Spain. Their soulful guitars and blood harmonies are powerful and moving. This landmark performance, in English and Spanish, will include Ralph Gordon on bass and music ranging from lively gypsy rhumbas to other melodies from Europe, Brazil, Bolivia, and Appalachia. This first of the series on the lawn at the Hanover Arts & Activities Center will later feature Laurie Lewis and John McCutcheon. More info here.

We're off to the Birchmere on Monday for Crooked Still, Chatham County Line and The Infamous Stringdusters, then to upstate NY for the Grey Fox festival in its new home. We'll keep you posted. There's lots of great music out there...go get some.

TT