Cybergrass

The worldwide bluegrass community will celebrate the Centennial of Bill Monroe, "The Father of Bluegrass Music," in 2010 and 2011. Events will be held internationally, as bluegrass has a following in dozens of nations with a total fan base in the tens of millions. There will be films made and concerts, special exhibits and events taking place, many centered in this region, especially in the International Bluegrass Music Museum and at the Bill Monroe Homeplace in nearby Rosine, Kentucky. ...

The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance unveiled a "Banjometer" on the side of the proposed Cultural Heritage Center building, corner of Cumberland and Moore Street in Bristol, VA. This banjometer will serve as an indicator of just how far the organization has come in the past year in raising funds for the Cultural Heritage Center and what a short distance we have to go; only $3.6 million left to raise. ...

The highly anticipated authorized biography of Tony Rice, Still Inside: The Tony Rice Story, by Tim Stafford and Caroline Wright is destined to hit the streets soon. The book has been the topic of many bluegrass discussions since it was first mentioned. The Tony Rice Story web site has this announcement running: "The highly anticipated authorized biography of acoustic guitar legend Tony Rice is now in the final stages of production and will be released in the very near future!" ...

May 19-23, 2010 -- Pickin' & Strummin' in the High Desert -- For four days, enjoy the magnificent red rocks and yellow cliff walls in northern New Mexico's high desert. Learn tips and tricks on your instrument, vocals and harmony, ensemble and performance... and songwriting, too. Saturday evening celebration with open air concert and jam session. Visit Ghost Ranch Banjo Camp web page ...

Nashville, TN -- The International Bluegrass Music Association is proud to announce the graduating class of Leadership Bluegrass 2010. Leadership Bluegrass, now in its eleventh year with more than 250 alumni, is an intensive, three-day program of interactive learning experiences that invites participants to examine the challenges and opportunities facing our music, along with related leadership issues. ...

Introducing David Grindstaff performing with an all-star lineup of bluegrass power hitters. Produced and engineered by Daniel Boner, Here and Now includes thirteen tracks, featuring David on mandolin and bass along with performances by Adam Steffey, Tim Stafford, Hunter Berry, Jim Van Cleve, Josh Swift, Daniel Boner, Will Parsons, Haley Stiltner, Colby Laney, David Babb, Andy Blevins, Daniel Salyer, and Jason Crawford. ...

Donna Ulisse and her band The Poor Mountain Boys will be performing at the Top of Georgia Bluegrass Jamboree this Saturday, March 13, 2010 at the Dillard House Conference Center in Dillard, Georgia. Ulisse and her band will take the stage for the first time at 1:30 p.m. and then return for their final show at 9:30 p.m. ...

"These days, "chops" is a given for the Young Lions entering the bluegrass arena- to stand out from the crowd, the young musician must also have deep musicality and a balance of adventure and tradition... The future is now!” -John McGann, Associate Professor, Berkelee College of Music ...

Audie Blaylock and Redline hit the fast lane with a brand new album, Cryin' Heart Blues releasing March 30, 2010 on Rural Rhythm Records. This new release comes on the heels of their successful debut album on the label last year that yielded a #1 album and two Top 10 singles. The band was also honored with a selection as a 2009 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Artist Showcase plus a 2009 IBMA Award Nomination for Gospel Performance of the Year. ...

The BBU is pleased to welcome Blue Highway on Saturday, March 20th for a concert at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, MA. We last presented the band in 2009 at Joe Val, but this time they'll have the evening all to themselves for a big evening to celebrate the band’s 15th anniversary. ...

Nashville, TN -- The songs country music fans love most are set to take the stage in the return of Opry Country Classics each Thursday beginning March 25 for a 13-week run, in this, the show's second year. This year's shows will emanate from the historic Ryman Auditorium, where many of the songs performed on the show were first heard by national audiences. ...

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/CMA/ Washington, DC -- The Library of Congress and the Country Music Association hosted a day-long program for the CMA Board of Directors at the nation's library, including a comprehensive tour of the historic Jefferson Building; an extensive orientation to the Library's music, sound recording, and folk collections; a recepton with members of the House of Representatives, Senate, and invited dignitaries; followed by a concert in the Coolidge Auditorium featuring some of Country Music's finest hitmakers. ...

Washington D.C. -- Bluegrass music artist Bill Emerson is celebrating two major events this month. On Friday, March 27, Emerson will be honored with the very first Washington Monument Awards presented by the DC Bluegrass Union in recognition of this 50 year career in bluegrass music. The following night, Saturday, March 28, Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie will hold their Official CD Release Party for their new album, Southern. ...

Retired school teacher, Bob Iery, from Maysville, Kentucky has just released an interesting board game for bluegrass music fans. The new game, Bluegrass Routes challenges the players on their knowledge of all things bluegrass music. According to Iery, "The name of the game Bluegrass Routes is a play on words. The object of the game is to assemble a five piece bluegrass band as you travel the 'routes' of the banjo shaped board playing this wonderful 'roots' music." ...

Charlottesville, VA -- Rebel Records of Virginia has added a new album of mining songs, Dark as a Dungeon: Songs of the Mines, to its growing "Vault Masters" series of budget-priced compilations. Drawing on its extensive back catalog as well as from recent releases, Rebel has included recordings from some of the biggest names in Bluegrass music such as The Seldom Scene, The Country Gentlemen, Blue Highway, The Steep Canyon Rangers, Keith Whitley & Ricky Skaggs and Larry Sparks. In keeping with its policy of giving extra value, Rebel has included 14 songs as well as placing the record in its popular 7500 budget series. ...

Bluegrass legend Curly Seckler began his musical career in 1935, over WSTP radio in Salisbury, NC. He went on to perform with a number of the top names in bluegrass music, including Charlie Monroe, Jim & Jesse, Mac Wiseman, The Stanley Brothers, and The Sauceman Brothers. In 1949 he joined Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs' Foggy Mountain Boys, and remained with them for nearly a dozen years, recording over 130 songs with them. His distinctive, razor-sharp tenor harmonies grace many of their classic hits, setting the standard for countless bluegrass singers who have followed. ...

Wilkesboro, NC -- The deadline for Early Bird ticket prices to MerleFest 2010, presented by Lowe's, has been extended to Tuesday, April 6, at 5:00 p.m. EDT. That is the last day to purchase 4-day and 3-day tickets at the Early Bird price, representing an average 10% discount. ...

Music From The Crooked Road: Mountain Music of Virginia will be heard Saturday, April 24, 2010 for two entertaining shows -- 4:00PM and 8:00PM. The performances will be held at the Davidow Theatre at Salem Community College, 460 Hollywood Avenue, Carneys Point, New Jersey. Tickets: $29.50/$39.50. ...

Pete Wernick ("Dr. Banjo") has announced that due to a Hot Rize schedule change, his Owensboro, KY, Bluegrass Jam Camp is able to add a third day, and will now run Monday-Wednesday plus two hours Thursday the week of the ROMP festival in Owensboro. This rounds out his slate of five camps this spring and summer across the U.S. ...