Spring-Summer-Fall 2013 Tour Schedule for the Claire Lynch Band

Buck-dancin' - Claire Lynch & Mark Schatz

Pulling into Red Lodge, Montana

       One of the busiest bluegrass bands anywhere  is the Claire Lynch Band. If you have seen the band, you know why they are so busy. In America and beyond these shores, the Claire Lynch Band is sure to entertain. Below is a glimpse of the spring, summer and fall 2013 schedule for the band. Click the link at each date to learn more about the event. Hope you can make a show somewhere this year. If you can't make it, at least tell your friends about it! Band members in the photo are Bryan McDowell (fiddle, mandolin, vocals), singer-songwriter Claire Lynch (guitar, vocals, buck-dancin'), Mark Schatz (upright bass, banjo, vocals, 'body' [he can explain] and buck-dancin'), and Matt Wingate (guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, vocals) Award-winning performers all--this band makes you glad you were there!

Schedule updated June 18, 2013 Most recent additions or corrections in red.

June 27    New York, New York  Hill Country BBQ Market NY  http://www.hillcountryny.com/locations.ny
June 28    Blairstown, NJ    Historic Blairstown Theatre  www.thehbt.com
June 29-30  Altamont, NY  Old Songs Festival of Traditional Music & Dance  www.oldsongs.org
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
July 12    Mount Solon, VA  Redwing Roots Music Festival  http://www.co.augusta.va.us/Index.aspx?page=616  
July 13    Lorton, VA      Workhouse Arts Center at Lorton http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances/    NOTE: This is an outside performance. In the event of inclement weather, cancellation notifications for the public are posted on the Performance Hotline: 703-324-SHOW at 1 1/2 hours prior to the scheduled performance.
July 24    Nashville, TN  Music City Roots -- Loveless Barn  http://musiccityroots.com/shows
July 25    Hiawassee, GA    Georgia Mountain Fair - Anderson Music Hall  www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com  
July 26   Athens, GA  Melting Point  http://www.meltingpointathens.com
July 27   Bloomingdale, GA  www.randywoodguitars.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
August 1  Ridgefield, CT    CHIRP Concert--Ballard Park  www.chirpct.org
August 2  Sodus, NY    Brantling Bluegrass Festival  www.brantlingbluegrass.com
August 8  Wisconsin Rapids, WI    McMillan Memorial Library  
http://www.mcmillanlibrary.org/concerts/index.html
August 9  Richmond, MN    Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Festival--El Rancho Manana
http://www.minnesotabluegrass.org/index.php?contentID=559
August 11 Alta, WY   Grand Targhee Festival  http://www.grandtarghee.com/summer/music-festivals/bluegrass-fest.php
August 14   Billings, MT  Venture Theatre/Nova Center www.yellowstonebluegrass.com
August 16-17  Worland, WY    Wyoming State BBQ Championship & Bluegrass Festival
http://www.wyo-bbq-bluegrass.com/Bluegrass.htm
August 23    Los Alamos, NM  Gordons Summer Concerts  http://www.gordonssummerconcerts.com/index.html
August 24-25  Santa Fe, NM    Santa Fe Bluegrass & Old Time Festival  http://www.southwestpickers.org
August 30   Groot-Gelmen, Belgium  Country Festival  http://www.countryfestival.be/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
September 4  Boeblingen, Germany  Sommerkonzerte  Watch www.clairelynch.com for more information!
September 5  Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic    Eurocentrum  
http://www.eurocentrumjablonec.cz/o-nas/poloha
September 6  Kaufbeuren, Germany  Sudhaus  http://www.facebook.com/FR.Concerts?group_id=0
and also http://www.facebook.com/frank.rickal.3?fref=ts 
September 7  Rheinau, Germany  Stadthalle Rheinau-Fresistett  http://www.rheinau.de/index.cfm?fuseaction=freizeit&rubrik=veranstaltungen&id=1037 
September 8    Laufen, Switzerland  Watch www.clairelynch.com for more information!
September 9   Sachsenheim, Germany Watch www.clairelynch.com for more information!
September 11 Munich, Germany Watch www.clairelynch.com for more information!
September 12  Bopfingen, Germany  Kultur am OAG  www.astalb-gymnasium.de/index.php/kultur-am-oag 
September 15  Memphis, TN  Bellevue Baptist Church  www.bellevue.org 
September 19  Duluth, GA  Red Clay Theatre  www.eddieowenpresents.com/calendar (date correction)
September 20  Nashville, TN  AMA Showcase  http://americanamusic.org/about-conference
September 21  Bristol, TN    Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion www.bristolrhythm.com/index.php
September 27  Raleigh, NC  IBMA's Wide Open Bluegrass Festival (Red Hat Amphitheatre, Raleigh Convention Center  http://bluegrassfanfest.org/
September 28  Cary, NC  Sertoma Amphitheatre in Bond Park  http://www.townofcary.org/Departments/Parks__Recreation___Cultural_Resources/events/concerts/sertoma.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
October 3  Toronto, ON (Canada)  Hugh's Room  www.hughsroom.com
October 4  Innisfil, ON  Music Up Close  http://www.musicupclose.com/3/events.htm
October 5  Earlville, NY  Earlville Opera House  www.earlvilleoperahouse.com 
October 6 Saratoga Springs, NY  Caffe Lena  www.caffelena.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  
November 2    Pensacola, FL  Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival  http://www.ggaf.org
November 9    Nashville, TN   Country Music Hall of Fame  http://countrymusichalloffame.org 
November 15  Florence, SC  Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center  www.fmupac.org
November 16  Asheville, NC  Isis Restaurant & Music Hall  www.isisasheville.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
December 7    Dahlonega, GA  Crimson Moon Cafe  http://www.thecrimsonmoon.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2014  
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
March 8   Las Vegas, NV  Historic Fifth Street School  www.artslasvegas.org/performances/music.htm

Pick away!
Betty

Blog: talkinbluegrassmusic.blogspot.com
Yahoo Grp: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NE-AR-Bluegrass


  

    

Tunes from the Mountain View (AR) Spring Festival 2013

THE MOUNTAIN VIEW (AR) SPRING FESTIVAL 2013 was held at the Ozark Folk Center on March 7-9. The weather was sunny and chilly, but at least it wasn't snowing! It was a bit of a struggle to park in a lower parking lot and walk some distance to the shuttle stop in order to be delivered to the Ozark Folk Center. It was worth the inconvenience! The local planning committee did a fine job of lining up talent for the event. We will mention some songs from each group, as many of you have already seen most of the groups. We were distracted from some band performances by backstage personnel/announcers who came onto the stage during a band's performance to dance across the stage with a broom as an imaginary partner, to do "the twist" behind band members, and to strike a pose similar to that on the Monroe Crossing sign at the rear of the stage--directly in front of that sign. We are very glad that the same persons  did not disrupt Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver's program. We feel for those bands who were somewhat upstaged by the antics during their performances.

FRANK RAY & CEDAR HILL (MO) led off the event: Peter, You're the Man; Ozark Hills; Wayfaring Stranger; Nails and Bonds; The Floodplain of Despair; Gonna Have a Time; I've Got a Thing About Doors; Paint the Town; Echo Mountain; 'Til the End of the World Goes 'Round; For Me It's Hello; Pearlie; Orange Blossom Special; and You Won't Be Satisfied That Way.

MONROE CROSSING (MN) is the amazing band we all had heard about, but many of us had not seen yet. WOW! Here are some of their songs: Life is Like a Mountain Railroad, Who's that Knockin'; Joy, Joy, Joy; Judas is My Name; He Did Rise; Whispering Hope; When the Angels Carry Me Home; 40 Years of Suff'rin'; It's Easy to Get Lost When You Don't Know Where You're Goin'; My Girl ("Mo-Grass": Motown + Bluegrass); Potter's Field; Rocky Top; Encore: Uncle Pen . . . later set: Muleskinner; Heartache and Soul; Into the Fire; The Old Mountaineer; Chattanooga; Satan's Jeweled Crown; I'll Fly Away; Doin' My Time; At Last (Etta James-style); Man of Constant Sorrow; Softly and Tenderly; Nail that Catfish to a Tree; Listening to the Rain; Bread and Milk and You; McKinley's March/Boston Boy; Build Me a Cabin in the Corner of Gloryland; Rocky Road Blues; Rank Stranger; Bullet Train; Keep on the Sunny Side. . .still later: Honky-tonkin'; Blue Eyes; Cicadas; Heavenly Table; Hobos in the Roundhouse; Me and Billy; In the Pines; Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress (The Hollies-style, standing ovation); Orange Blossom Special (2nd standing ovation); and Wayfaring Stranger.

DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER (TN) is a band with a 40-year history of absolute top-quality gospel and traditional bluegrass music. Here is their selection: Lay Your Burdens at the Feet of Jesus; One of These Days It Won't Be Long; Lay Down the Hammer of Sin; I Have Found the Way; Then I Saw Him Walk Out of the Sky; God Can; Just Hold on a Little Longer; Greatest Creator (a cappella); We Need the Light; He Made It All Right; How Do You Say Goodbye to Sixty Years; I'm on My Journey Home; Helped and Protected by God's Love; Little Mountain Church House; What a Friend We Have in Jesus/Pass Me Not (fiddle medley); Sing Me a Song About Jesus; Sea of Life; and It Took His Blood to Set Me Free.

THE GIBSON BROTHERS (NY) is a group that is new to this writer, but they do a mighty fine job with bluegrass music: Wishing Well Ain't Workin'; Lonesome Road Blues; Dying for Someone to Live For; Red Letter Day for the Blues; They Call It Music; Gone Home; and Happy, Sunny Side of Life.


HICKORY HILL (TX) is well-known all over the South and Southwest. They know how to deliver the music we all love: The Old Crossroads; The Pilgrim; Cadillac; Bear Tracks; Willow Garden; Home-Grown Tomatoes; No Longer a Sweetheart of Mine; Hot Highway; Songs About Texas; Down Yonder; Poor Monroe; Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Loud, Loud Music; Little Maggie; and Old-Time Feeling.

LA TRESA & THE SIGNAL (TN) is a group led by a talented Nashville songwriter. We regret that we missed the complete titles of several songs because we could not understand what was said. Here is their selection: Gone to Memphis; Never [? Civil War tune]; Shady Grove; Promise You'll Be [?]; Can You Give Me Drink; Baby [?]; and Think of What You've Done.  

THE STEELDRIVERS (TN) is a band that began their journey with what some might call a 'dark message,' and they like it there in the dark. Here is their selection: Deep Thinker; Good Corn Liquor; When You Don't Come Home; Lonesome Goodbye; Drinkin' Dark Whiskey; Hell on Wheels; If It Hadn't Been for Love; Angel Tonight; Gloryland; Midnight Tears; Guitar, Whiskey, Guns, and Knives (about life in East Kentucky); If You Can't Be Good, Be Gone; Wearin' a Hole in a Honky-Tonk Floor; Blue Side of the Mountain (Grammy-nominated); Encore: A Rainbow Can Never Die.

THE REDMOND KEISLER BAND AND BUCKSNORT HILL are two bands who are quite well known in the area. You might say that Redmond's band is the house band. He works the sound for the Ozark Folk Center. They put on a fine performance. Bucksnort Hill is Dan Shaw's band from over around Bono, AR. You may remember that they hosted the Claire Lynch Band at "Dan's Place" about a year ago. They, too, put on a fine program of bluegrass music.

All the bands were prepared and presented their brand of music in a professional manner. Thanks to every band that participated in the Spring Festival. The Fall Bluegrass Festival is scheduled for November 7-9, 2013, and it too should be one dandy festival! 

Nashville: The Reservoir, United Record Pressing, Grimey's New & Preloved Music, and The Basement

       YES INDEEDY! I own every single one of the objects here on the screen. I can even find most of them within five minutes! There is just no getting around the fact that this writer is a 'child of the '50s'and '60's. Tonight's blog isn't strictly about bluegrass music, but I betcha Grimey's could locate a bluegrass album or two there in the shop! Right, Grimey?

         I was prompted to talk to you about these items and a big, round reservoir called...well..."The Reservoir"...in Nashville on 8th Avenue. From the reservoir side of the street, I can look across to see the absolutely funkiest little place in town! Grimey's New & Preloved Music is at 1604  8th Ave., So. Grimey's phone number is 615.254.4801. E-mail Grimey's at funky[at]grimeys.com. They got vinyl! Yep! They surely do! Lots and lots of vinyl!
       Grimey's friends at United Record Pressing at 453 Chestnut St. are close enough for Grimey to sail a 45 record across and hit the pressing company right on the roof! United Records' phone numbers are 615.259.9396 or toll free at 866.407.3165. Those folks are pressing vinyl records 24/7 or close to that! Vinyl is back! Or it never really went away! E-mail United Record Pressing at united[at]urpressing.com. NBC Nightly News did a story on this company on March 1, 2013. I am personally glad that I didn't throw away the 33 1/3 albums, the 45's, or anything else recorded on vinyl. A lady on WKNO2 just used the word 'record player'. Do you have yours? You're going to need it before long. Mine works, has a needle, and just needs a vinyl record by Wanda Jackson or Mother Maybelle and the Carters to play!

       My Duncan Yo-Yo with the rhinestones? I never did learn to manage it quite like those folks who used to demonstrate all the things that a yo-yo would do. I would have been happy if the yo-yo had just climbed back up the string!
       While I am standing over here Reservoir-side and trying to make this yo-you do tricks, I want to tell you about the basement of Grimey's. It's known as "The Basement". That Grimey! He just has a way with words! The Basement is the home of some of the coolest bands and individual performers--Minton Sparks, for example! This spoken-word artist has performed at The Basement any number of times and always to a packed house! Minton and her performing partner, John Jackson, provide superior entertainment. We of the generation of the '50s and '60s know about most of the people and events in her stories. Some stories are dark; some, not so dark. All are extremely entertaining. Visit The Basement at www.thebasementnashville.com or contact Mike Grimes at mike[at]slowbar.com.

Despite the fact that I spent large amounts of time with my 45's and later with my 33 1/3's, and despite the fact that I tried long and hard with that Duncan yo-yo, I did indeed graduate from high school (see class ring). I even went on to MTSC (as it was known back in the day) and then to Memphis State(as it was also known back in the day) for post-graduate work. That's my story tonight and I'm sticking to it.



  

Brad Apple and "Back from Gone"

BRAD APPLE has just completed "Back from Gone" (ACS3322) under his own label, and it is great! Do you need 'pleasant'? What about 'top quality'? Of course you need those attributes!

Brad's newest CD project is entirely his own--from recording, mixing, mastering, and graphic design, to running the CDs through the shrink-wrap machine! The music will soothe away all your cares and leave you filled! This is major stuff from an artist with a magic touch!

"Back from Gone" is available through CD Baby and from Brad, too, when you can catch him over around Batesville or Mountain View, AR. You might consider reviewing the album for CD Baby.

Brad's friend, Herb Pedersen, says, "It's good to know that acoustic music has one more gifted musician to carry on the tradition. Well done, my friend." (Herb Pedersen, Los Angeles, 2012)

Familiar favorites Tim Crouch, Scott Vestal, and Danny Crawford provided strong support on this solid solo project from Brad Apple. In his liner notes, Brad pays special additional tribute to his wife Charlotte, his parents, and his brother Brandon Apple.

Congratulations to Brad on this newest release, "Back from Gone".

Pick away!

Bluegrass Music and Lots More to Delight Our Fans

We Have Bluegrass Music and Lots More!

  

Claire Lynch Trio performs at the UMC Sanctuary on the Square

You probably knew that already, didn't you? We have a weekly reminder about all sorts of things. Just e-mail us and we'll add you to the list!

We have an old-time music festival called Breakin' Up Winter, which takes place on the first weekend of March at Cedars of Lebanon (TN) State Park. It's a good wagon-greasin' from Memphis. That one is NOT bluegrass! Visit the site for the Nashville Old-Time String Band Association (NOTSBA):

www.nashvilleoldtime.org/BUW. At the NOTSBA site you will also see dates/locations for old-time jams all over the Nashville/Midstate area.

There's a dandy Thursday night Jackson Plectral Society jam in Jackson, TN, at the Casey Jones Railroad Museum. In the summer, pickers gather all over everywhere in the Old Country Store parking lot. When that shuts down for the night, some folks reassemble at IHOP in Jackson for another session of fine bluegrass music!

We have just the finest Friday night jam anywhere around here. Visitors are welcome, it's all FREE, and it's at the Collierville (TN) Historic Town Square from mid-April until mid-October. We have restaurants, a coffee shop, and 2 (count 'em) places to buy ice cream and frozen treats when the thermometer goes plum' crazy with the heat! In the winter, you can find us at the Common Cup Coffee Shop, which is part of the Collierville (TN) United Methodist Church. The coffee is always on! Bring mama-n-'em for a country-dog good time. (Bro.Joe loves that saying!)

There is other stuff in all these photos, but we didn't want you to miss a thing! The Banjo Camp photo here has a unique feature. See if you can figure it out. Well? Have you spotted the feature?

Tennessee Banjo Institute 1992  Cedars of Lebanon (TN) State Park

Lee Cagle shows her dulcimer to the kids at Storytime on the Square

Collierville's Christmas gift to her citizens and friends

Claire Lynch Trio Workshop at Sanctuary on the Square - Bryan McDowell (r)

Yonder sits little Maggie at a Sunday afternoon jam!

Quick Sunday pick outside Square Beans Coffee Shop

The David Pierce family checks out the Collierville Friday night jam at the Square

Collierville UMC welcomes pickers to the Common Cup Coffee Shop

Rob Ickes and an aspiring Dobro-playing Gallarno

Sorghum Hill at Wolf River Cafe, Rossville, TN: Phil Cox, Andrea Nash, Larry Windham

William See zoned out on a tune at Breakin' Up Winter in Lebanon, TN

High Strung at Wolf River Cafe - Donna Gray and Michael Osborne

Brush Arbor at Wolf River Cafe - Kacey Cannon, Joe Cupp, Bobby Williams, Preacher-man, Bruce White

Mulberry Fest at Collierville Square with 2 Mule Plow

Wildwood Express + Brush Arbor bring in the holidays at UMC's Common Cup Coffee Shop

Follow the fiddle and the arrow into Cedars of Lebanon State Park for Breakin' Up Winter

Toscanini Chamber Ensemble shows Mulberry Fest what kids can do

We miss seeing "the girls" at the Collierville Town Square pickin'

Roby Cogswell and others enjoy a quick pick at Cedar Forest in Lebanon, TN

Badges? We DO need these BUW badges

Mildred, Kevin, Kurt, and Curtis at Jackson IHOP for an after-pickin' pickin'

 

SPBGMA with Sugar on Top! Nashville, TN, February 2, 2013

       A little snow didn't keep the Jackson Area Plectral Society from being well-represented at the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) festival held at the Music City [Nashville, TN] Sheraton during the first weekend of February 2013. Several current and former members, some from years ago, such as BLAKE HOPPER, all seemed to be having a blast. 

       Saturday night, February 2, really got exciting when RHONDA VINCENT and the RAGE came into the hotel lobby and started playing and singing. Many of the pickers pushed their way through the crowd to get to jam with Rhonda, and she was so kind to select a few at random to stand next to her to perform. You would not believe (or maybe you would!) that our own KACEY CANNON was selected and asked to join Rhonda's circle to sing a song. How good is that? What a thrill that was for Kacey and her family and friends to hear Kacey sing "East Virginia Blues" with Rhonda and her great band! Other well-known personalities such as TOM T. HALL and DOYLE LAWSON were spotted signing autographs.

       For you 'old folks' who might remember "Hee Haw," RONI STONEMAN, the lady who had her front teeth blacked out and played a mean banjo, came in the lobby to perform with all the folks. What a great weekend! 

       *Story adapted with permission from Coley and Marilyn Graves. Photograph by Randy Cannon.