Nashville, TN -- In an age when it seems technology has taken the place of talent, it is both reassuring and refreshing to see a seasoned artist who continues to have a stronghold in the music industry. Jimmy Bowen has been creating music for more than three decades and, thankfully, has even bigger plans for the future.
The following is an open letter by Rhonda Vincent...
"On Tuesday, January 27, 2015, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage performed two sold out shows in Naples, Florida. We were expecting to travel after the show to Key West, Florida and record in Jimmy Buffett's Recording Studio. After the show, we discovered it is illegal to park a bus of any kind in Key West, Florida. I called the campgrounds, and they were sold out of spaces till March, so our trip was cancelled. I began browsing Facebook, as I do each night before going to sleep. I noticed a friend had checked-in to see Merle Haggard, so I quickly looked up Merle's schedule, and found he was performing on Wednesday in The Villages, Florida.
Nashville, TN -- Australia’s country music industry celebrated its pinnacle night in Tamworth with the 2015 Australian Country Music Awards. A lifelong dream came true for Pisgah Ridge recording artist, Kristy Cox when her song "One Heartbreak Away" was honored with the Bluegrass Recording of the Year Golden Guitar. The song appears on Kristy’s album, Living For The Moment.
Nashville, TN -- Mountain Home Music recording artists, Darin and Brooke Aldridge, announce the February 17 release of their new album, Snapshots. Snapshots, captures moments in time with the kind of intimacy that has become the hallmark of The Darin & Brooke Aldridge band. Through a musical outlook that is reverent and dynamic, buoyant yet thoughtful, and deeply in tune with the essence of bluegrass, this new collection delivers pleasing slices of life in song.
The popular bluegrass band announced their not-so-bluegrass project to recreate TOMMY by The Who. “Ever since I was a young boy I played the silver ball.” Maybe this is not your standard bluegrass lyric, but this is certainly a line known by all the world from the biggest rock opera of all time. Tommy is appealing to music fans of all ages. This is truly a classic.
Nashville, TN -- 101 Ranch Records has announced the signing of Band of Ruhks, a group including Ronnie Bowman, Don Rigsby and Kenny Smith of the acclaimed Lonesome River Band. Originating from a successful Lonesome River Band reunion in 2010, the band’s self-titled, self-produced debut album is scheduled for release on March 17 through 101 Ranch Records. The album’s lead single, “Coal Minin’ Man,” features bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley.
Nashville, TN -- Traditional music is always changing like a mighty river fed by water from many sources. The change is constant and fed by innovation. Often stirring up the waters are young players like Samantha and Zeb of The Snyder Family Band.
Once again we welcome Marathon Jam at Chapel Hill founder John Santa and his fellow Marathon Jammers as they play music for 12 straight hours to raise money to support the families of injured soldiers at the American Legion. This annual event just keeps getting bigger, better and more support. Last year's Chapel Hill 2014 Marathon Jam raised $18,000 for the Ft Bragg Fisher House.
Award-winning bluegrass group Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers’ next appearance on the Grand Ole Opry stage will be this Valentine's Saturday night, February 14th. Immediately following the Opry, Joe and the Radio Ramblers will participate in an In-Store Appearance where they will sign copies of their latest CD, Another Day From Life, in the Opry Shop. For tickets visit www.opry.com or call the Opry box office at 1-800-SEE OPRY.
The WoodSongs Coffeehouse Dalton Chapter announces the return of their annual winter concert series to benefit Providence Ministries. The first concert is scheduled for Saturday January 31, 2015. Appearing will be the award-winning Becky Buller, an acoustic bluegrass Americana singer songwriter and Butch Ross, talented multi-instrumentalist and singer.
One of bluegrass music's favorite artists, Bill Yates, 78, passed away yesterday after being hospitalized earlier. One says a bulb burns brightest before it goes out and this was the casee with Bill Yates. After being hospitalized for bleeding on the brain, it looked yesterday that his condition was improving. That prognosis did not continue and he passed away Monday. Yates had performed with the Father of Bluegrass music, Bill Monroe and the King of Bluegrass, Jimmy Martin.
Charlestown, IN -- Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper announce a new single from their latest album, On Down the Line. "Too Late for Goodbyes" is a hard-driving bluegrass take on the Julian Lennon hit from 1984. Propelled by instrumental trades between banjo player Glenn Gibson and Cleveland, the bluegrass version is an unexpected twist on what was originally a rock song steeped in the electronic synth sounds of the era.
The International Bluegrass Music Museum's board of trustees announced in December that Gabrielle M. Gray, the museum's chief executive, would be ending her exceptional 12-year tenure as the museum's creative leader and retires as executive director. Carly Smith has been acting as the museum's interim director. The Museum has officially commenced their search for a new Executive Director to carry on the tradition and lead the museum on the next page of its journey.
"I'm very excited about the bands performing on the Bear Main Stage this year. Our concerts will feature both the 2012 and 2013 Telluride Band Contest winners, as well as a number of new musicians and old favorites," said Glenda Pender, president of Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, which will take place in Dahlonega the weekend of April 18-19. Pender also does the booking for the Main Stage concerts at the yearly event.
Boston, MA -- The Boston Bluegrass Union (BBU) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2015 BBU Heritage Awards. These awards are presented each year by the BBU to honor artists and those working behind the scenes that have made substantial contributions to furthering bluegrass music in New England and beyond. The awards will be presented during the 30th annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, Presidents Day Weekend, February 13-15, 2015, at the Sheraton Framingham, Framingham, MA.
Nashville, TN -- In an age when it seems technology has taken the place of talent, it is both reassuring and refreshing to see a seasoned artist who continues to have a stronghold in the music industry. Jimmy Bowen has been creating music for more than three decades and, thankfully, has even bigger plans for the future.
The following is an open letter by Rhonda Vincent...
Nashville, TN -- Australia’s country music industry celebrated its pinnacle night in Tamworth with the 2015 Australian Country Music Awards. A lifelong dream came true for Pisgah Ridge recording artist, Kristy Cox when her song "One Heartbreak Away" was honored with the Bluegrass Recording of the Year Golden Guitar. The song appears on Kristy’s album, Living For The Moment.
Nashville, TN -- Mountain Home Music recording artists, Darin and Brooke Aldridge, announce the February 17 release of their new album, Snapshots. Snapshots, captures moments in time with the kind of intimacy that has become the hallmark of The Darin & Brooke Aldridge band. Through a musical outlook that is reverent and dynamic, buoyant yet thoughtful, and deeply in tune with the essence of bluegrass, this new collection delivers pleasing slices of life in song.
The popular bluegrass band announced their not-so-bluegrass project to recreate TOMMY by The Who. “Ever since I was a young boy I played the silver ball.” Maybe this is not your standard bluegrass lyric, but this is certainly a line known by all the world from the biggest rock opera of all time. Tommy is appealing to music fans of all ages. This is truly a classic.
Nashville, TN -- 101 Ranch Records has announced the signing of Band of Ruhks, a group including Ronnie Bowman, Don Rigsby and Kenny Smith of the acclaimed Lonesome River Band. Originating from a successful Lonesome River Band reunion in 2010, the band’s self-titled, self-produced debut album is scheduled for release on March 17 through 101 Ranch Records. The album’s lead single, “Coal Minin’ Man,” features bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley.
Nashville, TN -- Traditional music is always changing like a mighty river fed by water from many sources. The change is constant and fed by innovation. Often stirring up the waters are young players like Samantha and Zeb of The Snyder Family Band.
Once again we welcome Marathon Jam at Chapel Hill founder John Santa and his fellow Marathon Jammers as they play music for 12 straight hours to raise money to support the families of injured soldiers at the American Legion. This annual event just keeps getting bigger, better and more support. 
Award-winning bluegrass group Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers’ next appearance on the Grand Ole Opry stage will be this Valentine's Saturday night, February 14th. Immediately following the Opry, Joe and the Radio Ramblers will participate in an In-Store Appearance where they will sign copies of their latest CD, Another Day From Life, in the Opry Shop. For tickets visit 
The WoodSongs Coffeehouse Dalton Chapter announces the return of their annual winter concert series to benefit Providence Ministries. The first concert is scheduled for Saturday January 31, 2015. Appearing will be the award-winning Becky Buller, an acoustic bluegrass Americana singer songwriter and Butch Ross, talented multi-instrumentalist and singer.
One of bluegrass music's favorite artists, Bill Yates, 78, passed away yesterday after being hospitalized earlier. One says a bulb burns brightest before it goes out and this was the casee with Bill Yates. After being hospitalized for bleeding on the brain, it looked yesterday that his condition was improving. That prognosis did not continue and he passed away Monday. Yates had performed with the Father of Bluegrass music, Bill Monroe and the King of Bluegrass, Jimmy Martin.
Charlestown, IN -- Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper announce a new single from their latest album, On Down the Line. "Too Late for Goodbyes" is a hard-driving bluegrass take on the Julian Lennon hit from 1984. Propelled by instrumental trades between banjo player Glenn Gibson and Cleveland, the bluegrass version is an unexpected twist on what was originally a rock song steeped in the electronic synth sounds of the era.
The International Bluegrass Music Museum's board of trustees announced in December that Gabrielle M. Gray, the museum's chief executive, would be ending her exceptional 12-year tenure as the museum's creative leader and retires as executive director. Carly Smith has been acting as the museum's interim director. The Museum has officially commenced their search for a new Executive Director to carry on the tradition and lead the museum on the next page of its journey.
"I'm very excited about the bands performing on the Bear Main Stage this year. Our concerts will feature both the 2012 and 2013 Telluride Band Contest winners, as well as a number of new musicians and old favorites," said Glenda Pender, president of 
Boston, MA -- The Boston Bluegrass Union (BBU) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2015 BBU Heritage Awards. These awards are presented each year by the BBU to honor artists and those working behind the scenes that have made substantial contributions to furthering bluegrass music in New England and beyond. The awards will be presented during the 30th annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, Presidents Day Weekend, February 13-15, 2015, at the Sheraton Framingham, Framingham, MA.