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Bands nominated for the British Country Music Awards are to be offered
paid gigs at Edale Bluegrass Festival, says Tom Travis. This is by way
of recognition of hard work and achievement.
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Pete Wraith informs us that Gus Friedlander and Whiskey is Hollow is to
visit the UK. They’re after a handful of pubs around Manchester - Oldham
- Huddersfield and vicinity for weeknight gigs during the first two weeks
of August. It needn’t be a specifically ‘bluegrass’ audience
but just anyone who is likely to find them “an interesting diversion
from the usual.” If you know anyone interested please contact Peter
Wraith, 65 Gledholt Bank, Huddersfield, HD1-4HE, Tel: 01484- 307424.
(Write to Pete)
(Write to Gus
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Latest latest on our own NW band White Lightning has had another change
of fiddler - Mark Cardwell has left again and Haydn John returned. Watch
this space...
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John Pearman’s East Anglia One Day Event has moved from 25th April
to 9th May. The reason? So as not to clash with the wedding of Gary Payne
(of A Band Like Alice) and fianceé Sherryl - Congratulations from
all here! Messages to Sherryl (01252-333777) or Gary (01252-342678) or
Write to Sherryl
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Townsends Special Bluegrass Service’s new CD, Fracas on the Frets,
will be out this month and The Down County Boys release their new CD very
soon.
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In Sept ’97 “Cuttings” we reported on a Bluegrass Degree
Course at South Plains College in Levelland, TX, USA. We hear that Alan Munde
and Joe Carr teach on the course - and in the middle of a cotton field! "Camp
Bluegrass" is reported to be outstanding with Alan and Joe and the whole
staff being excellent teachers.
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It seems that Ricky Skaggs, with a white-hot band, phoned Cambridge Liesure
Services offering to play at the Cambridge Folk Fest. and was turned down....
Wouldn’t have happened in Ken Woolard’s day!
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“World shortage of Hot Spot bridges!” There has been a bit of
a production delay - Bill is cutting them as fast as he can but can’t
keep up with orders (January) - there’s an opening for someone
there....
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One intrepid USA ’banjo construction enthusiast comments “I
turned my tone ring from the metal of an old truck flywheel - it had been
through many heat and cool cycles. It has a nice ring..........go
figure!”
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The people of Rosine, Kentucky, where Bill Monroe was born are to build
a monument, a museum and a walking trail dedicated to Bill’s memory.
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Genuine free string offer: Visit
http://www.gibson.com and go to the latest
update about midpage... click on it!
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The IBMA has a set of posters that are for sale. They had one made every
year denoting the festival in Sept. at Owensboro, KY, USA.
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Grandpa Jones has died 21st Feb aged 84. On Jan 3, he had just given a
performance at the Opry and began feeling weak and was admitted to hospital.
He had suffered a stroke and was in critical condition. He was moved out
of intensive care 29th Jan into a private room.
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Johnny Cash is suffering from Shy-Drager syndrome, a disorder similar
to Parkinson's disease. Cash is trying to sell his "House of Cash", the museum
he closed down a while back. He is asking $1.25 million for the property.
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Russell Cooper has been appointed as BBMA Area Rep for Scotland, replacing
John Sheldon. Russell’s address is: 30 Carlyle Place, Edinburgh, EH7-5RY.
Tel 0131-661-2106. Write to
Russell
He has set up an Internet site for Scotland at:
http://www.ednet.co.uk/~russell
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Joann Thompson, Grove Farm, Staindrop, Nr.Darlington, Co.Durham, DL2-3LN.
01833-660327, is now BBMA Area Rep. for the North East of England.
 And from John Lawless,
AcuTab Publications:
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Scott Vestal reports that Bluegrass '98 is nearly finished and should
be available sometime this spring. This is likely to be the final instalment
in this wonderful series of instrumental projects on Pinecastle Records.
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J.D.Crowe is also nearly finished recording a new project with The New
South and is currently in the process of re-mastering My Home Ain't In The
Hall Of Fame for a reissue on CD! This is a marvellous recording with one
of the premier editions of The New South (Gene Johnson and Keith Whitly).
This one belongs in every serious collection.
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Rebel is preparing to re-release the Blue Ridge’s old New Quicksilver
album on CD as Baucom, Bibey, Graham & Haley very soon. Terry Baucom
says that three new tunes recorded last fall will also be on the CD.
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Lonesome River Band is recording a new CD with Jerry Douglas producing.
For a change, they have decided to work in a different studio and allow another
producer (other than themselves) to call the shots. Sammy Shelor suggested
that they may go for more of a live feel with this one, relying less on overdubs.
He also suggests that the material they have to choose from this time is
the strongest to date for LRB.
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The new Continental Divide CD is out. I heard a copy of it and liked it
very much. The sound is more mainstream and traditional than in the past
and Ricky Simpkins sounds great on fiddle and mandolin. Scott picks a super
Scruggs tune that a lot of folks may not have heard, Silver Eagle. Check
it out. Pinecastle web site: http://www.pinecastle.com
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I just picked up a copy of the new Blue Highway CD, “Midnight
Storm” (Rebel 1746). Wow! This is their finest to be sure - very polished
and soulful bluegrass - and Jason’s banjo sounds terrific. Great songs,
great performance. This is a great new recording from a super band. I recommend
it highly
Updated 23rd Jan 1999
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