Headline News

VALE Randy Lynn Scruggs

19 Apr, 18 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

Today we learned that Randy Scruggs, famed son of the 5-string banjo pioneer Earl Scruggs has died at age 64.

Randy Lynn Scruggs was the second of three sons born to Earl and Louise Scruggs on Aug. 4, 1953 in Nashville Tennessee. He grew up surrounded by music greats like Maybelle Carter and Johnny Cash would stop by the house. Carter’s autoharp fascinated six-year-old Randy.

With a career that started at age 13, Randy Scruggs was Grammy-winning musician, songwriter and producer. Over the course of his career, he played on two of country music’s landmark albums, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Will the Circle Be Unbroken and John Hartford’s ground breaking bluegrass album Aereo-Plain. Scruggs went on to produce the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s next two Circle albums.

Randy Scruggs was an exceptional talent, highly respected in the Nashville music community although he maintained a low profile throughout his life, he was a played a significant role in the development of the Nashville music scene.

Grammy wins:

1990: Best Country Instrumental Performance, Amazing Grace
1999: Best Country Instrumental Performance, Soldier’s Joy (with Vince Gill)
2001: Best Country Instrumental Performance, Foggy Mountain Breakdown (with Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Gary Scruggs, Glen Duncan, Vince Gill, Jerry Douglas, Marty Stuart, Albert Lee, Steve Martin, Leon Russell and Paul Shaffer)
2005: Best Country Instrumental Performance, Earl’s Breakdown (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featuring Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Vassar Clements and Jerry Douglas)

Scruggs is survived by his wife Sandy, his daughter, Lindsey, and his brother, Gary. No funeral service is planned but details of a memorial event are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Contributions in Randy Scruggs’ name may be made to MusicCares or the T.J. Martell Foundation.

Flatt and Scruggs and Paul Kelly Feature on Southern Style.

17 Apr, 18 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

Jan Dale will be playing an interview with Paul Kelly and his collaboration with Gerry Hale’s band Uncle Bill this month on Southern Style, 24th April.

In 1999 Paul Kelly with Bluegrass band Uncle Bill released the CD Smoke. Ed Nimmervol conducted an extended interview with Kelly which was released for radio play. Jan will feature parts of this interview along with selected songs from the CD.

In addition she will feature several historically important recordings of Flatt & Scruggs performing live on radio in 1954 and 1957 and subsequently released on CD.

Southern Style can also be streamed to your computer, so you might like to also catch Jan’s special in the archives of the PBS website.

Southern Style with Jan Dale – PBS FM 106.7
Tuesdays 1:00pm to 3:00pm or online at www.pbsfm.org.au.

Huck Finn Moves to Ontario California.

14 Apr, 18 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

For over 40 years, the annual three-day music festival in Southern California, Huck Finn Jubilee, has delivered acts from a long list of luminaries such as Ralph Stanley, Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, Punch Brothers, Rhonda Vincent, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, Emmylou Harris, Peter Rowan, and more. After a one-year hiatus, the festival will be re-emerge, relocated to Ontario, California, on October 5, 6, and 7 in 2018 under new owners Nikki and Roger.

It’s important that we honour the tradition of this festival because the community deserves it and we want to take you on the musical journey that we experienced – Nikki and Roger.

The couple, both executives at an experiential marketing firm in Los Angeles, attended the festival in 2016 and were impressed with the music, array of activities for people of all ages and overall positive vibe. When they heard the festival wasn’t going to return in 2017, they purchased the brand and built their dream team of industry experts in hopes of keeping the festival alive and maintaining the high-level of quality its fans and the community deserves.

Entering its 41st year, the 2018 Huck Finn Jubilee will offer the entire festival experience featuring traditional and progressive bluegrass music, local food, craft beer, a unique array of handcrafted arts and crafts, access to beautiful park amenities, camping, fishing and general family fun.

Festival ticket sales and artist lineup announcements coming soon.

Connect with Huck Finn Jubilee:

Experience 2018 Huck Finn Jubilee:

Meet the New Festival Personnel:

Huck Finn Jubilee: Mini-Documentary:

Editor’s Note: I attended this festival on one of my festival searches a few years ago and found it to be one of the most enjoyable festivals in the USA. The stage setting was as intimate as an open air stage can be; the artists were quite accessible; the jam sessions in the camp-grounds were hugely welcoming while the people were some of the friendliest I had experienced.
The new owners have a serious challenge ahead of them in building on the success of the Huck Finn Jubilee and continue developing the festival brand a completely new environment.

32 Years of Broadcasting for Bill Lawson

14 Apr, 18 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

One of South Australia’s longest-serving radio presenters has been recognised by station staff at Mix 101.5FM in Adelaide.

Bluegrass Unlimited, a weekly radio show, now in its thirty-second year of broadcasting is presented by Bill Lawson – now recognised as The Most Legendary Bill Lawson.

Bluegrass Unlimited is our longest-running show by a single presenter. Apart from a few weeks off after a motorcycle accident The Most Legendary Bill has brought bluegrass to the adoring masses for 32 years. It’s a mammoth achievement to present a show week in week out for that long and Radio Adelaide applauds his dedication and commitment to his listeners and the station – Radio Adelaide, 101.5FM.

Bill Lawson recalls the great changes in radio over the period. When he started the program in 1986 on what was then 5UV, the station was on the AM band – when it was established in 1976, the first community radio station in Australia, FM didn’t exist. In 1986 almost all music was on vinyl LPs; CDs were in their infancy and reel-to-reel tape was still in common use. The station had no computers; desktop computers were just starting to make their appearance.

Bill uses all his own recordings, mostly CDs now but he still uses some of the LPs he bought before CDs came in. He still owns the first bluegrass recording he ever bought – The Bluegrass Album (which turned out to be Volume 1 of that great series) from 1980.

Bluegrass itself has changed considerably in that time. Bill tries to cover the spectrum, but while acknowledging the skill and musicianship of some of the contemporary groups like Blue Highway, his personal preference is for the more traditional style.

He continues to play the first generation greats, the foundational bands. Apart from these his own personal favourite bands are the Johnson Mountain Boys, the Seldom Scene, the Lost & Found and latterly the Earls Of Leicester.

There are always people coming to the music for the first time, and you can’t really understand bluegrass without some knowledge of Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs and the Stanley Brothers, to name but a few – Bill Lawson.

After 32 years Bill has no intention of giving radio away, which will please his many listeners, some of whom have been with him from the beginning. He also presents jazz programs on Radio Adelaide and on another community radio station, 5MBS.

Bluegrass Unlimited airs every Sunday midday – 1:00pm CST on 101.5FM, and streams live on the station’s website, radioadelaide.org.au

Stolen Guitar Alert

7 Apr, 18 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

One of the great things about editing AustralianBluegrass.com is we get to bring interesting articles and good news stories about bluegrass and old-time music happenings.

Sadly today we announce that one of the more disappointing aspects of our work includes the announcement of a musicians tragic loss of their instruments.

Phil Jones is a well known and highly respected Western Australian musician who has lived and performed in both the UK and Australia as both a solo artist and band member. Phil has (had) a wonderful collection of guitars to support his musical endeavours. This past weekend thieves broke into Phil’s house in the Perth suburb of Baldivis. Thieves left with a variety of the owner’s belongings including Phil’s personal guitar collection.

This is a crime so low that it requires all the help we can muster to help re-unite Phil and his guitar family. A musician deprived of his instruments is somewhat like a mate loosing a loved one.

1975 Martin, D35, Features a spruce top and Brazilian rosewood back and sides fitted with LR Baggs pickup
Larivee, LV10E – near new with spruce top and Brazilian rosewood back and sides fitted with LR Baggs imix pick up
Fender Stratocaster, Serial No. 475666, Dark Blue, customised with gold Fender Lace pick-upsAll guitars are in the original manufacturer cases, (Black Fender case in poor condition, Blue Grey Martin flight case, black reinforced Larivee case with shoulder strap. Guitar straps x3, brown velvet leather, fender strap black and gold, rainbow strap.

Martin D35 Back

Martin D35 Headstock

Larrivee LV10 Headstock

Larrivee LV10 Body

Fender Stratocaster

SA Bluegrass Jam Sessions Up and Running

5 Apr, 18 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

Regular bluegrass jam sessions have kicked off in South Australia in the Adelaide region on the first Sunday of the month session in March.

The inaugural session kicked-off at the Semaphore RSL with twenty pickers in attendance. Musicians included a mix of all bluegrass instruments – banjo, mandolin, Dobro, bass, guitar and fiddle. There was a mix of playing abilities from beginner to more accomplished players that all went with the flow. They played a wide variety of bluegrass standards.

The Adelaide region Bluegrass Slow Jam sessions are being held the first Sunday of the month from 2:00pm – 4:30Pm at the Semaphore RSL at 10 Semaphore Road, Semaphore. A gold coin donation to assist returning service men and women is appreciated.

Further enquiries can be directed to Michael Murphy on 0427 601 517.

Michael Murphy has been a regular attendee to the South Australian bluegrass jam camps run by Jam Camps Australia under the tutelage of Pete Wernick* from the USA. His enthusiasm for bluegrass music and jamming has seen him flourish and energised his efforts towards a new opportunity for South Australian jammers.

Jam Camps Australia host annual jam camps in several states across Australia. Previous jam camps have included Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. All of the past jam camps have been very successful in teaching people to play bluegrass music in an informal jam environment. So successful that several people such as Michael Murphy have taken up the challenge to start their own slow-jams, encouraging others to play bluegrass music at their own level with others.

^{* Pete Wernick runs several jam camps across the USA and has a host of qualified instructors world-wide who deliver his highly successful program for learning to jam.}

Mustered Courage Signed Up For Bluegrass Conference

3 Apr, 18 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

The Australian Bluegrass Conference has welcomed Mustered Courage to the faculty for 2018.

ARIA nominated Mustered Courage breathe new life into the Australian roots music scene with a diverse sound that appeals to both traditionalists and newcomers alike. Since the release of their self-titled debut album in 2011, the Melbourne based outfit have become the torch bearers for string band music here in Australia.

the link between Bill Monroe and Mumford & Sons – Music Australia Guide.

The progressive folk-rock quintet blasted on to the national music scene when their second album, Powerlines, garnered two Golden Guitar nominations and a live performance at the 2014 CMAA Country Music Awards in Tamworth. This led to a collaboration with Kasey Chambers on the song Rosa which was included on the album’s American release.

This year’s 4-day Bluegrass Conference will feature two fantastic bands, as well of course as special guest Russ and Glenn Carson from the USA.

The updated faculty now comprises:

Russ Carson – USA (banjo)
Glenn Carson – USA (clawhammer banjo)
The Sonoran Dogs Bluegrass Band:

Mark Miracle – USA (mandolin)
Peter McLaughlin – USA (guitar)
Tyler James – USA (banjo)
Bruce Packard – AUS (bass)

Martin Louis – AUS (banjo)
Anita Nahuysen – AUS (clawhammer banjo)
Mustered Courage:

Nick Keeling (banjo)
Josh Bennett (fiddle)
Julian Abrahams (guitar)
Josh Bridges (bass)

Conference organiser Peter Nahyusen has advised us that bookings are going strong. If you plan to attend this year, make sure you get in touch as soon as you can.

Bluegrass Junction at Thebarton SA

23 Mar, 18 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

In Adelaide over Easter? Then catch Adelaide’s finest traditional Bluegrass and Old Time band at the Wheatsheaf Hotel, on George Street, Thebarton on Sunday 1st April from 4.00pm – 7.00pm

Not only do you see Adelaide’s finest traditional Bluegrass and Old Time band Bluegrass Junction, but it’s free.

Bluegrass Junction (pictured) featuring Nick Cawthorne on guitar, Stephen Loss on bass, Trev Warner on fiddle and Geoff Bridgland on banjo.

Moonstruck Signs Balsam Range

20 Mar, 18 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

Moonstruck Management is proud to announce they have signed Balsam Ran ge for management and booking services. The band’s impressive 10 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards includes the 2017 IBMA Album of the Year Award for Mountain Voodoo released on the Mountain Home Music Company label.

Balsam Range is extremely exited to join the Moonstruck Management Team. I have always believed that to achieve great things you must surround yourself with great people. The Moonstruck Management family personifies everything about this quality and belief. We are truly honored to join such an incredible group of talented people – Buddy Melton.

There are bands in any genre that you love; Balsam Range has always been one of those bands. They have created a sound that originated from the mountains of Haywood Co., NC that has touched the world. Not only do they possess the talent aspect that makes them unique, they are made up of a band of amazing men that I hold in high regard. Moonstruck Management is a family and the characteristics of the bands are as important, if not more, than their talent. They are definitely top shelf on both aspects and I am honoured to call them family – Josh Trivett, Moonstruck Management.

The members of Balsam Range include: Buddy Melton (fiddle, lead and tenor vocals), Darren Nicholson (mandolin, octave mandolin, lead vocals, baritone and low tenor vocals), Dr. Marc Pruett (banjo), Tim Surrett (bass, Dobro, baritone and lead vocals), and Caleb Smith (guitar, lead & baritone vocals). The five original members are all acoustic musicians and singers from western North Carolina. They thoughtfully and respectfully adopted the name of a majestic range of mountains that surround part of their home county of Haywood, NC where the Great Smoky Mountains meet the Blue Ridge, the Great Balsam Range.

The group’s ascent to the top of the Bluegrass world has left a well-marked trail of success since the band’s inception in 2007. BALSAM RANGE has left audiences spellbound while headlining major festivals from coast to coast, selling out venues across the nation, and appearing multiple times at the Grand Ole Opry.

Upcoming tour dates include:

· March 16 – Marysville Winter Bluegrass Series, Marysville, OH
· March 23 – Wingate University, Wingate, NC
· March 24 – Carteret Community Theater, Morehead City, NC
· April 21 – Old Settlers Music FestivaL, Tilmon, TX
· April 26 – Chapman Cultural Center, Spartanburg, SC
· April 27 – MerleFest with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, Wilkesboro, NC

AustralianBluegrass.com meets Dewey and Leslie Brown.

20 Mar, 18 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

Dewey Brown has played the fiddle from the age of 9 years old. He was a Clinch Mountain Boy for Dr. Ralph Stanley for 11 years, until Dr. Stanley’s death in 2016. He started his career playing with the band Blue Ridge while still in high school. Since then, Dewey has played with artists such as Honi Denton, Charlie Waller & the Country Gentlemen and on occasion, IIIrd Time Out.

Leslie Brown was raised in the Appalachian Mountains, in the coal mining town of Vansant, Virginia. Raised by her grandparents, bluegrass music has always been a mainstay in her household. Her father, Virgle Vandyke, was in a family band ensuring that mountain music was in her blood. At the young age of 7yrs old, Leslie began clogging at local bluegrass festivals, shortly after she joined a square dancing group and traveled the east becoming a well-known clogger in the bluegrass world. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and has been a nurse for 14 years. Her upbringing in the Appalachian Mountains plays a major role in her song writing, playing and singing.

With the release of their album Under The Mountain this week I was able to interview Dewey and Leslie to find out some more of their origins, their inspirations and motivations:

Music is obviously a major part of your lives and reading your biography this week, I am interested to know what would you consider were the major influences from your parents?

Leslie: “For me, my life revolved around bluegrass. We went to a different bluegrass festival every weekend as a family, my grandparents raised me and they loved bluegrass! We were part of a traveling square dancing group and I was a clogger, and any music that was ever played in the house was bluegrass, my daddy (grandpa) said ‘If it ain’t bluegrass, it ain’t music!'”

Dewey: “My dad took me to bluegrass festivals and fiddlers conventions growing up as well, he played the bass and I owe all my accomplishments as a musician to him.”

In your bio you cite a number of folks you have played with over the years. Who would you say has had the most significant effect on your creative process as a musician?

Dewey: “I have played with some mighty fine musicians and people, but the most significant being the late great Dr. Ralph Stanley. He taught me so much, his way of singing and playing was unlike any other, he personally took time to help me transform into the musician I am today and I will forever be grateful.”

How did the two of you team up musically. How and where did that happen?

Dewey: “Well, its kind of a meant to be type of thing, Leslie helped me on my second solo album while I was with Ralph, she helped me write some of the songs and even one Dr. Ralph recorded later on one of his albums, so I knew she had a way with words however I did not know she could do what she is doing now. She started playing the bass and writing all of this awesome original music and I just knew there was something there, and now we can share this journey together.”

Your new album features the song “Those Old Mountains” which is to be released soon if not already. Where did that song come from and what inspired you to record it?

Leslie: “I am from Virginia, way back in the mountains, and when I married Dewey, I moved to North Carolina, very different from where I’m from. I have been homesick since I left home and one day I was driving back from a visit, and it just came to me as I was thinking about my daddy working in the mines and my mom reading the bible each night. The song is a true story and really tells where I came from and how much I miss the mountains, home.”

I can’t image anything more difficult when planning an album than to have to sort through what songs/tunes will and what will not be included Perhaps tells us about the song selection process in planning for this new record.

Dewey: “It is challenging but my main goal with this record was to showcase new, original material. My wife, Leslie, had that all packaged up for me so that wasn’t as hard. 12 out of 14 songs on the album are all-original, but the 2 that are not, ‘Pretty Polly’ and ‘Black Lung’ were just songs that we both love and have meaning to us. I played and sang Pretty Polly with Dr. Ralph many times on stage so that is, in a way, our tribute to him and Black Lung written and sung by Hazel Dickens was just a good old-time a-capella that struck a heart string with my wife because her daddy suffers from Black Lung and many of her family members have died from it from working in the coal mines”

What is the most challenging part of the recording process for you?

Leslie: “Recording is so much different from performing live, there are so many things you have to be mindful of like tone, phrasing and intonation where as on stage you just sing and play with emotion, all those things sometimes fly out the window when you’re in the moment.”

What else can we expect from the new album and when will it be released for sale?

Leslie: “You can expect some real traditional bluegrass music with a new approach, some story telling, a few tears, but most importantly I think this album really tells a lot about who we are and we hope you enjoy it!”
Dewey: “The album will be released this week on all major distribution platforms, we really think you’re gonna like what we’ve put together and hope you will follow us and our journey.

Dewey and Leslie Brown have been married since 2007. They reside in Burlington, NC and have 2 children, Savannah Belle (7) and Dewey IV (4). They currently own a performing arts theatre, The Liberty Showcase Theatre, in Liberty, North Carolina. They also have 2 festivals each year, DeweyFest and GospelFest, held on their 52 acre farm in Burlington.