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News from Rural Rhythm Records is that Audie Blaylock and Redline hit the fast lane with a brand new album, Cryin’ Heart Blues. This album is to be released on 30th March this year 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 by being selected for the 2009 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Artist Showcase, along with a 2009 IBMA Award Nomination for Gospel Performance of the Year.

Cryin Heart Blues was produced by Audie Blaylock and includes musicians: Audie Blaylock on guitar, Evan Ward on banjo, Patrick McAvinue on fiddle and mandolin and Matt Wallace on bass.  The first single, Cryin Heart Blues will be released next week to radio via Rural Rhythm’s new Fresh Cuts & Key Tracks No. 7 radio CD.

Audie Blaylock & Redline will be part of the Rural Rhythm Records 55 Year Anniversary Celebration – a live recorded event to be held in Syria, Virginia at the Graves Mountain of Music Festival on Friday, 4th June, 2010.

For more information on Cryin’ Heart Blues, please visit Audie Blaylock and Redline or Rural Rhythm Records.

CD Release Audie Blaylock, Rural Rhythm Records

Rural Rhythm Records has announced the upcoming 23rd March, 2010 release of two CD’s from first generation bluegrass legends. Bluegrass 1963 by Reno & Smiley with special guests Carter and Ralph Stanley, and Bluegrass 1971 by Mac Wiseman with special guest, Lester Flatt & Chubby Wise.

These are the first two album projects by a new and exciting joint venture between Rural Rhythm Records and Ronnie Reno. These historic albums will be available for purchase wherever bluegrass music is sold including; Walmart, Amazon, Borders, iTunes, Rhapsody, e-music, County Sales, Music Shed, plus the Rural Rhythm website.

Bluegrass 1963 by Reno & Smiley

This album was produced by Ronnie Reno, is a welcomed treasure for those lucky enough to have seen and heard Reno & Smiley perform on their legendary Top O’ the Morning daily TV show in Roanoke, Virginia during the early 1960’s.   This 18 song collection features their long time sideman, The Tennessee Cut-Ups, Mac Magaha on fiddle, John Palmer on bass, guitarist Steve Chapman, plus a young Ronnie Reno on mandolin.  There are fine renditions of their classics like I Know You’re Married, I’m the Talk of the Town, Love Please Come Home, I Wouldn’t Change You If I Could, and I’m Using My Bible for a Roadmap.

Bluegrass 1971 by Mac Wiseman

This album features Mac Wiseman with special guests Lester Flatt & Chubby Wise.  Mac Wiseman has been a very important part of the Country and Bluegrass music scene for many decades recording a tremendous amount of successful albums that have contained a long list of big hits in both genres.  Towards the end of 1970, Mac Wiseman and Lester Flatt talked about teaming up for an album that would re-create the mood and spirit of the late 1940s.  Lester had split acrimoniously from Earl Scruggs, so Lester and Mac began touring and recording together.  During this period, their albums were musically and commercially successful including their album, Lester ‘N Mac reaching #42 on the Billboard Top Country Album Chart.

Bluegrass News, CD Release Mac Wiesman, Reno & Smiley, Rural Rhythm Records

Arnie’s Barn, Strzelecki Stringbusters

When it comes to playing Bluegrass and Ol’ Time music, the boys from the Strzelecki Stringbusters have the numbers, and with this, their third CD in as many years, they are certainly gaining the numbers in CD production too.

‘Arnie’s Barn‘ follows on from their highly successful album, ‘Scrubby Forest Run‘ which was launched in 2009. Their first CD ‘Somethin’ To Crow About‘ was released in 2008.

This latest offering is named after one of their fiddler players, Arnie Young. The CD was recorded in the loft above his barn at his home in Yinnar in rural Victoria. Arnie is one of Yinnar’s more modest and kindly gentlemen.

The CD contains 20 tracks, ranging from traditional Old Time country tunes and Gospel songs, to straight-up Bluegrass featuring the Big Stringbuster Sound.

The Yinnar Hotel has grown in popularity over the past 18 months. It has become the place to see acoustic music in Gippsland as the Stringbusters have encouraged a variety of  local acts  to share the stage during the evening. In addition to the growth in local acts , the hotel has played host to a variety of international acts, the latest being Canadian bluegrass band Hungry Hill in November 2009. Hungry Hill stopped by the region for a few days and took advantage of the Stringbuster’s southern hospitality and gave presented one of the best bluegrass performances the town has seen.

The USA’s Whitetop Mountaineers were another international act to visit the region to play the Yinnar Hotel. This band plans a return visit on 31st March this year and will once again present their original old-time Virginian mountain music.

Always keen to present a range of local, national and international acts, the Stringbuster’s regular gig, the last Wednesday of the month at the Yinnar Hotel, will continue to provide great entertainment this year.

The Stringbusters invite you all down to the local in Yinnar to see the boys launch their new CD, Arnie’s Barn on Wednesday 24th February, and be sure to book your meal.

Contact  the Stringbusters through Gary White on ph 0427 631 217 or email to The Stringbusters for details.

CD Release Strzelecki Stringbusters, Yinnar

Rounder Records has announced the release of The Famous Lefty Flynn’s, by the Grascals. This is the fourth album by one of America’s most respected and celebrated bluegrass bands.

Coming on the heels of their last album, SPBGMA’s 2009 Album of the Year Keep On Walkin, the new album features a range of songs from a cover of the Monkees’  Last Train to Clarksville to Give Me Jesus, with stops along the way for intriguing story songs and some outstanding originals. Newest Grascals member, Kristin Scott Benson who is IBMA’s 2008 Banjo Player of the Year, joins the band for what Rounder Records suggests may be their best album yet.

The stirring vocals of the band’s three lead singers, Terry Eldredge, Jamie Johnson, and Terry Smith, combined with the group’s instrumental virtuosity, and flawless song selection all play a part in the musical and critical heights the group has attained - Rounder Records.

Coming on the heels of their last album, SPBGMA’s 2009 Album of the Year Keep On Walkin, the new album features a range of songs from a cover of the Monkees’  Last Train to Clarksville to Give Me Jesus, with stops along the way for intriguing story songs and some outstanding originals. Newest Grascals member, Kristin Scott Benson who is IBMA’s 2008 Banjo Player of the Year, joins the band for what Rounder Records suggests may be their best album yet.

CD Release, Record Company Rounder Records, The Grascals

Rounder Records announced Summertown Road’s debut album. Although the band was formed back in 2008, taking their name from  the title of a Marty Raybon song this is their first album release.

The lineup consists of John Hicks on banjo and Dobro, Bo Isaacs on guitar, Jonathan Rigsby on fiddle, mandolin and clawhammer banjo and Randy Thomas on bass.

Individually, the bandmembers have spent time playing in abnds for Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Conway Twitty, The Whites, and Tony Rice,  and awards ranging from a John Rigsby’s Grammy and Bo Isaacs membership in the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.

CD Release, International News Summertown Road

Released 9th Mar 2010.

Here’s some news from Rounder Records on an old-time, mountain-style bluegrass music album to be released next month.

Rounder advises that this album contains many of the biggest names in bluegrass music, including Ralph Stanley, Ricky Skaggs and Dailey & Vincent, playing a range of songs, including Cotton-Eyed Joe, Little Maggie, and Rollin’ in My Sweet Baby’s Arms.

Here is top quality music at a bargain price of US$5.99 - Rounder Records

CD Release, Promotions Rounder Records

Buckaroo Blue Grass II Released 9th February 2010

News from Rural Rhythm Records: Michael Martin Murphey and his Buckaroo Blue Grass friends ride again on the 9th February, 2010 album release of Buckaroo Blue Grass II.  The album expands on the passions of his Grammy nominated album, Buckaroo Blue Grass, creating fully acoustic bluegrass versions of songs about the region to which Murphey has been deeply connected for a lifetime – the American Southwest.

The high lonesome sound in bluegrass music has always appealed to the cowboy soul. Somehow the acoustic instruments used in bluegrass have a drive, energy and expansive quality – an almost mystical wide open country sort of feeling that seems built into the design. You can hear and feel it on Rob Ickes’ country sound in the new version of Wildfire. It seems the American West has produced running-wide-open acoustic musicians like Pat Flynn, Sam Bush, Rob Ickes and Ryan Murphey who have been key in developing the Buckaroo Blue Grass sound as they blaze a trail connecting Cowboy and Western music to Bluegrass by exploring Wild West sonic spaces.

CD Release, International News Michael Martin Murphy, Rural Rhythm Records

Donal Baylor has been a sideman for acts as diverse and Mic Conway and Slim Dusty and also been an integral part of such bands as the Dancehall Racketeers and Bluegrass Parkway.  He’s been a two-time Australian fiddle champion and a recipient of a Kentucky Colonel honorary award.   Now, finally, he’s released his first solo CD.  This momentous bluegrass and old timey event features Donal on fiddle and guitar as well as some of our best pickers lending a hand.

I’m really proud that all the pickers are Victorian and it shows that we do have something meaningful to say – and hopefully it is worth hearing – Donal Baylor

The album, Town and Country Fiddler features Donal Baylor on fiddle and guitar with Steve Gilchrist – mandolin, Pete Fidler – Dobro, Mick Harrison – banjo, Hamish Davidson – banjo, Lachlan Davidson – mandolin, Andy Baylor – guitar, Mike St.Clair-Miller – double bass, Chris Jacobs – vocals, Ruth Hazleton – harmony vocals.

You’ll find “Donal Baylor – Fiddle” on a lot of albums produced over the last 25 odd years. This is Donal’s first attempt at one of his own. One may ask why this has taken so long. But when dealing with a man of Donal’s calibre, where there is an exceptional ability, there is also a countervailing humility and Donal would simply not be so presumptuous. His many, many fans – everyone who has played with him or sat in the audience, have clearly worn him down. So here we have it, Town and Country Fiddler, from one of the best of those that we know - John Taylor.

Track listing:

1. Daybreak in Dixie
2. Southern Aristocracy
3. White Rose Waltz
4. Goodbye to the Blues
5. Laughing Boy/Old Bell Cow
6. Farewell to Long Hollow
7. Town and Country Fiddler
8. Elzick’s Farewell
9. Fourteen Days in Georgia
10. I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow
11. Jekyll Island
12. The Waltz You Saved For Me
13. My Father’s Footsteps
14. Kansas City Railroad Blues
15. When I Grow Too Old to Dream

My Father’s Footsteps

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Farewell To Long Holow

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Goodbye To The Blues

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CD Release Donal Baylor

Rural Rhythm Records has announced the upcoming 13th April, 2010  release of Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road’s new album, Carolina Hurricane.

The music is hard driving bluegrass  from Carolina Road band members, Lorraine Jordan, Josh Goforth, Ben Greene, Dustin Benson and Brad Hudson, along with guests, Kevin Richardson, Jason Moore, Greg Luck, Alan Perdue, Ronnie Stewart, Josh Crowe, and Wayne Crowe.  The album was produced by Josh Goforth and Lorraine Jordan and engineered by Greg Luck.

For several years now I have witnessed the tremendous amount energy and excitement along with a strong sense of confidence and pride Lorraine Jordan has playing her style of hard drivin’ bluegrass.  This not only holds true to Lorraine Jordan as an artist, but also carries over into several important industry album projects she has been involved with over the years.  Lorraine is such a strong force in the bluegrass community that we wanted her to be a part of our team and Rural Rhythm Family. So, what’s more appropriate for her debut Rural Rhythm album title than Carolina Hurricane. This title surely says it all - Rural Rhythm President, Sam Passamano, Jr.

Artists, CD Release Carolina Road

Rounder Records has announced it has signed American legend, songwriter, actor, and social activist, Willie Nelson to the label.

Nelson is the creative genius behind many chart toppers including Crazy, Hello Walls, Red Headed Stranger, and Stardust. Nelson’s career has spanned six decades and produced more than 200 albums.  He is the president and one of the founding members of Farm Aid, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to keep family farmers on their land.

The new album, Country Music Produced by T Bone Burnett, features old-time banjo master Riley Baugus, double bassist Dennis Crouch, and T Bone himself, all musicians featured on Raising Sand, the 2009 Grammy® award-winning Album of the Year by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.  Nelson tours over 200 days a year and will continue to tour throughout 2010.  He will be performing some songs from Country Music while on tour.

A full tour itinerary is still to be announced.

CD Release, Record Company Rounder Records

For fans of The Patuxent Partners, the news of their new CD will be a welcome call.

Since 1975, the the Patuxent Partners have brought their exciting brand of bluegrass music to festivals, dances, concerts, and special events across the USA and to more recently to Australia.

The partners comprise Bandleader Tom Mindte on mandolin, Bryan Deere on guitar, John Brunschwyler on banjo, Jack Leiderman on fiddle, and Victoria McMullen on bass.

Artists, CD Release Patuxent Partners

Rounder Records’ 40th Anniversary Concert Album, 2nd March.

The Rounder Records’ 40th Anniversary Concert, an album will be released on 2nd March. The album features the concert that celebrated the label’s 40 years in the music industry. It was recorded in October 2009 at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. The concert will also be presented as a PBS television special that will begin airing on the network in 10th March, 2010 and released on DVD in May this year.

The event is an  exhibition of Rounder’s diverse client base, and inc,udes Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bela Fleck, and Irma Thomas along with musical host Minnie Driver, and special guests Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas and Jazz/R&B pianist, Henry Butler.

The CD will include performances by these artists as well as select performances from Steve Martin’s show at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, from Alison Krauss and Robert Plant’s 2008 CMT Crossroads special, and from Madeleine Peyroux’s 2009 concert in Los Angeles.

The event was filmed by High Five Entertainment, and a portion of the ticket proceeds were donated to NARAS’ Grammy in the Schools Programs to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture. The Grammy Foundation influences the lives of young people by opening the windows of opportunity that music can provide for their futures.

CD Release Rounder Records

News from Rural Rhythm Records is that a new album release by Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie, called Southern is scheduled for 12th Jan 2010.

Rural Rhythm advises that Southern is a mixture of contemporary and traditional bluegrass, modern country, English folk, acoustic instrumental and gospel tunes – many of which are unrecorded originals.  The songs were written by highly acclaimed songwriters such as Pete Goble, Vince Gill, Carl Jackson, Chris Hillman, Tim Stafford, Hazel Dickens, Lionel Cartwright and Marty Stuart.

The album also includes numerous highlights:  special guest fiddler, Frank Solivan on the newly released single, I Don’t Care Anymore; a banjo duet with Bill Emerson and Janet Davis along with acoustic lead guitar by John Miller on Grandma’s Tattoos; special guest, world class fiddler and Emmy Lou Harris band member, Rickie Simpkins; and more. Southern will be available in physical and digital formats including:  iTunes, Rhapsody, Borders, Barnes & Nobel, Amazon, Ernest Tubb Record Shops, County Sales, Music Shed, Elderly Instruments and many more.

For more information on Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie including their 2010 tour schedule and new album, please visit their official website. For more information on Rural Rhythm Records, please visit RuralRhythm.com

CD Release Bill Emmerson

Rural Rhythm Announces 2010 Blue Moon Rising

Rural Rhythm Records has announced the forthcoming album release by Blue Moon Rising. The new album will be the band’s fifth album release since their formation in 2000. Chris West, the band’s founder, not only provides his guitar, mandolin and distinctive lead vocal talents, but his original chart-topping songs have become part of the trademark sound of Blue Moon Rising.  The group received a nomination for Emerging Artist of the Year by the International Bluegrass Association (IBMA) in 2006, and West was chosen for the prestigious IBMA Songwriting Showcase the same year.  Numerous artists have recorded his songs throughout the years – garnering him much respect in the bluegrass community.

I’m more excited about Blue Moon Rising’s partnership with Rural Rhythm Records than I have been about anything in a long time.  Blue Moon Rising plans to hit the road running in 2010 with a versatile new lineup and delivering fresh new songs along with fan favorites.  We are very excited about the Fall 2010 release of our new album - Band founder, Chris West.

CD Release Blue Moon Rising, Rural Rhythm Records

Some Day: The Fifteenth Anniversary Collection

The official release date for Blue Highway’s new CD is 19th January but, Blue Highway is making this very special collection available now, exclusively at bluehighwayband.com.

This special Anniversary Collection features three stellar new recordings and ten classics from the band’s Rounder albums. With Some Day: The Fifteenth Anniversary Collection, the musicians who first took to the stage on 31st Dec. 1994, as Blue Highway celebrate their 15th anniversary with songs from each of their four Rounder albums along with three smashing new tracks.

Highlights:

• A new recording of Some Day, Blue Highway’s most requested song;
• A guest appearance by Darrell Scott, providing lead vocals on the debut recording of a powerful song by Darrell and Tim Stafford Bleeding for a Little Peace of Mind;
• A new original by Shawn Lane, as cold and lonesome as can be, and destined to become a bluegrass classic Cold and Lowdown Lonesome Blues and
• Ten classic recordings from Blue Highway’s Rounder recordings, including the 2008 IBMA Song of the Year, Through the Window of a Train, the Grammy-nominated Marbletown, and the Dove- and IBMA-award winning Wondrous Love.

Read a review at lonesomeroadreview.

CD Release Blue Highway