International News

Austin Hefflefinger Joins Nu-Blu

21 Jul, 19 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

Nu-Blu has announced the addition of Austin Hefflefinger to its band. At just 14 years old, the banjo extraordinaire has already began to gain momentum, as the reigning winner of the Maryland State Banjo Competition in both 2017 and 2018, along with finishing first place at the 2018 Scott Street Five String Finals. Fans can catch him on all upcoming Nu-Blu tour dates.

I think it’s important to love the music that you’re playing. That’s the first thing that attracted me to Nu-Blu. There’s just something that ‘clicks’ playing on stage with them. I feel blessed to have this opportunity, and can’t wait to meet new people on the road – Autsin Hefflefinger.

Nu-Blu is on tour in support of their latest DVD, The Stories We Can Tell. Included on the project is exclusive interviews, along with never-before-told stories about struggles members Daniel and Carolyn have faced on the road and throughout life. The band has also taken over as the permanent hosts of “Bluegrass Ridge,” the genre’s premiere television show, which is syndicated nationwide and airs in 110 million homes weekly.

It’s always inspiring to find a young musician with the talent and passion that Austin plays with. We’re excited to have him as our new bandmate and are looking forward to what the future brings – Carolyn Routh.

Rebel Records Signs Band of Ruhks

11 Jul, 19 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

Rebel Records signed up bluegrass supergroup Band of Ruhks to its artist roster. The band has just finalised its second recording, their first in four years. The Rebel debut, Authentic, is due out this Fall with a single to be released in August.

Comprised of Ronnie Bowman (bass), Kenny Smith (guitar), Don Rigsby (mandolin) and Brian Fesler (banjo), these gentlemen have made timeless music together and separately for decades. All of them are bluegrass veterans with proven track records, and each member has had a long standing relationship with Rebel Records.

We are thrilled to be working once again with these outstanding musicians. We have always appreciated their individual contributions to the bluegrass world, and it now gives us great pleasure to work with them collectively – Mark Freeman, President of Rebel Records.

Award-winning vocalist and songwriter Ronnie Bowman rose to prominence through recordings he made for Rebel. He got his start with Allen Mills and the Lost & Found and was a member of the Lonesome River Band when they recorded their landmark album Carrying The Tradition (REB-1690). In 1995, he released his first solo project Cold Virginia Night (REB-1704), which won IBMA’s Album of the Year and Song of the Year (for the title track) that same year.

Known for his dazzling guitar work, Kenny Smith put out four stellar albums on Rebel with his talented wife Amanda Smith during the first decade of the new century, including three secular albums and a gospel release, Tell Someone (REB-1821). Kenny Smith is excited to share the band’s newest effort with the bluegrass community.

Sparked by Ronnie’s challenge to write our own album, the end result was something uniquely inside of all of us! This collection of mostly new original songs came to life under Ben Isaacs’ direction and Rebel Records’ commitment to releasing new and authentic bluegrass – Kenny Smith.

Mandolinist Don Rigsby’s career has led him to cross paths with first-generation pioneers as well as the millennial generation as a singer, songwriter, producer, teacher and historian. Rigsby has enjoyed a fruitful association with Rebel dating back to when he fronted the band Rock County who released two albums for the label in the early 2000s. More recently, he has recorded three solo albums for Rebel including Doctor’s Orders (REB-1841), the very successful all-star tribute to his hero Ralph Stanley.

Rounding out the quartet is Brian Fesler, a hard driving, innovative banjo player. Fesler’s relationship with Rebel dates back the furthest having performed on the Lonesome River Band’s second Rebel LP, 1988’s Saturday Night, Sunday Morning (REB-1660).

We told modern stories in the tradition of real bluegrass – true, fresh and exciting. I’m very happy to be a part of it and happy to be back on Rebel, home to so many of my favorite artists over the years – Brian Fesler.

Band of Ruhks’ highly anticipated, sophomore album will be released this Fall. With ten out of the twelve songs being originals from the band, Authentic is sure to please lovers of traditional bluegrass.

More Information is available at:

2019 ROMP Festival Look In

3 Jul, 19 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s 16th annual ROMP Festival saw high attendance numbers last weekend drawing over 26,500 attendees to Yellow Creek Park in Owensboro, Kentucky. Festival attendees made the trek to ROMP and the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum from forty states and six countries outside of the United States: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and Uganda.

Headlining the festival were Hall of Fame members Ricky Skaggs and Del McCoury. Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder featured special guest Patty Loveless, and Sam Bush closed out the main stage Saturday night. Also appearing were bluegrass/folk-rock favorites Trampled by Turtles and Americana music icon, Steve Earle. In addition, Billy Strings, The Wood Brothers, The Travelin’ McCourys, The Larry Keel Experience, and Della Mae performed, among others.

ROMP Fest is all about the experience, and that was so evident as I watched this year’s event unfold. Ticket holders often pick and choose which days to attend based on the lineup, but this year we experienced large crowds every day of the festival.” Joslin continued, “There are just so many things to do during the event, and that keeps more people engaged throughout all four days. We are definitely in the sweet spot with regard to attendance creating a lot of momentum while maintaining the quality of the event – Chris Joslin, Executive Director, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

During the four day festioval, Saturday’s attendance was the highest with over 9,500 people filling the festival grounds. Over 2,300 chose to camp on-site throughout the festival, with 325 RV’s lining the festival field. ROMP also provided four separate tent camping areas for attendees to utilize.

New this year, more activities were held during the day at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, located in downtown Owensboro, Kentucky. Artist meet and greets took place in the lobby along with a few songs from festival favorites Rhonda Vincent, Del McCoury, and Della Mae. Documentary films were also featured, in addition to perform

ances from Relic, Glenville State College bluegrass students, and King’s Highway. A simulcast of Saturday’s performances was shown at the Hall of Fame, allowing ROMP fans the opportunity to view the performances in the comfort of a state-of-the-art theatre.

ROMP is a community event, supported by over two hundred volunteers, sixty sponsors, and countless partnerships. Dates for ROMP 2020 have been set for 24th to the 27th June. More details regarding next year’s festival will be released later this year.

Chris Davis Joins the Grascals

10 May, 19 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

The Grascals have announced the addition of bluegrass veteran, Chris Davis on guitar and lead vocals. Davis is no stranger to bluegrass music, having worked with some of the top bands in the industry since he was a teenager. Growing up in the bluegrass hotbed of southwestern Ohio, Davis follows in the tradition of The Osborne Brothers, Larry Sparks, Dave Evans, and more bluegrass stars who got their start in the Dayton, Ohio area.

Chris is a third generation bluegrass musician. Chris’ father, Danny Davis, is a respected traditional bluegrass singer in the Miami Valley of Ohio. It is with his father and grandfather (Elzie Davis) that Chris got his start as a teenager playing alongside them in the Davis Brothers Band. Chris remained a fixture in the regional bluegrass scene for many years, before bursting on to the national scene with Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time in 2006.

In addition to Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, he has worked with some of the biggest names in bluegrass and beyond. Over the years, Davis has provided support to Melvin & Ray Goins, Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers, Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, Wildfire, Marty Raybon & Full Circle, and even country superstars, Diamond Rio.

Chris Davis’ talent as a harmony vocalist and a multi-instrumentalist is very well known to bluegrass fans. However, he is really excited for the opportunity to showcase his abilities as a lead singer and guitarist.

I’ve always wanted to play guitar and sing lead in a band, and I never dreamed it would be with The Grascals! I am so excited for this change in my music career, and I can’t wait to hit the road and get in the studio… this is going to be great – Chris Davis.

The Grascals are really looking forward to this new chapter. Having been a fan of Chris for a long time, they are excited to showcase his talents, and show audiences why his lead singing is the “best kept secret in bluegrass,” according to Danny Roberts, founding member of The Grascals.

We (The Grascals) can’t wait for our fans and friends to hear Chris Davis with us in his new role as lead singer/guitar player, along with John Bryan.
Chris is a gifted, soulful singer and a great guitar player, and the vocal blend with Terry (Smith) and John (Bryan) is outstanding! The Grascals are very pleased to welcome Chris Davis to the band — Danny Roberts.

The Grascals’ award-winning banjo player, Kristin Scott Benson previously worked with Davis and can speak first hand for what he brings to the table.

I traveled with Chris for five years prior to The Grascals, and I always enjoyed working with him — musically and personally. I’m really stoked that he’s one of us (The Grascals) now – Kristin Scott Benson.

The addition of Chris Davis to The Grascals follows founding member, Terry Eldredge’s decision to leave the road. The Grascals wish Terry all of the best in his future endeavors. He has been a veteran of the bluegrass industry for decades, and has been a hero to many, including Kristin Scott Benson.

I grew up watching Terry Eldredge play and sing. He’s a hero of mine and it has been an absolute privilege to stand beside him for eleven years – Kristin Scott Benson.

More importantly than gracing bluegrass stages for three decades, Terry Eldredge has been a friend to the entire bluegrass industry, and we will definitely miss his smile on the road. Fellow Grascals founder, Terry Smith shares these words about his good buddy, “El”.

It has always been hard for people to think of one Terry without thinking of the other. After nearly 30 years of performing together, it’s tough for me to even imagine being on stage without him. I have never had a better friend or a better band mate than Terry Eldredge. I will certainly miss him and I wish him the very best.
I have known Chris Davis and his musical talent for some time. He is a wonderful musician and singer and I am looking forward to having him as one of the Grascals – Terry “Smitty” Smith.

We wish you the best, El. Once a Grascal, always a Grascal. Thanks for the memories.

The Grascals are currently working on a new album for Mountain Home Records, slated to be released in 2019. For information on the band, visit their website, www.grascals.com.

Bluegrass Country Soul Movie Restoration Almost Complete.

5 May, 19 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

Crowd Funding Campaign Aims to Save Classic Film Made at Legendary Festival

Reportedly the first feature film about bluegrass music (Washington Post, July 6, 1972), Bluegrass Country Soul is approaching a deadline in its crowd funding campaign on 15th May, 2019, when naming opportunities for the restoration project must conclude.

Bluegrass Country Soul features performances from first-generation bluegrass icons such as Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, Chubby Wise, Jimmy Martin and Mac Wiseman as well as stars of today such as Sam Bush, Del McCoury and Ricky Skaggs. Others in the film are: J.D. Crowe, The Osborne Brothers, Tony Rice, The Lilly Brothers with Tex Logan and Don Stover, The Bluegrass 45 (from Japan), The New Deal String Band, and, in a rare appearance, Roy Acuff.

Earlier last month, we were finally able to see how much the old 35mm print has faded. Fortunately, with the assistance of modern digital technology, Bluegrass Country Soul can still be restored – Albert Ihde, the film’s producer/director.

This is a labor of love for Ihde and his wife, Ellen Pasternack, who is the Executive Director on this project.

Bluegrass fans who join the campaign at a minimum of $100 will receive a multi-media box-set when they come out on 1st September, and can choose to have their name, and/or the name of someone they wish to honor, in the closing credits of the film and book. Higher levels of sponsorship are available too – Ellen Pasternack.

This newly restored version of the film will premiere at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Owensboro, KY, on 2nd November, and will be donated to the museum’s permanent collection.

The box-set includes a Blu-ray, high-definition and a standard DVD combo pack, a coffee table book with tons of photos, a brand-new documentary about the festival and film, two CDs of music not heard in the film, and more.

We’ve been interviewing musicians and others who were at the festival, and they will be included in a second commentary track. Noted bluegrass historian Fred Bartenstein is updating his earlier commentary track – Ellen Pasternack.

To order a box-set, learn more about the contents, for sponsorship details, videos, and to sign up for our newsletter, please visit the Bluegrass Country Soul website.

For additional information, please contact us at info@bluegrasscountrysoul.com or call: (805) 965-1508. YOu can also write to:

Bluegrass Country Soul
PO Box 23211
Santa Barbara, CA 93121

Kruger Brothers – Three of a Kind

16 Apr, 19 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

The Kruger Brothers are unique in the world of bluegrass music as they blend their instruments and voices to a wide variety of music styles from classical to traditional bluegrass and beyond. For those of us familiar with their music and those who have seen them perform live in several parts of Australia , here is an article from the Greenville Journal in North Carolina, now their home state.

It’s a rare band whose most recent lineup change came 30 years ago, but that’s when bassist Joel Landsberg joined Jens and Uwe Kruger in the aptly named acoustic music group the Kruger Brothers. The European-born Kruger siblings (Jens plays banjo and Uwe plays guitar) have been together as a band since 1979, crafting a daring-but-beguiling blend of folk, classical, and bluegrass music that’s surprisingly flexible.

Nefesh Mountain on Tour.

11 Apr, 19 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

Critically acclaimed, pioneering bluegrass band Nefesh Mountain will embark on a 26-city tour from April to August of 2019. The group is the first of its kind to blend old-time musical traditions with a rich, Jewish cultural heritage. The American leg of the tour will include appearances in Nashville, Portland, Denver, Miami, and Washington, D.C., among many other cities across the country. The band will also appear at the Jacob’s Ladder Festival in Safed, Israel. The band looks forward to weaving its unique blend of bluegrass, old-time, and American roots with its own backgrounds as Jewish Americans as they crisscross the globe on their upcoming tour.

Creators, band leaders, and husband and wife team Doni Zasloff and Eric Lindberg are the heart of this eclectic offering, and along with longtime band mate and fiddle player Alan Grubner, they are now joined by David Goldenberg (Bradford Lee, Rachel Baiman) on mandolin and Max Johnson (Molly Tuttle, Jeff Austin) on bass. National Mandolin champion Goldenberg was one of the first mandolin graduates from the Berklee College of Music and has garnered a reputation as a rare player who maintains a revolving affinity for bluegrass mandolin styles, fiddle tunes, and the craft of songwriting. Johnson is “an intrepid composer, architect of sound, and beast on the bass” (NYC Jazz Record) who harvests the wild energy and joy of bluegrass and jazz traditions alike. This newly formed quintet is adept with a string virtuosity that is reflected in their arrangements of modern folk/bluegrass combined with songs of the heart and a sense of oneness and purpose that inspires all of their work.

Nefesh Mountain is planting new seeds for the 21st century, an age ripe for more cultural diversity and harmony. Their most recent album, Beneath the Open Sky, has been featured in Rolling Stone, Billboard, No Depression, and Bluegrass Today.

4.05 – Miami, FL – Temple Sinai – North Dade
4.06 – Miami, FL – Temple Sinai – North Dade
4.12 – Washington, DC – Washington Hebrew
4.13 – Laurel, MD – Oseh Shalom Synagogue
4.14 – Chevy Chase, MD – Ray’s Meadow Park
5.03 – Sandy Springs, GA – Temple Sinai
5.04 – Sandy Springs, GA – Temple Sinai
5.08 – East Rockaway, NY – Hewlett Jewish Center
5.16 – Tiberias, Israel – Jacob’s Ladder Festival
5.17 – Tiberias, Israel – Jacob’s Ladder Festival
5.18 – Tiberias, Israel – Jacob’s Ladder Festival

5.18 – Tsfat, Israel – Mystic Mountain Brewery
5.29 – Evanston, IL – Space
6.02 – Louisville, KY – Shalom Music Festival
6.03 – Lexington, KY – Woodsongs at the Lyric Theatre
6.07 – Sands Point, NY – The Community Synagogue
6.19 – Nashville, TN – The Station Inn
6.21 – Washington, DC – Adas Israel
7.06 – Kunkletown, PA – Camp Harlam
7.11 – South Sterling, PA – Camp Havaya
7.20 – Denver, CO – The Walnut Room
7.21 – Carbondale, CO – Steve’s Guitars

7.22 – Aspen, CO – Aspen Jewish Congregation
7.24 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
7.26 – Cleveland, GA – Camp Coleman
7.30 – Portland, OR – Newcaje Conference
7.31 – Portland, OR – The Old Church
8.02 – Vail, CO – B’nai Vail
8.03 – Vail, CO – B’nai Vail
8.04 – Lenox, MA – Duffin Theatre
8.08 – Cambridge, MA – Club Passim
8.09 – Middletown, CT – The Buttonwood Tree
8.17 – Idaho Springs, CO – Private Event

The Michael Cleveland Story Now Available

6 Mar, 19 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

He’s a bluegrass superstar and a rising talent across other genres. He’s an icon and an inspiration. He is eleven-time IBMA  Fiddle Player of the Year and even a Grammy Award nominee, but that’s just a small part of Michael Cleveland’s story. Some even consider him the greatest fiddle player of all time.

Michael Cleveland was born blind and with a cleft palate, and in early childhood lost 80% of the hearing in his left ear. In spite of physical challenges, he undertook a musical career undeterred and has ascended to the highest possible echelons of his genre.

Flamekeeper: The Michael Cleveland Story now released online, is a feature-length documentary for audiences worldwide.

Director John Presley brings his expert eye and heart for storytelling to the project. The film, while visually engaging, was also designed with Cleveland himself in mind.

I learned that our visually impaired friends see the world in an entirely different way. One of my goals was to create a film that Michael would be able to experience and enjoy through sound alone. I have felt deeply honoured to tell his inspirational story and present his talent to new audiences around the world – John Presley.

Years of commercial and short film work, along with his experience as a musician, led the director on a journey to uncover how Cleveland became the artist—and person—he is today.

When I was first approached about the idea of a documentary film about me, I was definitely surprised, and it still seems so surreal. For as long as I’ve been playing music professionally, I have made it a point to keep the focus on the music and not the fact that I am visually impaired. I decided that if I was going to have a career in music, I wanted to make it on my abilities as a musician and not the fact that I was blind. After I talked to John and took a few days to think it over and run it by my family and the rest of the Flamekeeper team, I realized that this could be an inspiration to some young kid somewhere with a dream that looks as impossible as it seemed to me when I was growing up and dreaming of a career in music – Michael Cleveland.

Flamekeeper features interviews with 14-time Grammy Award winner Bela Fleck and 21-time Grammy Award winner Vince Gill. Also appearing in the film are such music notables as Sam Bush, Jens Kruger, Jeff White, the Bibelhauser Brothers and Andy Statman.

It’s wicked to see how much music he pulls out of a bow. He’s untouchable – Vince Gill.

Flamekeeper was produced by Validate Films and is Presley’s first feature-length documentary film. Presley was joined on the project by co-producer Cortlandt Ingram, a familiar name in the bluegrass world. After winning over one hundred fiddle contests early in his career, Ingram founded a company providing audio and lighting resources for events across the nation. Ingram’s knowledge of the bluegrass genre was an invaluable asset to the film’s production.

Vale Mac Wiseman 1925 – 2019

26 Feb, 19 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

Mac Wissman has occupied pride of place in the bluegrass arena for more than 70 of his 93 years. He was born on 23rd May, 1925, in Crimora, Virginia.

Mac Wiseman was part of the foundation of bluegrass and modern country music. He remained a valuable mentor and ambassador for both genres until his death this month 24th February.

Wiseman early hits included Jimmy Brown The Newsboy and ‘Tis Sweet To Be Remembered. While he went on to record over 200 or so projects.

His musical career began as upright bass player for country singer Molly O’Day’s Cumberland Mountain Folks. He later went on to play with Flatt and Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys and with Bill Monroe’s band The Bluegrass Boys.

In 1951, Wiseman released his first solo single, Tis Sweet to Be Remembered. The success of this release was the beginning of his solo career.

Mac Wiseman was one of the founders of the Country Music Association (CMA). In 1986 he co-founded the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA).

Wiseman was often referred to by a radio personalities as The Voice with a Heart. Other songs he recorded and became noted for are Shackles and Chains, I’ll Be All Smiles Tonight, Jimmy Brown the Newsboy, and Love Letters in the Sand.

More recently, in 2014, he released an album of songs inspired by his mother’s handwritten notebooks of songs she heard on the radio when Mac was a child: Songs From My Mother’s Hand.

Mac Wiseman was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honour in 1993. He also received a 2008 National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts, which is the United States’ highest honour in the folk and traditional arts. In 2014 he was inducted into the Veteran Era category of the Country Music Hall of Fame, which is given to an artist who achieved national prominence more than 45 years ago.

Flamekeeper: The Michael Cleveland Story

14 Feb, 19 by Greg McGrath Leave a Comment

Michael Cleveland Movie — L-R Cortlandt Ingram, John Presley, Michael Cleveland, Sam Bush, Ricky Skaggs, Bela Fleck. Photo: Peyton Hogue

Last night, the stirring biographical documentary, Flamekeeper: The Michael Cleveland Story, premiered at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The film tells the story of Michael Cleveland, an iconic and sought-after fiddle player who has overcome great personal hardship to become one of Bluegrass music’s most revered instrumentalists.

Michael Cleveland is the International Bluegrass Music Association’s 11-time, most-awarded, Fiddle Player of the Year, and he has won Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year six times. Cleveland also fronts the 5-time Instrumental Group of the Year, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, which he founded in 2006.

Director John Presley brings his expert eye and heart for storytelling to the project. The film, while visually engaging, was also designed with Cleveland himself in mind.

I learned that our visually impaired friends see the world in an entirely different way. One of my goals was to create a film that Michael would be able to experience and enjoy through sound alone – John Presley.

Years of commercial and short film work, along with his experience as a musician, led the director on a journey to uncover how Cleveland became the artist and person he is today.

I have felt deeply honoured to tell his inspirational story and present his talent to new audiences around the world – John Presley.

When I was first approached about the idea of a documentary film about me, I was definitely surprised, and it still seems so surreal,. For as long as I’ve been playing music professionally, I have made it a point to keep the focus on the music and not the fact that I am visually impaired. I decided that if I was going to have a career in music, I wanted to make it on my abilities as a musician and not the fact that I was blind. After I talked to John and took a few days to think it over and run it by my family and the rest of the Flamekeeper team, I realised that this could be an inspiration to some young kid somewhere with a dream that looks as impossible as it seemed to me when I was growing up and dreaming of a career in music – Michael Cleveland.

Flamekeeper features interviews with 14-time Grammy Award winner Bela Fleck and 21-time Grammy Award winner Vince Gill. along with such music notables as Sam Bush, Jens Kruger, Jeff White, the Bibelhauser Brothers and Andy Statman.

It’s wicked to see how much music he pulls out of a bow. He’s untouchable – Vince Gill.

The evening was hosted by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Peter Cooper and was attended by a who’s who of bluegrass icons including Fleck, Bush, Gill, Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Jeff White, Becky Buller, and others.

Flamekeeper will be released globally to audiences online through Amazon and other streaming platforms on 1st March 2019. For more information visit FlamekeeperFilm.com.