Lightnin’ Ricky Skaggs & His Thundering Kentucky Herd
Fans who think they’ve got Ricky Skaggs pegged as a purveyor of bluegrass chestnuts better prepare themselves for a surprise when the Grammy-winning musician’s new disc, Brand New Strings, hits the streets on September 28.
Fulfilling a promise made when he released his epic “return to bluegrass” CD, Bluegrass Rules! in 1997 – “I want to do new songs…to keep moving on,” he told No Depression back then – the mandolin-wielding singer/bandleader has laid down a collection that catapults him into the front ranks of modern bluegrass interpreters. He won’t be abandoning evergreens from Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers and other first generation greats at personal appearances, but when it comes to recording, Ricky Skaggs is breaking new ground with a set that features the best of today’s songwriters. More...
Superstar Alan Jackson Brings Online Down Home with Friday's Sessions@AOL
Amid a week of high-profile activities around the album release of What I Do, including performances on Today and the Late Show with David Letterman, Grammy-winning Arista Nashville superstar Alan Jackson will be featured on the popular Sessions@AOL series this Friday. More...
Del McCoury Band Leads Way With 12 IBMA Nominations
The International Bluegrass Music Association recently announced that eight-time Entertainers of the Year The Del McCoury Band lead the way this year with twelve IBMA nominations for 2004 including Entertainer, Vocal Group, Instrumental Group, Album of the Year for It’s Just the Night, Male Vocalist for Del McCoury, and individual nods for other members of the band including Rob McCoury (banjo), Mike Bub (bass), Jason Carter (fiddle) and Ronnie McCoury (mandolin). Members of the group participated on three separate records which received nominations for Recorded Event of the Year - Life of Sorrow, Livin’ Lovin’ Losin’: Songs of the Louvin Brothers and WhiteHouse.
The recipients of the 15th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards will be broadcast by radio around the world to more than 300 U.S. markets and 14 foreign networks, thanks to the sponsorship of Sirius Satellite Radio, MerleFest, Sugar Hill Records, GHS Strings and Deering Banjos. The awards are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), which serves as the trade association for the bluegrass music industry. The Award Show is the centerpiece of IBMA’s week-long Trade Show and Bluegrass Fan Fest, slated for October 4 – 10, in Louisville, KY. More...
First-Ever National Bluegrass Special Available On CD & DVD November 9th
Home viewers and listeners can thrill to the enduring power of bluegrass music, the ongoing strength of its founding giants and the brilliance of today’s biggest bluegrass stars in a concert setting when Rainmaker Music releases All*Star Bluegrass Celebration on DVD and CD, Tuesday November 9th. Originally taped at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium for PBS broadcast and first aired as one of the public network’s most popular fund-raising specials, the discs will be distributed by Welk Music Group. More...
Jo Dee Messina To Sing National Anthem At Nfl Kick Off Game Sunday, Sept. 12 In Pittsburgh
Country star Jo Dee Messina will sing the National Anthem Sunday, Sept. 12 in Pittsburgh helping the NFL kick off their regular season. The Pittsburgh Steelers are hosting the Oakland Raiders at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. CBS is the televising network.
Keith Urban ‘Maxes Out’ For Meningitis
Keith Urban's Max It Out for Meningitis takes place January 22, 2005 at Rocketown 401 Sixth Avenue South in Nashville. Max It Out is an event to increase awareness about meningitis and to raise funds for further research. One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit the Edwards Pediatric Meningitis Research Fund via Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. The organization is also holding an eBay auction with autographed items from Gretchen Wilson, Kid Rock, Hank Jr., Joe Nichols, Chely Wright, Toby Keith, Montgomery Gentry and Keith Urban. Get all the details, by clicking on http://MaxItOut.org/
Jo Dee Messina Nominated For 17th Annual Boston Music Awards
Curb recording artist, Jo Dee Messina, a native of Holliston, Massachusetts, has been nominated for the 17th Annual Boston Music Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year. Messina is a past recipient of several BMA awards, including Outstanding Country Artist and Best Female Vocalist.
The BMAs is one of the country’s most prestigious annual music events. This year’s event, which will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at the Avalon Ballroom in Boston, features award presentations honoring the region’s top musicians from a variety of musical genres in 29 categories. More...