VABluegrass.com

Well known Bluegrass Promoter Sterling Belcher of Rocky Mount, VA passed away. For 30 years he organized the Festival in The Pines.

OBIT

Kenny Haddock the well known dobro player and Richmond, VA native passed away. He had been part of many band Including Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mt Boys as well as the Country Gentlemen.

OBIT.

Just a few that are on my radar -

Shockoe Bottom Boys are playing at Shenanigan’s in Richmond on Friday Oct 1.

Saturday Oct 2 the outstanding Virginia Bluegrass Band Mill Run will be playing at Luckett’s at 7:00 pm. Be warned that Luckett’s web site has not been updated with new schedule for 2010 /2011 but they should be having almost weekly show for the rest of the fall / winter season.

Virginia State Fair Bluegrass Day on Saturday October 2nd as well. Code Blue, Hagar Mountain Boys and Slack Family among others.

James River Bluegrass Association brings James King to Madison Heights,VA on Sunday Oct 3 and David Davis & The Warrior River Boys on Oct 22nd. November 12 will be Jeanette Williams Band and Nov 26th will be the great Traditional sounds of Charles Frazier & The Virginia Ramblers.

Richmond Folk Festival October 8-10 will include Tony Rice as well as Peter Rowan Band.

Amelia Family Campground in Amelia Virginia will have a Halloween party with Rhonda Vincent.

Acoustic Endeavors will be performing at Annie Moore’s in Roanoke on October 16th and Blue Mule will be performing on October 29th.

Already mentioned Commonwealth Bluegrass Friday Oct 1st at Legends Brewery in Richmond. Also October 22nd at Grandpa Eddie’s in Richmond. Big Boss Combo is playing Friday Oct 8th at Ironhorse in Ashland, VA and Friday October 15th at Legend’s Brewery.

The Churchmen will be playing at the Randolph Memorial Baptist Church in Madison Heights, VA on Oct 9th and Daystar Ministries in Bassett, VA on Oct 17th.

Church Yard Grass will be performing on Oct 3rd in Sandston, VA and October 17th in Richmond, VA.

Copper Ridge will be in Richmond, VA on 10th, at Grandpa Eddie’s in Richmond on Oct 15th, in Lawrenceville, VA on Oct 17th and at County Seat Restaurant in Powhatan, VA on Nov 6th.

The Courtney Hollow Band will be in Syria Virginia on October 10th for the Graves Mt Apple Festival and Stanardsville, VA on Nov 6.

Dark Hollow Bluegrass Band is playing Oct 3 In Culpeper, VA, Oct 5th in Ladysmith, Oct 16th in Syria and also at Lucketts’ Community Center, Lucketts, VA on the same day.

Flatland Bluegrass Band is playing Oct 17th in Midlothian,VA and Oct 23rd in Hickory, VA and then again on the same date in Surry, VA.

Seldom Scene is performing in Kilmarnock, VA on Oct 2nd, and Oct 9th in Berryville, VA.

Junior Sisk will be in Rocky Mount, VA on Oct 8th and Halifax, VA on Oct 9th.

Slack Family we already mentioned will be at the Virginia State Fair on Oct 2nd and they will be back in Richmond on Oct 3rd.

Willow Branch will be performing Oct 16th in Keysville, VA, and Oct 30th in Unison, VA at Heritage Days as well as Nov 13th with Virginia Ramblers at Carysbrook Performing Arts Center, Carysbrook, VA (Fork Union, VA)

This only scratches the surface. If you didn’t see your favorite band on here check out their website and see where they are going to BE!!!

Sidekick Gary and I took a road trip to Mechanicsville tonight to see Commonwealth Bluegrass Band play at Gus’ Italian Cafe. It was great to see this new band with a veteran line up get up and kick us some traditional hard driving grass. They are playing again tomorrow at Legends (Oct 1) and have several central Virginia gigs coming up before the end of the year. Check out their website to find out about their latest gigs.

Thanks to everyone who came out, volunteered or otherwise helped in putting on the Michelle Nixon concert at St John’s UCC in Richmond, VA on Sept 11, 2010. It was a fantastic show and the most enthusiastic crowd I have seen in a long, long time.

Banner

A member of St John’s had his father bring up his BBQ “Cooker” from Charlotte, NC and set up out side of St John’s starting late on Friday Sept 10th. They served over 50lbs of BBQ Chicken to homeless and needy people while they were working on cooking the Pork BBQ for Saturday night.

Many of the Church volunteer stood vigil all night long making sure to add wood to the fire every 30 minutes. There were also volunteer who worked in the kitchen the next day doing the many little jobs required to get ready for serving BBQ Dinner.

JEB Stuart

Even JEB Stuart watched in anticipation as everyone at St John’s prepared for the festivities. Many tired volunteers worked under stress as they wondered if everyone was going to the NASCAR race…or would we have visitors at St John. 200lbs of pork hung in the balance.

Pastor Jon

Pastor Jon taking out the trash…even he was saying prayers for a successful turn out.

Michelle Nixon Bus

Michelle Nixon & Drive arrived about 3 1/2 hours early…First prayer answered.

Children with Michelle

Children have always loved Michelle!!! Maybe some future musicians?

Michelle dancing with kids

First the kids starting dancing. Then Michelle joined them.

Dancing at St John's

Slim Jim and dance partner shaking a leg during Michelle’s performance.  Over 100 people showed up for BBQ Dinner and over 130 were there for the concert!  It was a wonderful time for everyone.

The Virginia Bluegrass and Country Music Foundation, Inc. has announced they are hosting their fall Bluegrass festival Sept 24-25th. At the George Winn Memorial Park. See Details

I received an email from Don Depoy – the Me in the duo “Me and Martha”. It updates a lot of things they have going on in the Shenandoah Valley. Here are some highlights…

MMEDIATE RELEASE (Harrisonburg)

Bluegrass and Mountain Music Jam Sessions at JMU

Bluegrass and Mountain Music Jam Sessions at James Madison University every Tuesday evening 6 to 9:30 pm for 2010: September 21, 28; October 5, 12, 19 ,26; November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; December 7, 14; For 2011: January 11, 18, 25; February 1, 8, 15, 22; March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; April 5, 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10, 17. The Jams are held at Memorial Hall, 395 South High Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia (Old Harrisonburg High School on Route 42) in the Forum Room next to Java City Café. The all-acoustic jams are free and open to the public. Listeners as well as pickers of all ages and abilities are welcome. Mountain Music includes: old-time, bluegrass, gospel, and traditional country music. NEW THIS SEASON! “Beginners Slow-Jam” from 6-6:30pm. During this time beginners to the jam format will have a chance to learn some of the standard jam tunes as well as what is expected in the jam “circle”. Additionally, FREE instrument and voice group lessons will be offered. The Jam is sponsored by the JMU Music Department and the Shenandoah Valley Mountain Music Makers Association.

Don helped Develop the Shenandoah Music Trail – http://www.shenandoahmusictrail.com/

Also instrumental in putting on a new Bluegrass Festival coming July 2-4 in Luray in 2011. See this flyer.

Well I had an awesome time at the Central Virginia Bluegrass Festival in Amelia this past weekend…I know it doesn’t help anyone to brag about how much fun the last festival was…but mark this one on your Calendar for next year and make sure to check out some of the artist who were performing.

Of course Dailey & Vincent were entertaining. Not as strictly Bluegrass as when they first started but always very entertaining. Not only do they sound great but they have a wonderful stage presence between songs and know how to keep the audience in stitches.

Another top performer who knew how to keep us riveted to the stage was Josh Williams. He is a lot more classic country or acoustic country than Bluegrass…but I enjoyed every minute. If you like George Jones or any of the solid Country of the 50’s and 60’s…then you will love a Josh Williams show. Amazing lead guitar player as well as an awesome vocalist. His sidemen were top notch as well.

Another stand out from this past weekend was Virginia native Larry Stephenson. He performed his hit Knoxville Boy off of his previous album as well as some of his most recent material from his 20th Anniversary Album. Larry seemed at such ease and make everything look so easy while he had the audience on the edge of their lawn chairs. And his purple shirt was soaked with sweat at the same time because of the heat and humidity. Kenny Ingram had him beat though…looked like he had jumped in a swimming pool with that pretty purple shirt before he got on stage…or took a dip in the duck pond out back (Jamie Dailey tried that one out).

I didn’t take my Camera to Amelia this trip so I don’t have any visual proof…but the best parts of the festival was the music anyhow. One more band I want to mention is Audie Blaylock. It is amazing to me how four people can get such a complete hard driving Bluegrass Sound…and with no mandolin. (I play mandolin so I’m partial). If you love Traditional Hard Driving Bluegrass then this is the band for you. These guys are tight, and I mean that in a good way. The vocals are spot on and the instrumentals are clear, crisp and often at break neck speeds.

Audie performs with his band “Redline” which is made up of three very skilled musicians who have all been with him for at lesat three years. Patrick McAvinue played the fiddle as true and effortless as anyone your going to find on the circuit today. Evan Ward’s clean but hard driving banjo style seemed to push Audie to even higher levels on his guitar breaks…and to keep everyone in perfect time was Matt Wallace with his spot on bass playing.

If you missed Audie Blaylock and Redline at Amelia, there is always this Saturday at Mr B’s in Ladysmith, VA. Audie Blaylock and Redline will be back in Virginia to wow the crowds for a second week in a row…doesn’t get much better than that!

Also at Mr B’s will be Virginia Ramblers, Junior Sisk, Bluegrass Brothers and Mill Run among others. If I remember correctly Mr B has that great fried Chicken too to keep you from starving to death during the festivities.

Richmond, VA – Award Winning Bluegrass Artist Michelle Nixon will be performing with her band “Drive” at St John’s United Church of Christ in Richmond, VA for their very first Bluegrass and BBQ fundraiser on Sept 11, 2010.   Michelle Nixon is a two time recipient of the IBMA Recording Event of the Year Award for her work on the “Daughter’s of Bluegrass” albums as well as a former Female Vocalist of The Year (Traditional) Award recipient from SPBGMA.

St John’s UCC was founded in 1843 to serve the growing German speaking community of Antebellum Richmond.  St John’s still cherishes some of the traditions that are associated with their German heritage such as the annual German Dinner in October and Stollen Baking in December.  In addition to these traditions St John’s has been broadening their traditions in order to celebrate their growing diversity throughout their history.  This year a Carolina Style BBQ dinner followed by a Bluegrass performance has been added for the first time as part of the Church’s diverse celebrations as well as a unique fundraiser.

Come join the members of St John’s for a celebration in great food and unforgettable music from one of America’s premiere Bluegrass artists.  Tickets are $10 for the BBQ and $15 for the Michelle Nixon and Drive concert.  To learn more about Michelle Nixon and Drive go to their website at www.MichelleNixon.com.  For more information about St John’s BBQ & Bluegrass fundraiser please visit www.thirdhillproductions.com