2016 SATURDAY AM BLUEGRASS AT THE OWL

The band schedule for Saturday morning breakfast at the Owl Cafe in Laurel. MT, has been announced:

Jan. 2: Highway 302
Jan. 9: Spur of the Moment
Jan. 16: Yesterday’s Wine
Jan. 23: Hillbillings
Jan. 30: Home Stretch
Feb. 6: Highway 302
Feb. 13: Spur of the Moment
Feb. 20: Hillbillings
Feb. 27: Maverick String Stretchers

This line up should provide some good bluegrassy picking.  I have heard all the bands except "Home Stretch."  Someone will need to fill me in on them.

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YBA HAS NEW LEADERSHIP

The Yellowstone Bluegrass Association annual election has resulted in new officers and board members.  Edd Tremblay of Red Lodge is the new president and Mark Millard is now secretary-treasurer.  Sharon Karlson and Scott Moore have stepped down and been replaced on the board by Lee Jackson and Dan Scheaffer. They are all very capable individuals who will continue to keep bluegrass music alive and well in the Billings areal.  As a former professional musician Edd brings a great deal of expertise to the YBA.  We look forward to their leadership.    

WINTER PICK DATES ANNOUNCED

Robert Grosvenor has announced that January 29, 30 & 31 are the dates for Winter Pick 2016.  Get your reservations in soon for the Super 8 Building B.  We don't want it filled up with tourists too soon. This is one big bluegrass party.  If you haven't attended make 2016 the year to do so. You won't regret it.

CHRISTMAS SHOWS WITH RHONDA VINCENT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 14, 2015) – The countdown to Christmas is on, and Rhonda Vincent is celebrating with multiple TV appearances, including SiriusXM’ s “Bluegrass Junction” and “Music City Roots” on Dec. 16 and TBN’s “Praise the Lord” on Dec. 17. The International Bluegrass Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year’s latest album, Christmas Time, has received rave reviews. The critically-acclaimed project has recently been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the Boston Globe, to name a few. You can also read an in-depth interview with the six-time Grammy nominee in the latest issue of NASH Country Weekly, where she opens up about the recording process of the star-studded album, which features collaborations with Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ronnie Milsap, Lorrie Morgan and more.

Upcoming Rhonda Vincent Appearances:
Dec. 16 at 10:00am/CT - Track-by-Track (SiriusXM Bluegrass Junction)
Dec. 16 at 7:00pm/CT - Music City Roots (musiccityroots.com)
Dec. 17 at 9:00pm/CT - Praise the Lord (TBN)
Dec. 19 at 7:00pm/CT - Reno’s Old Time Music (RFD)
Dec. 24 at 6:30am/CT - Reno’s Old Time Music (RFD)

Bluegrass fans are in for a treat as Vincent returns to SiriusXM’ s “Bluegrass Junction” on Dec. 16 for a very special episode of “Track-by-Track.” Tune in as the reigning IBMA “Female Vocalist of the Year” opens up about all 12 songs from the instant holiday classic, which recently received a 4 out of 5 star rating in Country Music People magazine. The show, which is hosted by Kyle Cantrell, premieres on Dec. 16.

Vincent makes her return to the popular Jim Lauderdale-hosted show “Music City Roots” on Dec.16. The special John McEuen 70th Birthday Jam and Christmas show airs live at 7pm CT, and will also feature performances by Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Jesse McReynolds and more. Broadcast on Wednesday nights from 7pm to 9pm, CST, “Music City Roots,” Live From The Factory showcases Nashville’s astonishing music scene, from Country and Americana to more progressive interpreters of tradition — a “roots and branches” format that brings together fans of different tastes and generations. Presented live from the stage of the The Factory, this show showcases purveyors of authenticity across many genres. Fans can stream the show LIVE, or listen in at musiccityroots.com.

TBN’s hit show “Praise the Lord” will also feature Vincent performing songs from Christmas Time. The unique holiday-themed episode will bring the Christmas spirit front and center on the faith-based program, which is hosted by gospel singer Jason Crabb. The program brings the highest caliber of guests from well-known celebrities to laypersons for interview, as well as, singers, musicians, evangelists and the coverage of revivals and crusades from around the world. This award winning program has been on each week night for over 30 years. Catch Rhonda Vincent’s episode on Dec. 17.

Rhonda Vincent returns to RFD’s "Reno's Old Time Music" to co-host a very special episode of the new series, "Hats Off to Bluegrass." Just in time for Christmas, Rhonda and Ronnie introduce the best holiday-themed performances by Reno's guests, as well as share personal stories of the season. Rhonda also treats fans with a delightful performance of one of her favorite holiday tunes. The episode is set to air from December 19-24 on RFD-TV (check local listings here).

About Rhonda Vincent:
Rhonda Vincent, dubbed "The New Queen of Bluegrass" by the Wall Street Journal, began her musical journey at the age of three, performing alongside her family members on what was called The Sally Mountain Show. She sang bluegrass as a teenager, then recorded a couple of mainstream country albums in the 1990's, when makeup artists cared more about her looks than her sound. She was asked if she could "get the bluegrass out of her voice." Confused and heartbroken, she put together her first bluegrass band, and found the most natural approach to her music was in the bluegrass realm.

In addition to being the most award winning band in Bluegrass music history, alongside her band The Rage, totaling over 100 awards, Vincent has also performed and recorded with the best of the best, including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Daryle Singletary, Richard Marx, Hank Williams Jr and more. While being a 15-time "Entertainer of the Year," Vincent has established herself as one of the most visible, best-selling artists in the genre, whose cross-over appeal stretches well into the mainstream media. For more information visit www.rhondavincent.com.

Stay social with Rhonda:
facebook.com/rhondavincentofficial and @rhondavincent13

Rhonda Vincent On Tour:
Dec 31 - Jekyll Island, GA - New Year's Bluegrass Festival
Jan 08 - Jefferson City, MO - Mid-West SPBGMA
Jan 09 - Jefferson City, MO - Mid-West SPBGMA
Jan 16 - Perrysburg, OH - Bluegrass in Super Class
Jan 17 - Nelsonville, OH - Stuart's Opera House
Jan 21 - Grenada, MS
Jan 22 - Oklahoma City, OK - OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater
Jan 23 - McKinney, TX - McKinney Performing Arts Center
Jan 30 - Kennett Square, PA - Longwood Gardens
Jan 31 - Feb 07 - Country’s Family Reunion/Larry’s Country Diner Cruise – Departing from Port Canaveral, FL
Feb 07 - Nashville, TN - National SPBGMA Awards Show
Feb 18 - Palatka, FL - Rodeheaver Boys' Ranch
Feb 19 - Asheville, NC
Feb 27 - Weirsdale, FL - Orange Blossom Opry
Mar 03 - Brewton, AL
Mar 04 - Breman, GA - Milltown Music Hall
Mar 05 - Fulton, MS - Davis Event Center
Mar 06 - Baton Rouge, LA
Mar 11 - Stoughton, WI - Stoughton Opera House
Mar 12 - Effingham, IL - Effingham Performance Center w/Gene Watson
Mar 13 - Saginaw, MI - The Temple Theatre
Mar 18 - Valdese, NC - Old Rock School Auditorium
Mar 19 - Mt. Airy, NC
Apr 01 - Bowie, TX
Apr 02 - Ft. Smith, AR
Apr 09 - Milton, WV - Milton Performing Arts Center
Apr 14 - Sellersville, PA - Sellersville Theater
Apr 16 - Hamden, CT - Unitarian Society Hall
Apr 23 - Disputanta, VA – Three Brothers Distillery
Apr 29 - Lincolnton, GA - Little Roy and Lizzy Festival
May 05 - 08 - Branson, MO - Silver Dollar City
May 13 - Gettysburg, PA - Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival
May 21 - Amelia, VA - Central VA Family Bluegrass Festival
May 26 - Curryville, MO - Back 40 Bluegrass Park

Suggested Tweet:

#Don't miss @RhondaVincent13 making appearances @TBN @OfficialRFDTV & more to promote latest album #ChristmasTime - LINK

RICKY SKAGGS TO PERFORM ON "THE VOICE" TONIGHT

RICKY SKAGGS SINGING DUET WITH NBC'S THE VOICE CONTESTANT, EMILY ANN ROBERTS ON TUES., DEC. 15 Nashville, Tenn. (December 14, 2015) - Country and bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs will be featured on NBC's The Voice, singing with one of the show's finalists, Emily Ann Roberts.  Skaggs' duet with Roberts will air on Tuesday night, December 15 at 8 pm ET / 7 pm CT. Roberts, hailing from Knoxville, Tenn., is one of Blake Shelton's two remaining team members and will be breaking out some country hits.  She will be joined by Skaggs to sing his #1 country song, "Country Boy."   The Voice features the strongest vocalists from across the country who are invited to compete in this blockbuster vocal competition show's ninth season. Internationally acclaimed artist Gwen Stefani returns to join megastars Pharrell Williams, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton as celebrity musician coaches, while Carson Daly continues to serve as host.  After many rounds of singing and voting, in the end, one contestant is named "The Voice" and receives the grand prize of a recording contract.   For more information, check out the story on E! News, HERE.   About Ricky Skaggs Over the course of his 40 plus year career, Ricky Skaggs has won 14 GRAMMY Awards, 8 CMA Awards, 9 ACM Awards, 11 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Assn.) Awards, 9 ICM Awards, 2 Dove Awards, 3 honorary Doctorate degrees and countless other awards. Ricky has had 12 #1 singles on the Billboard Country charts and 12 Top 20 Country albums, along with twelve consecutive GRAMMY-nominated albums, all from his own Skaggs Family Records label. In 2012, Ricky Skaggs was inducted into the GMA’s Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Past recipients of this prestigious award include Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton. That same year, Ricky received the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award from the Academy of Country Music (ACM). In 2013, Grand Ole Opry member Ricky Skaggs released his first-ever autobiography, "Kentucky Traveler: My Life In Music." The book details the life and times of Skaggs and provides a descriptive history of Country and Bluegrass music, as told by the master himself. This past September, Ricky received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association in the Instrumentalist category.  In addition to his regular touring schedule with his band, Kentucky Thunder, he is also currently on the road with his better half Sharon White as well as guitar legend Ry Cooder on the critically-acclaimed "Cooder-White-Skaggs" tour. Visit www.RickySkaggs.com for more information.

GRAMMY'S BEST BLUEGRASS LBUM

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver Honored with Grammy® Nomination

(NASHVILLE, TN) - Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver has been honored with a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Bluegrass Album in the the 58th GRAMMY® Awards.   In Session (Mountain Home Music Company) debuted top 10 in Billboard in January 2015 and has had multiple songs on multiple radio charts the entire year. Produced by National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship winner and Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Doyle Lawson, In Session is the band’s fortieth album and fifth Grammy® nomination. "We are extremely excited and honored to have this Grammy® nomination," says Lawson. "My band worked hard on this album and it truly was a team effort. Special thanks to Mountain Home for their hard work and support, the DJs that play our music, our booking agent Mary McClellan, and the promoters and venues that allow us to present our music. We also want to express our gratitude to all of the incredible writers for their contributions to this album.” In addition to Lawson, the band includes some of the best musicians and vocalists in the genre: Dustin Pyrtle, Eli Johnston, Josh Swift, Joe Dean, and Stephen Burwell. The Grammy® will be awarded on Monday, February 15, 2016, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA.   ABOUT DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER: Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver has released forty albums since 1979. The group has won fourteen International Bluegrass Music Awards including two Song of the Year awards and seven Vocal Group of the Year awards. The band has, in addition, received multiple, Dove, ICM, and SPBGMA Awards and nominations. Lawson is a 2006 recipient of the National Heritage Fellowship (National Endowment for the Arts) and was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2012.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLUEGRASS MUSIC

 I wish all members of the YBA would stay true to this model of real bluegrass music.  There is a lot of good country music, but it's not bluegrass unless played in true bluegrass style.

 

International Bluegrass Music Association

8 hrs ·

THIS DAY IN BLUEGRASS HISTORY:
It was 70 years ago today, December 8, 1945, when 21 year-old Earl Scruggs and his guitar-playing pal Lester Flatt joined Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry for the first time. Scruggs’ revolutionary style of banjo picking, in concert with Flatt’s extraordinary guitar work and Monroe’s singular mandolin, set music on a new course that would forever be known as bluegrass music. Or, as Mr. Monroe liked to call it, “My music.”

Bluegrass lovers around the world owe these men a great debt for creating this unrivaled sound.
“Bluegrass has brought more people together and made more friends than any music in the world.” – Bill Monroe
Pictured left to right: Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass Music; Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs
Photo Credit: flatt-and-scruggs.com

BLUEGRASS MUSICAL AT VENTURE THEATER

"Christmas Times A-Comin' - A Bluegrass Christmas" continues with 7:30 PM performances on Friday & Saturday Dec. 11-12 and Dec. 18-19.  There will also be a Sunday matinee show at 2 PM on Dec. 13. Admission is $23 while Senior-student rates are $16. Tickets may be ordered at 591-9535 during business hours or on-line.  They may be purchased at the box office as well.  There are plenty of seats available for all performances.   Venture Theater is located at 2311 Montana Avenue in Billings.

"CHRISTMAS TIMES A - COMIN' - A BLUEGRASS CHRISTMAS"

After going on-line and seeing the cast of characters names including Pa and Ma, Pappy and Granny, Bubba, and lots of kids I attended the show on Saturday evening, December 5, with lots of preconceived ideas about it's content.  I had imagined a mish-mash mix of Al Capp's "Lil Abner," "Pa and Ma Kettle," "Andy Griffith," "Hee Haw," with some "Cousin Minnie Pearl," and "Deliverance" tossed in, all while listening to various renditions of Tex Logan's great bluegrass song, "Christmas Times a-Comin'." (Tex Logan was a brilliant electrical engineer - I believe he had a PhD - for Bell Laboratories.  He was famous for carrying his fiddle case on field work.  He used it as a portable desktop to write equations and electronic schematics.  And do a little fiddling after hours, too.)
As this show was written by local people and  expecting very little I was pleasantly surprised by how well it all went.  Yes there were a lot of corny jokes and lines, but all the cast had good vocal skills and many well known Christmas carols had been woven into the story line.  Tex Logan's tune only introduced the show and was not repeated again.  Maybe it could have been reprised as a finale, but that was a sing along with the attendees joining in which most enjoyed.

An on stage band cast as the "Cousins" consisted of Terry and Trent Indreland, Janny Kirk, Wade Steinmetz, Wes Horton, and another fiddler whom I didn't recognize. Many old time tunes were woven into the story line throughout the play. "Dooley" was a Dillard's tune from the Old Andy Griffith show.  The Dillard's were called the Darlings in those classic TV shows centered in fictional Mayberry. Toward the shows end local favorite Ed Kemmick entered with his guitar to play several numbers.  Coming weekends will feature "Songdog Serenade," and "Highway 302" in those final roles.  My only criticism of the band was they didn't know how to handle a jug of supposed moonshine whiskey. Instead of two hands they needed a jug coach to show them how to grab the jug with an index finger in the ring and hoist it onto the shoulder of that hand.  Then turn the head and guzzle from there.

Well with that minor gripe I have to say that my companion (a singer guitar strummer herself) and I greatly enjoyed the show.  You will, too.      

DOLLY PARTON ON TV THIS WEEK - THE VOICE & CHRISTMAS MOVIE

COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND DOLLY PARTON AND COUNTRY STAR CASSADEE POPE TO PERFORM ON THE TUESDAY, DEC. 8 LIVE TELECAST OF 'THE VOICE'

Parton to Offer Advice to Semi-Finalists and Sing Heartfelt Song “Coat of Many Colors”
 

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (December 1, 2015) – Country music legend Dolly Parton will perform one of her most personal and beloved songs, “Coat of Many Colors,” on the Tuesday, Dec. 8 (8-9 p.m.) live telecast of NBC’s Emmy Award-winning musical competition series “The Voice.” Also taking the stage will be country star and “Voice” season three champion Cassadee Pope, who will perform her latest single, “I Am Invincible.” Parton will mentor this season’s semi-finalists and share with them her infinite knowledge as a music industry trailblazer and icon. Parton, whose career has spanned six decades, is the most honored female country performer of all time. Achieving 25 RIAA certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards, she has had 25 songs reach #1 on the Billboard Country charts, a record for a female artist. She has 41 career top 10 country albums, a record for any artist, and she has 110 career charted singles over the past 40 years. All-inclusive sales of singles, albums, hits collections, paid digital downloads and compilation usage have reportedly topped a staggering 100 million records. She has garnered seven Grammy Awards, 10 Country Music Association Awards, five Academy of Country Music Awards, three American Music Awards and is one of only five female artists to win the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year Award. In 1999 Parton was inducted as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. She has her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and became a member of the National Academy of Popular Music Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001. Broadcast Music honored Parton with their Icon Award in 2003, and in 2004 the U.S. Library of Congress presented her with their Living Legend Award for her contribution to the cultural heritage of the United States. This was followed in 2005 with the National Medal of Arts, the highest honor given by the U.S. government for excellence in the arts. The remarkable upbringing of the iconic artist will be portrayed in NBC’s two-hour movie “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors” on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 9 p.m. The film is set in the Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains in 1955. It is neither a biopic nor musical about Dolly’s whole life and performing career, but rather a family-oriented faith-based story about the incidents in her and her family’s life around the time she was 9 years old. Jennifer Nettles will play Parton’s mother, Avie Lee Parton; Ricky Schroder will portray Dolly’s father, Lee Parton; Gerald McRaney, one of the most respected actors of his generation, will play Grandpa Jake Owens; and Alyvia Alyn Lind will portray 9-year-old Dolly Parton. More information on Dolly Parton can be found at dollypartonentertainment.com. Cassadee Pope’s debut solo country album, “Frame by Frame,” debuted at #9 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top Country Albums charts. Her debut single, “Wasting All These Tears,” sold more than a million copies — a feat that ranked her as one of the select few solo female artists to garner platinum certification with a first release. After a moving performance at the Special Olympics this summer Billboard has already touted “I Am Invincible,” as a "self-empowerment anthem…” Since winning season three of “The Voice,” Pope has toured with superstars Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts and performed at major racing events such as Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400. She was also touted the CMT’s Next Women of Country, and won the 2014 CMT Music Awards’ Breakthrough Video of the Year. For additional information and dates, visit CassadeePope.com. So far this season, the Monday and Tuesday editions of “The Voice” are averaging a 3.7 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49 and 13.3 million viewers overall, according to “most current” results from Nielsen Media Research through the season’s opening nine weeks, to lead NBC to #1 ranking among the broadcast networks on both Monday and Tuesday nights. “The Voice” is television’s #1 alternative series this fall in every key ratings measure – adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, plus total viewers. “The Voice” is a presentation of United Artists Media Group (an MGM company), Talpa Media USA Inc. and Warner Horizon Television. The series was created by John de Mol, who serves as executive producer along with Mark Burnett, Audrey Morrissey, Lee Metzger and Jay Bienstock. For embeddable clips and more, please visit NBC.com’s official show site: nbc.com/TheVoice.