Dailey & Vincent Repeat

FYI, we'll be rerunning the Dailey & Vincent interview I did this afternoon in just a few minutes--at 6 PM ET.

'Just so you know!

Dailey & Vincent Visit Wednesday

Wednesday afternoon, be sure to check out my afternoon show when Dailey & Vincent visit the studio. We'll get underway with that interview during the 3 PM (Eastern) hour.

I haven't seen the guys since their big night at the IBMA Awards nearly two weeks ago, so they should have plenty to talk about.

See you then!

Carrie Hassler Track-By-Track Coming Up

As you can see in the photo to the right, I really have a tough job! I mean, I have to hang out with people like the nice looking lady in this picture.

That, my friends, is Carrie Hassler, and her new album, CHHR2, is sensational. I'm looking forward to bringing to Bluegrass Junction a Track-By-Track show I recorded with her a few weeks ago this coming Tuesday at 8 AM ET. CHHR2 is a cutting-edge disc with generous amounts of tradition and innovation. Carrie, with her big Patsy Cline-esque voice, blends both with ease.

As usual when we do a TBT, we'll be playing through the entire CD in sequence. When I recorded the show, Carrie was on hand with me in the studio to lend her commentary to many of the songs and share some unique insights you won't hear anywhere else.

If you can't listen on Tuesday, we'll be rebroadcasting the show at the following times:

Thursday (10/22) at 6 PM ET
Saturday (10/25) at 4 PM ET
Wednesday (10/29) at 4 PM ET

Valerie Smith and Becky Buller Jet In

If the group in the picture looks a little tired, it's because they are. Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike visited us back in August to record a an episode of our Studio Special series. The session took place just hours after they had returned from a European tour. That show debuts (at last!) this week--Friday at 8 AM ET.

Although they may have been a bit ragged because of lack of sleep, jet lag, and "jet head" (a malady Becky Buller describes on the show), the result of their appearance in our studio was outstanding. Valerie and Becky have just released a duet CD titled Here's a Little Song, and the songs they perform are drawn from that. While not hard-core bluegrass, the numbers they did were impressive, the harmonies were fantastic, and the playing was awesome.

I especially enjoyed "Your Goodnight is My Goodbye" and "The River." Also, don't miss "Four Wet Pigs." It's a unique and quirky song which almost became the title song of the new album (actually, "Here's a little song" is a line from "Four Wet Pigs," so I guess that makes it the title song...sort of).

We're excited about this show! Don't miss it.

The Studio Special is a series of live, in-studio performances by some of bluegrass music's hottest bands. For more information about the regular air times, follow this link: Studio Special Air Times.

Studio Special Poll

One of our important features on Bluegrass Junction is the Studio Special, that show where the artists appear in our studio to play live and share their thoughts on their lives and careers. Since we started this feature in early 2006, we have done nearly 70 shows and, from your feedback, you seem to have enjoyed them.

I'm constantly looking at our programming to determine if it's meeting your needs, and now I need your help. As you know, every week a different Studio Special airs multiple times (the full schedule is here: Studio Special Air Times). The idea behind that is to give everyone a chance to hear the show regardless of which time zone they live in, or what type of schedule they keep. However, I sometimes wonder if we're airing them at the right time, airing them too much, or if we need to add more broadcasts.

If you will, please take a moment to vote in our poll on this subject. You'll see it on the right. You'll be helping me make Bluegrass Junction more user-friendly for you, and I'd appreciate it.

Once More with Michael

It's an incredible show, and you don't want to miss our Studio Special with Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper.

It airs once more, tomorrow [Thursday] afternoon at 3:00 ET.




Helpful links:

Michael's website
Studio Special Air Times

A Word of Thanks

I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for the congratulations and good wishes in connection with the IBMA Awards last week. I'm truly honored by the recognition, but I'm even more honored to get to have you as a listener family.

I've been keeping a low profile on-air this week, but I'll resume my normal schedule with Grassroots this Friday afternoon at 3 PM ET. See you then!

IBMA Winners Announced

What a night! ...And what a wonderful awards show! Congratulations to all the winners in tonight's International Bluegrass Music Awards.

For a complete list of winners, follow this link.

Studio Special with Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

There's no time to catch our breath after the IBMA Awards, because we jump right in on Friday morning with a fresh Studio Special featuring the 2008 IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper. It debuts at 8 AM ET.

What a band!! These guys are some of the best musicians around. And for this show, I use the term "guys" judiciously, because Kristin Scott-Benson sat in on banjo and did her usual superb job. Kristin, by the way, took the Banjo Player of the Year award in tonight's IBMA Awards.

If, as I do, you love traditional bluegrass, there is none finer than that being made by this band. Be sure and join us for a great show.

The Studio Special is a series of live, in-studio performances by some of bluegrass music's hottest bands. For more information about the regular air times, follow this link: Studio Special Air Times.

A Big Day At The Junction

Thursday promises to be a HUGE day for Bluegrass Junction.

The day's Studio Special wraps up our week-long salute to IBMA nominees with the band nominated for more awards than any other--Dailey & Vincent. Their stunning show airs at 3 PM ET.

During the 4 PM ET hour, we visit with the Steep Canyon Rangers, in town for the Awards Show (they're performing on it, in fact). I always look forward to having them in studio.

Starting around 5 PM ET (or so), I'm planning a special preview to the Awards Show. I'll be playing songs by the nominees in many of the major categories, and will include some interview clips and other neat stuff.

THEN...tomorrow night...it's the "big show": The 19th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, which we'll broadcast live from the Ryman Auditorium. Our live coverage begins at 9 PM ET (with a rebroadcast planned for Friday morning at 10:00 ET).

If you love bluegrass, tomorrow is your day. I hope you'll plan to be with us through it all.

IBMA: One Big Shake & Howdy

One of the joys of the IBMA's World of Bluegrass Business Conference each year is getting to renew acquaintances with old friends and catch up.

For instance, when I first arrived at the Nashville Convention Center on Monday, among the the first folks I saw were the guys in this photo (Larry Cordle, Sonny Osborne, and Carl Jackson). Although I had seen Larry and Carl within the past few months, it was great to see Sonny. It's been over a year.

This has been a fun week...and it's only Wednesday.

IBMA Poll Results

Here are the official results of our IBMA Awards Poll:

Entertainer of the Year: Dailey & Vincent
Vocal Group of the Year: Dailey & Vincent
Instrumental Group of the Year: Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Male Vocalist of the Year: Jamie Dailey
Female Vocalist of the Year: Rhonda Vincent
Album of the Year: Dailey & Vincent by Dailey & Vincent
Song of the Year: "By the Mark" by Dailey & Vincent
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year: "By The Mark" by Dailey & Vincent
Instrumental Album of the Year: Sound of the Slide Guitar by Andy Hall
Recorded Event of the Year: Salt of the Earth by Ricky Skaggs & The Whites
Emerging Artist of the Year: Dailey & Vincent
Banjo Player of the Year: J. D. Crowe
Bass Player of the Year: Darrin Vincent
Fiddle Player of the Year: Michael Cleveland
Dobro Player of the Year: Rob Ickes
Guitar Player of the Year: Tony Rice
Mandolin Player of the Year: Doyle Lawson

Once More with Ricky Skaggs

Don't miss the final broadcast of our Track-By-Track with Ricky Skaggs this afternoon at 4 PM ET. Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass is one incredible CD, and I know you won't be disappointed with the music. You'll enjoy Ricky's comments, too.

This guy is one of bluegrass music's great treasures. Thanks, Ricky, for joining us for this special show!

Poll Results Announced Today

The results of our informal poll of Bluegrass Junction listeners on the IBMA Awards will be announced at 5:30 PM ET today.

Tune in, and then get set to compare notes when we broadcast the IBMA Awards tomorrow night.

Grascals Celebrate #1 Billboard Status

The Grascals' Keep On Walkin' has now spent five consecutive weeks at the number one position on the Billboard online bluegrass chart after debuting at the top on August 30.

In celebration of that fact, the boys held a number one party at the Music Row SESAC offices this afternoon and presented Bluegrass Junction (among others) a nice plaque commemorating their success with this CD. As you may remember, we premiered the album on XM on July 1.

Congratulations, Grascals--we're proud of you!

IBMA Week Is Here!

Well, it's here at last folks...the busiest week in bluegrass culminating with the biggest night in bluegrass...the annual IBMA Awards. And if that's not enough, music fills the air during IBMA Fan Fest, which takes place this next weekend.

Here are some links which might be helpful:

• World of Bluegrass Schedule of Activities
• IBMA Awards Nominees
• Fan Fest Artist Schedule
• IBMA Home Page

Have a great week!

Archival Programs Airing This Week

During a week when we celebrate all things bluegrass here in Nashville--and a week in which I'll be away from the studio a lot celebrating--it seemed like a good idea to revisit the ever-growing Bluegrass Junction archives for a look back a some of the shows we've aired in the past but which deserve another listen. Soooo, on my afternoon show (which airs at 3 PM ET each weekday), I've pulled out some "blasts from the past" which I hope you'll enjoy.

Monday

On Monday at 3 PM ET, I won't be around for the request show as usual, so I'm using this opportunity to rebroadcast a superb 2006 show we did with Barry Poss, the founder of Sugar Hill Records. At the time, the label had released a boxed set Barry had produced celebrating their first 25 years, and Barry joined me in studio to play and comment on songs from the box. We called that show A Salute to Sugar Hill, and it's over two hours of great music and great history.

Following A Salute to Sugar Hill Monday at 5:15 PM ET, we revisit another show from '06 featuring the IBMA's current Female Vocalist of the Year, Dale Ann Bradley. At that time, Dale Ann's Catch Tomorrow was just out, and she dropped by to share it with us.

Tuesday

Tuesday starting at 3 PM ET, we bring you a pair of our best Track-By-Track shows of the past six months. First up are the Infamous Stringdusters, who brought in their self-titled second album back in May. Andy Hall, Chris Pandolfi, and Travis Book joined me in-studio for that show.

The second Track-By-Track for the day, which will begin just after 4:30 PM ET features the show from earlier this month we built around Dan Tyminski's Wheels.

To round out the day, Tuesday at 5:30 PM ET we rebroadcast an April appearance in our studio by the Cherryholmes. At that time, they were beginning to talk about their forthcoming album, and they offer some interesting insights.

Wednesday

At 3 PM ET Wednesday, tune in for a visit with Michelle Cupit, who visited our studio on August 5. This was a great opportunity for us to get to know this fine singer, who's new to many bluegrass listeners.

Although it's not an archival program, Wednesday is the day for the final airing of our Track-By-Track with Ricky Skaggs. It airs at 4 PM ET.

Ricky Tracks Again

Our Track-By-Track with Ricky Skaggs airs again Sunday at 12 Noon ET.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, Ricky is an enthusiast of vintage microphones, so in honor of his appearance in our studio, engineer Travis Turk fixed us up with some old mics for the interview. In the photo below, Ricky is behind an RCA 77-D, while I'm on an RCA 44-BX. These classic mics still sound great, even though they're both over 60 years old!

Tracking The Fathers

Track-By-Track with Ricky Skaggs airs again tonight (or this afternoon, if you like) at 7 PM ET.

As I told you in my earlier post, this is a great show with exceptional music. Don't forget to tune in!

It also airs on Sunday at 12:00 Noon, and again on Wednesday at 4:00 PM--both times Eastern.

A Series Within the Series

As you know, our Studio Special series is the program where we feature a different artist each week performing live in our studio.

This week, in anticipation of the IBMA Awards coming up on October 2 (which we're broadcasting live on Bluegrass Junction), instead of presenting the same show all week as we usually do, we'll be featuring a different band in each Studio Special show which has 1) Appeared on the program during 2008 and 2) Been nominated for an award this year.

Our first show features Blue Highway, who are nominated for Vocal Group of the Year, Instrumental Group of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. It airs tomorrow morning at 8 AM ET.

The full week's schedule goes like this:

Friday, 8 AM ET: Blue Highway
Saturday, 11 AM ET: The Steeldrivers
Sunday, 6 PM ET: Paul Williams & The Victory Trio
Monday, 8 PM ET: The Grascals
Tuesday, Midnight ET: The Infamous Stringdusters
Thursday, 3 PM ET: Dailey & Vincent

These are all terrific shows, so be sure and tune in and celebrate IBMA week right along with us!