Ted Lehmann's Bluegrass, Books, and Brainstorms

Mainline Express with Jesse Brock at del Rossi's

2009-11-28T12:34:00.001-05:00

MainLine Express featuring Jesse Brock delighted an audience of fifty or sixty post Thanksgiving survivors on Friday night at del Rossi's Tratoria in Dublin, NH. Future performances this weekend will be at Nippo Lake Golf Club and Restaurant in Barrington, NH. See below for more information. del Rossi's Trattoria We drove to Dublin, NH through a chilly rain and arrived at del Rossi's

Fiddler's Dream by Gregory Spatz - Book Review

2009-11-27T07:58:00.004-05:00

Gregory Spatz is a professor of composition, a fiddler, a member of a bluegrass, band, and a previously published writer of novels and short stories, several of which have appeared in prestigious magazines. His novel, Fiddler's Dream benefits and suffers from his background and experience. The story presents an interesting and involving quest for father and for self-understanding of a young

MoJo and Nedski in Brattleboro, VT

2009-11-25T06:14:00.001-05:00

Stephen Mougin and Ned Luberecki Stephen Mougin and Ned Luberecki continued their two man tour at the New England Youth Theater on Saturday night to a solid and appreciative audience. This mini-tour by the two highly thought of Nashville sidemen is important for two reasons. First, it gives these two fine musicians a higher profile and introduces audiences to artistry musicians can't

"Circles Around Me" by Sam Bush - CD Review

2009-11-23T05:45:00.004-05:00

This review is an extended version of a review submitted to the Lonesome Road Review. The opening guitar chords in Sam Bush's new CD “Circles Around Me” signal that this is a new turn in an old story. Sam Bush has produced a fine album of fourteen songs that return to an earlier era while forging into new territory. This is a neat trick, but Sam pulls it off with conviction and his

Thompsonburg Road Opens for Tab Benoit - Red Fox Inn, Bondville, VT

2009-11-21T06:18:00.003-05:00

Late on Wednesday afternoon we drove north through southern Vermont along routes 30 and 100 up the two lane road which once was the main drive for skiers heading to the mountains. It's been a warm autumn and there's no snow on the ground. The color is long since gone and as we pass through the villages of Newfane, Townsend, and Jamaica there's a feeling of anticipation. Lawns are mostly raked

McCoury, Stringdusters, Steeldrivers, & King Wilke at Upper Valley, NH

2009-11-19T10:02:00.002-05:00

The third annual Upper Valley Bluegrass Festival was held Friday and Saturday evening at the Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, NH. Featuring four fine bands over two nights, the event was presented in a concert format and seems to have pulled in its horns a bit as it did not feature the very pleasant workshops that had been held the previous two years. They also neglected to serve the cookies

Mougin and Luberecki in Brattleboro, VT - 11.21.2009

2009-11-16T06:29:00.001-05:00

Stephen Mougin Ned Luberecki Stephen Mougin, guitarist and vocalist with the Sam Bush Band, and Ned Luberecki, banjo player with Chris Jones and the Night Drivers and other bands as well as Sirius/XM Radio Bluegrass Junction on air personality, will perform as a duo presenting a unique evening of their own compositions as well other music which together cannot easily be classified, but

Carolina Road Tenth Anniversary Homecoming - Saturday

2009-11-13T12:29:00.004-05:00

Saturday at Lorraine Jordan's Tenth Anniversary Homecoming was less a bluegrass festival than an opportunity to celebrate the development of Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road's growth over its ten year history and to showcase the newest version of the band. Groups performing at the event were selected for having at least one member who had played for Carolina Road during the past decade as

Carolina Road Tenth Anniversary Homecoming - Friday

2009-11-07T09:19:00.000-05:00

Lorraine Jordan, two time co-winner of the IBMA Recorded Event of the Year for her participation in the Daughters of Bluegrass projects, celebrated the tenth anniversary of her band Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road by inviting as many former members as could free themselves, along with their current bands, to participate in a two day gala event. Friday featured a shortened, but musically

Upper Valley Bluegrass Festival - Lebanon, NH

2009-11-04T10:29:00.003-05:00

The Third Annual Upper Valley Bluegrass Festival will take place on November 13th and 14th at the Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, NH. Featuring four major national bands over the two days and an afternoon of workshops on Saturday, the festival has established a reputation for offering cutting edge bands and headline favorites in a concert format. Tickets are $33.00 per night or $56.00 for both

On the Road with Darin & Brooke Aldridge

2009-11-02T07:12:00.003-05:00

A week or so ago, we had the pleasure of spending five days with Darin and Brooke Aldridge learning about them and following the lives of a hard working and rising young bluegrass band. People who read this blog are aware that we have a soft spot in our hearts for Darin and Brooke as well as a pretty well-honed understanding of their quality and the work it has already taken to bring them to

The Morris Brothers at Conway (SC) Farmers Market

2009-10-31T16:47:00.003-04:00

Each Saturday during the spring, summer, and fall there's a farmers Market held near the Old Peanut Wearhouse in Conway, SC right under the 501 bridge leading into the center of town. Each Saturday, also, there's a bluegrass band performing. We took Halloween morning to drive out to Conway to see our old friends The Morris Brothers perform for the final farmers market of the season. Matt and

Carolina Road Homecoming and Tenth Reunion - Preview

2009-10-29T17:09:00.000-04:00

Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road will host the Tenth Anniversary reunion of her band on November 6 and 7, 2009 at the Burlington Ramada Inn in Burlington, NC. Lorraine has sought to assemble as many alumni of her band as possible for this gala celebration which will culminate on Saturday evening with a grand finale jam featuring everyone on stage at once. The bands invited to this fall's

Art of Sound - Shelby, NC - Review

2009-10-26T17:08:00.000-04:00

Shelby,NC is a small town (pop. 19,477) located in south-central North Carolina along the western edge of the Piedmont region. The regional economy has apparently been devastated by the loss of the textile industry as well as a large nearby trucking company and farming. Nevertheless, Shelby is a pleasant town with an attractive downtown centered around the old courthouse which is being

IBMA 2009 - Fan Fest - Friday Pt. II

2009-10-21T08:28:00.000-04:00

There was so much going on at IBMA, and we took so many pictures there I thought I'd post a second look at the first day of Fan Fest. This three day event follows directly behind the business conference portion of the annual International Bluegrass Music Association's week long event held these days in Nashville. Between the time the business conference adjourns to the Ryman Auditorium for the

The Gibson Brothers at The Kentucky Opry

2009-10-17T10:44:00.002-04:00

In the western corner of Kentucky the Kentucky and Cumberland rivers flow closely together as they flow towards the Ohio River, which, only a few miles further along joins the mighty Mississippi on its course towards the Gulf of Mexico. This little corner of the world, where Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, and Missouri come together is rich in history and river culture. In the early 1940's a

IBMA 2009 - Showcases - Pt. 1

2009-10-14T19:25:00.002-04:00

A very important component of the annual International Bluegrass Music Association meetings in Nashville are the showcases. Two kinds of showcases provide bands an opportunity to be seen by bookers, festival promoters, agents, song writers, as well as fans and other musicians. A showcase, even if it's attended by only two or three people, may result in several un-anticipated bookings for a band

North Florida Bluegrass Promo as a Model for Promoters and Bands

2009-10-12T13:07:00.001-04:00

Ernie Evans, President of the North Florida Bluegrass Association and a member of Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike, has posted a promotional video to try to boost the visibility and effectiveness of the association's outreach and programmatic efforts. The video stands as a fairly easy to produce and highly effective means for festival and other event promoters, bands, associations, and others to

IBMA 2009 - Rural Rhythm VIP Showcase

2009-10-10T09:33:00.000-04:00

Several weeks before IBMA opened in Nashville an e-mail appeared in my box inviting us to attend the Rural Rhythm Records VIP Private Showcase to be held on Wednesday evening. While my sometimes cynical mind thought it might just be an attention getting pointer to try to get people to attend, I sent in our RSVP, and, sure enough, when we arrived at the door, a person stood there, clipboard in

IBMA 2009 - The Business Conference

2009-10-08T11:55:00.004-04:00

Renaissance Hotel - Nashville, TN On Monday morning, the first day of IBMA, a panel convened by Archie Warnock examined “The State of the Industry” with a clear, incisive panel committed to discussing the many issues confronting bluegrass music in this time of rapid change and a

Chris Jones & The Night Drivers CD Release

2009-10-06T09:16:00.001-04:00

On a rainy, warm Sunday evening after the exhausting and exciting rigors of a week attending the annual IBMA Conference and Fan Fest in Nashville, we returned to Music City's prime entertainment street, Broadway, for the Chris Jones & The Night Drivers CD release party. The rain helped to wash clean the street, which only last night had been crowded with drunken revelers whose joy seemed

IBMA 2009 - Fan Fest - Friday

2009-10-05T14:30:00.004-04:00

As I begin to try to create an overview of the past week's experience, I'm overwhelmed by both the good feelings I'm coming away from IBMA with and the size of the task. During IBMA week (Sept. 28 - Oct. 4, 2009), we attended many seminars and presentations, two awards events, three banquets, dozens of showcases (both official and after hours), a couple of private functions, and a three day

IBMA 2009 - The Plan

2009-10-04T15:44:00.000-04:00

WOW!!! IBMA was a great event. It opened with four days of a business conference. Culmintaint in an awards luncheon and the evening's Awards ceremony. Some expectations were met, and the membership selected a few delightful surprises. There was a feeling of warmth and togetherness about much of the process. On Friday, Fan Fest commenced with two and a half days of the best bluegrass music

IBMA 2009 - Tuesday Teaser

2009-09-30T10:05:00.000-04:00

Around here folks say IBMA means "I've Been Mostly Awake." It's true. We got to bed shortly after 3:00 this morning and are due back for brunch in time to get in line around 10:00. Here's an dozen pics representing highlights for us. More tomorrow. Martin Guitar Booth in Exhibition Hall Donna Ulisse Booth Terry Baucom at Knee Deep in Bluegrass Booth Kenny and Amanda Smith Adam

IBMA 2009 - Monday

2009-09-29T12:06:00.001-04:00

The annual convention of the International Bluegrass Music Association convened in the Nashville Convention Center on Monday for a seven day run. It has a large and complext program including seminars and meetings, an exhbition center, banquets, awards, and dozens of artist showcases, official, after hours, and private. There's no way to keep up with it all. This week is also one of the