How many of you are aware of this event which is in year three (I think) at Brevard Music Center in September?  This years headliner will be Sam Bush, mandolin and fiddle player for the New Grass Revival. On the days’ schedule with Sam will be Tim O’Brien, also fiddle and mandolin player, the family group known as Cherryholmes and the Steep Canyon Rangers who host the show annually.  Woody Platt the bands lead vocalist, is a Breverd native.

http://www.mountainsongfestival.com/

If you have not heard the Rangers you’re missing out on one of the top local acts known world wide with several appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and a touring schedule that takes them abroad.  The little fiddle player Nicky Sanders, a current Asheville resident, is a sure fire crowd pleaser.

REBEL RECORDS

WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE

STEEP CANYON RANGERS

WHO ARE 2008 IBMA NOMINEES IN

THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

- ALBUM OF THE YEAR -

Lovin’ Pretty Women

(producer Ronnie Bowman)

It’s time and very likely too late to get tickets for the Mountain Song Festival.  Too bad ya missed it this year but if you are into this kind of music, put it on your calender.  The Brevard Music Center is a gem. Check out this site, you can have an ear full of the sounds along with lots of other information.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=148523740

Picture looks to be a local group, the Biscuit Burners.

The third annual Mountain Song Festival came to a close last night to the thundering sounds of the Sam Bush band, perhaps a not so good choice for the show case band as many of the older folks in the audience seemed to have less appreciation for the fiery mandolinist than for local stars, The Steep Canyon Rangers.

The Rangers played two sets as did Tim O’Brien and Cherryholmes Family. Their second set was capped off by an appearance on stage by all the musicians except for Bush and band, for a rousing rendition of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” a familiar favorite written by Flatt and Scruggs. Ah, but I’ve left out the “first city on a one city tour” by Steve Martin, the famous comedian and accomplished banjoist. Steve played two tunes that will appear on his first banjo album and joined the others in two more.

Sam Bush capped off the evening to a slowly dwindling crowd as many seniors left early, no doubt some because of the raucous nature of Sam’s jam style playing.  Sam’s band was the only performance requiring a whole lot of on stage electronics. Our complaint was, TOO LOUD. The vocal mikes tended to make the tenor singers sound a bit harsh. That being said, the rest of the event was a total success including a concerted effort to recycling stuff you would not believe. apparently they were using biodegradable things, even plastics, all tossed into the compost collection points. Outstanding!

Listen below to Steve and Early Scruggs playing the same tune http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icMTVV5Lwaw

Rangers pick with Steve Martin
See You Next Year, Mountain Song

http://www.steepcanyon.com/