Bring It On Home for the Holidays with Shannon Whitworth & Barrett Smith @ The Altamont Theatre 12/20

Shannon Whitworth & Barrett Smith
“Bring It On Home” Holiday Party
The Altamont Theatre
Thursday, December 20th, 2012
$15/$12adv; 7pm door/  8pm show
18 Church St., Asheville, NC  28801
828-348-5327
myaltamont.com

Shannon Whitworth and Barrett Smith are happy to announce a Holiday Party at The Altamont Theatre in Asheville, NC on Thursday, December 20th. Joining them for the occasion are Mike Ashworth on bass, Jeff Sipe on drums, and Jacob Rodriguez on saxaphone all of whom also performed on their new album Bring it On Home, of which Jazz Times exclaims is, “that hidden diamond that may be the best recording to cross this desk all year.” Don’t be surprised if other special guests show up to sit in as well to perform songs from this new and elegant album!

Bring It on Home is a twelve track mix-tape collection of Barrett and Shannon’s favorite songs by their favorite songwriters. Esteemed writer, Gary von Tersch sums it up nicely, “from Paul Simon’s noir-ish New England tale of  ‘Duncan,’ Sanders and Cochrans’ cozily witty ballad ‘I Get Ideas’ and Leonard Cohen’s oft-covered early hit ‘Bird On The Wire’ to their unnervingly bluesy take on Paul Siebel’s signature portrait of ‘Louise’ along with a similarly bluesy, revelatory version of Van Morrison’s passionate ‘I’ll Be Your Lover Too.’ And it gets even better, with a soulfully wistful arrangement of Sam Cooke’s signature plea ‘Bring It On Home To Me,’ ditto Tom Waits’ atmospheric ‘Green Grass’ (with Jacob Rodriguez’ bluesy saxophone drifting wonderfully alongside Whitworth’s throaty vocal) and A.C. Jobim’s lazily pensive samba ‘Corcovado (Quiet Nights),’ probably the album highlight for me. Timeless tunes timelessly performed.”

Recorded in Asheville’s Echo Mountain Recording Studio with a team of talented friends and musicians from the area including legendary drummer Jeff Sipe (Aquarium Rescue Unit, Leftover Salmon) and master multi-instrumentalist Mike Ashworth who formed the core rhythm section. Justin Ray and Jacob Rodriguez took a break from touring with Michael Buble to contribute on trumpet and saxophone. and virtuoso bluegrass fiddlers Nate Leath and Nicky Sanders (Steep Canyon Rangers) added violins to Melissa Hyman’s cello lines while Michael Libramento, of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, played keyboards.

Cover Lay Down writes, “Gentle trumpet, uke, fiddle, banjo and saxophone flourishes lend just the right layers to the songs, showcasing strong and deliberate vocals, crisp guitars and pianos, and arrangements without disrupting the smooth track-to-track flow. And the combination of voices here is heavenly, with Smith and Whitworth’s equally intimate, equally weary voices trading lead and harmony in true duo form.”  Music New Nashville goes on to simply state, “The duo slays the opening cut, and in doing so, reveal a secret in doing a cover – sometimes it’s not about changing a song to reflect your personality, or ‘making it your own,’ it’s simply a case of letting the song  be front and center – which they do rather well here.”

In the holiday spirit they are offering a FREE DOWNLOAD of the opening track, their version of Sam Cooke’s “Bring it on Home to Me”

The album was released Nationally this November and makes the perfect holiday gift, attractive to folks across multiple generations. Get it here: http://barrettsmith.com/listenbuy.cfm and also on iTunes.

“From start to finish, Bring it on Home is crafted with love…
a timeless collection”
—Alli Marshall, Mountain Xpress

BarrettSmith.com
ShannonWhitworth.net

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Holiday Party at CSMA Annex on 12/22 with Donna the Buffalo, Sim Redmond Band, and The Double E

Donna The Buffalo with The Sim Redmond Band and The Double E
Holiday Party at the CSMA Annex Building!

Saturday, December 22, 2012, 9pm, $20
CSMA 3rd Floor Ballroom
330 East State St., Ithaca, NY 14850
www.csma-ithaca.org

Donna the Buffalo: Donna the Buffalo’s feel-good, groove-oriented, danceable and often socially conscious music all began over twenty years ago with roots in old time fiddle music that evolved into a soulful electric Americana mix infused with elements of cajun/ zydeco, rock, folk, reggae, and country. Donna the Buffalo is known for touring the country remaining fiercely independent as one of the industry’s most diverse roots-music bands and has “earned a reputation as one of the most respected, eclectic and hardest-working acts today,” praises Encore.

The dynamic songwriting tandem of vocalists Jeb Puryear and Tara Nevins have penned over 180 songs in their collaboration with DTB and have many more in the making. They have been working on a 10th album with Puryear on guitar and vocals; Nevins on fiddle, guitar, accordion, scrubboard and vocals; keyboardist Dave McCracken; bassist Kyle Spark; and drummer Mark Raudabaugh.

Sim Redmond Band: Since their inception over 10 years ago, the Sim Redmond Band has been steadily on the rise, forging new ground in roots music. Traveling around the globe, playing with the likes of moe., the Neville Brothers, the Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, and Habib Koite, in some of the most beautiful venues in the U.S. and Japan, the world has taken notice. With 6 tours of Japan under their belt, SRB’s unique blend of roots-rock, Afro-Carribean, and reggae music continues to spread like wild fire.

They are based in Ithaca, NY but their magnetic pole is Africa, particularly the sounds emanating from West & South Africa. This magnetic pole has served as a pivot for the Sim Redmond Band to spring into straight rock grooves and pumping reggae. The vocal teamwork of Sim Redmond, Jen Middaugh, and Nate Silas Richardson creates some of the richest harmonies you’ll ever hear.

Photo by Ed Dittenhoefer / FreeAirPhoto

The Double E: Songs of love, songs of hope, songs of heartbreak, songs of the road and songs of coming back home. Introducing The Double E, a five-piece rockin’ band from Trumansburg, NY with a sweet country flavor. Amy Puryear will steal your heart with her beautiful voice and classic style country songs, while Ward Puryear and Jason Shegogue on guitar, and Lily Aceto on bass craft a gorgeous musical bed underneath.

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The 2nd Annual Atlanta’s Holiday Hootenanny at the Variety Playhouse on Sun, Dec 16th

The 2nd Annual Atlanta’s Holiday Hootenanny at the Variety Playhouse
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Showtime: 7PM, doors @ 6PM. Tickets: $20 adv/$25 dos.
On sale now through Ticketmaster and the Variety Playhouse box office. All ages.
www.variety-playhouse.com/event/tdawg-presents-the-2nd-annual-holiday-hootenanny

TDawg Presents is excited to bring you the 2nd edition of what is turning into an annual tradition of spontaneous jams amongst friends celebrating the holiday season the only way it should be done. Featuring recording artists from original legendary Capricorn Records bands Wet Willie and (Rock & Roll Hall of fame inductees) The Allman Brothers Band, The 7 Walkers, as well as members of Grammy winning The Derek Trucks Band, The Tedeschi Trucks Band, Col. Bruce Hampton & The Aquarium Rescue Unit, Blueground Undergrass, The Mosier Brothers Band, Atlanta favorites Deep Blue Sun & The Whiskey Gentry, and many more, the 2nd Annual Atlanta’s Holiday Hootenanny is certainly raising the ante from last year’s inaugural event that tore the roof off of the Variety Playhouse.

The roster of musicians is an A-list of Atlanta-area musicians and influential regional and national acts: New Orleans icon and 7 Walkers front-man Papa Mali, Col. Bruce Hampton, Ret., who recently received the Governor’s Award for the Arts & Humanities, Allman Brothers Band bassist Oteil Burbridge, flat-pick master Larry Keel, Wet Willie front-man Jimmy Hall, The Mosier Brothers, Grammy-winner Count M’Butu, Hammond B3 legend Ike Stubblefield, Grant Green Jr., Jeff Sipe, Deep Blue Sun, Gaurav Malhotra, Rurik Nunan plus more surprise guests! The performance will have three distinct sets that feature unique combinations of artists, bringing out the best in each jam and leaving plenty of room within a little bit of structure for a lot of spontaneity.

This year’s 2nd Annual Atlanta’s Holiday Hootenanny is proud to have additional support from local music school Music on Main Street, Tree Leaf Music/Tree Sound Studios, and Wildman Steve Radio.

TDawg Presents founder Thomas Helland (aka TDawg) started as TDawg’s Productions in 1998, and is the creator of the nationally known Blue Ridge HarvestFest, a 3-day camping festival that ended its run in 2005, as well as the current run of TDawg’s Back Porch Hootenanny series at Cherokee Farms in northwest Georgia since 2006. Over the last 14 years, TDawg has remained a true cultivator- a music farmer- of American and international roots music stretching from bluegrass and Americana to funk, jazz, blues and jam bands and is excited to collaborate once again with organic label Tree Leaf Music, a subsidiary of 100% sustainable Tree Sound Studios, to create this fine gathering of old friends and magnificent musicians, all tied into one package for The 2nd Annual Atlanta’s Holiday Hootenanny.

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Shannon Whitworth & Barrett Smith Release “Bring It On Home”

Shannon Whitworth & Barrett Smith Release “Bring It On Home” TODAY
A Duo Album Featuring:
The Songs of Paul Simon to A.C. Jobim to Sam Cooke

In celebration they are offering a FREE DOWNLOAD
of their version of Sam Cooke’s “Bring it on Home to Me”

Bring it On Home makes the perfect Holiday Gift, attractive to folks across multiple generations. Get it here: http://barrettsmith.com/listenbuy.cfm and also on iTunes

Here is what the press is saying about Bring it on Home:

“From start to finish, Bring it on Home is crafted with love… a timeless collection” —Alli Marshall, Mountain Xpress

“The songs on here definitely hit the mark and bring back many memories. The duo slays the opening cut, and in doing so, reveal a secret in doing a cover – sometimes it’s not about changing a song to reflect your personality, or “making it your own,” it’s simply a case of letting the song  be front and center – which they do rather well here.” —Chuck Dauphin, Music News Nashville

“Smith’s voice is a perfect complement to Whitworth’s, whether he is taking lead, adding harmony background vocals or sharing the lead in a duet as on the album’s sweet midnight version of the jazz standard ‘Moonglow.’” —Jeff Eason, Boone Mountain Times

“Gentle trumpet, uke, fiddle, banjo and saxophone flourishes lend just the right layers to the songs, showcasing strong and deliberate vocals, crisp guitars and pianos, and arrangements without disrupting the smooth track-to-track flow. And the combination of voices here is heavenly, with Strong and Whitworth’s equally intimate, equally weary voices trading lead and harmony in true duo form.”  —Cover Lay Down

“Bring It On Home is that hidden diamond that may be the best recording to cross this desk all year.” ––C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz

Bring it On Home ~ Track Listing

1) Bring It On Home To Me (Sam Cooke)
2) Moonglow (Delange, Mills, Hudson)
3) You Can Close Your Eyes (James Taylor)
4) Duncan (Paul Simon)
5) I Get Ideas (When We Are Dancing)  (Sanders, Cochran)
6) Louise (Paul Siebel)
7) Sway (Molina, Ruiz, Gimbel)
8) Bird On The Wire (Leonard Cohen)
9) Corcovado (Quiet Nights) (A.C. Jobim, Gene Lees)
10) Green Grass (Tom Waits, Kathleen Brennan)
11) I’ll Be Your Lover, Too (Van Morrison)
12) You Are My Sunshine (Jimmie Davis)

In this eclectic album, Shannon and Barrett take turns singing lead, backing each other on harmony vocals, and playing various instrumentations with Shannon on ukulele, banjo and Barrett on electric and acoustic guitars, upright bass, and piano. Recorded in Asheville’s Echo Mountain Recording Studio with a team of talented friends and musicians from the Asheville area including Legendary drummer Jeff Sipe (Aquarium Rescue Unit, Leftover Salmon) and master multi-instrumentalist Mike Ashworth fas the core rhythm section. Justin Ray and Jacob Rodriguez took a break from touring with Michael Buble to contribute on trumpet and saxophone. Virtuoso bluegrass fiddlers Nate Leath and Nicky Sanders (Steep Canyon Rangers) adds violins to Melissa Hyman’s cello lines while Michael Libramento, of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, plays keyboards.

In recording Bring it on Home, the Shannon and Barrett looked to songs that inspire them, and hope to pass that inspiration on.

BarrettSmith.com

ShannonWhitworth.net

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Tara Nevins (of Donna the Buffalo) and Friends Tour the Southeast This December

Tara Nevins (of Donna the Buffalo) and Friends
Tour the Southeast This December
Performing Songs From Her Latest Solo Release ‘Wood and Stone’

Tara Nevins and Friends on Tour:
Wed 12/5  Atlanta, GA  Smith’s Olde Bar
Thur 12/6  Charlotte, NC  The Double Door Inn
Fri 12/7  Asheville, NC  The Grey Eagle
Sat 12/8  Huntsville, AL Kaffeeklatsch

“A tour de force from start to finish” –Elmore Magazine about Wood and Stone

“If heroes and heroines of rock ‘n’ roll are defined by their uniqueness, they definitely broke the mold when they made Tara Nevins.” —Wildman Steve

American roots traditionalist Tara Nevins will be touring this winter in the southeast for select shows, in between her other gigs with Donna the Buffalo. She will be performing songs from her latest solo release, Wood and Stone, on Sugar Hills Records which hit in the Top 20 on the Americana Music Chart in 2011.

Joining Nevins for this tour are Riley Baugus (Banjo), Mike Compton (Mandolin), Pete Finney (pedal steel & electric guitar), David Grier (Acoustic Guitar), Todd Phillips (bass), Mark Raudabaugh (Donna the Buffalo’s  Drummer), and Amber-Dawn Rische (harmony vocals & 2nd fiddle).

Fans of Nevins from her 21-year tenure with Donna the Buffalo are familiar with her versatile talents; she shares the vocal and songwriting responsibilities for the band and is a stellar musician on fiddle, guitar, and accordion. (She plays a mean scrubboard too.) Prior to DTB, Nevins was a founding member of the all-female, old time/Cajun band The Heartbeats.

Wood and Stone was produced by Larry Campbell at the Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY and showcases Nevins’ ever-evolving repertoire as she journeys both back to her own “roots” and head-long into new territory. Featured guests on the album include Levon Helm, Jim Lauderdale, Allison Moorer, Teresa Williams, The Heartbeats, along with the core band of Larry Campbell, Justin Guip, and Byron Isaacs.

CMT says, “With the wonderful fiddle groove and vividly written lyrics, Nevins gives a glimpse into her roots. Stepping out for a rare solo record (beyond her beloved band, Donna the Buffalo), she meshes her Cajun influences, unique voice, drums and steel guitars for an intriguing look at her heritage.”

“Two surprises on the album are “Stars Fell on Alabama,” in which Nevins turns the ‘30s jazz standard into a bleak, gothic soundscape, and “Tennessee River,” an even more desolate turn recalling the best of Lucinda Williams,“ writes Lonesome Road Review.

For more visit www.TaraNevins.com

WATCH- Stars Fell on Alabama Official Music Video
WATCH – Tennessee River performance and interview

About the Players for the Tour:

Riley Baugus. Photo by Abigail Seymoure

RILEY BAUGUS
Riley Baugus represents the best of old time American banjo and song. His powerful singing voice and his expert musicianship place him squarely in the next generation of the quality American roots tradition. When not teaching or building banjos, Riley can be found out on the road performing or in the studio recording.  Riley was the acapella ballad singer for the voice of Pangle in the Academy Award-winning film “Cold Mountain”.

His banjo playing can be heard on several recordings such as Alison Kraus and Robert Plants “Raising Sand, Willie Nelsons “Country Music”, and his two acclaimed solo recordings, “Life Of Riley” and “Long Steel Rail”, to mention only a few. He’s performed with many Old Time string bands and artists such as Dirk Powell, Tim O’brien, Kirk Sutphin, and The Lonesome Sisters. Riley makes his home near Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Photo Courtesy of Mike Compton

MIKE COMPTON
Preservationist, performer, modern-day musical pioneer, composer, and educator, Mike Compton, a musician’s musician has rightly earned a reputation as one of the best and most influential mandolin players in acoustic music today. Grammy award winner, nominated IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year, and musical US Ambassador throughout the world, Mike has entertained at Carnegie Hall, at the White House, and been honored by the Mississippi State Senate with State Resolution Number 45, a special honor commending his musical accomplishments.

Over a span of 35 years, Compton has made a career playing on recordings of others adding his signature sound. Mike has made music with such diverse notables as Ralph Stanley, Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes, David Grier,producer T-Bone Burnett (O Brother, Where Art Thou and Down From The Mountain tours), Nashville Bluegrass Band, John Hartford to name a few, and has performed on over 100 CD’s in a variety of genres, with some of the most beloved artists of our day.

Photo Courtesy of Pete Finny

PETE FINNEY
Pete Finney is a pedal-steel guitarist (and multi-instrumentalist) who has toured and recorded with Patty Loveless for over 20 years, and also worked extensively with folks like the Dixie Chicks, Vince Gill, Pam Tillis, Jim Lauderdale, Doug Sahm as well as countless others,
and has recording credits with the likes of Justin Townes Earle, Bonnie “Prince” Billy,  Radney Foster and Beck.

Photo Courtesy of David Grier

DAVID GRIER
The most award-winning guitarist in recent memory is David Grier. For the past several years, he has been voted by the members of the International Bluegrass Music Association as Best Guitar Player of the Year. He has also appeared on two Grammy- winning recordings: “True Life Blues-A Tribute to Bill Monroe” and “The Great Dobro Sessions.” David is also included in the book, “1,000 Great Guitarists.”

In addition to touring solo, David also appears as the guitarist for Psychograss, who are currently celebrating a critically acclaimed new album, “Now Hear This”.  David makes his home in Nashville.

Photo Courtesy of Todd Phillips

TODD PHILLIPS
Todd Phillips is the bassist of choice for many of the most innovative, as well as traditional, acoustic instrumental and bluegrass recordings made since the mid-1970s.  A two-time Grammy Award winner and founding member of the original David Grisman Quintet, Phillips has made a career of consistently performing and recording with acoustic music’s finest and most creative artists.  He also played in The Tony Rice Unit and the now classic bluegrass recording group The Bluegrass Album Band.

Phillips has had the opportunity to work with a virtual “who’s who” of acoustic music’s finest, such as Vassar Clements, Ricky Skaggs, Sam Bush, John Hartford, Jerry Douglas, Alison Brown, Mike Marshall, Stuart Duncan, Tim O’Brien, Del McCoury, Darrell Scott, Larry Campbell, John Doyle, Dirk Powell, Joan Baez and many more.  Phillips has produced recordings for guitar great David Grier; “Panorama”, and two projects for mandolinist Matt Flinner; “The View From Here” and “Latitude”, which lead to the formation of the innovative instrumental trio; Phillips, Grier & Flinner and their two unique and highly acclaimed CDs; “Phillips, Grier & Flinner” and “Looking Back” (Compass Records).   Todd Phillips lives in Nashville, tours with Psychograss, Russ Barenberg & Brittany Haas, will tour Russia (w/ Bill Evans) in August 2012, reuniting with The Bluegrass Album Band (scheduled 2013) and is doing studio work in his new home town.

Mark Raudabaugh. Photo By Lori Sky Twohy.

MARK RAUDABAUGH
Atlanta based drummer, Mark Raudabaugh, is a versatile and skilled performer who is currently on the road with Donna the Buffalo. He has also toured with Papa Mali, Bobby Lee Rodgers and The CodeTalkers, Grant Green Jr., Ruby Velle and The Soulphonics, among many others.

Photo Courtesy of Amber-Dawn Rische Nicholas

AMBER-DAWN RISCHE NICHOLAS
Amber-Dawn Rische Nicholas has been performing worldwide for many years as a violinist and singer with the now disbanded Arista/Sony Nashville signed group, Jypsi. With the band, she had the opportunity to play many prestigious venues such as Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, South By Southwest (SXSW), Stagecoach, and many more including several appearances at The Ryman and The Grand Ole Opry. She has toured/performed with major artists including, Darius Rucker, Ronnie Milsap, Hootie & the Blowfish, etc. She has also gained invaluable experience working in the studio with many of the world’s top record producers such as Don Was, Nathan Chapman, Tony Smith, and the list goes on.

Amber-Dawn presently performs with her husband Bobby Nicholas in their duo BAD Nicholas.  They have recently written and recorded their first album together “We Will Fly”.  Amber-Dawn makes her home in Nashville.

Visit TaraNevins.com and Facebook.com/TaraNevins or Facebook.com/TaraNevinsFiddle for more information about the album, a gallery of images, videos, music, and lyrics.

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Leftover Salmon Swims Westbound for the Winter 2013 Tour ~ Free Download of Fall’s Georgia Theatre Show

Leftover Salmon with Jason Carter at the Georgia Theatre. Photo by Terry Rogers.

Leftover Salmon Swims Westbound for the Winter 2013 Tour

We are happy to announce that Leftover Salmon swims westbound for 2013 Winter Tour! The tour sees stops throughout the West, Southern California, Southwest, and back through some of the Mountain West’s favorite ski towns.

LOS Fan Club Ticketing on sale 11/15 at 10am (MST) for the Winter Tour.

For more information, tickets and future dates visit our tour page.

FREE Download:
LoS LIVE from the Georgia Theater – Athens, GA 10/9/12

To get you in the groove, LoS has made available a free download of the soundboard recording for the entire show from the Georgia Theater this Fall. Jason Carter (Del McCoury Band, Travelin’ McCourys) sat in on fiddle the entire show and David Lowery (Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven) played a few songs during the second set. It is available here: http://www.leftoversalmon.com/LOS_live.html
Leftover Salmon on Tour:
Wed 2/13/13 Missoula, MT  Wilma Theater
Thu 2/14/13 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory
Fri 2/15/13 Seattle, WA  Neptune Theatre
Sat 2/16/13 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom
Sun 2/17/13 Arcata, CA  Arcata Theater
Mon 2/18/13 Crystal Bay, NV  Crystal Bay Club & Casino
Wed 2/20/13 San Francisco, CA  Great American Music Hall
Thu 2/21/13 West Hollywood, CA  House of Blues
Fri 2/22/13 Solana Beach, CA  Belly Up
Sat 2/23/13 Flagstaff, AZ   Orpheum Theater
Sun 2/24/13 Tuscon, AZ  Rialto Theatre
Tue 2/26/13 – 2/27/13  Telluride, CO  Sheridan Opera House
Thu 2/28/13  Aspen, CO  Belly Up
Fri 3/1/13  Park City, UT  Park City Live
Sat 3/2/13  Boise, ID  Knitting Factory
Sun 3/3/13  Jackson, WY  Pink Garter Theatre

http://leftoversalmon.com

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Aaron Burdett Performs at The Speakeasy @ Preservation Pub on Nov 17th

Aaron Burdett @ The Speakeasy at the Preservation Pub
New album ”Breathing Underwater”
Saturday, Nov 17th
8-10pm Free!

865.524.2224
28 Market Square, Knoxville TN
www.preservationpub.com

“Saluda, NC’s own Aaron Burdett has become one of our favorite regional singer/songwriters these last few years” –Martin Anderson, WNCW

“He reflects upon and questions life’s experiences in an honest tone, making you feel as if the songs are written on your behalf. A bit acoustic, a bit electric, and a bit early New Grass Revival, the music will get you moving to the beat in your most natural way. Take it on a road trip – I think you’ll enjoy the drive a bit more, and you may even find yourself singing along.” –Casey Driessen

“I’m exposed to all types of singers, songwriters, and frontmen, and rarely do I hear anyone that compares to Aaron Burdett.  His sense of melody and depth of lyrics is the perfect combination.  His trajectory will be comparable to Ray LaMontagne and Amos Lee when people start to take notice.  It will be exciting to watch.”  –Brian Swenk, Big Daddy Love

Download Breathing Underwater and “pay what you want” at www.aaronburdett.com

Storyteller and musician Aaron Burdett shares an appreciation for the simple pleasures of life through his music. Burdett released his 4th album, Breathing Underwater September 11th, 2012. Building on the traditions of the finest performing songwriters such as John Hiatt, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, and John Prine, Aaron’s music blends folk-rock, bluegrass, and blues with pop sensibilities. His honest songwriting pours in between hammer-on chord changes and rolling crosspicking rhythms, all the while keeping at the forefront his own unique sound and authentic voice.

After successfully raising $9000 through Kickstarter, Burdett and his band (Will Jernigan on bass and Billy Seawell on drums), took to Hollow Reed Studios to record with producer Chris Rosser. This is the first album where vocalist Burdett performs on his electric guitar as well as acoustic. Guest musicians include Casey Driessen on fiddle, Andy Pond on banjo and cajon, Brian Swenk on banjo and Chris Rosser on keys.

Optimistically themed, Breathing Underwater reflects Aaron’s life experience and the changing perceptions and priorities that come with the passage of time, working towards goals, and finding the peace of mind to allow life to unfold naturally. It features 11 tracks, all penned by Burdett, including the slow, bluesy electric title track. It’s a tonally diverse album, from the upbeat and newgrassy “Copper on the Corner” and “Sneaking up” to the more relaxed pace of “The Simplest Things”, a piece about stepping back from day to day distractions and concerns to remember the more important things we are blessed with. There is a musical release in “3 or 4 minutes”, a song about being taken away on a journey by an artist, and then realizing that it’s only a 3 or 4 minute song even though you feel like you’ve been gone and zoned into the music forever.

Aaron Burdett won first place in the Carolina Songs Competition with Our State Magazine for his song “Going Home to Carolina” in the Fall of 2012!

Our State writes:

From more than two hundred entries submitted in Our State magazine’s first-ever singer/songwriter competition, Aaron Burdett’s song “Going Home to Carolina”, has emerged as the winner. The competition called for original, North Carolina inspired songs that celebrate the place we call home. It was judged by a panel of local industry professionals.

“As judges, we had a great opportunity to hear some passionate songs about North Carolina,” said Rhiannon Giddens, lead singer of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, “Aaron did a wonderful job capturing the strong connection that I think all of us feel about the state.” and there is more info and a video of the song here: http://www.ourstate.com/songwriting/

Whether solo or with his band, Aaron’s talent for the craft of songwriting and knack for connecting with a live audience has won him praise time and time again.

aaronburdett.com
facebook.com/AaronBurdettMusic
twitter.com/Aaron_Burdett

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Mike Cullison’s “The Barstool Monologues” Releases TODAY Nov 13th

MIKE CULLISON & The Regulars The Barstool Monologues:

“A Honky-Tonk Canterbury Tales”
www.theroadhouserambler.com

Buy the Album at CD Baby

TODAY, November 13th, 2012 marks the release of Nashville-based Singer-songwriter Mike Cullison’s The Barstool Monologues, produced by Mark Robinson through JoeDog Records. Music News Nashville calls Cullison “… one of Nashville’s most respected tunesmiths.”

With The Barstool Monologues, Cullison weaves lives of bar patrons into songs, then threading them together with spoken-word narrative to create a vivid musical tableau. There’s the heartbroken lover, the fracturing couple, the other woman, the lonely imbiber … each introduced by a bartender named Hollis, who sees and hears it all. Various singers (including Jon Byrd, Davis Raines, and six others) inhabit their personas, spinning musical novellas into what Cullison likes to describe as “a honky-tonk Canterbury Tales.”

WHAT THE PRESS IS SAYING:

“Solid no-frills country and spirited barroom blues are the order of the day, with some expository narration and wry observations from the proprietor along the way.” —Jack Silverman, Nashville Scene

“If you head out to the barrooms tonight, keep in mind that everyone has their individual stories to tell. With that in mind, Cullison delivers a project that will have you thinking and maybe a little bit of drinking, as well! —Chuck Dauphin, Music News Nashville

“Using a unique format, Mike Cullison and his band of ‘regulars’ deliver an album full of classic honkytonk country slathered in rock, blues and even a bit of zydeco. While all the songs are co-written by Cullison, he’s got a group of over a dozen performers on The Barstool Monologues that really serves to infuse the album with a sociable, collaborative feeling.” —Brent Fleury, Bold Life

Download the song “Wish I Didn’t Like Whiskey“ From November’s Blue Ridge Outdoors Musical Trailmix

ALBUM GIVEAWAY: Engine 145 has an extra copy of The Barstool Monologues to give away to one reader. To enter, leave a comment at this link about the most memorable person you’ve ever met in a bar. The deadline is 9 a.m. Eastern on Thursday, November 15.

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Velvet Truckstop & the Honeycutters on Jam in the Van

Velvet Truckstop on Jam in the Van
See more at: jaminthevan.com/2012/11/velvet-truckstop/ 

The Honeycutters on Jam in the Van
see more at: jaminthevan.com/2012/11/the-honeycutters/

Check out more Jam in the Van at
jaminthevan.com
facebook.com/jaminthevan
twitter.com/jaminthevan

*** About Jam in the Van***
Jam in the Van ==== Where music takes a whole new road.
They will be traveling anywhere accessible by road to find and record intimate musical experience’s for their fans.

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Town Mountain & The Shawn Camp Band Present The End of the World Bluegrass Bash @ The Grey Eagle 12/21

Town Mountain & The Shawn Camp Band Present
The End of the World Bluegrass Bash @ The Grey Eagle

Friday, December 21, 2012
Show starts at 9pm with Town Mountain followed by the Shawn Camp Band
$10adv/ $12 dos
185 Clingman Ave. 28801 Asheville, NC 28801
828-232-5800
www.thegreyeagle.com

www.TownMountain.net

“I’m not sure what the definition of bluegrass would be in words alone, but if that definition was set to music, it would probably sound something like Town Mountain’s new Pinecastle Records release, ‘Leave the Bottle’… I could go on. There are no duds, and no filler songs on this project, which was produced by Mike Bub. But you get the point. This, my friends, is how bluegrass is supposed to sound.” –David Morris, Bluegrass Today

Asheville, NC bluegrass band Town Mountain is touring around their fourth album, Leave the Bottle, which was released September 4th, 2012 on Pinecastle Records and was produced by Grammy award-winner Mike Bub (Del McCoury Band) and engineered by banjoist extraordinaire Scott Vestal (Sam Bush Band) at his own Digital Underground Studio in Nashville, TN. After debuting at #4 on the Bluegrass Today Radio Chart on release week and currently sitting at #15 on Roots Music Report’s Bluegrass Album chart, Leave the Bottle has been generating rave reviews and serious airtime from bluegrass fans across the country.  Town Mountain is Robert Greer on vocals and guitar, Jesse Langlais on banjo and vocals, Phil Barker on mandolin and vocals, Bobby Britt on fiddle, and Jake Hopping on upright bass.

The new album once again features the stellar in-house songwriting that has become the band’s trademark. Leave the Bottle effortlessly covers a wide array of styles in the bluegrass spectrum. There’s the barroom swagger and honky tonk edge of tracks like “Up the Ladder” and the title track “Leave the Bottle”, the Jimmy Martin style bounce and confidence of “Lawdog” and “Lookin’ in the Mirror”, the Irish flavor of Bobby Britt’s “Four Miles”, and the laid back John Hartford style groove of “Greenbud on the Flower” among others.  But no matter the stlye, the band’s delivery gives every tune a true and honest feel. This album is sincere, heartfelt, bluegrass music from front to back.

“Centered around strong, soulful vocals, and poised to stay put,” says Woody Platt of the Steep Canyon Rangers, “Town Mountain are true to bluegrass in all the right ways and this new project keeps them firmly connected to the traditions of the genre, while also allowing them to reach out into the broad horizon of string band music. Leave the Bottle comes highly recommended.”

Their undeniable charm and winning way with words won Town Mountain a spot on 2012’s Putumayo’s Presents Bluegrass release, showcasing the Phil Barker original  “Diggin’ on the Mountainside” alongside tracks from Alison Krauss, David Grisman, Sam Bush, Railroad Earth, The Seldom Scene, and more.

Town Mountain’s Phil Barker has co-written songs for the Steep Canyon Rangers last two records, as well as for comedian/banjoist Steve Martin’s Grammy nominated Rare Bird Alert.

Town Mountain has also collaborated and/ or performed along with Doc Watson, Jim Lauderdale, Steep Canyon Rangers, Acoustic Syndicate, Keller Williams, Larry Keel, David Grisman, and The Infamous Stringdusters.

LISTEN to a fantastic interview (and some great tunes) with Town Mountain’s Jesse Langlais as he talks with Sloane Spencer from Country Fried Rock about the new album, musical influences and more.

More news, tour dates and information at www.TownMountain.net

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About the Shawn Camp Band: Some careers can be described with a couple of words, but Shawn Camp’s isn’t one of them. A bold and distinctive singer, a songwriter who’s provided material for artists ranging from Garth Brooks and Brooks & Dunn to Ralph Stanley, Del McCoury and Ricky Skaggs, and a multi-instrumentalist who’s played with everyone from Alan Jackson to the Osborne Brothers, his music sprawls across the lines that divide mainstream country, Americana, bluegrass and roots rock.

Some of Shawn’s songwriting accomplishment include: writing the  1997 #1 hit “2 Pina Colada’s” for Garth Brooks, 1998’s #1 “How Long Gone” for Brooks & Dunn, George Strait’s 2008 #1 song “River of Love”, Josh Turner’s 2007 #4 song “Would You Go With Me”, as well as several tunes on the 2002 Grammy winning Jim Lauderdale & Ralph Stanley album Lost in the Lonesome Pines.

www.ShawnCamp.com

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