Lingua Musica Interviews with Larry and Jenny Keel!

Lingua Musica Interviews with Larry and Jenny Keel!

Erin Scholze with Dreamspider Publicity interviews Larry and Jenny Keel at Pisgah Brewing in Black Mountain, NC on October 6, 2011. The Keels talk about their music workshops which combine songwriting with trout and bass fishing, their upcoming album, playing with Steve McMurry, Gove Scrivenor, Jeff Mosier, Caroline Pond, Keller Williams and more. This video as filmed and edited by Tony Preston and is copyright Luminescence 2011.

http://larrykeel.com/
http://www.fishinandpickin.com/
http://dreamspider.net/
http://amrmediaproductions.com/
http://linguamusicalive.com/

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Fishin and Pickin Presents Trout and Tunes 2 with Larry Keel on May 17-20, 2012!

Fishin and Pickin Presents Trout and Tunes 2 May 17-20, 2012!

It will be at Elk River Inn, cabins, and restaurant in Slatyfork, WV near Snowshoe Ski Resort.  Three days of instruction, small concerts, incredible food, and lodging. Enjoy pickin or just listening, relaxing with friends, fly and spin fishing for trout, beautiful scenery, learn a new lick, and listen to great music in a relaxed environment. Meals are included from Thursday evening through Sunday Breakfast. Private instruction, cabins, private rooms and bunkhouses are all available. Also enjoy hiking trails, mountain bike trails right out the door, porch pickin and campfires!

Join Larry Keel and Natural Bridge for a weekend to remember!

For more information or reservations please call: 304-572-3771 or 866-572-3771 or email at info@ertc.com and visit www.elkriverinnandrestaurant.com

www.larrykeel.com

Facebook at Fishin Pickin

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Help Raise Funds for Billy Constable to Offset Medical Expenses at Larry Keel and Natural Bridge Shows This December

The following concerts are in conjunction with a benefit Larry Keel and Natural Bridge is hosting for an entire weekend for our good friend Billy Constable. Billy has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and has just had brain surgery and does not have insurance. LKNB will be accepting donations on his behalf, donating their merchandise sales and hosting a 50/50 raffle to raise money for Billy to offset his medical expenses.  
Visit www.billyconstable.com for more info.

Melting Point in Athens, GA 12/8
Legal Grounds in Rutherfordton, NC 12/9
Pour House in Charleston, SC 12/10

Billy has been diagnosed with a lump on the lower portion of his brain which has been causing increasingly frequent seizures. He is currently seeing medical specialists and gathering evaluations. The expense is certain to be high, and Billy is without medical insurance. We are coming together, as friends and fellow musicians, to help offset those costs.

Billy Constable grew up in a very musical family in Avery County, and he has been playing music for most of his life. Billy is part of Avery County’s Wiseman family, which includes a number of professional musicians including Scotty Wiseman, Lawrence Wiseman, David Wiseman, Fiddling Jimmy Wiseman, banjo picker Kent Wiseman, and Billy’s mother, Lois.

Billy began playing guitar professionally as a youngster with bluegrass great Charlie Moore, who had married Billy’s mother. He also played in Douglas Dillard’s newly formed “post Dillards” bluegrass band The Doug Dillard Band from Hollywood, which also featured Byron Berline and occasional guests like Vassar Clements and Sam Bush.

Billy’s approach to the banjo is firmly rooted in Appalachian string music, but it can be deceptively eclectic. His influences begin at home and with his family, but Billy’s repertoire is vast, and he is comfortable in most musical situations. In addition to banjo, Billy is also an accomplished musician on the guitar, mandolin and violin.

Travers Chandler writes in Bluegrass Today, “I was well aware of what a musical giant Billy Constable was. He had spent time with The Doug Dillard Band, toured with Kenny Baker and Josh Graves, and later worked with envelope-pushers like Larry Keel, Leftover Salmon, and String Cheese Incident on both banjo and guitar.  It wasn’t until I had moved to Asheville in 2010, though, that I became aware of what a rare human being he was – both as a friend, and a brother in the order of acoustic music. We had spoken a time or two during my research on Charlie, and I knew of his prowess and ability to play all kinds of acoustic music: jamband, gypsy, rock and roll… The guy is a genius.”

“He was a mentor to all of us,” Jon Jon Davis said [in an interview in the Boone Mountain Times with Frank Ruggiero],“and he’s played with everybody.”

LKNB’s Mark Schimick says in the same interview, “Billy Constable was the main bluegrass teacher for Jon Jon and myself,” he said. “When he first heard us play, he heard a bunch of green musicians, as far as bluegrass is concerned, but he heard how we knew to play the rhythm to it,” Schimick said.

During the next couple years, Constable became their bluegrass mentor, teaching them how to play solos, sing the parts and behave on the road. “In a lot of ways, he helped us all get started on how to become professional musicians,” Schimick said. “Playing with him is like playing with family,” Schimick said. “He’s just as down to earth playing on stage as he is hanging out.”

For more information about Billy Constable and for updates on his medical situation, please visit:  www.billyconstable.com.

If people would prefer to mail a donation, please mail to:
Dave Ruch
155 St James Place
Buffalo NY 14222
dave@daveruch.com
716-884-6855

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Charlottesville, Virginia – The Festy Presents at The Southern: Larry Keel and Natural Bridge with The Founding Fathers!

Introducing “The Festy Presents!”

In response to amazing feedback from the first two years of The Festy Experience, the talent, party, vibe, and hospitality of The Festy Experience will be brought to you throughout the year in the Charlottesville area. The Festy Presents will feature artists who have performed at The Festy as well as artists you can anticipate for The Festy 3 (October 5-7, 2012)

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On Saturday, December 3rd, The Festy Presents brings two-year veterans of The Festy, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge to The Southern along with The Founding Fathers (featuring Chris Pandolfi and Andy Falco of The Infamous Stringdusters). The night will feature draft beer from Devils Backbone Brewing Company and ALL advance ticket purchasers will be entered to win a pair of ticket to New Years Eve at The Jefferson Theater with The Infamous Stringdusters or a Festy merchandise package.
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Original, and from the soul, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge joyfully ride the changing tides of traditional bluegrass, country, jam rock, roots reggae, and even the currently emerging indie-alt scene always honoring the pioneers that introduced Bluegrass and Mountain Music into popular culture. Larry Keel is an award-winning Acoustic Americana flatpicking guitarist, well known for his entirely unique song-writing, gravelly voice and lightning fast licks and is “consistently touted as the hottest, most provocative and most entertaining bluegrass (artist) of this decade.” Joining the award-winning Flatpickin legend to make up Natural Bridge are the vastly talented Mark Schimick on mandolin and vocals, Larry’s life-long picker pal (and fishing phenom) Will Lee on soulful, blues-grass style 5-string banjo and penetrating lead vocals, and wife Jenny Keel with her impeccable timing and solid, yet imaginative bass lines as well as tenor vocal harmonies.

Show details at a glance:
The Festy Presents:
Larry Keel & Natural Bridge
The Founding Fathers
Saturday December 3, 2011

Doors at 7:30pm
$12 in advance/$15 day of show
Limited Seating Available
Advance tickets are available for pickup at The Southern, Rapture, and Devils Backbone Brewing Company

Or online at:
www.thesoutherncville.com
www.thefesty.com
www.thefestypresentslarrykeel-larrykeel.eventbrite.com

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11-11-11 Eve Party with Larry Keel and Natural Bridge in Lexington Kentucky

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge and Grayson Capps at O’Neills Irish Pub.

Doors at 6pm and music at 8pm.
Thursday, November 10 at 6pm – November 11 at 1am

Tickets are available at CD Central and O’Neill’s (after 3pm).

$11 advance, $ 15 at the door…

2051 Richmond Rd
Suite 140
Lexington, KY.
(859) 266-4488

oneillslex.com

And, for all of you out there who love, hate, tolerate, or just admire his long flowing locks, it’s Eric Anderson’s birthday party too!

Here’s a note from Eric about the evening:

It’s My Birthday! It’s My Birthday!
Let’s Have A Party, That’s Right A Party!

11-11-11 is a big Birthday for me and I’d like to share it with as many of you that I can so I’ve scheduled a great night of music that includes Larry Keel and Natural Bridge & Grayson Capps.

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge is one of my favorite Bluegrass ensembles I know. Larry is a master guitar player and a champion flatpicker, any guitar player should see him. His band is full of very talented musicians as well, consisting of his lovely wife Jenny Keel on Bass, Mark Schimick on Mandolin and Will Lee on Banjo. It’s Bluegrass with an edge.

Grayson Capps is a down & dirty Delta Blues singer/songwriter from New Orleans. He has more stories than any one man should know. The richness of his songs lies both in the real life truths of the lyrical story as well as well as the gruff and sometimes tender delivery of the music. His music was used for the movie “Love Song For Bobby Long” and, as well as being in it, he was the one to help educate John Travolta on how to be Bobby Long.

Either of these acts are worthy of the ticket price but come celebrate with me and you get them both. Maybe you’re just a number person like me and 11-11-11 is in itself something to celebrate. Either way I hope to see y’all there.

Here is the facebook event page for this event as well: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=229866403733902

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Suwanne Springfest 2012 Lineup Announced!

The lineup for 2012’s Suwannee Springfest was just announced featuring Yonder Mountain String Band, Peter Rowan & Tony Rice, Justin Townes Earl,  Emmitt-Nershi Band , Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Darol Anger and the Republic of Strings, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Gourds, Greensky Bluegrass, Great American Taxi, and more!The festival returns to Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL for the weekend of March 22-25, 2012 and three-day passes are now on sale for $125. Read on for the lineup

Stay tuned to suwanneespringfest.com for more!

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Message from the Keels~ Labor Day Weekend with Natural Bridge and Keller Williams!

Here’s a fun update from the Keels for Labor Day Weekend!

Hey Folks,

After a firestorm of energy and killer shows out west with Natural Bridge and Keller Williams we get right back in the saddle this week with some great shows back on the East Coast.

Keller and the Keels. Photo by J. R. Martin

Check out this live review in Reverb from the Mishawaka Amphitheatre in Colorado from last week’s show with Keller. In it Brendan Magee states,  “Williams opened with a quiet version of Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” before covering Van Morrison, Ryan Adams and Tom Petty along the way. But first and second set turns with the Keels colored the night bluegrass. Fast-fingered Larry Keel hammered his way into songs with drastic precision and neck-bending techniques. Jenny Keel on vocals and upright bass anchored songs like “Get It While You Can” amidst a picking frenzy.” Also, here are some great pics from the show: http://phatphlogblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/phlog-post-keller-and-keels-at.html

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge. Photo by Vikas Nambiar

This Friday we head out for another Keller and the Keels set at the Head Jamz Festival on Friday in Adams, TN. On Saturday we head back to the great state of North Carolina and play the GETDOWN Music Festival with Natural Bridge. This Sunday, Sept 4th we trek back  to our home town of Lexington, VA to play an evening with Larry Keel and Natural Bridge at The Theater At Lime Kiln (show starts at 7:30pm). We finish the Labor Day Weekend festivities on Monday, Sept 5th in Bridgewater, VA at the Oakdale Community Park Summer Concerts (show time is 7pm).

Have a beautiful weekend and remember to think of your fellow friends and family, go out and lend a hand this week, a lot of folks could use it after this week.

Cheers,
The Keels

http://www.larrykeel.com

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Larry Keel and Natural Bridge play the Capital Ale House in Richmond on Friday, April 13rd!

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge head back though Richmond, VA to play the Capital Ale House on Friday April 22nd, 2011.

Style Weekly did a nice preview stating, “Sporting the wildest mutton chop sideburns since Ambrose Burnside, flat picker Larry Keel plays bluegrass Americana that exhibits the kind of technical mastery of acoustic guitar only time can provide. Born in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, the veteran player and songwriter — alongside his band, Natural Bridge — has remained a much-respected fixture of the Appalachian musical tradition. With the kind of gruff vocal delivery that could take Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder by surprise…”

Listen in to a wonderful interview podcast with Larry and Jenny Keel on Eternal JamNation here: http://eternaljamnationradio.com/shows/LarryandJennyKeel.mp3

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Smilefest New Artists Announcement! Jeb and Tara Duo added!

The Reunion: 2011

Mountain Roots Management is proud to bring another Smilefest Reunion to the musical family of Smilefest supporters past and present. The 2011 event promises to be something special!  Smilefest Reunion 2011 is scheduled to take place June 3-5, 2011 at Jomeokee Campground in Pinnacle, NC.

This private, invitation only event offers 2 stages, acoustic late night jams, VIP packages, RV and Vehicle Camping passes, and capped ticket sales at 1499 patrons. Smilefest Reunion 2011 promises to be a treat to all the Smile Folk that attend, guaranteeing an intimate experience between patrons, artists and festival.  Nestled below Pilot Mountain, the 100 acre plot has plenty of covered and open camping, rolling hills, scenic mountains and a near perfect amphitheatre which hosts the side-by-side stages.

Photo by John D Kurc

Smilefest is very excited to announce their 2nd and final round of Artist Additions to the Smilefest Reunion 2011. With so much amazing music rooted in the history of this event, a lot of hard work has gone into bringing the utmost in talent old and new.

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Smilefest is very excited to have added to our Sunday closing a special duo set from Jeb and Tara (of Donna and the Buffalo). Others performing over the weekend include: Railroad Earth, JJ Grey and Mofro, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge, Danny Barnes and more!

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

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The dynamic songwriting tandem of Americana Roots vocalists Jeb Puryear and Tara Nevins have penned over 150 songs in their collaboration with DTB and have many more in the making. Their set at Smilefest is a special duo set which is always enjoyable for their fans to hear their favorite DtB songs in stripped down arrangements.

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This May, Nevins is also releasing a 2nd solo album Wood and Stone which showcases her ever-evolving repertoire as she journeys both back to her own “roots” and head-long into new territory. The album was produced by Larry Campbell with guests including Levon Helm, Jim Lauderdale, Allison Moorer, Teresa Williams and more and will be put out through Sugar Hill Records. In 2008, Puryear released a solo album, Hopes and Dreams, through GrassRoots Festival Records. Donna the Buffalo’s 2008 release Silverlined, on Sugar Hill Records, rose to #8 on the Americana Music Chart and the full band is in studio this spring working on their next album with John Keane in Athens, GA.

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Other Smilefest Artist Additions include:

BIG DADDY BLUEGRASS BAND, RALPH RODDENBERRY (Late Night Pickin’ Set), BIG SOMETHING, BOBBY MILLER and the VIRGINIA DAREDEVILS (Late Night Pickin’ Set), DUK TAN, FROM A SEED, and MATT NICHOLS

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For the full Smilefest Reunion 2011 Artist Lineup, go to http://www.smilefest.com/all-artists

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Great interview with Jenny Keel! Larry Keel & Natural Bridge shows this week in Atlanta, Savannah and Greenville, SC!

LKNB Photo by Vikas Nambiar

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge have a fun weekend in store with shows in Atlanta, Savannah and Greenville, SC! They start off on Thursday, March 3rd in Atlanta at the Red Light Cafe. Friday’s show is at the Live Wire Music Hall in Savannah, GA and they head n over to Greenville, SC for a show at Gottrocks on Saturday, March 5th!

Jenny Keel will be doing a LIVE radio interview TONIGHT (Wed, March 2nd) on Radio Free Georgia WRFG 89.3 FM at 8:45pm EST. Listen in online at www.wrfg.org

The Savannah Current writes,

Keel is one of the pre-eminent flat-picking acoustic guitarists in the entire world. Anywhere. He holds his own with the likes of (his good buddy) Tony Rice. And it’s not basic bluegrass, the way Bill Monroe played it – Keel and the band (which includes his wife Jenny on standup bass) also play a jaw-dropping amalgam of gypsy folk and Appalachian instrumental music. This is acoustic music, pure and performed with intensity and flying-finger verisimilitude.

One more thing: The Virginia-bred Keel devotes half of his official website to fishing news and tips (that’s his other passion). He ain’t a sweet-singing vocalist like Ricky Skaggs or Vince Gill – he’s got a gravelly, weathered voice that lets you know, right from the get-go, that between that and the fishing, the flatpicking and the mountain-man beard, he’s the real deal.

~ written by Bill DeYoung

The Hartford Examiner states, “Flatpicking Guitar master Larry Keel is a dedicated force in preserving and creating American Mountain Music. Delivering powerful and honest performances, Keel and his four-piece bluegrass band Natural Bridge are a breath of fresh air in the traditional bluegrass market of today.”

Also check out the writeups in Connect Savannah and GoUpstate.com!

Jenny Keel did a wonderful interview with Sarah Morgan, the Atlanta Jamband Examiner. Here are some excerpts:

Pickin’ and grinnin’ doesn’t get more descriptive than with Larry Keel & Natural Bridge. Larry Keel may be a guitar master but his “backup” band isn’t subpar. The Natural Bridge includes Mark Schimick tearing up the mandolin, Will Lee going to town on a 5 string banjo, and Jenny Keel beating down the bass. The bluegrass maestros are playing this Thursday night at Red Light Café. A trip to Atlanta is a trip home for Jenny Keel.

Growing up in Atlanta, Keel says she listened to more classic rock, southern rock and jazz than bluegrass. It wouldn’t be until she moved to Virginia to attend college that she was fully exposed to the genre.

“When I got up here, with the snap of your fingers you could sit in or check out any old time jam, Keel says.”You could take walks and there’s always something going on. That’s how I met Larry. I went to see one of my buddies picking. Low and behold there’s Larry on stage with him, and I was “who are you – in my town? Why don’t I know you?” Yeah I stalked him right from there.”

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Larry and Jenny Keel. Photo by Bright Life Photography.

While Keel says being able to play together helps with the grind of the road, she had to learn how to play first.

“It solves the problem of homesickness and yearning to be back home with the family unit,” Keel says. “We’re our own family unit, together 24/7, and we wanted it that way from the beginning, when we met and fell in love.

. . .   . . .    . . .

Larry put her to the test during her lessons.

“He said ‘OK, you’ve been messing around with the bass and everything, it’s time to jump into the fire.’ And that’s what happened. We knew we wanted to be together, that was absolutely the goal however it was going to happen. And turns out, I was able to play in the band with him.”

Those quickly learned bass skills can be easily distinguished on their 2009 album Backwoods. Keel says she would like to learn the banjo and guitar more, but like most people she has to battle time.

“I’m so busy with the touring, and when we do come home it’s just a big circus juggling act of management, business, paperwork, report, not to mention household stuff,” she explains. “I have a home, a cat, have to do laundry, have to get vehicles ready to get back on the road…the old cliché, if I just had more time in the day. Sounds so Western Civilization. The Chinese, that’s not part of their culture, they think they have all the time in the world – and their right. I’m not stressed by it, but yeah, it seems to leave me short for things I want to do.”

One thing that there is always time for is music. Keel says performing is a chance to connect to other people.

“The goal every time is to connect, share the music and be a team…to create the best music possible, the best vibe, and have a great time,” she says. “Be it 2000 strangers in an auditorium or music hall, our goal is to get everyone on the same page through the music, and be comfortable, and fired up… or just transported.  Whatever the emotion of the song calls for, if it’s scary or just wide open, joyous…anywhere, anytime that’s what we’re going for. “

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Are you going? Tell me Sarah on Twitter @djsarahspin. Keep up to date on all the latest jam band happenings in Atlanta by hitting the “subscribe” button.

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE on Examiner.com: Larry Keel & Natural Bridge At Red Light Cafe – Atlanta jam bands | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/jam-bands-in-atlanta/larry-keel-natural-bridge-at-red-light-cafe#ixzz1FSuY0Mgx

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