The Bluegrass Standard - Volume 1, Premiere Issue

Volume 1 ~ Issue 1

Rhonda Vincent

INSIDE: • EmiSunshine • Trinity River Band • The Music Barn • Tomorrow’s Bluegrass Stars

• Suits, Boots & Bluegrass ~ Fan photos

• From the Back Porch: Bluegrass Lifestyle!

CONTENTS

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Rhonda Vincent interview ~ “Do your very best because you don’t know who’s listening.”

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Emi Sunshine ~ The Newest “Old Soul” of Bluegrass

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Tomorrow’s Bluegrass Stars

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Trinity River Band

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Music Barn

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From the Back Porch ~ Living the Bluegrass Lifestyle!

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Festival and Event Guide

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Suits, Boots & Bluegrass ~ Fan photos from across the country

The Bluegrass Standard The Bluegrass Standard magazine is published monthly.

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Keith Barnacastle Publisher

Richelle Putnam Managing Journalist Editor

Shelby Campbell Journalist Editor

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James Babb Creative Director

Matthew Sorrentino Graphic Design THE BLUEGRASS STANDARD

Rhonda Vincent

“The Queen of Bluegrass” © 2017 Richelle Putnam

B efore her performance at the 21st Annual Gospel Bluegrass Concert in the Davis Center auditorium at

Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Mississippi, Rhonda Vincent slips into the backstage area dressed in one of her signature sequined gowns. Aromas of barbeque, casseroles, cakes, and cookies on the tables lining the back wall welcome those lucky enough to be backstage.

Rhonda takes a seat at one of the round tables, like she has all the time in the world, as if she’s about to break bread with you, not to answer a bunch of boring interview questions.

But here’s the thing you learn about Rhonda Vincent. She doesn’t answer questions…she steers you into intimate conversations about her, her family, her band, her work, and her role as the Queen of Bluegrass.

“It’s a wonderful title and its fun, but I don’t take it so seriously,” said Rhonda. “It is a great honor for someone to say you’re the Queen of Bluegrass, and very humbling, but there are children who are watching and listening to me. Being a role model takes on another level of responsibility.”

Greentop, Missouri ~ Rhonda’s home town 4

W hen Rhonda performs, the audience is probably too mesmerized by her voice, her mandolin, and her professional musicians to realize or even notice the time and planning Rhonda put into the show…the formula, she calls it.

Y ears of experience taught Rhonda to never do two songs in the same key

or two songs in the same tempo. With the longevity with her band, there is a comfort level that erases worry and a calmness and confidence in knowing that everyone on stage knows what they’re doing.

“When you come out on stage you better wow them. I do a 90-minute set and, in theory, cut it in half. By the time we get halfway through the show, I can read the audience. I pretend we’re ending one 45-minute set and starting another, so we open with a thumping song, just like we’re starting fresh.”

“I learned it being brought up in a musical family that traces back five generations. It’s something my father always did… variety,” she explained.

“We always had a variety of music from my Aunt Katherine who sang like Kitty Wells, then Grandpa Bill might sing a Bill Monroe song, and Uncle Pearl comes in with a gospel song. It was bluegrass, country, and gospel, and you never got bored with the show.” While performing, Rhonda studies her audience to stay in tune with them, “so that when the fiddler takes a solo and the place is going crazy with that or the dobro, or the banjo, whatever, we will try to feature that a little more.” The formula is a rotation featuring everybody. “I might sing four songs and then do a rotation, but a lot is simply an intuition I have myself. It’s something I grew up doing.”

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Bluegrass continues to be a male dominated genre, but Rhonda believes there are more women in Bluegrass than ever before. One thing she wanted to change about Bluegrass was the stereotypical image often shown in movies and on television, which portrays bluegrass musicians and performers as backwoods rednecks with no teeth wearing dirty cut-off jeans or overalls. People are surprised when they see Rhonda wearing a Vera Wang gown or an Oscar de la Renta dress.

“I always look around to find a great gown, because we try to portray that we are professional.” Jennifer Kemp, Rhonda’s stylist often does Rhonda’s shopping. “In our Raging Live DVD, she went to New York and the dress I ended up wearing would never have been one I would have picked out. I thought it was the ugliest dress I had ever seen.” Jennifer replied to Rhonda with, “Humor me and put that on. I think that’s the dress.” And it was.

E ntertaining the audience is one thing, but evoking emotion requires

“One gentlemen came up and said that his wife didn’t like bluegrass. He brought her last year and now she’s back.”

so much more than simply playing and singing. Performers must connect to audience and the audience must feel that connection and believe it’s real.

“At the Bluegrass First Class Festival, we played “Homecoming” about midway into the show. As I looked around there was not a dry eye in the house.

Grown men were sobbing. I never realized how affective that song was,” said Rhonda. “You really don’t want to make someone cry, but I guess in this case you really do. I think that whatever is going on in their lives connected with this song.”

“After that, the main thing is phrasing, said Rhonda. “Mickey comes from Tennessee and he doesn’t talk like we do. Josh is from Kentucky.

It’s taken many years to get to where we all enunciate together.”

At first, Sally didn’t want to travel and perform with the group, but now she loves the situation because she finds so many opportunities to witness Her entire life, Rhonda played in about her faith. She welcomes people her family band and she has sung to see her after the show so she can harmony with many people. Harmony pray with them. depends on the range of your voice.

“The Bible says not to not offend Since everyone in Rhonda’s group sings, there is a variety of sounds, but someone, so we don’t want to do that, but if it does, I’m going to have singing harmony with her daughter to say too bad. When I go to see the Sally has been different.

Isaacs, one of my favorite groups, I “Sally brings another dynamic,” said find myself in tears almost the whole Rhonda. “The blend of our voices show. I don’t know what that is, but I when they come together, they just see other people there doing the same automatically find a core. I don’t thing.” know of anyone else I’ve ever sang Rhonda goes into every show with like that.” Since Sally came on board, the group has been rehearsing assuming her audience doesn’t know who she is because an arrogance can to find where their voices should go.

First, they must find their ranges and grow if you think everyone knows who you are. There are always new then they must be on pitch. people, said Rhonda.

In Bluegrass, there’s an authenticity you don’t find in other music, except maybe the blues. Today’s technology can manipulate any voice, but it’s not authentic. Bluegrass portrays the realness of the music.

“If I were to sing to you right now, it’s going to be the same voice you hear on stage tonight.”

In 2014, Rhonda did a double CD and on one song she and Willie Nelson sing a duet. There is a Bluegrass/ Country pattern to these songs and Rhonda realized that when she went from bluegrass to country, there was also a difference in the breathing pattern.

“When you’re playing every day, your breathing is in the rhythm,” she said.

Once Rhonda took off for three weeks at Christmas to relax and enjoy just sitting on the couch. After the holidays, the first show out, Rhonda decided they would perform their DVD, which starts with Mule Skinner Blues.

“I could not get my breath and I said, never will I do that ever again. It wasn’t something I thought about, but it’s a conditioning.”

A few years ago, Rhonda lost her dad, but his presence remains strong in her life and in her performances.

When she steps onto the stage, she takes what he gave her …everything.

“The work ethic, the way we do our show. He was a daily part of everything we did. Every time I turn around, I see Dad. He could take his banjo out in the middle of the parking lot with everyone inside and within fifteen minutes he’d have a crowd.

I think it’s because he welcomed everyone. He loved people, he loved to bring them close to him.”

Rhonda Vincent and The Rage THE BLUEGRASS STANDARD

As the Queen of Bluegrass and role model to young bluegrass performers, Rhonda wishes she could give to them one of the lessons her father taught her.

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“2010 Country Legend of the Year”

SHERRY BOYD, M.C.

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T hey performed the entire hour show, which was about the time

Take every opportunity to play, she added. Get with other people and play. Go to nursing homes or other people started leaving the theme places and just play. Sing everywhere, park to go eat dinner. The next week, at every opportunity. There is Hal Durham of the Grand Ole Opry no replacement for playing your called Mr. Vincent and said he’d like instrument and singing. There are no for his family to perform at the Grand shortcuts.

Old Opry. The Vincents had just met Life gets hectic on the road, especially Charlie Louvin and thought that when concentrating on several Charlie had recommended them to projects at one time.

Durham. But Durham said Charlie didn’t have anything to do with it.

“My dad took us to Silver Dollar City “I’ve been working on eight projects and we were staff musicians. I was and three were DVDs. Videos are very He explained that he and his family a teenager and it was the first time challenging and everything is tedious, had been on vacation last week at I had ever seen a time clock. We but if something has my name on it Silver Dollar City.

While the Vincents checked in and we were there for must have a certain standard. It’s very were performing on the stage when nine hours. We got a thirty-minute personal. it was raining, the Durhams were lunch. We had five one-hour shows around the corner listening while per day, Monday through Friday, Still, when things get too hectic, waiting for the rain to go away. which gave us experience playing in Rhonda hops in her car and heads front of people and gave us routine.” for Missouri. “I go home, I stay in my “That taught me a life lesson. You pajamas, I don’t fix my hair, I don’t always do your 100 to 200 percent; On Friday nights, the Vincent family put on makeup. I reset my mind.” it doesn’t matter who’s there or how drove to a festival location. On many people are there. You do your Saturday, they played the festival very best because you don’t know and drove back to Silver Dollar City Saturday night. They were performing who’s listening.” at Silver Dollar City when it started pouring down rain. No one was watching them perform.

“We were like, ‘Come on, Dad, let’s just sit here and wait for the rain to go away.’ My dad said ‘No, they’re paying us to play and that’s what we are going to do.’ ”

“Do your very best because you don’t know who’s listening.”

Rhonda is on tour across the US this summer...

For the touring schedule, click here to visit her website!

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EmiSunshine ~ The Newest “Old Soul” of Bluegrass © 2017 Shelby Campbell

With an authentic, folksy tone

to her voice and an old soul essence about her, many would describe Emi Sunshine Hamilton’s stage presence as captivating and nothing short of incredible.

This 12-year-old from East Tennessee is no doubt a prodigy as she continues to capture America’s hearts - and attention - as a singer, songwriter and multiinstrumentalist steeped deep in Appalachian music.

Performance is deep in Emi’s

roots - with a musical lineage that goes back three generations.

At merely 10 months old, she began humming melodies from Tom Petty songs and harmonizing with her grandmothers and greatgrandmothers.

At the age of four, Emi was already performing in church, singing at her aunt’s wedding and learning how to sing songs like Travelin’ Soldier by the Dixie Chicks. By five, she had Over the years, many have referred written her first song. to Emi Sunshine as an old soul due to her impressive vocal range and The incredible talents of Emi did not style as well as her interpretation stop with singing. Throughout her of songs. Folk and bluegrass music childhood, she also learned to play the tends to tell stories, and Emi does ukulele, guitar, mandolin and even the just that, proving herself with a xylophone. As she got older, Emi began commanding stage presence. performing in festivals, theaters and talent shows as well as in church.

Her parents filled their home with music by artists like Buddy Miller, Johnny and June Carter Cash and Emmylou Harris, and this music served as the foundation on which she created her own sound. Today, Emi is often compared to artists like Loretta Lynn and Maybelle Carter, June Carter Cash’s mother.

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In 2014, Emi sang Blue Yodel

No. 6 by Jimmie Rodgers at a flea market performance, and, within hours, she had gone viral with a fan’s video of the performance.

The Today show featured her video, and due to the tremendous response, they also invited her to perform live, a moment that changed her life and made her a common name on Music Row. After seeing Emi’s Today show performance, country music artist Tim McGraw called his management company, Red Light Management. She ultimately ended up signing with Red Light, the same group that also manages Ben Harper, Alabama Shakes, Phish and Pretty Lights.

“I love shows, I get to sing

to people and make them happy,” said Emi. “I’m really blessed that I get to do this.”

Emi Sunshine Hamilton knows who she is and what she wants her musical career to be. She has dreams and plans that many would agree are sure to come true.

All of this attention led to performances on Marty Stuart’s Late Night Jam at the Ryman Auditorium during the CMA Music Fest as well as performances on the Grand Ole Opry.

But the moment Emi begins to sing, none of this matters. It’s clear that there is something special about her. It’s as if you are watching something take over, a phenomenon that began before she could even truly talk.

Whether she is performing on the Today show, the Grand Ole Opry or the historic Ryman Auditorium, she is fearless and confident in who she is as an artist. It is obvious that this young prodigy is on the verge of a very successful career that is well-rooted and original. She has made such a huge impact on people’s lives with her music at such a young age, and it’s clear that she shows no signs of stopping.

Join the EmiSunshine fan club ~ click here to visit her website!

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Rural Delivery Ragged Union Birdsview Bluegrass Robert Mabe Kathy Boyd & Phoenix Rising Red Desert Ramblers The Combinations THE BLUEGRASS STANDARD

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Preserving Bluegrass One Youngster At A Time!

Sowell Family 12

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Jonah and Grayson Riddle, with a fan © 2017 Shelby Campbell

Iyoung magine for a moment you’re a kid looking to make your mark on the world, but there is something different about you bluegrass.

Throughout bluegrass music’s history, there have been young musicians who have made waves in the business.

Preserving and supporting these young bluegrass musicians is the sole dream and mission of John Colburn, Chief Encouragement & Excitement Officer of Tomorrow’s Bluegrass Stars.

“I remember when I was six or seven playing with my dad’s old console radio,” said Colburn.

“I found a radio station out of Nashville, and I fell in love with what they were playing - bluegrass.”

It is with that love that Colburn created Tomorrow’s Bluegrass Stars, known as TBS, in 2009 to fill the niche of support for young bluegrass musicians.

A fter attending a bluegrass festival in the early 2000s, Colburn

began noticing the lack of young musicians (and fans), and he began to get worried about the future of bluegrass music. That is the moment that TBS was born.

The future of bluegrass revolves around its aspiring young musicians. With over 200 members in the TBS family with a huge heart for traditional bluegrass and bluegrass gospel, the organization shows no sign of stopping anytime soon.

Alexis Turnipseed “I give the good Lord total credit for this organization,” said Colburn. “I stand in total awe of these young musicians and what they do.”

From the beginning, the purpose of TBS has been to encourage and embrace young musicians and their families by giving them exposure and connecting them with fellow musicians. This allows the artists to truly be the future of bluegrass through the opportunities they receive and the legacy of bluegrass music they share with the world.

Willow Osborne THE BLUEGRASS STANDARD

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“Bluegrass music is my life and has brought me out of some dark places and, most of all, united me with my very best friends,” said TBS member Kinsey Greene. “I can say in complete honesty that TBS has changed my life.”

Colburn and his passion for these young artists is evident in all that he does through the organization.

According to Debbie Williamson, mother of TBS members Williamson Branch, her kids were drawn to TBS because of the heart and encouragement of Colburn.

She even dubbed him everyone’s bluegrass grandpa.

“Mr Colburn is a special guy with a lot of love for bluegrass and a strong desire to see kids enjoying bluegrass - which is plainly visible to everyone who meets him,” said Jacob Sowell, TBS member and banjo player for The Sowell Family Pickers.

Kinsey Greene

TBS musicians are chosen based on five things: their

dedication to preserving bluegrass music, commitment to growing as artists, musical achievements, focus on blessing people through music, and, lastly, their example of good character.

As the perfect outlet for young musicians and their families to interact, TBS helps promote the talent of these artists through exposure, interaction, mentoring, showcasing talent and so much more.

Presley Barker

“John Colburn should be extremely proud of the organization he has created,” said Eric Moore, TBS father. “He has setup an outstanding path of support and recognition for these kids. He has given families the opportunity to meet each other and provide a remarkable support system to a very talented group of kids.”

According to Greene, it’s hard to find people who understand your passion and get how important the music is to you. “This group has brought me to a whole community of understanding,” she said.

Colburn hopes that TBS continues to grow as it already has, and he hoped the young artists gain the right amount of attention from audiences and important people in industry.

Trevor Holder 14

Jaelee Roberts THE BLUEGRASS STANDARD

Liam Purcell

Jacob Greer

John Colburn & Maggie

Caroline Williamson

“I can see lots of our youngsters becoming just as successful in their career as Earl Scruggs and other artists,” said Colburn.

TBS continues to support the awareness of its many talented young members. As always, they hope to preserve yesterday’s bluegrass music for tomorrow.

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© 2017 Shelby Campbell

Trinity River Band R eigning from Callahan, Florida, the bluegrass and acoustic-inspired Trinity River Band has burst onto the bluegrass scene in the last decade.

As with many musical families, their roots are rich in history. The Trinity River Band’s patriarch, Mike Harris, learned to play guitar at the young age of six from his grandfather, and he soaked up generations of musical knowledge in traditional country music.

“Blazing A Trail”

After much prayer and many shared family meals, the Trinity River Band felt called to pursue a full-time music career in 2011. After years of honing their vocals, they proved there is nothing better than the harmony of a family band.

Family harmony has always been a huge staple in bluegrass music from the The humble beginning of this wonderful family-friendly bluegrass performances family band - made up of Mike on guitar to the simple feeling of community. It and vocals, Lisa on bass and vocals, Sarah is beyond obvious that the Trinity River on mandolin and lead vocals, Joshua on Band falls perfectly into place in this banjo, dobro and vocals and Brianna on genre of music. fiddle and vocals - can be traced back to Trinity River Band has a very welcome a church in the pine forests of northeast sound of their own. With a variety of Florida. musical influences, their unique style could take them to places they would have never expected.

The Trinity River Band’s last three studio albums have been more successful than they could a have ever imagined with 11 songs reaching the Bluegrass Today Top 20. In 2016, they also received their first #1 hit for Come Back Train written by Grammy winner Jerry Salley and Cassidy Lynn Alexander.

Over the last decade, Trinity River Band has had nominations and awards to follow their successful recordings. Lead singer, Sarah Harris, is a two-time IBMA Momentum Awards Vocalist of the Year nominee as well as being inducted into the Daughters of Bluegrass in 2015.

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The Trinity River Band has recently been signed by Moonstruck Management, a modern music management company that focuses on the country and bluegrass music, and we can expect that even greater things are coming their way.

Latest album... click here to visit their website!

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Music Barn On March 11th of this year during Dailey and Vincent’s 101st appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, Dailey and Vincent were inducted as members. Now despite the band being called Dailey and Vincent, the group is actually comprised of 7 members whose names are Jamie Dailey, Darrin Vincent, Jeff Parker, Patrick McAvinue, Jesse Baker, Aaron McCune and Shaun Richardson.

Dailey and Vincent is one of the most acclaimed bluegrass bands. These rock stars of bluegrass have three Grammy Award Nominations for the 2014 “Bluegrass Album of the Year”, 14 IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association Awards) as three-time “Entertainer of the Year,” three-time “Vocal Group of the Year” and “Album of the Year” and four Dove Awards with three “Bluegrass Album of the Year” awards and “Bluegrass Song of the Year.”

The album opens up with the tune “Gimme All the Love You Got.” It’s very fast paced and gets you excited about the music. “Beautiful Scars” slows the pace down and inspired with the gospel, a peaceful song about the physical and emotional scars that we all must bare and that God can heal those scars.

Dailey and Vincent have numerous guest artist on this album: Taranda Greene, Doyle Lawson, David Rawlings, Bela Fleck and Steve Martin, they are exploring new boundaries in Bluegrass music. This album has a great feel of Bluegrass and country with excellent vocals and instrumentals from the band.

“Unsung Heroes” is a salute to the people who make this world a much better place to be, they are people who are the answers to our prayers making life a better place, the hero’s often do not get the credit that they deserve but they are our angels.

The song “He’s Been So Good to Me” it is one of the the best vocal performance you will ever hear. A song where the whole group sings and holds the notes like no other.

They believe that they were put on this earth by God to write and sing music for other’s. They can’t believe that they have made it as far as they have and are grateful for what they have accomplished.

Vocally, Dailey and Vincent is one of the most unique groups in bluegrass and their sound is electric, makes you get up and just feel good all over. Dailey & Vincent has continued to hit new heights with their latest album, Patriots & Poets a must have for any true bluegrass listener.

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THE BLUEGRASS STANDARD

Music Barn Since its formation 35 years ago, Lonesome River Band continues its reputation as one of the most respected names in Bluegrass music. Five-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Banjo Player of the Year, and winner of the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass, Sammy Shelor leads the group that is constantly breaking new ground in Acoustic music. With two stellar lead vocalists, Brandon Rickman (guitar) Jesse Smathers (mandolin), and the impressive talents of Mike Hartgrove (fiddle) and Barry Reed (bass), the band seamlessly comes together, performing the trademark sound that fans continue to embrace.

Mayhayley’s House, the new album by Lonesome River Band is a very special tribute to the sentiments of these cultural worlds. This release is dedicated to Mayhayley Lancaster, a self-proclaimed “Oracle of the Ages” who handed out “readings” and personal predictions at her home in southwest Georgia’s Heard County. She was a quintessential southern woman seer, a well-known lawyer, political activist, midwife and teacher until her death in 1955.

The material essence of the music performed for this album does something different. It’s not the standard re-hash of bluegrass songs and music. Titles like “Wrong Road Again,” “Diggin’,” “As The Crow Flies,” “Lonesome Bone,” and “I Think I’m Gonna Be Alright,” are just vessels containing sips of an elixir that “Feels Real Good Goin’ Down.” The surrounding instrumental performances of Mike Hartgrove on fiddle, Brandon Rickman on guitar, Jesse Smathers on mandolin, Barry Reed on Bass, with Sammy Shelor’s groovin’ banjo provide the underlining, the italics, and the exclamation points to the lyrical content.

Everything works together to make a statement – this album means something. If you’re part of the culture, you’ll know exactly what it means. If you are not, you will at least get a good sense of what it feels like to live the Appalachian and southern life.

Mayhayley’s House was released June 23, 2017 and is available on itunes as well as googleplay and amazon.

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Music Barn This project is what the band is all about instrumental, gospel, bluegrass and more. This is the 3rd release from the John Boy and Billy Label. The music from the title song on the album 4th and Goal hit number 1 on the bluegrass charts and it’s like the lyrics say. “ you can drop the ball and take yourself out of the game stand safely on the sidelines”, but in reality what Baucom has done all his life is step on to the field of dreams and given life one more try.

He has played with the best of bluegrass and has chosen to shine and give a fresh approach to his music every time with great advice to everyone. In 2013 Baucom had the record of the year with “What’ll I Do” for the IBMA. This year the song “Around the Corner” off the titled album 4th and Goal has been very popular and has given Baucom another number 1 hit on the bluegrass charts. You never know what is around the corner as they say there are mountains to climb and treasures to find, so I hope that everyone will put this treasure of an album in their play list.

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Music Barn CHOSEN ROAD was established in July

of 2009 when a group of friends came together to do more than just make music.

Being raised in the mountains of southern West Virginia and western North Carolina each member has developed a profound love for the music they were raised on. From this love has stemmed a sense of responsibility to share bluegrass music with potential fans around the world. Most importantly, the guys developed a love for Jesus Christ the day they trusted in him as their Lord and Savior.

The realization of the saving grace offered by Jesus Christ is what keeps these young men on the road. Traveling full-time, CHOSEN ROAD presents the gospel of Jesus Christ through bluegrass music in churches, fairs, festivals, and other venues over two hundred and fifty times per year.

Their approach to sharing Christ through the music they love is quite different than most. The only reason CHOSEN ROAD travels is to bring glory to Jesus Christ.

Their presentation of the gospel though song is stripped of entertainment value and presented in a genuine heartfelt manner that places the focus on the only one who deserves it, Jesus Christ. Through the years CHOSEN ROAD has been blessed to share the message of Jesus Christ to thousands as they have traveled from the mountains they love to Bristol, Bakersfield, Baltimore, Europe, and all points in between.

CHOSEN ROAD looks forward to having the opportunity to share their music with you in the near future.

THE BLUEGRASS STANDARD

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THE BLUEGRASS STANDARD

  

               

  

          Danny PaisleyBecky Buller–othin’ Fancy  Special ConsensusThe Boxcars  Hillbilly Gypsies  Bluegrass BrothersRemington Ryde 



Louie Setzer & A.M.B.Mama Corn



                                                  

AFBA Youth Bluegrass Academy (Sunday – Main Stage)

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*Bands Subject to change *

                    

       

            

Show Times: Thursday 3pm – 11pm Friday 11am – 12 Midnight Saturday 11am – 12 Midnight Sunday 11am – 6pm

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

To Order Weekend Tickets: Please send a CHECK or M.O. Postmarked by May 31st or July 8th Payable to “AFBA”,and a stamped,self addressed envelope to: AFBA,PO Box 507,Wind Gap,PA 18091

#of________Early Bird Tickets @ $50 each (by 5/31) ame : ___________________________________________ #of________Advance Tickets @ $60 each (by 7/8) Address:__________________________________________ #of________Early Bird/Advance Youth Tickets @ $15 each _________________________________________________ #of________Electric Passes @ $25 with weekend ticket Email::____________________________________________ #of________Dog Tickets @ $10 each ( camping only) Phone #:___________________________________________ #of________Golf Carts @ $20 each (valid drivers license) TOTAL $

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From the Back Porch Bluegrass Lifestyle

shared by all-my-recipes.com

Nothin’ says summer like fresh berries! Try this easy recipe for Homemade Blackberry Cobbler: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

2 1/2 cups fresh blackberries, washed 1 cup sugar 1 cup flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup milk 1 stick of unsalted butter, melted

ies, e blackberr v a h ’t n o d u just Tip: If yo rry will do ~ e b e ip -r y ll any fu if you gar to taste u s e th e c u red r fruit. have sweete

First, you should take care of the blackberry and sugar mixture because it needs to sit for a while. Stir together just the berries and sugar in a large bowl and let it sit out for 25-30 minutes. This will coax out the juices of the blackberries so that they can be sweetened up with the sugar, and we can taste the full spectrum of the fruit–this process is called macerating. After about 20 minutes, you should turn on the oven to about 375º and start preparing your batter.

Stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, and milk with a wooden spoon. Next, stir in the melted butter and handmix it until the ingredients are well incorporated and you have few clumps. Pick out a clean baking dish– a smaller one will do– pour in the batter and smooth it out. You can choose to line it with parchment paper or not, but don’t grease the pan (there is enough butter in there already!). Finally, pour the macerated blackberries on top with all the sugar included and evenly distribute it over the batter.

Bake this promising plan of happiness in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how golden you prefer it to be. Let it set up for a good 15 minutes so it will hold its shape. It will be bubbling like crazy and quite hot, so be careful!

This hour goes a little like this: you can hear it bubbling through the vent behind the stove, you can smell the buttery dough caramelizing with the sugar, and you can see the dotted crown of blackberries creating that quintessential golden cobbler crust. It is a marvel to have in your oven, let me tell you!

Serve warm or room temperature with warmed cream or fresh whipped cream. You can store this at room temperature with foil over it for 2-3 days, probably longer in the fridge…but it never lasts that long for me!

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Festival and Event Guide July 2017

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Dates

Event

Location

July 1

Wylie Jubilee Bluegrass on Ballard

Wylie, Texas

July 1-4

Red White and Bluegrass Festival

Morganton, North Carolina

July 6-9

High Mountain Hay Fever Festival

Westcliffe, Colorado

July 6-9

Basin Bluegrass Festival

Brandon, Vermont

July 6-9

Busy Bird Bluegrass Festival

Berkshire, New York

July 6-9

Norwalk Music Festival

Norwalk, Ohio

July 7-8

Uncle Dave Macon Days

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

July 7-8

Hamilton County Bluegrass Festival

Arcadia, Indiana

July 7-9

Big Horn Mountain Festival

Buffalo, Wyoming

July 7-9

Viroqua Bluegrass Festival

Viroqua, Wisconsin

July 7-10

Remington Ryde Festival

Centre Hall, Pennsylvania

July 8

Bluegrass on the Grass

Carlisle, Pennsylvania

July 8

Breckenridge Brewery Hootenanny

Littleton, Colorado

July 8-9

Frankfort Bluegrass on the GreenÂ

Frankfort, Illinois

July 12-15

Wayside Bluegrass Festival

Stuart, Virginia

July 13-15

Shriners Bluegrass Festival

Olive Hill, Kentucky

July 13-16

Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival

Oak Hill, New York

July 13-16

Northwest String Summit

North Plains, Oregon

July 14-16

Weed Bluegrass Festival

Weed, New Mexico

July 14-16

Pickin' on the Plains

Colby, Kansas

July 19-22

The MACC Bluegrass Classic

Lockbourne, Ohio

July 20-23

The County Bluegrass Festival

Fort Fairfield, Maine

July 20-22

Danby Olde Country & Bluegrass Festival

Danby, Vermont

July 20-22

Moon Dance Bluegrass Festival

Fremont, Wisconsin

July 21-22

White's Beach Bluegrass Festival

Brunswick, Maine

July 21-22

Bluegrass Along the Harpeth

Franklin, Tennessee

July 21-23

Hillbilly Jamboree in the Hills

Smithmill, Pennsylvania

July 21-23

Darrington Bluegrass Festival

Darrington, Washington

July 21-23

Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival

Hamilton, Montana

July 22

Grandma's "Old Blue" Car Show & Bluegrass Get Together

Byron, Minnesota

July 23-29

Marshall Bluegrass Festival

Marshall, Michigan

July 27-30

Brantling Bluegrass Festival

Sodus, New York

July 27-30

Ossippee Valley Music Festival

South Hiram, Maine

July 27-30

RecFest Bluegrass Festival

Milaca, Minnesota

July 27-30

GorgeGrass Festival

Stevenson, Washington

July 28-30

RockyGrass

 Lyons, Colorado

July 28-30

Oyster Ridge Music Festival

Kemmerer, Wyoming

July 28-30

Backbone Bluegrass Festival

Strawberry Point, Iowa

THE BLUEGRASS STANDARD

Festival and Event Guide August 2017 Dates

Event

Location

August 1 - 5

Pickin’ in Parsons Bluegrass Festival

Parsons, West Virginia

August 2 - 5

Pemi Valley Bluegrass Festival

Thornton, New Hampshire

August 5

Milan Bluegrass Festival

Milan, Michigan

August 11

Podunk Bluegrass Festival

Hebron, Connecticut

August 17 - 19

North Carolina Bluegrass Festival

Marion, North Carolina

August 18

Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

August 25

Greenbridge Celtic Folk Fest

Keene, Ontario, Canada

August 26

Wild Things Park

Washington, Pennsylvania

August 31

Annual Bluegrass Festival at Salmon Lake

Grapeland, Texas

August 31 - Sept 3

Back 40 Bluegrass Festival

Curryville, Missouri

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Suits, Boots m o r f s o t o h p n a F y r t n u o c e h t across ind bars! h e b n o s w a L Doyle klahoma O , m u e s u M y bo National Cow

Rhonda Vincent at the Cherokee Bluegrass Festival thanks Donn Duncan Sr.

Enjoying the Chantilly Festival

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THE BLUEGRASS STANDARD

Christian Davis with inspirational artist Dana Sollie Casey

& Bluegrass Sally Berry at the Cherokee Bluegrass Festival thanks Donn Duncan Sr.

Keith Barnacastle and Rhonda Vincent’ kickin’ up a fuss!

Carina Baker trying on Rhonda Vincent’s IBMA dress

King’s Hig h Rosine at t way he Park

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Suits, Boots o”

“ Donnie Dobr

Chicken Fest 2017

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A Star is

Born!

Chicken Fest 2017

THE BLUEGRASS STANDARD

& Bluegrass Rhonda spending time with her fans

Carrall East with Rhonda Vincent

“ Hey, is this thing on?”

Hanging at the Sally Gap Festival THE BLUEGRASS STANDARD

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Suits, Boots & Bl

Christopher E. Sexton at rass Festival eg lu B n ai nt ou M ’s ey k ic M

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John Hartford Memorial Bluegrass Festival

Get your fan photo in the Standard!

Send image and caption to: editor@thebluegrassstandard.com

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luegrass

Next Month...

Featuring Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver: “Patience for most people is a hard thing to come by, but my faith has carried me through my darkest and my brightest times.” ~ Doyle

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