Blue Highway

James King Band

 

James King was born Sept. 9, 1958, in Martinsville, Va., and grew up in Carroll County -- one of the most fertile breeding grounds for bluegrass and old-time musicians. James' father, Jim, and his uncle, Joe Edd, were both musicians of note. As James entered his teens, he began to take the music seriously too, particularly the music of his fellow Virginians, the Stanley Brothers. One of James' closest mentors was Ted Lundy, whose raw and heartfelt brand of bluegrass exerted a particularly strong influence on his music. Following a stint in the Marine Corps, King relocated to Wilmington, Del., where he started a band with Lundy's sons, T.J. and Bobby. The Lundys introduced King to legendary bluegrass deejay Ray Davis, who paired King with Ralph Stanley for two mid-'80s releases, Stanley Brothers Classics and Reunion (also with George Shuffler), on his Wango label. In 1988, King released his first record under his own name, James King Sings Cold, Cold World. In the 1990s, Dudley Connell of the Johnson Mountain Boys brought King to the attention of Rounder's Ken Irwin. Irwin brought together Connell and a band of bluegrass all-stars to back up King on 1994's These Old Pictures and 1995's Lonesome and Then Some. King began to tour steadily, gradually assembling the James King Band. The group was named emerging artists of the year by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) in 1997. 1998's Bed by the Window was the recording debut of the James King Band, and its gripping, bittersweet title track -- about a man in a nursing home with a vivid imagination -- was nominated for IBMA's 1999 song of the year award. King is also a member of the bluegrass supergroup Longview, along with Connell, Don Rigsby, Joe Mullins, Glen Duncan and Marshall Wilborn. Their self-titled 1997 debut was named recorded event of the year by the IBMA. The second Longview album, High Lonesome, arrived in 1999, followed by Lessons in Stone in 2002. King released 30 Years of Farming in 2002. The album featured the James King Band as the supporting instrumentalists, with a potent blend of classic bluegrass, hard core country and contemporary song craft. Including the country classics "Saginaw, Michigan" and "Carroll Country Accident," King released The Bluegrass Storyteller in 2005. In April 2009, James married Julie Lillard of Cascade, Virginia, and now resides in Danville, Virginia.

James King Band Website           James King Band on YouTube

Mark Phillips and IIIrd Generation Bluegrass Band

The Tuttles with A.J.

 

 

The Tuttles with special guest AJ Lee are a mostly kids band playing bluegrass and old-time music based in Palo Alto , CA . They feature two of the finest young singers in the country with Molly Tuttle and AJ Lee, and the high-speed picking of Molly's brothers, Sullivan and Michael. Thet have performed at some of California's premier music festivals, including Starwberry and the California Bluegrass Association's Grass Valley Festival. Their YouTube videos have been seen by over a million viewers Under the musical direction of their father, Jack, a long-time bluegrass musician and teacher, The Tuttles with AJ Lee have impressed audiences with their high-level bluegrass skills. Their CD, Introducing The Tuttles With AJ Lee, has drawn rave reviews

 

Molly Tuttle (18) sings lead and plays multiple instruments. Despite her young age, she has developed into one of the premier acoustic musicians in the country. As a singer, songwriter, banjo player and guitar player, she has amazed fans across the country. She recorded her first CD with her father, Jack Tuttle. At the age of fifteen, she taught flatpicking guitar at the California Coast Music Camp. Molly excels as a versatile singer, with deep roots in old-time and bluegrass, but increasingly her instinctive sense of contemporary music has drawn national attention. As Dennis Brunnenmeyer, KVMR radio on-air personality said of her CD, “with her crystal-clear voice, crisp falsettos and her apparently instinctive interpretations, The Old Apple Tree is bound to be just the first of many CDs to come. Keep an eye and both ears trained on Molly Tuttle. This is one young woman you don't want to overlook.”

 

AJ Lee (13) is one of the finest young bluegrass singers in the country. With a full voice that reflects a deep understanding of bluegrass singing despite her young age, she has been a favorite at bluegrass festivals for four years. By the age of eight, she was being asked to perform at major bluegrass events, including the IBMA FanFest in Nashville. In 2008, AJ performed at a major NASCAR event in Indianapolis to an audience of 40,000 and on national TV. With The Tuttles she plays mandolin, but she also plays guitar, fiddle and banjo.

 

Sullivan Tuttle (15) plays guitar and is a rapidly developing star of flatpicking bluegrass. Able to play at the fastest of bluegrass tempos, Sullivan has been performing on stage since the age of eight. His solos are a surprisingly complex blend of virtuosity and taste.Michael Tuttle (13) has been playing mandolin for six years and has no trouble keeping up with his older siblings. Whether it's a Monroe style traditional piece, or a jazzy number, Michael shows a command of his instrument that belies his young age.Jack Tuttle is the band's bass player, fiddle player, vocalist and music director. He is an honorary lifetime member of the California Bluegrass Association and has been a full-time bluegrass teacher for thirty years. Jack has played in the California bluegrass scene since the 1980's and has toured in the US , Canada and Japan . Known for numerous standout students, this band features some of his best.

Western Lights

“Western Lights, “Bluegrass and Beyond”: Those three words just begin to introduce you to the music of this fine Sacramento band that has been around for more than 12 years with 2 Great CD’s to their credit. The band has its roots in traditional Bluegrass featuring sweet three part harmony vocals, with solid banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and dobro as primary lead instrumentation. Beyond bluegrass however the band loves Western Swing, Classic Country and a little bit of everything in between. A number of their Western Swing songs have been featured on “Swingin West”, a great Western Swing Radio Show on the internet hosted by Mike Gross since the early 1980’s. Here are a few accolades about the band from fans of both their Bluegrass and Western Swing Music!

“Western Lights is a fine Bluegrass Band from Sacramento California that just loves Western Swing Music. With their newest band member now adding steel guitar to their Western Swing music, I can’t wait for them to finish their planned 3^rd CD so I can play all their new Western Swing songs on my Swingin West” radio show!”- Mike Gross, Host of the Award winning “Swingin’ West” radio show

Western Lights Bluegrass Band on MySpace

Anderson Family Bluegrass

The Anderson Family, from Grass Valley, California, is quickly becoming one of the most popular bluegrass bands in northern California.  Mark and Christy Anderson and their four kids, Paige, Aimee, Ethan (Bo) and Daisy, are making new friends and fans every day with their unbeatable combination of outstanding lead and harmony singing, impressive instrumental abilities, savvy stagecraft and boundless energy and charisma.

From the annual CBA Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival in California to the International Bluegrass Music Association convention in Nashville, the Anderson Family has won over audiences nationwide with a traditional bluegrass sound and a fresh, modern approach

Visit the Band's website HERE                   Visit the Band's MySpace and listen HERE              

Red Dog Ash

 

Red Dog Ash is the product of uncontrolled coal fires. It conjures images of coal mining and hot burns, hard work and honest existence, life and death heating up and cooling down. And by extension it solicits associations with family and land, love and loss, hope and despair, tragic pasts and new starts—that is, everything we care about, everything that bids the muses an invitation to drop in and set to song. That’s why we took Red Dog Ash for a name, found it fitting for our original neo-traditional music. Red Dog Ash plays original and classic bluegrass, featuring hard-driving tunes, beautiful waltzes, tight harmonies, hot licks, and high-lonesome mountain soul. Red Dog Ash is Eli Arrigotti on bass and vocals, Dixon Smith on banjo and vocals, Gary Vessel on mandolin and vocals, and Jason Winfree on guitar and vocals.

 

For more information see reddogash.com

Snap Jackson and the Knock On Wood Players

Snap Jackson & the Knock on Wood Players are an acoustic trio hailing from Stockton California. These three gentlemen effortlessly blend Americana, Bluegrass, Soul, & Old Time Music to create a unique, fresh, & energetic sound. It is obvious from the moment this group takes the stage that they are ready to have a good time. They have played with such notable acts as Darol Anger, Bill Nershi, and the James King Band, just to name a few. Whether it's a street corner, theatre, or outdoor festival, these boys are sure to leave a lasting impression. Be sure to catch them in a city near you. Snap Jackson & the Knock on Wood Players are proud members of The California Bluegrass Association.

                                            Visit the Band HERE

Banner Mountain Boys

 

The Banner Mountain Boys feature bluegrass music from traditional and contemporary American music sources. The four band members include Taylor Carey on guitar and vocals, Rob Shotwell on banjo and vocals, Ron Gaynor on resophonic guitar and vocals, and Cecelia Shotwell on upright bass. The group hails from Nevada County and takes its name from Taylor’s residence up on Banner Mountain.

Flatpicker Taylor Carey was a founding member of the South Loomis Quickstep as well as other well known Northern California bands.
Rob Shotwell favors the traditional Scruggs-style of picking and enjoys throwing in melodic and bluesy sounds as well. Rob picked the five-string in recent years for On The Loose and Bite The Bullet. An accomplished Dobro picker as well as banjoist, Ron Gaynor spent a couple of years picking with In Cahoots in southern California and several years with On The Loose in Grass Valley.

Cecelia Shotwell fills out the sound with her wonderful upright bass and is a popular choice for many bands in the region.
The group features the music of Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, Jimmy Martin, Doc Watson, Larry Sparks and Flatt and Scruggs, along with contemporary artists such as Blue Highway, Peter Rowan, Gordon Lightfoot, Hot Rize, Dan Tyminski and others, plus humorous and our own original material.

Banner Mountain Boys on YouTube

Wild Creek

WILD CREEK is a group of musicians with different musical backgrounds performing music from driving new bluegrass to old tunes with a new twist, A WILD CREEK kind of twist! For many years they have performed all around Nevada, California, and Oregon. They competed in the 2005 National Bluegrass Playoffs at the Huck Finn Festival in Victorville, California. In 2006, WILD CREEK won “Best Bluegrass Band” at the Battle of the Bands completion held at the Sparks Marina in Sparks, Nevada. In 2004, their first CD, titled “Old, Deaf and Blind” was released… and they are currently recording their second.