New Releases for Aug. 28

August 29, 2007

**Ed. note - A mix of the old and the new - which is why I love the contemporary folk scene so much.**

Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals: Lifeline
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band: It's Not Big It's Large
Michael McDermott: Noise from Words
Paul Robeson: On My Journey: Paul Robeson's Independent Recordings
John Stewart: California Bloodlines
The Subdudes: Street Symphony
Scottish National Pipe & Drum Corps & Military Band: Amazing Grace: All Time Bagpipe Favorite
Aly Bain: Beyond the Stacks
Cousin Emmy: Cousin Emmy & Her Kinfolks 1939-1947
Anne Briggs: The Time Has Come
James Blunt: All the Lost Souls
KT Tunstall: Drastic Fantastic

Grammy Brands Fashion and High-End Merchandise

And why not? The Grammy Award ceremonies are really fashion shows anyway, so it only makes sense that the Recording Academy would reach out to make a little extra money by extending its branding (the proceeds go to the Grammy Foundation and MusiCares). The organization will work with a variety of manufacturers on items to be sold in luxury boutiques beginning in October in 18 cities across the U.S.

Flatt & Scruggs Nominated for Songwriters Hall of Fame

Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs are among five songwriter/artists and 15 songwriters overall to be nominated for induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The 15 were divided into two groups, songwriter and songwriter/artist with three artists earning induction in an October 14 ceremony. Votes will be cast by Hall of Fame members, members of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), and board members of NSAI and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation.

HMV Canada Lowers CD Prices

Lucky Canadians (those who don't already buy all of their CDs from Amazon.com or lower priced independent record stores or, better still, from artists at concerts). In a move intended to spark CD sales, HMV Canada is lowering prices by up to 33% on most CDs. With sales falling in many of its stores, the company tested the concept of selling CDs for less and, guess what, people responded favorably. With lower production costs and higher competition from digital downloading services, it's probably the least they could do.

New Releases for Aug. 21

August 22, 2007

**Ed. note - A slow release week, building up for September and the official start of the holiday shopping season. Gird your loins.**

Lee Hazelwood: Something Special (first time on CD)
Ronnie McCoury: Little Mo' McCoury (Children)
Loreena McKennitt: Nights from the Alhambra
Mendoza Line: 30 Year Low
Over the Rhine: The Trumpet Child
Josh Ritter: The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Tom Russell: Wounded Heart of America: Songs of Tom Russell
Battlefield Band: Dookin'
Gordon Cutty: Masters of the Concertina
Carla Bruni: No Promises

Dylan Tours with Elvis

August 21, 2007

Costello, that is. The two singer/songwriters will head out on a limited tour starting Sept. 22 at an Atlanta-area concert. Amos Lee will open. The tour, which is primarily targeting the U.S. Eastcoast, ends the first week in October with three dates in Upstate New York. Pre-sale dates for concerts are listed on the Bob Dylan website.

New Releases for 8/7 and 8/14

August 17, 2007

**Ed. note - Two weeks worth - unless I grow another hand, I won't be putting this list up on "Chat week". Of course, if I grow another hand, I'll be too busy on the circus geek circuit to post anything.**

Sugar Hill: Absolutely Bluegrass, Vol. 1
Linda Thompson: Versatile Heart
The Charlie Sizemore Band: Good News
The Seldom Scene: Scenechronized
Disney: High School Musical 2
Matt Nathanson: Some Mad Hope
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds: Live at Radio City Music Hall
Ralph Stanley: Early Classics: The King Recordings
Billy Joe Shaver: Everybody's Brother
Leon Russell: Angel in Disguise
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals: This is Somewhere
Gretchen Peters: Burnt Toast & Offerings
Marissa Nadler: Song 3: Bird on the Water
Kris Kristofferson: 16 Biggest Hits
Sam Baker: Pretty World
Greg Brown: Yellow Dog
Various: Womenfolk: Iconic Women of American Folk
Soundtrack: The Hottest State
Johnny Irion: Ex Tempore
Athena Tergis: A Letter Home
Sam Bush: On the Road (DVD)
Lori McKenna: Unglamorous
Rilo Kiley: Under the Blacklight
Kate Rusby: Awkward Annie
Peter Gallway: Proof
Rachel Unthank & the Winterset: Bairns
Bruce Hornsby: Camp Meeting
Ezra Furman & the Harpoons: Banging Down the Doors
Billy Burnette and Shawn Camp: The Bluegrass Elvises, Vol. 1
Chet Atkins: The Early Years 1946-1957
Peter Case: Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John
Mirah and Spectratone International: Share this Place
Flight of the Conchords: The Distant Future

Old Town School of Folk Music Sets Guitar Lesson Record

The Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, Illinois gathered 1,377 people and gave them a guitar lesson to set a new record for the world's largest music lesson. The prospective guitarists arrived with varying skill levels and were led for an hour by more than two-dozen teachers from the Old Town School stationed in a gazebo in the middle of Welles Park. The previous record was 539 students taking a group harmonica lesson in Switzerland. Next month, during the Cedar Valley Settlers Celebration in Cleveland, Ohio, an attempt will be made to break the world record for a harmonica play-along.

Nominees for IBMA Awards Announced

The International Bluegrass Music Awards have announced nominees. Awards will be presented at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee in a ceremony hosted by Sam Bush. Members of Rhonda Vincent & The Rage lead the nominations with 11, including Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group, Female Vocalist, Song of the Year and Album of the Year. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver picked up 9 nominations with Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, The Del McCoury Band, and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder earning 7 nominations each.

The complete list:
Entertainer of the Year
Cherryholmes
The Grascals
Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
The Del McCoury Band
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Vocal Group of the Year
Blue Highway
The Isaacs
Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage

Instrumental Group of the Year
Blue Highway
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper featuring Audie Blaylock
Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
The Del McCoury Band
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Male Vocalist of the Year
Ronnie Bowman
Russell Moore
Tim O'Brien
Larry Sparks
Bradley Walker

Female Vocalist of the Year
Dale Ann Bradley
Sonya Isaacs
Alison Krauss
Claire Lynch
Rhonda Vincent

Song of the Year
Rhonda Vincent ("All American Bluegrass Girl")
The Infamous Stringdusters ("Fork in the Road")
J.D. Crowe & The New South ("Lefty's Old Guitar")
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver ("Sadie's Got Her New Dress On")
Larry Sparks ("The Last Suit You Wear")

Album of the Year
Rhonda Vincent (All American Bluegrass Girl)
The Infamous Stringdusters (Fork in the Road)
J.D. Crowe & The New South (Lefty's Old Guitar)
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (More Behind The Picture Than The Wall)
Larry Sparks (The Last Suit You Wear)

Recording Event of the Year
Vassar Clements, Tony Rice & The Low Country All Star Band
Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular
New Songs, Old Friends
Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby
Wow Baby

Instrumental Album of the Year
Acoustic Rising
Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular
Instrumentals
No Apologies
Wow Baby

Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year
The Grascals ("Did You Forget God Today")
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver ("He Lives in Me")
Kenny & Amanda Smith Band ("Tell Someone")
The Del McCoury Band ("The Promised Land")
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver ("We Shall Inherit")

Emerging Artist of the Year
Cadillac Sky
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper featuring Audie Blaylock
The Infamous Stringdusters
Bradley Walker
Williams & Clark Expedition

Banjo Performer of the Year
Cia Cherryholmes
J.D. Crowe
Jim Mills
Sammy Shelor
Tony Trischka

Bass Performer of the Year
Barry Bales
Mike Bub
Mickey Harris
Missy Raines
Marshall Wilborn

Fiddle Performer of the Year
Hunter Berry
Michael Cleveland
Stuart Duncan
Ron Stewart
Jim VanCleve

Dobro Performer of the Year
Mike Auldridge
Jerry Douglas
Rob Ickes
Randy Kohrs
Phil Leadbetter

Guitar Performer of the Year
Jim Hurst
Tony Rice
Kenny Smith
Larry Sparks
Bryan Sutton

Mandolin Performer of the Year
Sam Bush
Doyle Lawson
Ronnie McCoury
Adam Steffey
Chris Thile

Happy Birthday Compact Disc!

It was 25 years ago today (8/17) that Royal Philips Electronics manufactured the first CD in a factory near Hanover, Germany. The first CD to be created was "The Visitors" by ABBA on the Polygram label, which was owned at the time by Philips. CD technology was developed jointly by Philips and Sony and of the first 150 titles to be launched in November 1982, most were classical. Since then, more than 200 billion CDs have been sold worldwide.

Lee Hazlewood Passes

August 9, 2007

Songwriter, producer and performer Lee Hazlewood died of cancer on Aug. 4. He was 78. As a producer, Hazlewood worked with artists from country to crooners, including Duane Eddy and Dean Martin. He produced an album with Gram Parsons and the International Submarine Band that kept Parsons off of The Byrds' Sweethearts at the Rodeo. His songs include "I'm a Fool," "Houston," and the Nancy Sinatra mega mega hit "These Boots are Made for Walkin'."

Fionn Regan Nominated for Mercury Prize Shortlist

August 1, 2007

Irish singer/songwriter Fionn Regan (who I swear has Jimmy Osmond's haircut) has made the Mercury Prize shortlist for The End of History. He will compete for the award with 11 other artists from Britain and Ireland. The Mercury Prize has typically been a good indicator of hot music trends in the U.K. Top contenders this year are Amy Winehouse (with the crazy successful Back to Black) and the Arctic Monkeys with Favourite Worst Nightmare, follow up to their Mercury Prize-winning debut, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. Regan is hot as the surface of the sun in the young acoustic folkie crowd. He played the XPoNential Music Fest and is now out on the U.S. West Coast, stopping by KCRW and the like. Regan performs at the Austin City Limits Festival on Sept. 16. To win, along with Winehouse and Monkeys, he'll have to plow over a mix of bands including Klaxons, The Young Knives, Bat for Lashes, Maps, Dizzee Rascal, Jamie T, New Young Pony Club, The View, and Basquiat Strings. The winner (culled from the long list of 230 artists) is named Sept. 4.