Bluegrass & BBQ and Silver Dollar City Single Mic Competition

Joe and I had the priviledge to attend part of the Bluegrass and BBQ Festival at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO this past weekend.  Bluegrass and BBQ this year is a 3 week event filled with great bluegrass music by some of the most talented artists put together by DA Callaway and his staff.  Part of the event is a National Single Mic Competition where bands are selected to participate using just a single microphone similar to that used by the father of bluegrass himself Bill Monroe.  This year there were 22 bands that performed from all across the United States..including Fine Line Bluegrass from Iowa.  I (Lori King) was asked to be a judge for the first round of the competition.  All bands are given 6 minutes to showcase their talents by performing 2 songs and have specific criteria that the judges are looking for based on the performance including: Stage presence, vocal ability, instrumentation, and audience appeal.  The contest has 3 judges for the first round and 3 different judges for the 2nd tround.  The scores are then added together from both rounds to determine a winner.  This years winners were close:

 1st Place – Lonesome Meadow, from Westerville, OH (514 points)
2nd Place – Pure Tradition, from Jay, OK (512 Points)
3rd Place – The Lindsey Family, from Greensburg, KY (511 points)

1st Place received $2,000, 2nd Place $1200, and 3rd Place $800.  In addition the winner will be guaranteed a spot to perform at SDC at the 2014 event.  It should be noted that all the bands did a fantastic job performing on such a large stage to a packed house of people.

Also while we were there we had the great opportunity to visit with our good friends of Blue Highway who performed for us here in Iowa on March 1, 2013.  The guys were gracious as always and put on two stellar performances that we were able to attend. 

Once again thanks to everyone that supports our bluegrass efforts here in Iowa.  Maybe someday we can put on our own event similar to this one.  For more information regarding BMAI check us out on the web at www.iowabluegrassmusic.com
 

Bluegrass on the Lake

Bluegrass on the Lake will be on June 7, 2013 at Honey Creek Resort in Moravia, Iowa from 7-10pm. This is a free event and open to the public. Performances by the BMAI Bluegrass Band and Highway Home. Other to be determined later. We also encourage others to come and jam in the lobby area. Honey Creek Resort has a full restaurant and lounge. Also join us for our 3 day festival on October 24-26th, 2013 for a great weekend filled with lots of bluegrass and gospel music. For tickets and more information visit our website at http://www.iowabluegrassmusic.com.

IBMA Leadership Bluegrass 2013

This is an article recently published by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA).  Lori King, Bluegrass Music Association of Iowa (BMAI) Executive Director was a part of this experience and wanted to share it with you. 

By Shannon W. Turner

Your brain is fried, but you feel exhilarated. You’ve been presented with so much information, met so many new and wonderful people, seen so many new horizons that your head is spinning. You’ve heard great music, shared important goals, and been vulnerable to people who were complete strangers a few days ago. But now it’s the last day, and a new friend has presented you with a plaque that has your name on it.

Congratulations; you have just graduated from Leadership Bluegrass, the intensive three-day event that prepares current and future leaders in the industry to recognize the strengths and challenges facing the bluegrass industry, and how to integrate their own goals with the needs of the music.

Twenty-five class members from around the country and Canada convened in Nashville March 7 through 9 to experience the extraordinary program that is Leadership Bluegrass. Since its inception in 2000, more than 300 leaders have graduated from the course, from all corners of the industry – artists, songwriters, publishers, journalists, promoters, event planners, managers, booking agents, attorneys, and the whole range of roles that serve the bluegrass community. They were challenged by panelists, lecturers, group activities and discussions to unearth their individual strengths, so that they could apply what they learned to their responsibilities at home.

Attendees were welcomed Thursday by Planning Committee Chairperson Alan Tompkins of the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation in Dallas, IBMA Executive Director Nancy Cardwell, Mark Mason from BMI, the host of the event, and facilitator Trisha Tubbs from Seattle. The class was thrilled by the appearance of Hall of Fame member Sonny Osborne, banjo legend of the Osborne Brothers, who kindly took the time to encourage participation in the industry and welcome everyone to the conference.

After a presentation from Cardwell, participants got to know each other during lunch; the program places a high value and priority on creating positive relationships among its membership. There were ample opportunities to make business connections, but better yet, there was the wide open chance to make new friends.

The remainder of Thursday was highlighted by presentations from Alison Brown and Garry West, musicians and owners of Compass Records, who stressed the importance of making and maintaining a business plan to help you strategize and reach your goals in a practical way. The group also heard from Al McCree and Scott Scoville, entrepreneurs who have built their successful businesses from the ground up, and how to maintain momentum through the lean years. Award-winning bassist Missy Raines (Missy Raines and the New Hip) lent her insights on living the life of an artist, the trials of the road, the joys of the music and other facets of the total artist experience.

One highlight for many was learning about the maze of song publishing, royalty distribution and copyright law, as led by Belmont University’s Dan Keen with panelists John Allen from BMG, songwriter/producer Jerry Salley, and Tim Fink from SESAC. Next there was focus on the artist’s team, which featured longtime Alison Krauss manager Denise Stiff, booking agent Lee Olsen, digital marketer Katy Kirby from Thirty Tigers, John P. Strohm, attorney from Loeb and Loeb LLC and Kim Fowler, owner and publicist from Two Dog Media.

A class favorite was the Leadership and Individual Applications workshop, led by Liz Allen Fey of Management Solutions Group, LLC. Members took a survey of various leadership traits to discover their own leadership style and learned to determine how their personal style might best serve them as they go forward. For IBMA Administrative/Media Assistant Katherine Coe, who was part of the class, this was an important part of her experience.

“I enjoy doing [projects] that help me learn more about myself,” says Coe. “The more I understand the way I personally approach a project or problem, the better I can successfully work through it.”

There are now opportunities to study bluegrass music in higher education, which Andy Carlson (Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Music at Denison University in Ohio) spoke more on.  He shared some of his teaching methods with the class, and then invited the group to get out their own instruments for a short jam on “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” Being a room full of bluegrassers, he didn’t have to ask twice!

On Friday the class was welcomed to Missy Raines and Ben Surratt (also on the planning committee) for a night of good food, good company and grand picking. Some extra guests were invited, including esteemed author Neil Rosenberg, who was later found picking the Five with great ease; Carlson, who makes magic with a fiddle; Lora Murphy from the Muddy River Band; Daniel Routh from Nu-Blu; songwriter/producer/IBMA Board member Jon Weisberger with his wife Deborah; and Brian Perry from Sixthman Productions (Mountain Song at Sea). It wasn’t long before much of the party drifted to the basement, where a studio filled with musicians and toe-tappers who got their jam on until late in the evening.

Saturday the group was welcomed by Stephanie Taylor from Bone McAllester Norton, who hosted the day’s events. Navigating the Digital Jungle was a great session teaching how to best market yourself, band, or entity through social and digital media with Jay Frank from DigSin, Jenny Smythe from Girlilla Marketing and Cassie Petry from Crowd Surf. New Trends and Developments in Presenting Live Music was the next panel, where artist Peter Cooper, Warner Music Group’s Jamie Younger and Lindsay Hayes from Red Beet Records demonstrated the unique possibilities of the online Stage It program; Craig Havighurst showed examples from Bluegrass Underground and the popular Music City Roots radio show and Brian Perry fielded a number of questions about the Mountain Song at Sea cruise.

Lunchtime Saturday marked the official graduation from Leadership Bluegrass. Each participant was awarded a plaque, presented by another member of the class with words of personal encouragement. Attendee Ron Murphy from Ohio, a longtime ‘grasser and member of the Muddy River Band, was chosen to represent the 2013 class at IBMA in Raleigh during WOB.

One of the topics in the open forum was: How do we make the big umbrella of the bluegrass genre appeal to the largest possible audience? How can we make it a mainstream music in the marketplace? These continue to be topics of the larger conversation that face our industry, and this group and all of bluegrass will be working together to find the answers.

Kayla Hotte of Kayla Hotte and Her Rodeo Pals, from Edmonton, Alberta, is taking away much from her Leadership Bluegrass experience.

“It helped me understand aspects of the business that I knew nothing about,” she explained. “Like how publishing works, and the different parts of an artist’s team. It was good to hear Missy Raines talk about all the things that an artist goes through to make their music. I learned it is important to make a business plan.” She agrees that the program will be very advantageous to her as she moves forward with her career as a singer/songwriter in her native Canada.

Closing, IBMA Board of Directors Vice-Chair Jon Weisberger spoke about leadership opportunities within the IBMA and the industry, while Alan Tompkins shared his story of how he used his skills and opportunities to grow bluegrass right in his home area of Dallas. Both are real, valuable options, worthy of consideration and practice by anybody in the industry, not just those who have been a part of Leadership Bluegrass.

If you have any questions about how you can be a part of the exciting changes that are happening right now in bluegrass, contact the IBMA. They are ready to help you find your place, and just like the old Uncle Sam posters, they WANT YOU!

Congratulations to the graduates:

Darin Aldridge; Darin and Brooke Aldridge; Cherryville, NC

Melissa Armstrong; Detour; Sand Lake, MI

Andrea Ball; Make Welcome Entertainment; Washington, DC

Katherine Coe; IBMA; Nashville, TN

Jeremy Darrow; The Erin McDermott Band/Freelance Musician; Nashville, TN

John DeMarce; DC Bluegrass Union; Washington, DC

Susie Glaze; Hilonesome Music, Susie Glaze & the Hilonesome Band; Burbank, CA

KC Groves; Artist & Composer; Lyons, CO

Kayla Hotte; Kayla Hotte & her Rodeo Pals; Ardrossan, Alberta, CA

Caroline Isachsen; Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival; Delmar, NY

Steven Johnson; MerleFest; Wilkesboro, NC

Lori King; Bluegrass Music Association of Iowa; Drakesville, IA

Jordan Laney; Appalachian State University; Vilas, NC

Ron Murphy; Muddy River Band; Wilmington, OH

Amy Reitnouer; The Bluegrass Situation; Los Angeles, CA

Carolyn Routh; Nu-Blu, Red Squared Audio; Siler City; NC

Sheila Selby; Boston Bluegrass Union; Brookline, MA

Carly Smith; International Bluegrass Music Museum; Owensboro, KY

Erin Stamper; WAMU’s Bluegrass Country; Washington, DC

Shannon Turner; Freelance writer/journalist; Hermitage, TN

Missy Werner; Missy Werner Band; Liberty Township, OH

Jill Wiese; Bluegrass Association of North Dakota; Washburn, ND

Kristi Wilcox; Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP; Nashville, TN

Courtney Worthen; PineCone – The Piedmont Council of Traditional Music; Raleigh, NC

Dustin Pyrtle joins Doyle Lawson-via Bluegrass Today

Just in from Bluegrass Today:

Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver are among the unstoppable objects in the music world, recording and touring now in their 34th year. Together since Doyle Lawson stepped away from The Country Gentlemen in 1979, the band has seen dozens of personnel changes over the years, including some of the top current performers in bluegrass. But the train just keeps chugging along, with Doyle at the helm.

Today it is announced that Dustin Pyrtle has joined the group, playing guitar and singing. He is taking the spot just vacated by Mike Rogers, who is hopping back to the world of country music to work with Syco Music/RCA Nashville recording artist Tate Stevens.

Dustin, who is the nephew of Seldom Scene mandolinist Lou Reid, has worked of late with Grasstowne on guitar and vocals, and more recently subbing for Quicksilver alum Russell Moore while he was recovering from some voice problems this past winter.

Look for the newest modification of Doyle and the boys as their east coast tour takes them from Palm Beach, FL through Valdese, NC, and Princeton and Elkins, WV the rest of April. You can find full details online at doylelawson.com.

BMAI Fundraiser Cookie Book

We’re offering copies of this beautiful Cookie Book. This is more than just another recipe book. It has large, beautiful color pictures of freshly baked cookies…it has 277 cookie recipes that were chosen from over 34,000 cookie recipes in a national contest…each one of the winners was a family favorite. This Cookie Book sells for just $10 + $3.50 shipping, which is far less than cookbooks of this quality you’ll find at the store. You may also want to con-sider extra copies as gifts for family and friends. Some people have ordered as many as 10 copies when they see the quality of this book at this discounted price. Many people have found this book soon becomes one of the most-used cookbooks in their home, and you likely will too. You can order this and other merchandise on our new redesigned website at www.iowabluegrassmusic.com

11th Annual Iowa Theater Show in Bloomfield Iowa

Bluegrass Addiction to Headline 11^th Annual Bluegrass Show

BLOOMFIELD, IOWA – Local favorite band Bluegrass Addiction will headline the 11^th Annual Bluegrass Show, scheduled for Saturday, March 23^rd at the Iowa Theater in Bloomfield. Also appearing will be Jimmie Allison & the Ozark Rounders and West Connection. The lineup promises a full evening of top-tapping, soul-stirring music.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. start time. Tickets are available now online at www.iowabluegrassmusic.com, by calling 641-799-1442 or at the door. Show prices are $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-16 and free for children five and under.

 Patrons will also have the chance to support local businesses at the venue, which will be set up when the doors open at the Kay Burchett Center adjacent to the theater. Vendors interested in participating in this opportunity may call Lori King at 641-799-1442 for more information.

In the unlikely event of inclement weather, patrons are encouraged to call ahead at 641-799-1442, the theater at 641-664-9588, or tune in to KIIC 96.7 FM for updated information.

The Iowa Theater is located at 107 S. Washington Street, Bloomfield, Iowa.

For more information, call Lori King at 641-799-1442 or go online at www.iowabluegrassmusic.com or http://www.bluegrassaddiction.com.

The 11^th Annual Bluegrass Show is sponsored by the Bluegrass Music Association of Iowa.

                                                                         ###

 

Shannon W. Turner

615-579-6200

shannon@shannonturner.com

BMAI Announces Executive Director Lori King to participate in IBMA Leadership Bluegrass Class of 2013

Nashville, TN — The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) is pleased to announce the participants of Leadership Bluegrass 2013.  Leadership Bluegrass, now in its 14th year with more than 300 alumni, is an intensive, three-day program of interactive learning and networking experiences that invites participants to examine the challenges and opportunities facing our music, along with related leadership issues.

The Leadership Bluegrass program pulls together a cross section of people with exhibited or potential leadership qualities into a network of learning and communication. The results will foster a broad-based understanding of the total needs of the bluegrass community, which will help participants better prepare to determine the goals of the particular organization, company or group in which they choose to serve.

The selection process for Leadership Bluegrass is competitive, with more applicants than there are positions available. While the application or recommendation does not guarantee a position in the class, IBMA does guarantee that everyone who applies will be given an equal opportunity. Enrollment and participation in Leadership Bluegrass is voluntary and a new class is selected each year. All class members are expected to bear the expense of any travel and/or lodging during the program as well as pay a class participation fee. A limited number of partial scholarships are available to qualified applicants.

Participants in the 2013 Class of Leadership Bluegrass:

 

• Darin Aldridge; Darin and Brooke Aldridge; Cherryville, NC
• Melissa Armstrong; Detour; Sand Lake, MI
• Andrea Ball; Make Welcome Entertainment; Washington, DC
• Katherine Coe; IBMA; Nashville, TN
• Jeremy Darrow; The Erin McDermott Band/Freelance Musician; Nashville, TN
• John DeMarce; DC Bluegrass Union; Washington, DC
• Susie Glaze; Hilonesome Music, Susie Glaze & the Hilonesome Band; Burbank, CA
• KC Groves; Artist & Composer; Lyons, CO
• Kayla Hotte; Kayla Hotte & her Rodeo Pals; Ardrossan, Alberta, CA
• Caroline Isachsen; Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival; Delmar, NY
• Steven Johnson; MerleFest; Wilkesboro, NC
• Lori King; Bluegrass Music Association of Iowa; Drakesville, IA
• Jordan Laney; Appalachian State University; Vilas, NC
• Ron Murphy; Muddy River Band; Wilmington, OH
• Amy Reitnouer; The Bluegrass Situation; Los Angeles, CA
• Carolyn Routh; Nu-Blu; Siler City, NC
• Sheila Selby; Boston Bluegrass Union; Brookline, MA
• Carly Smith; International Bluegrass Music Museum; Owensboro, KY
• Erin Stamper; WAMU’s Bluegrass Country; Washington, DC
• Shannon Turner; Freelance writer/journalist; Hermitage, TN
• Missy Werner; The Missy Werner Band; Liberty Township, OH
• Jill Wiese; Bluegrass Association of North Dakota; Washburn, ND
• Kristi Wilcox; Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP; Nashville, TN
• Courtney Wothen; PineCone – The Piedmont Council of Traditional Music; Raleigh, NC

Leadership Bluegrass will be hosted this year at BMI and Bone McAllester Norton, PLLC in Nashville, Thursday – Saturday, March 7-9 and will be facilitated by Trisha Tubbs. Our Platinum Sponsors this year include BMI; The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation and Bone McAllester Norton LLC.  Please contact the IBMA office for information on future Leadership Bluegrass programs: (615) 256-3222, nancyc@ibma.org.; Make Welcome Entertainment; Washington, DC

About Leadership Bluegrass

The purpose of the Leadership Bluegrass program is to pull together a cross section of people with exhibited or potential leadership qualities into a network of learning and communication. The results will foster a broad-based understanding of the total needs of the bluegrass community, which will help participants better prepare to determine the goals of the particular organization, company or group in which they choose to serve. Leadership Bluegrass seeks to explore bluegrass music and its place in the larger world of entertainment through:

• A systematic study of the business of bluegrass, its institutions and organizations, their needs, problems and resources
• Exposure to a wide variety of current music leaders and notable persons
• Encouraging independent thinking, fresh perspectives and approaches. It is not intended to “indoctrinate” or pass on the current leaders’ views and ideas.
• Acquaintance with relevant issues facing bluegrass, their history and future possibilities
• Involvement of all related facets of the music industry which impact bluegrass
• High quality interactive sessions for the participants.

Participation

The selection process for Leadership Bluegrass is competitive, with more applicants than there are positions available.  While your application or recommendation does not guarantee a position in the class, IBMA does guarantee that everyone who applies will be given an equal opportunity. The deadline to apply every year is November 15 .  Details and application will be posted in the fall and will also be available at the World of Bluegrass Business Conference. Enrollment and participation in Leadership Bluegrass is voluntary and a new class will be selected each year. All class members are expected to bear the expense of any travel and/or lodging during the program as well as pay a class participation fee.

• A sincere commitment, motivation and interest in servicing the bluegrass community today and in the future
• Relative bluegrass community activity and experience
• An interest in advancing one’s own professional or volunteer leadership roles within the bluegrass music industry.
• The opportunity and commitment to take the time the program requires for completion.

2013 Band and Festival Guide Coming Soon

BMAI commencing on its 4th year is pleased to announce that the 2013 Band and Festival Guide is being printed and should be in the mail next week. This year’s guide is jam packed with an abundance of new festivals, bands, events, businesses, and information for every bluegrass fan. BMAI is committed to doing exceptional things for the bluegrass genre and industry in the State of Iowa. Kicking off the 2013 year BMAI is launching a new format to its membership by implementing more benefits and perks for joining the association. You can check out the new re-designed membership page at http://www.iowabluegrassmusic.com. Stay tuned for future updates and events.

Just a Few thing you may want to check out if you live or are near the Western part of Iowa.
ONGOING EVENTS IN the Western Part of Iowa and Eastern Nebraska
Contra Dance to Live Music 7:30 to 10:30pm
3rd Saturday each month
Seymour Elementary School, Ralston, NE
6$ Contact: vipratt@aol.com mailto:vipratt@aol.com 402-334-0678
Bluegrass Jam 7:00 to 10:00pm
2nd Thursday each month
Open Jam hosted by Earl Witt
Plattsmouth VFW
501 1st Ave., Plattsmouth, NE
Big Muddy Fiddle Club 1:00 to 4:00pm
4th Saturday each month (Octber thru May)
St. Andrews Episcopal Church
925 84th St., Omaha, NE
Contact: Mindy Hunke: mhunke@cox.net mailto:mhunke@cox.net
Jam and Bread 1:00 to 4:30pm
Thursdays
Open Acoustic Jam hosted by
Western Historic Trails Center
Council Bluffs, IA
Country Music Show/Jam 2:00 to 4:00pm
4th Sunday (October thru May)
Papillion Senior Center
1001 Limerick Rd., Papillion, NE
Contact: John Cox at john.cox5@cox.net mailto:john.cox5@cox.net or 402-331-1461

Steep Canyon Rangers Interview

STEEP CANYON RANGERS-INTERVIEW JUNE 26TH, 2012

 

What a rare treat (Rare Bird Alert Treat) my daughter Tara and I had in Iowa last Saturday night!  The Steep Canyon Rangers and Steve Martin were performing at the Des Moines Civic Center on June 26^th, so I bought tickets to the show a couple of months ago.  I found out through my good friend and radio DJ, Billy Dunbar, how to get in touch with Steep Canyon Rangers media folks so I could interview them and it just got better from there!  Tara and I were invited on the Steep Canyon Rangers tour bus so I could do a short interview to share with ya’ll!  So here goes:

We arrived at the bus promptly at 3:00pm Saturday afternoon and were greeted by Woody Platt, Graham Sharp and Mike Guggino.  We settled in and started telling each other about how we got started in bluegrass music.  I’m also a musician, so I got to talk about when I started playing music & singing (at age 5yrs) with my Mom, my family band, Mom’s old radio days, my love of bluegrass music and all those wonderful stories that go along with it all.   The guys told us that only one of them had been playing since he was 5 yrs old and that was Nicky Sanders, their fiddle player.

Our conversation grew into questions that Tara and I thought of before we met them and here are the responses to those questions:

1. Where did the name Steep Canyon Rangers come from?  How did you come up with that name for the band?  Woody told us that he was in college with Charles and Graham.  During those college days a popular beer that was on tap was called Steep Canyon Stout.  The name became Steep Canyon Rangers and has stuck with them. 
2. How did it all start?  When did you all start playing music together?  Again, Woody explained they were in college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill together.  Woody became interested in guitar and bluegrass music while he was there.  The three of them started playing an instrument while in college and started jamming together, hence the band was formed!
3. How did you meet Steve Martin? Woody told us this was a fun story. He likes to fish and was a fly fishing guide in North Carolina.  He had taken Steve’s soon to be wife, Ann, and her family on a fishing trip.  The group became friends with her and she invited them to New York to visit.  After she married Steve, the group met him at a party she invited them to. 
4. What’s it like working with Steve Martin, the comedian?  They all agreed that at times it’s hard to keep a straight face.  But, it’s a lot of hard work & practice to learn new songs he’s written as well as their own music.  Steve makes sure they rehearse the entire show completely before they go on stage.
5. What is your favorite part of the music business?  Again, they all agreed that seeing new places & making new friends, meeting and greeting people is a great reward.  And they get paid for what they love to do!  The Bluegrass world is like a big happy family, everyone knows everyone, musicians and fans alike.
6. What do you do in your free time when you’re not on the road?  Woody & Graham said that life on the road and in the bus is always busy. They spend the time on the bus rehearsing new songs, writing new music and to practice before they get to their concert venues.  So when they do go home, they can spend time with their families and concentrate on other interests.  And not have to be burdened with the music business side of things until they are back on the bus.
7. What advice would you give to younger musicians?  To play on a regular basis and with other musicians as often as possible.  Also take advantage of all the resources available to them.  You can obtain so much now from the internet and learn new styles and techniques.
8. Who writes most of the Steep Canyon Rangers songs?  It’s an effort by everyone, but Graham said he writes then brings the group in for co-writing and to help “tweek” some of the songs he writes.  Woody is also an accomplished songwriter, too.   Steve Martin writes his own music. But consults with the group for inspiration and ideas.
9. 9.     During their performances they do a mix of Steep Canyon songs and Steve Martin songs.

The show at the Civic Center was very entertaining and as the group put it after the show when we visited “very high energy!”  Steve Martin inserted some of his comedy between songs and breaks.  For example, he pointed out that he had “walked away with a grammy for album of the year.  He then commented, “I guess it was a good thing we actually won it!”  Steve also plays a style of banjo called Clawhammer banjo, a more mellow sound of banjo playing.  He says it’s perfect to play on a summer night.  “One evening he said I was sitting in my backyard, when my neighbors came over and asked if I would play the banjo for them.  And I said, what’s wrong, you don’t like the way I’m playing the air horn?!”

Then leaving the band alone for a couple of numbers so they could have the spotlight, Martin took a break backstage.  He returned with an observation.  Said he was taken aback by a sign in the men’s room that read, “Employees must wash hands…Glad I’m not an employee he said!”

Some other notes of interest is that on September 29^th, 2011, Martin and the Rangers jointly won the Entertainers of the Year Award at the IBMA Awards.

The Steep Canyon Rangers are just Bluegrass perfection and with the addition of Steve Martin they make for a “Super Union” of a bluegrass & comedy blend.  I’m already counting down the days until I’ll be able to attend another one of their shows!

 

@Written by Brenda Smith & Tara Diemer  6-27-12