SteelDrivers rock the Ryman!!

July 27, 2015

Story By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Photos By Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

The SteelDrivers took the stage at the Ryman Auditorium July 23^rd as part of the “Bluegrass Nights” series. Hot from the success of their new album “The Muscle Shoals Recordings” on Rounder records which debuted on the Billboard Bluegrass chart at #1 they are not your ordinary Bluegrass band.

  

The Station Inn and BMI complete Emi Sunshine's Grand Slam of a Year!!

March 11, 2015

Nashville, TN.

Review and Photos by Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Emi Sunshine has had quite a year. Her first appearance at the Ryman for Marty Stuart's Late Night Jam, her Grand Ole Opry Debut, and this last week saw her first appearance at Nashville's iconic Station Inn followed by a music industry showcase at BMI.

Gibson Brother's CD release party at Nashville City Winery

Gibson Brother's CD release party at Nashville City Winery

Feb. 28, 2015

Nashville, TN.

Review and Photos by Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Eric and Leigh Gibson brought their “Gibson Brothers” band to Nashville's City Winery to celebrate the release of their “Brotherhood” CD on Rounder Records.

Wednesday on Americana Week in Nashville

Thursday, September 25, 2014
Words by Butch Worrell
Photos by Butch Worrell
Nashville, TN

 Wednesday Americana started with a seminar on 'Streaming Digital Technology'. Next was the evening at the Station Inn with The Barefoot Movement,The Cactus Blossoms, and a bluegrass superjam!

Sam Bush, Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers, Steep Canyon Rangers in 2014

We had a great week this summer with Sam Bush, Nicki Bluhm & the Gramlers, and the Steep Canyon Rangers. Each band offers their own blend of bluegrass, folk, and rock. Caught all three of these acts at The Telluride Bluegrass Festival and got a chance to hang out with these bands. All three groups were class acts and some of the nicest people around, performing great live music. Check them out if they come to a town near you. (Low light at this venue)

Images by Doug Siegel

Yonder Mountain brings a little piece of ColoRADo to Charlotte

Article and photography by Jimi Nedoff of Nedoff Fotography


Last Thursday, August 28th 2014, Yonder Mountain String Band unleashed their stringed musical journey to a moderately sized crowd at the Fillmore in Charlotte, NC.



Yonder Mountain String Band
 

Franklin Theatre Hosts Concert for Local Wounded Heroes

By Butch Worrell
     Nashville, TN

 The Joshua Chamberlain Society held a benefit concert for the fallen and wounded military heroes featuring The McCrary Sisters, Scott MacIntyre, Yates and Kevin McKendree, Hillbilly Renegades, Toni Staples, Jacob’s Ladder, and the Stray Dawgs of Nashville.

Johnny Cash Museum hosts a Birthday bash for Johnny

By Butch Worrell
     Nashville, TN

 Bill and Shannon Miller recently hosted a Birthday Bash in honor of Johnny’s birthday at the Johnny Cash Museum in Nashville. For 2 nights family and friends (see the program for a list) of Johnny rocked out with Cash tunes and songs he loved.

A special treat was a guest that had appeared twice on his Johnny Cash TV show, Melanie Safka of Woodstock fame. Accompanied by her son and daughter (Leilah Hayman, a rising performer/artist herself), she demonstrated that the vocal qualities that made her a star were still there! Thanks Bill and Shannon for a real good time!

Marty Stuart…he is the heart of Country Music

By Butchie (Butch Worrell)
     Nashville, TN

 Once the King of Country music was Roy Acuff, then Porter Waggoner succeeded him. Now the true King of country is Marty Stuart. Not just because he is a great instrumentalist, or a great vocalist, or even a great songwriter, it is because his heart is the biggest and the best.

Save the Leftovers

Vince Herman with Leftover Salmon

Leftover Salmon, the bluegrass rock stars from Boulder, Colorado, took to the stage Friday afternoon at All Good Music Festival and Campout 2014.  Their set was right in the middle of the day after Dark Star Orchestra and before the John Butler Trio, so needless to say the crowd was ultra hyped.  The best part of All Good Festival is the lack of overlapping sets, so the audience can sit in one place and see all of the music that they want to see.  Accordingly, the fans on Friday afternoon were content as could be, especially the ones lying in the hammocks in the wooded area.  Leftover Salmon came through with their expected high energy performance that had the crowd hootin’ and hollerin’. 

The Infamous Stringdusters Show Bluegrass Finesse at All Good

The Infamous Stringdusters

The Infamous Stringdusters blasted the All Good Festival 2013 crowd in the face on Saturday night with some of the most fluent strings in the business right now.  This award winning band has quickly become an all around fan favorite within the past few years.  Besides getting the privilege to play alongside bluegrass legends such as Del McCoury, Sam Bush, and David Grisman, they Infamous Stringdusters have also started their own annual music festival in central Virginia called The Festy Experience.

Willie Nelson & Family 80th Birthday Tour

Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson, the famed actor, author, country musician, and activist honored the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, Tennessee on Thursday, April 4th, 2013. Considering that his 80th birthday is coming up on April 30th, Willie still has more energy and talent than 99% of all other musicians out there today. Aside from his music, Willie is probably best known as an activist for the reform of cannabis laws and the use of hemp and biodiesel as an energy source. He has been doing this for the better part of forty years, since long before marijuana was widely accepted for medical treatments or even popular. Willie Nelson's strong stage presence affirms his cannabis use has had no detrimental effect on his health and ability.

Kenny Rogers Spanning Generations at Bonnaroo

Kenny Rogers

One of the best things about Bonnaroo Music festival is the variance in the acts that you can witness over the course of one weekend. You can go from the jam bands and the electronica to more classical country acts such as the likes of Kenny Rogers, who played early evening in the “Other Tent” on Sunday, June 10th. Regardless of whether or not you are a fan of country/western music, you have to give it up for a superstar like Kenny Rogers, who has been in the musical spotlight for almost fifty years. Over the course of an hour and 15 minutes, he crooned out all of his hits from the course of his career. This
show drew an audience that you don’t see at most music festivals today. It was an interesting blend of older ladies and gentlemen wearing their cowboy hats as a tribute to this music legend and typical drunk music festival goers. What was even more astonishing took place later that evening during the
headlining act of the weekend: Phish. Kenny Rogers got on stage with the mega jam band to play Rogers’s song, “The Gambler”. Lionel Richie came out to perform with Kenny Rogers during his day set.

12-12-12 At Music City Roots you got what you needed

                                       12-12-12 At Music City Roots you got what you needed

 By Butch Worrell,
       Nashville, TN

 Music City Roots, live on Wednesday night from the world famous Loveless Café, is a combined Radio/live internet show that showcases diverse musical genres.

Hosted by Jim Lauderdale, it features 5 segments of artists, with a “Loveless” super jam for a finale. This show featured Bill Mize, Annabelle’s Curse, Michael Super Granda (think Ozark Mountain Daredevils), Langhorne Slim, and Paul McDonald. Everyone of these Artists rocked the crowd with their unique musical talents. And the finale was an incredible cover of “You can’t always get what you want” capping off a night of music that gave you just what you needed. Jim Lauderdale and Keith Bilbrey

Brantley Gilbert: Hell On Wheels Tour

Hell on Wheels is Brantley Gilbert's first tour as a headliner.   After writing songs that have vaulted other artists to fame before him and touring relentlessly for the last 5 years, it was Brantley's turn to be in the limelight. He came out to "My Kinda Party", a song he wrote for Jason Aldean, and never let up for the remainder of the show.  Brantley demonstrated to the packed house at Freedom Hall that he was more than capable of being the main attraction. 

Charlie Daniels Band

At this year's Illinois State Fair a country legend was there - The Charlie Daniels Band! At 75 years old, he came out in a firestorm and took the crowd over and gave them a great show! He owned that fiddle like crazy, strapped on a guitar and tore that up also, just incredible.

Craig Morgan - The Henningsens - Tyler Hartry

As the title suggests this was a good old fashioned country music show featuring three great acts held on a hot summers night in Decatur, Illinois at the Macon County Fairgrounds.

Primus…..Gone Country??

By Butch Worrell

      Nashville, TN

Les Claypool’s Primus rolled into Nashville for a show at the “Mother Church” of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium.   

Even though Jay Lane’s setlist art might suggest that Primus is going country let me assure you that is not the case! Primus is still that funky, earth shaking musical style all of it’s own.  If the ghost of Captain Ryman was around that night I’m sure his mind  was blown away  by the music.  As was everyone in attendance.

Franklin Theatre, the heart of town still beats out loud!

By Butch Worrell

Franklin, TN’s downtown is arguably the best preserved and coolest of the old town squares in Tennessee. And when the old Franklin Theatre built in 1937 and described as the “Heart” of Main Street faced possible demolition, the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County stepped in and spent Millions not just to save it but to make it a first class venue.

Kellie Pickler

Waterfront Concerts in Maine Presents  
Country Music Star from American Idol Kellie Pickler .


Live Concert photos from the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine USA. December 17, 2011.
Article and  Photographic images created by Conall O'Brien.

Click photos for large view.

Androscoggin Bank Colisee