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We had big fun today at the Pickin' In The Panhandle festival. Just around noon, a real worm strangler hit the campground, which stopped the show for an hour or so. Things got re-started, but the rains returned time and again until late afternoon when sunny skies reappeared. But the music never stopped completely, as [...]
Here are a few shots from our first day at Pickin' In The Panhandle. Much more coming today, including interviews with Tim Shelton and Chris Jones. You can see all of our coverage from Pickin' In The Panhandle (photos and interviews) by following this link.
The Clay Hess Band has announced the addition of John Meyer from Bolivar, MO as their new banjo player. He joins Clay on guitar, Irl Hees on bass, Ryan Moyers on mandolin and Brennan Hess on guitar. Just 19 years old, John has been playing with his family group, the Meyer Bluegrass band, since his [...]
Bluegrass guitarslinger Clay Hess and his lovely wife Samantha are expecting their first child later this year. They just found out yesterday that it's a girl, and Samantha is due November 14. Since leaving Sierra Hull & Highwa 111 last summer, Clay has been working on a debut album for his new group, The Clay [...]
I had the pleasure to witness the debut public appearance of the Clay Hess Band, at the Pumpkin Park Music Hall in Milton, West Virginia on Friday night. Most bluegrass musicians and fans across the country were introduced to Clay as lead guitarist with Ricky Skaggs' Kentucky Thunder, and his work more recently with Sierra [...]
Another benefit concert has been scheduled in Knoxville for Phil Leadbetter, who continues to undergo treatment for a very stubborn cancer that has been try resistant to common therapies. Phil has dedicated his life to bluegrass music, working in turn as resonator guitarist for such notable acts as J.D. Crowe & the New South, Wildfire, Grasstowne, [...]
We've written many times about the magnificent work done by Darrel and Phyllis Adkins at their annual Musicians Against Childhood Cancer festival in Ohio. Top bluegrass acts make the trip each summer and perform at no charge, with proceeds from the festival being donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. Recordings made at the festival [...]
Clay Hess has his new band in place and is booking shows for the upcoming festival season. Clay handled lead guitar duties for Sierra Hull and Highway 111 until last month. Joining him to tour in support of his solo album, Rain, are Ryan Moyers on mandolin, Josh Hymer on banjo, Irl Hees on bass [...]
Flat-picking guitar wizard Clay Hess has parted ways with Sierra Hull and Highway 111 and is putting together his own band for the 2012 festival season. Clay's last gig with Sierra was Dec. 10. He called his departure "kind of a mutual decision" based on "artistic differences of opinion. They're wanting to go in a [...]
Of all the great jam sessions during IBMA’s World of Bluegrass this week, the hottest of all took place Friday night when Clay Hess gathered with some friends to celebrate the release of his solo project, Rain. And what friends they were. Among those joining the guitarist were Ron Block on banjo, Adam Steffey on [...]
