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Frank Wakefield spent a lot of time Saturday night telling people how lousy he is. “I’m the world’s worst mandolin player,” he told a full house in Garrett Park, Md. “If you don’t believe it, just ask me.” Later, after the show, Wakefield told me what to say in my review: “Tell ‘em how we [...]
Every November and March, a couple thousand bluegrass fans from all across the continent flood the Roberts Centre in Wilmington, OH for one of the top indoor bluegrass festivals in the country: The Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival. The festival is held in both the fall and spring in Wilmington. Many guests literally never go [...]
Here are more of Frank Baker's images from Gettysburg 2011, featuring photos he took during performances by Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time and Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper. Frank also caught two sets from Rockin' Acoustic Circus, a mostly young band from Oklahoma that has been making quite an impression on the circuit this year [...]
Michael Cleveland has announced that Glenn Gibson will be taking up the trusty five string with Flamekeeper, filling the spot recently vacated by banjo picker Charlie Cushman. Glenn has been known more as a reso slide man of late, having worked with Marty Raybon and Dale Ann Bradley in that capacity. Michael knows a good [...]
To honor the life and music of the great Kenny Baker, Matt Glaser organized a special tribute at the Grey Fox Festival earlier this month. Billed as the Kenny Baker Grey Fox Memorial Orchestra, it featured what appears to be nine fiddlers performing a medley of Baker favorites: Kentucky Waltz, Cross Eyed Fiddler, Stoney Lonesome, [...]
Charlie Cushman has left his position playing banjo with Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper to refocus attention on his banjo set up business, and stay a little closer to home. His last show with the band was this past Thursday. In a conversation with Charlie this weekend, he expressed some regret about leaving the group, but [...]
If you missed Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper earlier this week on WAMU's Bluegrass Country, here's some video from their DC visit with Katy Daley. It showcases new members Charlie Lawson on guitar, Ashby Frank on mandolin and Blake Bowen on bass, along with Michael on fiddle and Charlie Cushman on banjo. Here's Ashby taking off [...]
Russ Carson is the full-time banjo player with Audie Blaylock and Redline, who has released his debut solo project, Last Chance, on Patuxent Records. It features Russ along with a red-hot rhythm section - and several terrific vocalists - on 14 strong tracks. Like so many contemporary solo projects, the album showcases Carson's impressive banjo [...]
Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper will be on WAMU's Bluegrass Country Tuesday morning (7/19) at 9:00 a.m. (EDT) with Katy Daley. Michael will take this opportunity to introduce his newest band mates, and the guys will pick a few live in the WAMU studio. Joining him will be Charlie Cushman on banjo, Ashby Frank on mandolin, [...]
Michael Cleveland has announced the new lineup for his touring band, Flamekeeper. Ashby Frank comes in to play mandolin and sing tenor, Charlie Lawson will play guitar and sing lead, and Blake Bowen will handle bass and harmony vocals. Michael is confident that he has found the right team to restructure the band after a [...]
