From Lindenhof, Neusüdende, to the State Theatre of Oldenburg (Germany)

Walter Fuchs and Angelika Torrie report:

Very reluctantly, but forced by many inconvienences, Klaus Grotelüschen announced in June 2006 he had to discontinue his traditional Whitsuntide Festival in Neusüdende. Many could not believe it, but decisions had been made.

At that time, Klaus couldn't dream about the unique constellation, which would appear only a few weeks later, enabling him to continue his tradition, but on a higher level. There was - amongst all his close friends - his 'financial consultant', as he likes to call him, with positive thoughts and suggestions. There was a new general manager in charge at the state theatre of Oldenburg, with new ideas. Existing relations and the great results with sold-out events of the International Bluegrass Festival in Bühl (Germany). And, of course, there was Klaus himself with all his expertise as a concert and festival producer.

The match was perfect, and many hours of negotiating completed the oeuvre: on the occasion of his very last fall festival on 21 October 2006, and in presence of the above-mentioned general manager, Klaus was able to announce the following:

'We are going to continue in 2007 with an annual concert in a totally new environment, namely the renowned State Theater of Oldenburg, built in 1883. On Sunday 6 May 2007 we will hear singer/songwriter Claire Lynch, a top-notch representative of modern bluegrass music, with her band, the Claire Lynch Band.'

The new venue will give bluegrass music room in an acoustically first-class environment, and the atmosphere of such old buildings has proved to be a great combination already in the past. Success can already be predicted for this new and great setup!

International Songwriting Competition deadline approaching

24 August 2007

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is now accepting entries for 2007. One of the largest songwriting competitions in the world, ISC gives away over $150,000 in cash and prizes, including an Overall Grand Prize package of US$25,000 in cash and over $20,000 in merchandise. ISC offers artists the most exposure, the best judges, and the biggest cash prize, unmatched by any other songwriting competition. ISC winners benefit from extensive press and publicity, gaining exposure and recognition from an international music market of industry professionals and fans.

PasteMagazine.com says: 'How do you show the world that you have just made history? You could sit back down on the couch and hope for a record executive's phone call, or you could be proactive and win $25,000. The latter approach is not a dream; it merely requires talent and a submission to the 2007 International Songwriting Competition.'

ISC is proud to announce a new category for 2007: Comedy/Novelty. Judging the new category will be comedy icons 'Weird Al' Yankovic, David Cross (FOX TV's Arrested Development), and Cheech Marin (Cheech and Chong). All original comedy, parody, and novelty songs are welcome in the new category. In all, ISC offers 19 different categories to enter: Pop/Top 40, AAA (Adult Album Alternative), Rock, Country, Americana, R&B/Hip-Hop, Blues, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Jazz, Gospel/Christian, Latin Music, Instrumental, Dance/Electronica, World Music, Children's Music, Comedy/Novelty, Lyrics Only, Teen, and Performance.

ISC is unique because of its judges. Since its inception, ISC has become internationally renowned for having the most prestigious judging panel of any songwriting competition in the world, offering entrants the unprecedented opportunity to have their songs heard by the industry's top recording artists and influential music executives.

Continuing in that tradition, the ISC 2007 judging panel includes recording artists Tom Waits; Loretta Lynn; Ray Davies (The Kinks); Julian Casablancas (The Strokes); Nelly Furtado; Kenny Wayne Shepherd; Ornette Coleman; Youssou N'Dour; Sean Paul; Jerry Lee Lewis; 'Weird Al' Yankovic; Frank Black (Pixies); Robert Smith (The Cure); Cassandra Wilson; David Cross; Craig Morgan; John Mayall; Joe Satriani; Toby Mac; Michael W. Smith; Chris Hillman (The Byrds); John Scofield; Hinder; Amy Ray (Indigo Girls); Cheech Marin (Cheech & Chong); Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Macy Gray; Peter Hook (New Order); Paulina Rubio; and Tiesto

Also judging will be music industry executives Charlie Walk (President, Epic Records); Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Mona Scott-Young (President, Violator Records); Cameron Strang (President, New West Records); Steve Lillywhite (Producer - credits include U2, The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Peter Gabriel, and more); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Betty Pino (DJ, WAMR Miami, pioneer of Latin radio); Angel Carrasco (President, 605 Discos and Sr. VP A&R, Sony BMG Latin America); Thomas Brooman (Co-Founder/Artistic Director, WOMAD); Dan Storper (President, Putumayo World Music); Nancy Wolpert (VP Home Entertainment and Nick Records, Nickelodeon/BMG); Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music For Little People); and Paul Majors (CEO/Founder Majors Music)

ISC is open to musicians, artists, and songwriters at every level from amateur to professional. Artists may submit as many songs as desired in each category or enter the same song in more than one category.

Entries are accepted online or by mail. For more information or to enter ISC 2007, please visit www.songwritingcompetition.com. The deadline is quickly approaching, so enter now!

ISC 2007 sponsors include Electro-Voice, ASCAP, Berklee College Of Music, Cakewalk, Shure, D'Addario, Hear Technologies, Disc Makers, Sonicbids, Musician's Atlas, Sibelius, Karian Studios, OnlineGigs, The Music Business Registry, Mediaguide, ArtistMonitor, Platinum Blue Music Intelligence, Alphabet Arm Design, George Stein, Esq., SongU, The Indie Bible, Shari's Berries, and Taxi

International Songwriting Competition
1307 Eastland Ave
Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 251-4441

Fiddler's curse: press release

FIDDLER’S CURSE SOLVES THE MYSTERY SURROUNDING WORLD-FAMOUS TRAIN TUNE

New book reveals the extraordinary story behind 'Orange Blossom Special'

ORLANDO, FLA., July 2, 2007 - One of the most bizarre stories in all of popular music is the story behind 'Orange Blossom Special', arguably the century’s best-known fiddle tune as well as one of the most-performed songs of the 20th century and a signature hit for the late Johnny Cash.

In a newly released book, Florida-based author Randy Noles investigates the lives of the two men credited with authoring the song, which salutes a legendary streamlined passenger train.

The book, Fiddler’s curse: the untold story of Ervin T. Rouse, Chubby Wise, Johnny Cash and the Orange Blossom Special (Centerstream Publishing, $14.95), reveals the luckless Rouse to be the sole author.

Rouse, who endured tragedy, alcoholism and mental illness, spent his final years fiddling for tips in isolated taverns at the edge of the Everglades. Wise, who achieved fame as the seminal fiddler of the bluegrass era and the acclaimed author of the song, also struggled to overcome personal demons and heal the scars of childhood abuse and abandonment. Cash, the tortured superstar who made the Special a mainstream hit, quietly championed Rouse and earned the enmity of Wise following a perceived onstage slight.

'The book settles a longstanding authorship controversy over the song', said Noles. 'More importantly though, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the private lives of these brilliant but deeply flawed men and paints a vivid portrait of life as an itinerate musician in the 1930s and 1940s.'

Noles wrote Orange Blossom boys, a critically acclaimed 2002 Centerstream Publishing release, regarding the song. However, after he dug deeper into the story and uncovered new information about Rouse, Wise and Cash’s connection to both men and to the song, he revised and updated Orange Blossom boys for re-release as Fiddler’s curse.

'In addition to telling a terrific yarn, this book is an important contribution to the literature of traditional American music', says Ron Middlebrook, president of Centerstream Publishing. 'Plus it validates the life of Ervin Rouse, who might otherwise have been forgotten. We’re very proud to be associated with this project.'

What the critics say:

'Wonderfully written...a rollicking romp of a story with its own soundtrack, the classic bluegrass tune "Orange Blossom Special", and two larger-than-life central characters. Tinged with sadness but also filled with Noles' obvious love for the material.'
Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

'A delightful, engaging, well-written, thoroughly researched journey down the Seaboard Line with a great song and its creators...;a great book... would that we had many more like it in our field.'
Ronnie Pugh, historian and author: Ernest Tubb: the Texas Troubador

'A mix of history and detective work steeped in Florida lore.'
The Orlando Sentinel

'A lively book... offers a fascinating glimpse into the country music scene during the Great Depression and the early days of bluegrass.'
Fiddler Magazine

'Written with extreme attention to detail and a knack for compelling storytelling... with characters almost too fantastic to be real.'
Jacksonville Magazine

For interviews, please contact:
Randy Noles

407-895-7505

For review copies please contact:

Ron Middlebrook

Centerstream Publishing

centerstrm@aol.com

Award-winning festival starts again on Thursday 1 May 2008

March 2008

At least forty-two bluegrass bands to shine at 11th annual festival

Voorthuizen, the Netherlands – On May 1, 2 and 3 the eleventh European World of Bluegrass Festival will take place in the Dutch village of Voorthuizen. At the festival at least 42 bands from 12 different European countries, and the USA, will perform on stage. Also there will be workshops, a Trade Show, a children’s programme, and of course people can ‘jam’ together to their heart’s desire. In 2003 this festival won the annual award of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) as ‘best event of the year’ – an extraordinary achievement.

From Thursday until Saturday this renowned festival will put bluegrass music in the spotlight. Bands from Western Europe, but also from more exotic countries such as Estonia, the Czech Republic, and Spain will be part of the programme. Different styles of bluegrass will be featured, ranging from the strictly acoustic and traditional to sounds influenced by gospel, modern jazz, or even pop music. Among the guests from the USA this year are singer/songwriter Sally Jones & the Sidewinders, performing contemporary bluegrass music, while Dick Staber & Judith Chasnoff will play more traditional bluegrass. Soon the complete programme will be announced. The schedule is to be found on the Festival website.

The Festival is held under the auspices of the European Bluegrass Music Association (EBMA).

The Festival is known for providing a varied programme. During the workshops, experienced musicians will answer all sorts of questions about instrumental skills, singing techniques, or beginner’s pitfalls. Again this year there will be classes for banjo, mandolin, guitar, fiddle and dobro, for players on any level. And because of its success in previous years, once again the bluegrass karaoke will be featured. Musicians and upcoming talent can demonstrate their skills, while being backed up by a professional band.

At the Trade Show a wide variety of musical instruments, CDs, sheet music, magazines, and bluegrass knick-knacks is offered. For the very young ones there will be a special children’s programme on Thursday and Friday, hosted by professional musicians. The children will receive a hands-on music lesson.

An important element in the European World of Bluegrass Festival is the DIY factor: since many (if not all) visitors bring their own instruments, the festival is also a gathering of a large amount of guitars, banjos, mandolins, fiddles, and double basses. With people jamming and pickin’ in all corners of the festival grounds, it is one of the liveliest events in the Netherlands.

At the end of the Saturday night concert the title ‘European Band of the Year 2008’ will be awarded, based on the voting of all musicians performing at the Festival. The winning band will perform as guests at the annual IBMA convention, Trade Fair, and Fan Fest in the USA. It was at that same convention that the Voorthuizen festival won the ‘Event of the Year’ award in 2003, because of its unique contribution to bluegrass music in Europe.

fact: 11th European World of Bluegrass (EWOB) Festival
date: May 1, 2 & 3, 2008
programme: daily from 12.00h until 1:00h
concerts: daily from 14:00h until 24:00h
venue: ’t Trefpunt, Roelenengweg 25, Voorthuizen, the Netherlands
for more information see the Festival website and EBMA website.

Contact in the Netherlands:
European Bluegrass Music Association
Rienk Janssen
e-mail
Tel.: (+31) (0)599-312663
Fax: (+31) (0)599-313285

Be part of bluegrass history

30 December 2007

Pieter Groenveld and Liz Meyer of Strictly Country Records /Strictly Music, the Netherlands, have a New Year's request for all friends of European bluegrass:

Would you like to be part of bluegrass history? Put your name on this very special European World of Bluegrass CD!* We need sponsors to help finance a wonderful double-CD compilation from 10 years of EWOB. Liz has been working on the project morning to night for weeks, and the mastering studio is booked for early January.

Strictly Country Records’ annual EWOB CD series: a labor of love

The EWOB CDs are the biggest commitment Liz and I have made to giving something back that can make a difference in the music world. The annual EWOB CDs are not subsidised by EBMA, because it takes all of EBMA's resources to sponsor the EWOB Festival every year, and to send the #1 European Bluegrass Band to IBMA's World of Bluegrass in Nashville. (This year the EWOB Festival's organising committee celebrated EWOB's 10th birthday by sending an EWOB 2007 CD to each of the 154 musicians who played the EWOB 2007 Festival; but they can't afford to do this every year.) The annual EWOB CDs are a heavy commitment of time and money for a tiny label that can produce a maximum of four CDs annually - and the EWOB CDs require twice the time and energy of a normal artist CD with normal sales potential.

Any record label depends on artist sales at shows to break even on a CD, but there are +/- 25 bands on each EWOB CD. Many of the best bands come from economies where CDs are cheap, and they can't afford to invest in EWOB CDs to sell. We sell a few dozen here and there, but the annual EWOB CD is primarily a promotional vehicle for European bluegrass, the bands, and EWOB. Most of them are given away to DJs and press.

Some years when we've been hard-pressed financially, we’ve considered skipping the EWOB CD. But it's not the sort of project you can just do some years, so we've made it a permanent commitment. It means so much to the bands to have the possibility of taking their music beyond the borders of their remote homelands; and having this outlet inspires them to work really hard to prepare for the next EWOB. It's gratifying to see the growth and progress that we help stimulate with this work. You can't imagine how satisfying it feels for a European band to be played on US radio, in the homeland of bluegrass music!

For ten years, the EWOB CDs have been virtually the only effective promotional vehicle for the genre/bands/event. There are a couple of EWOB/EBMA websites (some being rebuilt this month) and a magazine, but these are relatively inert formats. Too few people see European bluegrass magazines, and it’s difficult to get people to look at websites! The EWOB CDs let people around the world actually hear the music. That's crucial. EWOB CDs make it possible for European bands to show what they can do, standing proudly alongside the finest American artists. And we are creating a beautiful historical archive of the development of this music in Europe.

This double album, 10 years of EWOB, is our most significant contribution yet, and will be an important vehicle for a whole generation of bands from a continent with a wealth of great musicians. The promotional value of the 10 years of EWOB compilation for European bluegrass and EWOB will outweigh the first ten years of EWOB CDs combined. While major music publications may not even blink at ‘yet another festival CD’, something as unexpected as ten years of European bluegrass (especially with its excellent guest-artist credentials) might just catch that editor's eye. This project gives us an opportunity to gain a level of radio and press exposure for EWOB that won’t be possible again until EWOB’s 20th anniversary. This kind of attention can help attract corporate sponsors for EWOB.

On 10 years of EWOB, the double CD, fourteen US & Canadian guests will lend their good names and great tracks alongside thirty-four of Europe’s finest. Rounder is kindly allowing us the use of performances by Claire Lynch and Danny Paisley, and is even considering helping with radio mailing. US & Canadian guests on this project include:

Bill Clifton & Pick of the Crop
The Chapmans
Chris Jones & the Night Drivers
Claire Lynch Band
Dan Paisley & the Southern Grass
Hickory Project
Hunger Mountain Boys
John Reischman & the Jaybirds
Kate Mackenzie Band
Laurie Lewis & her Bluegrass Pals
Liz Meyer with Nugget
Mike Stevens & Raymond Mclain
Randy Waller & the Country Gentlemen
Sally Jones & the Sidewinders

All of the #1 European Bluegrass Bands are included in this collection, too.
[1998: There were no band awards in the first year.]
1999: Nugget (Austria)
2000: Relief (Czech Republic)
2001: Petr Brandejs Band (Czech Republic)
2002: 4 Wheel Drive (The Netherlands)
2003: Nugget (Austria/ Czech Republic)
2004: Fragment (Slovak & Czech Republics)
2005: Carmel Sheerin & the Ravens (Ireland)
2006: Mideando String Quintet (Italy)
2007: G2 Bluegrass Band (Sweden)

Other European bands selected for the 10 years of EWOB compilation include:

Album
Blackjack
Blue Cartel
Blueland
Bononia Grass
Downhill
Fifty Fingers
Footprints
Goodwill
Jiri Kralik & the Rowdy Rascals
Kreni
Lonesome Mountaineers
Looping Brothers
Louvat Brothers
Meantime
Monogram
Rawhide
Red Wine
Roll’s Boys
Skyland
Springfield
Stroatklinkers
Sunny Side
Jussi Syren & the Groundbreakers
Tomas Pesko Band
Zbynek Buresz with Chris Jones & the Czech Drivers

EWOB is helping nurture bluegrass bands and foster the growth of bluegrass events all over Europe. This also generates more tour possibilities for US bands, and further musical exchanges. Moving in the other direction is far more challenging, however. European bands dream of touring the USA, and some of these bands are immensely talented. It may be hard to imagine music we think of as so distinctly American being played by foreign musicians with exotic and occasionally unpronounceable names. Nothing breaks down those walls faster than hearing great bluegrass played by European bands! A handful of exceptional groups like the Kruger Brothers, Druha Trava, Red Wine, and Fragment have worked long and hard in the States to overcome these obstacles and win respect for European pickers - and we have lots more where they came from who deserve our support. With the EWOB CDs, we are able to help at least twenty European bands get radio airplay in the USA and around the world every year.

Be part of bluegrass history! You can help European bluegrass bands make their mark, and help EWOB grow. Add your name to our list of sponsors for the 10 years of EWOB CD.* All contributions are welcome! (Contact Pieter by e-mail.)

Please forward this message to other folks who might like to participate in this project. We’re grateful for your help. Thanks for your time, and best wishes for the New Year!

Warm regards,

Pieter Groenveld & Liz Meyer, Strictly Country Records /Strictly Music, the Netherlands

*Contributions are welcome at any time, but your name can be added to the 10 years of EWOB CD booklet only until 20 January 2008. Later sponsors can be listed in the EWOB 2008 CD booklet.

SCR Productions
PO Box 628
2130 AP Hoofddorp
The Netherlands
Tel. +31 (0)297 347 101
Fax +31 (0)297 347 488
SCR@PieterGroenveld.com
http://www.StrictlyCountryRecords.com

Just Grass News 20 Aug. 07

Patrick Russell of Just Grass reports:

Hello bluegrass fans and friends of Just Grass!

This spring and early summer has been exciting for Just Grass and bluegrass music. Our show for the Wiesloch German / American was a wonderful time of music, fun, and great food. Mike Biley cooked up some wonderful BBQ ribs which were a big hit by all. What started out as cloud cover opened up into a beautiful day. Some of you saw Just Grass for the first time and it was nice meeting all of you. We had a near-fatal accident when the wind blew the upright bass over and our sweet-sounding bass broke in half. But banjo-playing Jay jumped into action, showing all of us he has multiple skills, and coming back with a back-up bass. We finished the show and all had a good time. The broken bass has since been repaired and all is well.

Several of our shows recently have been private shows. We played two birthday parties, one at the Rod and Gun Club in Oftersheim, and one at a residence in Wiesloch. Both shows had wonderful audiences and very enthusiastic in their support. We didn't break anything during these shows! :) We used Bob's sound system for the R&G show and it worked out very well. At the residence, we played our first gig in the old gypsy style... no sound system.
Playing without a sound system prepared us for our first concert on the riverboat Heidelberg on August 3rd. We played for the IMCOM-Europe Team and Mr Hall and all his staff were a wonderful audience. I have wanted to do a bluegrass show on a riverboat ever since I was a child, when my friend was playing a regular gig on the Tennessee River back home.
The fourth of August saw us back at the Rod and Gun Club for the Heidelberg German / American friendship meeting. Rick, our host, proved he also could cook by barbecuing the Texan-style brisket that would melt in your mouth. Although this was a semi-private event, a few of you still found you way over to listen to some live bluegrass. It was nice to see familiar faces and hope you all had a good time.

Future shows look like this.

31 Aug. - Tentative; I am working with the PHV - VP lounge to play bluegrass for their upcoming Right Arm Night. I will let you know when this show is locked in.

8th Sept. - Locked; we are playing gypsy-style (without sound system) at the MPRI group friendship gathering. I have to be at this one, cause it's at my house! :)

14 Sept. - Locked; we are playing in Heidelberg on Patrick Henry Village (PHV), starting at 18:30 hours, in support of the 'Run for your Life' event that's taking place there. This is a public event and should be loads of fun, plus you can walk/run to support them or just listen to our music.

13 Oct. - Locked; this gig takes us to Landau, near Karlsruhe, to play at a fraternity gathering. Not sure if this is open to the public, but the venue sounds awesome! More to follow as I learn more about this gig.

We look forward to seeing you all at upcoming gigs. Stop by and say hi, and maybe we can play a tune together if you are a picker?