June 2008

Some good press in THE OLD TIME HERALD and some MUSICAL AWARDS

Thanks to the Fayetteville Free Weekly!  The paper has been kind to us, with a review and a nice feature article.  Then, they nominated us for a NAMA--North Arkansas Music Award--for best Americana. 

Thanks to the RRMC--the Rural Roots Music Commision awarded our cd "A Long Time Ago-go" ALBUM OF THE YEAR!!!  And their partner in crime, the National Traditional Country Music Association, gave us a very nice review.

Thanks to the Old Time Herald!  The Herald published an article by Charmaine Slaven (of The Tallboys and Squirrel Butter), which discussed the DIY side of Old Time music.  We were pictured and quoted a good deal.  I was particularly pleased that my comment about dancing with "schwetty" people was included and unedited.

    June 2008

Skye wins 2nd at The Bob Holt National Dance Competition, we’re on Ozarks at Large 91.3 KUAF

  West Plains Old Time Music Festival is a winner.  The square dance was amazing.  There wasn't a caller.  Every square called there own dances--that's pretty amazing, and also made it easier for beginners.  That Bob Holt style fiddling is great to dance to.

Skye took 2nd place in the Bob Holt National Jig Dance Competition at the festival.  The winner, Matt, was a great dancer and musician.  We had a great time playing with him and his crew.  We played tunes he'd learned from Vesta Johnson with Fiddle, Banjo, Baritone Uke, Guitar, and Cello.  A very nice sounding jam.  This old Ozark music sounds right with bowed bass or cello and fingerstyle banjo. 

We just did an episode of Ozarks At Large with Kyle Kellams.  He is a real pro and did a great interview.  We played a few Ozark tunes and Skye danced one.  Check out www.kuaf.org for podcasts.       July 2008 

Seattle CD Release and Tallboys Reunion

We'll  be in Seattle July 9-13.  We'll play 6 shows in 6 days.  It'll be the first time our new cd "Ridin A Buggy" will be available.  It may be a while before we get back up there to Seattle, so come and get em.  Thanks to Curly and Carole Anne (Old 78s Recording Studio) for doing a bang-up job.  The cd has 18 tracks and features guest appearences by Curly (bowed bass), Carole Anne (some thing that resembles banjo/guitar),  and Seth (harmonica).  For those of you that haven't heard these guest musicians, they are all very special.  Hear Curly and Carole Anne's music on their site (www.theold78s.com).  And Seth is one of the only/premier oldtime harmonica players.  We're very proud to have them play with us.

 On Monday July 13th, The Tallboys will play the Tractor Tavern Square Dance.  This is one of the best dances in the county and the Tallboys began it and have the privelage to play it every other Monday.  They have a different caller every time.  Charmaine, the guitarist/dancer of The Tallboys, has a knack for getting very good at things at an alarming rate.  So, no surprise, she's calling dances now.  Rob Adesso, the original guitarist for The Tallboys, and I will sit in with the band, as Charmaine calls the dance.  We'll stuff pillows in our shirts and call it a reunion.  I really look forward to the show.  Rob plays and sings with a great mandolin player now in a duet type setting (The Parlour Hoppers--one of our myspace friends).  Check their songs out, I really like Rocky Island!

Here's a video from the Seattle square dance!