Welcome to Music at the Mission
We are proud to present the finest in live music here in the beautiful highlands of West Milford, NJ. We are a non-profit, all volunteer run organization. We’ve presented an impressive list of performing artists.
The current 2009/2010 concert season includes: Lucy Kaplansky, Maia Sharp, Richard Shindell, Antje Duvekot, Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, Tony Trischka, Johnathan Edwards, Guggenheim Grotto and Janis Ian.
Music at the Mission held its first concert at the Episcopal Mission in the Highlands in 2002. Since then we have presented monthly concerts & Open Mic Nights. Our new home as of 2004, is the West Milford Presbyterian Church.
We present our shows in an intimate coffeehouse atmosphere. We seat 160 people with general admission. Reserved seating is available for our members. We sell refreshments and observe the church’s No Alcohol Policy.
Come on out and join us at Music at the Mission for a wonderful evening of music!
Music at the Mission – Concerts and Open Mic in West Milford, New Jersey
August 25th, 2010Review: Ricky Skaggs’ Mosaic; Listen Online – WSJ.com
August 24th, 2010By JIM FUSILLI
New York
Last year, Ricky Skaggs issued “Solo (Songs My Dad Loved),” a bluegrass album on which he played every instrument and sang all the parts. A year before that, he released “Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass.” Now comes “Mosaic” (Skaggs Family), with a Christian theme. Earlier this summer on the Upper West Side here I asked him if the new disc was part of a continuum: musical fathers, blood father, heavenly father. He replied, “All my music is for the glory of God.”
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The bluegrass legend’s new album, “Mosaic,” explores his religious faith.
Mr. Skaggs has long included songs of faith in his repertoire, as have many, if not all, bluegrass artists. His recent recordings include the classic bluegrass gospel songs “Remember the Cross,” “Sinners, You Better Get Ready,” “God Holds the Future in His Hands” and “This World is Not My Home.”
“I’m mostly known as a secular artist who plays clubs, casinos and beer joints, fairs. We’re out there among the regular people,” he said from a coffee-shop booth. “But I’m a Christian and I believe the truth of the Bible. I try to live it everyday of my life. It’s not something I put on like a suit of clothes.”
Jesse McReynolds to release Grateful Dead tribute
August 24th, 2010McReynolds to release Grateful Dead tribute CD
Jesse McReynolds is set to release a Grateful Dead tribute album.
Yes… you read that right. Grand Ole Opry member, one half of the legendary bluegrass power duo Jim & Jesse, and pioneering crosspicking mandolinist Jesse McReynolds’ next album will pay homage to the music of the original jam band.
Jesse McReynolds & Friends Tribute to Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter – Songs of the Grateful Dead is due October 5, and will feature grassy arrangements of 13 Dead classics. But unlike similar projects, Jesse delves a bit deeper into the catalog and presents material other than the most obvious, “greatest hits” selections.
Tracks include:
- Black Muddy River
- Ripple
- The Wheel
- Bird Song
- Franklin’s Tower
- Standing On The Moon
- Loser
Shi Dig Time Again At Kempton
August 24th, 2010Shin Digs— starting again at Kempton Rod & Gun ClubSaturday–Aug–28th and every 4th Saturday of the month. Be sure to come out and enjoy the shows and the good food at this venue. See you there. Don’t forget to check out Bluegrass Nights web site too– great news etc. there.
Phawker » Blog Archive » Meet Jesse McReynolds, Iron Man Of Bluegrass
August 22nd, 2010Meet Jesse McReynolds, Iron Man Of Bluegrass
BY BRENDAN SKWIRE When I tell people I’ve never been to the Philly Folk Festival and never plan to, I invariably hear “but you’re a bluegrass fan, and there’s always at least one bluegrass band at the Philly Folk Fest.” This is true… but I’m picky about my music, and generally not willing to pony up the bucks to sit through a bunch of bands I don’t care for just to hear 45 minutes of music I like. But this year, I may have to make an exception, because bluegrass legend Jesse McReynolds is making his first appearance in Schwenksville for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Until his brother died in 2002, Jesse was the mandolin playing foil for his high-singing brother and fellow bandleader in the groundbreaking bluegrass band Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys [pictured, below right]. While the band played traditional music with the best of them, the two brothers were deeply influenced by rock and roll, country, and other pop music: old radio shows feature surprising selections by Buck Owens and Hank Williams, and the band later put out albums like “Berry Pickin’ in the Country”, a tribute to Chuck Berry. Today, Jesse’s 81 years old, and carrying on the traditional bluegrass music he and his brother made famous, while continuing to leave his own mark on the music. I got a chance to catch up with Jesse this week.
Bluegrass Music Tabs for Those Who Want to Play Themselves | TV 2M
August 22nd, 2010Bluegrass Music Tabs for Those Who Want to Play Themselves
Particularly American bluegrass music has had for quite a while now its settled artists and their eager admirers. Bluegrass music seems to be a good companion at any moment because it sings the soul of regular people confronting with regular problems anyone can relate to. For those who hold a special place for that old-time melancholy atmosphere, there is no obstacle between them and their love for bluegrass music. However, bluegrass music is not as old as you may think. It indeed combines old rhythms with Scottish-Irish influences, but it dates back somewhere in the 1930s, when Bill Monroe turned it into a popular means of entertainment.
One Fan at a Time | A Philly Music Blog
August 20th, 2010
Tracklist:
1. Hard Luck And Trouble
2. Up In The Hills
3. I Belong
4. Radio
5. Waiting For The World
6. Old Freight Train
7. Out On The Night’s Wing
8. Hangman
9. Joaquin Murietta
10. Thunder In The Valley
11. Nowhere
12. Snow Angel
13. Delta Queen
Thunder In The Valley is the full-length debut album by Mason Porter (Joe D’Amico, Paul Wilkinson, and Tim Celfo) and such a fine listening experience. Mason Porter draws from several genres and styles: folk, bluegrass, Americana, and roots rock to create their signature sound that flows from each and every note on this album. The opening track, “Hard Luck And Trouble” is jaw-dropping good and made an excellent first impression on my ears. I simply love those larger-than-life harmonies that are found on that track and so many others on this album. The songwriting talent between D’Amico, Wilkinson and Celfo is truly amazing. There are several up-tempo, fun tunes like “Up In The Hills”, “Waiting For The World”, and “Old Freight Train” that will make you want to move. You will be blown away by the beauty “I Belong”, “Nowhere”, and “Out On The Night’s Wing” possess. The title track, “Thunder In The Valley”, is a grand production with great delivery. “Delta Queen” is a great way to end such an incredible album. It’s nice to see some fellow Philly musicians (Krista Nielson, Brad Hinton, Kiley Ryan, Bob Beach, Nate Gonzalez, and more) lend their skills to this album. I’ve listened to Thunder In The Valley numerous times since I received a copy and absolutely love this album – buy it…you’ll like it!
Nominee Press IBMA Awards International Bluegrass Music Association IBMA.Org.htm
August 19th, 2010For Immediate Release, August 18, 2010
Press Info: Kissy Black, kissyblack@lotosnile.com, (615) 298-1144
General Info: Nancy Cardwell, nancyc@ibma.org, (615) 256-3222
IBMA ANNOUNCES INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES Dailey & Vincent, Russell Moore, Sam Bush, Michael Cleveland & The Grascals Lead Nominees
Nashville, Tenn….IBMA is proud to announce the nominees for the 21st annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for Thursday, September 30, 2010, at Nashville, Tennessee‘s historic Ryman Auditorium. It’s been an interesting year for bluegrass—from Bean Blossom to Bonnaroo—and the 2010 IBMA Award Show celebrates the strength and popularity of the genre both inside the bluegrass world and beyond, as the nominees reach out to new audiences with new music and interesting collaborations. Reigning two-time Entertainers of the Year Dailey & Vincent released an a cappella gospel project, Singing from the Heart, as well as Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers, a bluegrass tribute to the legendary country music quartet. The latter CD is distributed solely by Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores, and Dailey & Vincent added a bass singer to the band to present their new material. The group tops the list of nominees with 10 nods for Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group, Album of the Year and Best Graphic Design (Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers), Song of the Year (“Elizabeth”), Recorded Event (“Give This Message to Your Heart” with Larry Stephenson) and Gospel Recorded Event (“Don’t You Wanna Go to Heaven”), along with nominations in the Male Vocalist (Dailey), Bass Player (Vincent) and Best Liner Notes categories (Fred Bartenstein, for the album Singing from the Heart). Longtime favorites Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, now signed to the Rural Rhythm label, are catching a career “second wind” and bringing their trademark sound to a new generation of fans. Two-time Male Vocalist of the Year, Moore (1994 & 1997) and his band, IIIrd Tyme Out, are nominated in six categories: Entertainer of the Year, Song of the Year ["Hard Rock Mountain Prison ('Till I Die)"], Album of the Year (IIIrd Tyme Out), Male Vocalist, Gospel Recorded Performance (“The Eastern Gate”) and Vocal Group of the Year—an award the band received seven times from 1994-2000. Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Sam Bush and The Grascals racked up five nominations each. Cleveland, the seven-time Fiddle Player of the Year who could match Stuart Duncan’s eight-year record in this category in 2010, leads a band nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Instrumental Group, Bass Player (Marshall Wilborn), Mandolin (Jesse Brock) and Fiddle Player of the Year. Recognized as the “Father of Newgrass,” Sam Bush returned to his musical roots for his latest album, Circles Around Me, nominated for Album of the Year. Sam and his band are also nominated for Instrumental Group of the Year, Instrumental Recorded Performance (“Blue Mountain”), Mandolin Player of the Year, and Song of the Year for “The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle”—composed by Bush with Guy Clark and Verlon Thompson about the 1973 murder of Grand Ole Opry star David “Stringbean” Akeman and his wife by burglars in their rural Tennessee home.
The Grascals borrowed a pop song from The Monkees, “Last Train to Clarksville,” and ‘grassed it up as the first radio single and video from their fourth album, The Famous Lefty Flynn’s. They’ve been opening for the Hank Williams “Rowdy Friends” tour along with Jamey Johnson, Eric Church, Gretchen Wilson and Sunny Sweeney, among others. Bocephus also recorded a duet that his father co-wrote with Bill Monroe, “I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome,” for the new Grascals album. The Grascals, nominated for Entertainer and Album of the Year (The Famous Lefty Flynn’s), are also recognized in the Instrumental Recorded Performance and Recorded Event categories with “Blue Rock Slide” and “I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome.” Two-time Banjo Player of the Year, Kristin Scott Benson, is nominated again for the award.
Along with the Grascals/Hank, Jr. collaboration, several interesting cross-genre compositions show up in the IBMA Recorded Event of the Year category: Blue Highway with Americana star Darrell Scott, Larry Stephenson with legendary country music couple Marty Stuart and Connie Smith, and Claire Lynch with singer/songwriter icon Jesse Winchester. The Gibson Brothers were nominated in four categories; and Claire Lynch, The Josh Williams Band, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder and The Del McCoury Band received three nods each. After celebrating 50 years in the music business with a boxed set of newly recorded favorites, nine-time Entertainer of the Year Del McCoury is still going strong. In addition to touring and recording with Del, brothers Rob & Ronnie McCoury and the band are performing together as “The Travelin’ McCourys,” playing a string of gigs with the Lee Boys—a group that blends R&B, gospel, hip-hop, rock and steel guitar-drenched country. Del‘s band also backed up country star Dierks Bentley on a nation-wide tour in support of his new bluegrass/acoustic album, Up on the Ridge. Award-winning bands like the Infamous Stringdusters continue to evolve and define their own original bluegrass-based sound, and comedian/movie star Steve Martin took his banjo on the road this year to tour with the Steep Canyon Rangers. Larry Stephenson celebrated 20 years in the business with his most successful album ever, Blue Highway released an impressive 15th anniversary compilation, and both The Gibson Brothers and Junior Sisk gathered new momentum, powered by strong releases on Compass and Rebel Records, respectively. The bluegrass industry’s highest honors of the year go to the new members of the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees are singer/songwriter, banjo and fiddle stylist John Hartford and the pioneering business manager of Flatt & Scruggs, The Earl Scruggs Revue and Earl Scruggs Family & Friends, Louise Scruggs. Hartford passed away in 2001, and we lost Mrs. Scruggs in 2006. IBMA’s Distinguished Achievement Award is an honor which recognizes individuals, groups and businesses for ground-breaking work and fostering the music’s image and accessibility. This year’s recipients are bluegrass fiddler, songwriter and mentor Benjamin F. “Tex” Logan; long-time radio broadcaster and emcee from Mt. Airy, North Carolina, Sherry Boyd; singer, multi-instrumentalist and band leader Lynn Morris; Bear Family Records’ Richard Weize of Germany, and Pete “Dr. Banjo” Wernick, who served 15 years as IBMA’s president, along with playing banjo in the legendary band Hot Rize and leading scores of instructional camps and workshops around the world. Tickets for the IBMA Awards, bluegrass music’s most exciting night of the year, are available at 888-438-4262, (615) 256-3222 and www.ibma.org. Tickets are also on sale at the Ryman Auditorium box office. The IBMA Awards will be broadcast live on Sirius XM Satellite Radio (Bluegrass Junction, Channel 14) and on WSM-AM 650 (live at www.wsmonline.com), and will also be syndicated to more than 300 U.S. markets and 14 foreign networks thanks to the sponsorship of Martha White, GHS Strings, Sugar Hill Records, Deering Banjos and the International Bluegrass Music Museum. Program directors and station managers may sign up to be affiliates online at www.ibma.org. The International Bluegrass Music Awards are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), which serves as the trade association for the bluegrass music industry. The IBMA Award Show is the centerpiece of the World of Bluegrass week, including the industry’s Business Conference and Bluegrass Fan Fest, which takes place September 27 – October 3 in Nashville.
Click Here for a complete list of this years Award Nominees
The Bluegrass Blog » Review: Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen: News at the speed of bluegrass!
August 17th, 2010Review: Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
I’ve been a fan of Frank Solivan II since I first heard him perform with the United States Navy band, Country Current. Frank has since left the Navy and formed his own band bearing his name, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen. Today marks the release of the band’s self-titled debut album. Frank has previously released two solo CDs, but this is the first band recording to be released.
The CD contains 12 tracks, 5 written by Frank. From the first note it’s obvious this is a group of accomplished musicians playing music they love. Drifting Apart hits you full force with no warning. The music is driving and forceful and the vocals are anything but drifting, they are as tight as one could hope to hear. You can feel the energy and excitement. This is contemporary bluegrass with it’s roots firmly planted in tradition.
Jerry Douglas, Cheryl And Sharon White To Host Bluegrass Music Awards Show | BluegrassJournal.com#
August 17th, 2010Nashville, Tenn., — Award-winning artists Jerry Douglas and Cheryl & Sharon White of The Whites will co-host the 21th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, September 30, at 7:30 p.m. at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.