Last year the Mill Creek Boys asked me to join them on stage at the festival. I really enjoyed performing with them, and they’ve asked me to play the show with them this year as well. We’ll be playing October 10 (that’s a Friday), at 11:00 a.m. & 2:00p.m. If you’re planning to attend the festivities be sure to stop by and listen to us. Oh, and if you’re at Bob Evans don’t forget to pick up a flyer!

The next day I went to Harvest Gospel to record. I only ended up playing on the song for about 30 sec, but I enjoyed the experience and getting to work with Byron Foxx and Mark Hale, engineer and owner of the studio. Surprisingly, I recorded my part in only two takes, which was a relief. God gave me the arrangement and allowed me to play it just right.

I really liked the studio atmosphere. It was nice to be able to sit down in front of a mic and be able to put my full attention on what I was playing. When I’m recording in my home studio I have to be the engineer, producer, and musician all at the same time! That’s kind of neat, but it can also be a hassle at times. More on my CD project and home studio later…

I’m not sure when the CD will be released, but I’ll be sure to let you all know when it’s available. I listened to a few samples, and I think it’s going to be a great recording. I can’t wait to hear the finished product.

Below you can listen to the original unedited mix which includes just a little more information.

Or, you can listen to my story on U-Pod through Just look for episode #112.

Visit my gallery to see some photos from the trip.

The Wilderness Camp offers outdoor adventures for all ages and skill levels. To find out more visit their website.

1^st: Tyler Grant

2^nd: Roy Curry

3^rd: Steve Lewis

4^th: Adam Hager

It was a nice way to finish out my vacation. Also, I would like to thank Matt Lindsey for backing me up in the contest. I would say there’s a pretty good chance I’ll be back next year. We’ll see…

Robin Kessinger invited me to play this unique venue with him just off the coast of Maine. The friendly island community gave us a warm welcome to Little Cranberry and a great turn out for the concert at the Neighborhood House. Robin conducted a workshop most of the day, and the concert took place that evening. Robin and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, and I think the audience enjoyed our performance almost as much as we enjoyed playing for them.

Among the highlights of the evening was Robin’s soulful rendition of the Pink Panther. It was a blessing to see him back to his old self again after his recent stroke. This time getting to play with Robin was an answer to prayer.

I would especially like to thank Mark Howard and Skip Stevens for inviting us to play and coordinating the event. Thank you guys for the opportunity to play on Little Cranberry and catch a glimpse of life on the island. I hope I’ll get to come back some day!

I’ve also been practicing for the New England Fatpickin’ Championship in Cornish, Maine this Saturday. Check back soon for the results of the contest.

There are many things I could attribute my winning to, but without God giving me the talent in the first place, and allowing me to play my best in the contest it just couldn’t have happened.

Thank you all so much for your support this year, and in past years. It was great to see many of your smiling faces at the contest, and I know that many of you were there in spirit as well.

For those of you who weren’t able to make it to the contest this year, someone has been kind enough to post a video of my tunes on YouTube. Check it out below.

Friday night, it was an honor to get to play Birdie in the concert with Robin & Dan Kessinger, and Logan Jones, one of Robin’s students. I always enjoy getting to play with such talented musicians.

Last Friday evening I joined Will Stewart (guitar and vocals), Larry Thompson (guitar), and Swanagan Ray (bass) for our annual performance at Ripley Baptist Temple’s Wild Game Dinner featuring guest speaker Chad Schearer from the Outdoor Channel and editor of Black Powder Guns & Hunting magazine. Will sang his tear-jerking Five Pounds of Opossum, then he and I sang Farther Along and Are You Afraid to Die? I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to play with these fellas. Here are a few videos of our music. I hope you enjoy them, and as always, I’d love to hear what you think!

Five Pounds of Opossum

Farther Along & Billy in the Low Ground

Are You Afraid to Die?

WCYO 100.7 FM Coyote Country

Listen to WCYO Online
Sunday at 5pm

New Web Radio

Listen to New Web Radio Online
Tuesday 12 PM, Friday 7 PM, Sunday 3 PM

WHAY 98.3 FM

Listen to WHAY Online
Thursday at 6pm

CJTR 91.3 FM

Listen to CJTR Online
Wednesday Morning at 5am

I met the host of the show, Brad Becker, at the Fraley Festival this past fall and he invited me to come to Lexington to do a show. Naturally, I was very excited to be on the program. Each week the Red Barn crew systematically transforms the 100 year-old gymnasium into the Red Barn Radio studio. The nostalgic atmosphere and the warm welcome I received made me feel right at home. Despite the snowy weather, half a dozen dedicated traditional music fans came out to watch the live performance.

Robin Kessinger graciously gave up his day to join me for the show. I’m always honored to get to perform with Robin. We played twenty tunes interspersed with two fifteen minute interview segments with myself, Robin, Mom, Dad, and my biggest fan, Grandpa. All this material will then be edited by master engineer Ed Commons into an hour long radio program that will air in about four weeks. I really appreciate Red Barn’s mission of promoting bluegrass, traditional music, and musicians like me. Keep up the good work guys!

Check back soon for more information on when and where you can listen to the program. If you aren’t already, sign up to receive my e-mail newsletter to make sure to don’t miss it.

Many people stay in the Carter Caves Lodge or in one of the cottages in the park, and some choose to camp at one of the park’s campgrounds. There is almost always a jam going on somewhere during the festival, whether it be in a parking lot, a campground, or in the lodge lobby. Some folks just come to the concerts each evening which feature over twenty performers. The concerts usually last past eleven-o’clock.

It was good to see J.P. at the festival again. He is 84 years old, and although he can’t play the fiddle anymore he is still a very important part of the festival. His musical legacy goes on through all those who have learned from him and those to whom he has passed on his love of music. Unfortunately I never got hear him play, but from what I’ve been told he was a mighty fine fiddler in his day.

I had the privilege of hanging out with Robin Kessinger over the weekend. Robin and I played a few tunes in the concert each evening, and did a good bit of jamming during the day. I was also a part of the Guitar Gatherin’ on Saturday, which Robin led. There were six guitar players including myself and we took turns choosing songs and talking about the guitar and traditional music.

Also, KET was filming the festival and interviewing a lot of the musicians there for a documentary about the Kentucky music heritage. I was not interviewed, but was in front of a camera a good bit so the possibility exists that I could end up on TV somewhere. If any of you folks see me let me know!

A few familiar faces for me at the festival were: Steve & Penny Kilby, Alan Freeman, and Jonathan Wood. Steve & Penny were also a part of the Guitar Gatherin’, and I enjoyed getting to jam with Steve a little bit. Alan joined Robin and me on stage Saturday night when we played “Lady Be Good”. That guy gets more notes out of a dulcimer than I thought possible! I enjoyed Jonathan’s selection of original songs as well. He and Robin gave a really good performance.

Two other musicians I got to meet were Jennings and Bode Morgan. They’re both excellent musicians and long time friends of my great grandmother, Lois Long. I heard them play last year, but didn’t make the connection until afterwards. They are both very sweet people, and I hope to see them at the festival again next year.