Bluegrass news and events, near and far - November 19

New Listings & Announcements/Reminders:

1. New listings/changes this week:

a. New/ Revised Announcements below

b. Listings added or modified this week under "Upcoming Special Events" are marked with asterisks ***

2. Announcements/Reminders/News:

a. James Bell has completed his graduate school project. During a two week period in October, he and club volunteers organized 5 jams/concerts at two convalescent centers, a grand opening of a title company, at a DART station in downtown Dallas and at the Scarecrow Stroll in Hubbard, TX. James brought a lot of good music to some very appreciative people and, in so doing, raised $375.10 for our Southwest Bluegrass Club Scholarship Fund. The next time you see James, give him a pat on the back and tell him what a good guy he is !!

b. Argyle Bluegrass Festival News: Two day reserved tickets to the Argyle Bluegrass Festival went on sale Monday, November 10th. Jackie Thomas of the festival staff reports that tickets are selling very quickly. There are just a few tickets left in Sections C, D & E (D is the center section; C & E are to either side of D). We strongly recommend that you purchase your tickets as soon as possible - the Argyle Bluegrass Festival will sell out. Single day tickets will go on sale January 5, 2009. For ticket information, click here or call 1 888 557-6499. The dates of the Argyle Bluegrass Festival are March 6th & 7th, 2009

c. Upcoming Southwest Bluegrass Club Events:

1. Annual Christmas Dinner & Concert: will be held on Sunday, December 21st at the Holy Trinity Catholic School in Grapevine, the same location we've used for the past two years. Click here for a map. Open stage from 11:00 - 1:00 p.m., food line opens at 12:00 p.m., bands (TBA) begin at 1:00 p.m. Coordinator for the dinner is Walter Ransom. Please contact Walter to let him know what food items you plan to bring. Walter's phone number is 214 339-8536.

2. Fiddle Raffle/ Fund Raiser: Stanley Cox has graciously donated a fiddle to the club to raffle off. Tickets are $1 each and 6 for $5. tickets will be sold at the Christmas dinner and subsequent club meetings. Raffle will take place at the Winter Show

3. 2009 Winter Show: will be held on Saturday, March 21st at The Plaza Theater at 521 West State St. in downtown Garland. Audie Blaylock & Redline has been booked for the show. Also appearing will be Blue River and Lonesome Prairie. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., Lonesome Prairie 6:30 - 7:00, Blue River 7:00 - 8:00, after a short break, Audie Blaylock & Redline will play a 90 minute set. Prices: $5 for club members; $15 for non-club members, all seats general admission. At these prices, we anticipate that this show will sell out. Seating capacity is limited to 350. Please plan to purchase your tickets at the Christmas Dinner or at the club meetings in January or February. Questions - call Gary Penny 972 849-2615 or email gopenny@hotmail.com

d. FOR SALE:

1. Club member Jim Yarboro has stopped doing set-ups at Festivals. He has these instruments for sale: 4 Gibson Banjos (2 of which are Pre-War made in the 20s and 30s) and 2 Dobros (made in 70s and 80s). Contact Jim anytime 903 887-2926 or email jimyarboro@ultravision.net

e. (Repeat) Southwest Bluegrass Club announcement:

The board of directors of the Southwest Bluegrass Club is still considering the possibility of moving our meeting place to a location that better suits the needs of the membership. We are looking for a place that is close to the club’s demographic center (approximately the intersection of Hwy 183 and Hwy 360), has seating room for a larger audience (approximately 200-300), has adequate acoustics and stage, has separate rooms to accommodate jams and workshops as well as the regular meetings and is affordable to the club (maximum rental of $300 per month). All members are encouraged to help in the search for a new meeting place. If you are aware of a location that may suit the club, please contact Paul Stimson (817 929-8391, stimsonpaul@sbcglobal.net )

f. Changing your email address or any other contact ? Let me know by phone or mail. My contacts are at the end of this email.

g. Visit the Sabine Bluegrass website http://www.sabinebluegrass.com/ then click on "newsletter" for online form to subscribe to Gerald Block's weekly bluegrass emails.

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Upcoming Special Events:

Wednesday, December 10th: A Skaggs Family Christmas featuring Ricky Skaggs, Bass Performance Hall, 4th & Calhoun, Fort Worth, TX. Performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Ticket price range: $32.50 - $100. For information, call 817 212-4280 or visit http://www.basshall.com/

*** Saturday, January 24th: An Evening with Claire Lynch and Jim Hurst presented by The Bluegrass Heritage Foundation, Sons of Hermann Hall, 3414 Elm Street (at Exposition), Dallas, Texas 75226. Click here for map. This duet concert will be preceded by a one hour vocal and guitar workshop with Claire and Jim at 5:00 p.m. For info call the Sons of Hermann Hall at 214-747-4422 or e-mail info@bluegrassheritage.org. Cost: $12 show only, $10 workshop only, $20 both. Visit the Bluegrass Heritage website for more information. Tickets will be available at the door - tickets will not be sold in advance through the Foundation.

*** Thursday - Sunday, February 12th - 15th: 35th Annual SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards & 26th National Convention, Sheraton Music City Hotel, Nashville, TN. For all information, contact Chuck Stearman 660 665-7172, email spbgma@kvmo.net or visit the SPBGMA website.

*** Friday & Saturday, February 27th & 28th: Sanders & Lake Murray Resort Fabulous February Bluegrass Festival, Lake Murray Resort, Ardmore, OK (I-35, Exit 24). Friday night 7:00 p.m. $12; Saturday all day 1:00 p.m. $15; weekend pass $25; children under 12 free. For information, call 918 423-4891 or 800 257-0322 or visit the website.

*** Friday & Saturday, March 6th & 7th: Argyle Bluegrass Festival, Cross Timbers Community Church, 1119 US 377, Argyle, TX. Friday lineup includes Dale Ann Bradley, Mountain Heart, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Tony Rice & Friends. Saturday lineup includes Dan Tyminski Band, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Steep Canyon Rangers, The Gibson Brothers, Josh Williams Band, Long Road Home with Peter Wernick & Gene Libbea.Check the website for all other information including ticketing or call 888 557-6499. Click here for map & directions.

*** Saturday, March 14th: 2nd Annual Gospel Music Jam, Camp Chapparel Baptist Assembly, 3784 Church Camp Road (between Wichita Falls & Iowa Park). This will be a free, indoor event; acoustic instruments only, sound will be provides. More information to be posted later or call Joy McCullough at 940 692-9783.

*** Friday & Saturday, March 20th & 21st: Third Annual Spring Break in Bonham, TX. Fannin County Multi-Purpose Complex, Hwy 56 & FM 87 (1 mile west of Bonham). Lineup includes Vern Young (Fr & Sa), Shady Grove Ramblers (Sa), Bill Grant (Sa), Wildwood Valley Boys (Fr), Upper Grassmen (Fr & Sa), Welch Mountain (Sa), Highway 19 (Sa), High Strung (Fr).

*** Saturday, March 21st: Southwest Bluegrass Club Winter Show, The Plaza Theater, 521 West State St., Garland, TX. Lineup includes Audie Blaylock & Redline, Blue River, Lonesome Prairie. Prices: $5 for club members; $15 for non-club members, all seats general admission. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., show starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets on sale at the Christmas Dinner or at the club meetings in January or February. Questions - call Gary Penny 972 849-2615 or email gopenny@hotmail.com

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Regularly Scheduled Events:

Sunday:

Third Sunday: Southwest Bluegrass Club monthly meeting & Jam, Founders Building, 701 South Main, Grapevine, TX. Doors open at noon for jamming, meeting at 2:00 p.m., pot luck lunch at 2:30 p.m., concert 3:00 p.m, followed by Club Jam with Stanley Cox at approximately 4:30 p.m. No meeting in December

Coming up December 21st ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER & CONCERT WILL BE HELD - SEE NOTE ABOVE FOR LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS

January 18th TBA

Monday:

Every Monday: Fort Worth Songwriters Association meets at The Rig Restaurant, 6308 South Freeway (I-35W), Fort Worth, TX., 7:00 p.m. 817 293-8363 This is an opportunity for songwriters to perform and seek advise on writing all types of songs. More information available at http://fwsa.com/home.html

Friday:

Third Friday: First Baptist Church, Lillian, TX ** (formerly held in Cleburne), price $4.00

Open Stage/Slow Jam with David Price at 6:15 p.m. , show at 7:00 p.m. Open Jam after the show

Call 817 641-5700, 817 790-8722 or click on http://www.ntbbluegrass.com/ for more information. No show in December.

Coming up November 21st: No Turning Back, The Star Canyon Band, Foggy Memory Boys

January 16th: No Turning Back, Jerry Decker Family, Copper Canyon

February 20th: No Turning Back, Star Canyon Band, Blue River

** NTB's Third Friday Cleburne is now held at the First Baptist Church, Lillian, TX. Lillian is located on Hwy 917 about halfway between Mansfield and I-35W; FBC is located just west of Hwy 917 in downtown Lillian. Click here for a mapquest link: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/lillian+tx/

Saturday:

First Saturday: Bluegrass Show at Chrystal Opry House, 1977 White Mound Road, Sherman, TX (near Tom Bean, TX). Show at 7:00 p.m., doors open at 6:00 p.m., Admission is $5 each (12 and under free with adult). For more info, call Bill or Annette Hayes at 903 546-6893 or email info@chrystalopryhouse.com . Additional information including map is available on the Chrystal Opryhouse website: http://www.chrystalopryhouse.com/

Coming up December 6th: The Upper Grassmen, High Strung

Second Saturday: Greater Oklahoma Bluegrass Music Society Show and Jam, Oklahoma Country Western Museum & Hall of Fame, 3925 SE 29th, Del City, OK, 6:30 p.m., admission $6 ($5 for members, 12 & under: free). Building is open at 5:00 p.m for jamming. For info call 405 677-7515, 405 485-2370, 405 632-8945 or visit the GOBMS website - after 3:00 p.m. the day of a show, call the Hall of Fame at 405 677-3174.

Coming up December 13th: Olen Davis & The Travelers, Keener Family & Roy Barnes, Cimmaron Station (Reunited)

Second Saturday: Bluegrass Show, Civic Center, Venus, TX. 7:00 - 10:00 p.m, contact Dale Brawner at 972 435-4201

Third Saturday: Monthly Bluegrass Show, in the old building next to the South Main Cafe (Cafe address is 1222 South Main, Paris, TX) across the Railroad tracks from Paris Milling Company in Paris, TX., Two shows, 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. contact Whiz & Bo Creighton, 903 785-3958, bcreighton@neto.com, Hugh Jones, 903 739-2000, hughjones7@sbcglobal.net or Pat Conrad, 903 782-8717

Coming up December 20th: High Strung at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., guest band TBA at 7:00 p.m.

Third Saturday: Bay Area Bluegrass Association 3rd Saturday Show, Johnny Arolfo Civic Center, 300 W. Walker, League City, TX. See the BABA website for more details. Call or email Rick Kirkland at 713 249-2986 for more information. No show May & December

Coming up January 17th: TBA

Fourth Saturday: Spring Creek 4th Saturday Bluegrass Club Jam Session & Show, Coushatte Recreation Ranch, Belleville, TX. Jamming starts at 4:00 p.m., show starts at 6:30 p.m. For further information contact Carolyn or Buddy Brockett at 979 865-5250, 979 877-9526 cell or email bluegrass221@peoplepc.com. Visit the club website at www.springcreekbluegrass.com No show October, November & December (Club's Festival held in October).

Fourth Saturday: 4th Saturday Bluegrass Show, Carroll Green Civic Center, Quitman, TX. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., open stage 7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., featured performers start at 7:30 p.m. Admission $7.00. For further information contact Mack Smith at 903 852-6588 or Daisy Smith 903 714-5248

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Upcoming Workshops & Camps:

a. BABA has a great series of workshops lined up for January 2009. Orrin Star is coming to town for four workshops on both flatpicking guitar and mandolin. Orrin is an award-winning guitarist and mandolin player who combines hot picking, cool singing, and good humor. Once described as "Arlo Guthrie meets Doc Watson", he was the 1976 National Flatpicking Champion, has appeared on A Prairie Home Companion, and has a repertoire that ranges from bluegrass standards to little-known folk gems, Celtic fiddle tunes, to fingerstyle blues. Orrin will be presenting four workshops (two on flatpicked guitar and two on mandolin) Friday evening through Sunday during the weekend of January 16, 2009. Because Orrin values the ability to work closely with a small number of participants, we will have a tight limit on space of about a dozen participants per session. We will send out a detailed e-mail later this year, but if you'd like more information or to secure your places early, please feel free to get in touch with Joe Dodson at joe.dodson@yahoo.com or by phone at 713-880-5991.

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Local Jams:

Third Sunday: Slow Jam - Southwest Bluegrass Club Jam approximately 4:00 p.m. after the concert at Founders Building, 701 South Main in Grapevine. Next jam: January 18th

Second Monday: Slow Jam at Charley's Guitar Shop, 7:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m. Check Charley's events page for more info.

Next Jams: December 8th, January 12th

Mondays (twice monthly - check schedule - day of the week may change !!): Love & War in Texas, 610 E. Plano Pkwy, Plano, TX, 7:00 p.m - 9:30 p.m. Click here for map; click here for venue info. Jam is hosted by Chris Plumlee. Chris has posted a meetup site with further information: http://bluegrass.meetup.com/146/

Every Tuesday: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m next door to South Main Cafe located at 1222 South Main, Paris, TX 75460. For information contact Whiz & Bo Creighton, 903 785-3958 or bcreighton@neto.com

Every Tuesday: Bluegrass Gospel jam at Hunters' Glen Baptist Church, 4100 Custer Road (between Parker & Spring Creek), Plano, TX 75023. Jam is held in Building E (in the portables just south of the main building) from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Questions ? Call Bob Campere at 214 226-9433. Church website: http://www.huntersglen.org/templates/System/default.asp?id=31332

Every Thursday (moved from every Tuesday): time and location may change. Randy Watkins' website: http://randygwatkins.googlepages.com/ is kept updated with news about the next jam. There is an email link on the website in case you need to contact Randy.

Thursday before the first Saturday of the Month. Bluegrass Jam at Chrystal Opry House, 1977 White Mound Road, Sherman, TX (near Tom Bean, TX). 7:00 p.m. For more info or if you have any questions, call Bill or Annette Hayes at 903 546-6893 or info@chrystalopryhouse.com For more info including map check Chrystal Opry House website: http://www.chrystalopryhouse.com/ Upcoming jams: December 4th

Every other Thursday: from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. at Larry Sholl's home in McKinney, TX. Jam is open to all club members. Call Larry for information and directions: 214 680-1819. Next Jam: TBA in 2009

Third Friday: First Baptist Church, Lillian, TX ** (formerly held in Cleburne). Slow jam with David Price at 6:15, open jam after the show (see show details below). Next jams/shows: November 21st, January 16th ** NTB's Third Friday is now held at the First Baptist Church, Lillian, TX. Lillian is located on Hwy 917 about

halfway between Mansfield and I-35W; FBC is located just west of Hwy 917 in downtown Lillian.

Click here for a mapquest link: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/lillian+tx/

Every Saturday Evening (April thru October): Garland Square Pickers, 6th and Main, Garland, TX . Check website for info: http://www.garlandsquarepickers.com/

First Saturday (exception: second Saturday in September): Pearl Bluegrass Event, Community Center, Pearl, TX. Check website for info: http://www.pearlbluegrass.com/

Third Saturday: Pickin' in the Park, Rose Park, Walnut Creek Drive (about 1/2 mile south of Hwy 287) Mansfield, TX. 5:30 p.m. - ?, weather permitting. Contact Will Thomasson at 817 453-0646.