THE PINES premiere a new song from "Above the Prairie" out February 5

The Pines meld soundscapes with landscapes on "Above the Prairie"  Listen to the first single, "Aerial Ocean" at The Current Headlining tour kicks of January 29 (Release date February 5, 2016; Red House Records) On their forthcoming album, Above the Prairie (Feb 5, Red House Records), The Pines sound like an Eno of the Great Plains.  Exploring the vast expanses around and above them, they find beauty in isolated towns and farms that dot the landscape, and the array of stars that dot the night sky. Rolling Stone’s David Fricke has called The Pines “quietly gripping” and though most of the ten new, original songs on Above the Prairie were captured in just a couple takes, the album represents the band’s most ambitious work to date. Songwriters David Huckfelt and Benson Ramsey, and keyboardist/songwriter (and Benson’s brother) Alex Ramsey, meld a lush, layered sound with vivid, imagistic lyrics and a filmmaker's keen eye for detail and framing, blending celestial, ethereal atmospherics with rich, warm vocals and earthy acoustic instruments. Above the Pines is also a celebration of the community and history that gave birth to it.  On “Here,” the band is joined by Iowa friends and family, including Greg Brown, Iris DeMent, Pieta Brown, and Ramsey patriarch Bo Ramsey, who co-produced the LP with The Pines.  The album closes with ‘Time Dreams,’ a collaboration with American Indian activist and poet John Trudell. The Pines have shared the stage with everyone from Arcade Fire and Bon Iver to Mavis Staples and The Holmes Brothers. Their 2012 LP Dark So Gold was named #3 best album of the decade by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and Vintage Guitar called it “a soundtrack of American Gothic intensity…a stunner of an album.” The Pines kick off a headlining tour on January 29, see below for a full list of dates. Listen to "Aerial Ocean" Above The Prairie tracklist: Aerial Ocean There in Spirit Lost Nation Hanging From the Earth Here Where Something Wild Still Grows Sleepy Hollow Villisca Come What Is Time Dreams feat. John Trudell & Quiltman The Pines 2016 North American tour dates: 11/21/15 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon 11/22/15 – Chicago, IL – Schubas Tavern 11/28/15 – Cedar Rapids, IA – CSPS 12/4/15 – Burlington, IA – The Washington 12/5/15 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s 12/11/15 – Mineral Point, WI – Mineral Point Opera House 1/9/16 – Northfield, MN – Northfield Arts Guild Theater 1/16/16 – Lake City, MN – Oak Center General Store 1/29/16 – Rockford, IL – Severson Dells Nature Center 1/30/16 – Goshen, IN – Ignition Garage 1/31/16 – Columbus, OH – Rumba Café 2/2/16 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Café 2/3/16 – New York, NY – Rockwood Music Hall: Stage 2 2/5/16 – Philadelphia, PA – World Café Upstairs 2/6/16 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java 2/7/16 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle – Back Room 2/9/16 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic 2/10/16 – Nashville, TN – The High Watt 2/11/16 – St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway Nightclub 2/13/16 – Milwaukee, WI – Club Garibaldi 2/20/16 – Sioux City, IA – Vangarde Arts 2/21/16 – Omaha, NE – Reverb 2/23/16 – Houston. TX – McGonigel’s Mucky Duck 2/24/16 – Austin, TX – Cactus Café 2/25/16 – Dallas, TX – Three Links 2/26/16 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Blue Door 2/27/16 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads Websites: http://shorefire.com/client/the-pines http://thepinesmusic.com/   Get Social!

Legendary Guitarist Jimmie Vaughan Set to Perform with University of Texas 385-Piece Longhorn Band on Thanksgiving Day Halftime Festivities

Legendary Guitarist Jimmie Vaughan Set to Perform with University of Texas 385-Piece Longhorn Band on Thanksgiving Day Halftime Festivities

Unprecedented Appearance Wraps Up a Top-Shelf Year for Grammy-Winning Austin Bluesman

Austin TX – The University of Texas at Austin Longhorn Band Director, Scott Hanna, announced today that Grammy-winning blues guitarist Jimmie Vaughan will perform with the Longhorn Band during halftime at the Texas vs. Texas Tech football game at Darrell K Royal  - Texas Memorial Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, November 26.

“We are excited beyond words about this opportunity to perform with Jimmie Vaughan and to show that Austin is the ‘Live Music Capital of the World.’  For our students, this is an incredible opportunity to connect with their Texas musical heritage through a living legend,” exclaimed Hanna.

The performance marks the first time a popular musician has played with the band during a halftime performance.

The Longhorn Band will perform a medley of Vaughan’s hits before Jimmie and his Fender Stratocaster guitar join them on the field to “sit-in with the band.” 

“I’ve been asked to perform with a lot of great bands in my life, but this is definitely the biggest, and probably one of the most exciting,” said Vaughan. “It doesn’t get any more Texas than this.”

Tickets for the UT/Texas Tech game may be purchased at TexasSports.com.

The recognition of one of Austin’s hometown musical heroes caps off an extraordinary year for Vaughan, who was honored by both the Texas House and Senate when he was named the Texas State Musician for 2015.

In addition, Vaughan accepted the honor of induction into the Rock and Roll hall of fame on behalf of his late brother, Stevie Ray Vaughan. During the musical portion of the induction ceremony, Vaughan lead a blistering guitar-slinger’s set and was joined onstage by John Mayer, Doyle Bramhall II, Gary Clark, Jr. and Stevie’s Double Trouble bandmates.

CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL TICKETS GO ON SALE DECEMBER 1

CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL TICKETS GO ON SALE ON 1 DECEMBER

Tickets for next year’s Cambridge Folk Festival, one of the most prestigious folk festivals in the world, will go on sale on Tuesday 1 December at 10am. This year, as part of its aim to develop young audiences, Cambridge Live has introduced new reduced ticket prices for 16-17 and 18-21 year olds, and retained the 2015 price for 5-15 year olds. The Cambridge Folk Festival, which has been running since 1965, is renowned for its eclectic mix of folk styles. It provides an opportunity for festival-goers to enjoy world famous folk acts alongside the finest country, blues and roots artists, acclaimed singer-songwriters, world music and the best traditional artists from the UK and Ireland. Held in the beautiful parkland setting of Cherry Hinton Hall, the Festival is known for its relaxed atmosphere, excellent facilities and family friendliness. It offers something for everyone including covered and open stages, street theatre, music workshops, real ale bars, a youth area, internet café, kids’ ceilidh, storytelling, a free crèche, paddling pool and playground. The Festival line-up is due to be announced by Cambridge Live in spring 2016. Sara Garnham, Chair of Cambridge Live, said: “With a commitment to developing new young talent an important part of the Cambridge Folk Festival, it only seems right that we also encourage more young people to be the new generation of festival goers.  So I am delighted we have introduced new tickets aimed at 16-21 year olds alongside our wide ranging options for attending the four day event.”

Tickets: Full Festival: Adult £159; Adult (18-21) £122; Teen (16-17) £95.50; Child (5-15) £44.50; Infant (0-4) free. Day tickets: Thursday £26.50; Friday £57.50; Saturday £67.50; Sunday £67.50. Camping: (Full Festival tickets only, per 2-3 berth tent) Cherry Hinton £63.50; Coldham’s Common (second site) £43.50. All ticket prices include booking fees. Other concession prices (e.g. city resident, PIP, registered carer) are available. For full pricing information, please see www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk ENDS Notes for editors 1.       About the Cambridge Folk Festival Thursday 28 – Sunday 31 July 2016 The four-day outdoor Festival is considered one of the “most prestigious” in the world, according to The Times. Since 1965 it has presented many globally established artists, including Paul Simon, KT Tunstall, The Waterboys, Mumford & Sons, Joan Armatrading, Buddy Guy, Jools Holland, Noah & The Whale, Emmylou Harris, Joe Strummer, Jake Bugg, Joan Baez, k.d. lang, Ray Davies, Jimmy Cliff, The Proclaimers, Christy Moore, Levellers, Billy Bragg, Frank Turner, Billy Connolly, James Taylor and The Pogues amongst many others.

Hokahey Records artist: Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip - Ain't Bad Yet - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Ain't Bad Yet, from Micke Bjorklof (pronounced Be-York-Loaf)& Blue Strip and it's an excellent blues rocker. Opening with Last Train To Memphis, a driving rocker with great blues riff. Vocalist Micke Bjorklof leads the way and guitarist Lefty Leppanen chases on slide guitar backed by Teemu Vuorela on drums and Seppo Nuolikoski on bass. On Sweet Troublemaker, the band picks up a serious rock beat heavily reinforced by Vuorela on drums and Nuolikoski on bass. Tim Lewis joins on keys with Micke on lead vocal, Lena Lindroos and Veera Railio on backing vocal and Lefty on slide. Excellent rocker! Lefty opens Rain In Jerusalem with really rich, thick slide tones reinforced by Lewis on keys. With Timo Roiko-Jokela on percussion and Vuorela on drums, this track has a super rhythm. Super track! Offbeat funky, Get Ya In Da Mood has it's own sound and Bjorklof adds blues harp to his lead vocals. Lefty lays down a really nice guitar solo with trem bends and stinging blues riffs, heavily reinforced by TRJ and Vuorela. Very nice! Slinky, Hold Your Fire Baby is one of my favorite tracks on the relese. It puts me in mind of a super track/remake by Al Green and Savoy Brown of an old Temptations track. It just has a super groove and I really like the hooded vocals with harp over the mix. Excellent track! On title track It Ain't Bad Yet, Lefty digs in on resonator accompanying Micke for a somber ballad. With it's island jazz mix, Rat Chase, the band shows it's real versatility, creating a totally Caribbean feel. With heavy snare/cymbal beat and bass reinforcement, pushed along byLewis on keys, Micke really ramps up on this track vocally filling the air with smoke on harp. Excellent! Sweet Dream's A Sweet Dream is the purest radio track on the release but even with it's super hook and contained vocals, Lefty screams out great guitar riffs and Nuolikoski drives a great bass rhythm. Today has a ramblin' country blues feel with finger picked banjo like guitar and light percussion. Two stepping, Blame It On The Bright Lights, has just a tint of 60's beach music with easy vocal harmonizing. Vuorela maintains the tracks steadiness with tight drums and Lefty steps in with a flashy stylistic guitar solo. Wrapping the release is In Chains, an excellent primitive style blues with crisp with New Orleans style stumble drumming, warm slide work and perfectly thought out harp trimming. I really like Bjorklof's vocals throughout and blended with Leppanen, Nuolikoski, Lindroos and Railio, this is a tough combo to beat. This is an excellent release!

   

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

Ruf Records artist: Heather Crosse - Grooving At The Crosse Roads - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Grooving At The Crosse Roads, from Heather Crosse. This is an 11 track release of pure contemporary pop/light jazz music with a twist on R&B/Blues. Backed by Heavy Suga' & The SweetTones,this release has some real bright spots. Crosse plays bass as well as performs on lead vocal and does a real nice job. On opener My Man Called Me,Dan Smith hits a real nice guitar riff and Mark Yacovone sets a perfect stage on piano. On Why Does A Woman Need A Bass Guitar, Crosse really plays heavy bass with a few hot bass riffs in addition to what I'd call lead bass under the melody. Very nice! Clarksdale Shuffle is light and easy and Crosse's vocals are sweet as mama's home made pie. My favorite track, Hurryin' Up To Relax, has a cool R&B feel and warm backing vocals by Sandy Carroll. Nice shuffle track, Walking In Their Shoes finds Smith laysing out some really tasty guitar and slide solos and Yacovone's piano work is stellar. On blues ballad, Damn Your Eyes, Yacovone's piano and keyboard contributions are clearly super. Another R&B track, penned by Crosse, Steppin' Up Strong has a real Curtis Mayfield feel with warm backing vocals by Vicki Atkins and Yacovone's organ work really dresses the track nicely. Funky pop track, Bad Boy Kiss has a strong radio hook and Crosse's bass work, nicely grounds slick soloing from Smith and Vacovone. A tasty lead guitar line opens shuffle track, Call On Me and tight drums by Lee Williams, swinging guitar riffs from Smith, beefy organ by Vacovone and warm backing vocals by Atkins make this one of the top tracks on the release. Latin influenced, You Don't Move Me No More finds Crosse grinding out her vocals with a sassy attitude. I must say that watching a performance of Ms Crosse (disabled on youtube) was quite interesting. She really appears to be having a great time which is contagious. Her bass playing is aggressive and her smile is never ending. This is a artist to keep an eye on.

   

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

Cleopatra Records artist: Tom Killner - Hard Road - New release review

I just received the newest release, Hard Road, from Tom Killner and it's quite good. Opening with Dallas Green's, Coming Home, a stompin' blues rocker, featuring Tom Killner om lead vocal. Nigel Killner on bass, Jake Ashrom on bass and Jesse Courts on backing vocal. I really like this track with it's Delaney & Bonnie sensuousness and southern rock swagger. Ain't No Rest For The Wicked is a stiff poke in the face of American bands trying to do real southern rock. I mean, this band does really nicely what hasn't been done since RVZ died in the fatal crash of 1977. Very cool! Showtune, Feeling Good, made popular by Nina Simone, is a temperamental track with a nice blues edge, accented by Killner's vocal and guitar style. Extended lead soloing is certainly nicely executed and rhythm guitar has great tone. Excellent! Seether track, Fake It maintains it's pop rocky feel but with tasty guitar interpretation. Red Arnall song, Cocaine Blues gets an ethereal makeover, Killner using nice guitar tones with his solid vocals to deliver the goods. I really like this track and it's simplicity. Title track, Hard Road is a strong ballad with super potential for radio play with some of the best lead vocals and strongest melody on the release. Melodic guitar solos by Killner sits nicely in the mix. Lifting Me Higher is a real basic rocker with clever guitar riffs and solid vocals. Whisky Haze has a jazzy overtone... almost a Good Rats feel. The track is light on it's feet but kicks some serious dirt when it opens up. Killner lays out some real nice guitar riffs and his gravelly vocals work really nicely. Do It Again has a real country rock swagger with it's rhythm guitar vamp and driving drum rhythm. I particularly like Killner's vocals and guitar attack on this track ... a solid rocker! Taking It's Toll takes cues from Skynyrd (Simple Man) on this track. With simple quiet guitar accompaniment with drums and bass behind his powerful vocals, Killner slowly builds this track to a stalking killer. Very nice! Wrapping the release is Midnight Call, with a lot of movement and cockiness. With wah wah blazing Killner leaves the release blazing just as he opened. Nice job!

   

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

Vizztone Label Group artist: Kevin Selfe - Buy My Soul Back - New release review

I just received the newest release, Buy My Soul Back, from Kevin Selfe and it really gets down. Opening with rockin' blues track, Picking Empty Pockets, Selfe leads the way on vocal and guitar. His clever turnaround riffs and wild solo is highlighted by a super sax solo by Peter Moss and supported by Allen Markel on bass, James Pace on organ, Steve Kerin on piano and Jimi Bott on drums. Great opener. Chicago style blues shuffle, Fixed It Til It's Broke, features Mitch Kashmar with some great harp work and a great bass lead by Willie J. Campbell. Title track, Buy My Soul Back, has a R&B feel with solid horn backing from Joe McCarthy on trumpet, Chris Mercer on tenor sax and Brad Ulrich on bari sax. Pace provides a nice bed of organ and Selfe handles the lead vocals nicely, backed by Lisa Mann and also lays in some really nicely styled guitar riffs giving the track a bit of a sting. Digging My Own Grave has a old blues feel with a grungy blues guitar riff under the driving vocal and drums. Selfe cuts loose with some tasty slide guitar riffs but still remains in the primitive blues style. Very nice. Bluesy ballad, All Partied Out, has definite radio clues with a catchy melody and solid horn backing. Selfe does cut loose with a real nice guitar stinger of a solo giving the track a definite tension. Very nice! Rocker, Keep Pushing Or Die Trying, is driven by Allen Markel on bass and features some real nice key work from Kerin on piano as well as a country influenced guitar solo by Selfe. Blues funk, Albert King style is up next on Bluesman Without The Blues. With funky guitar riffs and horns this track really moves. Selfe takes a real nice guitar lead in support to Sugaray Rayford on lead vocal. This is an excellent track and Bott really shines on this track. Every once in a while there is a track that I just don't like and this next one is it. I may be one of the only humans on the planet that doesn't love Bruce Springsteen but there it is. His I'm On Fire is next and Selfe does an interesting alteration to it making it sound a bit less processed and with harp compliments of Kashmar and the more country acoustic guitar treatment by Selfe, it has a less pop and more wholesome feel. Boogie track, Don't Tear Me Down, has a real nice upbeat accent giving it a bit of a lope. Gene Taylor's piano work nicely accents a really soulful sax solo. Keeping the track well grounded, Selfe lays in some stylized, double stop accented, guitar lines complimented by Mercer and Ulrich on sax. Very nice! Double Dipping has a easy country feel with country blues guitar riffs and simple backing by Campbell on bass, Taylor on piano,Bott on drums and Moss on Bari. Virginia Farm has a really basic rural blues feel with only Selfe accompanying his on vocal on acoustic slide guitar. Very cool! Texas style shuffle, Pig Pickin' is a particularly cool instrumental with Campbell on bass, Bott on drums, Pace on organ and Selfe on guitar. Almost breaking into a jazz feel Pace and Selfe each take nice solo's making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Wrapping the release is Starting Up At The Bottom, a revival style track featuring Selfe on lead vocal and guitar, Kerin on piano, Markel on bass and Bott on drums. Pace takes a cool organ solo and Lisa Mann's backing vocals add substantially to the overall spiritual feel of the track. Great closer.

   

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

Jaxon Records artists: Little Boys Blue - Bad Love - New release Review

I just received the newest release, Bad Love, from Little Boys Blue and it's quite entertaining. Opening with Bad Love, JD Taylor leads off with powerful vocals and harp work. Steve Patterson, on lead guitar, lays in a nice guitar solo backed by Alex Taylor on guitar, Mark Brooks on drums, Dave Mallard on bass and Dave Thomas on keys, leading to a real nice harp solo from Taylor. Jump blues, She Put Me Down is solid with Thomas on B3 and really giving a wide open table to Taylor for strong harp work. Patterson shows his quick hand on guitar followed by a nice run by Thomas on B3 and back to Taylor who takes it home. Excellent! R&B track, Treat Me Like You Used To, has a solid radio feel with a nice hook and balanced backing vocals from Dave Mallard, Lindsay Patterson, Kimberlie Helton and Josh Smith. Horn work from Ralph Thomas on sax, Chuck McGill on sax and David Kyles on trumpet punches up the track. Southern funk rock track, Death Letter Blues shows strong influence by Duane Allman with rich slide riffs from Patterson and Skynyrd with attitude. Taylor's harp work and vocals just work perfectly on this track delivering hot and tight. Super nice! Ballad, Forget These Blues has a Dickie Betts kind of feel with a gospel twist. I really like Thomas' B3 work on this track giving it weight and emotion. More primitive based blues roots on Howling At Your Door, show the band's versatility. With richly woven harp, guitar and slide, bass, drums and keys, this track is modern blues they way it should sound. Cajun Girl has a light feel and rich guitar tones. With vocal duet and piano rhythm under the harp melody, this track rocks. Another R&B style track, You and I, has a strong hook and with it's horn backing and underlying slide work, it's one of my favorites on the release. With it's opening harp riff, Go Back Home let's you know you're in for a great blues number. Taylor gets great juice from his harp, backed by tight horns. On this slower blues number, Patterson gets the chance to really dig in on guitar and set up some of the nicest guitar riffs on the release. Followed by Taylor on harp this track sails. Excellent! Shuffle track, Ain't No Use In Cryin', opens with harp calls and quickly sets a cool resonant harp and B3 riff. Taylor on lead vocal and Patterson on lead guitar set a nice pace and Thomas sets the B3 in nicely. Particularly nice drum riffs by Brooks on this track stand out for a tight number. Wrapping the release is Muddy Waters' Can't Be Satisfied with Taylor on vocal and Patterson on acoustic slide and Brooks on drums. A bright harp solo follows the melody of the track bringing it full circle and connecting the track back to traditional blues.

   

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”