State of the Ozarks 2014 Bluegrass Calendar

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Cindie Beem’s Southern Reign

(Des Moines, IA) Cindie Beem, who has been playing guitar and singing on bluegrass stages since she was six years old, finds her bluegrass family a comforting foundation.

“I was raised bluegrass!” notes Beem “The only music we had in the house was Jimmy Martin and Lester and Earl. I would fall asleep at night listening to my dad play music in the living room!”

After high school, Beem left her father’s Albia, Iowa-based group Fox River Grass to join Possum Trot, a band regularly featured during Silver Dollar City’s music festivals. “I played with Possum Trot for 17 years,” she smiles, “and then decided to do my own thing. ”

This new band, composed of Cindie, husband Larry Beem (banjo), sister Tabatha Hood (bass), and Mark Hargrove (mandolin), is dedicated to producing solid, traditional bluegrass music — and having a lot of fun. “When I was growing up, I dreamed of being a bluegrass superstar. But I know Rhonda Vincent. She works seven days a week. She has committed herself completely and for most of us, that’s not gonna happen!

“But we get to play at great venues, we get to travel. I love the music I play. I love the people I play music with and I love being part of the bluegrass world!”

Taking a relaxed approach to the business, even the group’s name, Southern Reign, is tongue in cheek. “I was in a bluegrass chatroom,” remembers Beem, “and was joking with some folks from West Virginia. I said we were the “Reigning bluegrass group in Bloomfield, Iowa” and we all started giggling. At that time, I think we were the only bluegrass group in town!”

Despite not taking themselves too seriously, Southern Reign is noted for their solid, traditional sound and tight family harmonies. They recently opened for The Boxcars at a concert in Chillicothe, Missouri.

“Too many things in life are a competition,” muses Beem. “If you are in bluegrass for the money, you may want to look for a second job. But if you are in bluegrass for the love of the music and the lifelong friends, then you’re definitely in the right place!”

FOR contact information go to Links Page. For all news articles listed, visit the News Directory.

July 22, 2014

Loudermilk & Adkins Join Forces

(EASTANOLLEE, GA) Edgar Loudermilk, former vocalist and bass player with Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, is making news in the bluegrass world with his recent partnership with Dave Adkins (of Dave Adkins & Republik Steele) and a solo project — My Big Chance Tomorrow — which is getting considerable notice on bluegrass radio.

“It was a leap of faith for both of us,” notes Loudermilk in a recent interview. “Dave was with Republik Steele. I was with IIIrd Tyme Out and it is always a risk to leave what is working but we announced Adkins & Loudermilk in November and things just took off. We feel so blessed.”

“Me and Dave are singing all original stuff, but it kinda has its own twist,” explains Loudermilk. “We both sing real forward and bold. We’re opening the gates with a fusion sound. People will hear influences of old country, jazz, rock, traditional bluegrass, but all in the realm of bluegrass. I don’t think we sound like anybody else.”

The new groups is rounded out with Andrew Crawford (guitar), Glen Crain (dobro), Jordan Rice (mandolin), and Chad Davis (banjo). “We wanted the band to be very unique too,” says Loudermilk. “And Dave has such a bluesy voice, we went with dobro instead of fiddle.”

FOR contact information go to Links Page. For all news articles listed, visit the News Directory.

April 2, 2014

Bluegrass Brigade Reports

(Kansas City, MO) Jim McGreevy, banjo player with the highly regarded Bluegrass Brigade since 1979, reports “we had a good bus trip down to SPBGMA (Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America) Nashville Convention. Big crowd down there, good contest, good bands. Just about everybody in bluegrass makes a showing down there at one point or another.”

The band members of Bluegrass Brigade (Jack and Mae Burlison, Don Montgomery and McGreevy) have hosted Missouri busloads of bluegrassers enroute to Nashville every year since 1984. “Mae works hard at organizing activities during the bus ride, setting up lunch and breakfast breaks, and even puts together a tour of Nashville before the showcases begin,” shares McGreevy.

Each member of the Brigade brings an invaluable set of experiences relating to acoustic music in Missouri. The band was first played Silver Dollar City in the mid 1970s and have produced 15 recordings. A part of Missouri’s modern bluegrass aristocracy, bandmember Jack recently turned 81. McGreevy, “the kid of the bunch,” is 75.

“We’re not playing as much and we lay out in July and August,” says McGreevy.

FOR contact information go to Links Page. For all news articles listed, visit the News Directory.

March 23, 2014

Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass

(West Plains, MO) Teresa Romans of the Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Association (HOBA) notes, “Everybody talks about the big names but I have great appreciation for local talent. They work just as hard as the big guys if not harder.”

The Missouri Ozarks are known for world-class bluegrass talent which puts local groups in high standing. HOBA has been hosting festivals since 1984. “The first stage was built from trees off my grandpa’s farm,” explains Romans. “The local sawmill milled it all. The Association began because Ethel Willard, a West Plains teacher who loved bluegrass, wanted an association where people could come together and pick and grin and keep bluegrass going. Ethel couldn’t play anything or carry a tune in a bucket to save her soul, but she loved it.

“That was the winter of ’79 when it started. I was about 13. My family played music and we were pretty heavily involved in the music, the fundraisers, working the kitchen. It was a good place to grow up. Mom and daddy could turn us loose and not think too much about it. Bluegrass people are good people. They are there to help others out.”

FOR contact information go to Links Page. For all news articles listed, visit the News Directory.

March 23, 2014

Hilbilly Music

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