Orrin Star - Whiskey Before Breakfast Lesson

Online video is a fabulous source of lessons (beyond performance clips). Here's a six minute long deconstruction of "Whiskey Before Breakfast" that clarifies every constituent part.

Norman Blake - Nashville Blues

Here's a wonderful look at what is now "vintage" Norman Blake. The fluidity of his lead lines gives the impression of effortlessness and simplicity. Of course, once you try this yourself you get a hearty helping of humble pie. It's wonderful to see Nancy Blake picking the bass line on her cello; in fact, this trio instrumentation is among my personal favorites.

Doc Watson - Deep River Blues

Amazing finger picking technique from one of the all-time greats, Arthel "Doc" Watson. The camera hangs on Doc's left hand a good long time so you can pick up some of the passing chords in the changes. Then it pans to his right hand whence you can clearly see he's mostly using his index finger to picking the melody line. Pure Travis picking technique at its best!

[ The Return of a Native Son ]

David Bromberg Band
with special guests The Angel Band
$35, $33 Old Town School members, $31 kids and seniors
Saturday, January 20 at 7:00 & 10:00 pm at The Old Town School of Folk Music Concert Hall, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.

The great Chicago blues/folk/roots guitarist David Bromberg skipped town for the chance to operate his own community arts center in Wilmington, Delaware. And he rarely returns to the Windy City. So take this opportunity to see this long-struggling, now-thriving artist in the friendliest confines of The Old Town School.

Trad Fest 3 - Old Time Stringband Weekend: Concert
Starring the Foghorn Stringband (pictured above), the Dirk Powell Band and the Clack Mountain Stringband
$25, $23 Old Town School members, $21 kids and seniors
Saturday, January 27 at 7:30 pm in the Old Town School of Folk Music Concert Hall, 4544 North Lincoln Avenue

Friday night, Jan 26th, is an open house at the OTSoFM with all pickers welcome. They're asking for folks to bring a dish for the pot luck. Members of all three bands will guest host jam sessions, etc.

Saturday afternoon, band members will host workshops then host a group jam session. The evening's grand finale is all three bands in concert. Get more info here.

Bill Keith Banjo Workshop - Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival 2003 - Part 1 of 2

Called "Bluegrass Banjo 101", but it's more like "Advanced Melodic Banjo and Music Theory" ... Here's the first of two amateur videos posted on Google Video showing Bill Keith's master class from the Grey Fox Bluegrass Fest in 2003.

More Online Music Instruction Sites

Harmonica Country
The site offers ten free lessons.

Mars Music
Lessons for $11.95 per year. You need to download their proprietary software.

Tonos
Access to guitar or piano lessons is $15.95 a year.

Wholenote
Offers more than 900 free lessons plus a free metronome via the Net.

There's a free video over at the Gibson guitar and musical instrument company's web site featuring Earl Scruggs, his sons Randy and Gary, Sam Bush, Phil Leadbetter on Dobro(R) and Ricky Scaggs jamming on "Jingle Bells" in the Ryman. You can even download an iPod-ready video free. (This link courtesy of Jim Polaski)

Josh Graves, Marty Stuart, Vassar Clements - Great Big Woman

Here's proof of the common roots of bluegrass and the blues.

Merle Travis - Cannonball Rag

I never noticed before seeing this, but Merle Travis used only his thumb and forefinger. I'd always been taught he used three fingers a la Scruggs banjo picking technique. Now I know.

[ From the expansive mind of Jim P., we present ... ]
Trillium The Band

Jim's connection to Trillium comes through its guitarist, Ed Hall, who is a fingerpicking champion and was once Jim's teacher. Visit the band's site here.

An MP3 Blog Worth Reading (at least every now and again)
From Edinburgh no less comes Said the Gramophone, a daily record review blog that offers free mp3 downloads of the songs its reviewers write about. There's a great list of links to other music blogs down the home page on the right column. Best of all, it's a labor of love. No major labels or media conglomerates pay for or otherwise underwrite the making of Said the Gramophone. Check it out.

The Folk Alliance will hold its national conference Feb 21-25, 2007 at the Marriott Hotel and Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis. Check the web site for details.

Len Polumbi's Links for Online Music Lessons

Workshop Live
http://www.workshoplive.com/

Berklee College of Music
http://www.berkleemusic.com/

True Fire
http://www.truefiretv.com/

Farmer's Market Band Call For Players
Music for Life Foundation will hold it's annual fund raiser on Saturday, February 24, 2007 at First United Church. We'd love to schedule the return engagement of the Farmer's Market Band. You guys were such a hit last year and Len knows you'll add your special touch to the show again this/next year.

Tentatively, the time will be 7:00 p.m. We can schedule your performance time around the groups' availability.

You may recall from last year, Music for Life raises money to provide private music instruction to needy students who otherwise would not be able to learn an instrument. It's a great cause that really fits within the "mission" of the Farmer's Market Band -- music for everyone!

[ Mighty Fine Holiday Gift Ideas ]



BLOODSHOT RECORDS presents THE OLD TOWN SCHOOL of FOLK MUSIC SONGBOOK VOL. 1
"The Songbook contains 23 archetypal songs performed by a wide range of artists. Some are nationally known like Jon Langford (Mekons, Pine Valley Cosmonauts, Waco Bros), Dan Zanes, John Stirrat (Wilco), Janet Bean (Freakwater, Eleventh Dream Day), Alice Peacock, Robbie Fulks, and Danny Barnes (Bad Livers), and some are instructors from the School---performers themselves with decades of teaching experience. Included is a hefty booklet written by folklorist Paul Tyler that gives a detailed history of each song."

Visit the Bloodshot Records website to download two tracks free. (Scroll down until you see the links at the lower left corner of the product page.)

JERRY DOUGLAS plus Mike & Amy Finders
Old Town School of Folk Music, 12/2, two shows

Get this, Jerry Douglas plays The Old Town School followed by a two night stand at Town Hall in New York City. Ummm. Let's see. We get Jerry Douglas at our very own Old Town School's intimate, acoustically magnificent small concert theater and they get him in a huge hall. Makes the choice pretty simple really.

A History of Bluegrass
Here is one of several (at least four) videos posted on YouTube.com that touch upon the major contributors to the Bluegrass tradition.

Back Porch News
Jim Polaski sends us a link to this folk and old-time music blog that originates in Ithaca, New York. There's lots of great content, reviews and links, like this for example:

Blueground Undergrass @ Martyrs
Sunday, December 10th - 8pm

I really dig these guys. They're projenitors of the current resurgence in "Newgrass" and related string bands (such as Old Crow Medicine Show). However, BU plays a bluegrass-rock hybrid that captures the best of both worlds. Here's what Martyrs' site has to say about the band:

Formed originally in 1998 by Jeff Mosier, Blueground Undergrass has developed a solid reputation and nationwide following by playing its multi-faceted music mix coast-to-coast. The band has always been known for exciting performances and eclectic arrangements. Its sonic wall of twang type sound pleases the whole spectrum of fans from hippies to cloggers to rockers, taking Blueground Undergrass to the brink of almost moshpit energy, yet guiding each show with song-driven clarity along the way.

By successfully parlaying an extensive knowledge of bluegrass music with major elements of jazz and Southern rock, Blueground Undergrass has forged a unique, new listening experience, one rooted in the essentials of great American genres. Their Landslide Records debut, Faces, represents a strong culmination of the bands lengthy musical experience as well as its legendary live shows.

Speaking recently of Blueground's sound Mosier said, "I never want our music to lose the tradition of the porch no matter how much remodeling was done to the house over time. The band will continue in that spirit and tradition by re-creating old Blueground Undergrass originals, rocking out bluegrass standards, and by introducing new songs and sounds to their live shows. "

For sure, Blueground Undergrass will be doing what they have always done best, which is to provide every audience with an energetic and unforgettable live show of great music. And with the superb studio offering that is Faces, the band is poised to take on a whole new set of devoted listeners.