2 Banjos, Fiddle + Cello = Mighty Fine Newgrass

Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet
Featuring Béla Fleck
With Casey Driessen and Ben Sollee

Saturday, September 13, 2008
7:30 p.m.
Lund Auditorium
Dominican University

For tickets and information: (708) 488-5000 or dom.edu/pac

See a Newsweek online video feature here.

Jack Swain and Bob Lopardo are performing at 9:30PM as The Righteous Roadrunners & the Broken-Winged Angels Choir (actually, Jack and Bob are the Roadrunners, and they will be accompanied by John Milne and Dean Milano (bass and vocals), who are the Angels); while Jack's daughter is the lead singer and namesake of the 10:30PM act, Roxy Swain.

More info at FitzGeraldsNightclub.com. And remember FitzGeralds is now smoke-free!

Mighty Fine Collection of 78s

A collector of old-time 78rpm records has digitized 3600+ titles from his collection with more than 2350 posted as MP3s. Check it out here: http://78records.cdbpdx.com/

Make Your Own Guitar Exercises Online

GuitarCardio.com: Select Your Exercise

With a simple, point-and-click menu, GuitarCardio lets you make finger exercises with tablature and diagrams you can print easily to use anytime. Select the key, choose a scale (major, minor, pentatonic, etc.), which root string to start and difficulty ... Viola! ... you've got a tablature page to print and play.

Now if somebody made one of these for the Dobro!

Skaggs Family Records :: Cadillac Sky

Click here to stream songs from Cadillac Sky's forthcoming Skagg's Family CD. I stumbled upon this new band on MySpace. They play some mighty fine bluegrass that's steeped in tradition while updating the form with unique arrangements, original harmonic ideas and just plain ol' hot pickin'.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Bob Huston sent word of a Sunday Jam Session in Chicago at Independence Park, corner of Irving Park and North Hamlin. See the Google Map below:


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We start the month with the annual American Music Festival. Henhouse Prowlers play all night in the SideBar on Wednesday. The wonderful New Orleans-based rockabilly/bluegrass duo Jeff & Vida are in the SideBar all night Saturday.

Headliners of note include Chuck Prophet and Pat McLaughlin on Wed, Susan Cowsill, Terry Evans and Tributosaurus as The Allman Brothers on Thu, Paul Thorn on Fri, and Rosie Flores, Joe Ely with Joel Guzman and Robbie Fulks on Sat.

Now, for the rest of the month.

Tue 6/8 is Open Mic in the Club. Fri 7/11 is Jeremy Spencer (pictured above), the original Fleetwood Mac guitarist. Sat 7/12 brings the Americana singer-songwriter Tift Merritt.

Not to be missed! On Thu 7/24 there's a showcase of Spade Kitty Records artists including Roxy Swain (aka Jack's daughter) in her formal debut with their permanent 5-piece lineup.

Also on the bill is The Righteous Roadrunners and the Broken-Winged Angels Choir, featuring Jack "Gunslinger" Swain himself.