New York and Tri

FREE BLUEGRASS CONCERTS BY CROSS, FARRELL, COHEN AND WRIGHT

THE BLUEGRASS HIT PARADE 1946 TO 2010 (A concert of Bluegrass songs and tunes which were made famous by the originators of Bluegrass music).

Band members Vincent Cross, Mark Farrell, Allen Cohen and Bob Wright will present the "signature" songs of the first generation of Bluegrass performers, continue with the most popular songs from the "middle years" and end with 2 new songs, written by band members. Hear songs that were made famous by Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, Jim and Jesse, Jimmy Martin, Reno and Smiley, the Stanley Brothers and the Osborne Brothers, along with those that followed in their footsteps, like JD Crowe, Del McCoury, and the Country Gentlemen.

RICHMONDTOWN LIBRARY 200 CLARKE AVE STATEN ISLAND, NY 10306 718-668-0413

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2010 2:30 PM

ST. GEORGE LIBRARY 5 CENTRAL AVE STATEN ISLAND, NY 10301 718-442-8560 SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2010 2:00 PM (a very short walk from the SI Ferry terminal and the ferry is free)

TOTTENVILLE LIBRARY 7430 AMBOY ROAD STATEN ISLAND, NY 10307 718-984-0945

SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2010 2:00 PM

Admissions to all 3 locations are free.

see www.myspace.com/cfcwbluegrass

email for more info tricountyr@aol.com

Westchester Bluegrass Club presents Jim Hurst
Saturday, March 13, 2010 ,6:00pm - 11:00pm ,
Lake Purdys Clubhouse, 33 Lake way Purdys NY 10578
6 pm - 7 pm Workshop $30 ,7 pm - 8 pm Jam, 8 pm - 9 pm Open Mic
9 pm - Concert featuring Jim Hurst $10 ,jimhurst.com ,admission $10
BYOB , for directions email or call , mccueburns@aol.com

Free Open Jam Event - 6pm Saturday March 20, 2010 at Salt Marsh Nature Center 3302 Ave U in Marine Park Brooklyn on Ave U near East 33 Street. Jam at the Marsh: Bring an instrument and join in on an open musical jam session. Q, N, F train to Ave U, or D train to 25 Ave, THEN transfer to Ave U bus, (Bus B 3),east, to SMNC. Car: Belt Pkwy, Flatbush Ave exit, left onto Ave U to East 33 St. Free parking lot across from SMNC on right. For more info call 311 & ask for Urban Park Rangers.

From Buddy Merriam: Howdy friends,
My 30th year heading up Back Roads began in great fashion earlier this month at the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival in Framingham outside of Boston.
If you've never attended I highly recommend it, every Presidents Day weekend produced by the Boston Bluegrass Union (www.bbu.org)
Beginning this Tues. March 2 it's "Blue Grass Time" at the Checkmate Inn- always the first Tues. of the month! details:
Checkmate Inn 9:30 PM No Cover
North Country Rd. Setauket, NY
Some cool shows coming up this year-
Sat. May 1 Folk Music Society of Huntington Concert
Thur. July 15 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival w/ Mandolin Workshop
Sat. Aug.21 8th Annual Long Island Bluegrass Festival
Fri. Dec. 10 Emelin Theater Concert Series (Mamaroneck, NY) w/ Gold Heart
"Blue Grass Time" every Wed. 6-8 PM on WUSB 90.1 fm or live on the internet at www.wusb.fm
www.BuddyMerriam.com

Master Guitarist David Grier is returning to Paramus for his 3rd house concert - mark your calendars.
Saturday, April 10th, 6pm. Admission is $20/person.
David will be playing two 45-minute sets; light refreshments will be served during intermission.
For those of us familiar with David's artistry, this is truly an evening to look forward to. If you've never seen or heard David, get ready for a musical experience that you'll remember for a long time.

Check out David's website at www.davidgrier.com to get all the info on David and hear some of his music.
For further information/reservations, call me at 201 262-7286 or e-mail bgmusician@verizon.net.
Looking forward to seeing many of you on April 10th.
Dan Marcus 367 McKinley Blvd Paramus, NJ 07652

Gourd & Tackhead Banjo Making Workshop:June 7-12 2010
Create a piece of art that sounds as beautiful as it looks! Using a watch&do approach, noted builder/teacher Jeff Menzies will guide you step-by-step as you cut the gourd, craft the neck, and stretch the skin on your new instruments. The workshop will include historical discussion of the banjo, and its connection to food, culture and place. It will probably include a few jam sessions around the fire, too. In the end, you will leave energized, having spent a week in a nique and beautiful place, with a smile on your face and your own banjo tucked under your arm.

SPECIFICS:
The Place: Sylvester Manor is a 243-acre educational farm on Shelter Island, New York, 2.5 hours east of Manhattan. A former slave plantation, the property has also been a Native American hunting and fishing grounds, a bustling 18th century farm, and the estate of a famous food chemist. Today the farm, reborn in 2009, hosts educational workshops, concerts, and events, all of which explore the culture of food and place.
Although the Manor is on an island, it’s easy to get to by public
transportation. We’re accessible by car, bus, train, or raft. More details upon registration. Date: June 7-12 2010 (Students may arrive on Sunday evening, June 6)
Cost: $500 + Materials fee of $175
Numbers: 10 participants minimum, 15 maximum
Daily Schedule: Each day will include intense banjo building and will also include some time to share meals, explore the manor, and hang out by the fire or in the hot tub in the evening.
Tools: All tools are provided. If you have tools of your own, we ask that you bring them! We’ll provide a list upon registration.
Accommodations: Rooms in the Manor or camp sites available. Rates TBA. Motels/Inns are also available on Shelter Island.
Please direct questions to Jeff Menzies: jeffsbanjer@yahoo.com

“Tony Watt and Southest Express” at The FIREBOX RESTAURANT 539 Broad St Hartford, CT February 21, 2010, 5:00-8:00 PM
Award-winning flatpicking guitarist Tony Watt has performed at
bluegrass festivals throughout the United States and Europe, on the
Grand Ole Opry, and elsewhere. He has been featured in Bluegrass Now
Magazine and Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, and toured and recorded with
Nashville-based Cages Bend, east Tennessee-based Meridian, and most
recently with Rounder Recording artist Alecia Nugent. Tony currently
performs with his band, Southeast Expressway, and with Leigh Gibson,
guitarist for The Gibson Brothers. He has taught privately for over 10
years, and now teaches courses in bluegrass guitar and mandolin for
the Boston Bluegrass Union’s Bluegrass Academy. He has also taught
guitar workshops and Kids' Academies at bluegrass festivals including
Grey Fox, Thomas Point Beach, Joe Val, and many more. Tony teaches
guitar and mandolin lessons in Albany, NY, Cambridge, MA, and points
in-between. Southeast Express includes;
Ben Pearce-Mandolin-(formerly of Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters)
Sam Stambler-Dobro-(guitarist in Red Hot Black Top)
Flynn Cohen-Bass (formerly of Adrienne Young & Little
Sadie, Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, Malibu Storm, Boston City
Limits, etc.)
Grace Van’t Hof-Banjo-Boston based ”Della Mae,” formerly of NorthCarolina’s “Silver Dagger,” currently on the road this week and will be proud to have one of our fsvorite friends filling in… www.theoriginaltonywatt.com
tonywatt@gmail.com 615.330.6396

also, featuring Nick Novia and the “Appalachian Pals” Nick Novia-203-650-3492