Album Feature – Sturgill Simpson – Cuttin’ Grass – Vol. 1 (Butcher Shoppe Sessions)

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Oct 162020
 

By Joshua Wallace

Sturgill Simpson has released Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1 (Butcher Shoppe Sessions) as the follow up to last year’s rock record Sound And Fury.  This album turns to bluegrass and re-works 20 of Sturgill’s original tunes into bluegrass tracks.  What really makes this album is that these are totally re-arranged to be bluegrass and not just his old songs played in this style.  It really helps that Sturgill has put together an amazing bluegrass band of some of the best players today with Stuart Duncan, Mike Bub, Sierra Hull, Scott Vestal, Tim O’Brien, Mark Howard and Miles Miller on the record.

There really isn’t a bad track on this album, and it’s the first record I have reviewed here where I recommend the whole album.  Some standouts include a few Sunday Valley tracks with “All The Pretty Colors”, “I Wonder” and “Sometimes Wine”.  I hope we get a few more of these on the potential Vol. 2.  Other high marks include a total re-working of “The Storm” from the mid-tempo track on High Top Mountain to a thunderous and fast bluegrass track that will have concert halls dancing for sure.  “Turtles” is also slightly sped up for the bluegrass style and it has a totally different feel to it vs the cosmic styling of the Metamodern track.  “Life Of Sin” goes from being a guitar forward twangy country jam to a fiddle forward country flavored bluegrass track.  Indeed, it is the new arrangements for these familiar tracks with some of the best bluegrass players you can put together that makes this much more than a greatest hits album.

Sturgill has done it again with this one and has made what could be another genre defining masterpiece.  This time he has done for bluegrass what Metamodern Sounds In Country Music did for traditional country back in 2014.  Bluegrass is in a resurgence with artists like Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle and others leading the way.  Now Sturgill joins the pack with this collection.  Time will tell if we get a Volume 2 with the rest of his songs and hopefully a bit more Sunday Valley and a bit of Sound and Fury too.  I don’t often review records like this, but this is more than a Greatest Hits album.  These are familiar songs done in a new way with some of the best pickers you can find.  I highly recommend giving this record a spin and I hope we get a bluegrass tour with Sturgill and this band.  Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1 is out everywhere digitally as of October 16th, 2020 with physical releases later in December.  

Favorite Tracks : The Whole Thing

Sturgill Simpson – Cuttin’ Grass – Vol. 1 (Butcher Shoppe Sessions) (2020)

  1. All Around You
  2. All The Pretty Colors
  3. Breakers Roar
  4. I Don’t Mind
  5. I Wonder
  6. Just Let Go
  7. Life Ain’t Fair And The World Is Mean
  8. A Little Light
  9. Life Of Sin
  10. Long White Line
  11. Living The Dream
  12. Old King Coal
  13. Railroad Of Sin
  14. Sitting Here Without You
  15. Sometimes Wine
  16. The Storm
  17. Time After All
  18. Turtles All The Way Down
  19. Voices
  20. Water Down The Well

Bluegrass Hall Of Fame And Museum Announces Spring Concert Series.

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Dec 302018
 

CONCERT SCHEDULE:
3/9 – Steep Canyon Rangers
3/16 – Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
3/23 – Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
3/30 – Dailey & Vincent
4/6 – The Isaacs
4/12 – Sierra Hull

2017 Music Festivals: Del Fest.

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Mar 262017
 

One of my all time favorite festivals to write about that happens in the spring happens in Cumberland Maryland, and it’s called none other than Delfest. You know I LOVE ME some Del McCoury and I highly encourage you to attend the 10th annual Delfest on May 25-28th at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, MD.

The Del McCoury Band plays many of the festivals I cover throughout the year and it’s always nice to run into them on my website adventures. This is his own festival and never falls short of festival fun and you can purchase your tickets and passes HERE.

This is a multiple stage outdoor festival event, that is conveniently located by airports and many hotels.  The fairgrounds have permanent restrooms and showers, and we supplement the facilities with ample portable toilets. Please be courteous and take only the space you need. Roping off areas and saving space for latecomers is not acceptable festival etiquette. Camping overnight on Sunday is permitted. All patrons must leave the fairgrounds by noon on Monday. There WILL BE a family type camping area that is quieter at night, and camping IS INCLUDED in your ticket price, however you may not be camped near your vehicle due to attendance. You also have to purchase a separate parking pass to park your vehicle on the adjoining property. As always because I am a patron that requires hotels at my festivals that my website covers here are some that I found on their website and my own research.

Hotels and Motels

Fairfield Inn & Suites
21 N. Wineow St.
Cumberland, MD 21502
301.722.0340

Holiday Inn Express & Suites La Vale/Cumberland
1076 National Hwy
La Vale, MD 21502
301.729.4800

Ramada Cumberland
100 S. George Street
Cumberland, MD 21502
301.724.8800

Red Roof Inn LaVale/Cumberland
I-68 at exit #40
12310 Winchester Rd SW, LaVale, MD 21502
301.729.6700

Super 8 Motel La Vale/Cumberland Area
I-68 at Rt 53
1301 National Hwy
La Vale, MD 21502
301.729.6265

Rocky Gap Casino & Resort
16701 Lakeview Rd. NE
Flintstone (Cumberland), MD 21530
800.724.0828
301.784.8400

Frostburg Days Inn
11100 New George Creek Road
Frostburg, MD USA 21532
301.689.2050

Best Western Braddock Motor Inn
1268 National Highway
La Vale, Maryland 21502
301.729.3300

Comfort Inn & Suites
1216 National Highway
LaVale,  MD 21502
301.729.6400

Hampton Inn
11200 New George’s Creek Road
Frostburg, MD  21532
301.689.1998

Microtel Inn
70 N Tornado Way
Keyser, WV 26726
304.597.1400
toll free: 1.800.771.7171

Bed and Breakfasts/Historic Inns

The Inn On Decatur
108 Decatur Street
Cumberland, MD 21502
301.722.4887 or 240.727.7039

Town Hill Hotel Bed & Breakfast
31101 National Pike
Little Orleans, MD 21766
301.478.2794

Local Campgrounds

Rocky Gap State Park
12500 Pleasant Valley Road
Flintstone MD 21530

 

Share your DelFest Photos March 29th!

Be in the DelFest Family Album!

DelFest really is like a family reunion each year—and not just for the McCourys! Your smiling faces are a real part of the fabric of DelFest and we love to see your own special DelFest moments and memories. On that note, today, March 29th we want to turn Facebook, Twitter and Instagram into a virtual 10th Annual DelFest Family Photo Album of memories! Find your favorite DelFest memories/photos and upload them now with the #delfestfamilyreunion hashtag and tell people what you love about DelFest! Then everyone can search for and enjoy each other’s photos…and we’ll reshare some on our pages as well!

 

Del McCoury Band
The Travelin’ McCourys
Trey Anastasio Band
Gov’t Mule
Bela Fleck
Railroad Earth
Leftover Salmon
Hot Rize
The Infamous Stringdusters
Steep Canyon Rangers
Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives
Tim O Brien
The Gibson Brothers
Sierra Hull
Jeff Austin
Cabinet
Donna The Buffalo
Fruition
Sara Watkins
Noah Pikelny
Billy Strings
Joe Craven And The Sometimers
River Whyless
Dead Man Winter
Cris Jacobs
The Broomstix
Dead Winter’s Carpenters
junior Sisk And Rambler’s Choice
Dre’ And The Collective
The Ballroom Thieves
Head For The Hills
Ghost Of Paul Revere
Kitchen Dwellers
Grand Ole Ditch

 

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2017 Music Festivals: Anastasia Music Festival.

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Mar 032017
 

I am always scouring social media and websites looking for the best festivals possible which fit my lineup of music, and what this website strives to cover. This Florida based festival offers some mighty fine Americana and Bluegrass music of many varieties and is in a truly luxurious part of Florida.

This takes place March 16-18th in St. Augustine Florida at the St. Augustine Amphitheater,  and features many of the acts are scheduled to play twice, which I wish some festivals would do more often so I could have better prep time and meal breaks when I am covering live festivals. There are three stages included in this event the Main Stage, The Parking Lot Stage and the Acoustic Stage.

The Anastasia Music Festival is an epic 3-day music festival featuring over 20 of the brightest traditional and modern bluegrass musicians touring today! Hosted at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida on March 16, 17 and 18!
Children 10 and under are free with paid adult admission!

Friday March 17, 2017 Lineup and Schedule
12:00pm – 12:45pm The Honeycutters (Main Stage)
12:30pm – 1:30pm I Like Dandelions (Acoustic Stage)
1:00pm – 2:00pm Grits & Soul (Front Porch Stage)
1:15pm – 2:15pm The Broomestix (Main Stage)
2:00pm – 3:00pm Flagship Romance (Acoustic Stage)
2:45pm – 3:45pm Fruition (Main Stage)
3:00pm – 4:00pm Dustbowl Revival (Front Porch Stage)
4:00pm – 5:00pm Nikki Talley (Acoustic Stage)
4:15pm – 5:15pm Cabinet (Main Stage)
5:00pm – 6:00pm Mandolin Orange (Front Porch Stage)
5:45pm – 7:00pm David Grisman’s Bluegrass Experience (Main Stage)
6:00pm – 7:00pm Robbie Dammit & The Broken Strings (Acoustic Stage)
6:45pm – 8:00pm The Travelin’ McCourys (Front Porch Stage)
7:30pm – 8:45pm Elephant Revival (Main Stage)
8:00pm – 9:00pm Paper Bird (Acoustic Stage)
8:45pm – 9:45pm Jon Stickley Trio (Front Porch Stage)
9:15pm – 10:30pm The Del McCoury Band (Main Stage)

Saturday March 18, 2017 Lineup and Schedule
12:00pm – 1:00pm Joe Pug (Main Stage)
12:30pm – 1:30pm Remedy Tree (Acoustic Stage)
1:00pm – 2:00pm The Broomestix (Front Porch Stage)
1:30pm – 2:30pm Sierra Hull (Main Stage)
2:00pm – 3:00pm The Applebutter Express (Acoustic Stage)
2:30pm – 3:30pm Mandolin Orange (Front Porch Stage)
3:00pm – 4:00pm Jeff Austin (Main Stage)
3:30pm – 4:30pm Alastair-Byrd Review (Acoustic Stage)
4:00pm – 5:15pm Dustbowl Revival (Front Porch Stage)
4:30pm – 5:30pm Fruition (Main Stage)
5:15pm – 6:15pm West King Street Band (Acoustic Stage)
5:45pm – 7:00pm Jon Stickley Trio (Front Porch Stage)
6:00pm – 7:00pm Del McCoury Band (Main Stage)
6:45pm – 7:45pm Town Meeting (Acoustic Stage)
7:30pm – 8:45pm Sam Bush (Main Stage)
7:45pm – 9:00pm Cabinet (Front Porch Stage)
9:15pm – 10:30pm Grateful Ball w/ Travelin’ McCourys & Jeff Austin (Main Stage)

So let’s talk about the usual thing most of you are interested in the most…the lineup:

The Del McCoury Band
David Grisman’s Bluegrass Experience
Sam Bush
Elephant Revival
Fruition
Cabinet
Jeff Austin Band
The Travelin McCourys
Mandolin Orange
Sierra Hull
Joe Pug
Dustbowl Revival
The Broomstix
The Honeycutters
Taylor Martin
Jon Stickley Trio
Grits And Soul
Nikki Talley
The Applebutter Express
Paper Bird
Flagship Romance
Town Meeting
West King String Band
Remedy Tree
I Like Dandelions
The Alastair-Byrd Revue
Robbie Dammit And The Broken Strings
Steve Pruett

What to bring when you come to a concert at the St. Augustine Amphitheater:

  • Tickets
  • Seat Cushions
  • Poncho or Jacket
  • Blankets
  • Palm-size Point & Shoot Camera (unless prohibited by show)
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug Spray

What NEVER to bring to a concert at the St. Augustine Amphitheater:

  • Backpacks
  • Outside Food or Drinks
  • Umbrellas
  • Large Cameras with Detachable Lenses
  • Ipads or Tablets
  • Strollers
  • Weapons or items construed as weapons (e.g. guns, knives, sticks, fireworks)
  • Video Cameras
  • Audio Recorders
  • Musical Instruments
  • Gifts for the band
  • Chairs
  • Alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs
  • Animals (except guide dogs)
  • Skateboards or inline skates
  • Personal property that is a potential hazard to others (e.g. chains, wallet chains or jewelry with spiked edges)

So under my usual guise of working these festival articles I shall include to the fullest of my knowledge the hotel in that area I have found. And to my knowledge there are a few campgrounds in the direct area to stay at.

ST AUGUSTINE ISLAND INN
(904) 471-1440 / 894 A1A Beach Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32080

AMERICAS BEST VALUE INN
(904) 471-8010 / 3955 A1A S, St Augustine, FL 32080

SCOTTISH INN
(904) 824-2831 / 420 Anastasia Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32080

BUDGET INN
(904) 824-1962 / 12 Anastasia Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32080

EDGEWATER INN
(904) 825-2697 / 2 N St Augustine Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32080

QUALITY INN
(904) 471-1474 / 901 A1A Beach Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32080

THE CONCH HOUSE MOTEL
(800) 940-6256 / Bldg 1, 57 Comares Ave, St Augustine, FL 32080

COURTYARD ST AUGUSTINE
(904) 940-3800 / 605 A1A Beach Blvd, St Augustine Beach, FL 32080

SLEEP INN
(904) 825-4535 / 601 Anastasia Blvd., St Augustine, FL 32080

SUPER 8 ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH
(904) 471-2330 / 311 A1A Beach Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32080

REGENCY INN & SUITES
(904) 471-7700 / 331 A1A Beach Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32080

HILTON GARDEN INN
(904) 471-5559 / 401 A1A Beach Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32080

HAMPTON INN BEACH
(904) 471-4000 / 430 A1A Beach Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32080

CASTILLO REAL
(904) 471-3505 / 530 A1A Beach Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32080

BEST WESTERN SEASIDE
(904) 461-9990 / 541 A1a Beach Blvd, St Augustine Beach, FL 32080

LA FIESTA INN & SUITES
(904) 471-2220 / 810 A1A Beach Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32080

HOLIDAY ISLE OCEANFRONT RESORT
(904) 471-2555 / 860 A1A Beach Blvd, St Augustine Beach, FL 32080

From their website, a brief history of the St Augustine Amphitheater:

History

The St. Augustine Amphitheater was built in 1965 to commemorate St. Augustine’s 400th Anniversary as our nation’s oldest permanent European settlement. The 16-acre section of Anastasia State Park that makes up the amphitheater grounds includes an old quarry where coquina rock was obtained to build early St. Augustine homes and commercial buildings, as well as the fort, Castillo de San Marcos.

Pulitzer-prize winner Dr. Paul Green wrote The Cross & Sword, a symphonic drama to re-enact the founding and early years of St. Augustine under Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles. Following the completion of the Amphitheatre in 1965, the play began its 32 year run on the stage. In 1973, Cross & Sword was designated “Florida’s Official State Play” by the State Legislature in recognition of the cultural and historic value of the production and the events portrayed on stage. In 1996, the Cross & Sword had its final performance.

In 2002, St. Johns County made the decision to invest in refurbishing the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. After 5 years of construction and a sizeable investment, the Amphitheatre is a state of the art performing arts venue with the capacity to hold up to 4100 concert goers. A brand new conference room, 4 concession stands, a merchandise area, a large plaza, and an elaborate arboretum of walking trails make up the new facility.