"There is no band in bluegrass or country music today that captures the soul of American music better than Dry Branch Fire Squad."
- Keith Lawrence, Knight-Ridder Newspapers

Ron Thomason, a native of southwestern Virginia, formed Dry Branch Fire Squad in 1976, and continues to provide its musical vision -- a fierce and uncompromising loyalty to the most traditional aspects of bluegrass -- and cultural commentary: his insightful and often hilarious monologues are as much a part of a DBFS concert as the intense singing and soulful playing.

Joining Ron (mandolin, guitar, most lead vocals) is perhaps the strongest edition of Dry Branch Fire Squad in the band’s 33 year history: Tom Boyd (banjo, dobro, vocals), Brian Aldridge (guitar, mandolin, vocals), and Dan Russell (bass, banjo, vocals). Their latest release, the 15th on Rounder Records, has wonderfully diverse sources -- from Fiddlin' John Carson's "Dixie Cowboy" and Jimmy Martin's "Stormy Waters" to the Buchanan Brothers' "(You Got To Pray To the Lord) When You See Those Flying Saucers" and Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home To Me" -- and an unmistakable DBFS sound.

"I don't know which I enjoy more: Dry Branch Fire Squad's hard-core, purebred bluegrass music, or leader/mc Ron Thomason's hilariously droll 'country bumpkin' (but not really) monologues that are also a big part of the band's show."
- Jonathan Takiff, Philadelphia Daily News

TICKETS: $18/advance, $20/day of show

www.DryBranchFireSquad.com

April 10th, 2010
Joy Kills Sorrow

WJKS is known as the Gary, Indiana, station where the Monroe Brothers Trio had a 15-minute radio show five days a week following their appearances in an exhibition square dance team at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. The acronym of the station's call letters stood for “Where Joy Kills Sorrow.”

Joy Kills Sorrow is a prodigiously tasteful bluegrass/jazz/folk ensemble emerging from the bubbling frenzy of young talent in the Boston, MA, acoustic music scene. The five band members share a deep knowledge and respect for the bluegrass tradition and have virtuosity to spare. As an ensemble, they hold above all else a commitment to playing great songs well together, and forging a new brand of bluegrass at once innovative and beautiful.

Members of Joy Kills Sorrow include:

Emma Beaton (vocals, cello) - 2008 winner of the Canadian Folk Music Awards Young Performer of the Year; http://www.myspace.com/beatonemma

Wes Corbett (banjo) - has toured with Crooked Still, The Biscuit Burners, The Bee Eaters, and Laurie Lewis; www.myspace.com/wesleycorbett

Matt Arcara (guitar) - 2006 winner of Winfield's National Flat-picking Contest; "I find Matt to have a commitment to tone, rhythmic integrity, and a general attention to musical detail that is rare in acoustic musicians his age." - Darol Anger

Jacob Jolliff (mandolin) - has shared the stage with David Grisman and Mike Marshall and been on 13 albums (including Tone Poets) www.myspace.com/jacobjolliff

Bridget Kearney (bass) - 2006 Grand Prize Winner in The John Lennon Songwriting Contest www.myspace.com/bridgetband

TICKETS: $18/advance, $20/day of show

www.joykillssorrow.com
www.myspace.com/joykillssorrowmusic

May 1st, 2010
Kathy Kallick Band

“A profound songwriter and expressive singer, San Franciscan Kathy Kallick is a mountain gal at heart. Her singing has always been earthy and passionate. As a songwriter, she knows how to pen beautiful impressionistic pieces with memorable contemporary messages. A troubadour and exquisite storyteller, (her) arrangements are tightly crafted, with each song given its own non-formulaic treatment.” —Joe Ross, BLUEGRASS NOW

Kathy Kallick has been leading bluegrass bands since 1975. She continues to evolve as one of the music’s extraordinary composers and vocalists, releasing 14 albums (which include over 100 of her original songs), receiving a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the California Bluegrass Association, winning a Grammy and two IBMA Awards for her part on “True Life Blues: The Songs Of Bill Monroe,” having three title tracks and albums -- “Call Me A Taxi,” “Walkin’ In My Shoes,” and “Warmer Kind Of Blue” -- each spend close to a year in the upper echelon of the Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass Survey (“the charts”), and collaborating with some of the country’s top acoustic musicians — including her current band: Tom Bekeny (mandolin), Dan Booth (acoustic bass), Greg Booth (dobro, banjo), and Annie Staninec (fiddle). Everyone harmonizes; Dan, Tom, and Annie each sing a lead or three during the show; and Greg, Annie, and Tom lead the band through sizzling instrumentals.

Hot bluegrass and cool originals, indeed.

TICKETS: $18/advance, $20/day of show

www.kathykallick.com