I need a CD of New England Bluegrass

Subject: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: Celtaddict
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 12:13 AM

For a gift, I would really like to find a CD of a New England area bluegrass band, old-time style. Any suggestions?

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: GUEST,Lindsay
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 01:14 AM

You could try "The Bluegrass Hall Of Fame" which features various older performers. I don't know if it is available on CD. I bought it on cassette while on holiday in Florida in 1987 and when I got it home I was astonished to find "Made in GB" - still a good collection of songs and tunes though.

The other CD worth getting is "Sixteen Tons of Bluegrass" by Pete Stanley and Wizz Jones which was recently released by Rollercoaster Records. The original vinyl album was my introduction to Bluegrass while still at school in 1967/8 (Pete Stanley's cousin brought it into school, and I was hooked!) so I was very thrilled to find it had been released on CD

Hope this is of some help

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 04:47 AM

Pete & Wizz are hardly New England. London is in England and that's where these guys are from. I picked there with Pete the last two nights.

New England ? Try the late Joe Val albums on Rounder Records or The Charles River Valley Boys for starters.

Joe Val was excellent.

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 07:12 AM

Can't beat Joe Val.

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: bigchuck
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 07:21 AM

For more recent examples of NE bluegrass, look for CD's from The Bluegrass Gospel Project or Gopher Broke.

Sandy

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: Celtaddict
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 08:12 AM

Thanks! I ran across Joe Val's name on a compilation, on a search, because of the band name (New England Bluegrass Band or some such) but have not yet tracked down any other recordings; will try Dick Greenhaus. Any others? I know they are out there because I see gig announcements from time to time.

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: GUEST,Lindsay
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 08:21 AM

Yeah well of course I knew that my choices were not "New England" (wherever that is) - I was only trying to be helpful, which I thought was what this board is all about....?

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: SINSULL
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 08:30 AM

PM Kendall. He knows all the Bluegrass people in Maine and can make a few suggestions.
SINS

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: Vixen
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 08:52 AM

OK, here's some New England Bluegrass names, in no particular order:

Traver Hollow
Amy Gallatin and Stillwaters
Shady Creek
Blackstone Valley Bluegrass
Shore Grass
Grass Routes

Good luck!

V

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: Vixen
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 08:53 AM

I can get you a Shady Creek CD.

Grass Routes, Traver Hollow, Amy Gallatin, Blackstone Valley all have websites.

V

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 09:31 AM

The group Northern Lights is from New England too

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: Jeri
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 09:53 AM

There's The New England Bluegrass Band. I have their CD, and I enjoy it. Old styles, newer songs.

I bet that most New England grassers have been (and still are) influenced by Joe Val. I've heard so many people talk about him, seen his name on so many CDs from New England and beyond...

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: dwditty
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 10:08 AM

Shoregrass CD

In case the clicky does not work:

http://pages.cthome.net/the.shaws/shoregrass.htm#Our%20Debut%20CD!

Barbara Shaw has been a frequent contributor to Mudcat in the past, but I don't know if she still stops in.

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: Nerd
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 03:41 PM

Lindsay,

New England is a region of the US comprising Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine...am I forgetting any?

There is also a New England region in NSW, Australia, but it's small and pretty sparsely populated by comparison. Our Celtaddict was probably talking about the US one.

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 03:57 PM

What a nice surprise to be away for awhile and find this thread! Hey, dwditty, thanks for the post. Nice to know someone notices. Now, about New England bluegrass bands. The Boston Bluegrass Union maintains a fine site with lots of listings of regional bands:   

http://www.bbu.org/Band_List.htm

And as for bands in the past, Joe Val of course, but also the Lilly Brothers with Don Stover, who came from elsewhere (West VA?) but played at the Hillbilly Ranch in Boston for decades and have plenty of recordings still available.

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: Celtaddict
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 08:48 PM

Nerd, you are right, those six are considered New England.
Many thanks to everyone who has given me a concrete suggestion or specific name!!! (PMs and webbrowsing underway...)

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: Midchuck
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 09:51 PM

I used to see Joe Val a lot, in the mid-sixties, when I was in Law school and spent much more time at the Club 47 than I ought to of. He was with the Charles River Valley Boys, then. I think their classic recording, Beatle Country, is still available on CD.

Another fine NE BG band that I don't think anyone mentioned is Banjo Dan and the Mid-Nite Plowboys, out of northern VT.

Peter.

Subject: RE: I need a CD of New England Bluegrass
From: Celtaddict
Date: 01 Sep 04 - 08:46 PM

Thanks so much for all the suggestions, and especially the links, sites, and direct offers!
This quest is becoming fun.