News

Flamekeeper to tour Germany this winter

We're excited to announce that we'll be touring Germany this December! So far we've got ten shows scheduled, starting December 3 in Reutlingen and ending on the 18th in Shaffhausen. This will be the band's first overseas tour and we're really looking forward to it. More dates in Germany and possibly other European countries are planned, so stay tuned. For information on the dates scheduled so far check our tour page.

Saturday, May 1, show in Tennessee canceled

We've just learned that the promoter of this Saturday's "Pickin' at the Patch" event in Taft, Tennessee, has canceled the show due to thunderstorms and rain in the forecast. We were looking forward to playing this show, and we're very sorry for any inconvenience the cancelation has caused. We're playing in both Chattanooga and Sparta, Tennessee, later this year so we hope you can make it to one of those shows.

Flamekeeper in the studio

We've posted a few pictures by Kimberly Williams from our recording stint last week at Hilltop Studios in Nashville. Check them out on the photo page. We don't have a title for the project yet, but are working toward a fall release on Rounder Records. Once again Steve Chandler is at the board and Jeff White is producing. This CD will have more original tunes than the band's previous CD -- one each by Jesse Brock, Jessie Baker and Marshall, and five by Tom. We think you'll like 'em! Stay tuned for more news as we get further along...

Flamekeeper chosen as showcase band for IBMA 2010

We're excited to announce we have been selected as one of the 19 official showcase bands for the International Bluegrass Music Association's 'World of Bluegrass' conference this fall in Nashville. The conference runs from September 27 to October 3 at the Nashville Convention Center / Renaissance Hotel downtown, and it's a great time for everybody. We hope to see you there! For more information visit the the IBMA's web site.

Snowed out Raleigh show rescheduled for March 21

Our Jan. 31 performance at the Pinecone Winter Music Festival in Raleigh, N.C., postponed due to a snowstorm, has been rescheduled for Sunday, March 21. We play from 3 to 4 p.m. followed by Dale Ann Bradley and Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. Tickets bought for the January show will be honored. For information visit this link or call 919-664-8333. Also on that web page is a link to purchase tickets online or you may call 919-664-8302.

Venue change for Berklee lecture-demo

Our show at the Berklee School of Music on Thursday, Feb. 11 has been moved a few blocks to The Red Room at Cafe 939 (cafe939.com) at 939 Boylston St., Boston, Mass. Same 2pm-4pm time. Still free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

Jan. 31 Raleigh, N.C., show postponed due to inclement weather

Our show today (Sunday, Jan. 31) at the PineCone Winter Music Festival in Raleigh, N.C., has been postponed due to inclement weather. Please visit the festival's website for further information. Again, we're sorry for the inconvenience.

Asheville show canceled due to inclement weather

Tonight's show at the Grey Eagle in Asheville, N.C., has been canceled due to inclement weather. Ticketholders please visit the Grey Eagle's website for refund information. We're sorry for the inconvenience.

Flamekeeper at Berklee

As part of our weekend in Boston next month for the Joe Val Memorial Bluegrass Festival, we'll be doing a concert and question-and-answer session at the Berklee School of Music in downtown Boston, Mass., on Thursday, February 11. It runs from 2-4 p.m. at the David Friend Recital Hall, 921 Boylston St., Boston. This event is free and open to the public -- no ticket required, but seating is limited to about 200 people. We hope to see you there!

Upcoming shows; master classes at Joe Val

Howdy folks, and welcome to 2010! We kicked off the year with a really fun show earlier this month in Berryville, Virginia -- almost in Marshall's back yard -- and later this month Mike and Marshall will join a bunch of folks for the Pickin' a Bluegrass All Star Jam in Stillwater, Oklahoma. That's followed by shows at the end of the month in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, then Asheville and Raleigh, North Carolina. Check the tour page for details.

In February we head to Nashville for a show at The Station Inn, then to the Boston area over Presidents' Day weekend for the Joe Val Memorial Bluegrass Festival. While we're at that festival, Mike, Jesse Brock and Marshall will be giving day-long master classes on Friday, February 12. For times, prices and other info visit the festival website.

We look forward to seeing as many of you as we can this year, so whether you're a new friend or old, stop by the record table and say hi. We wish everybody a happy and healthy new year and we'll see you down the road!

Jessie Baker featured on WAMU's Bluegrass Country

Starting today at 6 pm, WAMU's Bluegrass Country Special Program will feature a conversation with Flamekeeper's Jessie Baker about his solo project, "Yessir!," on Patuxent Records. Also featured are excerpts from an in-studio performance by Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper recorded in August. The show will run for two weeks and will be broadcast Sundays at 6 pm, Mondays at 9 pm, Tuesdays at 6 am, Wednesdays at 12 pm, Thursdays at 5 am, Fridays at 3 am, and Saturdays at 3 am. All times are Eastern.

WAMU's Bluegrass Country can be heard in the Washington, DC, area on HD radio at 88.5-Channel Two, on 105.5 FM and online around the world at www.bluegrasscountry.org.

Atlanta-area events November 19

For those of you within shouting distance of Atlanta, especially fans of the banjo, mark November 19 on your calendar. Starting at 5 pm at the Banjo.com retail store in Marietta, Jessie Baker will give a banjo workshop, followed by a mini-concert by Mike and the band, followed by a chance to meet the band members. The events at Banjo.com conclude at 6:30 pm, then the band will head to the Red Light Cafe in Atlanta for a full show starting at 9 pm.

The Banjo.com events cost $25. For tickets or information visit this link or call 770-874-0304.

Song of the Mountains taping

Join Flamekeeper, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, and Williams & Clark Expedition at the Lincoln Theater in Marion, Virginia, on November 7 for a live show that will be recorded for later broadcast on public television. It should be a great show! For information visit songofthemountains.org or call 276-783-6093.

IBMA Photos

Howdy folks. We've posted a few photos from last week's IBMA Awards Show over on the photos page. Have a look!

Flamekeeper wins five IBMA awards

It was a banner night at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards in Nashville as the band took home five trophies, highlighted by a third consecutive Instrumental Group of the Year award. Mike won his seventh Fiddle Performer of the Year award in the past nine years, one short of the record eight held by Stuart Duncan.

Mike and Jesse won Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year for "Jerusalem Ridge," a high-energy fiddle-and-mandolin duet that appeared on last year's Leavin' Town CD.

Jesse himself took home his first Mandolin Performer of the Year award, and Marshall won his first Bass Performer of the Year award.

The winners are selected by the professional members of the IBMA. The awards show was held at the historic Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville, and featured performances by many of the nominees, including Flamekeeper.

Congratulations to all the guys, and thanks to the IBMA members and to all of you who come to our shows and listen to our music!

IBMA week update

We're looking forward to the IBMA World of Bluegrass next week and are getting our schedule set. Here's what we have so far, and we'll post anything new as it comes up. For information about World of Bluegrass and tickets to Fan Fest or the IBMA Awards Show, please visit this page. If you'll be in Nashville next week we'd love to meet you!

• The Station Inn, 402 12th Avenue South, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 9 pm, $12
• IBMA Awards Show Performance, Thursday, Oct. 1, 7:30 pm. A separate ticket is required.
• IBMA Fan Fest, Friday, Oct. 2, 12:45 pm to 1:10 pm. Tickets available at the festival.

Flamekeeper to perform at IBMA Awards Show

We're happy to announce that Mike and the band will perform at next month's IBMA Awards Show in Nashville! Flamekeeper will join The Dan Tyminski Band, Dailey & Vincent, comedian, actor and banjo player Steve Martin, and others at the October 1 show at the historic Ryman Auditorium. The band is nominated for six awards this year. The awards show is part of the week-long World of Bluegrass convention and festival held each fall. For more information visit the IBMA's web site.

Flamekeeper on WAMU's Bluegrasscountry.org

Mike and the band stopped by the studios of WAMU in Washington, D.C., last week for a taping of The Katy Daley show that will air Monday, August 24 at 9 am EDT. The band talked with Katy and played some songs from their Rounder CD Leavin' Town. Check it out at bluegrasscountry.org (link).

Flamekeeper nominated for six IBMA awards

The reigning Instrumental Group of the Year and Fiddle Player of the Year, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, are final nominees in six categories for 2009 International Bluegrass Music Association awards. Congratulations guys! The band is nominated as Instrumental Group of the Year, after having won the award in 2007 and 2008, and Instrumental Performance for "Jerusalem Ridge" from their 2008 Rounder Records release Leavin' Town, a duet featuring Mike Cleveland and Jesse Brock. Both Mike and Jesse are also nominated as Fiddle Performer and Mandolin Performer respectively. Marshall Wilborn is nominated as Bass Performer, and Flamekeeper's newest member Tom Adams is nominated as Print Media Person for his long-time monthly column for Banjo Newsletter, a monthly magazine for banjo players. The award winners will be announced October 1 in Nashville. For a complete list of the nominees visit the IBMA web site.

Tom Adams joins Flamekeeper

Award-winning bluegrass veteran Tom Adams has joined Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper as guitarist and singer and will debut with the band next month in Henderson, Kentucky. Tom and Mike previously played together with both Rhonda Vincent and Dale Ann Bradley, and the duo recorded the IBMA-award-winning "Live at the Ragged Edge" in 2004. Tom also has played with Marshall Wilborn in the Johnson Mountain Boys and The Lynn Morris Band. The reunion has all of the band members excited. "Tom Adams is one of the most incredible musicians I've ever had the opportunity to play with," says Mike Cleveland. "It is going to be so awesome to work with him again after all these years." Tom will play his first show with Flamekeeper on August 7 at Bluegrass in the Park in Henderson, Kentucky, followed by Stringtime in the Smokies in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and a hometown show for Tom, the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival in Pennsylvania. For a complete list of show dates visit our tour page. Check out Tom's bio here.

Band in the Running for nine IBMA Awards

After the second of three ballots for this fall's International Bluegrass Music Association awards, Flamekeeper is in the running in nine categories. It's the most ever for the band. Look for the final nominations next month, with the awards handed out October 1 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. This year is the 20th year for the awards show -- should be a good one! Here's a list of the band's nominations:

• Entertainer of the Year
• Instrumental Group of the Year
• Song of the Year for "Leavin' Town"
• Album of the Year for "Leavin' Town"
• Instrumental Recorded Performance for "Jerusalem Ridge"
• Instrumental Recorded Performance for "Northern White Clouds"
• Banjo Player of the Year -- Jessie Baker
• Bass Player of the Year -- Marshall Wilborn
• Fiddle Player of the Year -- Michael Cleveland
• Mandolin Player of the Year -- Jesse Brock

Flamekeeper on the Opry Saturday; discounted tickets available

The band is looking forward to finishing up a swing through Tennessee with an appearance Saturday night at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Fans who want to see the show in person can use the discount code WEBFAN for $3 off tickets to the Opry. Tickets may be purchased at www.opry.com or by calling 800-SEE-OPRY.

Flamekeeper to perform at International Bluegrass Music Museum

As part of the 8th Annual Bluegrass Returns to Its Roots festival in Owensboro, Kentucky, this Friday April 3, Mike and the band will perform and meet fans at the International Bluegrass Music Museum. The 2 pm concert in the museum's theater is free with the purchase of a weekend pass to Bluegrass Returns To Its Roots. Otherwise museum admission is $5 for adults, $2 for students, and free for children 6 and under. Admission to the concert is included with a museum ticket. Bluegrass Returns to Its Roots takes place at RiverPark Center in Owensboro, the same complex that houses the museum.

At the festival, Flamekeeper will perform at 4:40 pm and 7:30 pm Friday, April 3. That same day Mike will conduct a fiddle workshop at 11 am and Flamekeeper bandmate Jesse Brock will host a mandolin workshop at noon. For more information visit the websites of RiverPark Center and the International Bluegrass Music Museum.

Bluegrass Radio Network names "Kickin' Back" a top song of 2008

"Kickin' Back," a Jesse Brock instrumental from our latest Rounder Records CD "Leavin' Town," was chosen one of the top songs of 2008 by Bluegrass Radio Network. Check out the full list here.