Page 1
Copyright © Central Texas Bluegrass Association
Volume 32, No. 4 April, 2010
By Tom Duplissey
Central Texas Bluegrass is a proud to co-sponsor The 23rd Annual Old Settler‟s Music Festival
(OSMF) at Camp Ben McCullough this year. OSMF is the largest and most enjoyed festival in the Cen-
tral Texas area that has a reputation of featuring some of the finest bluegrass acts. This year is no excep-
tion. The lineup is incredible! The flyer lists all of the
acts but just check out the list of the “bluegrass acts” at
OSMF this year. This list alone dwarfs any bluegrass
festival in Texas.
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band
Blue Highway
The Travelin‟ McCourys
Green Mountain Grass
Alison Brown w/Joe Craven
Infamous Stringdusters
Bearfoot
The Special Consensus
Blue Highway comes to us from Rounder Records
having just released their milestone CD “Some Day:
The Fifteenth Anniversary Collection”. It‟s hard to
find a band in any genre with five truly gifted song-
writers. It is a remarkable achievement to last sixteen
years, let‟s hope they keep it going!
The Infamous Stringdusters are some of the most talented musicians you will ever see on one stage.
One other secret: Don‟t be surprised to find them jamming until the roosters crow.
If you have never seen Doyle Lawson then be prepared to get a lesson in the foundation of bluegrass.
Peter Rowan represents what Pete Wernick referred to as “the long hair” of bluegrass. Both of these
bands are from different ends of the bluegrass spectrum but both will blow you away. „
Hopefully Alison Brown will give another banjo workshop. You don‟t have to be a banjo player to get
an education in technique and elegance in performance from her workshops. Alison often uses a piano
and drummer in her bluegrass band, the outcome is impressive.
Expect to see Greg Cahill teaching a banjo workshop too. Special Consensus played ArtZ Rib House a
while back and they were fantastic. Greg has one of the most solid bass players I have ever heard.
You can always find plenty of jamming in the Camp Ben camping area. Be forewarned that in previ-
ous years you had to have a camping wristband to get into the camping area. Sorry, there is no place to
jam near the stage areas. So if jamming is your thing, plan to buy a camping pass.
Old Settler’s Music Festival April 15-18, 2010
Central Texas Bluegrass Association
Bluegrass Bulletin
Page 2
Copyright © Central Texas Bluegrass Association 2
Page 3
Copyright © Central Texas Bluegrass Association 3
Randall’s Good Neighbor Program The process to get this started is a bit of a pain, but it makes donating to
CTBA, your local schools, or your favorite organizations very, very
easy. Just go to the link below, print the form and fill it out, enter
CTBA‟s code 9735, and take to your local Randall‟s store:
http://shop.safeway.com/corporate/randalls/gn_houston_austin.pdf
LISTEN TO BLUEGRASS ON THE RADIO KOOP Radio, Austin, 91.7, Strictly Bluegrass Show 10:00AM every Sunday
KPFT Radio, Houston, 90.1, The Bluegrass Zone, 4:00PM every Sunday
KSYM Radio, San Antonio, 90.1, Hillbilly Hit Parade, Noon every Sunday
KEOS Radio, College Station, 89.1, High Lonesome, 7:00PM every Tuesday
Page 4
Copyright © Central Texas Bluegrass Association 4
Artist Profile Page
This month: Dan Huckabee By Tom Duplissey
A few weeks ago I noticed that there was some new mandolin instructional
material out there by none other than Dan Huckabee. I had met Dan in the
70‟s when both of our bands were playing the dreaded Chelsea St. Pub cir-
cuit. He was playing with Joe Carr and Gerald Jones at the time. Dan was an
extraordinary dobro player and he had begun developing instructional mate-
rial during the early 70‟s at a time when there weren‟t many books and no video available. Shucks, Beta
didn‟t come out until 1974 and by the time it caught on VHS was replacing it. As a result, instructors
like Dan were forced to go from vinyl to cassette then to CD, Beta to VHS then DVD. Dan casually said
that he loses three years of productivity every time the media standards change.
After seeing Dan‟s material on Amazon I sent him an email to see if he would be interested in talking
with Central Texas Bluegrass about all the things he is working on now. Dan is a very likable guy and
immediately wanted to show me his latest submission to Flatpicking Guitar Magazine. I had to step over
a real fine old 1951 D-28 Martin to get to where we could see the computer screen.
Tell us about Musician’s Workshop. When did all get started?
I started Musician's Workshop in 1973 and we've been creating music instruction products continuously
ever since. When I started this business I was with the Allman Brothers. There was nothing to do dur-
ing the daytime before the tour started so I went across the street from the motel to the Cemetery and sat
around recording some dobro lessons on my battery powered cassette recorder. Later I went back to the
cemetery with Dickey (Betts) and he showed me the Elizabeth Reed headstone. I had been sitting there,
recording some lessons, in the same cemetery where he made up “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”. The
lessons have been on records, 8-track, cassettes, CD‟s, VHS, DVD and now on Download. Musician-
Workshop.com
Are there any new products in the works from Musicians Workshop?
Yes. We have several new mandolin products that were just released this week. Some are download-
able on the web site and the six newest are only available if you call (800) 543-6125. We now have
Texas Contest Fiddle Tunes for Mandolin, Easy Mandolin Song 2 Volumes, 6 Volumes of Intermediate
thru advanced songs, 2 Easy Gospel and 2 Intermediate Gospel, 2 Irish, 4 Fiddle Tunes for Mandolin
and more coming through the spring and summer. Each consist of 10 songs with book and CD. Each
tune is played fast, slow, and jam track along with a plain melody version. All the tunes are well thought
out to help your skills at developing a style and eventual improvising. They all have great mix-and-
match componentry.
I see that your web site has over 600 products. You have Greg Cahill, Chris Jones, John Carlini, Brad
Davis, Mark Maniscalco, and Robert Bowlin just to name a few. How do you decide which artists mate-
rial goes into Musician’s Workshop?
I guess just networking socially, the same way you'd meet friends to start a band with. I never really had
a procedure.
Page 5
Copyright © Central Texas Bluegrass Association 5
(continued from the previous page)
You won the 1976 National Dobro Championship but you have written instructional material for
mandolin, guitar, bass, and other instruments. Is guitar your primary instrument? ( Note: he
was just finishing his submission of “Big Spike Hammer” for the next issue of Flatpick Guitar
Magazine just when I arrived).
No, my current main instrument is Mandolin, the only time I play Guitar is when I write my column (in
Flatpick Guitar Magazine). I had the opportunity to go up to Colorado to see Sam Bush and visit with
Scott (Vestal, an old friend from the 70s). I had a chance to talk to Sam after the concert and he asked,
“Well, are you still dobro‟n it?” and I said, no, and he says “Well, why not?” and I said because I got
fingering envy…and he just roared. I guess us Dobro players just miss out on the things the rest of you
get to do with 4 fingers. So the Mandolin didn't weigh much and it seemed to be more playable in the
horizontal position.
I see on your web site that you are teaching lessons. Are you
actively taking new students?
Yes, and thoroughly enjoying it. If anyone is interested I can be
reached at [email protected] or 800-543-
6125. It's somewhat informal in that I don't require students
come every week and pay by the month. They just come in as often as they are ready and we take the
pace that fits their schedules.
What advice would you give to people interested in playing bluegrass music?
I think it boils down to the process of solo designing. Some people call it "working out your breaks." I
lecture about that a lot in my column in Flatpicking Guitar. If what they are doing is searching for the
melody and gradually adding a little embellishing to it, then they are doing exactly what every famous
star did. I'm self taught but I've had one lesson and it was from Jerry Douglas. I made a pilgrimage to
spend a week with him and his family while he was still in high school. He didn‟t teach me anything all
week but at the end he said, “you‟re a good dobro player, you just need to work out your breaks." And
so now, that I‟m back, that‟s what I do every day. I think if you name Tony Rice, Mark O‟Conner, Earl
Scruggs or any name, that‟s what they did.
On a personal note, what are your other hobbies? What do you like to do in your spare time?
My main hobby is Western Archery Hunting. Alaska, Colorado, archery hunting. Once a year I chase
Elk around the mountains to give them exercise and to warn them that firearm season is around the cor-
ner. I‟ve actually met all my hunting buddies through music.
“You’re a good dobro player, you just need to work out your breaks.”
Jerry Douglas to Dan
Help CTBA Restart our “Bluegrass In The Schools” program
Page 6
Copyright © Central Texas Bluegrass Association 6
Bluegrass Events
April 2010
2nd, Friday
7:00PM
7:00PM
8:30PM
8:30PM
Eddie Collins and the A List Players, House Concert, San Antonio, TX (see ad
in this newsletter)
Twangzilla, Green Mesquite. Austin, TX
The Carper Family, Driskill Hotel, Austin, TX
The Piney Grove Ramblers, ArtZ Rib House, Austin, TX
3rd, Saturday
7:0PM
Matt Downing, Patsy‟s Cowgirl Cafe, Austin, TX
4th, Sunday
11:00AM
11:30AM
Danny Santos Y Los Bluegrass Vatos, Threadgill‟s # 1 (North), Austin, TX
The Sieker Band, The Hill‟s Cafe, Austin, TX
Mondays
7-9PM
The Carper Family plays The Hole in the Wall (Happy Hour), Austin, TX
8th, Thursday
6:30PM
Bluegrass Open Mic w/Eddie Collins, New World Deli, Austin, TX
9th, Friday
7:00PM
The Piney Grove Ramblers, Green Mesquite, Austin, TX
10th, Saturday
7:00PM
7:00PM
Back Up and Push, Patsy‟s Cowgirl Cafe, Austin, TX
Lost Pines, Green Mesquite, Austin, TX
15-18th OLD SETTLER‟S MUSIC FESTIVAL, Driftwood, TX
16th, Friday
5:30PM
8:30PM
Randy‟s Rangers, Georgetown Winery, Georgetown, TX
The Carper Family, Driskill Hotel, Austin, TX
17th Saturday
8:00PM
Ranch Road 12, Fiddler‟s Green, Austin, TX (door $10)
24th Saturday
7:30PM
The Sieker Band, ArtZ Rib House
30th, Friday
8:30PM
The Carper Family, Driskill Hotel, Austin, TX
CTBA Sponsored Events
Page 7
Copyright © Central Texas Bluegrass Association 7
Educational Opportunities,
Workshops, Scholarships
Keep an eye on this area for information on SCHOLARSHIPS to be awarded this year
as well as instructions on how to apply. Scholarships cover tuition and on-site room and board for an aspiring Texas bluegrass musician to attend educational events.
Historically scholarships have covered sending young people to Camp Bluegrass, a one-week program given each summer at
South Plains College. Camp Bluegrass is noted for quality teaching and small classes in state of the art facilities.
http://www.centraltexasbluegrass.org/scholarship.html
Page 8
Copyright © Central Texas Bluegrass Association 8
Friday, April 2nd, 7:00 - 10:00
PM. San Antonio House Con-
cert . Austin‟s finest bluegrass
group, The “A” List Players,
will perform two sets of high-
powered grass. Eddie Collins
will host a jam session between
7:00 and 8:00 for anyone attend-
ing who wishes to get in some
pre-concert picking. Concert be-
gins at 8:00. Contact Tracy
Sloan [email protected] to
reserve a spot and get directions
to the concert. $15 suggested do-
nation. This will be as much fun
as you can have in San Antonio
and still be legal!
Page 9
Copyright © Central Texas Bluegrass Association 9
Page 10
Copyright © Central Texas Bluegrass Association 10
Austin Lounge Lizards Mike Drudge, agent (615) 262-6886 www.austinlizards.com
Back Up and Push Ben Hodges (512) 751-3086 [email protected]
Better Late Than Never Duane Calvin (512) 835-0342
Blacktop Bend George Rios (512) 619-8536 [email protected]
Blazing Bows Mary Hattersley (512) 873-8925
Bluegrass Vatos Danny Santos (512) 218-4141 danny@dannysantosmusic .com
Brian Byrne and Borrowed Time (512) 699-9251 [email protected]
BuffaloGrass Don Inbody (512) 295-6977 [email protected]
The Carper Family Jenn Miori (281) 682-8174 [email protected]
Cooper’s Uncle (512) 736-2664 [email protected]
Eddie Collins (512) 836-8255 www.eddiecollins.biz [email protected]
Grass Onions Band Jon Ricketts (512) 217-6437 [email protected]
The Grazmatics L. Wayne Ross (512) 303-2188
Howard Rains
(512) 577-0851
The Lost Pines Talia Sekons [email protected] www.lostpinesband.com
Manchaca All-Stars Ben Buchanan (512) 282-2756 manchacaallstars@ email.com
Out of the Blue Jamie Stubblefield (512) 295-5325 [email protected]
Piney Grove Ramblers Wayne Brooks (512) 699-8282 www.pgramblers.com
Randy’s Rangers Sigi Field (512) 869-8076
Rod Moag and Texas Grass Rod Moag (512) 467-6825 [email protected]
The Sieker Band Rolf & Beate Sieker (512) 733-2857 www.siekerband.com
Steelhead String Band Sharon Sandomirsky [email protected] (512) 619-8705
Two High String Band Geoff Union (512) 563-9821 [email protected]
The Wimberley Bunch Charlie & Sally Lewis (830) 899-7511
Local Bluegrass Bands
Sponsored by City of Early
Charlotte Parrack
325-646-8531 300 Early Blvd. #31
[email protected] Early, Texas
* CTBA also lists bands on the CTBA Web Site
Page 11
Copyright © Central Texas Bluegrass Association 11
AUSTIN Bluegrass Beginner/Intermediate JAM (CTBA Sponsored)
1st. & 3rd Thu. 7-9 PM, (call for location)
Contact: Steve Mangold (512) 345-6155
Bluegrass Beginner/Intermediate JAM (CTBA Sponsored)
2nd & 4th Sat 4-6 PM; Slow Jam starts at 2:00PM ArtZ Rib House
Contact: Steve Mangold (512) 345-6155
Bluegrass Intermediate/Advanced JAM (CTBA Sponsored)
Sunday’s 2-6PM, ArtZ Rib House, 2330 S. Lamar
Bluegrass All Levels JAM (CTBA Sponsored)
2nd & 4th Tuesdays 7-10PM, Fiddler’s Green Music (Barn in rear)
Contact: (512) 452-3900 www.fiddlersgreenmusicshop.com
Traditional Music All Levels JAM (AFTM Sponsored)
2nd Sunday 2-4 PM, ArtZ Rib House, 2330 S. Lamar
Contradance (AFTM Sponsored)
3rd Sat. 3501 Red River 7:30 to 11 pm, Cost: $7 Contact: (512) 453-8936
BELLVILLE Bluegrass All Levels JAM & SHOW (Spring Creek Club Sponsored)
Jan. thru Sept 4th Sat; 4pm JAM, 6:30 pm SHOW, Coushatte RV
Ranch
Contact: (979) 865-5250 [email protected] , RV’s welcome
BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION
Brazos Country Grass
Monday‟s 6-9PM, JJ. Cody‟s, 3610 S. College
Contact: www.brazoscountrygrass.com
FAYETTEVILLE Bluegrass All Levels JAM (Texas Pickin’ Park Sponsored)
2nd Sat, March—November, starts at 6 PM, on the Courthouse Square
Contact: [email protected] www.texaspickinpark.com
GARLAND Bluegrass All Levels JAM
Saturday, March- Nov, 7:30PM between Main & State St at 6th,
Contact:
HARWOOD Bluegrass/Swing/Country JAM & Stage Show (Pot Luck too!)
3rd Sat, 2-9 PM, 9 mi. E. of Luling, Hwy 90
Contact:
HOUSTON Bluegrass All Levels JAM (BABA Sponsored)
2nd Sat, 1-4 PM, April-November, Houston Railroad Museum, Contact: (713) 319-8906 www. houstonrrmuseum.org
LEAGUE CITY Bluegrass All Levels JAM & SHOW (BABA Sponsored)
3rd Sat: Jam 5 PM, Show 6:30 PM Jan- Nov.,
Contact: League City Civic Center, 300 W. Walker St. (281) 636-9419
PEARL JAM & SHOW,
1st Sat: Jam all day
Contact: Ronald Medart (254) 865-6013 www.pearlbluegrass.com
SAN ANTONIO Bluegrass Beginner/Intermediate JAM
2nd Thursday 7-9 pm at 6418 Ridgehurst,
Contact: Clifton Bowren (210) 602-5544 [email protected]
WIMBERLEY Bluegrass All Levels Jam
Fri 8-12 PM, Lane‟s Country Café Contact:
Editor: Jams that I have been to are in bold print. It’s a good idea to call ahead. Tell us about ones we’re missing.
ALL JAMS ARE ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS ONLY!!!
Strongly request you contact the jam host to ask for permission to bring an amplifier or PA system.
LISTENERS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND!!!
Area Jams and Shows
Merchandise & Advertising Rates
Ad Size Price
FULL PAGE $30.00
1/2 PAGE $15.00
1/4 PAGE $12.50
1/8 PAGE $10.00
CTBA’s Volume 2
$14.99 (includes shipping costs to anywhere
in the United States)
http://www.centraltexasbluegrass.org/
merchandise.html
Take $5.00 off if you are a business member. Copy deadline is the 15th of the month. Publication is on or about the 1st day
of the each month. Send electronic notices to: [email protected] Send payment to:
CTBA
PO BOX 9816
Austin, TX 78766
Advertisers assume liability for all content of advertisements and from any claims arising there from. We reserve the right to
reject advertising for reasons of space availability or publication standards.
Please join CTBA at http://www.centraltexasbluegrass.org/join.html if you are not already a member.
Page 12
Central Texas Bluegrass Association P.O. Box 9816
Austin, Texas 78766
To:
Central Texas Bluegrass Association Bluegrass Bulletin is
published by the Central Texas Bluegrass Association, a
501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Texas Non-profit Corporation. Con-
tributions are deductible as charitable and educational do-
nations. Work published in this Bulletin is used by permis-
sion of the writers, artists, and photographers, who retain
all copyrights. Tom Duplissey, Editor
Board Members:
Jami Hampton, President
Eddie Collins, Vice President,
Carrie Thielemann, Secretary
Sam Dunn, Treasurer
Billy Bright, Mike Hurlbut, Clay Levit, Tracy Sloan,
Janice Rogers, Rixi Rosenberg
THE CENTRAL TEXAS BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION IS A
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO PRO-
MOTE BLUEGRASS MUSIC IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
Our members range from listeners and lovers of blue-
grass music to world-class professional musicians who
all have the same desire: to promote the music.
CTBA provides a link between clubs, restaurants, and
other venues and Central Texas Bluegrass musicians.
CTBA sponsors jams, workshops, provides scholar-
ships to needy musicians, donates to other non-profit
organizations, supports radio stations that promote
bluegrass music & musicians, and provide festival ven-
ues for our listeners and fans of bluegrass music to en-
joy.
CTBA has several products to include T-shirts, hats,
banners, CD‟s, and much more. Our main sales event,
the CTBA Garage Sale, occurs generally after the July
4th weekend at ArtZ Rib House and includes a Band
Scramble. CTBA wants your tax-exempt donations of
instruments, CD‟s, DVD‟s, or other items we could
resell during the Garage Sale. KEEP ON PICKIN’
