Well, it’s a glorious “Indian summer” here in the Commonwealth, and the leaves are as beautiful as they’ve been in a long time. It’s been a wonderful and momentous year for our band, and we intend to celebrate it all this Saturday, October 27, with our last show of the year. That’s right: it’s the final installment of the Back Porch Sessions, our residency at RYE in downtown Louisville.
The free, all-ages show will feature a ridiculous lineup of very special musical guests, including one of the area’s most unique and talented electric guitarist-songwriters; a world-renowned drummer; one of the hottest young alt-rock bands around; and some righteous horns. We’ll all be joining forces for a gigantic ball of fun!
This series represents an effort to bring together talented and unique artistic voices for experimentation and collaboration, in a low-pressure, high-quality alternative setting.
It’s been co-curated and hosted by yours truly, and represents another humbling, thrilling achievement for our band in a year full of milestones. Other highlights include a well-received, widely played new album, Catch 23; performances at festivals and venues from North Carolina to Montana, including Rockygrass, ROMP, and the Master Musicians Festival; an official showcase at the IBMA conference in Nashville; a cameo spot in an upcoming film; and February’s sold-out show with the Del McCoury Band. Whew!
For this month’s event, the band will be playing at least a little on the Halloween theme, while going for a lively, fun vibe, complete with costume contest.
We’ve been joined throughout the series by Ben Sollee, Cheyenne Marie Mize, Jalin Roze, and Grammy-nominated fiddle player and composer, Casey Driessen, among others, and we’re expecting this show to be the biggest and best yet.
Music begins around 7pm, and coincides with a delicious feast, so come hungry! (Don’t worry, you’ll end up dancing it off later in the night!)
23sb update
Posted on July 10th, 2012 by Scott
We’re getting amped for our summer tour, which will take us to shows in seven states. It’s right around the corner! We’ll be kicking it off by headlining the Master Musicians Festival on Friday, July 20. It’s not too late to get tickets, so check out the awesome lineup and come say hey.
Before we depart Louisville, though, we’ve got our first Back Porch Session at RYE on Market coming up on Thursday, July 12. It’s a free, outdoor event (rain or shine). We’ve been working on new material to bust out, plus we have a surprise special guest lined up!
We had an awesome time at ROMP yet again! Thanks to everyone who came, and to the festival organizers and volunteers. As we told our mommas, thanks for having us.
Finally, here’s a couple videos from our performance at Woodsongs earlier this year. Enjoy!
ROMP instrument workshops
Posted on June 20th, 2012 by Scott
If you’re a picker (or bow-er) and you’re coming to ROMP (of course you are), be sure to check out Saturday’s instrument workshops…
2:30: Bass with T. Martin Stam (The 23 String Band) and Sam Grisman (The Deadly Gentlemen)
3:30: Mandolin with James Kee (NewTown), David Howard (The 23 String Band), and Dominick Leslie (The Deadly Gentlemen)
4:30: Fiddle with Kati Penn ( NewTown), Scott Moore (The 23 String Band), and Mike Barnett (The Deadly Gentlemen)
Residency: The Back Porch Sessions
Posted on June 20th, 2012 by Scott
The “Back Porch Sessions” at Rye this summer represent a bold new current within Louisville’s creative consciousness. The series of free, outdoor events, hosted by artist-in-residence The 23 String Band, will feature performances of brand new material and ambitious programming every month, with surprise appearances by special guests from among the ranks of music’s finest.
Functioning as a living sound laboratory, each Back Porch Session will create a platform for a creative confluence of sights, sounds, language, and movement. Listeners can expect a range of media and disciplines, with a down-home-art-punk aesthetic and an immersive, participatory vibe.
Started by Bob and Jean Cornett in 1974, the Festival of the Bluegrass is still in the family and remains one of the best Bluegrass Festivals in the country. Join us June 7-10 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. You’ll see some great bands, good people, and awesome weather. For more information check out http://www.festivalofthebluegrass.com
The 23 String Band on Woodsongs Radio Hour March 19, 2012
Posted on March 13th, 2012 by Dave
Please join us on March 19 in Lexington, KY for a live audience broadcast of the Woodsongs Radio Hour. This show will feature Kentucky Bluegrass music with Don Rigsby, Sugar Tree, Bawn in the Mash, and The 23 String Band.
Be part of the theater audience at the WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour. Doors open at 6:20 p.m. The audience must be seated by 6:45PM on Scheduled Shows at the historic Kentucky Theatre. Families and children are welcome. Michael often invites children on stage during the encore part of the show. Call early… most shows sell out.
Call the Reservation Hotline: 859-252-8888
General public: $10, with Student ID: $5
One Night Only, In Lexington, KY!
Posted on March 4th, 2012 by Dave
The 23 String Band is excited to return to the esteemed Lexington venue Cosmic Charlie’s, this time with the “explosively intoxicating” Holy Ghost Tent Revival! Doors at 9, show at 10. MARCH 9
This show is going to be intense. Let’s do this!
Rockygrass Lineup Announced
Posted on January 15th, 2012 by Dave
Please join us in Lyons, Colorado this July for one of the best summer festivals ever: Rockygrass!
The 40th anniversary lineup includes several unique only-at-RockyGrass sets including: a special bluegrass set from Bela Fleck featuring Danny Paisley and members of the Travelin’ McCourys – Ronnie McCoury, Jason Carter and Alan Bartram; and the return of the acoustic Sam Bush Bluegrass Band.
Announcing the preliminary lineup for the 40th Annual RockyGrass (July 27-29, 2012) in Lyons, CO…
* Sam Bush Bluegrass Band
* Bela Fleck w/ Alan Bartram, Jason Carter, Ronnie McCoury & Danny Paisley
* Tim O’Brien & Friends
* Seldom Scene
* Punch Brothers
* Peter Rowan
* Lonesome River Band
* Trampled by Turtles
* Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press
* The Infamous Stringdusters
* Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper featuring Dale Ann Bradley
* Jessie McReynolds & the Virginia Boys
* Chris Thile & Michael Daves
* Noam Pikelny & Friends
* Bluegrass Etc.
* The Hillbenders
* 23 String Band
* And more still to be announced…
Tickets for the 40th anniversary RockyGrass continue to sell at a record pace – well ahead of last year’s April sell-out. 3-day passes and camping are available now at www.bluegrass.com or 800-624-2422. Single-day tickets will be available later this winter after the announcement of the complete single-day lineup. Passes for the onsite campground sold-out via an online lottery in early December, while early-bird 3-day passes sold-out in the first hour of tickets going onsale on December 7.
Originally founded by Bill Monroe in collaboration with the Colorado Bluegrass Music Society, the festival moved to its current location at the Planet Bluegrass Ranch in Lyons in 1993. Compared with the larger Planet Bluegrass festival in Telluride, the 3,500-person RockyGrass remains focused on traditional bluegrass and its roots and branches.
The Planet Bluegrass Ranch is nestled in the foothills in the historic quarry town of Lyons, CO, midway between Boulder and Rocky Mountain National Park. The North St. Vrain River flows through the festival grounds just feet from the main stage, with red rock cliffs and mature Cottonwoods surrounding the property. With its burgeoning year-round music community, the small town of Lyons is “quietly becoming the Nashville of the Rockies” (NPR’s All Things Considered).
Great news, friends! The 23 String Band will return to Headliners Music Hall on Saturday February 25 for the WFPK Winter Fundraiser featuring Del McCoury Band. Doors @ 8:00pm. $20 advanced. $25 Day of show. 18 & over. You will want buy tickets in advance for this one… You can get them here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/online/performanceSearch.jsp?performance_id=1580018
“…a revival of sorts, moving the music to the modern era without losing the soul.”
–Brian Bourgoin, WCNI Radio
“A tantalizing new Americana release from a talented group of musicians, Catch 23 covers a lot of roots territory with a little something for everyone.”
–Frank Hoppe, KCSN Radio
“Kentucky bluegrass. Edgy. And well done.”
–WESU Radio
“This fuel injected project just made a lasting mark on the West Coast radio scene. Their up front style grabs you and won’t let you go until you have listened to the entire project. While listening to Catch 23, you never know what’s coming next. Whether it is the awesome instrumental work, the superb song selection, or the unique singing, it all fits together like a favorite sweater. It was necessary for me to play this project several times in order to get the full impact of this fine work of art. It just overwhelms you.”
–Al Shusterman, KCBL Radio
Louisville album release party announced!
Posted on August 12th, 2011 by Scott
Oh yeah! Tickets are now on sale for our Louisville release party — and it’s definitely gonna be a party. How much of a party? You’ll just have to come and see for yourself…
The 23 String Band
with special guest, Johnny Berry & The Outliers
Friday, September 16
Headliners Music Hall
Doors at 8:00, music at 9:00
We’ve won the band competition at RockyGrass in Lyons, CO! We’ll be performing on the main stage in 2012. How about that?!?
New videos posted
Posted on July 9th, 2011 by Scott
The new album is done! Catch 23 will ship this week, and we’re lining up details for an awesome album release party. In the meantime, there are some recent videos up on YouTube featuring some of the new songs — as well as this one from the first album:
