"Sad is Not Forever"

"Sad is Not Forever" was written by Dr. Kari Groff, Chris Eldridge and Kristin Andreassen. It's part of an album they have been working on for children that addresses common mental health issues through music (Kari is a child psychiatrist...). Kristin believes the music will speak to kids of ALL ages but for now they're calling it children's music.

If they win, they get to compete nationally and sing another original children's song on NPR's Mountain Stage radio show!




Vote

Jumping Through Hoops members include Kari Groff-Denis, MD, Kristin Andreaasen, Chris Eldridge, David Moore, Paul Kowert, Charlie Shaw, Aaron Lewis, Joe Costa, Rob Hecht, Larry Toto, Stephanie Coleman, Hilary Hawke, Jared Engel, Cassie Jenkins, Brad Einhorn, Jefferson Hamer, Joel Wennerstrom, Michael Riddleberger, "The Hokes" featuring the P-squares on electric guitars, Mystery Man on bass, Coach Buster on drums, and their buddy on vocals, singing the hit song "Bully This!"

From Sam Bush

Hello!
I hope this finds all of you doing well!

I am writing to share a great Rolling Stone article with you in which Sam and Del McCoury weigh in on new bluegrass acts - Enjoy!

The New Bluegrass: 5 Acts to Watch

Feel free to comment here and at the Rolling Stone site. What a cool piece!

The Notlob connection?

Kristin Andreassen has appeared twice (once, as a part of Sometymes Why, on June 2, 2007 and once as a solo feature (with Laura Cortese, occasional Uncle Earl bassist), on February 9, 2008).

Uncle Earl segment

Full article

Way to go, G'earls!

Uncle Earl

Sound: Uncle Earl are a rarity in the bluegrass scene: an all-female quartet that adds Irish-style "clogging" to their live show and occasionally sing in Mandarin Chinese. Their latest record, Waterloo Tennessee, is their most ambitious yet, mixing traditional fiddle-powered jams ("Black-Eyed Susie") and rich four-part harmonies with countrified covers of classics (Bob Dylan's "Wallflower") and old-time ho-downs ("One True"). "We try to make songs that have a pop groove," says Andreassen. "So we'll trade up instruments a lot more than your typical old-time band."

Story: Uncle Earl had only been performing on the folk-music circuit for five months in 2006 when they scored an unlikely fan: Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, who caught the band's live set at the Rock Grass Festival in Colorado that summer. "We didn't have enough songs to play so we looked into the crowd for people who could jam with us," says Andreassen. "John was there and we were like, 'Come on up and play mandolin!' " Soon after, Uncle Earl headed into the studio to cut Waterloo, with Jones as a producer. "He wasn't trying to make us into a rock band," says Andreassen. "He acted more like a coach and made us feel confident."

Key Track: "Wish I Had My Time Again," a breezy, amped-up lament about doing time in the slammer.

Expert Opinion: "Those girls are really great musicians," says McCoury, who shared a bill with the group last summer in Cape Cod. "They're a cross between old-time music and bluegrass, you know? It's unusual, but I tell you they're doing it right."

Cover Lay Down covers Notlob

Joshua Farber has a nice shout-out in this morning's edition of "Cover Lay Down".

Those living in the Boston area would be well advised to keep an eye on the Notlob concert series, which is featuring many folks from this scene this year: Hannah Read will perform with the Folk Arts Quartet on April 11; both Emma Beaton and the Boston Boys, which feature some of the Berklee Bluegrass crowd, will appear on May 9.

Read the entire article here in a larger piece about local musicians (and Notlob alumna Kristin Andreassen, Ruthy Merenda, Aoife O'Donovan, Hanah Read, Emma Beaton and Eilen Jewell), as well as a call out of David Massengill, also a Notlobber.

Kristin Andreassen on "A Prairie Home Companion"

Kristin has graced the Notlob stage twice, once as a part of Sometymes Why (2/07) and once as a solo feature (6/08).

Please tune into "A Prairie Home Companion" for a real treat!

p.s. Keep your eyes and ears open for "Spongy Cactus", her new new/bluegrass project with Jefferson Hamer.

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Hey everybody! I'm sitting here at the St. Paul Hotel in Minnesota and I'm super excited to play on A Prairie Home Companion for the next two nights. Here's the deal:

Friday, November 21 • 7:30pm
Live theater show -- not broadcast for radio, but you can come if you're here!

Saturday, November 22 • 5pm
Theater show & live radio broadcast.
See www.prairiehome.org for a complete list of radio stations and times.

Both shows are here:
The Fitzgerald Theater
10 East Exchange Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
Tickets & info: 651-290-1195; www.prairiehome.org

I'll be joined by my good friends Jefferson Hamer (guitar), Emma Leahy-Good (pattycake) & Bryn Davies (bass, oh yeah)