Live at RockyGrass: Michael Daves & Friends

Fri, 09/08/2017 - 4:22pm
Written by ArtistWorks

michael daves rockygrass 2016

We started rolling out all the great footage of Michael Daves' set at RockyGrass last summer. We recently posted a great version of "June Apple" and "The Dirt That You Throw", both of which appear on Michael's album Orchids and Violence. After that we added "Elzic's Farewell", "It's Been a Good Year for the Roses", "Drunken Hiccups" and "Stargazer". 

Update: we just added "Dark Angel", which is a duet with Michael Daves and Brittany Haas. This set also features Noam Pikelny, Mike Bub and Dominick Leslie. You can find it all the +Music section of the Learn area!

Bluegrass All-Stars Live at RockyGrass

Fri, 09/08/2017 - 2:44pm
Written by ArtistWorks

bluegrass allstars live at rockygrass

Good News: We have some exclusive new videos for anyone in our bluegrass schools. It's the ArtistWorks Bluegrass All Stars performing live at RockyGrass 2016!

The two songs are played back to back: "The Puppy Belly Dance" and "Fox Chase". We also uploaded their performance of "State Line".  There's a fun impromptu dueling guitar portion between Michael Daves and Bryan Sutton in that one, very entertaining! After that Mike Block leads the gang in "Johnny B. Goode".  Next we have their performance of "Chief Sitting in the Rain". For anyone who plays mandolin, Mike Marshall teaches a great version of this in his school. 

We added "I'm Blue, I'm Lonesome", a classic bluegrass tune that Bill Monroe wrote with Hank Williams a long time ago. Michael Daves teaches how to sing both the lead and tenor vocal parts in multiple keys in his intermediate curriculum for those interested in adding this to your jam list. 

Next we added another classic: "Way Downtown" by Doc Watson*. It's sung here by Bryan Sutton and Michael Daves in this lively performance. For the fiddlers out there, Darol Anger teaches this tune in his Beginner and Intermediate curriculum. For Mandolin pickers, Mike Marshall teaches this in his Beginner curriculum.

Then Darol Anger kicks off a great fiddle tune titled "Cherokee Shuttle". There's some fantastic soloing by Darol, Mike, Tony, Bryan and Andy in this installment and another all around team effort from the All Stars as they rock another tune with only minutes of prep time before taking it live to a full house. Next we added the classic "John Hardy" - don't miss it!

Update: Thought the show was over? Not yet! After the crowd erupted in cheers and a standing ovation, the begging for one more tune convinced the Bluegrass All Stars return to the stage for this awesome encore performance of "Deep Ellum Blues" lead by Andy Hall on vocals (who also teaches this tune in his Intermediate Dobro lessons). 

You can find all this great exclusive content +Music section of the Learn area!

Bryan Sutton & Michael Daves: Special Guest Interview

Mon, 04/03/2017 - 4:38pm
Written by ArtistWorks

bryan sutton michael daves interview

Good News: we just put up a new 5 part interview/jam series with Bryan Sutton and Michael Daves. Bryan happened to be touring through the NY area and dropped into Michael Daves' home studio for some shop talk and blazing bluegrass duets! You can find it all in the +Music section in the Learn area...

Michal Daves Interviews Rhonda Vincent

Mon, 03/13/2017 - 5:14pm
Written by ArtistWorks

Rhonda Daves with Michael Daves

We've added another great interview we recorded backstage with Michael Daves at RockyGrass 2016. This time it's a session with "the Queen of Bluegrass," Rhonda Vincent.  

Rhonda is a fifth-generation musician who's been into music since she was five, getting her start singing gospel songs in the family band. Since then she's played with high profile recording artists like Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson, Tanya Tucker, Joe Diffie and more. Learn all about Rhonda's start as a Bluegrass musician as well as some great stories. They also jam on three tunes together, and it sounds amazing as you can imagine. Find it all in the Learn area or just click here!