Our friend and neighbor has a spare ticket for the show tonight in Lexington. Is anyone interested in going tonight with the three of us?? Let me know asap! Ruth Ruth A. Ryals 115 Upland Rd. Cambridge, MA 02140 617-547-6453 617-834-4007 cell rryals@comcast.net From: bbuannounce-bounces@bbu.org [mailto:bbuannounce-bounces@bbu.org] On Behalf Of Katz, Gerry Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 7:56 AM To: NEBG; BBUAnnounce Subject: BBU Announce: Gibson Brothers and Spinney Brothers, Lexington, MA 01/15/11 The Gibson Brothers and The Spinney Brothers - In Concert on January 15th at the National Heritage Museum, Lexington, MA New Year's Greetings from The Boston Bluegrass Union - Close harmony singing, especially that of the brother duet, has been at the heart of bluegrass music since its inception. Hallowed names such as Monroe, Stanley, Delmore, Bullock, Louvin, Lilly, McRenolds, and many more contributed to the genre's distinctive sound. In its simplest form, the sound featured clean, precise singing, with one voice carrying the melody and the other harmonizing a third or fifth above, Instrumentation was a strummed guitar and mandolin playing rhythm on the offbeat. Ira and Charlie Louvin were likely the most commercially successful of these bands and had a profound impact on the history of popular music. Many of the songs they wrote and recorded during the 1940s and 1950s, such as "I Don't Believe You've Ever Met My Baby", and "When I Start Dreaming", became big country hits and part of the repertoires of singers such as Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons two decades later. The brother duet form went on to influence the way popular music was to develop. Ricky Skaggs claims that the Monroe Brothers had "the greatest influence on twentieth-century music". This bold statement starts to hold some water when he goes on to explain: "the Monroe Brothers influenced the Louvin Brothers, the Louvin Brothers influenced the Everly Brothers, the Everly Brothers influenced John Lennon and Paul McCartney..." from World Music, the Rough Guide. Raised in a rural farming community in the unlikely locale of upstate New York, Eric and Leigh Gibson have been performing under The Gibson Brothers banner for nearly two decades, blending classic bluegrass influences with their own contemporary sensibilities and perspectives. Their dynamic, harmonious vocal interplay and irrepressible wit, matched with the instrumental prowess of the brothers (Eric on banjo, Leigh on guitar) and their band (Mike Barber on bass, Clayton Campbell on fiddle, and Berklee-trained Joe Walsh on mandolin), has put them among the most beloved bands in bluegrass today. Their past five albums have all reached the coveted #1 position on the Bluegrass Unlimited charts, and they have received three awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association, including 2010's Song of the Year and Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year awards for "Ring the Bell," the title track to their most recent release on Compass Records. They recently began recording a new album, to be released in 2011, joined by such special guests as Ricky Skaggs and Claire Lynch. Quick with a joke and as likely to dust off a Tom Petty tune or a self-penned classic, the Gibson Brothers is a refreshing, energizing band that epitomizes the very best in modern bluegrass. Allan and Rick Spinney (guitar and banjo, respectively), joined by Gary Dalrymple on mandolin and bassist Darryl Hebb, comprise The Spinney Brothers, hailing from the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada. Over eight albums and eighteen years, they have developed a sound that draws deeply from classic, first-generation bluegrass, yet is greatly informed by their Canadian heritage and the circumstances of their day-to-day lives. Their commitment to original material gives their music a personal edge that both intrigues and carefully expands the boundaries of the music, and their duo singing is powerfully dynamic and tight. The result is resonant, classically-styled bluegrass of the first order, marked by unusual and moving themes drawn from the Spinney Brothers' own unique vantage point. After many years, they've just started to perform full-time, so you can look to see them join the top ranks of bluegrass acts. I hope you'll join the BBU on January 15th for what will be a great evening of music featuring two of the finest "Home Team" bands to emerge from the Northeast in many years. Additional details on the concert and online ticket purchase at www.bbu.org Best, Gerry Here are some video clips for your enjoyment - - The Gibson Brothers talk about their forthcoming album 'Help My Brother' <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0orc4eF3i40> , due out on Compass Records in 2011. Spinney Bros - Gravel in Your Shoes <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzynelL3HwE> Spinney Bros - When the Angels Come for Me <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HE1hSR7J5I> Louvin Brothers I Don <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0J1ihi_zhY&feature=related> 't Believe You've Met My Baby Jim and Jesse <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbseEQtgftg&feature=related> - When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Stanley Brothers, The - How Mountain Gals Can Love <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr0Meuug0IA&feature=related> Finally, Tickets for the 26th Joe Val Bluegrass Festival are on sale now. Early Bird ticket discount ends on January 15th. Full lineup and festival details at www.bbu.org