We’ve just completed the 5th Annual Targhee Bluegrass Camp. A great time had by all and instructors - Mike Marshall, Brian Wicklund, Danny Barnes, Eric Thorin, Mollie O’Brien, Tyler Grant and Ivan Rosenberg - all delivered. Students had a blast jamming, learning, playing music on the summit of Targhee and on the main stage too. Once the festival began in earnest, I was busy performing with the Fishing Music band, Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore, and Brother Mule.

I’ve been busy in the studio too, having recently produced a cd for Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore which should be hitting the shelves (and my store!) soon. Also a new one by the Random Canyon Growlers and a compilation for our Teton Regional Land Trust. Currently mixing a fiddle cd for Brian Wicklund’s new band, the Barley Jack’s.

Then its off to England for a Sept tour with Brother Mule.

In response to the Gulf Oil Spill I was driven to write & record this the other day.
Memphis Minnie’s “What’s the Matter with the Mill” was calling for a re-write.
While I encourage you to share this, learn this and sing this, mostly I just hope the song becomes obsolete…

check it out here on youtube, or listen to it as the song of the month

Jeff Newsom & Friends: The Henhouse Tapes, is now available. Jeff is an amazing bluesman, singer, harmonica player, rock climber, carpenter, telescope builder, prankster and Driggs icon. He has played and sung with a wide range of folks including Rick Danko, the Holmes Brothers, Brother Mule, Mike Dowling, Derrik & the Dynamoes and many, many others. A great sampling of Jeff’s  breadth as a performer, this cd is a compilation of  studio  cuts that Jeff  tracked at the Henhouse and live  tracks  from various  gigs.  It features a large cast of  supporting  musicians, including Mike Dowling, Tony  Furtado, Ben  Winship,  Derrik Hufsmith and many more. 100% of the proceeds go to JN and his battle with ALS.

Spring hasn’t fully sprung in the Tetons, but its trying to spring. Last week I had a few days of crust cruising (skate skiing over the frozen fields), a day of powder skiing and a day of fishing - so anything goes this time of year. Fun as that sounds, mostly I’ve been anchored in my studio - aside from the fact that this is indoors and involves a lot of screen time, it’s admittedly fun too. Things have been busy in the Henhouse with 3 new cds in various stages of being mixed: phenomenal bluesman, Jeff Newsom; Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore (produced by Eric Thorin & BW); and one by the Jet Black Ninja Funkgrass Unit.

We’re heading out of town shortly for spring break, which will ultimately land us at Copper Mtn in Colo, where my son Owen is competing in the USASA Nationals Slopestyle skiing competition. Back home in mid April to new projects by the Random Canyon Growlers and Mike Hurwitz.

Be healthy, enjoy your health care coverage and keep it fresh

ben

Just returned from a fabulous tour of Alaska with Brother Mule - Anchorage, Homer, Fairbanks and Kodiak. Played our heads off at a bunch of great venues, contra dances and workshops. So many great folks and fine musicians, not to mention killer ski trails and unbelievable food. OMG - smoked black cod, Prince William Sound shrimp, moose, salmon, halibut. oh, and the fine beer from the Kodiak Brewery - most notably the Sarah Pale Ale (all body, no head).

Got home and hit the ground running with a few Growling Old Men gigs, some studio work, a trip to Denver to record with Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore and some gigs in early March with Roy Andrade & Thomas Sneed.

“Now the banjo takes me back, through a foggy haze
Where memories of what never was, become the good old days”
- Steve Martin