Hot Rize sounded fantastic at the Ark, one of my favorite haunts as a college girl at the University of Michigan. John Frazier & I were honored to play for their fans as a folky bluegrass duo, complete with a fiddle/banjo sing-along to end the set. I also traveled down memory lane, visiting old houses and campus haunts and feeling ghosts of memories lived.

We were surprised by our introduction to Country Royalty at Friday’s fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Musician & activist Naomi Judd came backstage to say hello and to report that bluegrass is her “favorite music.” RIGHT ON! Ah yes, and she said that we were ” so tight!”

Haven’t had much of a chance to hang with the Steeps since Dallas ’09–when John was touring with SCR & Steve Martin, and they taught our baby son to crawl across a hotel room! I love these guys, and I loved the chance to be a part of the AMA Festival. Thanks to AMA for your tireless work promoting our music!

Soft, great-fitting Next Level brand shirts come in Ladies (more scooped neck) and Men’s (normal cut). Sizes S, M, L, XL! Check ’em out at shows or order by mailing $23 to Hit & Run Bluegrass, PO Box 68201,  Nashville TN 37206. <3

Thanks so much, Bluegrass Unlimited…what an honor!!

Good times all around! We were an Official Showcase Artist at International Bluegrass Music Association‘s annual conference, and then we performed at the Wide Open Festival on Saturday.

Wide Open Street Fair

Loved our showcases at California Bluegrass Association‘s exquisite & enthusiastic suite. Congrats to Noam Pikelny, Banjo Player of the Year! Thanks Crescendo Artists, our booking agency out of Colorado, who hosted us for their showcase at Architect Bar Thursday night. What a cool hang! Next up, running down the sidewalk at midnight (with heavy Calton Cases) for Musicians United showcase following Jim Lauderdale! 

The band & crew may have collapsed in exhaustion after a long day, which included a video shoot, Gig Fair, and a full day of manning our lovely trade show booth, but several of us made it up to infamous Marriott 3rd floor for picking & socializing at the various hospitality suites. Saturday brought the guitar workshop, with Kenny Smith, Allen Shadd, & Rebecca Frazier. The workshop brought a few surprises including a special request for my own “Virginia Coastline.” The workshop was also an awesome reminder of why I used to learn so many Kenny Smith solos when I lived in Colorado. That man’s tone, artistry, and creativity is fully unique. What a blessing to get paired with him again this year. Somehow I also hadn’t realized that Kenny picks a ’35 D-18! Pretty amazing. 🙂

We loved our other showcases- Pour House, Kings, Convention Center, and Boston Bluegrass Union. We also owe a huge thanks to my pal Cassie, who came along and helped with the booth, merchandise, and overall moral support. It was a great week! Thanks to everyone who made it happen!

Thanks to everyone who hosted us for our pre-IBMA run! It was great to get a shout-out in Asheville’s Mountain Xpress before our Isis Music Hall show, and Tellico sounded amazing! Thanks so much to Anya Hinkle for bringing her 2 year old playmate to sound-check….It was Cora’s first time touring solo with her mom (big bro had to stay at home for kindergarten).

The Blue Grass Bash in Richmond had their biggest crowd yet, which helped us raise funds for St. Stephen’s and their many good works! Roanoke brought a wonderful crowd to party and dance at Martin’s Downtown. And coastal Virginia was beautiful as always, and proved to be a mecca of bluegrass lovers as well. Thanks White Dog Bistro and Mathews, VA! 

Rebecca Frazier and Hit & Run have been invited to perform at the Americana Music Festival in Nashville as an official showcase artist. The set will be at 3rd & Lindsley at midnight on Saturday, September 20.

The (legendary) Bottleneck in Lawrence

Thanks to everyone who made our summer Western tour so special! We kicked it off in Lawrence, KANSAS, where we were joined for a rousing finale by all-girl act,The Ovaries-Eez. We then did a well-rested (ha!), long drive to Colorado for our next show in the gorgeous town of Windsor…where we were thrilled to discover that the stage was BEACH-FRONT! We were more than happy to take advantage of the water on this summer day. We also had a long drive ahead of us across Wyoming: We played Oyster Ridge Music Festival the following day in Kemmerer, T’was a pleasure to meet many music lovers and flatpicking fans! Carbondale Mountain Fair was an absolute blast. The fest has been honed to perfection over 42 years! No wonder there are fire dances, magicians, high-level entertainment…and vibes.

Carbondale Mountain Fair

We were sad to move on from our beloved Carbondale, but the scenic drive through Aspen and up Independence Pass listening to Bela Fleck “Drive” helped to cheer the spirits. (Did you know all aspen in a grove are “one” tree?!) We arrived in Alamosa to a rainy sound-check and wondered if anyone would actually show up. Yes, they did, by the hundreds, for Sundays at Six Concert Series. And all sat quietly and listened to bluegrass!

“Sundays at Six Concert Series,” Alamosa

Onward to the tallest dunes in North America: the Great Sand Dune National Park. And honestly, I felt like I was in Oman or somewhere exotic in the Middle East! I highly recommend this place for a hike to the top of the dunes, or a ride on a “snowboard” or “sled” made for rides on the sand!

Great Sand Dune National Park

Great Sand Dune National Park

We departed the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Range and made it to the beautiful town of Crested Butte just in time for a live radio spot with Nate Welch on his KBUT show.

Kyle Tuttle performs with the “Dobrato”

Here in Gunnison and Crested Butte, we did some fantastic hiking and picking. We visited Castle Creek Guitars, sponsors of our concert at the I Bar Ranch. We performed with their originally designed instrument, the amazing “Dobrato.” Thanks to all the folks at the I Bar for making our Tuesday Night Burgers & Bluegrass Concert Series such a hoot.

Frisco Thursday Night Concert Series

North-ward to Frisco, where we truly loved their Thursday Night Concert Series! This historic town knows how to put on a party in their streets (complete with beer tent, stage left!) The town was dancing and hanging, festival-style.

Further northward to Avogadro’s Number, Fort Collins for AVOGRASS FESTIVAAAL! Thanks for the Grateful Dead tunes (’twas Garcia’s birthday). Thanks KRFC for having us in-studio (+ rockin’ T-shirts!) LOVE YOU, “The Fort!”

We moved on up the mountain range to a tiny historic town of Centennial, at the foot of the Snowy Mountain Range, where we performed at the Beartree Tavern…and a couple got ENGAGED as we sang our finale of “Mule Skinner Blues…” CONGRATS!!

We ended this amazing run of festivals at the awesome Beartrap Festival in Casper, Wyoming! So great to see Jalan Crossland, the Deadly Gentlemen, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and so many other talented acts in this HIGH elevation and wonderfully happy place.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this amazing tour happen!