JamVember, JAMuary, and New Music from Rock Hearts + Molly Tuttle in CT!

New England’s Rock Hearts Latest Album “Unfinished Bridges” Receives Great Press

“…one of the year’s best bluegrass releases.”

Kim Muncie, NeuFutur Magazine 

“There are no misses on this release. Rock Hearts connects with each of the thirteen tracks and leaves a lasting document of their artistry.”

~Claire Uebelacker Ballyhoo Magazine

The Album is available on all streaming platforms or for digital download and in CD form at all shows

“Rock Hearts’ new album sparkles with a sense of purpose and unflappable direction; if you hear it once, you’ll keep listening.”

–Melody Maker Magazine

“The New Englanders have a definite talent for revitalizing bluegrass’ time-tested tropes for modern audiences, and Unfinished Bridges presents them at or near the peak of their powers.”

~Nicole Killian, MobYorkCity

“Rock Hearts are uplifting and true.
Their musical endeavors, no matter the lyrical content, shine with an audible love for the gift of making music.
Their new album Unfinished Bridges attests to that with every track.”

Jennifer Munoz, Vents Magazine       

“Rock Hearts’ Unfinished Bridges deserves a large audience and copious praise.
The New England band renders bluegrass in lively and thoroughly contemporary terms rather than treating the genre as a cherished museum piece.
It makes for an invigorating listening experience.”

https://medium.com/@colin-jordan524/review-rock-hearts-unfinished-bridges-lp-d10746d045ee

“It’s one of the most satisfying recent bluegrass releases and should rank high on any fan of the genre’s must-hear list.”

https://indieshark.com/music-reviews/rock-hearts-unfinished-bridges-lp/

“Unfinished Bridges isn’t about unearthing new sounds; it’s an affirmation of the past, its enduring value, and casts at least a glance to the future. It’s a thoroughly satisfying release that should expand this Northeastern band’s profile.”

https://thehollywooddigest.com/rock-hearts-releases-unfinished-bridges/

“I admire any musical artist who can make an impact by pouring old wine into new bottles. Rock Hearts, a bluegrass band from the New England area, is especially adept with the aforementioned talent. Their new thirteen-track studio album Unfinished Bridges attests to their creativity, individuality, and thorough understanding of bluegrass as a musical style.”

https://indiepulsemusic.com/2024/10/09/rock-hearts-release-new-thirteen-track-studio-album/

Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway at FTC Tuesday Nov 19

Catch Molly Tuttle and her band Golden Highway this Tuesday November 19 at the Warehouse at FTC Tickets can be found here Address: 70 Sanford Street Fairfield, Connecticut

2x-Grammy Award–winning singer, songwriter, and musician Molly Tuttle and her band, Golden Highway, released their latest album, City of Gold, this past July on Nonesuch Records. The Grammy-nominated City of Gold follows Tuttle’s acclaimed 2022 record, Crooked Tree, which won Best Bluegrass Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards and led NPR Music to call her “a female flat picker extraordinaire with agility, speed, and elegance who distinctively brings American roots music into the spotlight,” adding that the album “marries the improvisatory solos of traditional bluegrass with singer-songwriter sophistication.” Produced by Tuttle and Jerry Douglas and recorded at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studios, City of Gold was inspired by Tuttle’s constant touring with Golden Highway these past few years, during which they have grown together as musicians and performers, cohering as a band. Reflecting on the project, Tuttle shares, “When I was a kid, we took a field trip to Caloma, CA, to learn about the gold rush. I’ll never forget the dusty hills and the grizzled old miner who showed us the nugget around his neck. Just like gold fever, music has always captivated me, captured my heart, and driven me to great lengths to explore its depths. On my new album I dug deep as a songwriter (with Ketch Secor) and co-producer (with Jerry Douglas) and surfaced with a record that celebrates the music of my heart, my life, the land where I grew up, and the stories I heard along the way. I made this record with my band Golden Highway after playing more than 100 shows across the country last year. On the road and in the studio, we are inspired by artists such as John Hartford, Gillian Welch, and Peter Rowan, to name a few, whose records are like family albums to us. Just like them, on this album we chart some new territory along with some old familiar ground. The songs span from breakdowns to ballads, fairytales and fiddle tunes, from Yosemite up to the Gold Country and out beyond the mountains. That visit to Coloma, site of California’s first gold strike, is where I first heard about El Dorado, the city of gold. Playing music can take you to a place that is just as precious.”

Raised in Northern California, Tuttle moved to Nashville in 2015. In the years since, she’s been nominated for Best New Artist at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, won Album of the Year at the 2023 International Folk Music Awards, Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2022 International Bluegrass Music Awards, Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2018 Americana Music Awards, and Guitar Player of the Year at the IBMAs in both 2017 and 2018, the first woman to receive the honor. Tuttle has performed around the world, including shows with Sam Bush, Béla Fleck, Hiss Golden Messenger, Jason Isbell, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Dwight Yoakam as well as at several major festivals including Newport Folk Festival and Pilgrimage

Sunday, Nov 17 Cole Quest and the City Pickers at Westchester Bluegrass Club

Cole Quest and The City Pickers apart is their unique musical approach. Blending original tunes with traditional favorites, they infuse each song with a special brand of high-spirited energy and a high lonesome sound that’ll leave you wanting more. Their music is inspired by the stories and emotions of everyday life, and their instrumentation and vocal style are second to none.

“Vibrantly authentic” (Exclusive Magazine)

“…a blast of Roots music with a Folk and subtle New-Grass vibe that swings like West Coast Bluegrass.“

(The Alternate Root)

2:00 pm Doors/Acoustic Jam
3:30-4:15  pm Open Mic
4:30-6:00 pm Show

$30 Tickets

Three On the Trail Bluegrass Shows this November

Connecticut’s “On the Trail” released their first full length album this month. Stream the new album “Where Do We Go From Here” on all platforms

On the Trail will appear live three times in November:

November 15 Heritage Village in Southbury CT

November 22 Granite Church in Redding CT (Album Release Show)

November 23 Nod Hill Brewery in Ridgefield CT

Tickets and more info can be found here: https://www.onthetrailbluegrass.com/shows

JamVember Nov 22-24

The Bluegrass University Presents: Boston’s Bluegrass Jamming Non-Festival

Jam Vember!!

November 22nd, 23rd & 24th, 2024
Located at The Sheraton
in Framingham, MA
the weekend before Thanksgiving

JamVember is a weekend-long bluegrass “non-festival”
focused on jamming, jamming, and more jamming!
JamVember will be held on November 22nd, 23rd & 24th, 2024
(a.k.a. the weekend before Thanksgiving)
at The Sheraton in Framingham, MA
please see here for more details

JAMuary Weekend at the Ashokan Center Jan 17-19 2025

Do you play guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, bass, or dobro?

Come be part of a bluegrass jam weekend with Austin Scelzo this MLK weekend!

-All bluegrass instruments welcome. No jamming experience necessary. You will be jamming in the first class! Friendly, encouraging, knowledgeable teaching. Hands-on learning in large and small groups Gentle tempos! Mistakes expected! Music/tab reading not needed or used. Singing not required, but encouraged and taught. Soloing not required! “Faking” solos taught. Do you qualify? It’s easier than you may think! If you play guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, bass, or dobro… you can be part of a bluegrass jam. Only requirements – be able to: Tune your instrument and Change smoothly between G, C, D, and A (or the notes that work on bass and fiddle)

Austin Scelzo hosts a weekend of jam instruction using the Wernick Method, an inventive and time-tested pedagogy designed to build or improve confidence making music with others! All Bluegrass Instruments, all skill levels welcome. Hands-on learning in large and small groups. Understanding, low-pressure, experienced teaching from a certified teacher. Experienced Jammers are given extra challenges and can be grouped together. Make music with friends, make friends with music!” ​ Jan 17-19, 2025 The Ashokan Center Olivebridge, NY ​ Meals & Lodging must be reserved directly through the Ashokan Center (even for off-site participants) Sign Up Here

Meals and lodging Here

New Feature Coming to the Website: Post Your show / event / jam directly to the calendar through a submission form

At IBMA this year, Austin Scelzo connected with other bluegrass organizations from around the country. He’s learned a method of embedding a google form that will be integrated with the website calendar. This should make it even easier to publicize your bluegrass show, jam, or event. Have other suggestions? Comment here or send an email to CTBluegrassAssociation@gmail.com