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06/21/09

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there!  I just got off the phone with my dad and my father-in-law. 

We had a great tour through West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario over the past ten days or so.  Here are some of my favorite moments:

Val and Bobby got into a knock-down, drag-out mud wrestling match in Loganton, Pa., at the Smoked Country Jam.  The mud had to be a foot deep and the rain kept coming down in torrents, but that didn't stop the folks from dancing in front of the stage. It was a wild time!

We performed a garage concert at the Ludgates' home just outside Ithaca, Ny.  (How Greg ever got our bus parked in their narrow driveway, I will never know.  He's just that good.)  The next morning, I awoke to a clang outside the bus; it sounded like someone messing with our hubcaps.  I thought, "Greg must be checking the air on the tires.  I better get up and get going."  But the front door was still locked. "Hmm..."  I peered out the window just in time to see a gigantic rooster strutting around the yard.  Evidently he had been attacking his reflection in our hubcaps.

The rhubarb dessert at the Methodist church in Hawley, Pa.  Mmm!

Frolicking with the Kellish Farms llamas and miniature horses amongst the daisies and buttercups in Manlius, Ny.

Turning cartwheels with Josie and tossing grass into the air with little Liam at the Tughill Bluegrass Festival. 

Chasing wild kitty cats and eating Judy's wonderful cooking in Kingston, Ontario.

Jeff and I got married on May 2!  This was my first long tour away since then and
though it has gone very, very well, I'm anxious to get home. 

Below are a few pictures from the wedding.  It was a lovely day.  God even stopped the rain long enough for us to take a few pictures outside.  We are humbled and so thankful for all our dear friends and family who made this day possible.  We are so very blessed because of you!

 

Come see us at the River of Music Party in Owensboro, Ky., Sat., June. 27 at 2 p.m.! More info at:  ValerieSmithOnline.com.

Much love,
Becky


04/20/09

A great big CONGRATULATIONS to Kelsey Wells for taking 3rd place in the "18 Years and Under" Fiddle category at the Old-time Bluegrass & Fiddlers' Jamboree this past Saturday.  I'm so very proud of you!
 
In other news, we had great shows over the weekend.  We did some school shows in the the Kendallville, Ind., area before heading up to Oakland Community College in Royal Oaks, Mich.  (Thanks for the roses, Chuck.  It was very nice to meet Noel!)
 
Stopped in at Elderly Instruments to pick a bit on our way back down to Fort Wayne, Ind., for a house concert with the Wingers, who let us play Scrabble and air hockey in their basement.  (Thanks for the candelabra, Linda!)  Had a great old-timey jam there, too.  
 
We wound up the weekend yesterday with a stop at the Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association's monthly meeting.  Did a show for them along with Chere McKinley, our 2009 Bell Buckle Cruise "Bluegrass Idol," and Gilbert and Co.
 
Next, we're off to Florida and Alabama.  Check out our schedule at: ValerieSmithOnline.com.

See you out there in the wild blue yonder!

Becky

04/10/09

Hey, everybody!

 

It's been a wild and wooly day in Middle Tennessee.  At least one tornado went through the northern part of Murfreesboro.  Bobby Davis, our bass player, and Brandon Bostic, our former guitar picker, were out driving around in the mess (those silly boys!)  They actually watched the tornado form and touch down.  This photo is courtesy of Brandon.

 


 

My instruments and I were cowering behind our couch.  I had a baking stone and a blanket over my head with the weather radio nearby and the TV blasting.  When things calmed down some, the Liberty Pike storm chasers came by to check on me...bless their hearts!  
 

Jeff road the storm out at the military show in Franklin.  Val, Josie, J. Gregory, Ernie & Debi Evans and the entire cast of the murder mystery dinner theater show happening in Bell Buckle this weekend hunkered down at the Methodist church.  We had to chuckle when we heard about that because last time a tornado came through the Buckle, everyone in the church basement got a concert.  The band had been practicing at the banquet hall when the siren went off.  This time, the folks got a show!  Apparently the actors were all in costume and everything!  The play is set in the wild west.

 

So, by the grace of God, we're all "Okee-dokee, Margie!"  However, there are many, many families in Murfreesboro and throughout Middle Tennessee without homes tonight.  Please keep them in your prayers.
 

A very, very blessed Easter to you all.  See you soon.

 

Becky


03/23/09

Hey, everybody!
 

It's been forever and a day since I've updated this front page and I apologize sincerely.  Thank you for stopping by again!  
 

The biggest news right now is that we got to hold baby alligators this morning at  International Market World in Auburndale, Fla.  One cannot fathom the exciting, completely random things we get to do as traveling Bluegrass musicians.  


Val hosted the Bluegrass and Clogging festival in Auburndale this past weekend under the big top circus tent.  And we had a great turn out and a fun line up which included: 

 

Roger Bass & The Hillbilles (who co-hosted the show)

Goldwing Express

the Doerful Family

Kickin' Grass

the Bluegrass Stagecoach Band

Larry Gillis

 

I'll be posting pictures from the Auburndale show very soon, so please check back.

 

In other news (and almost as exciting as getting to hold a baby alligator,) I'm getting married in May!  My fiancée's name is Jeff Haley.  Kraig (Val's husband) introduced us.  I'm so very blessed to get to spend my life with him and to be part of his wonderful family.

 


Ok, ok...getting married is MUCH more exciting than holding baby alligators with their mouths taped shut.  
 

Hope to see you all down the road sometime soon.  We're playing in Missouri and Minnesota over the weekend.  We're calling it our VSLP "Trail of the Jesse James Gang" Tour 2009 because we start the weekend in Kearny, Missouri, and ends in Northfield, Minnesota, where they got busted.  Check out our Schedule Page for more details.

 

Over and out!

 

Becky


10/10/08

Howdy!

We’re driving through Mountain Home, Id., on our way to a gig in Star.  The landscape is a study in gold and brown, gashed here and there with brilliant green.  Mountains loom off to the right, dark and brooding along the horizon. 

It’s just started to snow again.  We hit quite a bit of it last night on the border between Montana and Idaho.  Leave it to me to book gigs in Idaho this time of year!  And none of us packed correctly; when we left Nashville, it was over 80 degrees!!  I sure could use a pair of mittens and some long johns.  Of course, the band makes fun of me because I’m from Minnesota and am supposed to be resistant to cold.  I point out that I’ve lived in Tennessee for over ten years now, plenty of time for my skin to completely switch out.

Let’s see…where have we been since I last checked in? 

Sept. 13 and 14 we were in Flagstaff for the Pickin’ in the Pines festival a way up on the mountain.  There were some great groups there including the Del McCoury Band, the Nashville Bluegrass Band and the Carolina Chocolate Drops.  The weather was gorgeous, sunny and cool. 

J. Gregory, Val and I went over to Williams, Az., to visit our friends at the Wild West Junction.  You will never leave the junction hungry and you’ll always be entertained.  We played there a couple years ago and it was very nice to see how much it has grown and changed in such a short time.

Sept. 21 we played in the Celebrity Theater at Dollywood.  It was the final week of their BBQ & Bluegrass Festival.  We followed the fabulous Bradley Walker

Afterwards, we all rode the roller coasters and screamed ourselves hoarse.  The new mine ride was insane!  It pulls you straight up then plunges you down and round and sideways and slantways and any other which way one can think of.  You have to try it.

Sept.  26 and 27 we were down in Perry, Fl., for another Pickin’ In The Pines fest!  Our good friend Ernie Evans was there with his group Southern Lite along with several other fine groups.  I especially enjoyed the Tallahassee Fiddlers, a group of young folks who are doing some great things with Bluegrass and acoustic music.

We drove all night to get back on Sunday, Sept. 28 for our second annual Dare To Be Different Showcase at the Bell Buckle Music Hall.  It’s a fundraiser for IBMA’s “Bluegrass In The Schools” program.  Our featured performer was Grand Ol’ Opry and Country Hall of Fame member Charlie Louvin.  Other guests included:  fellow Daughters of Bluegrass Frances Mooney and Lorraine Jordan and their respective find bands; Amy Gallatin and Stillwaters; the Abrams Brothers; the Stevens Family; and Emily Singleton and Cumberland Plateau.

The next four days, Sept. 29 – Oct. 2, we were in Nashville for IBMA’s “World of Bluegrass” weeklong convention.   Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike showcased on the main stage Tuesday night.  Later that night, Valerie and I performed with the Daughters of Bluegrass for Good Home Grown Music’s showcase.  The best part of the whole week was Kristin Scott Benson winning  “Banjo Player of the Year.”  We’re all so proud of you, Kristin!

At about 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 3, I crawled into my bunk on the bus in Bell Buckle.  Around 7 a.m., we pulled out for Fairview, Ohio, and the Pennyroyal Opera House, but I don’t’ think I woke up until we were somewhere in Kentucky.  Once again, Lenna Lockhart outdid herself with fabulous homemade pie.  She sent us down the road we both an apple pie and a peach/rhubarb.  Mmmm! 

After the Pennyroyal, we drove late into the night toward Goshen, Ind., for a show at LVDs Concert Hall at the Old Bag Factory.  Elvie remembered that I collect tiles and found three really neat ones for me, all antiques.

In Goshen, we picked up Rockin’ Ray Yoder to help us drive overnight to St. James, Minn., my hometown.  We performed a community concert at Armstrong Middle School on Sunday afternoon.  On Monday, we performed Intro To Bluegrass programs for all three schools.

Tuesday night, we headed on down the road toward Idaho, making stops at Mount Rushmore, Deadwood and the Little Bighorn Battlefield along the way.  Ray taught us how to play golf with Skip-bo cards as well as Rook Lucky 7s.

And that brings us to the present, which finds us at a Flying J in Boise not far from our destination.

Oh!  I do need to mention that our recently recorded XM Satellite Radio interview with Kyle Cantrell is now airing on Track 14 “Bluegrass Junction.”  You’ll be able to hear it from 10/10 to 10/16.  For a complete schedule of when it will air, visit KyleCantrell.com

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Becky


09/09/08

Hey everybody! 

Thanks so much for tuning in today at WSMOnline.com or 650-AM.  We had a great time with Bill Cody and Charlie Mattos this morning.  The album is now out and available at ValerieSmithOnline.com!  We've got sound samples there as well.  If you like what you're hearing, please call your favorite Bluegrass/Americana DJs to request us.

We're off to Flagstaff, AZ, on Friday morning for Pickin' In The Pines.  Hope to see you there.  Thanks for stopping by!

Becky


08/18/08

Howdy again! 

We’re back on the road in Virginia on our way home from Maine.  Bluegrass at Stonehedge has a wonderful location.  I think they said they’re going to start having local groups play in the barn behind the stage on Wednesday nights.  We ended up doing our evening set in the barn Saturday night because of rain.  Everybody had a great time, though.

An extra special great big “THANK YOU!!” to Chuck and Joyce Carter who fed us fresh lobsters, sweet corn and blueberry pie.  Mmm!  Tasty!

Come see us in Arcola, Ill., at Rockhome Gardens this weekend!  We’ll perform Sunday in the early afternoon.

Have a great week!

Becky


08/15/08

Howdy from somewhere in Virginia on good ol’ I-81!

We’re running up the road to perform at Bluegrass at Stonehedge in Gray, Maine, this weekend.

What a week!  We got in at 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday after traveling for over 24 hours to get home from Germany.   We had the rest of Tuesday to sleep, do laundry and pay bills.  I felt the need to watch “Breakfast at Tiffanys”as I unpacked.  I find it a wonderful movie to unwind to.

Wednesday it was off to Nashvegas for a live studio performance on XM Satellite Radio’s “Bluegrass Junction” with Kyle Cantrell, which will be airing the third week of September. 

On Thursday Valerie, J. Gregory and I went to the IBMA award nominees’ announcements at the Country Music Hall of Fame, also in Nashville.  Alas and alack!, we weren’t up for any this year, but thank you to all who did vote for us.  We’re very excited for the folks who made the finals this year.  A complete list of this year’s nominees can be found on the IBMA website.

I haven’t told you anything about our German adventures, have I?  We flew into Frankfurt from London on July 31 and performed at the SudhausBiergarten in Tuebingen on Aug. 1.  The Sudhaus seems to be some sort of artist enclave, with several different performance areas, teaching rooms, art studios, etc.  Again, the show was sold out!

The next day, Aug. 2, we traveled to Friedrichshafen on the Bodensee for the Kulturfer Festival, which is in the downtown area, yet on the shores of the lake.  It’s a big tourist town.  We were able to see the Austrian and Italian Alps swathed in mist across the lake.  Our show was held in a large circus tent at the festival and we were one of two acts that night.  This show was also sold out.

Sunday, Aug. 3, we made our way to Nurnberg for the Bardentreffen Festival, which attracts 200,000 people over the course of the weekend.  J. Gregory figures there were about 8,000 folks watching our performance!  Click here for some great photographs from that day.

Finally, Monday, Aug. 4, we performed at the home of Anne Frank’s great-grandfather in Landau, which has been turned into an arts center, part of the AltesKaufhaus.  The rain that had threatened all day finally left for good and were able to play in the courtyard as planned.  It was completely enclosed, save for a ceiling, with three balcony levels above on all four sides.  (I swannee to goodness I saw Shawn Connery on the second level balcony off to my right.  I wonder if he listens to Bluegrass?)  The entire courtyard was full of people—the entrance level and all the balconies.  It was rather strange to look up behind us and see people hanging over the railings looking back at us.

From Tuesday until Sunday we stayed with our friend Karl-Heinz and Anneli in Sachsenheim.  We got in a little rest and practiced a bit on the new album material.   A few of us went to Stuttgart to see the state museum of Baden-Wurttenburg. 

On Saturday, Bobby and I went to Ludwigsburg to visit Heike, an opera singer friend of Karl-Heinz and Anneli who invited us over to show us the beautiful Baroque castle in the downtown.  It was designed about 300 years ago by an Italian architect and modeled after Versailles.  Part of the extensive gardens included a fairytale land where we were able to ask Rupunzel to let down her hair (and she did!) and disturb a giant (who stood up behind the castle wall and yelled at us) and listen to the singing mushrooms!  (Well, they were more like music box mushrooms, really.)

In the photos, you will notice I am carrying a purse that looks like German leather britches.  This was sent to me by Wally Murphy, who is German but married and moved to my hometown many, many years ago.  She asked that I take photos with the purse and send them back to her so she would feel like she had been home.  I got lots of compliments on that purse, Wally!

I don’t have all of my photos posted yet, but I’ll let you know as soon as they are available.

Have a great day!

Becky


07/30/08

'Ello again!

I'm writing to you from the lovely backyard garden of our friends the Halletts, our gracious hosts for the last 13 days.  This tour has been so wonderful!  The band has been a joy to travel with and we've had all sell-out crowds!  Wednesday night we were in Bristol at St. Bonaventure's Social Club.  Thursday it was a return visit to High Barn in Essex.  We were pleasantly surprised to see former Liberty Pike banjo picker Randall Conn in the audience.  He was in the UK on business. 

Friday, we went to Devon to the Plough Arts Center.  Much to Josie's disappointment, we did not see the "Beast of Blackmoor" while en route to the venue.  Saturday we took a ferry from Wales to Ireland to play at the Phil Murphy Weekend in Carrig-on-Bannow.  The Sullivan Brothers and Gary Ferguson were there as well, along with our friend formerly from New York, Mr. Tom Hanway

We played the festival on Sunday as well.  Monday morning early we were on the ferry again headed toward a gig in Narberth, Wales, at the Queen's Hall.  And last night we were in Nottingham to perform at the Comfort Inn where Charles Dickens once stayed.  (I don't think it was a Comfort Inn then, though.)

Tomorrow we're off to Germany for a few gigs.  If you're in the area, look us up! Visit our schedule online at:  ValerieSmithOnline.com.

Becky

07/22/08

'Ello from South Hampton, England!

We made it over the pond safe and sound.  Our first show was performed Sunday, July 20, to an over capacity crowd at the Memorial Hall in Freshwater on the Isle of Wight just off the south coast of England.  They actually turned people away!!  The show was filmed for the UK Entertainment Channel and will be aired in a few weeks.

Our second show was last night, July 21, in Maidstone, Kent at the Zebra Bar.  We played there was the main sponsor of our tour, Maverick Magazine.  Maverick is the #1 source for Country, Americana, Roots and Bluegrass music in the UK and we thank them so much for bringing us over.

Today most of us went to Stratford-upon-Avon to pay homage to the "Immortal Bard" himself, Mr. William Shakespeare!  We saw his birthplace, his mother's birthplace, his wife's house, his primary school, etc.  It was all very exciting.  I got some pictures and postcards, Val got a snow globe and Josie got two stuffed animal bunny rabbits whom she named "Rose."  It has been a lifelong dream of Kraig's (Val's husband, who is traveling with us a for a couple weeks as well) to see the birthplace of Shakespeare.  He says the next dream he wants to fulfill is going to Australia and New Zealand.  (I hope they can book a tour for the band around that!)

Better get to beddy by.  We head to Bristol and the St. Bonaventure's Social Club tomorrow.

G'night!

Becky

07/06/08

Hey, everybody!

Today we're traveling down I-81 toward home in the Liberty Pike short bus.  Val and Eric are asleep.  Chad's driving, Bobby's sipping apple juice out of rocket-shaped cup from a Denny's happy meal and we're listening to
Livewire's "Good-bye, Marie."

We spent the glorious 4th in beautiful
Orkney Springs, Va., at the Bishop's Bluegrass Festival.  Orkney Springs is a tiny town dominated by a gigantic old hotel/resort with floor to ceiling windows of settled, warbley glass.  It's called Shrine Mont and was built by the Episcopalians in the 1850s or so.

Though it rained on and off all day, we had a good turn out.  We got to share the stage with
No Speed Limit from Southwest Virginia.  It was great to see Stevie Barr and Josh Pickett again, NSL's banjo and guitar pickers.  Harwell-Grice Band, also from Southwest Virginia, was there as well.  Both bands were wonderful.

Our duet record is at the duplicator!  We will have copies ready to send out in August with an official release date of September 9.  It was a great experience getting to produce a record for the first time and I certainly learned a lot.  I really appreciate the faith Val puts in me.  I'm so blessed to be with these folks!

We're headed off to Europe in about two weeks.  Come with us if you care to, but make sure you pack your long woolen woolies (that's Yorkshiren for "knee-high socks") and your Wellingtons (English for "rubber rain boots") because it can be cold and damp over there compared to the summers we're used to in the States.  We'll be in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Germany this time.  Our complete schedule is online at
ValerieSmithOnline.com.

Hope you had a lovely 4th of July.  Please keep praying for our nation and our world.

Peace!

Becky

05/22/08

Hey and howdy from the 'Boro!

It was great to see so many of you while we were hanging out in the Midwest last week.  I'll have pictures up very soon, so please check back.

We started out in Jacksonville, Ill., at Illinois College at their annual alumni picnic.  Then it was off to Altamont, Ill., and the Little Ryman Opry.  They hold the show in a renovated Presbyterian church, so the acoustics are killer.  We loved the gathered red curtain, too. 

We stopped in at KDHX in St. Louis to visit with Walter and Willa Volz.  They may have the show archived on their website, if you're interested.  After some picking and singing and a round of Ted Drewe's frozen custard and Gus' Pretzels (Mmmm!!), we headed over to Willa's mom's vintage clothes shop and had a high old time.  Chad got another killer houndstooth plaid suit.  J. Gregory laughed at my acquisition--a lacy, fawn colored '50s prom dress.

Then it was over to Silver Dollar City for three days in the Riverfront Playhouse Theatre.  In between we were able to ride some of the coasters and things.  The new Barn Swing ride wasn't quite my cup of tea, but I love Wildfire, Powder Keg and Thunderation.  There were so many great Bluegrass groups there.  Their Bluegrass & BBQ festival runs for a week or so yet.

And our final stop was the Arcadia Valley Mountain Music Festival in Ironton, Mo., last Saturday, which was a very fun family event on and around the courthouse lawn.

There was a gentleman in Ironton demonstrating an instrument the developed called the "Wheel Harp."  It was inspired by the hurdy gurdy.  To hear what the Wheel Harp sounds like, visit OddMusic.com

Today, I'm back in the studio to finish up the mixes for our duet record.  Actually, Tim is working on the last song as I type! 

As Memorial Day approaches, I'd like to thank all of our past and present military personnel.  Thank you for your service to our country and the many sacrifices you make.  I pray that God will bring you home safely.

See you down the road very soon!

Becky

PS  Come on out to see us in North Georgia next weekend.  We'll be at Sawnee Mountain Music in Cumming, Ga., May 30 and at the Scenic Mountain Bluegrass Festival in Milledgeville, Ga., May 31.


04/30/08

Hey there from lovely Pegram, Tenn.  I'm back in the studio today mixing our duet record.  Well, Tim (our engineer) is mixing.  I'm writing to you while I wait or him to call me up that way for a listen.

Just read about something really cool in my MBOTMA newsletter and wanted to share it with you.  It's called Operation Happy Note and has supplied our soldiers deployed throughout the world with over 2000 instruments and instructional CDs since it's inception in 2005.

Steve and Barb Baker started Operation Happy Note when their son was deployed to Iraq.  Even though their son is now home with his family, the Bakers are continuing the program because requests for instruments keep coming in.

For more information about Operation Happy Note and how you can become a part of bringing musical joy to our men and women in uniform, visit their website:  OpeartionHappyNote.com.

See you down the road!

Becky

04/25/08

Hey and howdy!

Spring is in full swing down in these parts.  We have an amazing patch of purple and white lacy irises in our front yard which are protected, of course, by a garden gnome. 

Val and I finished up the last few bits of recording on our new album yesterday.  (No, I can't believe it either.)  We conned Mike Compton and Alan O'Bryant of the Nashville Bluegrass Band into guesting with us at the last minute.  I have been a huge fan of their group for about as long as I can remember.

Now it's on to the mixing process.  I'll keep you posted on our progress.

If you're in the area tonight, stop in at the Bell Buckle Cafe for some great food and Bluegrass with the Friday Night Orphan Brigade.  (That's my honey's band!)

Have a great weekend!

Becky

04/17/08

Hey and howdy, all your fine friends and neighbors!

Thought I'd give ya'll a shout before we head out for Maryland this morning to the Arcadia Bluegrass Festival.

EI-YI-YI-YI-YI!!!!!!!!

(That was the shout.  Corny, I know.  I haven't had my coffee yet.)

Val and I had a busy week.  Monday and Tuesday were spent singing and picking on our new duet record.  We've got one more recording session next week and then we're into the mixing.  Yea!!  Thunderous applause...as my mother would say.

Yesterday, we were up at Tom. T & Miss Dixie Hall's studio in Franklin to work on the next Daughters of Bluegrass album.  Val did a beautiful job on an original Tom T. & Miss Dixie tune which I got to do some funky fiddle things with.  They let me play my new guitar on it, too...it's first foray into recording!  I also added fiddle and vocals to another couple tunes.  All in all, it was a fun day and such an honor to work with the legendary Halls and producer/engineer Paula.

Well, the bus has arrived outside Val's door so I'd better get this sent off to you.  Have a great weekend!

Becky

P.S. Here are some great pictures of VSLP and Moi from my friend Mike Morbeck up in the great north woods. Hope you enjoy them!


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