Posts Tagged ‘Darren Nicholson’
Posted on: April 29th, 2013 by Marc Pruett
We want to thank the bluegrass community for the wonderful support we’ve received over the years…and especially for the current sustain we’ve had on the NATIONAL BLUEGRASS SURVEY with our CD, PAPERTOWN!!! It has been the # 1 disc now for 4 months in a row!!! We are stunned…shocked…honored…and humbled that the bluegrass world would support our music in such a substantial way! THANK YOU!!!
BALSAM RANGE remains committed to the music we love, the communities we live in…and the wonderful places where we get to pick and sing!!! We hope all the bands and fans have a safe and productive season…and BALSAM RANGE is thankful to be part of this great music world!!! Take care…
Posted on: March 4th, 2013 by Darren Nicholson
We’re excited about playing The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville TN for the first time as band! It’s very special to me because I grew up listening to the Opry and WSM every night. I was very fortunate to start playing the Grand Ole Opry when I was 18 years old with the great Alecia Nugent. We played it regularly for about 3 years during that time and it was absolutely wonderful for a kid who loved the Opry that much.
Now this time is extra special for several reasons. We’re going for the first time as a band and of course I mean Balsam Range. And it’s with a band of the same five guys who started BR from the ground up. But also the reason we’re going this Friday is to showcase a new recording and relationship we’re extremely proud of …John Driskell Hopkins and our new collaborative album “Daylight“. John was so good to ask us to perform with him on the Grand Ole Opry and we’ll be doing songs off the new “Daylight” album. The album features John and a collection of his great original songs and one co-written by Balsam Range with BR as the full band & vocals on each track. Guests on the album include Zac Brown, Jerry Douglas, Tony Trischka, Joey+Rory, Levi Lowery, and more. The album has recieved amazing reviews all over the country and featured on many radio stations that never play bluegrass. It’s been amazing time recording and performing across the country with John. Including playing ZBB’s Southern Ground Music Fest and Zac inviting us out in the middle of ZBB’s set recently in Knoxville to perform live onstage with them. A million thanks John for being such a great friend and so supportive of our music. John really loves bluegrass/roots music and is one of the nicest guys we’ve ever met. Thanks John!
Saturday we’ll be coming back through Maryville TN at The Shed. 7:00pm. Address: 1820 W Lamar Alexander Pkwy. Venue phone: (865) 977-1669. All events listed below are hosted at The Shed located adjacent to Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson in Maryville, Tennessee. Stinkers BBQ, a full-service restaurant at The Shed, serves lunch and dinner 7 days a week. John Driskell Hopkins and Balsam Range Album Release Show for Daylight. Come be with us!
Posted on: February 25th, 2013 by Marc Pruett
We are excited as “all get out” to pick and sing at the BLUEGRASS HERITAGE FESTIVAL this Friday, March 1 in Arlington, Texas. Just the thought of all the fabulous, American music that has come out of that great state overwhelms us! And…being part of such a classy event is truly an honor for the group. We’d like to invite you to come be with us and enjoy a great musical event…and hang out and pal-around with BR. *** Here are the details: Time: 8:00pm. All ages. Box office: 214-720-1623. Address: Church 5925 US Hwy 287. Venue phone: 214-720-1623.
And the web site is: http://bluegrassheritage.org/index.php
The Foundation’s web site has a wonderful explanation of their sincere effort to promote, preserve, and perpetuate Bluegrass Music. We hope you can come and be with us and the other entertainers this weekend!!!
(Ol’ Marc says, “I’ve been working off and on for a while writing a song about the Texas Panhandle…a swingy tune…and I am thrilled to get to see those plains and smell that desert wind!”)
Switchin’ gears….we’ve got to say that we are smack-down-tickled for Papertown to be at the top of The Bluegrass Unlimited NATIONAL BLUEGRASS SURVEY…and gang…it’s for the second month in a row!!! That’s just top-of-the-top for us…and we couldn’t be more thankful to all the folks involved…but most of all…to our “nation” friends who support our music and lift us with their friendship…thank you all and God Bless each of you!!!
Posted on: December 11th, 2012 by Marc Pruett
We’ve had a great time hanging out with our Balsam Nation buddies since the “nation” started…and more than that…we really, really appreciate the support you’ve given our band over the last year! It’s fun for us to get to play new music…get to see new places…but the thing we enjoy the most about our musical journey is re-connecting with old friends, making new friends…and seeing how we can all “grow” the music we love and the friendships we enjoy.
Balsam Nation has given us a cool vehicle to connect with the music world…and we thought we’d float the idea to say, “Hey…give a friend a BALSAM NATION membership for Christmas!” Just click on the links…and jump in…and we promise to give you our e-best and a great year of membership.
NOW…HOW ABOUT THIS…we have a short list of songs we want to put on the live album we are recording soon for Balsam Nation members…AND WE’D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT SONGS YOU GUYS AND GALS WOULD LIKE TO HEAR US DO on the live CD! You can reply here…or jump to our Facebook page. We’ll soon be making the final list…and we want to consider your requests. We’ll do our best to make a good song list for the Nation…and thank you again for the love and friendship we’ve shared with you over this year of growing and challenges. Merry Christmas!
Posted on: October 14th, 2012 by Marc Pruett
Balsam Range has had the chance to meet some great folks along our musical journey…and this coming weekend, we will be in Charleston to pick and sing with our pal, John Driskell Hopkins of the Zac Brown Band for a couple of special events. Friday…we will be at THE WIND JAMMER on the Isle of Palms for the evening. And Saturday, we will play in Charleston at ZAC BROWN’S SOUTHERN GROUND FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL in Charleston. If you are reading about the event here, you’re just one click-of-a-mouse away from buying tickets on the link on our “Concerts” page. We are very excited to be a part of this special weekend…and we hope you can join us for some great food and music on the SC coast!!!
Posted on: October 11th, 2012 by Marc Pruett
Balsam Range is excited to be invited to be part of the SIERRA HULL FESTIVAL this Saturday. Sierra is one of our favorite BG performers of all “mando-time!!!” If you happen to be in her part of Tennessee…come out and join the daylong fun!!! We bet there will be at least one HOT DUELING MANDOLIN SONG…imagine that…Darren and Sierra blazing something like “Bluegrass Breakdown” while the rest of us hang on for the “rake-down!!!” Big fun for everyone!!!
Here’s the link:
http://sierrahullfestival.com/
AND DON’T FORGET…BR will be at Tim Surrett’s home church…Ridgeway Baptist Church…this Sunday for a sincere and fun gospel, Bluegrass program. This is one of our favorite shows all year…and a great house of worship!!!
Here’s the link for the church:
http://www.ridgewaybaptistchurch-candler.org/
Posted on: September 21st, 2012 by Marc Pruett
Balsam Range is tickled to death that our song I COULD DO YOU SOME GOOD is back in the #1 slot on the BLUEGRASS TODAY CHART!!! Thank you Bluegrass radio…and thank you Bluegrass friends for asking your local DJ’s to play our song! As of this writing, we are the top band in number of spins…actually 105 more than our buddy Lou Reid! (Forgive us Lou…we love you anyway!) So…BALSAM NATION and Balsam Range friends…help us keep the momentum going on this song by asking your “fav” BG DJ to keep “GOOD” on their playlist!!! WhaaaHooo!!!
http://bluegrasstoday.com/chart/
Posted on: April 6th, 2012 by Tim Surrett
Happy Easter Everybody!
We’re looking forward to a great time tomorrow night at the Colonial Theatre in Canton, NC, for the last show in our Winter Concert Series. I really hope you can come be with us. We’re going to present an all Gospel program to celebrate Easter. I’ve spent the majority of my life playing Gospel music, and I’m proud to play in a band that still respects that aspect of the bluegrass music sound. I think you’ll be blessed!
It’s shaping up to be a great night.
Our special guest is David Johnson. David is one of the few studio musicians to be elected to the Hall of Fame. During our nearly 30 years of playing sessions together, I have seen him play acoustic guitars, electric guitars, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, basses, steel guitar, cello, harmonica, and others that I can’t even remember. Tony Rice told me that David might be the best musician that he had ever seen! David is also a humle man of strong faith, very involved in his home church. He will amaze you, I guarantee it! He will be playing his own music, as well as playing with BR.
Also, our pal Eddie Rose will be there with us. Some of you have seen Eddie with us, filling in while Buddy recovers from his accident and surgery. You can attest to what an amazing singer Eddie is. He has what I call the “Shock and Awe” factor. Eddie is known around here as not only a great singer, but an incredible Bluegrass Gospel singer. He has been a great friend to this band.
Speaking of our Buddy Melton, he is going to do his best to make a short appearence tomorrow night. His recovery has been stunning to watch! The day he was released from the hospital, he was at the studio singing. We were at the studio just last night, and he was playing great fiddle on our new record! We are so thankful for you folks who have sent up thousands of prayers to make this possible.
Tickets for tomorrow night are almost gone, so jump while you can. We have so much to thank God for, and we want you to be there tomorrow night to help us celebrate all of it!
Posted on: March 16th, 2012 by Caleb Smith
Thanks to all for the prayers and thoughts for Buddy!! It has been overwhelming to think about how many people we have all talked too in the past few days who have been praying and thinking about Bud!!!
I and all the Balsam Range family would like to extend our gratitude for all you guys have done or are doing to help us through this time!!!
Posted on: January 20th, 2012 by Marc Pruett
BR had a fun practice last night in Caleb’s guitar shop. Not only did we get to see a bunch of cool new guitars in progress…we got to hear them as well. We were working up some demos as possibilities to play…maybe even record. It’s a cool process to work with the guys on new songs…and get to hear what each man is interested in. Seems like it’s a big circle looking in every direction for songs. Darren brought some good ‘uns…even got to work up a cool new Milan Miller tune! Heck fire! Milan was there to teach it to us! Big time! Milan is one talented fellow, and he has had a strong hand in BR’s musical direction…and we appreciate him giving us songs to hear. I’m so proud to be associated with such a talented group of men, and we all look forward to seeing you all this season. We’re working on getting some cool shows and hope we’ll be close to your neighborhood. Come out and be with us. We’ll do our best to make sure you get to see some stage fun…you’ll get to hear it as well. I’ll throw this at you via Lester once…HAVE A PEACH OF A BIG WEEKEND WON’T YOU!!!
