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KKB 2011 Tour in France
Posted September 26, 2011
Kathy, Tom, Annie, Dan, and Greg had a wonderful week or so in France during August. They played two festivals -- the Country Rendez-Vous Festival in Craponne sur Arzon, and the La Roche Bluegrass Festival in La Roche-sur-Foron, Haute Savoie, as well as a concert in Evian-les-Bains (source of the famous designer water). They're most grateful to Christopher Howard-Williams in La Roche and Georges Carrier in Craponne for making this possible -- and for providing so much assistance and hospitality.
The Country Rendez-Vous Festival is a big one, partly because the focus is divided between country and bluegrass. There were more than 30,000 in attendance over the three days, with an audience estimated at around 12,000 during the KKB set. As you can see from the photos, the stage was huge and the video images behind the band threatened to overwhelm them. Despite the searing sun (nice shades) and oversized venue, the sound was great and the band went over very well. 
La Roche is cozier -- probably 4-5,000 were there for the KKB set -- but is emerging as one of Europe's premier bluegrass-only festivals. The KKB were joined on stage by mandolinist Martino Coppo (from the band Red Wine) who toured with them for three weeks last year. That was icing on the cake, and made the crowd nearly as excited as the band. The next day, the mayor of La Roche presented the band with the city's seal (perhaps they ran out of keys) at a charming ceremony in the town hall.
The concert at Evian also drew a big crowd -- more than 2,000, according to organizers -- and the lakeside setting and tour of a medieval town earlier in the day (along with the usual exceptional meal) had the band playing great. There were no photos taken here, but we'll post 'em if any come our way.
During the last two years, the KKB has had the great good fortune to play a number of shows in Europe, and the response has been remarkable. There have been several pleas for the band to return and digits are crossed that it can happen again.
Just Released!
Posted September 25, 2011
Count Your Blessings, a collection of 18 bluegrass gospel songs performed by Kathy Kallick between 1982 and earlier this year. Kathy is singing and playing with two versions of the Kathy Kallick Band, the Good Ol' Persons, and longtime musical associates like Laurie Lewis and Keith Little.
Thirteen of these songs are taken from a half-dozen previous releases; four are brand-new recordings, and one is a recently-discovered live recording. Kathy composed seven of the songs and arranged and/or added new lyrics to five others on this CD. Three of the previously-unreleased tracks were learned from Bill Monroe, and it seems fitting to include them on an album released on the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Kathy has additional reasons for releasing this collection in 2011, noting that, "I think we're living in hard times. We're living in a time when people are struggling and sad and scared, and need to have their spirits lifted. I think it's a bit of healing to hear spiritually uplifting songs and to have a chance to sing along with them."
These comments are taken from a recent conversation with Kathy, which is available on CD for bluegrass radio programmers. In this "interview" (with Kathy's voice only), she discusses many things in addition to Count Your Blessings, including everyone in her band, the influence of Bill Monroe, and, especially, the music on Between the Hollow and the High-Rise, the Kathy Kallick Band release which has been in the national charts for over a year.
Please contact your local DJ and ask to hear this, as well as songs from Count Your Blessings.
KATHY KALLICK: Count Your Blessings - A Bluegrass Gospel Collection
1. The Kathy Kallick Band: There's A Higher Power/Between The Hollow And The High-Rise (2010) written by the Louvin Brothers, learned from the Marshall Family, and includes additional Kathy lyrics
2. KKB: Lord Protect My Soul/previously unreleased (2011) Bill Monroe
3. Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick: Count Your Blessings/Together (1991) Kathy
4. KKB: The Messenger/Warmer Kind Of Blue (2004) - Kathy
5. Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick: Daniel Prayed/previously unreleased (2011)
6. Kathy Kallick with Keith Little & John Reischman: I'll Not Be A Stranger/previously unreleased (2011)
7. KKB: Wings/Walkin' In My Shoes (1999) - Kathy
8. KKB: Late Last Night/Warmer Kind Of Blue (2004) - Kathy
9. Good Ol¹ Persons: Center Of The World/Part Of A Story (1986) - Kathy
10. Good Ol¹ Persons: It's Gonna Rain /Part Of A Story (1986) Kathy & John Reischman
11. KKB: God Gave Noah The Rainbow Sign/Warmer Kind Of Blue (2004) Flatt & Scruggs plus additional Kathy lyrics
12. Kathy Kallick with Jody Stecher, Kate Brislin, and Amy Stenberg: Row Us Over The Tide/My Mother's Voice (2001)
13. KKB: When I Wake Up To Sleep No More/Walkin' In My Shoes (1999) Sally Mountain Show & Marshall Family
14. Kathy Kallick & Laurie Lewis: Lone Pilgrim/Reason and Rhyme (2004)
15. KKB: In The Middle Of My Town/Warmer Kind Of Blue (2004) - Kathy
16. KKB: Precious Memories/previously unreleased (2011)
17. KKB: I¹ll Fly Away/My Mother's Voice (2001)
18 (hidden bonus track). Good Ol' Persons: That Home Above/previously unreleased live recording @ Freight & Salvage (1982) Bill Monroe
NOTE: When the source is not given (5, 6, 12, 14, 16, 17), the song has been performed previously by many artists.
"Count Your Blessings -- A Bluegrass Gospel Collection" just arrived in this afternoon's mail. A beautiful experience from Lisa Berman's elegantly designed CD cover case to the photos of the musicians through the years. Most of all I enjoyed your selection of songs and the much-loved warmth of your voice. I wish tomorrow was a weekday and not the weekend so I could share this CD with my listeners right away." -- Katy Daley, WAMU's Bluegrass Country; 2009 IBMA Broadcaster Of the Year
On the charts ...
Posted November 9, 2010
Bluegrass Unlimited is a monthly magazine (since 1966) with both album and single charts based on airplay from reporting DJs and radio producer/hosts.
The Kathy Kallick Band's song, "Where Is My Little Cabin Home," is now #16 on this national chart, and the album "Between the Hollow & the High-Rise" is #9.
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Bluegrass Music Profiles is a monthly (online) and bi-monthly (print) magazine with album and single charts based on songs receiving the most radio airplay from BMP reporting stations.
The Kathy Kallick Band's song, "Where Is My Little Cabin Home," is now #4 on this national chart, and the album "Between the Hollow & the High-Rise" is #6.
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Approximately 150 DJs presenting all types of acoustic music on radio stations around the world submit playlists to the folk-dj list. It's unusual for bluegrass bands to receive significant airplay on these stations, but the Kathy Kallick Band's "Between the Hollow & the High-Rise" has been among the most-played recordings for the past five months: #2 in June, #2 in July, #16 in August, #21 in September, and #47 in October.
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In addition to "Where Is My Little Cabin Home," the songs from "Between the Hollow & the High-Rise" that have been played most often on bluegrass, old time, folk, Americana, and other acoustic music radio programs are:
"(Get Along Home) Cindy"
"Girl Next Door"
"My House"
"New White House Blues"
"Wildflowers"
"Panhandle Rag"
"There's A Higher Power"
"Whistle Stop Town"
Thanks to all the DJs -- and listeners -- for this wonderful support!
Northwest Mini-Tour
Posted November 9, 2010
In October, the band played in Seattle, Cashmere, and Bellingham, Washington, as well as Vancouver, BC. It was wonderful to return to the Northwest (and Canadian Southwest), and we were well-received -- and well-taken care of -- everywhere.
Thanks to all those who made the shows possible and to all those who came out to see us. We had a blast.
These photos were taken Gary Benson at Dusty Strings in Seattle. Thanks, Gary!
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