Tim Bradham's Chassis Works Featured On Depth Of Speed

"I had the opportunity to swing by TBC Hot Rods and Bikes in Fayetteville, NC and check out the shop. Every month the guys at the shop pool their funds together to bring in a band, food, and drinks for "Garage Night". It is something that really gives back to the automotive community in Fayetteville which is what it is all about. Tim Bradham is one of the nicest people you will meet and is a master fabricator. He creates a lot of things out of raw materials and it is amazing to see something start from nothing. 

Music:
Caspian: Epochs in Dmaj
Ronnie Hymes:UnIncorporated (reverbnation.com/ronniehymes)

We have set out on our journey across the USA. Join us over at the site and Facebook to find out where we currently are! If you have any car stories along our path please contact me." 

Josh Clason

depthofspeed.com 

facebook.com/DepthofSpeed

Depth of Speed: Something From Nothing from Josh Clason on Vimeo.

Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight, Featured In Elite Magazine

By Jaymie Baxley

"Like many military veterans, Buck Thrailkill has endured several grueling deployments. And, like many veterans, he's quick to identify the thing that got him through.

"This instrument saved my life," he explained, patting the round body of his glossy-black banjo. "It was, sometimes, just my love of music and playing music that brought me home safe."

Ronnie Hymes and Carolina Freight are a Raeford-based trio centered around singer/songwriter Ronnie Hymes. The "Freight" refers to Thrailkill and upright bass player Frank Ehlinger, an active-duty Army medical officer.

Though they classify themselves as a honky-tonk act, the group's sound actually draws from a diverse stable of Southern genres and movements, most notably bluegrass, alt-country and 1950s rockabilly music. The trio have built their local reputation on a string of fiery live performances at venues such as The Black Cat Lounge on Fort Bragg Road.

Before forming the band in 2011, Hymes was a solo artist. The singer's output during this period was considerably darker in tone, and his lyrics were influenced by his experiences as a factory worker.

"You never see the sunlight working in the factory, especially in the winter. You go to work and it's dark. You get off and it's dark," Hymes said.

Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight - Photo By Raul Rubiera Jr.

According to Hymes, the material on his band's forthcoming debut release, "Songs for the Working Man," is decidedly more optimistic. He feels this tonal shift is due in part to the close friendship and musical chemistry that developed during the group's recording sessions.

Ehlinger is the other half of Carolina Freight. Like Thrailkill, he has used music as a means of coping through deployments. Language barriers would often prevent him from communicating with locals in the faraway areas where he was stationed. So, the bass player became fluent in one language everyone understands.

"Music transcends certain boundaries," he said. "I've found myself playing places in front of people who couldn't understand what I was saying, but they were getting into it."

Music as a survival tool is a theme for the band.

"When you're younger, you might do different things when you're upset, like dent walls or whatever," Ehlinger said. "You can always grab that instrument and you can play it as hard as you want and you can beat the crap out of it, but you're making something happen."

Link to original article

Elite Magazine article featuring Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight

J.B. Beverley Tour Dates With Liquorbox

Check out the tour dates below for our good buddy J.B. Beverley and Liquorbox's tour dates across the good ol' USA. Do yourself a favor and get out to live shows and Support Real Country Music. 

Billy Don Burns and J.B. Beverley hangin' at the Rusty Knuckles compound

Head over to J.B. Beverley's main site

J.B. Beverley & Liquorbox - BURNING BORDERS TOUR - 2012



Fri, June 29 - Washington DC @ The Red Palace
Sat, June 30 - Fayetteville, NC @ The Black Cat Lounge
Tue, July 03 - St. Louis, MO @ TBA
Wed, July 04 - Columbia, MO @ TBA
Thu, July 05 -  Eureka Springs, AR @ Chelsea's Corner Cafe
Fri, July 06 -  Wichita, KS @ The Lizard Lounge
Sat, July 07 - Lincoln, NE @ TBA
Tue, July 10 - Denver, CO @ 3 Kings Tavern
Wed July 11 - Grand Junction, CO @ TBA  
Thu, July 12 -  Salt Lake City, UT @ The Garage on Beck
Fri, July 13 - Provo, UT @ TBA
Sat, July 14 - Idaho Falls, ID @ The Frosty Gator
Sun, July 15 - Idaho Falls, ID @ TBA
Wed, July 18 - Montana @ TBA
Thu, July 19 - W. Yellowstone, MT @ Farmfest Pre-Party
Fri, July 20 - W. Yellowstone, MT @ Farmfest
Sat, July 21 - W. Yellowstone, MT @ Farmfest
Sun, July 22 - W. Yellowstone, MT @ Farmfest (DAY)
Sun, July 22 - West Yellowstone, MT, US Longhorn Saloon (NIGHT)
Tue, July 24 - Sturgis, SD @ TBA
Wed, July 25 - Bismarck, ND @ TBA
Thu, July 26 - Fargo, ND @ TBA
Fri, July 27 - Rochester, MN @ The Eagles Lodge
Sat, July 28 - Iowa Falls, IA @ TBA
Sun, July 29 - TBA
Wed, Aug 1 - Lancaster, PA @ TBA
Thu, Aug 2 - Philadelphia, PA @ Private Event
Fri, Aug 3 - New York, NY @ TBA
Sat, Aug 4 - New York, NY @ TBA


__________________________________________

 



Fri, Aug 31 - Cookeville, TN @ Muddy Roots Music Festival 
Sat, Sept 1 - Cookeville, TN @ Muddy Roots Music Festival 


Sun, Sept 2 - Cookeville, TN @ Muddy Roots Music Festival

Ronnie Hymes And Carolina Freight - Just A Workin Man' - Album Sneak Peek

After settling in with Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight's latest tracks being recorded for the new album, I kept thinking on some interesting and different ways that we could start putting the word out on this great album. Going through our distributors, Itunes, Amazon, etc. is great, but its rather soul less. Don't get me wrong they are great ways to find new music, but we wanted something more and for it to be unique. Those are two things which drive us day to day.

The whole idea for the sign was hatched after hearing the banjo tracks and thinking on stop motion films. I knew there was a refined approach that we could use to leverage the two together. With a plan hatched, now I just had to convince ol' Ronnie Hymes what was possible. After a quick sketch and looking for scrap wood, we settled on a stack of old tongue and groove boards we found over at Habitat for Humanity. For under $200 worth of supplies including scrap wood, about nine or so new 2 x 4's, bolts, nuts, washers and fresh paint, we created the sign for the new album cover. This is just stage one of the album cover, part two will be revealed in a few weeks once we get the finishing touches all done.

So without further ado, have a listen and a view of the brand new track by Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight, due out later this summer.

Also, huge thank you to Ronnie, Yvonne, Buck and Frank for helping to contribute to such a huge project. Without their help none of this would have been possible.

Link up with Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight on Facebook

Link to the video on Vimeo

See It on youtube

Ronnie putting the custom box shapes for the sign into the tour van

The layout of the huge billboard we were about to paint for the album sign

Each box breaks down for easy storage and setup

Scrap wood purchased from Habit For Humanity

Scrap wood purchased from Habit For Humanity

Sign put into place for painting

Painting the huge 12ft x 12ft album sign, fuck photoshop, get back to basics!

Mikey and Ronnie watching me paint all afternoon, lazy bums, hahaha!

Finishing up all the details on the lettering

Almost done at sunset, in total, took about 8 hours to paint the full sign

Record Store Day Sale With Rusty Knuckles Music

Go out and support your local music store and the bands you enjoy listening to. We are offering a one day sale of 15% off all music sales. Use promo code VinylSale2012 in the checkout process.

Get some new music from our store

April 21, 2012 is Official Record Store Day

Joe Buck Yourself and Flat Tires split 7" vinyl

Flat Tires - Freeborn

Hellbound Glory - Old Highs & New Lows

Hellbound Glory - Damaged Goods

Jay Berndt - Sad Bastard Songs

G.G. Allin and ANTiSEEN

ANTiSEEN - Sweet Blood Call on 7" Vinyl

Rory Kelly - (Don't Shake My) Family Tree

She Rides - Buy The Ticket

ANTiSEEN & Flat Tires split 7" Vinyl

Ashton Kutcher Goes Country and Wants To Join Hellbound Glory

With all of the fake country pop stars up in arms over Ashton Kutcher wearing "country" attire we are predicting that he will do his best to join up with Hellbound Glory on the road to prove how "country" he really is. Not only is Hellbound Glory the best damn country band on the road today but Fox News is now getting quotes from the one and only Leroy Virgil.  Read On...

Ashton Kutcher and Hellbound Glory featured on Fox News about "Real Country Music"

Link to original article on Fox News

"Ashton Kutcher’s apparent lampooning of country dress and singing at the American Country Music awards certainly ticked off some country fans.


But it also provoked a response from old-school devotees who say the genre left behind its real roots years ago and has become a mockery of itself as it moved closer to pop music, rather than the kind of songs written by pioneers like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash.


“Ashton Kutcher is an entertainer and a comedian and he was there for entertainment. But he was dressed more country than anyone you see on the show, which is the ironic thing about it,” said country music writer and the editor of SavingCountryMusic.com Kyle Coroneos.  “It is a show about country music, but there is no country music on there. Ashton, with the way he was dressed, was one of the most country music things that happened on the show."

Aston Kutcher at ACM Awards and is more country than all of Nashville Pop

Corneos says what he really offensive about the telecast was Carrie Underwood’s opening act and an appearance by the rock band KISS.


“As someone who appreciates the traditions of country music I found Carrie Underwood’s strip tease act and KISS coming onstage with their bit more offensive than what Kutcher did,” Coroneos said. Indeed the uproar that Kutcher created has raised questions about the state of country music itself.

George Jones released from hospital.


“You can’t sing about your broken down pickup truck when you are living in a $5 million house,” Beville Darden, co-founder of country website TheBoot.com and former on-air personality for Nashville’s WSM radio station, tells Fox411.com. “We have been getting a lot of backlash from fans that think country music is no longer authentic.”


Another longtime country music performer told us that the big names in country today make him nauseous.

"Got turned off of the country scene years ago due to people like Kukukukachoo Kutcher. I consider myself fortunate to have grown up on the farm/ranch to know what a week's worth of work feels like"

- Fox411.com commenter

“Country music is based on real folk with real problems, not these millionaires running around making commercials for cars they’re never going to drive because they have a Bentley and a Porsche in their driveway,” he vented.


Kutcher took fire when he presented the female vocalist of the year award dressed in over-the-top classic country attire.


"Was Ashton Kutcher making fun of country or is it just me?” tweeted singer Miranda Lambert, to whom Kutcher presented the female vocalist award.


Country singer Justin Moore backed Lambert up, calling the “Two and a Half Men” star a “douche."
EXCLUSIVE: Justin Moore issues country challenge to Ashton Kutcher.


Kutcher responded via Twitter saying: "I Am One Of The biggest country Music fans you’ve ever met. Wasn’t making fun at all.”


It is not the first time that popular culture and traditionalists clashed at a country awards ceremony. In the seventies, when John Denver won an accolade at the Country Music Awards, rockabilly singer Charlie Rich burned the envelope with John Denver’s name in it.


Country fans who commented on our story about the Kutcher controversy were annoyed too, but not just at Kutcher. In the more than 300 responses the story genreated, many said it's today's country music, not Kutcher, that's a joke.


“Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Brooks & Dunn are Country. This new stuff ain't Country," one wrote.


"Blake Shelton, his wife, and the 'other country stars' seem to have joined the ranks of the political correctness and forgotten the roots of their music. They have put themselves on a snobbish pedestal. Beer and cowboy hats have been a signature of country music since the beginning. When I here a song by Patsy Cline, George Jones, or Charley Pride, I want to grab a beer. I am not a fan of Aston Kutcher, but he was invited, he is an actor, and actors entertain," added another.





“Got turned off of the country scene years ago due to people like Kukukukachoo Kutcher. I consider myself fortunate to have grown up on the farm/ranch to know what a week's worth of work feels like," another wrote.


Wendy Hermanson, Yahoo! Music’s country music blogger, has seen similar comments on her music site, but she says today’s popular country acts don’t represent the entire body of country music currently out there.


“The ones who are in the spotlight are the ones who have crossed into pop like Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. You can find a ton of very authentic artists if you get into the genre and get more than skin deep. I do think that Miranda Lambert is pretty genuine, and Justin Moore is pretty hardcore country,” Hermanson said.


Indeed it seems country music is in the midst of its own culture war. There are the more pop oriented acts like Swift, Underwood and Lady Antebellum who appeal to the masses with their crossover hits. Then there is what country purists refer to as “checklist country” acts.


“Artists like Eric Church and Brantley Gilbert don’t appeal to the traditionalists because they have a checklist that is inane, drawing out these artifacts of country life that don’t appeal to people," Coroneos said. "They have a list that includes corn bales, pickup trucks, and back roads."

“Less than 1 percent of America owns a working farm. Those artists are appealing to suburbia with these country checklists and attempting to live a country lifestyle vicariously," he said. "So traditional country fans are appalled by anything on the radio.”

Leroy of Hellbound Glory speaking the true gospel

Leroy Virgil, the lead singer of the country band Hellbound Glory, whose upcoming album Merica is about to be released, said the problem with these "checklists" is that they address lifestyles and problems that are no longer relevant to the blue collar workers and small town people who enjoy the music.

"It might be authentic sounding to people who live in the suburbs and own a couple jet skis and nice trucks. But to the people who live in the rural parts of the country, or live in small towns or medium sized cities,  I don’t think it reflects what is going on in their lives," Virgil told Fox411. "That country music has turned a  blind eye to some of the problems, with prescription pain killers devastating rural areas and small towns, and the harder side of what is going on."

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel for country music purists. There is a burgeoning independent music scene in the country world with festivals like Muddy Roots and the Juke Joint Festival showcasing "authentic country."


Jason Galaz, the CEO of the Muddy Roots festival, told Fox411 that he hadn’t even been aware of Kutcher’s antics at the awards show.


“Award shows like that don't celebrate the country music that I celebrate," Galaz said. "They celebrate pop music sales."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/04/05/some-country-music-fans-say-ashton-kutcher-not-offensive-popular-country-music/#ixzz1rB8q6YK0

Hellbound Glory - Support Real Country Music

Billy Don Burns Is Like A Modern Day, Motorcycle Gang Version Of James Dean With A Guitar Slung Over His Shoulder

Corporate Nashville and Hollywood are not that far apart in how they create new characters. One glaring difference between the two though, is that we all know Hollywood is about fiction, but Nashville seems to think they can pass off their "outlaw" crap and think folks will believe it.

Read a few of the quotes below directly pulled from Amazon as they are under the reviews of the various album's by Billy Don Burns. With his new album coming out early this summer Billy Don Burns is poised to turn some heads and show the masses what living on the edge is all about.

Pick up some of Billy Don Burns past albums through Amazon

Billy Don Burns jamming with Hellbound Glory and Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight

"This collection is a celebration of two cultures. Classic Country from one of it's founders( Hank Cochran has had 8 thousand songs recorded and discovered Willie Nelson). Billy Don Burns is like a modern day, motorcycle gang version of James Dean with a guitar slung over his shoulder, and a lifetime of adventures in the form of songs. For people who live way out on the edge, or for those who just want to hear about it from the experts, THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!! It's hard to find great music these days, but these guys did, and it's on this CD." 

"DO NOT PANIC! DO NOT ADJUST YOUR STEREO!
THIS IS THE CD YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!
THERE IS PLENTY OF RED, RAW MEAT IN THIS
COLLECTION! I THOUGHT I WAS IN A TIME WARP
AS I LISTENED, FROM BEGINNING TO END,
AND MY EYES NEVER ONCE GLAZED OVER! IF YOU
ARE NOW, OR EVER WANTED TO BE, A REBEL,
A RENEGADE, A SINGER, A WRITER, A LOVER,
OR A FIGHTER, YOU WILL LOVE THIS CD. IT IS LIFE
AND LOVE IN ITS RAREST FORM, BRUTALLY HONEST,
HARD AS NAILS, AND YET, TENDER ENOUGH TO PUT
A LUMP IN YOUR THROAT THAT YOU MAY FIND
HARD TO SWALLOW! I LOVE THIS ALBUM..."

Billy Don Burns jamming with Hellbound Glory

"Whoa! This guy's one piece of work. Billy's had a long history of friendships with Nashville, and Texas' baddest hombres (Kristofferson, Haggard, Paycheck, Cash, Jones, etc), but his music was never released until a few of years ago. I'm mighty grateful I've discovered this guy. This is what real outlaw country music stands for. This guy is so brutally honest that there's no chance you'll hear this on mainstream anything. He duets with Tanya Tucker, and Willie Nelson on this, his fourth release (only two are available), but he's twice as gritty as anyone out there today. There's no comparisons. He sings of addiction, drug smuggling, love gone wrong, and Patsy Cline; what more can you ask for? He also produced an album by Paycheck that was recorded when Johnny was in the "Pen" some years ago, but that's never seen the light of day.......yet. That story is pretty amazing. Discover Billy Don Burns today."


"It's proof the "real deals" survive! Billy Don puts "COUNTRY" back on the charts. The likes of Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Willie and Waylon,Tanya Tucker, Hoyt Axton, Webb Pierce , Johnny Horton, Patsy Cline, Johnny Paycheck,and those of their "grit" will be proud to add him to their peer group. Billy Don Burns has the courage to be honest and the compassion to be sincere....and that's country in my book."


"This isn't your Nashville garden variety sugary what a prefect life I have music. If you want music about that look elsewhere. If you want the raw, the real the honest, the soul filled music get a copy of this cd. Billy Don Burns is amazing. His skillful songwriting and vocals is second to none.

Here is a tiny peak at this masterful lyrics

"His silhouette stands against the wall, The shadow of a man who lost it all. It helps conceal the pain, He rides though the night down a lost highway through a hole he made in is vein, to a plastic place where desperate dies on a dirty street called shame?
From "The Dark Side of The spoon"
 
"She'd go screamin cross the plains of my soul like a train runnin wild. From "Sailin Down the Nile"

He is kind of a Waylon sings David Allen Coe.

The majority of the songs are stripped down. It sounds like it was done live in the studio without those nasty overdubs that robs the music of it's soul.

The only song that get tuned up at the end of "Runnin Drugs out of Mexico" but the song calls for it

He pays tribute to his heroes

Pasty Cline, Haggard, Keith Whitley, Johnny Cash and Hank Sr."

Pasty a duet with Willie Nelson who also plays guitar as well. Which is obvious to the listner

His cover of the Cash classic "Give My Love To Rose" is filled with emotion. His 1997 cd knocked Cash (his hero) out the number one spot on the Amreicana charts.

I've been on the net for almost 10 years I've found alot of indy artists but Billy Don is hands down the best I've ever heard."

Barn Party Jam Session

Sometimes ya just happen to get that random call in the morning that changes the next few days for the better. Our random call, happened to be Billy Don Burns, who on a whim decided to roll out from Nashville over to Raleigh. Most folks might scoff at an eight hour trip on a whim, but not the folks we roll with. This is a defining trait amongst the tribe we are a part of and one in which I wish most could understand. 

Once it was solidified that Billy Don was rolling up, the calls went out and we got a barn party jam session put together to get Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight along with Hellbound Glory all in the same room. Huge thanks to Anna and Chris McElroy for helping out and allowing for the good times to go down. We have a lot of photos and working on all the video so stay tuned.

Billy Don Burns, Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight and Hellbound Glory © Rusty Knuckles Music 2012

Barn Jam Session that will be remembered for a long time to come © Rusty Knuckles Music 2012

All the fellas jamming in the barn © Rusty Knuckles 2012

Buck Thrailkill, Rico and Leroy of Hellbound Glory © Rusty Knuckles 2012

Ronnie Hymes, Billy Don Burns and Buck Thrailkill © Rusty Knuckles 2012

Billy Don Burns with Frank Ehlinger and Ronnie Hymes © Rusty Knuckles 2012

News And Updates From Banjo Buck Thrailkill

Our good buddy Buck Thrailkill recently posted up his newsletter and after reading it, we realized just how much cool stuff he has going on and wanted to get it out to the masses. If you haven't heard much of Buck's banjo pickin', you are in for some amazing songs this year. With feature releases coming up with us and Farmageddon this year, Buck will be hitting stages across the country and showing how a banjo should be played.

Link to Buck Thrailkill on Facebook

Banjo Buck Thrailkill

"Hi Everyone, I hope you all had an AWESOME February... 

The NEWS just keeps coming for you so here we go...

There will be a lot of new recordings coming out this spring and fall with all of the groups I am involved with. There is also bunches and bunches of new merch, t-shirts, mugs, and more coming in. Almost have the song list finished for the SOLO Album. I have one more piece to finish writing, which will also be on the new album with Ronnie Hymes and Frank Ehlinger this summer from Rusty Knuckles Record Label. I also had the honor be being asked to record a track for upcoming artist Larry Frick for his new album. Check his band out. They are awesome.... And a true honor is going to be to record with my dear friend Erik Smallwood this year. His latest album 'You Love' just came out in January so please go check his incredible sound out with Neil Ray and many other guest artist.

Still want to make this year big on getting my ReverbNation page and Facebook Pages out and I will need your help getting as many email addresses as I can here, as well as the Venue's and other Band's ReverbNation pages. So help get the word out for the News Letters, Seasonal Letters, Gig Updates for Special shows, and so folks have an easy way to access me to send ideas for music, merch, or whatever. You can also contact my good friend Sheila Barker at Ready to Roll Street Team on Reverb or Facebook for information as well.

Working in 'Ronnie Hymes and Carolina Freight', with Ronnie Hymes and Frank Ehlinger, we finished and released a brand new demo CD called '5 Tracks' back in January. You can go to our ReverbNation page to have a listen or on the Reverb Store and purchase the song and/or ringtone for any of the tracks you like. We just finished up recording our New Album coming our summer via The Rusty Knuckles Record Label with almost all new original tunes written by us and a few friends. We also have some great GIG dates coming in March and April around the Carolina's. 

Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight, Rusty Knuckles © 2012

Coming up:

Thu Mar 1 2012 - Hellbound Glory

The Black Cat Lounge-Fayetteville, NC

Sat Mar 10 2012 - Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight

Puckett’s Farm Equipment- Charlotte, NC

Sat Mar 24 2012 -  D.B. Bryant Band

Buckshot’s-Salisbury, NC

Fri Mar 30 2012 -  Billy Don Burns

The Black Cat Lounge-Fayetteville, NC

Sat Apr 7 2012 - Polecat Fisher & The Rank Strangers

Main Street Pub & Deli-Marion, NC

Fri Apr 20 2012 - Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight

The Twisted Spoke-Pendleton, SC

Be sure to check the show dates on my ReverbNation page as well as RH&CF's ReverbNation Page. There is also new merch from the Freight as well so check us out...

Working in 'JB Beverley and The Wayward Drifters', with JB Beverley and Frank Ehlinger, we have a brand new CD in the recording works right now of all originals that will be available from Farmageddon Records by the spring/summer as well as some really awesome GIG dates coming up. Farmageddon Music Fest 2012 in Montana is coing up this year for the first annual. Already have an incredible line up. Also the 3rd Annual Muddy Roots Music Fest in Tennessee in September. BIG NEWS HERE. Dr. Ralph Stanley will be preforming at MRMF 2012. One of my all-time banjo hero's!!! 

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this mail and please fell free to send to your friends and ask them to check out some or all the projects for 2012.

Have a BANJOWONDERFUL Day...... Buck sends..."

Original Country Outlaw - Billy Don Burns Joins Rusty Knuckles Music

What happens when you get a phone call by an underground legend whose songs have been recorded by individuals such as Willie Nelson and produced albums by Merle Haggard, Tanya Tucker and Johnny Paycheck? Here is what we did, we asked Billy Don Burns to join the team and allow us to release his next album. Folks, we are damn stoked to be working with Billy Don Burns and we aren't going to let everything out of the bag just yet. Dig in and learn a bit more about Billy Don and his storied history.

Support Real Country Music

Billy Don Burns

Hellbound Glory

Jay Berndt

Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight

Carolina Still

Southbound Turnaround

Billy Don Burns joins Rusty Knuckles Music

More history on Billy Don Burns

There's a lot of talk these days about outlaws in country music. Whether part of the new breed or the old guard, the problem has always been if you have to proclaim yourself an outlaw, you're probably not one Arkansas native Billy Don Burns doesn't have to proclaim himself anything. His worn-out Harley-Davidson t-shirt and dirty red bandana aren't part of some trendy corporate-sponsored fashion-statement/marketing campaign. And when putting his songs down on record, no slick, young, next-big-thing Music Row producer need apply, thank you. Billy Don needs only one thing to get his message across: an open-minded listener unafraid of the dark side--a place Billy Don admittedly knows all too well. These are not your run-of-the-mill, radio-friendly ditties written by some publisher-appointed committee in a cushy Nashville office suite. Scan the titles: Runnin Drugs out of Mexico, Dark Side of the Spoon, Full Blown Addict--these are the often harrowing true-life experiences that have poured out on paper, and on record, in a flood of nerve-rattling, mind-bending emotion. If you're looking for the primrose path, look elsewhere, friend. But if you're brave enough to handle it, just push play on any of the 13 tracks on Heroes, Friends and Other Troubled Souls, give Billy Don three or four minutes of your undivided attention (no problem there, you'll be fully involved thirty seconds in), and you'll know just what a real honest-to-God outlaw country singer sounds like.

Its real life, says Billy Don. It may be a little darker than people like to recognize, but its there. I wish my life was more of an Ozzie and Harriet kind of life, but it ain't.

Billy Don Burns was born in the community of 56 in Stone County, Arkansas. A family friend, songwriter Jimmie Driftwood (Battle of New Orleans", Tennessee Stud) was Billy Dons mothers schoolteacher, and inspired the naturally-talented youngster to pursue a singing career. While serving in the US Army, he won a talent competition (his trophy was presented to him by fellow serviceman--and My Three Sons TV star--Don Grady). Billy Don left the Army in 1970 and moved to California, where he bought a new guitar and began performing in clubs. In 1972, Wanda Jackson's steel guitar player, Lynn Owsley, endorsed Billy Don so that he could move into a musician's boarding house in Nashville. By 1973, he was portraying Hank Williams at the Opryland USA theme park, and soon had his songs cut by the likes of country legends Connie Smith and Mel Tillis.

In 1975, he formed the Travis Brothers with Jimmy Getzen, and recorded a gospel album. He was also performing around various Nashville clubs, opening for acts such as Boots Randolph and Ronnie Prophet. Billy Don toured North America throughout the early part of the decade and then-Arkansas governor Bill Clinton proclaimed March 27th, 1983, Billy Don Burns Day. In the early 1980s, he was engaged for a time to singer Lorrie Morgan. In 1984, the pair recorded a duet, New Commitments, which they performed on The Nashville Network.

By 1990 things were becoming decidedly darker for Billy Don, both professionally and personally, as involvement in drugs began to overtake his life and interfere with his musical career. Still, Billy Don continued recording, touring and working with other artists on various projects. In 1987, he produced a gospel album for Johnny Paycheck and later recorded a live album for the Take This Job and Shove It singer, who was an inmate at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution in Ohio. Due to legal entanglements, both albums remain unreleased to this day.

By the mid-90s, conditions were improving for Billy Don as artists including Willie Nelson and Sammy Kershaw began recording his songs. In 1995, his debut album Long Lost Highway was a critical, if not commercial, success. And in 1996, Billy Don and his frequent co-writer Hank Cochran topped the Americana music chart with the brilliant Desperate Men, which unseated Johnny Cash's Unchained from the No. 1 spot in 1997. Although at the time (to the chagrin of promoters and fellow musicians alike), Billy Don tried--unsuccessfully--to prevent his own album from overtaking that of his heros, the Man in Black graciously faxed him a handwritten note to congratulate him on the achievement. On 2004s Heroes, Friends and Other Troubled Souls, Billy Don pays tribute to Johnny Cash with a rendition of his 1957 hit, Give My Love to Rose.

It was one of the first Cash songs I learned as a kid. My mother bought that album, and something about it touched me then. I felt like it was one everybody hadn't done a lot.

In 2002, Billy Don Burns released the critically-acclaimed Train Called Lonesome, featuring musical support from the Reno Brothers (Don and Dale) and longtime musical associate Jeff Williams, plus backing vocals by John Carter Cash. The lead-off track on Heroes, Friends and Other Troubled Souls is the revved-up rocker Mississippi, co-written by Billy Don with Hank Cochran and featuring guest vocalist Tanya Tucker.

Though his heroes and friends are ever-present with him on record, it is perhaps the other troubled souls to whom his songs will always mean the most; those whose lives are lived out of the spotlight and in the shadow of some dark, desperate secret. It is those shadows Billy Don Burns knows all too well--and his music is the light that shines on them, making them real, but ultimately offering hope, a voice, and a way out of the darkness.

"Its been a rollercoaster all the way. Every time I play these songs, I hear, Man, you wrote that song for me. You told my story. There's a lot of lost souls out there." - Billy Don Burns

Farmageddon Fest - July 20th to 22nd - West Yellowstone, Montana

The 1st Annual Farmageddon Records Music Festival July 20-22, 2012 on Hebgen Lake, 10 Miles NW of West Yellowstone, Montana!

 Farmageddon Records Music Festival is a three day outdoor festival that will celebrate contemporary American roots music by showcasing the emerging and established artists of Farmageddon Records -an ambitious new Montana-based record label featuring an eclectic roster of edgy, roots fare from around the country. A few friends of "The Farm" and several very special guest headliners will also appear at this highly anticipated event.

The Festival will be located in a private setting among the foothills surrounding Hebgen Lake on the property behind The Longhorn Saloon, just a short drive away from the town of West Yellowstone, the Western entrance to Yellowstone National Park, promising attendees a remote and scenic backdrop for the performances of some of the best talent in underground and national American roots music on a single stage. The Longhorn Saloon will be the official headquarters for Farm-Fest, located a stones throw away from the lake. All of the event details will be be sent to you via email once you purchase your festival pass. Festival passes willl be limited to 1000 or less this year! Currently we can only guarantee parking and camping to the first 500 people who purhase a ticket. We are working on securing the use of more land next to the property for additional parking and camping. Please visit our website for all of the festival details! If you are planning on bringing a camper or RV, there are very limited tickets availlable for those who need more space. Campers will be permitted to set-up their campsite a day early if they choose to do so, there will be a pre-party and live music the night before the festival starts. If you wish to come any earlier than July 19th you can contact us at farmageddonrecords@yahoo.com

There will be multiple options for food available on the festival grounds,  including vegetarian fare. If you are a vendor you will need to contact us asap about securing your retail location as we are limiting availability to 10 spaces this year. You can email us for details, first come first serve! 

Get your tickets now!

 

Farmageddon Fest in West Yellowstone, Montana on July 20th - 22nd

Artists scheduled to perform:
Shooter Jennings, Slim Cessna's Auto Club, The Goddamn Gallows, Ando Ehlers, Angie & The Carwrecks, Black Eyed Vermillion, The Calamity Cubes, Carolina Still, Carrie Nation and The Speakeasy, The Cheatin' Hearts, Cletus Got Shot, The Deadnecks, Dogbite Harris, Soda Gardocki, Filthy Still, Graham Lindsey, Hard Money Saints, Highlonesome, Husky Burnette, James Hunnicutt, Jayke Orvis & The Broken Band, J.B. Beverley & The Wayward Drifters, McDougall, Owen Mays, The Perreze Farm, Phillip Roebuck, Saint Christopher, Ronnie Hymes & The Carolina Freight, Sean K. Preston, Shivering Denizens, The Harmed Brothers, Izzy Cox, Slackeye Slim, Stevie Tombstone, Tales From Ghost Town, Tom VandenAvond, The Ugly Valley Boys, Whiskey Dick, and many more to be announced, including more guest headlining acts!

Farmageddon Fest featuring Ronnie Hymes and Carolina Still

Q. When can I arrive to set-up my campsite? Am I guaranteed a campsite and parking spot? A. Attendee's will be allowed to set-up their campsite the day before the festival begins, starting at noon Thursday July 19th! The first 500 festival ticket holders are guaranteed a parking space for one vehicle and a campsite.

Q. If I buy an RV Camper pass do the people camping with me need to purchase passes also? A. Yes, they will need to purchase general admission passes, there is only one required RV Camper pass needed per RV campsite.

Q. Will there be a designated camping area? A. Yes, when you arrive at the festival you will be pointed in the right direction of where you can set-up your campsite if you purchased one of the first 500 tickets.

Q. What is parking like? A. Parking availabilty will depend on how many people attend the festival, there will be several parking options to suit your needs and everyone will get a spot, prime spots on the festival grounds are available for the first 500 ticket holders.

Q. Is this an all ages festival? A. Yes, persons 17 and under will need to be under adult supervision.

Q. Does my 5 year old child need a ticket? A. Children 7 and under get in free.

Q. Is there an airport in West Yellowstone Montana? A. Yes, it's a small airport but flight do come in and out daily. Your best bet would be to look into airports within 150 miles of West Yellowstone Montana for the cheapest flights.

Q. When I arrive at the festival will I need to register? A. Yes, there will be a registration office inside of the Longhorn Saloon, you will need to provide valid ID and your festival pass in exchange for your personalized festival bracelet and a parking slip. We will be carding everyone who attends the festival.

Q. Will sundries be available? A. There will be a tent that will be selling everything from asprin and batteries to rain ponchos, tents and sleeping bags.

Q. What is the handicap access like? A. There will be handicapped access for those who need it, we request that you contact us in advance so we can make appropriate arangements for you.

Q. If I lose my bracelet can I get back in? A. Once your bracelet is snapped on, you are responsible for keeping it on, if you lose it you will have to buy another.

Q. Will there be security at the festival? A. There will be an event staff on hand supervising all aspects of the event from start to finish.

Q. Can I be ejected from the event for bad behavior? A. Yes, if you are beligerant, violent, abusive or disrespectful you will be asked to leave the festival grounds immedietly.

Q. Is it all seating or standing room only? A. You are welcome to bring camping chairs, please respect others if you do.

Q. Will there be a place to shower? A. Yes, we will have a warm water showering facility set-up.

Q. Can I get a refund or exchange? A. There will be no refunds on festival passes. The festival will take place rain or shine.

Q. Are all of the artists guranteed to perform at the festival? A. There are almost 45 live acts performing, and sometimes things prohibit a band or artist from making it to the festival to perform, transportation problems, personal problems, etc. Everyone that is advertised to perform is likely to be there, unless one of the above reasons is applicable.

Q. What items are allowed/not allowed? A. Firearms, weapons, illegal alcohol, drugs, glass bottles, pets.

Q. Do you offer any discounts? A. None at this time.