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Author Archive for Marc Pruett

Had a good practice last night (01/18)

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!!!

01/07/12 SOLD OUT…

Posted on: January 4th, 2012 by Marc Pruett

Now all you rascal-friends who wait till the last minute…well…looks like you’re too late to get in on the David Holt-Bryan Sutton show. There may be (and usually are) some last minute cancellations…so be sure to keep checking…maybe better than that…give Denise a call at the Colonial theater…and ask to be put on a list for cancellations. We like to fill the house with “foaming at the mouth music hungry buddies”…so check out our next show at the Colonial.

THE FABULOUS HARRIS BROTHERS RETURN TO THE COLONIAL THEATER WITH BALSAM RANGE ON FEBRUARY 4…ANOTHER BIG MUSIC SATURDAY IN OLD CANTON TOWN!!! DON’T WAIT!!! RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW!!! CALL 828-235-2760 TO PLACE YOURSELF IN THE HOT SEAT…YEP…IT’S GONNA BE SOME HOT MUSIC…COUNTRY, JAZZ, HONKY TONK, GOSPEL…WITH REGGIE AND RYAN…THE HARRIS BROTHERS…AND OF COURSE…HAYWOOD’S OWN…BALSAM RANGE!!! WE LOVE HAVING OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES COME OUT AND SUPPORT THE MUSIC WE LOVE…AND WE ARE GLAD TO PICK AND SING IT AS WELL AS BRING IT OUR HOME COUNTY. QUICK THOUGHT…THE HARRIS BROTHERS WERE SUCH A HIT LAST YEAR…WE HAD TO HAVE ‘EM BACK THIS YEAR!!! IT’S WORTH A TICKET TO GET TO SEE REGGIE PLAY THE SUITCASE-DRUM…TOTALLY FAB!!! COME OUT…BE WITH US…THIS IS GONNA BE A GREAT ONE TOO!!!

DAVID HOLT, BRYAN SUTTON & T. MICHAEL COLEMAN WITH BR 01/07/2012 IN CANTON, NC

Posted on: December 30th, 2011 by Marc Pruett

WE ARE SO PLEASED TO HAVE THE GREAT DAVID HOLT, BRYAN SUTTON AND T. MICHAEL COLEMAN ON OUR 2ND WINTER SERIES CONCERT AT THE COLONIAL THEATER. THESE ARE CLASS PLAYERS IN A NEW SETTING…AND BALSAM RANGE IS EXCITED TO GET THEM TO CANTON. THE ROOM IS ABOUT 2/3 SOLD OUT…AND WE’D LIKE TO PACK IT FOR THESE FELLOWS. COME AND BE WITH US IF YOU CAN…AND YOU CAN BET THERE WILL BE A HOT JAM AT THE END.

For those of you who may not have seen David in concert…he packs a mean claw-hammer 5-string banjo. David is known for his entertaining style of old-time, swing, and blues music. He is one fine slide guitar man…and David has studied with many of the old masters. He is a multi-Grammy winner with a smile as big as Texas and a double handful of songs to match. David has deep roots in the Haywood County music scene due to all the years he spent performing with The Luke Smathers String Band.

This is Marc speaking…and I’d like to say that I’ve never stood beside a better musician or a more decent human being than Bryan Sutton. I was lucky enough to see a lot of his young years with his family’s band…and I got to play on the first record he was ever featured on…and you know what…it was a Crossroads recording with our buddy Tim Surrett!!! I got to play on 5 of Ricky Skaggs’ albums over the years…and the one I received a Grammy for was Bluegrass Rules with Bryan Sutton! He is one good guy…and he has the right lick at the right song every time. Either Bryan or David could put on this show by themselves…but to have them collectively with legendary bassman, T. Michael Coleman is “top of the top!”

This will be one fun night!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Balsam Range!!!

Posted on: December 21st, 2011 by Marc Pruett

We want to give you our most sincere and best wishes for a wonderful holiday! Thank you…our bluegrass friends…for a fabulous year! Balsam Range has been blessed to get to know each of you, and we look forward to a fun season next year. Stay safe and healthy, and we hope to see you soon!

New Year’s Eve at Thad Wood’s Auction Barn…Waynesville, NC

Posted on: December 21st, 2011 by Marc Pruett

Come and enjoy a night of great music with BALSAM RANGE, THE CAROLINA CROSSMEN, and MOUNTAIN FAITH. This is a great place to see an old-style mountain-bluegrass-and gospel show. Thad and his family are fine hosts…and we always have a good time there. It’s focused heavily on gospel, but I’m sure Mountain Faith and Balsam Range will perform some of their favorite BG tunes. Hand shakes and smiles for all! Bring in 2012 with an evening of music fun!!!

Hot time in old Black Mountain Saturday night 12/17 at the Pisgah Brewing Company

Posted on: December 15th, 2011 by Marc Pruett

John Driskell Hopkins & Balsam Range featuring special guests!

Pisgah Brewing Co.
Black Mountain, NC

THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT
NO TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR

 

Come out to be with us at the Pisgah Brewing Company in Black Mountain this Saturday. Balsam Range does a BR set…the we do a set with our friend, John Driskell Hopkins of the Zac Brown Band…starts at 9pm.

Get tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/213683.

See video of John Hopkins (Zac Brown Band) and Balsam Range doing one of the ZBB hits here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az3fXLaksIU

“I’ve got the best seat in the house to hear Balsam Range!”

Posted on: August 30th, 2011 by Marc Pruett

Hey folks!  I’ve said that opening line a lot of times…but it is the truth!  I get to stand on stage and watch and hear everything that goes on in the Balsam Range show.  And I have a blast watching Tim Surrett, Darren Nicholson, Caleb Smith, and Buddy Melton sing, play and “cut up” every night we’re on stage!

We’ve been at it now almost 5 years, and I have to tell you, I am real proud of the progress the band has made.  I guess by now that you may have heard about the International Bluegrass Music Association awards that Balsam Range is nominated for this year…Song of the Year…Album of the Year…and Emerging Artist.  I jokingly told someone the other day that I can understand “song” and “album”…but “Shootfirebuddy…IfeellikeI’vebeenemergingnowsince1962!!!”  I’ve had a lot of fun with that, but all kidding aside, I am thrilled as I can be to stand in those final categories with my pals in BR.  It is an international honor just to make the third cut in this nomination!

If you can vote…please think about Balsam Range.  If you have voted…I hope your bunch wins.  If you’re not able to vote…join IBMA and get in on all this “bluegrass fun!”  I won’t bore you with too many details…but remember that our “Winter Concert Series” is on again at the beautiful, historic Colonial Theater in downtown Canton, NC.  (Check our schedule for more details.) Every time I play there, I think about my old buddy Charles Gentry telling me that he saw Bill Monroe when Flatt and Scruggs were in the band in 1947…right there…at the Colonial Theater!  I can almost hear Lester singing “How Will I Explain About You.”  (I think it’s still in the walls there somewhere.)  Charlie told me that “Mon” had on a bright green suit with white boots that night…and all the people were talking about “this banjo player.”

Well gang…thanks for letting me “jaw” at you a while.  Come and be with us when you can.  We’ll always try to have some fun…well…except maybe when Darren’s shoes are too tight.  Then all we hear is the grinding of teeth for three sets!  Cheers, and as Uncle Albert used to say, keep BR in mind for “all your entertainment needs”.  Marc

Excited about playing with Tony Rice and Bobby Hicks in Canton, NC

Posted on: November 29th, 2010 by Marc Pruett

I am tickled to death to get to perform with Balsam Range and two of my all-time favorite pickers…Tony Rice and Bobby Hicks!!!  Come out to the historic Colonial Theater in Canton, NC on December 17.  This will kick off our winter concert series going through April.  What do you want to hear Bobby and Tony pick with us?  Now gang…no ”Free Bird” …

New Site Launch

Posted on: November 17th, 2010 by Marc Pruett

Welcome to the re-designed web site for BALSAM RANGE!  We are excited to offer more interactive features and updated information on our band’s activities and plans.  All of us look forward to sharing our musical experiences more fully in a modern format, and we hope you enjoy exploring the e-avenues in place here.  We have some exciting entertainment features “in the works,” and we thank you for taking time to visit with us here.  We hope you enjoy the things we share, and BALSAM RANGE would like to thank each of our friends for their genuine support that continues to allow us to grow as a band.