Being that Tim O’Brien epitomizes roots music, it is only appropriate that he and some of his best pickin’ buddies could be found at the root of the Cumberland Plateau – literally – in early December.

Tim O’Brien and Friends – banjo deviant Danny Barnes, flatpicking guitar whiz Bryan Sutton, and much-in-demand bassist Dennis Crouch – put on a tremendous show in the Volcano Room, part of the series of caves that make up Cumberland Caverns near McMinnville, Tennessee, for the December installment of the Bluegrass Underground series.

click to read the entire review

Tim O’Brien’s recent holiday show at perhaps Tennessee’s most unique concert venue, Bluegrass Underground, will be aired Friday and Saturday (Dec. 26 and 27) on WSM 650 AM, XM/Sirius and various other local affiliates.

“I thought the band Tim brought was one of the best he has ever played with, with Danny Barnes, Dennis Crouch and Bryan Sutton,” said Nashville-based sound engineer Phil Harris, who produced, recorded, and mixed O’Brien’s concert for broadcast.

Read Full Article at BluegrassJournal.com

Hey Folks,

If you haven’t had the opportunity to listen to this show, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND IT! The sound is absolutely spectacular; the levels are perfect – no distortion whatsoever, so you can crank it as loud as you want; the clarity and separation are second to none. The vocals are as good as any I’ve heard – Jeremy really has it going. The instrumental exchanges/transitions are awesome, especially during Count Me In – Jesse lays down one lick that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck, and Gettin’ Down The Road – Jesse and Andy H. trading licks during a superb jam – WOW. “Rivers” has this Pure Prairie League feel to it – I hope this makes the next album – what a sweet tune. Then there’s travis’ “Holy Cowan” vocals (holds a note for over 10 seconds) and Panda wailing away during Sunny Side Of The Mountain.

Phil…you’re a genius! This is a perfect show for a live double-cd, after you get Mexicali Live out.  How do I pre-order?
Click to view setlist

I did the coolest thing today. I listened to a band. In a cave.

To get there, you leave McMinnville, Tennessee, and wind down a country road littered with the splashiest shades of orange and yellow leaves. Not too long after losing cell reception, you reach Cumberland Caverns, home of the Bluegrass Underground.

I’d never heard of such a thing until my friend Leeann found out about it on NPR and asked me last night if I wanted to go. The music was GREAT–we had the privilege of hearing The Infamous Stringdusters, a bluegrass band that apparently plays here in Nashville on a regular basis. They’re beyond talented (and adorable–I decided that if I get married it’s going to have to be to a bluegrass musician). They played bluegrass staples like "Uncle Pen" and "Fox on the Run" (which made me think of my Daddy), as well as originals.

For $15, it was quite the happymaking Saturday afternoon. I highly recommend it.

via For Lack of a Better Word: Bluegrass Underground .

MCMINNVILLE — Bluegrass fans most likely listen to their favorite artists and albums on the radio or in concert, but they have probably never experienced anything quite like “Bluegrass Underground.” On Saturday, Aug. 16, bluegrass fans need to prepare themselves for a journey that will take them to the center of the earth where they will discover a world of bluegrass magic.

Cumberland Caverns of McMinnville is hosting the syndicated radio show “Bluegrass Underground,” airing on 650 WSM. The show will be recorded before a live audience 333 feet below the earth’s surface in The Volcano Room, a naturally-occurring amphitheater where time and water have worked together to make one of the most purely acoustical spaces on earth.

Todd Mayo, the show’s producer, stumbled upon the idea for “Bluegrass Underground” when he and his family took a Memorial Day tour of the caves.

Read the rest of this entry »