THE BLUEGRASS HOTEL FESTIVAL AND CONCERT March 20, 2009 - Galt House Hotel - Louisville, KY Featuring The Newgrass Alliance with Sam Bush, Curtis Burch, John Cowan, J.D. Crowe, Tony Rice, and Dan Crary; Original Members of The New Grass Revival and The Bluegrass Alliance; and Special Guest Stars FESTIVAL: 5pm-2am ~ Open to the Public Booths. Exhibitors. Concessions. Bluegrass Jam Sessions. Live Music Stage. CONCERT: 8pm (7pm Doors) ~ $25 Buy online at TicketWeb or call 866.468.7630. LODGING: Galt House Hotel Reserve online or call 502.589.5200

February 9, 2009  |  Louisville, KY
Two of the world's most innovative and influential music bands return home to Louisville, Kentucky, the birthplace of the NEW GRASS REVIVAL and its predecessor THE BLUEGRASS ALLIANCE. These bands created and defined a new style called Newgrass, mixing traditional Bill Monroe-styled Bluegrass with a fusion of rock, blues and jazz. Led by Dan Crary, who founded The Bluegrass Alliance in 1968, and Sam Bush, who founded the New Grass Revival in 1971, the recordings, concerts and members of those Newgrass era bands of the 1970s have become part of the history and folklore of the City of Louisville, and major forces within the music industry.

The original members of the New Grass Revival and The Bluegrass Alliance are now producing a major project celebrating the Newgrass era in Kentucky, titled THE BLUEGRASS HOTEL, a Kentucky Educational Television (KET) co-produced film that will be broadcast nationally on PBS stations in November 2009. A DVD, CD, and LP of new music by the prominent members of the bands will be released simultaneously on a major record label. The centerpiece of the PBS film is a major benefit concert on March 20, 2009, at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky.

Benefit Concert highlights include:
- A confirmed All-Star performance, featuring Sam Bush, Curtis Burch, John Cowan, J.D. Crowe, Tony Rice, and Dan Crary
- Special guest appearance by Louisville artist Ben Sollee
- Opening sets by original members of The Bluegrass Alliance, Buzzard Rock String Band, and Arnett Hollow

Proceeds of The Bluegrass Hotel concert benefit the American Cancer Society in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Bluegrass Hotel Concert & Festival
Friday, March 20, 2009
Galt House Hotel, Grand Ballroom / Exhibit Hall, 140 N. Fourth Street, Louisville, KY 40202
Festival: 5pm-2am  (free to the public).
Festival includes: Instrument Exhibits - Live Music Stage - Jamming - Artist Autograph Booths - Concessions
Concert: 8-10pm (ticketed event). Tickets now on sale at www.ticketweb.com.

For more info contact:
Bill Millet, Producer: 972.365.3303
John Jump, Producer: 314.740.2836
www.thebluegrasshotel.com
www.myspace.com/thebluegrasshotel

About The Bluegrass Hotel

A key component of the Bluegrass scene in the halcyon days of the 1970s was an old Victorian mansion in Cherokee Park near downtown Louisville.  The infamous Bluegrass Hotel, whose proprietor Harry Bickel and Harry Sparks -- luthier of renown -- made life more stable for its residents and super pickers that included Sam Bush, Dan Crary, Tony Rice, Vince Gill, John Cowan, Curtis Burch, J.D. Crowe, Glenn Lawson, Jerry Douglas, Ricky Skaggs, and many others who were making their way though the treacherous waters of the music business.  The Bluegrass Hotel represents an important chapter in music history, with a cast of characters that made Kentucky the center of the Bluegrass universe during the 1970s.

"If it wasn't for The Bluegrass Hotel, I don't know how a lot of young Bluegrass musicians like Vince Gill could have moved to a different city to learn how to play music," said Sam Bush. "I'm pleased to be involved in a project that is focused on the Newgrass era and to perform at this concert back in Louisville, where all the proceeds will benefit the work of the American Cancer Society. I know that cancer is a disease that affects all of our families in one way or another, and this concert will help the Society's efforts to beat it," said Bush.