Fledgling Georgia label Bless Your Heart Music recently celebrated the release of the new Goin’ To The Dance CD from Alice and Scott Vestal (ASV) at a party at 16 Ton Recording Studio on Music Row in Nashville. Pictured are (left to right) IBMA Director Dan Hays, Alice Vestal, and Scott Vestal.

The Creaking Tree String Quartet has just finished recording their 3rd album with Bil VornDick producing. Pictured at the beautiful Chalet Recording Studio near Claremont, Ontario: John Showman (fiddle), Andrew Collins (mandolin), Bil VornDick, indescribable, Brad Keller (guitar), Brian Kobayakawa (bass).

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board recently named the Annual Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival as Northern Ireland's tourist "Event of the Year." More than 7,000 visitors from across the globe attended the 2005 festival held at the Ulster American Folk Park, an open-air museum, located in Co. Tyrone, that provides a very unique venue for bluegrass music. The festival offers a lively and diverse mix of contemporary and traditional bluegrass music, along with special "Bluegrass in the Park" afternoon sessions, a Bluegrass Camp for Kids, a Sunday 'Spirit of Bluegrass' evening gospel concert, music workshops and lectures. The 15th anniversary festival, held in September included Grammy award nominee Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the current European Bluegrass Band of the Year, Mideando String Quartet, and up and coming acts such as Bearfoot Bluegrass and Beansprouts.