The past year has certainly been exciting. Appearances at Magnolia Fest '05 and Suwannee Spring Fest '06 (with Larry Rice) have given people from all over the southeast a chance to be exposed to our brand of bluegrass/new-grass music.

We must say “thank you” to all the fans here in Tallahassee who have attended our shows and encouraged us to pursue the Panhandle String Band. Getting the chance to perform our original music at the same venues that we have been attending as “listeners” has been rewarding and enlightening.

Next, the band has recently been contacted by an ethno-musicology doctoral student looking to compose an “ethnography” on the Panhandle String Band. The piece will include a musical history of each member, band interviews, photos, and an overall thesis on the effects of new-grass influences on the traditional bluegrass world.

We have also had the privledge of being invited to “Manouche,” a Gypsy Jazz festival in central Florida, the more traditional Florida State Bluegrass Festival, and the Rising Talent Showcase at this year’s annual Florida Folk Festival. We have met some cool people and made some great contacts along the way. Look for a Panhandle String Band feature in Bluegrass Now magazine in the near future.

This summer the band is planning on recording our second CD of original new-grass tunes. We have all contributed new tunes and have reworked some older ones; we feel the material is great and are looking forward to getting it down. Check back next month for more band news.

Cheers,

         The PSB

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