March 18, 2008
Welcome to the March 2008 Backcountry Music Newsletter. We hope you'll decide to continue receiving these occasional servings of band news, photos, studio happenings, and other tidbits, but we understand if you think it's more like spam and want to opt out. You can do it easily by selecting the Safe-Unsubscribe link at the bottom of the page.












We're working on the new album Crooked Man (studio photos on left of Eric's New Wine Studio) and should have it completed by mid-May, but for those of you who would like to hear the band on a new recording, we have copies available of a project we did for CMH Records, The Bluegrass Tribute to Jack Johnson, now for sale from our website. Just click on the image below. It's our band playing and singing pop-star Jack Johnson's songs, including Upside-Down; Sitting, Waiting, Wishing; and Better Together!

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Larry Cordle's version of Chris's First Train Robbery is #3 on the Bluegrass Channel at Sirius Satellite Radio.

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The band will be hosting a Kid Pickers Jam Camp at the Huck Finn Festival Father's Day weekend in Victorville, CA. You can download the flyer.

The Kid Pickers Jam Camp will bring out the bluegrass musician in kids, age 6 through 16, in a fun way by having them learn and play a couple of songs together on bluegrass instruments––guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin and bass. They'll learn how to play together (jam), meet new friends, play on stage, and become part of the bluegrass family. The camp will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15, at the Mountain Man Village Shelter in Mojave Narrows Regional Park, Victorville, CA, as part of this year's Huck Finn Jubilee.

Jam Camp is free, but is limited to the first 15 kids per instrument. Kids should bring their fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, or bass for small-group music lessons and practice sessions with each other and members of Chris Stuart & Backcountry, a popular California-based bluegrass band. Parents are welcome and encouraged to stay and observe during the Jam Camp sessions.

A Saturday evening jam will include all Kid Pickers Jam Camp participants and, on Sunday, a special Jam Camp performance will be held at noon. Some Kid Pickers may even be invited to perform with Chris Stuart & Backcountry on the Main Stage during their Sunday afternoon show.

A kid picker's pass to attend the 32nd annual Huck Finn Jubilee will be given to each participant who pre-registers, and a Kid Picker's Jam Camp T-shirt will also be given to each participant.

To Pre-register call Stacey Uglum at (760) 953-6008 or e-mail
suglum@aol.com.
It is also possible to register at check-in on Saturday

Sightings from the Mysterious Road:

We played a brand new festival in Pahrump, NV last weekend and shared the bill with the renowned Dr. Elmo & Wild Blue of "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" fame. That's John Pierson on the left, Dr. Elmo in the middle and Larry Carlin on the right. Larry plays bass in his band and it's always great to run into (not over) Larry.

Fun things Please consider buying CDs, Songbooks and CSB Ballcaps! This month's special is a discount on our first and second albums, Saints & Strangers and Mojave River, CDs. only $10 each!
Janet Beazley 5 South Backcountry is not just a band name. We're involved with raising awareness of the needs of the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation. Please take some time to visit a National Park and contribute to causes that support the preservation of the American wilderness and historical sites.

If you have any writing or editing needs, please contact Chris at chris@stuartfreelance.com. And check out his writing website at www.stuartfreelance.com
D'Addario strings We're happy endorsers of D'Addario strings--the best strings in the universe.
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Chris Stuart and Backcountry
Tour News
See recent tour pictures here:

Saturday and Sunday, April 12/13, 2008
Durango Meltdown Durango, CO with the Infamous Stringdusters and Jim Lauderdale

Friday - Sunday, June 6-8, 2008
Midwest Banjo Camp - Janet teaching at this great camp in Olivet, Michigan

Saturday and Sunday, June 14/15, 2008
Huck Finn Festival Huck Finn Jubilee - we'll be running a kid's jamcamp as well as performing.

Sunday to Friday, July 27 - August 1, 2008
Augusta Heritage Center Teaching an Introduction to Bluegrass Harmony week-long workshop.

Saturday and Sunday, August 23/24, 2008
Summergrass Bluegrass Festival Two-day festival with lots of great bands.

Saturday and Sunday, August 30/31, 2008
Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival Wonderful festival and probably our only trip back east in 2008!

Thursday - Sunday, October 16-19, 2008
Camp He Ho Ha Northern Bluegrass Music Circle Society bluegrass camp. Our band and Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands will be teaching.

Saturday and Sunday, October 25/26, 2008
Tucson Bluegrass Festival. Desert Diamond Casino.
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Chris Stuart and Backcountry

See photos of Eric's new studio where we're recording the album.
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Thanks and stay in touch! chris@chrisstuart.com