“Folsom Prison Blues” by the String Revolution & Tommy Emmanuel Wins Grammy

 

photo by Maarten de Boer

The String Revolution’s Janet Robin thanked the Recording Academy for their support in winning the Grammy for Best Arrangement (Instrumental or A cappella) of their collaboration of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” with guitar superstar Tommy Emmanuel. The award show broadcast online at live.Grammy.com.
 
In the group’s acceptance speech, Ms. Robin stated she respected and admired all the nominated artists, and gave a special shout out to young guitarists, especially females, “You guys rock.  Don’t let them say you’re good for a girl. You’re good for a guitarist!”

The band posted on their social media, “We are honored and humbled!!!Thank you to the Recording Academy for listening to our track..and it was an honor to be amongst the other nominees. This is a win for all us hardworking musicians!” 

Produced by John Carter Cash, at Cash Cabin, in Hendersonville, Tennessee, the instrumental “Folsom Prison Blues” is distributed by Universal Music Group, and available on all streaming media. The String Revolution was able to use Cash's 1930's Martin Acoustic Guitar as well as Cash's band member, Luther Perkin's guitar - a 1954 Fender Esquire, used on the original Cash "Folsom" recording. The song was mixed by Matthew Hyde and Mastered by Grammy® Winner, Emerson Mancini.  

Said John Carter Cash, “This is not my Daddy’s Folsom Prison Blues. My excitement over this unique instrumental arrangement has been unsurpassed in my life up to this point. I am honored to be a part of this wondrous historic recording!”

https://youtu.be/cWvZAmT7Skk

Folsom Prison Blues
Written by: Johnny Cash
Arranged by:
The String Revolution, Tommy Emmanuel & John Carter Cash
Produced by: John Carter Cash.
Additional Musicians:
MB Gordy: Percussion
Double Bass: Byron House

Engineered by: Trey Call
Engineer Assistant: Joseph Cash
Recorded at Cash Cabin, Hendersonville, Tennessee

Mixed by: Matthew Hyde, London, UK
Mastered by: Emerson Mancini, Larrabee Studios, Los Angeles, CA

Single Cover Art: Chris Eselgroth
Photos/Videos: Brooke Noyce

www.thestringrevolution.com
www.tommyemmanuel.com 

ISRC: USZXT2300103

©2023 CIA/Universal Music Group UPC:00044003297067
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Refestramus’ “Intourist” New Album May 4 on Melodic Revolution Records

 

Copyright © Michele V. Wagner Photography, Inc.

Art Rock Wizard Derek Ferguson Dealing with Depth of Light and Darkness   Coming May 4 is “Intourist,” the third album from Refestramus and the album’s new music video “Smiling.”  The video premiere is set for 12 PM CT/10 AM PT  (Friday night/Saturday morning) on May 4 at https://youtu.be/WYJ_I0f236c   Pre-Sale link for the album is officially up at Pre-order the New Album Intour​í​st (lsnto.me). “I’m the writer, I play drums, I pay for everything,” states Derek Ferguson, the Wizard who leads the progressive rock studio ensemble known as Refestramus.  Named after a word his mother made up to mean “rearrange,” Derek and his producer – Colouratura’s Ian Beabout – liked it because it wasn’t a legitimate word, “A web search will only turn up our band!,” which means the latest search for “Refestramus” will show their new album, Intourist (Melodic Revolution Records)! As the bearer of this music, Derek’s powers are rooted in inspiration through his writing and finding musicians. He discovered many on the Internet gig site, Fiverr.com: Induction lead singer Craig Cairns, Brazilian keyboardist maestro Rogelio Desouza, and rock vocalists NIDA, Denisse Ferrara, and Vedrana Lina.      Derek writes from the depth of emotion. The album’s first video, “Smiling," he says, “delves into the complexity of concealing one's sadness to maintain others' happiness, offering a poignant reflection on the masks we wear in society.” Refestramus was born May  2020 as Derek’s home studio project during the COVID pandemic. Having been in a variety of progressive rock bands in his native Chicago and an avid listener of Ian Beabout’s Internet radio program “Prog Rock Deep Cuts,” he reached out to Ian to mix and master the recordings. Ian, who plays flute and sings on some tracks on Intourist, introduced Derek to Colouratura bandmates Derek Pavlic and Nathan James, Saxophonist Mitch Lawrence and Wisconsin multi-instrumentalist Jerry King, who plays bass on Intourist. Adding prog multi-instrumentalist Dave Newhouse, who contributed accordion, helped Derek Ferguson guide the album to completion. Favorite songs on Intourist include “The Red Apple” based on Maxim Gorkiy's story about a gypsy horse thief and themes of rejection and longing. “Asunción” is a heartfelt tribute to the city of Asunción, “You know how bands used to say ‘we’re big in Japan’? We’re big in Paraguay - they even play us on their national radio station there from time to time!” “Side Hustle” is a Jethro Tull inspired song. "‘Mr. Darwin’ offers a lighthearted take on human survival and natural selection.” The album’s title track is a 3-part epic that combines themes of resilience with the supernatural realms on earth including “zombie love” in the third part of the track, “Intourist.”    In addition to acoustic versions of “Asunción” and “The Red Apple,” the physical CD features a cover of Spirit’s “Mr. Skin.” Spirit is one of Derek’s favorite bands, and he points out, “the songwriter here also has the last name Ferguson” Refestramus’ debut album, Decoupage, was released in December of 2021. Expose’s Peter Thelen, who has reviewed thousands of Progressive Rock albums over the years, declared it a “Solid opening move.” In 2022, Refestramus  released the EP, From the Sublime to the Ridiculous, which featured possibly the “Prog-iest” track on the album “The Devil Returns” - drawing inspiration heavily from Bulgakov’s famous novel “The Master and Margarita.”         Bandcamp: https://refestramus.bandcamp.com   Copyright © Michele V. Wagner Photography, Inc.

Joe Satriani and Brian Tarquin backstage after Joe’s show with Steve Vai at the Hard Rock, Orlando on March 22.

Joe is going to record a new song with Brian this year for a Brian Tarquin & Heavy Friends’ EP he’s producing. And Steve Vai wrote to Brian about “Speed of Sound,” the track which Joe played with Brian on his “Brothers in Arms” album released in 2023. Steve praised, “I really like the track (Speed of Sound) you and Joe Satriani did together. It rocks hard, and for such a great cause.”

Brian Tarquin & Heavy Friends’ current release, “‘Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes’” is now Number One on Roots Music Radio’s Fusion Charts and Number Five in Relix/Jamband radio. 

“‘Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes’ is a glorious fusion-prog collection that will thrill guitar geeks as well as reach far beyond that group to serious music fans of every stripe.  Well done, sir!,” writes Gonzo Okanagan’s John Kereiff.