Bluegrass Band Hot Rize Limited Fall Tour Coming to Raleigh

Sept. 22, 2011 - PRLog -- Last year, the famed bluegrass band Hot Rize released its first studio recordings in over 20 years, with newest member (and NC native) Bryan Sutton on guitar. You can hear those recordings on the Hot Rize website (http://www.hotrize.com)!

Hot Rize performances are almost as rare as their studio recordings, as each band member has a highly successful solo career. PineCone is honored to host Hot Rize in Raleigh during their limited fall 2011 tour. Bring your ticket stub to the Busy Bee Café (http://www.busybeeraleigh.com) on Oct. 9 before or after the show and receive 10% off your meal!

Named after the secret ingredient in Martha White Flour, a long-term sponsor of bluegrass music, Hot Rize formed in 1978 with Tim O’Brien, Pete Wernick, Charles Sawtelle, and Nick Forster. Their dynamic stage show made them stars on the major festival circuit, and their powerful original songs constantly topped radio playlists.

Hot Rize recorded their self-titled debut album, a blend of traditional and new material, in 1979. Their second album came out in 1981. On the strength of their first records and national touring, Hot Rize rose to prominence, appearing frequently on national broadcasts like NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion and The Nashville Network’s "Ralph Emery Show."

Their stage show gained renown, featuring their strong, soulful bluegrass combined with their wacky but musically deft “alter-ego” country swing band, Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers. Featuring the mandolin of leader Red Knuckles, guitarist Wendell Mercantile, steel-guitar player Waldo Otto, and their new bassist Swade, the group performs songs like George Jones’ “One Woman Man” and “Oh Mona,” as well as an advertisement for their (fictional) new collection, Red Remembers The 60s In His Own Western Style.

In 1984, Hot Rize released a concert album featuring the Trailblazers and in 1985 released Traditional Ties. Untold Stories and Take It Home came out in 1987 and 1990, respectively. Many songs from these records, such as “Colleen Malone” and “Just Like You,” reached #1 positions on national bluegrass airplay charts. After 12 years of full-time year-round performing and recording, the group disbanded amicably, and all members pursued solo careers.

The 1990s saw several Hot Rize reunions at bluegrass festivals, with occasional short tours through 1998. Live recorded cuts appeared on various festival albums. Toward the end of 1990, Hot Rize received the Entertainer of the Year award from International Bluegrass Music Association at the organization’s first annual Awards Show. Hot Rize also picked up a Grammy nomination in 1991 and won IBMA’s Song of the Year.

In 1994, Sawtelle was diagnosed with leukemia, eventually dying in 1999 from complications of a bone marrow transplant. The classic group’s span as the same four musicians had lasted 21 years. Its performing commitments in 1999 were fulfilled as Sawtelle memorials, with Peter Rowan or Jeff White filling the guitar slot. In 2002, O’Brien, Wernick and Forster re-formed the band, adding elite guitarist Sutton to the lineup.

A live concert recording from 1996, So Long of a Journey, was issued in 2002, the first Hot Rize album in over a decade. Hot Rize has remained one of the top attractions in bluegrass, well into its fourth decade. In 2009, the band co-hosted the 20th annual IBMA Awards Show. In September 2010, they were featured on the cover of Bluegrass Unlimited.

PineCone is honored to host Hot Rize in Raleigh during their limited fall tour! Tickets are available through PineCone’s box office at 919-664-8302, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Learn more about this concert and other PineCone concerts and programs online at  https://www.pinecone.org.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy-7bkbm1xg




About PineCone:
PineCone is supported by the City of Raleigh based on recommendations from the City of Raleigh Arts Commission, the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County with funds from the United Arts campaign, and the NC Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources. The Down Home Concert Series is sponsored by Progress Energy.

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PineCone—the Piedmont Council of Traditional Music, is a private, nonprofit, charitable membership organization dedicated to preserving, presenting and promoting traditional music, dance and other folk performing arts.