Music association announces fall lineup of concerts

Concerts will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturdays starting Sept. 8, when X-Train kicks off the season. This high-energy bluegrass band is made up of Ross Nickerson on banjo, National Flatpick Champion Peter McLaughlin on guitar, Mark Miracle on mandolin and Bob Denoncourt on bass.

TV writer/producer ("Cheers," "The Nanny," "Ellen," "The Drew Carey Show" and "According to Jim") Tracy Newman will perform with her band The Reinforcements on Sept. 15. Newman, who attended the University of Arizona many years ago, is turning 70 this year, but one would never guess that from her youthful voice and demeanor. Her songs are witty, yet insightful and heartfelt.

Nashville musician Wyatt Easterling, who was a Kerrville New Folk Finalist in 2010 and 2011, will perform at Abounding Grace on Sept. 22. Easterling's songs have been recorded and made famous by Dierks Bentley, Joe Diffie, Billy Joe Royal, Neal McCoy and Sons of the Desert.

Chuck Pyle returns to Abounding Grace for an encore performance on Sept. 29. Pyle has performed for the Colorado Legislature, on "Austin City Limits" and at Bill Gates' home. His songs have been recorded by John Denver, Chris LeDoux, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Jerry Jeff Walker.

Another nationally recognized folk artist, Cosy Sheridan, is returning for her second appearance at Abounding Grace on Oct. 20. Sheridan has played everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and has won the song-writing contests at the Kerrville Folk Festival and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

Two other national touring acts will make first-time appearances at Abounding Grace. Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin will perform on Nov. 3 and Blame Sally on Nov. 10.

Maring and Bowlin will also participate in a three-day picking and song-writing workshop, along with Flatpick Guitar Magazine editor Dan Miller, Nov. 2-4 at the Voyager RV Resort.

Blame Sally is a collaboration of four of San Francisco's most celebrated female songwriters - Monica Pasqual, Renee Harcourt, Jeri Jones and Pam Delgado - along with five-string bass player Rob Strom. They put their individual careers on hold when they were in their late 30s and 40s, the age at which most bands are breaking up and members are starting their solo careers, and they have taken folk rock music to a new level. They recently released their fifth album, "Speeding Ticket and a Valentine," and have toured the U.S. and Europe promoting it.

Some favorite local musicians, Ronstadt Generations, The Moonstruck Coyotes, and Ted Ramirez are also appearing at Abounding Grace this fall. While these artists call Tucson their home, all are accomplished world-class musicians. Michael J. Ronstadt of Ronstadt Generations and Ramirez were members of the Santa Cruz River Band, which toured nationally and internationally for many years.

The Moonstruck Coyotes are Jim Gates, Phil Anderson, and Jim Hogan, owner of Tucson's Hogan School of Real Estate.

LAVA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting musicians with appreciative audiences in a comfortable-listening setting.

If you go

• What: Live Acoustic Venue Association fall concert series

• When: 7-9 p.m. Saturdays, Sept. 8-Nov. 17, except Oct. 13 (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

• Where: Abounding Grace Sanctuary, 2450 S. Kolb Road, just north of East Golf Links Road on the west side of the street

• Info: Go to www.lavamusic.org online, email bonnie@lavamusic.org or call 647-3234

• Tickets: $15 online at www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/98302 or $20 cash at the door. Season tickets are $100 per person, payable by check in advance.

Music lineup

Here's the schedule for LAVA's Fall 2012 series at Abounding Grace Sanctuary:

• Sept. 8: X-Train Bluegrass Band

• Sept. 15: Tracy Newman and the Reinforcements

• Sept. 22: Wyatt Easterling

• Sept. 29: Chuck Pyle

• Oct. 6: Ronstadt Generations

• Oct. 20: Cosy Sheridan

• Oct. 27: The Moonstruck Coyotes

• Nov. 3: Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin

• Nov. 10: Blame Sally

• Nov. 17: Ted Ramirez

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