All commentary is written by Michael White and is not necessarily the expressed views of "Diamond Hill Station"  If you have a comment or would like to voice your opinion, please write to dhsbluegrassband@aol.com

"Diamond Hill Station"TM

Bluegrass Blog..///

04/30/08

Long time since last writing on our blog, but I have been very busy booking shows, promoting our new CD, and trying to keep all our ducks in a row as festival season fast approaches.  We are pleased to say that we are receiving alot of air play with our new CD and it has reached as far east as North Carolina, and West Virginia. Thank you WVMR.  DHS was also featured on Bluegrass Mix Radio with a live interview which was broadcast in 5 segments over a 2 hour period.  That was really a fun experience with the "Ole Hoosier Hillbilly".

We will be playing another concert at the Boot City Opry May 24th.  This will be our only appearance at the Opry this year due to our busy schedule.  As with other shows we played at the Opry it will probably be a sell out so please buy your tickets early.

Please look for us at 3 Sisters Park Bluegrass Festival June 6 and 7.  The festival is located in Chillicothe, Illinois at 3 Sisters Park.  We will be sharing the stage with Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike, Art Stevenson & High Water, The Muellers, Kody Norris & Watauga Mt. Boys, Illinois Rail, and many other great bluegrass bands.  Camping available $6.00 primitive and $11.00 Electric.  The festival is rain or shine, all music is in a covered shelter. Limited reservations accepted.  For information call (309)274-8837 or (217)243-3159.

01/21/08

Sorry about the delay with our website, but we had a serious problem with our web host, but all seems to be good now.  Mark your calendars for our third annual Fan Appreciation Day, Saturday March 1st.  This will be our biggest and best one yet.  We will have two great guest bands "The Deaton Family" and "Cornfields & Crossroads".  May I suggest you get there early as this event will be standing room only.

Our new CD is finally done! It is in reproduction as of this writing and should be available by Fan Appreciation Day.  I will keep you all posted.

10/24/07

As many of you fans know our new CD release date keeps getting pushed back due to our busy summer tour schedule.  As things are now, we hope to have this project completed and ready for sale by March 2008.  We are not booking as many shows this winter so we can focus on the new CD.  We truley apoligize to all you great folks wanting a copy this summer.

8/14/07

Look for us at the Tri-State Bluegrass Festival Labor Day Weekend.  We will be performing 4 shows throughout the weekend.  DHS will be sharing the stage with  Carolina Road, Bluegrass Patroits, Spinney Brothers, Harbourtown, Appalachian Grass, Dyer Switch Band, and many other great bands.  For information on this festival please visit their website at  www.bluegrassusa.net

September 3rd, Monday we will be at the Bluegrass for Billy festival located in Saline City, Indiana.  Our performance time will probably be around 3:00pm as to give us time to get back from Tri-State.

7/11/07

We finally made it to our concert at the Sorg Opera House in Middletown Ohio a little late but we did make it.  After being tied up in traffic for over an hour in Indianapolis the ole bus rolled into its destination somewhat behind schedule.  Lucky for us we were the band the folks in Ohio came to see and our warm up bands were still playing.  Needless to say all us boys were wound tight and we put on probably the best gospel show ever.  DHS had the audience yelling, screaming, clapping, and singing.  The atmosphere in the house was beyond description!  There was definately magic in the air that evening.  That was without a doubt a high energy performance.  After our show we loaded back in the bus and headed towards our next destination which was only 3 hours away.  We arrived at our rooms at 3:30am and were up at 8:00am, on the bus at 11:00am on our way to our show scheduled to start at 3:00pm.  This performance was for 3 hours, outside in the 94 degree heat, with hardly any sleep...whew, we made it through OK but the energy level wasn't quite what it was the night before.  But God do we love Bluegrass!!  600 miles, over $300.00 in fuel, and many, many cups of coffee later, we were all able to sleep in our own beds.  Ahh, home sweet home!

6/24/07

What a weekend folks!  The DHS Express racked up some miles as we played the SPBGMA festival Friday, played south of Indianapolis Saturday afternoon and then back to the SPBGMA festival in Casey Illinois Saturday night.  All of us boys were chuggin' the coffee but other than the rain Saturday night everything went without a problem.  After our Saturday night show Mark left for Florida (about 1:00am) and is going to spend some time with his family, rightfully so.  Maybe he can get rested up as we have a full summer tour booked and this will be the last time untill late October that he will be able to kick back.  There are many other dates that we are getting finalized and will post on our tour schedule page once they are confirmend.

All the guys want to say congratulations to Bud Jeffers on his marriage that will be taking place in about two hours.  That reminds me, Kevin and myself will be attending his wedding and were told to bring our instruments.  I am sure this will be a laid back affair knowing Bud.  Can't wait to chow down on that roasted hog!!

The band just purchased a wireless in ear monitor system.  It is so frustrating not being able to hear what your playing in certain environments.  Your are at the mercy of a festivals sound engineer on where your monitor sound levels are set and EQ'd if they even have the capability of the latter.  With the in ear system each person will have complete control of their monitors without the possibility of feed back.

The bus gets 6 miles to the gallon!

6/02/07

If you didn't make it to the Rockome Gardens Bluegrass Festival, you missed a good one.  What a beautiful setting to have a festival.  Terry and Jan Lease (promotors of the festival) put on one heck of a festival.  If you ever get a chance to attend one of their festivals you will not be disappointed.  They put on a great family event with great bands...namely Diamond Hill Station, sorry a little bias, and other national touring bands.  All the guys in DHS would like to thank Terry and Jan for asking us to be part of their great festival.  Please visit their website for a festival near your hometown.  www.bluegrassmidwest.com 

5/07/07

You guys are the greatest!  With your support our show at the Boot City Opry was a huge success.  Thanks to all you grassers out there our show was the second largest attended show at the Opry.  We were beat out by them thar singin' cowboys, "Riders In The Sky".  I guess that is understandable since they been a pickin for a 100 years. We did have the honor of being able to place our autographed show bill on the wall next to theirs.  As I have preached for years, it is you, the fan, that has makes it possible for us to reach out and play different venues all across the midwest.  Thanks to you all, we have been asked to come back to the Opry.  Look for us there September 15th.

4/17/07

And then there was four!  Well, it seems like we just can't keep that fifth member in DHS.  Without notice our newest member left the band a month ago.  All the guys were kind of shocked as we had spent so much time working with him.  We were disappointed the way it went down,but, big deal, that's the way the dobro bounces.  As a result of his departure are sound has tightened up and it has made us a better band.  We have relentlessly been working on our instrumentation and as a result, our sound is crisp and clean.  With all the work in rehearsal,  laying down tracks on our new CD, and our shows, my string budget has been pretty high.  As many of you probably don't know I always put on new strings before every show.  Even if they are night after night.   Thank God for players points.  I think I own every thing D'Addario has given away.  I am waiting on another stool right now...can't wait for my stool!!  Anyway, got of track there.  DHS will not be adding another member to the band.  We are tired of the revolving fifth position door.  Sorry Mr. Douglas, that means you too!

3/09/07

DHS would like to thank all you fans that spent the day with us at our Fan Appreciation Day.  The event was totally and completely full to the rafters.  Every table, seat, corner, wall was filled to capacity.  Next year without question will require a lot bigger building.  We also want to thank The Deaton Family for once again putting on a great show. We sincerly appreciate everyone who continue to support us on our musical journey.  You all have become more than fans, you are good friends. 

Look for the new CD (which has yet to be named) to be released by the first week of June.  Good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise.

Please make plans to attend our concert at the new Boot City Opry on April 21.  DHS will be the first bluegrass band to appear at the Opry.  This venue offers state of the art everything, seating, sound, lighting.  The whole concept of the Opry is to make all its patrons as comfortable as they would be at home.  This is a show you don't want to miss.  The Opry is located 7 miles south of Terre Haute on HWY 41.  Tickets can be purchased for $10.00 one hour before the show or by calling the Opry.  All major credit cards are accepted.  More details visit www.bootcityopry.com .

2/11/07 

Diamond Hill Station will be performing at the Southwest Indiana Bluegrass Associations festival October 13.  This will be SWIBA first festival and a huge turnout is expected.   Acts scheduled to perform are Karl Shiftlett & Big Country, Timberline Drive.  Other acts to be scheduled later.  The festival will be located at the Posey County 4-H grounds in New Harmony Indiana.  Tickets are scheduled to go on sale by the middle of March.  For information contact Brian Crossen at: bluegrass1@insightbb.com 

2/02/07

We would like to express our sincere graditude for all you giving bluegrass fans that made the Eric Taylor benefit a huge success.  With your donations, over $20,000.00 was raised for the Taylor family.  Please keep Eric and his family in your prayers.

1/02/07

Diamond Hill Station will be performing a benefit concert for 11 year old Eric Taylor, January 27 in Arcadia, IN.  Eric was diagnosed with cancer and needless to say the medical bills are enormous.  This family needs all our help.  Scheduled to perform are, Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers, Rock Bottom Mining Company, and other National recording bands.  If you can't attend please, please, make a donation.  You may send your donations to our mailing address and all funds will be turned over to the family, or visit www.IndianaGuitarMan.com  please make checks payable to "Eric Taylor Benefit Fund".  For you folks that live close to our home base, we will have a few seats open on the bus if you would like to ride over with us.  Seating on the bus will be limited and you must contact us for seating availability through our email address, dhsbluegrassband@aol.com   Seating requests must be made by 1/17/07.