Fit To Print: Latest & Greatest
A Joyful Noise
Thanks to Bart Hawkins for this awesome highlight reel from last weekend's Sacred Steel Summit! Big shout out to Alvin Lee, Jamichael Smith, Makyha King, Kashiah Hunter and "Them Ocala Boys" for letting me do my thing. It feels great to be alive and "counted among the number." Cheers til next year!
Sacred Steel Summit
It was an honor, a joy, and a privilege to be included in the 2025 Sacred Steel Summit in White Springs, FL. I've been a fan and follower of this music for decades, and as a blues-based steel player and “church guy,” I’ve always felt an affinity for it and have dear relationships with some of its members. To be included in this year’s Summit and officially made a “family member” by Summit founder Alvin Lee, was a high honor, and one that sent me reeling. I can’t wait to be back next year and in the years to come. Put this event on your calendar, if you know what’s good for you.
Red Bluff Fest 2025
It was an honor, a joy and a pleasure to curate the music and experience for the past two seasons at Red Bluff Bar on the hallowed ground of “High Red Bluff” overlooking Montgomery‘s riverfront. It was such a privilege to get to make a major impact on my hometown by creating an equitable, restorative common space for the whole city to unite as one, celebrating all that is wonderful about our community and each other.
By showcasing our city’s massively talented artists and hosting world-renowned acts who have been influenced by our local collective culture, we found some hope in our collective struggles and triumphs and saw a celebratory way forward by receiving the respect, admiration and inspiration of industry-leading talent. I’m so proud to have brought artists like Eric Gales, Jerry Douglas, West Love, Kebbi Williams, The Happy Ghosts, Taylor Hollingsworth, Britti, Little Ed and The Blues Imperials, Little Raine Band and many more to our town, and I’m thrilled to have been able to curate part of this year‘s Red Bluff Festival by booking MonoNeon, Eggy, Buffalo Nichols, DJ Logic and our own local heroes Blues Old Stand.
All of these artists have an important message of hope, excellence and progress that serve to inform and inspire our community. I hope you all will purchase tickets for this weekend’s event and soak up the sounds and messages to the fullest. Please keep hope alive, and strive to find the beauty in each other. This Bluff’s For You Montgomery!
Cheese Touch!
Great to be back at Martin’s Garden Studios tracking some steel for a super cool new group called Cheese Touch @saycheesetouch Give them a follow, and stay tuned for their debut album coming soon!
John Mark Turner
One of my oldest musical cohorts has released his second album of blistering and beutiful original songs, and it is a must-listen for fans of slightly askew, Southern and soulful American music. The whole record is awesome, and I’m honored and overjoyed that I was able to add some pedal steel to the song “You Got A Story.” Check it out now, and pick up your copy on vynal or digital fornats below.
Red Bluff Festival
My hometown of Montgomery, AL has come a long way in my lifetime. Since May of this year I’ve been blessed with a wonderful opportunity to help out in my own way thanks to some good friends. At Red Bluff Bar we’ve turned an important piece of land on Montgomery’s historic riverfront into a progressive world-class music venue and restorative common meeting place for the whole community to gather as one and celebrate what is awesome about our fair city.
We are open 5 nights a week Spring-Fall booking the best in creative jazz, blues, country, bluegrass, folk, gospel, southern soul and more, honoring the legacy of our region’s indigenous music. Our biggest event of the year Red Bluff Music, Arts & Food Festival is coming up in May, and tickets just went on sale. I’m very proud to have curated this lineup featuring Eric Gales, Jerry Douglas, West Love, The Happy Ghosts featuring Julie Dexter, CC Sunchild, Devon Gates & Kebbi Williams, Taylor Hollingsworth, Early James and many more. Please join us in May for what is slated to be an excellent time on the historic banks of the Alabama River in downtown Montgomery.
Britti
Britti @lovebritti is coming to the Red Bluff stage for the @hogdaysmgm pre-party Friday August 23, 2024 with special guests @w_barnz_muzix & Friends!
If you know, you know.. if not go give @lovebritti a follow and introduce yourself to a truly special artist worthy of your attention. We could not be more excited about this show. Join us on August 23 to find out why, and support a great cause by getting your tickets to Montgomery’s biggest Summer party now at @hogdaysmgm
No Ways Tired
Church has been amazing in South Atlanta every Sunday lately at the 3 churches I play at. Here’s a recent clip from one of my favorite songs at the City of Praise in College Park with Pastor Elerey Freeman on vocals. Check out my Instagram church live streams every Sunday here.
Red Bluff Rocks!
I’m speechless about the amazing time had by all at the inaugural Red Bluff Music and Arts Festival. It was an epic weekend full of fun, hope and promise for the future of a great city and a vibrant, vital and historic scene. Stay tuned for weekly “mini-fests” at Red Bluff Bar the rest of 2023, and put Memorial Day Weekend 20204 on your calendar for the second annual Red Bluff Fest. See ya then!
Soul Shakedown Party
Thanks to Sam Williams, John Mark Tuner, Tim George, Sam Rawlings, AJ Bryant, Nick Oakley, Shany King, Curke Dudley and Trevor Sikorski for coming out and playing the best music possible. It was so great. More of this killer new band on the way and cool opportunities on the horizon at Red Bluff Bar. Enjoy a live stream of the Pre-Party from our drummer’s wife Yolanda George… She’s more entertaining than we are.. as usual, lol Thanks Re!! More footage of the encore and possible UFO sightings here!
Red Bluff Music & Arts Festival
Montgomery’s newest and coolest music venue Red Bluff Bar at the Silos has been a great shot in the arm to the city’s vibe and culture. They are throwing their first music festival Memorial Day Weekend, and I’m honored to be hosting the pre-party with two of my oldest friends and all-star band. Stay tuned for details and mark your calendars for Friday, May 26, and for the festival on May 27 featuring Robert Randolph, Blues Old Stand, DJ Jeffrey James. Tix on sale now.
Hello 2023
I hope it’s your best year yet! I’m so glad and grateful that it’s shaping up to be mine: in mind, body, spirit and especially… “the musics.”
I’m blessed to be a part of some beautiful new projects in motion in the Atlanta Gospel and Jazz communities, and there are some inspiring happenings on the horizon in Sweet Home Alabama as well, to say the least. Look out for some cool new live recordings, record announcements and live performances again soon with a new project moving forward: dates TBA in the next few weeks.
Join me every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday in January with some of the coldest cats around in Montgomery, and every Sunday in Atlanta with the rest of the best. Check the BarnzLivez Page for details. More to come folks, thx for checking in, Peace, Love, Blessings and Righteous Grooves to y’all this year and for all the rest, -Barnz 1/6/23
Spread Love
The full album “Found My Joy” by vocal superhero Nathan De’Shon Myers is out now on all platforms, and the cool electric, acoustic and dobro parts I tracked made the final cut of the tune Spread Love. It’s super cool and reminds me of a late 70’s Isley Brothers track. You never know how much or if any what you record for artists will make the final recording, as the producer’s concept can shift over time, so it’s always cool when the final version includes every note you sent! Check it out, this record is so cool.
Always Something
Nathan De’Shon Myers’ new record “Found My Joy” went into pre-release today with the song “Always Something” debuting on Apple Music. I had a blast cutting some cool pedal steel to this totally over-the-top tune. Producer Robert Sput Searight brings his usual A-Game to the table on this record, and Nathan is a powerhouse vocalist and artist to be reckoned with.
Tap Dancin’ Daddy
Thanks to Taylor Hollingsworth, Phoebe Bridgers, Avondale Brewery & the city of Birmingham, AL for a night to remember! Taylor is a force and his friend Phoebe and her fans gave us the warmest reception I can ever remember receiving. It’s always a thrill to play great music for a great audience, and last night takes the cake. A big thanks to Taylor for a night I’ll never forget. We’ll be in Atlanta this weekend at Oakhurst Porchfest, hope to see you there.
w/ Dave P Moore
Looking forward to a week of shows coming up with one of my oldest and best partners in crime. The one, the only P Mo. Check the calendar for a Montgomery, AL date and more TBA soon.
w/ Taylor Hollingsworth
I recently linked back up with an artist I’ve always admired, Taylor Hollingsworth, and we’ve been diggin into some pretty deep vibes during a couple recent duo shows, with several more on the way in Birmingham and Atlanta. It’s a great show, join us.
The Third Design
You know a song is great when you have to figure out how to play new chords and look up the definition of words in the lyrics... The Third Design by Bill Graham is a masterpiece, and it was a joy and thrill to add some pedal steel guitar to the mix. Thanks and well done Bill! Great music
w/ Jason Grubbs
Been having a blast with Birmingham guitar-slinger/singer/songwriter Jason Grubbs lately. Jason is a great artist and our double-slide attack is deadly serious. Check him out and come see us.
The Roaring 20s
Cheers to my old friends Reggie Yarbrough and Red Mountain Theatre Company for having me out for their first productions back since Covid and their first shows in their beautiful new world-class facility. It’s been so wonderful to be playing live music again, and it was a pleasure to get to work with Audrey Cardwell, Cecil Washington and the entire cast and crew of the Roaring Twenties immersive theatre experience. Go check out one of their shows soon. You won’t regret it. Photo by Nathan Watson
Now booking private events
Things are finally starting to move again. If you have need of live music at an event, please message me. I’d love to put something together for you.
Euphonious Fest
Feeling great to be going back to festivals. Join me at the debut of Euphonious: A celebration of music, art, tech & AI in Birmingham with my old friend Sean Nowell’s ruthless conscious hip-hop outfit Soul Inscribed and special guests.
Back to church
I’m so glad to be back with my church family at Temple of Prayer in Fairburn, GA. It’s a great church with an anointed pastor and music ministry led by Bishop Aaron Lackey, his son Aaron Lackey Jr on drums and Scott Tolbert on organ & keys, we have a good time every week! Amazing Sacred Steel guitarist Kashiah Hunter has been joining us lately, which is sending our already over the top service into the stratosphere. I’m there as often as possible and post the dates on my live page.
Music Sweet Music
Thanks to Longleaf Drive for making me feel alive again at the Florida State Bluegrass Festival last weekend. It was so great to play live music, be around people and smell food vendors lol! It’s the simple things that get taken for granted. What a great weekend, and a shout out to the great Albert Simpson who I got to pick a fun set with as well. Thanks to Chris, Ricky and Justin for having me out. It’s so good to be back doing what we love.
Now teaching lessons via Zoom
I teach guitar, bass, dobro, steel guitar, mandolin and ukulele and cover a wide range of topics including repertoire, theory, improvisation, songwriting, recording, music business and pretty much anything else I’ve picked up over the years. If you have a passion for music and a desire to learn, I can help you become a better musician by assessing your abilities and teaching you how to set goals and achieve them. Please contact me for more information or purchase lessons now in my store.
Remote Recording
Now offering multi layer and song specials on electric and acoustic guitars, dobro, pedal steel, lap steel, mandolin, bass, beats, loops, samples, fx, etc. Please message me to get started or to consult on a project.
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