This was a good jam. Enjoy!!

For those of you interested, you can order our latest CD "Faris Family - Black Horse Inn" on Aurio from CD Baby.

FARIS FAMILY to showcase in Nashville!

We will be journeying to 'guitar town' for the 25th Annual SPBGMA National Convention to be held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel January 31-February 3, 2008.

SPBGMA founder Chuck Stearman has graciously invited us to showcase there for the first time. We will take his Nashville stage Saturday evening February 2nd. Look for our booth on the trade show floor throughout the weekend. We hope you will see our show and stop by our booth to 'shake-n-howdy' with us. We are very excited by this opportunity. Baseball fans can relate - we feel like we've been called up to the 'Majors'!

Also, that weekend...

Many of you know that The Martin's won the 2007 International Bluegrass Championship at last year's convention. And, many of you know as well that Ed is engaged to Jeana Martin. As you can imagine, our families are close. When The Martin's needed a mandolin player to meet the contest's minimum instrumentation requirements, it was only natural for them to tag Edward. He will reprise his roll with their group on Sunday as they take the stage once again to perform a complete set as reigning champions while this year's final scores are being tabulated. Look for a great show from them as well!

Faris Family honored

Wow! We were very humbled to be honored for the fourth consecutive year with the 'Entertaining Group of the Year' award.

Rick received his second 'Guitar Performer of the Year' nod - his first was in 2005 - and JimBob received his fifth consecutive 'Bass Fiddle Performer of the Year' award.

Since 2002, Faris Family have received 38 nominations which have yielded 15 individual and group awards.

Thanks to all our fans: SPBGMA members who vote for us, those that attend our shows, who purchase our music, request our music, and talk us up to promoters! You are the wind that drives our dream! We love you.

FARIS FAMILY

Just thought you may want to know that the 2008 SPBGMA Midwest Bluegrass Awards nominees are posted at http://www.spbgma.com/level2/mwnom2008.html

We are humbled that the fan-based membership of SPBGMA have nominated Faris Family for nine top honors. They include:

Bluegrass Album of the Year -  'Faris Family - Black Horse Inn' Aurio (AR-CD010)
Bass Fiddle Performer of the Year - JimBob Faris
Guitar Performer of the Year - Rick Faris
Male Vocalist of the Year (Contemporary) - Bob Faris
Bluegrass Band of the Year (Traditional) - Faris Family
Vocal Group of the Year - Faris Family
Instrumental Group of the Year - Faris Family
Entertaining Group of the Year - Faris Family
Entertainer of the Year - JimBob Faris

Thanks to all who voted.

Plan on joining us for the 34th Annual Bluegrass Music Awards Midwest Convention January 11-13 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Jefferson City, MO. For information contact Chuck Stearman 660-665-7172.

A Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to you,
Bob Faris

FARIS FAMILY
785-876-2374
farisband@yahoo.com
http://www.farisband.com
View our EPK at: http://www.SonicBids.com/farisfamily2
 

We were informed recently that the IBMA Talent Selection Committee chose us to perform during the 2007 World of Bluegrass Business Conference to be held at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville, TN this October. This is BIG!

We look forward to seeing folks in Nashville. Please help us pass the news!

The boys get-r-done!!

As we left for the Tri-State Bluegrass Festival at the Comfort Suites in Burlington, IA last weekend (March 30-31) we broke down in Kansas City, KS off I-670. After being stranded for sometime a Kansas Highway Patrol Motorist Assist unit helped us limp into a Chevrolet dealership in Overland Park. We were alerted right away by the maintenance attendant - and his trusty clipboard - that we had, "quite a coolant leak". We explained our problem and agreed to a diagnostic test to assess our trouble. In a short while we were told a new alternator and battery were in order. The 'leak' wasn't mentioned so it was thought by us to not be as bad as the attendant had thought. After all, we had replaced the intake manifold less than a month before and had been dealing with coolant aroma.

After an unpleasant wait - and the decision to cancel our Friday show - the van was finally rolling out onto the driveway where a mechanic greeted me with, "You guys have quite a coolant leak! I don't think you're gonna make it 20 miles." The apparently lazy mechanic - not wanting to check under our van 'bonnet' - had decided to not mess with a 'complete' diagnostic. So, after spending $669 to fix the van we still couldn't continue our weekend's journey. There wasn't enough time left in the day - or money in my pocket - to see to the coolant leak! The decision was made to limp home and see if alternate transportation could be arranged.

It was decided the boys could pile into Ed's Jeep Wagoner. No room for the bass or Rick's Dobro and certainly no room for dad! The boys spent the night at the house and took off early Saturday for the seven hour trip to Burlington and the festival's two remaining shows. They arrived with 45 minutes to spare and - in apparent good spirits - rushed to be ready for their first show of the day.

In 1997, Burlington was our very first Bluegrass festival appearance. So, many present last weekend were longstanding fans who understood the significance of the moment. The brothers hastily took to the stage and began their set with 'The Old Hometown'. As Rick opened his mouth to sing, "Tonight my heart is lonely for the folks back home. Where I left my mother and daddy all alone..." the audience immediately embraced the moment and with smiles on their faces applauded their support.

By all reports the boys did well. And while they had fun - don't look for permanent changes yet!

Bob Faris

We made it back through the winter weather and home from the 33rd SPBGMA Midwest Convention and Bluegrass Music Awards in Jefferson City, MO. I saw several musician friends I hadn't seen in months. It was good to see Mike and Rob Collins, Frank Ray, Kenny Cantrell, Lisa Ray, Joey Wienemen, Joe and Lori King, of course all the Martins (they all looked marvelous Saturday night), the Link Family, and Jess Norberg. And of course, so many other friends and fans. I don't think it is possible to mention them all. It was nice to have Michelle out with us. I miss her on the road.

It was gratifying to receive awards again this year. James won his fourth 'Bass Performer of the Year' award. The family brought home our third 'Entertaining Group of the Year' honor. WOW! I am humbled knowing folks voted for us. I love each and every one.

Heard some great music from Cedar Hill's new lineup. Frank just keeps rolling along! His break on 'Katy Hill' Saturday afternoon was the best I've ever heard. There was some good jamming as well.

Everyone was buzzing about the weather all weekend. It took us several more hours to make it in Friday night. It was slick and we saw several vehicles in the ditch. Son Rick and daughter-in-law Nicole drove over earlier in the day on Friday and had a couple very close calls with other drivers almost giving them major problems. The Lord is good! Chuck Stearman made a wise decision canceling Sunday morning's show. We left early and beat the worst of the additional ice on Sunday.

All in all it was a good weekend. Too bad the weather kept the folks home. We had several relatives that had planned on driving in from out of state for the convention. Chuck told me there were 80 cancellations Friday night.

Bob