Thanks to the overwhelming support and success of our Banjos, Sullivan Banjo Co. is expanding the manufacturing facilities to accommodate the demand. We are in the process of adding another 3000 square feet of shop space to our existing layout. In addition we are adding a state of the art spray booth and bringing online more CNC technology. Here at Sullivan Banjo we have over 40 years of  banjo building experience and as we move into the new year we are continuing to use and adopt cutting edge technology along with our 40 years of expertise to bring our customers one of the finest banjos made today.

If your in the Louisville area, stop on in and see in person all the exciting things happening here at Sullivan Banjo Co.

This past weekend, the IBMA awards and showcase took over Nashville, TN. Artists and groups from all over the world traveled to The Historic Ryman Auditorium to join in a celebration of the best that bluegrass has to offer. This year, Mountain Home Recording Artists, Balsam Range was chosen as the winner of 2011 Song Of The Year!

We here at Sullivan Banjos would like to offer our congratulations to Balsam Range on receiving this coveted award.

“We’re extremely honored to be acknowledged buy our peers at this level.  We were up for three awards and at that level there is a lot of tough competition.  Alison and Dolly were also up for song of the year against ‘Trains I Missed”, so we are very proud to bring such an accolade home to WNC.  It’s more gratifying for us to see that album do so well and this song.  A song we all believed so much in from the start.  Thanks to all who have supported Balsam Range on an incredible journey.”

Darren Nicholson

Mandolin Player for Balsam Range

Join other BHO members for a real-world gathering at the Sullivan Banjos/FQMS showroom in Louisville, Kentucky!

Eric Schlange, owner of the Banjo Hangout, is collaborating with the folks at Sullivan Banjos to do a meetup gathering in Louisville on Friday night, October 14th. Eric will be there (he’s in town working with Sullivan on a web project) and he would love to meet as many BHO folks in person as possible!

Of course, Eric’s not the main attraction… the Sullivan boys will have some beautiful banjos on hand to be played, including the whole Sullivan line and Myrtle, the pre-war Gibson style 3 that inspired their new Vintage 35 line. We’ll also have refreshments, hangout time with other BHO folks, impromptu jams, and who knows what else!

Pictured left to right is new Sullivan Banjo owner Paul Wigley from Morgan, Ga. and Mark Bramlett of Banjo.com   Mark delivered the very first left handed Vintage 35 Sullivan Banjo in mahogany.   According to Mark his customer had searched long and hard for that perfect banjo before he decided to place an order.   Paul said ” it was the sound and the looks that impressed him so much and it was worth every minute of the wait”.   Paul we’d like to welcome you to the Sullivan Banjo family and we wish you many years of enjoyment with your Sullivan V35.   If you in or around the Alanta Georgia area, make sure and stop by Banjo.com and say hello to Mark and the Crew and test drive the the Sullivan line of banjos.

Bluegrass Anonymous along with the Holiday Inn located at Hurstbourne and I-64 will be hosting a Bluegrass Show and Jam on November 28th beginning at 4pm.   Cover charge for the show will be either a small donation or a new toy.  Proceeds to benefit The Center for Women and Families, The Home of the Innocents and the Salvation Army.   Performances and times are as follows…

4pm: James White and Deer Creek, featuring Kyle Ramey

5pm: Cast Iron Airplane

6pm: Fresh Cut Grass

7pm: Hog Operation

There will be raffles, vendors and food and drinks so bring your families and your instruments for some jammin’ and help out these most worthy charities.

Della Mae fans in the Boston area take note.  The girls will have two performances in the next three weeks in your area and you can catch them at the following locations.   Next week they will be at the Cantab Lounge in Central Square, on the 22nd of November they’ll be at the famous Club Passim at Cambridge Square.  (The same club that hosted the likes of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez).   For more info on the band and their EP you can check their website.  

Grace is an endorsing artist for Sullivan banjos and plays a Bardstown.  For more information on the Bardstown or other Sullivan banjo products you can call  any one of our fine Sullivan Banjo Dealers.

Our very own Murrell Thixton and his group Storefront Congregation recently participated in a production of a commercial for the Kentucky Department of Tourism.   The commercial is airing in all the states contiguous to Kentucky.  If you’d like to get a view of the commercial you can find it below.

Today we’d like to introduce to you our very own “Banjo Yoda”  Tony Wray. 

Tony was born and raised in Peru, Indiana where at age 13 he began learning the guitar and banjo by studying old jazz recordings.   Quickly developing his craft at age 17, Tony moved to Missouri to work with the Ezelle Family for a year and then on to the Shepherd of The Hills play in Branson where he would spend the next 2 years.  1999 would find Tony in Nashville, Tennessee where he  worked for the Gibson Instrument company as the banjo supervisor at Gibson Bluegrass, Tony assembled and set up literally thousands of banjos, along with helping the mandolin and dobro divisions at Gibson OAI.

While in Nashville,  Tony bacame a freelance musician working with a veritable who’s who in bluegrass music, along with many notable country performers and studio musicians.  For the last 6 years his steady music gig has been with Opry member Mike Snider where Tony continues to make regular Opry appearances.

Just a few of the musicians that Tony has played with….

Ricky Skaggs, Sam Bush, Del McCoury, Mike Snider, Randy Kohrs, Tim O’Brien, Sarah Evans, John Cowan, The Grascals, Mark Newton, Dave Denman, Wayne Benson, Casey Driessen, Jeff White, Bela Fleck, Scott Vestal,   The Cherryholmes Family, Alecia Nugent, Roland White, Jesse McReynolds, Marty Stuart, Ron Block, Los Lobos, Jim Lauderdale,  Shad Cobb, Tim Crouch, Jeff Autry, (and he’s a fill in member of the Opry Staff Band)

We’re thrilled to have Tony on staff here at the Sullivan Banjo where he’s been since the summer of 2010.