LMN writer Bob Mitchell went down to the IBMA World of Bluegrass trade show in Nashville recently and sent along a few photos that he got while he was there.

Sammy Shelor (Lonesome River Band)

Doyle Lawson

Charlie Sizemore

Your humble editor caught the Squeeze-bot/Java Men show last night at the Pour Haus and I was once again reminded that Louisville music fans are simply over-saturated with music. How else to explain a fairly small crowd for such a show, particularly with the original Java Men, Craig Wagner, Todd Hildreth and Ray Rizzo, on hand? Rizzo, who’s currently living and working in New York City, has adopted a distinctly Rasputin-esque appearance, thanks a black bead that falls a third of the way down his chest, but don’t let that fool you - he beats the skins with a passion and style that’s more Gene Krupa meets Animal from The Muppets - but tastefully and to the point, musically speaking. I’ll upload a bit of video later today.

So what’s with the ‘Vote for Squeeze-bot” title? The band is trying to win an online contest to play at the inaugural Chicago Bluegrass and Blues festival, which comes with a $500 check as well. To vote for the band once a day, vote here. I mean, what’s a Blues and Bluegrass festival without a band that features accordion, banjo, tuba and drums?

The October cover story for Louisville Music News is the Troubadours of Divine Bliss. Check that out, along with all the latest columns, performance and CD reviews in the print edition.

The deadtree copies will be on the street beginning today - later than usual, due to the problems caused by Hurricane Ike.

With the Forecastle Fest underway on the Belvedere, there are plenty of stories about it. J. L. Puckett has his take in todya’s C-J

It’s dueling weekly pubs on music time - LEO’s Music issue is out and Velocity has a sampler for the cover. LEO gets the call, though, as they have a cover story on none other than Travis Meeks, a feature certain to cause some disturbances in the ether. Seems Meeks’ has Asperger’s Syndrome. It’s in-n-n-n-terresting reading.

There’s a lot more about music in the town - LEO devotes the whole issue to various aspects, so pick up a copy on read it at leoweekly.com

Louisville artists are out and about the planet these days and other folks are noticing. Herewith a few appropriate links:

My Morning Jacket - no surprises here. The MMJ boys are ripping it up with their new CDEvil Urges.

VHS or Beta is on tour in Australia.

Will Oldham shows up a lot in the media. He’s out touring behind Lie Down in the Light

Dawn Landes is making her name while living in New York.

The Forecastle Fest schedule is posted. Looks like a musical orgy dancing with an art orgy. Or something like that.

Being that it’s Friday and all, all the music writers have their picks for the weekend: Joe Lord likes J-Roddy Walston and the Business at the Magbar tonight; plus Laura Veirs, Liam Finn, 930 Room; Tantric, Framing Hanley, Foster Child at the Phoenix and Ralph Stanley tomorrow.

The Backseat Sandbar also likes the J-Roddy show, plus they plug the Mayhem in May extravanganza at Uncle Pleasants plus Ultra Ultra at the 6th and Oak Gallery

Velocity’s cover story is about WFPK, Louisville’s AAA radio station. The question addressed: “Is WFPK boring in it’s choice of music?” The answer depends on how old you are and what you like. Duh.

Also at Velocity, Joe Lord has a phoner with Hugo Ferreira of Tantric, which is scheduled to play the Phoenix Hill Tavern on Friday, May 16.

Over at LEO, Jason Bugg gets the nod to plug the interesting shows coming to town over the next week, including Patty Larkin, Laura Veirs, Ralph Stanley, K.T. Tunstall, North Mississippi All-Stars plus the metal extravaganza “Mayhem in May.”

Mat Herron gets the phoner with Tommy Emmanuel, who will be at the Brown Theatre next Wednesday. LEO also has number of CD reviews, including a review of Brigid Kaelin West 28th Street.

Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley is scheduled to headline Metro Louisville’s Forest Fest 2008 in Jefferson Memorial Forest on Saturday, May 17. Five groups will play in the forest’s Horine Section, beginning at 11 a.m, including Stone Hollow, Dozens of Dollars, Bluegrass 101 and Kentucky Sassafras, followed by Dr. Ralph Stanley, 81. The event is free. For more, log onto www.metro-parks.org.