Pinecastle Recording Artist Ross Nickerson Ross’s current release with Pin- ecastle, Blazing the West, was named as “One of the Top Ten CD’s of 2003” by Television, True West Magazine named it, “Best Bluegrass CD of 2003” and Blazing the West was among the top 15 in ballot voting for the IBMA Instrumental CD of the Year in 2003. Ross Nickerson was selected to perform at the 4th Annual Johnny Keenan Festival in Ireland this year headlined by and last year. Ross has also appeared with the , Hot Rize, Riders in the Sky, Del McCoury Band, The Oak Ridge Boys, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and has also picked and appeared with some of the best banjo players in the world including Earl Scruggs, Bela Fleck, , , Alan Munde, Doug Dillard, Pete Seeger and . Ross is a full time musician and on the road 10 to 15 days a month doing concerts , workshops and expanding his audience. Ross has most recently toured England, Ireland, Germany, Holland, Sweden and visited 31 states and Canada in 2005. Ross is hard at work writing new material for the band and planning a new CD of straight ahead bluegrass. Ross is the author of The Banjo Encyclopedia, just published by Mel Bay Publications in October 2003 which has already sold out it’s first printing.

For booking information contact: Bullet Proof Productions 1-866-322-6567 www.rossnickerson.com www.banjoteacher.com [email protected] “ is RECOMMENDED!!!– “Award-winning does banjowizardRossNickerson – musician!” agreat talent! What great “What “Just gotthatRoss cdin....Ionlyhave Nickerson 2words:...... AWESOME &COOL.. selection of classic and original material” - Ranger Doug, Riders in the Sky the in Riders Doug, Ranger - material” original and classic of selection expressway, placeinCDplayer, upvolume, crank andputthepedaltomeda”l.... “ He takes his impressive credentials, his mastery of his instrument, his sensitivity and taste, and adds to them a splendid a them to adds and taste, and sensitivity his instrument, his of mastery his credentials, impressive his takes He I justreceived Ross Nickerson’s BLAZING WEST...itTHE Enteronto instructions: shouldcomewiththefollowing “Ross Nickerson isindeedabigdog“Ross Nickerson 5stringer. HecanPLAY, andagentlemantoo!HissoloCD, “BlazingThe West” ....world class player...an exemplary teacher...tailored instruction...great resource. instruction...great teacher...tailored exemplary player...an class ....world ***True West Magazine’s annual Best of The West issuenamed ***True West Magazine’s annualBestof lzn h et n f h o 5isrmna Dso 2003!*** CD’s of thetop15instrumental Blazing theWest oneof ....what a book!!! Blown away at the content...this book is gold...great curriculum!!! gold...great is book content...this the at away Blown book!!! a ....what Awesome!!! ...... most comprehensive work...a “must have”...all will benefit...Ross’ leadership and clarity of clarity and leadership benefit...Ross’ will have”...all “must work...a comprehensive ....most West.” “Award-winning banjowizardRossNickersondoes abang-upjobonhisnewrelease,“Blazingth West.” “Award-winning banjowizardRossNickersondoesabang-upjobonhisnewrelease,“Blazingth job onhisnewrelease,“BlazingtheWest.” “Award-winning banjowizardRossNickersondoesabang-up instruction is tremendous. is instruction *** The International Bluegrass MusicAssociationvoted Bluegrass *** TheInternational ....what you have created is the new gold standard for banjo instruction. banjo for standard gold new the is created have you ....what lzn h etoeo tetptnabm f2003*** thetoptenalbums of Blazing theWest oneof lzn h etbs lers Do theyear! *** WestBlazing the CDof bestbluegrass thank you for all of your hard work. hard your of all for you thank ....Now that I see the qualities of this gentleman, I’m REALLY looking forward to meeting him. meeting to forward looking REALLY I’m gentleman, this of qualities the see I that ....Now Mike Weber Mike www.rossnickerson.com www.banjoteacher.com *** Country MusicTelevision*** Country hasvoted For booking information contact: For bookinginformation Bullet ProofProductions [email protected] Melanie Jackson, WMOQ Jackson, Melanie 1-866-322-6567 a bang-up job on his new release,“Blazing theWest.” release,“Blazing a bang-upjobonhisnew

ROSS NICKERSON Blazing The West PRC 1125 BLAZING THEWESTROSSNICKERSON 13. STREETS OF LAREDO 4:13 STREETSOFLAREDO 13. STANDING EAGLE1:59 12. DON’TFENCEMEIN2:16 11. 3:00 JESSEJAMES 10. C .LONESOMECOWBOY 3:18 9. GUNSLINGER’SBLUES4:35 8. REDRIVERVALLEY 2:34 7. BLUES3:36 TEXAS 6. 3:29 GHOSTRIDERSINTHESKY 5. PANHANDLE RAG3:53 4. 3:17 GARCIA 3. ANTONIOROSE3:08 SAN 2. ELCUMBANCHERO3:45 1. & Tom RozumandBen Wilborn , RobIckes, Lewis, Laurie Peter McLaughlin, Tim O’Brien, , Mike ButchBaldassari, Bub, , JoeCraven, Also appearing: Too SlimLabour& Woody DougGreen, Ranger Paul The Riders intheSky with specialguests: Banjo player RossNickerson P 2003 mi:if@ieatecm e ie www.pinecastle.com [email protected] web site: email: Pinecastle Records PO Box 456,Orlando, 32802 Florida Pinecastle RecordsPO forWrite freecatalog Joe Willis Joe Jay Shankle KKNG Shankle Jay u|xhFFHFHy11252tz]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Bullet Proof Productions 1-866-322-6567 The Banjo Road Show with Ross Nickerson Telluride Bluegrass Champion

“…..hotly picked tunes that break new trail for demonstrating the great versatility of the instrument and its master.” Bluegrass Now

Jan. 5, 2005 - Five-string banjo master , Ross Nickerson performs in support of his CD Blazing the West on Pinecastle Records. Country Music Television named Blazing the West as one of the top ten albums of 2003 and True West Magazine named it, “Best Bluegrass CD of 2003”. Blazing the West takes bluegrass into new, un-chartered territory. Ranger Doug of the Grammy winning group, Riders in the Sky, says, “Ross has created from these diverse ingredients a sound which detracts from neither form, but instead adds up to something unique, expressive, beautiful and thoroughly wonderful!”

Ross has most recently toured England, Ireland, Germany, Holland and Sweden. He has recorded with some of the best in the business including Tim O’Brien, members of the Band, and The Del McCoury Band. He has appeared in concert recently with Riders in the Sky, and Ralph Stanley and was a member of bands that were two-time winners of the Telluride Band Contest and the Four Corners States Bluegrass Festival. Ross is the author of The Banjo Encyclopedia, just published by Mel Bay Publications, as well as a number of other Books, CD’s, Videos and DVD’s for learning how to play the five-string banjo. Ross Nickerson was selected to perform at the 4th Annual Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival in Ireland this year headlined by Bela Fleck and Earl Scruggs last year.

Don’t miss “The Banjo Road Show” when it rides into town!

For complete tour dates and more information log on to www.rossnickerson.com or www.banjoteacher.com What radio is saying......

Ross Nickerson. What great talent! What a Ross Nickerson sets his banjo on fire with his El great musician!” – Cumbanchero .You can almost smell and taste the Melanie Jackson, WMOQ - Georgia gunpowder in Ross’s original Gunslinger Blues. VERY well produced. - Jerry Paul, Acoustica Magazine “Just got that Ross Nickerson cd in....I only have 2 words:...... AWESOME & COOL... Jay Shankle., KKNG - Oklahoma This CD is a must have for any banjo player or banjo enthusiast. The response from my listeners on this CD was overwhelming. My request line it’s a pleasure to introduce Ross Nickerson’s new kept ringing the entire time the CD was playing.I solo project.” look forward to his next project.” Jay Allen, WBRF-North Carolina Al Shusterman, KCBL Backroads Bluegrass Ross Nickerson’s BLAZING THE WEST...it should come with the following instructions: Enter onto expressway, place in CD player, “Blazing the West” is a lot less talk, and a crank up volume, and put the pedal to the lot more action! Ross Nickerson blazes right past medal. I’d love to hear him live sometime!” the line of mixing bluegrass and traditional – Joe Wills, WBZC - New Jersey western music. Ross does a great job of mixing traditional western songs with some contemporary compositions.” - Joey Black “I just received Ross Nickerson CD. Good radio material. - Dave Snyder, Bluegrass in Dixie Radio Stations playing “Blazing the West”

“Blazing the West”-- This recording is KBCS WNCW OUTSTANDING! Flat out, this is the best KGLT WOBC acoustic CD I have purchased in a few KBOO WLUR KBTC WICR (on the chart) years. - Beau Brown KFDI (on the chart) WQOX “Ross Nickerson is indeed a big dog 5 stringer. KUNQ WROG He can PLAY, and a gentleman too! His solo KYOO WSIP CD, “Blazing The West” …is RECOMMENDED!!! WDVC WUCF – Mike Weber KSBR WUWG (on the chart) WFSS WVMR WLKV WYEP

Bullet Proof Productions 1-866-322-6567 www.rossnickerson.com www.banjoteacher.com [email protected]