17 June
From Ireland to Elvis- (or I Have a Great Job)

Howdy friends! It is summertime and the living is easy. We have been eating great produce from our garden: peas, lettuce, radishes, potatoes and chard, but the coupe de grace awaits our pleasure. The tomatoes are taking their sweet time. Patience is not one of my virtues. What is taking them so long to ripen!!!???

We had a marvelous tour of Europe. I have to say that the JATS dates rocked. Al Collins played bass and Pontus Snibb from Sweden sat in on drums and harmony vocals. I was quite impressed with their taste and swing. Warner was the personification of country rock'n'roll guitar. I don't know if I have ever heard him play better, night after night. To top things off, we heard just before leaving that the AMERICANA MUSIC ASSOCIATION plans to give us their Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance this year. There were a lot of smiles on those stages.

I have a great job.

After the JATS dates, I did a very busy tour of the UK and Ireland as JR solo and Farmer Jason. Some days I did 3 shows! In total I did 45 shows in 35 days. Phew...

In Ireland I actually did a true one room school in rural County Galway. There were 30 kids total in the whole school, with one teacher. I have to say that if you have a room full of little Irish kids, you have a room full of cute! It almost brought me to tears of joy to hear them singing along with me trying to imitate a Southern accent.

I have a great job.

After the European tour, I journeyed to Tupelo Mississippi where Farmer Jason was scheduled to play the kids stage at Elvis Fest. My whole family came along and a big time was had by all. There were Elvis impersonators (OH EXCUSE ME I MEANT TO SAY "ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTISTS") everywhere. My show was sandwiched between the Elvis Pet Parade (a golden lab won as the 70s Elvis) and an 11 year old girl "Elvis Tribute Artist"! I kid you not, this really happened.

I have a great job.

Farmer Jason with Elvis and daughters Addie Rose and Camile.




With Elvis again, Elvis having changed jump suits and consumed 90lbs of hamburger between shots.




Elvis prepares to unleash some Karate on Farmer Jason if he tells him "what a great job I have" one more time.

April 6
Nashville Rocks! Basement Barnburner Follows Belcourt Bedlam
On The 29th March, in a personal first, Jason recently wore all three of his musical hats in one day. He started the morning as Farmer Jason at the Belcourt Theater to a rowdy house of preschoolers and parents, then did a stark moody evening set as solo Jason Ringenberg at the Basement, then finished at the Basement with a late night surprise barn burning appearance of Jason and the Scorchers with Warner Hodges on guitar, Al Collins (from The Stacie Collins Band), and Fenner Castner on drums. Stacie Collins also joined in on harmonica on Lost Highway. Al Collins really did an impressive job as the JATS bassist. More on that development down the road...

The biggest surprise and treat of the day though happened right off the bat. Warner joined Farmer Jason at the Belcourt for a rockin' version of Possum in a Pocket! It never sounded better and Warner turned out to be quite a hit with the pre-school set! Jason's 7 year old daughter Camille remarked "He is really good but he should shave his head!"

27 January
Southern Illinois- Full Circles and Half Squares
I had the wonderful pleasure of doing my first dates of the 2008 touring schedule at my old haunts in Murphysboro/Carbondale, Illinois. I did a cracking little Farmer Jason show at the Longbranch, and a JR cd release concert at the Liberty Theater with the Woodbox Gang. I went to college there at SIU-Carbondale from 1978-1981. Believe it or not, I am a college graduate in UNIVERSITY STUDIES! Wow a degree like that will take you places. (In fact it took me right into bars and clubs everywhere...)

Not only does Southern Illinois hold such warm dusty memories for me, but it is a living relationship. For example Stace England I only got to know 4 years ago , and I now count him as a good friend/musical colleague, I guest on his cds etc. Check him out at www.staceengland.com. As you see, I am not the only hog farmer's son from Illinois into music. Stace has been so instrumental in reconnecting me to those Southern Illinois roots, and he graciously promoted the Liberty Theater show on a volunteer basis, as did the entire staff there that night. Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped with the show: Mike Lesceluis, Craig Reeves, Bert Reeves, Jim Foerester , Bill and Lois at the Liberty, and of course Miss Alethea England who not only worked many hours on the show, but also showed Farmer Jason true Southern Illinois hospitality by sleeping in the basement so I could have a comfy bed. Most of all thanks to Stace, who wanted to do a special show for me and the Woodbox Gang and far surpassed all our expectations.



Speaking of the Woodbox Gang, they are my favorite modern band, and probably my favorite American band since early REM. These guys are the real deal, sort of a demented jug band but without all the corny kitsch. It is a tight little 5 piece led by Alex Kirt, a Warner Hodges type band leader. He is a brilliant musician, producer, and arranger, as good on a broad musical level as anyone I have ever played with. The songwriter/singer is Hugh Deneal. This is going to sound way over the top, but I feel that Hugh is the most exciting and original songwriter on the planet today. I seriously mean that. Buy the BORN WITH A TAIL cd and listen to NEVER KISSED A GIRL and BIG BANG YING YANG for starters, but all their stuff ranges good to brilliant, and there is a lot of it. But its not for the faint of heart, it is pretty intense stuff.

The Farmer Jason show brought out all the cool kids in Carbondale. It was a hoot. There was some over the top cuteness going on. They sang along, danced, and asked me the funniest questions like "Farmer Jason, why is your fingernail black?" (I had hit it with a hammer, but how do you explain that to a 4 year old?) The best moment was when my dear friend and old drummer from Shakespeare's Riot Tom Miller joined me on WHOA THERE PONY and MRS. MOUSE, keeping perfect time on his bodhran, a Celtic hand drum made from goat skin. He hasn't missed a beat, no pun intended. Tom has 8 kids, with some of them at the show. When he came on stage I remarked "Tom is probably the father of over 10% of the kids in this room!" It didn't quite come out right... Thank God his wife Kirsten has a good sense of humor. Actually the two of them met at a Shakespeares Riot show almost 30 years ago...They are saints.

The night show at the Liberty Theater was packed, and full of good will. I did my set first, and to sing in that 1920s building to all my old and new friends was an experience I will not forget. In fact I count it as one of my top 10 favorite gigs of my life. After my set, the Woodbox Gang played and wow were they good. It was their first theater show in their home town and they meant business. They came to throw down. After their set I joined them for their NEVER KISSED A GIRL, the BROKEN WHISKEY GLASS version off the new cd with Alex Kirt singing the second verse, and my fave song of theirs ALMOST ENOUGH with me singing some of it. I was on cloud nine. I remember yelling at them during one of the songs: "THIS IS WHY WE DO ALL THE BS!!" But I didn't use the abbreviation...

January 15
New album available now
Jason’s new best of/rarities album Best Tracks & Side Tracks, 1979 - 2007 is now available to buy online at www.jasonringenberg.com. The album is officially released in the U.S. on January 22nd by Yep Roc records. European release dates vary from region to region, but the album will be available locally to coincide with Jason’s spring touring schedule.

The two disc, 30 track, compilation is a complete overview of Jason’s solo career to-date including his pre-Scorchers band Shakespeare’s Riot, the best of his solo recordings and brand new versions of Farmer Jason and Jason & The Scorchers favourites, plus clutch of unreleased or hard to find material.

Don't forget that next to buying your copy off Jason personally when he rolls through your town, ordering Best Tracks & Side Tracks from the official Jason Ringenberg online store is by far the best way to support Jason and his music. And just like on the road Jason is more than happy to personally sign and dedicate your CD on request. Post and handling is free for all U.S. orders.

January 14
New features hit print
Jason was recently featured on the cover  of Flipside, the insert for The Southern, the biggest daily in Southern Illinois. Read the article here

January 4
2008
This is a great day to be an American! Last night in Iowa, non establishment long shot candidates in both parties won by virtue of grass roots organizations, coherent messages, and inherent honesty. I think we are witness to a revolution in American politics. This is going to be a very interesting election year.

America is constantly and continuously criticized by the rest of the world as a nation that has lost its soul. I hear it all the time in my travels. I think that judgment is premature and essentially unfair. 2008 is going to show the world just how vibrant and progressive the American Democracy can be.

This year I will be touring all around the world supporting my new BEST TRACKS cd, as well as continuing to develop the Farmer Jason story. I am looking forward to seeing many of you out there again. On behalf of my family and colleagues in the Farmer Jason/Jason Ringenberg organization, we wish everyone a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Oh Santa! New and Used Holiday Classics from Yep Roc Records:
Yep Roc is one of the coolest labels in the business at the moment. Th' Legendary Shackshakers, Los Straightjackets, The Apples in stereo, Reverend Horton Heat and other artists offer mostly new songs. A favorite? Jason Ringenberg and Kristi Rose giving the holiday pros and cons on "Lovely Christmas."

- Wayne Bledsoe, Knoxville News-Sentinel

Two more album launch parties have been confirmed; in Raleigh, NC on February 8 (with Two Dollar Pistols) and at The Basement in Nashville on March 29. All the 'Best Tracks & Side Tracks' launch shows will feature a free signed poster give-away so get on down.

Jason will be back in Germany for most of February supporting the release of 'Best Tracks' with further European dates in the pipeline for later in the spring. Stay tuned for further news as and when we have it.

Not to be left out Farmer Jason is back at Nashville's Belcourt Theatre on March 29, which if it's anything like his last visit will be a pre-k riot!

For full details visit the dates page.

October 20
JASON RINGENBERG BEST OF ALBUM
Jason Ringenberg’s new album BEST TRACKS AND SIDE TRACKS 1979-2007 will be released on January 22 in the US on Yep Roc Records.

The double CD set is a complete overview of Jason’s solo career to-date including his pre-Scorchers band Shakespeare’s Riot and new versions of Farmer Jason and Jason & The Scorchers favorites.

Disc one features the best of Jason’s solo recordings, largely focusing on the Pocketful Of Soul, All Over Creation and Empire Builders album, plus three new recordings. Disc two rounds up a clutch of previously unheard rarities including the thought to be lost version of Jimmie Rogers Last Blue Yodel that Jason recorded in London, England with The Wildhearts.

The full track listing is as follows -

Disc One - Best Tracks

Shop It Around (new lyrics and recording)
The Life Of The Party (new recording)
Bible And A Gun (with Steve Earle)
Camille (with Swan Dive)
Punk Rock Skunk (rawk remix)
One Less Heartache (with The Wildhearts)
She Hung The Moon Until It Died
Rainbow Stew
For Addie Rose
Born To Run
The Price Of Progress
Prosperity Train
A Pocketful Of Soul
Eddie Rode The Orphan Train
Link Wray
Tuskegee Pride
Half The Man
Chief Joseph’s Last Dream
Broken Whiskey Glass (new recording with The Woodbox Gang)
The Last Train To Memphis

Disc Two – Side Tracks

Lovely Christmas! (with Kristi Rose)
Moose On The Loose (with exended Webb Wilder outro)
The Sailor’s Eyes
Cappuccino Rosie (live country version with Arty Hill)
Moms 70th Birthday Song
Help There’s A Fire (Shakespeare’s Riot version)
Buckminster Fuller We Need You Now
Who’s Gonna Feed Them Hogs
Paradise (with R.B. Morris, Tom Roznowski and Janas Hoyt)
Jimmie Rogers Last Blue Yodel (with The Wildhearts)

The albums release party takes place on January 19 at The Liberty Theater in Murphysboro, llinois. Helping raise the roof are Carbondale’s mighty Woodbox Gang who are one of Jason’s favorite American bands, so much so that they guest on a new version of the old Scorchers standard Broken Whiskey Glass especially recorded for the new album.   

In away this show brings Jason full circle as he started his musical career in Southern Illinois in 1978 and several of the songs on BEST TRACKS & SIDE TRACKS originated in the Murphysboro-Carbondale area.

Both Jason and The Woodbox Gang will be playing full sets, with the The Woodbox Gang closing out the night. The action kicks off at 7.30 with tickets available on the door. Don’t miss this one fight fans ‘cause it’s going to get rowdy!

October 20
When Fallen Angels Fly
At the giant Stage Coach Festival October 13 and 14 in College Station Texas, I had the pleasure of catching Billy Joe Shaver’s set. Without a doubt, it was the most compelling show I have seen in ages. Without coming off maudlin, he bared his soul for all to see, and every word he sang or spoke was physically tangible, and purely honest. As the sun set behind him, you could see those words float into space, propelled by his giant mannerisms and transfigured raw beauty.

To be honest, three times during the show I was moved to real tears, even surrounded by all the drunken frat boys. The Holy Spirit is strong in that man, truly.

September 17
Eeeek Gremlins!
Some of you may have noticed that farmerjason.com was off line for a while at the begining of the month due to unforseen technical difficulties. Although everything is now back to normal Farmer Jason was without email during that time. If you sent an important message between the 1st and 13th of September and have not had a reply, please resend your message. Thanks.

September 17
New shirts now available
Farmer Jason and daughters Camille and Addie Rose modeling the new crop of Farmer Jason tee-shirts. Pick yours here, they're home grown and farm fresh!

I stayed with my friends Bruce, Vickie, Liam and Connor Hilton. Bruce has a great band called the Digbees www.digbees.com and had arranged a great little Maine/New Hampshire mini tour of FJ and JR dates culminating in a JR/Digbees concert in Rochester. We had a marvelous time. My favorite show was the FJ show at MY LITTLE FRIENDS DAY CARE, which Vickie owns and operates. The kids were big FJ fans, and knew the cds backwards and forwards, singing along and requesting their favorite songs. In fact we did an encore concert the next day to do some of the songs I didn’t do the first day that they wanted to hear.

Maine is a lovely part of this world- mellow folks, temperate weather, and lots of abundant unspoiled nature. At the end of the run we had an old fashioned Maine lobster feast. (They call lobsters “sea bugs” and they are “wicked good”.) Shopping for them is half the fun, and half the price you pay outside of Maine! Nothing tops fresh Maine lobster.

Check out The Digbees "Stinky Blackwater" cds. You won’t be disappointed. Bruce has created an entire schitck based around the idea that The Beatles ripped off all their best ideas from a Liverpool policeman named Stinky Blackwater (in real life SB was the one who ran over John Lennons mum). As the “real” story unfolds, we all find out that Bruce in fact is the only surviving kin of Stinky Blackwater and has made 2 cds based on Stinky’s original ideas that the Beatles stole from him. Its genius.

Best

To his cost Farmer Jason discovers that you can't hypnotise lobsters!

August 19
Ellapolooza
Farmer Jason played Ella Williamson’s 3rd Birthday party. Her parents Rob and Sandra Williamson, used to listen to Farmer Jason’s brother’s band Jason and the Scorchers since the FERVOR days! There were 4 generations of the family at the party, and Farmer Jason did end up doing a few Scorchers songs, and a version on Guadalcanal Diary’s TRAIL OF TEARS. (Guadalcanal Diary was from Marietta and The Scorchers used to play their club THE STRAND back in the 80’s. Farmer Jason is still a huge fan of theirs.)
 
While the show was being booked, for a while it looked like it might not happen. This conversation occurred between father Rob and daughter Ella:
 
Dad: Ella, I am sorry to say that Farmer Jason may not be able to make it to your party.
 
Ella: Well, can we get Johnny Cash instead?


Farmer Jason with Ella and Hunter

Farmer Jason with Ella and her great grandma Bena Arvella Williamson, 93 years old.



Farmer Jason frantically tries to recall a Johnny Cash song or two.

It has been a marvelous summer. June started with the enormously successful Perry Baggs benefit concerts. All total, we raised close to 20k for his medical bills. The main Jason and the Scorchers reunion show June 2 was without a doubt one of the top five concerts we ever did. To see Perry up there again playing drums and singing his heart out, when we all knew he had been in the intensive care ward most of February and March, was totally inspiring in the best sense of that word. I’ll never forget it.

The next week I had the great pleasure of doing my third tour of Alaska. That place is Jason heaven. I loved every single moment of it. My favorite shows were well attended outdoor Farmer Jason concerts in Fairbanks and Homer. It sure is nice having real mountains and glaciers for a backdrop!!! After one show, since it is essentially light all “night”, I decided to climb a 6500 foot mountain north of Anchorage called Goat Mountain. I made it to the top at 1.00am, but I can tell you it took everything I had! Once at the top there wasn’t a sign of humanity to be seen. It was gorgeous. Somehow I made it back down in the gray semi-twilight, but I was sore for about a week!!!

On June 30 I played the Route 33 Rhythm and Brews 10 Year Anniversary Party in Wapakoneta Ohio. The Terri and Ron Lininger family have miraculously built up a fantastic live venue in rural Ohio, with a loyal audience for original music. As it happens Warner Hodges was there with his bands, so “spontaneously” (wink wink) we did a Jason and the Scorchers set. Fenner Castner played drums and Al Collins (Stacie Collins husband and bassist) filled in on bass. He rocked as an honorary Scorcher. Speaking of Stacie Collins, she is a fantastic live performer and harmonica player. I felt humbled. We should expect to see a lot more from her. Dan Baird, Terry Anderson, and The Drams also played and everyone delivered stellar sets, or maybe it was the perfect crowd that drove us all to our performance peak. They rocked from 7.00pm-4.00am, and gave every performer complete attention and respect.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of playing 2 shows sponsored by the Fairview Church in Yoder, Indiana. I grew up with their pastor Dan Horwedel, who was in my brother’s class. His Dad was our high school principal. It’s a true country church, bordered by corn and bean fields. Many in the audience were real farmers. To sing Oh Lonesome Prairie, actually looking out over a real prairie, was a religious experience for me. To top it off, many old fans came in from Ft Wayne and Indianapolis which created a really interesting chemistry. That is how Preacher Dan is; he brings folks together without pretense or judgment. Everyone got along perfectly and had a great time. The Farmer Jason show absolutely rocked, and afterwards we all got to take pony cart rides!!!

All the best

Farmer Jason with Jane the pony at Fairview Church, Yonder, Indiana

As the leader of Jason & The Scorchers, Jason Ringenberg created an unprecedented blend of country and punk. The Scorchers have been retired, but Jason's "twin brother" (wink, wink) has a record deal, goes by the name Farmer Jason, wears red Converse sneakers and overalls, and sings for children. Saturday afternoon, a tough-to-tune guitar didn't keep him from delighting kids as he sang of a "punk-rock skunk" and of a "guitar-pickin' chicken" who moves to Music City, "where the chicks are pretty."

	Famer Jason serenades the kids at What's Cookin' Jr in London, England. click image to view full gallery
	Farmer Jason & Boer Piet conspire at Rotown in Rotterdam, Holland click image to view full gallery

Stagecoach Festival offers Half-Pint Hootenanny
Farmer Jason joins friends Buck Howdy, the Bummkinn Band and more at the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, CA May 5 and 6. This is the first year for this country music version of Coachella, the renown music and arts festival created by Goldenvoice, and features the biggest names in country music and activities for the entire family. The "Half-Pint Hootenanny" makes Stagecoach the first festival to showcase a lineup of "country music for kids," demonstrating that pop isn't the only appealing kid's music genre.

MySpace.com/farmerjason
Farmer Jason has joined social networking site MySpace to provide an additional method of interaction with other artists and fans. The official Farmer Jason website remains www.farmerjason.com and is the best resource for all news and information, but if you have joined MySpace then please add Farmer Jason to your friends! Spread the seeds!

Rockin' The Awards!
"Rockin' In The Forest With Farmer Jason" is winner of two prestigious awards, a 2007 Parents' Choice Approved Award and The National Parenting Center's 2007 Seal of Approval. Go to http://www.tnpc.com to read the review.

dear farmr jason!

My name is Ebba and I am 7 years old. I currently live in Sweden. We are moving back to the USA this summer. My mom is Swedish and my dad is American. My dad and I saw your show in 2004 at the 400 Bar in Minneapolis. I am in first grade. I like school. My favorite thing to do is drawing and to play music. I play the violin. In the USA I also played the piano. I hope I can continue when we come back. I have a good piano teacher, her name is Fern. I love horses. I take riding lessons here. That's fun. Can you come to may school? And to my little brother's daycare? I like your music!

From Ebba.

Dear Farmer Jason

My name is August, I am almost 4 years old(in april). My Grandpa used to be a farmer. When we play "Whoa there pony!" from your CD my sister Ebba and I gallop around the house pretending to be horses. I go to daycare some days of the week and I like Robin Hood. I have a bow and arrow. I like your music!
From August.

December 17 , 2006
NRC, one of The Netherlands largest daily newspapers, gives ROCKIN' IN THE FOREST WITH FARMER JASON a 4 star review, calling it one of the most important children's cds of the year.

Dearest Farmer Jason,

My name is Jacob . I am 5 years old and my dad is writing this in English for me. Both your cd’s are the best music I have. I play them a lot and they make me jump and dance. I have so many favourite songs. My sister Judith is 8 years old and she likes your music too. I hope you will be able to come over to play in Europe sooner or later so that I can come and see you perform live…I also like Dan Zanes’ music but yours is the wildest. Do you know Dan Zanes?

0h yes…It’s a pity you only have t-shirts for max. age 4 ! They are too small for me. Please make some bigger ones J

Hope to see / hear / read you soon!

Best regards and good luck!

Jacob Eckhardt
….a little Belgian punk rocking skunk….

The lyrics:
I saw a spooky house on Halloween.
It was the spookiest house that I've ever seen!
Where a bat turned into a vampire queen.
Suddenly it chased me, and I started to scream!

*Requires compatible handset and service through participating carriers. Standard text messaging rates apply. See your contract for details. Available content subject to change at any time. (c) 2006 rhino.

Due to the success and audience response for his preshow JAMARAMA LIVE lobby concert, Farmer Jason is moved up the ladder (literally) to introducing the JAMARAMA show on the main stage, and singing a song he wrote for the occassion WELCOME TO JAMARAMA.

TED AIRLINES to feature Farmer Jasons ROCKIN' IN THE FOREST WITH FARMER JASON on their in flight music service starting December 1 and lasting all month.

Whilst we're giving a shout out to Amazon, it's only fair to mention that if you prefer a real life retail experience that Rockin' In The Forest is also available from you local Borders store. Another great retailer supporting the album is the on-line indie outlet The Pokey Pup, who are bigging us up on their home page. Thank's guys.

26, September, 2006

Harvest Time
Howdy my friends! Its harvest time in the Northern Hemisphere, and like all good farmers, Farmer Jason is busily harvesting cd sales! Today marks the release of ROCKIN' IN THE FOREST WITH FARMER JASON on Courageous Chicken/Lionsgate/ Kid Rhino Music, and I couldn't be happier about it. Thanks in large part to the production and instrumental genius of George Bradfute, I feel like this cd takes "family music" into a whole new dimension. Of course our primary goal was to entertain and educate youngsters, but we are already hearing from young at heart adults how much they love this cd. I truly feel like we are on to something special with this project.

As always, the www.farmerjason.com site has it reasonably priced, and I am happy to autograph and dedicate it however you like, just include instructions in the Pay Pal "Note to Seller" section. It also very directly supports my music in an immediate way. Also Amazon is offering it at a sale price for the next two weeks as well. They are being very supportive of Farmer Jason so if you wish to purchase it through retail channels they would be a good choice.

With the new Kid Rhino-Lionsgate deals, I am entering a bigger more complex business world but we still need your help and support. A review on AMAZON.COM would really help the cause, as well as postings about the record to any blog/web groups. Please talk it up, and get the word out to libraries, schools, coffeehouses etc. about Farmer Jason and ROCKIN' IN THE FOREST. You would be surprised how many successful Farmer Jason gigs have originated with fan involvement. Ditto for cd sales.

Changing the subject a bit, the recent live shows have been quite interesting. Last week I did a great house concert in Streetsboro, Ohio called Honky Tonk House Concert Series. The folks there really put on a nice event, and its all about the music. They are major music fans. Check them out at www.honkytonkhouseconcerts.com. I loved how the stage area was surrounded by Muhammad Ali fight pictures! Cool stuff, and anyone who still has the entire Phil Ochs LP collection is cool in my book.

Sunday I performed at the LIGHT THE NIGHT Walk for Leukemia and Lymphoma in Yardley, Pa. My own mother is a cancer survivor so it was all the more poignant for me to be part of the event. I did a Farmer Jason set then closed the night rocking with the local band Occasional Pi. They had worked up Honky Tonk Maniac from Mars, Self Sabotage, Harvest Moon, and James Deans Car and really did a bang up job. I was quite impressed and it was big fun rocking out with them. Jack Kolmansberger, one their guitarists is a friend and big supporter of my music. The day before we did a Farmer Jason show for his son Tyler's second birthday. It was the first FJ show I have done where the kids chanted FARMER JASON FARMER JASON FARMER JASON until I went on. Could it be the prelude of things to come?

All the best

LOS ANGELES - It's anarchy in the pre-K as Farmer Jason harvests another bumper crop of sillybilly songs that rock harder than the terrible twos. After captivating ankle-biters and parents alike with his 2003 debut, A DAY AT THE FARM WITH FARMER JASON , Jason Ringenberg - of Jason and the Scorchers fame - returns with an infectious concept album for the young and young at heart. Kid Rhino fires up the tune tractor for an album filled with stick-in-your-head hooks and subtle life lessons with ROCKIN' IN THE FOREST WITH FARMER JASON. The album, and the reissue of A DAY AT THE FARM WITH FARMER JASON, will be available September 26 at regular retail outlets and at www.rhino.com for a suggested list price of $16.98 and $13.98, respectively.

L to R: Russell Ziecker (TV Music & Business Development, Lionsgate), Jay Faires (President, Lionsgate Music & Publishing), Karen Ahmed (VP A&R, Rhino), Dani Barnard (A&R, Rhino), Farmer Jason (Jason Ringenberg), Lavonne Murlowski (Kid Rhino product manager), Libua Shapiro (Marketing Coordinator, Rhino), Kevin Gore (GM/EVP, Rhino), Mike Engstrom (VP Marketing, Rhino), Rachael Bickerton (VP Business Affairs, Rhino)

Produced by George Bradfute, ROCKIN' IN THE FOREST WITH FARMER JASON contains 11 tracks that make it easy for both kids and parents to listen to the same music. Stylistically free ranging, the album shifts seamlessly from high energy punk rock to spaced out jazz. Farmer Jason--with producer Bradfute and studio ace Fats Kaplin--pull out crazy oddball guitars, Turkish ouds, and instruments with no legitimate names to give the album's production ethos a quality that can stand next to any adult "hipper than thou" indie rock or alternative country release.

Several guest stars heed Farmer Jason's cattle call including Todd Snider, who delivers a hilarious duet and dialogue on "He's A Moose On The Loose." Also joining in the fun is Bela Fleck And The Flecktones bassist Victor Wooten. He tags along with his kids--friends of Farmer Jason's young'uns--and joins in the gang chorus for "Punk Rock Skunk." Radio personality and Americana legend Webb Wilder also lends his mysterious harmonies and whacked-out raps.

Farmer Jason with the children of Rhino staff members.

With the 2003 release of A DAY AT THE FARM WITH FARMER JASON, internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Jason Ringenberg created his children's music character Farmer Jason. With two sweet, beautiful preschool daughters missing Daddy Jason during his 200 tour dates a year, Jason wanted to create a CD that his kids could listen to while he was out globetrotting. Having grown up on a hog farm in Illinois, and living with his family on a small farm in Tennessee, he reckoned that a roots-oriented CD about farming and farm animals was just the ticket. And just like that, Farmer Jason was born.

Drawing sell-out crowds to his children's concerts in venues ranging from schools to libraries to punk rock clubs, Farmer Jason garnered praise for "sounding as excited as a Captain Crunched 6-year-old on Saturday morning, Farmer Jason dares you not to sing along. Resistance if utterly futile" ( No Depression ), and Disney's Family Fun magazine coined A DAY AT THE FARM "one of the Top 5 kids' CDs of 2003."

With Jason and the Scorchers, he pioneered the fusion of punk rock and country that turned the music world on its ear in the mid-1980s. Their first record, Lost And Found , still shows up on critics' "best of the 1980s" lists. The band is also featured in an exhibit at the Country Music Hall Of Fame.

Farmer Jason recently signed with Lionsgate Music & Publishing, reuniting him with Jay Faires, president of Lionsgate Music & Publishing and former founder/owner of Mammoth Records, which worked with Jason and the Scorchers throughout the '90s.

Kid Rhino, a division of Warner Music Group's Rhino Entertainment, programs quality music and audio releases designed to expand children's horizons and entertain both young and old, providing music for "the kid in us all." Since 1991, Kid Rhino has been creating family entertainment products for younger listeners and the young-at-heart, providing an experience that parents share with their children . The release of ROCKIN' IN THE FOREST and A DAY AT THE FARM brings a renewed focus to the division, which plans to release between eight and ten new kids titles in the next year.