Dec 1 
Jason Live On Air In Louisville This Friday
Jason Ringenberg will be performing live on WFPK Radio Louisville, this Friday, 5th Dec, at 3pm. Listen live at www.wfpk.org.

Nov 24
Full Artic Circles

Howdy friends!

It has been a busy fall, and so much to be thankful for. November 13 I journeyed north of the Artic Circle for a show in Tromso Norway. Tromso is a very cool (no pun intended) town, full of interesting people and drop dead gorgeous Nordic scenery. In the 1890s, it was the launching point for many of the great Norwegian polar expeditions, including Fritdjof Nansen’s famous 1893-96 attempt at reaching the North Pole. For those of  you not hip to Nansen, he was in my opinion the greatest person of his age, and had he been from one of the “Great Powers”, he would have been much more famous, probably the most famous person in the world. He was a true renaissance man in the mold of our Franklin or Jefferson.  To name a few of his accomplishments, and these are only a few: he was a Nobel Peace Prize winner, he held the “Farthest North” record for several years, he was the father of modern polar exploration, he solved the problem of repatriating the WW I prisoners of war who were stuck for years in a morass of Bolshevik-Western Powers politics, he help bring relief to the Russian famine of the early 1920s, he helped found the modern science of nerve biology, he was Norway’s ambassabor to the UK in the 1920s, and was a great dancer!  Golly how did he find time for all that!!  I find it incredible that he is still relatively unknown outside of Norway. To top it all off, he was a man of Peace.  I think Norwegians have much to be proud of- their great national hero made his mark as a statesmen, diplomat, scientist, and explorer, not in the military world.

The Nittedal Norway shows were quite a nice surprise. They were put on by two fans of mine, Kaare and Annette Leth. They had never promoted a show before, but you would have never known that. The landed 3 great stories in the regional papers, and created a big buzz for the shows. The Farmer Jason show had cute little blonde haired Norwegian kids packed inside, with parents spilling out on to the smokers patio. The biggest surprise of the day was when the Leths and all the kids presented me with a lovely birthday cake, complete with a frosting version of the FOREST cd!!! They sang me Happy Birthday in english. Given that most of the crowd was under 6 years old, I was quite impressed by that!


Farmer Jason with Annette, Martin and Kaare Leth

That night the Nittedal band Rabbagastene opened the show and then backed me for a full set of solo and JATS songs. I have to say, they really nailed it, and played with great spirit and ability. For example, Bible and a Gun was transcendent, and the whole crowd sang along. It was wonderful to rock with a good band again. Kaare joined in and sang one of his songs as well. It was a magic night.

Back home in the USA, my first show was in Manchester Tennessee for Jimmy Stephens 5th birthday party at the Manchester Farm Bureau Party Room. That was a first for me. Jimmy is a wonderful little fellow, and had a room full of nice friends and family. I felt privileged to be a part of it.


5 year old Jimmy Stephens on his Daddy’s back “Jumps So High!!”during Little Kitty.

Well, I think I will go ride my new bike! 

Rock on my friends

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
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!