As it has for the past 11 years, Nashville's Americana Music Association holds its yearly conference and festival this week, with dozens of artists . . . who want to keep it straight and preserve the music's history. But Bill Monroe was kinda breakin' the rules, you know, in creating bluegrass music."

Steve Martin has signed to star in an upcoming episode of the PBS series Austin City Limits. Austin City Limits features taped live musical . . . According to Austin 360, the comedian will appear on the show's November 6 episode, which will also feature bluegrass singer/songwriter Sarah Jarosz.

Tim O'Brien will release his latest album, Chicken &  Egg, on July 13 and he brought in a bevy of famous friends to help him out, including . . . singer Sarah Jarosz, who also contributed to the new set. "She’s really a real gem and a real amazingly talented artist out of the box," ..