The Amplifier continued to enjoy rising readership in 2010, particularly online where social networking fans can easily follow daily updates to content through streaming headlines on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.  This month we look back at some of the biggest stories from within the local scene as well as with artists from the area who have moved elsewhere to pursue their careers.  The top stories have been chosen by a combination of web statistics, editorial discussion and reader feedback.

• Hands down the top ranking story online mirrored the country’s obsession with a young Canadian.  As Beiber-fever continued to spread last year, the teen crooner’s fans overtook malls and the Twitterverse.  Young girls across the nation tweeted “Who’s that girl?” when Greenwood High student Grace Marie Wilson appeared as his love interest in the the video for One Less Lonely Girl, the second single from his 2009 debut album My World.  In July 2010, The Amplifier caught up with Grace to hear about her first brush with stardom and the evolution of her modeling and acting career from PTK to VH1. Now approaching graduation, Grace is pondering her future and a possible move to LA to land an agent.

Other local artists supporting national celebrities also drew readers.  Chris Carmichael contributed to Taylor Swift’s new album, Speak Now, from his Bowling Green studio, Stonehurst.  Carmichael was responsible for string arrangements and performed all the parts for violin, cello and violas on the song Enchanted, contributing some 20 tracks.  Byron House also appeared on the legendary Robert Plant’s newest release The Band of Joy and continues to tour with Plant and The Band of Joy. WKU’s Rusty Hendrickson, who had been Head Wrangler on Miley Cyrus’ Hanna Montana movie in 2009, again took the reins for the film Secretariat in 2010.  Among the losses to the arts this year was Bennett Keith Schaeufele, a former Warren County resident who had recorded and toured with Neil Young since the Harvest days.

• Many of the most read posts online were conglomerate spotlights for seasonal events and archived stories from previous years.  Spotlights such as Haunted Happenings and 4th of July events at Kentucky Parks placed high as well as features like Jack Montgomery’s 2010 piece The Mysteries of Octagon Hall.  As the Amplifier continues to archive local history, older fare documenting artists like Charles Neblett, Hershel House, Billy Ray Latham, Mike Maggard, Erika Brady and Dennis Adkins remained favorite reading material.

•  As the digital age continued to enable anyone to indulge their creativity with low cost equipment and editing tools, readers turned to the Amplifier’s, Amber Flowers of Soul Gaze Photography for advice.  Flowers, the founder of the Southern Kentucky Photographer’s Club, offers monthly columns, often just in time for the perfect photo opps.  Her articles Fireworks Photography, Fall and Halloween Photography and Holiday and Winter Photography drew particular attention.  Her straight forward writing style seems to be just what potential photographers are looking for to hone their skills or just capture those special moments.

• The Amplifier features several online columns that rarely appear in print but top the list of online hits, particularly in the recreation section.  Kentucky Afield Outdoors articles by writers affiliated with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources are one such favorite.  Topics that ranked highest this year included Youth Deer Hunting and Winter Lager Fishing.  But in 2010 a new series, Blue Water Trails was introduced and lead the pack for readers.  While previous entries appealed to the sportsman, Blue Water Trails is targeted to the exploration oriented nature lovers.  The column coincided with a rise in interest locally in the areas waterways as enthusiasts with the Bowling Green Riverfront Foundation lobby to create the Bowling Green Whitewater Park and the complimentary Bowling Green Boulder Project and Bike Pump Track near Riverfront Park.

• Cage the Elephant continued to rock the country as 2010 saw their attention turn from the UK to the US market with similar success.  Throughout the year, the Amplifier posted webcasts and relayed news from the group.  The band’s second studio release is due out January 11, 2011 and will coincide with their second appearance on Late Night with David Letterman.  As the year wore on, press for the group seemed to be steering away from the old school “bad boys of sex and drugs and ‘rock n roll’” branding and rumored cult background that drew attention early on and instead turned toward their music and writing.  In their continuing support of local music, Cage brought new attention to The Starry Nights Music Festival by assisting with the lineup and headlining the event along with Daniel Johnston.  Largely due to their contributions, the 3rd annual event hit its stride expanding in length, attendance and attention.  Pennman’s Starry Night Pre-Show review was the lone local review to outrank his reviews and photos of excursions to see national acts like Rick Springfield, Bret Michaels and Ted Nugent.

• The Kentucky Blues Society continued to gain momentum this year as interest grew in their Sunday all ages jams culminating in the addition of a teen jam night on Mondays for 2011.  Jams were used in 2010 to support local musicians in need of medical help as well as families of artists who passed away.  The organization’s International Newgrass Festival drew attention to the home of newgrass from fans around the world and spawned a series of articles by Franne J. featuring participants.  Plans for the 2011 event are already underway including intentions of filming.  The society has also add a newgrass series at their home club, Wha Bah’s Steelhorse Ranch featuring some of the artists that have appeared at the festival.

• 2010 was another banner year for all things Lindsey as father Tony and offspring Alex and Zachery solidified their place as Bowling Green music royalty.  The elder Lindsey, long known for the musical midas touch, continued to bring reunion shows to aging rockers while raising money to help underpriveledged kids participate in school music programs through the SonRhea Foundation.  His annual Jambodians Holiday Bash continues to be one of the area’s premier music events and it’s raised over $300,000 for the cause to date.  As the Bash evolved, a second night was added for up and coming bands including those affiliated with his sons Alex and Zach.  This year saw Nashville’s Mona, for which Zach serves as bassist get signed to Zionnoiz recordings.  The group has also made the cut for MTV’s Brand New for 2011 finalists, NME.com’s 20 Bands You Need to Hear in 2011 and BBC’s Sound of 2011: The Years Most Promising New Artists.  Zach also got the chance to produce the first album for younger brother Alexander Pierce Lindsey’s project Nova Coma (formerly known as Foretolds).  Rumor has it that Nova Coma as well as Zach’s former endeavor, Sleeper Agent have been generating label interest.  Tony also continues to pursue his music interests, colloborating with Kyle Fredericks, Fenner Castner and Byron House in the new project Boom Temple which will be releasing their first CD in the Spring of 2011.

• Local legends Government Cheese celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2010, creating an ongoing buzz with the release of blog entries, webisodes and an anthology of their work.  The group which ruled the scene from 1985 – 1995 plans for a couple of reunion gigs in 2011, including a show on February 12 in Bowling Green.  The Amplifier continues to follow all things Cheese by keeping fans abreast of newly released videos and music and will be featuring a interview by Franne J. with the boys in the February issue to see what Tommy Womack, Skot Willis, Bill Mack, Joe Elvis and Chris “Viva Las Vegas” Becker have been up to since disbanding.

If you missed any of these or other stories throughout the year, past Amplifier articles are stored online and can be found using the archive link at the top of any page as well as through the Artist Directory in the middle column.