• New single from JD Messer and Sanctified

    Kindred Records has released a pair of tracks to radio from JD Messer and Sanctified, a bluegrass Gospel group from Kentucky and West Virginia. The two are Messer originals, Lunch Box Letter and Peter Stepped Out, available to programmers now from

  • George Jones and Bluegrass Music

    As has already been noted, George Jones had a significant influence on bluegrass music, most notably on those whose voice was still being formed in the early days of bluegrass. Rhonda Vincent has praised him for helping her to find hers. As

  • Newtown to Moore Bass

    Newtown has recently brought on Moore Bass Entertainment to help represent them for live appearances. The company is managed by Jason Moore, bass player with Mountain Heart, hence the name. Newtown banjo picker Jr. Williams says that they are eager to take

  • Blake Bowen to County Clare

    Shannon and Heather Slaughter have announced that Blake Bowen has joined their touring band, County Clare. He has worked previously as a member of Randy Waller & The Country Gentlemen, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, and the Tina Adair Band. He

  • Bill Lowe passes

    William Forrest "Bill" Lowe of West Union, South Carolina, passed away on Sunday, April 28. He was aged 82. Born at Hatfield, Pike County, Kentucky, on May 8, 1930, he grew up listening to old-time country music. His uncle Grover taught

  • Special Lady, Special Song

    Right after she found out she was dying, Carol Simpson found a way to live forever. She decided to record a bluegrass song. That song, A Part of Me, grew into an album of the same time, recorded with the Canadian band,

  • Chris Austin Songwriting winners announced

    MerleFest has announced the winners in its prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. All winners receive cash and merchandise prizes, and a chance to perform on tonight's stage show. Bluegrass 1st - John Cloyd Miller (Asheville, NC) for Cloud of Dust 2nd - Todd Grebe

  • Grassers mourn The Possum

    Friday was a sad day in country music, as George Jones, among the most influential singers in the history of the music, passed away at 81 years of age. Perhaps excepting Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, no one was more