• New faces this year in Backline

    Two new members have come onboard for Backline, the contemporary bluegrass group from South Carolina based around the singing and songwriting of Katelyn Ingardia. Katelyn tells us that they had a couple of players leave over the winter. "Jacob Connor, our mandolinist,

  • Gabriel Ramírez passes

    This remembrance of Catalan banjo player Gabriel Ramírez is a contribution from his student and friend, Lluis Gomez, now the premiere banjo player in northeastern Spain. Noted Spanish banjoist Gabriel Ramírez, also known as Gabi or Gabe, has died following a

  • Russ Carson in the pink after hand surgery

    No... that's not a stigmata on Russ Carson's right hand. The crackerjack banjo picker with Ricky Skaggs is just off a full month of banjo rest following carpal tunnel surgery. This inflammatory disorder has afflicted a number of banjo players. It

  • What I Know Now from Steve Bruce

    Banjo pickin' pastor Steve Bruce is back with another single, this time the title track of his current album, What I Know Now. Bruce, pastor at Faith Way Assembly Of God in LaFollette, TN, has produced a full album of original

  • Troy Stangle passes

    Troy Strangle - photo by Chuck Neel Banjo player and resonator guitarist Troy Stangle has passed away at age 58 after a two-year battle with cancer. Troy was a longtime member of All4Hym and Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band in Maryland. He assisted

  • Photos from the Elmer Burchett benefit concert

    Shayne Bartley, Junior Sisk, Elmer Burchett, and Tucker McCandless (2/23/24) - photo © Roger Black Friday night, February 23, saw a number of bluegrass music stars, family and friends come together in the Farmers Market in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky. The event