On his first trip to the United States a few years back, Richard Cifersky said he absorbed so much about groove and feel from bluegrass musicians he jammed with at IBMA and elsewhere. He also learned, from Ron Block, about
banjo
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Old Time Music Party – Brian Vollmer
Many of the bands who claim old time influences these days really have more of a folk or Americana style, with traditional songs set to a more modern sound. Brian Vollmer, a banjo and fiddle player originally from Maryland (where
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Steve Dilling parts ways with IIIrd Tyme Out
Steve Dilling, who has spent the past 21 years playing banjo with Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, told the band this past weekend that he wants to give up the road life, and handed in his notice. The band typically
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Congratulations to Banjo NewsLetter
Today is a big day for the venerable Banjo NewsLetter. With their November 2013 issue, their 481st, the monthly magazine celebrates 40 years of continuous publication. The cover depicts BNL's publishers, Spencer and Donald Nitchie, who continue to manage the only print
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On This Day #20 – Samantha Bumgarner
On This Day .............. On October 31, 1878, the first lady of the old-time banjo music Samantha Bumgarner was born. Sarah Samantha Biddix, to give her maiden name, was born, according to her death certificate, in "Tennessee", on Halloween during the same
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Checking in with Bill Evans
Here's an interview with banjo man Bill Evans, conducted during IBMA week in Raleigh last month. We talked about his two recent recordings (In Good Company and Fine Times at Fletcher's House), and his upcoming Sonny Osborne Banjo Camp in
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Classic Banjo – The Cliff’s Notes Of Banjo History
We’ve written a lot about the banjo lately at Bluegrass Today, and why not? It is one of the central pillars of the music that we love, even if the instrument and those who play it are the butt of
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More stolen instrument news
We have some more information about stolen instruments in the bluegrass world, of the good news/bad news variety. First some good news. The banjo and guitar we reported as stolen from Luke Munday have been returned to him. The details are
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Noam Plays Kenny Plays Bill… oh my!
You don't have to be a banjo or fiddle nerd to love Noam Pikelny Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe, but if you are... oh my! One of the most admired five stringers in the world these days, noted for his
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Stolen instrument alert – Huber banjo, Martin guitar
Last week, on either October 9 or 10, two instruments were stolen from the home of Luke Monday in Goodlettsville, TN (near Nashville). Taken were: Huber VRB-3 - flying eagle inlay, antiqued binding, aged metal parts. Banjo has several deep scratches on