Author: John Curtis Goad

Many bluegrass, old time, and country music fans, and surely readers of Bluegrass Today, are likely familiar with the Carter Family of Southwest Virginia. They were a major part of the seminal 1927 Bristol Sessions, which laid down the pathway

With a sound sitting comfortably between Old Crow Medicine Show and newer forms of bluegrass, The Steel Wheels of Harrisonburg, VA provide a unique listening experience. Comprised of four guys with backgrounds ranging from Mennonite Gospel quartets to concert bands

Since their formation some 15 years ago, the Portland, Oregon based band Jackstraw has released five albums and traveled the country performing their own brand of acoustic music. Now, with some personnel changes including brand new member Cory Goldman (formally

While bluegrass listeners are becoming increasingly familiar with the music of Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa, which formed in 2008, newer fans may be unfamiliar with Wayne’s background. With his earliest recollection of music occurring at the American Legion where his father

While the phrase “du jour” may be familiar to coffee house goers and soup connoisseurs, it may be one that much of the bluegrass world encounters only rarely, especially where their music is concerned. However, there is at least one

One might say that becoming a bluegrass virtuoso was simply written in the stars for Buddy Merriam, a mandolinist originally from Hartford, Connecticut. Although he had played guitar since childhood, he became interested in the mandolin after seeing Frank Wakefield

With seven national recordings to her credit, Lorraine Jordan is back at it again with Carolina Road’s second Rural Rhythm release, Back to My Roots. Formed in 1998, the group remains very active on the bluegrass circuit, averaging 60 festivals

In today’s world of bluegrass, many musicians find it difficult to keep a band together for even a short period of time. However, there are a few who seem to have endured changes in personnel and within the genre, and

Having recorded and toured together since 1975, the North Carolina-based band The Crowe Brothers have released several projects in many band configurations, including albums with Raymond Fairchild and David McLaughlin. However, their latest effort, Bridging The Gap, which sits somewhere

In order to write and perform music featuring Appalachian subjects, one does not have to have a rural heritage, as proven by the members of Massachusetts-based band Three Tall Pines. Their latest release, All That’s Left, relies heavily on images