Author: John Lawless

Punch Brothers have brought on young bass monster Paul Kowert to take the spot of departing founding member Greg Garrison. The band otherwise remains the same (Chris Thile on mandolin, Noam Pikelny on banjo, Chris Eldridge on guitar and Gabe

Long time mandolinist with The Gibson Brothers, Rick Hayes, recently announced his intention to retire from the road to focus on Hayes Mandolins, his budding mandolin building endeavor. Eric and Leigh Gibson are happy to welcome young mandolinist Joe Walsh in

As always seems to happen this time of year, a number of top bluegrass bands are making personnel changes. Aaron McDaris is leaving The Grascals, and Kristin Scott Benson will be leaving Larry Stephenson's band to accept the job. She will

Audio from a recent performance on Mountain Stage by Canadian banjoist Jayme Stone and Malian kora player Mansa Sissoko, is now available online. They perform music from their recent CD collaboration, Africa To Appalachia. The kora is an African harp-like

Fiery flatpicker Cody Kilby has released a new solo project, Many Roads Traveled. It's the third album under his name, but the first since he has matured into a serious professional player. The first two CDs were produced when Cody was

Missy Raines, seven-time IBMA Bass Player of the Year, has signed a multi-project deal with Compass Records, run by fellow IBMA Award winner Alison Brown and her husband, Garry West. A new CD will be released on February 10, 2009, the

Swedish bluegrass heartthrobs, G2, are making plans to spend substantial parts of the next few years touring in the US. In 2009, they will be here July through September performing at festivals and music events, based near Nashville. They want to

A benefit concert is scheduled for next weekend (11/16) for popular Kentucky musician and singer, Vicki Simmons, who suffered a stroke while hospitalized for treatment of a brain aneurysm during the summer of 2008. Vicki was a founding member of The

Rhonda Vincent's management has just announced that two members of her band, Kenny Ingram and Darrell Webb, will leave The Rage effective December 31, 2008. The following statement was released by Upper Management last night (11/5): Kenny and Kaye have been loyal

The November issue of Banjo NewsLetter marks the 35th Anniversary of continuous publication for this cherished 5-string monthly. And how appropriate that it follows founder Hub Nitchie's posthumous receipt of an IBMA Distinguished Achievement Award in October 2008. This issue contains