The European Bluegrass Music Association has released some numbers on their recent European World Of Bluegrass events, which took place May 17-19 in Voorthuizen, the Netherlands. In this, their tenth annual festival, ticket sales were up by 20% over 2006,
Author: John Lawless
Tatsuo Arita passes
We just received a note from Fred Bartenstein, sharing the sad news about the loss of a true pioneer of bluegrass music in Japan. Tatsuo "Harry" Arita is said to have brought the first Japanese bluegrass record to the United
FCC review begins for Sirius/XM merger
Here's an update to a story Brance discussed earlier this year - the proposed acquisition of XM Satellite Radio by Sirius Satellite Radio. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has begun its 180 day review period, during which public comment on the
New Jaybirds CD
John Reischman & The Jaybirds have a new CD, which given the high praise the group has earned from both peers and critics, seems aptly named. Stellar Jays was released in mid-May, and audio samples are available at CD Baby. This
Russell Moore on WWB tonight
Russell Moore, guitarist, vocalist and band leader of IIIrd Tyme Out, will be interviewed tonight (6/11) on WorldWideBluegrass.com. He'll join WWB host Jonathan Estep on his Runnin The Ridge program at 8:00 p.m. (EDT). I'm sure that Russell will talk about
Look Out for Hackensaw Boys June 19
The Hackensaw Boys have been sneaking around the edges of several acoustic/Americana genres since their formation in Charlottesville, VA seven years ago. Their sound is raw and raucous, frenetic and unfocused, and bursting with energy and passion. It's part jug
Soulgrass II?
Jazz sax man Bill Evans made waves in 2005 with the release of his Soulgrass project, merging jazz, funk and R&B grooves with bluegrass and traditional string music. It included such acoustic luminaries as B?©la Fleck (who also co-produced), Sam
Kym Warner interview online
Kym Warner, hot shot mandolinist with The Greencards, was interviewed recently on Saturday Night Country, broadcast from his native Australia. He is interviewed by show host John Nutting, and speaks about the group's success of late, including finding their newest
Hillbilly Hemingway video
Mark Newton has a music video for the title track of his latest CD, Hillbilly Hemingway. It will load and play automatically when you visit his web site. The song, written by Mike Ward, Tommy Meece and Carl Jackson, is a
The Onion: Banjos banned in Boston?
This morning's edition of The Onion, an often hysterical and always amusing faux news web site, carried a hilarious piece entitled Banjo Player Sought In Hootenanny Spree. It's the story of a police investigation of a string of random banjo