Author: John Lawless

The March/April 2006 issue of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine includes an extensive cover story on Ron Block, who serves as both banjoist and guitarist with Alison Krauss & Union Station. The companion audio CD has two tunes that Ron recorded

Nothin' Fancy fiddler Chris Sexton's solo CD, Coffee At Midnight, which was released in October of 2005, is generating some great press, and selling well ahead of early expectations. Pinecastle Records reports that the CD is already ranked as the

The March issue of Silver Strings - a banjo "ezine" for new pickers getting started later in life - is now available online. The publication is meant to be roughly equal parts informational, instructional and motivational, with a new issue

Those who keep an eye on the values of older fretted stringed instruments have watched the prices steadily climb of late when these rare specimens are offered for sale. Especially the Gibson banjos from the 1930s, Gibson mandolins from the

We mentioned last week in The GrassCast episode #17 that Alecia Nugent's sophomore release for Rounder Records, A Little Girl...A Big Four-Lane was set to hit the street on February 28, 2006. Alecia discussed in her GrassCast interview (listen online)

The first class isn't expected to be enrolled until the fall of 2007, but planning, curriculum development and staff and faculty hiring are already underway for a new two year bluegrass music program to be offered at the Hazard Community

It seems that these notes about bluegrass artists creating pages on MySpace.com are becoming a regular occurrence. Find our previous posts with info on bluegrass artist MySpace pages here. Tim Stafford just contacted us to mention that he has a personal

Blue Ridge Gazette is a new blog recently launched to foster interest and raise awareness of the beauty, history, people and arts of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A recent entry features longtime Blue Ridge resident Sammy Shelor - of Lonesome

Due from CMH Records on March 14, 2006 is a second volume of bluegrass tribute tracks from the songs of The Dixie Chicks. The new CD, entitled Pickin' On The Dixie Chicks Volume 2 - A Bluegrass Tribute, contains grassified

We got a note from Randy Culler with Bluegrass & Beyond that their debut CD, Livin' A Dream, is now available. The band is based in Southwest VA/Northwest NC and they specialize in traditional bluegrass and gospel music. Audio samples are