Author: John Lawless

Just a quick reminder that the Deering Banjos episode of John Ratzenberger's Made In America program on the cable network Travel Channel is scheduled to run on Tuesday, March 7. The show airs at 9:00 p.m. (EST), but as always,

The Gibson Brothers will be Kyle Cantrell's guests on Studio Special this next few weeks on XM Satellite Radio's Bluegrass Junction. The Gisons recorded some live music with Kyle in the studio, and discussed their new CD, Red Letter Day,

We received a note earlier in the week from our friend, Derek Brandon, mentioning that he had recently posted the most recent edition of North West Bluegrass News online. The North West in this case, is the northwestern part of

Many bluegrass lovers recognize Mark Schatz as a prolific and highly sought after bass man, having been an integral part of The Tony Rice Unit, a member of The Bluegrass Album Band, and for having toured and recorded with B???la

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