Author: John Lawless

Buddy Merriam has been recognized for decades as among the most authentic practitioners of the mandolin style pioneered by Bill Monroe in the 1940s. For 34 years now Buddy has traveled with his band, Back Roads, across his native New England, along

While preparing for the National convention of the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America next month in Nashville, we should mention that the organization held a regional convention and awards presentation earlier in January. The 41st Annual Midwest Awards Show

Texas songwriter and singer, Robert Earl Keen, has decided to go grass for his next album, Happy Prisoner - The Bluegrass Sessions. Though Keen has largely hewed close to the folk/Americana realm, this album marks a departure both in that it

For much of the past decade, rumors of the retirement of the great Ralph Stanley have been rampant - some of them coming directly from his organization. But despite the rumors, and the challenges of recording and touring into his

Cumberland River, the bluegrass bruisers from Harlan, KY, are back with us again after roughly a year off. Following a raucous start in 2011 owing in part to an association with the FX television series, Justified, the band suffered the loss

Mountain Faith has released a music video for the first single from their current album, Blue. It's for the quasi-title track, Feelin' Blue, written and sung by the lovely and talented Summer McMahan.  

The nominees have been announced for the 41st annual Bluegrass Music Awards by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music for America. Winners will be selected by a vote occurring during the SPBGMA convention in Nashville, February 5-8, and announced during

Dixie Hall, life and songwriting partner to Tom T. Hall, and a major figure in the music industry of Nashville, died last night at her home. She was 80 years old. Miss Dixie, as she was known to family and friends, had

Most of us know how difficult it can be to establish a career in music, and it's no easier for bluegrass acts than it is for anyone else. For a young female vocalist trying to raise a new family at the

Here's a great story about the power of bluegrass music. How many of us have thought that if only more people heard and experienced our music live, they would become instant fans. Well it appears that this works on business-minded music