Based in Lexington, Kentucky, and fronted by vocalist/fiddler Kati Penn Williams and her singer/banjo player husband, Jr. Williams, NewTown produces a sound that typifies today’s new generation of bluegrass bands. Formed in 2009, the band got its start when Williams
Author: Lee Zimmerman
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Stone Bones & Bad Spaghetti from Portugal
Making music can be a lonely profession at times, given the fact that there’s often a lot of travel involved, considerable time spent away from home, and interaction with people don’t always relate to a musician’s MO. Likewise, when you’re in
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Solid Ground – Wood Belly
It’s rare when a new band nails their sound the first time out, so credit Wood Belly with doing exactly that and earning the kudos they deserve as a result. Recorded last October with Grammy-winning producer Sally Van Meter at
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The Infamous Stringdusters – from bluegrass to newgrass to grassicana
The Infamous Stringdusters at Red Rocks - photo by J.Mimna Photography It’s a Tuesday night in Knoxville Tennessee and although it could be considered an off night, an audience is being energized by a performance from the Infamous Stringdusters who are onstage
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North of Despair – Wood & Wire
It’s evident even at the outset that Wood & Wire appreciate the essence and nuances of grassicana, not only in the way they construct their adept arrangements, but also in the sources that serve as their inspiration. While the title
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Sweden’s Blue Mountain Boys assert their authenticity
Sweden may be one of the last places on the planet where one might expect to find an active bluegrass band, complete with the suits, savvy, and style that easily ensures authenticity. So credit the Blue Mountain Boys for staying
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Lonesome Panoramic – Hot Buttered Rum
It ought to come as little surprise that Hot Buttered Rum’s recorded catalog contains a fair amount of concert albums, especially when considering the fact that they’re a band whose instrumental outlay translates well to live performance. With nine offerings
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Something Higher – Leftover Salmon
Leftover Salmon find that rare divide between bluegrass tradition and the populist preferences of the jam band world. On their latest release, Something Higher, it allows for a steady influx of sounds and styles that make any attempt at typecasting
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Jerry Douglas on life as a traveling troubadour
Jerry Douglas is a multi-tasker. When he performed at Jam in the Trees festival in Black Mountain, North Carolina recently, he played solo, and then later that night, he made one of his frequent guest appearances with the Shooter Jennings
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: No Strings Attached bridge Appalachia and India
If there’s any doubt whatsoever that bluegrass boasts a wide reach, one need only look to the furtherest realms imaginable. Take India for example. Granted, that may be the last place on earth one might expect to find a musician