Author: Richard Thompson

In the latest edition of the County Sales Newsletter, #290, David Freeman, the founder of the longstanding and illustrious retail outlet "for bluegrass, old-time and authentic rural music", is in a nostalgic mood, telling his readers how it used to

For some Kathy Mattea is to West Virginia what Patty Loveless is to Kentucky, although the former hasn't embraced bluegrass music as has the latter - until now, perhaps. Raised near Charleston, West Virginia, Grammy-award winning singer Mattea is to release

Rebel Records has recently announced news of the forthcoming release on March 25 of a various Artists collection entitled Best Loved Bluegrass: 20 All-Time Favorites (REB-8004). The 20 song anthology embraces some of the classic songs in bluegrass music from some

Rounder Records has announced the release of a new CD from the two-time IBMA Award winning combination, Longview. It is a little over ten years since the debut release by the super group bearing the name Longview and with their first

The February '08 edition of Acoustic Guitar magazine includes a new gear report about the Blueridge BR -40AS guitar. This particular version of the Blueridge, the Saga Music brand guitar, continues the pattern of the range that mixes affordability with

Michael Roux, publicist at the University Of Illinois Press, recently shared some exciting information about the forthcoming book about Hazel Dickens that is due to be published in June.Working Girl Blues: The Life And Music Of Hazel Dickens is a

Jon Weisberger is not at all lonesome. The Nashville-based bass player of more than 20 years standing - and noted writer about bluegrass matters - was married only a short time ago. He is also known for his songwriting, and as

Jon Glik, 56, one of bluegrass music's top fiddlers, is fit enough able to play again after a year where he almost died, according to a report on Baltimore's Eyewitness News a few days ago. Regular readers will recall our previous

Oregon based multi-instrumentalist, Joe Ross has recently announced the release of a third album in as many years. Following Festival Time Again (released in 2006) and Spirit of St. Louis (2007) albums, both featuring all-original songs, is a new CD entitled,

Our UK correspondent, Richard F. Thompson, put together this report on an important event we missed last fall. In November the legendary folk/bluegrass singer, songwriter and activist Hazel Dickens was honored as one of the inaugural inductees into the West Virginia