California Bluegrass Association member Ida Winfree is a former CBA Youth Ambassador. She plays mandolin and guitar in two bands—North Country Blue and West 45. She's currently based in the California Central Valley town of Turlock, and when not playing
Bluegrass Today Profiles
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Ireland’s Mules and Men
It ought to come as no surprise that an Irish band would be drawn to the basics of bluegrass. After all, its origins were spawned from the music of Ireland, Scotland, and the whole of the British Isles. That said,
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Peter Rowan talks Calling You From My Mountain, his new bluegrass record
Photo of Peter Rowan by Amanda Rowan This article/interview is a contribution from Mike Fiorito, a free lance music writer, Associate Editor for Mad Swirl Magazine, and a regular contributor to the Red Hook Star Revue. Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Peter Rowan has
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California Report: Mandolinist and fiddler Tom Bekeny
Tom Bekeny is another in a pretty deep bench of great Bay Area mandolin players, most of whom aren't as well known as they should be. Tom, an instructor, plays mandolin and fiddle, and is well versed in both jazz
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Truffle Valley Boys bring authentic bluegrass to Italy
Based in Italy, the Truffle Valley Boys are dedicated to preserving and bringing back the sounds of authentic 1950s bluegrass. The origins of the band can be traced to 2012 when fiddler, mandolin player, guitarist, and vocalist Matteo Ringressi was working as
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The great Earl Scruggs, now ten years gone
10 years ago, on March 28, 2012, Earl Eugene Scruggs, noted for popularizing a three-finger banjo-picking style that bears his famous name, passed away. The Scruggs style became a defining characteristic not just of the banjo but of bluegrass music.
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Canada’s Dead South offers a different slant
With their wide-brimmed hats, suspenders, string ties and long black coats Canada’s The Dead South look like a cross between old country Quakers and the last gunfighters to survive the shootout at the OK Corral. It's an image that's worked
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Say hello to Broken Compass Bluegrass
Broken Compass Bluegrass - photo by Snap Jackson If you live in northern California, or frequent the bluegrass scene there, you may not need an introduction to the three talented teens who make up Broken Compass Bluegrass. But wherever you hang
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Molly Tuttle returns to her bluegrass roots with Crooked Tree
Molly Tuttle could be considered a wunderkind. With four critically acclaimed solo releases in nearly as many years, she's risen to the highest pantheons of gifted young guitarists, and excelled in such a way as to assure her own superstardom.
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Bluegrass Beyond Borders: Bluegrass 43 sing their grass with a French accent
France's Bluegrass 43 possess a lengthy history that's made them one of Europe's most accomplished bluegrass ensembles. The band, which currently consists of Philippe Ochin on mandolin and lead vocals, Alain Audras on upright bass, bass vocals and occasional reso-guitar,