Poor Mountain Records has announced the signing of the True Grass band from Burnsville, NC to their label. The band has been performing together regionally since the mid-1990s in western North Carolina and east Tennessee. Their style favors contemporary and traditional
Let's talk a bit about another banjo icon, someone who touched the lives of thousands of banjo players over a long career, but without the widespread attention that has come to someone like Béla Fleck, whom we discussed earlier this
The New York Times hooked up yesterday with banjo hero Béla Fleck for a live, 45-minute interview/performance which they streamed in real time online. He was joined in a tiny studio by Jon Pareles, the paper's chief pop music critic, and
The Withlacoochee River Bluegrass Festival in Dunnellon, FL is going strong, based on this year's spring event which was the most heavily attended since being brought back from inactivity in 2013. Things got started in 1980 when Lonnie and Peggy Knight
Bluegrass Country, the 24/7 streaming radio operation from our nation's capitol may be under new management, but they are playing the same bluegrass music that made them a favorite for fans in the DC Metro market, and for many thousands
Anyone attending bluegrass festivals around the US this past 20 years has likely seen an appearance by Dry Branch Fire Squad, and their acerbic front man, Ron Thomason. Though a fine mountain-style singer, mandolinist, and guitar player, Ron's primary claim
Travelin' McCourys and Jeff Austin Band play the Grateful Dead's Fire on the Mountain - photo by David Russell Before the Grateful Dead pioneered psychedelic rock music, Jerry Garcia played bluegrass. One of Garcia’s first gigs in the early 1960’s was playing
Have you ever looked at the song titles of a new album and wondered what those songs are about? In some cases, the guesswork is removed for you by the specifics in the title, like Wreck of the Old 97,
Husband-and-wife duo, Zoe & Cloyd, have a new album set for an April 7 release. Eyes Brand New finds the two in a full band setting, with Jens Kruger on banjo, Will Straughan on reso-guitar, and Kevin Kehrberg on bass. Their
MerleFest has announced the finalists for their 2017 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Each year hundreds of eager writers submit songs to be considered for this prestigious competition. First round judges then have the unenviable task of selecting three finalists in each
