Music

Flat-picking guitar wizard Clay Hess has parted ways with Sierra Hull and Highway 111 and is putting together his own band for the 2012 festival season. Clay's last gig with Sierra was Dec. 10. He called his departure "kind of a

Each year end brings lists of Best Ofs, and the music business is among the most prominent in getting its reporters to assess what they think is the best in the marketplace. The reputable PopMatters, an on-line magazine of cultural criticism,

Greg Cahill got in touch over Christmas with some news about the next Special Consensus album, due from Compass Records early next year. It will be the first recording with the current edition of the band: Cahill on banjo, David Thomas

Legendary bass player Jody Rainwater passed away in his sleep on the evening of Saturday, December 24, 2011, following a lengthy illness.  He was 92 years old. Rainwater, aka Charles Edward ‘Chuck’ Johnson, spent two years in the early 1950s working

I first became aware of Matt Flinner when I was living in Missoula, Montana in the early nineties. One night, after a beer-powered folk duet performance with a buddy, we made our way over to the Wilma Theater to see

We are saddened to share the news that Jody Rainwater, aka Charles E ‘Chuck’ Johnson, passed away on Christmas Eve. He died with his family in attendance. He served as bass player with Flatt & Scruggs for many years, and after that was

Edward William “Shorty” Eager passed away following an extended illness on December 19, 2011, at Cobb Wellstar Hospital in Austell, Georgia. A former member of Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mountain Boys, Eager was born on February 13, 1941. Originally from Mohnton, Pennsylvania, he

With Christmas time upon us, one song which is sure to deck your halls is, everyone’s favorite, Beautiful Star of Bethlehem. It is one of Appalachia and bluegrass’ most beloved songs of the season, and for good reason! It is

As is becoming the norm, Punch Brothers are offering to trade you a free download of the opening track from their new CD for your email address. The album, Who's Feeling Young Now?, is due February 14 on Nonesuch Records, and

In the wake of Mike Henderson's exit, Steeldrivers fiddler/vocalist Tammy Rogers shared some thoughts yesterday on the next chapter of the band's evolution. She said right up front that Mike's announcement caught the band completely off guard. "It was a surprise -