Some aspects of our economy and our society opened up to varying degrees over the Memorial Day weekend, but the fact remains that we have all spent a great deal of time at home, going pretty much nowhere. I’ve been
Opinion / Humor
Ask Sonny Anything… Worst gig ever?
Ask Sonny Anything is a recurring feature where our readers pose questions to the great Sonny Osborne, one half of the iconic Osborne Brothers who redefined bluegrass music in the 1960s, and noted banjo maven and collector of fine prewar
Make any happy song into a sad one – video edition
Can you make any cheerful bluegrass song into a somber - even mournful - number? Let's ask Chris.
Ask Sonny Anything… why the decision to go electric?
Ask Sonny Anything is a recurring feature where our readers pose questions to the great Sonny Osborne, one half of the iconic Osborne Brothers who redefined bluegrass music in the 1960s, and noted banjo maven and collector of fine prewar
Another song from the mind of Jack Tottle
Jack Tottle at The Pickin' Porch in Bristol, TN (6/5/13) - photo by Dan Krill This entertaining yarn is a contribution from Jack Tottle. Now retired, Jack was the founder of the bluegrass music program at ETSU, and the author of
What is your pandemic bluegrass band name?
Coming up with some form of alias, whether it be your stage name, your rapper name, or your superhero name, started as a word-of-mouth tradition, then its spread was heavily accelerated by social media, as these kinds of things so
Ask Sonny Anything… how did you set up your banjo?
Ask Sonny Anything is a recurring feature where our readers pose questions to the great Sonny Osborne, one half of the iconic Osborne Brothers who redefined bluegrass music in the 1960s, and noted banjo maven and collector of fine prewar
Crooning and emoting tips for singers… from the birding world
Have you ever played in a band with a lead singer who changes the way he or she sings in the presence of an attractive member of the audience, or what might be called a “potential mate?” You know what
Ask Sonny Anything… what was your first banjo?
Ask Sonny Anything is a recurring feature where our readers pose questions to the great Sonny Osborne, one half of the iconic Osborne Brothers who redefined bluegrass music in the 1960s, and noted banjo maven and collector of fine prewar
Bluegrass dream analysis in the time of COVID-19
We’ve discussed bluegrass dream analysis in past columns, so if you’ve read any of those, you’re already familiar with the four classic bluegrass dream archetypes: The stage anxiety dream in which you’re introduced by the MC, only to look around you