Opinion / Humor

We return this week to one of my favorite subjects: band names. It’s probably in my top five, ranked somewhere between dairy cow breeds and bluegrass festival signage. When new bands are formed, a lot of agonizing takes place among the

It’s been a busy week that has taken me from Alberta to northern Minnesota (via Toronto), back to Alberta and now on to Nashville before playing shows in Virginia this weekend. I’m feeling the need to get my weekly massage,

Co-writing songs is more commonplace in bluegrass music than it used to be, but it is by no means new. Some of the best-known songs recorded by the legendary Bill Monroe band of 1946-47 were co-written by Lester Flatt and

This will be my last column before Halloween, so let me reiterate what you’ve probably already heard in countless public service announcements (“PSAs” to radio people, or people who just don’t have the time to say “Public Service Announcements”): Please

It’s time for our second installment of Mr. Bluegrass Manners. I had previously invited you to submit your questions below in the comments section, or ask me via my Facebook fan page (see below), and you responded. Here are a

In the last 10 or 15 years, bluegrass music has had its share of people trying to break in from other genres of music. Apparently the lure of low money and smaller touring vehicles is just too tempting for some

The return home from the IBMA World of Bluegrass can be challenging, and it affects different people in different ways. Some feel a great sense of relief that they can go back to a normal routine, which may include getting

Greetings from Raleigh, NC. I can happily report that I’m sleep-deprived but still breathing, and I consider that a personal victory. Even better news: the world is still turning. I mentioned last week that people seem to love (perhaps “hate less”

For some reason, some of my most popular columns have been on the subject of bluegrass haiku. It may be because of the close affinity between the Japanese and bluegrass music. So, in honor of the upcoming IBMA World of

Every November we’re bombarded with practical advice on how to plan ahead for the Christmas season. This includes how to get shopping done in an organized and timely manner, how to stay within your budget, and other timeworn topics. Sometimes,