Reviews

Traditional bluegrass seems to be making a comeback these days, spurred on with the help of regional bands who are firmly based in the rules set down by Bill Monroe. Truman’s Ridge, a four piece group from the Chicago area,

What have you done for me lately? There may be no more cynically accurate expression that describes the music business. All of the entertainment business, actually. Industry, media and fans all respond to 'what's new,' without necessarily meaning to ignore the rest.

Lowground, the fourth release from Oregon-based band Kathy Boyd and Phoenix Rising, has been described by the group as “the darker side of acoustic music.” With numerous songs describing the aftermath of bad decisions, set to a blend of old

The Carter Family has arguably the best known family music legacy in traditional music, with such artists as Lorrie Carter Bennett (Maybelle’s granddaughter, who is a part of the recent Daughters of Bluegrass compilation) carrying on their time-honored songs even

Mountain Faith, a family bluegrass Gospel band from North Carolina, has released their second album for Crossroads Music on the label's Pisgah Ridge imprint. Battlefield includes ten new tracks, three written within the band, performed by patriarch Sam McMahan's talented family,

The modern musical arts based on traditional string music divide into many camps. Some use the instruments familiar to old time and bluegrass to push boundaries, while others demonstrate an almost fanatical devotion to the old masters. In between you can

Bluegrass Gospel has always been some of my favorite music, but it holds an extra special place in my heart during Easter when we celebrate Christ's resurrection. These songs of the faith while celebrating Christ's wondrous work is, literally, a

This past September, a new documentary filmed by and featuring some of today’s hottest young pickers premiered at IBMA. Conceived and directed by Corey Smith, a 17-year-old guitarist from North Carolina (with the help of Zeb Snyder, another young North

Late last year, as I chatted with Eric Gibson, I silently doubted him when he said he thought the Gibson Brothers next CD would be their best yet. After Ring the Bell a few years back and album of the

The level of excitement peaks when anticipating a book about one of the elite members of our bluegrass community. Such was the case when there was news of the completion of David W. Johnson's book about the Stanley Brothers, Lonesome Melodies: