Reviews

It could be considered a credit to a band’s songwriting prowess when an album dominated by original material also includes a well known cover, but it’s not necessarily distinct from any of their other offerings. One can give a nod

Nothin' Fancy dons the tie dye at the 2019 Milan Bluegrass Festival - photo © Bill Warren Thursday at the Milan Bluegrass Festival kicked off with breakfast prepared by the folks from the Union Street Missionary Baptist Church of Monroe, Michigan.

A return to the music one chose to make early on can be like a return journey home. Not surprisingly then, guitarist Francois Vola can relate to that same scenario. His descriptively titled album, Back to Bluegrass, offers the French-born

Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers at RockyGrass 2019 - photo by Kevin Slick One of my favorite historical figures is the legendary designer Charles Eames. He said, "The details are not the details. They make the design." I find this

Po' Ramblin' Boys at the 2019 Milan Bluegrass Festival - photo © Bill Warren Wednesday dawned clear and seasonably cool at the Milan Bluegrass Festival. Summer and Brayden McMahan hosted the Southeast Michigan Bluegrass Music Association instrument petting zoo. Festival promoter,

Monday and Tuesday were busy days at the Milan Bluegrass Festival. Mark and his crew were parking campers, setting up the sound system, putting up tents, and many other things necessary for a successful festival. This is the 22nd edition of

With their fine fifth album, West Virginia’s Circa Blue demonstrate once again why they’ve increasingly become the bluegrass band to watch over the course of the past several years. Adept in their arrangements and assured in their intents, the band

Though Ralph Stanley II cut his teeth on his dad and uncle’s mountain stylings, his early solo efforts tended to lean a little more toward a country sound, just like several other Clinch Mountain Boys lead singers – Keith Whitley,

Sideline closes out the 2019 Marshall Bluegrass Festival - photo © Bill Warren Friday at the Marshall Bluegrass Festival dawned bright, sunny, and warm. Larry Efaw and the Bluegrass Mounts turned the temperature hotter. The old time mountain sounds rang out!

It becomes very clear at the outset that the Borrowed Tyme Band have no interest in pushing the parameters. Their homespun harmonies and breezy homilies make it clear that they’re content to confine themselves to bluegrass’ traditional trappings, and recreating