Reviews

Perhaps the surest sign that bluegrass has grown to a mature musical form is the fact that it has now segmented itself into a number of subsets. Each has its own dedicated following, with artists catering to the style, labels

The Joe Val Bluegrass Festival is definitely one of the main events of the bluegrass calendar for pickers, students, and fans of bluegrass anywhere in the northeast region of the US. Folks come in from all over to see favorite

My favorite term to use when I’m talking about Chris Jones & the Night Drivers is “classy-grass.” The group’s music is smooth and tasteful, featuring some of the best, most thoughtful songwriting of almost any current bluegrass group. You’re not

On February 3rd, Colonel Zachary Wright released a self-titled album steeped in bluegrass tradition. At 15 years old, Zachary is an ace at the Stanley style of banjo playing and this album sure showcases him and his Stanleytone. Don't let

Karl Shiflett has always been a throwback specialist, and his many recordings over the years have reflected his respect and admiration for the music of bygone eras. Bluegrass and traditional country are his areas of expertise, and the current edition

If there was some type of IBMA momentum award recognizing “The band that defies all odds,” The Jon Stickley Trio would need to clean a spot on their mantle. The Jon Stickley Trio is surprising everyone, probably even themselves, as they

Nashville's venerable Station Inn was the site of a special CD-release concert last Friday night for Made  To Move, the latest album from Chris Jones & The Night Drivers. The room was sold out, standing room only even, with that peculiarly

So long to this cage I’m in I don’t belong anywhere I’ve been I need a new song as I hit the road again Into the wind The opening verse on the Infamous Stringdusters’ 7th studio album, Laws of Gravity, perfectly captures the spirit

Every recording artist no doubt sets out to make his or her newest CD better than the last one. Some, frankly, don’t succeed. Others smash right through the “better” barrier, taking their careers to lofty new heights and setting the

A few months ago, I was fortunate enough to catch the last few songs of a Blue Mafia show at the Down Home in Johnson City, TN. Though I’d heard the band on the radio plenty of times (their 2015